cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genotoxicity evaluation of titanium dioxide nanoparticles using the Ames test and Comet assay

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) are being used increasingly for various industrial and consumer products, including cosmetics and sunscreens because of their photoactive properties. Therefore, the toxicity of TiO2-NPs needs to be thoroughly understood. In the present study, the genotoxicity of 10nm uncoated sphere TiO2-NPs with an anatase crystalline structure, which has been well characterized in a previous study, was assessed using the Salmonella reverse mutation assay (Ames test) and the single-cell gel electrophoresis (Comet) assay. For the Ames test, Salmonella strains TA102, TA100, TA1537, TA98 and TA1535 were preincubated with eight different concentrations of the TiO2-NPs for 4 h at 37 °C, ranging from 0 to 4915.2 µg per plate. No mutation induction was found. Analyses with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) showed that the TiO2-NPs were not able to enter the bacterial cell. For the Comet assay, TK6 cells were treated with 0-200 µg ml(-1) TiO2-NPs for 24 h at 37 °C to detect DNA damage. Although the TK6 cells did take up TiO2-NPs, no significant induction of DNA breakage or oxidative DNA damage was observed in the treated cells using the standard alkaline Comet assay and the endonuclease III (EndoIII) and human 8-hydroxyguanine DNA-glycosylase (hOGG1)-modified Comet assay, respectively. These results suggest that TiO2-NPs are not genotoxic under the conditions of the Ames test and Comet assay.
Culturally Competent Training Program: A Key to Training Lay Health Advisors for Promoting Breast Cancer Screening

The lay health advisor (LHA) training program for breast cancer screening was conducted among Chinese- English bilingual trainees residing in Southeast Michigan. Guided by Bandura's Social Learning Theory, the development of the training curriculum followed the health communication process recommended by the National Cancer Institute. Data analysis based on questionnaires completed by 79 LHAs indicated that the breast cancer screening training program significantly increased LHAs' knowledge and self-efficacy (p < .01, t test, two-tailed) and LHAs had a positive perception with regard to the training manual. Regression analysis found that LHAs who were younger, employed, and demonstrated a positive perception of the training manual tended to have higher self-efficacy in promoting breast cancer screening (R(2) = .30). This study suggests that a culturally competent training program effectively increases LHAs' self-efficacy. The findings have implications for developing effective LHA training programs in Asian American communities where LHA interventions are rarely implemented.
Tracheostomy in neurologically compromised paediatric patients: role of starplasty.

Objectives Starplasty tracheostomy is an alternative to traditional tracheostomy. This paper reviews neurologically compromised paediatric patients with tracheostomies and discusses the role of starplasty tracheostomy. Method A retrospective review was conducted of paediatric patients with a neurological disorder who underwent tracheostomy between 1997 and 2011. Results Forty-eight patients, with an average age of 7.3 years, were identified. The most common indications for tracheostomy were: ventilator dependence (39.6 per cent), an inability to tolerate secretions or recurrent aspiration pneumonia (33.3 per cent), and upper respiratory obstruction or hypotonia (12.5 per cent). The most common underlying neurological diagnosis was cerebral palsy. There were no early complications. Eighteen (43 per cent) of 42 patients with follow up experienced at least 1 delayed complication. Only 12 patients (28.6 per cent) were decannulated. Conclusion Patients with primary neurological diagnoses have low rates of decannulation; starplasty tracheostomy should be considered for these patients. Patients with seizure disorder or acute neurological injury tended to have a higher short-term decannulation rate; traditional tracheostomy is recommended in these patients.
Overlitigating Corporate Fraud: An Empirical Analysis

Corporate law leaves no stone unturned when it comes to litigating corporate fraud. The legal system has developed a remarkable array of litigation options – shareholder derivative suits, securities class actions, SEC enforcement actions, even criminal prosecutions – all aimed at preventing the next corporate scandal. Scholars have long assumed that these different lawsuits offer different avenues for deterring the masterminds of corporate fraud. Yet this assumption has gone untested in the legal literature. This Article aims to fill that gap through the first empirical examination of the broader world of corporate fraud litigation. Analyzing over 700 lawsuits, the study reveals that these lawsuits do not target different types of corporate wrongs. Instead these lawsuits too often target the same alleged misconduct, the same defendants, and the same corporate coffers. The data also demonstrate that certain types of lawsuits consistently outperform others, creating a litigation hierarchy within corporate law. These findings raise critical questions about traditional theories of deterrence, suggesting that more may not always be better when it comes to combating corporate fraud. The Article then brings these empirical insights to bear in developing a new framework for more targeted deterrence of corporate fraud.
In and Against Rhythms of the Neoliberal Public: Toward a Qualitative Inquiry of the Street

In this article, we offer commentary on moving bodies and the spaces they simultaneously inhabit and produce, pointing specifically to dominant rhythmologies of the contemporary market society. We offer as the article’s core thrust the pedagogical, political, and performative exigencies of the street: its traversal and occupation, its flow and stasis. We utilize the theories of Jean-Luc Nancy, Roberto Esposito, Lieven de Cauter, Guy Debord, and Paul Virilio to build an argument against hermeneutic determinism(s). In so doing, we (temporarily) look past conceptualizations of the street as late modern discursive metonym, and instead turn toward public dimensions of time and space. In so doing, we encourage qualitative inquirers to look beyond the dynamic texts or fixed environs and toward the sensual and sensory, postulating a (re)location of the flesh and bones that has often been missing from the thinking(s) and doing(s) of qualitative research.
The Prevention and Control of Human Aggression

Aggression is, by definition, a dangerous and harmful form of behavior. Further, as we have noted on several different occasions, its incidence in social interaction is alarmingly high. Given these facts, it seems only reasonable to expect that over the years, researchers concerned with the study of human violence would devote considerable attention to techniques for preventing or controlling such actions. Surprisingly, however, this has not been the case. A careful survey of existing psychological literature on aggression reveals that while a great many investigations have focused upon various social, situational, environmental, and individual antecedents of violence, a much smaller number have examined means for preventing or controlling its occurrence (cf. Kimble, Fitz, & Onorad, 1977; Pisano & Taylor, 1971). Further, many of the studies that have been concerned with these latter topics have been conducted primarily within an applied context. As a result, they have often sought means for controlling aggression under specific circumstances or among special populations and have not attempted to establish basic principles that might prove useful in lowering the incidence of aggression generally (cf. Bandura, 1973). While many different factors have contributed to this surprising and somewhat unsettling state of affairs, two seem to be of greatest importance.
Farm Labor Monopsony: Farm Business And The Child Hierarchical Model Of Fertility

Arthur Lewis (1954) classic article on duel labor markets suggests that subsistence labor, due to high fertility and overpopulation, causes low wages. Basu (1999) and Dessy (2000) show a compelling theory for high fertility in developing countries where regions go into a poverty trap of low labor demand, low wages and overpopulation. An alternative explanation for overpopulation has to do with a simple farm business model where farming families have a labor monopsony for their own child labor. Child labor, not from society at large but from the farm family’s own children, can be a source of labor to run a farm business. The farm business model shows how, due to simple monopsony characteristics, it may be cheaper for a farmer to use fertility induced, family child labor, rather than expensive non-family labor, to provide his labor supply and increase his rent. Children can provide the farmer with labor that has a psychological barrier to exit, making it easy to add human capital without paying a high wage. However, due to sibling rivalry and child psychological growth stages of binding, delegating and expelling, older children will be forced to leave the farm inducing greater fertility to replace them. We assume capital investment options and the use of technology are limited for such farms due to monsoon rainy seasons, dense forests or steep hills, which suggests the need for labor intensive farms. The end result is that child labor is a way to provide significant profit to a farm business.
Variable Borohydride Hapticity in Nickel(II) Scorpionate Complexes [(TpR,Me)Ni(ηn-BH4)]: TpR,Me = hydrotris{3-R-5-methyl-1-pyrazolyl}borate; R = Ph, n = 3 vs. R = Me, n = 4

A “second-generation” scorpionate ligand was utilized to prepare the nickel(II) borohydride complex [(TpPh,Me)Ni(η3-BH4)], wherein the borohydride was coordinated through two bridging B–H bonds, leaving two terminal B–H bonds uncoordinated as determined by X-ray crystallography. The distorted square-pyramidal complex is paramagnetic (S = 1), with 18 valence electrons, and contrasts with a previously reported 20-electron pseudo-octahedral “first-generation” analogue, [(TpMe,Me)Ni(η4-BH4)] (P. J. Desrochers, et al. Inorg. Chem. 2003, 42, 7945–7950). These distinct borohydride coordination modes were distinguished by FTIR spectroscopy, and rationalized by DFT calculations on simplified models, [(Tp)Ni(ηn-BH4)] (n = 3, 4). The difference in borohydride hapticities is attributed to the steric effect of the scorpionate 3-pyrazole phenyl substituents disposed proximally to the metal, thus demonstrating the subtle versatility of Trofimenko's scorpionate ligands in controlling ligand field geometries. The precursor complex [(TpPh,Me)Ni(κ2-NO3)] was also prepared and characterized.
An unusual branch of the median nerve.

An unusual branch of the median nerve that probably separated from the median nerve high in the forearm, coursed entirely within (rather than beneath) the flexor retinaculum, and rejoined both the motor recurrent and sensory median nerve branches in the hand, is described.
The Human Key: Identification and Authentication in Wearable Devices Using Gait

With the advent of wearable devices and the commonality of on-body monitoring devices, a future is anticipated in which the body-area networks will become commonplace in daily life. It is envisioned that the whole process will be automated wherein a user wearing such a device automatically enables the associated security mechanism and establishes communication between that user and her surroundings. This article addresses a technique to identify the wearer of the device and proposes an encryption scheme for secure communication, allowing for identification and authentication before establishing communication. It suggests using gait as a metric for identity association using wearable sensors.
Studies on Anthrax ImmunityI. The Attenuation of Bacillus Anthracis by Means of Sodium Chloride and Other Chemicals

sufficient extent so that they could serve as a vaccine against anthrax, the subject of attenuation of that bacillus has claimed the attention of investigators from time to time. Killed cultures of anthrax bacilli have not generally been found to possess antigenic value when used as immunizing agents. Staub and Forgeot,2 however, reported that they were successful in attempts at immunizing guinea-pigs against anthrax by means of subcutaneous injections of anthrax bacilli killed by alcohol and ether. Urbain 3 in the following year also used ether in killing cultures of anthrax bacilli and states that he successfully immunized rabbits by this means. Aside from these two recent exceptions attenuated cultures and aggressins4 alone have given results. The economic interest in improved methods of limiting the occurrence of anthrax and the scientific interest in researches in the immunology of the disease as well as in the bacteriology of the causative organism have stimulated active pursuit of further studies in means of attenuating B. anthracis so that cultures may serve as vaccines. The earlier work on attenuation of B. anthracis for use as a vaccine may be found summarized in the literature. Some of the more recent work is presented below.
American plants in Sub-Saharan Africa: a review of the archaeological evidence

ABSTRACTAmerican plants play significant roles in Sub-Saharan African societies as foods, raw materials, medicines and ornamentals. Adopted over the past 500 years in the context of the Atlantic slave trade and European colonisation, the pathways by which these plants were culturally integrated are poorly understood. This paper reviews the current archaeological evidence for American plants in Sub-Saharan Africa and draws on botanical, material culture, spatial, historical and linguistic data to explore the social processes associated with the adoption of these new resources.
Alignment issues, correlation techniques and their assessment for a visible light imaging-based 3D printer quality control system

Quality control is critical to manufacturing. Frequently, techniques are used to define object conformity bounds, based on historical quality data. This paper considers techniques for bespoke and small batch jobs that are not statistical model based. These techniques also serve jobs where 100% validation is needed due to the mission or safety critical nature of particular parts. One issue with this type of system is alignment discrepancies between the generated model and the physical part. This paper discusses and evaluates techniques for characterizing and correcting alignment issues between the projected and perceived data sets to prevent errors attributable to misalignment.
Characterization of the IgG-Fc receptor on human platelets

To determine quantitatively the number and avidity of receptors for the Fc portion of IgG on human platelets, we have measured the binding to platelets of human monomeric monoclonal IgG, and of small covalently crosslinked polymers of IgG1 labeled with 125I. The binding of labeled IgG1 monomers to platelets is too weak to permit quantitation. The binding of dimers or larger polymers of IgG1 is much more avid (greater at 4 degrees C than 37 degrees C), is readily reversible, and is saturable. The number of receptor sites ranges from 400 to 2000 per platelet and the mean equilibrium association constant (Ka) for the binding of dimers at 4 degrees C is 2.2 x 10(7) M-1 +/- 0.9 x 10(7) M-1. The binding is specific for the Fc portion of IgG, and IgG1 and IgG3 bind to the receptors much more avidly than IgG2 or IgG4. Unlabeled IgG1 dimers are about 7--8-fold more potent in inhibiting binding than are IgG1 monomers, and larger polymers are even more potent than dimers. Thus, the Fc receptors on platelets bind human IgG1 with the same specificity and similar avidity as Fc receptors on polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), but PMNs have about 300-fold more receptors per unit of surface area than platelets.
Improved Automated Radiosynthesis of [(11)C]PBR28

Microglial activation is commonly identified by elevated levels of the 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO) in response to several inflammatory processes. [(11)C]PBR28 is one of the most promising PET tracers to image TSPO in both human and non-human primates. In this study, we optimized the radiolabeling procedure of [(11)C]PBR28 for higher radiochemical yield, radiochemical purity, and specific activity, which can be easily translated to any automated module for clinical trials. Time-activity curves (TACs) derived from the dynamic PET imaging of male rhesus monkey brains demonstrated that [(11)C]PBR28 had suitable kinetics with radiotracer accumulation observed in the caudate, putamen, cerebellum, and frontal cortex region.
Current and Potential Uses of Low Molecular Weight Heparin: A Review and an Economic Analysis

Audience This article is intended for primary care providers who care for patients requiring anticoagulation therapy. Goal To provide the reader with a basic understanding of the pharmacology and uses of low molecular weight heparin, including its potential to reduce the length of hospitalization for a variety of indications. Objectives 1. To describe the pharmacology of low molecular weight heparin. 2. To outline studies examining the use of low molecular weight heparin for the treatment of deep venous thrombosis and acute coronary syndromes. 3. To discuss the cost-effectiveness of low molecular weight heparins, as well as therapeutic considerations associated with their use. 4. To discuss the possible use of low molecular weight heparin in patients with mechanical prosthetic valves.
Pediatric and Adolescent Psychopharmacology: A Practical Manual for Pediatricians

Current research indicates that up to ten percent of children suffer from mental health problems at some point before reaching adulthood. Complex diagnostic criteria and medication regimes can make these patients a challenge to manage. The chronic shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists has led to more and more cases being cared for by pediatricians and primary care practitioners. Patients may be on multiple medications of long duration, and reaching a decision to modify or cease treatment is often complicated. Pediatric and Adolescent Psychopharmacology: A Practical Manual for Pediatricians is written for all non-psychiatrists who find themselves caring for children and teenagers with mental health disorders. It gives clear, expert guidance on the complexities of diagnosis of mental health disorders and provides practical, accessible advice on the complex treatment options available for many disorders. This text will be an invaluable resource for all clinicians who encounter these vulnerable patients.
A Kind of Friendship: Lindsay Anderson and John Ford

Anderson always wrote very personally about John Ford, and I will in turn be personal about Anderson.
Experimenting with dialogue on Twitter: An examination of the influence of the dialogic principles on engagement, interaction, and attitude

Abstract Much of the public relations research on online relationship building has examined social media content for the use of the dialogic principles outlined by Kent and Taylor (1998) . These studies, using content analysis as the primary methodology, have found that the dialogic capabilities of social media are under-utilized. However, there is limited research on the effectiveness of these methods. Therefore, the goal of this study is to examine the influence of social media content utilizing these principles on engagement, interactivity, and attitude. Results of this study indicate that usefulness of information can have a significant influence on engagement and attitude.
Refinement and generalization

In Chapters 3 and 4 we have formally established the notion of a parsing schema, and presented some examples. In this chapter and the next one we will discuss relations between parsing schemata.
Stories of Survival

Stories of Survival is a book written by residents of Indochinese Housing Development Corporation, a low-income housing program for refugees from Southeast Asia. The chapter tells some of those stories, and in so doing, tells the reader (and Tenderloin U student) what suffering many of the people of the Tenderloin went through. A study questions the placement by the US government of unprepared refugees to inner-city neighborhoods, resulting in continued suffering for many and, for some youths, lives of crime. Two brothers’ lives are examined, one a resident and Tenderloin U student, the other a victim of suicide, through their writings. The stories of other inner-city youth are discussed, many of them living successful lives.
Nucleus Ambiguus Neurons are Activated by Acupuncture: Relation to Acetylcholine and Enkephalin

Electroacupuncture (EA) at the Neiguan–Jianshi acupoints (P5–P6, underlying the median nerve) inhibits central sympathetic outflow and attenuates excitatory cardiovascular reflexes, in part, throug...
A ground based platform for high throughput phenotyping

Abstract The objective of this effort was to evaluate current commercially-available sensor technology (three sonic ranging and two NDVI sensors) for use in a ground-based platform for plant phenotyping and crop management decisions. The Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver from Trimble provided a high level of accuracy during our tests. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data collected using the GreenSeeker sensors were more consistent and presented less variability when compared to the Decagon SRS sensor. The consistency could be due to the GreenSeeker system averaging readings of more rows. The tests also indicated that although sonic ranging sensor technology may be employed to obtain average plant height estimates, the technology is still a limiting factor for high-accuracy measurements at the plant level.
System Engineering Analysis of Construction Equipment Operation in the Latin America

The Latin American region has many important ongoing infrastructure projects. It is a global source of mining materials such as copper and iron. Thus, the region is an important market for construction equipment manufacturers such as Caterpillar, John Deere, Komatsu, Volvo, and CNH. However, it is not financially feasible for these manufactures to test construction machines in all 33 countries. Consequently, there is a significant lack of engine system understanding in this region due to its diverse operating conditions. This research provides a system engineering analysis of how diesel engine durability is affected by the environmental factors such as altitude and fuel quality in Latin America. Examination of engine oil analyses shows that oil condition provides a leading indicator of premature internal engine wear in Latin America. The study further relates environment factors in Latin America such as altitude to machine diagnostic trouble codes.
The Coase Conjecture When the Monopolist and Customers Have Different Discount Rates

One of the most famous and outstanding formalizations of the Coase Conjecture is that by Gul, Sonnenschein, and Wilson (1986). A peculiarity of their model — as well as all other examinations of the Coase Conjecture of which I am aware, including that by Coase himself — is that it assumes that the monopolist and customers have the same discount rate. I re-examine their model, while relaxing this restriction. Gul, Sonnenschein, and Wilson show that, if the (common) discount rate of the monopolist and customers approaches one, then the Coase Conjecture follows. I show that one only needs the discount rate of the customers to approach one for this to be true. I also show a second result: If the customers’ discount rate is fixed at a value less than one while the monopolist’s discount rate approaches one, then the Coase Conjecture is guaranteed not to follow.
Education Research: The current state of neurophysiology education in selected neurology residency programs.

Objective Prior research has illustrated there is a knowledge gap in neurology residents9 neurophysiology education (EEG and EMG), and we sought to understand whether this is still an issue and to recognize the barriers in order to create solutions and improve education. Methods Surveys were developed for adult neurology residents and one for program directors asking about confidence in neurophysiology knowledge, percent of graduates reaching level 4 ACGME (American Council of Graduate Medical Education) milestones in EEG and EMG, methods of learning used, interest in the subjects, and suggestions for improvements. Results Twenty-six program directors (19% responder rate) and 55 residents (from at least 16 different programs) completed the survey. Program directors thought that 85% of graduating residents met level 4 milestones in EEG and only 75% in EMG. Structured rotations and more time allocated to education of these topics were frequent barriers mentioned. Postgraduate year 4 residents were 60% and 67% confident in EEG and 64%, 59%, and 62.3% in EMG level 4 milestones. Learning to read EEGs was considered important throughout residents9 training; however, this interest and value decreased over time with EMG. Conclusion In our study, program directors suspect up to a quarter of residents may graduate not meeting level 4 ACGME milestones, and residents expressed lack of confidence in these areas. The educational methods used to instruct residents in EEG and EMG were similar as were the barriers they face across programs. This information hopefully will help fuel curriculum design and interest in these important neurology techniques.
Elucidating Which Pairwise Mutations Affect Protein Stability: An Exhaustive Big Data Approach

The specific sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain dictates the three dimensional structure, and hence function, of a protein. Mutagenesis experiments on physical proteins involving amino acid substitutions provide insights enabling pharmaceutical companies to design medicines to combat a variety of debilitating diseases. However such wet lab work is prohibitive, because even studying the effects of a single mutation may require weeks of work. Computational approaches for performing exhaustive screens of the effects of single mutations have been developed, but methods for conducting a systematic, exhaustive screen of the effects of all multiple mutations are not available due to the large number of mutant protein structures that would need to be analyzed. In this work we motivate and demonstrate a proof of concept approach for conducting in silico experiments in which we generate all possible mutant structures with 2 amino acid substitutions for three proteins with 46, 67, and 99 residues; for the largest protein we in silico generate 1,751,211 mutants. We leverage an efficient combinatorial algorithm to assess the effects of the mutations among the mutant protein structures. We also produce heat maps for several mutation metrics to facilitate identifying which pairs of amino acid in a protein have the greatest impact on protein stability based on how those amino acid substitutions affect the protein's flexibility.
¹H Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of the Brain During Adolescence: Normal Brain Development and Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Adolescence, a transitional period between childhood and adulthood (12–18 years of age), is characterized by maturation of cognitive and behavioral abilities. Compared to brain development in perinatal and early childhood, neurobiological changes occurring during later childhood and adolescence are less dramatic but have critical importance for development of normal brain functions. The combinations of genetic vulnerability, endocrine changes during puberty, and environmental factors render adolescents at risk for developing psychiatric disorders. In the developed world, mental and addictive disorders can be considered the primary chronic diseases of childhood and adolescence. Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are associated with childhood. The onset of mood and anxiety disorders generally occurs in adolescence, although the diagnoses may be delayed until adulthood. Many psychiatric disorders that emerge in childhood and adolescence can be understood as dysfunctions within established brain circuits. Therefore, an understanding of normal development of the brain and its circuitry is important for both identifying the causes of psychiatric disorders and for development of effective treatments.
Theoretical Analysis and Modeling of Link Adaptation Schemes in Body Area Networks

Considering the medical nature of the information carried in Body Area Networks (BAN), interference from coexisting wireless networks or even other nearby BANs could create serious problems on their operational reliability. As practical implementation of power control mechanisms could be very challenging, link adaptation schemes can be an efficient alternative to preserve link quality while allowing more number of nodes to operate simultaneously. This paper provides theoretical analysis and Markov chain modeling of interference mitigation schemes such as adaptive modulation and adaptive data rate for body area networks. These schemes are relatively simple and well-suited for low power nodes in body area networks that might be operating in environments with high level of interference.
Bartholin Gland Cysts and Abscesses

Bartholin gland cysts are caused when trauma or inflammation obstructs the duct of the Bartholin gland, which normally secretes mucus near the hymenal ring [1]. Often asymptomatic, intermittent obstruction of the duct can cause the cyst to fluctuate in size. If secondarily infected, the cyst can become an abscess.
Opioid distribution trends (2006-2017) in the US Territories

Background The US mainland is experiencing an epidemic of opioid overdoses. Unfortunately, the US Territories (Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands) have often been overlooked in opioid pharmacoepidemiology research. This study examined common prescription opioids over the last decade. Methods The United States Drug Enforcement Administration's Automation of Reports and Consolidated Orders System (ARCOS) was used to report on ten medical opioids: buprenorphine, codeine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, meperidine, methadone, morphine, oxycodone, and oxymorphone, by weight from 2006 to 2017. Florida and Hawaii were selected as comparison areas. Results Puerto Rico had the greatest Territorial oral morphine mg equivalent (MME) per capita (421.5) which was significantly higher (p < .005) than the Virgin Islands (139.2) and Guam (118.9) but significantly lower than that of Hawaii (794.6) or Florida (1,509.8). Methadone was the largest opioid by MMEs in 2017 in most municipalities, accounting for 41.1% of the total in the Virgin Islands, 37.9% in Florida, 36.6% in Hawaii but 80.8% in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico and Florida showed pronounced differences in the distribution patterns by pharmacies, hospitals, and narcotic treatment programs for opioids. Conclusions Continued monitoring of the US Territories is needed to provide a balance between appropriate access to these important agents for cancer related and acute pain while also minimizing diversion and avoiding the opioid epidemic which has adversely impacted the US mainland.
Public Perceptions and Experts’ Opinions: Causes, Correlates, and Prevention

In this chapter, a qualitative study is presented which identifies the discrepancies between public and expert perceptions on the causes of violence, and how violence can best be prevented. The results show large differences in public and expert opinions with respect to the degree that mentally ill individuals are prone to violent behavior, with the public more in favor of arming school personnel, increased police presence at schools, and enforced security in public spaces. The experts were not in favor of those solutions and were critical to the way mental illness is reported into the National Instant Background Check System. The chapter includes a discussion regarding background checks as a measure to prevent mentally ill individuals from committing violence and concludes with a discussion on future research needs and implications for practice.
Motivating first-year engineering students through gamified homework

Gamification has been applied in multiple different contexts for increasing motivation towards completion of activities such as company loyalty programs, exercise initiatives, and corporate trainin...
A New Energy 'Third World' in North America?

Michael T. Klare examines how big energy companies are increasingly focusing their efforts on untapped energy resources in North America, such as shale oil and gas. This is as a result, he argues, of increased regulations and resistance from countries in the Global South, which have been the focus of Big Oil since the 1970s but which have recently become more effective in protecting their energy reserves against foreign exploitation. The author argues that Big Oil’s focus on North America brings with it serious environmental and human rights concerns – due, for example, to the technique of hydro-fracking, which risks contaminating water supplies, and the attempts to open up coastal and wilderness areas to drilling that were previously protected. The recent shift in US administration only increases the likelihood that the demands from big energy will be met. All this, the author argues, risks leaving the US exploited by big energy and by the political elite, in the same way that so many Global South countries have been.
Population-based requirements for allograft surgery in children

This paper will attempt to set into perspective the magnitude of the problem of homograft procurement for the paediatric population. We thought it would be useful to have an estimate of how many homografts and of what size might be required for a given population. While we cannot speak of the use of homografts for aortic valve replacement in the adult population, we are able to speak of the potential use of this tissue in the paediatric age group.
Abstract 567: Fgf21 as a Biomarker for Metabolic Stress in Heart Failure

FGF21, an important metabolic regulator, has recently been suggested as a biomarker for heart failure (HF). FGF21 is involved in the integrated mitochondrial stress response, and has been shown to ...
Length of advanced pharmacy practice experience and first-time NAPLEX pass rate of US pharmacy programs.

Abstract Introduction The objectives of this study were to (1) report the length in weeks of advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) of US pharmacy programs in 2016 and (2) compare first-time North American Pharmacy Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) pass rates according to the length in weeks of the programs' APPEs. Methods First-time NAPLEX pass rate was obtained from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy public web page. The length in weeks of programs' individual APPEs (iAPPEs) and program characteristics were obtained from the individual pharmacy programs' web pages. Analysis of variance was used to compare iAPPE length and first-time NAPLEX pass rate and multiple regression was used to quantify the independent influence of iAPPE length on first-time NAPLEX pass rate. Results The length in weeks was evenly distributed among four-, five- and six-week iAPPEs for NAPLEX testing years 2013 to 2015, although six-week iAPPEs have been preferred recently. The first-time NAPLEX pass rate was not associated with the total APPE length or whether the program used four-, five- or six-week iAPPEs for all three years and for the three-year aggregate pass rate. Conclusion Six-week iAPPEs were the most common, but not the majority among pharmacy programs. Longer total or individual APPEs did not translate into higher first-time NAPLEX pass rates. Length of iAPPE rotations can be chosen without concern that student pharmacists' performances on first-time NAPLEX pass rates will be significantly impacted.
optimizing Motion-Planning Problem Setup via Bounded Evaluation with Application to Following Surgical Trajectories

A motion-planning problem’s setup can drastically affect the quality of solutions returned by the planner. In this work we consider optimizing these setups, with a focus on doing so in a computationally-efficient fashion. Our approach interleaves optimization with motion planning, which allows us to consider the actual motions required of the robot. Similar prior work has treated the planner as a black box: our key insight is that opening this box in a simple-yet-effective manner enables a more efficient approach, by allowing us to bound the work done by the planner to optimizer-relevant computations. Finally, we apply our approach to a surgically-relevant motion-planning task, where our experiments validate our approach by more-efficiently optimizing the fixed insertion pose of a surgical robot.
Lemierre's syndrome caused by Streptococcus pyogenes in an elderly woman.

Abstract Lemierre's syndrome is characterized by septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein. It typically presents in healthy adolescents or young adults, usually preceded by an oropharyngeal infection, with the most common offending pathogen being Fusobacterium necrophorum. We present a case of Lemierre's syndrome in an elderly woman without antecedent oropharyngeal infection, caused by Streptococcus pyogenes. She was successfully treated with combined surgical and medical management.
Identification of the Species Constituents of Maggot Populations Feeding on Decomposing Remains-Facilitation of the Determination of Post Mortem Interval and Time Since Tissue Infestation through Application of Machine Learning and Direct Analysis in Real Time-Mass Spectrometry

The utilization of entomological specimens such as larvae (maggots) for the estimation of time since oviposition (i.e., egg laying) for post mortem interval determination, or for estimation of time since tissue infestation (in investigations of elder or child care neglect and animal abuse cases), requires accurate determination of insect species identity. Because the larvae of multiple species are visually highly similar and difficult to distinguish, it is customary for species determination of maggots to be made by rearing them to maturity so that the gross morphological features of the adult can be used to accurately identify the species. This is a time-consuming and resource-intensive process which also requires that the sample be viable. The situation is further complicated when the maggot mass being sampled is comprised of multiple species. Therefore, a method for accurate species identification, particularly for mixtures, is needed. It is demonstrated here that direct analysis in real time-high resolution mass spectrometric (DART-HRMS) analysis of ethanol suspensions containing combinations of maggots representing Calliphora vicina, Chrysomya rufifacies, Lucilia coeruleiviridis, L. sericata, Phormia regina, and Phoridae exhibit highly reproducible chemical signatures. An aggregated hierarchical conformal predictor applied to a hierarchical classification tree that was trained against the DART-HRMS data enabled, for the first time, multispecies identification of maggots in mixtures of two, three, four, five, and six species. The conformal predictor provided label specific regions with confidence limits between 80 and 99% for species identification. The study demonstrates a novel, rapid, facile, and powerful approach for identification of maggot species in field-derived samples.
Natural history of brain lesions in X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy: On-again, off-again.

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is the most common inherited leukodystrophy (1:15,000 birth incidence) and is caused by mutations in the ABCD1 gene leading to accumulation of very long chain fatty acids.1,2 The ALD genotype confers several independent but overlapping phenotypes: adrenal insufficiency, adrenomyeloneuropathy (an adult-onset spastic paraplegia and neuropathy syndrome), and cerebral ALD (cALD). The dreaded cALD phenotype is characterized by the appearance of inflammatory demyelinating brain lesions that manifest in only a subset of male patients (∼60% lifetime risk) with the majority of cases clustered in the first decade of life.1
This child: descriptive review in support of parental ethics

In response to the abundance of parenting literature and a contemporary emphasis on expertise, recent scholars have suggested that how we parent should be determined by values and a family’s partic...
Reading risk: Preparing students to develop critical digital literacies and advocate for privacy in digital spaces

Abstract Models of privacy in digital spaces place the responsibility on individuals to protect their data and prevent harm from breaches. As I demonstrate in this article, the massive collection of individuals’ data online, an inherent feature of surveillance capitalism, makes it virtually impossible for individuals to self-manage their privacy and security. In fact, corporate interests who benefit from the ubiquitous digital surveillance online purposely obscure their activities, complicating the ability of users to accurately perceive the degree of risk inherent in online activities. Our concepts of privacy and responsibility online further disempower users and dissuade them from demanding privacy as a human right. While some individually initiated protective behaviors can be efficacious in curbing localized harm, significant legal reforms are needed for lasting privacy protection and harm reduction for all users. My discussion demonstrates how, as writing teachers, we can help students to become advocates for legal and regulatory reforms through completing assignments, such as the tracking report described herein, that help them to experience and, thus, more accurately read the risks resulting from compromised privacy in digital spaces.
Monte carlo uncertainty analysis for photothermal radiometry measurements using a curve fit process

Photothermal radiometry (PTR) has become a popular method to measure thermal properties of layered materials. Much research has been done to determine the capabilities of PTR, but with little uncertainty analysis. This study reports a Monte Carlo uncertainty analysis to quantify uncertainty of film diffusivity and effusivity measurements, presents a sensitivity study for each input parameter, compares linear and logarithmic spacing of data points on frequency scans, and investigates the validity of a one-dimensional heat transfer assumption. Logarithmic spacing of frequencies when taking data is found to be unequivocally superior to linear spacing, while the use of a higher-dimensional heat transfer model is only needed for certain measurement configurations. The sensitivity analysis supports the frequency spacing conclusion, as well as explains trends seen in the uncertainty data.
Altered Cell Calcium Metabolism and Human Diseases

Both genetic and environmental factors are usually considered to play interacting roles in the pathogenesis of human disease. Scant attention, however, has been paid to the possible role that evolutionary events may play in health and disease. Life on this planet began in an anaerobic atmosphere and in a sea rich in K+, Mg2+,and phospate, but low in Na + and Ca2+, these new extracellular ions became the means of providing the cell with two major new attributes: the property of excitability of its surface membrane (the Na+ gradient), and the ability to couple events occurring at this surface membrane to the metabolic events within the cell (the calcium messenger).
Damping of CDW-condensate motion by interaction with thermal phasons

This paper contains a calculation of the damping of the q=0 phason (driven by an external microwave field of frequency ω) due to interaction with thermally ambient phasons. The obtained expression for the damping constant is frequency independent and varies as T−2 in the temperature domain relevant for experimental comparison. Its order of magnitude although smaller than that observed experimentally is still considered to be in satisfactory agreement, in view of uncertainties in knowledge of basic parameters and the preliminary character of the theory (neglect of interaction with thermal amplitons and the effects of long range Coulomb interactions.
Patenting Games: Or, Baker v. Selden Revisited

Games and gaming have increasingly been the subject of patents. This paper examines how the patenting of games and gaming affects the play and use of games. The author suggests that there needs to be some limit on the scope of patenting so that patent rights do not interfere with the rights of gamers and users. The Article proposes limits on gaming patents under the recent Bilski decision and under the Supreme Court precedent of Baker v. Selden. While the latter case has applications largely to copyright subject matter, the author explores the implications of the Supreme Court's famous decision for patentable subject matter.
Foreign Exchange Market Organization in Selected Developing and Transition Economies: Evidence from a Survey

The foreign exchange market microstructures in developing and transition economies are characterized by the results from the IMF`s 2001 Survey on Foreign Exchange Market Organization. The survey found that these markets are usually unified onshore spot markets for U.S. dollars, where transactions are concentrated at the bank-customer level. The trading mechanisms are usually dealer or mixed dealer/auction markets; the degree of transparency is often low; settlement systems remain risky; and the scope for price discovery is variable.
Regulation of the GLUT4/muscle-fat glucose transporter mRNA in adipose tissue of insulin-deficient diabetic rats.

Previous studies have documented that streptozotocin-induced insulin deficiency results in a marked decrease in adipose tissue GLUT4 glucose transporter mRNA levels (Sivitz, W.I., DeSautel, S.L., Kayano, T., Bell, G.I., and Pessin, J.E. (1989) Nature 340, 72-74). In this study, nuclear run-on analysis performed on diabetic and insulin-treated diabetic rats demonstrated that the decrease in GLUT4 mRNA occurs via a diabetes-induced decrease in GLUT4 transcription rate. The decrease in GLUT4 mRNA levels could be prevented by treatment of the diabetic animals with the adenosine receptor agonist phenylisopropyl-adenosine (PIA). Under these conditions, PIA completely blocked the elevation of intracellular cAMP levels associated with insulin deficiency. Surprisingly, isolation of primary rat adipocytes from control animals resulted in a rapid decrease (approximately 20-fold) in GLUT4 mRNA levels by 24 h with a concomitant increase (approximately 70-fold) in GLUT1 mRNA levels. This rapid loss of GLUT4 expression did not correlate with changes in adipocyte cAMP levels and was not prevented by treatment of the cells with either insulin and/or PIA. These data demonstrate that the decrease in GLUT4 transcription induced by insulin deficiency in vivo predominantly results from an increase in intracellular cAMP levels. In contrast, although GLUT4 transcription also decreases in adipocytes when removed from their normal physiological environment, this occurs independent of changes in cAMP levels.
Hypothetical Dark Matter/Axion rockets: What can be said about Dark Matter in terms of space physics propulsion

This paper discusses dark matter (DM) particle candidates from non‐supersymmetry (SUSY) processes and explores how a DM candidate particle in the 100–400 GeV range could be created. Thrust from DM particles is also proposed for Photon rocket and Axion rockets. It would use a magnetic field to convert DM particles to near photonlike particles in a chamber to create thrust from the discharge of the near‐photon‐like particles. The presence of DM particles would suggest that thrust from the emerging near‐photon‐like particle would be greater than with conventional photon rockets. This amplifies and improves on an “axion rocket ramjet” for interstellar travel. It is assumed that the same methodology used in an axion ramjet could be used with DM, with perhaps greater thrust/power conversion efficiencies.