cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clothing: Communication, Compliance, and Choice

This study looks at some effects of five different styles of women's clothing: Formal Skirt, Formal Pants, Casual Skirt, Casual Pants, and Jeans. There were no significant differences in compliance to a request to fill out a questionnaire made by experimenters dressed in the five clothing styles, although experimenter age and sex effects were found. Ratings of photographs of the five dress styles indicate that a model was viewed by both male and female subjects as most happy, successful, feminine, interesting, attractive, intelligent, and wanted as a friend when wearing a Formal Skirt outfit and as least so when wearing Jeans. She was also seen as more active when wearing pants as compared with a skirt. Subjects' reasons for choosing what clothing to wear did not indicate that how one will appear to others is the major factor in clothing selection. It appears that clothing does communicate something about the wearer but may influence behavior toward her primarily in the absence of other information about her status.
Understanding Oropharyngeal Dysphagia: From Hospital to Home

Providing services in the home to a patient with oropharyngeal dysphagia remains a clinical challenge. All health care providers involved in the care of patients with dysphagia need to understand t...
Autoagglutination developing in a patient with acute renal failure. Characterization of the autoagglutinin and its relation to transfusion therapy.

Summary. A patient with post-traumatic renal failure (presumably renal cortical necrosis) is described, who developed near the end of his course a potent auto-agglutinin (titre 1024 at 37° C.). A unique feature of the autoagglutinin was its elution into serum or 8 per cent albumin solution, but its failure to elute into saline under standard conditions. The importance of this phenomenon in permitting accurate ABO and Rh grouping of the patient's cells is emphasized. Studies of the patient's serum, including DEAE fractionation, reduction and alkylation, and absorption with anti-γ, serum, indicated that the autoagglutinin was a γM globulin. The relationship of these techniques to tests for coexisting isoanti-bodies and to safe cross-matching procedures is discussed. The results of in-vivo cross-matching procedures (51Cr labelling and haem pigment changes) are described and their role in enhancing the safety of transfusion in the face of inconclusive in-vitro cross-matching is stressed.
An electronically enhanced magnetic core for current transformers

Summary form only given. An electronic technique which greatly increases the apparent permeability of a magnetic core of a current transformer without a galvanic connection to either of the usual primary or secondary winding circuits is described. The number of turns and the turns ratio can be selected independently as desired. Means are available for examining the waveform of the magnetizing current for the presence of even harmonics, thus indicating possible remanence or direct currents in the windings. Application of the technique to transformer voltage dividers is also discussed. >
Testosterone replacement therapy and the internet: an assessment of providers' health-related web site information content.

Objective To compare how providers of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in large metropolitan cities promote androgen replacement on their patient-oriented Web sites. Materials and Methods TRT provider Web sites were identified using Google search and the terms “Testosterone replacement” and the name of the 5 most populous US cities. These Web sites were assessed for (1) type or specialty of medical provider, (2) discussion of the benefits and risks of TRT, and (3) industry affiliations. Results In total, 75 Web sites were evaluated. Twenty-seven of the 75 clinics (36%) were directed by nonphysicians, 35 (47%) were overseen by nonurology or nonendocrine physicians, and only 13 (17%) were specialist managed. Fourteen of 75 (18.6%) Web sites disclosed industry relationships. Ninety-five percent of Web sites promoted the benefits of TRT including improved sex drive, cognitive improvement, increased muscle strength, and/or improved energy. Only 20 of 75 Web sites (26.6%) described any side effect of TRT. Web sites directed by specialists were twice as likely to discuss risks of TRT compared with nonspecialist providers (41% vs 20%; odds ratio = 2.77; P Conclusion Urologists and endocrinologists are in the minority of providers promoting TRT on the Internet. Specialists are more likely to discuss risks associated with TRT although the majority of surveyed Web sites that promote TRT do not mention treatment risks. There is substantial variability in quality and quantity of information on provider Web sites, which may contribute to misinformation regarding this prevalent health issue.
Preference assessment method affects decision-analytic recommendations: a prostate cancer treatment example.

Purpose. To evaluate the effect of preference assessment method on treatment recommended by an individualized decision-analytic model for early prostate cancer. Methods. Health state preferences were elicited by time tradeoff, rating scale, and a power transformation of the rating scale from 63 men ages 55to75. The authors used these values in aMarkov model to determine whether radical prostatectomy or watchful waiting yielded the greater quality-adjusted life expectancy. Results. Time tradeoff and transformed rating scale recommendations differed widely. Time tradeoff and transformedratingscaleutilitiesdifferedintheirtreatmentrecommendation for 21% to 52% of men, and the mean difference in quality-adjusted life years varied from less than 0.5 to greater than 1.0. Conclusions. Treatment recommendations from the prostate cancer decision model were sensitive to the method of preference assessment. If decision analysis is used to counsel individual patients, careful consideration must be given to the method of preference elicitation. Key words: preference assessment method; decision-analytic model; prostate cancer; time tradeoff; rating scale; quality-adjusted life expectancy. (Med Decis Making 2004;24:504‐510)
'CFTR-opathies': disease phenotypes associated with cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator gene mutations.

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease that is associated with abnormal sweat electrolytes, sino-pulmonary disease, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, and male infertility. Insights into genotype/phenotype relations have recently been gained in this disorder. The strongest relationship exists between 'severe' mutations in the gene that encodes the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) and pancreatic insufficiency. The relationship between 'mild' mutations, associated with residual CFTR function, and expression of disease is less precise. Atypical 'mild' mutations in the CFTR gene have been linked to late-onset pulmonary disease, congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens, and idiopathic pancreatitis. Less commonly, sinusitis, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, and possibly even asthma may also be associated with mutations in the CFTR gene, but those syndromes predominantly reflect non-CFTR gene modifiers and environmental influences.
Energetic Cost of Running with different Muscle Temperatures in Savannah MOnitor Lizards

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the energetic cost of locomotion was independent of muscle temperature, or if it tripled with a 10 °C increase in temperature, like the cost of generating isometric force in isolated muscle preparations. For a given running speed of Savannah Monitor lizards, the energetic cost of locomotion (the difference between running and resting metabolism) was the same when muscle temperature was 28.5 °C as when it was 38 °C. It was also found that stride frequency and posture did not change with temperature, indicating that the average force exerted by the lizards9 muscles during locomotion at the two temperatures was the same. This suggests that the cost of generating force in vivo is independent of temperature. Several possible explanations of the apparent difference between in vivo and in vitro muscle energetics are discussed.
Performance of abdominal ultrasonography in pediatric blunt trauma patients: a meta-analysis.

Objective: The objective of the study was to obtain the best estimates of the test performance of abdominal ultrasonography (US) for identifying children with intraabdominal injuries (IAIs). Methods: We gathered studies on the use of abdominal US in injured children from the following sources: a MEDLINE and Embase search, hand searches of 5 specialty journals and 4 clinical textbooks, the bibliographies of all identified articles, and contact with experts. Both prospective and retrospective studies were included if they used abdominal US for the detection of intraperitoneal fluid or IAIs in blunt trauma patients less than 18 years of age. All authors independently abstracted data from the selected studies. Disagreements between abstractors were resolved by mutual agreement. Results: Twenty-five articles met the inclusion criteria, and 3838 children evaluated with abdominal US were included. Abdominal US had the following test characteristics for identifying children with hemoperitoneum: sensitivity, 80% (95% confidence interval [CI] 76%-84%); specificity, 96% (95% CI 95%-97%); positive likelihood ratio, 22.9 (95% CI 17.2-30.5); and negative likelihood ratio, 0.2 (95% CI 0.16-0.25). Using the most methodologically rigorous studies, however, yielded the following test characteristics of abdominal US for identifying children with hemoperitoneum: sensitivity, 66% (95% CI 56%-75%); specificity, 95% (95% CI 93%-97%); positive likelihood ratio, 14.5 (95% CI 9.5-22.1); and negative likelihood ratio, 0.36 (95% CI 0.27-0.47). Conclusions: Abdominal US has a modest sensitivity for the detection of children with hemoperitoneum; however, its test performance characteristics worsen when only the most methodologically rigorous articles are included. A negative US examination has questionable utility as the sole diagnostic test to rule out the presence of IAI. Because of the high risk of IAI, a hemodynamically stable child with a positive US examination should immediately undergo abdominal computed tomographic scanning.
A Magnetic Core Parallel Adder

A logical design using magnetic core elements which does not have the usual carry time limitations is described. The synthesis uses a truth-table technique.
A Randomized Controlled Trial Examining the Effect of Mindfulness Meditation on Working Memory Capacity in Adolescents

Abstract Purpose To investigate the effectiveness of a mindfulness meditation intervention on working memory capacity (WMC) in adolescents via a randomized controlled trial comparing mindfulness meditation to hatha yoga and a waitlist control group. Methods Participants (N = 198 adolescents) were recruited from a large public middle school in southwest United States and randomly assigned to mindfulness meditation, hatha yoga, or a waitlist control condition. Participants completed a computerized measure of WMC (Automated Operational Span Task) and self-report measures of perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale) and anxiety (Screen for Childhood Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders) at preintervention and postintervention/waitlist. A series of mixed-design analyses of variance were used to examine changes in WMC, stress, and anxiety at preintervention and postintervention. Results Participants in the mindfulness meditation condition showed significant improvements in WMC, whereas those in the hatha yoga and waitlist control groups did not. No statistically significant between-group differences were found for stress or anxiety. Conclusions This is the first study to provide support for the benefits of short-term mindfulness practice, specifically mindfulness meditation, in improving WMC in adolescents. Results highlight the importance of investigating the components of mindfulness-based interventions among adolescents given that such interventions may improve cognitive function. More broadly, mindfulness interventions may be delivered in an abridged format, thus increasing their potential for integration into school settings and into existing treatment protocols.
A new encoding scheme for protein structure representation

Given the rapidly increasing quantity of genomic and proteomic data that is now easily available even to a casual observer, the new challenge is in making sense out of the vast quantities of data. Efficient and reliable analysis of protein 3D structures is identified as a major challenge in this post genomic era. Whether the objective of the analysis is for protein classification, protein similarity search, protein structure prediction, discovery of protein structural motifs, or assignment of a functional class to a newly discovered protein, a key aspect in the analysis is the representation used to encode the protein 3D structural information. In this work, we introduce a family of string encodings as an effective descriptor for protein 3D structures. We show how the choice of parameters affects the performance and compare the result with other related research
Optimal Control and Performance Based Design of the Blended Hydraulic Hybrid

Due to a growing awareness of fuel prices and government regulations on emissions there has been an expanding interest in hybrid vehicle research. Though much of these efforts have been in electric hybrid vehicles, hydraulic hybrid vehicles show great potential due to their higher power density, higher efficiency in regenerative braking, and lower cost of materials. Many different hydraulic hybrid architectures have been proposed, one of the most common being the series hybrid. The series hybrid has many deficiencies due to the hydraulic units being connected directly to the high pressure accumulator. In many operating conditions the units operate inefficiently at low displacements and high pressures. Additionally the driver’s torque demand can exceed that available from the accumulator’s current pressure. As a result additional fluid must be pumped into the accumulator to raise the system pressure. This can result in a delay on the order of seconds in meeting the driver’s demand thereby yielding an undesirably sluggish response.To address these issues the authors’ research group previously introduced the blended hydraulic hybrid [1]. Using dynamic programming, an optimal control simulation tool, the blended hybrid showed improved efficiency and response when compared to the series hybrid [2]. This transmission achieves high efficiency and fast response partially through the inclusion of a hydrostatic transmission. In addition regenerative braking and blending of engine and accumulator power are realized through the use of actively and passively controlled valves.With these promising results, the Maha Fluid Power Research Center has begun designing and constructing a blended hydraulic hybrid SUV. In preparation for this the authors have developed a new sizing methodology to determine transmission sizing that meets both the efficiency and performance requirements of the designer. To explore the trends in blended hydraulic hybrid sizing a full factorial combination of hydraulic unit sizes, accumulator sizes and accumulator minimum pressures were optimally controlled for the Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS) using dynamic programming and maximum acceleration was simulated to obtain trends in performance.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Who Will Buy Our Paper: Microfinance Cracking the Capital Markets?

On February 5 and 6, 2006, ACCION International, Corporacion Andina de Fomento (CAF) and Deutsche Bank, together with partner Developing World Markets hosted a conference in New York - "Who Will Buy Our Paper: Microfinance Cracking the Capital Markets?" More than 225 bankers, investors, money managers, investment funds and MFIs looked at recently completed local and international debt instruments, experiences of mainstream rating agencies with microfinance evaluations, the role of equity investment, and the challenges that remain to make microfinance investment an asset class. This InSight discusses the main themes of the conference. It describes successful cases of debt and equity financing in microfinance, at local and international levels, as well as exploring constraints and opportunities for the microfinance industry as it continues to seek more financing from the capital markets.
Direct Demand Strategies—Regulatory Restrictions

This congestion relief strategy entails reducing traffic demand through regulatory road use strategies that limit the number and type of vehicles from using roadways or from entering certain areas that become congested when vehicles access is not restricted.
Identity and Nation in African Football: Fans, Community, and Clubs

One of the consequences of the FIFA World Cup held in South Africa in 2010 was the publication of a handful of popular and academic books that consider football on the African continent.1 The incre...
Role-based privilege isolation: A novel authorization model for Android smart devices

Data ex-filtration is a major security concern in smart devices as they often store private and confidential data. Data ex-filtration can potentially lead to identity theft, financial and non-financial risks, and reputation damage for individuals and organizations. In Android smart devices, sandbox mechanism is not flexible enough to allow an application, such as webbrowser, to protect its own data against attacks such as cross-site request forgery, session or cookie hijacking that exploit application or platform vulnerabilities. These attacks in turn can lead to severe sensitive, private and confidential data ex-filtration. In this paper, we propose a novel authorization model for Android smart devices called Role Based Privilege Isolation (RBPI) which intends to mitigate data ex-filtration. This model achieves fine-grained privilege separation by creating roles based on application usage categories. By using roles, different instances of an application can be made to run with different data access privileges. Thus, the model protects sensitive data even in case where other instances of the same application are compromised. RBPI acts as an additional data security layer on top of the existing Android's security model without any performance overhead. Our proposed model is also applicable on any end-user computing system.
Collagen digestion by dog pancreatic juice.

SummaryDegradation of collagen after one day incubation with pancreatic juice or various enzymes was studied. About 6% was degraded by trypsin or by pancreatic juice containing active trypsin. Collagen degradation was much less when incubated with fresh inactive pancreatic juice or pancreatic juice containing trypsin inhibitor. The extensive digestion of collagen previously reported could not be confirmed.
Cross-Cultural Perception and World War IIAmerican Japanists of the 1940s and Their Images of Japan

The decade of the 1940s saw the United States and Japan bitter enemies, reconciled on terms dictated by the United States only after the total subjugation of Japan. The 1940s were also a crucial decade in the development of studies on Japan in the United States. This essay examines that decade's writing on Japan of six Americans—Ruth Benedict, John M. Maki, Edwin O. Reischauer, Charles B. Fahs, John F. Embree, and Helen Mears—and seeks to document the relation between their views of the United States and their views of Japan. The essay suggests that those writers most fully committed at home (to America, to democracy) were those least able to empathize with Japan, and that those somewhat critical of the United States were able to present a less distorted picture of Japan. Thus, the study of writers' domestic commitments emerges as one important guide to the understanding of their views of foreign reality.
The Eng1 β-Glucanase Enhances Histoplasma Virulence by Reducing β-Glucan Exposure

ABSTRACT The fungal pathogen Histoplasma capsulatum parasitizes host phagocytes. To avoid antimicrobial immune responses, Histoplasma yeasts must minimize their detection by host receptors while simultaneously interacting with the phagocyte. Pathogenic Histoplasma yeast cells, but not avirulent mycelial cells, secrete the Eng1 protein, which is a member of the glycosylhydrolase 81 (GH81) family. We show that Histoplasma Eng1 is a glucanase that hydrolyzes β-(1,3)-glycosyl linkages but is not required for Histoplasma growth in vitro or for cell separation. However, Histoplasma yeasts lacking Eng1 function have attenuated virulence in vivo , particularly during the cell-mediated immunity stage. Histoplasma yeasts deficient for Eng1 show increased exposure of cell wall β-glucans, which results in enhanced binding to the Dectin-1 β-glucan receptor. Consistent with this, Eng1-deficient yeasts trigger increased tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) cytokine production from macrophages and dendritic cells. While not responsible for large-scale cell wall structure and function, the secreted Eng1 reduces levels of exposed β-glucans at the yeast cell wall, thereby diminishing potential recognition by Dectin-1 and proinflammatory cytokine production by phagocytes. In α-glucan-producing Histoplasma strains, Eng1 acts in concert with α-glucan to minimize β-glucan exposure: α-glucan provides a masking function by covering the β-glucan-rich cell wall, while Eng1 removes any remaining exposed β-glucans. Thus, Histoplasma Eng1 has evolved a specialized pathogenesis function to remove exposed β-glucans, thereby enhancing the ability of yeasts to escape detection by host phagocytes. IMPORTANCE The success of Histoplasma capsulatum as an intracellular pathogen results, in part, from an ability to minimize its detection by receptors on phagocytic cells of the immune system. In this study, we showed that Histoplasma pathogenic yeast cells, but not avirulent mycelia, secrete a β-glucanase, Eng1, which reduces recognition of fungal cell wall β-glucans. We demonstrated that the Eng1 β-glucanase promotes Histoplasma virulence by reducing levels of surface-exposed β-glucans on yeast cells, thereby enabling Histoplasma yeasts to escape detection by the host β-glucan receptor, Dectin-1. As a consequence, phagocyte recognition of Histoplasma yeasts is reduced, leading to less proinflammatory cytokine production by phagocytes and less control of Histoplasma infection in vivo . Thus, Histoplasma yeasts express two mechanisms to avoid phagocyte detection: masking of cell wall β-glucans by α-glucan and enzymatic removal of exposed β-glucans by the Eng1 β-glucanase.
Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry for analysis of penicillin residues in milk products

Objective To establish a method of ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry( UHPLC-MS / MS) for determination of residues of eight penicillins in milk products. Methods Samples of milk products were extracted by water in super-sonic instrument. Proteins in the extract were precipitated by acetonitrile and degreased by n-hexane with liquid-liquid extraction,then the purified solution was concentrated by nitrogen,dissolved with acetonitrile-water( 10 + 90,v / v) and cleaned by 0. 22 μm millipore filter. The filtrate was separated on a Endeavorsil C18 column by gradient elution in 13 minutes with acetronitrile-water( containing 0. 1% formic acid) as mobile phase. Eight penicillins in milk products were detected by UHPLC-MS / MS,identified by electrospray ionization in positive mode using multiple reaction monitoring,and quantified with external standards. Results The calibration curves of residues of eight penicillins showed good linearity in the range of 1. 0- 100. 0 μg / kg with correlation coefficient in the range of 0. 999 2- 0. 999 8. The detection limit of the method was from 0. 03 μg / kg to 0. 15 μg / kg. The recoveries at three spiking levels ranged from 91. 0% to102. 3%,and relative standard deviations in the range of 1. 02%- 6. 13% were obtained. A total of 78 samples of milk powder,liquid milk,fresh milk,and milk beverage were analyzed. Three samples were proved to contain penicillin G in the range of 0. 2- 1. 6 μg / kg. Conclusion The method was applied to determine residues of eight penicilins in milk products by UPLC-MS / MS and proved to be simple,rapid,and accurate,and meet the requirements of monitoring of penicillin in milk products.
300 NASAL CARRIAGE OF POTENTIALLY VIRULENT STRAINS OF METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS AMONG OTHERWISE HEALTHY CHILDREN IN MOBILE, ALABAMA

Purpose To evaluate the rate of nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in healthy children and to determine the staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec (SCCmec) type and toxin profile of these isolates. Methods Nasal swabs were obtained from children 0-18 years old during their well-child visits at the University of South Alabama outpatient pediatric clinic. All samples were collected during April of 2004. S. aureus was isolated with selective media and antibiotic susceptibilities were performed utilizing the Kirby-Bauer method. D-test was performed among all MRSA isolates resistant to erythromycin. SCCmec type was determined for all MRSA isolates using a multiplex PCR technique. All MRSA and available MSSA isolates were screened for the presence of selected toxin genes using PCR with oligonucleotides specific for the toxins of interest. These toxins included Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), leukocidins LukD-E and LukM, staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST), and the exfoliative toxins ETA and ETB. Results Nasal cultures were obtained from 100 children. MRSA was isolated from the nares of 8% of study subjects while methicillin-susceptible strains of S. aureus (MSSA) were isolated from 23%. 32 children had family members who were health care workers (HCW) and 21 children attended day care centers. None of the cultures from children within these two groups yielded MRSA. Six (75%) of the MRSA isolates were resistant to erythromycin, none of which was resistant to clindamycin. All MRSA isolates were found to be SCCmec type IV. Toxin gene profiles were performed on all MRSA and 13 available MSSA isolates. A high rate of carriage for the gene encoding PVL and the other leukocidins was observed with all isolates. TSST and ETB but not ETA were detected in both MRSA and MSSA isolates. Conclusion There is a high rate of nasal colonization with MRSA among healthy children in our population. The MRSA SCCmec type IV fits the profile associated with community-associated MRSA strains observed elsewhere. Most of the MRSA strains carry PVL and there are associations with TSST and ETB, which suggests a potential for virulence. Day care attendance and contact with HCW are not associated with nasal carriage of MRSA among the children included in this study.
Background paper: functions of coronavirus glycoproteins.

For coronaviruses, the glycoproteins have both historical and biological significance (1,2). Because some coronaviruses were difficult to isolate and propagate, their characteristic large, petal-shaped spikes first allowed coronaviruses to be identified as related agents in a common family. Viral glycoproteins play important roles throughout the life cycle of coronaviruses. Viral glycoproteins interact with receptors on the host cell membrane and are required for penetration of the viral genome into cells by fusion of the viral envelope with the plasma membrane or endosomal membranes. In virus-infected cells, Coronavirus glycoproteins may be glycosylated, acylated, oligomerized, cleaved into subunits by proteases, and transported to specific membrane compartments. The viral glycoproteins participate in assembly of virions, and the intracellular location of viral glycoproteins may determine the location of Coronavirus budding. Viral glycoproteins on the surface of infected cells may permit fusion with adjacent cells, and may make the cell susceptible to immune cytolysis or cell-mediated cytotoxicity, or permit hemadsorption. Epitopes of viral glycoproteins may be recognized by neutralizing, non-neutralizing or hemagglutination-inhibiting antibodies. Thus, elucidation of the structure and functions of Coronavirus glycoproteins is of central importance in understanding the replicative cycle and pathogenesis of coronaviruses.
Myotis leibii (Eastern Small-Footed Myotis) Roosting in Buildings of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

Abstract Myotis leibii (Eastern Small-footed Myotis) are infrequently encountered across their range, and as a result, little is known about their summer roosting ecology. This species is not federally protected, but receives legal protection in many states, including Tennessee. Additional information on the species, particularly its summer roosting ecology, is needed to inform appropriate management and conservation planning. While conducting a summer survey of multiple bat species using buildings as roosts in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, we discovered Eastern Small-footed Myotis roosting in 3 historic buildings on the northwest slope of Mount LeConte. At least 1 building contained a maternity colony. Humans used all 3 buildings on a daily basis.
New Class of Synthetic Membranes: Organophilic Pervaporation Brushes for Organics Recovery

Isolating and concentrating volatile organics such as fuels and intermediate chemicals from aqueous solutions is important for environmental synthesis and processing. We have prepared a new class of easy-to-synthesize polymeric membranes comprising hydrophobic brush-like structures as a selective layer, and have tested them using pervaporation of isobutanol from water. These brush structures were prepared by graft-induced polymerization of hydrophobic vinyl monomers from light-sensitive poly(ether sulfone) nanofiltration support membranes (grafting from) without initiating agents. Graft-induced tethered polymer chains with multiple C18 alkane side-chains out-performed the industry gold standard silicone rubber membrane with selectivities of α = 10.1 ± 0.9 and 6.7 ± 0.1, respectively, at comparable permeation fluxes of 0.7–1.0 ± 0.1 L/m2-h. Preparation of these brush membranes is simpler and easier to scale-up than current methods of preparing asymmetric and composite membrane structures. These brush struc...
Disinfection of Household Cutting Boards with a Microwave Oven

Used cutting boards with numerous knife marks, particularly those made of polymers, are difficult to disinfect manually. Plastic cutting boards have been preferred to wood because they can be washed in dishwashers and used in microwave ovens. Our study tested the microwave oven for disinfection of cutting boards. Surfaces of plastic and wooden cutting boards were inoculated with up to 109 CFU of Escherichia coli or other bacteria in broth culture and later sampled by contact with agar medium for CFU assay or by swabbing for ATP bioluminescence assay. On wood, almost total elimination of vegetative cells occurred with exposure times of the 3 to 4 min at a high setting on typical 450 to 600 g wooden boards, depending on board size, bacterial load, and moisture level. On plastic, microwave energy had almost no lethal effect on bacteria: 12 min of exposure did not reduce the number of bacteria significantly. Increased moisture (wetness) enhanced killing efficiency on wood, but was negligible on plastic. Temperatures near the wood surface reached 95°C within the first 4 min, whereas plastic surfaces reached no more than 40°C. Our study indicates that brief "cooking" of wooden boards at a "high" setting in a microwave oven is an effective way to kill bacteria, and thus a very simple and cheap method to protect food against cross-contaminating pathogens. Because plastic is relatively inert to microwaves, disinfection of plastic boards in a microwave oven is impractical.
The Fine Art of Throwing Sheep: How Facebook Can Contribute to Librarianship and Community in Theological Institutions

“Do you Facebook?” Inquiries on these lines are becoming commonplace amid the growing proliferation of social networking tools. But is Facebook more than a trend in web-based interaction? Will it have long-term significance? While it’s still too early to answer these queries with complete certainty, librarians have already been creating innovative uses for this technology. The strongest attraction to Facebook for theological librarians may not be all the gimmicks and features, but its potential as a tool for connecting with individuals and creating community.
Diversity Education at Land-Grant Universities from the Perspective of a Female Student of Color

As a land-grant university student, in order to graduate I must fulfill the requirement of a two-part diversity course. In reflecting on my own experience and growth from taking these classes as a female student of color, I examined my involvement within the agrifood system. I assert the need for diversity education and training in land-grant universities. Finally, I state the necessity for increased practices and strategies for land grants and extension departments to recruit and retain more diverse students, staff, and faculty. See the press release for this article.
Knowledge is our business.

I am both honored and delighted to be here today. Whatever contributions that I have made to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) would have been impossible without a serious commitment—my wife's. With a professional plate fuller than my own and with the daunting responsibility of raising our three teenage daughters, she has nevertheless encouraged and supported me in my Academy activities. Marybeth, thank you. I would also like to thank you, the Academy fellowship, for giving me the privilege to serve as President. The last two years have been incredibly interesting and challenging, and I have no doubt that this next year will be even more so. My story of involvement in this remarkable organization is probably quite similar to many of yours. Nearly twenty years ago, when I was a fledgling academician, I was unexpectedly asked to serve on a task force of the Committee on Trauma. The United States Food and Drug Administration had approached the Academy to assist the government in defining what was a delayed union and what was a nonunion of a fracture. These definitions would be used in deciding when the federal government approved and funded the use of various electrical stimulation devices. The governmental agencies consulted the Academy—not scientific articles or textbooks, not industry sources, not their in-house consultants—but the Academy, since we were viewed as the source of expert opinion and musculoskeletal knowledge. Chaired by Mike Chapman and assisted by a well-prepared staff, the task force deliberated for an entire day. While the group reached its conclusions, the real value of the exercise emerged. The task force of orthopaedic surgeons unselfishly volunteered their experience, time, and analytical skills to the Academy to further our knowledge and understanding of an important subject. What drove the process was the unrelenting desire to …
Abstract PD7-05: How 21-gene recurrence score assay is being used to individualize adjuvant chemotherapy recommendations in ER+/HER2 -node positive breast cancer -A national cancer data base study

Introduction: The 21-gene Recurrence Score (RS) assay has been shown in retrospective studies to predict benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) in node positive (N+) breast cancer (BC) patients (pts). This study evaluates the trends and patterns of use of RS assay in N+, ER+/HER2-breast cancer and the impact of RS on decision to use AC in a real-world multi-institutional database. Methods: Pts with T1-T4c, N1mi-N3, ER+/HER2- BC diagnosed between 2010 and 2013, included in the National Cancer Data Base were analyzed. Pts who received neo-AC were excluded. Analyses included Cochrane-Armitage tests for trends and multivariable logistic regression assessing factors influencing RS testing and AC recommendations based on RS. Results: Among 73,049 pts, RS was obtained in 20.6%, increasing from 14.9% in 2010 to 24.4% in 2013 (p 85%) with RS 26-30 or high risk RS were recommended AC regardless of N stage. For pts with low risk RS, recommendation for AC increased significantly with increasing N stage (see table). On multivariable analysis, in pts with low risk RS, AC was more likely to be recommended in those with N1/N2+ stage (OR 2.3 and 9.1 vs N1mi), T2 and T3/T4 tumors (OR 1.3 and 2.2 vs T1 tumors), poorly differentiated tumors (OR 1.6) and younger age (OR 3.4 and 1.7, respectively, for Conclusions: RS was obtained in about one fifth of pts with N+ ER+/HER2- BC, predominantly for N1mi and N1 disease. Overall, RS testing decreased frequency of recommendation of AC in N+ BC pts. The RS influenced use of AC particularly in N1mi and N1 pts, likely avoiding overtreatment of those with low risk RS and RS 18-25. Prospective data regarding RS to direct AC in N+ BC are awaited. Citation Format: Peethambaram PP, Hoskin TL, Heins CN, Habermann EB, Boughey JC. How 21-gene recurrence score assay is being used to individualize adjuvant chemotherapy recommendations in ER+/HER2 -node positive breast cancer -A national cancer data base study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PD7-05.
The Nonlinear Relationship Between Sensory and Motor Primitives During Reaching Movements

The stabilizing role of sensory feedback in relation to movement dynamics remains to be poorly understood in realistic three-dimensional movements of limbs. The objective of this experimental and computational study was to classify the contribution of sensory feedback from muscle spindles to the control of assistive and resistive limb dynamics during human pointing movements. We integrated a human upper-limb musculoskeletal model with a model of Ia primary afferent discharge to analyze motion and muscle activation patterns during reaching movements in virtual reality (VR). The reaching target locations in VR were selected to define movements with varying roles of gravity and interaction torques that created diverse dynamical contexts. Nine healthy human subjects performed the VR task by pointing to the reaching targets with visual feedback of their arm location. Motion capture and electromyography (EMG) were recorded, and joint torques and Ia primary afferent discharge were estimated using the integrated model. The experimental and simulated data were analyzed with hierarchal clustering (Gritsenko et al., 2016). The clustering analysis of EMG and predicted proprioceptive signals showed a divergent relationship between muscle activation and sensory feedback patterns. Even though the Ia models had nonlinear dynamical components, their output was still most related to the anatomical grouping of muscles and less so to the dynamical contexts of each movement, reflected in muscle activations. Altogether, these results suggest that sensory feedback is nonlinearly related to muscle activation profiles and that it may contribute information necessary for coupling between proximal and distal muscle groups.
Economic Incentives for Managing Filterable Biological Pollution Risks from Trade.

Infectious livestock disease problems are “biological pollution” problems. Prior work on biological pollution problems generally examines the efficient allocation of prevention and control efforts, but does not identify the specific externalities underpinning the design of efficiency-enhancing policy instruments. Prior analyses also focus on problems where those being damaged do not contribute to externalities. We examine a problem where the initial biological introduction harms the importer and then others are harmed by spread from this importer. Here, the externality is the spread of infection beyond the initial importer. This externality is influenced by the importer’s private risk management choices, which provide impure public goods that reduce disease spillovers to others—making disease spread a “filterable externality.” We derive efficient policy incentives to internalize filterable disease externalities given uncertainties about introduction and spread. We find efficiency requires incentivizing an importer’s trade choices along with self-protection and abatement efforts, in contrast to prior work that targets trade alone. Perhaps surprisingly, we find these incentives increase with importers’ private risk management incentives and with their ability to directly protect others. In cases where importers can spread infection to each other, we find filterable externalities may lead to multiple Nash equilibria.
Identifying student communication strategies involving spatial information

Spatial ability and effective communication are considered important skills in the engineering and technology fields. However, little research has been done to assess how engineering or technology students communicate spatial information. Effective spatial information can help engineers and technologists describe their design, as well as how parts of a design are assembled into a final shape. In this study, researchers aimed at identifying strategies used between two peers, referred to as a dyad, as they communicate information to transform a 3D virtual model into a physical scale model. The focus of analysis is on the metacognitive strategies dyads used to identify difficulties in communication. A quasi-experimental design was used to observe the processes used by 6 dyads of graduate students from engineering technology and technology fields. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were used to identify common communication patterns and determine when participants decided on a change of communication strategy. Results show that only two out of six dyads reproduced the model correctly. Successful teams developed an assembly strategy prior to building and used task monitoring to check for misplaced pieces. Less successful teams relied more on repeated instructions to manage miscommunication.
Steady States as Natural Rates in a Dynamic Discrete Choice Model of Labor Supply

In recent years economists have moved away from viewing unemployment as a stock concept. It is now popular to view unemployment at a given time as the result of flows of individuals between the various labor market states (employment, unemployment, and nonparticipation). The purpose of this study Is to provide a general framework in which these flows can be analyzed. This will then be used to estimate what we shall term the natural rates of both unemployment and nonparticipation for various groups.
Baroreceptor Activation for Hypertension and Heart Failure

Abstract The rising incidence of hypertension and the increasing prevalence of treatment-resistant hypertension carry significant societal impact from a public health perspective. Nonpharmacologic adjuncts to the treatment of hypertension are a welcome addition to the management of hypertension and likely necessary for some patients. With the longitudinal success of the Rheos Pivotal Trial in sustained reduction in blood pressure and the early encouragement of a possibly safer procedural approach in the Barostim neo Trial, there is encouraging evidence that baroreceptor activation therapy may become a viable adjunct in the treatment of resistant hypertension and perhaps change the landscape of how we approach hypertension. Heart failure (HF), the leading cause of hospitalization among adults >65 years of age in the United States, is intertwined with the very same physiological system baroreflex activation therapy (BAT) targets. The Barostim neo and its application in HF may hold the most immediate promise for mainstream use of BAT. The positive effects on functional status and improvement in quality of life for patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III HF already on guideline-directed medical therapy may make BAT a desirable treatment option for many patients living with a debilitating disease.
Training in Advanced Endoscopy.

Advanced endoscopy is vastly expanding in its practical implications and complexity. Over the years, the role of advanced endoscopic procedures has expanded from a primarily diagnostic to complex diagnostic and therapeutic procedures with many conditions that were managed surgically in the past being managed effectively with endoscopic approaches. With the increasing complexity of these procedures, training in advanced endoscopy has gained paramount importance. Training in advanced endoscopy requires acquisition of many skills – technical, cognitive, and integrative, those beyond standard endoscopic skills acquired during a 3-year training program. Expertise in basic endoscopy is a prerequisite for learning advanced endoscopy. Given the overall complexity of these procedures, adequate and appropriate training in advanced endoscopy is critical. These procedures are highly operator dependent and associated with higher rates of adverse events including life-threatening bleeding, perforation, and pancreatitis (Andriulli A, Loperfido S, Napolitano G, et al. Incidence rates of post-ERCP complications: a systematic survey of prospective studies. Am J Gastroenterol. 2007;102(8):1781–8). Given the changing healthcare landscape, reimbursements will soon be linked to performance and quality of care provided. Hence, in this era of value-based care, adequate training in advanced endoscopy is critical to ensure that quality metrics in endoscopy are being met.
Effect of a Radical Cystectomy Care Pathway on Postoperative Length of Stay and Outcomes.

Objective To determine whether an enhance recovery protocol for radical cystectomy patient affected the length of stay or the number and type of readmissions that occurred after hospital discharge. Materials and Methods We prospectively assessed 152 cystectomy patients after initiation of the pathway. These patients were compared with the previous 147 patient operated on before the pathway initiation. Eligible patients were those undergoing radical cystectomy with any diversion at our institution. Univariate tests were performed using Wilcoxon sum-rank and chi-square tests. Multivariate analyses were performed using logistic regression models to assess for patient factors related to readmissions. Results With institution of the pathway, length of stay decreased from 10 to 7.1 days. Our readmission rates did not change significantly. Patients were readmitted for different reasons after pathway implementation, with the rate of urinary tract infection-related readmissions increasing from 14.3% to 40.4%, but with a concomitant decrease in the rate of readmissions for wound and deep space infections from 42.9% to 23.4%. Our venous thromboembolism rate decreased from 6.8% to 3.3% with implementation of the protocol. Conclusion Implementation of a cystectomy care pathway significantly decreased length of stay without an increased rate of readmissions at 30 days. No patient factors predisposed to an increased rate of readmission. Pathway implementation led to a decrease in wound and deep space infection readmissions, but was associated with an increase in urinary tract infection readmissions. Further studies are examining if early intervention can further decrease readmission rates.
MRP1, Multiple Drug Resistance Protein 1

MRP1 is a 190 kDa ABC protein that belongs to the ABCC subfamily of multidrug resistance proteins. It is expressed in a variety of drug-resistant tumor cell lines, in many human tumors and normal tissues. It mediates ATP dependent transport of numerous structurally diverse endogenous and exogenous organic compounds. Transport of certain substrates is stimulated in the presence of GSH …
Integrated analysis of productivity and machine condition degradation: Performance evaluation and bottleneck identification

AbstractMachine condition degradation is widely observed in manufacturing systems. It has been shown that machines working at different operating states may break down in different probabilistic ma...
Batteries: Predicting Calendar Aging in Lithium Metal Secondary Batteries: The Impacts of Solid Electrolyte Interphase Composition and Stability (Adv. Energy Mater. 26/2018)

Author(s): Wood, Sean M; Fang, Chengcheng; Dufek, Eric J; Nagpure, Shrikant C; Sazhin, Sergiy V; Liaw, Boryann; Meng, Y Shirley