cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
All-atom Molecular-level Computational Simulations of Planar Longitudinal Shockwave Interactions with Polyurea, Soda-lime Glass and Polyurea/Glass Interfaces

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study the mechanical response of polyurea, soda-lime glass (glass, for short), polyurea/glass/polyurea and glass/polyurea/glass sandwich structures under dynamic-loading conditions involving propagation of planar longitudinal shockwaves. Design/methodology/approach – The problem of shockwave generation, propagation and interaction with material boundaries is investigated using non-equilibrium molecular dynamics. The results obtained are used to construct basic shock Hugoniot relationships associated with the propagation of shockwaves through a homogeneous material (polyurea or glass, in the present case). The fidelity of these relations is established by comparing them with their experimental counterparts, and the observed differences are rationalized in terms of the microstructural changes experienced by the shockwave-swept material. The relationships are subsequently used to predict the outcome of the interactions of shockwaves with polyurea/glass or glass/polyu...
State of the art in therapeutic hypothermia

Historically, hypothermia was induced prior to surgery to enable procedures with prolonged ischemia, such as open heart surgery and organ transplant. Within the past decade, the efficacy of hypothermia to treat emergency cases of ongoing ischemia such as stroke, myocardial infarction, and cardiac arrest has been studied. Although the exact role of ischemia/reperfusion is unclear clinically, hypothermia holds significant promise for improving outcomes for patients suffering from reperfusion after ischemia. Research has elucidated two distinct windows of opportunity for clinical use of hypothermia. In the early intra-ischemia window, hypothermia modulates abnormal cellular free radical production, poor calcium management, and poor pH management. In the more delayed post-reperfusion window, hypothermia modulates the downstream necrotic, apoptotic, and inflammatory pathways that cause delayed cell death. Improved cooling and monitoring technologies are required to realize the full potential of this therapy. Herein we discuss the current state of clinical practice, clinical trials, recommendations for cooling, and ongoing research on therapeutic hypothermia.
Studies relating to magnitudes of earthquakes and explosions

A problem plaguing magnitude studies, which was recently re-emphasized by Freedman [1967], is the scatter in the magnitude estimates of individual stations for a given event. Significant progress on this problem has been made in the last few years. Much of the scatter can be removed if proper account is taken of source, path, and receiving area effects.
Use of Dependency Information for Memory Optimizations in Distributed Streaming Applications

In this paper we explore the potential of using application data dependency information to reduce the average memory consumption in distributed streaming applications. By analyzing data dependencies during the application runtime, we can infer which data items are not going to influence the application's output. This information is then incorporated into the garbage collector, extending the garbage identification problem to include not only data items that are not reachable, but also those data items that are not fully processed and dropped. We present three garbage collection algorithms. Each of the algorithms uses different data dependency information. We implement the algorithms and compare their performance for a color tracker application. Our results show that these algorithms not only succeed in substantially reducing the average memory usage but also improve the overall performance of the application. The results also indicate that the garbage identification algorithms that achieve a low memory footprint perform their garbage identification decisions locally; however, they base these decisions on best-effort global information. The results also indicate that the garbage identification algorithms perform best when they base their decisions on best-effort global information obtained from other components of the distributed application.
Internet Censorship in Iran: A First Look

The Iranian government operates one of the largest and most sophisticated Internet censorship regimes in the world, but the mechanisms it employs have received little research attention, primarily due to lack of access to network connections within the country and personal risks to Iranian citizens who take part. In this paper, we examine the status of Internet censorship in Iran based on network measurements conducted from a major Iranian ISP during the lead up to the June 2013 presidential election. We measure the scope of the censorship by probing Alexa’s top 500 websites in 18 different categories. We investigate the technical mechanisms used for HTTP Host‐based blocking, keyword filtering, DNS hijacking, and protocol-based throttling. Finally, we map the network topology of the censorship infrastructure and find evidence that it relies heavily on centralized equipment, a property that might be fruitfully exploited by next generation approaches to censorship circumvention.
Leveraging inter-rater agreement for audio-visual emotion recognition

Human expressions are often ambiguous and unclear, resulting in disagreement or confusion among different human evaluators. In this paper, we investigate how audiovisual emotion recognition systems can leverage prototypicality, the level of agreement or confusion among human evaluators. We propose the use of a weighted Support Vector Machine to explicitly model the relationship between the prototypicality of training instances and evaluated emotion from the IEMOCAP corpus. We choose weights of prototypical and non-prototypical instances based on the maximal accuracy of each speaker. We then provide per-speaker analysis to understand specific speech characteristics associated with the information gain of emotion given prototypicality information. Our experimental results show that neutrality, one of the most challenging emotion to recognize, has the highest performance gain from prototypicality information, compared to other emotion classes: Angry, Happy, and Sad. We also show that the proposed method improves the overall multi-class classification accuracy significantly over traditional methods that do not leverage prototypicality.
The Other Sullivan Case

The standard triumphalist narrative of NEW YORK TIMES V. SULLIVAN celebrates the Supreme Court's defense of free speech and press in the case's vindication of powerful journalistic institution. Ignored in this story is the story of the local defendants, civil rights leaders in Alabama who had their solvency threatened by the state courts' vindictive action against them. These defendants challenged the segregated proceedings used in court to affix liability to them- - but the Supreme Court ignored their arguments and ignored the racial-equality and individual-rights aspects of the case. From their point of view, SULLIVAN might be so unalloyed a triumph.
Stresses Associated with Moving Cage Layers to Floor Pens

Abstract INTRODUCTION SEVERAL situations may arise which make it desirable for poultrymen to move their hens from individual cages to floor pens. For this reason it seems important to learn if the egg production, and relative fertility and hatchability of eggs laid by cage layers is affected by their transfer to floor pens. Included in this report are the results from trials conducted at this station during the past two years. Cage layers were combined with floor layers in floor pens after each had been in production for four months. Then, their performances were compared for the ensuing four months. Egg production for two different genotypic groups was studied in the first trial. In the second, egg production, fertility and hatchability were studied for three genotypic groups. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE AND RESULTS In Table 1, the five experimental groups are listed with the respective years and numbers involved in the trials. The …
Gastric mucosal damage in rats induced by lateral hypothalamic lesions: protection by propantheline, cimetidine, and vagotomy.

SummaryExperiment 1 demonstrated that gastric mucosal damage in rats induced by lateral hypothalamic (LH) lesions could be significantly reduced by antisecretory doses of propantheline, cimetidine, and by vagotomy, however, only propantheline also prevented hypersalivation and chromodacryorrhea. These results indicate that a primary effect of LH lesions is to produce an abrupt increase in parasym-pathetic activity. Experiment 2 showed that gastric mucosal barrier functions were altered by LH lesions even before visible defects of the mucosa were present. It is suggested that an increase in permeability of the gastric mucosa may play an important role in the pathogenesis of gastric ulceration induced by hypothalamic damage.
Business Ethics and Ideals

John Hasnas (2013) argues for a “Principles Approach” to supplant normative theory and casuistry in business ethics pedagogy. This Commentary argues some normative theory ought still to have some place in business ethics education and that the problems Hasnas sees in business ethics pedagogy only tell half the story. IN A PROVOCATIVE and compelling article, John Hasnas (2013)2 addresses failures in business ethics pedagogy. Such failures are the result of professors falling prey to either the Scylla or the Charybdis of business ethics pedagogy. The Scylla in business ethics pedagogy is the tendency to prioritize highly abstract philosophical theories that are then applied to “particular ethical problems” in business [276]. When take to extremes, this approach employs concepts and language far removed from the business world, and thus it remains “virtually unintelligible to the audience [i.e., the students] it is intended to reach” [276]. The Charybdis is the tendency to eschew any abstract theory in favor of casuistry, which Hasnas describes as the use of case-based analyses where students identify the impacts of business Business Ethics Journal Review SCHOLARLY COMMENTS ON ACADEMIC BUSINESS ETHICS businessethicsjournalreview.com ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ Discuss this commentary at http://bejr.co/2014-0206x 1 Loyola University Chicago. Email: gwolcot@luc.edu 2 Bracketed page references in the text are to Hasnas (2013). Cite as: Bus Ethics J Rev 2(6): 36–41, http://doi.org/10.12747/bejr2014.02.06 Edited by Chris MacDonald & Alexei Marcoux
Surveillance for Intelligent Emergency Response Robotic Aircraft (SIERRA)- VTOL Aircraft for Emergency Response

The Surveillance for Intelligent Emergency Response Robotic Aircraft (SIERRA) project was formed to unite academia and emergency response units for assessment of the viability of UAVs for enhanced situational awareness. The goals of SIERRA, focusing on forest fire applications, are not only to have an eye in the sky but additionally to circumvent loss of life and limit property damage by utilizing a low cost, easy deployable UAV system. The main concept is that real-time data gathered coupled with an accurate predictive capability and rapid dissemation of processed information by the incident commander makes a very meaningful difference in disaster/emergency response With the real-time monitoring capabilities and the capabilities of onboard sensors firefighters can see the real fire and its progression on any level of the Incident Command Structure. This paper presents the SIERRA system and summarizes limited tests conducted in collaboration with West Virginia forestry.
Abstract LB-156: The role of AKR1B10 in early tumorigenesis depends on AMP-activated protein Kinase-α checkpoint

The role of AKR1B10 in early tumorigenesis depends on AMP-activated protein Kinase-α checkpoint Jun Ma and Deliang Cao 1 Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology, & Cell Biology, Simmons Cancer Institute, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. 913 N. Rutledge Street, Springfield, IL 62794. Aldo-keto reductase 1B10 (AKR1B10) is upregulated in 71.4% ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and 83.6% invasive breast cancer. Furthermore, AKR1B10 expression is correlated significantly with tumor size, node status and disease-related survival. In malignant cells, AKR1B10 promotes cell growth and survival via provoking cellular lipid synthesis and eliminating cytotoxic α, β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. Therefore, AKR1B10 may play an oncogenic role in tumor growth and progression. This study is aimed to explore the role of AKR1B10 in early tumorigenesis. Interestingly, our data show that the expression of AKR1B10 in MCF10A cell, a normal breast epithelium cell line, led to elevation of p53 levels and premature senescence. However, in RAO-1 cells, an hTERT-immortalized breast epithelium cell line, AKR1B10 expression promoted glucose uptake, glycolysis and fatty acid synthesis, and subsequent cell growth instead. Further studies revealed that AMP-activated protein kinase-alpha (AMPKα), which is an important metabolic barrier during cell transformation, was activated upon AKR1B10 expression in both cell lines. On the other hand, down-regulation of AMPKα by shRNA rescued AKR1B10-induced senescence in MCF10A while partially abrogated pro-metabolism effect of AKR1B10 in RAO-1 cells and caused cell growth inhibition. In summary, the role of AKR1B10 in early tumorigenesis depended on AMPKα checkpoint. When this checkpoint is intact, AKR1B10 activates AMPKα and triggers p53 activation and consequential cellular senescence. On the contrary, when this checkpoint is dysfunctional, such as in cells with constitutive expression of telomerase, AKR1B10 activates AMPKα, enhances glucose and lipid metabolism and promotes cell proliferation. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-156. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-LB-156
An ALE-Eulerian Formulation of Embedded Boundary Methods for Turbulent Fluid-Structure Interaction Problems

Eulerian Embedded Boundary Methods (EBMs) for Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) are particularly attractive for complex fluid-structure interaction (FSI) problems such as those involving large structural motions and deformations, or topological changes, and for which the alternative Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) methods are simply unfeasible because of mesh crossovers. However for viscous flows, EBMs also face many challenges. Chief among them is the fact that they do not track the boundary layers around dynamic rigid or flexible bodies, essentially because they are Eulerian methods. As a result, their application to viscous FSI problems requires either high mesh resolutions in large percentages of the computational fluid domain in order to capture at all times the viscous effects, or adaptive mesh refinement. Unfortunately, these two options are either computationally inefficient, or labor intensive. For this reason, this paper proposes a simple and yet computationally reasonable alternative for maintaining the boundary layers resolved throughout the simulation using an EBM of a turbulent viscous flow past a dynamic body. In this alternative, the underlying non body-fitted mesh is rigidly translated and/or rotated to track the rigid component of the motion of the dynamic obstacle, the flow computations away from the embedded surface are performed using an ALE approach, and the wall boundary conditions are treated by the chosen Eulerian EBM. Hence, the proposed solution of the boundary layer tracking problem can be described as an ALEEulerian formulation and implementation of an otherwise purely Eulerian EBM of interest. The basic features of this approach are illustrated with the Large Eddy Simulation on a non body-fitted mesh of a turbulent flow past an airfoil in heaving motion. Its potential for the simulation of challenging FSI problems at reasonable computational costs is also demonstrated with the computation of a turbulent flow past a highly flexible flapping wing.
Intervention for smoking cessation: from randomized controlled trial to real world

Michael Siegel, a physician, is Professor of Community Health Sciences at the Boston University School of Public Health, where he conducts research on tobacco control science and policy and teaches courses on social and behavioral sciences in public health. He is the author of more than 90 peer-reviewed articles on tobacco, focusing on youth smoking, secondhand smoke science and policy, and the evaluation of policies to reduce tobacco use. He is also the author of a book entitled “Marketing Public Health: Strategies to Promote Social Change” and of a popular tobacco control policy blog, entitled “The Rest of the Story: Tobacco News Analysis and Commentary”. About the Author
Trauma and the psychosis spectrum: A review of symptom specificity and explanatory mechanisms

Traumatic life events have been robustly associated with various psychosis outcomes, including increased risk of psychotic disorders, the prodrome of psychosis, and dimensional measures of psychotic symptoms, such as attenuated positive psychotic symptoms. However, trauma exposure has been linked to various mental disorders; therefore, the specificity of trauma exposure to psychosis remains unclear. This review focuses on two understudied areas of the trauma and psychosis literature: 1) the specificity between trauma and psychosis in relation to other disorders that often result post-trauma, and 2) proposed mechanisms that uniquely link trauma to psychosis. We begin by discussing the underlying connection between trauma exposure and the entire psychosis spectrum with a focus on the influence of trauma type and specific psychotic symptoms. We then consider how the principles of multifinality and equifinality can be useful in elucidating the trauma-psychosis relationship versus the trauma-other disorder relationship. Next, we discuss several cognitive and neurobiological mechanisms that might uniquely account for the association between trauma and psychosis, as well as the role of gender. Lastly, we review important methodological issues that complicate the research on trauma and psychosis, ending with clinical implications for the field.
Arrest at the diplotene stage of meiotic prophase I is delayed by progesterone but is not required for primordial follicle formation in mice

In mammalian females, reproductive capacity is determined by the size of the primordial follicle pool. During embryogenesis, oogonia divide mitotically but cytokinesis is incomplete so oogonia remain connected in germ cell cysts. Oogonia begin to enter meiosis at 13.5 days postcoitum in the mouse and over several days, oocytes progress through the stages of meiotic prophase I arresting in the diplotene stage. Concurrently, germ cell cysts break apart and individual oocytes become surrounded by granulosa cells forming primordial follicles. In rats, inhibition of a synaptonemal complex protein caused premature arrival at the diplotene stage and premature primordial follicle assembly suggesting diplotene arrest might trigger primordial follicle formation. Cyst breakdown and primordial follicle formation are blocked by exposure to steroid hormones but hormone effects on the timing of diplotene arrest are unclear. Here, we asked: (1) if oocytes were required to arrest in diplotene before follicles formed, (2) if all oocytes within a germ cell cyst arrested at diplotene synchronously, and (3) if steroid hormones affected progression through prophase I. Meiotic stage and follicle formation were assessed in histological sections. Statistical differences over time were determined using one-way ANOVA followed by Newman-Keuls multiple comparisons test. To determine if steroid hormones affect the rate of progression to the diplotene stage, 17.5 dpc ovaries were placed in organ culture with media containing estradiol, progesterone or both hormones. In this case, differences were determined using one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s multiple comparisons test. We found primordial follicles containing oocytes at the diplotene stage as well as follicles containing oocytes at pre-diplotene stages. We also found individual germ cell cysts containing oocytes at both diplotene and pre-diplotene stages. Progesterone but not estradiol reduced the number of diplotene oocytes in ovary organ culture. Our results suggest that meiotic progression and primordial follicle formation are independent events. In addition, oocytes in germ cell cysts do not synchronously proceed through meiosis. Finally, only progesterone delayed transit though meiotic prophase I.
Participation in Cardiac Rehabilitation Among Patients With Heart Failure.

Abstract Background Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is linked to reduced mortality and morbidity, including improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness, psychosocial state, and quality of life in patients with heart failure (HF). However, little is known about CR utilization among patients with HF. Objective We sought to determine (a) the proportion of patients with HF who participated in CR and (b) patient characteristics associated with participation. Methods A retrospective study was conducted with the use of national data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Veterans Health Administration. We used primary discharge ICD-9 codes to identify patients hospitalized for HF during 2007–2011 and identified CR participation with the use of current procedure terminology codes from claims data. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify patient characteristics associated with CR participation. Results There were 66,710 veterans and 243,208 Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized for HF and 1554 (2.3%) and 6280 (2.6%), respectively, who attended ≥1 sessions of outpatient CR. Among Medicare beneficiaries, men were more likely than women to participate in CR (3.7% vs 1.8%; P P = .40). Characteristics associated with participation in CR in both groups included younger age, white race, and history of ischemic heart disease. Conclusions Very few HF patients participated in CR, with lower rates among older non-white women with a history of depression or other chronic medical conditions. Because Medicare has recently introduced coverage for CR in patients with systolic HF, we must increase efforts to improve CR participation, especially among these vulnerable groups.
Safety and efficacy of minimal biliary sphincterotomy with papillary balloon dilation (m-EBS+EPBD) in patients using clopidogrel or anticoagulation.

Background and study aims Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy (EBS) or endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) are common techniques of biliary decompression. Potential risks include gastrointestinal hemorrhage, which can be increased by antiplatelet agents, anticoagulants (AC) and/or novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) (ie. apixaban, dabigatran and rivaroxaban). The study aim is to evaluate the safety/efficacy of an alternative technique, minimal-EBS plus EPBD (m-EBS + EPBD), in individuals for whom clopidogrel, AC, and/or NOACs cannot be interrupted due to high cardiovascular or thromboembolic risk. Patients and methods Patients undergoing m-EBS + EPBD while taking clopidogrel and/or AC were retrospectively evaluated at two United States tertiary care centers for efficacy, GIB and procedure-related, cardiovascular and thromboembolic adverse events (AE). Results Ninety-five patients were identified [55 = clopidogrel and 45 = AC (31.1 % NOACs)]. The main indication for ERCP was choledocholithiasis (34 %). 100 % clinical improvement and 97.9 % endoscopic success were found. The incidence of AE was 5.3 %. There was a 4.2 % incidence of gastrointestinal hemorrhage (2 cases requiring endoscopic intervention). Both severe gastrointestinal hemorrhages also experienced the cases of post-ERCP pancreatitis, and 2 /3 of cholangitis (all aspirin + AC). There was 1cardiovascular event (non-ST elevation myocardial infarction), and no thromboembolic events. Conclusions Minimal-EBS + EPBD is an effective and safe therapy with an incidence of gastrointestinal hemorrhage of 4.2 %, (2.1 % requiring endoscopic intervention), for patients on clopidogrel and/or AC, with a high risk for cardiovascular/thromboembolic events.
Congenital Cardiac Intensive Care and Management of Cardiac Arrest

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common congenital anomaly with a worldwide prevalence of 9 per 1000 live births (van der Linde et al. 2011). Congenital heart disease incidence has remained stable (Hoffman and Kaplan 2002), but longevity has improved. Since the advent of neonatal repair of complex lesions in the 1970s, an estimated 85 % of patients survive into adult life. Over 90 % of infants born with congenital heart anomalies can now expect to reach adulthood (Khairy et al. 2010), and it is anticipated that almost 1 in 150 young adults in the next decade will have some form of CHD (Khairy et al. 2008).
The Joy of Cataloging Community Cookbooks

ABSTRACTCountless fundraiser or community cookbooks produced over the years provide ample research potential for history and social scholars. The production quality and the ephemeral nature of these cookbooks pose descriptive challenges when adding them to library catalogs. While Resource Description and Access brings more flexibility to the descriptive process, the current dependence on MARC records still imposes some restrictions on encoding the descriptive elements. Libraries are starting to transition towards a linked data environment using the Bibliographic Framework (under development by the Library of Congress), which will result in a richer and more flexible environment for bibliographic control.
DREADD-Induced cFos Expression in the Basal Forebrain of Male Rats

Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs, or DREADDs, are genetically modified G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR) that are sensitive to an exogenous pharmacological agent, clozapi...
Development of an overweight vehicle permit fee structure for Illinois

Abstract Permits are one of the most effective and common tools for state agencies to regulate the operation of overweight and oversize trucks to ensure the safety of passenger and freight traffic and to minimize damage to pavements and bridges. Although the State of Illinois uses a relatively comprehensive permit system, many of its parts have not been revised for more than 30 years. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate up-to-date impacts of overweight (OW) trucks and develop an equitable permit system. In this study, impacts of OW trucks on bridges, pavements, and traffic safety were evaluated; and individual fees were developed for each. The most recent databases on infrastructure condition and state-of-the-art prediction algorithms were employed to produce realistic and up-to-date assessment of OW trucks’ impact. Finally, two approaches were recommended to combine individual fees. The first approach requires developed frameworks for calculating individual fees to be integrated with existing geographic information system-based online permit tools that are currently used by many departments of transportations (DOTs). These tools compute the fee for each vehicle by reporting a route based on user-input origin/destination. The information specific to each OW vehicle (e.g., mile, axle spacing, weight, bridge inventory rating) can be extracted from the reported routes and injected into the developed frameworks. Thereby, the fee can be computed in an equitable and more accurate way. The second approach is converting the frameworks into a formula to conform to the conventional permit fee calculation schemes (e.g., table format).
Tree Sampling as a Method to Assess Vapor Intrusion Potential at a Site Characterized by VOC-Contaminated Groundwater and Soil

Vapor intrusion (VI) by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the built environment presents a threat to human health. Traditional VI assessments are often time-, cost-, and labor-intensive; whereas traditional subsurface methods sample a relatively small volume in the subsurface and are difficult to collect within and near structures. Trees could provide a similar subsurface sample where roots act as the “sampler’ and are already onsite. Regression models were developed to assess the relation between PCE concentrations in over 500 tree-core samples with PCE concentrations in over 50 groundwater and 1000 soil samples collected from a tetrachloroethylene- (PCE-) contaminated Superfund site and analyzed using gas chromatography. Results indicate that in planta concentrations are significantly and positively related to PCE concentrations in groundwater samples collected at depths less than 20 m (adjusted R2 values greater than 0.80) and in soil samples (adjusted R2 values greater than 0.90). Results indicate ...
IPF lung fibroblasts have a senescent phenotype

The mechanisms of aging that are involved in the development of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are still unclear. Although it has been hypothesized that the proliferation and activation of human lung fibroblasts (hLFs) are essential in IPF, no studies have assessed how this process works in an aging lung. Our goal was to elucidate if there were age-related changes on primary hLFs isolated from IPF lungs compared with age-matched controls. We investigated several hallmarks of aging in hLFs from IPF patients and age-matched controls. IPF hLFs have increased cellular senescence with higher expression of β-galactosidase, p21, p16, p53, and cytokines related to the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) as well as decreased proliferation/apoptosis compared with age-matched controls. Additionally, we observed shorter telomeres, mitochondrial dysfunction, and upon transforming growth factor-β stimulation, increased markers of endoplasmic reticulum stress. Our data suggest that IPF hLFs develop senescence resulting in a decreased apoptosis and that the development of SASP may be an important contributor to the fibrotic process observed in IPF. These results might change the existing paradigm, which describes fibroblasts as aberrantly activated cells, to a cell with a senescence phenotype.
Assessing the effectiveness of technology transfer from US government R&D laboratories: the impact of market orientation

Abstract This study, based on a national survey of US government laboratories, assesses the degree of success laboratories have had in transferring technology to industry, taking into account the laboratories' differing receptivity to market influences. Three success criteria are considered here, two based on self-evaluations, and a third based on the number of technology licenses issued from the laboratory. The two self-evaluations are rooted in different types of effectiveness, ‘getting technology out the door’ in one case and, in the other, having a demonstrable commercial impact. A core hypothesis of the study is that the two types of effectiveness will be responsive to different factors and, in particular, the laboratories with a clearer market orientation will have a higher degree of success on the commercial impact and technology license criteria. Overall, the results seem to suggest that multi-faceted, multi-mission laboratories are likely to enjoy the most success in technology transfer, especially if they have relatively low levels of bureaucratization, and either ties to industry (particularly direct financial ties) or a commercial orientation in the selection of projects.
Instituting Ultrasound-Guided FNA for Thyroid Nodules into a General Surgery Residency Program: What We Learned.

Background Evaluation of a thyroid nodule is a common referral seen by surgeons and frequently requires ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (US-guided FNA). While surgical residents may have sufficient exposure to thyroid surgery, many lack exposure to office-based procedures, such as US-guided FNA. General surgery residents should be provided with knowledge and practical skills in the application of diagnostic and interventional neck ultrasound to manage the common workup of a thyroid nodule. Methods This study sought to instruct and measure surgical residents' performance in thyroid US-guided FNA and evaluate their views regarding instituting such a formal curriculum. Twelve (n = 12) senior residents completed a written pretest and questionnaire, then watched an instructional video and practiced a simulated thyroid US-guided FNA on our created model. Then residents were evaluated while performing actual thyroid US-guided FNAs on patients in our clinic. Residents then completed the same written exam and questionnaire for objective measure. Results Eight of the chief residents (62%) felt “not comfortable” with the procedure on the pre-course survey; this was reduced to 0% on the post-course survey. Moderate comfort level increased from 15% to 50% and extreme comfort increased from 0% to 8%. From the 11 residents who completed the pre- and post-test exam, 82% (n = 9) significantly improved their score through the curriculum (pre-test: 40.9 vs. post-test: 61.8; p = 0.05). Conclusion With focused instruction, residents are able to learn ultrasound-guided thyroid biopsy with improvement in subjective confidence level and objective measures. Resident feedback was positive and emphasized the importance of such training in surgical residency curriculum.
Integrative studies of cultural evolution: crossing disciplinary boundaries to produce new insights.

Culture evolves according to dynamics on multiple temporal scales, from individuals9 minute-by-minute behaviour to millennia of cultural accumulation that give rise to population-level differences. These dynamics act on a range of entities—including behavioural sequences, ideas and artefacts as well as individuals, populations and whole species—and involve mechanisms at multiple levels, from neurons in brains to inter-population interactions. Studying such complex phenomena requires an integration of perspectives from a diverse array of fields, as well as bridging gaps between traditionally disparate areas of study. In this article, which also serves as an introduction to the current special issue, we highlight some specific respects in which the study of cultural evolution has benefited and should continue to benefit from an integrative approach. We showcase a number of pioneering studies of cultural evolution that bring together numerous disciplines. These studies illustrate the value of perspectives from different fields for understanding cultural evolution, such as cognitive science and neuroanatomy, behavioural ecology, population dynamics, and evolutionary genetics. They also underscore the importance of understanding cultural processes when interpreting research about human genetics, neuroscience, behaviour and evolution. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Bridging cultural gaps: interdisciplinary studies in human cultural evolution’.
Toward a Humanizing Pedagogy: Using Latinx Children's Literature with Early Childhood Students.

This article describes second-grade emergent bilinguals’ dialogue in culture circles. I share how the tenets of humanizing pedagogy were manifested as my students and I engaged in critical pedagogy...
Waste Disposal in the Research Laboratory

A large array of undesirable wastes are generated in the research laboratory. Waste disposal is one of the most critical, and often the most troublesome, aspects of laboratory safety. Proper handling, storage, and disposal of wastes are extremely important to the overall safety program. A waste disposal program can be strengthened by utilizing a centralized appproach to organize the collection of wastes and to manage the interim storage. As a minimum, each laboratory unit must develop procedures for the handling and storage of wastes, to ensure that they are handled in a consistent manner and that laboratory personnel develop proper habits for dealing with what may be viewed as the potentially hazardous byproducts of their work.
Conceptual frameworks in undergraduate nursing curricula: report of a national survey.

A national survey was conducted to analyze the components of conceptual frameworks to assess how they are being used to organize the curricula of nursing programs and to determine whether there was a difference among types of programs (i.e., baccalaureate degree, associate degree, diploma). A stratified, random sample of 300 National League for Nursing Accrediting Committee-accredited schools of nursing was selected based on percentages of each type of program. Questionnaires were returned from 160 programs. The survey found that the conceptual frameworks of most nursing programs were eclectic and that the nursing process was the most commonly cited component for all types of programs. Significant differences were identified among the three types of programs in their use of simple-to-complex organization, the medical model, and the nursing process. Significant differences also were identified among the three types of programs in incorporation of the metaparadigm concepts of nursing, person, health, and environment, and the emphasis placed on critical thinking, problem solving, and therapeutic nursing interventions.
Food-Grade Saponin Extract as an Emulsifier and Immunostimulant in Emulsion-Based Subunit Vaccine for Pigs

Subunit vaccines consisting of highly purified antigens require the presence of adjuvants to create effective and long-lasting protective immunity. Advances on adjuvant research include designing combination adjuvants which incorporate two or more adjuvants to enhance vaccine efficacy. Previously, an oil-in-water emulsion adjuvant (OW-14) composed of mineral oil and an inexpensive gum Arabic emulsifier has been reported demonstrating enhanced and robust immune responses when used as an adjuvant in swine subunit vaccines. This study presents a modified version of OW-14 prepared with food-grade Quillaja saponin extract (OWq). In new OWq emulsion, saponin extract served as an emulsifier for stabilization of emulsion droplets and as an immunoactive compound. The use of saponins allowed to reduce the required amount of emulsifier in the original OW-14. However, emulsion stabilized with saponins demonstrated extended physical stability even at elevated temperature (37°C). The two-dose vaccination with a classical swine fever virus (CSFV) glycoprotein E2-based vaccine formulated with OWq produced higher levels of E2-specific IgG and virus neutralizing antibodies in pigs in contrast with animals that received the vaccine adjuvanted with oil only. In addition, new OWq adjuvant was safe to use in the vaccination of pigs.
Gender differences in loneliness, anger, depression, self-management ability and biomarkers of chronic illness in chronically ill mid-life adults in Appalachia.

AIMS This study describes gender differences and relationships among loneliness, anger, depression, self-management ability and biomarkers of chronic illness in chronically ill mid-life adults in Appalachia. BACKGROUND Loneliness predicts poor health, functional decline, and mortality in adults. Though self-management ability is linked to improved health outcomes, a gap existed when examining how loneliness impacts self-management ability (SMA). METHODS This cross-sectional study recruited 90 patients from a primary care center. Instruments measured loneliness, anger, depression, and SMA. Measures were taken for BMI, blood pressure, and glucose. Descriptive and hierarchical multiple regression was used to test hypotheses. RESULTS Participants were majority female (68%), white (89%), married (52%), employed (66%), and impoverished (70%). They were moderately lonely (M = 41.29, SD 12.13) and men were lonelier than women (p < .01). Men and women did not differ on anger, depressive symptoms, or SMA. Anger (5.64, SD 7.32) and depressive symptoms (M = 5.89, SD 5.54) were low. Loneliness positively correlated with anger (r = 0.415, p < .01) and depression (r = 0.558, p < .01), and inversely related to subscales of SMA (p < .01) [taking initiative (TI), investment behavior (IB), variety (V), multifunctionality (MF), self-efficacy (SE), and positive frame of mind (PM)]. After controlling for age, anger, and depression, loneliness was explanatory for poorer SMA (R squared change = 0.32, F change (1, 67) = 47.67, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS Loneliness impacts SMA and should be included in the care planning or study of chronically ill adults who struggle with self-management.
The gears of the hidden curriculum revisited

In this Book Review on Dumbing us down: The hidden curriculum of compulsory schooling , Gatto shares some of his ideas concerning the American education system, inviting the readers to reexamine it, particularly its formal school settings. The author highlights common school practices that often go unnoticed that comprise the hidden curriculum. By unveiling these practices, Gatto affirms that the current school curriculum is designed to serve economic and political interests, instead of students' needs for learning. In his view, schools' aim to teach students rules of behavior that safeguards their obedience to abide by corporate capitalism demands. Gatto also presents harsh criticism explaining that the present crisis on education is related to an identity loss by American community values. Therefore, this publication aims to broaden the understanding about the hidden curriculum for those who wish to develop a critical examination of this topic.
Using Professional Development Opportunities to Advance Your Nuclear Medicine Career

Nuclear medicine technologists (NMTs) have multiple opportunities to advance their careers beyond an entry-level NMT. Many careers that NMTs can obtain require additional skills, education, or qualifications. Participating in professional development (PD) opportunities is necessary to acquire the skills necessary for career advancement. PD opportunities can come from professional societies or organizations, be sponsored by an institution or employer, or come from participating in an educational degree program or advanced certificate program. The type or types of PD in which NMTs should engage will be unique for the type of position they are striving for and their current skills, knowledge, and educational level. The advantages and disadvantages of each type of PD should be considered by NMTs who are wishing to advance their careers and to select the development path that is most suited for their needs.
Diffusion tensor imaging of the kidney in healthy controls and in children and young adults with autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease

To compare diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of the kidneys and its derived parameters in children with autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) versus healthy controls. In a prospective IRB-approved study, we evaluated the use of DTI to compare kidney parenchyma FA values in healthy controls (age-matched children with no history of renal disease) versus patients with ARPKD. A 20-direction DTI with b-values of b = 0 s/mm2 and b = 400 s/mm2 was used to acquire data in coronal direction using a fat-suppressed spin-echo echo-planar sequence. Diffusion Toolkit and TrackVis were used for analysis and segmentation. TrackVis was used to draw regions of interest (ROIs) covering the entire volume of the renal parenchyma, excluding the collecting system. Fibers were reconstructed using a deterministic fiber tracking algorithm. The FA values based on the ROI data, mean length, and volume of the tracks based on the fiber tracking data were recorded. Eight healthy controls (mean age = 12.9 years ± 4.0; 1/8 males) and six ARPKD participants (mean age = 13.8 years ± 8.5; 5/6 males) were included in the study. Compared to healthy controls, patients with ARPKD had significantly lower FA values (0.33 ± 0.03 vs. 0.25 ± 0.02, p = 0.002) and mean track length (16.73 ± 3.43 vs. 11.61 ± 1.29 mm, p = 0.005). DTI of the kidneys shows significantly lower FA values and mean track length in children and young adults with ARPKD compared to normal subjects. DTI of the kidney offers a novel approach for characterizing renal disease based on changes in diffusion anisotropy and kidney structure.
Effect of changing urine testing orderables and clinician order sets on inpatient urine culture testing: Analysis from a large academic medical center

Objective:To evaluate the impact of changes to urine testing orderables in computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system on urine culturing practices.Design:Retrospective before-and-after study.Setting:A 1,250-bed academic tertiary-care referral center.Patients:Hospitalized adults who had ≥1 urine culture performed during their stay.Intervention:The intervention (implemented in April 2017) consisted of notifications to providers, changes to order sets, and inclusion of the new urine culture reflex tests in commonly used order sets. We compared the urine culture rates before the intervention (January 2015 to April 2016) and after the intervention (May 2016 to August 2017), adjusting for temporal trends.Results:During the study period, 18,954 inpatients (median age, 62 years; 68.8% white and 52.3% female) had 24,569 urine cultures ordered. Overall, 6,662 urine cultures (27%) were positive. The urine culturing rate decreased significantly in the postintervention period for any specimen type (38.1 per 1,000 patient days preintervention vs 20.9 per 1,000 patient days postintervention; P < .001), clean catch (30.0 vs 18.7; P < .001) and catheterized urine (7.8 vs 1.9; P < .001). Using an interrupted time series model, urine culture rates decreased for all specimen types (P < .05).Conclusions:Our intervention of changes to order sets and inclusion of the new urine culture reflex tests resulted in a 45% reduction in the urine cultures ordered. CPOE system format plays a vital role in reducing the burden of unnecessary urine cultures and should be implemented in combination with other efforts.
Effects of Surfactants on Itraconazole-Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Acetate Succinate Solid Dispersion Prepared by Hot Melt Extrusion. II: Rheological Analysis and Extrudability Testing.

Abstract Although hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) has been widely used as a carrier for amorphous solid dispersion of poorly water-soluble drugs, its application has mostly been limited to spray drying, and the solvent-free method of hot melt extrusion has rarely been used. This is on account of the high temperature (≥170°C) required for extrusion where the polymer and even a drug may degrade. In part 1 of this series of papers, we demonstrated that HPMCAS is miscible with surfactants such as, poloxamer 188, poloxamer 407 and d-alpha tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate, which may also serve as plasticizers (Solanki et al., J Pharm Sci. 2019; 108 (4):1453-1465). The present investigation was undertaken to determine plasticization effects of the surfactants and a model drug, itraconazole, in reducing melt extrusion temperatures of HPMCAS. The determination of complex viscosity as functions of temperature and also as functions of angular frequency at certain fixed temperatures showed that the surfactants and the drug greatly reduce viscosity of HPMCAS by their plasticization effects. Surfactants and drug also had synergistic effects in reducing viscosity. The torque analysis during melt extrusion demonstrated that these additives greatly enhanced extrudability of HPMCAS. Surfactant-drug-polymer mixtures were successfully extruded as stable amorphous solid dispersions at 130°C, which is much lower than the minimum extrusion temperature of 170°C for neat HPMCAS.