cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determination of the degree of N‐deacetylation in chitin and chitosan as well as their monomer sugar ratios by near infrared spectroscopy

Chitin and its derivative chitosan are rapidly becoming of commercial interest in the biomedical, wastewater treatment, and fiber industries. One of the most important properties of these copolymers is the degree of N-acetylation. Presently there is no rapid accurate method to determine this value. We propose near infrared spectroscopy for such a method. Using a primary method such as hydrobromic acid titration or 1H-NMR, standards can be established. Once a model calibration equation has been developed, unknown samples can be analyzed by near infrared spectroscopy in less than 5 min. This is demonstrated by examining representative structural monomers of chitosan, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and D-glucosamine hydrochloride, as model compounds as well as actual chitin and chitosan samples. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Kicking the black box around: A review of “The Corporation"

Many organization scholars have a standard refrain of criticizing economists for treating the firm as a black box, never looking inside it. "The Corporation" is a provocative, enlightening, and entertaining film that makes people stop and examine this black box they generally take for granted. It meticulously, often melodramatically, but rarely impartially points out the social and environmental harms that accompany the operation of this black box. The film, through its editing and tone, belittles the well-established economic doctrine of resolving common problems by privatizing them. This doctrine may largely hold true on an individual ownership basis, but the film strongly implies that it does not hold true when the private owner is a corporation. People at least need to convince corporations to be more and more benevolent by demonstrating to them how benevolence can be in their own best interests, and how some of those things that corporations treat as externalities are internalized in the long run.
The role of multinational corporations in transnational institution building: A policy network perspective

In this article, we provide a critique and re-specification of international business and institutional literature related to the interactions of multinational corporations (MNCs) and institutions. Drawing from research in economic sociology and political economy, we offer a novel perspective on MNCs’ influence on transnational institution building. We argue that MNCs seek to influence institutional development by creating or participating in policy networks within transnational social and economic systems. We describe different types of policy networks, the relative position that MNCs occupy within them, and the power MNCs yield by virtue of their position and influence within those networks. We provide examples to illustrate how MNCs exploit these network relationships to influence emergent institutions and to advance convergence in institutional policies. The policy network perspective is an effective and useful mode of analysis to understand the range of interactions among MNCs and the institutional f...
Anxiety, arousal and visual attention: a mechanistic account of performance variability

Despite extensive research devoted to determining the nature of the relationship between stress and performance, there has been little systematic examination of the mechanisms underlying this relationship. Recently, researchers have begun to empirically address the attentional mechanisms underlying theoretical accounts of how stress, anxiety and arousal influence performance. Given the critical role of visual attention to sport expertise, this paper focuses primarily on literature dealing with how visual cues are differentially identified and processed when performers are anxious. Emerging evidence indicates that gaze behaviour tendencies are reliably altered when performers are anxious, leading to inefficient and often ineffective search strategies. Alterations of these visual search indices are addressed in the context of both self-paced and externally paced sports events. Recommendations concerning the utility of perceptual training programmes and how these training programmes might be used as anxiety regulation interventions are discussed. The theoretical implications and directions for future research are also addressed.
Achieving 90-90-90 in paediatric HIV: adolescence as the touchstone for transition success.

Introduction : The number of children less than 15 years estimated to be living with HIV globally approximated 3.2 million in 2013. Young people aged 15 to 24 years living with HIV approximated 4 million. The survival of these children and adolescents into adulthood poses new and urgent challenges of transition from the paediatric to adolescent to adult healthcare settings due to emerging developmental, psychosocial and comorbid issues. In order to achieve treatment targets of 90–90–90 across the continuum of care for paediatric HIV by 2020, focused efforts on the implementation of appropriate healthcare transition plans across the lifespan, with a focus on adolescence, should be prioritized. Discussion : Published data or empirical evidence examining implementation of transition models and association with clinical outcomes are limited. While some guidelines do exist that offer recommendations about how to promote seamless transitions, very few data are available to assess the adequacy of these guidelines and whether they are effectively adhered to in clinical care settings globally. Furthermore, paediatric and adolescent HIV infection, either acquired perinatally or behaviourally, is set apart from other chronic illnesses as a highly stigmatizing disease that disproportionately affects poor, minority and often marginalized populations. Focused efforts on adolescence as the touchstone for transition practices and policies need to be implemented. Conclusions : Optimal healthcare for these vulnerable populations, particularly in resource-limited settings, will require HIV-specific transitional care services and programmes that are coordinated, collaborative, integrated and, importantly, evidence-based. Keywords: children; adolescents; HIV; transition; guidelines. (Published: 2 December 2015) Citation: Lee S and Hazra R. Journal of the International AIDS Society 2015, 18(Suppl 6) :20257 http://www.jiasociety.org/index.php/jias/article/view/20257 | http://dx.doi.org/10.7448/IAS.18.7.20257
Toward Quantitative Assessment of Rheumatoid Arthritis Using Volumetric Ultrasound

Goal: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by inflammation within the joint space as well as erosion or destruction of the bone surface. We believe that volumetric ( $3$ -D) ultrasound imaging of the joints in conjunction with automated image-analysis tools for segmenting and quantifying the regions of interest can lead to improved RA assessment. Methods: In this paper, we describe our proposed algorithms for segmenting 1) the $3$ -D bone surface and 2) the $3$ -D joint capsule region. We improve and extend previous $2$ -D bone extraction methods to $3$ -D and make our algorithm more robust to the intensity loss due to surface normals facing away from incident acoustic beams. The extracted bone surfaces coupled with a joint-specific anatomical model are used to initialize a coarse localization of the joint capsule region. The joint capsule segmentation is refined iteratively utilizing a probabilistic speckle model. Results: We apply our methods on $51$ volumes from $8$ subjects, and validate segmentation results with expert annotations. We also provide the quantitative comparison of our bone detection with magnetic resonance imaging. These automated methods have achieved average sensitivity/precision rates of $94\%$ / $93\%$ for bone surface detection, and $87\%$ / $83\%$ for joint capsule segmentation. Segmentations of normal and inflamed joints are compared to demonstrate the potential of using proposed tools to assess RA pathology at the joint level. Conclusion: The proposed image-analysis methods showed encouraging results as compared to expert annotations. Significance: These computer-assisted tools can be used to help visualize 3-D anatomy in joints and help develop quantitative measurements toward RA assessment.
Control of nitric oxide production by endogenous TGF-β1 and systemic nitric oxide in retinal pigment epithelial cells and peritoneal macrophages

Both in vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrate that transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) suppresses expression of the inducible form of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). In this study, we examined the effects of exogenous and endogenous TGF-beta1 on retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and resident peritoneal macrophages ex vivo using cells from TGF-beta1 null (TGF-beta1-/-) mice or age-matched wild-type (TGF-beta1+/+) or heterozygous (TGF-beta1+/-) littermates. RPE cells from both TGF-beta1-/- mice and TGF-beta1+/+ littermates produced NO and were immunocytochemically positive for iNOS protein only following treatment with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS); however, RPE cells from TGF-beta1-/- mice produced 40% more NO than cells from TGF-beta1+/+ mice. In contrast, resident peritoneal macrophages from both TGF-beta1+/+ and TGF-beta1-/- mice expressed iNOS protein without stimulation and in the absence of detectable production of NO. The expression of iNOS was increased by treatment with IFN-gamma, resulting in detectable levels of NO. Macrophages from TGF-beta1+/+ mice appeared to produce NO in a manner inversely proportional to the serum content of NO2- and NO3- of the mice from which the cells were obtained; no such correlation existed in TGF-beta1+/- or TGF-beta1-/- mice. Treatment of RPE cells or macrophages from both TGF-beta1+/+ and TGF-beta1-/- mice with exogenous TGF-beta1 decreased both iNOS protein and NO production. These findings demonstrate a novel role of endogenous TGF-beta1 in coupling systemic NO production to the production of NO by macrophages, and demonstrate that endogenous and exogenous TGF-beta1 can act differently to suppress NO production.
A Fiscal Policy Framework to Safeguard Public Investment

Fedelino and Hemming analyse different choices of fiscal indicators and targets that are better suited to promoting and safeguarding public investment. After having documented the decline in public investment as a share of GDP in many countries over the last two decades, they note that the empirical evidence on the links between public investment and growth has so far been inconclusive and, furthermore, there is no guarantee that public investment is especially meritorious or productive. The Authors thus propose several “public investment-friendly” approaches to fiscal policy without abandoning the traditional framework based on overall balance and gross debt: broadening the usual set of fiscal indicators and targets, by paying more attention to the current balance; introducing more budgetary flexibility; strengthening the institutional framework for public investment; promoting private sector involvement. They conclude that the best solution to protecting public investment is to implement fiscal policy in a flexible, sustainable and transparent way.
Romantic Globalism: British Literature and Modern World Order, 1750–1830

These two ambitious studies share a diachronic approach to British Romanticism as a distinctively global consciousness evolving and responding to the wars with France and imperial expansion. In Got...
DELAYED REDUCTION OF FRACTURES

The reduction of fractures may be delayed. The ideal time for delayed reduction is between the fourth and eleventh day. Complete immobilization in plaster should precede delayed reduction. Compound fractures (exceptions noted), simple dislocations, compound dislocations, and fractures complicated by nerve or vessel injury, should be regarded as emergencies. The time required for repair in the group of delayed reductions would seem to date from the time of fracture, rather than from the time of reduction, since additional delay was not observed. Union and function appear to be unhampered. Delayed reduction provides the opportunity for excellent teamwork. The best-trained individuals are readily available for all purposes. The patient is adequately prepared for anaesthesia. Medical students have the opportunity to observe fractures before, during, and after reduction. The author has not had the opportunity of running a parallel series over the eight-year period, but, comparing the results of this delayed-reduction group with the previous, admittedly small, immediate-reduction group, there seems to be little doubt as to the preponderance of merit. Delayed reduction is not urged here. If teams which provide well-trained supervision are available for immediate reduction, immediate reduction should be done. In the localities where well-trained supervision is not at hand, it would appear that delayed reduction is by far the better procedure. In conclusion, one might say in defense of delayed reduction, "a well-supervised delayed reduction is better than a poorly supervised immediate reduction".
FairRide: near-optimal, fair cache sharing

Memory caches continue to be a critical component to many systems. In recent years, there has been larger amounts of data into main memory, especially in shared environments such as the cloud. The nature of such environments requires resource allocations to provide both performance isolation for multiple users/applications and high utilization for the systems. We study the problem of fair allocation of memory cache for multiple users with shared files. We find that, surprisingly, no memory allocation policy can provide all three desirable properties (isolation-guarantee, strategy-proofness and Pareto-efficiency) that are typically achievable by other types of resources, e.g., CPU or network. We also show that there exist policies that achieve any two of the three properties. We find that the only way to achieve both isolation-guarantee and strategy-proofness is through blocking, which we efficiently adapt in a new policy called FairRide. We implement FairRide in a popular memory-centric storage system using an efficient form of blocking, named as expected delaying, and demonstrate that FairRide can lead to better cache efficiency (2.6× over isolated caches) and fairness in many scenarios.
‘Love’ Lost: Class Struggle among Indigenous Nobles and Commoners of Seventeenth-Century Tlaxcala

This essay sheds light on the often contentious and always-in-process social relations among indigenous peoples of distinct social classes in colonial Mexico. Through a discourse analysis of one of Tlaxcala’s most important heritage sources, the Nahuatl-language annals of seventeenth-century Tlaxcalan noble and statesman Don Juan Buenaventura Zapata y Mendoza (Historia cronologica de la noble ciudad de Tlaxcala), I examine the subjective and objective factors that challenged Tlaxcalan noble claims to political authority, and provided the means by which indigenous commoners could advocate for themselves during the seventeenth century. A discourse analysis of this source demonstrates that tax and tribute issues as well as mestizo and/or non-indigenous interests disrupted noble hegemony. Equally, commoner recourse to the Spanish legal system and their denial of material items and labor to the nobles were mechanisms to register dissatisfaction and potentially affect change. In this way, this study advances how we understand inter-indigenous relationships of the colonial period, particularly how indigenous nobles and commoners negotiated their inherently intertwined social, political, and economic lives. Este ensayo arroja luz sobre las relaciones sociales, a menudo polemicas y siempre en proceso, entre personas indigenas de distintas clases sociales en el Mexico colonial. A traves de un analisis del discurso de una de las fuentes mas importantes del patrimonio de Tlaxcala –los anales en lengua nahuatl del noble y estadista tlaxcalteca del siglo xvii don Juan Buenaventura Zapata y Mendoza (Historia cronologica de la noble ciudad de Tlaxcala)– examino los factores subjetivos y objetivos que pusieron en vilo el reclamo de autoridad politica de los nobles tlaxcaltecas, y que proporcionaron medios a los plebeyos indigenas para abogar por si mismos durante el siglo xvii. Un analisis del discurso de esta fuente demuestra que el tema de los impuestos y el tributo, asi como los intereses mestizos y/o no indigenas afectaron la hegemonia noble. De la misma manera, el recurso de los plebeyos al sistema legal espanol y su negativa a entregar objetos materiales y labor a los nobles fueron mecanismos que registraron la insatisfaccion y afectaron potencialmente el cambio. Asi, el presente estudio profundiza en la manera en que comprendemos las relaciones interindigenas del periodo colonial, particularmente la manera en que los nobles y los plebeyos indigenas ajustaron sus vidas sociales, politicas y economicas inherentemente entrelazadas.
Two-Spotted Spider Mite Feeding in Bean Leaf Tissue of Plants Supplied Various Levels of Nitrogen

Fecundity of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus telarius (L.), on lima bean plants was positively correlated with the level of nitrogen supplied the plants and the nitrogen content of the leaves. Cross sections of the mite-infested leaves from plants supplied each nitrogen level showed cells depleted of their contents by mites. Marked differences in the cell size and structure of leaf tissues from host plants were associated with the levels of nitrogen supply.
Design of a Network Security Architecture for Open SaaS Platform Based on SDN

To solve the network security problem of open software as a service( Saa S) platform,this paper combines the software defined network( SDN) technology and the platform building,and puts forward an idea of building a network security architecture for open Saa S platform based on the SDN devices. According to the analysis of the physical model,the functional model and the cooperation model of the system,the architecture of the system is designed,the key elements of the architecture are analyzed,and then,the typical application of the system is provided. Building the network security system based on SDN has great significance on improving the security and expansibility of network security system and providing the user characteristic security service.
Increased cholesterol biosynthesis in leukemic cells from patients with hairy cell leukemia.

Although increased cholesterol synthesis is a feature of many types of human leukemic cells, cells from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia have a low cholesterol content and display normal rates of cholesterol synthesis when compared with normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC). In contrast, leukemic cells from patients with hairy cell leukemia (HCL), another chronic B-cell leukemia, have an increased cholesterol content. In these studies we show that HCL cells synthesize 14C-cholesterol from 14C-acetate precursor in lipoprotein-depleted medium at a rate that is 5-6-fold higher than PBMNC (HCL, 224.4 ± 155.7 pmole acetate a cholesterol, mean ± SD; PBMNC, 40.0 ± 17.5 pmole, p
At long last, PAT hats for the lab rats

The past two decades have seen tremendous advancements in photoacoustic tomography (PAT).1 PAT is a hybrid technology that combines rich optical contrast with ultrasonic resolution, enabling high-resolution imaging deep into soft biological tissue. PAT’s contrast mechanism comes from optical absorption of excitation light by either endogenous or exogenous chromophores, thereby generating heat and thermoelastic expansion. Subsequently, images in PAT are formed by detecting ultrasonic waves generated by thermoelastic expansion. Many flavors of PAT have been developed, spanning from subcellular-resolution imaging of the superficial tissue layer to submillimeter-resolution imaging several centimeters deep. In addition, PAT can be used to image numerous functional and structural tissue parameters, such as hemoglobin concentration and oxygen saturation, microvascular structure, temperature, blood flow, metabolic rate of oxygen, melanin, cell nuclei, lipids, water content, and various exogenous contrast agents used for molecular imaging.2
PTPS-21MAPK PATHWAY INHIBITOR THERAPY FOR PROGRESSIVE PEDIATRIC ASTROCYTOMAS

BACKGROUND: Brain tumors are the most common solid tumor in childhood and astrocytomas account for the largest proportion of these tumors. Increasing sophistication in genetic testing has allowed for the detection of specific mutations within tumor subtypes that may represent targets for individualized tumor treatment. The MAPK pathway, and more specifically, BRAF mutations have been shown to be prevalent in pediatric astrocytomas and may represent one such area to target. METHODS: We describe the clinical course of four cases of non-operable pediatric astrocytomas (Grade I or II) whose tumor progressed despite chemotherapy. Testing of each tumor showed BRAF mutations and each patient was started on either a BRAF inhibitor or MEK inhibitor. A review of each patient's medical record and imaging studies was completed. Tumor volumetrics were calculated prior to and after treatment. RESULTS: Three patients had optic pathway gliomas; two pilocytic astrocytomas (WHO Grade I) and one pilomyxoid astrocytoma (WHO Grade II). The fourth tumor was a thalamic infiltrating astrocytoma (WHO Grade II). Genetic testing showed a duplication of BRAF (7q34) in 3 tumors and treatment with a MEK inhibitor, trametinib, was initiated. One tumor was found to have a BRAF T1799A (V600E) point mutation and the patient was started on vemurafenib, a BRAF inhibitor. Duration of treatment to date ranged from 105 to 805 days. Pretreatment tumor volumes varied from 15.1cm3-451.8cm3. All four tumors had a decrease in volume (2.1cm3-227.2cm3, 13.5-80.6% decrease) on these inhibitors. CONCLUSION: We have shown in this small subgroup of patients that MEK inhibitors and BRAF inhibitors in tumors with BRAF mutations are effective in decreasing tumor volume in otherwise progressive pediatric astrocytomas. This would suggest these may be ideal targets for treatment of tumors with these mutations and that tumor volume measurement is a reasonable method for documenting response in this patient group.
Trump Supporters: In Their Own Words

In the 2016 campaign for the U.S. Presidency, one person stands out as an enigma unprecedented in the history of American politics: Donald J. Trump. While it is too early to predict whether Mr. Trump will succeed in his quest for the White House, it is not too soon to study the motivations and concerns of the electorate segment who wish to propel him there. I don’t know if there is a better way to study these motivations than to compile direct quotes from a large number of them while filtering out any and all commentary that might be infused by the questioner(s). My access to these quotes came directly from current news articles which were easily accessible on the day they were published via the internet using the search criteria: “trump supporters news”. And to lend additional nuance to the sentiment of Trump supporters, discussion blogs were frequently featured along with the publications. In those discussions, the bloggers were less inhibited in their comments. They sometimes (but usually did not) begin with a thoughtful comment or two but whether they did or didn’t, these controversial blogs usually devolve into the trading of personal insults as the minutes went by. That is a phenomenon that I was never trained to understand as I am not a psychologist. Nor did I try to. My research objective was to compile a primary database of what people said, not why they said it. And people had lot to say. They might be less assertive when they are in the company of people who regard Trump to be candidate who is unqualified to be president for a variety of reasons. Nevertheless, they are true to their beliefs in the privacy of the polling booth, at least so far. In order to lend context to the opinions of Trump supporters, it was helpful to identify the time and place where these quotes were recorded as well as the age and occupation of the interviewees, if available. The quotes also include selections from Trump’s most ardent supporter: himself. The quotes are in chronological order and, to lend further context are some tongue-in-cheek and comedic imitators of Trump supporters; although in these instances, the imitations are hardly the sincerest form of flattery.
In Defense of the NSF Economics Program

Abstract The NSF Economics program funds basic research in economics across all its disparate fields. Its budget has experienced a long period of stagnation and decline, with its real value in 2013 below that in 1980 and having declined by 50 percent as a percent of the total NSF budget. The number of grants made by the program has also declined over time, and its current budget is very small compared to that of many other funders of economic research. Over the years, NSF-supported research has supported many of the major intellectual developments in the discipline that have made important contributions to the study of public policy. The public goods argument for government support of basic economic research is strong. Neither private firms, foundations, nor private donors are likely to engage in the comprehensive support of all forms of economic research if NSF were not to exist. Select universities with large endowments are more likely to have the ability to support general economic research in the abse...
Foreign Trade Zones: Customs Free Territories within a Country

For many, the Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) might be a new word in their international vocabulary, but its origin is eight centuries old; although in the U.S. the term has only been used for fifty years or so. In 1934, the U.S. Congress passed the FTZ Act; by 1970 there were twelve FTZs in the U.S. Currently there are about one hundred in the U.S. and 300 in 80 countries around the world.
Reflections on Peter Clark's Moral Analysis of the Use of Methotrexate in Ectopic Pregnancies

An expert on bioethics and Roman Catholic social justice reviews Catholic ethicist Peter Clark's article on why the use of methotrexate for ectopic pregnancies is morally permissible. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Pediatric Intestinal Failure–Associated Liver Disease: Challenges in Identifying Clinically Relevant Biomarkers

Background: Intestinal failure–associated liver disease (IFALD) is complex and diagnosed by concurrent use of parenteral nutrition, clinical presentation, and alterations in hepatic biomarkers exclusive of other causes of liver disease. In comparison with individual measures, composite biomarkers may provide a more effective means for assessing disease progression and response to treatment than single parameters. Since IFALD is considered by some to be a type of drug-induced liver injury (DILI), those diagnostic criteria could potentially be used in this population. Using a preexisting database of children treated for IFALD, our aim was to determine if a similar composite biomarker could be applied to this population. Study Design: Adult DILI criteria were applied at baseline, when treatment for IFALD (ie, direct bilirubin ≥2.0 mg/dL) was initiated. Results: A total of 214 patients with IFALD treated at Boston Children’s Hospital were identified; 168 patients were eligible for analysis. Most patients anal...
Birefringence microscopy platform for assessing airway smooth muscle structure and function in vivo

The inability to visualize airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells in vivo is a major obstacle in understanding their role in normal physiology and diseases. At present, there is no imaging modality available to assess ASM in vivo. Confocal endomicroscopy lacks the penetration depth and field of view, and conventional optical coherence tomography (OCT) does not have sufficient contrast to differentiate ASM from surrounding tissues. We have developed a birefringence microscopy platform that leverages the micro-organization of tissue to add further dimension to traditional OCT. We have used this technology to validate ASM measurements in ex vivo swine and canine studies, visualize and characterize volumetric representations of ASM in vivo, and quantify and predict ASM contractile force as a function of optical retardation. We provide in vivo images and volumetric assessments of ASM in living humans and document structural disease variations in subjects with mild asthma. The opportunity to link inflammatory responses to ASM responses and to link ASM responses to clinical responses and outcomes could lead to an increased understanding of diseases of the airway and, ultimately, to improved patient outcomes.
A Large Skin Cancer Screening Quality Initiative: Description and First-Year Outcomes.

Importance The lack of prospective randomized clinical trials demonstrating that full-body skin examination (FBSE) reduces melanoma morbidity or mortality has prompted an “I” rating from the United States Preventive Services Task Force for population-based skin cancer screening. More data on these screening programs are needed. Objectives To describe a skin cancer screening quality initiative in a large health care system and to determine if the intervention was associated with screening of a demographically higher-risk population than previous screening programs and if melanoma incidence and thickness differed in screened vs unscreened patients. Design, Setting, and Participants This observational evaluation of a prospectively implemented quality initiative was conducted in a large health care system in western Pennsylvania (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, UPMC) among adults seen in an office visit by a UPMC-employed primary care physician (PCP) in 2014. Interventions Implementation of a campaign promoting annual skin cancer screening by FBSE, including training of PCPs, promotion of the initiative to physicians and patients, and modification of the electronic health record (EHR) to include FBSE as a recommended preventive service for patients 35 years or older. Main Outcomes and Measures Characteristics of screened and unscreened patients and melanomas detected among them. Results Of 333 735 adult patients seen in an office visit by PCPs in 2014, 53 196 patients (15.9% of the screen-eligible population) received an FBSE, and 280 539 did not. Screened patients were slightly older (median age, 60 vs 57 years; P P = .49) from the unscreened population. Fifty melanomas were diagnosed in screened patients and 104 melanomas were diagnosed in unscreened patients. Screened patients were more likely than unscreened patients to be diagnosed with melanoma (adjusted risk ratio [RR], 2.4; 95% CI, 1.7-3.4; P P P = .52). Conclusions and Relevance Large-scale screening for melanoma within a United States health care system is feasible and can result in increased detection of thinner melanomas. This intervention also resulted in screening of a higher proportion of men and an older patient population than previous screening interventions in which younger individuals and women predominated.
Influence of language barriers on hospital readmissions in cancer patients.

e17583 Background: Patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) are increasing in number in the US. Language barriers make it difficult for patients to communicate their symptoms and may lead to...
Aggregation-Dependent Oxidation of Metal Nanoparticles

Here we describe the effect of aggregation on the oxidation of citrate-stabilized Au nanoparticles (NPs) attached electrostatically to amine-functionalized glass/ITO electrodes. When the Au NPs are attached to the electrode from a solution with pH greater than ∼3.0, they are well-separated on the electrode and oxidize in bromide-containing electrolyte at 0.698, 0.757, and 0.943 V (vs Ag/AgCl) for 4, 15, and 50 nm diameter Au NPs, respectively, in line with their size-dependent oxidation behavior. In solutions below pH 3.0, the Au NPs aggregate in solution and attach to the electrode in the aggregated form. The solution UV–vis spectra and scanning electron microscopy images of the electrodes show clear evidence of aggregation. The oxidation potential for aggregated 4 and 15 nm diameter Au NPs shifts positive by a maximum of 230 and 180 mV, respectively. The magnitude of the shift depends on the extent of aggregation, which was controlled by the solution pH and time. NP aggregation leads to a significant re...
Animals and Animals

Speciesism is the wrong of not acknowledging the moral qualities that non-human animals possess that are similar or equivalent or even superior to the moral qualities that human beings possess. However, since it is manifestly clear that no one thinks that apes are in any way obligated to human beings, it clearly cannot be a form of speciesism to be mindful of the differences on the basis of which that is so. In opposition to the advocates of the Great Ape Project, my aim in this essay is to establish the quite minimal claim that apes should not have the same moral status as human beings because human beings have a far greater capacity for moral responsibility than do apes. The claim that I wish to establish is quite compatible with the claim that apes should be treated in a much more morally wholesome manner.
Effects of tea polyphenols on the signal transduction pathways.

Mitogenic stimulation is likely to be an important component of tumor promotion. However, that alone is not sufficient for transformation, and changes in gene expression are required to avoid growth regulation or differentiation. In general, alterations in the transcription of a specific set of cellular genes are mediated by specific regulatory DNA binding proteins or transcription factors that regulate gene expression directly by binding to specific DNA sequences in promoter regions (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9). The expression of genes transcriptionally induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and other tumor promoters such as UV irradiation are thought to be required in tumor promotion (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10).
PERIOCULAR CORTICOSTEROID INJECTIONS IN UVEITIS: EFFECTS AND COMPLICATIONS

Purpose To evaluate the benefits and complications of periocular depot corticosteroid injections in patients with ocular inflammatory disorders. Design Multicenter, retrospective cohort study. Participants A total of 914 patients (1192 eyes) who had received ≥1 periocular corticosteroid injection at 5 tertiary uveitis clinics in the United States. Methods Patients were identified from the Systemic Immunosuppressive Therapy for Eye Diseases Cohort Study. Demographic and clinical characteristics were obtained at every visit via medical record review by trained reviewers. Main Outcome Measures Control of inflammation, improvement of visual acuity (VA) to ≥20/40, improvement of VA loss attributed to macular edema (ME), incident cataract affecting VA, cataract surgery, ocular hypertension, and glaucoma surgery. Results Among 914 patients (1192 eyes) who received ≥1 periocular injection during follow-up, 286 (31.3%) were classified as having anterior uveitis, 303 (33.3%) as intermediate uveitis, and 324 (35.4%) as posterior or panuveitis. Cumulatively by ≤6 months, 72.7% (95% CI, 69.1–76.3) of the eyes achieved complete control of inflammation and 49.7% (95% CI, 45.5–54.1) showed an improvement in VA from Conclusions Periocular injections were effective in treating active intraocular inflammation and in improving reduced VA attributed to ME in a majority of patients. The response pattern was similar across anatomic locations of uveitis. Overall, VA improved in one half of the patients at some point within 6 months. However, cataract and ocular hypertension occurred in a substantial minority.
IN VIVO INVESTIGATION OF HYALURONAN SYNTHASE FUNCTION DURING VERTEBRATE EMBRYOGENESIS

ABSTRACT Hyaluronan (HA) is synthesized at the eukaryotic plasma membrane by any one of three members of the HA synthase (HAS) family. Northern analyses also revealed unique expression patterns; Has1 and Has3 are primarily expressed at early and later stages of embryogenesis, respectively. In contrast, Has2 is expressed throughout embryogenesis from as early as E7.5. This predominance of Has2 is also observed in loss-of-function studies; Has1 and Has3 null homozygotes are healthy and viable, while Has2 null embryos die at E10.5. Thus, Has2 is the major HA synthase involved in normal embryo development. We are continuing our in vivo investigations into HA synthase function by expression analyses and by conditional gene targeting. Whole mount in situ hybridization studies revealed expression of Has2 in neural crest cell-derived cardiac and craniofacial structures, in addition to the developing limb. In particular, Has2 may play a pivotal role in limb and joint development, as its expression pattern closely mimics that of growth factors necessary for limb and joint development. Has3 expression was detected at the developing vibrissae and hair follicles, which may indicate a role for Has3-dependent HA synthesis in the formation of whiskers, hair follicles and/or their associated sensory neurons. Our conditional gene targeting of Has2 will follow an allelogenic approach in order to establish mouse lines from which multiple variant lines will be derived through crosses with recombinase expressing transgenic mice. Through this approach, we will generate mice with hypomorphic phenotypes, as well as those with tissue-specific deficiencies in HA biosynthesis.
Effect of strain path on forming limits and retained austenite transformation in Q&P 1180 steel

Abstract Forming limits and retained austenite (RA) transformation in Q&P 1180 steel are quantified as a function of plastic strain levels for three different strain paths. In-plane uniaxial tension testing was performed in a standard test frame, while limiting dome height tooling was employed for out-of-plane biaxial and plane strain tension experiments. Sheet specimens were tested incrementally for each strain path, and the RA content at each level of strain was measured using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The biaxial tension strain path resulted in the greatest effective strain prior to necking at 0.355, compared to 0.123 for plane strain and 0.142 for uniaxial tension. EBSD measurements for various levels of plastic strain reveal a clear dependence of RA rate of transformation on strain path for the three linear strain paths that were employed in this work. Thinning strains appear to provide a slightly better correlation to RA transformation than effective strain levels, where biaxial tension achieved the greatest level just prior to necking, followed by plane-strain tension, and then uniaxial tension.
Financing the education policy discourse: philanthropic funders as entrepreneurs in policy networks

We examine the spread and influence of ideas supported by philanthropic foundations within the context of a broader policy network. Our case focuses on the development of policy related to teacher quality—a field involving academic research, think tank involvement, and interest group participation. We conduct discourse network analysis of testimony from 175 Congressional hearings from 2003 to 2015 to examine network ties based on shared policy preferences expressed in hearings, which were used to create networks linking policy actors via shared policy preferences. We also conducted 51 interviews with funders, grantees, and policymakers involved in the policy debate over teacher quality. We examine the spread of a key policy reform promoted by several large foundations, particularly the Gates Foundation: test score-based evaluation of teachers, with a focus on value-added evaluations. We show that expert witnesses in hearings who were funded by foundations shared policy preferences with regard to teacher evaluation at a statistically significant level, compared to non-grantees. We find that a group of major national foundations were sponsors of the advocacy groups that were central in Congressional hearings. We show that these funders were acting as policy entrepreneurs—strategically promoting the spread of favored ideas to encourage uptake by policymakers.
Carbon fibers derived from fractionated-solvated lignin precursors for enhanced mechanical performance.

The sustainable solvent system acetic acid + water was used to simultaneously fractionate, solvate, and clean a softwood Kraft lignin for conversion to carbon fibers. By exploiting the novel liquid...
Age-Structured Population Modeling of HPV-related Cervical Cancer in Texas and US

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cervical cancer is a major public health threat to women, with >10,000 new cases diagnosed annually in the United States between 2008 and 2012. Since HPV vaccines can protect against ~80% of HPV-associated cervical cancers, the economic and epidemiological impacts of HPV vaccination have been extensively investigated, particularly at the national level. However, vaccination policies are state-specific, and state-level models are required for state-specific policy decisions. This study adapted an age-structured population model to describe the dynamics of HPV-related cervical cancer in Texas, with model parameters calibrated for Texas. The Year 2000 parameter set was the start point, and the model's predictions from 2001-2010 were well matched with the real incidence numbers in 23 age groups, suggesting the validity of the model. Application of the model to the Year 2010 parameter set predicted that, over the next 10 decades, incidence would decrease rapidly within the first decade and more slowly thereafter. Sensitivity analysis determined the impact of selected parameters (e.g., vaccine coverage rate) on future disease incidence. When compared with the US parameter sets, the Texas population was more sensitive to changes in HPV transmission and vaccination (e.g., ~8% difference in the predicted disease decline).
Exploring Physical Force and Subject Resistance in Police Encounters with People with Behavioral Health Issues

The interaction between police use of force and subject resistance or noncompliance is particularly complex in cases involving people with behavioral health issues (PBHI). Using three years of inci...
Identifying and Analyzing the Dominant Languages in Small Island Developing States

Despite their small size, in both area and population, many different languages are spoken by residents of the small island developing states (SIDS). Most of these languages are used by very few pe...
Examining Initial Perceptions of Transition to Clinical Practice from the Perspective of Professional Master's Students

Context Newly credentialed athletic trainers are expected to be independent practitioners capable of making their own clinical decisions. Transition to practice can be stressful and present challen...
Doing Administration, Doing Gender: Repairing Political Neutrality with a Feminist Toolbox

One of the ways to enhance the transformative potential of public administration theory is by recognizing the inherently gendered nature of the ideational underpinnings of public service. The artic...
Validation of a Telemedicine Quality Assurance Method for Point-of-Care Obstetric Ultrasound Used in Low-Resource Settings.

Objectives A remote quality assurance and improvement protocol for point-of-care obstetric ultrasound in low-resource areas was validated against the standard of care for obstetric ultrasound in the United States. Methods Compressed movie clip ultrasound images (obstetric sweep protocol) obtained by minimally trained personnel were read and interpreted by physicians with training in obstetric ultrasound. Observed findings were compared among readers and between each reader and the gold standard ultrasound scan report. Descriptive statistics were used for the analysis. Results The agreements among readers and between readers and the gold standard, for the anterior and posterior variables of the placental location were excellent, with Cohen κ values of 0.81 to 0.88 and 0.77 to 0.9, respectively. Cohen κ values were slight or slight/fair for other placental locations (left, right, fundal, and low), and the sensitivity and specificity ranged widely. The agreement among readers and between readers and the gold standard for fetal number comparisons was also excellent, with Cohen κ values ranging from 0.82 to 1, sensitivity from 0.83 to 1, and specificity from 0.99 to 1. The agreement among readers for fetal presentation comparisons, according to the Cohen κ, ranged from 0.79 to 0.85 and between readers and the gold standard had values of 0.43 to 0.49. For biometric parameters and estimated gestational age calculations based on these parameters, inter-reader reliability ranged from 0.79 to 0.85 for all parameters except femur length. Greater than 94% of obstetric sweep protocol ultrasound ages were within 7 days of the corresponding gold standard age. Conclusions Movie clip ultrasound images provided adequate information for remote readers to reliably determine the placental location, fetal number, fetal presentation, and pregnancy dating.
Conductive modification of injection molded thermoplastics: electrical properties and electrostatic paintability

Conductively modified thermoplastic substrates have been developed using low levels of conductive carbon fillers, <6 weight percent, without sacrificing the favorable mechanical and rheological properties exhibited by these materials for the automotive market. The bulk electrical properties of these materials exhibit traditional percolation behavior when the samples are compression molded. Conductively modified injection molded materials exhibit a high surface resistivity, typically greater than 10/sup 16/ ohm cm, which is compensated by a relatively low resistivity interior, less than 10/sup 8/ ohm cm. The threshold for electrostatic paintability has been identified based on core resistivity measurements and electrostatic dissipation results. This core resistivity must be less that 10/sup 9/ ohm cm for charge dissipation to occur and for any significant increase in paint film builds to be observed. The surface to core resistivity transformation is intimately related to the material cooling rate and thus the distance of the sampled area to the injection molding tool surface. Using these conductively modified materials, high solids paint coating film, builds and transfer efficiency have been increased in excess of 100 percent relative to unmodified samples. The use of conductively modified thermoplastic substrates in the electrostatic painting process can eliminate the need for conducting primers when adhesion between the base coat and substrate surface is maintained.
An improved beam-forming algorithm for adaptive arrays

We consider an n-element array forming K \leq n beams in order to receive signals from K sources whose positions and power levels are known. The array employs K sets of n weights to segregate the K signals. These weights are determined by direct computation based on the available position information. Currently known techniques require (for n = K) about (4/3)K4computer "operations" (multiply and add). We present here an improved technique that accomplishes that in 8K3operations, yielding a reduction by a factor of K/6.
Diffusion Bonding of Silicon Carbide Ceramics using Titanium Interlayers

Robust joining approaches for silicon carbide ceramics are critically needed to fabricate leak free joints with high temperature mechanical capability. In this study, titanium foils and physical vapor deposited (PVD) titanium coatings were used to form diffusion bonds between SiC ceramics using hot pressing. Silicon carbide substrate materials used for bonding include sintered SiC and two types of CVD SiC. Microscopy results show the formation of well adhered diffusion bonds. The bond strengths as determined from pull tests are on the order of several ksi, which is much higher than required for a proposed application. Microprobe results show the distribution of silicon, carbon, titanium, and other minor elements across the diffusion bond. Compositions of several phases formed in the joint region were identified. Potential issues of material compatibility and optimal bond formation will also be discussed.