cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
What do applicants look for when selecting internal medicine residency programs? A comparison of rating scale and open-ended responses

Objective: To develop reliable scale measures of factors most important to applicants when they select internal medicine residencies and to assess their validity by comparing scores from these measures with responses to open-ended questions. Design: All 353 applicants ranked by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) for the 1988 National Residency Match Program received a questionnaire after submitting their match lists. First, they listed the three most important factors considered in ranking residency programs and starred the single most important factor out of the three. Then, they rated 41 items on a five-point Liken scale ranging from 1 (not important) to 5 (extremely important). Setting: Categorical internal medicine residency program at an academic medical center. Measurements and main results: 315 (8896) applicants responded to the survey. Three reliable scales, Interpersonal Issues (7 items, alpha=0.78), Reputation (5 items, alpha=0.77), and Work Issues (11 items, alpha=0.89), were developed using exploratory factor analysis of applicants’ responses to the 41 items. Applicants felt interpersonal issues were very important (mean score=4.2±0.5), academic reputation was important (3.3±0.8), and work issues were less important (2.8±0.7). The differences between these scores were significant (F=3.76, p<0.05). The ratings for the top five items not in these scales also indicated that education and location -were very important. These results were corroborated by applicants’ responses to the open-ended request to list the three most important factors in ranking residencies. Conclusion: These findings suggest that work issues are important, but greater emphasis is placed on interpersonal issues, education, location, and a program’s reputation when applicants select residency programs. Furthermore, this study provides evidence supporting the reliability and validity of the three scales.
Narcotic antagonists and the parolee-Outcome, issues, and new directions

Abstract In a myriad of curious and ironic ways, the treatment of the addict-parolee with a narcotic antagonist is an anomaly in the practice of medicine. It entails the prescription of medication to individuals who have not actively sought treatment of their own accord, who frequently do not consider themselves sick, and whose symptoms and clinical course are, for the most part, measured in societal rather than medical terms. Invariably, treatment evaluations are primarily concerned with behavioral criteria of effectiveness such as extent of narcotic drug use and length of program participation. Emphasis is placed on maintaining the addict free of opiate drugs by the prescription of antagonists, with the presumption that he will thus be better able to readjust to the demands of free society and to make maximum use of rehabilitative resources that are available. In forestalling opiate use, there is also the more likely avoidance of hepatitis and other sequelae of self-administration, including death from overdose, and the possible curtailment of criminal and other illegal activities associated with supporting a narcotic drug habit. But how well do the antagonists forestall compulsive opiate use?
Response to Parathyroid Hormone Infusion in Primary Hyperparathyroidism

ABSTRACT Renal tubular reabsorption of phosphate (TRP) was used as a measure of response to administration of exogenous parathyroid hormone (PTH) in 56 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, 15 patients with hypercalcemia due to other diseases, and 11 normal subjects. Patients with primary hyperparathyroidism generally showed a smaller decrease in TRP after infusion of PTH than did normal subjects or those with hypercalcemia from other causes. Approximately 10% of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism responded to exogenous PTH similarly to those with hypercalcemia associated with other diseases. These falsepositive responses were due in each instance to an increase in phosphate clearance. Decreased sensitivity to exogenous PTH is not universally present in hyperparathyroidism and is unrelated to the level of serum calcium. No false-negative responses were encountered in hypercalcemic patients with diseases other than primary hyperparathyroidism.
Is There Really a Retirement Savings Crisis? An NRRI Analysis

The National Retirement Risk Index (NRRI) has shown that even if households work to age 65 and annuitize all their financial assets, including the receipts from reverse mortgages on their homes, nearly 45 percent will be 'at risk' of being unable to maintain their standard of living in retirement. That is, these households are projected to have replacement rates retirement income as a share of pre-retirement income that fall more than 10 percent short of a target rate designed to maintain their pre-retirement living standard. More realistic assumptions regarding earlier retirement and reluctance to annuitize 401(k) balances or tap housing equity would put the percentage 'at risk' considerably higher, as would the inclusion of rapidly growing health care costs. Yet, recent academic articles and press stories question whether Americans are facing a retirement income crisis...
Glycogen synthesis in biotin-deficient rat liver.

SummaryThe effect of biotin deficiency on the in vivo synthesis and the level of glycogen in livers of rats during various stages of the deficiency was investigated. A glycogenic dose of labeled glucose was administered by stomach tube to 24-hr fasted control and deficient animals and glycogen synthesis in liver was measured after 3 hr. The deficient animals which were on the basal diet for 6 weeks were able to synthesize the same amount of hepatic glycogen as that by the controls. A marked reduction in the level of glycogen in the livers of deficient animals compared to controls was observed during the day but there was no change in the level between the two groups when examined during the night at all stages of biotin deficiency. The observed decrease during the day was the result of diurnal variation. The results show that in the rat the synthesis of hepatic glycogen is not impaired in biotin deficiency.
Physics of near-wavelength high contrast gratings

We present a simple theory explaining the extraordinary features of high-contrast optical gratings in the near-wavelength regime, particularly the very broadband high reflectivity (>99%) and the ultra-high quality factor resonances (Q>107). We present, for the first time, an intuitive explanation for both features using a simple phase selection rule, and reveal the anti-crossing and crossing effects between the grating modes. Our analytical results agree well with simulations and the experimental data obtained from vertical cavity surface emitting lasers incorporating a high contrast grating as top reflector.
Innate immunity in rice

Advances in studies of rice innate immunity have led to the identification and characterization of host sensors encoding receptor kinases that perceive conserved microbial signatures. Receptor kinases that carry the non-orginine-aspartate domain, are highly expanded in rice (Oryza sativa) compared with Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Researchers have also identified a diverse array of microbial effectors from bacterial and fungal pathogens that triggers immune responses upon perception. These include effectors that indirectly target host Nucleotide binding site/Leucine rich repeat proteins and transcription activator-like effectors that directly bind promoters of host genes. Here we review the recognition and signaling events that govern rice innate immunity.
Geologic influences on Apache trout habitat in the White Mountains of Arizona

Abstract Geologic variation has important influences on habitat quality for species of concern, but it can be difficult to evaluate due to subtle variations, complex terminology, and inadequate maps. To better understand habitat of the Apache trout (Onchorhynchus apache or O. gilae apache Miller), a threatened endemic species of the White Mountains of east-central Arizona, we reviewed existing geologic research to prepare composite geologic maps of the region at intermediate and fine scales. We projected these maps onto digital elevation models to visualize combinations of lithology and topography, or lithotopo types, in three-dimensions. Then we examined habitat studies of the Apache trout to evaluate how intermediate-scale geologic variation could influence habitat quality for the species. Analysis of data from six stream gages in the White Mountains indicates that base flows are sustained better in streams draining Mount Baldy. Felsic parent material and extensive epiclastic deposits account for greate...
A pharmaceutical industry elective course on practice experience selection and fellowship pursuit by pharmacy students

Objective. To design and implement 2 pharmaceutical industry elective courses and assess their impact on students’ selection of advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) and pursuit of pharmaceutical industry fellowships. Methods. Two 2-credit-hour elective courses that explored careers within the prescription and nonprescription pharmaceutical drug industries were offered for second- and third-year pharmacy students in a doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) degree program. Results. The impact of the courses on pharmacy students’ pursuit of a pharmaceutical industry fellowship was evaluated based on responses to annual graduating students’ exit surveys. A greater percentage (17.9%) of students who had taken a pharmaceutical industry elective course pursued a pharmaceutical industry fellowship compared to all PharmD graduates (4.8%). Of the students who enrolled in pharmaceutical industry APPEs, 31% had taken 1 of the 2 elective courses. Conclusion. Exposure to a pharmaceutical industry elective course within a college or school of pharmacy curriculum may increase students’ interest in pursuing pharmaceutical industry fellowships and enrolling in pharmaceutical industry APPEs.
Modules of existentially closed algebras

The underlying modules of existentially closed ⊿-algebras are studied. Among other things, it is proved that they are all elementarily equivalent, and that all of them are existentially closed as modules if and only if ⊿ is regular. It is also proved that every saturated module in the appropriate elementary equivalence class underlies an ex. ⊿-algebra. Applications to some problems in module theory are given. A number of open questions are mentioned.
Genetic diversity enhances the resistance of a seagrass ecosystem to disturbance

Motivated by recent global reductions in biodiversity, empirical and theoretical research suggests that more species-rich systems exhibit enhanced productivity, nutrient cycling, or resistance to disturbance or invasion relative to systems with fewer species. In contrast, few data are available to assess the potential ecosystem-level importance of genetic diversity within species known to play a major functional role. Using a manipulative field experiment, we show that increasing genotypic diversity in a habitat-forming species (the seagrass Zostera marina) enhances community resistance to disturbance by grazing geese. The time required for recovery to near predisturbance densities also decreases with increasing eelgrass genotypic diversity. However, there is no effect of diversity on resilience, measured as the rate of shoot recovery after the disturbance, suggesting that more rapid recovery in diverse plots is due solely to differences in disturbance resistance. Genotypic diversity did not affect ecosystem processes in the absence of disturbance. Thus, our results suggest that genetic diversity, like species diversity, may be most important for enhancing the consistency and reliability of ecosystems by providing biological insurance against environmental change.
Short-read reading-frame predictors are not created equal: sequence error causes loss of signal.

Gene prediction algorithms (or gene callers) are an essential tool for analyzing shotgun nucleic acid sequence data. Gene prediction is a ubiquitous step in sequence analysis pipelines; it reduces the volume of data by identifying the most likely reading frame for a fragment, permitting the out-of-frame translations to be ignored. In this study we evaluate five widely used ab initio gene-calling algorithms—FragGeneScan, MetaGeneAnnotator, MetaGeneMark, Orphelia, and Prodigal—for accuracy on short (75–1000 bp) fragments containing sequence error from previously published artificial data and “real” metagenomic datasets. While gene prediction tools have similar accuracies predicting genes on error-free fragments, in the presence of sequencing errors considerable differences between tools become evident. For error-containing short reads, FragGeneScan finds more prokaryotic coding regions than does MetaGeneAnnotator, MetaGeneMark, Orphelia, or Prodigal. This improved detection of genes in error-containing fragments, however, comes at the cost of much lower (50%) specificity and overprediction of genes in noncoding regions. Ab initio gene callers offer a significant reduction in the computational burden of annotating individual nucleic acid reads and are used in many metagenomic annotation systems. For predicting reading frames on raw reads, we find the hidden Markov model approach in FragGeneScan is more sensitive than other gene prediction tools, while Prodigal, MGA, and MGM are better suited for higher-quality sequences such as assembled contigs.
Stationary fundamental dark surface waves

We present analytic solutions obtained for the case of a stationary TE fundamental dark surface wave propagating at the interface between two dissimilar defocusing Kerr media. Expressions describing the wave are obtained, and certain characteristics of the solutions are discussed.
Emotion regulation reduces loss aversion and decreases amygdala responses to losses

Emotion regulation strategies can alter behavioral and physiological responses to emotional stimuli and the neural correlates of those responses in regions such as the amygdala or striatum. The current study investigates the brain systems engaged when using an emotion regulation technique during financial decisions. In decision making, regulating emotion with reappraisal-focused strategies that encourage taking a different perspective has been shown to reduce loss aversion as observed both in choices and in the relative arousal responses to actual loss and gain outcomes. In the current study, we find using fMRI that behavioral loss aversion correlates with amygdala activity in response to losses relative to gains. Success in regulating loss aversion also correlates with the reduction in amygdala responses to losses but not to gains. Furthermore, across both decisions and outcomes, we find the reappraisal strategy increases baseline activity in dorsolateral and ventromedial prefrontal cortex and the striatum. The similarity of the neural circuitry observed to that seen in emotion regulation, despite divergent tasks, serves as further evidence for a role of emotion in decision making, and for the power of reappraisal to change assessments of value and thereby choices.
Ahnfeltiopsis, a new genus in the Phyllophoraceae (Gigartinales, Rhodophyceae)

Abstract A new genus of marine red algae, Ahnfeltiopsis (Phyllophoraceae, Rhodophyceae), is proposed to accommodatethose species previously assigned to Ahnfeltia and Gymnogongrus that produce internal cystocarps and have a life history in which erect gametophytes alternate with a crustose tetrasporophyte. Carpospores are released through specialized pores (carpostomes) that penetrate the cortex overlying the cystocarp. Tetrasporangia, which are produced in intercalary catenate series, are cruciately divided. The type species is Ahnfeltiopsis linearis (C. Agardh) comb. nov. (Basionym: Sphaerococcus linearis C. Agardh). Thirteen other nomenclatural combinations are proposed. Ahnfeltiopsis okamurae is proposed as a new name for Ahnjeltia furcellata Okamura [not Ahnjeltiopsis furcellata (C. Agardh) comb. nov.).
How monocular deprivation shifts ocular dominance in visual cortex of young mice

We used a chronic recording method to document the kinetics of ocular dominance (OD) plasticity induced by temporary lid closure in young mice. We find that monocular deprivation (MD) induces two separate modifications: (1) rapid, deprivation-induced response depression and (2) delayed, deprivation-enabled, experience-dependent response potentiation. To gain insight into how altering retinal activity triggers these cortical responses, we compared the effects of MD by lid closure with monocular inactivation (MI) by intravitreal injection of tetrodotoxin. We find that MI fails to induce deprived-eye response depression but promotes potentiation of responses driven by the normal eye. These effects of MI in juvenile mice closely resemble the effects of MD in adult mice. Understanding how MI and MD differentially affect activity in the visual system of young mice may provide key insight into how the critical period ends.
Effect of instructional gaming and reentry status on performance and motivation

Abstract Two experiments conducted to investigate instructional gaming and college reentry status are discussed. Results from both studies suggest that reentry and traditional age college students find instructional games to be a motivating alternative to more established methods of practice and review. However, results revealed that instructional games do not contribute to enhanced performance when compared with established instructional methods.
Extranodal Lymphoplasmacytoid Lymphoma (Immunocytoma) Presenting as Small Intestinal Obstruction

Abstract A 57-year-old woman presented with intermittent symptoms of intestinal obstruction. Workup provided nondiagnostic radiologic studies. An exploratory laparotomy revealed a segmental dilatat...
Do women's preferences for symmetry change across the menstrual cycle?

In many species, symmetry enhances physical attractiveness of the face and body. In humans, facial attractiveness is also enhanced by symmetrical decoration in the form of facial paint (Cardenas, R. A., & Harris, L. J. (2006)). According to the good-genes hypothesis (e.g., Thornhill, R., & Gangestad, S. W. (1999)), symmetry is preferred because it is associated with mate quality. According to the receiver bias hypothesis (e.g., Enquist, M., & Johnstone, R. (1997)), it is a by-product of how the visual system is designed. Proponents of the good- genes hypothesis have suggested that a preference for symmetry may vary with fertility, namely, that it will be enhanced in women in the high-fertility phase of the menstrual cycle. Previous research does demonstrate that, during this phase, women prefer the scent of more symmetrical men (e.g., Gangestad, S. W., & Thornhill, R. (1998)). However, research employing assessment of faces fails to find a similar effect (Koehler, N., Rhodes, G., & Simmons, L. W. (2002)). Previous research asked subjects to judge faces one at a time during high fertility (around ovulation) and low fertility (menstruation). We used a different face-presentation method, tested women during the other low-fertility (midluteal) phase, and used decorated as well as undecorated faces. As in our prior study (Cardenas, R. A., & Harris, L. J. (2006)), symmetry of facial features and symmetry of decoration enhanced attractiveness, but, contrary to the possible prediction of the good-genes hypothesis, the effects did not vary across the cycle. The results as they are, therefore, can be equally accommodated by both hypotheses.
Ten Difference Score Myths

Difference scores have been widely used in studies of fit, similarity, and agreement. Despite their widespread use, difference scores suffer from numerous methodological problems. These problems ca...
Simple model to explain effects of plasma protein binding and tissue binding on calculated volumes of distribution, apparent elimination rate constants and clearances.

A simple pharmacokinetic model, incorporating linear plasma protein binding, linear tissue binding, and first order elimination of free (unbound) drug, was studied. If Clp is the plasma clearance, Vf is the “true” volume of distribution of free drug, β is the apparent elimination rate constant, σ is the fraction of the drug which is free in plasma, f is the fraction of the drug which is free in the entire body, kf is the intrinsic elimination rate constant for free drug, and A TB o is the initial amount of drug which is bound to tissues, then the model indicates that the following relationships hold: (1) Clp = Vfσ kf; (2) β = f kf; and Vdext = (σ/f) Vf. Only σ, and not f, can be measuredexperimentally. Dividing Clp by σ provides an estimate of the intrinsic clearance of free drug, Vfkf. A plot of Vdext versus σ has an intercept equal to Vf, and the ratio of the slope/intercept is an estimate of A TB o /A f o , where A f o is the initial amount of free drug (equal to Vf times initial concentration of free drug in plasma). Thus, an estimate of A TB o may be obtained. Dividing the intrinsic clearance by Vf provides an estimate of kf. Thus, theoretically, estimates of Vf, kf, A TB o and f may be obtained. The variables are not separated when β is plottedversus σ, and curvature of such plots is expected; no useful information is obtained from such plots.
Are We What We Play? Global Politics in Historical Strategy Computer Games

Building upon current interest in studies of how popular culture relates to global politics, this article examines one hitherto overlooked aspect of popular culture: computer games. Although not prominent in the field of International Relations (IR), historical strategy computer games should be of particular interest to the discipline since they are explicitly designed to allow players to simulate global politics. This article highlights five major IR-related assumptions built into most single-player historical strategy games (the assumption of perfect information, the assumption of perfect control, the assumption of radical otherness, the assumption of perpetual conflict, and the assumption of environmental stasis) and contrasts them with IR scholarship about how these assumptions manifest themselves in the “real world.” This article concludes by making two arguments: first, we can use computer games as a mirror to critically reflect on the nature of contemporary global politics, and second, these games have important constitutive effects on understandings of global politics, effects that deserve to be examined empirically in a deeper manner.
CHILLING UNIT ACCUMULATION AND FORCING EFFECTS ON CARBOHYDRATES OF YOUNG APPLE ROOTSTOCKS

Sucrose, glucose, hexose (glucose + fructose), and sorbitol were measured enzymatically in root and shoot tissues of young apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.) MM. Ill rootstocks during rest (0 to 2400 chilling units (CU) and 0 to 36 days of forcing (DF). Changes in starch and sorbitol concentrations during chilling and forcing were variable. Starch generally decreased with increasing chilling and forcing. Sorbitol showed little change with forcing. Sorbitol concentration generally declined until chilling was adequate for 50 to 90% budbreak (1200-1600 CU), then increased. The magnitude of changes was greater overall for starch in roots and for sorbitol in shoots. Sucrose and hexose concentrations in shoots and roots increased from 0 to 12 DF, remained relatively stable from 12 to 24 DF, and declined from 24 to 36 DF. Sucrose increased from 0 through 800 CU, decreased between 800 and 1200 CU (chilling requirement for 50% budbreak), and remained relatively stable from 1200 through 2400 CU. During rest, hexose d...
Intraoperative imaging identifies thymoma margins following neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Near infrared (NIR) molecular imaging is useful to identify tumor margins during surgery; however, the value of this technology has not been evaluated for tumors that have been pre-treated with chemotherapy. We hypothesized that NIR molecular imaging could locate mediastinal tumor margins in a murine model after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Flank thymomas were established on mice. Two separate experiments were performed for tumor margin detection. The first experiment compared (i) surgery and (ii) surgery + NIR imaging. The second experiment compared (iii) preoperative chemotherapy + surgery, and (iv) preoperative chemotherapy + surgery + NIR imaging. NIR imaging occurred following systemic injection of indocyanine green. Margins were assessed for residual tumor cells by pathology. NIR imaging was superior at detecting retained tumor cells during surgery compared to standard techniques (surgery alone vs. surgery + NIR imaging, 20% vs. 80%, respectively). Following chemotherapy, the sensitivity of NIR imaging of tumor margins was not significantly altered. The mean in vivo tumor-to-background fluorescence ratio was similar in the treatment-naive and chemotherapy groups ((p = 0.899): 3.79 ± 0.69 (IQR 3.29 - 4.25) vs. 3.79 ± 0.52 (IQR 3.40 – 4.03)). We conclude that chemotherapy does not affect tumor fluorescence or identification of retained cancer cells at margins.
Experiments on the Simultaneous Hand-Held Control of Rigid Endoscopes and Robots Passing Through Them

Concentric tube manipulators have the diameter of needles and are consequently amenable to delivery into the human body through small ports in an endoscope. When this is done, the surgeon must manipulate both the endoscope and one or more concentric tube robots simultaneously. In this paper we explore a hand-held approach to this user interface challenge, in which the surgeon has direct physical control of endoscope pose and can use finger and thumb controls to specify the motion of two concentric tube robots that pass through the endoscope. In experiments with the system, we explore whether the endoscope-robot combination can reach locations in the prostate that are inaccessible to the endoscope alone. We also compare joint space and task space control for three-degree-of-freedom concentric tube robots, and demonstrate experimentally that laser resection of prostate tissue is possible using an anthropomorphic phantom.
On the potential of correlated materials in the design of spin-based cross-point memories (Invited)

Cross-point architectures are promising for designing dense memory arrays. However, sneak current paths in a cross-point array necessitates the use of non-linear selectors. In this paper, we analyze the potential of employing correlated materials exhibiting abrupt insulator-metal transitions as selectors to design cross-point memories based on magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs). We analyze the properties of the correlated materials and co-design MTJs and the selector to optimize the energy efficiency and robustness of the memory array. Our analysis points to the need of a correlated material with a large ratio of insulator and metal resistivities along with appropriate critical currents for the phase transitions (the values of which depend on the absolute value of the resistivities). We discuss that the design constraints lead to a restriction on the range of the selector length, which is closely related to the oxide thickness of the MTJ. Comparison of the cross-point architecture with standard architecture shows the benefits in the former in terms of 7% larger sense margin and 5X higher integration density at iso-read stability. However, this comes at the cost of 2X lower write speed (due to two-cycle write) and 11%–19% increase in the read/write power (due to sneak current in the cross-point array).
Laparoscopic Closure of the Nephrosplenic Space in Horses with Nephrosplenic Colonic Entrapment: Factors Associated with Survival and Colic Recurrence

Objectives 1) To identify factors associated with short-term survival and time to death after hospital discharge in horses with nephrosplenic entrapment (NSE). 2) To compare the frequency of recurrent colic episodes in horses with and without laparoscopic closure of the nephrosplenic space. Study Design Historical cohort with a nested case control. Animals Client-owned horses. Methods Medical records of horses treated for NSE from January 1, 2002 to June 1, 2014 were reviewed. Data collected included signalment, physical examination parameters, laboratory results, diagnostic findings, and treatments. Factors associated with short-term survival to discharge were analyzed with a multivariable logistic regression model and time to death after hospital discharge was analyzed with a Cox proportional hazards model. Results During the study period, 211 horses had 231 NSE events and 192/211 (91%) horses survived to discharge. A positive difference in packed cell volume (PCV at admission – PCV after treatment) was associated with reduced odds of nonsurvival with each increment (OR: 0.899, 95% CI 0.816–0.991, P=.03) while the presence of concurrent alimentary lesions (OR: 8.47, 95% CI 1.42–50.4, P=.02) were significantly associated with increased odds of nonsurvival in the short term. Of 156 horses that survived to discharge for which follow-up was available, 152 (97%) were alive for ≥1 year. Increasing age (incremental years) at hospital admission was significantly associated with death after discharge (hazard ratio 1.078, 95% CI 1.002–1.16, P=.049). Recurrence of NSE was documented in 49/211 (23%) horses. The overall change in colic score indicated a reduction in colic in horses following laparoscopic closure of the nephrosplenic space compared with horses that did not have closure of the nephrosplenic space (P<0.001). Conclusion An increase in PCV from admission to after treatment and concurrent abdominal lesions were associated with increased odds of nonsurvival to discharge in horses with NSE. Horses that underwent laparoscopic closure had reduced colic episodes compared with horses without laparoscopic closure.
3D printed metal molds for hot embossing plastic microfluidic devices

Plastics are one of the most commonly used materials for fabricating microfluidic devices. While various methods exist for fabricating plastic microdevices, hot embossing offers several unique advantages including high throughput, excellent compatibility with most thermoplastics and low start-up costs. However, hot embossing requires metal or silicon molds that are fabricated using CNC milling or microfabrication techniques which are time consuming, expensive and required skilled technicians. Here, we demonstrate for the first time the fabrication of plastic microchannels using 3D printed metal molds. Through optimization of the powder composition and processing parameters, we were able to generate stainless steel molds with superior material properties (density and surface finish) than previously reported 3D printed metal parts. Molds were used to fabricate poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) replicas which exhibited good feature integrity and replication quality. Microchannels fabricated using these replicas exhibited leak-free operation and comparable flow performance as those fabricated from CNC milled molds. The speed and simplicity of this approach can greatly facilitate the development (i.e. prototyping) and manufacture of plastic microfluidic devices for research and commercial applications.
Immunosuppression and adult heart transplantation: emerging therapies and opportunities

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Immunosuppression following heart transplantation has improved graft longevity through the reduction of cellular and antibody mediated rejection. The attempt to limit the unintended consequences of immunosuppressive therapies and address sensitized patients has led to a revolution in immunosuppression.Areas covered: This review will focus on the current emerging immunosuppressive therapies in heart transplantation while reviewing the effective contemporary treatments, and explore the potential development of new immunomodulatory therapies. An exhaustive review of the PubMed database and abstract data from national meetings was performed to compile the data for the manuscript.Expert commentary: The timing and targets of immunosuppressive therapies are evolving to provide adjunctive therapies to the established treatments. Recent advances will allow for further tailoring of immunomodulatory therapies to the individual patient.
Measuring Sense of Community and Academic Learning in Graduate Education

This article reports findings from a research study that investigated sense of community and perceived learning among 223 graduate-level education students. Utilizing canonical correlation analysis, the researchers examined the interaction between two types of classroom community (social community and learning community) and three types of perceived learning (cognitive, affective, and psychomotor learning). Results indicate that the higher the sense of both social and learning community that students have, the higher their perceived learning will be in all three areas (cognitive, affective, and psychomotor perceived learning). The reverse is also true; participants who report low levels of social and learning community also show lower levels of cognitive, affective, and psychomotor perceived learning. Recommendations for further research are provided.
Incorporating Allee effects into the potential biological removal level

Potential biological removal (PBR) is an approach used to calculate sustainable harvest and “take” limits for populations. PBR was originally derived assuming logistic growth while ignoring the effects of small population size (i.e., an Allee effect). We derived a version of PBR that includes an Allee effect (i.e., small population size or densities limiting population growth rates). We found that PBR becomes less conservative when it fails to consider an Allee effect. Specifically, sustainable harvest and take levels based upon PBR with an Allee effect were between approximately 51% and 66% of levels based upon PBR without an Allee effect. Managers and biologists using PBR may need to consider the limitations if an Allee effect may be present in the species being modeled. Considerations for Management Based upon our finding, management considerations may include: acknowledging that populations under stress may also be subject to Allee effects; recognizing limitations of approaches such as PBR when applying them to small populations; and broadly considering the Allee effects when using population models for natural resource management.
Insights for academic developers from three international undergraduate research program resources

Undergraduate research is recognized as a high-impact educational practice (Kuh & O’Donnell, 2013), and increasingly it occurs world-wide in higher education, in particular in the United States, Un...
Examining Students’ Procedural and Conceptual Understanding of Eigenvectors and Eigenvalues in the Context of Inquiry-Oriented Instruction

This study examines students’ reasoning about eigenvalues and eigenvectors as evidenced by their written responses to two open-ended response questions. This analysis draws on data taken from 126 students whose instructors received a set of supports to implement a particular inquiry-oriented instructional approach and 129 comparable students whose instructors did not use this instructional approach. In this chapter, we offer examples of student responses that provide insight into students’ reasoning and summarize broad trends observed in our quantitative analysis. In general, students in both groups performed better on the procedurally oriented question than on the conceptually oriented question. The group of students whose instructors received support to implement the inquiry-oriented approach outperformed the other group of students on the conceptually oriented question and performed equally well on the procedurally oriented question.
Host and symbiont genetic contributions to fitness in a Trichogramma–Wolbachia symbiosis

The fitness effects associated with Wolbachia infection have wide-ranging ecological and evolutionary consequences for host species. How these effects are modulated by the relative influence of host and Wolbachia genomes has been described as a balancing act of genomic cooperation and conflict. For vertically transmitted symbionts, like cytoplasmic Wolbachia, concordant host-symbiont fitness interests would seem to select for genomic cooperation. However, Wolbachia's ability to manipulate host reproductive systems and distort offspring sex ratios presents an evolutionary conflict of interest with infected hosts. In the parthenogenesis-inducing (PI) form of Wolbachia found in many haplodiploid insects, Wolbachia fitness is realized through females and is enhanced by their feminization of male embryos and subsequent parthenogenetic reproduction. In contrast, as long as Wolbachia is not fixed in a population and sexual reproduction persists, fitness for the host species is realized through both male and female offspring production. How these cooperating and competing interests interact and the relative influence of host and Wolbachia genomes were investigated in the egg parasitoid Trichogramma kaykai, where Wolbachia infection has remained at a low frequency in the field. A factorial design in which laboratory cultures of Wolbachia-infected T. kaykai were cured and re-infected with alternative Wolbachia strains was used to determine the relative influence of host and Wolbachia genomes on host fitness values. Our results suggest fitness variation is largely a function of host genetic background, except in the case of offspring sex ratio where a significant interaction between host and Wolbachia genomes was found. We also find a significant effect associated with the horizontal transfer of Wolbachia strains, which we discuss in terms of the potential for coadaptation in PI-Wolbachia symbioses.
Decreasing Low Acuity Pediatric Emergency Room Visits with Increased Clinic Access and Improved Parent Education

Background and Objective: The goal of this study was to decrease avoidable, low-acuity emergency department (ED) use among pediatric patients at Coastal Family Medicine. The rationale behind this focus was to improve continuity for our patients while decreasing the cost burden for low-acuity ED visits. The family medicine residency clinic pediatric panel has grown by 35% over the past 3 years, bringing this issue of same-day acute access in our clinic to the forefront. Methods: A survey was created to better understand the needs of our high users of the ED. The survey identified that patients believed the ED provided better same-day access than our clinic during the daytime hours, 8 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday. By using this data, along with a literature review and a community practice review, a business-hour walk-in clinic for ages 0 years to 18 years was started to improve access. Clinic posters, revised scripting for office staff, phone room staff, and our after-hour triage line as well as bookmarks advertising the walk-in clinic given during well-child checks were created to address parent education. Pediatric ED data generated through our electronic medical record as well as through Medicaid reimbursement data framed the scope of this issue as significant. This was used to monitor pediatric ED visits following interventions as well. Results: Over the initial 3 months of interventions, pediatric ED use decreased by 62 visits compared with the prior year. The low-acuity diagnoses of upper respiratory infections decreased by 43.7% (71 to 40 visits) and fever decreased by 50.0% (14 to 7 visits) from the same 3 months the year prior. This decrease was sustained when examined during year 3. Over the next 12 months, there were 284 (29.8%) less visits to the ED with low-acuity diagnoses. This calculates to approximately $300,000 saved to the Medicaid system. During this time frame, our pediatric panel increased by 200 patients. Discussion: Increasing access and improving patient education decreased low-acuity pediatric ED visits in our clinic. This combination of interventions worked well in our community and has been shown to help optimize the setting in which pediatric patients are seen.
Paving the road into college and STEM for Latino students

The purpose of this study is to thoroughly describe a program designed to strengthen the pipeline of Latino students into post-secondary science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, and present evaluation data to assess multiyear effectiveness. The program includes a suite of interventions aimed at students and families, and was implemented in a low-income school cluster with a high Latino population in metro Atlanta. Our intervention includes a high school and middle school mentoring program, STEM-focused extracurricular activities (summer camps, research and community service opportunities), and college and STEM career-focused community events for families. Results suggest that GoSTEM has a positive impact on students and families with respect to college and career awareness. The mentoring program components also increase students’ college readiness and self-regulatory skills at the high school level. The ex¬tracurricular programs support this effort by increasing students’ STEM-related content knowledge and learning, and their understanding about STEM careers for both high school and middle school students. Lessons learned are also presented to help guide other practitioners of Latino outreach programs.
Recurrence of Patellar Instability in Adolescents Undergoing Surgery for Osteochondral Defects Without Concomitant Ligament Reconstruction.

Background:First-time patellar dislocation with an associated chondral or osteochondral loose body is typically treated operatively to address the loose fragment. The incidence of recurrent instabi...
Low-Cost Stereoscopic Recordings of Neurologic Surgery Operative Microscopy for Anatomic Laboratory Training.

Objective Stereoscopic video recordings of operative microscopy during neuroanatomic dissections are an important component of surgical training and research in well-financed medical schools and teaching hospitals. However, the high cost of the latest operative microscopes with integrated video recording equipment can be a limiting factor in their worldwide use. The aim of the present work is to provide a simple low-cost 3-dimensional (3D) stereoscopic operative microscope recording system that can be used even in economically and resource-limited locations. This is achieved by using readily available smartphones, smartphone accessories, and computer software. Methods Stereoscopic recording is accomplished by attaching and aligning matched or similar smartphones to the eyepieces of an operative microscope using readily available smartphone mounting connectors. Video recordings from the smartphones are then transferred to a personal computer and processed with a video-editing software to generate stereoscopic movies that are viewed on a smartphone using virtual-reality glasses. Results The setup time to mount and align the smartphone cameras typically requires 15–30 minutes. Video image quality and 3D depth presentation is more than sufficient for surgical training and research purposes. The implementation cost ranges from $1,315–$7,066, or much less if smartphones and a computer are already available. Conclusions The 3D video system demonstrated herein can be implemented on any type of operative microscope, including older units for which commercial stereo recording systems are not available. The system and method presented herein can be readily and affordably implemented in low-budget environments for clinical training and research.
Clinical outcomes and genomic analysis in patients with very high-risk clinically localized prostate cancer treated by radical prostatectomy.

5067Background: Very high risk prostate cancer is associated with poor response to local and systemic treatments, however few cases have been molecularly profiled. We studied patients with primary ...
Utilization and Treatment Patterns of Cytoreduction Surgery and Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy in the United States

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IPC) is an effective treatment option for selected patients with peritoneal metastases (PM), but national utilization patterns are poorly understood. The objectives of this study were to (1) describe population-based trends in national utilization of CRS/IPC; (2) define the most common indications for the procedure; and (3) characterize the types of hospitals performing the procedure. The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) was used to identify patients from 2006 to 2015 who underwent CRS/IPC, and to calculate national estimates of procedural frequency and oncologic indication. Hospitals performing CRS/IPC were classified based on size and teaching status. The estimated annual number of CRS/IPC cases increased significantly from 189 to 1540 (p < 0.001). Overall, appendiceal cancer was the most common indication (25.7%), followed by ovarian cancer (23.3%), colorectal cancer (22.5%), and unspecified PM (15.0%). Remaining cases (13.5%) were performed for other indications. Most cases were performed in large teaching hospitals (65.9%), compared with smaller teaching hospitals (25.1%), large non-teaching hospitals (5.3%), or small non-teaching hospitals (3.2%). Patients were more likely to undergo CRS/IPC without a diagnosis based on level I evidence (appendiceal, ovarian, or colorectal) at large non-academic hospitals (odds ratio 2.00, 95% confidence interval 1.18–3.38, p = 0.010) compared with large academic hospitals. Utilization of CRS/IPC is increasing steadily in the US, is performed at many types of facilities, and often for a variety of indications that are not supported by high-level evidence. Given associated morbidity of CRS/IPC, a national registry dedicated to cases of IPC is necessary to further evaluate use and outcomes.
Abnormal Gait in Healthy Teen

Introduction HNPP is a slowly progressive, hereditary, neuromuscular disorder, which makes an individual susceptible to nerve injury from pressure, stretch or repetitive use. It is an autosomal dominant disease caused deletion of chromosome 17p11.2. This segment is responsible for peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22). It often presents in second or third decade of life , with pressure palsy often being reason for presentation. Males and females are equally affected. Case Report 13 yo female referred to sports medicine by PCP for evaluation of left foot problem. 3 weeks …
Influence of dexamethasone treatment on bovine neutrophil arachidonic acid metabolism and response to tuftsin

The role of arachidonic acid metabolism in glucocorticoid-induced suppression of neutrophil function was investigated. In vivo treatment of cattle with dexamethasone decreased the production of lipoxygenase products of arachidonic acid metabolism (leukotriene B^(LTB^) and 5-HETE) in neutrophils. We previously reported that in vivo dexamethasone treatment resulted in alteration of in vitro neutrophil oxidative metabolism, iodination, antibody-dependent cellmediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and random migration. To determine if the decrease in production of LTB^ and 5-HETE were responsible for the changes in neutrophil function, neutrophils were treated in vitro with inhibitors of the lipoxygenase enzyme (BW755c and nordihydroguaiaretic acid) and their function was evaluated. A decrease in neutrophil oxidative metabolism and iodination was observed but there was no effect on neutrophil random migration or ADCC. The results suggest that in vivo treatment with glucocorticoids inhibit neutrophil oxidative metabolism and iodination by decreasing the formation of 4).S.A. WdDb and J.A. Roth. 1986. J. Leuk. Biol., accepted for publication.