cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estimating the Proportion of Americans Ever Experiencing Poverty During Their Elderly Years

Objectives. This study estimates the age-specific and cumulative proportions of American adults who will experience poverty at some point during their elderly years. These life-span proportions represent a substantially different approach to understanding poverty than calculating either yearly cross-sectional rates or poverty spell durations. Methods. Our estimations are derived through a series of life tables built upon 25 waves of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID). Results. The analyses indicate that 40% of America's elderly population will experience a year below the poverty line at some point between the ages of 60 and 90, and 48% of elders will experience poverty at the 125% level. The data further reveal that this life-span risk of poverty has remained relatively stable throughout the period of data collection (1968-1992). Finally, the likelihood of elderly Americans ever encountering a year below the poverty line increases dramatically for those who are Black, not married, and/or who have less than 12 years of education. Discussion. Our results suggest that in spite of relatively low cross-sectional rates of elderly poverty in America, the likelihood of impoverishment at some point during the later years of life remains a very real possibility. MAJOR public policy success story over the past 40 years \ has been the reduction of poverty within the elderly population. In 1959 the poverty rate for those aged 65 and over stood at 35.2%, representing the age group with the highest level of impoverishment. By 1997 the poverty rate for elderly adults had fallen to 10.5%. This was lower than the 13.3% rate for the overall population, and substantially lower than the 19.9% rate for children under the age of 18 (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1998). This remarkable reduction in the overall risk of poverty for the elderly population has been credited primarily to the increasing generosity of Social Security, along with the introduction of the Medicare program in 1965 (Bok, 1996; Hurd, 1989). Ironically, as a result of this success, some policy makers and social scientists have begun to question whether public policy may have gone too far in favoring elderly adults (Preston, 1984). Yet, before concluding that elders' risk of poverty is minimal, one of the facts to ascertain is the likelihood of poverty across the entire elderly life span. This study seeks to derive such estimations. Background With the advent of several national panel studies including the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY), the Retirement History Study (RHS), and the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), considerable light has been shed on understanding the longitudinal dynamics of poverty spells. These data sets have allowed researchers to observe and track the individual dynamics of poverty and income mobility over time.
Acquiring a professional "second life": problems and prospects for the use of virtual worlds in business

The current surge of interest in virtual worlds suggests they are poised to make an evolutionary leap to the workplace, as instant messaging did a decade ago. In recent work we have introduced dozens of new users to teambuilding activities in the Second Life® environment, meeting both enthusiasm and skepticism. We document five issues for professional users of virtual environments: initial motivation, technical difficulties, interacting competently, becoming socially proficient, and finding compelling activities. Based on these we describe a training strategy to enable professional users of virtual worlds.
Beam angle selection for intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) treatment of unresectable pancreatic cancer: are noncoplanar beam angles necessary?

External beam radiation therapy with concurrent chemotherapy (CRT) is widely used for the treatment of unresectable pancreatic cancer. Noncoplanar (NCP) 3D conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) and coplanar (CP) IMRT have been reported to lower the radiation dose to organs at risk (OARs). The purpose of this article is to examine the utility of noncoplanar beam angles in IMRT for the management of pancreatic cancer. Sixteen patients who were treated with CRT for unresectable adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head or neck were re-planned using CP and NCP beams in 3DCRT and IMRT with the Varian Eclipse treatment planning system. Compared to CP IMRT, NCP IMRT had similar target coverage with slightly increased maximum point dose, 5,799 versus 5,775 cGy (p = 0.008). NCP IMRT resulted in lower mean kidney dose, 787 versus 1,210 cGy (p < 0.0001) and higher mean liver dose, 1,208 versus 1,061 cGy (p < 0.0001). Also, NCP IMRT resulted in similar mean stomach dose, 1,257 versus 1,248 cGy (p = 0.86) but slightly higher mean small bowel dose, 981 versus 866 cGy (p < 0.0001). The NCP IMRT was able to significantly decrease bilateral kidney dose, but did not improve other dose–volume criteria. The use of NCP beam angles is preferred only in patients with risk factors for treatment-related kidney dysfunction.
Flame shape and spatially resolved Rayleigh criterion using proper orthogonal decomposition

Chemiluminescence imaging was performed for premixed flames with natural thermoacoustic instabilities in a Rijke tube. The images were phase locked to the natural pressure oscillations in the tube. The use of proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) to identify phase-resolved flame fronts and flame surface area is reported. The flame front results compare favorably to an Abel transform for axisymmetric cases but also work well for cases with non-axisymmetric contributions. The flame area perturbations are compared to previous work using OH planar laser induced fluorescence. The relatively-simpler chemiluminescence approach finds the same flame surface area correlations versus pressure. Additionally, the modes from POD are used to compute local acoustic coupling via the space and time resolved Rayleigh index. It is found that one mode in the decomposition is spatially the same as the Rayleigh index and can be used to characterize the thermoacoustic coupling. This similarity is due to the mode's time constant ...
The Role Of Contested And Uncontested Passes In Evaluating Defensive Basketball Efficiency

The global economic impact of basketball is measured in tens of billions of dollars and requires the efficient use of resources to maximize success on and off the court. Today, coaches, players, investors, and owners need to take full advantage of modern analytical methods and digital video software capabilities to make the most efficient use of a teams resources. This research is the first in a series that makes full use of modern analytic methods and begins to define new defensive and offensive criteria to supplement the decades old game box score performance information. Data envelopment analysis and statistical methods are used to evaluate two new defensive performance metrics on defensive efficiency. The two new defensive metrics are contested and uncontested passes that are fully defined in the articles appendix. Future research will expand the sample size and allow for more comprehensive models of basketball team defensive efficiency.
Congenital immunodeficiencies in mice increase susceptibility to urinary tract infection.

AbstractSevere combined immunodeficient (SCID), T cell deficient, and immunocompetent mice were challenged intravesically with viable uropathogenic Escherichia coli. In comparison to immunocompetent controls, SCID mice had significantly greater numbers of viable E. coli in their bladders and kidneys 7 days after inoculation. Splenic anti-E. coli antibody-forming cells (AFC) were virtually absent in SCID mice at 7.0 days after infection. Adoptive transfer of spleen cells from E. coliimmunized immunocompetent mice to SCID mice enhanced their resistance to urinary tract infection (UTI), as evidenced by lower bacterial counts in bladder and kidneys following an induced infection. Congenitally T cell deficient nude mice and immunocompetent heterozygous controls had equivalent bladder and kidney infection levels at 2 and 7 days after UTI. Immunocompetency thus appears to play a significant role in resistance to E. coli UTI in this animal model. Since mice deficient only in T cells did not show increased UTI sus...
Salmonella enterica Serovars from Pigs on Farms and after Slaughter and Validity of Using Bacteriologic Data To Define Herd Salmonella Status

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the validity of using data obtained from slaughtered pigs for farm-level epidemiologic studies of Salmonella. The study involved groups of pigs from five farms. Salmonella isolates were obtained from on-farm samples, and a total of 370 on-farm and an additional 486 isolates from samples collected after commercial slaughter were subsequently tested. Preharvest samples included feces of individual animals from defined groups of nursery and finishing pigs on commercial farms and swabs from trucks. Postslaughter samples were cecal contents and mesenteric lymph node samples. The concordance between Salmonella serovars isolated from on-farm samples and those serovars isolated after slaughter varied widely among farms. Results of paired lymph node and cecal cultures were strongly associated (odds ratio, 7.0), but the agreement between on-farm and postslaughter results at the pig level was poor (kappa = 0.34). The results support recent findings that risk of exposure to Salmonella during transport and lairage remains a concern under contemporary industry conditions. The findings further imply that slaughter plant studies based on phenotyping of Salmonella alone (such as serovars) may not reliably indicate the Salmonella status of commercial swine farms.
Best performance modeling using complementary DEA-ANN approach: Application to Japanese electronics manufacturing firms

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to design an innovative performance modeling system by jointly using data envelopment analysis (DEA) and artificial neural network (ANN). The hybrid DEA-ANN model integrates performance measurement and prediction frameworks and serves as an adaptive decision support tool in pursuit of best performance benchmarking and stepwise improvement. Design/methodology/approach – Advantages of combining DEA and ANN methods into an optimal performance prediction model are explored. DEA is used as a preprocessor to measure relative performance of decision-making units (DMUs) and to generate test inputs for subsequent ANN prediction modules. For this sequential process, Charnes, Cooper, and Rhodes and Banker, Chames and Cooper DEA models and back propagation neural network (BPNN) are used. The proposed methodology is empirically supported using longitudinal data of Japanese electronics manufacturing firms. Findings – The combined modeling approach proves effective through sequenti...
Variation in Susceptibility to Insecticides in the Leafminer Parasitoid Ganaspidium utilis (Hymenoptera: Eucoilidae)

Five populations of a parasitoid of agromyzid leafminers, Ganaspidium utilis Beardsley, were tested for susceptibility to five insecticide . Four field populations were significantly less susceptible than a laboratory population that had not been exposed to insecticides for 20 generations. Compared with the laboratory population, maximum resistance ratios at LC 50 were 3 for methomyl, 2 for oxamyl, 3 for fenvalerate, 12 for permethrin, and 9 for malathion. The most toxic insecticide was malathion, followed by methomyl. oxamyl, permethrin, and fenvalerate. LC 5O s,vere lower than concentrations similar to the recommended field rates for all populations for methomyl, oxamyl, and malathion, but LC 50 s for some populations were higher than the recommended field rates for permethrin and fenvalerate.
EFFECTIVENESS OF DRY NEEDLING, STRETCHING, AND STRENGTHENING TO REDUCE PAIN AND IMPROVE FUNCTION IN SUBJECTS WITH CHRONIC LATERAL HIP AND THIGH PAIN: A RETROSPECTIVE CASE SERIES

Chronic lateral hip and thigh pain is regularly treated by the physical therapist. Many issues can cause pain in this region, and trigger points may contribute to pain. Dry Needling (DN) is an intervention used by physical therapists where a monofilament needle is inserted into soft tissue to reduce pain thereby facilitating return to prior level of function. The purpose of this case series is to report the outcomes of DN and conventional physical therapy as a treatment intervention for subjects with chronic lateral hip and thigh pain.Four subjects with chronic lateral hip and thigh pain attended between four and eight sixty-minute sessions of dry needling and stretching/ strengthening activities over a four to eight week intervention course. Outcomes were tested at baseline and upon completion of therapy. A long-term follow up averaging 12.25 months (range 3 to 20 months) was also performed. The outcome measures included the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS).The LEFS and VAS indicated clinically meaningful improvements in disability and pain in the short term and upon long term follow up for each subject. The LEFS(mean) for the four subjects improved from 50.75 at baseline to 66.75 at the completion of treatment. At long-term follow-up, the LEFS(mean) was 65.50. Each subject met the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and minimal detectable change (MDC) for the LEFS and the VAS. The VAS was broken down into best (VAS(B)), current (VAS(C)), and worst (VAS(W)) rated pain levels and averaged between the four subjects. The VAS(B) improved from 20 mm at the initial assessment to 0 mm upon completion of the intervention duration. The VAS(C) improved from 25.75 mm to 11.75 mm, and the VAS(W) improved from 85 mm to 32.5 mm. At the long-term follow up (average 12.25 months), the VAS(B), VAS(C), and VAS(W) scores were 0 mm, 14.58 mm, and 43.75 mm respectively.Clinically meaningful improvements in pain and disability were noted. Subjects reported improved sleep and functional mobility, which were commensurate with their different age ranges and initial reported limitations in mobility. The results of this case series show promising outcomes for the use of dry needling in the treatment of chronic lateral hip and thigh pain. Further controlled clinical trials are recommended to determine the effectiveness of adding dry needling as compared to other interventions for chronic lateral hip and thigh pain.Level 4.
Optimization algorithm of 0-1 knapsack problem based on absolute greedy and expected efficiency

With analysis and research the traditional theory of solving knapsack problem,and then to optimize enigmatical knapsack problems,this paper proposed a new algorithm based on the absolute greedy and expected efficiency strategy. Through the three sets of simulation experiments,it shows that the algorithm can solve a class of knapsack problems and it is superior to greedy algorithm,backtracking algorithm,dynamic programming algorithm,branch and bound algorithm. The convergence speed is ten times as the artificial glowworm swam algorithm by comparing with these two algorithms. Finally,it analyzed discrete degree of data and determined an adaptive scope of the algorithm.
The biomechanics of tibial shaft and knee injuries.

The most probable mechanism of injury to the medial collateral ligament is excess external rotation, probably combined with some minimal valgus force. It is not clear why twist release at the binding toe piece does not protect the medial collateral ligament. Most fractures of the tibia are the result of improper function of the ski-boot-binding system. More effort needs to be expended on protecting skiers against bending injuries of the tibia.
Post-anesthesia AMPA receptor potentiation prevents anesthesia-induced learning and synaptic deficits

Accumulating evidence has shown that repeated exposure to general anesthesia during critical stages of brain development results in long-lasting behavioral deficits later in life. To date, there has been no effective treatment to mitigate the neurotoxic effects of anesthesia on brain development. By performing calcium imaging in the mouse motor cortex, we show that ketamine anesthesia causes a marked and prolonged reduction in neuronal activity during the period of post-anesthesia recovery. Administration of the AMPAkine drug CX546 [1-(1,4-benzodioxan-6-ylcarbonyl)piperidine] to potentiate AMPA (α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid) receptor activity during emergence from anesthesia in mice enhances neuronal activity and prevents long-term motor learning deficits induced by repeated neonatal anesthesia. In addition, we show that CX546 administration also ameliorates various synaptic deficits induced by anesthesia, including reductions in synaptic expression of NMDA ( N -methyl-d-aspartate) and AMPA receptor subunits, motor training–evoked neuronal activity, and dendritic spine remodeling associated with motor learning. Together, our results indicate that pharmacologically enhancing neuronal activity during the post-anesthesia recovery period could effectively reduce the adverse effects of early-life anesthesia.
Identifying Design Principles for CS Teacher Ebooks through Design-Based Research

Several countries are trying to provide access to computing education for all secondary students. However, there are not enough teachers who are prepared to teach computer science. Interactive electronic books (ebooks) are a promising approach for providing low-cost professional development in computer science. Over the last four years, our research group has been conducting design-based research by iteratively developing and testing versions of a teacher ebook to help secondary teachers with no programming experience learn to teach an introductory programming course. The interactive elements in the ebook were designed based on research results from educational psychology and are intended to make learning more efficient and effective. Our goals for this effort are to increase teachers' knowledge of computer science concepts and to improve teachers' confidence in their ability to teach computer science. In this paper we summarize our previous work and report on a large-scale study of version two of the teacher ebook. We also recommend several design principles for interactive ebooks for computing teachers based on feedback from teachers, log file analyses, and randomized controlled studies.
Psychogenic Status Epilepticus

Six (21%) of 29 children admitted to the Columbus Children’s Hospital, OH, in a 6-month prospective period, with a diagnosis of convulsive status epilepticus proved to have psychogenic status epilepticus and comorbid affective and anxiety disorders.
Chemical Modifications of Ethnic Hair

Hair is one of the few physical features that can be easily altered in its shape, color, and length. This chapter will discuss some of the methods used to esthetically modify the appearance of hair, with an emphasis on chemical processes commonly used in ethnic communities. This includes detailed descriptions of the processes involved in chemical relaxation, texturizing, and hair coloring, in addition to the potential deleterious effects of these chemical modifications.
Intersectional Rights of Teachers and Students in Computer Science and Special Education: Implications for Urban Schooling:

This article advocates for the intersectional rights of teachers and students of computer science (CS) and special education (SPE) in urban education. Using an intersectional nepantla lens, we propose that CS education be accessible to all SPE teachers and students with dis/abilities. We argue for a focus on social-emotional intersectional rights as crucial foundations for an equitable approach to teaching and learning in CS SPE. We end with implications for educational stakeholders and teacher education programs that open pathways for socioemotional and intersectional rights of underrepresented teachers and students of CS and SPE.
Measuring Death Receptor 5 (DR5) occupancy in tumors using 64Cu-AMG 655

1339 Objectives: AMG 655 is a fully human IgG1 monoclonal agonist antibody that binds human DR5, activates caspases, and induces apoptosis in sensitive tumor cells. Preliminary microPET studies showed intense and saturable uptake of 64Cu-AMG 655 in DR5 positive Colo205 tumor. The purpose of this study was to evaluate 64Cu-AMG 655 as a PET tracer for measuring DR5 occupancy by AMG 655. Methods: 64Cu-AMG 655 was prepared from DOTA-AMG 655 and 64CuCl2. In vivo stability was examined in normal SCID mice. Biodistribution was performed in SCID mice bearing Colo205 tumor xenografts. Nine groups (n=4/group) of mice were used: 3 controls (6, 24 and 48 h), 4 AMG 655-treated (doses: 2.5, 25, 250, 1000 μg) at 24 h, and 2 2.4G2-treated (anti-FcR antibody, 0.5 mg) at 6 and 24 h. Tracer (8 μCi, 0.1 μg DOTA-AMG 655) was injected through the tail-vein. Blocking drug was co-injected with the tracer. Tissues were removed, weighed, and counted in a gamma counter. Uptake was expressed in percent injected dose per gram of tissue. Tissue-to-blood ratios (T/B) were used to determine receptor occupancy (RO), assuming 0% RO for tracer alone and 100% for 1000 μg AMG 655. Results: 64Cu-AMG 655 was readily prepared. Tracer was stable in plasma for 24 h post injection. For controls, median T/B at 6, 24 and 48 h were 0.37, 1.07, and 1.20, respectively. For AMG 655 treated, median T/B at 24 h for 0 (tracer alone), 2.5, 25, 250 and 1000 μg were 1.07, 0.99, 0.63, 0.50, and 0.47, respectively. DR5 RO calculated from median T/B at 24 h was 32%, 80% and 82% for 2.5, 25 and 250 μg AMG 655, respectively. Co-injection of 2.4G2 blocked spleen uptake, suggesting an FcR mediated process. Conclusions: Preliminary results suggested that 64Cu-AMG 655 is a potential PET tracer for measuring RO in DR5 positive tumors.
Il coinvolgimento della famiglia nel trattamento

Il coinvolgimento della famiglia nel trattamento di disturbi psichiatrici gravi, sperimentato su altri familiari, si e dimostrato utile sia per il paziente che per la famiglia stessa. I dati che emergono supportano anche tipi diversi di coinvolgimento della famiglia nel trattamento del disturbo di personalita borderline (DPB), nonostante gli studi siano, ad oggi, decisamente limitati nel numero. Lo scopo di questo capitolo e di descrivere le diverse modalita di coinvolgimento dei membri di una famiglia nel trattamento e rivedere l’evidenza che supporta questo tipo di approccio.
Ether lipids and their elusive function in the nervous system: a role for plasmalogens: An Editorial Highlight for 'Reduced muscle strength in ether lipid-deficient mice is accompanied by altered development and function of the neuromuscular junction' on page 569.

In this editorial, we highlight the recent work of Dorninger et al. that demonstrates a reduction in plasmalogens in the motor end plate is associated with a reduction in motor end plate function. This reduction in function is illuminated in reduced muscle function in these mice, corresponding with the reduction in acetylcholine release and in its receptor density observed in these mice.
Predictive biomarkers for acute gallstone pancreatitis in the pediatric population

Abstract Background Early biomarkers for diagnosis of gallstone pancreatitis (GP) in pediatrics have not been well studied. Reliably differentiating GP from other causes of acute pancreatitis (AP) would allow for early diagnosis and prompt management. We sought to assess biomarkers and clinical variables for early GP diagnosis from a prospectively-enrolled registry of pediatric patients presenting with first AP episode. Methods Cross-sectional analysis of a prospective acute pancreatitis registry of children enrolled from March 2013 through October 2016 was performed. Fisher's exact test and Wilcoxon rank sum test were used to compare demographic and clinical variables between GP and non-GP groups. A multivariable logistic regression model was derived, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was built using stepwise selection. Results 114 subjects were enrolled (21 with GP, 93 as non-GP). Median was statistically higher for GP patients in lipase values X upper limit of normal (ULN) on admission, weight percentile for age, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase. By multivariable analysis, significant predictors were ALT and Lipase xULN. A model built using these two variables for prediction of GP identified an AUROC of 0.85. At a predictive probability of 0.35, the model had an 80% sensitivity, 93% specificity, 76% positive predictive value and 95% negative predictive value. Conclusions We have developed a model for predicting GP in children that could help guide clinical management of AP patients. Future studies are needed to validate use of laboratory findings and clinical variables in evaluation of gallstone etiology in pediatric AP patients.
GABAergic control of substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons

At least 70% of the afferents to substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons are GABAergic. The vast majority of these arise from the neostriatum, the external globus pallidus and the substantia nigra pars reticulata. Nigral dopaminergic neurons express both GABA(A) and GABA(B) receptors, and are inhibited by local application of GABA(A) or GABA(B) agonists in vivo and in vitro. However, in vivo, synaptic responses elicited by stimulation of neostriatal or pallidal afferents, or antidromic activation of nigral pars reticulata GABAergic projection neurons are mediated predominantly or exclusively by GABA(A) receptors. The clearest and most consistent role for the nigral GABA(B) receptor in vivo is as an inhibitory autoreceptor that presynaptically modulates GABA(A) synaptic responses that originate from all three principal GABAergic inputs. The firing pattern of dopaminergic neurons is also effectively modulated by GABAergic inputs in vivo. Local blockade of nigral GABA(A) receptors causes dopaminergic neurons to shift to a burst firing pattern regardless of the original firing pattern. This is accompanied by a modest increase in spontaneous firing rate. The GABAergic inputs from the axon collaterals of the pars reticulata projection neurons seem to be a particularly important source of a GABA(A) tone to the dopaminergic neurons, inhibition of which leads to burst firing. The globus pallidus exerts powerful control over the pars reticulata input, and through the latter, disynaptically over the dopaminergic neurons. Inhibition of pallidal output leads to a slight decrease in firing of the dopaminergic neurons due to disinhibition of the pars reticulata neurons whereas increased firing of pallidal neurons leads to burst firing in dopaminergic neurons that is associated with a modest increase in spontaneous firing rate and a significant increase in extracellular levels of dopamine in the neostriatum. The pallidal disynaptic disinhibitory control of the dopaminergic neurons dominates the monosynaptic inhibitory influence because of a differential sensitivity to GABA of the two nigral neuron types. Nigral GABAergic neurons are more sensitive to GABA(A)-mediated inhibition than dopaminergic neurons, in part due to a more hyperpolarized GABA(A) reversal potential. The more depolarized GABA(A) reversal potential in the dopaminergic neurons is due to the absence of KCC2, the chloride transporter responsible for setting up a hyperpolarizing Cl(-) gradient in most mature CNS neurons. The data reviewed in this chapter have made it increasingly clear that in addition to the effects that nigral GABAergic output neurons have on their target nuclei outside of the basal ganglia, local interactions between GABAergic projection neurons and dopaminergic neurons are crucially important to the functioning of the nigral dopaminergic neurons.
Response of slow and fast muscle to hypothyroidism : maximal shortening velocity and myosin isoforms

This study examined both the shortening velocity and myosin isoform distribution of slow- (soleus) and fast-twitch (plantaris) skeletal muscles under hypothyroid conditions. Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of two groups: control (n = 7) or hypothyroid (n = 7). In both muscles, the relative contents of native slow myosin (SM) and type I myosin heavy chain (MHC) increased in response to the hypothyroid treatment. The effects were such that the hypothyroid soleus muscle expressed only the native SM and type I MHC isoforms while repressing native intermediate myosin and type IIA MHC. In the plantaris, the relative content of native SM and type I MHC isoforms increased from 5 to 13% and from 4 to 10% of the total myosin pool, respectively. Maximal shortening velocity of the soleus and plantaris as measured by the slack test decreased by 32 and 19%, respectively, in response to hypothyroidism. In contrast, maximal shortening velocity as estimated by force-velocity data decreased only in the soleus (-19%). No significant change was observed for the plantaris.
Integrated Circuit Fundamentals

Integrated circuit technology has made possible instruments and applications that were inconceivable on the grounds of cost, size and reliability a decade ago.
Gritting their teeth to close the sale: the positive effect of salesperson grit on job satisfaction and performance

This research is the first to examine the effect of “grit” – defined here as perseverance in pursuit of long-term goals – on salesperson performance and job satisfaction in a business-to-business (...
Nizar Qabbani: Jasmine Never Dies

Nizar Qabbani believed strongly in the power of literature; he was the conscience of the Arab nation, constructing a universe of his own, a Utopia, a dream for democracy and just rule.
Citizenship Policy Highlights

This chapter presents major citizenship-related legislation in Azerbaijan and Moldova and is related to unconditional jus soli (in Moldova and Azerbaijan) or its absence (in Georgia). The time period concerned stretches from the breakdown of the Soviet Union in 1991 until 2014, which saw a major policy reversal in Azerbaijan and a replacement of the initial citizenship law by a new one in Georgia (in 2015, Georgia adopted a new citizenship law, but the aspects related to jus soli remained the same). The chapter pays particular attention to the evolution of citizenship policy related to unconditional jus soli in Moldova and Azerbaijan. If the former progressed from conditional to unconditional jus soli, the latter moved in the opposite direction. Currently, Moldova is the only state in Eurasia that practices unconditional jus soli.
Modeling Latent Change Score Analysis and Extensions in Mplus: A Practical Guide for Researchers

Many developmental and life course researchers are interested in modeling dynamic developmental processes. Latent change score (LCS) modeling is a potentially powerful modeling technique that can be used to assess complex life course processes, as well as the direction of longitudinal bivariate associations. Advances in modeling software, like Mplus, as well as widening adoption of software by researchers has made LCS modeling simpler. Thus, in the present paper, we provide 1) a theoretical overview of LCS analysis, 2) information on the interpretation of these models, 3) a practical guid7e for estimating these models in Mplus (including example syntax), 4) illustrative examples of LCS analysis, and 5) potential caveats for researchers.
Entry Heat Transfer and Material Response

In investigating the interaction between a surface and its environment, one is concerned with an analysis of fluid dynamic fields involving the simultaneous transport of mass, momentum, and energy. Such problems are described by the equations of change which are a coupled system of nonlinear partial differential equations. The equations of change comprise the conservation laws for the fluid system and consist of the conservation of chemical species, the momentum equation and energy equation. The global form of the conservation of mass, or continuity equation, can be obtained directly by summing over all of the equations for the conservation of chemical species.
Preclinical evaluation of efficacy and pharmacokinetics of gentamicin containing extracellular‐matrix envelope

Background Using synthetic antibiotic-eluting envelope (ABE) is an effective intervention for prevention of cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) infection. The biologic extracellular-matrix envelope (ECME), may offer potential advantages over the synthetic ABE. To further minimize the risk of infection, the ECME can be hydrated in gentamicin prior to CIED implantation. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and pharmacokinetics (PK) of gentamicin containing ECME in an animal model. Methods For all experiments, the ECME was hydrated in gentamicin (40 mg/Ml) (treatment) for 2 min. In vitro antimicrobial efficacy against six different bacterial species was assessed. In vivo experiments were conducted using a rabbit model of CIED pocket infection. Serum and ECM gentamicin concentrations were measured. Five different organisms were inoculated into the device pocket of control (ECME hydrated in 0.9% saline) and treatment groups. Macroscopic appearance and colony forming units from CIED, ECME, and tissue were determined. Results No bacteria were recovered from any culture after 12 h of exposure to the gentamicin containing ECME. Serum gentamicin levels dropped below the limit of quantification at 15 h after implant. Gentamicin concentration in the ECME remained relatively stable for up to 7 days. Signs of clinical infection were observed in the control but not in the treatment group. In the presence of gentamicin, statistically significant reduction was demonstrated across all tested bacterial species. Conclusions In this preclinical animal infection model, gentamicin containing ECME was highly effective in reducing bacterial burden in the implant pocket, while systemic exposure after implantation remained low.
Isotopic discrimination between carrion and elytra clippings of lab-reared American burying beetles (Nicrophorus americanus): Implications for conservation and evaluation of feeding relationships in the wild.

Rationale Differences in stable isotope composition between an animal and its diet are quantified by experimentally derived diet-tissue discrimination factors. Appropriate discrimination factors between consumers and prey are essential for interpreting stable isotope patterns in ecological studies. While available for many taxa, these values are rarely estimated for organisms within the carrion food web. Methods We used a controlled-diet stable isotope feeding trial to quantify isotopic diet-tissue discrimination factors of carbon (δ13 C values) and nitrogen (δ15 N values) from laboratory-reared Nicrophorus americanus raised on carrion. We used exoskeleton samples of beetle elytra (wing covers) to determine diet-tissue discrimination factors using a continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometer equipped with an elemental analyzer. We also measured the isotopic compositions of five species of co-occurring, wild-caught burying beetles and evaluated feeding relationships. Results We found differences in stable carbon discrimination between carrion sources (mammalian and avian) and lab-reared beetles, but no difference in stable nitrogen discrimination. Values for δ13 C did not differ among wild-caught burying beetle species, but values for δ15 N were significantly different for the three species with overlapping breeding seasons. Furthermore, wild-caught burying beetles within our study area do not appear to use avian carrion resources to rear their young. Conclusions This study informs future interpretation of stable isotope data for insects within the carrion food web. In addition, these results provide insight into carrion resources used by co-occurring burying beetle species in situ. We also demonstrated that independent of adult food type, the larval food source has a significant impact on the isotopic signatures of adult beetles, which can be estimated using a minimally invasive elytra clipping.
Biotechnological Approaches for the Resistance to Citrus Diseases

Citrus is one of the top fruit crops worldwide. Citrus production faces many challenges such as diseases, insects, and abiotic stresses. Genetic improvement of citrus using conventional breeding is a lengthy, costly, and time-consuming process. Biotechnological approaches such as Agrobacterium-mediated transgenic expression, Citrus tristeza virus (CTV)-mediated transient expression and CRISPR-based genome editing have shown tremendous potential to improve citrus against different diseases. Here, we summarize the progress in generating disease-resistant/tolerant citrus plants via biotechnological approaches.
Accelerating Deep Neural Networks with Analog Memory Devices

Acceleration of training and inference of Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) with non-volatile memory (NVM) arrays, such as Phase-Change Memory (PCM), shows promising advantages in terms of energy efficiency and speed with respect to digital implementations using CPUs and GPUs. By leveraging a combination of PCM devices and CMOS circuits, high training accuracy can be achieved, leading to software-equivalent results on small and medium datasets. In addition, weights encoded with multiple PCM devices can lead to high speed and low-power inference, as shown here for Long-Short Term Memory (LSTM) networks.
What to think about: The applicability of agenda-settingsin a social media context

Abstract This study examines how agenda setting works on social media in the United States. Unlike previous platform studies, this research seeks to examine not just if, but also how agenda setting works in a social media setting. Three areas were tested for their effect on issue salience: repetition, story order, and endorsement. More than 360 U.S. participants viewed variations of a mock Facebook feed and answered questions about issue importance. Using issue importance as the dependent variable and repetition, story order, and endorsement as the independent variables, three hypotheses were tested. One hypothesis had the effect predicted: Increased repetition of a news story topic did influence participants’ perception that the news story topic was important. Additional items were tested as covariates. Gender, and ethnicity had a significant influence on perceived story importance. The results of this study indicate that agenda setting on social media occurs through repetition. Implications are explored.
Tissue‐Level Cytokines in a Rodent Model of Chronic Implant‐Associated Infection

Systemic cytokine concentrations have been extensively studied in implant-associated infections, providing sensitive diagnostic markers. However, less is known about the relationships of tissue-level cytokines surrounding the joint. The aim of this study was to define the cytokine profiles of tissues to investigate the use of these cytokines as markers of debridement in chronic joint infection. Using a rodent model, muscle samples were obtained from rats following Kirschner wire implantation and infection with Staphylococcus aureus to determine if: (1) differences exist in cytokine concentrations with proximity to infection, and (2) localized infection-specific markers can be identified on a tissue level to potentially serve as debridement markers in the future. Samples were collected from 4 distinct locations, and the concentrations of interleukin(IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-13, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interferon-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-α were quantified in each sample, relative to the amount of tissue. Cytokine concentrations differed with proximity to the joint when implant or infection was present, and tissues at the operative knee joint showed the highest levels of most cytokines. Additionally, IL-1β, IL-4, and IL-6 showed promise, beyond diagnostics, as tissue-level indicators of infection response. Ultimately, this study illustrated that tissue-level evaluation provided insight into infection-specific response, and these markers may be useful for guiding the debridement of implant-associated infections.
Engineered cardiac tissue microsphere production through direct differentiation of hydrogel-encapsulated human pluripotent stem cells.

Abstract Engineered cardiac tissues that can be directly produced from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) in scalable, suspension culture systems are needed to meet the demands of cardiac regenerative medicine . Here, we demonstrate successful production of functional cardiac tissue microspheres through direct differentiation of hydrogel encapsulated hiPSCs. To form the microspheres, hiPSCs were suspended within the photocrosslinkable biomaterial, PEG-fibrinogen (25 million cells/mL), and encapsulated at a rate of 420,000 cells/minute using a custom microfluidic system. Even at this high cell density and rapid production rate, high intra-batch and batch-to-batch reproducibility was achieved. Following microsphere formation, hiPSCs maintained high cell viability and continued to grow within and beyond the original PEG-fibrinogen matrix. These initially soft microspheres ( 75% cardiomyocytes (CMs). CMs responded appropriately to pharmacological stimuli and exhibited 1:1 capture up to 6.0 Hz when electrically paced. Over time, cells formed cell-cell junctions and aligned myofibril fibers; engineered cardiac microspheres were maintained in culture over 3 years. The capability to rapidly generate uniform cardiac microsphere tissues is critical for advancing downstream applications including biomanufacturing , multi-well plate drug screening, and injection-based regenerative therapies .
Palliative Care Conversations for Heart Failure Nurses: A Pilot Education Intervention.

Heart failure is a progressive condition affecting 6.2 million Americans. The use of palliative and supportive care for symptom management and improved quality of life is recommended for persons with heart failure. However, 91% of nurses believe they need further training to have palliative care conversations. The purpose of this pilot education intervention was to determine if providing nurses with education on the timing and content of palliative care conversations would improve their perceived skill and knowledge.
Targeted radionuclide therapies for pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic malignancies, the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths, have an aggressive behavior with poor prognosis, resulting in a 5-year survival rate of only 4%. It is typically a silent malignancy until patients develop metastatic disease. Targeted radionuclide therapies of cancer such as radiolabeled peptides, which bind to the receptors overexpressed by cancer cells and radiolabeled antibodies to tumor-specific antigens provide a viable alternative to chemotherapy and external beam radiation of metastatic cancers. Multiple clinical trials of targeted radionuclide therapy of pancreatic cancer have been performed in the last decade and demonstrated safety and potential efficacy of radionuclide therapy for treatment of this formidable disease. Although a lot of progress has been made in treatment of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors with radiolabeled (90)Y and (177)Lu somatostatin peptide analogs, pancreatic adenocarcinomas remain a major challenge. Novel approaches such as peptides and antibodies radiolabeled with alpha emitters, pre-targeting, bispecific antibodies and biological therapy based on the radioactive tumorlytic bacteria might offer a potential breakthrough in treatment of pancreatic adenocarcinomas.
Botulism as a Disease of Humans

Human botulism presents in several different forms which provide unique challenges to public health. Foodborne botulism, while still an issue with home-processed foods, is sometimes associated with restaurants and commercially produced (particularly chilled) foods. The diversity of food products available to consumers, which are widely distributed, requires an integrated, multiagency response approach to contain, evaluate and develop appropriate prevention measures. Wound and adult intestinal toxemia cases are difficult to confirm, and so the total illness burden is likely unknown. Infant botulism highlights the diversity of the neurotoxin-producing Clostridium sp. and associated toxins which can cause botulism worldwide. Finally, an astounding number of adverse events associated with toxin injections remind us of the hazards of botulinum toxin even as its therapeutic benefits expand.
Abstract 2873: A molecular signature predictive of indolent prostate cancer

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA With more than 230,000 estimated new cases in 2013, prostate cancer represents the most commonly diagnosed cancer in American men. While a subgroup of patients will develop an aggressive and lethal prostate cancer, most present with a low-risk form of the disease that requires little or no treatment. It is therefore crucial to distinguish patients whose tumors are likely to progress to aggressive disease from those whose tumors will remain indolent and for whom treatment may be more detrimental than beneficial. In our recent study, we hypothesized that low Gleason score prostate tumors can be distinguished as indolent and aggressive based on expression of genes associated with aging and senescence (1). Using gene set enrichment analyses and a decision tree learning model, we identified a 3-gene panel\_FGFR1, PMP22, and CDKN1A\_that is enriched in indolent prostate cancers and accurately predicts outcome of low Gleason score tumors at both the RNA and protein levels. In particular, protein expression of this 3-gene panel in biopsy samples correctly distinguished Gleason 6 patients who failed active surveillance over a 10-year period. Following from our initial study, our current efforts are focused on exploiting this 3-gene panel to develop a robust clinical assay for distinguishing indolent and aggressive tumors. We are currently using qRT-PCR, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry assays to assess the most effective way to quantify the simultaneous expression of the 3-gene panel in low Gleason score tumor biopsies/tissues. This quantitative assay will ultimately be applied to a large cohort study assessing the predictive power of the 3-gene signature in patients under active surveillance. We envision that such a prognostic test will significantly improve our ability to predict the outcome of patients with low Gleason score tumors and facilitate appropriate decisions of treatment for men under active surveillance. 1. Irshad S, et al. (2013) A molecular signature predictive of indolent prostate cancer. Science translational medicine 5(202):202ra122. Citation Format: Shazia Irshad, Mukesh Bansal, Clementine Le Magnen, Risham Dillon, Mireia Castillo-Martin, Tian Zheng, Alvaro Aytes, Sven Wenske, Paolo Guarnieri, Pavel Sumazin, Mitchell Benson, Michael M. Shen, Andrea Califano, Cory Abate-Shen. A molecular signature predictive of indolent prostate cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2873. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2873