cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Circulating levels of glucocorticoid hormones in WHHL and NZW rabbits: circadian cycle and response to repeated social encounter

Social environment influences the progression of atherosclerosis in an important experimental model of disease, the Watanabe Heritable Hyperlipidemic rabbit (WHHL). Although the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) system is likely to play an important role in the behavioral modulation of disease, relatively little is known about the glucocorticoid responses in these animals, or in other strains of rabbits. The purpose of the present study was to: (1) evaluate the rabbit glucocorticoid circadian rhythm, (2) compare plasma cortisol and corticosterone responses to social stress, and (3) examine strain differences (i.e., WHHL vs. New Zealand White (NZW)) in rabbit glucocorticoid responses to assess whether WHHLs have an aberrant HPA system. It was found that male rabbits secrete both corticosterone and cortisol in a circadian rhythm that peaks in the afternoon and reaches a nadir at 0600 h, i.e., approximately 12 h out-of-phase with the human glucocorticoid rhythm. Both glucocorticoids responded similarly to social stress induced by repeated daily 4 h pairings with another male rabbit; after 10 days of pairings, glucorticoid values were significantly correlated with the amount of defensive agonistic behavior exhibited. Finally, there were no significant strain differences in glucocorticoid circadian rhythms, baselines, or responses to social stress. These data suggest that glucocorticoid responses (i.e., circadian rhythms, responses to social stress) in the WHHL are similar to glucocorticoid responses in standard laboratory white rabbits.
An Information‐Theoretic Approach*

This paper examines the search aspect of decision making. An experiment was conducted to assess the amount of information utilized by subjects prior to committing themselves to a choice. By construing the information environment in the form of a maze and measuring “transmitted” information according to the Shannon-Weaver logarithmic metric, the power of subjects' search heuristics was assessed.
Perceived support for mentoring: A multiple perspectives approach

Two studies were conducted to examine how perceptions of support for mentoring relate to mentoring attitudes and outcomes for both proteges and mentors, over and above established predictors. In study 1, proteges provided information on their perceptions of support for mentoring and mentoring received. As expected, perceived management support for mentoring was positively related to career-related and psychosocial support; and perceived mentor accountability for mentoring was negatively related to mentoring problems. In study 2, we examined mentors’ perceptions of support for mentoring in relation to their willingness to mentor others in the future and the extent to which they viewed their current relationship as complementary. Mentors’ perceptions of management support for mentoring were positively related to their belief that mentoring relationships were mutually beneWcial. However, consistent with theories of self-determination, as mentors’ perceptions of their own accountability in the relationship increased their willingness to mentor others in the future decreased. Implications for mentoring theory, future research, and applied practice are discussed.
Low‐amplitude, low‐frequency electric field‐stimulated bone cell proliferation may in part be mediated by increased IGF‐II release

We have developed an in vitro model incorporating a low-amplitude (10(-7) V/cm), low frequency (f less than 100 Hz), capacitively coupled electric field in order to study the mechanism through which an electric field may increase bone cell proliferation. Utilizing this model we have previously shown that electric field-stimulated bone cell proliferation was dependent on release of mitogen activity into the culture medium from exposed cells. The current studies were intended to characterize this mitogen activity. In these studies we found that electric field-stimulated human bone cell proliferation was associated with increased IGF-II mRNA accumulation and IGF-II secretion suggesting that IGF-II may in part mediate the increase in bone cell proliferation following electric field exposure.
Bisphenol A enhances adipogenic differentiation of human adipose stromal/stem cells

Exposure of humans to the endocrine disrupter bisphenol A (BPA) has been associated with increased weight and obesity. However, the mechanism(s) by which BPA increases adipose tissue in humans remains to be determined. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of BPA on adipogenesis of cultured human adipose stromal/stem cells (ASCs), precursors to mature adipocytes. ASCs from three donors were cultured for either 14 or 21 days in adipogenic differentiation media containing increasing concentrations of BPA (100 pM-10 μM). The extent of adipogenic differentiation in the ASCs was assessed by staining with Oil Red O to visualize adipogenic differentiation and then quantified by extraction and optical density measurement of the retained dye. BPA significantly enhanced adipogenesis at a concentration of 1 μM after 21 days of culture. Additionally, we found that BPA increased transcription of the estrogen receptor (ER (ESR1)) and that treatment with the ER antagonist ICI 182 780, blocked the effects of BPA, indicating that BPA may act via an ER-mediated pathway. The results of molecular analyses indicated that the expression of the adipogenesis-associated genes dual leucine zipper-bearing kinase (DLK (MAP3K12)), IGF1, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPα (CEBPA)), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ (PPARG)), and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) was temporally accelerated and increased by BPA. In summary, these results indicate that BPA significantly enhances adipogenesis in ASCs through an ER-mediated pathway at physiologically relevant concentrations.
Do Learning & Teaching Styles Affect Students Performance? An Empirical Study

The ways in which students normally obtain, retain, and get back information are defined as the students’ learning style. Mismatches often occur between the learning styles of students in a Basic Statistics class and the teaching style of the instructor, with adverse effects on the quality of the students’ learning and on their attitudes toward the class and the subject. The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not congruency of learning and teaching styles improve students’ performance in my Basic Statistics class.
Effects of afterload reduction (diuretics and vasodilators) on left ventricular volume and mitral regurgitation in severe congestive heart failure secondary to ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

The mechanism by which afterload reduction increases left ventricular stroke volume while decreasing left ventricular filling pressure has not previously been established. In 15 patients with severe congestive heart failure due to ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, absolute ventricular volume, ejection fraction and total stroke volume from radionuclide ventriculography were compared with thermodilution stroke volume before and after intensive afterload reduction with vasodilators and diuretics titrated to hemodynamic goals. After 48 to 72 hours, pulmonary artery wedge pressure decreased from 32 +/- 8 to 16 +/- 4 mm Hg and systemic vascular resistance from 1,960 +/- 700 to 1,200 +/- 400 dynes s cm-5. End-diastolic volume decreased from 390 +/- 138 to 301 +/- 126 ml (p less than 0.01) and end-systolic volume from 316 +/- 127 to 241 +/- 111 (p less than 0.01). Ejection fraction did not change and total stroke volume decreased from 74 +/- 22 to 59 +/- 20 ml (p less than 0.01). Simultaneous forward stroke volume by thermodilution increased from 37 +/- 14 to 52 +/- 14 ml (p less than 0.01), and forward fraction increased from 0.55 +/- 0.40 to 0.96 +/- 0.42. Intensive reduction of ventricular filling pressure and systemic vascular resistance decreased total ventricular stroke volume by 20% but increased forward stroke volume by 40%. The major effect of intensive afterload reduction for severe congestive heart failure may be the reduction of ventricular volume and mitral regurgitation.
Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT): A New Promising Technology in Radiation Oncology

Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is a new technology in radiation oncology that delivers radiation more precisely to the tumor while relatively sparing the surrounding normal tissues. It also introduces new concepts of inverse planning and computer-controlled radiation deposition and normal tissue avoidance in contrast to the conventional trial-and-error approach. IMRT has wide application in most aspects of radiation oncology because of its ability to create multiple targets and multiple avoidance structures, to treat different targets simultaneously to different doses as well as to weight targets and avoidance structures according to their importance. By delivering radiation with greater precision, IMRT has been shown to minimize acute treatment-related morbidity, making dose escalation feasible which may ultimately improve local tumor control. IMRT has also introduced a new accelerated fractionation scheme known as SMART (simultaneous modulated accelerated radiation therapy) boost. By shortening the overall treatment time, SMART boost has the potential of improving tumor control in addition to offering patient convenience and cost savings. The Oncologist 1999;4:433-442
Removal and Isolation of Germ-Rich Fractions from Hull-less Barley Using a Fitzpatrick Comminuting Mill and Sieves

ABSTRACT A process was developed to produce a germ-enriched fraction from hull-less barley using a Fitzpatrick comminuting mill (FitzMilling) followed by sieving. Hulled and hull-less barleys contain 1.5–2.5% oil and, like wheat kernels, which contain wheat germ oil, much of the oil in barley kernels is in the germ fraction. A process that combined FitzMilling and sieving produced a germ-enriched fraction with an oil content of ≈15% and a yield of ≈1.1%. For comparison, this is higher than the levels of oil in most samples of commercial wheat germ. Experimental conditions were also described to produce a germ-enriched fraction with a higher yield (2.16%), but it would have lower oil content (10.24%). Germination and compositional analysis studies suggested that FitzMilling hull-less barley for 2 min or longer reduced germination rates to 1% or less, which was interpreted to mean that almost the entire viable germ was removed. In contrast, FitzMilling conventional hulled barley for 4 min had no effect on g...
Delay and Refusal of Human Papillomavirus Vaccine for Girls, National Immunization Survey–Teen, 2010

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine coverage among girls is low. We used data reported by parents of 4103 girls, 13 to 17 years old, to assess associations with, and reasons for, delaying or refusing HPV vaccination. Sixty-nine percent of parents neither delayed nor refused vaccination, 11% delayed only, 17% refused only, and 3% both delayed and refused. Eighty-three percent of girls who delayed only, 19% who refused only, and 46% who both delayed and refused went on to initiate the vaccine series or intended to initiate it within the next 12 months. A significantly higher proportion of parents of girls who were non-Hispanic white, lived in households with higher incomes, and had mothers with higher education levels, delayed and/or refused vaccination. The most common reasons for nonvaccination were concerns about lasting health problems from the vaccine, wondering about the vaccine's effectiveness, and believing the vaccine is not needed.
The Influence of Metacognitive Skills on Learners' Memory of Information in a Hypermedia Environment:

Twenty-eight students (aged 9 to 17) freely explored a science Web site structured either in an outline (linear) format or “puzzle” (non-linear) format for 2.5 hours. Subjects then engaged in tasks involving locational memory and informational recall. The results indicate that presence of metacognitive skills was a necessary but not sufficient condition for learning in hypermedia environments; the navigational structure of the Web site also was important. Metacognitive skill (as measured by the Junior Metacognitive Awareness Inventory (Jr. MAI) (Sperling, Howard, Miller, & Murphy, 2002) and the How I Study Questionnaire (HISP) (Fortunato, Hecht, Tittle, & Alvarez, 1991) was not a significant predictor of measures of retention within an outline structure (where the conventional structure did not stimulate meta-cognitive knowledge), while metacognition was a significant predictor of informational recall within the puzzle structure (which required active meta-cognitive knowledge to make meaning within the un...
Quantifying the value of architecture design decisions: lessons from the field

This paper outlines experiences with using economic criteria to make architecture design decisions. It briefly describes the CBAM (Cost Benefit Analysis Method) framework applied to estimate the value of architectural strategies in a NASA project, the ECS. This paper describes the practical difficulties and experiences in applying the method to a large real-world system. It concludes with some lessons learned from the experience.
A MODEL FOR CHLOROPLAST CAPTURE

Abstract Chloroplast capture, the introgression of a chloroplast from one species into another, has been frequently suggested as the explanation for inconsistencies between gene trees based on nuclear and cytoplasmic markers in plants. We use a genetic model to determine the conditions for capture to occur, and we find that they are somewhat more general than those given in earlier verbal arguments. Chloroplast capture can occur if cytoplasm substitution provides an advantage in seed production. This can happen through reallocation to the female function when cytonuclear incompatibilities cause partial male sterility, but also under more general conditions. Capture is promoted by nuclear incompatibilities between the two genomes (or a low heterosis in F1 hybrids) and by partial selfing when hybridization causes a decrease in the selfing rate and inbreeding depression is strong. We discuss empirical predictions that can be used to test this mechanism.
A Time-Frequency Modulation Model of Speech Quality

A new speech-quality metric, based on time-frequency modulation, is introduced in this paper. The metric uses a cochlear model, with the signal envelope in each frequency band converted to dB above threshold. Envelopes sampled across the frequency bands give short-time spectra that are approximated using a set of mel cepstrum coefficients. The correlation between the cepstral coefficient sequences for the clean and degraded signals is used to compute the quality metric. The metric accurately models quality judgments made by normal-hearing and hearing-impaired listeners for speech degraded by additive noise, nonlinear distortion, and dynamic-range compression.
Update on concussion management for the Rhode Island clinician

Concussions are common injuries with increasing diagnostic incidence. The 4th International Conference on Concussion in Sport, held in November 2012 in Zurich, revised consensus statements regarding the definition of a concussion, diagnostic criteria, and management. Return-to-play guidelines require a graded return to activity in which concussed athletes remain symptom-free. In order to improve awareness pertaining to concussion diagnosis and management, legislation has now been enacted in all fifty states. Rhode Island enacted into law the School and Youth Programs Concussion Act in 2010, which increases awareness of concussions for athletes, coaches, teachers, school nurses and parents/guardians through written information and mandatory training for coaches. Athletes must be removed from practice/competition and cannot return until a physician has evaluated and cleared them. [Full text available at http://rimed.org/rimedicaljournal-2015-02.asp, free with no login].
Generalizing Prediction of Bluff Body Aerodynamic Load Maps

The Continuous Rotation method enables efficient definition of all aerodynamic load components on bodies of arbitrary shape for arbitrary attitudes. This is applied to several bluff body shapes including cylinders, a cuboid, a flat plate and a porous box. Rate effects and unsteadiness are shown to be negligible using a cylinder of aspect ratio 1. The genesis of the side force on the yawed cylinder, and the differences between rough and smooth cylinders, are derived from comparisons between experiments and diagnostic computations with an unsteady Navier-Stokes solver. Interpolating Fourier coefficients of the azimuthal load variation appears to be viable to generalize loads on cylinders of varying aspect ratio. A large variation is seen for aspect ratio 0.5 to 1, with a more gradual transition to ‘high aspect ratio’ features beyond aspect ratio 2.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Propofol Pharmacokinetics and Estimation of Fetal Propofol Exposure during Mid-Gestational Fetal Surgery: A Maternal-Fetal Sheep Model

Background Measuring fetal drug concentrations is extremely difficult in humans. We conducted a study in pregnant sheep to simultaneously describe maternal and fetal concentrations of propofol, a common intravenous anesthetic agent used in humans. Compared to inhalational anesthesia, propofol supplemented anesthesia lowered the dose of desflurane required to provide adequate uterine relaxation during open fetal surgery. This resulted in better intraoperative fetal cardiac outcome. This study describes maternal and fetal propofol pharmacokinetics (PK) using a chronically instrumented maternal-fetal sheep model. Methods Fetal and maternal blood samples were simultaneously collected from eight mid-gestational pregnant ewes during general anesthesia with propofol, remifentanil and desflurane. Nonlinear mixed-effects modeling was performed by using NONMEM software. Total body weight, gestational age and hemodynamic parameters were tested in the covariate analysis. The final model was validated by bootstrapping and visual predictive check. Results A total of 160 propofol samples were collected. A 2-compartment maternal PK model with a third fetal compartment appropriately described the data. Mean population parameter estimates for maternal propofol clearance and central volume of distribution were 4.17 L/min and 37.7 L, respectively, in a typical ewe with a median heart rate of 135 beats/min. Increase in maternal heart rate significantly correlated with increase in propofol clearance. The estimated population maternal-fetal inter-compartment clearance was 0.0138 L/min and the volume of distribution of propofol in the fetus was 0.144 L. Fetal propofol clearance was found to be almost negligible compared to maternal clearance and could not be robustly estimated. Conclusions For the first time, a maternal-fetal PK model of propofol in pregnant ewes was successfully developed. This study narrows the gap in our knowledge in maternal-fetal PK model in human. Our study confirms that maternal heart rate has an important influence on the pharmacokinetics of propofol during pregnancy. Much lower propofol concentration in the fetus compared to maternal concentrations explain limited placental transfer in in-vivo paired model, and less direct fetal cardiac depression we observed earlier with propofol supplemented inhalational anesthesia compared to higher dose inhalational anesthesia in humans and sheep.
Modern Transport Since 1700: A Momentous Achievement

The transportation sector experienced dramatic changes during the last 300 years. This essay reviews the major technological and infrastructural developments including the transition from roads to railways to automobiles, the rise of steamships, and the emergence of air-travel. Changes in the transport market are also examined, including trends in prices, consumption, and regulation. The role of government policy is given special attention as market power, network design, and operational inefficiency have been important historically. Lastly the essay discusses how transport improvements have played a crucial role in economic growth. Various approaches to quantifying the contribution of transport innovations are reviewed.
The "Secularization" of Utah and Religious Competition

A supply-side theory of religion claims that ties between church and state inhibit religious mobilization. The theory also asserts that the weakening of church-state ties is the inevitable harbinger of broad religious pluralism. This paper investigates these claims using the relationship between the state of Utah and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the LDS or Mormon church) as a case study. Data demonstrate that the loosening of church-state ties in early Utah coincides with rising rates of religious activity and the emergence of religious pluralism, as supply-side theory predicts. However, these incipient trends were swiftly curtailed by renewed growth within Mormonism, which rebuts the theory's claims. The paper presents several reasons why Mormonism was able to circumvent the predicted effects of religious competition in Utah, and offers these as caveats for supply-side theory.
Diagnostic Reasoning using Prognostic Information for Unmanned Aerial Systems

With increasing popularity of unmanned aircraft, continuous monitoring of their systems, software, and health status is becoming more and more important to ensure safe, correct, and efficient operation and fulfillment of missions. The paper presents integration of prognosis models and prognostic information with the R2U2 (REALIZABLE, RESPONSIVE, and UNOBTRUSIVE Unit) monitoring and diagnosis framework. This integration makes available statistically reliable health information predictions of the future at a much earlier time to enable autonomous decision making. The prognostic information can be used in the R2U2 model to improve diagnostic accuracy and enable decisions to be made at the present time to deal with events in the future. This will be an advancement over the current state of the art, where temporal logic observers can only do such valuation at the end of the time interval. Usefulness and effectiveness of this integrated diagnostics and prognostics framework was demonstrated using simulation experiments with the NASA Dragon Eye electric unmanned aircraft.
Prevalence of Infant Urinary Calculi in Liangzhou District of Wuwei City

[Objective]To study the prevalence of Infant urinary calculi induced by melamine milk powder in Liangzhou District of Wuwei City.[Methods] B-ultrasound examination was performed on 2095 randomly sampled children under 3 years from 2 villages in Liangzhou District of Wuwei City in Gansu Province.[Results]The detection rate of each age group of boys under 3 years were 14.71% of 1～12 months age group,44.19% of 13～24 months age group,16.60% of 25～36 months age group;detection rate of each age group of girls were 8.64% of 1～12 months age group,13.79% of 13～24 months age group,21.79% of 25～36 months age group.Except for 25～36 months age group,the detection rate of boys and girls in rest groups differed significantly(P0.01).[Conclusion]The peak detection rate of infant urinary calculi appears in 13～24 months age group of boys and girls,most calculi lesions are on the right kidney of children.
Influence of polydopamine deposition conditions on hydraulic permeability, sieving coefficients, pore size and pore size distribution for a polysulfone ultrafiltration membrane

Abstract Membrane surface modification with polydopamine (PDA) coatings can reduce fouling in oily water filtration due, at least in part, to enhanced surface hydrophilicity. In this study, polysulfone (PSf) UF membranes were coated with PDA. PDA coating conditions (solution concentration and deposition time) were varied, and the effect of coating conditions on membrane molecular weight cutoff (MWCO) and hydraulic permeability was measured. Membrane MWCO decreased and PDA film thickness increased as initial dopamine coating solution concentration or deposition time increased. The MWCO decrease confirmed that PDA restricted the membrane pores. While the PDA coating thickness on membrane surfaces grew progressively with increasing initial dopamine concentration or coating time, coating inside the membrane pores was limited by the finite membrane pore size. A tradeoff between selectivity and hydraulic permeability of unmodified and PDA-modified membranes was noted. This tradeoff is reminiscent of that observed in other separation membranes. Zydney’s hindered solute transport model of flow through porous membranes was used to estimate changes in membrane mean pore size and pore size distribution. Based on the modelling results, membrane mean pore radius increased at low initial dopamine concentrations or short deposition times and decreased at high initial dopamine concentrations or long deposition times with increasing initial dopamine concentration or increasing PDA coating time. The pore size distribution narrowed as the membranes were modified with PDA. The porosity to thickness ratio of PDA-modified membranes remained unchanged or was only slightly higher than that of unmodified membranes.
Electrochemical micro-electrode arrays for measurement of transient concentration gradients of hydrogen peroxide

Understanding biological processes such as neurotransmitter release and reuptake in neurons, glucose transport for adapted cell metabolism in cancer cells involves measuring dynamic concentration gradients with diffusion time constants varying from a few hundred milliseconds to a few minutes. [1] Many prior electrochemical sensor reports utilize single electrodes, and achieve spatial information using techniques such as the self-referencing approach, which employs a moving probe. These approaches suffer from setup complexity, poor temporal and spatial resolution and poor suitability for portable, multi-analyte, high throughput applications. [2] In this work, an array of individually addressable platinum micro-electrodes was employed for amperometric measurement of transients and gradients with fast response time and good spatial resolution. The target analyte, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), is the secondary species generated in enzymatic reactions (e.g. glucose with glucose oxidase), and is responsible for the redox reaction that lead to electrode current in such systems. Since the reaction constant for oxidation of H2O2 is large, the associated current response approximates the inherent response time of the sensor electrodes. In order to generate local gradients/transients, and eventually to mimic cellular function, a large platinum disk electrode (LPE) was used as a bias-controlled H2O2 sink [3], with time constants as low as 1s.
Power smoothing of doubly fed induction generator wind turbines

The output power of wind turbines fluctuates due to wind speed variations. These power fluctuations make the wind power undispatchable, causing frequency deviations and power outage when wind power penetration is significant. Energy storage devices such as batteries, ultracapacitors, super inductors and flywheels can be utilized in a hybrid system to solve this problem. Although these methods are effective but adding a significant additional cost to the system. This paper presents a selective control method to mitigate the power fluctuations using rotor inertia as an energy storage component. Therefore, the additional energy storage system is not required. Simulation results are performed on doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) using PSCAD software.
Does One-to-One Technology Really Work: An Evaluation Through the Lens of Activity Theory

ABSTRACTThis program evaluation study examines an implementation of a one-to-one laptop initiative in a rural high school. Specifically, the researchers adopted a holistic view in evaluating the process and outcomes of this implementation by examining the interrelationships among the key participants using activity theory as a conceptual framework. Through using activity theory as a conceptual framework, the researchers gained a comprehensive perspective in examining the successes, challenges, and obstacles of this implementation. Therefore, not only were the individual stakeholders examined but more importantly, the interrelationships that shaped the implementation were studied to elucidate a clearer picture of the process.
Securing ARP/NDP From the Ground Up

The basis for all IPv4 network communication is the address resolution protocol (ARP), which maps an IP address to a device’s media access control identifier. ARP has long been recognized as vulnerable to spoofing and other attacks, and past proposals to secure the protocol have often involved in modifying the basic protocol. Similarly, neighbor discovery protocol (NDP) is the basis for all IPv6 network communication, yet suffers from the same vulnerabilities as ARP. This paper introduces arpsec , a secure ARP/RARP protocol suite which a) does not require protocol modification, b) enables continual verification of the identity of the target (respondent) machine by introducing an address binding repository derived using a formal logic that bases additions to a host’s ARP cache on a set of operational rules and properties, c) utilizes the trusted platform module (TPM), a commodity component now present in the vast majority of modern computers, to augment the logic-prover-derived assurance when needed, with TPM-facilitated attestations of system state achieved at viably low-processing cost, and d) supports IPv6 NDP ( ndpsec ) by extension of our previous work. Using commodity TPMs as our attestation base, we show that arpsec incurs an overhead ranging from 7% to 15.4% over the standard Linux ARP implementation, a comparable overhead against the standard Linux NDP implementation, and provides a first step towards a formally secure and trustworthy networking stack for both IPv4 and IPv6.
Willingness to distribute free rapid home HIV test kits and to test with social or sexual network associates among men who have sex with men in the United States

Peer-driven HIV prevention strategies can be effective in identifying high-risk persons with undiagnosed infections. Besides individual self-testing, other potential uses of rapid home HIV test kits include distributing them, and testing with others within one's social or sexual networks. We sought to identify factors associated with the willingness to engage in these alternative activities among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States. From May to October 2014, we surveyed 828 HIV-negative or unknown status MSM about multiple aspects of rapid home HIV testing. A greater proportion indicated being likely to distribute free oral fluid (OF) tests compared to free finger-stick blood (FSB) tests (91% versus 79%), and almost three-fourths (72%) reported being likely to test with their friends or sex partners in the future. MSM not identifying as homosexual/gay were less willing to distribute OF tests, and those with lower educational attainment were more willing to distribute FSB tests. MSM unaware of their HIV status were less likely to report potentially testing with others using free rapid home HIV tests compared to those who were HIV-negative. Finally, MSM willing to self-test were more likely to report future test kit distribution, and those willing to distribute kits were more likely to report potentially testing with others. Engaging individuals with positive attitudes towards these strategies in prevention efforts could help increase HIV testing levels among MSM. A greater understanding of the potential public health impact of rapid home HIV test kits is necessary.
Use of the DICE (Dual Integrase Cassette Exchange) System

When constructing transgenic cell lines via plasmid DNA integration, precise targeting to a desired genomic location is advantageous. It is also often advantageous to remove the bacterial backbone, since bacterial elements can lead to the epigenetic silencing of neighboring DNA. The least cumbersome method to remove the plasmid backbone is recombinase-mediated cassette exchange (RMCE). RMCE is accomplished by arranging recombinase sites in the genome and in a donor plasmid such that a recombinase can both integrate the donor plasmid and excise its bacterial backbone. When a single recombinase is used for RMCE, recombination between undesired pairings of the sites can lead to a significant number of unwanted cell lines. To reduce the frequency with which these side products occur, several variants of RMCE that increase desired outcomes have been developed. Nevertheless, an important feature lacking from these improved RMCE methods is that none have fully utilized the recombinases that have been demonstrated to be the most robust and stringent at performing genomic integration in plants and animals, i.e., the phiC31 and Bxb1 phage integrases. To address this need, we have developed an RMCE protocol using these two serine integrases that we call dual integrase cassette exchange (DICE). Our DICE system provides a means to achieve high-precision DNA integration at a desired location and is especially well suited for repeated recombination into the same locus. In this chapter, we provide our most current protocols for using DICE in feeder-free human-induced pluripotent stem cells .
The Economic Transformation

The economic transformation is the overriding feature of economic growth in low- and middle-income countries. The transformation is from a predominantly rural and agricultural nation to one that is predominantly urban with urban industry and services dominating the economy. It is accompanied by a demographic transition. The population growth rate first accelerates then slows and eventually declines. Health and life expectancy improve greatly. The many factors determining these two transformations are discussed.
Bias in predicted and remembered emotion

Predicting and remembering emotion both rely on the episodic memory system which is constructive and subject to bias. In keeping with the common cognitive processes underlying prospection and retrospection, people show similar strengths and weaknesses when they predict how they will feel in the future and remember how they felt in the past. Recent findings reveal that people predict and remember the intensity of emotion more accurately than their overall or general emotional response, and whether emotion is overestimated or underestimated depends on how people's attention to, and appraisals about, events change over time. People's phenomenological experience differs markedly when they are predicting versus remembering emotion, however. Phenomenological cues, such as intensity and autonoetic experience, make predicted emotion a more compelling guide for decisions, even when inaccurate.
3D numerical study of large-scale two-phase flows with contact lines and application to drop detachment from a horizontal fiber

Abstract One fundamental problem in understanding two-phase flows in coalescers is determining how large of a drop can attach to and subsequently remain on a fiber. Droplet detachment can be caused by gravity or shear from the cross-flow overcoming the adhesion between the drop and the fiber. Previous studies have found the critical size of a drop on a hydrophilic fiber under gravity and the critical size of a drop on a hydrophobic fiber. In this paper, we present an accurate, conservative, and robust numerical strategy to simulate large-scale two-phase flows in complex geometries, and validate the capability of the proposed approach to predict the critical size of a drop on a cylindrical hydrophilic fiber under gravity and on a hydrophobic fiber without gravity. Then, an exploratory study of the critical size of a drop on a cylindrical fiber with cross-flow is performed.
Thyroid lobectomy is not sufficient for T2 papillary thyroid cancers

Abstract Background Histologic subtypes of papillary thyroid cancer affect prognosis. The objective of this study was to examine whether survival is affected by extent of surgery for conventional versus follicular-variant papillary thyroid cancer when stratified by tumor size. Methods Using the National Cancer Data Base, we evaluated 33,816 adults undergoing surgery for papillary thyroid cancer from 2004 to 2008 for 1.0-3.9 cm tumors and clinically negative lymph nodes. Conventional and follicular-variant papillary thyroid cancers were divided into separate groups. Cox regression models stratified by tumor size were used to determine if extent of surgery affected overall survival. Results A total of 30,981 patients had total thyroidectomy and 2,835 had thyroid lobectomy; 22,899 patients had conventional papillary thyroid cancer and 10,918 had follicular-variant papillary thyroid cancer. On unadjusted KM analysis, total thyroidectomy was associated with improved survival for conventional (P = 0.02) but not for follicular-variant papillary thyroid cancer patients (P = 0.42). For conventional papillary thyroid cancer, adjusted analysis showed total thyroidectomy was associated with improved survival for 2.0-3.9 cm tumors (P = 0.03) but not for 1.0-1.9 cm tumors (P = 0.16). For follicular-variant, lobectomy and total thyroidectomy had equivalent survival for 1.0-1.9 cm (P = 0.45) and 2.0-3.9 cm (P = 0.88) tumors. Conclusion Tumor size, histologic subtype, and surgical therapy are important factors in papillary thyroid cancer survival. Total thyroidectomy was associated with improved survival in patients with 2.0-3.9 cm conventional papillary thyroid cancer, and should be considered for 2.0-3.9 cm papillary thyroid cancers when preoperative molecular analysis is not used to distinguish conventional from follicular-variant.
Trusting the Public: Reshaping Colorado Water Law in the Face of Changing Public Values

Water is a precious resource. Throughout Colorado, water has historically been allocated according to the rule of prior appropriation, where the principal method of allocation is “first in time, first in right.” As Colorado changes over time, the rule’s inflexible application has resulted in economically inefficient and environmentally detrimental consequences. This is exemplified in the unreliable water distribution of the Windy Gap Project, and the projected detrimental environmental consequences of the Windy Gap Firming Project. Thus, Colorado water law must change to protect the overuse and misuse of such a scarce resource. Despite explicit renunciation of both the public trust and public interest doctrines, Colorado water law must evolve to incorporate the protective values and ideals inherent in those principles. To do so, Colorado should create a public interest system that outlines specific values of importance to the community. Then, the state should use those values to establish a comprehensive public trust that can be integrated with the current prior appropriation system. In an age when man . . . is blind even to his most essential needs for survival, water along with other resources has become the victim of his indiffer-
Eating Veggies Is Fun! An Implementation Pilot Study in Partnership With a YMCA in South Los Angeles

Author(s): Maxwell, Annette E; Castillo, Laura; Arce, Anthony A; De Anda, Teresa; Martins, David; McCarthy, William J | Abstract: Purpose and objectivesChildren eat less than recommended amounts of vegetables. Repeated taste exposure can increase children's acceptance of initially disliked vegetables. However, implementation of this strategy is lacking. We conducted a pilot study to assess the feasibility of implementing an evidence-based intervention to promote liking of initially disliked vegetables among children enrolled in a YMCA summer camp.Intervention approachWe adapted a research-tested intervention to promote child liking of vegetables for implementation in small groups. In summer 2015, 50 children aged 7 to 12 years were invited to taste 5 initially disliked vegetables daily for 10 days.Evaluation methodsChildren rated how much they liked vegetables on a 5-point emoji-like faces Likert scale at baseline and 2- and 4-week follow-up. The mean ratings for liked and initially disliked vegetables were estimated over time using mixed effects modeling.ResultsWe achieved excellent participation of parents and children; however, we experienced nonstudy-related attrition caused by disenrollment of some children from the weekly camp program. The average liking increased over time (linear trend, P = .003) for the 5 targeted vegetables but not for the other nontargeted vegetables, as predicted.Implications for public healthThis pilot study suggests that repeated vegetable tasting opportunities offered by community programs may be a practical strategy for introducing low-income, young children to new or initially disliked vegetables. The study demonstrates the feasibility of implementing a health promotion strategy that has the potential to improve population health in a community setting in an underresourced neighborhood.
Transtemporal sport histories; or, rethinking the ‘invention’ of American basketball

The predominant narrative on the history of basketball assumes that James Naismith ‘invented’ the game in 1891. This narrative argues the game emerged as a modern sport different in design and sign...
Quantifying the Perioperative Work Associated With Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: The Burden Has Increased With Contemporary Care Pathways.

Abstract Background Recently, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has labeled the procedural codes for total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) as potentially misvalued and has asked the American Medical Association (AMA) and its Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) to review this. To assess the validity of this claim, we aimed to catalog the specific service tasks and duration of time required for each task associated with the perioperative care of the patient who underwent primary THA and TKA. Methods We prospectively timed preservice and immediate postservice activities performed outside of the operating room (OR) by 7 arthroplasty surgeons over a four-week period. Specific timing data for preservice activities performed in the OR were obtained retrospectively from our institutional electronic medical record for 500 patients undergoing THA and 500 undergoing TKA. Results were compared with the current approved values reviewed by the RUC in 2013 and converted to work relative value units (wRVUs) based on the intensity coefficients used by the RUC. Results The average total preservice evaluation time was 42.2 minutes. The average time from the patient entering the OR to incision was 40.8 ± 25.4 minute. Immediate postservice tasks took 30.0 minutes. Compared with the 2013 RUC weighted wRVU value of 1.394 for preservice and 0.560 for immediate postservice activities, we found that surgeons actually perform 1.567 wRVUs of preservice and 0.672 of immediate postservice activities. Conclusion Policymakers should consider these findings when reviewing the time and intensity spent on perioperative care for patients undergoing THA and TKA.
About time in marketing: an assessment of the study of time and conceptual framework

An inspection of time-related research in marketing documents two dominant conceptualizations of time: objective time and subjective time. Objective time is straightforward, and refers to clock time. In contrast, subjective time is quite nuanced and refers to the differential experience and perception of time. Recognizing this distinction, a number of scholars have suggested that the marketing discipline relies upon objective time, and as a result, does not have a fully developed understanding of time. Conducting a historical assessment of time, we demonstrate that marketing has a conceptually-bounded view of time. We develop a conceptual framework that reconceptualizes time as objective and subjective and as experienced by multiple referents, and develop research propositions that highlight the importance of integrating a broadened view of time into marketing research, recognizing that we are better off thinking about time as objective time and subjective time. We conclude with a discussion highlighting future research opportunities.
Application of mobile phase additives to reduce metal-ion mediated adsorption of non-phosphorylated peptides in RPLC/MS-based assays

Abstract Metal-ion mediated adsorption in liquid chromatography has been identified as a contributing factor in poor peak shape, tailing, and diminished recovery of compounds prone to cation exchange-like interaction with metal-based activity sites. Peptides that exhibit negative charge-bearing amino acids such as aspartic acid and glutamic acid are particularly sensitive to metal-ion mediated adsorption in RPLC/MS-based separations when using weak acids (e.g. formic acid) as mobile phase additives. Citric acid and medronic acid as metal complexing mobile phase additives were evaluated for their ability to mitigate metal-ion mediated adsorption in RPLC/MS-based peptide mapping assays. In this study, chromatographic performance was stabilized with peak tailing for peptides of interest reduced by as much as 40% in the presence of a chelator at a mobile phase concentration of 1 ppm. Performance gains were observed to be stable over a 67-hour time study with an average USP tailing factor of 1.00, % RSD = 0.64. The stabilizing effect of the chelator improved peptide mapping assay robustness with relative peak areas for target impurities calculated at 2.28% (% R.S.D. = 2.36) and 2.40% (% R.S.D. = 2.37). Collectively this study demonstrates that chelators as mobile phase additives offers a means to improve chromatographic performance for biomolecules sensitive to metal-ion mediated adsorption under formic acid-based RPLC conditions.
Assess the potentials of CO2 soluble surfactant when applying supercritical CO2 foam. Part I: Effects of dual phase partition

Abstract Supercritical CO2 (ScCO2) foam could benefit both industry revenue generation through EOR and climate control with CO2 storage/utilization. Relative to aqueous soluble surfactants, it has been experimentally observed that CO2-philic surfactants accelerated foam propagation and enhanced oil recovery significantly. It is desired to probe additional potential superiorities with presence of gravity under reservoir conditions. In this paper, comprehensive numerical investigations are conducted to compare the ScCO2 foam performances with both types of surfactants under variable injection strategies in a homogeneous reservoir. Both constant rate and pressure constraints are examined, where impacts of slug size, volumetric injection phase ratio, perforation location, and phase injection portion are probed. For all tested injection strategies, the novel foam outperforms conventional one with higher oil recovery, injectivity, and injection fluids (surfactant/CO2) utilization efficiencies. The dual partition capacity of CO2-philic surfactant could not only improve the injectivity but also divert CO2 effectively. The novel injection strategy with dissolved CO2-soluble surfactant outperforms others. Also, the novel foam is not sensitive to injection parameter values. Constant pressure injection could provide alike performances as those under constant rate constraint if injection fluids conservations are employed, which revises prior conclusions. The inherent dual phase partition capacity of CO2 soluble surfactant predominates in fighting gravity segregation and enhancing foam performances, which replaces prior external criteria with aqueous soluble surfactants through injection strategy, constraint and gravity segregation length. The findings here assign significant flexibility during field operation. The comparisons improve understandings of this novel technology and provide guidance for field implementation.
High-Dose Inactivated Influenza Vaccine Quadrivalent for Older Adults.

Objective: To review the efficacy and safety of the high-dose inactivated influenza vaccine quadrivalent (HD-IIV4) in the prevention of influenza in older adults. Data Sources: A literature search ...