cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Visible light photopolymerization: Synthesis of new fluorone dyes and photopolymerization of acrylic monomers using them

Several 3-alkoxy-5, 7-diiodo-6-fluorones (λmax ≈ 470 nm) have been synthesized and evaluated as initiators for photopolymerization triggered with the 515.5 nm line of an Ar+ laser. 2-Acyl- and 2-alkyl-4,5,7-triiodo-3-hydroxy-6-fluorones were also tested at 515.5 nm. 9-Cyano-2-Acyl- and 9-cyano-2-alkyl-4,5,7-triiodo-3-hydroxy-6-fluorones were studied and could be excited with the 632 nm line of a He–Ne laser. Dyes with long linear carbon chain alkoxy groups at C-6 showed larger molar extinction coefficients and formed polymers with better mechanical properties than did compounds with shorter carbon chains, or did the corresponding C-6 phenols. The optimum side chain length of the C-6 ether alkyl group is between 4–7 carbon atoms. With longer carbon chain alkoxy groups at C-8, e.g., octyl, the mechanical properties of the formed polymers are inferior to systems formed with the butyl isomer as photoinitiator. In the case of alkoxy groups with branched alkyl groups (e.g., 2-ethylbutyl), the relationship between dye structure and the properties of the polymers formed is less straightforward. Though the dyes react from their triplet state, the fluorescence quantum yields of the dyes and the performance of the dyes as photoinitiators appear directly related. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Exploring the relationship between alcohol use, childhood maltreatment, and treatment needs among female prisoners.

Objective. This study examined the relationship between child maltreatment and adult alcohol dependency among a sample of newly incarcerated female prisoners. Method. This secondary data analysis utilized information gathered through face-to-face interviews with female inmates at intake (N = 1198) within the Texas prison system from 1998 to 1999. Results. Using DSM-IV criteria we found that, among women who reported drinking at least 10 drinks in the last year, 40% scored as alcohol dependent. Bivariate findings revealed that women who were alcohol dependent were also more likely to have grown up in disorganized family situations, including parental drug and alcohol use-related problems, childhood neglect, and childhood physical and sexual abuse. As adults, these women were far more likely to have utilized mental health services and substance user treatment programs. Supportive of Widom and colleagues (), multivariate analyses revealed that childhood neglect (not physical or sexual abuse) was a significan...
Bottom Up Comparative Politics: Game Theory Abroad

If comparative politics is in one if its periodic states of theoretical collapse (Blyth 2006, 493), no one feels the lack of roof and walls more acutely than instructors in undergraduate comparative politics classes. With professional colleagues and graduate students one preaches to the choir, but with college students, many of whom may be non-majors, we must work in partibus infidelium, among those who have not yet been converted. Without an orthodox doctrine to work from, this can be a challenging task indeed. The approach used here, combining detailed socio-political narratives with strong analytic theory, tends to engage students because it fills in a full range of national life, rich in national eccentricities, cultural exaggerations, and hidden motives, and because it controls the proliferation of detail by emphasizing its logic. In a sense the abstract becomes concrete and the concrete becomes abstract.
EVALUATION OF THE PROTEIN QUALITY AND AVAILABLE LYSINE OF GERMINATED AND FERMENTED CEREALS

Germinated wheat and barley increased significantly (P < 0.05) in % Relative Nutritive Value (RNV); the increase in % RNV was highly significant (P < 0.01) for germinated rice. The increase in available lysine was highly significant (P < 0.01) in germinated wheat, barley, oats and rice. Natural lactic acid fermentation increased the % RNV significantly (P < 0.05) for wheat, barley and rice and significantly (P < 0.01) for millet and maize. The available lysine content increased significantly (P < 0.05) in fermented oats, rice, millet, and maize but the available lysine increase was highly (P < 0.01) significant in fermented wheat. Both germination and fermentation had equivalent effects as procedures to improve the protein quality of cereals.
Pain Perception after Isometric Exercise in Women with Fibromyalgia

Abstract Hoeger Bement MK, Weyer A, Hartley S, Drewek B, Harkins AL, Hunter SK. Pain perception after isometric exercise in women with fibromyalgia. Objective The purpose of this study was to identify exercise protocols incorporating isometric contractions that provide pain relief in women with fibromyalgia. Design A before-after trial. Setting A physical therapy department in an academic setting. Participants Fifteen women (mean ± SD, 52±11y) with fibromyalgia. Interventions Subjects completed 4 sessions: 1 familiarization and 3 experimental. The following randomized experimental sessions involved the performance of isometric contractions with the elbow flexor muscles that varied in intensity and duration: (1) 3 maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs), (2) 25% MVC held to task failure, and (3) 25% MVC held for 2 minutes. Main Outcome Measures Experimental pain (pain threshold and pain rating), Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, and fibromyalgia pain intensity (visual analog scale). Results After all 3 isometric contractions, there was considerable variability between subjects in the pain response. Based on the changes in experimental pain, subjects were divided into 3 groups (increase, decrease, no change in pain). Multiple regression analysis revealed that age, baseline experimental pain, and change in fibromyalgia pain intensity were significant predictors of the experimental pain response after the isometric contractions. Conclusions We identified subgroups of women with fibromyalgia based on how they perceived pain after isometric contractions. The greatest pain relief for women with fibromyalgia occurred at a younger age and in women with the greatest experimental pain before exercise. Additionally, we established a link between experimental and clinical pain relief after the performance of isometric contractions.
Erratum to: Trapping cells on a stretchable microwell array for single-cell analysis

The authors wish to correct an error in the manuscript “Trapping cells on a stretchable microwell array for singlecell analysis” published in Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry (2012) 402:1065-1072. In the article it was stated that the LiveCell ArrayTM was a product of the NUNC Company and that it was no longer commercially available. We have since learned that the LiveCell ArrayTM is produced by Molecular Cytomics, Inc. and can now be purchased through their website and other distributors.
Enhanced Lung Injury and Delayed Clearance of Pneumocystis carinii in Surfactant Protein A-Deficient Mice: Attenuation of Cytokine Responses and Reactive Oxygen-Nitrogen Species

Surfactant protein A (SP-A), a member of the collectin family, selectively binds to Pneumocystis carinii and mediates interactions between pathogen and host alveolar macrophages in vitro. To test the hypothesis that mice lacking SP-A have delayed clearance of Pneumocystis organisms and enhanced lung injury, wild-type C57BL/6 (WT) and SP-A-deficient mice (SP-A(-/-)) with or without selective CD4(+)-T-cell depletion were intratracheally inoculated with Pneumocystis organisms. Four weeks later, CD4-depleted SP-A-deficient mice had developed a more severe Pneumocystis infection than CD4-depleted WT (P. carinii pneumonia [PCP] scores of 3 versus 2, respectively). Whereas all non-CD4-depleted WT mice were free of PCP, intact SP-A(-/-) mice also had evidence of increased organism burden. Pneumocystis infection in SP-A-deficient mice was associated histologically with enhanced peribronchial and/or perivascular cellularity (score of 4 versus 2, SP-A(-/-) versus C57BL/6 mice, respectively) and a corresponding increase in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cell counts. Increases in SP-D content, gamma interferon, interleukin-4, interleukin-5, and tumor necrosis factor alpha in BAL fluid occurred but were attenuated in PCP-infected SP-A(-/-) mice compared to WT mice. There were increases in total BAL NO levels in both infected groups, but nitrite levels were higher in SP-A(-/-) mice, indicating a reduction in production of higher oxides of nitrogen that was also reflected in lower levels of 3-nitrotyrosine staining in the SP-A(-/-) group. We conclude that despite increases in inflammatory cells, SP-A-deficient mice infected with P. carinii exhibit an enhanced susceptibility to the organism and attenuated production of proinflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen-nitrogen species. These data support the concept that SP-A is a local effector molecule in the lung host defense against P. carinii in vivo.
Interpenetration of polystyrene chains in bulk polymer

Polystyrenes lightly substituted with either tertiary amine groups or nitrophenol groups have been allowed to interact in concentrated t-butylbenzene solution and in bulk polymer. Above the glass transition temperature a temperature dependent equilibrium is achieved in the bulk polymer between the two substituents and the amine salt of the phenol. The degree of association found is considerably greater in the bulk polymer than in solution. The results show that much interpenetration of the polymer occurs, and the results are discussed in terms of models of the bulk amorphous state of the polymer.
Light and nutrients regulate energy transfer through benthic and pelagic food chains

Th e amount of energy fl owing to top trophic levels depends on primary production and the effi ciency at which it is converted to production at each trophic level. In aquatic systems, algal production is often limited by light and nutrients, and the nutritional quality of algae depends on the relative balance of these two resources. In this study, we used a mesocosm experiment to examine how light and nutrient variation aff ected food chain effi ciency (FCE, defi ned as the proportion of primary production converted to top trophic level production), using a food web with benthic and pelagic food chains. We also related variation in benthic and pelagic effi ciencies to the nutritional quality of primary producers, i.e. carbon:nitrogen:phosphorus stoichiometry. As predicted, pelagic and benthic FCEs were highest under low light/high nutrient conditions, the treatment with the best algal food quality, i.e. the lowest C:nutrient ratios. Pelagic FCE and pelagic herbivore effi ciency (HE P ) were more responsive than benthic FCE to variation in light and nutrients. Furthermore, pelagic FCE and HE P were highly correlated with algal C:P, suggesting ‘ carryover eff ects ’ of algal food quality on carnivores (larval fi sh) via eff ects on herbivore (zooplankton) quality. Benthic (tadpole) production was primarily explained by primary production rate, suggesting food quantity rather than quality drives their production. However, benthic FCE was also highest at low light/high nutrients and was signifi cantly correlated with food quality. Th e stronger eff ect of food quality in mediating pelagic compared to benthic effi ciencies, is consistent with diff erences in the stoichiometric mismatches between algae and consumers. Pelagic FCE and HE P were more likely to be P-limited, whereas benthic FCE was more likely N-limited. Th is study is the fi rst to examine both pelagic and benthic FCE within the same system, and highlights the importance of diff erential consumer needs in determining how food quality aff ects energy transfer effi ciency .
Canine Blastomycosis in Wisconsin: A Survey of Small-Animal Veterinary Practices

The disease burden and impact of canine blastomycosis in Wisconsin is uncertain. We surveyed small-animal veterinary practices to obtain estimates of disease incidence, determine patient outcomes, and investigate variation in diagnostic and treatment strategies used by veterinarians. Veterinarians representing small-animal practices in Wisconsin were contacted by mail with the option to complete a paper or online questionnaire. Questionnaires were returned from 68 of 443 veterinary practices (15%) that estimated diagnosing 239 cases of canine blastomycosis annually, with an overall mortality of 36%. Annual incidence rates of canine blastomycosis were calculated for 43 individual veterinary clinics and differed significantly between clinics in endemic and nonendemic counties (P = 0.01), with the mean in endemic counties being 204/100,000/yr and nonendemic counties being 72/100,000/yr. Veterinarians reported an increase in canine blastomycosis cases from April through August. A wide variety of methods were used for diagnosis, ranging from clinical signs alone to antigen testing and "in-house" cytology. Of note, fungal culture was used rarely for diagnosis. In addition, veterinarians at these 68 clinics estimated diagnosing 36 cases of feline blastomycosis annually. The incidence of canine blastomycosis is high but quite variable among veterinary practices in Wisconsin. Diagnosis is based frequently on clinical signs exclusively due, in part, to the perceived high cost of laboratory tests. Similarly, the mortality associated with blastomycosis is likely negatively impacted because some dog owners defer therapy due to the cost of antifungal drugs.
Membrane-Associated TGF-β1 Inhibits Human Memory T Cell Signaling in Malignant and Nonmalignant Inflammatory Microenvironments

TGF-β1 is present on cells derived from the microenvironment of human lung tumors and nonmalignant inflammatory tissues. We establish that this cell-associated cytokine mediates hyporesponsiveness of the memory T cells in these microenvironments in situ by blocking TCR signaling. T cells derived from these tissues failed to translocate NF-κB to the nucleus in response to CD3 + CD28 cross-linking. This nonresponsiveness was reversed by an anti-TGF-β1-neutralizing Ab. Refractoriness of the memory T cells to TCR activation was also reversed by the removal of TGF-β1 by briefly pulsing the cells in a low pH buffer. Addition of exogenous TGF-β1 to eluted T cells re-established their nonresponsive state. Neither TGF-β1, anti-TGF-β1 Ab, nor low pH affected TCR signaling potential of peripheral blood T cells. We conclude that TGF-β1 mediates a physiologically relevant regulatory mechanism, selective for memory T cells present in the tumor microenvironment and nonmalignant chronic inflammatory tissues.
Induction of Nitric Oxide Synthase and Microglial Responses Precede Selective Cell Death Induced by Chronic Impairment of Oxidative Metabolism

Abnormal oxidative processes including a reduction in thiamine-dependent enzymes accompany many neurodegenerative diseases. Thiamine deficiency (TD) models the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which chronic oxidative aberrations associated with thiamine-dependent enzyme deficits cause selective neurodegeneration. The mechanisms underlying selective cell death in TD are unknown. In rodent TD, the earliest region-specific pathological change is breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The current studies tested whether nitric oxide and microglia are important in the initial events that couple BBB breakdown to selective neuronal loss. Enhanced expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase reactivity in microvessels, as well as the presence of numerous inducible nitric oxide synthase-immunoreactive microglia, accompanied the increases in BBB permeability. Nitric oxide synthase induction appears critical to TD pathology, because immunoreactivity for nitrotyrosine, a specific nitration product of peroxynitrite, also increased in axons of susceptible regions. In addition, TD elevated iron and the antioxidant protein ferritin in microvessels and in activated microglia, suggesting that these cells are responding to an oxidative challenge. All of these changes occurred in selectively vulnerable regions, preceding neuronal death. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the free radical-mediated BBB alterations permit entry of iron and extraneuronal proteins that set in motion a cascade of inflammatory responses culminating in selective neuronal loss. Thus, the TD model should help elucidate the relationship between oxidative deficits, BBB abnormalities, the inflammatory response, ferritin and iron elevation, and selective neurodegeneration.
Aerodynamic Sorting and Regrouping of Bioaerosols Based on Their UV-LIF Spectroscopy

A bioaerosol sorting, regrouping and collecting system cued on single-shot UV-laser-induced fluorescence spectrum from individual flowing particle was built. Suspect bioaerosols have been successfully sorted out from mixture aerosols in laboratory and outside field.
Does Your Project Risk Management System Do the Job

This article presents a methodology for ensuring that proper risk management techniques are included in software development projects. It reviews the key benefits of risk management and focuses on common risk management mistakes
Acer buergerianum Jako Kaede member of the Verbenaceae

Composition en flavonoides, morphologie et multiplication vegetative montrent que A.b. n'est pas une Aceraceae mais une Verbenacee: Premna microphylla
Independent stardom: freelance women in the Hollywood studio system, by Emily Carman, Austin, University of Texas Press, 2015, 236 pp., £18.99 (paperback), ISBN 978-1-47-730781-6

Moving far beyond the Carole Lombard of Charles Eckert’s famed ‘Macy’s Window’ (Eckert 1978), Emily Carman’s Independent Stardom builds on the existing scholarship of the studio system with an intr...
Inborn errors of metabolism associated with disordered liver function or hepatomegaly

This chapter discusses the inborn errors of metabolism in which disturbed liver function and structure and/or hepatomegaly or hepatosplenomegaly are an integral part of the disorder. It also emphasizes features which assist in recognition, diagnosis, and treatment with only sufficient biochemical details to assist in diagnosis and to provide a rationale for monitoring therapy. The presenting feature may be asymptomatic hepatomegaly or hepatosplenomegaly, with or without clinical and/or biochemical evidence of disturbed liver function or structure. Clinical syndromes include fetal or neonatal ascites, hepatitis syndrome in infancy, acute liver failure with or without early jaundice, and cirrhosis or neurological dysfunction. The rate of recovery from coma in response to intravenous glucose helps in differential diagnosis. Hypotonia, dysmorphic features or failure to thrive may be prominent features, which assist in reaching the correct diagnosis. Acidosis frequently accompanies disorders starting in infancy. It may be because of organic acidemias, renal tubular lesions or lactic acidosis. The chapter also discusses the classification, biochemistry, diagnosis, and treatment of glycogen storage diseases (GSD). The type and severity of the deficiency define the GSD and determine the biochemical and pathological features, including the long-term prognosis and treatment.
Thigh muscle MRI in immune-mediated necrotising myopathy: extensive oedema, early muscle damage and role of anti-SRP autoantibodies as a marker of severity

Objectives The aims of this study were to define the pattern of muscle involvement in patients with immune-mediated necrotising myopathy (IMNM) relative to those with other inflammatory myopathies and to compare patients with IMNM with different autoantibodies. Methods All Johns Hopkins Myositis Longitudinal Cohort subjects with a thigh MRI (tMRI) who fulfilled criteria for IMNM, dermatomyositis (DM), polymyositis (PM), inclusion body myositis (IBM) or clinically amyopathic DM (CADM) were included in the study. Muscles were assessed for intramuscular and fascial oedema, atrophy and fatty replacement. Disease subgroups were compared using univariate and multivariate analyses. Patients with IMNM with anti-signal recognition particle (SRP) autoantibodies were compared with those with IMNM with anti-HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR) autoantibodies. Results The study included 666 subjects (101 IMNM, 176 PM, 219 DM, 17 CADM and 153 IBM). Compared with DM or PM, IMNM was characterised by a higher proportion of thigh muscles with oedema, atrophy and fatty replacement (p Conclusions Compared with patients with DM or PM, IMNM is characterised by more widespread muscle involvement. Anti-SRP-positive patients have more severe muscle involvement than anti-HMGCR-positive patients.
Verilog-A compact model for a novel Cu/SiO 2 /W quantum memristor

In this paper, we develop a Verilog-A model for a memristive device that has shown non-volatile state transitions via half-integer quantized conductance states at room temperature and an on-off ratio of ∼ 103. The model captures the geometrical evolution of a nano-filament and maps it to conductance levels in the equivalent electrical circuit, thereby accurately capturing the DC I-V and transient response of the device. The suitability of the model for circuit simulations is illustrated via a 4 χ 4 crossbar array programming simulation in HSPICE which captures the multilevel programmability of the device.
Ratios of soluble and insoluble dietary fibers on satiety and energy intake in overweight pre- and postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND: Fibers' properties impact different mechanisms involved in satiety and energy intake regulation and metabolic outcomes. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the effect of fiber types and menopausal status on satiety and metabolic responses in overweight women. METHODS: In a randomized within-subjects design, 19 overweight/obese women [9 premenopausal and 10 postmenopausal] consumed 3 preloads that varied by fiber content and source: 1) 3:1 ratio of soluble:insoluble fiber (SF), 2) 1:3 ratio of soluble:insoluble fiber (IF), 3) no fiber control (NFC). Subjective satiety, cholecystokinin (CCK), glucose, insulin, and triglyceride (TG) were measured for 3 h post-preload followed by in-lab ad libitum test meal and 32 hour food intake monitoring. RESULTS: Significant preload, time and preload by menopausal status interaction was apparent for hunger and fullness (p < 0.05 for both) with SF preload predominantly more satiating in postmenopausal women. CCK and insulin were significantly lower after SF preload (p < 0.0001 for both). Post-preload glucose responses differed by menopausal status: postmenopausal women distinguished between fiber types unlike premenopausal women (p = 0.02). TG was significantly elevated after the IF preload compared to NFC and SF (p = 0.007 and p = 0.008, respectively). CONCLUSIONS:Customized/personalized dietary recommendations for women during their premenopausal and postmenopausal years can help maximize metabolic and appetite control.
Estimation and impacts of model parameter correlation for seismic performance assessment of reinforced concrete structures

Abstract Consideration of uncertainties, including stochastic dependence among uncertain parameters, is known to be important for estimating seismic risk of structures. In this study, we characterize the dependence of modeling parameters that define a structure’s nonlinear response at a component level, and the interactions of multiple components associated with a structure’s response. We use random effects regression models to estimate correlations among parameters. The models are applied to a component test database with multiple tests conducted by differing research groups. Multiple tests that are conducted by a research group are subject to similar conditions and are conducted to investigate the impacts of particular properties of components. The set of tests can effectively represent components at different locations in a structure, and so are suitable for estimating stochastic dependence in model parameters. Regression models can be applied to the database to compute correlation coefficients that reflect statistical dependency among properties of components tested by individual research groups. It is assumed here that these correlation coefficients also reflect correlations associated with multiple components in a structure. To illustrate, correlations for reinforced concrete element parameters are estimated from a database of reinforced concrete beam-column tests, and then used to assess the effects of correlations on dynamic response of a frame structure. Increased correlations are seen to increase dispersion in dynamic response and produce higher estimated probabilities of collapse. This work provides guidance for characterization of parameter correlations when propagating uncertainty in seismic response assessment of structures.
A Theory of the General Causes of Long Waves: War, General Purpose Technologies, and Economic Change

Abstract A debate exists in literature between the Goldstein's theory that Kondratieff-waves (K-waves) or Long Waves (LWs) are linked to hegemonic wars occurring in the final phase of ascending long cycles and studies that do not support this pattern. However, current theoretical frameworks have trouble explaining the sources of LWs with comprehensive and consistent arguments. This study proposes a theory that LWs are due to structural change of warfare that generates huge demand-side effects and powerful supply-side effects to support the evolution of General Purpose Technologies (GPTs) and clusters of innovation. In particular, the analysis here seems to reveal a sequential historical process that runs from wars performed by great powers, occurring in phases of instability of LWs (peak and/or trough), to GPTs and clusters of innovation in the trough of K-waves, which trigger the upward phase of new K-waves. Overall, then, the theory here can be useful for bringing a new perspective to explain, whenever possible one of the general sources of the evolution of LWs, rooted-in-war, that generates technological and economic change in society.
Simultaneous determination of multiple soil enzyme activities for soil health-biogeochemical indices

Abstract Enzyme activities (EAs) are soil health indicators of changes in soil biogeochemical cycling potential. β-glucosidase, β-glucosaminidase, acid phosphomonoesterase, and arylsulfatase are commonly assayed as indices of C, C and N, P and S cycling, respectively. These EAs can be measured in air-dried soil with appropriate substrates following similar assay conditions. Although the assays are similar, the current protocol is to measure each single EA independently. Subsequently, different approaches have been used to obtain a single index for all EAs (e.g., geometric mean of the sum of all EAs divided by the number of enzymes) to represent biogeochemical cycling and soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics. However, the burgeoning interest in soil health has created a need for high-throughput (and simpler) assays that are more cost effective compared to measuring multiple enzymes independently. Therefore, we evaluated simultaneous determination of two to three EAs in the same soil sample in the following combined assays: 1) β-glucosidase and acid phosphomonoesterase (C and P cycling), 2) β-glucosaminidase and arylsulfatase (C, N and S cycling), 3) β-glucosidase and β-glucosaminidase (C and N cycling), and 4) β-glucosidase, acid phosphomonoesterase and β-glucosaminidase (biogeochemical potential index). The results from combined EAs showed significant correlations with the sum of EAs calculated from individual assays (r > 0.931, p
Management of adaptation capability of networked systems in dynamic environments

The paper formulates methods to assess the QoS capability of a networked system S under hostile environment conditions incident on S. How good is the system S in meeting the QoS expectations of applications is analyzed in terms of the non-functional attributes of the QoS behavior of S (e.g., transaction latency & drop rate in on-line web services). A self-assessment mechanism programmed in S enables autonomic reconfiguration of the system-internal algorithmic processes & parameters to sustain an optimal behavior of S in the face of changing environment conditions. We employ PO-MDP based modeling tools to benchmark the QoS capability by stress-testing S with artificially injected environment conditions. As case study, we describe the assessment of a CDN (content delivery network) vis-a-vis the algorithmic processes for optimal placement of content caching nodes in a distribution topology to lower the content read latency and overhead experienced by clients.
Burden of HPV infection in the United States: NHANES (1999-2012).

1607 Background: Human Papilloma Viruses (HPVs) are a group of over 150 viruses. When certain types of HPV persist, benign tumors such as warts or papillomas can result. Other persistent HPV infect...
Diminished neural network dynamics in amnestic mild cognitive impairment.

Abstract Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is widely regarded as an intermediate stage between typical aging and dementia, with nearly 50% of patients with amnestic MCI (aMCI) converting to Alzheimer's dementia (AD) within 30 months of follow-up (Fischer et al., 2007). The growing literature using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging reveals both increased and decreased connectivity in individuals with MCI and connectivity loss between the anterior and posterior components of the default mode network (DMN) throughout the course of the disease progression (Hillary et al., 2015; Sheline & Raichle, 2013; Tijms et al., 2013). In this paper, we use dynamic connectivity modeling and graph theory to identify unique brain “states,” or temporal patterns of connectivity across distributed networks, to distinguish individuals with aMCI from healthy older adults (HOAs). We enrolled 44 individuals diagnosed with aMCI and 33 HOAs of comparable age and education. Our results indicated that individuals with aMCI spent significantly more time in one state in particular, whereas neural network analysis in the HOA sample revealed approximately equivalent representation across four distinct states. Among individuals with aMCI, spending a higher proportion of time in the dominant state relative to a state where participants exhibited high cost (a measure combining connectivity and distance), predicted better language performance and less perseveration. This is the first report to examine neural network dynamics in individuals with aMCI.
Dynamic Pricing and Revenue Management

An active and rapidly growing applied operations research discipline is the field known as revenue management (RM). The principal intent of revenue management is to extract all unused willingness to pay from consumers of differentiated services and products. Talluri and van Ryzin (2004) provide a comprehensive introduction to most aspects of the theory and practice of revenue management. For this chapter, our goal is to illustrate and solve some differentialNash games that occur in network revenue management and that provide critical information about pricing, resource allocation, and demand management to retailers and service providers.
Religious involvement and religious struggles

Several literature reviews and meta-analyses provide convincing evidence that religious involvement - indicated by observable feelings, beliefs, activities (most typically), and experiences in relation to spiritual, divine, or supernatural entities - is associated with lower mortality risk. The basic association between religious involvement and longevity is well established; however, theoretical and empirical explanations for these patterns are not. Even less is known about how religious struggles might increase mortality risk. This chapter proposes and develops two theoretical models. The first model explains why religious involvement should favor longevity. The second model accounts for why religious struggles might increase mortality risk. The chapter discusses viable avenues for future research. Finally, it emphasizes seminal research articles, recent studies, and notable reviews of empirical evidence. Keywords: longevity; mortality risk; religious involvement; religious struggles
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Palliative Care: A Systematic Scoping Review

Despite the advances and spread of palliative care programs, communities of color remain significantly underserved. Although these disparities are widely known, there is a marked lack of empirical ...
SMN deficiency alters the CNS and the peripheral immune system in a mouse model of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by loss or mutation of the SMN1 gene. SMA rises from the insufficient levels of the ubiquitously expressed survival motor neuron (SMN) protein and is characterized by progressive α-lower motor neuron (LMN) degeneration and muscle atrophy. SMN is vital to all tissues, and the specific vulnerability of the LMN is still puzzling. However, currently there is a growing list of tissues affected in SMA. Recently, we have analyzed the development and the immune components of SMA spleen and found a selective reduction of the red pulp (RD) and RP macrophages in SMA mice, while white pulp and lymphocyte populations were largely preserved. Furthermore, previous studies suggested a role of glia cells in LMN pathology. These findings prompt us to investigate the role of the immune system in SMA pathogenesis. Looking into the cytokines production in the widely used “SMNΔ7” mouse model of SMA, we found that at steady state there is a higher production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in SMA central nervous system (CNS) that starts at an early symptomatic age and escalates at the late symptomatic time. However, the anti-inflammatory cytokine TGF-β had lower expression. Interestingly, after in vivo LPS stimulation, SMA astrocytes and splenocytes exhibit less potency in increasing the pro-inflammatory cytokines except for IL-1β that had significantly higher levels in SMA at all points. These findings suggest that there is a role of SMN in the homeostasis and function of resident macrophages in the CNS and the spleen, and denote a yet undiscovered immune component of SMA where targeting cytokines would be a potential new supportive therapy for SMA patients.
Beyond mistreatment: Learner neglect in the clinical teaching environment

Medical student mistreatment has been recognized as a deterrent to education as it interferes with the learning process and contributes to student burnout and attrition. Medical schools and leaders in undergraduate medical education have expended tremendous effort in addressing this phenomenon in hopes of eradicating mistreatment. However, there is a spectrum of behaviors that negatively impact the learning environment beyond that which is considered frank mistreatment. In this conceptual article, the authors propose the concept of learner neglect for the consideration by educators and researchers. This is a term for a range of behaviors exhibited intentionally or unintentionally by a supervisor that prevent a learner from reaching his or her potential. While the behaviors may overlap with mistreatment, they do not always fit within the definition of mistreatment. This concept is illustrated in the context of optimal and suboptimal teaching behaviors that commonly occur within the ecosystem of clinical education. Descriptions and examples are provided for both intentional and unintentional learner neglect. The authors hypothesize possible short- and long-term impacts of learner neglect, describe contributors to its prevalence, and offer questions for key stakeholders to consider in an effort to recognize, study, and ameliorate this issue within medical education programs.
Use of Fetal Hemoglobin Quantitation for Rh-Positive Pregnant Females: A National Survey and Review of the Literature.

Context.— The Kleihauer-Betke (KB) test is validated for estimating the dose of Rh immune globulin needed for Rh-negative pregnant females. However, some clinicians are also ordering the test for R...
All-Dielectric Compound Metaoptics

Lossless, reflectionless metasurfaces are generally limited to impressing phase shifts onto incident wavefronts, and can therefore only manipulate their phase profiles. However, two such metasurfaces placed along a common axis form a compound metaoptic, and can convert an incident complex-valued field to a desired complex-valued field. Here, we show that compound metaoptics at optical frequencies can form desired field patterns when the metasurfaces are separated by a few wavelengths, without relying on reflection, absorption, or polarization losses. With these properties, compound metaoptics are likely to find applications in complex-valued holography, camouflage, and forming custom near- and far-field radiation patterns.
The use of formal social engineering techniques to identify weaknesses during a computer vulnerability competition

Increased dependency on digital data and reliable networks has created a need for ever-increasing computer security. Many technological options exist for security in both hardware and software and these implementations pose formidable threats for hackers. However social engineering bypasses the electronic security measures and targets the weakest component of networks-the human users. The purpose of the study is to conduct a social engineering operation to prove the viability of social engineering as a method of network attack, as well as display the need to increase education and implement measures to protect against it. The findings of the study suggest that even among those who identify themselves as being aware of social engineering techniques, a well planned and executed event could succeed. The findings suggest that an awareness of the value of the information may encourage users to protect it against possible social engineering attacks.
Health resource utilization of labor induction versus expectant management.

Abstract Background Although induction of labor (IOL) of low-risk nulliparous women at 39 weeks reduces the risk of cesarean delivery compared with expectant management, concern regarding more frequent use of labor induction remains given that this intervention historically has been thought to incur greater resource utilization. Objective To determine whether planned elective labor induction at 39 weeks among low-risk nulliparous women, compared with expectant management, was associated with differences in health care resource utilization from the time of randomization through 8 weeks postpartum. Study Design This is a planned secondary analysis of a multi-center randomized trial in which low-risk nulliparous women were assigned to IOL at 39 weeks or expectant management. We assessed resource utilization post-randomization in three time periods: antepartum (AP), delivery admission, and discharge through 8 weeks postpartum (PP). Results Of 6096 women with data available, those in the IOL group (n = 3059) were significantly less likely in the AP period after randomization to have at least one ambulatory visit for routine prenatal care (32.4% vs. 68.4%), unanticipated care (0.5% vs. 2.6%), or urgent care (16.2% vs. 44.3%), or at least one antepartum hospitalization (0.8% vs. 2.2%, p 0.05 for all). Conclusions Women randomized to IOL had longer durations in labor and delivery, but significantly fewer AP visits, tests, and treatments, and shorter maternal and neonatal hospital durations post-delivery. These results demonstrate that the health outcome advantages associated with IOL are gained without incurring uniformly greater health care resource use.
Intimate Partner Violence and the Training of Healthcare Providers

The prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV), reproductive coercion, and sexual coercion in the USA is astonishingly high; approximately 1 in 4 women have been physically and/or sexually assaulted by a current or former partner. While healthcare providers are in a unique position to detect and assist patients who are experiencing IPV, many do not feel they possess skills in screening, assessing, or discussing basic harm-reduction strategies. SAIF (Screen-Assess-Intervene-Follow Up) is a two-hour workshop centered around Futures Without Violence safety cards, which simplifies and demystifies the process of addressing IPV, providing a practical, “nuts-and-bolts” approach. Its aim is not to train participants to be IPV experts, but to break down the initial barriers to addressing this important public health problem.
Unsupervised Auto-Encoding Multiple-Object Tracker for Constraint-Consistent Combinatorial Problem

Multiple-object tracking (MOT) and classification are core technologies for processing moving point clouds in radar or lidar applications. For accurate object classification, the one-to-one association relationship between the model of each objects’ motion (trackers) and the observation sequences including auxiliary features (e.g., radar cross section) is important. In this work, we propose an unsupervised neural MOT model for accurate semi-automatic association labeling and we tackle the challenging one-to-one constrained combinatorial association problem by applying relaxation techniques. Experimental results demonstrate that our neural MOT model generates a more constraint-consistent association solution than conventional row-wise softmax methods.
Chapter 237 – Sociality

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the insect sociality, it refers to populations of insects that use some form of social behavior. Eusocial insects, for example, are true social species that possess three characteristics: cooperative brood care, overlap of two or more generations with offspring assisting with brood care, and reproductive division of labor. In a broad sense, the term “social” is often used for pre- and subsocial insects that have fewer than three of the characteristics of eusociality. In a strict sense, a social insect is usually understood to mean a representative of the ants, termites, vespoid wasps, and social bees, the true eusocial insects. In eusocial insects, the ability to reproduce has been lost in worker and guard castes. Sterile workers care for the brood, provide nourishment, maintain environmental conditions (e.g., by thermoregulation) inside the nest, and remove waste. The female reproductives or gynes generally outlive several generations of the offspring and are protected and tended by workers in the confines of the nest. The presence of reproductive division of labor is vividly portrayed in social insects, with reproduction restricted to the queen, and nest or colony support being provided by the sterile worker and guard castes. With these three characteristics operating, an insect society is a highly organized, cooperative group of organisms that functions like a superorganism. Social and physiological homeostasis of the insect society is maintained through the integration of caste members through pheromone, tactile, auditory, and sometimes visual communication.
Electron-beam-induced cracking in organic-inorganic halide Perovskite thin films

Abstract The curious phenomenon of cracking in organic-inorganic halide perovskite (OIHP) thin films for solar cells during scanning electron microscopy (SEM) can be seen in literally thousands of published SEM micrographs. Here we demonstrate, for the first time, the mechanisms responsible for this e-beam-induced damage in OIHP thin films, which is precluding their detailed SEM-characterization and understanding. The e-beam-induced rapid volatilization of the organic species from the OIHP surface in the SEM results in localized shrinkage and buildup of tensile stresses. These stresses drive grain-boundaries cracking, resulting in a ‘mud-cracking’ pattern that is influenced by the thin-film grain size.
Understanding and Redefining the Role of Urodynamics in Pelvic Floor Disorders

The goal of this study is to review current literature regarding the role of urodynamic studies (UDS) in evaluation of non-neurogenic patients with pelvic floor disorders of stress urinary incontinence (SUI), pelvic organ prolapse (POP), voiding dysfunction, and interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS). Rates of pre-operative UDS have decreased among women with SUI. Guidelines suggest UDS is not required for index SUI patients opting for surgical treatments. Non-index SUI patients are candidates for UDS testing if such objective information will better clarify symptomology or guide management decisions. Women undergoing POP repair should be evaluated for occult SUI via physical exam or UDS. Women with high grade POP may have associated LUTS which may impact outcomes. UDS can assist in developing adjunct treatments or guiding surgical repair. UDS should be considered in women with voiding dysfunction who fail empiric treatments. UDS should be used judiciously, but may offer invaluable insights for symptom etiology and guide management for women with various pelvic floor disorders.
The amplex red/horseradish peroxidase assay requires superoxide dismutase to measure hydrogen peroxide in the presence of NAD(P)H.

A sensitive fluorescence assay based on Amplex Red (AR) oxidation by horseradish peroxidase (AR/HRP) is described which continuously monitor rates of H2O2 production by microsomal enzymes in the pr...
Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs and Opioid Prescriptions for Disability Conditions.

There are variants of prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) and different groups of patients who are prescribed opioids. Patients with disabilities and those with chronic conditions might have different experiences in physician prescribing practices for opioids, when compared to a comparison group without these conditions. To determine differences in opioid prescriptions related to PDMPs for people without cancer-related pain and with disability conditions compared to other adult opioid users without cancer, using a national database. Opioid users were identified from the US Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Disability groups were defined by diagnosis codes related to longstanding physical disability and inflammatory conditions. Our analyses used an event study framework and a difference-in-differences approach. During a two-year panel period, PDMPs did not reduce opioid prescriptions for individuals with disabilities who use opioids. Our data show that individuals with disabilities who use opioids, on average, have a higher incidence of continuous opioid use and significantly greater amounts prescribed compared to other adults who have opioid prescriptions. PDMPs do not appear to affect prescribers’ initial or ongoing use of opioids for individuals with longstanding physical disabilities and those with inflammatory conditions. Thus, these adults have greater exposure to opioids, compared to other adults who were prescribed opioids.
A medication acquisition program to facilitate access to nonstandard targeted oncologic therapies.

e13505Background: Precision oncology provides targeted approaches to cancer diagnosis and treatment, but also carries significant risks to reimbursement and patient access. A recent survey found th...