cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Emergency Department Copayments for Medicaid Beneficiaries Following the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005

Importance High unemployment during the 2007-2009 Great Recession and eligibility expansions have increased the size and cost of Medicaid. To provide states with flexibility in administering the program while containing costs, the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA) gave states the authority to impose cost-sharing strategies, including emergency department (ED) copayments for nonurgent visits. To our knowledge, there has been no previous longitudinal analysis of the effect of the DRA on health care utilization outcomes for Medicaid beneficiaries. Objectives To evaluate the effect of the DRA, which allowed states to enforce ED copayments for nonurgent visits, on ED utilization among Medicaid beneficiaries and to compare the effect among beneficiaries living in states that did and did not adopt ED copayments. Design, Setting, and Participants A difference-in-difference quasi-experimental approach was used to compare trends in ED use among Medicaid beneficiaries from January 2001 to December 2010. Eight states with ED copayments for nonurgent ED visits (copayment states) were compared with 10 states with zero ED copayments (control states). The study cohort was the population of individuals 19 to 64 years old enrolled in Medicaid for a full calendar year as collected by the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, a nationally representative survey of noninstitutionalized US civilians. The cohort consisted of 3122 adult Medicaid recipients in copayment states and 7433 adult Medicaid recipients in control states. Exposures The main exposure was the copayment enforcement authority of the DRA. The study controlled for sex, age, race, marital status, income relative to the federal poverty level, educational level, and self-reported health status. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome of this study was the change in the rate of ED utilization following the DRA. Additional outcomes included changes in the rate of outpatient medical provider visits and inpatient length of stay. Visits were not coded according to urgency, which prevented us from examining only nonurgent ED use. Results Estimates from a zero-inflated Poisson regression model detected no statistically significant change in annual ED admissions per Medicaid enrollee (change, 0.05; 95% CI, −0.05 to 0.16) in copayment states compared with control states following the DRA. There was also no change in the rate of outpatient medical provider visits (change, 0.02; 95% CI, −0.31 to 0.35) or in annual inpatient days (change, 0.13; 95% CI, −0.31 to 0.57) per Medicaid enrollee. Conclusions and Relevance Granting states permission to collect copayments for nonurgent visits under the DRA did not significantly change ED or outpatient medical provider use among Medicaid beneficiaries.
Intermethod reliability and factors affecting recall with the Temple University Community Participation measure.

AbstractBackground: Increased interest in promoting community inclusion of adults with serious mental illnesses will necessitate advances in measuring community participation as an outcome of such efforts.Aims: The primary aim of this study is to examine the intermethod reliability of the Temple University Community Participation (TUCP) measure with a daily checklist approach. Secondary aims are to explore the influence of frequency and importance of participation on recall consistency.Method: One hundred and seven individuals diagnosed with a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, or major depression completed a daily checklist of community participation in 25 areas. Approximately 30 days later they completed the TUCP measure involving recall of participation in these same areas.Results: TUCP responses were highly correlated with totals from the daily checklists. Participation areas with more participation days have higher TUCP-diary checklist correlations. Importance of the participation are...
Factors influencing macroinvertebrate colonization of seasonal wetlands: responses to emergent plant cover.

1. We conducted field experiments to examine factors influencing macroinvertebrate colonization of seasonally flooded marshes. Few macroinvertebrate species were found aestivating in soils within non-flooded wetlands indicating that most taxa colonize these marshes from other flooded habitats. 2. We manipulated amounts of salt grass (Distichlis spicata) to examine how emergent plant cover affects aerial colonization by macroinvertebrates. Areas mowed 3 weeks before flooding had low plant cover, areas mowed 5 and 9 weeks before flooding had medium and high plant cover, respectively, and non-mowed control areas had the most plant cover. Macroinvertebrate numbers and biomass were generally higher in mowed treatment areas than in control areas, but overall diversity was generally higher in high plant cover and control areas than in low plant cover areas. 3. Mosquitoes (Culicidae), brine flies (Ephydridae) and hover flies (Syrphidae) were positively correlated with amount of plant cover, and waterboatmen (Corixidae), midges (Chironomidae) and water scavenger beetles (Hydrophilidae) were negatively correlated with plant cover. Species assemblages changed seasonally among treatment areas because these taxa colonize wetlands at different times in the year. 4. These results demonstrate that invertebrate communities may be different within plant stands with heterogeneous amounts of emergent cover, and management practices that alter the structure of wetland vegetation can influence macroinvertebrate communities colonizing seasonal marshes.
Perspective on the 2013 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Guideline for the Use of Statins in Primary Prevention of Low-Risk Individuals

In November 2013, the American Heart Association (AHA)/American College of Cardiology (ACC) released a new Guideline on the Treatment of Blood Cholesterol to Reduce Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Risk in Adults.1 Recommendations were made for several groups of patients. This perspective will focus only on the recommendation for those with no history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) but with a 10-year ASCVD risk of ≥7.5% and a low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level of 70 to 189 mg/dL and who are between the ages of 40 to 75 years. The guideline recommends such individuals receive moderate-intensity statin therapy to reduce LDL cholesterol between 30% and 49%. The guideline specifies that the 10-year risk of ASCVD, defined as nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), coronary heart disease death, and nonfatal and fatal stroke, be calculated using the pooled cohort equations. The pooled cohort equations represent a new algorithm for estimating risk, and the spreadsheet for risk calculation can be downloaded from http://my.americanheart.org/professional/StatementsGuidelines/PreventionGuidelines/Prevention-Guidelines\_UCM\_457698_SubHomePage.jsp. Unfortunately, this algorithm was announced simultaneously with the new guideline without a prior period for external scientific evaluation. In fact, the algorithm has already been severely criticized.2 Ridker and Cook “calculated predicted 10-year risks of the same atherosclerotic events using the new ACC/AHA risk prediction algorithm and compared these estimates with observed event rates in 3 large-scale primary prevention cohorts, the Women’s Health Study, the Physicians’ Health Study, and the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study.” They found “in all 3 of these primary prevention cohorts that the new ACC/AHA risk prediction algorithm systematically overestimated observed risks by 75% to 150%, roughly doubling the actual observed risk.” Ridker and Cook also found a similar overestimation of risk in 2 additional cohorts, prompting them to observe “that as many as 40% to 50% of the 33 million middle-aged Americans targeted by the new …
VLAB: Web services, portlets, and workflows for enabling cyber-infrastructure in computational mineral physics

Abstract Virtual organizations are rapidly changing the way scientific communities perform research. Web-based portals, environments designed for collaboration and sharing data, have now become the nexus of distributed high performance computing. Within this paper, we address the infrastructure of the Virtual Laboratory for Earth and Planetary Materials (VLab), an organization dedicated to using quantum calculations to solve problems in mineral physics. VLab provides a front-end portal, accessible from a browser, for scientists to submit large-scale simulations and interactively analyze their results. The cyber-infrastructure of VLab concentrates on scientific workflows, portal development, responsive user-interfaces and automatic generation of web services, all necessary to ensure a maximum degree of flexibility and ease of use for both the expert scientist and the layperson.
How Does the Postcolonial, Feminist Academic Lead? A Perspective from the US South.

This article draws on post‐colonial and feminist theories to interrogate the notion of ‘leadership’ in the academy. Specifically, it examines challenges that women faculty, especially women of colour, immigrant women, and, in particular, Asian and Asian American women, encounter as they balance leadership work with scholarship and teaching. Integrating theory and autobiography, the author situates herself as a post‐colonial, feminist academic and a South Asian immigrant in the USA, and reflects on her own leadership experiences. She identifies three central themes—recognizing one’s implicatedness, maintaining integrity and developing resilience—and discusses implications for rethinking leadership.
Formal derivation of optimal active shielding for low-power on-chip buses

Passive shielding has been used to reduce the capacitive coupling effects of adjacent bus lines by inserting passive ground or power lines (shields) between them. Active shielding is another shielding technique in which the shield is allowed to switch depending on the switching pattern of its adjacent bus lines. This paper formally derives the optimal active shielding logic function for minimum power dissipation. It is also shown that this optimal active shielding architecture depends on the ratio of coupling to ground capacitance (/spl gamma/=C/sub c//C/sub g/). Optimal active shielding is shown to provide up to 25% reduction in bus power dissipation compared to conventional passive shielding. A suboptimal active shielding architecture with simpler hardware is also proposed. Theoretically, using the suboptimal shielding architecture leads to less than 6% bus power penalty compared to the optimal active shielding logic circuit. However, due to the simpler shield encoding circuitry, simulation results show that the suboptimal active shielding architecture leads to higher overall energy savings compared to the optimal active shielding architectures.
Response to Comments on “Post-Wildfire Logging Hinders Regeneration and Increases Fire Risk”

We reported that postfire logging 2 to 3 years after the 2002 Biscuit Fire was associated with significant mortality in natural conifer regeneration and elevated potential fire behavior in the short term as a result of increased surface fuel loads. We underscore the strength of our study design and statistical conclusions, provide additional details of the research setting and scope, and address comments pertinent to forest development and fire ecology.
Principle of Minimum Discrimination Information and Replica Dynamics

Dynamics of many complex systems can be described by replicator equations (RE). Here we present an effective method for solving a wide class of RE based on reduction theorems for models of inhomogeneous communities. The solutions of the RE minimize the discrimination information of the initial and current distributions at each point of the system trajectory, not only at the equilibrium, under time-dependent constraints. Applications to inhomogeneous versions of some conceptual models of mathematical biology (logistic and Ricker models of populations and Volterra’ models of communities) are given.
A convergence condition for optimal nonlinear filtering for systems with unknown parameters

An examination is made of the problem of estimating the state of linear stochastic plant with unknown parameters taking values in a finite set. Stochastic stability theory is used to establish conditions under which the a posteriori probabilities defined on a finite parameter set converge almost surely, both in continuous and discrete time. An example of what happens if the conditions are not satisfied is given. >
Neodymium-yag laser treatment of experimental canine gastric bleeding: Acute and chronic studies of photocoagulation, penetration, and perforation

Determination of the efficacy and safety of endoscopic laser photocoagulation to control upper gastrointestinal bleeding is prerequisite to the general application of this treatment in humans. We studied photocoagulation hemostasis, penetration, and perforation produced by a 55-W neodymium-yag (Nd:YAG) laser to control standardized experimental gastric bleeding lesions in a heparinized canine model. Photocoagulation of bleeding lesions was 100% successful with an application time of 3.56 +/- 1.65 sec (mean +/- SD). Histologic examintion of the gastric wall revealed a depth of injury to the muscularis externa of 40-100% with greater than 2 sec photocoagulation. Continuous photocoagulation exceeding 4 sec produced an 80-100% depth of muscle injury. Perforation of the gastric wall occurred after 9.6 +/- 1.5 sec, and all dogs studied after perforation survived. These studies indicate that Nd:YAG photocoagulation is an effective method to control experimental gastric bleeding lesions with a ratio between mean photocoagulation hemostasis and perforation times of approximatley 1:3. Further studies are required to define the implications of photocoagulation injury to muscle and the role of the gastric serosa in laser applications.
A radio transceiver architecture for wireless devices operating in the TV white spaces

Wireless devices which operate in the TV-white spaces, unused regions of the frequency spectrum, are called white space devices. FCC and other commissions worldwide defined specifications for devices which operate in these frequency holes. These specifications emphasize minimum interference with incumbent signals. ECMA-392 is one of the first standards published worldwide which specifies a medium access control (MAC) layer and a physical layer for personal/portable white space devices. This paper presents a possible transceiver architecture meant for integrated solutions and provides tentative block level specifications for the proposed architecture.
Mediators of disability and hope for people with spinal cord injury.

AbstractPurpose: To test potential strength-based mediators of functional disability and hope in adults with spinal cord injury. Method: Two hundred and forty-two participants with spinal cord injury were recruited for this study. The mean age of participants was 44.6 years (standard deviation = 13.2), and 66.1% were men. Participants completed a survey containing a demographic questionnaire, as well as measures of functional disability, hope, self-esteem, proactive coping, perceived social support and disability acceptance. Mediation analysis was conducted using a bootstrap test for multiple mediators. Results: Proactive coping, self-esteem and perceived social support significantly mediated the relationship between functional disability and hope, while disability acceptance did not. The combination of mediators resulted in functional disability no longer being a significant predictor of hope. Conclusions: The strength-based constructs of proactive coping, self-esteem and social support appear effective ...
The Economic Impact of Technological Change

The economic impacts of technological change are pervasive. Technological change affects all nations on a macro scale and firms as well as individuals on a micro scale.
Maize Contract Farming Experience in Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract Many reviews and evaluations of contract farming and its importance for small-scale farmers in the developing nations have been conducted. While some scholars opined that contractual terms were unfavourable to farmers, others considerd them as being beneficial to them. These contrasting views were not likely to discourage it since it provided encouragement for farmers' involvement in markets. It was therefore worthwhile to investigate previous experiences with the aim of improving on it. This study investigated contract farming entered into by farmers in Delta State of Nigeria and livestock feed companies with the objective of seeking ways to make such contractual agreements beneficial to small-scale farmers. The study utilized convergence of science approach. The study unveiled the constraints experienced by farmers and they included technical and institutional challenges. The technical problem was the planting date, while the institutional problem was the contractual arrangements. It was recommended that all the stakeholders in the contract should converge and negotiate technological adoptions of the improved maize varieties; contract needed to be clearly defined and risks and uncertainties should be parts of the contract; scientific investigations should be carried out to determine the best planting date; and there was need for legislation to particularly protect farmers in contract farming.
Determination of trace microcystins in water by solid phase extraction-high performance liquid chromatography

Objective:To develop a method for determination of microcystin(MC)in water by solid phase extraction-High Performance Liquid Chromatography.Methods:MCs in water were enriched and purified by solid phase extraction,eluated by methanol,the eluate was concentrated by N2 gas.The HPLC separation was carried out with C18 column by UV at 238 nm using acetonitrile-water(include 0.1% TFA) as mobile phase.Results:Tow components showed good linearity in the range of 0~5.0 mg/L,average recovery was 84.3%~87.9%,RSD5%.Conclusion:The methods is sensitive,accurate and precise for the determination of MCs in source and effluent waters.
Prozesse im IT-Marketing

Der IT-Produktmanager als ‚Sammel- und Koordinationsstelle‘ fur produktbezogene Markt-, Wettbewerbs- sowie interne Unternehmensinformationen verantwortet eine Menge von Einzelaufgaben (vgl. auch Abschn. 1.2). Als eine Art ‚Unternehmer im Unternehmen‘ ist er verantwortlich fur alle Bereiche des Produktes bzw. der Produktgruppe. Diese verschiedenen Tatigkeiten werden aus Grunden der besseren Ubersichtlichkeit und zur Trennung grundlegend verschiedener Handlungsfelder nachfolgend zu drei grosen Aufgabenbereichen zusammengefasst.
Female Genital System

The incidence of gynecologic malignancies as a group have an incidence second only to to breast cancer. In the year 2009, approximately 192,370 new female breast cancers will be diagnosed compared to 80,720 gynecologic malignancies (cervix, 11,270; corpus uteri, 42,160; ovary, 21,550, vulva 3,580; other, 2,160). Gynecologic malignancies ranked third in estimated female cancer deaths in 2009: lung/bronchus, 70,490; breast, 40,170; and gynecologic, 28,120 (cervix, 4,070; corpus uteri, 7,780; ovary, 14,600; vulva, 900; other, 820). The incidence of cervical cancer has markedly decreased over the last 50 years with Papanicolaou (Pap) smear screening and colposcopy. Endometrial carcinoma has also decreased as a result of the changes in prescribed hormone supplementation. Unopposed, estrogens were responsible for a significant number of well-differentiated carcinomas in the menopausal patient. The addition of progesterone and liberal indications of endometrial biopsy have assisted in decreasing the incidence. In the uterus, tamoxifen is an estrogen agonist, whereas it is an antagonist in the breast. Uterine stimulation is present with patients receiving tamoxifen to treat breast cancer. All abnormal bleeding in this group of patients is a suspect for the presence of endometrial cancer. Endometrial biopsies are required to rule out this malignancy in menopausal patients with abnormal bleeding. Early diagnosis of ovarian cancer is difficult. Screening ultrasonography and CA-125 have low sensitivity and specificity when used to diagnose occult ovarian malignances in the asymptomatic patient. As a result, even in initial examination these patients have advanced disease, with high mortality.
The Retroviral Cyclin Controls CDK8-mediated Transcription Elongation and Reinitiation

Walleye dermal sarcoma virus is a complex retrovirus that causes seasonal tumors in walleye fish. RV-cyclin is one accessory protein encoded by the virus, and is one of only two viral proteins expressed during tumor development. Therefore, role of RV-cyclin in tumor development was explored. RV-cyclin interacts with host cyclin dependent kinase8 (CDK8). CDK8 has oncogenic like properties in colon cancer and melanoma, and one target of CDK8 kinase activity is the carboxy terminal domain of RNA Pol II. Here qRT-PCR analysis demonstrates RV-cyclin’s direct interaction with CDK8 increases transcript levels of another set of oncogenes—the serum-response genes ( Fos , EGR1 , and Jun) . Nuclear run-on experiments, and chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments with an antibody to RNA Pol II, show that RV-cyclin enhances transcription elongation along the EGR1 gene locus. This enhancement correlates with increased recruitment of CDK8 to the EGR1 gene locus. In addition to increasing CDK8 occupancy at the EGR1 gene, in vitro kinase experiments demonstrate RV-cyclin increases the amount of CDK8-phosphorylation on the CTD of RNA Pol II. In conclusion, not only does RV-cyclin direct CDK8 to specific genes during tumor development, RV-cyclin enhances CDK8 kinase activity while it is there. The end result of the CDK8-RV-cyclin interaction is a rise in the mRNA levels of another pool of oncogenes, the serum-response genes. This is one mechanism by which RV-cyclin could contribute to the development of walleye dermal sarcoma.
An oral keratinocyte life cycle model identifies novel host genome regulation by human papillomavirus 16 relevant to HPV positive head and neck cancer.

// Michael R. Evans 1 , Claire D. James 1 , Oonagh Loughran 1 , Tara J. Nulton 1 , Xu Wang 1 , Molly L. Bristol 1 , Brad Windle 1,2 and Iain M. Morgan 1,2 1 Department of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology, VCU Philips Institute for Oral Health Research, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry, Richmond, VA, USA 2 VCU Massey Cancer Center, Richmond, VA, USA Correspondence to: Iain M. Morgan, email: // Keywords : head and neck cancer, human papillomavirus, life-cycle, the cancer genome atlas, oral keratinocytes Received : May 07, 2017 Accepted : May 17, 2017 Published : June 01, 2017 Abstract Many aspects of the HPV life cycle have been characterized in cervical cell lines (W12, CIN612) and in HPV immortalized primary foreskin keratinocytes. There is now an epidemic of HPV positive oropharyngeal cancers (HPV16 is responsible for 80-90% of these); therefore increased understanding of the HPV16 life cycle in oral keratinocytes is a priority. To date there have been limited reports characterizing the HPV16 life cycle in oral keratinocytes. Using TERT immortalized “normal” oral keratinocytes (NOKs) we generated clonal cell lines maintaining the HPV16 genome as an episome, NOKs+HPV16. Organotypic raft cultures demonstrated appropriate expression of differentiation markers, E1^E4 and E2 expression along with amplification of the viral genome in the upper layers of the epithelium. Using this unique system RNA-seq analysis revealed extensive gene regulation of the host genome by HPV16; many of the changes have not been observed for HPV16 before. The RNA-seq data was validated on a key set of anti-viral innate immune response genes repressed by HPV16 in NOKs+HPV16. We show that the behavior of these NOKs+HPV16 lines is identical to HPV16 immortalized human tonsil keratinocytes with regards innate gene regulation. Finally, using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data we examined gene expression patterns from HPV positive and negative head and neck cancers and demonstrate this innate immune gene signature set is also downregulated in HPV positive cancers versus negative. Our system provides a model for understanding HPV16 transcriptional regulation of oral keratinocytes that is directly relevant to HPV positive head and neck cancer.
A Guide to Authentic Pedagogy: Fred Newmann

A Guide to Authentic Pedagogy: Fred Newmann’s authentic pedagogy and authentic assessment theory have Dewey’s influence written all over them.
PHENIX results on elliptic and triangular flow in d + Au collisions from 19.6 to 200 GeV

Abstract We present measurements of azimuthal correlations of charged particles produced in high-multiplicity d + Au collisions at s N N = 19.6 , 39 , 62.4 , and 200 GeV . Two-particle correlation functions, and Fourier harmonics obtained using the event-plane method are studied. Azimuthal anisotropies in particle production are seen at all four energies, indicating collective behavior in the produced system. The results are compared to theoretical calculations using hydrodynamics and a multi-phase transport model (AMPT).
Small-signal modeling of single-phase PLLs using harmonic signal-flow graphs

Small-signal modeling of converters interfacing with ac power systems is difficult as they involve time-periodic quantities in the steady-state and their linearized dynamics result in a linear time-periodic (LTP) system. This paper presents signal-flow graphs for LTP systems to complement the harmonic linearization method and simplify the modeling process. The proposed graphs visually describe the flow of small-signal perturbation through converters and frequency cross-coupling among different variables. Since complex PLL structures are most difficult to model in a converter control system, the paper demonstrates modeling using signal-flow graphs for two single-phase PLLs: SOGI-PLL and Park-PLL. The developed loop-gain models accurately predict the phase-lag introduced by orthogonal signal generator block in these PLLs, which limits the maximum bandwidth for which a PLL can be designed. Automated modeling using a signal-flow graph solver is also presented.
Fully flexible lithium ion battery based on a flame retardant, solid-state polymer electrolyte membrane

Abstract The safety issue of a portable battery has increasingly become paramount important because of intimate contact of wearable devices with the human body. In this study, a flame retardant, thermally stable polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) has been fabricated based on crosslinkable polyurethane precursor, viz., polyethylene glycol -bis- carbamate dimethacrylate (PEGBCDMA). This PEGBCDMA based PEM is solvent-free, transparent, bendable, and twistable, which makes it an ideal candidate for a fully flexible battery application with safety attributes. Moreover, the above PEM exhibits high ionic conductivity close to the superionic level (8 × 10 −4 S cm −1 at room temperature) and electrochemical stability in a large operating window of −0.5 V to 4.5 V. The PEM shows over 80% of specific capacity retention up to 250 cycles tested in the lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO 4 )/PEM/graphite full cells. Of particular importance is that the present PEGBCDMA based PEM has met most of the application criteria for a flexible solid-state lithium ion battery.
Organizing for Education: A Cross-National, Longitudinal Study of Civil Society Organizations and Education Outcomes

We address two views from organization theory to consider the expansion and effects of nonprofits in education: first, a functional view emphasizing the direct effect of work of civil society organizations (CSOs) and, second, a phenomenological neoinstitutional view focusing on the cultural meaning of education CSOs as indicators of a rationalized, liberal world society. We use panel regression models with country fixed effects to analyze the cross-national expansion of domestic education CSO sectors in 130 countries from 1970 to 2014. We then examine the association between the size of the domestic education CSO sector and memberships in international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) with education outcomes, including spending, education aid, secondary and tertiary enrollments, and the share of women in secondary and tertiary education. Results show that INGO memberships, an expanded state, and an expanded education system are highly associated with the expansion of a domestic education CSO sector. Both domestic CSOs and INGO memberships tend to have a significant, positive relationship with education outcomes net of other factors. We also find preliminary evidence indicating that the causal forces at play are more complex than a straightforward direct effect of education CSOs doing good work. Specifically, CSOs, at least in part, are indicators of a Western, liberal model of a proper modern society; the underpinning culture, represented by CSOs, accounts for some educational expansion above and beyond the benefit (or harm) caused by any given entity.
The Weekend Effect in AAA Repair.

Background:Conflicting reports exist regarding whether patients undergoing surgery on the weekend or later in the week experience worse outcomes.Methods:We identified patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair in the Vascular Quality Initiative between 2009 and 2017 [n = 38,498; 30,5
Network-Based Construction of Open Virtual Laboratory Teaching Platform

Through expounding the importance of building up a network virtual laboratory, this paper introduces the key technology to construct the virtual laboratory, and the construction of the network virtual laboratory teaching platform, and the process of management background, and eventually set up a virtual experimental teaching platform, set the experiment management, experiment and test report and experimental evaluation at an organic whole, realized from the auxiliary teaching, independent experiment to the experiment report submitted online and reviews in the whole process of the operation and management, and meet the needs of the online experiment teaching. To strengthen the quality of the students in our school education and practice ability and to improve our education of information technology application level.
Home Health Nurses' Perspectives and Care Processes Related to Older Persons with Frailty and Depression: A Mixed Method Pilot Study.

ABSTRACTThe objectives of this study were (1) to describe home health care (HHC) nurses’ perception of and care processes related to geriatric depression and frailty, and (2) to identify barriers to care delivery for older persons with these two conditions. Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted with HHC nurses, and 16 HHC nursing visits to 16 older patients (≥65 years) were observed. Mixed method analysis showed that HHC nurses did not routinely assess for frailty and depression. Major barriers to care delivery included insufficient training, documentation burden, limited reimbursement, and high caseload. Addressing these barriers would facilitate HHC nursing care for frail, depressed elders.
Abstract IA20: A coding region variant in the TP53 tumor-suppressor gene may underlie cancer disparities in African Americans

In addition to being frequently mutated in sporadic cancer, the p53 tumor suppressor also contains several coding region variants that alter function and can contribute to increased cancer risk. We previously published that the Pro47Ser variant of p53 exists in approximately 1-2% of individuals of African descent, and that this variation prevents a key phosphorylation event on p53, and reduces the ability of this protein to induce cell death (1). We recently published a mouse model for this variant, and show that this mouse develops a striking incidence of sporadic cancer, predominantly hepatocellular cancer but also including cancers of the pancreas, stomach, and intestine. In a cohort of African American women with breast cancer, we found evidence for an association of Pro47Ser with pre-menopausal cancer incidence (HR 1.7, p 1. Li X, Dumont P, Della Pietra A, Shetler C, Murphy ME. The codon 47 polymorphism in p53 is functionally significant. J Biol Chem 2005;280(25):24245-51. PubMed PMID: 15851479. 2. Murphy ME, Liu S, Yao S, et al. A functionally significant SNP in TP53 and breast cancer risk in African-American women. NPJ Breast Cancer 2017;3:5. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5445618. 3. Jennis M, Kung CP, Basu S, et al. An African-specific polymorphism in the TP53 gene impairs p53 tumor suppressor function in a mouse model. Genes Dev 2016;30(8):918-30. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4840298. 4. Basu S, Barnoud T, Kung CP, Reiss M, Murphy ME. The African-specific S47 polymorphism of p53 alters chemosensitivity. Cell Cycle 2016;15(19):2557-60. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5053554. Citation Format: Maureen E. Murphy. A coding region variant in the TP53 tumor-suppressor gene may underlie cancer disparities in African Americans [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Advances in Breast Cancer Research; 2017 Oct 7-10; Hollywood, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2018;16(8_Suppl):Abstract nr IA20.
Sensory labor: considering the work of taste in the food system

The taste of foodstuffs has shaped entire economic systems. Yet many scholars have understood how one tastes as only a matter of aesthetics. New forms of doing work through the senses, associated w...
Hydrogen peroxide and cutaneous biology: Translational applications, benefits, and risks.

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an endogenous reactive oxygen species that contributes to oxidative stress directly as a molecular oxidant and indirectly through free radical generation. Topically applied 1% to 45% H2O2 can be used for a range of clinical purposes, which will be reviewed here in addition to its safety. In concentrations from 1% to 6%, H2O2 has antimicrobial properties and can act as a debriding agent through its effervescence, making low-concentration H2O2 useful for wound care. H2O2 has also been shown to promote venous insufficiency ulcer healing, but studies in other wound types are needed. In 1% formulations, H2O2 is used outside the United States to treat acne and has shown efficacy similar to or greater than benzoyl peroxide, with reduced side effects. In a concentration of 40%, H2O2 is US Food and Drug Administration–approved to treat seborrheic keratoses and may cause fewer pigmentary changes than cryotherapy, although elimination often requires 2 to 4 treatments. However, H2O2 should be used with caution, as exposure can cause adverse effects through its oxidant capabilities. Low H2O2 concentrations cause only transient symptoms (blanching and blistering), but exposure to 9% to 45% H2O2 can cause more severe skin damage, including epidermal necrosis leading to erythema and bullae. Overall, H2O2 has numerous therapeutic uses, and novel indications, such as treating actinic keratoses and skin cancers, continue to be explored.
Model frontline customer service providers’ perspectives of success factors: an exploratory study

AbstractBy learning to select better, well-informed candidates for the challenging frontline roles in the hospitality industry and learning to provide personal and professional, physical, emotional...
IMPACT OF CLUSTER IONS AND AIR POLLUTION ON HUMAN HEALTH

Maximum permissible concentration of polluting substances in the atmospheric air is defined in the laws and regulations of many countries. The concentration of cluster ions from 400 to 3000 ions per m3 is generally considered to be appropriate for human health. The author of this article analyses potential cases when air enrichment with air ions could enhance air purification and influence favourably human health. The author also describes possible adverse effects when air ionisation can increase the harmful impact on human body, especially in situations when the concentration of polluting substances exceeds the maximum permissible level.
Stochastic Production/Location Models on Networks or a Plane

This chapter extends the analysis of stochastic production/location problems presented in chapter 5 from the line as the location space to network and planar spaces. The inclusion of parametric uncertainty in these more general spaces makes algorithmic solution of these problems, and especially analysis and characterization of optimal solutions using comparative statics methods, extremely difficult. This probably explains why so little published work exists on these types of production/location models. Although little work has appeared for either type of space, the work on stochastic network production/location problems is more extensively developed than the work on planar models, so the bulk of this chapter will focus on network models. The material in this chapter naturally builds upon the certainty models in chapters 3 and 4, and many of the methods and results extend to the stochastic case, though sometimes in altered form.
An immune-centric exploration of BRCA1 and BRCA2 germline mutation related breast and ovarian cancers

BRCA1/2 germline mutation related cancers are candidates for new immune therapeutic interventions. This study was a hypothesis generating exploration of genomic data collected at diagnosis for 19 patients. The prominent tumor mutation burden (TMB) in hereditary breast and ovarian cancers in this cohort was not correlated with high global immune activity in their microenvironments. More information is needed about the relationship between genomic instability, phenotypes and immune microenvironments of these hereditary tumors in order to find appropriate markers of immune activity and the most effective anticancer immune strategies. Mining and statistical analyses of the original DNA and RNA sequencing data and The Cancer Genome Atlas data were performed. To interpret the data, we have used published literature and web available resources such as Gene Ontology, The Cancer immunome Atlas and the Cancer Research Institute iAtlas. We found that BRCA1/2 germline related breast and ovarian cancers do not represent a unique phenotypic identity, but they express a range of phenotypes similar to sporadic cancers. All breast and ovarian BRCA1/2 related tumors are characterized by high homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) and low aneuploidy. Interestingly, all sporadic high grade serous ovarian cancers (HGSOC) and most of the subtypes of triple negative breast cancers (TNBC) also express a high degree of HRD. TMB is not associated with the magnitude of the immune response in hereditary BRCA1/2 related breast and ovarian cancers or in sporadic TNBC and sporadic HGSOC. Hereditary tumors express phenotypes as heterogenous as sporadic tumors with various degree of “BRCAness” and various characteristics of the immune microenvironments. The subtyping criteria developed for sporadic tumors can be applied for the classification of hereditary tumors and possibly also characterization of their immune microenvironment. A high HRD score may be a good candidate biomarker for response to platinum, and potentially PARP-inhibition. Phase I Study of the Oral PI3kinase Inhibitor BKM120 or BYL719 and the Oral PARP Inhibitor Olaparib in Patients With Recurrent TNBC or HGSOC (NCT01623349), first posted on June 20, 2012. The design and the outcome of the clinical trial is not in the scope of this study.
Silos, Snow Cones, Railroad Spikes, and Spherical Coordinates

We present a fun alternative geometric approach for computing the volume of a “box” in spherical coordinates, which we then use to explain the formula for spherical triple integrals. Each step of o...
Maria Stewart: A Black Voice for Abolition:

This article argues that Maria Stewart is an underappreciated abolitionist, and a worthy exponent of the Black views of the 1830s. Her work is compared with that of David Walker, Charlotte Forten, ...
Incompatible Graded Finite Elements for Orthotropic Nonhomogeneous Media

Orthotropic materials or composites are challenging to model due to different elastic properties in two in-plane directions, which requires sufficient mesh refinement to attain desired accuracy. In this regard, an accurate and efficient incompatible graded element is developed for modeling orthotropic functionally graded materials. Properties of Graded finite elements such as Young’s moduli (E11, E22), shear modulus (G12) and Poisson’s ratio (v12) vary. A new incompatible graded element is developed using user subroutines in Abaqus and are compared to available exact solutions. In this study, performance (QM6) graded element is compared with lower-order and higher-order compatible elements (Q4 and Q8) as well as linear triangular (T3) and quadratic triangular (T6) elements with aid of several numerical examples. Additionally, orthotropic graded plate with carbon fibers properties as well as a circular disc with orthotropic properties under internal pressure is included. Furthermore, a curved beam with radially graded properties under the bending moment is studied. Additionally, the performance of various graded elements is compared with analytical solutions using Russell error.
Constructing a desert labyrinth: The psychological and emotional geographies of deterrence strategy on the U.S. / Mexico border

Abstract Confinement, hindrance, and time bring anxiety, fear, and stress, often accompanied by confusion and desperation. In the case of undocumented immigrants in the Sonoran Desert, such conditions are manipulated by way of surveillance and policing. These conditions, in combination with physical exertion, augment a physiological stress response that coalesces with existing traumas and fear. We undertake a critical mapping of relations among enforcement infrastructure, migration routes, and measurable features of the physical landscape to demonstrate that a corridor in the region functions as a labyrinth, an outcome of a combination of threats and stressors determined by the spaces migrants find themselves in after crossing the U.S./Mexico border. We argue a biopolitical understanding of current border policies indicates it reduces migrants to bare life rather than using threat, stressors, or trauma as instruments for manipulating behavior. We discuss how this labyrinth works in combination with other mechanisms, including criminalization, detention, abuse, separation, and deportation, to deliver consequences that may deter migration. Despite these efforts, migration routes remain plastic, indicating the continued potential to resist and evade the surveillance technologies and enforcement deployed in the borderlands. We assert that an inevitable result of the desert labyrinth is human mortality.
Training Structured Mechanical Models by Minimizing Discrete Euler-Lagrange Residual.

Model-based paradigms for decision-making and control are becoming ubiquitous in robotics. They rely on the ability to efficiently learn a model of the system from data. Structured Mechanical Models (SMMs) are a data-efficient black-box parameterization of mechanical systems, typically fit to data by minimizing the error between predicted and observed accelerations or next states. In this work, we propose a methodology for fitting SMMs to data by minimizing the discrete Euler-Lagrange residual. To study our methodology, we fit models to joint-angle time-series from undamped and damped double-pendulums, studying the quality of learned models fit to data with and without observation noise. Experiments show that our methodology learns models that are better in accuracy to those of the conventional schemes for fitting SMMs. We identify use cases in which our method is a more appropriate methodology. Source code for reproducing the experiments is available at this https URL.
Relationships between plasma apelin and adiponectin with normal weight obesity, body composition, and cardiorespiratory fitness in working adults.

Abstract Background A significant proportion of adults have normal weight obesity (NWO), defined as a normal body mass index (BMI) but disproportionately high body fat percentage. Individuals with NWO may have increased risk of cardiometabolic disorders and lower exercise tolerance, but it is unclear if this obesity phenotype is linked with dysregulated production of adipokines or myokines such as adiponectin and apelin, respectively. Methods This cross-sectional, secondary analysis included 177 working adults (mean age 49.6 ± 9.9 yrs, 64% female). Plasma high-molecular weight adiponectin and apelin levels were measured by ELISA. Body composition and fat distribution were assessed using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Exercise tolerance (VO2 maximum) was determined by treadmill testing. NWO was defined as a BMI 30% for women or >23% for men. Participants were categorized as lean, NWO, or overweight-obese. Results A total of 14.7% of subjects were categorized as lean, 23.7% as having NWO, and 61.6% as having overweight-obesity. Plasma adiponectin levels were elevated in the overweight-obesity group (P 0.05). Adiponectin concentrations were inversely associated with BMI, fat mass, fat mass percent, visceral fat, and trunk to leg fat ratio and positively associated with leg fat mass (all P Conclusion Plasma adiponectin and apelin levels did not distinguish between lean and NWO groups. Positive relationships with leg fat mass and adiponectin suggest the importance of assessing body composition and fat distribution when studying adipokines and cardiometabolic disorders. Further investigations are needed to understand relationships between exercise, body composition, and apelin secretion.
Polar Bear Behavior: Morphologic and Physiologic Adaptations

Polar bears possess morphologic and physiologic characteristics that reflect their terrestrial lineage as members of the bear family (Ursidae) as well as adaptations to the Arctic marine environment. Among marine mammals, they are the least adapted for aquatic life. They exhibit substantial seasonality in body mass, body condition, and many physiological functions, reflecting the annual cycle of both their Arctic sea ice habitat and the availability of their main prey, ringed seals. This hypercarnivorous diet has likely influenced the polar bear’s craniodental morphology and nutritional physiology. Similar to other marine mammal predators, polar bears exhibit a relatively high resting metabolic rate (RMR) and field metabolic rate (FMR). The polar bear skeleton is well adapted for walking, rather than tree-climbing, and to a lesser degree, for swimming. The large feet provide secure traction on sea ice (aided by sharp claws) and propulsion in the water. Their reproduction, winter hibernation (by pregnant females), and sensory systems resemble those of other bears. Future research should focus on nutrient recycling during fasting, adaptation to a high-fat diet, susceptibility to pathogens, and assessment of the fitness consequences of ongoing sea ice loss and chemical contamination of their habitat.