cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Birth outcomes and maternal morbidity in abused pregnant women with public versus private health insurance

Purpose: To compare the effects of recent intimate partner abuse on maternal and infant health in publicly versus privately insured pregnant women. Design: Exploratory descriptive analysis in 13 Massachusetts prenatal care sites from records of 2,052 women who had been screened during pregnancy for domestic violence. Methods: Clinicians screened pregnant women for domestic violence using the Abuse Assessment Screen. After delivery, prenatal and birth outcome data and abuse screening results were extracted from medical records by project staff. Odds ratios were used to compare maternal and infant health indicators in abused and nonabused women. Data from women with public and private health insurance then were examined separately, using logistic regression to control for low education and single marital status while examining the odds of adverse maternal and infant outcomes in abused and nonabused women. Findings: In the sample as a whole, recently abused women were more likely to be publicly insured and unmarried, to have less than 12 years of formal education, and to have medical and obstetrical complications. Parity, ethnic background, and infant birth outcomes did not differ in relation to abuse. In separate analyses for women with public and private health insurance, after controlling for marital status and education, abuse increased the odds of low infant Apgar scores, poor nutrition, hyperemesis, hypertension, and substance abuse in publicly insured women, and abuse increased the odds of poor nutrition and bleeding during pregnancy for privately insured women. Conclusions: The different correlates of abuse in publicly and privately insured women might be important for clinicians caring for these different populations. Screening for abuse and providing abuse-related services are indicated for pregnant women.
Development of a screen to identify selective small molecules active against patient-derived metastatic and chemoresistant breast cancer cells

Introduction: High failure rates of new investigational drugs have impaired the development of breast cancer therapies. One challenge is that excellent activity in preclinical models, such as established cancer cell lines, does not always translate into improved clinical outcomes for patients. New preclinical models, which better replicate clinically-relevant attributes of cancer, such as chemoresistance, metastasis and cellular heterogeneity, may identify novel anti-cancer mechanisms and increase the success of drug development. Methods: Metastatic breast cancer cells were obtained from pleural effusions of consented patients whose disease had progressed. Normal primary human breast cells were collected from a reduction mammoplasty and immortalized with human telomerase. The patient-derived cells were characterized to determine their cellular heterogeneity and proliferation rate by flow cytometry, while dose response curves were performed for chemotherapies to assess resistance. A screen was developed to measure the differential activity of small molecules on the growth and survival of patient-derived normal breast and metastatic, chemoresistant tumor cells to identify selective anti-cancer compounds. Several hits were identified and validated in dose response assays. One compound, C-6, was further characterized for its effect on cell cycle and cell death in cancer cells. Results: Patient-derived cells were found to be more heterogeneous, with reduced proliferation rates and enhanced resistance to chemotherapy compared to established cell lines. A screen was subsequently developed that utilized both tumor and normal patient-derived cells. Several compounds were identified, which selectively targeted tumor cells, but not normal cells. Compound C-6 was found to inhibit proliferation and induce cell death in tumor cells via a caspase-independent mechanism. Conclusions: Short-term culture of patient-derived cells retained more clinically relevant features of breast cancer compared to established cell lines. The low proliferation rate and chemoresistance make patient-derived cells an excellent tool in preclinical drug development.
Relations Among Emergent Literacy Skills, Behavior Problems, and Social Competence in Preschool Children From Low- and Middle-Income Backgrounds:

Research has indicated a substantial overlap between reading disability (RD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, few studies concerning this overlap have been conducted wi...
Literary geography and the writer's country

Abstract At the turn of the century British literary historians and critics, such as Geikie, Sharp, and Thomas, studied the influence of environment on the works of novelists and poets. In particular, the concepts of literary geographers and a writer's country were developed. Earlier deterministic approaches have been modified and more recent studies by Drabble, O'Brien and Pocock have looked at the totality of influences of place on the work of various writers.
Kinetics of the viral cycle influence pharmacodynamics of antiretroviral therapy.

Background More and more antiretroviral therapies are being developed for treatment of HIV infection. The in-vivo efficacy of these drugs is commonly predicted based on in-vitro measures of antiviral effect. One primary in-vitro measure is the IC50, the amount of drug required for 50% inhibition of viral replication. We have previously shown that HIV life-cycle kinetics impact clinically observed HIV viral dynamics. Here we present a mathematical model of how they affect the pharmacodynamics of antiretroviral drugs.
An algebra for a directional binary entity-relationship model

There are many versions of Entity-Relationship (ER) Models. This paper proposes an algebra for a binary ER model with directional relationships. The proposed algebra can be used as the basis of a data manipulation language for an ER database management system.
American Geophysical Union Committee on Geomagnetic Reference Fields

In the March 1976 issue of EOS we reported on the formation of the A GU Committee on Geomagnetic Reference Fields and on our efforts to influence the decision concerning the 1975 revision of the International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF) by the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA) . Working once again with the Society of Exploration Geophysicists committee on the IGRF, we participated in the 1977 IAGA meeting on the revision of the IGRF. It was fortunate that at the same meeting, views similar to ours were presented by S. P. Srivastava of Canada and R. Whitworth of Australia. The resulting discussion and committee decision on the revision of the IGRF were indeed encouraging.
Improvement in long-term ECMO by detailed monitoring of anticoagulation: a case report

Introduction: The use of unfractionated heparin (UFH) as an anticoagulant during long-term extracorporeal support presents a unique challenge for the clinician in balancing the amount of anticoagul...
Analysis of Fentanyl and Norfentanyl in Human Plasma by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Using Electrospray Ionization

This report describes a sensitive and specific high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS) method for the detection of subnanogram concentrations of fentanyl and its metabolite norfentanyl in human plasma. The assay was based on a liquid-liquid extraction of 0.5 mL of human plasma, with a lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) of 0.05 ng/mL. Sample extracts were analyzed using a ThermoQuest TSQ MS-MS interfaced with a Hewlett-Packard series 1100 HPLC and a Phenomenex (30 x 2.00-mm, 5 microLuna C18(2)) column. The intra-assay precision and accuracy ranged from 2.1 to 12.5% for both analytes at concentrations of 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 10 ng/mL. The interassay accuracy and precision ranged from 7.34 to 10.95%.
Development of 0.45 mm thick Ultra-Thin Small Outline Package (UTSOP)

The authors developed an Ultra-Thin Small Outline Package (UTSOP) with a package thickness of 0.45 mm. In spite of the fact that it is a significant reduction relative to conventional TSOPs (1.0 mm thick), the inner leads of the lead frame can be bonded to the electrodes on the chip with gold wire as with a conventional plastic package. It is feasible since the lead that supports the chip through insulating tape (support lead) is placed on the top side of the chip. Establishing molding technology and overcoming problems such as warping of the package or chip during assembly were key points in the development of the UTSOP. The UTSOP retains the same level of reliability as a TSOP. >
Consumption Taxes, Income Taxes, and Revenue Sensitivity: States and the Great Recession

This article uses an income-distributional approach to state tax sensitivity to examine the assumption that consumption taxes are more stable than income taxes. We estimate the 2007 to 2009 change in tax revenues as a function of state income distributions and tax burdens by income class. We estimate tax burdens as a function of income tax shares and consumption tax shares. We then simulate the change in tax revenues with tax shares at the national average. If high-income-tax states were to lower their reliance on this tax, the revenue decline during the recession would have been greater. For high consumption tax states, the revenue decline under higher income tax shares would have been smaller. Had they shifted toward consumption taxes, income tax reliant states would not have reduced the cyclical sensitivity of tax revenues during the Great Recession. The interaction between tax burdens and recession shocks by income class is key to these results.
The Pharmacogenomics of Anti-Platelet Intervention (PAPI) Study: Variation in Platelet Response to Clopidogrel and Aspirin

Clopidogrel and aspirin are commonly prescribed anti-platelet medications indicated for patients who have experienced, or are at risk for, ischemic cardiovascular events. The Pharmacogenomics of Anti-Platelet Intervention (PAPI) Study was designed to characterize determinants of clopidogrel and dual anti-platelet therapy (DAPT) response in a healthy cohort of Old Order Amish from Lancaster, PA. Following a loading dose, clopidogrel was taken once a day for 7 days. One hour after the last dose of clopidogrel, 325 mg of aspirin was given. Ex vivo platelet aggregometry was performed at baseline, post-clopidogrel, and post-DAPT. Platelet aggregation measurements were significantly lower after both interventions for all agonists tested (p <0.05), although there was large inter-individual variation in the magnitude of anti-platelet response. Female sex and older age were associated with higher platelet aggregation at all three time-points. Change in aggregation was correlated among the various agonists at each time point. Heritability (h2) of change in platelet aggregation was significant for most traits at all time-points (range h2=0.14-0.57). Utilization of a standardized, short-term intervention provided a powerful approach to investigate sources of variation in platelet aggregation response due to drug therapy. Further, this short-term intervention approach may provide a useful paradigm for pharmacogenomics studies.
Black Disidentification: The 2013 Protests, Rolezinhos, and Racial Antagonism in Post-Lula Brazil:

This article explores dimensions of a foundational social antagonism that, the author claims, characterizes the Brazilian polis, by analyzing the ways in which the problem of Black presence manifes...
Psychological Factors in Civil Violence

Until recently many political scientists tended to regard violent civil conflict as a disfigurement of the body politic, neither a significant nor a proper topic for their empirical inquiries. The attitude was in part our legacy from Thomas Hobbes's contention that violence is the negation of political order, a subject fit less for study than for admonition. Moreover, neither the legalistic nor the institutional approaches that dominated traditional political science could provide much insight into group action that was regarded by definition as illegal and the antithesis of institutionalized political life.
The Rate of Oxygen Consumption by Eucelatoria sp. in Relation to Larval Development and Temperature

Oxygen consumption per milligram in the tachinid parasite, Eucelatoria sp., decreased significantly (P<0.01) throughout larval development from a maximum of 2.70 ¼l O2/mg wet weight (=ww)/h for 24 h larvae to 0.54 ¼l O2/mg ww/h for late 3rd instars. Mature, non-feeding larvae and newly formed puparia consumed significantly less oxygen per hour than larvae still feeding within the host. The rate of oxygen consumption by 3rd instars varied from a minimum of 0.26 ¼l O2/mg ww/h at 10°C to a maximum of 2.58 ¼l O2/mg ww/h at 45°C. Eucelatoria sp. has a relatively high respiratory rate compared to other parasites of comparable size.
Pose tracking without linearand angular-velocity feedback using dual quaternions

Since vision-based sensors typically cannot directly measure the relative linear and angular velocities between two spacecraft, it is useful to develop attitude- and position-tracking controllers- namely, pose-tracking controllers-that do not require such measurements. Using dual quaternions and based on an existing attitude-only tracking controller, a pose-tracking controller that does not require relative linear- or angular-velocity measurements is developed in this paper. Compared to the existing literature, this velocity-free pose-tracking controller guarantees that the pose of the chaser spacecraft will converge to the desired pose independent of the initial state, even if the reference motion is not sufficiently exciting. In addition, the convergence region does not depend on the gains chosen by the user. The velocity-free controller is verified and compared with a velocity-feedback controller through two simulations. In particular, the proposed velocity-free controller is compared qualitatively and quantitatively with a velocity-feedback controller and an extended Kalman filter using a relatively realistic satellite proximity-operation scenario.
University Library Work and Aesthetics

University library work is closely related to aesthetics. It will be of much importance if university library is aesthetically managed in terms of its image, the staff's working manner and behavior and language.
Current therapies for chronic hepatitis C. Drug combination achieves sustained response in more than half of patients.

PREVIEWChronic hepatitis C is the leading indication for liver transplantation in developed nations and will continue to pose a significant health and economic burden for the next 10 to 20 years. Fortunately, there have been considerable advances in the treatment of this disease in recent years. In this article, the authors discuss combination therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin and identify which patients may derive the most benefit from it.
Relevance of Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis to Multiple Sclerosis

What the study of EAE has taught us that has relevance to human demyelinating diseases is discussed.
Workplace Emotion and Communication: Supervisor Nonverbal Immediacy, Employees’ Emotion Experience, and Their Communication Motives

Guided by emotional response theory (ERT) and Mehrabian’s theory of nonverbal behavior, the current study examined links between supervisor nonverbal immediacy (NI), employee emotion experience, and employee motives for communicating with a supervisor. Analyses of data collected from 608 participants indicated that supervisor NI significantly predicts subordinates’ emotional experience, including emotion work and perceived emotional support. Subordinates are motivated to attain relationally oriented needs from their supervisor, rather than personal influence needs, through their satisfactory emotion experiences in the workplace. Theoretical contributions and suggestions for future research are discussed.
The double bubble.

Radiological terminology includes a number of interesting and often amusing terms intended to help us understand and remember the pathological abnormality being described. What radiological sign is illustrated in Fig. 1 and what condition does it represent?
Murine Models of Thrombosis and Hemostasis

The study of thrombosis and hemostasis has greatly benefited from the development and application of murine models. Thrombosis models have been designed for applications to venous, arterial, and microvascular blood clotting. Common vessels include the infrarenal vena cava, the carotid artery, and several microvessel sites based on thin tissue layers. Methods of analysis range from simple weight/length measurements or time for an occlusive thrombus to grow to more sophisticated intravital fluorescence imaging over time using fluorophore-labeled, thrombus-targeting molecules and cells. Hemostasis models have focused on tail resection designs, to measure the time to hemostatic achievement or collection of blood to measure total volume of blood lost. Other hemostatic models have been designed around injury/transection of the saphenous vein. These many models have been applied with high success to a large variety of transgenic and knockout mouse lines, to determine gene-specific effects on blood clotting under various conditions. Future studies will benefit from appropriate model selection, matching the specific model to the research question.
Pattern discovery in distributed databases

Most algorithms for learning and pattern discovery in data assume that all the needed data is available on one computer at a single site. This assumption does not hold in situations where a number of independent databases reside on geographically distributed nodes of a computer network. These databases cannot be moved to a single site due to size, security, privacy and data-ownership concerns but all of them together constitute the dataset in which patterns must be discovered. Some pattern discovery algorithms can be adapted to such situations and some others become inefficient or inapplicable. In this paper we show how a decision-tree induction algorithm may be adapted for distributed data situations. We also discuss some general issues relating to the adaptability of other pattern discovery algorithms to distributed data situations
Pollen-wall proteins: electron-microscopic localization of acid phosphatase in the intine of Crocus vernus.

Acid phosphatase has been localized in the wall of the pollen grain of Crocus vernus Wulf at the electron-microscope level by a method using 2-naphthyl thiol phosphate as substrate in a simultaneous coupling reaction with fast blue BBN at pH 5.0, the product being given electron opacity by osmication. Activity was found to be concentrated mainly in the intine, and to be associated with ribbon-like or filamentous inclusions believed to be proteinaceous on the basis of other criteria. Some activity was also detectable in the interstices of the exine. The observations confirm the general interpretation of the distribution of wall-held enzyme based upon light-microscopic cytochemistry, and provide the resolution necessary to establish unambiguously that they are associated with protein layers inserted during intine growth.
Arab Uprisings and New Dimensions of Refugee Crises

Recent events across the Arab world, often called the Arab Spring, Arab Revolution, or Arab Uprising, have raised serious issues for the rights, safety, and identity (RSI) of refugees in the region. While many countries in the MENA region had already hosted millions of refugees, these drastic political changes generated even more new refugees. Many refugees were displaced for a second time, becoming refugees again as they were displaced from their first country of asylum. Reasons for this secondary displacement were numerous. Some migrated at the onset of the uprisings due to lack of RSI, while others left because they found themselves caught between political factions and were unsure which side they should show allegiance to — government or protesters. This chapter considers the impacts of the Arab uprisings on the life of refugee and migrant communities in the region.
Formulation of Numerical Equations

The purpose of this paper is to develop the numerical equations for the Finite Difference Method (FDM), the Integral Finite Difference Method (IFDM) and the Finite Element Method (FEM). The numerical equations formulated will incorporate appropriate provisions for handling such special features as boundary conditions, initial conditions, heterogeneities, anisotropy, sources, time- or potential-dependent changes in parameters and so on. The next step is to describe the methods by which various differencing schemes can be employed to march in the time domain. The end-product of these efforts is an assemblage of conservation equations for each discrete subspace of the flow region of interest. If desired, these equations can be organized as a matrix of equations which can be solved by direct or iterative methods of solution.
Association of nasopharyngeal microbiota profiles with bronchiolitis severity in infants hospitalised for bronchiolitis.

Little is known about the relationship between the specific airway microbiota composition and severity of bronchiolitis. We aimed to identify nasopharyngeal microbiota profiles and link these profiles to acute severity in infants hospitalised for bronchiolitis. We conducted a multicentre prospective cohort study of 1005 infants (age i.e. admission to an intensive care unit or use of mechanical ventilation. We identified four nasopharyngeal microbiota profiles: three profiles were dominated by one of Haemophilus , Moraxella or Streptococcus, while the fourth profile had the highest bacterial richness. The rate of intensive care use was highest in infants with a Haemophilus -dominant profile and lowest in those with a Moraxella -dominant profile (20.2% versus 12.3%; unadjusted OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.07–3.11, p=0.03). After adjusting for 11 patient-level confounders, the rate remained significantly higher in infants with Haemophilus -dominant profiles (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.08–3.62, p=0.03). These findings were externally validated in a separate cohort of 307 children hospitalised for bronchiolitis.
Measured Data Rate from Adaptive Modulation in Wideband OFDM Systems

Adaptive modulation is implemented on a wideband OFDM transceiver prototype to quantify its performance in indoor wireless environment. Our measurements indicate that over a bandwidth of 100 MHz, the channel varies quite significantly. With a target uncoded bit error rate of 10 -3, it is found that at link distances of 1.0 to 10.8 meters, the data rate varies from 395 Mbps to 76 Mbps. The measured adaptive average data rate is 2.88 times the average data rate without adaptive modulation. Furthermore, the adaptive modulation is 8.9% of the entire transceiver modem which means it is of low complexity
Magnetic stability of oxygen defects on the SiO2 surface

The magnetic stability of E′ centers and the peroxy radical on the surface of α-quartz is investigated with first-principles calculations to understand their role in magnetic flux noise in superconducting qubits (SQs) and superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) fabricated on amorphous silica substrates. Paramagnetic E′ centers are common in both stoichiometric and oxygen deficient silica and quartz, and we calculate that they are more common on the surface than the bulk. However, we find the surface defects are magnetically stable in their paramagnetic ground state and thus will not contribute to 1/f noise through fluctuation at millikelvin temperatures.
COMPARISON OF A PHARMACIST-PHYSICIAN COLLABORATIVE CARE MODEL TO STANDARD CARE ON THE TIME TO REACH GOAL BLOOD PRESSURE FOR PATIENTS PRESENTING WITH URGENT HYPERTENSION

Background: Delayed intensification of blood pressure (BP) management is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Pharmacist-physician collaborative care models (PPCMs) improve BP control rates and reduce mean BP, but it is unknown if PPCMs affect time to BP goal when compared to
An Empirical Application of Goal Programming and AHP in Real Estate Assessment

The Goal Programming (GP) is one of the many models which have been developed to deal with the multiple objectives decision-making problems. This model allows taking into account, simultaneously, many objectives while the decision-maker is seeking the best solution from among a set of feasible solutions. At first, the aim of this study is to compare the objectives of the decision maker based on the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and to rank the objectives according to the AHP process and once the objectives are set then apply the GP to the facility allocation in a real estate rental property. The objective of decision maker is not only to maximize profit rather the decision maker has multiple objective to achieve. The methodology presented in this study can help the decision maker to formulate viable location strategies in the volatile and complex facility allocation environment. This is an empirical study applied to a local business developer utilizing multi objective decision analysis tools.
Brainstem dose is associated with patient-reported acute fatigue in head and neck cancer radiation therapy

Abstract Background and purpose Radiation (RT) dose to the central nervous system (CNS) has been implicated as a contributor to treatment-related fatigue in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients undergoing radiation therapy (RT). This study evaluates the association of RT dose to CNS structures with patient-reported (PRO) fatigue scores in a population of HNC patients. Materials and methods At pre-RT (baseline), 6th week of RT, and 1-month post-RT time points, Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20) scores were prospectively obtained from 124 patients undergoing definitive treatment for HNC. Medulla, pons, midbrain, total brainstem, cerebellum, posterior fossa, and pituitary dosimetry were evaluated using summary statistics and dose–volume histograms, and associations with MFI-20 scores were analyzed. Results Maximum dose (Dmax) to the brainstem and medulla was significantly associated with MFI-20 scores at 6th week of RT and 1-month post-RT time points, after controlling for baseline scores (p Conclusions In this analysis of PRO fatigue scores from a population of patients undergoing definitive RT for HNC, maximum dose to the brainstem and medulla was associated with a significantly increased risk of acute patient fatigue.
The influence of gender and cultural values on savoring in Korean undergraduates

The present study investigated antecedents of savoring beliefs and responses in a sample of South Korean college students. Historically, Korea has been strongly influenced by Chinese Confucianism, which emphasizes not only gender-role differentiation and patriarchal norms, but also the dampening of emotions as a culturally appropriate style of positive emotional regulation. We hypothesized that Korean females, relative to males, would reject traditional Asian cultural values in order to gain more empowerment, and would, as a result, report a greater capacity to savor positive experience. Confirming the hypotheses, Korean women, compared to men, reported stronger disagreement with traditional Asian values, greater overall savoring ability, greater capacity for cognitive elaboration, and less use of dampening and greater use of amplifying as savoring responses to positive events. Path analyses supported our hypothesized mediational model in which Korean women, relative to men, more strongly rejected traditional Asian values, which predicted less dampening (but only marginally greater amplifying). We conclude that among young Korean adults: (a) savoring is a relevant concept; (b) traditional Asian values tend to promote dampening of positive emotions; and (c) women more strongly reject traditional cultural values, tend to engage in less dampening and greater amplifying, and perceive greater savoring capacity, relative to men.
From Strangers in a Foreign Land to Active, Engaged Citizens.

* Abbreviation: CSHCN — : children with special health care needs Despite many successes in patient- and family-centered care, including efforts to address cultural competency, much work remains to be done to fully understand and implement effective strategies for patient engagement. The Affordable Care Act and some state legislation have mandated programs and provided incentives that promote engagement and partnerships with patients and caregivers because patient activation and engagement have been shown to improve the quality of care and lower health care costs.1 There are 3 key participants in the use, experience, and costs of health services: the provider, the payer, and the consumer. According to the tenets of health care reform, for quality to improve consumers must be empowered to make informed decisions.2 Therefore, continuing progress and establishing a practice of engagement in patient care across the nation is critical to the survival of health care reform in the United States. One way to look at this engagement is to examine individual relationships between health care teams and patients and families. In pediatrics, an informative paradigm is in the care of children with special health care needs (CSHCN), with whom the highest degree of interaction occurs. This article was jointly written by a parent of CSHCN and a primary care physician to offer a perspective on the evolution of family partnerships as parents and other caregivers gain experience working with the health care system. While pediatric health care systems transform to become more family centered, parents are often … Address correspondence to Christopher J. Stille, MD, MPH, Section of General Academic Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine/Children’s Hospital Colorado, 13123 East 16th Ave B032, Aurora, CO 80045. E-mail: christopher.stille{at}childrenscolorado.org
Time-Dependent Water Infiltration Resistance of Thin-Lift Asphalt Overlay Longitudinal Joints

AbstractIn recent years, the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT), among others, has begun considering thin-lift overlays (e.g., 2.5 cm or less) as a pavement preservation treatment; how...
POT1a depletion in the developing brain leads to p53-dependent neuronal cell death and ataxia

The processes that control genome stability are essential for the development of the Central Nervous System (CNS) and the prevention of neurological disease. Here we investigated whether activation of a DNA damage response by dysfunctional telomeres affects neurogenesis. More specifically, we analyzed ATR-dependent DNA damage response by depletion of POT1a in neural progenitors. These experiments revealed that POT1a inactivation leads to a partially penetrant lethality, and surviving mice displayed ataxia due to loss of neuronal progenitor cells, and died by three weeks of age. Inactivation of p53 was sufficient to completely suppress the lethality associated with POT1a depletion and rescued the neuronal defects characterizing POT1a depleted animals. In contrast, activation of ATM by the depletion of the shelterin protein TRF2 resulted in a fully penetrant lethality that could not be rescued by p53 inactivation (Lobanova et al.). This data reveals that activation of distinct types of DNA damage response pathway gives rise to different types of neuropathology. Moreover, our data provide an explanation for the heterogeneity of the neurological defects observed in patients affected by telomere biological disorders.
Effect of Model Spatial Resolution on Estimates of Fine Particulate Matter Exposure and Exposure Disparities in the United States

To the extent that pollution and population are spatially correlated, air quality modeling with coarse-resolution horizontal grids may systematically underpredict exposures and disparities in exposure among demographic groups (i.e., environmental injustice). We use InMAP, a reduced-complexity air pollution model, to quantify how estimates of year-2014 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure in the United States vary with model spatial resolution, for a variable-resolution grid. We test five grids, with population-weighted average grid cell edge lengths ranging from 5.9 to 69 km. We find that model-estimated PM2.5 exposure, and exposure disparities among racial-ethnic groups, are lower with coarse grids than with fine grids: switching from our coarsest- to finest-resolution grid increases the calculated population-weighted average exposure by 27% (from 6.6 to 8.3 μg m–3) and causes the estimated difference in average exposure between minorities and whites to increase substantially (from 0.4 to 1.6 μg m–3)...
Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews some reports which indicate that the MSCs directly replace dead tubular epithelial, whereas other observations suggest that MSCs regulate the endogenous reparative machinery without transdifferentiating into tubular cells overall, the emerging body of evidence describing MSC modulation of acute kidney injury (AKI) has stimulated a reappraisal of the cellular mechanisms behind renal injury and repair as well as generated considerable excitement at the prospects for novel cell therapies to treat human kidney diseases. Stem cells play fundamental roles in the self-renewal of adult tissues throughout life. Some tissues are characterized by ongoing loss of cells, including the hematopoietic system, intestine and skin, and adult stem cells are responsible for replenishing these cells to maintain tissue homeostasis. Other organs, such as kidney or lung, have a much lower rate of cellular turnover, but are capable of proliferating and repairing after an injury stimulus. Based on the high proliferative capacity of injured kidney, one longstanding model holds that tubular cells themselves are the source of nephron repair. Studies on the role of bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs) initially challenged this model of dedifferentiation followed by proliferation and redifferentiation of existing tubular cells after injury. While it has long been appreciated that bone marrow-derived inflammatory cells home to injured kidney, recent studies have suggested that BMDCs directly participate in renal injury and repair. MSCs in particular have been reported to protect against experimental renal injury as well as accelerate the repair process in rodent models.
Industrial Filtration Equipment

Filtration equipment is commercially available in a wide range. Proper selection should be based on detailed information of the slurry to be handled, cake properties, anticipated capacities, and process operating conditions. One may then select the preferred operational mode, and choose a particular system on the above considerations and economic constraints. Continuous filters are composed of essentially a large number of elemental surfaces on which different operations are performed. These operations performed in series are solids separation and cake formation, cake washing, cake dewatering and drying, cake removal, and filter media washing. The specific equipment used can be classified into two groups: stationary components, and scraping mechanisms and movable devices. Either continuous or batch filters can be employed in cake filtration. In filter medium filtration, where particulates are retained within the framework of the filter medium, batch systems are most common. Batch filters may be operated in any filtration regime, whereas continuous filters are most often operated under constant pressure. To organize a number of different types of filtration equipment, two classification schemes have evolved for continuous operations. The first scheme is based on operating pressure differentials, while the second scheme is based on the relative difference between gravity force and filtrate motion. Three orientations are possible: forces acting in opposite direction, forces acting in the same direction, and forces acting normal or perpendicular to each other. Because the influence of gravity is so important to most filtration operations, the second classification basis is used in the chapter. The operating principles and important features of filtration equipment are described in the chapter with the intent of providing the reader a background of the versatility and selection options available.
The Effect of Marriage on Stage at Diagnosis and Survival in Women with Cervical Cancer

Purpose This study assessed the effect of marital status on stage at diagnosis and survival in women with cervical cancer. Methods Cervical cancer cases diagnosed between 2000 and 2010 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program. Patient demographic and clinical characteristics were compared by marital status. Multivariate logistic and Cox proportional hazard regression models were performed to calculate odds ratios of advanced stage at diagnosis and hazard ratios of death risk respectively. Results Among 31 425 women, 46% of cases were married at the time of diagnosis. Married women were more commonly diagnosed at a localized stage (55%) compared to other non-marital groups (47% of singles, 42% of separated/divorced, and 28% of widowers, p < 0.001). After controlling for age, race/ethnicity, period of diagnosis, histology, and SEER area, single [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.41; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.33–1.49], separated/divorced [aOR 1.44; 95% CI 1.34–1.55], and widowed women [aOR 1.43; 95% CI 1.31–1.58] were all more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage compared to married women. In terms of prognosis, single (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.35; 95% CI 1.28–1.43), separated/divorced (aHR 1.22; 95% CI 1.15–1.29), and widowed women (aHR 1.28; 95% CI 1.19–1.36) had significant increased risk of death compared to married women. Adjusting for insurance status did not change the findings. Conclusion Being married is associated with earlier diagnosis and a more favorable prognosis for cervical cancer among US women. Interventions to improve prognosis for unmarried women, including increasing use of cervical cancer screenings, are warranted.
A Novel Approach to Isolation of Proteins for Microsequence Analysis: Electroblotting Onto Activated Glass

One of the major goals of modern molecular biology is to understand the structure and function of proteins and their respective genes. To that end recombinant DNA and protein chemical techniques can act in a synergistic manner. Protein sequencing can provide information with which to construct synthetic oligonucleotides for use in the isolation of genes or to confirm that the correct gene has been isolated (1,2). Alternatively protein sequence data can be used to demonstrate the in vivo expression of polypeptides, whose existence can only be predicted based on the presence of open reading frames in cloned DNA (3).
Could Fixing: Academic Advising: Fix Higher Education:

Not completely, but as the authors suggest, advising may be a very good place to start. While advising by itself certainly can't change the curriculum and co-curriculum, it can create a vital conne...
Conversion of the SCARA Robot into a Hybrid Manufacturing Workstation

Abstract Combination of two or more manufacturing processes in a single machining setup, Hybrid Manufacturing (HM), has attracted more attention in both industry and academia over the last decade. We propose the workstation design, based on recycling and reusing somewhat obsolete industrial equipment. Modification of an existing SCARA type robot into an expandable HM workstation to combine CNC machining and fused filament fabricating into a single setup is explained. The paper explains the process of conversion of the 4-axes SCARA robot and describes implementation of new motors on the existing robot construction, development of new controls by using a modern version control software architecture. The robot was programmed to run using G-code for both additive and subtractive manufacturing processes. The prototype workstation has been built and its operation was tested on a sample hybrid manufacturing task.
Vitamin B12 Deficiency in a Patient Presenting with Dyspnea: A Case Report

Introduction: Pancytopenia can be caused by underlying disorders such as certain autoimmune conditions, leukemia or even a few nutritional deficiencies such as vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 deficiency most commonly presents as megaloblastic anemia but can also be associated with pancytopenia. It can present with a range of symptoms associated with anemia and gastrointestinal or neurological systems. Understanding the etiology of the deficiency is crucial for initiating proper treatments. Case Report: A 19-year-old patient presented with complaints of dyspnea and fever, myalgia and generalized tiredness. Examinations found him to suffer pancytopenia and esophageal candidiasis caused by vitamin B12 deficiency. This deficiency can be associated to inadequate intake and the diet of the patient as a vegetarian. Parenteral B12 treatment led the patient to symptomatically improve. Conclusion: Vitamin B12 deficiency is a reversible cause of bone marrow failure and can be easily treated if diagnosed early enough. Eggs and animal-derived foods constitute the usual source of this vitamin. Vitamin B12 deficiency should therefore be of high index suspicion to a clinician if the patient presents in similar conditions with a vegetarian diet. In the event of the deficiency being caused by inadequate intake or intrinsic factor deficiency, the treatment can be started quickly leading to the dramatic improvement of the patient’s condition.
Do parties respond strategically to opinion polls? Evidence from campaign statements

Abstract This article investigates how parties respond to polling results on the campaign trail. I argue that parties use pre-election polls as mobilization and fine-tuning devices. Opinion surveys that exceed expectations can be exploited to mobilize the party base. Disappointing polls, in turn, are publicly downplayed and criticized. However, this information can be used to refine campaign strategies. Parties underperforming in the polls have incentives to emphasize their own policy positions and to attack other parties. These arguments are supported by evidence from 2140 campaign statements by Portuguese party leaders over two elections, combined with polling results. The findings suggest that parties carefully adjust their campaign rhetoric in response to public opinion signals. The study contributes to research on elite behavior and political representation. Moreover, it shows how research on campaign effects can benefit from a closer attention to the supply-side of campaigns.
The 2011 Gordon Wilson Lecture: overcoming resistance to targeted cancer drugs.

During the past decade, molecularly targeted drugs have had a transformative impact on the treatment of several cancer types. Although the clinical benefits of these drugs are impressive, their effects are generally short-lived due to the acquisition of resistance. Unlike most cytotoxic agents, for which resistance mechanisms have remained obscure despite decades of clinical use, an understanding of the molecular basis of resistance to most targeted agents has emerged quickly. This rapid progress has been possible due to advances in molecular technologies that allow genome-wide profiling of patient samples. One important and consistent theme is that resistance is almost invariably associated with restoration of the signaling pathway inhibited by the targeted agent. Here I review examples from three diseases — chronic myeloid leukemia, prostate cancer, and lung cancer — that illustrate these points and reveal how insights into resistance mechanisms can rapidly accelerate the development of second-generation targeted therapies or combination regimens to improve patient outcome.
Invasive vulvar extramammary Paget's disease in the United States.

Abstract Objective To assess the incidence, treatment, and outcomes in patients with invasive vulvar extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) in a national cohort of patients. Methods Patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database with diagnoses of vulvar EMPD from 1992 to 2016 were included. Demographic, treatment, and outcome data were analyzed. Results A total of 1268 cases of invasive EMPD were identified. Of those, 69.6% had localized disease, 12.0% regional disease, 1.3% distant disease, and 17.1% were unstaged. The annual incidence of invasive vulvar EMPD was 0.36 per 100,000 person years: rates have increased >2-fold since 1992 (1992: 0.19 per 100,000 person years to 0.50 per 100,000 person years in 2016). Most patients underwent primary surgery (n = 1034; 81.5%). Five-year cancer specific survival (CSS) was 95.5% and was associated with stage. Compared to patients with localized disease, patients with distant metastases had dramatically worse CSS (HR: 85.8 (31.8–248) p one year from year of EMPD diagnosis year). The most common synchronous breast, gastrointestinal tract, melanoma and the most common secondary cancers were breast, gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary tract. Conclusions The incidence of invasive vulvar EMPD has increased over time. CSS is excellent for localized disease, but those with metastatic disease are in need of novel therapies. Approximately 15% will develop a secondary malignancy, indicating that patients with invasive vulvar EMPD should undergo site specific preventative health screens during recurrence surveillance.
Acceptability and Barriers to HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis in Atlanta's Adolescents and Their Parents

Abstract Adolescents aged 13–24 years account for 23% of new HIV infections in Atlanta, indicating need for better HIV prevention strategies in this population. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is n...
Impact of High-Quality Goals-of-Care Discussions on Oncologist Productivity.

PURPOSE:To study factors that have an impact on the conduct of high-quality goals of care (GoC) discussions and productivity of oncologists among four different practice settings in patients with a...