cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Product Recalls in the Medical Device Industry: An Empirical Exploration of the Sources and Financial Consequences

Medical devices play an increasingly significant role in the delivery of health care today. However, persistent quality problems with medical devices and the associated recalls present potential health risks to patients and personnel using these devices. This study addresses three key issues in this regard. First, it empirically assesses the financial implications of medical device recalls to understand if these consequences are severe enough to deter firms from introducing potentially hazardous medical devices into the market, as can be inferred from the literature. Second, the study considers a cross section of medical device manufacturers to examine the effect of firm characteristics on the costs of poor quality. Third, in an attempt to explore the sources of recalls, this study investigates firm characteristics that are likely to be associated with device recalls. The econometric analyses in the study are based on data from manufacturers in the medical device industry over a four-year period (2002--2005). Contrary to our expectations, the findings of the study indicate that at an aggregate level, the market penalties for medical device recalls are not significant, i.e., at the aggregate level, the costs of poor quality are not severe. Furthermore, we find that the magnitude of financial consequences of device recalls is affected by the product scope, sales, growth prospects, and the capital structure of a firm. In our analyses exploring the sources of device recalls, we find that firms with a research and development focus, developing broader product portfolios, have a higher likelihood of device recalls. Also, we find that the likelihood of recalls decreases with prior recall experience, indicating the presence of learning. Implications of the study findings, limitations, and directions for future research are identified. This paper was accepted by Sampath Rajagopalan, operations and supply chain management.
A comparison of holistic versus decomposed rating of Position Analysis Questionnaire work dimensions.

Recent studies have attempted to reduce the cost and intrusiveness of the Position Analysis Questionnaire (PAQ) by limiting the amount of information provided to the analyst, with consistently negative results. We examined an alternative technique for improving the cost-effectiveness of the PAQ that avoids the need to rate the hundreds of items that constitute the instrument. Three groups of raters (professional job analysts, graduate students in industrial psychology who were familiar with the PAQ, and PAQ-unfamiliar undergraduates) made direct holistic ratings of the PAQ dimensions for four familiar jobs. The holistic ratings were compared with decomposed PAQ dimension profiles obtained from the item-level ratings of the professional analysts. Cronbach accuracy analyses indicated near-zero convergence between the holistic and decomposed dimension ratings, even for the professional PAQ job analysts. We conclude that holistic rating of dimensions is not an effective means of reducing the cost of a PAQ job analyses and that it is likely to be similarly ineffective with task- or ability-based instruments.
Digital holography of second harmonic signal

We report holographic recording of second harmonic radiations emitted from nanocrystals under femtosecond laser excitation. Our results show great promise of this novel technique to provide four-dimensional images for highly dynamic micro- and nano-systems.
Responses of Small Mammals and Vegetation to a Prescribed Burn in a Tallgrass Blackland Prairie

Abstract This study investigated effects of a prescribed burn on the small mammal community and vegetative cover in a tallgrass prairie remnant in east central Texas. Small mammals were live-trapped 8 mo before and 8 mo after a prescribed burn. Vegetation sampling confirmed drastic reduction of cover after fire in the grassland sections of the prairie. Relative abundances (captures/100 trapnights) of pygmy mice (Baiomys taylori) and cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) significantly decreased after the fire, whereas deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) significantly increased following fire. Cotton rat and pygmy mouse abundances were positively correlated with grassy litter and negatively correlated with bare ground, whereas deer mouse abundance was positively correlated with bare ground. Relative abundances of B. taylori, S. hispidus and P. maniculatus in burned sections returned to preburn levels in 8 mo. Hispid pocket mice (Chaetodipus hispidus) were not captured until after the prescribed burn. This is the f...
Effect of sodium perturbations on rat chemoreceptor spike generation: implications for a Poisson model.

The sensitivity of arterial chemoreceptor spike generation to reductions in excitability was examined using rat chemoreceptors in vitro. Axonal excitability was reduced by reducing extracellular sodium concentration ([Na+]o) by 10-40 % or by applying low doses of tetrodotoxin (TTX). In normoxia and in hypoxia, an isosmotic reduction in [Na+]o caused a proportional decrease in single-fibre, spiking nerve activity. For a 20 % reduction in [Na+]o, nerve activity decreased to 54 ± 7 % of control in normoxia and 41 ± 5 % in hypoxia. Low doses of TTX (25-50 nM) caused a similar decrease in spiking frequency, but this response was variable amongst fibres, with some fibres unaffected by TTX. A reduction in [Na+]o by 20 % caused a slowing of conduction velocity, measured using an electrical stimulus delivered to an electrode placed in the carotid body. Threshold current for spike generation was increased by about 2·7 ± 1·4 %. Threshold current increased by 6·5 ± 3·7 % following a 40 % reduction in [Na+]o. The spike generation process was modelled as a Poisson process in which depolarizing events summate and give rise to an action potential. The experimental data were best fitted to a high order process characterized by a large number of events and high event threshold. This result is not consistent with depolarization events caused by episodic transmitter release, but suggests that afferent spike generation is an endogenous process in the afferent nerve fibres, perhaps linked to random channel activity or to thermal noise fluctuations.
The chaotic world of the nursing program director.

Aim: The environment of the nursing program dean or director within a community college or state university can be politically, fiscally, and emotionally challenging. There are few studies that investigate that environment. The purpose of this study was to describe the major barriers and incentives facing these nursing deans or directors as they implemented their proposed interventions related to the Central Valley Nursing Diversity Project. Additionally, we sought to identify successful strategies used to keep the programs competitive for resources and status within their institutions and within their local communities. Methodology: The study is descriptive; the data collection method was structured interviews and data were analyzed using content analysis. Findings: Findings indicate that among the most difficult barriers faced by the directors and the faculty was the over subscribed status (more applicants than positions) of the programs. The deans or directors described three significant points that acted as barriers. These were 1) limited space in science laboratory pre-requisite courses, 2) limited classroom space in nursing courses, and 3) limited space in clinical (hospital) sites. The largest single external pressure reported was the reduction in funding and all deans or directors indicated they had difficulty hiring qualified or credentialed faculty. Conclusion: Colleges must manage more effectively student demand by modifying admissions criteria to be more selective and admit students with greater likelihood of graduating; encourage innovative partnerships between employers and schools of nursing; and increasing funding for nursing faculty salaries, classrooms, and laboratories.
Stably folded de novo proteins from a designed combinatorial library

Binary patterning of polar and nonpolar amino acids has been used as the key design feature for constructing large combinatorial libraries of de novo proteins. Each position in a binary patterned sequence is designed explicitly to be either polar or nonpolar; however, the precise identities of these amino acids are varied extensively. The combinatorial underpinnings of the “binary code” strategy preclude explicit design of particular side chains at specified positions. Therefore, packing interactions cannot be specified a priori. To assess whether the binary code strategy can nonetheless produce well-folded de novo proteins, we constructed a second-generation library based upon a new structural scaffold designed to fold into 102-residue four-helix bundles. Characterization of five proteins chosen arbitrarily from this new library revealed that (1) all are α-helical and quite stable; (2) four of the five contain an abundance of tertiary interactions indicative of well-ordered structures; and (3) one protein forms a well-folded structure with native-like features. The proteins from this new 102-residue library are substantially more stable and dramatically more native-like than those from an earlier binary patterned library of 74-residue sequences. These findings demonstrate that chain length is a crucial determinant of structural order in libraries of de novo four-helix bundles. Moreover, these results show that the binary code strategy—if applied to an appropriately designed structural scaffold—can generate large collections of stably folded and/or native-like proteins.
Role of Calpain-10 Gene Variants in Familial Type 2 Diabetes in Caucasians

The calpain-10 gene (CAPN10) has been implicated in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) susceptibility by both linkage and association in a Hispanic population from Starr County Texas. Common intronic variants seem to alter CAPN10 mRNA levels and were associated with insulin resistance but not diabetes in Pima Indians. The role of these variants in Caucasian populations is less clear. We found some evidence for linkage of T2DM to chromosome 2q approximately 20 cM proximal to the NIDDM1/CAPN10 locus. To test the hypothesis that CAPN10 is a diabetes susceptibility locus in Caucasian families at high risk for T2DM, we examined the influence of the three previously implicated CAPN10 variants on both diabetes risk and measures of insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis. We genotyped approximately 700 members of 63 families for 3 variants (SNP-43, SNP-19, and SNP-63). We tested each variant separately and as haplotype combinations for altered transmission from parents to affected children (transmission disequilibrium test), and we tested for an effect of each variant individually on measures of glucose and insulin during a glucose tolerance test in nondiabetic family members. Finally, we looked for an effect of each variant on measures of insulin sensitivity (SI) and insulin secretion estimated by frequently sampled iv glucose tolerance test and Minimal Model analysis. We could not confirm an increase in risk for T2DM susceptibility for any variant or for any haplotype combination, although we found marginal evidence for an increased risk of the 111/221 haplotype combination (P 0.036) after ascertainment correction. However, both SNP-19 and SNP-63 increased fasting and/or postchallenge insulin levels, consistent with reduced insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, SNP-19 had modest effects on insulin sensitivity measured by homeostatic model, and on postchallenge glucose. The reduction in insulin sensitivity was confirmed by analysis of the subset of individuals who underwent iv glucose tolerance tests, where SNP-19 significantly altered the insulin sensitivity index. CAPN10 cannot be considered a major diabetes susceptibility gene in our population and seems unlikely to explain the observed linkage findings. However, CAPN10 influences insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis in nondiabetic members of kindreds at high risk for T2DM. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 87: 650 – 654, 2002)
Poly(ethylenimine)-mediated transfection: a new paradigm for gene delivery.

Poly(ethylenimine) (PEI) is a synthetic polycation that has been used successfully for gene delivery both in vitro and in vivo due, in theory, to a form of protection that is afforded to the carried plasmids. In this study the stability of PEI/DNA complexes was demonstrated using deoxyribonuclease (DNase) 1 and DNase 2, various levels of pH, and increasing exposure times. DNA that was complexed with PEI was not degraded when exposed to at least 25 Units of either enzyme for 24 h while uncomplexed forms of the same plasmid were digested when exposed to 0.010 Units of DNase 1 for 0.05 h or 0. 003 Units of DNase 2 for 1 h. For further comparison, the stability of complexes made with poly(L-lysine) (PLL) and DNA was examined and found to be lower than that of PEI/DNA complexes; PLL-complexed DNA was digested on exposure to 1.25 Units of DNase 1 for 3 min. Cells were transfected with PEI/DNA complexes and, by using a pH indicator and optical recording techniques, it was found that the normal lysosomal pH value of 5.0 was not altered, bringing into question PEI's hypothesized lysosomal entry. Confocal microscopy showed that PEI/DNA complexes and lysosomes do not merge during transfection (although PLL/DNA complexes do). The lack of lysosomal involvement in PEI-mediated transfection is surprising because it goes against the conventional wisdom that has attempted to explain how PEI functions during transfection. PEI forms a stable complex with DNA, which moves from endocytosis to nuclear entry without significant cellular obstacles.
A STUDY OF HUMAN SKIN GRAFTED UPON THE CHORIO-ALLANTOIS OF CHICK EMBRYOS

Human skin grafted upon the chorio-allantoic membrane of chick embryos adheres and becomes nourished for as long as 10 days. Occasionally regrafts upon a second egg have succeeded and thus prolonged the vitality of the graft to 14 days. In successful experiments the epithelium of the chorio-allantois fuses with that of the graft, the collagen fibers of the corium interlace with those of the membrane after the separation or disappearance of the ectodermal layer, and the blood vessels of the chick anastomose, and unite by intervening pools of extravasated blood, with those of the graft. This vascular communication between the two tissues is largely responsible for the nourishment of the graft by affording a plasmatic circulation. Gradually there is a partial revascularization of the graft by an ingrowth of blood vessels from the chick membrane. Human skin grafts were susceptible to experimental infection by several viruses.
Declarative Memory and Motor Learning in the Older Adult

The degree to which declarative memory influences the ability to learn a functional motor task is relevant to clinicians working with older adults. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between performance on a memory assessment tool and performance of a novel motor task following a single session of directed practice. Thirty community-dwelling older adults (11 males and 19 females) were tested for declarative memory function using the Wechsler Memory Scale III. Subjects were instructed in a specific procedure for using a walker to transfer into the passenger side of an automobile, and scored on their ability to perform that same task 48 hours after instruction. Scores achieved on the memory tests were compared to scores obtained by performance of that novel motor task. The data were analyzed using correlational and multiple regression techniques, and revealed a moderate relationship between performance on some but not all of the declarative memory tests and retention of the ability to...
Response of reptile and amphibian communities to canopy gaps created by wind disturbance in the southern Appalachians

Reptile and amphibian communities were sampled in intact gaps created by wind disturbance, salvage-logged gaps, and closed canopy mature forest (controls). Sampling was conducted during June-October in 1997 and 1998 using drift fences with pitfall and funnel traps. Basal area of live trees, shade, leaf litter coverage, and litter depth was highest in controls and lowest in salvaged gaps. Percent cover, length, and diameter of coarse woody debris (CWD) were significantly greater in intact gaps than in salvaged gaps or controls. Coarse woody debris was more decayed and had less bark in controls than gaps. The relative abundance of salamanders and American toads, and species richness and diversity of amphibians did not differ among treatments. In contrast, relative abundance of two lizard species and (marginally) snakes, and species richness and diversity of reptiles was higher in both gap treatments than in controls. Results suggest that higher light in gaps positively influenced reptile abundance, but CWD at the tested levels was not an important determinant of habitat quality. The presence of a partial canopy and other forest features in both gap treatments may have adequately retained the microclimatic conditions required by moisture-sensitive amphibians. Xeric study sites and an associated assemblage of species that are pre-adapted to relatively warm, dry conditions also might partially explain the absence of any significant response by amphibians. In the closed canopy forests of the southern Appalachians, I suggest that salamanders were historically dominant, whereas many reptile species occurred at low densities and depended upon infrequent natural disturbance to create ephemeral patches of suitable habitat. Further study is required to determine what parameters of disturbance influence reptile and amphibian communities, and how these effects might differ along a moisture gradient and among species. 0 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Geographic Variation and Taxonomy of Peromyscus boylii from Mexico and the Southern United States

Both nongeographic and geographic variation was assessed among populations of Peromyscus boylii from northern Mexico and the southern United States. Geographic variation was analyzed using a numerical phyletic approach developed by Eades (1970). Analysis of morphological features of the skin, skull, and molars reveals that Peromyscus attwateri is a separate species from the other taxa of the boylii complex. Morphologic characteristics presented herein parallel cytological differences reported by Lee et al. (1972).
Lightning Ground Flash Density in the Contiguous United States-1989

Abstract Cloud-to-ground lightning data for the years 1992–95 have been analyzed for geographical distribution of total flashes, positive flashes, and the percentage of flashes that lower positive charge to ground. In the contiguous United States the measured total cloud-to-ground lightning flash counts were 16.3 million (1992), 24.2 million (in both 1993 and 1994), and 22.3 million in 1995. The maximum flash densities occurred in Florida in 1992 (9–11 flashes per square kilometer) and in the Midwest in 1993 (11–13 flashes per square kilometer), coinciding with the storms and floods that dominated the summer of 1993 in the Midwest. In 1994, the area of maximum flash density was again in Florida (11–13 flashes per square kilometer). In 1995, the flash density maxima (9–11 km−2) were in southern Louisiana and near the Kentucky–Illinois border. Positive flash densities had maxima in the Midwest in all four years with values of 0.4 (1992), 1.0 (1993), 0.7 (1994), and 1.8 flashes per square kilometer (1995). T...
Evaluating the capability and performance of access control policy verification tools

Access control has been used in many systems such as military systems and business information systems. Access control protects sensitive information based on access control policies. Thus, assuring the correctness of policies is important. For this purpose, many access control policy verification (ACPV) tools have been proposed to check the correctness of policies. Since these tools have been designed by different mechanisms, they have different capabilities and performances. However, there lacks a set of standard approaches for evaluating them. Consequently, it is difficult for users to identify an appropriate tool for verifying their security policies. In this paper, we make an initial step towards building standard approaches for evaluating the capability and performance of ACPV tools. Specifically, we propose a set of reference metrics for analytically evaluating, as well as sets of oracles and test cases for empirically checking the run-time capability and performance of ACPV tools. To demonstrate, we apply these metrics, oracles and test cases on existing ACPV tools.
State-space Modeling of Large Domain Wave Propagation Systems by Partitioned C-matrices

Reduced-order models represent an enabling technology in the representation of large-scale dynamic systems. This technology often involves identification of linear state-space models with system matrix A, input matrix B, and output matrix C. Our focus is partitioned C-matrices that facilitate creation of reduced-order discrete-time state-space models appropriate for simulation of large-output wave propagation systems. The C y-partition method, used to generate the partitioned C-matrices, is suitable when the output dimension is orders of magnitude higher than the number of discrete time samples specifying the time duration of interest. The resulting state-space model is characterized by a relatively small C-matrix component relating a small number of “anchored” or basis outputs to the inputs, and a large C-matrix component relating all remaining outputs to the anchored outputs. The partitioned C-matrix and the associated A, B matrices can be identified from input-output data directly using time-domain signals, without the necessity of identifying or computing transfer functions. The resulting models can be used for accurate and rapid prediction of wave-field responses. The theory is general for modeling short-duration dynamics and the applications include modeling of vibrations propagating through a large flexible structure (for damage assessment for example).
Bandgap engineering of single layer graphene by randomly distributed nanoparticles

In this paper, we have proposed and experimentally demonstrated engineering the bandgap of semi-metal zero bandgap single layer chemical vapor deposited graphene by decorating with randomly distributed nanoparticles. Decoration with two types of nanoparticles was investigated: zinc oxide nano-seed grown by sonication of zinc acetate dihydrate, and gold nanoparticles grown by thermal annealing of sputtered gold thin film. The proximity of nanoparticles and graphene break graphene’s sublattice symmetry and opens-up a bandgap. The grown nanoparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The single layer graphene before and after decoration was characterized with Raman spectroscopy. The bandgap was engineered by simply adjusting the nanoparticle size and density, and the introduced bandgap was measured from the slope of temperature dependent conductivity characteristics. Graphene with significant bandgap introduced by the proposed methods could be used for devices intended for high speed digital and logic applications.
Intramedullary Disease of the Spine: Diagnosis Using Gadolinium-DTPA-Enhanced MR Imaging

Twenty-six patients with suspected lesions of the spinal cord were studied before and after administration of gadolinium-DTPA to assess whether contrast enhancement was useful in the MR evaluation of intramedullary disease. Nine patients had primary tumors, six had benign syringes, three had multiple sclerosis with cord involvement, three had thrombosed vascular malformations, three had probable intramedullary metastasis, and two were normal. Although all lesions were detected on noncontrast MR scans, gadolinium-DTPA was of great help in their delineation and characterization. Specifically, contrast material may be able (1) to localize tumor nidus and separate it from edema, in cases of hemangioblastomas and metastases; (2) to suggest regions of more active tumors, in cases of glioma, for surgical biopsy or removal; (3) to differentiate benign or reactive processes from neoplastic lesions, such as reactive cyst from tumor cyst or hematoma due to thrombosed malformation from tumor hemorrhage; and (4) possibly to differentiate active from inactive lesions, for example, in multiple sclerosis. Because of these advantages, gadolinium-DTPA probably will often be used routinely when intramedullary lesions are detected on noncontrast MR scans.
Psychological and Physical Health in Family Caregivers of Intensive Care Unit Survivors: Current Knowledge and Future Research Strategies

Purpose: This article provides an overview of current knowledge on the impact of caregiving on the psychological and physical health of family caregivers of intensive care unit (ICU) survivors and suggestions for future research. Methods: Review of selected papers published in English between January 2000 and October 2015 reporting psychological and physical health outcomes in family caregivers of ICU survivors. Results: In family caregivers of ICU survivors followed up to five years after patients’ discharge from an ICU, psychological symptoms, manifested as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, were highly prevalent. Poor self-care, sleep disturbances and fatigue were identified as common physical health problems in family caregivers. Studies to date are mainly descriptive; few interventions have targeted family caregivers. Further, studies that elicit unique needs of families from diverse cultures are lacking. Conclusion: Studies to date have described the impact of caregiving on the psychological and physical health in family caregivers of ICU survivors. Few studies have tested interventions to support unique needs in this population. Therefore, evidence for best strategies is lacking. Future research is needed to identify ICU caregivers at greatest risk for distress, time points to target interventions with maximal efficacy, needs of those from diverse cultures and test interventions to mitigate family caregivers’ burden.
Juvenile Delinquency and Self‐Sentiments: Exploring a Labeling Theory Proposition*

Objective According to labeling theory, an official deviance label promotes the development of deviant self-meanings. Despite the centrality of this hypothesis to the theory, most tests of the hypothesis on juveniles are decades old, fail to control for deviant behavior, and focus only on self-evaluation, neglecting two of the three dimensions of self-meaning: self-potency and self-activity. Therefore, our objective is to explore this hypothesis in a way that addresses these weaknesses. Method We test the hypothesis by examining the relationship between a delinquency adjudication and all three dimensions of self-meaning while controlling for recent deviant behavior. Our data come from two samples of college students and one sample of youths in an after-care program for youths who have been adjudicated delinquent. Results In line with expectations, a delinquency adjudication is linked with lower self-evaluation and higher self-potency. But, contrary to expectations, it is associated with higher feelings of activity. Conclusion The findings are consistent with the labeling theory proposition that an official deviance label promotes the development of deviant self-meanings. We discuss the theoretical and policy implications of these findings and outline avenues for future research.
Building preservation awareness

Descritpion d'une methode de mise a disposition du materiel d'une bibliotheque aux Etats Unis, de facon a ce que le materiel et les locaux soient respectes par les eleves. Pendant une semaine, une sensibilisation a ete faite aupres des eleves pour leur montrer l'action de l'unite de preservation (Unit Preservation) a la Virginia Tech Library et ceci a ete tres positif
Salinity and Temperature Tolerance of the Nemertean Worm Carcinonemertes errans, an Egg Predator of the Dungeness Crab

Estuaries can be harsh habitats for the marine animals that enter them, but they may also provide these species with sub-saline refuges from their parasites. The nemertean egg predator Carcinonemertes errans is known to occur less frequently and in smaller numbers on its host, the Dungeness crab Metacarcinus magister, when the hosts are found within estuaries. We examined the temperature and salinity tolerances of C. errans to determine if this observed distribution represents a true salinity refuge. We monitored the survival of juvenile and larval worms exposed to ecologically relevant salinities (5-30) and temperatures (8-20 °C) over the course of several days under laboratory conditions. Juvenile worms were unaffected by the experimental temperature levels and exhibited robustness to salinity treatments 25 and 30. However, significant mortality was seen at salinity treatments 20 and below. Larvae were less tolerant than juveniles to lowered salinity and were also somewhat more susceptible to the higher temperatures tested. Given that the Dungeness crab can tolerate forays into mesohaline (salinity 5-18) waters for several days at a time, our findings suggest that salinity gradients play an important role in creating a parasite refuge for this species within the estuaries of the Pacific Northwest.
Street Gang Definitions Across Two US Cities: Eurogang Criteria, Group Identity Characteristics, and Peer Group Involvement in Crime

Given the relatively recent adoption of the Eurogang consensus-based definition of street gangs by many academics, the current study seeks to add to the nascent body of research describing the results of this definitional approach by examining the characteristics of youth who meet the Eurogang criteria and those who do not across a sample of street-oriented delinquent youth in two East Coast cities in the United States. The study’s methodological framework—using a community-recruited sample to study the personal networks of street gang members in two cities—provides a unique opportunity to examine aspects of the Eurogang definition. The study examines whether there are particular gang processes and gang embeddedness characteristics that distinguish youth who meet the “illegal group identity” criteria of the Eurogang definition from those who do not. In multivariate analyses, youth reporting that they claim a territory have greater odds of meeting the illegal gang identity criteria; however, there are a number of youth who do not meet these criteria, yet belong to groups that claim territory. The implications of these findings for research and practice are discussed.
Use of maternal health services: comparing refugee, immigrant and US-born populations.

Objectives To determine use of recommended maternal healthcare services among refugee and immigrant women in a setting of near-universal insurance coverage. Methods Refugee women age ≥18 years, who arrived in the US from 2001 to 2013 and received care at the same Massachusetts community health center, were matched by age, gender, and date of care initiation to Spanish-speaking immigrants and US-born controls. The primary outcome was initiation of obstetrical care within the first trimester (12 weeks gestation). Secondary outcomes were number of obstetrical visits and attending a postpartum visit. Results We included 375 women with 763 pregnancies (women/pregnancies: 53/116 refugee, 186/368 immigrant, 136/279 control). More refugees (20.6 %) and immigrants (15.0 %) had their first obstetric visit after 12 weeks gestation than controls (6.0 %, p < 0.001). In logistic regression models adjusted for age, education, insurance, BMI, and median census tract household income, both refugee (odds ratio [OR] 4.58, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.73–12.13) and immigrant (OR 2.21, 95 % CI 1.00–4.84) women had delayed prenatal care initiation. Refugees had fewer prenatal visits than controls (median 12 vs. 14, p < 0.001). Refugees (73.3 %) and immigrant (78.3 %) women were more likely to have postpartum care (controls 54.8 %, p < 0.001) with differences persisting after adjustment (refugee [OR 2.00, 95 % CI 1.04–3.83] and immigrant [OR 2.79, 95 % CI 1.72–4.53]). Conclusions for Practice Refugee and immigrant women had increased risk for delayed initiation of prenatal care, but greater use of postpartum visits. Targeted outreach may be needed to improve use of beneficial care.
Content and Temporal Order Memory for Performed Activities in Parkinson's Disease.

OBJECTIVE This study examined content and temporal order memory for subject-performed activities in an incidental learning condition in cognitively healthy individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) (N = 20) and controls (N = 20). METHOD Participant's free recall of activities provided a measure of content memory. Temporal order memory was assessed with a reconstruction task of activities. Self- and informant-reports of everyday memory were used to examine the relationship between everyday memory, and content and temporal order memory. RESULTS Individuals with PD recalled fewer activities although recognition memory was intact. Temporal order memory was also impaired for individuals with PD. For the PD group, both self- and informant-reports of changes in current memory abilities were strongly associated with temporal order memory but not content memory for activities. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that there is a strong link between everyday memory abilities and temporal order memory for activities, and support the need for additional study of temporal order memory abilities in PD.
An EMI estimation for shielding edge treaments on a printed circuit board

Various PCB edge treatments including via stitching and edge plating connecting ground planes can be employed to suppress the EMI from multilayer printed circuit boards. The shielding performance of these edge treatments is studied in this work. Design curves and an empirical equation are given based on parametric study to summarize the variation of the total radiated power (TRP) as a function of slot length (spacing between vias) and number of openings. Comparisons between measurements and simulation suitably agree within engineering accuracy.
Motherhood and infant contact regulate neuroplasticity in the serotonergic midbrain dorsal raphe

The adult brain shows remarkable neuroplasticity in response to hormones and the socioemotional modifications that they influence. In females with reproductive and maternal experience, this neuroplasticity includes the birth and death of cells in several forebrain regions involved in maternal caregiving and postpartum affective state. Such plasticity in midbrain sites critical for these behavioral and emotional processes has never been examined, though. By visualizing bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) to label mitotic cells, NeuroD for neuronal precursors, and TUNEL to identify dying cells, we found that the midbrain dorsal raphe nucleus (DR, the source of most ascending serotoninergic projections) exhibited significant neuroplasticity in response to motherhood. Specifically, BrdU analyses revealed that DR newborn cell survival (but not proliferation) was regulated by reproductive state, such that cells born early postpartum were less likely to survive 12 days to reach the late postpartum period compared to cells born during late pregnancy that survived 12 days to reach the early postpartum period. Many of the surviving cells in the DR were NeuN immunoreactive, suggesting a neuronal phenotype. Consistent with these findings, late postpartum rats had fewer NeuroD-immunoreactive DR cells than early postpartum rats. Maternal experience contributed to the late postpartum reduction in DR newborn cell survival because removing the litter at parturition increased cell survival as well as reduced cell death. Unlike cytogenesis in the maternal hippocampus, which is reduced by circulating glucocorticoids, DR newborn cell survival was unaffected by postpartum adrenalectomy. These effects of reproductive state and motherhood on DR plasticity were associated with concurrent changes in DR levels of serotonin's precursor, 5-HTP, and its metabolite, 5-HIAA. Our results demonstrate for the first time that cytogenesis occurs in the midbrain DR of any adult mammal, that DR plasticity is influenced by female reproductive state and maternal experience, and that this plasticity is accompanied by changes in DR serotonergic function. Because serotonin is critical for postpartum caregiving behaviors and maternal affective state, plasticity in the DR may contribute to the neurochemical changes necessary for successful motherhood.
Dynamic Cage Survey

A $(k, g)$-cage is a $k$-regular graph of girth $g$ of minimum order. In this survey, we present the results of over 50 years of searches for cages. We present the important theorems, list all the known cages, compile tables of current record holders, and describe in some detail most of the relevant constructions.
Perceived Needs of Therapeutic Service Providers in Their Work with Families in the Child Welfare System

Each year approximately half a million children are identified as victims of abuse or neglect in the United States. Referrals to therapeutic service providers are a primary means to help alleviate risks leading to child maltreatment and promote child and family well-being, yet it is not clear how well therapeutic service providers are prepared to meet the specialized needs of a child welfare client population and/or navigate the contextual characteristics of child welfare practice. The purpose of this study was to assess the gaps in knowledge and skill among therapeutic service providers working in this specific service setting. Five focus groups were conducted with 40 current therapeutic service providers working with clients involved with state child protective services. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis methods. Fifteen themes emerged and were organized into three primary categories of needed knowledge and skill development: (1) cross-system, (2) therapeutic, and (3) functional. Implications for training and practice are discussed, as well as directions for future research.
Translating Prevention Research for Evidence-Based Policymaking: Results from the Research-to-Policy Collaboration Pilot.

The importance of basing public policy on sound scientific evidence is increasingly being recognized, yet many barriers continue to slow the translation of prevention research into legislative action. This work reports on the feasibility of a model for overcoming these barriers—known as the Research-to-Policy Collaboration (RPC). The RPC employs strategic legislative needs assessments and a rapid response researcher network to accelerate the translation of research findings into usable knowledge for policymakers. Evaluation findings revealed that this model can successfully mobilize prevention scientists, engage legislative offices, connect policymakers and experts in prevention, and elicit congressional requests for evidence on effective prevention strategies. On average, the RPC model costs $3510 to implement per legislative office. The RPC can elicit requests for evidence at an average cost of $444 per request. The implications of this work, opportunities for optimizing project elements, and plans for future work are discussed. Ultimately, this project signals that the use of scientific knowledge of prevention in policymaking can be greatly augmented through strategic investment in translational efforts.
A technical analysis of scaling in rehabilitation team talk

Abstract Based on an analysis of audiovisual data from multidisciplinary rehabilitation team meetings in Japan, this paper investigates how Japanese rehabilitation team members collaboratively negotiate decisions about dietary prescriptions when treating stroke patients suffering from dysphagia (difficulty swallowing). Dysphagia can be scaled by the level of patients’ swallowing capacity; the lower the level, the more elaborate food modification is required. The paper first conducts componential analysis to uncover semantic relations among a set of dysphagia diets. Next, the paper draws on occasioned semantics to systematically illustrate how such relations are realized in actual interactive talk. Analysis shows that members utilize the pre-existing semantic structures of dysphagia diets as the basis for achieving various interactional activities, such as categorizing types of food, achieving rhetorical effects, and evaluating the level of dysphagia. Moreover, analysis reveals that the use of scaling diagrams is helpful in illustrating scalar relations co-constructed in actual conversation and understanding the mechanism of regrading (up/downgrading) phenomena. The paper integrates ethnographic information regarding the use of dysphagia diets into the analysis of formulation practices in decision-making activities. In so doing, the paper explores the interplay between a culturally shared, scaled semantic system and the emergent structure of meaning in medical team talk.
Immunophenotyping: Application to Safety Assessment:

A continuing education course entitled "What You Always Wanted to Know About Immunotoxicology in Pharmaceutical Development…But Were Afraid to Ask" was offered at the Society of Toxicologic Pathology (STP) 36th annual symposium in Montreal. This article summarizes some key points made during the presentation dedicated to immunophenotyping. It describes how clusters of differentiation (CDs) are well-defined antigens used to characterize cell subsets, and how lymphocyte subsets in humans and different rodent and nonrodent species can be defined by detection of various combinations of CDs. It provides an overview of immunophenotyping study design considerations and applications to safety assessment.
P21 Activated Kinase Signaling in Cancer

The p21 Activated Kinases (PAKs) are a family of serine threonine kinases, that consist of 6 members, PAKs 1-6, which are positioned at an intersection of multiple signaling pathways implicated in oncogenesis. The PAKs were originally identified as protein kinases that function downstream of the Ras related Rho GTPases Cdc42 and Rac. PAK1 and PAK4, which belong to Group I and Group II PAKs, respectively, are most often associated with tumorigenesis. On account of their well characterized roles in cancer, several small molecule inhibitors are being developed to inhibit the PAKs, and there is interest in investigating their efficacy as either first line or adjuvant treatments for cancer. Studies to delineate PAK regulated signaling pathways as well as the long term effects of PAK overexpression on gene expression are beginning to shed light on the mechanism by which PAK proteins may lead to cancer when they are overexpressed or activated. This review will describe the association between PAK expression in cancer, with a focus on PAK1 and PAK4, which are most often associated with the disease. The current understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which the PAKs operate in cancer will be discussed. We will also review some of the potential drug candidates, and discuss which of them are currently being tested for their efficacy in cancer treatments.
Mapping the neuroanatomic substrates of cognition in familial attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Background While the neuroanatomic substrates of symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been investigated, less is known about the neuroanatomic correlates of cognitive abilities pertinent to the disorder, particularly in adults. Here we define the neuroanatomic correlates of key cognitive abilities and determine if there are associations with histories of psychostimulant medication. Methods We acquired neuroanatomic magnetic resonance imaging data from 264 members of 60 families (mean age 29.5; s.d. 18.4, 116 with ADHD). Using linear mixed model regression, we tested for associations between cognitive abilities (working memory, information processing, intelligence, and attention), symptoms and both cortical and subcortical volumes. Results Symptom severity was associated with spatial working memory (t = -3.77, p = 0.0002), processing speed (t = -2.95, p = 0.004) and a measure of impulsive responding (t = 2.19, p = 0.03); these associations did not vary with age (all p g 0.1). Neuroanatomic associations of cognition varied by task but centered on prefrontal, lateral parietal and temporal cortical regions, the thalamus and putamen. The neuroanatomic correlates of ADHD symptoms overlapped significantly with those of working memory (Dice's overlap coefficient: spatial, p = 0.003; verbal, p = 0.001) and information processing (p = 0.02). Psychostimulant medication history was associated with neither cognitive skills nor with a brain-cognition relationships. Conclusions Diagnostic differences in the cognitive profile of ADHD does not vary significantly with age; nor were cognitive differences associated with psychostimulant medication history. The neuroanatomic substrates of working memory and information overlapped with those for symptoms within these extended families, consistent with a pathophysiological role for these cognitive skills in familial ADHD.
Three-Dimensional Reconstructions of Organelles and Cellular Processes

In the field of structural biology, the size of a structure often dictates the approach that must be used to study it. This is true for the three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction studies described in this chapter, which include the cilium, the kinetochore, sites of vertebrate calcification, the dendrite, the Golgi apparatus, patch-clamped membranes, and puff ball spores. All of these structures, as well as most of those discussed in Chapter 14, have diameters or thicknesses ranging from about 0.1 to 5.0 microns. The methodology used to compute these 3D reconstructions is quite different from the one used for the smaller and less complex structures described in Chapter 15. The size difference between the two groups of structures is illustrated in Fig. 1, where the 3D reconstructions of a cilium and a 50S ribosomal subunit are shown side by side on the same scale. Note that the cilium is in fact the smallest object considered in the present chapter. This size difference has two important consequences for the 3D reconstruction problem: (1) Generally, the individual specimens of the larger objects are not identical while those of smaller objects often are; and (2) the larger objects have a greater structural complexity at the limiting resolution level.
A chronology of plankton dynamics in silico: how computer models have been used to study marine ecosystems

Research on plankton ecology in the oceans has traditionally been conducted via two scientific approaches: in situ (in the field) and in vitro (in the laboratory). There is, however, a third approach: exploring plankton dynamics in silico, or using computer models as tools to study marine ecosystems. Models have been used for this purpose for over 60 years, and the innovations and implementations of historical studies provide a context for how future model applications can continue to advance our understanding. To that end, this paper presents a chronology of the in silico approach to plankton dynamics, beginning with modeling pioneers who worked in the days before computers. During the first 30 years of automated computation, plankton modeling focused on formulations for biological processes and investigations of community structure. The changing technological context and conceptual paradigms of the late-1970s and 1980s resulted in simulations becoming more widespread research tools for biological oceanographers. This period saw rising use of models as hypothesis-testing tools, and means of exploring the effects of circulation on spatial distributions of organisms. Continued computer advances and increased availability of data in the 1990s allowed old approaches to be applied to old and new problems, and led to developments of new approaches. Much of the modeling in the new millennium so far has incorporated these sophistications, and many cutting-edge applications have come from a new generation of plankton scientists who were trained by modeling gurus of previous eras. The future directions for modeling plankton dynamics are rooted in the historical studies.