cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 130: Regulatory role of miR-29b in prostate cancer metastasis

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Prostate cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer deaths among American men. Earlier diagnosis increases survival rate in patients. However, treatments for advanced disease are limited to hormone ablation techniques and palliative care. Thus, new methods of treatment are necessary for inhibiting progression of the disease. We have shown previously that microRNA-29b (miR-29b) expression was lower in prostate cancer cells as compared to prostate epithelial cells. Among the prostate cancer cell lines, metastatic prostate cancer cells displayed lowest expression of miR-29b. In this study, we have observed that PC-3M cells that constitutively overexpressed miR-29b failed to colonize the lungs and other organs of SCID mice after intravenous injection, while PC-3M cells expressing a control miRNA formed multiple nodules in the lung. PC-3M cells expressing miR-29b inhibited wound healing and invasiveness of cancer cells. Epithelial cell marker E-cadherin expression was enhanced in prostate cancer cells expressing miR-29b as compared to control cells. On the other hand, N-Cadherin and Snail1 expression were downregulated in PC-3M cells expressing miR-29b. Together these results suggested that miR-29b is an anti-metastatic miRNA in prostate cancer that acts at multiple steps of the metastatic cascade. Therefore, miR-29b could be a potentially new attractive target for therapeutic intervention in prostate cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 130. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-130
CommentsOn “Foreign Policy Makers, Personality Attributes, and Interviews: A Note on Reliability Problems”

Several issues are not considered by Rasler, Thompson, and Chester in their research note on reliability problems that are highly germane to the concerns they are raising regarding the use of content analysis with interviews as a way of assessing the personal characteristics of political leaders. These issues include: (1) the debate among personality psychologists about the stability of personality traits; (2) the question of how researchers interested in studying the individual characteristics of political leaders can begin to measure such characteristics in leaders who are virtually inaccessible; and (3) the various types of materials that are available for political leaders which can be content analyzed. A discussion of these topics will put the Rasler et al. note into better perspective. For the last decade and a half, there has been a debate among personality psychologists concerning whether, as the title of one of the articles (Alker, 1972) states, "personality [is] situationally specific or intrapsychically consistent." In other words, are there such things as traits, or are all characteristics situation specific, showing great variation across situations? (For a detailed discussion of all sides of this issue, see Alker, 1972; Bem, 1972; Bem and Funder, 1978; Block, 1968; Bowers, 1972; Carlson, 1971; Epstein, 1979; Mischel, 1968, 1969, 1977; Moos, 1969.)
A High-Order Unifying Discontinuous Formulation for 3D Mixed Grids

The newly developed unifying discontinuous formulation based on flux reconstruction and lifting collocation penalty (LCP) approaches for conservation laws is extended to solve the Navier-Stokes equations for 3D mixed grids. In the current development, tetrahedrons and triangular prisms are considered. The LCP formulation is an extension of the flux reconstruction (FR) method to arbitrary element types. As with the FR method, it can unify several popular high order methods including the discontinuous Galerkin and the spectral volume methods into a more efficient differential form without any explicit integration. By selecting the solution points to coincide the flux points, solution reconstruction can be completely avoided. Numerical accuracy of the scheme is assessed for grid refinement studies. Several typical test cases are computed by solving the Euler equations and the compressible Navier-Stokes equations to demonstrate its performance.
Self-assembled supramolecular clusters based on phosphines and coinage metals: tetrahedra, helicates, and mesocates.

An array of coordination-driven supramolecular metal–ligand clusters has been synthesized using polytopic phosphine ligands and coinage metals (Cu+, Ag+, Au+). Rigid 3-fold or 2-fold symmetric phosphine ligands have been prepared: 1,3,5-tris((4-(diphenylphosphino)ethynyl)phenyl)benzene) (tppepb, L1), 1,4-bis((diphenylphosphino)ethynyl)benzene (1,4-dppeb, L2), 1,3-bis((diphenylphosphino)ethynyl)benzene (1,3-dppeb, L3), 2,6-bis((diphenylphosphino)ethynyl)pyridine (2,6-dppep, L4), and 1,5-bis((diphenylphosphino)ethynyl)naphthalene (1,5-dppen, L5). Self-assembly of these ligands with coinage metals produces four different types of metal–ligand clusters, or in some cases coordination polymers, depending on number and relative geometry of the phosphine donor atoms. Supramolecular tetrahedral clusters of the formula M4(L1)4I4 (M = Cu+, Ag+, Au+) were obtained with the tppepb ligand, encapsulating solvent molecules (either CH2Cl2 or DMF) as guests within the central cavity of the clusters. The ligands 1,3-dppeb (...
Youth sports specialization and musculoskeletal injury: a systematic review of the literature

ABSTRACTObjectives: Early sports specialization is being seen with increasing frequency in children and adolescents in an attempt to achieve elite performance status. This phenomenon has attracted negative medical and lay media attention due, in part, to the possibility of an increased risk of acute and overuse injuries. The purpose of this study was to systematically review available research on youth sport specialization and musculoskeletal injury.Methods: A systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for studies evaluating sports specialization and injury rates in participants under age 18. Inclusion criteria were: (1) youth patient population (defined as <18 years of age), (2) peer-reviewed investigation of association(s) between sports specialization and incidence of injury, and (3) original research article (rather than a review, case report, or meta-analysis). Exclusion criteria were: (1) reliance on surroga...
Correlations between heavy metals concentration in cattle tissues and rearing environment

Heavy metals pollution is a major ecological concern because of the potential of their accumulation in food chain.In this study,cattle tissues were sampled from different polluted areas of Guizhou Province to analyze their copper(Cu),zinc(Zn),lead(Pb)and cadmium(Cd)concentrations,and approach the correlations between the test heavy metals concentrations and rearing environment.The results showed that the Cu and Zn concentrations in cattle tissues were within the China National Food Safety Standard,but the Pb concentration in cattle kidney and liver was slightly over the allowable limit.The Cd concentration in cattle kidney and liver from polluted areas was 38-times and 5-times higher than the Standard,respectively,while that in cattle muscle was within the Standard limit.The heavy metals concentration in cattle tissues had a close correlation with that in soil,feed,and drinking water,and especially in cattle kidney,the correlation coefficient was 0.78.The migration coefficient of heavy metals from feed to cattle tissues decreased gradually with increasing concentration of heavy metals in feed,being the highest for Cd and the lowest for Pb.The ratios of essential elements to toxic metals in cattle tissues were decreased with increasing pollution level.Cu/Cd and Zn/Cd ratios were significantly lower in kidney than in other tissues.Cd was mainly accumulated in kidney,Cu in liver,Zn in muscle and liver,and Pb in kidney and liver.It was suggested that Cd pollution was the major concern in rearing environment,and kidney was the major tissue of heavy metals accumulation.
On the surface tension and Zeta potential of electrolyte solutions

The distribution of ions in the vicinity of the air/water interface is still a matter of strong debate, with numerous calculations and experiments providing contradictory results, even regarding the preference of simple ions (such as H+ and OH-) for interfacial or bulk water. When short range interactions between ions and the interface are assumed independent of bulk concentrations, if they are compatible with the surface tension data, they underpredict the experimental Zeta potentials by orders of magnitude. If they are compatible with Zeta potential data, they are in strong disagreement with surface tension experiments. It is suggested that these observations might be a result of the relatively low number of interfacial water molecules available to hydrate the ions and the competition between various ions for adsorption sites. Therefore, whereas at low bulk concentrations, the Structure-Breaking ions prefer the interface, at sufficiently large bulk concentrations the surface adsorptions of these ions become saturated, and their interfacial concentrations may become lower than in the bulk. Consequently, the total interactions of ions with the interface can be strongly attractive at low bulk concentrations, and less attractive (or even repulsive), at high concentrations. To model this effect, the interactions between ions and interface are taken into account via modified Langmuir adsorption expressions for OH- and Cl-, while the H+ ions are considered to be attached to any interfacial water molecule, even if the latter participate in the hydration of anions. The simple model of adsorption employed here is in agreement with both experiments on Zeta potential and on surface tension, and might reveal the conditions under which a given ion exhibits propensity for either the air/water interface, or for bulk water.
Dynamic Modulation of Myelination in Response to Visual Stimuli Alters Optic Nerve Conduction Velocity.

Myelin controls the time required for an action potential to travel from the neuronal soma to the axon terminal, defining the temporal manner in which information is processed within the CNS. The presence of myelin, the internodal length, and the thickness of the myelin sheath are powerful structural factors that control the velocity and fidelity of action potential transmission. Emerging evidence indicates that myelination is sensitive to environmental experience and neuronal activity. Activity-dependent modulation of myelination can dynamically alter action potential conduction properties but direct functional in vivo evidence and characterization of the underlying myelin changes is lacking. We demonstrate that in mice long-term monocular deprivation increases oligodendrogenesis in the retinogeniculate pathway but shortens myelin internode lengths without affecting other structural properties of myelinated fibers. We also demonstrate that genetically attenuating synaptic glutamate neurotransmission from retinal ganglion cells phenocopies the changes observed after monocular deprivation, suggesting that glutamate may constitute a signal for myelin length regulation. Importantly, we demonstrate that visual deprivation and shortened internodes are associated with a significant reduction in nerve conduction velocity in the optic nerve. Our results reveal the importance of sensory input in the building of myelinated fibers and suggest that this activity-dependent alteration of myelination is important for modifying the conductive properties of brain circuits in response to environmental experience. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Oligodendrocyte precursor cells differentiate into mature oligodendrocytes and are capable of ensheathing axons with myelin without molecular cues from neurons. However, this default myelination process can be modulated by changes in neuronal activity. Here, we show, for the first time, that experience-dependent activity modifies the length of myelin internodes along axons altering action potential conduction velocity. Such a mechanism would allow for variations in conduction velocities that provide a degree of plasticity in accordance to environmental needs. It will be important in future work to investigate how these changes in myelination and conduction velocity contribute to signal integration in postsynaptic neurons and circuit function.
Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Survival Following Breast Cancer

Background: Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure is hypothesized to influence survival after breast cancer, but few studies have examined this association. Methods: A population-based cohort of women ( N = 1,508) diagnosed with first primary invasive or in situ breast cancer in 1996 to 1997 was interviewed shortly after diagnosis and again approximately 5 years later to assess ETS exposure, and women were followed for more than 18 years using the National Death Index; 597 deaths (237 associated with breast cancer) were identified. Multivariable Cox regression was used to estimate adjusted HRs and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for mortality among women with breast cancer as related to at-diagnosis and at-/postdiagnosis changes in ETS exposure. Results: There was little or no association between at-diagnosis ETS exposure and all-cause (HR = 1.04; 95% CI, 0.78–1.40) or breast cancer–specific (HR = 0.98; 95% CI, 0.63–1.52) mortality. Mortality was elevated among women who reported cessation in postdiagnosis ETS exposure up to 1 year before the follow-up assessment, for all-cause (HR = 1.81; 95% CI, 0.87–3.74) and breast cancer mortality (HR = 1.89; 95% CI, 0.68–5.24); however, estimates were imprecise. Conclusions: We found little evidence of an association between at-diagnosis ETS exposure and mortality after breast cancer. Postdiagnosis cessation of ETS exposure was positively associated with mortality, although we could not rule out chance and reverse causation as possible explanations. Impact: Exposure to ETS does not appear to influence mortality after breast cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 26(2); 278–80. ©2016 AACR .
Colesevelam Hydrochloride for the Treatment of Lenalidomide Induced Diarrhea

Abstract INTRODUCTION Lenalidomide is an immunomodulatory drug used for both induction and maintenance in Multiple Myeloma patients. In the pooled multiple myeloma studies, 29.2% of patients reported diarrhea with lenalidomide and dexamethasone. Colesevelam hydrochloride, a drug used primarily for lipid-lowering, has shown efficacy when used for diarrhea in patients receiving lenalidomide in European studies. METHOD In our retrospective analysis, we have evaluated the response of twenty patients receiving lenalidomide and experiencing chronic diarrhea between October 29, 2013, and August 5, 2014. Patients were prescribed colesevelam hydrochloride, 1875mg orally twice daily. Patients were instructed to dose their lenalidomide and colesevelam separated by at least two hours. The objective is symptomatic improvement in lenalidomide induced diarrhea. RESULTS Twelve males and eight females on lenalidomide based therapy experiencing chronic diarrhea were prescribed colsevelam. Seventeen patients were receiving single agent lenalidomide and three patients were receiving combination therapies (elotuzumab/lenalidomide/dexamethasone:1 pt, lenalidomide/bortezomib/dexamethasone: 1 pt, and lenalidomide/cyclophosphamide/dexamethasone: 1 pt). Median age of the patients was 60 year (range: 44-77 yrs). Median prior lines of therapy were 1 (range: 1-6). Median time from initiation of lenalidomide to Colesevelam hydrochloride is 44 months (0-64 months). Eighty-five percent of patients have noted improvement and 30% experienced total resolution of symptoms. Median time from initiation of Colesevelam hydrochloride to symptomatic response is 4 weeks (range, 0-17). In one patient response was seen in less than a week. CONCLUSION Multiple Myeloma patients on lenalidomide therapy with chronic diarrhea noted improvement or total resolution of symptoms with the addition of colesevelam, thus allowing patients to stay on therapy, improving survival as well as quality of life. Disclosures Gleason: Celgene: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy. Lonial: Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Research Funding; Onyx Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Research Funding.
IMPS-10BRAFV600E-MUTANT IMMUNOCOMPETENT GLIOMA MODEL EXHIBITS TYPICAL HISTOPATHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF HUMAN GLIOBLASTOMA MULTIFORME

INTRODUCTION: Targeted monotherapy against BRAFV600E displays efficacy in preclinical models of BRAFV600E-mutant gliomas, however xenograft tumors adapt rapidly and escape from the growth-inhibitory effects. The question emerges whether a more durable anti-tumor effect will be achieved by combining BRAF inhibitors with immune-modulatory agents such as anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-L1. The lack of an immunocompetent preclinical model of BRAFV600E-mutant astrocytoma however has been prohibitive to addressing this question. METHODS: A BRAFV600E-mutant murine tumor cell line (2341) was isolated from tumors developed in transgenic mice with Cre-conditional alleles of BRAFV600E and CDKN2A. Multiple cohorts of syngeneic FVBN mice, as well as athymic mice were injected orthotopically with the BRAFV600E-mutant tumor cell line and evaluated for the occurrence of neurological symptoms. Symptomatic animals were sacrificed and brains were harvested and subjected to a detailed immunohistopathological characterization. Tumor growth was studied employing bioluminescence (BLI). The presence of tumor fluorescence following in vivo injection of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) was investigated as well. RESULTS: Injected animals developed tumors in the right striatum exhibiting all histopathological diagnostic features of human glioblastomas. Neurological free survival was significantly longer in immunocompetent FVBN mice (mean 56 days) compared to similarly treated athymic mice (mean 15 days). Additionally, 5-ALA injected mice exhibited strong fluorescence of tumor cells, when exposed to ultraviolet light compared to normal brain tissue. Results from ongoing work regarding T-cell regulation in the immunocompetent glioma model will be presented and discussed at the meeting. CONCLUSIONS: A BRAFV600E-mutant glioma model that recapitulates the typical genetical, histopathological and behavioral features of human glioblastoma multiforme can be established in fully immunocompetent FVBN mice. These tumors also exhibit 5-ALA induced tumor fluorescence, a typical feature of human malignant astrocytomas. Further studies will reveal this modelś ability to reliably test the anti-glioma efficacy of immune-modulatory drugs in combination with BRAFV600E inhibition.
The Mass Psychology of Classroom Discourse

In a majority of cases observed in classrooms over the last several decades, what has gone by the name “discussion” is not discussion, but rather an interaction better known as recitation. If one sees this phenomenon as a problem, then an aspect of its resolution must be theoretical (as opposed to empirical or pedagogical): What series of conceptual terms might we adopt such that recitation does not pass for discussion? Such a theoretical response would have to address internal and external, or subjective and intersubjective, phenomena to describe what it means to participate in an interaction like discussion or recitation. Next the theory would have to explain the differences between interactions such as discussion and recitation in robust terms. Finally, these robust differences would have to prevent the “mistaking” of discussion for recitation, and vice versa. David Backer sets out to accomplish these three goals in the following essay. The theory he builds relies on a distinction between two psychological-affective states: dehiscence and melancholia. Backer argues that recitation forms a mass through melancholic introjection of a single object, while discussion forms a group that dehiscently introjects no particular object at all. The chief finding of this essay is that viewing discussion and recitation through the mass-psychological lens offers a new way to examine what kind of relations of influence and power form during classroom discourse and, specifically, the political significance of those discourses.
IMEC: A Fully Morphable In-Memory Computing Fabric Enabled by Resistive Crossbar

In this paper, we propose a fully morphable In-MEmory Computing (IMEC) fabric to better implement the concept of processing inside memory (PIM). Enabled by emerging nonvolatile memory, i.e., RRAM and its monolithic 3D integration, IMEC can be configured into one or a combination of four distinct functions, 1) logic, 2) ternary content addressable memory, 3) memory, and 4) interconnect. Thus, IMEC exploits a continuum of PIM capabilities across the whole spectrum, ranging from 0 percent (pure data storage) to 100 percent (pure compute engine), or intermediate states in between. IMEC can be modularly integrated into the DDRx memory subsystem, communicating with processors by the ordinary DRAM commands. Additionally, to reduce the programming burden, we provide a complete framework to compile applications written in high-level programming language (e.g., OpenCL) onto IMEC. This framework also enables code portability across different platforms for heterogeneous computing. By using this framework, several benchmarks are mapped onto IMEC for evaluating its performance, energy and resource utilization. The simulation results show that, IMEC reduces the energy consumption by 99.6 percent, and achieves $644\times$ speedup, compared to a baseline CPU system. We further compare IMEC with FPGA architecture, and demonstrate that the performance improvement is not simply obtained by replacing SRAM cells with denser RRAM cells.
Parvoviruses of Carnivores: Their Transmission and the Variation of Viral Host Range

Abstract In 1978, a new disease was recognized in dogs associated with the emergence of a previously unrecognized parvovirus, termed canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2). Within a year of its emergence, CPV-2 spread globally, infecting at least 80% of the world’s dog population and initiated a pandemic of disease which elicited serious concerns from both veterinary and public health authorities due to its initially unknown nature and host range, and the rate at which it spread. In this review we give a brief history of the carnivore parvoviruses and outline the viral, host, and environmental factors that facilitate their maintenance and spread in nature and, in the case of CPV, the host factors that controlled infection and the viral changes that facilitated its emergence.
The hospital-acquired condition reduction program for colorectal surgery: Current initiatives and implications for the future

Abstract The 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) 1 sought to reform healthcare in the United States through a myriad of initiatives that included expanding health insurance accessibility, mandating coverage, revising and expanding a multitude of government programs, and incentivizing improved quality and value in healthcare delivery. 2 One initiative aimed at containing costs and improving patient outcomes is the Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program (HACRP). Like the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program (HRRP), the goal of this program is to stratify hospitals based on their outcomes, in this case a composite score of multiple hospital-acquired conditions (HACs), and financially penalize the bottom performers. It is important for surgeons and hospitals understand the metrics behind these measures, and to lend a voice to the discussion of the benefits and alternative strategies to quality improvement.
Enzyme-Generated Free Radicals as Initiators of Lipid Peroxidation in Biological Membranes

In considering the possibility that enzyme-generated free radicals may cause peroxidative alteration of lipids in biological membranes in vivo as well as in vitro, some of the fundamental findings which led to the development of this hypothesis should be recalled. The early studies on the tocopherols, after discovery of their vitamin function, demonstrated their antioxidant properties, and Mattill proposed that the biological activity of vitamin E was related to this antioxidant property (Mattill, 1947). This hypothesis was based on studies of other investigators, particularly those of Dam and Granados, who demonstrated that peroxidation of tissue lipids appeared to be associated with the development of exudative diathesis in chicks (Dam and Granados, 1945). This correlation between the peroxidizability of tissue lipids and other vitamin E disorders was extended by Dam, who demonstrated that the development of tocopherol-deficiency signs in the rat as well as the chick was accompanied by peroxidation of tissue lipids (Dam, 1957). The onset of vitamin E-deficiency diseases is accelerated by increasing the content of dietary unsaturated fat. An increase in dietary unsaturated fat will result in increased unsaturation of tissue lipids. In addition, the requirement for vitamin E is a function of the fatty acid composition of membrane lipids in animal tissues (Witting, 1974).
Hydrothermal phase stability study of Li2B4O7

Abstract Growth of Li 2 B 4 O 7 by the hydrothermal method was attempted in 10 −6 M LiOH, by both spontaneous nucleation and transport growth. Li 2 B 4 O 7 grew out of the first spontaneous nucleation reaction, while the seed dissolved and γ -LiBO 2 formed during the transport growth reactions. A species thermodynamic stability study showed that γ -LiBO 2 formed exclusively from 350 °C to 550 °C, and Li 3 B 5 O 8 (OH) 2 was observed at 250 °C; Li 2 B 4 O 7 was not observed. A solubility study on Li 2 B 4 O 7 did not achieve equilibrium conditions, but did demonstrate that γ -LiBO 2 is significantly more thermodynamically stable than Li 2 B 4 O 7 under the tested conditions. Formation of Li 2 B 4 O 7 hydrothermally was shown to result from kinetic growth.
Program Director Perceptions of Usefulness of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Milestones System for Urology Resident Evaluation.

Abstract Objective To assess the application and perceived usefulness of the Accreditation Council for Graduation Medical Education Milestones system for resident evaluation among urology program directors (PDs). Materials and Methods We conducted an online survey of 133 urology PDs. The survey addressed several domains: (1) demographic information, (2) logistics and implementation of the faculty Clinical Competency Committee meetings, and (3) perceived overall effectiveness and usefulness of the Milestones assessments. Results Eighty-eight responses were obtained (66% response rate). A total of 42/88 programs (48%) described the Milestones as very or somewhat unhelpful in resident evaluation, with a comparable proportion (44%) responding Milestones assessments never or almost never accurately distinguished between residents. Respondents felt higher scores on all domains of the Milestones were completely or somewhat uncorrelated to higher in-service examination scores (58%), with a smaller fraction (49%) deeming they were not predictive of board passage rates. Overall, 30% of respondents answered neutrally as to whether they felt the Milestones format has led to better resident formative feedback, and 35% were neutral as to the implications of this system toward promoting professional development. Conclusion The Accreditation Council for Graduation Medical Education Milestones system for resident evaluation was initiated to create a uniform competency-based assessment system; however, a sizable proportion of urology PDs in our cohort did not find the Milestones system helpful or accurate in assessing residents or predicting future successes. Given the Milestones system is still in its infancy, the utility of this system within urology has yet to be fully assessed.
What Are We Teaching Abroad? Faculty Goals for Short-Term Study Abroad Courses

Based on survey data from over 400 faculty members who taught short-term study abroad courses, the purpose of this study was to identify the types of goals that faculty members have in teaching short-term study abroad courses and the relationship between faculty background characteristics (i.e., race, gender, discipline, and prior experience) and their teaching goals. By further understanding the goals that these faculty members have for their study abroad programs, we are better able to assess how these programs may or may not be meeting overall internationalization goals and then to use this information to assist faculty members and higher education administrators in finding ways to further align study abroad goals with the broader goals of international education.
Early discussion of patients’ values by oncology nurses.

3Background: Optimal advance care planning allows patients to articulate their values as an affirmation of personhood and a touchstone for medical decision-making. Ideally, it occurs when patients are well enough to express themselves thoughtfully, with opportunities for iteration as the clinical situation unfolds. We piloted a novel program of systematic, oncology nurse-led values discussions with patients soon after diagnosis, testing feasibility, and acceptability in high-volume clinics in a dedicated cancer center. Methods: Within an institutional initiative integrating primary and specialist palliative care from diagnosis for all cancer patients regardless of stage or prognosis, specialists trained oncology nurses (90 minutes) to use specific questions (re living well, hopes, fears, sources of strength, abilities essential for acceptable quality of life) and an empathic communication framework to discuss health-related values with newly-diagnosed patients over two consecutive clinic visits. Nurses su...
Asymmetric effect of income on the US healthcare expenditure: evidence from the nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach

Previous research that has investigated the relationship between income and Health Care Expenditure (HCE) assumes that the effect of income variation on HCE is symmetric. Additionally, while HCE consists of twelve different types of health services, most of the studies have only focused on the relationship between income and aggregate HCE. By applying the linear ARDL approach, introduced by Pesaran et al. Bounds testing approaches to the analysis of level relationships. J Appl Econom 16(3):289–326 (2001), this study expands the literature by estimating the income elasticity of HCE for all types of healthcare services. Our findings imply that while for some health services income elasticity is below unity, for some other services health spending tends to grow faster than GDP. We also applied the non-linear ARDL approach of Shin et al. Festschrift in honor of Peter Schmidt (2014), for the first time in the literature, to examine if the adjustment of income variation follows a non-linear path. This paper provides statistically significant and robust evidence that the effect of income variation on healthcare expenditure is not symmetric, despite what previous studies assume.
The More Things Change: The Collaborative Art Library

The academic library’s art collection has a history of fluidity and flux. Teaching and learning materials that support visual art education can range from traditional formats like image collections...
Addressing risks and uncertainty in forest land use modeling

The management of competing land uses is complicated by a range of issues and considerations. This is the case because of a concern for the long-term health of the earth and the obvious negative impacts of past and present human activities. Land use planning and management efforts have recognized this broader context and accordingly have devoted much care and attention to operational-level planning support. Spatial restrictions have long been recognized as central to limiting local impacts as well as ensuring landscape shape and structure irregularity. Unfortunately, planning to meet spatial restrictions may be disrupted, by fire, pests, or even on-the-ground conditions. For example, what if a fire destroys resources in a management unit that are adjacent to a unit(s) scheduled for harvest. In fact, this new opening/disruption may prevent the planned activity of any of its neighboring units. Disruptions do occur, but have rarely been addressed in any meaningful way in planning optimization problems. This paper details spatial optimization approaches to support better understanding of the range of potential outcomes when disruption and uncertainty are taken into account in land use planning involving forest resources. Application results highlight the significance of handling disruption risk and spatial data uncertainty, indicating that identifying and selecting planning alternatives that are consistent with goals and intended outcomes are a difficult task. However, improved modeling approaches are possible that better support land use decision making.
Effects of available lysine concentrations in 28 and 32% protein diets on growth, feed efficiency, processing yield, and fillet composition of pond‐raised channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus

A study was conducted in earthen ponds to investigate the effects of available lysine (AL) concentrations in 28 and 32% protein diets on production and processing characteristics, proximate composition, and lysine concentrations in the fillet of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. Diets were formulated to contain 28% protein with 1.22 and 1.43% AL, and 32% protein with 1.43 and 1.63% AL, which were equivalent to 4.37, 5.1, 4.46, and 5.1% AL of protein, respectively. Fingerlings with a mean initial weight of 32 g/fish were stocked into 20 ponds (0.04 ha) at 19,760 fish/ha. Fish were fed once daily to apparent satiation for 181 days. No significant differences were observed for total diet fed, net yield, weight gain, survival, or fillet proximate composition among dietary treatments. However, the 28% protein with low AL diet (1.22% AL of diet or 4.37% AL of protein) resulted in significantly lower carcass and fillet yield and fillet lysine level compared with fish fed the 28% protein diet with 1.43% AL (5.1% AL of protein) and 32% protein diets with 1.43 and 1.63% AL (4.47 and 5.1% AL of protein). Results suggest 1.43% AL of diet is adequate for both 28 and 32% protein diets for optimum growth, processing yield, and lysine retention in fillets for pond‐raised channel catfish.
Warnings and packaging

The current issue of Tobacco Control highlights recent developments in research related to tobacco packaging, including issues as diverse as health warnings, plain packaging, messaging and novel products. Since the implementation of the first pictorial cigarette warnings by Canada nearly two decades ago, to the first implementation of plain packaging (PP) by Australia in 2012, the literature on this field has blossomed and diversified. The ability of health warnings to remain relevant and continue to command attention is an important question in public health education. Woelbert and d’Hombres1 conducted a large experimental study in 10 European countries that had implemented differing warning styles. They find that graphic and text combined have a maximum effect in reducing intentions to smoke, but that this was attenuated in countries that had already implemented this warning style. Novel pictures reversed the wearout effect, providing evidence to support rotating warning content over time. Green2 and colleague address the issue of changing warnings from a different perspective, looking at the introduction of new warning content and the removal of other content as new, larger warnings were implemented in Canada. Adding and removing content from warnings generally affects smoker knowledge—removing carbon monoxide (CO) and impotence warnings led to decreased awareness that these were associated with smoking while adding blindness and bladder cancer warnings increased awareness, although adding an addiction warning had a little effect. Novelty appears to be important to consider when adding content, though it is also important to consider the …
Beyond Motivation and Memorization: Fostering Scientific Inquiry with Games

Given the rise of scientific misinformation, there is a critical need for students to learn the practices of scientific inquiry along with scientific concepts. In this work-in-progress paper, we posit that digital games are conducive to learning both as they enable collaborative virtual scientific experimentation and modeling. We put forward design guidelines for games that facilitate such learning. We then illustrate one instance of employing these guidelines in the design of Psi and Delta, a collaborative science game to help students learn the basic concepts of quantum mechanics through inquiry.
A Reexamination of Earnings Management through Permanently Reinvested Earnings

Krull (2004) finds evidence that firms manage earnings through the permanently reinvested earnings designation using the backing-out methodology. However, Lim and Lustgarten (2002) demonstrate that...
Applied Theory: Practical Turbulence Estimates

The three key eddies are described in detail, with practical equations to calculate their length, life time, and velocity. The LIKE algorithm is presented to compute key turbulence parameters. Flow regions are defined and represented mathematically for the viscous laminar sublayer and the log laws. Detailed descriptions for calculating y+ are presented. The chapter concludes with a detailed description for dimpling and surface engineering applicable for drag reduction and heat transfer enhancements. Both compressible and incompressible applications are discussed; examples include golf balls, shark skin, vehicle surfaces, heat transfer systems, wings and airfoils, turbulators, and diverse dimple geometries.
Appraising Financial Development Indicators and Capital Market Performance : Empirical Evidence from Nigeria

This study appraised empirically Financial Development Indicators (FDIs) and Capital Market Performance in Nigeria. While Financial Depth, Financial Access and Financial Efficiency served as proxy for FDIs and independent variable; Market Capitalization was used as proxy for Capital Market Performance and the dependent variable. Primary data were sourced employing Survey design and analyzed using Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient, (PPMCC) technique denoted by ‘r’. The robustness of findings which showed that hypotheses one (H01) and two (H02) exhibited high coefficients and passed the test of significance led us to conclude that the variables: Financial Depth and Financial Access are relevant to policies formulated to affect Market Capitalization in Nigeria. However, hypothesis three (H03) portends rather low results suggesting that though a positive relationship exists between Financial Efficiency and Market Capitalization, the strength of relationship is moderate and cannot be considered too relevant to policies formulated to affect Market Capitalization in Nigeria. We therefore recommend that financial sector authorities and stakeholders should ensure that innovative facilities and policies that enable access to finance; that give ability to financial markets to imbibe large trade volumes be put instituted to facilitate proper development of the sector and that serious attention should be given to on-the-job-training, retraining and financial courses for employees to acquire industry knowledge of the job in order to enhance their performance.
Effects of the soil microbiome on the demography of two annual prairie plants

Both mutualistic and pathogenic soil microbes are known to play important roles in shaping the fitness of plants, likely affecting plants at different life cycle stages.In order to investigate the differential effects of native soil mutualists and pathogens on plant fitness, we compared survival and reproduction of two annual tallgrass prairie plant species (Chamaecrista fasciculata and Coreopsis tinctoria) in a field study using 3 soil inocula treatments containing different compositions of microbes. The soil inocula types included fresh native whole soil taken from a remnant prairie containing both native mutualists and pathogens, soil enhanced with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi derived from remnant prairies, and uninoculated controls.For both species, plants inoculated with native prairie AM fungi performed much better than those in uninoculated soil for all parts of the life cycle. Plants in the native whole prairie soil were either generally similar to plants in the uninoculated soil or had slightly higher survival or reproduction.Overall, these results suggest that native prairie AM fungi can have important positive effects on the fitness of early successional plants. As inclusion of prairie AM fungi and pathogens decreased plant fitness relative to prairie AM fungi alone, we expect that native pathogens also can have large effects on fitness of these annuals. Our findings support the use of AM fungi to enhance plant establishment in prairie restorations.
A paintable phosphorescent bandage for postoperative tissue oxygen assessment in DIEP flap reconstruction.

Flaps are common in plastic surgery to reconstruct large tissue defects in cases such as trauma or cancer. However, most tissue oximeters used for monitoring ischemia in postoperative flaps are bulky, wired devices, which hinder direct flap observation. Here, we present the results of a clinical trial using a previously untried paintable transparent phosphorescent bandage to assess the tissue's partial pressure of oxygen (pO2). Statistical analysis revealed a strong relationship (P < 0.0001) between the rates of change of tissue oxygenation measured by the bandage and blood oxygen saturation (%stO2) readings from a standard-of-care ViOptix near-infrared spectroscopy oximeter. In addition, the oxygen-sensing bandage showed no adverse effects, proved easy handling, and yielded bright images across all skin tones with a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera. This demonstrates the feasibility of using phosphorescent materials to monitor flaps postoperatively and lays the groundwork for future exploration in other tissue oxygen sensing applications.
Why sensory neurons are tuned to multiple stimulus features

Many sensory neurons encode information about more than one stimulus feature. Multidimensional tuning increases ambiguity in stimulus-response relationships, but we find that it also offers an unexpected computational advantage, allowing the brain to better reconstruct sensory stimuli. From the responses of sensory neurons, populations, and sensory-driven movement behavior, more information can be recovered about a stimulus vector than about its individual components. We term this coding advantage 9stimulus synergy9 and show that it is distinct from other coding synergies, arising from inseparability of the response- conditioned stimulus distribution along individual stimulus dimensions. From extracellular recordings in motion sensitive cortex and measurements of pursuit eye movements, we demonstrate that stimulus synergy in cortical populations is preserved downstream in the precision of pursuit, and that a common decoding model predicts the level of synergy in pursuit behavior. This suggests that the brain exploits the information advantage afforded by multidimensional sensory tuning.
Undue Process: Challenges for Rightsholders and Service Providers Implementing Section 512's Notice and Takedown Provisions

This paper empirically examines the 17 U.S.C. § 512 notice and takedown process as implemented by the Texas online service provider, The Planet. We reviewed a random sample of notices from a population of all notices processed by The Planet from August 2004 to June 2007. We used a mixed methodology, qualitatively assessing the notices, and running quantitative checks to ensure that we were not mistakenly over- or understating the importance of qualitative findings. Because the notices most clearly show sender behavior, we focus on senders’ use of section 512; we then more generally discuss the possible effects of sender behavior on targets and OSPs. We conclude that section 512 continues to be useful for copyright holders; in addition, it undoubtedly provides important innovation-promoting protection for intermediaries. Yet the section 512 regime also shows serious strain in practice, at least within our observed set of notices. A considerable group of senders have difficulty following section 512’s technical requirements and understanding the substantive underlying copyright law. Further, as expected, the large copyright industries appear to be challenged by peer-to-peer filesharing — a problem for which the notice and takedown framework does not provide immediate relief — leading them to make broader demands than are supported by section 512. Finally, the emerging dominance of third-party rights enforcement organizations ("REOs") and trade associations, which have incentives to generate notices and achieve takedowns, add a layer of complexity to the process. Ultimately, these strains, and senders’ responses to them, likely affect both OSPs and targets. Overall, they prompt concerns about due process for targets and potential harms to Internet expression. We reaffirm our previous suggestions for reform, and call for greater information sharing and transparency to help rebalance and strengthen the section 512 process.
Does captivity alter problem-solving behavior in Goffin's cockatoos?

Researchers often argue for the existence of "captivity bias": a higher success rate that may be observed for nonhumans tested in captivity compared to those tested in nature, purportedly because the former have certain advantages that the latter lack. Rossler et al. (Scientific Reports 10, 8681, 2020) find that, at least for Goffin's cockatoos (Cacatua goffiniana), differences exist in motivation, not in problem-solving ability.