cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Developing a Quality Management System for Behavioral Health Care: The Cambridge Health Alliance Experience

The rapid pace of change in the health care system presents tremendous challenges for clinicians and managers charged with the delivery of mental health and substance abuse services. Declining reimbursement, new incentive structures, and increasing competition are placing unprecedented pressure on providers to deliver care efficiently. Regulatory scrutiny, consumer dissatisfaction, and a growing awareness of gaps between actual and ideal practice have led to intensifying pressure to improve quality. Yet system change has also presented new opportunities for managing cost and quality of care. Consolidation of facilities and practices into integrated networks, developments in information systems technology, and the emergence of models to facilitate change have led to the rise of “quality management,” a framework for assessing and improving clinical, operational, and financial performance within a health care organization. This article reviews some of the precipitating factors and theoretical structures underlying quality management and then, through a case study of one organization’s experience, describes the implementation of a quality management program in a behavioral health care delivery system. The case study emphasizes how theoretical frameworks were operationalized and how organizational structure and process were shaped to address challenges well known in quality management, such as authority, accountability, and follow-through. A multiphase model of quality management program development is formulated and used to provide context for this program’s development. (HARVARD REV PSYCHIATRY 2000;8:251‐260.)
Skeletal Fractures Negatively Correlate With Overall Survival in Men With Prostate Cancer

ABSTRACTPurpose: We assessed the correlation of skeletal fracture with survival in men with prostate cancer on chronic androgen suppressive therapy.Materials and Methods: A total of 195 consecutive patients on chronic androgen suppression for prostate cancer were evaluated for the history and type of skeletal fracture. Correlation with overall survival was performed via multivariate analysis.Results: Of these 195 men 24 reported skeletal fracture since the diagnosis of prostate cancer. Median overall survival was 121 and 160 months in men without and with a history of skeletal fracture since the diagnosis of prostate cancer, respectively (p = 0.04). A history of skeletal fracture was retained as a negative predictor of survival on forward stepwise regression analysis (RR = 7.4, p = 0.007).Conclusions: Our results suggest that skeletal fracture in patients with prostate cancer is an independent and adverse predictor of survival. Consideration for screening men at greatest risk via bone mineral density meas...
CONSERVATION OF ENERGY, INDIVIDUAL AGENCY, AND GOTHIC TERROR IN RICHARD MARSH'S THE BEETLE , OR, WHAT'S SCARIER THAN AN ANCIENT, EVIL, SHAPE-SHIFTING BUG?

There is a familiar critical narrative about the fin de siecle, into which gothic fiction fits very neatly. It is the story of the gradual decay of Victorian values, especially their faith in progress and in the empire. The self-satisfied (middle-class) builders of empire were superseded by the doubters and decadents. As Patrick Brantlinger writes, “After the mid-Victorian years the British found it increasingly difficult to think of themselves as inevitably progressive; they began worrying instead about the degeneration of their institutions, their culture, their racial ‘stock’” (230). And this late-Victorian anomie expressed itself in the move away from realism and toward romance, decadence, naturalism, and especially gothic horror. No wonder, then, that the 1880s and 1890s saw a surge of gothic fiction paranoiacally concerned with the disintegration of identity into bestiality (Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, 1886), the loss of British identity through overpowering foreign influence (du Maurier's Trilby, 1894), the vulnerability of the empire to monstrous and predatory sexualities (Stoker's Dracula, 1897), the death of humanity itself in the twilight of everything (Orwell's The Time Machine, 1895). The Victorian Gothic, thus, may be read as an index of its culture's anxieties, especially its repressed, displaced, disavowed fears and desires. But this narrative tends to overlook the Victorians’ concerns with the terrifying possibilities of progress, energy, and self-assertion. In this essay I consider two oppositions that shape critical discussions of the fin-de-siecle Gothic – horror and terror, and entropy and energy – and I argue that critics’ exploration of the Victorians’ seeming preoccupation with the horrors of entropic decline has obscured that culture's persistent anxiety about the terrors of energy. I examine mid- to late-Victorian accounts of human energy in relation to the first law of thermodynamics – the conservation of energy – in both scientific and social discourses, and then I turn to Richard Marsh's 1897 gothic novel The Beetle as an illustration of my point: the conservation of energy might have been at least as scary as entropy to the Victorians.
Novelties of conception in insectivorous mammals (Lipotyphla), particularly shrews

In the order Lipotyphla (Insectivora), certain reproductive features differ quite distinctly from the eutherian norms, and are of interest with regard to the evolution of mammalian gamete function and perhaps for questions of lipotyphlan phylogeny. As seen in one or more members of five lipotyphlan families (shrews, moles, hedgehogs, golden moles, tenrecs), these features can involve the configuration of the male tract including the penis, the morphology of the sperm head, the anatomy of the oviduct and the patterns of sperm transport within it, the character of the cumulus oophorus, and the way in which fertilising spermatozoa interact with the eggs. However, the picture is by no means uniform within the order. Reproductive idiosyncrasies occur variously in the different lipotyphlan families, and appear consistently and strikingly in shrews--the group studied most extensively. Compared to the patterns in most Eutheria, the most interesting anomalies in soricids include (a) the regulation of sperm transport to the site of fertilisation by oviduct crypts, whose arrangement can vary even according to species, (b) a circumscribed matrix-free cumulus oophorus that appears essential for fertilisation as the inducer of the acrosome reaction, (c) barbs on the acrosome-reacted sperm head by which it may attach to the zona pellucida. With regard to the bearing such reproductive traits might have on lipotyphlan systematics, the African mouse shrew (Myosorex varius) displays a mix of traits that characterize either crocidurine or soricine shrews, consistent with the proposal that it belongs in a more primitive tribe, Myosoricinae, or subfamily, the Crocidosoricinae, from which the crocidurine and soricine lines probably evolved. Moreover, although elephant shrews are assigned now to a separate order (Macroscelidea), they display several of the unusual reproductive features seen in lipotyphlans, particularly in chrysochlorids and tenrecs. On the other hand, if used as a phylogenetic yardstick, none of the reproductive features described serves to define the Lipotyphla as classically constituted within one order, nor necessarily all the relationships suggested by recent sequencing studies of nuclear and mitochondrial genes.
PLAN⋄HOV: Case-Based Reasoning Planning Tool for High-Occupancy Vehicle Lane Analysis in a Geographic Information System Environment:

Historical cases can be used to inform new planning and policy situations. Existing knowledge about high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane cases can provide quantitative and qualitative information to support decisions about proposed HOV lanes. Using case-based reasoning (CBR) to formalize the use of historical cases, a computer program called PLAN ⋄ HOV is demonstrated. CBR complements formal modeling by systematically presenting knowledge to users in situations in which formal models are under development or qualitative information is important. PLAN ⋄ HOV is a planning tool developed in a geographic information system environment that allows users to understand the potential impacts of proposed HOV lanes on the basis of experiences with similar HOV lanes. All historical HOV lane cases represented in PLAN ⋄ HOV have HOV lane attributes, associated impacts, and the implementation context. In addition, historical cases contain information about lessons learned, such as inferences about their success or failure...
Mechanical properties of cranial bone

Samples of human and Macaca mularta cranial bone have been tested quasistatically in tension, compression, simple shear, and torsion. The results of these experiments have been analyzed, taking into account observed anisotrophies and varying structures. Statistical correla- tions of properties have been made with density and a model proposed that summarizes these results. The cranial bones appear to be transversely isotropic and they are generally much stronger and stiffer in the transverse or tangent to the skull direction in comparison to the radial direction. The structure of the dip& region was found to be highly variable and this strongly influenced many of the mechanical responses. The model, however. explains much of the ob- served variation.
Realistic Views Concerning Poultry Welfare

The animal welfare (rights) issue we face today is not one that will be resolved through research or factual knowledge. It is an emotional issue that resides on philosophical beliefs that are often associated with the religion of an individual or his or her lack thereof. Individuals who oppose the use of animals for research, food, companionship, etc., based on personal feelings or philosophies, may never change their minds based on scientific facts. However, the opportunity we have is the minds of those people who have not yet made up their mind. We can instill in them a respect for life and a clear understanding that it is okay to utilize animals for companionship and for food production provided the animals are maintained under acceptable and reasonable conditions and that they are cared for in a humane manner. This issue will continue to be a tough battle, because, from past experience, animal rightists will sometimes stage animal abuse to prove their viewpoint. We must also realize that due to the nature of humans, not everyone who is responsible for animals, in both research and production settings, will properly care for them. Animal mistreatment or abuse is a major black eye for everyone, and it is always caused by individuals who do not handle animals in a humane and proper manner. However, we have to admit that humanity has reverted to some very deplorable states in history.
Social Entrepreneurship and Social Work: The Need for a Transdisciplinary Educational Model

Increasingly, human service agencies are facing revenue shortfalls, which are endangering important social programs. Unless human service leaders find sustainable revenue sources to support programmatic efforts, their programs will remain financially unstable. Social entrepreneurship (SE), which balances organizational economic and social goals, offers one possible solution. Unfortunately, very few human service administration programs offer SE training, and those that do utilize a mono-disciplinary education model. In truth, effective SE requires skills/knowledge that traverse various academic disciplines and community groups. The authors recommend that human service administration programs collaborate and offer transdisciplinary, problem-based SE programs to prepare human service administrators.
Altered Mental Status in Older Patients in the Emergency Department

Altered mental status is a common chief compliant among older patients in the emergency department (ED). Acute changes in mental status are more concerning and are usually secondary to delirium, stupor, and coma. Although stupor and coma are easily identifiable, the clinical presentation of delirium can be subtle and is often missed without actively screening for it. For patients with acute changes in mental status the ED evaluation should focus on searching for the underlying etiology. Infection is one of the most common precipitants of delirium, but multiple causes may exist concurrently.
History and future of omega-3 fatty acids in cardiovascular disease

AbstractBackground/objectives:Epidemiological, diet-based, and some interventional outcomes studies suggest that polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids (OM3FAs), specifically eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), confer cardiovascular protection in some patient populations. This review examines the historical context of OM3FAs in cardiovascular disease and future perspectives on the place of OM3FA products in reducing cardiovascular risk.Methods:Relevant articles were identified via PubMed/Medline and Google Scholar searches through 2015 and through reference lists of selected publications. Articles determined by the authors to be relevant to the topic of this review were included.Results:Review of the identified articles indicated that inconsistent results among interventional outcomes studies have been attributed to use of low doses of OM3FAs, patient cohorts with non-elevated triglyceride (TG) levels, differential use of concomitant statin therapy, and study designs with insufficient...
Colossal optical transmission through buried metal gratings (Presentation Recording)

In Extraordinary Optical Transmission (EOT), a metallic film perforated with an array of [periodic] apertures exhibits transmission over 100% normalized to the total aperture area, at selected frequencies. EOT devices have potential applications as optical filters and as couplers in hybrid electro-optic contacts/devices. Traditional passive extraordinary optical transmission structures, typically demonstrate un-normalized transmission well below 50%, and are typically outperformed by simpler thin-film techniques. To overcome these limitations, we demonstrate a new breed of extraordinary optical transmission devices, by “burying” an extraordinary optical transmission grating in a dielectric matrix via a metal-assisted-chemical etching process. The resulting structure is an extraordinary optical transmission grating on top of a dielectric substrate with dielectric nano-pillars extruded through the grating apertures. These structures not only show significantly enhanced peak transmission when normalized to the open area of the metal film, but more importantly, peak transmission greater than that observed from the bare semiconductor surface. The structures were modeled using three-dimensional rigorous coupled wave analysis and characterized experimentally by Fourier transform infrared reflection and transmission spectroscopy, and the good agreement between the two has been demonstrated. The drastic enhancement of light transmission in our structures originates from structuring of high-index dielectric substrate, with pillars effectively guiding light through metal apertures.
Marriage and Family: LGBT Individuals and Same-Sex Couples.

Author(s): Gates, Gary J | Abstract: A new chapter in "The Future of Children" by Gary J. Gates, Blachford-Cooper Distinguished Scholar and Research Director at the Williams Institute explores what's next for research on LGBT families. As debates about marriage equality cool, researchers can explore new questions about LGBT family dynamics, including how parents divide labor in the absence of gender differences between spouses or partners and whether parent-child relationships change in ways that are consistent with gender norms when a parent transitions from one gender to another. For the first time, the 2014 General Social Survey showed that the portion of Americans who think same-sex sexual relationships are never wrong (49%) is substantially higher than the proportion who say such relationships are always wrong (40%), according to the chapter. The chapter, titled "Marriage and Family: LGBT Individuals and Same-Sex Couples," appears in the newest issue of "The Future of Children," a collaboration between the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University and the Brookings Institution.
Long stents as a risk factor for late stent thrombosis size does matter.

The issue of stent thrombosis (ST) and particularly late stent thrombosis (LST) (>30 days after deployment) ([1][1]) has recently haunted the use of stents. Although it occurs in bare-metal stents, LST is slightly more frequent in drug-eluting stents (DES), with an approximate 0.5%/year increased
Stability of a Wind Farm with Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage

Electric networks will experience deep changes due to the emergence of dispersed generation. Variability in power output is a characteristic of wind energy and increased penetration of wind power will present significant operational challenges in ensuring grid security and power quality. This paper addresses the integration of large wind farms into the grid through the beneficial role of superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) systems. Although originally conceived as a load-leveling device for nuclear power plants, today’s utility-industrial realities emphasize other applications of SMES in the development of wind energy. In the industrial section, concerns about power quality and stability have driven the development of a market for micro-SMES devices for power quality applications. The paper reviews the recent history of SMES, performs analysis in terms of the quantity of superconductor required and cost associated with both toroid and solenoid shaped coil using Bi-2223, YBCO and MgB2. The energy storage is optimized by properly designing the bandwidth of SMES. The ultimate aim of this paper is to influence the optimal design and configuration of SMES for land and offshore wind power generation and to propose a roadmap for the resolution of technical barriers related to the integration of wind energy to the electric grid.
Pest Status of Insects and Mites on Pear in Southern Oregon

The economic status of 7 pear pests in southern Oregon was evaluated over an 8-year period, 1964-71. Comparisons of pest levels and economic losses were made in treated and untreated situations. Of the 7 pests which are targets for spray applications, the twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch; the European red mite, Panonychus ulmi (Koch); the yellow spider mite, Eote tranychus carpini borealis (Ewing); and the pear psylla, Psylla pyricola Foerster, apparently have been promoted to pest status through use of spray chemicals. Despite the undesirable side effects resulting from use of pesticides, the added material and labor costs are compensated for by a minimum ratio of 5:1 by the increased value of fruit received by control of the codling moth, Laspeyresia pomonella (L.): the pear rust mite, Epitrimerus pyri (Nalepa): and the San Jose scale, Quadraspidiotus perniciosus (Comstock). The grower benefits also by obtaining control of nontarget phytophagous species.
TRADING ON COINCIDENCES

This paper develops a model showing why traders might use coincidences to identify promising investment opportunities that are worth investigating further. The model predicts that, if both National Semiconductor and Sequans Communications realize top-10 returns (i.e., the semiconductor industry displays a coincidence), then the rest of the industry will have positive abnormal returns in the following month. The data confirm this prediction. Industries with a coincidence in the previous quarter have abnormal returns of 2.02% even after excluding the coincident firms. Industries with one top-10 return and one 11:20 return do not display this pattern. The results are robust to including controls for firm-specific momentum, industry-specific momentum, and within industry cross-autocorrelation. The findings also generalize to looking at geography-based top-10 coincidences.
Application of instantaneous wave intensity technique on assessing hemodynamic changes in patients with hypertension

Objective To explore the value of wave intensity (WI) technique in assessing hemodynamic alteration of patients with hypertension. Methods Right common carotid artery of 30 hypertension patients (hypertension group) and 30 healthy people (controlgroup) were examined with WI technique. WI parameters of the two groups were automatically calculated and compared. Results ①W1 and W2 in hypertension group were significantly higher than those in control group (all P0.05). ②NA was also considerably greater in hypertension group than that in control group (P0.01). There was positive correlation between NA and Umax in hypertension group (r=0.66,P0.01),but NA had no correlation with Umax in control group (r=0.34,P=0.07). Conclusion WI technology is a simple noninvasive means of assessing hemodynamic alteration of hypertension patients.
Implantable Tin Porphyrin-PEG Hydrogels with pH-Responsive Fluorescence

Tetracarboxy porphyrins can be polymerized with polyethylene glycol (PEG) diamines to generate hydrogels with intense, near-infrared, and transdermal fluorescence following subcutaneous implantation. Here, we show that the high density porphyrins of the preformed polymer can be chelated with tin via simple incubation. Tin porphyrin hydrogels exhibited increasing emission intensities, ratios, and lifetimes from pH 1 to 10. Tin porphyrin hydrogel emission was strongly reversible and pH responsiveness was observed in the physiological range between pH 6 and pH 8. pH-sensitive emission was detected via noninvasive transdermal fluorescence imaging in vivo following subcutaneous implantation in mice.
On uniqueness and prolongation of geodesics and convexity of balls

We investigate geometry of convex domains in a uniformly convex Banach space. We prove that with certain conditions of a metric \(\rho \), \(\rho \)-geodesics are unique, \(\rho \)-geodesics can be prolonged to \(\rho \)-geodesic rays, \(\rho \)-balls are convex. We also show that Ferrand and Kulkarni–Pinkall metrics are examples of such metric.
On Computing Machinery and Intelligence

The Turing Test has been part of the lexicon of artificial intelligence ever since Turing proposed it in his famous paper, “Computing Machinery and Intelligence” (1950). Close reading suggests, however, that Turing’s real purpose in writing the paper was, firstly, to attack the arguments of skeptics so as to establish that there is no reason to believe computers cannot be intelligent, and secondly, to propose a program of research. Today, Turing would likely have structured his thinking differently, and perhaps focused on different questions, perhaps the questions on which I focus: What is it that makes us different from all other species? And what is it that we have in common with other species that makes the difference important? I conclude that story understanding makes us different and that story understanding rests on directed perception. I elaborate on story understanding, explaining how a simple substrate of English analysis, common sense inference, and concept search enable the Genesis story understanding system to demonstrate a range of competences, including culturally grounded story interpretation and question-driven analysis. All this leads to a discussion of open questions and a reassessment of Turing’s paper’s fundamental contribution.
Accounting for syntax in analyses of countersinging reveals hidden vocal dynamics in a songbird with a large repertoire

Identifying the signalling strategies employed by animals during vocal interactions is a challenge, especially for species with large vocal repertoires. We propose that efforts to study such vocal dynamics can benefit by integrating models of syntax into their analyses. In this study, we conducted playback experiments on Cassin's vireo, Vireo cassinii, to examine the role of syntax, and more specifically, shared syntactic patterns, in countersinging. We presented 11 males with song sequences ordered according to population norms, and with sequences whose order deviated from population norms. We did not find evidence that individuals markedly altered their responses based on the syntax of the playback, either in their physical approach to the speaker or in the quantity of song they delivered in response. We did, however, find evidence that syntax was important in governing their choice of phrase types in response to the playbacks. Subjects did not match the playback phrase types. Instead, they engaged in a vocal behaviour referred to as song advancing, where they responded to a stimulus phrase type by singing the phrase type that most often followed the stimulus in their own normal song sequences. When playback sequences were ordered according to population norms, song advancing resulted in birds pre-empting the upcoming playback phrase type or delivering another of the prior playback phrase types (i.e. delayed matching) at higher rates than when playback sequences deviated from population norms. The detection of song advancing was only possible with the explicit inclusion of syntax in our analysis, suggesting that studies of the vocal interactions of species with repertoires of multiple vocalizations can benefit from consideration not only of a subject's repertoire, but also their syntax.
Quantum kinematics and projective unitary representations of abelian groups

The kinematics of quantum systems, as is well known, are generally governed by the Heisenberg commutation rules. It was Hermann Weyl who suggested the consideration of the global versions of these rules which define a projective unitary representation of the additive group of the classical phase space. This prompted Weyl to formulate his principle that quantum kinematics is always governed by a projective unitary representation of some abelian group. The ideas of Weyl, and their natural development by his successors, notably Stone, Von Neumann, Mackey, Segal, Shale, Weil, and many others have had and still continue to have a great impact on many areas of mathematics and physics. This paper is an exposition of some of the themes that flow from these ideas.
Erectile Impotence: Training and Research Needs

Erectile problems are quite common. As reviewed in previous chapters, approximately 10% of healthy young males have been reported to complain of erectile dysfunction.1 In patients with chronic diseases, the prevalence of impotence probably exceeds 30%.2–4 It is clear that these problems are a source of considerable personal distress to many of these men and that because of personal embarrassment many patients do not volunteer such information to their physicians. It appears that physicians as a group have been remiss in not directly inquiring about sexual function in our patients. This omission on our part is unfortunate as many of these men might be helped by recent advances in diagnosis and treatment and thus avoid considerable personal suffering. Failure to inquire about sexual function may contribute to poor health care in other areas as well. It is clear that many pharmacological agents are associated with sexual side effects, and these symptoms may explain noncompliance with certain medical treatment programs.5 Even in cases where the pharmacological agents cannot be changed because of life-threatening disease, a frank discussion of this with the patient might engender greater cooperation.
Pragmatic Language Performance of Children Adopted Internationally

Purpose Pragmatic language is important for social communication across all settings. Children adopted internationally (CAI) may be at risk of poorer pragmatic language because of adverse early car...
Commercial Vehicle Parking in Downtown Seattle: Insights on the Battle for the Curb:

Rapid urban growth puts pressure on local governments to rethink how they manage street curb parking. Competition for space among road users and lack of adequate infrastructure force delivery drive...
Considerations for Passenger Experience in Space Tourism.

Space Tourism is a topic of ever-growing discussion as commercial space providers are closer to opening opportunities for aspiring spaceflight participants. The current efforts on defining requirements for commercial space flight crews and participants, in the United States, are mainly safety-based and take into consideration the minimization of risks both from an operational and regulatory perspective. There is however a need to open discussions on space passenger experience design and create a paradigm that covers this novel role. A design approach is outlined to identify areas of study that already attempt to address human factors aspects in astronautical applications. This paper employs the PEAR model to identify high-level passenger-environment interactions that ought to be considered within the context of tourism. Using Virgin Galactic’s concept of operations as a baseline, the model is used to gather the human factors that appear influential in passenger experience as well as methods to evaluate them.
Fibonacci Fast Convergence for Neutrino Oscillations in Matter

Abstract Understanding neutrino oscillations in matter requires a non-trivial diagonalization of the Hamiltonian. As the exact solution is very complicated, many approximation schemes have been pursued. Here we show that one scheme, systematically applying rotations to change to a better basis, converges exponentially fast wherein the rate of convergence follows the Fibonacci sequence. We find that the convergence rate of this procedure depends very sensitively on the initial choices of the rotations as well as the mechanism of selecting the pivots. We then apply this scheme for neutrino oscillations in matter and discover that the optimal convergence rate is found using the following simple strategy: first apply the vacuum (2-3) rotation and then use the largest off-diagonal element as the pivot for each of the following rotations. The Fibonacci convergence rate presented here may be extendable to systems beyond neutrino oscillations.
Ten Year Assessment of Learning Outcomes of a Computer Information Systems (CIS) Program.

In recent years greater attention has been paid to develop learning outcomes for academic programs and then to develop methods to assess these learning outcomes. Generally speaking, there are two kinds of outcomes: course outcomes and program outcomes. Assessments of these learning outcomes in institutions of higher education are mandated by the accrediting organizations. This paper describes a methodology used by a Computer Information Systems program in a small undergraduate institution to develop its learning outcomes, to collect assessment data, and to evaluate or assess its course and program outcomes during a ten year period. The data collection and the subsequent data analysis showed the strengths and weaknesses of the program and we were able to address a number of these weaknesses.
Illegitimacy: Suggestion for Reform Following Mills v. Halbluetzel

In the recent decision of Mills v. Habluetzel, the Supreme Court implies that as technology advances and scientific tests make the determination of biological paternity more certain, the state or governmental interest in avoiding evidentiary problems of false claims, will cease to justify the use of any facile statutory denials of substantive rights claimed by illegitimates First, in the advent of scientific ability to prove the fact of paternity, unrealistic legal prerequisites or statutory limitations extinguishing the rights of illegitimates will not prevail under a constitutional analysis. Second, the use of science implies greater inquiry into all aspects of the rights of illegitimates. This paper will thus: (a) discuss the evolution of the constitutional guidelines concerning the rights of illegitimate children prior to Mills, (b) describe the Texas experience from Gomez to Mills and the recent Texas inheritance cases; and (c) determine the implications for the future of Texas law and that of other jurisdictions.
Anesthesiology Handoff Simulation Case: A Handoff From Intensive Care Unit to Operating Room for Anesthesiology Learners.

Introduction Handoffs have been shown to be a potential cause of communication failures, leading to possible inefficiencies and patient harm. We noticed that our CA-1 residents were struggling with...
Policing inequality and the inequality of policing: A look at the militarisation of policing around the world, focusing on Brazil and South Africa

The purpose of this article is to unpack the racialised, gendered and classed policing of communities in Brazil and South Africa, two useful analytical cases for the study of the militarisation of ...
Following the Path.

Presently, I find myself on the path with a few more steps in front of me. I am a second-year general cardiology fellow at Creighton University with aspirations for an electrophysiology fellowship in the upcoming year. The path to this place has not been conventional; however, this path is what
Targeting focal adhesion kinase in cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is an integrin-associated protein tyrosine kinase that is frequently overexpressed in advanced human cancers. Recent studies have demonstrated that aside from FAK's catalytic activity in cancer cells, its cellular localization is also critical for regulating the transcription of chemokines that promote a favorable tumor microenvironment (TME) by suppressing destructive host immunity. In addition to the protumor roles of FAK in cancer cells, FAK activity within cells of the TME may also support tumor growth and metastasis through various mechanisms, including increased angiogenesis and vascular permeability and effects related to fibrosis in the stroma. Small molecule FAK inhibitors have demonstrated efficacy in alleviating tumor growth and metastasis, and some are currently in clinical development phases. However, several preclinical trials have shown increased benefits from dual therapies using FAK inhibitors in combination with other chemotherapies or with immune cell activators. This review will discuss the role of nuclear FAK as a driver for tumor cell survival as well as potential therapeutic strategies to target FAK in both tumors and the TME.
Modular HUWE1 architecture serves as hub for degradation of cell-fate decision factors

Summary HECT ubiquitin ligases play essential roles in metazoan development and physiology. The HECT ligase HUWE1 is central to the cellular stress response by mediating degradation of key death or survival factors including Mcl1, p53, DDIT4, and Myc. As a step toward understanding regulation of HUWE1 engagement with its diverse substrates, we present here the cryo-EM structure of HUWE1, offering a first complete molecular picture of a HECT ubiquitin ligase. The ~4400 amino acid residue polypeptide forms an alpha solenoid-shaped assembly with a central pore decorated with protein interaction modules. This modularity enables HUWE1 to target a wide range of substrates for destruction. The locations of human mutations associated with severe neurodevelopmental disorders link functions of this essential enzyme with its three-dimensional organization.
Exposure to police-related deaths and physiological stress among urban black youth.

Abstract Background Emerging evidence indicates that exposure to police-related deaths is associated with negative health and wellbeing outcomes among black people. Yet, no study to date has directly examined the biological consequences of exposure to police-related deaths for urban black youth. Methods and Findings We employ unique data from the 2014-16 Adolescent Health and Development in Context (AHDC) study – a representative sample of youth ages 11 to 17 residing in the Columbus, OH area. A subsample of participants contributed nightly saliva samples for cortisol for up to six days, providing an opportunity to link recent exposures to police-related deaths within the residential county to physiological stress outcomes during the study period (N = 585). We examine the effect of exposure to a recent police-related death in the same county on the physiological stress (nightly cortisol) levels of black youth. We find evidence of elevated average levels of nightly cortisol (by 46%) for black boys exposed to a police-related death of a black victim in the 30 days prior to the subject’s cortisol collection. We find no evidence of police-related death effects on the physiological stress levels of black girls or white youth. Conclusions These analyses indicate that police-related deaths influence the biological functioning of black boys, with potential negative consequences for health. We consider the implications of exposure to lethal police violence among black boys for understanding racial disparities in health more broadly.
Genetics and Genomics of Cold Hardiness and Dormancy

Successful cropping of apple depends on the ability of trees in the orchard to undergo both a period of dormancy and to acclimate to low winter temperatures. These physiological processes are inter-connected and involve crosstalk via shared signal transduction pathway components, phytohormones, and the environment. However, these processes also possess unique components, including activities of downstream regulons that do not appear to interact with each other. Apple dormancy differs from those of many other woody perennials in that it is solely temperature-dependent, rather than relying on both photoperiod and temperature cues. Apple cultivars can also vary considerably in dormancy duration. Dormancy duration is regulated by chilling and heating requirements, that is, numbers of hours between 0 °C and 7 °C, and numbers of hours above 7 °C following chilling, respectively, and both requirements are genetically controlled. Several quantitative trait loci (QTLs) have been identified on Linkage Group (LG) 9 using mapping populations derived from crosses between low- and high-chilling genotypes. Furthermore, regulation and genetics of cold hardiness have also been widely investigated. It is observed that levels of cold tolerance vary among seasons and among apple genotypes. Interestingly, there are several similarities in responses of both herbaceous and woody perennial plants to low temperatures. Notably, C-repeat binding transcription factors (CBFs) appear to serve as central regulators of cold signal transduction and initiation of cold acclimation. However, some regulators in the CBF pathway in apple have not been identified in herbaceous plants, thus suggesting that the CBF-regulatory pathway in apple, and perhaps in other woody perennials, may differ from that in herbaceous plants, such as Arabidopsis. Most low-temperature plant research studies have focused on plant responses to acute low-temperature stress, but not on the abilities of plants, such as apple, to maintain freezing tolerance under chronic and extended periods of low-temperature stress. Therefore, acquiring a better understanding of apple genetics, molecular biology, and plant responses to complex and dynamic environmental changes is critical for apple genetic improvement efforts and management of apple orchards in response to environmental stress, particularly under current climate change conditions.
Fe(III) and Mn(IV) Reduction

This chapter summarizes the known environmental consequences of Fe(III) respiration as well as related forms of respiration such as reduction of Mn(IV) and humic substances. The finding that specialized microorganisms are capable of Fe(III)-based respiration substantially changed the understanding of iron geochemistry in soils and sediments. The concept of metal-based respiration has been expanded from Fe(III) to a wide variety of redox-active metals and metalloids that have now been found to serve as terminal electron acceptors in microbial respiration. The chapter provides a brief overview of the major groups of Fe(III)-reducing microorganisms that grow at circumneutral pH. Sedimentation of soils naturally high in Fe(III) or Mn(IV) may also enhance Fe(III) and Mn(IV) reduction in aquatic sediment. Reoxidation of Fe(II) and Mn(II) produced as the result of Fe(III) and Mn(IV) reduction can also be an important source of Fe(III) and Mn(IV) for microbial reduction. It is apparent that more research is required to better understand the mechanisms for Fe(III) oxide reduction by Fe(III)-respiring microorganisms (FRM) in pure culture, but elucidating the pathways for Fe(III) reduction in soils and sediments may be even more difficult. Further investigation into the biochemical and biogeochemical mechanisms of Fe(III) and Mn(IV) reduction is required in order to fully realize the potential of these processes for environmental remediation.
Assisted Teleoperation Strategies for Aggressively Controlling a Robot Arm with 2D Input

This paper studies assisted teleoperation techniques for controlling a 6DOF robot arm using click-and-drag input from a computer mouse. Experiments were conducted to investigate how task performance and user preferences are affected by low-level motion control strategies, which must deal with collision avoidance, dynamics constraints, and erroneous input. Five strategies were implemented and compared. As baseline strategies we study direct joint control and Cartesian positioning via inverse kinematics. We also implemented three obstacle avoidance strategies, including a predictive safety filter, a reactive potential field, and a real-time sample-based motion planner. Blind experimental trials assigned 22 novice subjects to five subgroups corresponding to each strategy and asked them to control the arm in simulation on a variety of reaching tasks in cluttered environments. Unsurprisingly, the obstacle avoidance strategies achieve major safety improvements, although subjects felt noticeably less in control of the robot than those using the baseline methods. The motion planning strategy shows the most promise; it completed tasks twice as fast as any other method and received high ratings for perceived safety, cooperativeness, and overall satisfaction.
Mechanism of Interaction of CC-1065 (NSC 298223) with DNA

CC-1065 (NSC 298223), a potent new antitumor antibiotic produced by Streptomyces zelensis, interacts strongly with double-stranded DNA and appears to exert its cytotoxic effects through disruption of DNA synthesis. We undertook this study to elucidate the sites and mechanisms of CC-1065 interaction with DNA. The binding of CC-1065 to synthetic and native DNA was examined by differential circular dichroism or by Sephadex chromatography with photometric detection. The binding of CC-1065 with calf thymus DNA was rapid, being complete within 2 hr, and saturated at 1 drug per 7 to 11 base pairs. The interaction of CC-1065 with synthetic DNA polymers indicated a specificity for adenine- and thymine-rich sites. Agarose gel electrophoresis of CC-1065-treated supercoiled DNA showed that CC-1065 did not intercalate. Site exclusion studies using substitutions in the DNA grooves showed CC-1065 to bind primarily in the minor groove. CC-1065 did not cause DNA breaks; it inhibited susceptibility of DNA to nuclease S1 digestion. It raised the thermal melting temperature of DNA, and it inhibited the ethidium-induced unwinding of DNA. Thus, in contrast to many antitumor agents, CC-1065 stabilized the DNA helix. DNA helix overstabilization may be relevant to the mechanism of action of CC-1065.
Malthus Gets Fat: The Beginnings of Income Growth in Britain and Beyond

The first part of this paper develops a simple dynamic model to examine the takeoff, or breakout, from a Malthusian economy to a modern growth regime. It finds that several factors, most notably the rate of technological progress and the economic structure, determine the fastest rate at which the population can grow without declining living standards; this is termed maximum sustainable population growth. It is only when this maximum sustainable rate exceeds the peak rate at which a society expands that takeoff can occur. I also investigate the effects of trade and international income transfers on the ability to sustain takeoff, and find that the results are not what might be expected. In particular, it is shown that present income growth is not necessarily indicative of the ability to sustain takeoff and that factors which increase current income growth may actually inhibit takeoff, and vice versa.The second part of this paper applies the sustainable population growth framework to Britain during the Industrial Revolution. The model shows a dramatic increase in sustainable population growth at the time of the Industrial Revolution, well before the beginning of modern levels of income growth. The main contributions to the British breakout were technological improvements and structural change away from agricultural production. At least until the middle of the 19th Century, coal, capital and trade played a minor role.
Experience with the Condor distributed batch system

Condor is a distributed batch system designed to provide convenient access to unutilized workstations while preserving the rights of their owners and to meet the needs of users who are frustrated by the limitations of computing on a single workstation. Several principles have driven the design of Condor. The first is that workstation owners should always have the resources of the workstation they own at their disposal. The second is that access to remote capacity must be easy and should approximate the local execution environment as closely as possible. The third is portability, which is essential because of rapid developments in the workstations on which Condor operates. Mechanisms basic to the operation of Condor, working experience, and software support requirements are outlined. >
Endosymbiont evolution: predictions from theory and surprises from genomes

Genome data have created new opportunities to untangle evolutionary processes shaping microbial variation. Among bacteria, long-term mutualists of insects represent the smallest and (typically) most AT-rich genomes. Evolutionary theory provides a context to predict how an endosymbiotic lifestyle may alter fundamental evolutionary processes--mutation, selection, genetic drift, and recombination--and thus contribute to extreme genomic outcomes. These predictions can then be explored by comparing evolutionary rates, genome size and stability, and base compositional biases across endosymbiotic and free-living bacteria. Recent surprises from such comparisons include genome reduction among uncultured, free-living species. Some studies suggest that selection generally drives this streamlining, while drift drives genome reduction in endosymbionts; however, this remains an hypothesis requiring additional data. Unexpected evidence of selection acting on endosymbiont GC content hints that even weak selection may be effective in some long-term mutualists. Moving forward, intraspecific analysis offers a promising approach to distinguish underlying mechanisms, by testing the null hypothesis of neutrality and by quantifying mutational spectra. Such analyses may clarify whether endosymbionts and free-living bacteria occupy distinct evolutionary trajectories or, alternatively, represent varied outcomes of similar underlying forces.