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This study examined the influence of resistance training (RT) proximity-to-failure, determined by repetitions-in-reserve (RIR), on quadriceps hypertrophy and neuromuscular fatigue. Resistance-trained males (n = 12) and females (n = 6) completed an 8-week intervention involving two RT sessions per week. Lower limbs were randomised to perform the leg press and leg extension exercises either to i) momentary muscular failure (FAIL), or ii) a perceived 2-RIR and 1-RIR, respectively (RIR). Muscle thickness of the quadriceps [rectus femoris (RF) and vastus lateralis (VL)] and acute neuromuscular fatigue (i.e., repetition and lifting velocity loss) were assessed. Data was analysed with Bayesian linear mixed-effect models. Increases in quadriceps thickness (average of RF and VL) from pre- to post-intervention were similar for FAIL [0.181 cm (HDI: 0.119 to 0.243)] and RIR [0.182 cm (HDI: 0.115 to 0.247)]. Between-protocol differences in RF thickness slightly favoured RIR [−0.036 cm (HDI: −0.113 to 0.047)], but VL thickness slightly favoured FAIL [0.033 cm (HDI: −0.046 to 0.116)]. Mean volume was similar across the RT intervention between FAIL and RIR. Lifting velocity and repetition loss were consistently greater for FAIL versus RIR, with the magnitude of difference influenced by the exercise and the stage of the RT intervention. Terminating RT sets with a close proximity-to-failure (e.g., 1- to 2-RIR) can be sufficient to promote similar hypertrophy of the quadriceps as reaching momentary muscular failure in resistance-trained individuals over eight weeks, but the overall influence of proximity-to-failure on muscle-specific hypertrophy may also depend on other factors (e.g., exercise selection, order, and subsequent musculature targeted). Due to high repetition loss (from the first to final set) when sets are terminated at momentary muscular failure, performing RT with 1- to 2-RIR allows for similar volume load and repetition volume accumulation as reaching momentary muscular failure across eight weeks, possibly influencing the overall RT stimulus achieved. Performing RT to momentary muscular failure consistently induces higher levels of acute neuromuscular fatigue versus RT performed with 1- to 2-RIR; however, improved fatigue resistance overtime may attenuate acute neuromuscular fatigue and subsequent repetition loss (but may depend on the exercise performed). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A foundational tenet of the ecosystem services concept is that they arise from biophysical processes. Riverine landscapes are process-response systems where river flow and geomorphology generate a heterogeneous physical template that influences ecological processes, suggesting that the supply of ecosystem services in riverine landscapes should be congruent with the character and heterogeneity of the physical template. In this study, we examine the congruency between the physical template (river functional process zones; FPZs) and the supply of river flow dependent ecosystem services from riverine landscapes of the Koshi River Basin, Nepal. The supply of ecosystem services was congruent with FPZs. Social factors were shown to mediate the use and value of ecosystem services between FPZs. Heterogeneity of the physical template interacts with place, social activity, and demography to influence the use and potential value of ecosystem services across the riverine landscape. These spatial patterns of greater use of some types of riverine ecosystem services in certain areas of the riverine landscape are indicative of a highly coupled agricultural or "green loop" social-ecological system (SES) and show that maintaining riverine template heterogeneity is an important element of this green loop SES that supports 40 million people in the Koshi River Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper covers considerations in using criterion measures based on administrative data. We begin with a conceptual framework for understanding and evaluating administrative criterion measures as "objective" rather than (ratings-based) assessments of job performance. We then describe the associated advantages (e.g., availability) and disadvantages (e.g., contamination) of using administrative data for criterion-related validation purposes. Best practices in the use of administrative data for validation purposes, including procedures for (a) handling missing data, (b) performing data checks, and (c) reporting detailed decision rules so future researchers can replicate the analyses are also described. Finally, we discuss "modern data management" approaches for improving administrative data for supporting organizational decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pastoralists in sub-Saharan Africa are particularly vulnerable to changing climatic conditions and heavily affected by an increasing frequency of severe droughts. To increase drought resilience, livestock index insurance constitutes a promising tool that is aligned to mitigate covariate risks. Uptake rates for these products are, however, relatively low. This article uses choice-experimental data collected in Northern Kenya to analyse preferences for hypothetical livestock index insurance contracts among pastoralists. Results show that pastoralists prefer lower strike levels as well as transparency in the form of regular radio announcements and text messages informing the policyholder about the location-specific index readings. Highly valued are trust enhancing features such as an index certification. We do not find any indication that the option to split the premium payment into two instalments as a way to relax potential liquidity constraints could lead to higher demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The PinPoint Case Platform (PPCP) offers independent online case-based CME. To align with personal learning needs, a functionality of needs assessments ("QuickScan") was developed, directing users to follow personalised case journeys. A randomised study was conducted, comparing its effectiveness, time efficiency and user experience with a format of non-individualised case-based learning. Forty-two residents in urology from five European countries were randomly assigned to follow non-individualised case-based learning (control group) or a needs assessment plus personalised case journeys on different topics in prostate cancer. After performing a pre- and post-assessment, both groups showed a similar increase in test scores (Mann-Whitney U = 247; p =.113), but the time needed for completing the learning exercise was significantly lower in the group with the personalised approach (median: 45 vs 90 minutes; Mann-Whitney U = 97.5; p =.0141). The quality of the two learning methods was similarly well received by both groups. In conclusion, learners who followed personalised case journeys learned similarly effective but more time efficient than non-individualised case-based learners. Future studies should determine if these findings can be extrapolated to board-certified physicians following CME activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine if the number of participants with psychiatric disorders increased in association with failures on symptom validity tests (SVTs) and a performance validity test (PVT) in Veterans admitted for evaluation of possible seizures. The 254 participants were Veterans undergoing inpatient video-EEG monitoring for the diagnosis of possible seizures. DSM-IV psychiatric disorders were diagnosed with the SCID IV. Symptom exaggeration was assessed with the MMPI-2-RF and performance validity with the TOMM. On the MMPI-2-RF, 27.6%–32.7% showed symptom exaggeration. Participants who exaggerated on the MMPI-2-RF were more often diagnosed with psychiatric disorders. The TOMM was failed by 15.4% of the sample. Participants who failed the TOMM were more often diagnosed with an Axis I disorder but not with a personality disorder. The MMPI-2-RF was invalid in more cases than the TOMM, but 7.9% of the sample generated a valid MMPI-2-RF and an invalid TOMM. The correlational design does not allow conclusions about cause and effect. The invalid groups may have had a higher rate of psychopathology. The number of participants with psychiatric disorders increased in association with symptom exaggeration and performance invalidity. Symptom exaggeration was more frequent than performance invalidity, but the TOMM made a unique contribution to identification of invalidity. The routine clinical use of SVTs and PVTs is supported. The results also suggest the need for caution in diagnosing psychiatric disorders when there is symptom exaggeration or performance invalidity, because diagnostic validity is dependent on the accuracy of symptom reporting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought and food security crises heighten risks to lives and livelihoods in East Africa. In recent years, a shift towards acting in advance of such events has gained momentum, notably among the humanitarian and development community. This shift is premised on tools that link climate forecasts with pre-agreed actions and funding, known as Forecast-based Action (FbA), or anticipatory action more widely. While FbA approaches have been developed by a number of humanitarian agencies, the key to scaling-up is mainstreaming these approaches into national risk management systems. This paper addresses this gap in the context of drought risk management in Kenya. We analyse Kenya's current drought management system to assess the potential usability of climate forecast information within the existing system, and outline steps towards improved usability of climate information. Further, we note the critical importance of enabling institutions and reliable financing to ensure that information can be consistently used to trigger early action. We discuss the implications of this for scaling-up FbA into national risk management systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While proximity-to-failure is considered an important resistance training (RT) prescription variable, its influence on physiological adaptations and short-term responses to RT is uncertain. Given the ambiguity in the literature, a scoping review was undertaken to summarise evidence for the influence of proximity-to-failure on muscle hypertrophy, neuromuscular fatigue, muscle damage and perceived discomfort. Literature searching was performed according to PRISMA-ScR guidelines and identified three themes of studies comparing either: i) RT performed to momentary muscular failure versus non-failure, ii) RT performed to set failure (defined as anything other than momentary muscular failure) versus non-failure, and iii) RT performed to different velocity loss thresholds. The findings highlight that no consensus definition for "failure" exists in the literature, and the proximity-to-failure achieved in "non-failure" conditions is often ambiguous and variable across studies. This poses challenges when deriving practical recommendations for manipulating proximity-to-failure in RT to achieve desired outcomes. Based on the limited available evidence, RT to set failure is likely not superior to non-failure RT for inducing muscle hypertrophy, but may exacerbate neuromuscular fatigue, muscle damage, and post-set perceived discomfort versus non-failure RT. Together, these factors may impair post-exercise recovery and subsequent performance, and may also negatively influence long-term adherence to RT. KEY POINTS This scoping review identified three broad themes of studies investigating proximity-to-failure in RT, based on the specific definition of set failure used (and therefore the research question being examined), to improve the validity of study comparisons and interpretations. There is no consensus definition for set failure in RT, and the proximity-to-failure achieved during non-failure RT is often unclear and varies both within and between studies, which together poses challenges when interpreting study findings and deriving practical recommendations regarding the influence of RT proximity-to-failure on muscle hypertrophy and other short-term responses. Based on the limited available evidence, performing RT to set failure is likely not superior to non-failure RT to maximise muscle hypertrophy, but the optimal proximity to failure in RT for muscle hypertrophy is unclear and may be moderated by other RT variables (e.g., load, volume-load). Also, RT performed to set failure likely induces greater neuromuscular fatigue, muscle damage, and perceived discomfort than non-failure RT, which may negatively influence RT performance, post-RT recovery, and long-term adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tabor RA, Liermann MC, Gearns HA, Moore ZJ, Lynch KD, Kurko K, Crittenden J, Shoemaker ME. 2022. Effectiveness monitoring of juvenile Chinook salmon restoration projects in south Lake Washington, Washington State. Lake Reserv Manage. 38:180–196. We evaluated 4 large restoration projects in south Lake Washington that were designed to improve nearshore habitat for lake-rearing juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). Restoration projects included shoreline modification, substrate enhancement, addition of engineered log jams (ELJs), and nonnatal tributary improvements. For most projects, we used a BACI (before-after-control-impact) study design. Projects were evaluated by determining the nighttime abundance of juvenile Chinook salmon through visual observations (primarily snorkeling with some surface observations in small nonnatal tributaries). Juvenile Chinook salmon are typically concentrated in the south end of the lake near their natal stream, and the project that was the farthest away from the natal stream did not appear to be beneficial, likely because few Chinook salmon were present. The highest observed abundance of juvenile Chinook salmon was associated with ELJs, where the abundance in February to April was typically 2 to 5 times higher than along adjacent, open shorelines. From January to April, juvenile Chinook salmon were usually more abundant in a daylighted nonnatal tributary (i.e., reconfigured from an unusable underground culvert to a more natural stream channel at the surface) than in 2 reference sites. Overall, all 4 project types improved juvenile use of the restored area, with substrate enhancement generally having the weakest response and ELJs the strongest response. Although most restoration projects for salmonids in the Pacific Northwest have focused on lotic systems, our results suggest projects in lentic systems may also be beneficial and should be considered by land-use managers. Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/10402381.2022.2027054. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing is a major component of cognitive screening for dementia. It can be performed without language restriction. Drawing pictures under instructions and copying images are different screening approaches. The objective of this study was to compare the diagnostic performance between drawing under instructions and image copying for MCI and dementia screening. A literature search was carried out in the OVID databases with keywords related to drawing for cognitive screening. Study quality and risk of bias were assessed by QUADAS-2. The level of diagnostic accuracy across different drawing tests was pooled by bivariate analysis in a random effects model. The area under the hierarchical summary receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) was constructed to summarize the diagnostic performance. Ninety-two studies with sample size of 22,085 were included. The pooled results for drawing under instructions showed a sensitivity of 79% (95% CI: 76 − 83%) and a specificity of 80% (95% CI: 77 − 83%) with AUC of 0.87 (95% CI: 0.83 − 0.89). The pooled results for image copying showed a sensitivity of 71% (95% CI: 62 − 79%) and a specificity of 83% (95% CI: 72 − 90%) with AUC of 0.83 (95% CI: 0.80 − 0.86). Clock-drawing test was the screening test used in the majority of studies. Drawing under instructions showed a similar diagnostic performance when compared with image copying for cognitive screening and the administration of image copying is relatively simpler. Self-screening for dementia is feasible to be done at home in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SOCS-2 gene expression at diagnosis has been suggested as a predictor of clinical outcome in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). In this study SOCS-2 and GUS expression levels were determined by real-time PCR in pretherapeutic samples at diagnosis. First, three patient groups were compared after assessment at 48 months: optimal molecular responders (n = 35), patients with resistance to imatinib (n = 28), and blast crisis patients (n = 27). A significant difference in SOCS-2 gene expression at diagnosis was observed comparing blast crisis vs. resistant patients (p = 0.042) and optimal responders (p = 0.010). Second, a validation sample of consecutively randomized patients (n = 123) was investigated. No discriminative SOCS-2 gene expression cutoff could be derived to predict molecular or cytogenetic response, progression-free or overall survival. Although SOCS-2 gene was differentially expressed at the time of diagnosis in blast crisis patients when compared to other groups, a prognostic impact in consecutively randomized patients was not observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 global pandemic has led to the death of millions around the world and impacted the overall health of many people. In this article we aim to compare reproductive health indicators in the first 6 months of 2020 to the prior year, as well as explore stress and quality of life during this time. This retrospective observational study examined the menstrual cycles of 1159 women who were using a fertility tracking device to record their menstrual cycle and BBT data. We utilised a supplemental mobile application to administer a supplemental survey to collect data on stress and quality of life. Descriptive analyses were conducted with t-tests for two-group comparisons. Study participants from 15 countries contributed to a total of 13,194 cycles. 23.1% (268/1159) responded to the survey focussed on assessing psychosocial distress. 44.4% (119/268) of the study participants reported that they had noticed a change in their menstrual cycle, temperature curve, or menstruation in the past 12 months. Cycle analysis found the average cycle length and pre-ovulation phase length was longer in the first 6 months of 2019, while the average days of menstruation was slightly longer in 2020. Our findings indicate that menstrual cycle indicators changed only slightly in the first 6 months of 2020 but were still statistically significant. We were also able to understand that these study participants had some level of awareness of changes to their menstrual health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined the characteristics and factors driving the acquisition of postgraduate academic degrees among resident doctors in Nigeria. About 10% of the respondents had a form of university postgraduate degree with majority being master's degree. Having more than seven years of professional practice was the only factor predicting the acquisition of postgraduate academic degrees amongst the respondents [AOR: 0.243 (95% CI: 0.069,0.856; p = 0.028)]. The acquisition of postgraduate degree is not common among the surveyed resident doctors; and those that will acquire it do so in the later part of their career. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel variation of the Langmuir probe for spatially resolved ion density measurements in a dense flowing plasma is presented. The technique uses a spinning disc to rapidly transit a wire probe through the flame. Spatial resolution is accomplished by post-processing data collected with many wire locations. The technique resolves ion density with a resolution of 0.5 mm in a 3000 K atmospheric pressure flame. The oxyfuel cutting torch flame under study is found to have twelve hollow cones with a 1 mm base and 4 mm height with ion density 3 × 10 18 m − 3 along their surface. The base of the cones forms a ring, the inner diameter of which exhibits similarly large ion density, while the outer diameter appears to be weakened by entrained air. The ion densities decay over mm length scales from their peaks in the inner cones to form a semi-homogeneous annulus with ion density on the order 1 × 10 17 m − 3 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of 6-amidinobenzothiazoles, linked via phenoxymethylene or directly to the 1,2,3-triazole ring with a p-substituted phenyl or benzyl moiety, were synthesised and evaluated in vitro against four human tumour cell lines and the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei. The influence of the type of amidino substituent and phenoxymethylene linker on antiproliferative and antitrypanosomal activities was observed, showing that the imidazoline moiety had a major impact on both activities. Benzothiazole imidazoline 14a, which was directly connected to N-1-phenyl-1,2,3-triazole, had the most potent growth-inhibitory effect (IC50 = 0.25 µM) on colorectal adenocarcinoma (SW620), while benzothiazole imidazoline 11b, containing a phenoxymethylene linker, exhibited the best antitrypanosomal potency (IC90 = 0.12 µM). DNA binding assays showed a non-covalent interaction of 6-amidinobenzothiazole ligands, indicating both minor groove binding and intercalation modes of DNA interaction. Our findings encourage further development of novel structurally related 6-amidino-2-arylbenzothiazoles to obtain more selective anticancer and anti-HAT agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review and meta-analysis determined resistance training (RT) load effects on various muscle hypertrophy, strength, and neuromuscular performance task [e.g., countermovement jump (CMJ)] outcomes. Relevent studies comparing higher-load [>60% 1-repetition maximum (RM) or <15-RM] and lower-load (≤60% 1-RM or ≥ 15-RM) RT were identified, with 45 studies (from 4713 total) included in the meta-analysis. Higher- and lower-load RT induced similar muscle hypertrophy at the whole-body (lean/fat-free mass; [ES (95% CI) = 0.05 (−0.20 to 0.29), P = 0.70]), whole-muscle [ES = 0.06 (−0.11 to 0.24), P = 0.47], and muscle fibre [ES = 0.29 (−0.09 to 0.66), P = 0.13] levels. Higher-load RT further improved 1-RM [ES = 0.34 (0.15 to 0.52), P = 0.0003] and isometric [ES = 0.41 (0.07 to 0.76), P = 0.02] strength. The superiority of higher-load RT on 1-RM strength was greater in younger [ES = 0.34 (0.12 to 0.55), P = 0.002] versus older [ES = 0.20 (−0.00 to 0.41), P = 0.05] participants. Higher- and lower-load RT therefore induce similar muscle hypertrophy (at multiple physiological levels), while higher-load RT elicits superior 1-RM and isometric strength. The influence of RT loads on neuromuscular task performance is however unclear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenomenon: Physician shortages in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) have led to increased interest in using e-learning tools for training. Organic digital education (ODE)—digital scholarship largely created outside of formal medical curricula—has increased in popularity over the past decade. Medical podcasting has become one of the most prominent asynchronous ODE sources for learners in high-income (HI) countries; there have been no previous attempts to characterize their use in LMIC. Approach: Listener data from a 2-year period from three major internal medicine podcasts—Bedside Rounds, Core IM, and The Curbsiders—were aggregated, 188 episodes in total. These data were subdivided into country by top-level domain, normalized by population, and grouped together by World Bank income levels and English-speaking status. This methodology was also repeated to compare individual episodes on topics more versus less relevant to learners in LMIC. Findings: Over a 2-year period, the three podcasts had a total of 2.3 million unique downloads and were listened to in 192 of 207 countries worldwide. Overall, 91.5% of downloads were in HI countries, with 8.2% in LMIC. A total of 86.1% of listens were in countries with English as an official or unofficial listed language, whereas 13.8% were in countries without. Normalized for population, listeners in HI countries represented 970.5 listens per million population compared with 12.4 per million in LMIC. An analysis of individual episodes by topic showed that material more relevant to learners in LMIC had significantly more listeners from these countries. Insights: Compared with other forms of ODE, medical podcasting has much lower uptake in LMIC. However, there are considerable opportunities for growth. Medical podcasters in HI countries should be aware of a potential global audience and should take concrete steps to ensure a diversity of content and to periodically audit their data. Medical educators in LMIC should consider podcasting as a potentially powerful form of teaching. International medical educational organizations as well as podcasting organizations should provide resources for educators in these countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effectiveness of the Three Good Things positive psychology intervention within the personal finance domain. A randomized control-group pretest posttest experimental survey was designed to test variations of the Three Good Things exercise on happiness, financial satisfaction, and financial self-efficacy. Interventions included the traditional Three Good Things exercise, a Three Good Financial Things exercise, and a Three Financial Things exercise. The results from a sample of 993 Amazon MTurk workers, with data collected between December 2018 – January 2019, suggest that the Three Good Things exercise was the most effective in increasing happiness and showed similar increases in financial satisfaction as the domain specific exercises. Effects from the Three Good Things intervention were the only effects to endure over time. None of the interventions demonstrated an effect on financial self-efficacy. Overall, the results support further investigation into applying PPIs within the personal finance domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Available open source information on military medical services can be found through official government communication, international foundations,[9] academic publications,[10] news and social media, and - currently - an online database called "Worldwide Military Medicine", also known as the Almanac.[11] The Almanac comprises information provided to the publisher by each nation on their military medical services. Military medical services provide an important supporting function to a country's military forces, as well as being a component of a country's overall health system.[1] This has been emphasized by recent events such as the Ebola outbreak and COVID-19 pandemic. German military medical services comprise a total of approximately 18,000 military and 3,000 civilian posts, and five military hospitals.[50] Germany is one of a small number of nations with separate, detailed country profiles in the Almanac (air force, army, joint medical service, joint support and enabling service, and navy). [Extracted from the article]

Objective: Fertility tracking devices offer women direct-to-user information about their fertility. The objective of this study is to understand how a fertility tracking device algorithm adjusts to changes of the individual menstrual cycle and under different conditions.Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on a cohort of women who were using the device between January 2004 and November 2014. Available temperature and menstruation inputs were processed through the Daysy 1.0.7 firmware to determine fertility outputs. Sensitivity analyses on temperature noise, skipped measurements, and various characteristics were conducted.Results: A cohort of 5328 women from Germany and Switzerland contributed 107,020 cycles. Mean age of the sample was 30.77 [SD 5.1] years, with a BMI of 22.07 kg/m^2 [SD 2.4]. The mean cycle length reported was 29.54 [SD 3.0] days. The majority of women were using the device 80-100% of the time during the cycle (53.1%). For this subset of women, the fertility device identified on average 41.4% [SD 6.4] possibly fertile (red) days, 42.4% [SD 8.7] infertile (green) days and 15.9% [SD 7.3] yellow days. The number of infertile (green) days decreases proportionally to the number of measured days, whereas the number of undefined (yellow) days increases.Conclusion: Overall, these results showed that the fertility tracker algorithm was able to distinguish biphasic cycles and provide personalised fertility statuses for users based on daily basal body temperature readings and menstruation data. We identified a direct linear relationship between the number of measurements and output of the fertility tracker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To discuss and develop a statement on the current state of the evidence and opinion in Fear of Childbirth (FoC) and Tokophobia (Tocophobia), and to provide recommendations. Background: A group met in 2019 to discuss the state of clinical and academic knowledge relating to FoC/Tokophobia. Five key areas were agreed as the focus of the meeting. Methods: 12 internationally acknowledged experts, in this or a closely related area (e.g. PTSD) met to discuss their understanding of the evidence for FoC/ Tokophobia and current practice. The consensus described in this paper constitutes the expression of the general opinion of the participants and does not necessarily imply unanimity. Keys points: Work focussed on tokophobia is recent and there remains a wide range of issues, which were addressed in the workshop including complexity in defining prevalence, a theoretical lack of understanding, which creates challenge for robust assessment and the identification of risk factors. An improved aetiological and developmental understanding of the tokophobia is required to underpin appropriate, effective and evidence-based interventions. Evaluation of pathways of care and relevant interventions, should be a focus of future research. Conclusion: Significant gaps remain within the FoC/tokophobia knowledge base. Further research is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbicide use, mainly glyphosate, has been intense in worldwide agriculture, including in the Brazilian Amazon region. This study aimed to validate a method for determining glyphosate and its degradation product, AMPA, and glufosinate by HPLC-FL in 58 water samples collected at the Santarém plateau region (Planalto Santareno), in the western of Pará state, Brazil. The method involves filtration and direct injection in the HPLC-FL for AMPA analysis, or previous concentration (10×) by lyophilization for glufosinate and glyphosate analysis. Analytes were oxidized and complexed with o-phthalaldehyde and 2-mercaptoethanol in a post-column reaction before fluorescence detection. LOQs for AMPA, glyphosate and glufosinate were established at 0.5, 0.2 and 0.3 μg L−1, respectively. A total of 58 samples were collected. Glyphosate and glufosinate were not detected in any of the 30 surface water samples collected in 2015 (−1). A total of 28 ground and surface water samples were collected in 2017 and analyzed for glyphosate, which was detected in 11 samples (7 ground water samples), with concentrations between 1.5 and 9.7 μg L−1. A continuous pesticide monitoring of the Amazonian water system is essential to guarantee the preservation of this important ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncertainty in climate change impacts on river discharge in the Upper Awash Basin, Ethiopia, is assessed using five MIKE SHE hydrological models, six CMIP5 general circulation models (GCMs) and two representative concentration pathways (RCP) scenarios for the period 2071–2100. Hydrological models vary in their spatial distribution and process representations of unsaturated and saturated zones. Very good performance is achieved for 1975–1999 (NSE: 0.65–0.8; r: 0.79–0.93). GCM-related uncertainty dominates variability in projections of high and mean discharges (mean: –34% to +55% for RCP4.5, – 2% to +195% for RCP8.5). Although GCMs dominate uncertainty in projected low flows, inter-hydrological model uncertainty is considerable (RCP4.5: –60% to +228%, RCP8.5: –86% to +337%). Analysis of variance uncertainty attribution reveals that GCM-related uncertainty occupies, on average, 68% of total uncertainty for median and high flows and hydrological models no more than 1%. For low flows, hydrological model uncertainty occupies, on average, 18% of total uncertainty; GCM-related uncertainty remains substantial (average: 28%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reflects on the implications of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on modern slavery risks in supply chains. We first reason that the global supply and demand shock resulting from COVID-19 exacerbates workers' vulnerability to modern slavery. Then, we discuss challenges firms face to detect, prevent, and mitigate increasing modern slavery risks in supply chains during COVID-19. We conclude our paper by arguing that proactive, value-oriented, and long-term supply chain management approaches increase firms' resilience to cope with highly volatile and extreme events, such as COVID 19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decisions about participation in computer science and engineering opportunities are often made prior to high school, and these decisions are frequently mediated by prior experience, interest, and sense of fit with community. In this article, we investigate how the Digital Youth Divas, an out-of-school program for middle school girls from non-dominant communities, engaged participants in computational thinking linked to their broader interests, home networks, and continuing opportunities. Results indicate increases in knowledge measures for girls with and without prior learning experiences and provide evidence that through project work and a strong focus on building community, girls engaged in computational practices in ways that shifted or provided new computational perceptions about themselves and the domain. This exploratory study of the Digital Youth Divas program emphasizes the importance of understanding and supporting computational perceptions alongside deepening knowledge and experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adipose tissue has the therapeutic capacity in the form of a fat graft, for example, for treatment of irradiation-induced scars and difficult to heal dermal wounds. For large-scale clinical application, an off-the-shelf product is warranted. In recent years, ECM-derived hydrogels are postulated to harbour therapeutic capacity and might even replicate the beneficial effects of adipose tissue. In normal homeostasis, the natural ECM acts as a deposit of growth factors, that releases them over time. In the healing of lesions, this might promote cell accumulation and proliferation which in turn stimulates angiogenesis and repair. The decellularization of tissue and the generation of hydrogels may leave cytotoxic traces. Therefore, our research assessed the cytotoxic effect of human adipose tissue-derived ECM hydrogels on connective tissue cells i.e. fibroblasts. The results showed no cytotoxicity, meaning the hydrogels caused no cell death. Cell migration and survival were observed when cultured in ECM hydrogels and followed for 7 days. Cell survival in the hydrogel was confirmed with CFDA staining and also cells showed the ability to penetrate and migrate throughout the gel. We conclude that ECM hydrogels are promising to use as innovative therapy for wound healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In South Africa, HIV-positive women receiving antiretroviral therapy often are lost to care postpartum; strategies to support long-term engagement are needed. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions are emerging as a possible solution for supporting long-term engagement in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV care continuum. In order to explore acceptability and feasibility of mobile health (mHealth) interventions in this context, we conducted focus group discussions (FGDs) to assess trends in smartphone usage in postpartum women. In six FGDs, we interviewed 27 HIV-positive, postpartum women who attended regular care at the Gugulethu Community Health Centre in Cape Town, South Africa, and who use a smartphone. Questions assessed the respondent's general trends in smartphone use, as well as their exposure to and perceptions of mHealth interventions. We found little turnover in phones and phone numbers, and about half the participants shared their devices with family and friends. Respondents reported high familiarity with smartphone applications, including WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter, with WhatsApp as their preferred method of smartphone communication. Data bundles were most often used to connect to the internet, motivated by the perception that data bundles last longer and are cheaper than airtime, but respondents were adept at locating Wi-Fi sources at work or other public spaces. Nearly all participants were familiar with MomConnect, a national mHealth text support service in South Africa, and most described it positively. Respondents expressed interest in future HIV mHealth applications including complementary health information on physical activity, nutrition, mental health and basic social services. Participants were active and engaged smartphone users with reliable internet connections and a positive attitude towards mHealth platforms. Future mHealth interventions show promise in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Financial self-efficacy (FSE) is a psychological trait that has significant influence over a wide array of financial behavior—from credit market participation to saving and investing behavior. Research has provided consistent evidence that suggests higher FSE supports prudent and growth-oriented financial behavior across a variety of samples. For older adults, FSE has been shown to be weak and susceptible to decline, which is concerning because older adults need to save significantly for retirement, with little time to do so. While research has provided some insight into the sociodemographic and economic factors related to FSE (e.g., income), little is understood about the psychological factors that contribute to FSE levels. Consequently, the authors investigate how psychological characteristics shape FSE within a sample of 2,068 U.S. preretirees from the Health and Retirement Study. Results revealed that FSE can be supported through frequent positive affect, reduced negative affect, stronger mastery beliefs, and a higher task orientation. With this knowledge, financial professionals can more effectively help support older preretirees' FSE and ultimately, their ability to prepare financially for retirement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amidinobenzimidazole derivatives connected to 1-aryl-substituted 1,2,3-triazole through phenoxymethylene linkers 7a-7e, 8a-8e, and 9a-9e were designed and synthesised with the aim of evaluating their anti-bacterial and anti-trypanosomal activities and DNA/RNA binding affinity. Results from anti-bacterial evaluations of antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria revealed that both o-chlorophenyl-1,2,3-triazole and N-isopropylamidine moieties in 8c led to strong inhibitory activity against resistant Gram-positive bacteria, particularly the MRSA strain. Furthermore, the non-substituted amidine and phenyl ring in 7a induced a marked anti-bacterial effect, with potency against ESBL-producing Gram-negative E. coli better than those of the antibiotics ceftazidime and ciprofloxacin. UV-Vis and CD spectroscopy, as well as thermal denaturation assays, indicated that compounds 7a and 8c showed also binding affinities towards ctDNA. Anti-trypanosomal evaluations showed that the p-methoxyphenyl-1,2,3-triazole moiety in 7b and 9b enhanced inhibitory activity against T. brucei, with 8b being more potent than nifurtimox, and having minimal toxicity towards mammalian cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Limited data exist on what young adults report as their first-ever nicotine product; some evidence suggests that they report hookah as their first product smoked. Objectives: This study reports on the first nicotine product used among undergraduates who had ever tried tobacco, and explores correlates of hookah as that first product. Methods: Participants included a convenience sample of undergraduate students (n = 1538) at four universities in upstate New York during fall 2013. Descriptive statistics assessed first nicotine product used and prevalence of current use. Logistic regression was used to examine correlates of hookah as the first nicotine product used. Results: Among the 832 students who reported ever use of any nicotine product, 25.4% reported hookah as their first product smoked; only combustible cigarettes (39.5%) were reported more frequently. Among students who ever smoked cigarettes, most reported cigarettes as their introductory product. Among students who never smoked cigarettes, nearly half reported hookah as their introductory product. Among ever nicotine users, current hookah smoking was common (34.9%), and greater than current e-cigarette (25.9%) and current combustible cigarette (26.4%) use. Never users of cigarettes, females, and non-Hispanic African Americans, had higher adjusted odds of reporting hookah as their introductory product. Conclusions: The results of this study have implications for the identification of risk factors for tobacco initiation, the assessment of tobacco use patterns and behaviors, and the tailoring of tobacco prevention initiatives among youth. Our findings suggest that broadening prevention efforts beyond a focus on combustible cigarettes may be warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the benefits of using a boundary tightening algorithm to improve the quality of the data used in supply and use table (SUT) balancing, building on similarities with certain approaches to statistical disclosure control. Boundary tightening was shown to significantly improve the quality of the finally balanced SUTs well beyond that of existing techniques. Most notably, improvements occurred when boundary tightening was applied prior to the balancing process - showing that it can be used as a valuable preliminary to other approaches. It also multiplied the improvement in SUTs quality when more accurate updated information was added to the SUTs. The findings of this paper strongly suggest that this boundary tightening algorithm will improve the quality of the output of the balancing process and it is equally likely to be useful when applied to other processes that handle uncertain data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report for the first time the mechanism of action of the natural product thalicthuberine (TH) in prostate and cervical cancer cells. TH induced a strong accumulation of LNCaP cells in mitosis, severe mitotic spindle defects, and asymmetric cell divisions, ultimately leading to mitotic catastrophe accompanied by cell death through apoptosis. However, unlike microtubule-binding drugs (vinblastine and paclitaxel), TH did not directly inhibit tubulin polymerization when tested in a cell-free system, whereas it reduced cellular microtubule polymer mass in LNCaP cells. This suggests that TH indirectly targets microtubule dynamics through inhibition of a critical regulator or tubulin-associated protein. Furthermore, TH is not a major substrate for P-glycoprotein (Pgp), which is responsible for multidrug resistance in numerous cancers, providing a rationale to further study TH in cancers with Pgp-mediated treatment resistance. The identification of TH's molecular target in future studies will be of great value to the development of TH as potential treatment of multidrug-resistant tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine in this article how the construction of a metaphor for collaborative practice can be used as a navigational tool to assist teachers in making meaningful connections between artists and teaching practices. Exploring collaboration in practice as a metaphor can help teachers expand their problem-solving capacities and allow them to cultivate authentic interaction between their artmaking and teaching practices. We also illustrate how collaborative practices, when enacted in both teaching and artmaking and conceived as a metaphorical construct can guide teachers toward identifying synergies between their artmaking and art teaching. To achieve this, we have drawn together a hybridized qualitative methodology to generate a multimodal rendering of intricately layered stories toward cultivating the inter-relationship between artist and teacher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rock falls represent a large percentage of landslide-related hazards reported by Canadian railways in mountainous terrain. A 54.7 km-long section of railway through the Canadian Cordillera is examined that experiences, on average, 18 rock falls each year. An approach for rock fall hazard management is developed based on quantified risk. The approach focuses on defining railway operation procedures (freight train operations and track maintenance) that comply with quantified risks. Weather-based criteria that define periods when rock falls are more likely to occur along the study area are examined. These criteria are used herein to reduce exposure to rock falls and reduce their consequences. Several freight train operation strategies are proposed that comply with a tolerable level of risk adopted in this study for illustrative purposes. The approach provides a simple, flexible and practical strategy for railway operations that can be regularly adopted by the operators, and that is based on a more comprehensive assessment of quantified risk. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This was an observational study investigating the efficacy and side effects associated with ulipristal acetate (UPA), a progesterone receptor modulator, and the possible benefits to women who have co-existing pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS). 80 women returned a questionnaire on the bleeding, menstrual pain and side effects, and changes on PMS were recorded. 67 women (84%) showed improvement in their menses. 54 women (67%) became amenorrhoeic. Of those, 67% were within 10 days of commencing UPA. Menses returned in 33 amenorrhoeic women within 4 weeks of stopping UPA. 58 women (70%) reported an improvement in their pain score but 41 women had a return of their pain after stopping UPA. The majority of the women had no or infrequent side effects. 80% had demonstrable improvement in their PMS symptoms. UPA is effective in controlling symptoms due to uterine fibroids with infrequent side effects. Our data also showed new evidence of a concurrent dramatic improvement in PMS in these women. Impact statement The observational study explored the drug profile of ulipristal acetate (UPA), a selective progesterone receptor modulator, which has been licenced as pre-treatment for surgical therapies of fibroids since 2012. We aimed to investigate the efficiency and side effects of UPA. Since the introduction of UPA in clinical practice, there has yet to be a study looking at the drug profile outside a research setting. We have also decided to investigate the effect of UPA on pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) in this group of women with symptomatic fibroids. As such this case report should be of interest to a broad readership including those interested in the medical management of symptomatic fibroids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitinol 60 (NiTi60) is a nickel–titanium alloy that has a unique combination of properties such as high hardness, low elastic modulus, and superelasticity. Recent studies of static indentation tests on prestressed samples demonstrated a considerable load capacity increase, which led to the current experimental work. The coefficient of restitution (COR) is measured for two NiTi60 spheres of different diameters (0.635 and 1.270 cm). This work shows that mechanically stressing NiTi60 spheres enables them to achieve a normal COR greater than 0.9 when colliding with NiTi60 landing. This is one of the highest ever reported COR values for self-mated crystalline metal alloys at moderate impact velocities. Consequently, it is believed that this material may be a potential candidate for use in applications requiring highly resilient and wear-resistant metallic materials. A well-known analytical formulation for the coefficient of restitution is used to gain insight and to elucidate some of the COR results presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the current challenges in liquid crystal science is to understand the molecular factors leading to the formation of the intriguing twist-bend nematic phase (NTB) and determine its properties. During our earlier hunt for the NTBphase created on cooling directly from the isotropic phase and not the nematic phase, we had prepared 30 symmetric liquid crystal dimers. These had odd spacers and methylene links to the two mesogenic groups; desirable but clearly not essential features for the formation of the NTB. Here, we report the phases that the dimers exhibit and their transition temperatures as functions of both the lengths of the spacer and the terminal chains. In addition we describe the transitional entropies, their optical textures, the X-ray scattering patterns and the2H NMR spectra employed in characterising the phases. All of which may lead to important properties of the twist-bend nematic phase. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

US households face various choices in saving for retirement, with one of the most common decisions related to maintaining or paying off a mortgage. Using the 2010 and 2013 Survey of Consumer Finances, this study investigates the relationship between financial sophistication and mortgage decisions among middle-age households. A Heckman two-stage selection model is employed to investigate two separate decisions: mortgage holding and loan-to-value (LTV) ratios among mortgage holders. Results indicate that financial sophistication is positively associated with carrying a mortgage and higher LTV ratios. These results imply that financially sophisticated households may be using leverage to increase asset returns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the effect of hard tribological coatings was studied in terms of mitigating impact damage between tungsten carbide spherical elements and two different types of steel substrates. The coatings included a hard, highly elastic Tungsten-incorporated diamond-like carbon (W-DLC) coating at two different thicknesses and a harder, less elastic CrxN coating. Impacts were created using a drop-test rig described herein and characterized in three ways: a measure of the coefficient of restitution during impact, investigation of the impact site using an optical interferometer, and fixed ion beam cross sections of select impacts for observation of subsurface damage within the coating and substrate. It was found that hard coatings on softer substrates such as 440C steel were able to mitigate surface damage up to a certain impact speed, depending on the coating, but were unable to influence the coefficient of restitution. On harder substrates like 52100 alloy steel, the coatings were found to increase the coefficient of restitution, indicating a reduction in energy loss due to plastic deformation, and to reduce damage at each tested speed. These effects and their potential influence on bearing performance are discussed in regard to impact mechanics, surface metrology, and the material properties of the coating and substrate acquired by nanoindentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment efficacy of a heat-activated thermosensitive liposome formulation of cisplatin (CDDP), known as HTLC, was determined in xenograft models of non-small-cell lung carcinoma. The short-term impact of local hyperthermia (HT) on tumor morphology, microvessel density and local inflammatory response was also evaluated. The HTLC formulation in combination with local HT resulted in a significant advantage in therapeutic effect in comparison with free drug and a non-thermosensitive liposome formulation of CDDP (i.e. LipoplatinTM) when administered at their maximum tolerated doses. Local HT-induced widespread cell necrosis and a significant reduction in microvessel density in the necrotic regions of tumors. CD11b-expressing innate leukocytes were demonstrated to infiltrate and reside preferentially at the necrotic rim of tumors, likely as a means to phagocytose-damaged tissue. Colocalization of CD11b with a marker of DNA damage (i.e. γH2AX) revealed a small portion of CD11b-expressing leukocytes that were possibly undergoing apoptosis as a result of HT-induced damage and/or the short lifespan of leukocytes. Overall, HT-induced tissue damage (i.e. at 24-h post-treatment) alone did not result in significant improvements in treatment effect, rather, the enhancement in tumor drug availability was correlated with improved therapeutic outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the increasing popularity of managerial coaching in organizations worldwide, little is known with regard to how gender and culture may affect managerial behavior. The present study is the first empirical study on managerial coaching on a global scale. Based on social role theory, role congruity theory, and cross-cultural theory, we first expect female leaders to engage in more coaching behavior than male leaders. Second, we expect that male leadership, particularly coaching behavior, is more influenced by societal culture than female leadership. Survey data were obtained from more than 600,000 employees, assessing coaching behavior of more than 130,000 practicing managers from 51 countries/areas. Results support both expectations. Taken together, this study has advanced our empirical and theoretical understanding of managerial coaching on a global scale. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The hydrologic cycle and understanding the relationship between rainfall and runoff is an important component of earth system science, sustainable development, and natural disasters caused by floods. With this in mind, the integration of digital earth data for hydrologic sciences is an important area of research. Currently, it takes a tremendous amount of effort to perform hydrologic analysis at a large scale because the data to support such analyses are not available on a single system in an integrated format that can be easily manipulated. Furthermore, the state-of-the-art in hydrologic data integration typically uses a rigid relational database making it difficult to redesign the data model to incorporate new data types. The HydroCloud system incorporates a flexible document data model to integrate precipitation and stream flow data across spatial and temporal dimensions for large-scale hydrologic analyses. In this paper, a document database schema is presented to store the integrated data-set along with analysis tools such as web services for data access and a web interface for exploratory data analysis. The utility of the system is demonstrated based on a scientific workflow that uses the system for both exploratory data analysis and statistical hypothesis testing. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Liposomes are biocompatible, biodegradable, controlled delivery systems with the ability to encapsulate both lipophilic and hydrophilic compounds, including metal ions. Liposome encapsulated Ag+(lipo-Ag+), prepared by reverse-phase evaporation, was used as a controlled delivery system againstCandida albicans. Characterisation of the lipo-Ag+indicated that the multilamellar vesicles with diameters ranging between ≈ 0.5 and 5.0 μm showed potential as a controlled delivery system to consistently deliver Ag+toC. albicans. Results from inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analysis showed higher association of cell bound Ag+at 15 mins post exposure when compared to unencapsulated Ag+. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicate detrimental effects of Ag+onC. albicanscell structure. These effects along with the ICP results also correlate with previously reported time kill experiment observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intriguing twist-bend nematic (NTB) phase is formed, primarily, by liquid crystal dimers having odd spacers. Typically, the phase is preceded by a nematic (N) phase via a weak first-order transition. Our aim is to obtain dimers where the NTBphase is formed directly from the isotropic (I) phase via a strong first-order phase transition. The analogy between such behaviour and that of the smectic A (SmA)–N–I sequence suggests that this new dimer will require a short spacer. This expectation is consistent with the prediction of a molecular field theory, since the decrease in the spacer length results in an increase in the molecular curvature. A vector of odd dimers based on benzoyloxybenzylidene mesogenic groups with terminal ethoxy groups has been synthesised with spacers composed of odd numbers of methylene groups. Spacers having 5, 7, 9 and 11 methylene groups are found to possess the conventional phase sequence NTB–N–I; surprisingly, for the propane spacer, the NTBphase is formed directly from the I phase. The properties of these dimers have been studied with care to ensure that the identification of the NTBphase is reliable. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study proposes and tests a theory driven model: the psychological health, behavior and body weight (PBBW) model. The model hypothesizes an indirect relationship between psychological health and body weight, mediated by health behaviors. Correctional employees (N = 317) completed physical assessments and self-report surveys that measured body mass index (BMI), perceived stress, psychological health (overall mood and depressive symptoms), and health behavior (as indicated by reported diet and exercise quality). The authors used structural equation modeling to evaluate the relationships between variables and test the model. Results supported the PBBW model, and findings suggested that psychological health and stress affected body weight. Furthermore the effect of psychological health on body weight was mediated by health behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This article examines the association between measures of respiratory muscle function and fatigue in individuals with mild-to-moderate disability multiple sclerosis (MS).Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 37 ambulatory volunteers with MS (28 F/9 M, 52.7 ± 10.2 years, Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS] = 3.5 ± 1.9). No patients withdrew from the study. Primary outcome variables included measures of respiratory function: maximal inspiratory (MIP) and expiratory pressures (MEP), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV12); and a self-reported measure of fatigue: the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS). Secondary measures included 6-min walking test (6MWT), a timed stair climb, the Short Form (SF)-36, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and the Physical Activity and Disability Scale (PADS).Results: Significant correlations were shown between expiratory muscle strength (MEP) and the MFIS total (p < 0.03,r = –0.362) and between MEP and physical fatigue scores (p < 0.03,r = –0.360), as well as between MVV12percent predicted (respiratory muscle endurance) and both the 6MWT (p = 0.045,r = 0.346) and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (p = 0.006,r = 0.447).Conclusions: Respiratory muscle performance is correlated with perceived fatigue (MFIS), whereas respiratory endurance correlated to reductions in physical function and sleep quality among individuals with mild-to-moderate severity MS.Implications for RehabilitationMultiple sclerosis (MS) results in peripheral and respiratory muscle weakness and affected individuals report fatigue as one of their most disabling symptoms.Expiratory muscle strength was correlated with self-reported physical fatigue, while respiratory muscle endurance was correlated with functional performance and sleepiness.Respiratory muscle strength was not correlated with lung spirometry testing.These findings highlight the importance of considering the effects of respiratory muscle weakness when evaluating causes of fatigue among individuals with mild-to-moderate MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine by computed tomography (CT) whether treatment with tumor-draining lymph-node-derived expanded autologous T lymphocytes results in objective responses and/or improved survival in patients with metastatic urinary bladder cancer (UBC) and to record the toxicity of the treatment. Materials and methods: Eighteen patients with metastatic UBC were prospectively selected from two centers. The preoperative staging was T2–T4bN1–2 and/or M0–M1 or MX. Tumor-draining lymph nodes were harvested at intended cystectomy for the extraction of T lymphocytes. This was followed by expansion of the T lymphocytes in a cell culture, and subsequent reinfusion of these autologous tumor-specific T lymphocytes. Responses to therapy were evaluated by CT scans according to Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) and clinical follow-up, according to the research protocol. Results: Nine out of 18 patients were treated. Treatment was feasible and safe. In two out of nine immunologically treated patients, objective responses were detected in terms of diminished or obliterated nodal metastases. When excluding three patients with disseminated osseous metastases plus one with a T4b tumor left in situ, a success rate of two out of six treated patients was seen. The two responders had survival times of 35 and 11 months, respectively. No toxicity was recorded. Conclusions: Infusion of expanded autologous tumor-specific T lymphocytes is feasible and safe, and objective responses according to RECIST were recorded. One objective responder to immunotherapy displayed notably long overall survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demographic transition model is a central concept in population research and human geography. Accompanying this theory is a graph depicting changes in birth rates, death rates, population, and natural increase over time. Unfortunately, students often find it difficult to unpack all of the meaning from this rich display of information. In this exercise, students reformulate the iconic graph into a standard scattergram using the data and plotting capabilities of Gapminder (www.gapminder.org). This tool enables students to ask and then answer their own questions about world population dynamics using nation-level data from reliable sources such as the United Nations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]