Importance of building a digital species index (spindex) for entomology collections: A case study, results and recommendations.

The Entomology Collection at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University (ANSP) contains approximately four million insect specimens including some of the oldest in the Western Hemisphere. Like most large entomology collections, no complete inventory of the species represented in the collection was available and even a physical search for a species could not ensure that all available specimens would be recovered for study. Between 2010 and 2014, we created a species-level index (called here spindex) of all species and their specimen counts at ANSP, along with each species' location in the collection.

What's the gap? A possible strategy for advancing theory, and an appeal for experimental structure data to drive that advance.

There is substantial demand for theoretical/computational tools that can produce correct predictions of the geometric structure and band gap to accelerate the design and screening of new materials with desirable electronic properties. DFT-based methods exist that reliably predict electronic structure given the correct geometry. Similarly, when good spectroscopic data are available, these same methods may, in principle, be used as input to the inverse problem of generating a good structural model.

Elementary processes governing VAlC chemical etching in HF.

The literature on MXenes, an important class of 2D materials discovered in 2011, is now abundant. Yet, the lack of well-defined structures, with definite crystal orientations, has so far hindered our capability to identify some key aspects ruling MXene's chemical exfoliation from their parent MAX phase. Herein the chemical exfoliation of VAlC is studied by using well-defined square pillars with lateral sizes from 7 μm up to 500 μm, processed from centimeter-sized VAlC single crystals.

Restoration of physiologic loading modulates engineered intervertebral disc structure and function in an in vivo model.

Tissue-engineered whole disc replacements are an emerging treatment strategy for advanced intervertebral disc degeneration. A challenge facing the translation of tissue-engineered disc replacement to clinical use are the opposing needs of initial immobilization to advantage integration contrasted with physiologic loading and its anabolic effects. Here, we utilize our established rat tail model of tissue engineered disc replacement with external fixation to study the effects of remobilization at two time points postimplantation on engineered disc structure, composition, and function.

Design, synthesis, and study of Pd(II) ion-imprinted functionalized polymer.

Selective metal ions' extraction and recovery has various applications in the analytical field. Metal ions need to be extracted, detected, and quantified. For that purpose, ion-imprinted polymers have earned a great deal of attention during the past two decades.

Goal-Striving Stress and Incident Cardiovascular Disease in Blacks: The Jackson Heart Study.

Background Goal-striving stress (GSS), the stress from striving for goals, is associated with poor health. Less is known about its association with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods and Results We used data from the JHS (Jackson Heart Study), a study of CVD among blacks (21-95 years old) from 2000 to 2015.

Exploring the Spatial Patterning in Racial Differences in Cardiovascular Health Between Blacks and Whites Across the United States: The REGARDS Study.

Background Cardiovascular health (CVH) disparities between blacks and whites have persisted in the United States for some time, and although there have been remarkable improvements in addressing cardiovascular disease, it still remains the leading cause of death in the United States. In addition, well-documented disparities are unfortunately widening incidence gaps across certain regions of the United States. Our focus was on answering the following questions: (1) How much spatial heterogeneity exists in the racial differences in CVH between blacks and whites across this country? and (2) Is the spatial heterogeneity in the racial differences significantly explained by living in the Stroke Belt? Methods and Results To explore the spatial patterning in the racial differences in CVH between blacks and whites across the country, we used geographically weighted regression methods, which result in local estimates of the racial differences in CVH.

Digital self-monitoring: Does adherence or association with outcomes differ by self-monitoring target?

Objective: Digital self-monitoring of eating, physical activity, and weight is increasingly prescribed in behavioural weight loss programmes. This study determined if adherence rates or associations with outcomes differed according to self-monitoring target (ie, self-monitoring of eating versus physical activity versus weight).

Methods: Participants in a 3-month, group-based weight loss programme were instructed to use an app to record food intake, wear a physical activity sensor, and use a wireless body weight scale.

Perceived barriers to physical activity during and after a behavioural weight loss programme.

Background: Most adults with overweight/obesity participating in behavioural weight loss (BWL) programmes never achieve prescribed physical activity (PA) levels. This study examined changes in PA barriers, their relationships with accelerometer-measured PA during and after a 12-month BWL programme, and associations between PA barriers and participant characteristics.

Methods: Adults (N = 283) in a BWL programme completed the Barriers to Being Active Quiz, a 21-item self-report measure that assesses seven perceived PA barriers, and they wore an accelerometer for seven consecutive days at baseline and at 6 (midtreatment), 12 (end of treatment), 18 (6-mo follow-up), and 24 months (12-mo follow-up).

Stigmatizing weight experiences in health care: Associations with BMI and eating behaviours.

Introduction: Individuals with overweight or obesity often experience stigmatizing weight-related interactions in health care, though how these experiences are associated with body mass index (BMI) and eating behaviour is unknown. This study had three aims: (a) characterize types and frequency of stigmatizing health care experiences, (b) assess relationships among BMI, eating behaviour, and stigmatizing experiences, and (c) examine whether internalized weight stigma mediates the relationship between stigmatizing experiences, weight, and eating behaviour.

Methods: Adults (N = 85) enrolled in behavioural weight loss completed measures of stigmatizing health care experiences, weight bias internalization, eating behaviours, and BMI.

Current GBIF occurrence data demonstrates both promise and limitations for potential red listing of spiders.

Conservation assessments of hyperdiverse groups of organisms are often challenging and limited by the availability of occurrence data needed to calculate assessment metrics such as extent of occurrence (EOO). Spiders represent one such diverse group and have historically been assessed using primary literature with retrospective georeferencing. Here we demonstrate the differences in estimations of EOO and hypothetical IUCN Red List classifications for two extensive spider datasets comprising 479 species in total.

Influence of hyaluronic acid modification on CD44 binding towards the design of hydrogel biomaterials.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a linear polysaccharide of d-glucuronic acid and N-acetyl-d-glucosamine that is native to many tissues and interacts with cells via cell-surface receptors (e.g., CD44).

Cognitive Functional Abilities in Parkinson's Disease: Agreement Between Patients and Informants.

Background: The Penn Parkinson's Daily Activities Questionnaire-15 (PDAQ-15) assesses cognition-related instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) in Parkinson's disease (PD).

Objectives: To assess the degree and predictors of disagreement between patients (PT) and knowledgeable informants (KI) on the PDAQ-15.

Methods: We recruited 254 PT and KI pairs (PT-KI), determined predictors of agreement, and compared scores to a performance-based functional measure (Direct Assessment of Functional Status [DAFS]; N = 61).

The influence of bath and probe sonication on the physicochemical and microstructural properties of wheat starch.

Ultrasound has been rapidly applied successfully in diverse food technological aspects including improvement of functional properties of food ingredients such as starch. This work was carried out to compare the influence of two types of sonication, bath and probe, on several physicochemical and microstructural properties of wheat starch. Two sonication probes (200 and 400 W) and a sonication bath (690 W) were applied to treat wheat starch suspensions at 15 and 30 min.

Biogeography of predaceous diving beetles (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae) of Mongolia.

The bio-geographical composition and spatial distribution patterns of dytiscid assemblages in Mongolia are relatively unexplored. In this study, we compiled a list of 99 dytiscid species belonging to 20 genera and five subfamilies recorded in Mongolia and investigated species richness, spatial distribution and bio-geographical composition of the Mongolian dytiscid fauna. This study encompasses the information of currently recorded species and their geographic localities in Mongolia based on our own data and literature sources.

A Behavioral Health Program for Alcohol Use Disorder, Substance Abuse, and Depression in Chronic Liver Disease.

Alcohol use disorder, substance abuse, and depression are illnesses that deteriorate the quality of life (QOL) of patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). Screening and behavioral health programs integrated into routine practice can mitigate the deleterious effects of such illnesses but have not been adopted in hepatology practices. We implemented a behavioral health program based on the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) model and assessed its acceptability and effectiveness in improving QOL.

An integrated microchannel biosensor platform to analyse low density lactate metabolism in HepG2 cells .

In this study, we developed an electrochemical microchannel biosensor platform to analyse lactate metabolism in cells. This biosensor platform was fabricated by photolithography, thin-film deposition and microfluidic technology. A kind of functional biomaterial was prepared by mixing lactate oxidase, single-walled carbon nanotubes and chitosan, and platinum as working and blank electrodes of the biosensor was modified by a thin Prussian blue layer.

Habitat differentiation among three Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee () populations.

Ecological niche models (ENMs) are often used to predict species distribution patterns from datasets that describe abiotic and biotic factors at coarse spatial scales. Ground-truthing ENMs provide important information about how these factors relate to species-specific requirements at a scale that is biologically relevant for the species. Chimpanzees are territorial and have a predominantly frugivorous diet.

Cerebral White Matter Hyperintensities, Kidney Function Decline, and Recurrent Stroke After Intensive Blood Pressure Lowering: Results From the Secondary Prevention of Small Subcortical Strokes ( SPS 3) Trial.

Background We aimed to determine whether cerebral white matter hyperintensities ( WMHs ) can distinguish stroke survivors susceptible to rapid kidney function decline from intensive blood pressure ( BP ) lowering. Methods and Results The SPS3 (Secondary Prevention of Small Subcortical Strokes) trial randomized participants with recent lacunar stroke to systolic BP targets of 130 to 149 and <130 mm Hg. We included 2454 participants with WMH measured by clinical magnetic resonance imaging at baseline and serum creatinine measured during follow-up.

Deep Graph Embedding for Ranking Optimization in E-commerce.

Matching buyers with most suitable sellers providing relevant items (e.g., products) is essential for e-commerce platforms to guarantee customer experience.

Intention Mining in Medical Process: A Case Study in Trauma Resuscitation.

In medical processes such as surgical procedures and trauma resuscitations, medical teams perform treatment activities according to underlying invisible goals or intentions. In this study, we present an approach to uncover these intentions from observed treatment activities. Developed on top of a hierarchical hidden Markov model (H-HMM), our approach can identify multi-level intentions.