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Purpose Women involved in the carceral system (CS) experience several conditions that increase their risk for HIV (e.g. high rates of substance use, psychiatric disorders, histories of victimization). The purpose of this study is to explore perspectives on potential strategies to connect women in the CS to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) services. Design/methodology/approach This study conducted in-depth interviews with 27 women involved in the CS eligible for PrEP. Using vignettes, interviews explored attitudes, barriers and facilitators toward PrEP screening, referral and linkage facilitated via a CS stakeholder, an mHealth application or providing PrEP service referrals during detention via a navigator. Findings Most women were, on average, 41.3 years, from racial and ethnic minority groups (56% black/African American; 19% Latinx). Inductive thematic analysis revealed CS involved women expressed mostly positive attitudes toward CS-based PrEP implementation. Younger women were more accepting of and interested in mHealth interventions. Implementation facilitators included leveraging relationships with trusted allies (e.g. “peers”) and existing systems collaborations. Recommended implementation strategies included providing HIV and PrEP-specific education and training for system stakeholders and addressing issues related to privacy, system mistrust and stigma. Originality/value Results provide a critical foundation for the implementation of interventions to improve PrEP access for women involved in the CS and have important implications for implementation strategies for all adults involved in the CS. Improving access to PrEP among this population may also support progress toward addressing national disparities in PrEP uptake, where women, black and Latinx populations have substantial unmet need.

A new class of expanding isolation systems has been enabled by the creation of a uniquely engineered expanding metal alloy. The engineered metal alloy expands downhole and chemically transforms from a metal alloy into a rock-like seal. This novel metal alloy results in a sealing system that combines the operational simplicity of swellable elastomers with the robustness of non-elastomeric seals and includes an anchoring capability to the seal. Swellable elastomers have provided effective zonal isolation since their introduction in the early 2000s. Swellable elastomers expand by absorbing fluids within the matrix of the elastomer. This absorption causes the swellable elastomer to expand in size and results in a high-pressure seal for zonal isolation. Despite the widespread success of swellable packers, for some applications a non-elastomeric seal for zonal isolation is preferred and more reliable. Applications benefit from non-elastomeric seals for zonal isolation due to temperature, pressure, or chemical compatibility reasons. Other applications, such as fluid injection operations, require anchoring capabilities which can be challenging with swellable elastomers. The new engineered metal alloy chemically reacts with the downhole water-based fluids and expands into a strong rock-like material that provides non-elastomeric zonal isolation with pressure and anchoring capabilities exceeding swellable technology at higher expansion ratios. In addition, water swellable elastomers are not suitable for applications which have a high salinity brine or produced water as the setting fluid. By contrast the expanding metal alloy chemical reaction is enhanced by increasing salinity. The expanding metal alloy bonds with the water-based fluid in the wellbore and this chemical reaction causes the metal to expand into a rock-like material. The chemical reaction results in a new material that is larger than the original alloy. Unlike a swellable elastomer which absorbs fluids (a purely physical process governed by thermodynamics and osmosis), the metal alloy's molecular structure chemically transforms, incorporating the water molecules to create a new material. The metal alloy can expand over 80% as it transforms into its final state as a rock-like seal. Extensive small-scale and full-scale tests were conducted to reliably and consistently map the metamorphosis from the engineered metal alloy into the rock-like material. These tests required developing new methods for testing the material including designing new test fixtures and new test procedures. Testing proved seals were created in smooth cylinders as well as in irregular shapes and with a wide range of brine types and brine concentrations. The result is an expanding engineered alloy that creates a robust and durable seal with anchoring capabilities across a wide range of downhole conditions. A novel non-elastomeric zonal isolation system is composed of a new expanding metal alloy that expands in water-based wellbore fluid, completion fluid, or formation fluid. The performance of this new material has been demonstrated through experimental testing. This paper discusses the development and initial testing of this new expanding metal and the process of forming a robust and reliable downhole seal with anchoring capabilities.

Postsynaptic cytosolic Cl− concentration determines whether GABAergic and glycinergic synapses are inhibitory or excitatory. We have shown that nitric oxide (NO) initiates the release of Cl− from acidic internal stores into the cytosol of retinal amacrine cells (ACs) thereby elevating cytosolic Cl−. In addition, we found that cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) expression and Ca2+ elevations are necessary for the transient effects of NO on cytosolic Cl− levels, but the mechanism remains to be elucidated. Here, we investigated the involvement of TMEM16A as a possible link between Ca2+ elevations and cytosolic Cl− release. TMEM16A is a Ca2+-activated Cl− channel that is functionally coupled with CFTR in epithelia. Both proteins are also expressed in neurons. Based on this and its Ca2+ dependence, we test the hypothesis that TMEM16A participates in the NO-dependent elevation in cytosolic Cl− in ACs. Chick retina ACs express TMEM16A as shown by Western blot analysis, single-cell PCR, and immunocytochemistry. Electrophysiology experiments demonstrate that TMEM16A functions in amacrine cells. Pharmacological inhibition of TMEM16A with T16inh-AO1 reduces the NO-dependent Cl− release as indicated by the diminished shift in the reversal potential of GABAA receptor-mediated currents. We confirmed the involvement of TMEM16A in the NO-dependent Cl− release using CRISPR/Cas9 knockdown of TMEM16A. Two different modalities targeting the gene for TMEM16A (ANO1) were tested in retinal amacrine cells: an all-in-one plasmid vector and crRNA/tracrRNA/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein. The all-in-one CRISPR/Cas9 modality did not change the expression of TMEM16A protein and produced no change in the response to NO. However, TMEM16A-specific crRNA/tracrRNA/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein effectively reduces both TMEM16A protein levels and the NO-dependent shift in the reversal potential of GABA-gated currents. These results show that TMEM16A plays a role in the NO-dependent Cl− release from retinal ACs.

Accurately predicting three dimensional protein structures from sequences would present us with targets for drugs via molecular dynamics that would treat cancer, viral infections, and neurological diseases. These treatments would have a far reaching impact to our economy, quality of life, and society. The goal of this research was to build a data mining framework to predict cysteine connectivity in proteins from the sequence and oxidation state of cysteines. Accurately predicting the cysteine bonding configuration improves the TM-Score, a quantitative measurement of protein structure prediction accuracy. We provided state of the art $\mathrm{Q}_{{\mathrm{p}}}$ Q p and $\mathrm{Q}_{{\mathrm{c}}}$ Q c on the PDBCYS and IVD-54 Datasets. Furthermore, we have produced a Local Similarity Matrix that compares favorably to the default PSSMs generated from PSI-Blast in a statistically significant way. Our $\mathrm{Q}_{{\mathrm{p}}}$ Q p for SP39, PDBCYS, and IVD-54 were 90.6, 80.6, and 68.5, respectively.

The possible role of oxidative stress and nitric oxide (NO) in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) has been suggested by several neuropathological, biochemical, and experimental data. Because the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2070744 in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS or NOS3) gene (chromosome 7q36.1) showed association with the risk for MS in Iranians, we attempted to replicate the possible association between this SNP and the risk for MS in the Caucasian Spanish population. The frequencies of NOS3rs2070744 genotypes and allelic variants in 300 patients diagnosed with MS and 380 healthy controls were assessed with a TaqMan-based qPCR assay. The possible influence of the genotype frequency on age at onset of MS, the severity of MS, clinical evolutive subtypes of MS, and HLA-DRB1*1501 genotype were also analyzed. The frequencies of rs2070744 genotypes and allelic variants were not associated with the risk of developing MS and were not influenced by gender, age at onset and severity of MS, the clinical subtype of MS or the HLA-DRB1*1501 genotype. This study found a lack of association between NOS3 rs2070744 SNP and the risk for MS in Caucasian Spanish people.

BACKGROUND Justice-involved young adults have high rates of substance use disorders. Despite the need for treatment, there are unique challenges to recruiting young adults into substance use treatment trials. Digital health technology offers many novel avenues for 1) recruiting justice-involved young adults into clinical research studies and 2) studying ways to increase access to substance use services for justice-involved young adults. OBJECTIVE The current study describes the process and feasibility of recruiting justice-involved young adults into clinical research using social media and the acceptability of digital health interventions to address substance use in this population. METHODS Justice-involved young adults (ages 18-24) were recruited through Facebook ($0.66 per click) and Reddit ($0.47 per click) paid advertisements. Participants responded to an online survey focused on their substance use, treatment utilization history, and acceptability of substance-use focused digital health interventions. RESULTS A national sample of justice-involved young adults were successfully enrolled and completed the survey (N=131). More than half of participants were on probation or parole in the past year (55%) and reported hazardous alcohol (52%) or drug (57%) use. Most (78%) were not currently participating in substance use treatment. Nearly 2/3 (63%) were willing to participate in one or more hypothetical digital health interventions. CONCLUSIONS Social media appears to be a feasible and cost-effective method for reaching justice-involved young adults to participate in substance use research trials. Proposed digital health interventions focusing on reducing substance use had high acceptability

Histamine has shown a possible role in the etiopathogenesis of migraine. It has been reported an association between some polymorphisms in the diamine oxidase (DAO) gene and migraine, especially in women. Two studies addressing DAO activity in migraine patients showed conflicting results. We investigated the possible relationship of serum DAO activity and histamine levels and 3 polymorphisms in the DAO gene with the risk for migraine.We studied the frequencies of DAO rs10156191, rs1049742 and rs1049793 genotypes and allelic variants in 298 migraine patients and 360 healthy controls (using a TaqMan-based qPCR assay), and serum DAO activity and histamine levels in a subset of 99 migraine patients and 115 controls with strict exclusion criteria, and analysed the relationship of these variables with several clinical features of migraine.The frequencies of the DAO genotypes and allelic variants analysed were similar in migraine patients and controls. Serum DAO activity was significantly higher in migraine patients (Vmax/Km 4.24 ± 2.93 vs. 3.60 ± 7.64, p 0.001), especially in females (Vmax/Km 4.63 ± 2.96 vs. 3.18 ± 2.32, p 0.0001), while serum histamine was similar in both study groups.Serum DAO activity was increased in patients with migraine, especially in females, while serum histamine levels were normal. None of the studied polymorphisms was associated with the risk for migraine.

Free radicals that form from reactive species of nitrogen and oxygen can react dangerously with cellular components and are involved with the pathogenesis of diabetes, cancer, Parkinson's, and heart disease. Cysteine amino acids, due to their reactive nature, are prone to oxidation by these free radicals. Determining which cysteines oxidize within proteins is crucial to our understanding of these chronic diseases. Wet lab techniques, like differential alkylation, to determine which cysteines oxidize are often expensive and time-consuming. We utilize machine learning as a fast and inexpensive approach to identifying cysteines with oxidative capabilities. We created the original features RAMmod and RAMseq for use in classification. We also incorporated well-known features such as PROPKA, SASA, PSS, and PSSM. Our algorithm requires only the protein sequence to operate; however, we do use template matching by MODELLER to acquire 3D coordinates for additional feature extraction. There was a mean improvement of RAM over N6C by 22.04% MCC. It was statistically significant with a p-value of 0.015. RAM provided a significant increase over PSSM with a p-value of 0.040 and an average 70.09% improvement MCC., Graphical Abstract Unlabelled Image

Achieving a Better Life Experience Act (ABLE) was signed into law by President Obama on December 19, 2014. ABLE represents transformative policy change that will open new pathways to advance independence and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with significant disabilities. ABLE accounts are exempt as a resource from means-tested eligibility requirements for public benefits such as Social Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid. This article explains the critical elements of ABLE implementation and describes the impact of ABLE on future disability policy and program development.

The required step in all droplet-based devices is droplet formation. A droplet generator must deliver an application-specific performance that includes a prescribed droplet size and generation frequency while producing monodisperse droplets. The desired performance is usually reached through several cost- and time-inefficient design iterations. To address this, we take advantage of a low-cost rapid prototyping method and provide a framework that enables researchers to make informed decisions on how to change geometric parameters and flow conditions to tune the performance of a microfluidic flow-focusing droplet generator. We present the primary and secondary parameters necessary for fine-tuning droplet formation over a wide range of capillary numbers and flow rate ratios. Once the key parameters are identified, we demonstrate the effect of geometric parameters and flow conditions on droplet size, generation rate, polydispersity, and generation regime. Using this framework, a wide range of droplet diameters (i.e., 30-400 μm) and generation rates (i.e., 0.5-800 Hz) was achieved.

OBJECTIVES: With this study, we explore communication about consistent and correct condom use among African American and Latino male adolescents ages 15 to 19 and their fathers. METHODS: Twenty-five father-son dyads completed semistructured interviews designed to elicit specific preferences for teaching and learning about consistent and correct condom use and strategies for addressing common condom use errors and problems. For analysis, we used in vivo coding and vertical and horizontal analysis techniques. RESULTS: Fathers and sons agreed that communication about condom use is feasible and acceptable. However, fathers tended to convey vague messages regarding protecting oneself from the negative consequences of sexual activity. Furthermore, both fathers and sons reported barriers hindering conversations. Secondly, the style and frequency of condom use conversations can help overcome barriers and support father-son relationship management. Talking frequently in 1-on-1 settings and using strategies to reduce discomfort made communication easier. Lastly, fathers and sons reported distinct preferences for teaching and learning about condom use. Sons wanted fathers to give specific guidance on the use and management of condoms. Fathers expressed interest in opportunities for improving their own condom knowledge and skills. Fathers identified gaps in their own condom use knowledge as a limitation to effective instruction of their sons. CONCLUSIONS: A father-focused communication intervention about condom use is feasible and acceptable. Enhancing the intergenerational benefits of father-son communication by addressing specific father-son preferences and learning needs for condom use instruction, as well as communication barriers, represents a novel mechanism for reducing male sexual reproductive health disparities.

The use of an erbium laser to treat carious teeth has proven to have several advantages when compared to rotary instruments. The clinician is able to remove a minimal amount of tooth structure, thus minimizing the risk of pulpal exposure. The extremely short pulses of erbium lasers combined with an aerosolized water spray have been shown to cool the pulp as opposed to rotary instruments which may create heat that could lead to a pulpitis. Bonding to the lased surfaces is improved because the smear layer is removed, bleeding is controlled, and the lased tooth surface appears etched with open dentinal tubules. The laser also provides a bactericidal effect and the need for local anesthetics is eliminated or reduced. The use of the erbium laser to prepare cavity preparations can be done as quickly, or oftentimes more quickly, than using a rotary instruments. In addition, patients appreciate the absence of the high speed drill noise and vibration.

Plants grown in Norwegian greenhouses during winter synthesise low amounts of anthocyanins and flavonols (colourless flavonoids). Higher content of anthocyanins enhances the red colour in lettuce and improves the external quality and marketability of the product. The flavonoids may also benefit consumer health due to their anti-oxidative and presumed anti-carcinogenic effects. The effects of ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation given by UV-B tubes (Q-panel UV 313) and by standard cool white fluorescent tubes (Philips Master TL-D 36W/840) on flavonol and anthocyanin synthesis in lettuce cv. Lollo Rosso (Carmoli) were studied. The aim was to increase the content of flavonoids without reducing the fresh weight of the plant. Cool white fluorescent tubes induced high amounts of flavonoids in the plants during a five-day experimental period, with no growth reduction. The highest doses of UV-B from the UV-B tubes resulted in higher flavonoid synthesis, but with some growth reduction. The increase in flavonoids was hig...

Objective Patients with complex aortic disease often require multistaged repairs with numerous anastomoses. Manual suturing can be time consuming. To reduce ischemic time, a circular stapling device has been used to facilitate prosthetic graft-to-graft anastomoses. Objectives are to describe this technique and assess outcomes. Methods From February 2009 to May 2014, 44 patients underwent complex aortic repair with a circular end-to-end anastomosis (EEA) stapler at Cleveland Clinic. All patients had extensive aneurysms: 17 after ascending dissection repair, 10 chronic type B dissections, and 17 degenerative aneurysms. Stapler was used during total arch repair as an end-to-side anastomosis (n = 36; including first stage elephant trunk [ET] in 32, frozen ET in 3) and an end-to-end anastomosis during redo thoracoabdominal repair (n = 11). Three patients had the stapler used during both stages of repair. Patients underwent early and annual follow-ups with computed tomography analysis. Results There were no bleeds, ruptures, or leaks at the stapled site, but 2 patients died. Complications included 7 reoperations not related to the site of stapled anastomosis and 6 tracheostomies, but there was no paralysis or renal failure. Mean circulatory arrest time was 16 ± 5 minutes. Mean follow-up was 26 ± 17 months and consisted of imaging before discharge, at 3 to 6 months, and at 1 year. Planned reinterventions included 21 second-stage ET completion: Endovascular (n = 18) and open (n = 3). There were 4 late deaths. Conclusions Use of an end-to-end anastomotic automated circular stapler is safe, effective, and durable in performing graft-to-graft anastomoses during complex thoracic aortic surgery. Further evaluation and refinement of this technique are warranted.

How to Obtain Contact Hours by Reading This Issue Instructions: 1.2 contact hours will be awarded by Villanova University College of Nursing upon successful completion of this activity. A contact hour is a unit of measurement that denotes 60 minutes of an organized learning activity. This is a learner-based activity. Villanova University College of Nursing does not require submission of your answers to the quiz. A contact hour certificate will be awarded after you register, pay the registration fee, and complete the evaluation form online at http://goo.gl/gMfXaf . In order to obtain contact hours you must: 1. Read the article, “Barriers to Participation in an Online Nursing Journal Club at a Community Teaching Hospital,” found on pages 536–542, carefully noting any tables and other illustrative materials that are included to enhance your knowledge and understanding of the content. Be sure to keep track of the amount of time (number of minutes) you spend reading the article and completing the quiz. 2. Read and answer each question on the quiz. After completing all of the questions, compare your answers to those provided within this issue. If you have incorrect answers, return to the article for further study. 3. Go to the Villanova website to register for contact hour credit. You will be asked to provide your name, contact information, and a VISA, MasterCard, or Discover card number for payment of the $20.00 fee. Once you complete the online evaluation, a certificate will be automatically generated. This activity is valid for continuing education credit until November 30, 2019 . Contact Hours This activity is co-provided by Villanova University College of Nursing and SLACK Incorporated. Villanova University College of Nursing is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. Objectives Describe the benefits and barriers to participating in an online nursing journal club (ONJC) over a standard journal club. Identify three strategies to address the barriers to participation in an ONJC. Disclosure Statement Neither the planners nor the author have any conflicts of interest to disclose. Background: Journal clubs can be an important tool enabling health care professionals in promoting evidence-based practice within their organizations. Method: The researchers examined 183 nurses' perceptions of an online nursing journal club (ONJC) and perceived barriers to participation through a survey at a teaching hospital. Results: Time was identified as the greatest participation barrier. The respondents preferred journal articles regarding the topics policy and procedures, medications, and nursing practice changes. Conclusion: To increase the use of the ONJC, it is imperative to focus on perceived barriers and strategies to eliminate them to help with increasing overall participation and achieving success when using an ONJC. J Contin Educ Nurs. 2016;47(12):536–542.

Control of micro-organisms during the completion of hydraulically fractured wells is a significant component in the successful development of a production system. Detrimental bacteria, such as sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), introduced into the reservoir during the completion process, can facilitate biogenic sulfide production, resulting in souring of the production fluids and gas, iron sulfide formation, and SRB associated microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). Biocides are routinely dosed at low levels into the fracturing fluids to control microbe populations and thus the subsequent adverse effects associated with bacterial activity. Biocides, by their very nature and intended purpose, are not well tolerated by certain aquatic organisms. In an effort to improve the ecological profile of the microbiological control program in fracturing operations, a treatment system using nitrate and nonhazardous live nitrate-reducing bacteria (NRB) for the control of SRB was developed. Nitrate-based mitigation of SRB has been used as an alternative to biocide injection in the oil and gas industry for decades. Successful SRB control using nitrate-based treatment applications has been observed in several waterflooding programs throughout the world. Nitrates stimulate the metabolic activity of NRB. NRB can mitigate SRB activity by means of three primary mechanisms: competition for available carbon sources, direct metabolic inhibition through the generation of nitrite, and certain species of NRB, which directly oxidize biogenic sulfide. This case study is an evaluation of the application of live NRB, selected for their tolerance of the temperature and salinity of the Marcellus shale, and sodium nitrate nutrient solution, as an alternative treatment to the application of biocides for hydraulically fractured wells. Both live NRB and nitrate solution were added into the fracturing fluids during the fracturing operation. Multiple wells were treated in the Marcellus shale using the tested NRB and nitrate treatment system, and these wells were monitored for periods ranging from three to 18 months depending on the date of completion. Treatment efficacy was evaluated by comparing data from the NRB and nitrate-treated wells to data collected from wells completed in the same manner and, in some cases, on the same well pad with a biocide that historically exhibited good microbial control. The results from the wells treated with NRB and nitrate demonstrated that the treatment was similarly effective compared to successful biocide applications for the control of SRB activity.