Enhancing Electronic Health Record Measurement of Depression Severity and Suicide Ideation: A Distributed Ambulatory Research in Therapeutics Network (DARTNet) Study
Robert J. Valuck, Heather O. Anderson, Anne M. Libby, Elias Brandt, Cathy Bryan, Richard R. Allen, Elizabeth W. Staton, David R. West and Wilson D. Pace
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine September 2012, 25 (5) 582-593; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2012.05.110053
Robert J. Valuck
From from the Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (RJV, HOA, AML) and the Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine (RJV, HOA, AML, EWS, PRW, WDP), University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, the American Academy of Family Physicians, Denver, CO (EB); QED Clinical, Inc., dba CINA, Dallas, TX (CB); and Peak Statistical Services, Evergreen, CO (RRA).
Heather O. Anderson
Anne M. Libby
Elias Brandt
Cathy Bryan
Richard R. Allen
Elizabeth W. Staton
David R. West
Wilson D. Pace
Background: Depression is a leading cause of morbidity worldwide. The majority of treatment for depression occurs in primary care, but effective care remains elusive. Clinical decision making and comparative studies of real-world antidepressant effectiveness are limited by the absence of clinical measures of severity of illness and suicidality.
Methods: The Distributed Ambulatory Research in Therapeutics Network (DARTNet) was engaged to systematically collect data using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) at the point of care. We used electronic health records (EHRs) and the PHQ-9 to capture, describe, and compare data on both baseline severity of illness and suicidality and response and suicidality after diagnosis for depressed patients in participating DARTNet practices.
Results: EHR data were obtained for 81,028 episodes of depression (61,464 patients) from 14 clinical organizations. Over 9 months, data for 4900 PHQ-9s were collected from 2969 patients in DARTNet practices (this included 1892 PHQ-9s for 1019 adults and adolescents who had at least one depression diagnosis). Only 8.3% of episodes identified in our depression cohort had severity of illness information available in the EHR. For these episodes, considerable variation existed in both severity of illness (32.05% with no depression, 26.89% with minimal, 19.54% with mild, 12.04% with moderate, and 9.47% with severe depression) and suicidality (69.43% with a score of 0, 22.58% with a score of 1, 4.97% with a score of 2, and 3.02% with a score of 3 on item 9 of the PHQ-9). Patients with an EHR diagnosis of depression and a PHQ-9 (n = 1019) had similar severity but slightly higher suicidality levels compared with all patients for which PHQ-9 data were available. The PHQ-9 showed higher sensitivity for identifying depression response and emergent (after diagnosis) severity and suicidality; 25% to 30% of subjects had some degree of suicidal thought at some point in time according to the PHQ-9.
Conclusions: This study demonstrated the value of adding PHQ-9 data and prescription fulfillment data to EHRs to improve diagnosis and management of depression in primary care and to enable more robust comparative effectiveness research on antidepressants.
Practice-based Research
Practice-based Research Networks
Depression is a common, chronic but episodic, and costly condition for which primary care physicians provide the majority of care.1 Depression is severe or very severe in approximately 60% of patients and is the leading cause of disability worldwide as measured by the number of years lived with a disabling condition.2 In primary care practices, more than 50% of depressed patients go unrecognized, and among the half who do receive treatment, it is adequate in approximately 42%, resulting in only 22% of all patients being adequately treated as evaluated by medication use and frequency of follow-up.1
Assessing depression severity at the time of diagnosis is important for determining prognosis and treatment. Increased severity is associated with higher health care service utilization, worse outcomes, and less likelihood of remission.3,4 Patients with severe depression also may take longer to respond to treatment.5 Perhaps most importantly, baseline assessment of severity provides a starting point for evaluating the effectiveness of treatment, making adjustments to treatment, and recognizing patients who have treatment-resistant depression.6
Assessing suicidality is an important component of assessing depression severity. Each year 31,000 people in the United States, 60% with histories of major depression, die by suicide; 650,000 are treated emergently after a suicide attempt.7 Depression increases the risk for suicide by 10- to 20-fold.8 The lifetime rate of suicide attempts among those with major depression is 8%. Several direct, patient-based measures including the 9-ietm Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)9 and Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology10 provide scores of severity and functional impairment and have been validated for repeated use to measure change over time. Such measures are variably used in routine primary care practice.11
Comparative effectiveness studies of antidepressants leave several important knowledge gaps, including the need for "real-world" studies that can assess differences in antidepressant effectiveness on a large scale, with the ability to increase our understanding of baseline severity of illness and effects on rare events such as suicidality.12 Furthermore, little published evidence exists that describes baseline severity of depression and suicide ideation in real-world, primary care practice settings or provides guidance for researchers and clinicians regarding the best ways to measure these phenomena on a large scale. To address these gaps, we examined depression diagnosis, severity, and treatment patterns in primary care using the Distributed Ambulatory Research in Therapeutics Network (DARTNet).13,14 DARTNet is research network that links data from electronic health records (EHRs) from 25 organizations representing more than 1700 clinicians and more than 3 million patients. Using data from EHRs and direct measurement methods, this article reports the baseline severity of illness and suicidality, as well as subsequent response and suicidality (after diagnosis), for depressed patients in participating DARTNet practices.
Patients and Data Collection
We obtained data from 14 DARTNet practices that agreed to participate in this particular study. Among DARTNet practices, these practices were diverse in terms of both geography (located in 9 states from the East coast to the South to West coasts) and practice size (solo practitioner to 12-clinician practice).
We used 3 different approaches to collect data for this study: existing data within each participating DARTNet organization's EHRs were supplemented by prescription fulfillment data and PHQ-9 data to create progressively more data-enriched subsets of patients. First, we collected an array of demographic and clinical variables from DARTNet EHRs. The data were then standardized as previously described.15 Variables collected included patient age, sex, diagnoses, history of present illness, family history, social history, laboratory tests and results, and medications ordered. Overall, we extracted all records for up to 4 years (2006 to 2010, as available per individual practice) for all patients with at least one depression-related diagnosis or at least one total PHQ-9 score. From these eligible patients, a retrospective, open cohort of "new" adolescent (ages 13 to 18 years) and adult (age ≥19 years) depression episodes (referred to as the depressed cohort) was created using the following criteria: (1) at least one diagnostic code (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification [ICD-9-CM]) of 296.2, 296.3, 300.4, or 311; (2) at least 90 days without an antidepressant prescription before the index diagnosis date; and (3) at least 120 days without depression diagnoses. These criteria are based on the Healthplan Employer Data Information System (HEDIS) criteria for defining and measuring new episodes of depression, which are used by the National Committee for Quality Assurance16,17 and have been used in prior work.18,19
Second, we obtained prescription fulfillment data (ie, records of paid pharmacy claims) for patients who had such data available (for this study, approximately 55% of patients were in DARTNet practices that had access to fulfillment data). Prescription fulfillment data are important because they indicate that a patient filled a prescription, which is not always the case for medications ordered and noted in the EHR. Prescription fulfillment data also include the quantity of and days supplied for each prescription and thus represent the best available source of information for drug exposure.
Third, we worked with the participating DARTNet practices to create PHQ-9 data collection processes. We electronically prompted practice staff to administer a PHQ-9 at specific intervals for specific patients based on depression diagnoses, other diagnoses used for depression in a given practice, and length of time since last PHQ-9. The PHQ-9 data were collected a number of ways, ranging from printed forms given to the patient in the waiting room or completed by nurses, to online systems used by nurses or clinicians. All practice sites received training on the interpretation and use of PHQ-9 scores to diagnose and monitor depression. Total PHQ-9 scores and item 9 (suicidality) scores were abstracted from the HER, standardized, then added to other clinical data from steps 1 and 2, above. PHQ-9 data collection for this study occurred for a period of 3 to 4 months in most of the participating organizations. Some participating organizations were already collecting PHQ-9 data, so we also collected their existing data. Figure 1 provides a conceptual depiction of the DARTNet population, with the subsets of patients for whom data from various sources was extracted or collected for this study.
Conceptual diagram of the DARTNet population, data sources, and study cohorts. EHR, electronic health record; PHQ-9, 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire.
For each episode of depression, we identified patients' age at time of index diagnosis, sex, episode length (according to HEDIS criteria), primary diagnosis code used for the episode, severity of illness (among patients whose depression was coded with ICD-9-CM code 296.2 or 296.3, which allows for severity coding), episode start type (new vs recurrent), and episode end type (among patients whose depression was coded with ICD-9-CM code 296.2 or 296.3, which allows for coding of partial or full remission). We reviewed PHQ-9 data from all patients in DARTNet participating practices, patients in the depression cohort, and patients in the depression cohort for whom prescription fulfillment data also were available.
Descriptive statistics (N, percent, mean, median, range) were used to characterize all measures. Spearman's rank-order correlation (2-tailed α level of 0.05) was used to test the strength and direction, if any, of the relationship between baseline severity of illness and baseline suicidality levels according to the specified PHQ-9 score ranges. All data management and analyses were performed using SAS version 9.2 (SAS, Inc., Cary, NC). The study protocol and data management and analysis plan were approved by the Colorado Multiple Institution Review Board (Aurora, CO) and the American Academy of Family Physicians Institutional Review Board (Leawood, KS), on behalf of individual DARTNet practices.
EHR and PHQ-9 data were obtained from 14 participating DARTNet organizations for 117,878 patients with either a depression-related diagnosis or at least one total PHQ-9 score. A total of 2969 patients had at least one PHQ-9 total score recorded and 2469 had at least one item-9 (suicidality) score recorded. From the 117,878 eligible patients, the criteria described above were used to identify a cohort of 81,028 adolescent and adult depression episodes, representing 61,464 unduplicated patients. From this cohort, 1019 patients had at least one PHQ-9 total score recorded and 908 had at least one item-9 score recorded. Fulfillment data obtained to enhance the EHR data were provided by 3 organizations for a total of 67,391 patients, of which 37,416 matched to a patient in the depression cohort. A match across all 3 data sources (EHR, PHQ-9, and fulfillment) identified 259 patients with data from each source.
Table 1 illustrates demographic and clinical characteristics of the depression episodes identified for study. Using only EHR data, patients (n = 61,464) had an average of 1.3 episodes (median, 1.0 episode; range, 1–11 episodes) of depression, a mean age of 57.51 years, and approximately 70% were women. Relatively few (2.04%) of the episodes identified were in adolescents, but older adults (aged ≥60 years in this analysis) were well represented (43.41%). Median episode length was 436 days (approximately 14 months) using the National Committee for Quality Assurance/HEDIS criteria for defining episode length. Nearly 80% of episodes were coded using either ICD-9-CM code 311 (65.78%) or 300.4 (13.97%); only 20% were coded as major depressive disorder using ICD-9-CM codes 296.2 or 296.3. Among the 16,412 episodes diagnosed with a major depressive disorder code, 59% had either unspecified or missing severity information. Of the 41% (n = 6,741) with severity of illness indicated, 17.88% were coded as mild, 18.54% as moderate, and 4.65% as severe depression. Overall, only 8.3% of all episodes identified using EHR data had severity of illness information available. Finally, most episodes (75%) were index episodes (vs recurrent), meaning the first episode seen in the available data. Indications of partial or full remission (ie, the end of an episode according to ICD-9-CM coding) were used in less than 0.2% of episodes, so the characterization of episode ends and overall length is tenuous at best using this data element. Results were generally similar for patients with both EHR and prescription fulfillment data as well as those with EHR plus fulfillment plus PHQ-9 data available; exceptions (eg, mean age being higher in the EHR plus fulfillment group) because the practices for which fulfillment data were available have more older adults in their patient populations.
Table 1. Overview of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Depression Episodes
Table 2 describes utilization patterns during antidepressant exposure for episodes for which patients ordered or filled an antidepressant prescription within 30 days of index depression diagnosis. Slightly more than 21% of episodes had EHR-detected orders for antidepressants, but only 2% to 8% of episodes had antidepressant prescriptions filled. This low rate could be because of incomplete or delayed fulfillment data being fed back to practices; we relied on the data available at the time the study. Among those episodes with an antidepressant order or fill, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors were the most commonly used (73% to 75%), followed by selective noradrenergic reuptake inhibitors (11% to 17%), bupropion (5% to 9%), and various other agents (<5% each). Mean time to first prescription fill was approximately 7 days (median, 2.0 days), according to fulfillment data; thus, most antidepressant prescriptions seem to be filled within a week of being ordered, if they are filled at all. According to fulfillment data, typical persistence with therapy was about 90 days, corresponding with guideline-recommended time windows for initial management of acute depressive episodes. Adherence with antidepressant prescriptions was high, with mean and median medication possession ratio values of 1.0, indicating that patients had medication available on essentially all days for which they remained on therapy. Concomitant psychotropic medication use was fairly common, with anxiolytics used in 13% to 29% of episodes and antipsychotics used in 7% to 17% of episodes for which patients received antidepressants. Stimulants and narcotic analgesics were used less frequently (<5% of episodes for which patients received an antidepressant).
Table 2. Treatment Utilization Patterns during Antidepressant Exposure for Episodes Receiving an Antidepressant within 30 Days of Depression Diagnosis
Table 3 describes PHQ-9 data collected for this study for all patients in participating DARTNet practices over a period of 6 to 9 months. Nearly 5000 PHQ-9 instruments (4900 instruments in 2969 patients) were administered and entered into patients' EHRs, representing the capability of DARTNet to collect direct, patient-reported outcomes on a large scale. An average of 1.2 PHQ-9s were collected per patient (median, 1.0), although the relatively brief data collection period likely limited the number of response (follow-up) measurements that could be made for each patient. Overall, the 4900 PHQ-9s collected exhibited a considerable amount of variation in both severity of illness (32.05% with no depression, 26.89% with minimal, 19.54% with mild, 12.04% with moderate, and 9.47% with severe depression) and suicidality (69.43% with a score of 0, 22.58% with a score of 1, 4.97% with a score of 2, and 3.02% with a score of 3 on item 9 of the PHQ-9). Patients from the depressed cohort with PHQ-9 data available (n = 1019) had similar severity levels but slightly higher suicidality levels (27.85% with a score of 1, 5.71% with a score of 2, and 2.73% with a score of 3 on item 9 of the PHQ-9) than the overall population (n = 2969) from whom PHQ-9 data were collected. Importantly, regardless of the existence of a depression diagnosis or the timing of administration, 25% to 30% of patients had some degree of suicidal thought at some point in time, according to the PHQ-9.
Table 3. Nine-Item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) Instruments Collected in DARTNet Practices
Table 4 presents baseline severity of illness and suicidality information for depression episodes based on both ICD-9-CM codes and PHQ-9 scores. There were 1440 PHQ-9s collected in the depression cohort, representing 738 episodes and 670 patients with at least one PHQ-9. One hundred thirty-five episodes (18.3%) had a baseline PHQ-9 available, according to our time window definition for a baseline measure. Most baseline PHQ-9s (73.33%) were administered on the day of depression diagnosis; 19.26% were administered before diagnosis (mean, 8.9 days before) and 7.41% during the week after diagnosis. Using ICD-9-CM codes, only 19 episodes (2.5%) had severity of illness information available; 8 were indicated as mild and 11 were indicated as moderate. Using PHQ-9 data, 25 episodes (18.52%) were classified as having no depression at baseline, 39 (28.89%) had minimal depression, 31 (22.96%) had mild depression, 23 (17.04%) had moderate depression, and 17 (12.59%) had severe depression. In terms of baseline suicidality, none of the 738 episodes in the depression cohort had any form of suicidality recorded by ICD-9-CM coding; however, 28 episodes (3.8%) had some degree of suicidality according to the PHQ-9 item 9 score (≥1). Correlation analysis performed on the 2 baseline PHQ-9 measures (severity of illness and suicidality) revealed a strong relationship (Spearman ρ = 0.54; P < .001) between these 2 dimensions of depression. As baseline depression severity increased, so did the degree of reported suicidality.
Table 4. Baseline Severity of Illness and Suicidality Measurement Using the 9-Item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Electronic Health Record Data among Depressed Patients in DARTNet Practices
Table 5 presents depression response and "emergent" (diagnosis after depression) suicidality information for depression episodes, based on both ICD-9-CM codes and PHQ-9 scores. Among the 738 episodes (670 patients) with at least one PHQ-9, there were 684 episodes (92.6%) with at least one "response" (follow-up) PHQ-9 score recorded more than 7 days after the depression diagnosis date but before the start of any subsequent episode(s). Most episodes had a single response PHQ-9 score recorded, although the mean (1.8) and range (1–28) of response PHQ-9s collected per episode indicate that DARTNet practices successfully collected multiple response PHQ-9s from many patients both before and during the study period. Most (81.58%) response PHQ-9s were collected >90 days after the index depression diagnosis date; 15.74% were collected 7 to 60 days after diagnosis, whereas only 2.78% were collected 61 to 90 days after diagnosis.
Table 5. Depression Response and Suicidality Measurement Using 9-Item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Electronic Health Records (EHR) Data among Depressed Patients in DARTNet Practices
In terms of measuring depression response, Table 5 also illustrates the rarity with which ICD-9-CM resolution codes are used (0.2% of episodes), even among those episodes for which resolution codes are available. Using the lowest total PHQ-9 score after diagnosis as an indicator of response, 68% of episodes achieved total PHQ-9 scores <10, and 40% achieved total scores <5 (2 commonly used thresholds for treatment success).
Using the change between baseline and lowest total PHQ-9 score as an alternative method of measuring response, we applied several specifications for classifying changes in depression severity after diagnosis: In terms of raw total score change, only 9.88% of episodes showed clinical worsening, 51.85% showed an improvement of 0 to 5 points, 17.28% showed an improvement of 6 to 10 points, and 20.99% showed an improvement of more than 10 points; more than half (55.56%) of episodes showed at least a 50% reduction from baseline to lowest PHQ-9 total score, and 35.80% of episodes had a baseline total score ≥10 and a lowest total score <10.
In terms of "emergent" suicidality (ie, changes in suicidality between the baseline and response/follow-up periods), Table 5 again illustrates the rarity with which suicide-related behaviors can be detected via ICD9-CM codes: Only 2 instances of suicidal ideation and 1 suicide attempt were detected, a rate of approximately 0.44% among the episodes studied. Using item 9 of the PHQ-9 to measure "emergent" suicidality, 281 instances of suicidal ideation were detected, in addition to 317 cases where "no suicidal thoughts" were affirmatively reported (which differs from failure to detect such thoughts via medical record coding). Finally, we compared baseline and "emergent" suicidality scores from item 9 of the PHQ-9 and observed 10 instances (1.4% of episodes) where suicidality was denied at baseline but emerged after diagnosis and 8 instances (1.1% of episodes) where suicidality was reported at baseline but resolved after diagnosis. These 2 indicators hold promise, as sample sizes continue to increase, for detecting and determining the natural course of suicidality among depressed patients and ultimately how it may be influenced by different forms of treatment.
This study of patients cared for in geographically diverse primary care sites across the United States found that depressed patients exhibited substantial variation in baseline severity of illness and suicidality. These findings are consistent with those of other research in both clinical trial populations20 and epidemiologic surveys.21 Twenty-five to 30% of patients in our study expressed some degree of suicidal ideation according to the PHQ-9, and suicidality was correlated with severity. Practices were able to implement severity monitoring in a variety of ways and were prompted through their EHR to collect the data at clinically useful intervals. Combining severity assessments with data on prescription fill rates provides an opportunity to identify prescription drug adherence and severity or suicidality changes in relation to treatment changes.
Clinically, our study has several important implications. First, we showed the viability of integrating EHR, prescription fulfillment, and PHQ-9 data to provide clinicians with an enriched medical record, which may enable them to provide higher quality care for depression. Knowledge of baseline severity of illness and suicidality provides a starting point for evaluating the effectiveness of treatment, the need to adjust treatment, and ultimately recognizing patients who have treatment-resistant depression. Better decisions at these key points in the treatment of depression have been shown to improve patient outcomes.4,5 Integration of prescription fulfillment data are important because it enables clinicians to differentiate between therapeutic failure (ie, a drug not working as well as expected) and poor outcomes that may be due to adherence issues (ie, not filling antidepressant prescriptions regularly or at all) and thus incorporate these factors into their patients' treatment plans. Many DARTNet practices continued to use the PHQ-9 and fulfillment data after the study has been completed, despite the implementation challenges that had to be overcome to make the additional data collection a part of routine care (data on file). Importantly, the study demonstrates that measurement-based care for depression is both possible and potentially useful in primary care settings.
This study has a number of limitations. First, DARTNet practices are not fully representative of primary care practices in the United States,14 and the sites participating in this study are only a subset of the research network, thus limiting the generalizability of the results. Second, these findings do not apply to those clinic patients who are not identified as depressed, a well-described group that may represent as much as 50% of those in primary care settings who are depressed.20,22 Third, the PHQ-9 has been validated in primary care settings but is still an imperfect tool for measuring depression severity and response, particularly near the lower end of the score range.9 Fourth, data were available from all 3 of our measurement sources (EHR, PHQ-9, and fulfillment data) for only a small number of subjects. This limited our ability to validate and compare the individual measures or determine the extent to which any one measure may be superior to another. Finally, the data presented are hypothesis generating in nature. Although a number of trends seemed apparent in the results, these must be confirmed in larger, subsequent analyses of the DARTNet population.
This study provides further evidence of the relative frequency and severity of depression and suicidality in primary care settings, and it demonstrates the capability of DARTNet to use existing EHR data and supplement it with both prescription fulfillment data and PHQ-9 data collected at the point of care to enhance clinical care for depression and enable more robust comparative effectiveness research.
The authors thank Elizabeth Staton, MS, for assistance with the preparation and editing of the manuscript for submission for publication.
Funding: This project was funded under contract no. HHSA290200500371, task order no. 4 from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, US Department of Health and Human Services, as part of the Developing Evidence to Inform Decisions about Effectiveness (DEcIDE) program.
Conflict of interest: Drs. Valuck, Anderson, and Libby and Mr. Allen have received grant funding from the federal government and foundation and industry sources, including antidepressant manufacturers (Eli Lilly and Company, Forest Laboratories, Lundbeck A/S); Mr. Brandt, Ms. Bryan, and Drs. West and Pace have received grant funding from federal government, foundation, and industry sources.
Disclaimer: Statements in this article should not be construed as endorsement by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality or the US Department of Health and Human Services.
Received for publication February 15, 2011.
Revision received March 2, 2012.
Accepted for publication March 19, 2012.
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You are going to email the following Enhancing Electronic Health Record Measurement of Depression Severity and Suicide Ideation: A Distributed Ambulatory Research in Therapeutics Network (DARTNet) Study
Robert J. Valuck, Heather O. Anderson, Anne M. Libby, Elias Brandt, Cathy Bryan, Richard R. Allen, Elizabeth W. Staton, David R. West, Wilson D. Pace
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine Sep 2012, 25 (5) 582-593; DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.2012.05.110053
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Improving Depression Screening for Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes
Primary Care Research Conducted in Networks: Getting Down to Business


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We have Capsules built for 311 and early education licensing solutions and are looking to release the 311 Capsule on the Salesforce App Exchange 2017 mid-summer
"311 and Licensing are so far the most relevant markets." In addition to 311, Incapsulate has built Capsules for early education licensing solutions and are looking to release the 311 Capsule on the Salesforce App Exchange 2017 mid-summer.
By providing the ability to configure 311-specific functionality, the Capsules eliminate the need for unwieldy customizations. This increases speed to market and simplifies maintenance. Ultimately, the Capsules put more power in the hands of business users versus IT staff. "The Salesforce platform allows us to more directly engage our clients and the end-users—in the development process, working side-by-side as true collaborators. Instead of 'telling' them what we plan to do, we can be 'showing' them what we are doing," says Batish. The company is also building a Capsule called TalkBack that will allow 311 clients to gather feedback and opinions from their constituents—residents, tourists, and city employees.
Customization is Not Always the Answer
A major focus of Incapsulate is to help clients leverage the full potential of the Salesforce platform. "Striking the balance between configuration and customization is a challenge we frequently hear during our engagement with clients," says Batish. "This tension comes from business owners who want their current processes replicated in a new system," he adds. This can lead to heavy coding and highly customized solutions that don't take advantage of the Salesforce platform, making it hard to upgrade and costing fortunes to maintain," says Batish. Incapsulate is religious about configuration-centric delivery. "We have seen large cities hamstrung by customized solutions that leave them stuck with the system as it was day one, with no ability to update in response to changes in their citizens' needs." Batish and his team avoid "paving the cowpath," which is taking an existing system and replicating it in Salesforce. Instead, they use Salesforce to reimagine how services are delivered—this was, in fact, the genesis of the Capsules.
On numerous occasions, Incapsulate has been of valuable assistance to government customers such as Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, the General Services Administration (GSA), Washington DC's Office of the Mayor, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Department of Education in developing, implementing, and operating Salesforce-based solutions to better connect with customers, streamline internal business processes, and improve the delivery of service.
Highlighting the multi-faceted capabilities of Incapsulate that go beyond Salesforce, Batish shares the success story of helping the White House launch an IT Dashboard that provided unprecedented transparency into all ongoing projects. "This resulted in savings of more than $4 billion based on in-depth reviews of troubled and underperforming projects," he adds. What's more, they launched the dashboard in 60 days, which is unheard of for a project of that magnitude in the public sector. "We closely collaborate with our client-facing teams, but with the freedom and space to explore without interruption. This way we know their real need and how we can solve the complication," adds Batish.
"Markets like the public sector or education are vast, and the Capsules take a more fine-grained approach to specific business problems within those markets"
The configuration-based approach also allows Incapsulate to release new features every few weeks and help clients push the envelope of productivity and agility. This, of course, requires a team that is passionate to solve business problems and not simply build software. "It is easier to start with someone who understands the business and make them a Salesforce Administrator than the other way around," says Batish. "To us, Salesforce certifications are just pieces of paper. They tell you can pass a test, that doesn't necessarily mean you can deliver for a client and solve real-world problems. I look for go-getters."
Investing for the Future
Incapsulate continues to invest in the Capsules, as it also grows its workforce with strategic hires who have lived and breathed 311 for most of their careers. "We also have Incapsulate University, a program focused on helping our staff learn the Salesforce skills they need to get their certification and better serve their clients," adds Batish. "We hold weekly 'office hours,' led by our senior Salesforce experts, where staff can get answers to problems, enhancing team learning."
The company is also relentless about tracking outcomes. "Ultimately, individuals excel when they can see how their efforts make a difference," says Batish. "For example, before we launched our licensing solution for child care in Massachusetts, it took on average 30 days for providers and parents to know if facilities were safe for kids. It now takes them only three days. That's an outcome we are very proud of."
Batish clearly knows that not everything is an opportunity to innovate. Hence, the company focuses their creativity on the meaningful problems instead of the routine issues where tried and true is preferable. "It goes without saying we want to deliver solutions that exceed clients' expectations," says Batish. The company aims to fulfill client needs, not just by delivering the end result, but also making that an experiential journey, making Incapsulate a true winner.
Incapsulate
Ajay Batish, CEO
A long-standing Salesforce partner providing management and technology consulting services from ideation to implementation
https://salesforce.cioreview.com/vendor/2017/incapsulate


A Dog's Way Home
A Dog's Way Home © COLUMBIA PICTURES ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Action and Adventure, Based on a true story, Family
Home | Films | Explore Films | A Dog's Way Home (2019)
As a puppy, Bella is given a good home by a young man named Lucas after he and his girlfriend Olivia find her on a construction site in Denver, Colorado. After Bella is unjustly targeted by animal control officers, Lucas sends her to live with Olivia's aunt and uncle in New Mexico, until he can find an appropriate new home outside of Denver's urban areas. Bella is so homesick for her owner, however, that she decides to embark on a 400 mile journey back towards Lucas, which will take her more than two years to complete! Along the way, she encounters and befriends a number of humans and animals along her incredible travels. Based on the novel of the same name, 'A Dog's Way Home' is an uplifting tale about the bond between pets and their owners.
Charles Martin Smith
Chris Bauer,
Bryce Dallas Howard,
Ashley Judd,
Edward James Olmos,
Alexandra Shipp,
Barry Watson
Mild threat, upsetting scenes.
Activities to support engagement, debate and reflection for titles within the Natural World strand of the Into Film Festival.
1 ppt
A Dog's Purpose(2017)
Life-affirming family drama about a dog who discovers his purpose in life.
7–11 years 100 mins
Homeward Bound - The Incredible Journey(1993)
Three family pets grow unhappy with their absent owners and decide to take up an epic journey across America to get home.
5–11 years 81 mins
Lassie(2005)
Retelling of the classic dog adventure sees a poor family forced to sell their pet Lassie, who is desperate to escape her new owners and return.
Belle et Sébastien (Belle & Sebastian)(2013)
An epic tale of the friendship between a boy and a dog.
11–16 years 96 mins
Most recent Oldest first
"Some of them saw a clip from Wakolda (The German Doctor) on TV recently and really wanted to watch it. So I thought I'd take a chance, not expecting them to watch the whole film but the majority were absolutely gripped. "
- Ann Hardy, Teacher, Manchester Secondary PRU, Manchester


Displaying 1 - 10 of 31. Show 10 | 20 results per page.
Project acronym AFRICA-GHG
Project AFRICA-GHG: The role of African tropical forests on the Greenhouse Gases balance of the atmosphere
Researcher (PI) Riccardo Valentini
Host Institution (HI) FONDAZIONE CENTRO EURO-MEDITERRANEOSUI CAMBIAMENTI CLIMATICI
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE10, ERC-2009-AdG
Summary The role of the African continent in the global carbon cycle, and therefore in climate change, is increasingly recognised. Despite the increasingly acknowledged importance of Africa in the global carbon cycle and its high vulnerability to climate change there is still a lack of studies on the carbon cycle in representative African ecosystems (in particular tropical forests), and on the effects of climate on ecosystem-atmosphere exchange. In the present proposal we want to focus on these spoecifc objectives : 1. Understand the role of African tropical rainforest on the GHG balance of the atmosphere and revise their role on the global methane and N2O emissions. 2. Determine the carbon source/sink strength of African tropical rainforest in the pre-industrial versus the XXth century by temporal reconstruction of biomass growth with biogeochemical markers 3. Understand and quantify carbon and GHG fluxes variability across African tropical forests (west east equatorial belt) 4.Analyse the impact of forest degradation and deforestation on carbon and other GHG emissions
The role of the African continent in the global carbon cycle, and therefore in climate change, is increasingly recognised. Despite the increasingly acknowledged importance of Africa in the global carbon cycle and its high vulnerability to climate change there is still a lack of studies on the carbon cycle in representative African ecosystems (in particular tropical forests), and on the effects of climate on ecosystem-atmosphere exchange. In the present proposal we want to focus on these spoecifc objectives : 1. Understand the role of African tropical rainforest on the GHG balance of the atmosphere and revise their role on the global methane and N2O emissions. 2. Determine the carbon source/sink strength of African tropical rainforest in the pre-industrial versus the XXth century by temporal reconstruction of biomass growth with biogeochemical markers 3. Understand and quantify carbon and GHG fluxes variability across African tropical forests (west east equatorial belt) 4.Analyse the impact of forest degradation and deforestation on carbon and other GHG emissions
Project acronym CLEAR
Project Modulating cellular clearance to cure human disease
Researcher (PI) Andrea Ballabio
Host Institution (HI) FONDAZIONE TELETHON
Summary Cellular clearance is a fundamental process required by all cells in all species. Important physiological processes, such as aging, and pathological mechanisms, such as neurodegeneration, are strictly dependent on cellular clearance. In eukaryotes, most of the cellular clearing processes occur in a specialized organelle, the lysosome. This project is based on a recent discovery, made in our laboratory, of a gene network, which we have named CLEAR, that controls lysosomal biogenesis and function and regulates cellular clearance. The specific goals of the project are: 1) the comprehensive characterization of the mechanisms underlying the CLEAR network, 2) the thorough understanding of CLEAR physiological function at the cellular and organism levels, 3) the development of strategies and tools to modulate cellular clearance, and 4) the implementation of proof-of-principle therapeutic studies based on the activation of the CLEAR network in murine models of human lysosomal storage disorders and of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimers s and Huntington s diseases. A combination of genomics, bioinformatics, systems biology, chemical genomics, cell biology, and mouse genetics approaches will be used to achieve these goals. Our goal is to develop tools to modulate cellular clearance and to use such tools to develop therapies to cure human disease. The potential medical relevance of this project is very high, particularly in the field of neurodegenerative disease. Therapies that prevent, ameliorate or delay neurodegeneration in these diseases would have a huge impact on human health.
Cellular clearance is a fundamental process required by all cells in all species. Important physiological processes, such as aging, and pathological mechanisms, such as neurodegeneration, are strictly dependent on cellular clearance. In eukaryotes, most of the cellular clearing processes occur in a specialized organelle, the lysosome. This project is based on a recent discovery, made in our laboratory, of a gene network, which we have named CLEAR, that controls lysosomal biogenesis and function and regulates cellular clearance. The specific goals of the project are: 1) the comprehensive characterization of the mechanisms underlying the CLEAR network, 2) the thorough understanding of CLEAR physiological function at the cellular and organism levels, 3) the development of strategies and tools to modulate cellular clearance, and 4) the implementation of proof-of-principle therapeutic studies based on the activation of the CLEAR network in murine models of human lysosomal storage disorders and of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimers s and Huntington s diseases. A combination of genomics, bioinformatics, systems biology, chemical genomics, cell biology, and mouse genetics approaches will be used to achieve these goals. Our goal is to develop tools to modulate cellular clearance and to use such tools to develop therapies to cure human disease. The potential medical relevance of this project is very high, particularly in the field of neurodegenerative disease. Therapies that prevent, ameliorate or delay neurodegeneration in these diseases would have a huge impact on human health.
Project acronym COGSYSTEMS
Project Understanding actions and intentions of others
Researcher (PI) Giacomo Rizzolatti
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PARMA
Summary How do we understand the actions and intentions of others? Hereby we intend to address this issue by using a multidisciplinary approach. Our project is subdivided into four parts. In the first part we investigate the neural organization of monkey area F5, an area deeply involved in motor act understanding. By using a new set of electrodes we will describe the columnar organization of the area F5, establish the temporal relationships between the activity of F5 mirror and motor neurons, and correlate the activity of mirror neurons coding the observed motor acts in peripersonal and extrapersonal space with the activity of motor neurons in the same cortical column. In the second part we will assess the neural mechanism underlying the understanding of the intention of complex actions , i.e. actions formed by a sequence of two (or more) individual actions. The focus will be on the neurons located in ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, an area involved in the organization of high-order motor behavior. The rational of the experiment is that, while the organization of single actions and the understanding of intention behind them is function of parietal neurons, that of complex actions relies on the activity of the prefrontal lobe. In the third and fourth parts of the project we will delimit the cortical areas involved in understanding the goal (the what) and the intention (the why) of the observed actions in individuals with typical development (TD) and in children with autism and will establish the time relation between these two processes. Our hypothesis is that the chained organization of intentional motor acts is impaired in children with autism and this impairment prevents them from organizing normally their actions and from understanding others intentions.
How do we understand the actions and intentions of others? Hereby we intend to address this issue by using a multidisciplinary approach. Our project is subdivided into four parts. In the first part we investigate the neural organization of monkey area F5, an area deeply involved in motor act understanding. By using a new set of electrodes we will describe the columnar organization of the area F5, establish the temporal relationships between the activity of F5 mirror and motor neurons, and correlate the activity of mirror neurons coding the observed motor acts in peripersonal and extrapersonal space with the activity of motor neurons in the same cortical column. In the second part we will assess the neural mechanism underlying the understanding of the intention of complex actions , i.e. actions formed by a sequence of two (or more) individual actions. The focus will be on the neurons located in ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, an area involved in the organization of high-order motor behavior. The rational of the experiment is that, while the organization of single actions and the understanding of intention behind them is function of parietal neurons, that of complex actions relies on the activity of the prefrontal lobe. In the third and fourth parts of the project we will delimit the cortical areas involved in understanding the goal (the what) and the intention (the why) of the observed actions in individuals with typical development (TD) and in children with autism and will establish the time relation between these two processes. Our hypothesis is that the chained organization of intentional motor acts is impaired in children with autism and this impairment prevents them from organizing normally their actions and from understanding others intentions.
Project acronym COMBOS
Project Collective phenomena in quantum and classical many body systems
Researcher (PI) Alessandro Giuliani
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI ROMA TRE
Summary The collective behavior of quantum and classical many body systems such as ultracold atomic gases, nanowires, cuprates and micromagnets are currently subject of an intense experimental and theoretical research worldwide. Understanding the fascinating phenomena of Bose-Einstein condensation, Luttinger liquid vs non-Luttinger liquid behavior, high temperature superconductivity, and spontaneous formation of periodic patterns in magnetic systems, is an exciting challenge for theoreticians. Most of these phenomena are still far from being fully understood, even from a heuristic point of view. Unveiling the exotic properties of such systems by rigorous mathematical analysis is an important and difficult challenge for mathematical physics. In the last two decades, substantial progress has been made on various aspects of many-body theory, including Fermi liquids, Luttinger liquids, perturbed Ising models at criticality, bosonization, trapped Bose gases and spontaneous formation of periodic patterns. The techniques successfully employed in this field are diverse, and range from constructive renormalization group to functional variational estimates. In this research project we propose to investigate a number of statistical mechanics models by a combination of different mathematical methods. The objective is, on the one hand, to understand crossover phenomena, phase transitions and low-temperature states with broken symmetry, which are of interest in the theory of condensed matter and that we believe to be accessible to the currently available methods; on the other, to develop new techiques combining different and complementary methods, such as multiscale analysis and localization bounds, or reflection positivity and cluster expansion, which may be useful to further progress on important open problems, such as Bose-Einstein condensation, conformal invariance in non-integrable models, existence of magnetic or superconducting long range order.
The collective behavior of quantum and classical many body systems such as ultracold atomic gases, nanowires, cuprates and micromagnets are currently subject of an intense experimental and theoretical research worldwide. Understanding the fascinating phenomena of Bose-Einstein condensation, Luttinger liquid vs non-Luttinger liquid behavior, high temperature superconductivity, and spontaneous formation of periodic patterns in magnetic systems, is an exciting challenge for theoreticians. Most of these phenomena are still far from being fully understood, even from a heuristic point of view. Unveiling the exotic properties of such systems by rigorous mathematical analysis is an important and difficult challenge for mathematical physics. In the last two decades, substantial progress has been made on various aspects of many-body theory, including Fermi liquids, Luttinger liquids, perturbed Ising models at criticality, bosonization, trapped Bose gases and spontaneous formation of periodic patterns. The techniques successfully employed in this field are diverse, and range from constructive renormalization group to functional variational estimates. In this research project we propose to investigate a number of statistical mechanics models by a combination of different mathematical methods. The objective is, on the one hand, to understand crossover phenomena, phase transitions and low-temperature states with broken symmetry, which are of interest in the theory of condensed matter and that we believe to be accessible to the currently available methods; on the other, to develop new techiques combining different and complementary methods, such as multiscale analysis and localization bounds, or reflection positivity and cluster expansion, which may be useful to further progress on important open problems, such as Bose-Einstein condensation, conformal invariance in non-integrable models, existence of magnetic or superconducting long range order.
Project acronym CONLAWS
Project Hyperbolic Systems of Conservation Laws: singular limits, properties of solutions and control problems
Researcher (PI) Stefano Bianchini
Summary The research program concerns various theoretic aspects of hyperbolic conservation laws. In first place we plan to study the existence and uniqueness of solutions to systems of equations of mathematical physics with physic viscosity. This is one of the main open problems within the theory of conservation laws in one space dimension, which cannot be tackled relying on the techniques developed in the case where the viscosity matrix is the identity. Furthermore, this represents a first step toward the analysis of more complex relaxation and kinetic models with a finite number of velocities as for Broadwell equation, or with a continuous distribution of velocities as for Boltzmann equation. A second research topic concerns the study of conservation laws with large data. Even in this case the basic model is provided by fluidodynamic equations. We wish to extend the results of existence, uniqueness and continuous dependence of solutions to the case of large (in BV or in L^infty) data, at least for the simplest systems of mathematical physics such as the isentropic gas dynamics. A third research topic that we wish to pursue concerns the analysis of fine properties of solutions to conservation laws. Many of such properties depend on the existence of one or more entropies of the system. In particular, we have in mind to study the regularity and the concentration of the dissipativity measure for an entropic solution of a system of conservation laws. Finally, we wish to continue the study of hyperbolic equations from the control theory point of view along two directions: (i) the analysis of controllability and asymptotic stabilizability properties; (ii) the study of optimal control problems related to hyperbolic systems.
The research program concerns various theoretic aspects of hyperbolic conservation laws. In first place we plan to study the existence and uniqueness of solutions to systems of equations of mathematical physics with physic viscosity. This is one of the main open problems within the theory of conservation laws in one space dimension, which cannot be tackled relying on the techniques developed in the case where the viscosity matrix is the identity. Furthermore, this represents a first step toward the analysis of more complex relaxation and kinetic models with a finite number of velocities as for Broadwell equation, or with a continuous distribution of velocities as for Boltzmann equation. A second research topic concerns the study of conservation laws with large data. Even in this case the basic model is provided by fluidodynamic equations. We wish to extend the results of existence, uniqueness and continuous dependence of solutions to the case of large (in BV or in L^infty) data, at least for the simplest systems of mathematical physics such as the isentropic gas dynamics. A third research topic that we wish to pursue concerns the analysis of fine properties of solutions to conservation laws. Many of such properties depend on the existence of one or more entropies of the system. In particular, we have in mind to study the regularity and the concentration of the dissipativity measure for an entropic solution of a system of conservation laws. Finally, we wish to continue the study of hyperbolic equations from the control theory point of view along two directions: (i) the analysis of controllability and asymptotic stabilizability properties; (ii) the study of optimal control problems related to hyperbolic systems.
Project acronym CRIPHERASY
Project Critical Phenomena in Random Systems
Researcher (PI) Giorgio Parisi
Summary This project aims to get a theoretical understanding of the most important large-scale phenomena in classical and quantum disordered systems. Thanks to the renormalization group approach the critical behaviour of pure systems is under very good control; however disordered systems are in many ways remarkably peculiar (think for example to non-perturbative phenomena like Griffiths singularities), often the conventional approach does not work and many crucial issues are still unclear. My work aims to fill this important hole in our understanding of disordered systems. I will concentrate my efforts on some of the most important and studied systems, i.e. spin glasses, random field ferromagnets (that are realized in nature as diluted antiferromagnets in a field), Anderson and Mott localization (with possible experimental applications to Bose-Einstein condensates and to electron glasses), surface growth in random media (KPZ and DLA models). In this project I want to pursue a new approach to these problems. I aim to compute in the most accurate way the properties of these systems using the original Wilson formulation of the renormalization group with a phase space cell analysis; this is equivalent to solving a statistical model on a hierarchical lattice (Dyson-Bleher-Sinai model). This is not an easy job. In the same conceptual frame we plan to use simultaneously very different techniques: probabilistic techniques, perturbative techniques at high orders, expansions around mean field on Bethe lattice and numerical techniques to evaluate the critical behaviour. I believe that even this restricted approach is very ambitious, but that the theoretical progresses that have been done in unveiling important features of disordered systems suggest that it will be possible to obtain solid results.
This project aims to get a theoretical understanding of the most important large-scale phenomena in classical and quantum disordered systems. Thanks to the renormalization group approach the critical behaviour of pure systems is under very good control; however disordered systems are in many ways remarkably peculiar (think for example to non-perturbative phenomena like Griffiths singularities), often the conventional approach does not work and many crucial issues are still unclear. My work aims to fill this important hole in our understanding of disordered systems. I will concentrate my efforts on some of the most important and studied systems, i.e. spin glasses, random field ferromagnets (that are realized in nature as diluted antiferromagnets in a field), Anderson and Mott localization (with possible experimental applications to Bose-Einstein condensates and to electron glasses), surface growth in random media (KPZ and DLA models). In this project I want to pursue a new approach to these problems. I aim to compute in the most accurate way the properties of these systems using the original Wilson formulation of the renormalization group with a phase space cell analysis; this is equivalent to solving a statistical model on a hierarchical lattice (Dyson-Bleher-Sinai model). This is not an easy job. In the same conceptual frame we plan to use simultaneously very different techniques: probabilistic techniques, perturbative techniques at high orders, expansions around mean field on Bethe lattice and numerical techniques to evaluate the critical behaviour. I believe that even this restricted approach is very ambitious, but that the theoretical progresses that have been done in unveiling important features of disordered systems suggest that it will be possible to obtain solid results.
Project acronym DISQUA
Project Disorder physics with ultracold quantum gases
Researcher (PI) Massimo Inguscio
Host Institution (HI) LABORATORIO EUROPEO DI SPETTROSCOPIE NON LINEARI
Summary Disorder is ubiquitous in nature and has a strong impact on the behaviour of many physical systems. The most celebrated effect of disorder is Anderson localization of single particles, but many other more complex phenomena arise in interacting, many-body systems. A full understanding of how disorder affects the behavior of quantum systems is still missing, also because of the unavoidable presence of nonlinearities, dissipation and thermal effects that make a careful exploration of real condensed-matter systems very difficult. In this project we want to fully exploit the unprecedented potentialities offered by ultracold atomic quantum gases to explore some of the present challenges for our understanding of the physics of disorder. These systems offer indeed the possibility of controlling to a great extent crucial parameters such as the type of disorder, the nonlinearities due to interactions, the temperature and density, the dimensionality, the quantum statistics. A variety of advanced diagnostic techniques allow to gain detailed information on the static and dynamic properties of the system. The potentialities of atomic quantum gases for the study of disorder have already showed up in recent breakthrough experiments. The project aims at an experimental exploration, supported by advanced theory, of the current issues in disordered quantum systems. We will investigate a few frontier themes of general interest: 1) Anderson localization and the interplay of disorder and a weak interaction; 2) strongly correlated, disordered bosonic systems; 3) disordered, interacting fermionic systems. In the research we will employ atomic Bose and Fermi gases with tunable interactions and advanced diagnostic techniques that we have recently contributed to develop. A successful completion of the project will push forward our understanding of the behaviour of quantum systems with disorder, with a potentially large impact on many fields of physics.
Disorder is ubiquitous in nature and has a strong impact on the behaviour of many physical systems. The most celebrated effect of disorder is Anderson localization of single particles, but many other more complex phenomena arise in interacting, many-body systems. A full understanding of how disorder affects the behavior of quantum systems is still missing, also because of the unavoidable presence of nonlinearities, dissipation and thermal effects that make a careful exploration of real condensed-matter systems very difficult. In this project we want to fully exploit the unprecedented potentialities offered by ultracold atomic quantum gases to explore some of the present challenges for our understanding of the physics of disorder. These systems offer indeed the possibility of controlling to a great extent crucial parameters such as the type of disorder, the nonlinearities due to interactions, the temperature and density, the dimensionality, the quantum statistics. A variety of advanced diagnostic techniques allow to gain detailed information on the static and dynamic properties of the system. The potentialities of atomic quantum gases for the study of disorder have already showed up in recent breakthrough experiments. The project aims at an experimental exploration, supported by advanced theory, of the current issues in disordered quantum systems. We will investigate a few frontier themes of general interest: 1) Anderson localization and the interplay of disorder and a weak interaction; 2) strongly correlated, disordered bosonic systems; 3) disordered, interacting fermionic systems. In the research we will employ atomic Bose and Fermi gases with tunable interactions and advanced diagnostic techniques that we have recently contributed to develop. A successful completion of the project will push forward our understanding of the behaviour of quantum systems with disorder, with a potentially large impact on many fields of physics.
Project acronym DYCOCA
Project DYNAMIC COVALENT CAPTURE: Dynamic Chemistry for Biomolecular Recognition and Catalysis
Researcher (PI) Leonard Jan Prins
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PADOVA
Summary Molecular recognition plays a fundamental role in nearly all chemical and biological processes. The objective of this research project is to develop new methodology for studying and utilizing the noncovalent recognition between two molecular entities, focussing on biomolecular receptors and catalysts. A dynamic covalent capture strategy is proposed, characterized by the following strongholds. The target itself self-selects the best component out of a combinatorial library. The approach has a very high sensitivity, because molecular recognition occurs intramolecularly, and is very flexible, which allows for an easy implementation in very diverse research areas simply by changing the target. The dynamic covalent capture strategy is strongly embedded in the fields of supramolecular chemistry and (physical) organic chemistry. Nonetheless, the different work programmes strongly rely on the input from other areas, such as combinatorial chemistry, bioorganic chemistry, catalysis and computational chemistry, which renders the project highly interdisciplinary. Identified targets are new synthetic catalysts for the selective cleavage of biologically relevant compounds (D-Ala-D-Lac, cocaine and acetylcholine, and in a later stage peptides and DNA/RNA). Applicative work programmes are dedicated to the dynamic imprinting of monolayers on nanoparticles for multivalent recognition and cleavage of biologically relevant targets in vivo and to the development of new screening methodology for measuring chemical equilibria and, specifically, for the discovery of new HIV-1 fusion inhibitors.
Molecular recognition plays a fundamental role in nearly all chemical and biological processes. The objective of this research project is to develop new methodology for studying and utilizing the noncovalent recognition between two molecular entities, focussing on biomolecular receptors and catalysts. A dynamic covalent capture strategy is proposed, characterized by the following strongholds. The target itself self-selects the best component out of a combinatorial library. The approach has a very high sensitivity, because molecular recognition occurs intramolecularly, and is very flexible, which allows for an easy implementation in very diverse research areas simply by changing the target. The dynamic covalent capture strategy is strongly embedded in the fields of supramolecular chemistry and (physical) organic chemistry. Nonetheless, the different work programmes strongly rely on the input from other areas, such as combinatorial chemistry, bioorganic chemistry, catalysis and computational chemistry, which renders the project highly interdisciplinary. Identified targets are new synthetic catalysts for the selective cleavage of biologically relevant compounds (D-Ala-D-Lac, cocaine and acetylcholine, and in a later stage peptides and DNA/RNA). Applicative work programmes are dedicated to the dynamic imprinting of monolayers on nanoparticles for multivalent recognition and cleavage of biologically relevant targets in vivo and to the development of new screening methodology for measuring chemical equilibria and, specifically, for the discovery of new HIV-1 fusion inhibitors.
Project acronym EBLA CHORA
Project The early state and its chora. Towns, villages and landscape at Ebla in Syria during the 3rd Millennium BC. Royal archives, visual and material culture, remote sensing and artificial neural networks
Researcher (PI) Paolo Matthiae
Summary The case of Ebla in northern Syria is certainly the most favourable one for enhancing our understanding of mechanisms of functioning of the early state. The discovery in 1975 of royal archives consisting of 17.000 cuneiform tablets dating to c. 2300 BC has supplied the scientific community with an invaluable mass of documents dealing with all aspects of state organization. These tablets inform us about the political, diplomatic and military affairs of the Eblaite state, as well as on the economic and social fabric of this early state formation. Further, considerable progresses during the past decade have been made at Ebla in seriating material culture assemblages, in interpreting the rich evidence for ancient visual communication and in exposing the urban structure. We now foresee a unique opportunity to test theories and models about the rise and structure of the early state by expanding the level of analysis to the landscape around Ebla: archaeological surface surveys, remote sensing, geomorphological studies will be evaluated together with the results of archaeological and geophysic investigations on village sites. Our research group has already considerable experience in developing calculation programs that employ along with traditional statistic and quantitative methods within a web GIS environment, including all the cuneiform tablets models of modern dynamic mathematics: the massive amount of data obtained from excavations, surveys, epigraphic studies, archeometric and archeobiological analyses will be combined and analyzed by means of mathematical, economical and computer science concepts and models, in order to build a multi-tier explanatory pattern which can be applied also to other early foci of urbanization in the Near East and elsewhere. We thus hope to gain a much richer historical framework and a sophisticated predictive model of general validity: until now no studies have ever focused on explanations of these phenomena on such an integrated scale
The case of Ebla in northern Syria is certainly the most favourable one for enhancing our understanding of mechanisms of functioning of the early state. The discovery in 1975 of royal archives consisting of 17.000 cuneiform tablets dating to c. 2300 BC has supplied the scientific community with an invaluable mass of documents dealing with all aspects of state organization. These tablets inform us about the political, diplomatic and military affairs of the Eblaite state, as well as on the economic and social fabric of this early state formation. Further, considerable progresses during the past decade have been made at Ebla in seriating material culture assemblages, in interpreting the rich evidence for ancient visual communication and in exposing the urban structure. We now foresee a unique opportunity to test theories and models about the rise and structure of the early state by expanding the level of analysis to the landscape around Ebla: archaeological surface surveys, remote sensing, geomorphological studies will be evaluated together with the results of archaeological and geophysic investigations on village sites. Our research group has already considerable experience in developing calculation programs that employ along with traditional statistic and quantitative methods within a web GIS environment, including all the cuneiform tablets models of modern dynamic mathematics: the massive amount of data obtained from excavations, surveys, epigraphic studies, archeometric and archeobiological analyses will be combined and analyzed by means of mathematical, economical and computer science concepts and models, in order to build a multi-tier explanatory pattern which can be applied also to other early foci of urbanization in the Near East and elsewhere. We thus hope to gain a much richer historical framework and a sophisticated predictive model of general validity: until now no studies have ever focused on explanations of these phenomena on such an integrated scale
Project acronym EUROCORR
Project The European correspondence to Jacob Burckhardt
Researcher (PI) Maurizio Ghelardi
Host Institution (HI) SCUOLA NORMALE SUPERIORE
Summary The aim of this project is to map and publish in a critical edition the extensive correspondence of European intellectuals with the Swiss cultural historian Jacob Burckhardt over a period of more than half a century, from 1842 to 1897. This correspondence documents a crucial period in European history and culture, one which witnessed the emergence of art history as a separate discipline; serious political conflict in France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland; the birth of the nation-states of Italy and Germany; debate on the meaning and consequences of democracy as a system of government; and the rise of Caesarism in France. The effects of modernism are also discussed in this correspondence, from the culture of museums, art exhibitions and the first universal expositions (e.g., the Expositions Universelles in Paris) to the clash between industrial culture and neo-humanist ideals of education. The large body of correspondence received by Jacob Burckhardt (about two thousand letters conserved in various libraries and private archives) provides a cultural map of this crucial phase in the development of a new European identity.
The aim of this project is to map and publish in a critical edition the extensive correspondence of European intellectuals with the Swiss cultural historian Jacob Burckhardt over a period of more than half a century, from 1842 to 1897. This correspondence documents a crucial period in European history and culture, one which witnessed the emergence of art history as a separate discipline; serious political conflict in France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland; the birth of the nation-states of Italy and Germany; debate on the meaning and consequences of democracy as a system of government; and the rise of Caesarism in France. The effects of modernism are also discussed in this correspondence, from the culture of museums, art exhibitions and the first universal expositions (e.g., the Expositions Universelles in Paris) to the clash between industrial culture and neo-humanist ideals of education. The large body of correspondence received by Jacob Burckhardt (about two thousand letters conserved in various libraries and private archives) provides a cultural map of this crucial phase in the development of a new European identity.


Back HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS Topics HIV Prevention AIDS 2014: Female Condoms for HIV Prevention [VIDEO]
AIDS 2014: Female Condoms for HIV Prevention [VIDEO]
Published on Friday, 22 August 2014 00:00
While biomedical HIV prevention was a key theme of the recent 20th International AIDS Conference in Melbourne, other approaches remain important including wider access to internal or female condoms. Designed to be worn inside the body, female condoms can give women more control in protecting themselves against HIV.
At the conference Joy Lynn Alegarbes with the UNAIDS/UNFPA Condomize Campaign demonstrated how to use a female condom, while Marie Christine Siemerink of the Universal Access to Female Condoms Joint Programme explained why wider access is important.
Joy Lynn Alegarbes, Condomize Campaign, July 23, 2014
Marie Christine Siemerink, Universal Access to Female Condoms, July 23, 2014
"New models [of female condoms] have been developed over the years and there's more choice and variety," Siemerink said. "We're trying to get the price down and get access up -- we believe everyone should be able to use female condoms."
20th International AIDS Conference. Melbourne, July 20-25 2014.


Mavenir Collaborates with Partners to Launch the Evenstar Remote Radio Head (RRH) Family
Mavenir, an industry-leading end-to-end cloud-native network software provider for CSPs, announced today the launch of the Evenstar Remote Radio Head (RRH), in collaboration with Facebook Connectivity, MTI, Deutsche Telekom and other partners. The goal of the program is to accelerate the adoption of Open RAN technology.
The Evenstar program will contribute to the OpenRAN ecosystem by focusing on building general-purpose RAN reference designs for 4G and 5G networks that are aligned with 3GPP and O-RAN specifications and will help accelerate the adoption of TIP OpenRAN Project Group Solutions. RRHs, distribution units, and control unit software have traditionally been only available as a packaged unit, limiting opportunities to serve suburban and rural locations. By decoupling these components, the Evenstar program is expected to enable MNOs to choose best-in-class technology and deploy solutions from an increasing number of technology partners.
The Evenstar family is expected to eventually include multiple Remote Radio Head (RRH) product SKUs, including FDD B3 (4T4R 4X40W) and B28 2T4R 2x80W. The RRH architecture is based on O-RAN Alliance Fronthaul specifications based on Split 7.2.
"The Evenstar program is supported by a group of like-minded organizations that share a common goal of accelerating the adoption of Open RAN. Through this collaboration, we hope to release RRHs with the latest features and competitive pricing. The Evenstar RRH and the program itself will help level the competition in both technical specification and price," said Mikael Rylander, SVP and GM of the Radio Access Business Unit at Mavenir.
"With Project Evenstar, Facebook Connectivity is collaborating with Mavenir and other ecosystem organizations to support building RAN hardware components for 4G and 5G networks," said Dan Rabinovitsj, Vice President for Facebook Connectivity. "A healthy ecosystem of OpenRAN vendors plays an important role in emerging deployments for 4G and 5G networks based on open architectures addressing various deployment scenarios and use cases."
"As one of the Evenstar partners, MTI is honored to deliver a reliable and advanced RRH solution for the innovative open ecosystem with the integration of our digital and RF technology and the O-RAN 7.2x functional split," said Allen Yen, Chairman & CEO of MTI.
"To benefit from next generation, open, disaggregated RAN solutions that can be implemented in various deployment scenarios for 4G and 5G networks, it is important for Deutsche Telekom to work with innovative partners driving O-RAN compliant technology," says Abdurazak Mudesir, SVP Technology Architecture & Innovation, Deutsche Telekom. "This collaboration between the O-RAN and TIP communities is an important contribution to grow that ecosystem and accelerate the commercialization of Open RAN technology."
The Evenstar RRH will be available in mid-2020 as part of the Evenstar program with plans to expand into other Open RAN architectural elements.
For more information: https://telecominfraproject.com/tip-community-momentum-driven-by-new-operator-demand-technology-solutions-and-industry-alliances/
Microelectronics Technology Inc. (MTI) is a high-technology company that has specialized in wireless communication product development, manufacturing, and global sales for more than 35 years. Based on core competency in RF/ Microwave, MTI has established a leading position in the fields of Remote Radio Heads, Microwave Radios, Satellite Transceivers and ODUs, Broadband Wireless access products, and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) readers and modules. With this excellent record of accomplishment, MTI has established valued, long-term partnerships with world-leading partners.
About Facebook Connectivity
Connectivity is at the heart of Facebook's mission to give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together. Critical to this mission is high-quality internet access, which gives people a voice and creates opportunities to share knowledge that can strengthen local communities and global economies. Facebook Connectivity works closely with partners including mobile network operators, equipment manufacturers and more to develop programs and technologies—including Express WiFi, Magma, and Terragraph—that increase the availability, affordability and awareness of high-quality internet access, bringing more people online to a faster internet. To learn more, visit: https://connectivity.fb.com.
About Mavenir
Mavenir is the industry's only End-to-End, Cloud Native Network Software Provider, redefining network economics for Communication Service Providers (CSPs). Our innovative solutions pave the way to 5G with 100% software-based, end-to-end, Cloud Native network solutions. Leveraging industry-leading firsts in VoLTE, VoWiFi, Advanced Messaging (RCS), Multi-ID, vEPC and OpenRAN vRAN, Mavenir accelerates network transformation for more than 250+ CSP customers in over 140 countries, which serve over 50% of the world's subscribers.
We embrace disruptive, innovative technology architectures and business models that drive service agility, flexibility, and velocity. With solutions that propel NFV evolution to achieve web-scale economics, Mavenir offers solutions to CSPs for revenue generation, cost reduction, and revenue protection. For more information, visit: www.mavenir.com.
Mavenir, the M logo, and CloudRange are trademarks owned by Mavenir Systems, Inc.
Copyright © 2020 Mavenir Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Battelle Names New Leaders of Education/Philanthropy, Human Resources
Windstream Enterprise OfficeSuite UC Solution Is Kari's Law-compliant


James Akinjo pours in 27 as No. 1 Baylor blasts Northwestern St.
Dec 28, 2021; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears guard James Akinjo (11) drives to the basket against Northwestern State Demons center Larry Owens (32) during the second half at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports
Senior James Akinjo scored a career-high 27 points and also contributed nine assists and five rebounds to lead top-ranked Baylor to an easy 104-68 nonconference victory over Northwestern State on Tuesday night at Waco, Texas.
Adam Flagler tallied a season-best 21 points and had a career-best 11 assists for the Bears (12-0), who are one of five remaining unbeaten teams nationally. Jeremy Sochan registered a season-high 16 points and collected 11 rebounds and Kendall Brown had 12 points and nine rebounds for Baylor.
The Bears scored the first 13 points and were never challenged by the Demons while extending their national-best winning streak to 18 consecutive games. Baylor has recorded 10 double-digit victories this season and increased its national-best margin of victory to 26.9.
Carvell Teasett had career highs of 18 points and six 3-pointers for Northwestern State (3-11). Emareyon McDonald added 13 points and Kendal Coleman had 12 for the Demons, who were outrebounded 49-33.
Northwestern State dropped to 0-9 on the road this season. It was the fifth time the Demons have lost by 30 or more points.
Baylor shot 50 percent from the field, including 13 of 35 (37.1 percent) from 3-point range, while increasing its school-record streak of consecutive nonconference victories to 36.
Bears leading scorer LJ Cryer (13.6 points per game) missed his second straight game due to a foot injury.
Northwestern State shot 39.4 percent from the field and was 11 of 25 (44 percent) from behind the arc. The Demons committed 17 turnovers to Baylor's nine.
Akinjo scored 18 in the first half and Flagler added 13 points and seven assists as Baylor led 58-30 at the break.
Flo Thamba capped the opening 13-0 burst with a basket four minutes into the contest.
A short time later, Northwestern State went on a 10-3 run and pulled within 19-12 on Teasett's 3-pointer with 10:08 left in the half.
The Hears answered with a 13-2 spurt and Akinjo capped it with two free throws to make it 32-14 with 6:57 remaining.
The Demons scored the next five before Akinjo made three consecutive 3-pointers to start a 13-0 surge as Baylor opened up a 45-19 advantage with 4:14 left in the half.
Flagler hit a 3-pointer nine seconds into the second half to push the Bears' lead over 30 for the first time.
Baylor's advantage reached 40 for the initial time when Dale Bonner drained a 3-pointer to make it 75-35 with 13:25 remaining.
The lead topped out at 48 when Sochan's 3-pointer gave the Bears a 101-53 lead with 5:02 left.


Target the Troubleshooters When Hiring Precision Specialists
By Jack Zemlicka posted on August 1, 2013 | Posted in Dealer Development
Customer service and support are the key to profitability according to precision farming recruiter T.J. Stauffer.
One of the ongoing challenges for equipment dealers to develop or expand their precision farming interests is finding the right people for the job.
T.J. Stauffer, precision ag recruiter with Rich Connell Agri-Search Inc., discusses trends in finding and retaining precision farming specialists and what traits dealers should be looking for when starting or expanding their precision employee base.
Talent and experience are at a premium in the industry, and dealers should have a clear vision of what the type of employees they want, says T.J. Stauffer, precision farming recruiter with Rich Connell Agri-Search Inc., based in Arthur, Ill.
"I have a lot of dealerships that want precision farming departments, but they don't know anything about precision farming," he says. "Even if they've been selling and servicing precision technology, as a dealership, the management are usually from the sales side of the company, or maybe a service manager promoted to precision operations manager.
This can be a limitation to profitability, and at the recent 2013 InfoAg Conference in Springfield, Ill., Stauffer shared with Precision Farming Dealer his experience working with dealerships to assemble a precision department and offered advice on what dealers should be looking for in new hires.
Stauffer spent 8 years working as a precision farming specialist, selling and servicing a variety of brands, before transitioning into his current role as a recruiter. He works with dealerships to understand how their precision business can feed equipment sales, through superior customer service and support.
"Precision farming is very high maintenance. Lots of service calls, lots of troubleshooting. It's usually hard for dealers to get it to stand alone and make money," Stauffer says. "A customer can buy a tractor at any number of dealerships within the same 100 miles, but where are they ultimately going to make that machine purchase? More and more, they're going to buy from the place that has the best precision farming support."
This philosophy is important to keep in mind when targeting new precision farming specialists, he says. Farm equipment salespeople may have success selling precision products, but can they also provide the necessary level of service for customers if something breaks down?
At the end of the day, Stauffer says, those people trained and skilled in "technology troubleshooting" should be the most desirable hires. A good gauge for dealerships on whether they made a successful hire is to evaluate performance after planting season, he says.
"Does this person have a spring under his or her belt? Typically, the person will burnout and leave, or begin to get traction and grow those qualities needed to succeed," Stauffer says. "If they don't like solving problems, they won't do well."
When working with dealerships, Stauffer emphasizes the number one complaint from farmers is having technology work when they need it to in-season. Even the most reliable products don't function 100% of the time, so listening to customers and providing the best customer service in the area will boost business, he says.
"Precision service influences a customer's decision making process and they will come back just because they know they are getting that superior level of customer support" he says. "Dealerships are realizing that they may not always have to be in the black with precision farming, but if they invest in a precision department, it's going to bring in sales and make them more competitive."
KEYWORDS Agri-Search Inc customer service infoag conference operations T.J. Stauffer
Hit the Target with Precision Service Packages
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Get Specific with Advancement Opportunities for Your Precision Specialists


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HomeGivingDonor SpotlightMargaret Thrailkill
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If you accept the definition of philanthropy as "love of humanity," then there may be no truer philanthropist than Margaret Ross Thrailkill. She was the epitome of community involvement and engagement, and the Community Colleges of Spokane Foundation is just one of the beneficiaries of her unstinting and unassuming generosity.
Born and raised in Spirit Lake, Idaho, Margaret possessed an adventurer's spirit and felt blessed to have the encouragement and financial support from her family that allowed her to not only graduate from Whitman College, but also to complete a Master's Degree at NYU. She continued to travel throughout her lifetime and circumnavigated the globe several times over! Margaret never outgrew her love of learning and passion for education, and after business and family brought her back to the northwest, she was determined to give others the same chance at an education that she had.
Margaret's involvement with Spokane Community College started after bringing a Spirit Lake student to campus to help him enroll. By the time they had completed his paperwork, Margaret had also been offered a teaching position in the business department! She continued as a faculty member at SCC until 1986, and even then, only retired because of the state-mandated retirement age. Her love of students and desire to help them obtain an education spilled into every aspect of her life, where she consistently (and insistently!) encouraged those around her to support the CCS Foundation. Her husband was one of her first converts and used the proceeds of his life insurance policy to establish a permanent endowment fund with the Foundation. This endowment continues to fund scholarships for business students and has grown substantially through Margaret's ongoing generosity, including several legacy gifts.
Margaret's lifetime of service and generosity helped ensure the future financial success not just of the Foundation, but of organizations throughout the region. In addition, her family has continued her legacy of giving and continues to contribute to her endowment to fund current and future scholarships. By creating permanent sources of funding for the Foundation, as well as instilling a tradition of giving in her family, Margaret contributed to the ongoing growth and success of the Foundation and the colleges. While she was truly one of a kind, her lifetime of service and giving remains as an example to us all, and her legacy will continue to touch the lives of students long into the future.
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