Post Release Research Articles

CD19-Directed CAR T-Cell (CTL019) Product Viability and Clinical Outcomes in Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas and B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Introduction: CTL019 is an anti-CD19 genetically modified autologous T-cell immunotherapy developed at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) that was recently approved for treatment of relapsed/refractory pediatric and young adult B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and adult relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) as tisagenlecleucel (Novartis). For ALL, the FDA-approved dose is 0.2 to 5.0 x 106 CAR-positive viable T cells per kg of body weight for patients ≤ 50 kg or 0.1 to 2.5 x 108 CAR-positive viable T cells for pts > 50 kg; for DLBCL, the FDA-approved dose is 0.6 to 6.0 x 108 CAR-positive viable T cells. For CTL019 manufactured at Penn, the dose is determined by flow cytometric staining of CAR-positive T cells, which are cryopreserved in product bags along with replicate aliquots of the final formulation in vials, simultaneously cryopreserved for release testing. The CTL019 product release criteria include a post thaw viability assessment using a vial of replicate aliquot of the final formulation for Trypan blue exclusion or dual fluorescence automated cell counting (Luna-FL, Logos Biosystems). There are no published data examining the relationship between CTL019 viability release testing and clinical outcomes.Methods: We analyzed CTL019 post thaw viability release testing in patients treated on one prospective single institution clinical trial of CD19-expressing non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) (NCT02030834) and two single-institution prospective pediatric ALL clinical trials (NCT01626495 and NCT02906371). Patients were assessed for response to therapy and CAR T-cell expansion. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed for prediction of complete responses based on sensitivity and specificity of CAR T-cell product post thaw viability release test results.Results: 39 pts with relapsed/refractory NHL (24 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and 15 follicular lymphoma) were enrolled and received the protocol-specified dose of CTL019. Best response rate was 56% (22/39) complete responses (CR). 123 pts with relapsed/refractory pediatric ALL were enrolled and received the protocol-specified dose of CTL019. Best response rate was 96% (118/123) CR/complete remission with incomplete blood count recovery (CRi). For patients with NHL infused with CTL019, product % viability had a median of 89.8% viability (range: 73.7%-97.7%); product % viability quintiles were as follows: 20%-tile=81.7%, 40%-tile=88.3%, 60%-tile=91.1%, 80%-tile=94.8%). ROC area for NHL patients was 0.47 (95%CI: 0.28-0.65). For patients with ALL infused with CTL019, product % viability had a median of 89.3% viability (range: 56.0%-98.4%); product % viability quintiles were as follows: 20%-tile=82.3%, 40%-tile=87.5%, 60%-tile=90.9%, 80%-tile=94.4%). ROC area for ALL patients was 0.52 (95%CI: 0.32-0.71). For patients with NHL, progression-free survival (PFS) was not significantly influenced by product viability release test results by Cox proportional hazards (HR: 1.0, 95%CI: 0.94-1.09, p=0.7). For patients with NHL, peak CAR T-cell expansion was not significantly correlated with product viability release test results (r2=0.12, p=0.5). Data collection for Cox analysis to investigate the effect of release test viability on PFS and correlation of release test viability with peak CTL019 expansion in ALL is ongoing and will be presented.Conclusions: Our data suggest that, within the ranges obtained in these trials, there is no clear dose-response relationship between CTL019 product viability release test results and clinical response rates in pediatric and young adult ALL or DLBCL. [Display omitted] DisclosuresChong:Novartis: Consultancy. Levine:Cure Genetics: Consultancy; Brammer Bio: Consultancy; CRC Oncology: Consultancy; Incysus: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Patents & Royalties, Research Funding; Tmunity Therapeutics: Equity Ownership, Research Funding. Grupp:Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Consultancy, Research Funding; Adaptimmune: Consultancy; University of Pennsylvania: Patents & Royalties; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy. Davis:Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Inc.: Patents & Royalties. Siegel:Novartis: Research Funding. Maude:Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Frey:Novartis: Consultancy; Servier Consultancy: Consultancy. Porter:Genentech: Other: Spouse employment; Novartis: Other: Advisory board, Patents & Royalties, Research Funding; Kite Pharma: Other: Advisory board. June:Immune Design: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Tmunity Therapeutics: Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Patents & Royalties, Research Funding; Celldex: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation: Patents & Royalties, Research Funding; Immune Design: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Tmunity Therapeutics: Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Patents & Royalties, Research Funding; Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation: Patents & Royalties, Research Funding. Schuster:Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Dava Oncology: Consultancy, Honoraria; Merck: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Nordic Nanovector: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Genentech: Honoraria, Research Funding; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Jail-Based Case Management Improves Retention in HIV Care 12 Months Post Release

Continuous and coordinated HIV care is essential for persons living with HIV to benefit from the advances in medical treatment of the disease. Approximately one in seven individuals living with HIV pass through correctional facilities annually. While sentenced individuals may receive discharge planning services, detainees in local jails usually do not. The multisite evaluation of the EnhanceLink initiative demonstrated that jail based services including discharge planning were associated with high rates of linkage to community HIV care upon release. Follow up for the multisite evaluation was limited to 6months. This paper extends follow up to 12months at one site and demonstrates that clients who were linked by the jail based case manager to a Ryan White community based case manager were more than nine times more likely to be retained in care at 12month post release. (OR 9.39, CI 1.11-79.12).

Diadenosine-Polyphosphate Analogue AppCH2ppA Suppresses Seizures by Enhancing Adenosine Signaling in the Cortex.

Epilepsy is a multifactorial disorder associated with neuronal hyperexcitability that affects more than 1% of the human population. It has long been known that adenosine can reduce seizure generation in animal models of epilepsies. However, in addition to various side effects, the instability of adenosine has precluded its use as an anticonvulsant treatment. Here we report that a stable analogue of diadenosine-tetraphosphate: AppCH2ppA effectively suppresses spontaneous epileptiform activity in vitro and in vivo in a Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) mouse model (Tsc1+/-), and in postsurgery cortical samples from TSC human patients. These effects are mediated by enhanced adenosine signaling in the cortex post local neuronal adenosine release. The released adenosine induces A1 receptor-dependent activation of potassium channels thereby reducing neuronal excitability, temporal summation, and hypersynchronicity. AppCH2ppA does not cause any disturbances of the main vital autonomous functions of Tsc1+/- mice in vivo. Therefore, we propose this compound to be a potent new candidate for adenosine-related treatment strategies to suppress intractable epilepsies.

Pre-arthroplastic mandibular distraction osteogenesis for the correction of OSA in TMJ ankylosis: a prospective observational study of 25 cases.

In severe TMJ ankylosis cases, the lack of growth of the mandible creates an anatomically narrow airway with a reduced pharyngeal airway space [PAS] which predisposes these patients towards obstructive apnoea [OSA]. There is evidence in the literature that such patients experience severe discomfort during physiotherapy if such airway abnormalities are not corrected prior to ankylosis release. This eventually leads to non-compliance towards physiotherapy and increases the risk of re-ankylosis. In our study, pre-arthroplastic mandibular distraction osteogenesis [DO] was used to increase the PAS and resolve the underlying OSA prior to releasing the ankylosis. Twenty-five cases of TMJ ankylosis with micrognathia and OSA were included in this prospective observational sleep study. They were further divided into a paediatric group [14 subjects] and an adult group [11 subjects]. All cases presented with a history of onset of ankylosis during childhood [before the completion of craniofacial growth] as result of which there was a lack of forward growth of the mandible. Subjects included in our study underwent initial DO of the mandible followed by a second procedure for distractor removal and ankylosis release. Questionnaires, lateral cephalograms and sleep studies were taken pre-operatively (T0), immediate post-distraction to the desired length (T1) and 12months post the distractor removal and ankylosis release (T2). The parameters studied were PAS width, apnoea hypopnea index [AHI], O2 saturation, mouth opening and mandibular advancement. The paediatric group variables were as follows: mean PAS width which increased from 3.5mm [T0] to 9mm [T2], mean AHI which decreased from 48.04 [T0] to 3.60 [T2], mouth opening which increased from 4.5mm [T0] to 34mm [T2] and mean O2 saturation which increased from 89.86% [T1] to 96.88% [T2]. The adult group variables were as follows: mean PAS width which increased from 5mm [T0] to 11mm [T2], mean AHI which decreased from 31.45 [T0] to 1.43 [T2], mouth opening which increased from 5mm [T0] to 34mm [T2] and mean O2 saturation which increased from 92.01% [T0] to 96.84% [T2]. Statistical analysis revealed that DO of the mandible significantly improved OSA by increasing the PAS which was evident by the lower AHI score. Mouth opening was also significantly improved post ankylosis release and maintained at the T2 interval. Ten subjects followed up beyond the T2 interval [mean 28months post ankylosis release] and their data also revealed positive compliance towards physiotherapy, adequate mouth opening and maintenance of normal AHI. Pre-arthroplastic mandibular DO has proved to be a successful modality for treatment of OSA in TMJ ankylosis patients with stable results at 12months. By resolving the narrow airway and OSA, compliance towards physiotherapy was improved thus reducing the risk of re-ankylosis in the long term.

Paying to Be Punished: A Statutory Analysis of Sex Offender Registration Fees

Over the last 20 years, sex offender policies, specifically in terms of community corrections, have increased in scope. One of the most controversial and pervasive sex offender policies is that of registration. In response to the consumption of already limited resources, jurisdictions have imposed increasingly higher community supervision fees onto the offenders, requiring them to pay for their own re-entry. However, to date no research study has examined the statutory language associated with registration fees collected post release from formal community sanctions. Using a statutory analysis within the United States, this research finds and quantifies the imposition of a registration fee on offenders who are legally compelled to pay these registration costs, regardless of whether they are still currently under community supervision. Results show that more than half of U.S. states (n = 28) incorporate statutory language authorizing registration fees, ranging anywhere from $5 per registration to up to $250 per year. These findings, as well as suggestions for future research and policy recommendations, are discussed.

(Invited) Epitaxy of (SiGe/Si) Superlattices for the Fabrication of Horizontal Gate-All-Around Nanosheet Transistors

Stacked horizontal Gate All Around Nanosheet transistors were recently proposed as a replacement of FinFET for the sub-7nm device nodes. In order to stack Nanosheet channels, a specific SiGe/Si superlattice epitaxy is employed, with SiGe being used as a sacrificial layer that will define the suspension thickness (Tsus) between the channels. In this paper, we will consider the optimization of SiGe/Si multilayer epitaxy for Nanosheet channel definition (Fig. 1). Stacks with different Ge compositions are physically characterized and studied. With strain characterization and x-ray diffraction measurements on (100) substrates, we will show that it is possible to form pseudomorphic defect-free SiGe/Si multilayers over a wide range of Ge concentrations in the sacrificial SiGe (Fig. 2 and 3). The uniformity obtained on blanket 300mm substrates will be presented (Fig. 4), with a discussion on the SiGe/Si interface abruptness. In the context of CMOS device integration, it is necessary to employ a low temperature STI process to mitigate the Ge inter-diffusion in the silicon channel and to avoid the possible generation of defects from plastic relaxation of SiGe. The SiGe and Ge-Si intermixed regions are removed with appropriate selective etch process in two Nanosheet specific modules: inner spacer formation in the extension regions (Fig. 5) and post channel release in the gate regions (Fig. 6), leaving only 5nm intrinsic silicon Nanosheets. We will report the etch rate and selectivity of our in-house vapor-phase channel release process performed at low temperature. This process enables us to remove SiGe versus Si with a great selectivity and a limited amount of silicon loss during channel release, before gate stack deposition around the stacked Nanosheets. From a device perspective, we will show that the optimization of the silicon thickness in the SiGe/Si superlattice plays an important role in the Nanosheet device performance and electrostatics (Fig. 7). Finally, with a good SiGe/Si multilayer uniformity control, a reduced thermal budget and after optimization of our in-house SiGe selective etch process, we will show the capability to form 5nm silicon Nanosheet channels with small within wafer variation, low device variability and good process control, compatible with the fabrication of very large scale integrated circuits for future CMOS device nodes. Acknowledgements: This work was performed by the Research Alliance Teams at various IBM Research Facilities. Figure 1

Burn wounds in the young versus the aged patient display differential immunological responses

BackgroundIndividuals in the geriatric age range are more prone than younger individuals to convert their partial thickness thermal burns into full thickness injuries. We hypothesized that this often observed clinical phenomenon is strongly related to differential local injury responses mediated by the immune system. Materials & methodsSkin samples from areas with partial thickness thermal burns were obtained during routine excision and grafting procedures between post burn days 2–6. Tissue samples were grouped by age ranges with young patients defined as <30 years of age or aged patients defined as >65. Formalin fixed samples were used to confirm depth of burn injury and companion sections were homogenized for multiplex analysis using a Luminex platform. Immunohistochemical staining was used to quantify total macrophage numbers as well as the M1 and M2 subpopulations. ResultsOur analysis includes samples derived from 11 young subjects (mean age=23) and 3 aged subjects (mean age=79.2). Our initial survey of analytes examined 31 cytokines/chemokines. Twelve were excluded from consideration as they were present in concentrations either above or below the optimal detection range. Two analytes emerged as candidate molecules with significant differences between the young and the aged patient responses to burn injury. EGF levels were on average 21.69pg/ml in young vs 14.87pg/ml in aged (p=0.032). RANTES/CCL5 levels were on average 14.86pg/ml in young vs 4.26pg/ml in aged (p=0.026). Elevated macrophage numbers were present within wounds of younger patients compared to the old (p<0.01), with a higher concentration of the M1 type in the elderly (p>0.05). ConclusionOur study has identified at least 2 well known cytokines, CCL5 (RANTES) and EGF, which are differentially regulated in response to burn injury by young versus aged burn victims. Evidence suggests that a proinflammatory environment can explain the high conversion rate from partial to full thickness burns. Our data suggest the need for future studies at the point of injury (cutaneous targets) that may be modulated by post burn release of cytokines/chemokines.

Establishing modalities for commercial-based variety evaluation and review of relative cane variety composition in sugarcane plantations

Coordinated commercial and trial based variety evaluation is compulsory to avoid sugarcane growers’ unexpected loss due to the pre- and post release variety performance discrepancies. This investigation was conducted to establish modalities for commercial based variety evaluation, estimating the general performance (Gp) and relative variety composition or proportion (RCV) of commercial varieties cultivated in Ethiopia. The cane, sugar and estimated recoverable sucrose yield (ERS) data of commercial varieties obtained from agricultural and factory operations datasets and the survey data were included and analyzed. Three modalities were established for commercial based variety evaluation, estimating GP and RVC of sugarcane varieties. Results from the analysis of variance revealed the existence of significant and complex interactions among the variety, crop cycle, cutting and harvest age effects. Its significance demonstrated the importance of specific crop management for a specific sugarcane variety cultivated in the respective sugarcane plantation and demands the revision of the existing crop management practices in all sugarcane plantations. Generally, the established models were adequate to evaluate variety yield performance, estimate GP and RVC of the varieties evaluated. The models developed to estimate the GP and RCV of varieties in a specific sugarcane plantation were original and are the major innovative parts of this investigation. The serious variety ranking changes across locations highlighted the existence of substantial genotype x environment interaction and signals the long year cultivated sugarcane varieties had specific environmental domains in Ethiopia. The inclusion of survey data (growers’ preference) in the present investigation was much helpful in the process of identifying appropriate variety rankings. Hence, we recommend active participations of sugarcane growers in future commercial and trial based variety evaluations. Moreover, we suggested that future research efforts involving commercial and trial based variety evaluation to adopt the established modalities as a guide to assure efficient and coordinated sugarcane variety evaluation program in Ethiopia.

Doing time on a TC: how effective are drug-free therapeutic communities in prison? A review of the literature

PurposeTherapeutic communities (TC’s) are consciously designed, living-learning environments designed to evoke social, psychological and behavioural change. The success of the residential TC model saw these community-led, self-help environments for addicts move into custodial settings and early evidence suggests this transition was effective. The purpose of this paper is to examine the evidence relevant to the effectiveness of prison based, drug-free TCs.Design/methodology/approachIn order to establish their true efficiency, particular focus has been placed on studies conducted over the last ten years (2007-2017).FindingsTo date, the TC remains superior to other forms of drug treatment in reducing recidivism and drug relapse amongst addicts who offend.Originality/valueOutcomes of this review highlighted the importance of aftercare in providing transitional support; a fundamental aspect of treatment necessary for success and for maintaining long-term recovery post release.

Improved isolation RF MEMS switch with post release ashing

RF MEMS switches have moving microstructures which are realized either by dry release method or by wet releasing process. In dry release process, suspended bridges gets curled up due to high process temperature while in wet release method, surface of the released devices is get contaminated which affects the final performance of the device. In this paper, a mixed release process of wet and dry is presented to release the stiction free suspended microstructures. Contamination from the devices is removed by plasma cleaning. Isolation of the device under test has been improved to 22 from 15 dB after plasma exposure.

Outcomes of post burn flexion contracture release under tourniquet versus tumescent technique in children

ObjectiveTo compare the clinical outcomes of release of flexion contractures after burn of the hand in children using tourniquet or tumescent technique in terms of operative time, postoperative pain score, and percentage of graft take. MethodsPatients aged 3 to 12 years who required release of post-burn flexion contractures involving volar aspect of palm and fingers were enrolled from outpatient clinic. Patients were randomized in 1:1 ratio to the use of either tumescent technique or tourniquet during contracture release. Duration of procedure, postoperative pain score, percentage of graft take, and any complications were assessed and analyzed in both groups by a blinded observer. ResultsOf the 160 patients randomized in the study (80 in each group), 84 (52.5%) were males. The mean±SD age of participants was 7.84±3.49 years, with no statistically significant difference in gender and age distribution between the groups. Similarly, there was no statistically significant difference in duration of surgery in both groups. However, there was a statistically significant difference in percentage of graft take at the 14th postoperative day; significantly more graft take was noted in the tumescent group (8.97±3.7cm vs. 7.26±2.6cm; P=0.001). Mean analgesia consumed in the tumescent group was significantly less than that of the tourniquet group (6.26±1.9mg vs. 9.41±2.2mg; P≤0.001). Similarly, statistically significant difference in the mean FLACC pain score was noted, with remarkably low pain score in the tumescent group. ConclusionWe found that the use of the tumescent technique for the release of flexion contracture resulted in better graft take, lower pain scores, and lesser consumption of analgesic than the use of tourniquet.

Use of viral load surveillance data to assess linkage to care for persons with HIV released from corrections.

Incarcerated people remain a priority group in efforts to control and reverse the HIV epidemic. Following release, social instability and reengagement in key transmission risk behaviors increase the risk of secondary transmission of HIV. Targeted programs have been developed to facilitate reengagement in care on reentry. Evaluation of the impact of these initiatives requires a systematic, confidential, framework for assessment of linkage to care for persons released from corrections. By linking HIV viral load surveillance data to corrections release data, the time to the first laboratory monitoring service in the community as well as the virologic status can be assessed. Using this method, we linked release data for sentenced individuals released from Massachusetts state correctional facilities in 2012 to HIV surveillance data from the Massachusetts HIV/AIDS Surveillance Program (MHASP) for the years 2012–2013. We identified 41 individuals with HIV released in 2012. Ninety-one percent had identified virologic assessments post release, 41% within 30 days. Thirty-three percent did not have a viral load assessed for more than 90 days and 31% had detectable virus at the time of their initial assessment. Persons with longer incarcerations (> 180 days) were more likely to have suppressed viral load at the time of follow-up (p = 0.05). This work demonstrates the important value of HIV laboratory surveillance data and correctional release data as a tool to assess linkage to care following release from corrections. We encourage jurisdictions to explore utilizing similar methodology to evaluate the effectiveness of the linkage to HIV care after release from incarceration.

Generalised framework for optimal pre and post release software testing in presence of warranty

Significant advances in the field of software testing have been made by providing extended warranties, operational support and desired software reliability to the customers. However, the trade-off between minimising testing cost and maximising reliability to ensure well-timed market penetration has been a key concern for developers. Separate release and testing stop time strategy in order to optimise overall testing and market opportunity cost is proposed. We propose a generalised framework for developers to achieve multiple objectives of minimum testing and market opportunity cost; optimal warranty length; and optimal testing and release time. Software reliability growth models (SRGMs) are used to model an average number of bugs detected by testers (users) during the pre (post) release of software. Significant implications and quite intriguing facts related to separate release and testing stop time; early release ensuring higher reliability and; capitalising market opportunity to minimise overall testing cost are suggested based on proposed optimisation models. Numerical illustration is provided to validate the proposed framework.

Generalised framework for optimal pre and post release software testing in presence of warranty

Generalised framework for optimal pre and post release software testing in presence of warranty

A Life Course Analysis of Homeless Shelter Use among the Formerly Incarcerated

Prior work finds that the formerly incarcerated are at an elevated risk of homelessness. However, studies disagree regarding how these individuals experience homelessness; quantitative research emphasizes homelessness as a temporary obstacle experienced shortly after release, yet ethnographic work suggests that formerly incarcerated individuals experience frequent and/or lengthy bouts and are at risk long after release. Drawing on the life course perspective and nearly eight years of administrative records post release, this study examines patterns and correlates of homeless shelter use in a cohort of individuals released from prison. The results suggest that both immediate and delayed shelter use exist. Although the risk is highest soon after release, approximately half of individuals who used shelters experienced their first spell more than two years after release. Moreover, shelter use spells were prolonged and repeated. Findings also highlight the influence of cumulative disadvantage in understanding who is most at risk for shelter use.

Total kinetic energy release in the fast neutron induced fission of 235U

The total kinetic energy (TKE) release in the fast neutron induced fission of 235U was measured for neutron energies En=2–100 MeV. The TKE distributions are Gaussian in shape. The mean post neutron emission TKE release decreases non-linearly with increasing neutron energy and can be represented as TKE(MeV)=170.92−3.73774log10⁡En−0.65028(log10⁡En)2. Abrupt changes in the variances of the TKE distributions are observed at the onset of 2nd, 3rd, etc. chance fission. For En=20–100 MeV, the variances are approximately constant. These observations are compared to the predictions of the GEF model for neutron-induced fission. This model describes many of the features of the TKE release adequately.

After Release: A Qualitative Investigation into the Financial Lives of Previously Incarcerated Individuals

ABSTRACTResearch related to post release of previously incarcerated individuals has long focused on recidivism, post-incarceration employment, education, family support, and substance abuse treatment. One area that has not been well explored in postrelease inquiry is how financial knowledge and behavior shape the previously incarcerated individual as they reintegrate into society. This qualitative study explored the research question, “What are post incarcerated individuals’ experiences of self-identified financial behavior change?” Content analyses were conducted with the interviews of 42 previously incarcerated individuals, discussing their financial attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors: budgeting, spending choices, and savings. The findings of this study include a presence of family influence, perceptions of financial behavior change, confusion regarding banking and credit, and a general lack of financial knowledge among respondents.

Enriched stable isotope marking of hatchery trout via immersion: A method to monitor restocking success

Abstract Suitable habitat for many temperate freshwater species of salmonids is predicted to dramatically decline, yet many hatcheries still release millions of juvenile salmonids into rivers and lakes annually with little or no post release monitoring. This is, in part, because marking of hatchery reared fish is often not compulsory and currently available marking methods are either costly, cause high mortalities, are inconvenient to apply, or have poor long-term retention rates. To help overcome these limitations, we tested two recently validated stable isotope mass marking methods for Atlantic salmon (larval and egg immersion), to determine if a suitable low cost, easy to apply, fish friendly marking method could be achieved for two of the most widely stocked freshwater salmonids worldwide: brown trout Salmo trutta and rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. Egg immersion using 1000 μg L−1 of 137Ba and 136Ba over a 2 h period did not create detectable marks in the otoliths of brown or rainbow trout. In contrast, larval immersion using 100 μg L−1 of 137Ba and 136Ba over a 24 h period returned a 100% mark-success rate in the otoliths of brown and rainbow trout at an estimated marking cost of $US 0.004 per fish. Larval immersion marks were clearly definable in the otoliths, with isotope ratios in marked fish 11 times greater than ratios measured in control fish. Furthermore, the process of marking was easy to apply, with

Reentry Program and Social Work Education: Training the Next Generation of Criminal Justice Social Workers

ABSTRACTPurpose: Social work plays a marginal role in opposing the trend of mass incarceration and high rates of recidivism, and social work education offers limited opportunities for students to specialize in working with people who are currently or were previously incarcerated. How to train students of social work to work against mass-incarceration is still challenging. Methods: The authors devised and implemented an in-school social service agency devoted to working with people pre and post release from a prison system. The agency is a field practicum setting where interested students study and practice reentry work. In this article, the authors describe and assess the educational merit of this in-school agency. Results: Findings from surveys of students and alumni suggest that the program attained its educational goals of connecting classroom education to practice experience and training students for careers in the criminal justice system. The authors also discuss pending challenges. Discussion: The experience of the Goldring Reentry Initiative suggests that by developing their own social work agencies, the authors may be able to heighten their students educational experience and expand their contribution to social work practice broadly.

Environmental Characteristics Associated with Settlement of Reintroduced Chinese Giant Salamanders

Captive breeding and reintroduction have been increasingly used to restore endangered amphibians worldwide. Knowing habitat requirements for targeted species will help to enhance post release settlement and contribute to the success of reintroduction projects. To collect critical information on habitat requirements of the poorly documented Chinese Giant Salamanders (Andrias davidianus), we reintroduced 31 juveniles at two streams in central China and monitored them through radio telemetry from May 2013 to September 2014. We recorded 14 environmental variables twice a month (except during winter) at salamander locations and random locations. We also conducted transects systematically along streams to collect data on environmental variables and prey species. Habitat selection by salamanders was examined at two spatial scales: home-range scale and stream-reach scale. At the home-range scale, water quality variables were not different between salamander locations and random locations, although salamanders were found in deeper water, used larger boulders, and were closer to boulders. Regression models confirmed that presence of salamanders was positively associated with boulder size, river depth, and canopy cover but negatively associated with distance to boulders. At the stream-reach level, only the average water velocity was lower within home ranges than out of home ranges; however, no difference was found between core home ranges and out of home ranges. These results showed that large boulders were the most important variable selected by salamanders. Plenty of large boulders in the streams, together with evidences of postrelease growth of salamanders, indicate the two streams likely are providing suitable habitat for salamanders.