cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multiscale Mechanics of Fibrin Polymer: Gel Stretching with Protein Unfolding and Loss of Water

Blood clots and thrombi consist primarily of a mesh of branched fibers made of the protein fibrin. We propose a molecular basis for the marked extensibility and negative compressibility of fibrin gels based on the structural and mechanical properties of clots at the network, fiber, and molecular levels. The force required to stretch a clot initially rises linearly and is accompanied by a dramatic decrease in clot volume and a peak in compressibility. These macroscopic transitions are accompanied by fiber alignment and bundling after forced protein unfolding. Constitutive models are developed to integrate observations at spatial scales that span six orders of magnitude and indicate that gel extensibility and expulsion of water are both manifestations of protein unfolding, which is not apparent in other matrix proteins such as collagen.
Early Repolarization Pattern in Competitive Athletes: Clinical Correlates and the Effects of Exercise Training

Background— Inferior lead early repolarization pattern (ERP) recently has been associated with sudden cardiac death. Although ERP is common among athletes, prevalence, ECG lead distribution, clinical characteristics, and effects of physical training remain uncertain. We sought to examine the nonanterior ERP in competitive athletes. Methods and Results— ERP was assessed in a cross-sectional cohort of collegiate athletes (n=879). The relationship between ERP and cardiac structure were then examined in a longitudinal subgroup (n=146) before and after a 90-day period of exercise training. ERP was defined as J-point elevation ≥0.1 mV in at least 2 leads within a nonanterior territory (inferior [II, III, aVF] or lateral territory [I, aVL, V4-V6]). Nonanterior ERP was present in 25.1% (221/879) of athletes, including the inferior subtype in 3.8% (33/879). Exercise training led to significant increases in the prevalence of ERP and the inferior subtype, but there were no associations between ERP and echocardiographic measures of left ventricular remodeling. In a multivariable model, ERP was associated with black race (odds ratio [OR], 5.84; 95% CI, 3.54 to 9.61; P <0.001), increased QRS voltage (OR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.71 to 2.52; P <0.001), and slower heart rate (OR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.26 to 1.87; P <0.001). Conclusions— Nonanterior ERP, including the inferior subtype, is common and has strong clinical associations among competitive athletes. The finding of increased ERP prevalence after intense physical training establishes a strong association between exercise and ERP.
Effect of atomic density on wavepacket motion of atoms in an optical lattice

We investigate the dependence of oscillations of atoms trapped in an optical lattice on the atomic density. Our observations reflect a non-linear internal feedback mechanism.
Application of time-resolved photoacoustic calorimetry to CrL bond enthalpies in Cr(CO)5L

Using time-resolved photoacoustic calorimetry, the CrL bond enthalpies in Cr(CO)5L for a variety of ligands have been measured. Also, the enthalpy and entropy of activation for the displacement of heptane in Cr(CO)5(heptane) by pyridine and 2-picoline have been determined.
Forms of Social Awareness: Their Frequency and Correlates:

Two studies examined subjects' estimates of how frequently they experience forms of awareness in dyadic interactions. Awareness forms varied on three dimensions-target (self or other), content (covert experience or overt appearance), and perspective used (that of self or that of other). Subjects indicated that they use the perspective of the other more often than their own only when it provides 'privileged" access to the relevant content of awareness-that is, when they think about the thoughts and feelings of the other or about their own appearance or behavior. People high in nurturance or intimacy strivings tend more to adopt the perspective of another to think about the covert experience of that individual, whereas people high in dominance or power strivings tend more to retain their own. Females, relative to males, show a tendency to use privileged awareness forms when thinking about the other.
Climatic and landscape correlates for potential West Nile virus mosquito vectors in the Seattle region

ABSTRACT Climatic and landscape patterns have been associated with both relative mosquito abundance and transmission of mosquitoborne illnesses in many parts of the world, especially warm and tropical climes. To determine if temperature, precipitation, or degree of urbanization were similarly important in the number of potential mosquito vectors for West Nile virus in the moderately temperate climate of western Washington, mosquitoes were collected using CDC carbondioxide/light traps set throughout the Seattle region during the summers of 2003 and 2004. The type and abundance of recovered species were compared to ecological correlates. Temperature and mosquito abundance were positively correlated, while precipitation was not strongly correlated with numbers of mosquitoes. Potential WNV mosquito vectors were most abundant in urban and suburban sites, including sites near communal roosts of American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos). Exurban sites had the greatest vector species diversity, and Culex pipiens was...
Program and Center Accreditation

The use of simulation in healthcare education has increased exponentially in the past decade. As a result, more and more professional organizations are developing or implementing processes focused on defining and implementing best practices in simulation-based education. Such processes are quite resource intensive, and it is unclear at this time whether the cost-benefit ration for such efforts is favorable. In this chapter, we review the four primary accreditation efforts currently underway. In addition, we attempt to provide a comparative analysis of these programs that does not focus on strengths and weaknesses but rather how each program is designed to uniquely meet the needs of the parent organization’s mission.
The Experience of American and Canadian Cancer Patients in Deciding to Seek Alternative Care in Mexican Cancer Clinics

Background. Each year, despite warnings from the American Cancer Association, many US and Canadian citizens travel to Tijuana, Mexico, for cancer care. The main criticism of these clinics is that they provide treatments that are unproven, potentially unsafe, and expensive. Despite this, about 35 clinics exist in Tijuana that provide alternative care to patients who pay cash for these services. Objectives. To understand the lived experience of people who have made the choice to receive cancer treatment at alternative cancer clinics in Tijuana, and gain insight into the process by which that decision occurs. Population. 5 participants were interviewed. Three adult US citizens, one Canadian, and both parents of a US pediatric patient. Method. A phenomenological approach was used. Participants were interviewed at clinics while undergoing treatment. The researcher conducted a review of the clinics and treatments offered, along with history of the political, social, and economic climate in which the phenomena exists. Conclusions. Themes identified in the decision-making process are rational, social and emotional. People choose caregivers based on trusting relationships and reasons that seem rational to them. Decisions are often values based, such as quality of life.
Eggs of Floodwater Mosquitoes Xiv. Northern Aedes (Diptera: Culicidae)

Whole eggs and segments of chorion of species of Aedes—enmmunis (De Geer), hexodontus Dyar, pionips Dyar, pullatus (Coquillett), dianteus Howard, Dyar, & Knab, punctor (Kirby), trichurus (Dyar), intrudens Dyar, excrucians (Walker), barri Rueger, fitchii (Felt & Young), and cinereus Meigen—are illustrated by photographs obtained by scanning electron microscopy. Distinctive features are visible optically by stereomicroscopy in white light.
Abstract 2334: Anti-angiogenic activity of anthrax lethal toxin using the mouse retina as a model system

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Our laboratory has previously shown that inhibition of MKK pathways by anthrax lethal toxin (LeTx) inhibits tumor growth and angiogenesis, reduces VEGF secretion, and results in rapid cessation of blood flow to tumors in melanoma and sarcoma xenograft model systems. To gain insight into the anti-angiogenic nature of LeTx, we utilized both developmental and pathological models of vascularization in the murine retina. By immunoblotting and immunofluorescence microscopy we observed that MAPK activation occurs in a spatially and temporally regulated manner during retinal vascular development. Intravitreal administration of LeTx caused an early delay in retinal vascular development followed by the formation of abnormal vascular tufts that co-stained with phosphorylated MAPK in the outer retinal region. Using a model of oxygen-induced retinopathy, western analysis revealed that MAPK activation preceded the onset of hypoxia and development of neovascularization in this model system. Intravitreal injection of LeTx during hypoxia resulted in a persistent lack of development and progression of all pathologic aspects of neovascularization, while having minimal effect on macrophage recruitment. VEGF levels remained at an elevated level even with the persistent lack of neovascular growth and continued hypoxic environment, implying a VEGF-independent mechanism for the effects of MKK inhibition. Additionally, immature retinal vasculature during normal development was persistently destroyed following MAPK inhibition, while mature vessels from adult animals were unaffected. Our studies not only reveal that MKK signaling plays a key role in retinal angiogenesis but also that perturbation of MKK signaling by LeTx can profoundly alter vascular morphogenesis. The persistent destruction of immature vessels during normal vascular development in the retina and in the model of oxygen-induced retinopathy suggests an extreme sensitivity of immature vessels to MKK signaling inhibition. Since MKK inhibition prevents oxygen-induced retinopathy by a mechanism independent of the VEGF-targeting strategies, this approach may be used in conjunction with existing strategies utilizing VEGF inhibitors to prevent pathologic angiogenesis. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2334. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-2334
A finite elastic-plastic theory and invariance requirements

A mechanical theory of a finite elastic-plastic material is presented as a special type of the more general simple material with memory. Thus, the concepts of invariance used in the theory of simple materials are applied to the special case to derive explicit forms for the various constitutive equations. The theory and the interpretation differ from previous theories byGreen andNaghdi and byLee andLiu. Some comments byGreen andNaghdi regarding the correctness of the theory ofLee andLiu are clarified by the present approach.
O3-S6.05 Perceptions on point-of-care tests for sexually transmitted infections‑disconnect between frontline clinicians and professionals in industry

Background Some recently developed or available sexually transmitted infection (STI) point-of-care tests (POCTs) are not very accurate and are not feasible for use in clinical settings. We conducted a study to determine if a gap exists between STI clinicians/academic experts and industry professionals regarding perceptions of the ideal types and characteristics of STI POCTs. Methods Our online survey design informed by a large-scale focus group study among STI professionals contained sections on demographics; barriers of use for available STI POCTs; characteristics of an ideal POCT, including prioritising pathogens for targets; and building your own POCT". Practicing clinicians and academic experts from two venues, STI-related international conference attendees and U.S. STD clinic clinicians, were invited to participate in the clinician survey. Professionals from industry in the STI diagnostic field were invited to participate in the industry survey. χ 2 test and conditional logistical regression were used for data analysis. Results Clinician survey participants (n=218) identified “the time frame required” (39.9%), “complexity” (31.2%), and “interruption of work flow” (30.3%) as the top three barriers making it difficult to use STI POCTs, while the industry survey participants (n=107) identified "complexity" (65.4%), “unreliability” (53.3%), and “difficulty in reading results” (34.6%) as the top three barriers. Significant differences in barriers named in the two surveys included “complexity”, “the time frame required”, “laboratory driven”, “difficulty in reading results”, and “unreliability”. Participants from both surveys ranked C trachomatis as the top priority organism chosen for a new POCT (clinician: 62%, industry: 39%, p Conclusions We identified differences in the perceptions regarding barriers and ideal attributes for STI POCTs between frontline clinical providers and industry personnel. Tailored training is warranted to inform scientists, biomedical engineers, and other industry experts about characteristics that clinicians desire for STI POCTs.
Precision Atmospheric Trace Gas Monitoring with Frequency Comb Lasers

Accurate monitoring of trace gases requires high sensitivity, drift-free instruments. Dual frequency comb spectroscopy is a promising technique for kilometer-scale open-path monitoring of trace gases, owing to its low systematic uncertainty, high stability, and absorption-model-based calibration.
Polarizable Material from a Conjunctival Biopsy in a Patient with Sarcoidosis.

Purpose: Conjunctival biopsies may contain polarizable material in patients with sarcoidosis despite no history of prior trauma or eye surgeries. Procedures: A 39-year-old male with uveitic glaucoma presented with decreased vision and throbbing pain in his right eye. His intraocular pressure was elevated, and his vision was reduced to hand motion. Due to persistently elevated intraocular pressure refractory to medical treatment, the patient underwent a glaucoma drainage device procedure. During the procedure, a yellow, nodular conjunctival growth was noted and biopsied. Results: Histopathological examination revealed multiple nonnecrotizing granulomata, some of which contained polarizable material. Conclusions: Biopsies of patients with sarcoidosis may contain polarizable material without evidence of foreign body inoculation.
Arthroscopic Microfracture for Osteochondritis Dissecans Lesions of the Capitellum

Capitellar osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is one of the most common causes of elbow pain and dysfunction in adolescent athletes. It typically occurs in gymnasts and overhead throwers and presents along a wide spectrum of severity. Stable lesions can typically be treated with conservative therapy; however, those presenting with instability, fragmentation, or loose bodies generally require surgical intervention. Although there are a number of described surgical options used to treat capitellar OCD lesions, microfracture is one of the most commonly performed and well studied. Patients who are candidates for microfracture generally have favorable outcomes with high rates of return to athletic activity after postoperative rehabilitation. In this work, we present our preferred arthroscopic technique for microfracture of OCD lesions of the capitellum. This technique is most suitable for patients with unstable or fragmented OCD lesions that are less than 1 cm in diameter and do not violate the lateral-most articular margin of the capitellum.
The relationship between spinal and peripheral osteoarthritis and bone density measurements.

OBJECTIVE To determine the influence of osteoarthritis (OA) on bone density measurements and whether OA at one site is associated with OA at other sites. METHODS Nonrandomized, cross sectional observational study; secondary analysis of a general population database. Sixty-four subjects derived from a longitudinal study of long distance runners and community controls had a complete peripheral radiographic evaluation for osteoarthritic changes in hands, knees, and lumbar spine. Forty-four of these were studied in 1984 with quantitative computed tomography (QCT) of L1, and 54 were studied in 1988 with 153-Gd dual photon absorptiometry (DPA) in the spine and total body. Thirty-four subjects had all measurements done. RESULTS Total body and lumbar spine DPA were positively correlated with radiological scores of OA in the spine and knees, with coefficients ranging between 0.467 to 0.530 (p < 0.001 in all cases). This correlation was principally associated with spinal spurs and knee sclerosis. Results of stepwise multiple linear regression modeling for QCT included age, spine sclerosis, knee sclerosis and knee spurs as the main predictors of bone mineral density (BMD). For DPA measurements, spine spur score was a useful regressor for all the models. Altogether, the percentage of variance accounted for by individual radiological OA variables was 27.4% for lumbar QCT, 27.3% for lumbar BMD, 7.3% for total spine BMD, and 45.2% for total body BMD. OA scores at different sites were not correlated, although repeated assessment at the same site showed very close correlation. CONCLUSIONS All methods used to determine BMD showed a highly significant positive correlation between lumbar and knee radiological OA and bone mineral content both in the spine and the total body. Thus, our results support the hypothesis that OA is negatively correlated with osteopenia. OA, as seen in this population, was not a generalized condition, but rather, was site specific.
Community Response to a Public Health Advertisement

The article focuses on the community response to a public health advertisement in 2015. It states a billboard posted in Chicago, Illinois depicted an African American infant next to the message "I am an outbreak" which was meant to promote flu shots. It mentions days after being put up, graffiti was sprayed on top of it stating "beautiful" to give the advertisement a more positive theme.
Violence and Regime Stability: A Conceptual and Experimental Approach

This paper identifies the absence of a clear concept of violence as an obstacle to research on its causes and consequences. Standard practice in the proliferating literatures on political violence is to use damage measured in casualties as a surrogate. But damage can be produced nonviolently and, depending on how it is theorized, violence, per se, might not result in damage. After analyzing the costs of avoiding the conceptual and definitional problems involved in the study of violence, we present a concept of violence that can be directly and unambiguously operationalized as a sudden and drastic increase in the scale of negative values at stake in an encounter. The paper reports the results of computer assisted agent-based modeling experiments designed to evaluate the consistency, transparency, precision, and heuristic power of thinking about violence in this way. The substantive focus of these experiments is the relationship between violence and the integrity of political regimes within whose ambit it occurs. Results of the experiments are reported and analyzed in terms of intuitions and expectations about the relationship between violence and regime stability. These findings are interpreted as corroboration of the plausibility and promise of the paper’s conceptualization of violence.
The effects of surface roughness and paint quality on flight condition

T interaction between a solid surface of an air vehicle and surrounding air is knows as the main phenomenon affecting the aerodynamics. The surface roughness has a great effect on the aerodynamic performance by reducing the drag and delaying the separation at high Reynolds numbers which results in increasing the lift coefficient. The effects of different types of paint with different types of finish on the aerodynamics of commercial aircrafts have been investigated in this research. It was shown that reducing the surface roughness leads to drag reduction and lift improvements. However, the surface roughness non-uniformity can result in early separation. The paint quality was found to be very critical in protecting the composite body of the aircraft against excess loads and UV radiation as well as maintaining the integrity of the fuselage and wing.
Examining Links Between Religion, Evolution Views, and Climate Change Skepticism

Recent media portrayals link climate change skepticism to evolution skepticism, often as part of a larger “antiscience” tendency related to membership in conservative religious groups. Using nation...
Coherence modulated third harmonic generation for winterface vibrational spectroscopy

Contributions to coherent vibrational modulation of third harmonic generation across an interface include a bulk coherent second hyper-Raman scattering and an interface-specific Fresnel boundary modulation. Interface scans permit separation of the bulk and interface signals.
The NASA Global Flood Mapping System

Significant flooding is a common occurrence in many parts of the globe, and remote sensing from satellite platforms can provide near real-time information for response during flooding disasters. This same information is also valuable for flood mitigation, preparedness, and recovery including large-scale infrastructure planning, settling insurance claims following flood disasters, and planning community rebuilding. Here we review the basic considerations of mapping surface water and flood extent using remote sensing and describe the NASA Near Real Time Global Flood Mapping System, a fully automated, near real-time system designed to produce such products for nearly the entire globe each day. The NASA system, a collaboration between NASA and the Dartmouth Flood Observatory, processes data from the MODerate resolution Imaging Spectro-radiometer (MODIS) instruments on the NASA Aqua and Terra satellites to produce a range of products for use by both the disaster management community and the scientific research community.
Deciphering Dreams: How Glyphomancy Worked in Late Ming Dream Encyclopedic Divination

Both the 1562 dream encyclopedia Mengzhan yizhi 夢占逸旨 (Guidelines for Dream Divination) and the 1636 dream encyclopedia Menglin xuanjie 夢林玄解 (An Explication of the Profundities in the Forest of Dreams) consisted of individual examples of accurately divined dream interpretations whose cumulative weight proved that the divination techniques worked consistently and should be used. The content of the dream encyclopedias revealed the specific nature of the techniques. In the dream encyclopedias, individuals’ dreamed problems were solved using glyphomancy (the dissection of Chinese characters), demonstrating the importance of written Chinese characters in dream divination. I show that glyphomancy not only revealed divinatory answers, but in some instances, accurately predicted the timing of life's events.
Measurement of Spin Density Matrix Elements in the Reaction γp → K+ Λ(1520) Using CLAS at Jefferson Lab

This work presents a measurement of the spin density matrix elements of the Λ(1520) in the reac- tion γp → K + Λ(1520). The elements measured are ρ 11 , Re( ρ 31 ), and Re( ρ 3 − 1 ). The spin density matrix elements, together with differential cross sections, can provide information about the pro- duction mechanism of the Λ(1520). The data used is from the g11a run period, collected at the CLAS detector at Jefferson Lab. The Λ(1520) was detected via the pK − decay mode, and three topologies, p ( K + ) K − , pK + ( K − ), and pK + K − , were studied to maximize kinematic coverage. The measurements cover the center-of-mass energy range from 2.04 GeV to 2.82 GeV and almost the full range of the production angle. These are the first measurements of these quantities over much of this kinematic region, and the large dataset allows us to use much finer binning than all previous measurements. These measurements do not match predictions from existing models and can provide the basis for a better theoretical understanding of Λ(1520) photoproduction.
Great Accountability Should Accompany Great Power: The ECJ and the U.N. Security Council in Kadi I & II

Over a decade ago, the United Nations (UN) Security Council added Yassin Abdullah Kadi’s name to a list of hundreds of individuals suspected of associating with Al-Qaida and the Taliban. The Security Council directed UN Member States to freeze the listed individuals’ assets and to limit their travel. The Council of the European Union (EC) subsequently passed regulations giving direct effect to the UN sanctions regime. In 2008, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) annulled one such implementing regulation, but assigned responsibility for remedying considerable due process defects inherent in the regime to Community institutions rather than the UN Security Council. Leaving this task to the European Union (EU) presents a logistical impossibility. Instead, the Security Council should create a court to review its own listing decisions and ensure fair procedure. The ECJ should allocate responsibility to the Security Council, while preserving the EU legal order’s autonomy. In Kadi II, Mr. Kadi’s current appeal, the ECJ has the opportunity to indicate that it would accept the authority of a court dedicated to hearing challenges to listing decisions, provided it satisfies the European Court of Human Rights’ definition of an independent and impartial tribunal under Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
CH 15 – Language

Publisher Summary The study of language, language use, and language learning is a wide-ranging field. This chapter discusses language development in increasing order of complexity. Spoken languages are composed of basic sound units called phonemes. These basic sounds are combined to form morphemes, the smallest meaningful unit in language. Morphemes are combined to form words. All human babies display spontaneous babbling early in life. This babbling appears to include all of the sounds necessary to speak any language, even though the child quickly begins to concentrate on the sounds contained in the language of his or her environment. True words and holophrastic speech tend to be picked up quickly in the first few years of life. Two-word sentences and telegraphic speech follow. Although children vary in terms of how quickly they acquire language, they all appear to acquire grammar in the same order.
Freeware Downloads: An Empirical Investigation Into the Impact of Expert and User Reviews On Demand for Digital Goods

Electronic word-of-mouth, or eWOM, on e-commerce platforms has become ubiquitous and has recently generated renewed interest among researchers to explore its impact in the e-marketplace. However, published research to date has yet to study the impact of expert reviews on digital goods and their combined impact with users’ reviews. In this paper, we conduct an empirical study of 143 freeware to measure the impact of two distinct types of eWOM, those produced by experts (professional reviewers) and those offered by users (consumers) on the number of downloads. Despite the fundamental difference in motivations of posting a review, our findings suggest that the impacts of both types of eWOM are nearly identical in significance and importance. While we found that the existence of either or both types of reviews impacts consumption (software download), the review valence does not matter. The findings of this research could help e-commerce operators – intermediaries and direct sellers alike – integrate eWOM in the formulation of their e-business models.
Prescriber Attitudes Toward Implementation of Pharmacogenomic Testing in a Family Medicine Residency Program.

Introduction Few qualitative studies have explored the attitude of prescribers towards the implementation of pharmacogenomic testing in the family medicine (FM) setting, and none among FM residents. The purpose of this study was to describe the level of engagement and interest in the implementation of pharmacogenomic education and testing in an FM clinic within a residency program. Methods A qualitative study utilizing semistructured interviews was conducted among prescribers within the FM clinic at The Brooklyn Hospital Center (TBHC). Voluntary prescribers included FM residents and attendings. No prescribers were excluded. Prior to the interview, informational sheets about pharmacogenomics were provided to standardize participant knowledge base. The research team created an interview guide of specific open-ended questions. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed until a point of saturation was achieved. Transcripts of interviews served as data for analysis. Coding and analysis were performed to develop a hypothesis. No formal statistical analysis was required. Results Of the total 28 providers eligible for participation, 15 were recruited and interviewed (53% response rate). Based on analysis of interview data, four key conceptual concerns emerged regarding benefits and risks of testing, feasibility, accessibility, and modification of FM residency training curricula. Conclusion Positive attitudes and perceptions provide support for pharmacogenomic education and testing to be incorporated into FM residency curricula. Addressing practical barriers, such as curricular education and training, will allow for expansion of such initiatives in the future.
Aggregated student confidence estimates support continuous quality improvements in a competencies-oriented curriculum.

Introduction Competencies oriented medical curricula are intended to support the development of those specific tasks likely to improve patient care outcomes. In 2005, our institution developed curricular objectives and instructional activities intended to enable our students to competently perform four specific clinical tasks (diagnose, treat, manage and explain phenomena) for each of approximately 100 common and/or important patient presentations (eg, dyspnoea). However, competencies oriented curricula must also develop outcome metrics aligned with their objectives and instructional activities in order to launch a continuous quality improvement (CQI) programme. This investigation describes how a novel course evaluation methodology produced presentation and task-focused outcome metrics sufficient to support CQIs in our competencies-oriented curriculum. Methods Literature suggests that aggregated, group opinions are much more reliable than individual opinions in a variety of settings, including education. In 2010, we launched a course evaluation methodology using aggregated student self-assessments of their confidence in performing the four tasks trained to in each presentation-focused instructional activity. These aggregated estimates were transformed into a variety of graphic and tabular reports which faculty used to identify, and then remediate, those specific instructional activities associated with suboptimal presentation and task-focused confidence metrics. Results With academic year 2010–2011 serving as a baseline and academic year 2015–2016 as an endpoint, analysis of variance revealed a sustained and statistically significant gain in student confidence across this 6-year study period (p Discussion This investigation demonstrated that aggregated, presentation and task-specific confidence estimates enabled faculty to pursue and attain CQIs in a competencies-oriented curriculum. Suggestions for new approaches to confidence-related research are offered.
Are plant-soil dynamics different in pastures under organic management? A review

Abstract Organic livestock production in the U.S. requires that a significant amount of feed comes from grazed pasture. While principles of grazing management for temperate grasslands are well known, organic livestock production may result in unique plant-soil dynamics with ramifications for farmer decision-making and management. We reviewed the literature for direct or indirect evidence that organic pasture management results in altered plant-soil dynamics and assessed whether organic management might necessitate modifications or additions to managed grazing principles. The literature directly addressing these questions is sparse. We found some evidence that organic management can stimulate soil biota but no evidence for grassland yield, soil stocks, or soil transformation rate differences between organic and non-organic pastures. Given the constraint on fertilizer and herbicide inputs in organic management, established principles of managed grazing – rotating livestock frequently through paddocks such that plants are uniformly grazed but left with significant residual biomass and time for regrowth – are critical for maintaining dense, productive swards in organic pasture management.
Spatio-temporal Adaptive Pricing for Balancing Mobility-on-Demand Networks

Pricing in mobility-on-demand (MOD) networks, such as Uber, Lyft, and connected taxicabs, is done adaptively by leveraging the price responsiveness of drivers (supplies) and passengers (demands) to achieve such goals as maximizing drivers’ incomes, improving riders’ experience, and sustaining platform operation. Existing pricing policies only respond to short-term demand fluctuations without accurate trip forecast and spatial demand-supply balancing, thus mismatching drivers to riders and resulting in loss of profit. We propose CAPrice, a novel adaptive pricing scheme for urban MOD networks. It uses a new spatio-temporal deep capsule network (STCapsNet) that accurately predicts ride demands and driver supplies with vectorized neuron capsules while accounting for comprehensive spatio-temporal and external factors. Given accurate perception of zone-to-zone traffic flows in a city, CAPrice formulates a joint optimization problem by considering spatial equilibrium to balance the platform, providing drivers and riders/passengers with proactive pricing “signals.” We have conducted an extensive experimental evaluation upon over 4.0× 108 MOD trips (Uber, Didi Chuxing, and connected taxicabs) in New York City, Beijing, and Chengdu, validating the accuracy, effectiveness, and profitability (often 20% ride prediction accuracy and 30% profit improvements over the state-of-the-arts) of CAPrice in managing urban MOD networks.
Detailing postoperative pain and opioid utilization after periacetabular osteotomy with automated mobile messaging.

In the setting of periacetabular osteotomy (PAO), this investigation sought to (i) describe patient-reported pain scores and opioid utilization in the first 6 weeks following surgery and (ii) evaluate the effectiveness of postoperative communication using a robotic mobile messaging platform. Subjects indicated for PAO were enrolled from a young adult hip clinic. For the first 2 weeks after surgery, subjects received daily mobile messages inquiring about pain level on a 0-10 scale and the number of opioid pain medication tablets they consumed in the previous 24 h. Messaging frequency decreased to 3 per week in Weeks 3-6. Pain scores, opioid utilization and response rates with our mobile messaging platform were quantified for the 6-week postoperative period. Twenty-nine subjects underwent PAO. Twenty-one had concurrent hip arthroscopy. Average daily pain scores decreased over the first four postoperative days. Average pain scores reported were 5.9 ± 1.9, 4.1 ± 3.3 and 3.0 ± 3.5 on Day 1, Day 14 and Week 6, respectively. Reported opioid tablet utilization was 5.0 ± 3.2, 2.2 ± 2.0 and 0.0 ± 0.0 on Days 1 and 14 and at 6 weeks. Response rate for participants completing the 6-week messaging protocol was 84.1%. Patient-reported pain scores decreased over the first two postoperative weeks following PAO before plateauing in weeks 3-6. Opioid pain medication utilization increased in the first postoperative week before gradually declining to no tabs consumed at 6 weeks after PAO. Automated mobile messaging is an effective method of perioperative communication for the collection of pain scores and opioid utilization in patients undergoing PAO.
Stability of a Long Cylindrical Shell With Partial Contact at the End Face

ABSTRACT We study the partial contact of a long circular cylindrical shell pressed eccentrically by its end face against a rigid half-space, using the theory of thin shells in bending. The elastic displacements are presented in the form of a Fourier expansion, the coefficients of which are found by the variational formulation combined with the penalty method to enforce contact conditions. Results are applied to buckling of a centrally and eccentrically compressed bar, and a bar with an initial inperfection. These solutions are compared with the corresponding results of the strength of materials.
Association between Variants in Calcineurin Inhibitor Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Genes and Renal Dysfunction in Adult Heart Transplant Recipients

Purpose Renal dysfunction continues to be a major challenge associated with calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) therapy. The goal of this study was to assess the relationship between single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in CNI pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) genes and renal dysfunction in adult heart transplant (HTx) recipients. Methods This retrospective analysis included n=194 patients receiving a CNI at one year post-HTx. Using a candidate gene approach, 10 SNVs in 5 PK genes and 31 SNVs in 17 PD genes were selected for investigation. SNVs were analyzed as wild-type homozygotes versus variant carriers. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and relevant clinical data were extracted from the electronic medical record. The primary endpoint was renal dysfunction, defined as an eGFR Results The study consisted of 77% men and 79% Caucasians (mean age at HTx= 50 ± 12 years). At one year post-HTx, 54% of patients were receiving tacrolimus and 29% had renal dysfunction. The tag-SNV, rs4803455 C>A in transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFB1; A allele frequency=45%), was the only variant significantly associated with renal function (p=0.004) in the univariate analysis. Renal dysfunction was present in 43% of patients with the C/C genotype and 22% of subjects with at least one variant A allele. This SNV remained significant in the multivariate model, with patients with at least one variant A allele having lower odds of renal dysfunction compared to C/C patients (odds ratio 0.41, 95% CI 0.19-0.84, p=0.02). Conclusion Our data suggest that the TGFB1 rs4803455 variant A allele provides protection from renal dysfunction in adult HTx recipients receiving CNIs. Further studies are needed to determine the causal variant in linkage with rs4803455 in order to elucidate the functional mechanisms by which it influences renal function following HTx.
Early-life Tobacco Smoke/Nicotine Exposure and Offspring Health

Maternal smoking and nicotine exposure during pregnancy are still considered to be significant global health crises as many decades ago, especially with the emergence of extensive electronic cigarette usage. The detrimental long-term repercussions in the offspring of mothers who smoke during pregnancy are not only concerning in regard to its effects on the lung, such as asthma, chronic lung disease, and increased risk for allergies and infections, but also of great concern are its effects on many other developing organs. For example, there is increased predisposition to metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes, heart damage, hypertension, altered internal oxygen sensing, infertility, and malignancies. Convincing evidence shows that the hazardous effects of perinatal tobacco smoke exposure on the development of lung and many other organs, including the transgenerational transmission of asthma, are nicotine mediated; additionally, many other mechanisms such as the reactive oxygen species-mediated damage, altered stress, and metabolic and epigenetic responses contribute. Not only the direct exposure via prenatal and postnatal maternal smoking is a risk, but also exposure to secondhand and thirdhand smoke is a concern, which could be equally or even more dangerous than firsthand smoke exposure. Finally, some of the effects following early-life exposure are not confined only to the exposed offspring but can also be transmitted transgenerationally.
Development of a Hybrid Machine Learning Agent Based Model for Optimization and Interpretability

The use of agent-based models (ABMs) has become more widespread over the last two decades allowing resear chers to explore complex systems composed of heterogeneous and locally interacting entities. However, there are several challenges that the agent-based modeling community face. These relate to developing accurate measurements, minimizing a large complex parameter space and developing parsimonious yet accurate models. Machine Learning (ML), specifically deep reinforcement learning has the potential to generate new ways to explore complex models, which can enhance traditional computational paradigms such as agent-based modeling. Recently, ML algorithms have proved an important contribution to the determination of semi-optimal agent behavior strategies in complex environments. What is less clear is how these advances can be used to enhance existing ABMs. This paper presents Learning-based Actor-Interpreter State Representation (LAISR), a research effort that is designed to bridge ML agents with more traditional ABMs in order to generate semi-optimal multi-agent learning strategies. The resultant model, explored within a tactical game scenario, lies at the intersection of human and automated model design. The model can be decomposed into a format that automates aspects of the agent creation process, producing a resultant agent that creates its own optimal strategy and is interpretable to the designer. Our paper, therefore, acts as a bridge between traditional agent-based modeling and machine learning practices, designed purposefully to enhance the inclusion of ML-based agents in the agent-based modeling community.
Systemic Racism in America and the Call to Action.

This month the American Journal of Bioethics examines the intersectionality of medicine, ethics, and race. In “Race, Power, and COVID-19: A Call for Advocacy Within Bioethics,” Mithani and colleagu...
Correlates of Medical Mistrust Among Minority Women at Risk for HIV and Their Networks.

BackgroundMedical mistrust is a barrier to engaging in HIV prevention and treatment, including testing and adherence to antiretroviral therapy. Research often focuses on how race and experiences of...
Democracy Underwater: Public Participation and Technical Expertise in Climate Infrastructure Planning in New York City

This article provides a novel explanation for how increased public participation can paradoxically translate into limited democratic decision-making in urban settings. Recent research shows that governments limit the scope of deliberation in participatory forums to restrict the distribution of resources to poor neighborhoods or advance private land development interests. Yet such explanations cannot account for the decoupling of participation from democratic decision-making in the case of planning for climate change, which expands, not narrows, the substantive topics and public funding decisions that involve urban residents. Through an in-depth case study of planning the largest coastal protection project in the U.S., I narrate the social production of resistance to climate change infrastructure by showing how the state sidestepped public input and exercised authority through appeals to the rationality and objectivity of technical expertise. After a lengthy participation process wherein participants reported satisfaction with how their input was included in designs, city officials switched decision-making styles and enrolled the expertise of engineers and climate scientists to render the publicly-supported plan unfeasible, while continuing to involve residents in the process. As a result, conflict arose between activists and public housing representatives, bitterly dividing the neighborhood over who could legitimately claim to represent the interests of the “frontline community.” By documenting the experience of participants in the process before and after the switch in decision-making styles, this article advances a sociological description of public influence in policy: The ability for participants in a planning process to recognize their own input reflected in finished plans.
Sequential Learning, Asset Allocation, and Bitcoin Returns

For optimal asset allocation, mean-variance investors must learn about the joint dynamics of new and existing asset classes, not only their profitability. Bitcoin's digital gold narrative provides a unique laboratory to test this hypothesis. We find that a decrease in investors' estimate on correlation between Bitcoin and the US stock markets strongly predicts higher Bitcoin returns the next day. The same empirical pattern universally appears in out-of-sample predictions, global equity markets, and other cryptocurrencies. Our stylized model and empirical proxy for Bitcoin demand explain the predictability pattern in light of asset allocation practices and investors' learning on time-varying correlation.
Daily Assessment of Executive Functioning and Expressive Suppression Predict Daily Functioning among Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

OBJECTIVE Executive functioning (EF) is known to be associated with performance of instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). However, prior research has found that the degree to which EF fluctuates was more predictive of self-reported cognitive and IADL lapses than was average EF performance. One source of such EF fluctuations is engagement in an emotion regulation strategy known as expressive suppression (ES). Importantly, ES has also been shown to relate to IADL performance, presumably due to its impact on EF. However, past research is limited due to assessing IADLs only in the laboratory or via self-report. The present study examined (a) the association of daily EF and ES fluctuations with performance of actual IADL tasks in participants' homes, and (b) whether any significant association between ES fluctuations and daily IADLs would be mediated by daily EF variability. METHOD Participants were 52 older adults aged 60 to 95. Over the course of 18 days while at home, participants completed daily IADL tasks as well as daily measures of EF and ES via ecological momentary assessment. RESULTS Contrary to our hypothesis, average EF across days predicted at-home IADLs above and beyond daily EF variability, which itself was also predictive. ES variability also predicted daily IADLs, and this association was fully mediated by average daily EF. CONCLUSIONS Daily fluctuations in ES appear to have a deleterious impact on performance of IADLs at home, likely due to the impact of such fluctuations on EF, although the average level of EF capacity is also important.