cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Treatment delays in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma and association with survival.

Background Treatment durations and factors associated with delays for oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) have previously been described but are not fully understood. Impact of delays on overall survival (OS) remains unclear. Methods The National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) was used to analyze 4868 patients with oral cavity SCC from 1998 to 2011. Diagnosis-to-surgery, surgery-to-radiotherapy (RT)start, RT duration, total treatment package (surgery-to-RTend), and diagnosis-to-RTend were evaluated. Associations between delays and various factors were analyzed using binary logistic regression. Associations with OS were analyzed using the Cox proportional hazards model. Results Medians for diagnosis-to-surgery, surgery-to-RTstart, RT duration, total treatment package, and diagnosis-to-RTend were 30, 50, 49, 101, and 136 days, respectively. Age ≥60 years, uninsured or Medicaid insurance, comorbidity, late pT, and treatment at an academic/research institution were associated with diagnosis-to-surgery delays. Only delays in RT duration were significantly associated with decreased OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.21; p = .02). Conclusion Numerous factors are associated with treatment delays. RT duration is significantly associated with OS. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 639–646, 2017
Diagnosis and Treatment of Hardware Disease

Eating habits in cattle are less discriminant than other ruminants, and they more often accidentally ingest strange objects while feeding. Penetrating foreign bodies may cause mild to severe peritonitis, penetrate the diaphragm to cause pleuritis or pericarditis, or cause localized abscesses in the thorax or abdomen. Because these objects are most often metal, a common term for this problem is hardware disease. An accurate history and thorough physical examination often yields a diagnosis; however, ancillary diagnostics can enhance accuracy and disease magnitude before exploratory surgery. Treatment encompasses controlling infection and inflammation and foreign body removal; preventive measures are emphasized.
Separating Identity and Value in the Identity-Value Model

Elliot T. Berkman, Jordan L. Livingston, and Lauren E. Kahn (this issue) propose the identity-value model (IVM) as a way to link findings from social psychology that identity contributes to self-re...
Extinction of counterflow diffusion flames with branching-termination chain mechanisms: theory and experiment

The asymptotic structure and extinction of diffusion flames supported by a chain mechanism consisting of two two-body, thermoneutral, high-activation-energy branching reactions and a three-body, exothermic, zero-activation-energy termination reaction have been analyzed for the model problem of counterflow flames. A unique extinction criterion has been derived which contains a chain extinction limit and a global extinction limit; the latter is identified as Linan's extinction criterion for a one-step overall reaction. A companion experimental study shows that the density-weighted extinction strain rate increases only linearly with increasing pressure, thereby demonstrating weakened pressure dependence due to the influence of the three-body termination reaction.
Union Rate and Rate of Hardware Removal Following Plate Fixation of Metatarsal Shaft and Neck Fractures.

Background There have been very few studies related to the treatment of first, second, third, and fourth (MT) metatarsal shaft and neck fractures. In order to reduce metatarsal fracture malunion, many surgeons have turned from K-wire to plate fixation of these fractures. This study reports the healing rates, final fracture angulation, and need for hardware removal of operatively treated first to fourth MT shaft and neck fractures with plate fixation. Methods A retrospective review was performed on all metatarsal fractures at our institution between 2008 and 2014 to identify all first to fourth MT shaft and neck fractures. Medical records and radiographs were reviewed for evidence of union, sagittal, and coronal fracture angulation (degrees), time to full weight bearing, plate size, fracture location (neck vs shaft), and number of screws on each side of the fracture. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to make calculations of statistical significance. Results Forty-five patients with a total of 75 first to fourth MT fractures treated with plate fixation were included in this study. All fractures went on to union and full weight bearing. The average time to union and time to full weight bearing was 10.9 ± 2 weeks and 7.5 ± 1.6 weeks, respectively. The average coronal and sagittal plane angulation was 3.9 and 2.2 degrees, respectively. Fractures located in the neck were found to have higher coronal plane angulation malunion compared with fractures in the shaft ( P = .019). No variable was found to be related to final sagittal plane angulation. No patient had a plate removed, and 26 of 27 of patients did not want to have the plate removed. Conclusion Metatarsal fractures fixed with plates had high rates of union and low final fracture angulation. No patient included in this study underwent hardware removal. Level of evidence Level III, comparative study.
Acute Bacterial Rhinosinusitis

Acute bacterial rhinosinusitis (ABRS) is a highly prevalent disease associated with significant direct and indirect costs. It is paramount that a practitioner can distinguish between acute viral rhinosinusitis and ABRS to avoid unnecessary antibiotic usage. It is also important to understand that establishing a diagnosis of ABRS does not necessitate the prescribing of antibiotics, unless the ABRS patient presents with severe or worsening symptoms or an ABRS complication. Complications include extension of infection to the orbit and central nervous system. Injudicious use of antibiotics imparts societal costs in terms of financial expense as well as contributing to higher levels of bacterial resistance. This chapter reviews the epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of ABRS.
Axial point source localization using variable displacement–change point detection

A three-dimensional point-source localization technique is demonstrated using two-photon photoluminescence and four-wave mixing nonlinear optical signals from plasmonic gold nanorods (AuNRs), imaged at the single-particle level. Introduction of position-dependent latitudinal astigmatisms into the imaging system, in combination with a change point detection (CPD) algorithm, resulted in localization of single particles with high precision in three dimensions. Astigmatisms were generated using axial sample-position displacements spanning the range from ±10 to ±90 nm with a minimum step-size resolution of ±3 nm. Based on the current data, 20 nm point source localization was achieved in the axial dimension using a single imaging objective. This technique is named variable displacement–change point detection (VD-CPD). The influence of plasmon enhancement on achievable axial localization was also quantified. Two AuNR systems with different length-to-diameter aspect ratios (AR, where AR=1.86 and 3.90) were selected for this purpose; the AR=1.86 and AR=3.90 had nonresonant and resonant longitudinal surface plasmon resonances (LSPR) energies, respectively, with the laser fundamental. Matching the fundamental wave LSPR energies resulted in increased axial localizations. Power-dependent analysis of the LSPR-mediated nonlinear optical images revealed that resonantly excited AuNRs results in third-order signals. The axial localization provided by VD-CPD exceeds what could be obtained using astigmatic imaging alone by a factor of 2.5. This advance will facilitate the in-depth study of photonic materials and complex biological environments that can benefit from increased axial position determinations.
Modeling liquid organic thin films on substrates

We present the rationale, methods, and results of modeling of thin film organic liquids on various substrates. These liquids may coat surfaces (substrates) either as a result of their production, dispersal via aerosols or spills. Identification of unknown coated surfaces using either reflectance or emittance spectroscopy cannot be accomplished simply through reference to reflectance signature libraries since neither the thickness of the liquid layer nor the substrate type is known beforehand and both contribute to the signature. Liquid spectral libraries offer the complex index of refraction (n,k) as a function of wavelength which by itself is useful only for thick (bulk) liquid layers via computation of reflectance and transmittance coefficients using the Fresnel equations. Thin liquid layers both reflect and refract incident light in combination with reflectance from the substrate. We show modeling of various organic liquids on substrates using commercial thin film design and modeling software, as well as Monte Carlo ray tracing software to demonstrate the variety of potential signatures encountered that depend on the thickness of the liquid layer as well as the characteristics of the substrate (metal or dielectric). These substrates give rise to transflectance behavior, while many dielectric substrates have rich absorption features that provide complex signatures that combine attributes of both the liquid and the substrate. Knowledge of the complex index of refraction of both target liquids and substrates is essential in order to synthesize spectra necessary in the application of target identification algorithms.
Synthetic Insights into Surface Functionalization of Si(111)–R Photoelectrodes: Steric Control and Deprotection of Molecular Passivating Layers

We report the utility of controlled spacing of molecular monolayers on Si(111) surfaces by the use of sterically bulky silanes. The steric bulk of a 3,5-diphenolic linker of type Ph–diO–SiR3 (R = hexyl, phenyl, iPr)—as well as the smaller Ph–diOMe—is shown to control the surface coverage on Si(111). The para substituent was also changed from −F (small) to −OTf (triflate, large) to modulate the conformation of a selected bulky silane (SiR3; R = hexyl) to further control the steric environment of the monolayer. The surface coverage values are found to vary systematically from 57 → 21 → 15 → 11% for the series CH3 → hexyl → iPr → phenyl. Substitution at the para position (F → OTf) decreased the packing density for R = hexyl to as low as 8% (from 21%). The molecular coverage was also found to control the rate and extent of surface oxidation when unfunctionalized sites were allowed to oxidize. Following attachment, facile deprotection of the silanes was achieved by treatment with BBr3 to afford the diphenolic ...
Apparel Mass Customization: Barriers to Strategic Growth

Mass production (MP), Mass Customization (MC) and Fast Fashion (FF) compete in the market place today for the consumer’s purchase decision for apparel. MC is a concept where customer is given the opportunity to participate in the product decision process with regard to its design, fit, fabrication, color and features, in combination of one or many, before the product is purchased.
Abstract 163: Protective Effects of L-Carnitine on Left Ventricular and Myocyte Dysfunction after Short-Term Oral Alcohol Administration in Rat

Background. Recent observations indicate that alcohol exposure induces cardiac injury through the induction of oxidative stress. L-carnitine (LC), a natural-occurring amino acid and an essential cofactor, has a well-known antioxidant action. LC increases the clearance of ethanol from the blood. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that LC therapy may limit or prevent alcohol-induced cardiac dysfunction after short-term oral ethanol administration. Method. We measured alcohol-intake caused changes of left ventricular (LV) tissue levels of malonyldial-dehyde (MDA) and assessed LV and myocyte functional performance and myocyte [Ca 2+ ] i transient ([Ca 2+ ] iT ) response in 3 groups of male adult SD rats (BW, 300 to 350g) over 8–10 days: 12 rats received 20% alcohol (2 g/kg administered intragastrically, once per day in the early morning); 12 received alcohol and LC (LC 50 mg/kg administered daily i.p., 60 min before alcohol intake); and 10 were controls. Results . Compared with controls, alcohol ingestion caused significant increase in cardiac MDA (27%, 5.10 vs 4.02 μg/g wet weight of LV) followed by decreased LV contractility (E ES : 0.55 vs 0.92 mmHg/μl; M SW : 56.6 vs 85.9 mmHg), ejection fraction (EF, 30 vs 52%) and increased the time constant of LV relaxation (τ, 14.4 vs 11.9 ms). These changes were paralleled with significant reductions in myocyte systolic amplitude (SA, 7.4 vs 10.4%), the peak velocity of shortening (dL/dt max , 104.3 vs 160.8 μm/s), and peak systolic [Ca 2+ ] iT (0.18 vs 0.25) ( p ES , 0.97 mmHg/μl; M SW : 81.2 mmHg), EF (51%) and an increase in τ (12.7 ms). Myocyte contraction measured as SA (10.3%), dL/dt max (151.3 μm/s), and [Ca 2+ ] iT (0.22) were close to control values. Conclusions. In rats, short-term alcohol consumption induces myocardial oxidative stress and depresses LV and myocyte contractile performance and [Ca 2+ ] iT . Supplementation with LC prevents alcohol-induced LV and myocyte dysfunction. These findings may support the usefulness of LC as a potential therapeutic agent in alcohol abusers.
MICROWAVE FORMATION AND HEATING OF PLASMAS FOR CONTROLLED FUSION RESEARCH.

AbstractStable high-density, high-temperature deuterium plasmas are formed at 10-5Torr pressure within a multimode cavity located in a magnetic confining field by application of high-power CW microwaves at the electron gyrofrequency. The method, equipment considerations, and present trends are discussed.
Mesoscopic Modeling of the Deformation and Fracture of Nanocrystalline Metals

In order to model the effects of grain boundaries in nanocrystalline materials we have coupled a crystal-plasticity model for the grain interiors with a new elastic-plastic grainboundary interface model which accounts for both reversible elastic, as well irreversible inelastic sliding-separation deformations at the grain boundaries prior to failure. We have used this new computational capability to study the deformation and fracture response of nanocrystalline nickel. The results from the simulations capture the macroscopic experimentally-observed tensile stress-strain curves, and the dominant microstructural inelastic deformation and fracture mechanisms in this material. The macroscopically-observed nonlinearity in the stress-strain response is mainly due to the inelastic response of the grain boundaries. Plastic deformation in the interior of the grains prior to the formation of grain-boundary cracks was rarely observed. The stress concentrations at the tips of the distributed grain-boundary cracks, and at grain-boundary triple junctions, cause a limited amount of plastic deformation in the high-strength grain interiors. The competition of grain-boundary deformation with that in the grain interiors determines the observed macroscopic stress-strain response, and the overall ductility. In nanocrystalline nickel, the high yield strength of the grain interiors and relatively weaker grain-boundary interfaces account for the low ductility of this material in tension.
Numerical Solution of PDEs

This chapter introduces the tools for solving PDEs, which are needed for the implementation of multiphysics. We will first overview the common computer programs, both commercial and open source, that can be used to solve multiphysics problems. Then, we will focus on two tools that will be used in the later implementations of monolithic physics and multiphysics problems in this book: MATLAB PDE Toolbox and FlexPDE. Step-by-step directions will be given for the use of these two tools to solve a simple PDE with typical boundary conditions. It is expected that readers will get a real feeling of numerical implementations with these two tools with distinctly different styles: one with a graphical user interface for pre- and postprocessing and the other with script files for model setup. Advanced numerical implementations of multiphysics with self-developed code using the finite difference method, finite volume method, and finite element method will be introduced in the last three chapters of this book.
Part of the assignment: student–teachers’ planning instruction within/across activity systems

Looking closely at lesson plans as mediating tools, this study examines preservice teacher learning. By using activity theory in our analysis of lesson plans and other data collected in a student-t...
Event Detection and Localization Using Machine Learning on a Staircase

Recent years have seen a push towards smart buildings that are energy efficient and proactive in decision making by detecting building events. Instrumentation of structures with sensors such as accelerometers or thermocouples is an essential element for providing the building with the necessary capabilities to enhance the occupant’s comfort, safety and overall quality-of-life. As a result, vast amounts of data are collected that if correctly parsed can produce meaningful information for this purpose. One of the much-needed information about a building’s activities is event localization. In many situations, event localization, based on traditional wave propagation techniques associated with vibrations, is a challenging task in an active environment as there is little control over the noise concurrent with the event. Determining ways to process sensor data efficiently and effectively will make user interaction with the building more intuitive and enhance user experience.
The degree of rate control of catalyst-bound intermediates in catalytic reaction mechanisms: Relationship to site coverage

Abstract The degree of rate control (DRC) quantifies how much the energy of each species in a reaction mechanism (e.g., catalyst-bound intermediates and transition states) affects the net reaction rate. It thus plays an important role in understanding catalyst activity and selectivity and in efforts to find better catalysts. We show here that under steady-state reaction conditions, the DRC for any catalyst-bound intermediate n (Xn) is proportional to its fractional population of catalyst sites (θn), X n = - σ × θ n , where the proportionality constant σ is given by σ = ∑ i X i × n i . Here, Xi is the DRC of the transition state in step i, ni is the number of catalyst sites of the same type required for the elementary step i, and the sum is over all transition states (or elementary steps) i. Since only a few transition states typically have non-negligible DRCs, this simple sum (or weighted average of elementary-step site requirements) includes only a few terms (and only one term when there is a single rate-determining step). We also show that the DRCs of reactants and catalyst depend upon the choice of zero-energy reference, but simplify to zero when their standard states are used as the zero-energy references.
Reproductive Genetics for the Clinician

A practicing reproductive endocrinologist encounters patients with genetic issues and questions on a daily basis. This may include women with age-related risk of aneuploidy, couples that are carriers of Mendelian illnesses such as cystic fibrosis, balanced chromosome translocation carriers, men with severe oligospermia, and others. The more the infertility specialist knows about basic genetic problems and laboratory methods, the better he/she will be able to serve his/her patients.
Enhanced tensor polarization in solid-state targets

Abstract We report measurements of enhanced tensor polarization on solid-state targets. The results here represent an increase in tensor polarization over that previously achieved in high energy and nuclear scattering experiments that focused on the measurement of tensor polarized observables. Enhancement techniques are used which require RF produced close to the Larmor frequency of the target spins and use selective semi-saturation resulting from two sources of irradiation, microwave for the DNP process and the additional RF used to manipulate the population of the energy levels in the target material. The spin dynamics of the solid target are used to align the spins enhancing the ensemble average to improve the figure of merit of the scattering experiment. Target rotation at an optimized rate can lead to additional enhancement by applying selective semi-saturation in polycrystalline materials that possess a Pake doublet in their NMR signal.
Mind the Gap: Academics, Interpreters, and Historical Interpretation:

This call to arms reminds interpreters and academics to cooperate and collaborate. Historic interpreters and historians often misunderstand and resent each other. Tesdahl suggests that each group a...
High Food Insecurity in Latinx Families and Associated COVID-19 Infection in the Greater Bay Area, California

Abstract Background Food insecurity impacts nearly one-in-four Latinx households in the United States and has been exacerbated by the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We examined the impact of COVID-19 on household and child food security in three preexisting, longitudinal, Latinx urban cohorts in the San Francisco Bay Area (N=375 households, 1,875 individuals). Households were initially recruited during pregnancy and postpartum at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFG) and UCSF Benioff prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. For this COVID sub-study, participants responded to a 15-minute telephonic interview. Participants answered 18 questions from the US Food Security Food Module (US HFSSM), described food consumption, housing and employment status, and history of COVID-19 infection as per community or hospital-based testing. Food security and insecurity levels were compared with prior year metrics. Results We found low levels of household food security in Latinx families (by cohort: 29.2%; 34.2%; 60.0%) and child food security (56.9%; 54.1%; 78.0%) with differences between cohorts explained by self-reported levels of education and employment status. Food security levels were much lower than those reported previously in two cohorts where data had been recorded from prior years. Reported history of COVID-19 infection in households was 4.8% (95% Confidence Interval (CI); 1.5-14.3%); 7.2% (95%CI; 3.6-13.9%) and 3.5% (95%CI; 1.7-7.2%) by cohort and was associated with food insecurity in the two larger cohorts (p=0.03; p=0.01 respectively). Conclusions Latinx families in the Bay Area with children are experiencing a sharp rise in food insecurity levels during the COVID-19 epidemic. Food insecurity, similar to other indices of poverty, is associated with increased risk for COVID-19 infection. Comprehensive interventions are needed to address food insecurity in Latinx populations and further studies are needed to better assess independent associations between household food insecurity, poor nutritional health and risk of COVID-19 infection.
People sometimes lie, but lesions seldom do:

The objectives of the presentation are to cover efficient field necropsy techniques, sample collection, and laboratory submission to address clinical situations presented. We will discuss situational evaluation of common infectious, metabolic, and toxic conditions along with lesions (or lack thereof), and how to evaluate clinical presentation along with lesions and laboratory results to generate actionable information. Specific collection of samples from field necropsies and laboratory test requests will be discussed, as well as the interpretive nuances of lab results. We will also cover sample handling and chain of custody for potential legal cases. What we are attempting to create is information that is interpretable and actionable.
Lower threshold to NFκB activity sensitizes murine β-cells to streptozotocin.

The β-cell response to injury may be as critical for the development of diabetes as the specific insult. In the current study, we use streptozotocin (STZ) to injure the β-cell in order to study the response with a focus on NFκB. MIN6 cells were exposed to STZ (0.5-8mM, 0-24h) ±TNFα (100ng/mL) and ±IκBβ siRNA to lower the threshold to NFκB activation. Cell viability was determined by trypan blue exclusion. NFκB activation was determined by expression of the target genes Nos2 and Cxcl10, localization of the NFκB proteins p65 and p50, and expression and localization of the NFκB inhibitors, IκBβ and IκBα. There was no NFκB activation in MIN6 cell exposed to STZ (2 mM) alone. However, knocking down IκBβ expression using siRNA resulted in STZ-induced expression of NFκB target genes and increased cell death, while co-incubation with STZ and TNFα enhanced cell death compared to either exposure alone. Adult male IκBβ-/- and wild type (WT) mice were exposed to STZ and monitored for diabetes. The IκBβ-/- mice developed hyperglycemia and diabetes more frequently than controls following STZ exposure. Based on these results we conclude that STZ exposure alone does not induce NFκB activity. However, lowering the threshold to NFκB activation by co-incubation with TNFα or lowering IκBβ levels by siRNA sensitizes the NFκB response to STZ and results in a higher likelihood of developing diabetes in vivo. Therefore, increasing the threshold to NFκB activation through stabilizing NFκB inhibitory proteins may prevent β-cell injury and the development of diabetes.
Evaluation of An Inpatient Pharmacy Consult on Discharge Medications in Bariatric Surgery Patients.

Purpose:To evaluate the impact of an inpatient pharmacy consult on discharge medications following bariatric surgery.Methods:A pharmacy consult for discharge medication review for bariatric surgery...
On the reduction of the residual oil saturation through the injection of polymer and nanoparticle solutions

Abstract Polymer flooding has been traditionally applied to achieve favorable mobility ratios compared to water flooding, and thus increase formation sweep efficiency in oil displacement processes. Based on laboratory studies, several authors have reported lower residual oil saturations, Sorc, to the waterflood residual oil saturation, Sorw, when viscoelastic polymers were used during polymer flooding. The reported mechanisms contributing to the observed reduced residual oil saturation include mobility control, improved sweep efficiency, and improved microscopic displacement efficiency. The limitations of polymer flooding are obvious: high oil viscosity requires high concentration of polymer which increases the process cost, presence of clays which increases polymer adsorption, formation brine and water make-up salinity and type of ions which will affect the injected polymer viscosity, and extensively fractured formations which will cause sweep challenges. This review paper summarizes the most recent research findings, observations, conclusions, and reported physical mechanisms contributing to more efficient oil displacement processes and lower than Sorw residual oil saturation. The discussion focuses on viscoelastic polymer oil displacement processes and includes formation water and polymer solution salinity, resistance factor (RF), and polymer molecular weight effects. The use of nanoparticles (NPs) during polymer flooding is examined and results obtained are also reported in this review. More specifically, the polymer-NP system rheological behavior for several different types of NPs and surface modified silica NP are examined to find the most efficient system for oil displacement. Mechanisms contributing to more effective oil displacement processes when carefully screened NPs are added into the viscoelastic polymer solutions include interfacial tension reduction, formation wettability alteration, increased injected polymer solution viscosity, and prevention of asphaltene precipitation.
Value computation and modulation: A neuroeconomic theory of self-control as constrained optimization

Abstract We develop a theory based on the evidence reported in Hare et al. (2009) to explain consumption of goods that feature a low-order attribute (e.g., taste) and a high-order attribute (e.g., health). One brain system with access to the low-order attribute computes the goal value of consumption while another brain system can modulate this value, at a cost, by transmitting information regarding the high-order attribute. We determine the optimal modulation and consumption strategy as a function of the cost of information transmission and the environment. We show that in healthy environments, modulation is used to signal surprisingly unhealthy goods so as to trigger abstinence when consumption would ordinarily occur. Conversely, in unhealthy environments, modulation is used to signal surprisingly healthy choices so as to trigger consumption when abstinence would ordinarily occur. From an outside perspective, individuals may appear to under-regulate their choices (self-indulgence) but also to over-regulate them (self-restraint). Both modulation and decisions are affected by factors orthogonal to the decision problem. In particular, taxing executive functions results in less modulation and more inefficient behavior. Finally, the model can shed light on issues related to eating disorders, present-biased preferences, habit formation and compulsive behavior.
Selling Immigration Visas: A Market-Based Approach to Boost American Innovation

Current US immigration policy assigns the government the onus of choosing winners and losers among those seeking to immigrate to the US. This mechanism is inefficient, particularly because it excludes many talented foreign workers from filling jobs in the US technology sector, where there is a shortage of skilled workers. We advocate for a market-based approach to allocating visa slots to high-skilled foreign workers. In our model, aspiring workers can purchase an immigration visa for a sufficiently high price that provides a straightforward pathway to citizenship. This price can be paid off over time, similar to how homeowners pay their mortgage. Using the existing H-1B visa program as a model, we outline how implementing this policy would work.
Agricultural extension and advisory services strategies during COVID-19 lockdown

Abstract The COVID-19 lockdown policies that began in 2020 caused an unprecedented shock to developing countries? agricultural activities, especially those in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. To reduce some of the impacts of COVID-19 events, agricultural extension and advisory personnel created an avenue to assist farmers in these developing countries. However, since COVID-19 protocols restricted public gatherings and close contact activities, agricultural extension activities had to be performed using unconventional ways such as mobile phones, radio, and television. This paper highlights some of the challenges agricultural extension and advisory service personnel encountered using these unconventional means of communication for their activities. We also present some solutions to these challenges that can enable policymakers to enhance agricultural extension activities performed unconventionally.
Welfare Costs of Shopping Trips

Using data on the number of visitors at the store level, this paper investigates the welfare costs of traditional shopping-trips for the U.S. census blocks. The investigation is based on an economic model, where individuals living in census blocks decide on which store to shop from based on the corresponding shopping-trip costs and idiosyncratic benefits. The implications of the model suggest that the welfare gains from removing shopping-trip costs in percentage terms can be measured for each census block as the weighted average of log distance measures between shopping stores and census blocks. The corresponding results show that the welfare gains from removing shopping-trip costs is about 4% for the average census block, with a range between 0.021% and 18% across census blocks that is further connected to their demographic or socioeconomic characteristics. Certain practical policy implications follow regarding how shopping-trip costs can be reduced to achieve higher welfare gains.
Comment on "Vortex-assisted photon counts and their magnetic field dependence in single-photon superconducting detectors"

We discuss the importance of the vortex core energy and realistic boundary conditions to the Fokker-Plank equation for the calculation of thermally activated hopping of vortices across narrow superconducting films. Disregard of these issues in the papers by Bulaevskii, Graf and Kogan, Phys. Rev. B85, 014505 (2012) and by Bulaevskii et al., Phys. Rev. B 83, 144526 (2011) in which an uncertain London vortex core cutoff was used, can produce large numerical errors and a significant discrepancy between their results and the results of the paper by Gurevich and Vinokur, Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 227007 (2008) in which these issues were taken into account. This can be essential for the interpretation of experimental data on thin-film photon detectors and other superconducting nanostructures.
N-terminal Mutants of Chloroplast Cytochrome f EFFECT ON REDOX REACTIONS AND GROWTH IN CHLAMYDOMONAS REINHARDTII

The N-terminal tyrosine of cytochrome f, which provides the sixth ligand to the heme group, has been changed by site-directed mutagenesis in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to evaluate the role of this amino acid in assembly and function. The second and third residues, proline and valine, respectively, have also been mutated. Y1P is the only strain that did not grow photoautotrophically. The other strains show cytochrome b6f complex/photosystem I reaction center chlorophyll, photosystem I unit size and chlorophyll a+b/cell ratios comparable with wild-type cells. Rates of cytochrome f photooxidation in all strains were similar (t½≅ 300 μs), whereas the rate of re-reduction sensitive to stigmatellin (at Eh = 0 mV, (where Eh is the ambient redox potential) for wild-type, Y1W, Y1F, Y1S, P2V, and V3P had a t½ of 3, 4, 5, 9, 40, and 2 ms, respectively. Rates of oxygen evolution by whole cells of P2V, Y1F, and Y1S were 67, 80, and 80% of wild-type rates, respectively. At low light intensity, all competent strains had the same growth rate whereas at saturating intensities, only P2V showed a significant inhibition. These results are considered in relation to structure-function relationships in the cytochrome f molecule.
Millimeter wave bolometers

This chapter provides a general review of bolometer theory and instrumentation techniques for millimeter-wave bolometric receivers. Formulae for bolometer optimization and sensitivity are derived. The design and construction of standard composite bolometers, monolithic silicon bolometers, and silicon nitride bolometers are compared. Sensitivities of standard composite bolometers and silicon nitride micromesh bolometers are discussed.
High-throughput three-dimensional (3D) lithographic microfabrication in biomedical applications

Two-photon excitation microfabrication has been shown to be useful in the field of photonics and biomedicine. It generates 3D microstructures and provides sub-diffraction fabrication resolution. Nevertheless, laser direct writing, the most popular two-photon fabrication technique, has slow fabrication speed, and its applications are limited to prototyping. In this proceeding, we propose high-throughput 3D lithographic microfabrication system based on depthresolved wide-field illumination and build several 3D microstructures with SU-8. Through these fabrications, 3D lithographic microfabrication has scalable function and high-throughput capability. It also has the potential for fabricating 3D microstructure in biomedical applications, such as intertwining channels in 3D microfluidic devices for biomedical analysis and 3D cell patterning in the tissue scaffolds.
Many Medicaid Beneficiaries Receive Care Consistent With Attributes Of Patient-Centered Medical Homes

The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) is being embraced as a way to improve access to and quality of care and to control health care costs. However, it is not known what proportion of the Medicaid population receives care from practices that incorporate PCMH goals. Nationally representative data for 2008–12 indicate that the majority of Medicaid beneficiaries with no other coverage who reported having a usual source of care described it as consistent with at least three of five key PCMH attributes: serving multiple health needs, ease of phone contact, extended office hours, coordination of prescriptions, and shared decision making. Younger, healthier, and higher-income Medicaid beneficiaries tended to report care sources with multiple attributes, compared to the older, sicker, and lower-income beneficiaries, who may be more likely to benefit from access to such care. Most attributes were associated with higher perceived quality of care and greater access, although the findings regarding health care exp...
Curricular Joint Ventures: A New Chapter in US Cross-Border Education?:

For universities in industrialized nations such as the United States, globalization poses relatively little threat and offers many benefits. This article identifies and describes one trend emerging from globalization — how American colleges and universities are leveraging their curricula internationally through joint ventures between universities or between universities and other partners such as corporations, or non-profit or non-governmental organizations, that result in new academic programs each partner alone does not offer. It discusses US institutions’ hunt for revenue, prestige and quality and the motivations for such international activity. It describes a range of international curricular joint ventures using different models and with varying motivations. However, for most US institutions, cross-border education is subservient to other campus priorities. Although one could guess that inter-institutional collaboration will be an important strategy to maximize resources and to gain access to the glo...
Toward the Synthesis of Muironolide A: Synthesis and Structure of Heteroleptic Lanthanide–Terpyridine Complexes with 2-Oxo Amides

A lanthanide-catalyzed intramolecular Diels–Alder (IMDA) reaction en route to the synthesis of muironolide A is described, along with detailed crystallographic structural studies of lanthanide complexes between β-oxo amides and terpyridine. The X-ray crystallographic studies are first examples of nonsymmetric heteroleptic complexes of lanthanides with β-oxo carbonyl compounds, which reveal several structural properties that could be exploited in the development of catalytic reactions with lanthanides.
Emerging Issues in the Acquisition of Open Source Software within the US Department of Defense

Abstract : In the past five or so years, it has become clear that the U.S. Air Force, Army, and Navy have all committed to a strategy of acquiring software-intensive systems that require or utilize an "open architecture" (OA) and "open technology" (OT) that may incorporate OSS technology or OSS development processes. There are many perceived benefits and anticipated cost savings associated with an OA strategy. However, the challenge for acquisition program managers is how to realize the savings and benefits through requirements that can be brought into system development practice. As such, the central problem we examine in this paper is to identify principles of software architecture and OSS copyright licenses that facilitate or inhibit the success of an OA strategy when OSS and open APIs are required or are otherwise employed. By examining and analyzing this problem, we can begin to identify what additional requirements may be needed to fulfill an OA strategy during program acquisition.
Objective Bayesian analysis of SAR models

Abstract The simultaneously autoregressive model (abbreviated as SAR) has been extensively applied for lattice (regional summary) data. A Bayesian approach has been studied by De Oliveira and Song (2008) , but they only considered two versions of Jeffreys priors, Jeffreys-rule and independence Jeffreys priors. They recommended the independence Jeffreys prior for a default prior. This prior is known to have the potential problem of posterior impropriety. In this paper, we consider the reference priors including the commonly used reference and “exact” reference priors for the SAR model. We show that common reference priors typically result in improper posterior distributions. Next, two “exact” reference priors are developed and are shown to yield proper posterior distributions. Frequentist properties of inferences based on two “exact” reference and Jeffreys-rule priors are studied by means of simulation. For illustrative purposes, we apply the method to SAT verbal scores across the US.
Approximation to measurable functions and its relation to probabilistic computation

Abstract A theory of approximation to measurable sets and measurable functions based on the concepts of recursion theory and discrete complexity theory is developed. The approximation method uses a model of oracle Turing machines, and so the computational complexity may be defined in a natural way. This complexity measure may be viewed as a formulation of the average-case complexity of real functions—in contrast to the more restrictive worst-case complexity. The relationship between these two complexity measures is further studied and compared with the notion of the distribution-free probabilistic computation. The computational complexity of the Lebesgue integral of polynomial-time approximable functions is studied and related to the question “FP = ♯P?”.
A cytochemical study of the adrenal cortex in hypo- and hyperthyroidism

THE ADRENAL cortex enlarges in experimentally hyperthyroid animals and shrinks in animals made hypothyroid by thyroidectomy or by feeding antithyroid drugs such as thiouracil or thiourea (Marine, 1935; Leblond and Hoff, 1944; Baumann and Marine, 1945). It has not been ascertained whether these changes in the adrenal gland are caused by an altered reactivity of the cortex or whether they reflect modified rates of production of pituitary adrenotropin. Baumann and Marine state that the adrenal cortex “exercises an inhibitory control over the thyroid gland” and interpret the involution of the cortex after administration of thiouracil as an “attempt to compensate for loss of the thyroid secretion.” There has been little support for their belief that the connection between these two glands is so direct. To us it seems more reasonable to interject the pituitary gland and its specific hormones into any suspected thyroid-adrenal inter-relationship.
Quantitative non-contrast T1 mapping of left ventricle in children and young adults

Methods The HIPAA compliant prospective study was IRB approved. Sixteen patients (mean age 15.4 years; range 5-25 years) underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) (1.5-T) including non-contrast short axis T1 mapping (modified Look-Locker [MOLLI] sequence). Twelve patients with no intrinsic myocardial abnormality based on clinical history, standard biomarkers and echocardiographic criteria were compared with 3 patients having cardiac dysfunction and 1 patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Short axis images were manually contoured to outline the epicardium and endocardium using AHA 16-segment model yielding 192 normal myocardial segments, 48 segments in patients with cardiac dysfunction, and 16 segments in a patient with HCM. Patient groups were compared using one-way analysis of co-variance (ANOVA). Chi-squared test was performed to compare appropriateness of discrete data. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to obtain a cut-off value of T1 relaxation time. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05.
Implementation of cancer pain guidelines by acute care nurse practitioners using an audit and feedback strategy

Purpose: Despite the availability of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for cancer pain, consistent integration of these principles into practice has not been achieved. The optimal method for implementing CPGs and the impact of guidelines on healthcare outcomes remain uncertain. This study evaluated the effect of an audit and feedback (A/F) intervention on nurse practitioner (NP) implementation of cancer pain CPGs and on hospitalized patients' self-report of pain and satisfaction with pain relief. Data sources: Eight NPs and two groups of 96 patients were the sources of data. Eligible patients in both groups completed the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF) within 24 h of admission and every 48 h until discharge. During A/F, NPs received weekly feedback on pain scores and guideline adherence. Conclusions: Nurse practitioner adherence to CPGs increased during A/F. Pain intensity did not significantly differ between groups. Intervention group patients reported significantly less overall pain interference (p < .0001), interference with general activity (p = .0003), and sleep (p = .006). Satisfaction with pain relief increased from 68.4% to 95.1% during A/F (p < .0001). Implications for practice: A/F is an effective strategy to promote CPG use. Improved functional status in the absence of decreased pain severity underscores the need to consider symptom clusters when studying pain.
Regional Left Ventricular Performance in the Year following Myocardial Infarction

The relationship of abnormal regional myocardial performance to left ventricular (LV) function 2-12 months following transmural myocardial infarction was investigated in 25 patients by quantitative biplane angiocardiography. Abnormally contracting segments (ACS) (akinetic or dyskinetic) of the LV were identified in 24 patients. Their sites correlated with the electrocardiographic locations of infarction. ACS were expressed as a percentage (ACS%) of the end-diastolic ventricular circumference, and the percentages obtained correlated with ejection fraction (EF) (r = —0.838, P = 0.0001) using a quadratic regression equation. The group of patients (N = 8) with heart failure (paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea and/or ventricular gallop sound) demonstrated a significantly lower mean value for EF (P = 0.0003) and a significantly larger mean value for ACS% (P = 0.0041) than the group of patients (N = 16) without heart failure. EF sharply separated the two groups. ACS% was a poor separator because in the majority of pat...
Designing Higher Surface Area Metal-Organic Frameworks: Are Triple Bonds Better than Phenyls?

We have synthesized, characterized, and computationally validated the high Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area and hydrogen uptake of a new, noncatenating metal–organic framework (MOF) material, NU-111. Our results imply that replacing the phenyl spacers of organic linkers with triple-bond spacers is an effective strategy for boosting molecule-accessible gravimetric surface areas of MOFs and related high-porosity materials.
Elite Soybean Test—South

The purpose of this test was to evaluate the experimental elite soybean lines adapted to southern Iowa. The 2012 Elite Test included commodity–yellow hilum, high protein–large seed, lipoxygenase free, and for comparison of agronomic traits, commercially grown varieties released by Iowa State University. These varieties are used in the production of soy foods.
Consumption compromises: Negotiation and unification within contemporary families ☆

Abstract When cultures interact within the family, consumption decisions take on meaning beyond simply who is the decision maker. The usual compromises all spouses face are amplified when one spouse is displaced from another country. Interviews and observation are used to examine the lived-world of bi-national (where spouses are from different countries of origin) and mono-national families. Key themes emphasize how members of families insert their cultures in navigating consumption decisions and reconciling preferences. Using food consumption as context, findings reveal the extent to which individual partners relinquish part of their personal cultural identities to gain a synergistic collective identity at the family level. In discussing strategies of acknowledgment, negotiation, accommodation and unification, implications are drawn for family decision-making, family identity and consumer–brand relationship theory.