cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Labor Market and Young Black Men: Updating Moynihan's Perspective

This article reviews Daniel Patrick Moynihan's views on employment and young black men in his 1965 report. The author then updates the evidence on their employment status and reviews the causes and policy implications of these trends. Moynihan was extremely insightful and even prescient in arguing that the employment situation of young black men was a “crisis . . . that would only grow worse.” He understood that these trends involve both limits on labor market opportunities that these young men face as well as skill deficits of and behavioral responses by the young men themselves. Policies that deal with a wide range of disadvantages and behaviors are needed to reverse these trends.
Metabolism of radioiodide by lactating goats given iodine-131 for extended periods.

Abstract Twenty-two goats were given twice-daily doses of 131 I to determine distribution of radioiodine into milk, urine, feces, and thyroids as these animals approached steady state. For 16 goats on the control diet 36.7 and 5.6% of a daily dose of 131 I per liter was found in the milk and plasma, respectively. The 131 I milk-plasma ratio was 7.6. Supplementing the control diet with 4mg of iodine per day resulted in a reduction of thyroid 131 I and an increase in milk 131 I in milk, whereas 1.2g of KI per day markedly reduced the 131 I in milk and reduced the M/P ratio by a factor of 10. Perchlorate, fluoroborate, thiourea, Chlorothiazid, and thyroxine reduced the iodine concentration in milk. Though the ability of the goat to concentrate iodide in milk is greater than for the cow, the mechanisms of concentration appear to be similar.
College Women’s HPV Vaccine Decision Narratives

Drawing on 38 in-depth qualitative interviews with college women and college health clinicians, we collected human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine decision narratives to identify the implicit and explicit values underlying HPV vaccine decision making. Narratives of vaccine acceptance and resistance were identified. Vaccine acceptance narratives consisted of four themes: supportive family messages, explicit health care provider endorsement, peer descriptive norms reducing stigma of vaccination, and disease framing (e.g., cancer, HPV) shaping vaccine benefit perceptions. Vaccine resistance narratives consisted of five themes: skepticism of vaccine safety, invoking alternative prevention strategies, articulating stigmatizing HPV messages, overcoming self-efficacy barriers (e.g., cost, availability, time, and fear of parental disclosure), and delay strategies. Common to all decision narratives was that relationship status framed college women's perceptions of HPV susceptibility. Theoretical and practical implications for designing HPV vaccine messages aimed at college-aged women are discussed.
Lipid rafts mediate ultraviolet light-induced Fas aggregation in M624 melanoma cells.

Abstract Ultraviolet light (UV) induces aggregation of Fas-receptor through a Fas-ligand–independent pathway. However, the mechanism of ultraviolet light-induced Fas-receptor aggregation is not known. In this report, we show that lipid rafts mediate ultraviolet light–induced aggregation of Fas. Our data show that UV induces a redistribution of Fas-receptor in a 25–5% Optiprep continuous gradient. The amount of Fas-receptorS is significantly increased in a gradient fraction that contain lipid rafts and is associated with an increase of FADD and caspase-8. Our data also show that the active dimeric form of caspase-8 (p44/p41) is increased in the lipid raft fraction. In addition, our data show that cholesterol, a major component of lipid rafts, is significantly reduced in only the lipid raft fractions after UV-irradiation. However, ceramide, another major lipid raft component, is increased evenly in all gradient fractions after UV-irradiation. These results suggest that UV alters the composition of major lip...
On the rationale of treating allergic diseases with bacterial pyrogens.

Abstract 1.1. Studies of the effect of Pyromen on sensitization and re-injection of guinea pigs with anaphylactic antigens failed to indicate that the compound produces a demonstrable decrease in formation of antibodies or in the results of antigen-antibody reactions. 2.2. The administration of Pyromen to 38 patients with allergic disease of the anaphylactic type (rhinitis, bronchial asthma, and urticaria) failed to indicate that the clinical effectiveness of the compound is superior to a placebo containing its solvent, 16 molar sodium r-lactate.
Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids, TRP channels, and intracellular Ca2+ in the vasculature: an endothelium-derived endothelium-hyperpolarizing factor?

Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are cytochrome P450-derived metabolites of arachidonic acid that function as endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factors (EDHFs) in many species, including humans. Strictly speaking, an EDHF is a substance derived from endothelial cells that stimulates hyperpolarization of the underlying vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) to elicit vasorelaxation. Although a physiological role of EETs in vasomotor1 and nonvasomotor2 regulation of the vasculature is now increasingly recognized, the underlying signaling mechanisms and cell types involved remain incompletely understood. See page 2612 EETs are potent vasodilators that activate large-conductance Ca2+-activated potassium (BKCa) channels to induce membrane hyperpolarization.3,4 In VSMCs, this hyperpolarization decreases Ca2+ influx through voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels, ultimately leading to a global decrease in intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) with subsequent vasorelaxation (Figure). Electrophysiological studies indicate that EET-mediated activation of BKCa may involve an indirect membrane-delimited mechanism that involves ADP-ribosylation of Gsα4,5; however, specific EET receptors, if any, have not yet been isolated or cloned. Recent evidence suggests that nonselective cation “transient receptor potential” (TRP) channels may function as EET receptors per se, particularly the vanilloid type 4 (TRPV4) channel, which is directly activated by EETs.6,7 Importantly, EET-induced Ca2+ influx through TRPV4 channels indirectly augments BKCa channel activity by stimulating localized ryanodine receptor-dependent Ca2+ release events (Ca2+ sparks) from the sarcoplasmic reticulum that then activate the BKCa channel7 without a concomitant increase in global cytosolic [Ca2+]i (Figure). Figure. Proposed signaling pathways of EET-mediated vasodilation. On activation by bradykinin, endothelial cells release Ca2+ from intracellular stores to promote formation of the vasodilator compounds NO or EETs. As outlined in the present study by Fleming et al,16 EETs act in an autocrine …
Extended Time and Progressive Vision for the Development of Technology-Using Teachers

This paper proposes an extended-time, three-course technology integration model that allows preservice teachers adequate time to absorb, reflect about, connect with, and be supported by technology. This course sequence facilitates development of the ability to use technology simultaneously with the development of the skills and knowledge necessary to become an effective teacher. In addition to the cognitive and curricular benefits for extending the amount of time our teacher candidates are exposed to technology for teaching, this paper describes an unexpected advantage in that this course sequence allows us to present educational technology to students through three progressive perspectives, including establishing an initial vision, negotiating a developing vision, and seeking a realistic vision. Recent federal funding focused on improving the technology preparedness of future teachers, coupled with the latest understandings of how technology can be used in teaching and learning, has prompted great change in how institutions prepare new technology-using teachers. Interestingly, even with these conceptual advances, the very structure of preservice educational technology courses has remained virtually constant. In fact, the majority of teacher preparation institutions employ the model of a single introductory technology course (Hargrave & Hsu, 2000) designed to introduce the usage of technology tools (Mehlinger & Powers, 2002).
Run-time assertion schemes for safety-critical systems

In this paper, we discuss issues in designing run-time mechanismsfor enhancing the dependability of safetycritical systems Such mechanisms are aimed af failure avoidance and failure detection and can complement the other design methods in achieving higher dependability. We introduce a safety constraint centered transformation methodology that is based on a system's safety constraint speci$cation and the development of techniques for analyzing the constraints to derive the run-time checking schemes. We also discuss other issues that are important in designing run-time checks, such as the types of safety constraints that can arise, features that specification languages must have to specib such constraints, how such safety constraints can be violated, and run-time support required for the mechanisms.
Inpatient Costs for Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Acute Pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with an increased risk of acute pancreatitis (AP). Our group examined differences in length of stay and costs for patients with IBD hospitalized for AP and the general population. METHODS Using the National Inpatient Sample, we examined all admissions during 2005 to 2011 with a primary diagnosis of AP and codiagnosis of IBD. Continuous variables were reported as mean ± SD and compared between IBD and controls. To compare the outcomes of interest, we conducted a 1:3 propensity score matching using a greedy algorithm based on age, gender, race, number of comorbidities, procedures, insurance, income quartiles, hospital bed size, hospital location, and teaching status. Statistical analyses were performed on SAS 9.3 (Cary, NC). RESULTS There were 4291 hospitalizations of patients with IBD and AP over the 7-year period and 379,627 hospitalizations of patients without IBD and with AP. More patients with Crohn's disease developed AP than patients with ulcerative colitis (2145 versus 1219). The length of stay and costs for patients with AP and IBD were significantly higher than controls (5.7 days versus 4.9 days, P < 0.0001 and $29,724.89 versus $27,916.76, P < 0.0001). The percentage of patients with alcohol abuse was lower in patients with IBD than that of controls (11.8% versus 21.7%, P < 0.0001). However, the percentage of patients with IBD who were drug abusers was higher than controls (5.8% versus 4.3%, P < 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that a codiagnosis of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis incurs a greater economic burden in patients with AP.
Distributed Bragg reflector design for GaN based high brightness LEDs

A model for distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR) is developed. A detailed refractive index calculations for GaN, AlN, AlGaN and InGaN in embedded in this model. It can model and predict DBR performances.
Learning Optimal Parameters For Multi-target Tracking.

We describe an end-to-end framework for learning parameters of min-cost flow multitarget tracking problem with quadratic trajectory interactions including suppression of overlapping tracks and contextual cues about co-occurrence of different objects. Our approach utilizes structured prediction with a tracking-specific loss function to learn the complete set of model parameters. Under our learning framework, we evaluate two different approaches to finding an optimal set of tracks under quadratic model objective based on an LP relaxation and a novel greedy extension to dynamic programming that handles pairwise interactions. We find the greedy algorithm achieves almost equivalent accuracy to the LP relaxation while being 2-7x faster than a commercial solver. We evaluate trained models on the challenging MOT and KITTI benchmarks. Surprisingly, we find that with proper parameter learning, our simple data-association model without explicit appearance/motion reasoning is able to outperform many state-of-the-art methods that use far more complex motion features and affinity metric learning.
Properties of mycobacteriophage DS6A. I. Immunogenicity in rabbits.

SummaryThe antigenicity of mycobacteriophage DS6A was determined in rabbits. The concentration of antibody produced was low (K values 10 or less). The amount of antibody produced appears to be depe...
Executive function and magnitude skills in preschool children

Executive function (EF) has been highlighted as a potentially important factor for mathematical understanding. The relation has been well established in school-aged children but has been less explored at younger ages. The current study investigated the relation between EF and mathematics in preschool-aged children. Participants were 142 typically developing 3- and 4-year-olds. Controlling for verbal ability, a significant positive correlation was found between EF and general math abilities in this age group. Importantly, we further examined this relation causally by varying the EF load on a magnitude comparison task. Results suggested a developmental pattern where 3-year-olds' performance on the magnitude comparison task was worst when EF was taxed the most. Conversely, 4-year-olds performed well on the magnitude task despite varying EF demands, suggesting that EF might play a critical role in the development of math concepts.
Technologies of Icing Distribution Map for Power Transmission Line

The scientifical and reasonable partition for the level of icing zones along power transmission lines plays a key role for the safe and stable operation of power grid. Based on the analysis of the status of icing distribution map along transmission lines at home and abroad,the related techniques were discussed,including the measurement methods for icing,the numerical simulation of icing thickness,the mathematics statistical model,the partition standards,the treatment of microtopography and microclimate,the adjustment for operation experience,as well as the drawing technique of icing distribution map. According to the existing problems of the icing distribution map drawing and the construction planning of power grid,the development trend of the key drawing techniques of icing distribution map were proposed.
Unions and Race

Unions become involved in the construction of race, ethnicity, and nationalism by means of the organizational practices they develop and their interactions with employers. Although employers have been the major actors in fomenting racial antagonism and in structuring labor market dynamics that disadvantage workers of color and women, unions act to either reproduce or challenge these social relations. Early craft unions tended to reproduce such structures while industrial unions tended to challenge them. Yet the long-term, drastic decline of union density means that unions have had fewer opportunities to challenge these racial and gendered structures. Unless unions recalibrate to adapt to modern economic developments and organize workers of all races, civil statuses, and genders, employers will continue to have the only meaningful voice in shaping racial, national, and gender relations at work. Keywords: gender; labor unions; nationalism; race and ethnicity; racism
Fostering connectedness to nature in higher education

AbstractEnvironmental thinkers and educators have argued for the importance of celebrating our connectedness to nature, or the perception of being part of, rather than separate from, the natural world. Using pre-and post-test measurements of Nature Relatedness and supplemental interviews, this study addresses the question of whether a particular introductory college-level ecology course can increase learners’ connectedness to nature, both independently and in comparison to a similar course. The results show that the course significantly increased participants’ connectedness, particularly their identification with nature and nature-focused worldview. Other environmental courses studied demonstrated no such changes, suggesting that environmental education does not automatically lead to connectedness. However, if woven into the goals and approach of teaching, connectedness to nature can indeed be fostered in higher education. This is a promising result for educators and others working towards a sustainable f...
Babel: A Platform for Facilitating Research in Scholarly Article Discovery

The body of scientific literature is growing at an exponential rate. This expansion of scientific knowledge has increased the need for tools to help users find relevant articles. However, researchers developing new scholarly article recommendation algorithms face two substantial hurdles: acquiring high-quality, large-scale scholarly metadata and mechanisms for evaluating their recommendation algorithms. To address these problems we created Babel---an open-source platform uniting publisher, researchers, and users. Babel includes tens of millions of scholarly articles, several recommendation algorithms, and tools for integrating recommendations into publisher websites and other scholarly platforms.
Clinical decision tool for CRT-P vs. CRT-D implantation: Findings from PROSE-ICD.

Background Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices reduce mortality through pacing-induced cardiac resynchronization and implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy for ventricular arrhythmias (VAs). Whether certain factors can predict if patients will benefit more from implantation of CRT pacemakers (CRT-P) or CRT defibrillators (CRT-D) remains unclear. Methods and results We followed 305 primary prevention CRT-D recipients for the two primary outcomes of HF hospitalization and ICD therapy for VAs. Serum biomarkers, electrocardiographic and clinical variables were collected prior to implant. Multivariable analysis using Cox-proportional hazards model was used to fit the final models. Among 282 patients with follow-up outcome data, 75 (26.6%) were hospitalized for HF and 31 (11%) received appropriate ICD therapy. Independent predictors of HF hospitalization were atrial fibrillation (HR = 1.8 (1.1,2.9)), NYHA class III/IV (HR = 2.2 (1.3,3.6)), ejection fraction 4.03pg/ml (HR = 1.7 (1.1,2.9)) and hemoglobin ( 20mg/dL (HR = 3.0 (1.3,7.1)), HS-CRP >9.42mg/L (HR = 2.3 (1.1,4.7)), no beta blocker therapy (HR = 3.2 (1.4,7.1)) and hematocrit ≥38% (HR = 2.7 (1.03,7.0)). Patients with 0–1 risk factors for appropriate therapy (IR 1 per 100 person-years) and ≥3 risk factors for HF hospitalization (IR 23 per 100-person-years) were more likely to die prior to receiving an appropriate ICD therapy. Conclusions Clinical and biomarker data can risk stratify CRT patients for HF progression and VAs. These findings may help characterize subgroups of patients that may benefit more from the use of CRT-P vs. CRT-D systems. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00733590
Bimodal molecular weight samples improve the isotropy of 3D printed polymeric samples

Abstract Parts prepared by the fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing process suffer from poor interfacial adhesion between layers. This is due to poor diffusion of the very large and slow polymer chains across the inter-filament interface. To address this issue, we have developed the use of a bimodal blend of poly(lactide) (PLA) comprised of a series of synthesized low molecular weight PLA components (8.5 k, 50 k, and 100 k) added to a commercially available PLA (220 k). Tensile testing results indicate that when the LMW additive is of a sufficient length, the maximum stress and modulus in the part printed orthogonal to the print head (transverse) is significantly improved. More specifically, this behavior is observed where increased diffusion and increased entanglement of chains across adjacent layers occurs. The extent of crystallization at various stages of processing is also analyzed and indicates no correlation between the mechanical properties obtained and extent of crystallinity.
Brain temperature effects of intravenous heroin: State dependency, environmental modulation, and the effects of dose.

Abstract Here we examined how intravenous heroin at a dose that maintains self-administration (0.1 mg/kg) affects brain temperature homeostasis in freely moving rats under conditions that seek to mimic some aspects of human drug use. When administered under standard laboratory conditions (quiet rest at 22 °C ambient temperature), heroin induced moderate temperature increases (1.0–1.5 °C) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a critical structure of the brain motivation-reinforcement circuit. By simultaneously recording temperatures in the temporal muscle and skin, we demonstrate that the hyperthermic effects of heroin results primarily from inhibition of heat loss due to strong and prolonged skin vasoconstriction. Heroin-induced brain temperature increases were enhanced during behavioral activation (i.e., social interaction) and in a moderately warm environment (29 °C). By calculating the “net” effects of the drug in these two conditions, we found that this enhancement results from the summation of the hyperthermic effects of heroin with similar effects induced by either social interaction or a warmer environment. When the dose of heroin was increased (to 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6, 3.2, and 6.4 mg/kg), brain temperature showed a biphasic down-up response. The initial temperature decrease was dose-dependent and resulted from a transient inhibition of intra-brain heat production coupled with increased heat loss via skin surfaces—the effects typically induced by general anesthetics. These initial inhibitory effects induced by large-dose heroin injections could be related to profound CNS depression—the most serious health complications typical of heroin overdose in humans.
Apoptosis induced by a corneal-endothelium-derived cytokine.

PURPOSE. The purpose of this study was to isolate and characterize cDNA clones encoding target proteins for autoantibodies in patients at high risk for transplant rejection. METHODS. A pool of 1() sera from patients at high risk for rejection who had undergone corneal transplantation was used for immunoscreening of an endothelial cDNA library, and the cDNA fragments were subcloned into prokaryotic expression vectors to generate recombinant fusion proteins. Cytotoxicity of recombinant protein was determined by a modified 51 Cr-release assay. Apoptosis induced by recombinant protein was determined by fluorescent dye-chromatin fragmentation assay and by TdT-dUTP terminal nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the presence of antibodies to recombinant protein in the sera of high-risk patients undergoing corneal transplantation and of control subjects. RESULTS. Screening of 500,000 plaques identified six positive clones, one of which demonstrated extensive homology with a novel tumor-derived cytokine termed endothelial monocyte-activating polypeptide (EMAP). EMAP was synthesized as a 39-kDa precursor that was proteolytically cleaved to generate an active 22-kDa cytokine. The mature peptide of EMAP alone was capable of inducing the death of cultured endothelial cells, whereas the propcptide was inactive. The protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide potentiated EMAP-induced apoptosis in endothelial cells. Cell death by apoptosis was evidenced by DNA fragmentation, extensive surface pleb formation, and chromatin condensation. A statistically significant difference was found in the level of antibodies specific to EMAP between patients at high risk for comeal transplant rejection and control subjects (P < 0.001). The antibody levels were elevated in patients with severe graft reaction when compared with patients with no graft reaction (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS. These studies demonstrated that EMAP is a novel protein in corneal endothelial cells that is capable of inducing programmed cell death. Overexpression of this cytokine could initiate endothelial cell damage leading to stromal edema and corneal decompensation.
Bringing the Benefits Home

Although Silicon Valley has been remarkably successful in developing new technologies, it might not be the ideal model for all communities. The web extra at https://youtu.be/1R3yZaWtXwo is an audio recording of author David Alan Grier reading his Global Code column.
Clinical Trials in Mitochondrial Disease: An Update on EPI-743 and RP103

Mitochondrial dysfunction results in the production of an abnormally high amount of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, which results in redox imbalance and glutathione deficiency. Therapeutics s...
Parthenogenesis in birds: a review

Parthenogenesis or 'virgin birth' is embryonic development in unfertilized eggs. It is a routine means of reproduction in many invertebrates. However, even though parthenogenesis occurs naturally in even more advanced vertebrates, like birds, it is mostly abortive in nature. In fact, multiple limiting factors, such as delayed and unorganized development as well as unfavorable conditions developing within the unfertilized egg upon incubation, are associated with termination of progressive development of parthenogenetic embryos. In birds, diploid parthenogenesis is automictic and facultative producing only males. However, the mechanisms controlling parthenogenesis in birds are not clearly elucidated. Additionally, it appears from even very recent research that these mechanisms may hinder the normal fertilization process and subsequent embryonic development. For instance, virgin quail and turkey hens exhibiting parthenogenesis have reduced reproductive performance following mating. Also, genetic selection and environmental factors, such as live virus vaccinations, are known to trigger the process of parthenogenesis in birds. Therefore, parthenogenesis has a plausible negative impact on the poultry industry. Hence, a better understanding of parthenogenesis and the mechanisms that control it could benefit commercial poultry production. In this context, the aim of this review is to provide a complete overview of the process of parthenogenesis in birds.
Regional Climate Model Evaluation System powered by Apache Open Climate Workbench v1.3.0: an enabling tool for facilitating regional climate studies

Abstract. The Regional Climate Model Evaluation System (RCMES) is an enabling tool of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to support the United States National Climate Assessment. As a comprehensive system for evaluating climate models on regional and continental scales using observational datasets from a variety of sources, RCMES is designed to yield information on the performance of climate models and guide their improvement. Here, we present a user-oriented document describing the latest version of RCMES, its development process, and future plans for improvements. The main objective of RCMES is to facilitate the climate model evaluation process at regional scales. RCMES provides a framework for performing systematic evaluations of climate simulations, such as those from the Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX), using in situ observations, as well as satellite and reanalysis data products. The main components of RCMES are (1) a database of observations widely used for climate model evaluation, (2) various data loaders to import climate models and observations on local file systems and Earth System Grid Federation (ESGF) nodes, (3) a versatile processor to subset and regrid the loaded datasets, (4) performance metrics designed to assess and quantify model skill, (5) plotting routines to visualize the performance metrics, (6) a toolkit for statistically downscaling climate model simulations, and (7) two installation packages to maximize convenience of users without Python skills. RCMES website is maintained up to date with a brief explanation of these components. Although there are other open-source software (OSS) toolkits that facilitate analysis and evaluation of climate models, there is a need for climate scientists to participate in the development and customization of OSS to study regional climate change. To establish infrastructure and to ensure software sustainability, development of RCMES is an open, publicly accessible process enabled by leveraging the Apache Software Foundation's OSS library, Apache Open Climate Workbench (OCW). The OCW software that powers RCMES includes a Python OSS library for common climate model evaluation tasks as well as a set of user-friendly interfaces for quickly configuring a model evaluation task. OCW also allows users to build their own climate data analysis tools, such as the statistical downscaling toolkit provided as a part of RCMES.
Claudication as an 'orphan disease': rationale and goals of drug therapy for peripheral arterial disease.

Patients with peripheral arterial disease are often perceived to suffer from a disorder whose pathogenesis and symptoms are not amenable to drug therapies. This clinical misperception remains prevalent despite an abundance of data suggesting that diverse pharmacotherapies may modulate the natural history of this disease. Patients with chronic limb arterial occlusive disease suffer from a disease that is characterized by: (1) a prolonged asymptomatic state that can be identified by simple physical examination and confirmed by measurement of the ankle brachial index; (2) a multi-year period of symptomatic claudication; and (3) a variable rate of progression to critical limb ischemia or acute arterial occlusion. This stage-dependent disease progression is mediated via the dynamic, but as yet incompletely understood, interaction of factors that elicit endothelial dysfunction, atherogenesis, and thrombosis. Current data suggest that each of these contributory disease processes can be modulated by extant pharmacotherapies. Additionally, many novel pharmacotherapeutic agents that are currently under investigation may further improve the ability of clinicians to modulate these fundamental biologic processes. Pharmacologic therapies should be targeted to decrease the rate of limb arterial disease progression, to improve limiting symptoms, and to prolong life. Symptoms of claudication can be objectively assessed via both exercise testing and disease-specific questionnaires. The presence of lower extremity atherosclerotic disease is predictive of the presence of coronary heart disease and a foreshortened five-year survival. Current data suggest that clinical investigations should be able to effectively stratify this relative risk via use of both clinical variables (e.g., age, diabetes mellitus, tobacco use, etc.) or by measurement of the ankle brachial index (ABI). The role of the physician is to decrease suffering and to prolong life. Judicious administration of medical therapies can play a critical role in helping the vascular practitioner accomplish these goals.
Long-term creep response of borate-modified oriented strandboard

Publisher Summary This chapter investigates the creep response of the modified oriented strandboard (OSB) as influenced by wood species, borate type, borate content level, moisture cycling, and other panel processing variables. During the panel manufacturing, certain amounts of dry wood flakes, liquid phenol formaldehyde resin, wax, and borate were blended together. The loading rates for resin and wax were 4 and 1% based on the oven-dry wood weight. Tests were done to determine basic panel properties. Creep samples were cut from the experimental panels. Typical creep curves at the 40% stress level were obtained for zinc borate OSB. For both southern pine and mixed hardwood OSBs, the observed creep was generally higher at the higher borate loading levels. OSB made of mixed hardwoods and calcium borate showed smaller strain than those of southern pine. This was mainly due to the difference in the initial moduli of the panels, which were influenced largely by panel density and other processing variables. The predicted fractional creep validated the adjustment factor up to 30 years duration under a constant moisture content level.
Pulmonary artery aneurysms: Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative findings

Background Pulmonary artery aneurysms (PAAs) are a rare but potentially lethal cardiovascular pathology. PAAs tend to develop in young patients with no gender discrepancy; they are most often associated with congenital heart disorders but also with systemic infections, vasculitis, pulmonary arterial hypertension, chronic pulmonary embolism, and malignancies. Dissection and rupture carry significant morbidity and mortality, thus patients require careful management, especially those with associated pulmonary hypertension. Given the rarity of this condition, physicians have yet to establish standard treatment guidelines. Most studies published to date are case reports with one or two patients; here, we describe our experience with six cases of large PAAs treated surgically at our institution. Methods We identified and retrospectively analyzed clinical data for patients who underwent surgery for PAAs between 2009 and 2017. Results The average age at surgery was 59.73 years, five patients were females, and 83.3% had baseline hypertension. Systolic murmurs were the most common clinical finding. The average aneurysmal size was 65.0 mm. We repaired the PAA with a woven Dacron graft (22-26 mm) in four patients. We performed concomitant pulmonary valve procedures on five patients: four replacements and one repair. Mean pump and cross-clamp times were 108.5 and 65 minutes. Operative and 30-day mortality was 0%. Average length of stay was 10.5 days. Conclusions Postoperative mortality was 0%; all patients showed improvement of symptoms after surgery. These findings confirm that PAA repair has an acceptable risk profile in select patients.
Defining mentoring: a literature review of issues, types, and applications

This literature review of contemporary mentoring delineates mentoring definitions and anchors these with explanatory discourse. Select empirical studies spanning 1983-2019 were analyzed, with a focus on education across grade levels. Alternative mentoring issues, types, and applications, also located, are integral to this discussion. While researchers describe what mentoring is, it is also important to clarify what it is not. Traditional definitions of mentoring have been losing traction, with mentoring alternatives forging new possibilities within changing learning and work environments. Contexts of mentoring include a personal-professional relationship to an educational process; an organizational, cultural, and global context; and a systemic reform strategy that builds human capacity. This complex definitional terrain is situated within theoretical mentoring frameworks. Mentoring as deep, equitable learning with social transformative value is illustrated. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and other educational examples serve this purpose. Challenges to the field from alternative mentoring theory are discussed for transparency around meanings of mentoring and contributions that advance socially just relationships, organizations, and cultures. The article provides a timely and needed framework to discriminate and differentiate mentoring from other developmental relationships.
One of a Kind: The Strong and Complex Preference for Unique Treatment from Romantic Partners

Abstract Individuals prefer romantic partners who universally treat others well (i.e., partners who exhibit trait-level generosity) and also prefer partners who treat them uniquely. Previous work supports both preferences, yet the literature has largely ignored what happens when these preferences conflict. In the present work, we compare these two preferences in romantic relationships by pitting people's preference for trait-level generosity from their partner against their preference for unique treatment from their partner. Across 10 studies, we observe a strong, multifaceted, and somewhat selfish preference for unique treatment that often overwhelms the preference for trait-level generosity. People generally want their partner to offer them relatively better treatment than they offer to others (e.g., their partner orders a larger bouquet for their birthday than for the neighbor's birthday). However, in specific domains and situations, individuals are satisfied with receiving treatment from their partner that is the same as—or slightly worse than—the treatment their partner offers to others, so long as the treatment is unique (e.g., their partner sends everyone a text containing a special inside joke). Further, using a conjoint-analysis approach novel to studying partner selection, we find that partners who offer unique treatment are highly desired and that people are willing to make significant sacrifices in partner attractiveness to receive unique treatment. This preference also impacts how people evaluate and interact with their romantic partners and how satisfied they feel with their relationships.
You Snooze, You Win? An Ecological Dynamics Framework Approach to Understanding the Relationships Between Sleep and Sensorimotor Performance in Sport

Sleep has a widespread impact across different domains of performance, including sensorimotor function. From an ecological dynamics perspective, sensorimotor function involves the continuous and dynamic coupling between perception and action. Sport performance relies on sensorimotor function as successful movement behaviors require accurate and efficient coupling between perceptions and actions. Compromised sleep impairs different aspects of sensorimotor performance, including perceptual attunement and motor execution. Changes in sensorimotor performance can be related to specific features of sleep, notably sleep spindles and slow waves. One unaddressed area of study is the extent to which specific sleep features contribute to overall sport-specific performance.
Introduction to the Special Issue: In Vitro Digestibility in Animal Nutritional Studies

The use of animals in research elicits a diverse range of attitudes and emotions, with some people demanding the abolition of research on animals and others expressing strong support[...].
Understanding the sensitivity of the two-temperature model for electron–phonon coupling measurements

A crucial parameter in understanding hot electron physics is the electron–phonon (EP) coupling factor along with the governing physical relationships of the Two-Temperature Model (TTM) for electron thermalization. One of the most common ways to experimentally interrogate EP coupling is via ultra-fast optical excitement and thermoreflectance measurement. While there has been a significant amount of work using this method, there has been relatively little exploration of the sensitivity of the TTM to the parameters involved. In this work, we utilize the mathematical formulation of the least squares fitting method in order to understand the sensitivity of the TTM to the various thermophysical factors involved. We find that analysis of the sum of squared errors yields substantial physical insight and will help guide experimentalists in their ability to confidently measure a wide variety of hot electron dynamics.
The qualitative evidence behind the factors impacting online learning experiences as informed by the community of inquiry framework: A thematic synthesis

Abstract This thematic synthesis aims to analyze the qualitative evidence provided by earlier empirical studies to achieve a comprehensive and up-to-date understanding of the factors influencing students’ online learning experiences through the lens of the Community of Inquiry framework. Following a three-stage procedure specified by Thomas and Harden (2008), we started with 3641 potential studies and then (1) coded all studies meeting inclusion criteria (n = 35); (2) developed descriptive themes based on the codes; and (3) generated analytical themes based on the descriptive themes. The results revealed ten descriptive themes that can be grouped into three overarching categories (i.e., course design, instructor actions, and student actions) that are related to the Community of Inquiry framework. Analytical themes included accountability, being real, and supporting learning process. These conceptual insights provide both theoretical and practical implications as well as directions for future research.
Comparing the quantitative fit-testing results of half-mask respirators with various skin barriers in a crossover study design: a pilot study.

Clinicians around the world are experiencing skin breakdown due to the prolonged usage of masks while working long hours to treat patients with COVID-19. The skin damage is a result of the increased friction and pressure at the mask-skin barrier. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, clinicians have been applying various skin barriers to prevent and ameliorate skin breakdown. However, there are no studies to our knowledge that assess the safety and efficacy of using these skin barriers without compromising a sufficient mask-face seal. We report the largest study to date of various skin barriers and seal integrity with quantitative fit testing (QNFT). Our pilot study explores whether the placement of a silicone scar sheet (ScarAway®), Cavilon™, or Tegaderm™ affects 3M™ half-face mask respirator barrier integrity when compared to no barrier using QNFT. We collected data from nine clinicians at an academic Level 1 trauma center in New Jersey. We found that the silicone scar sheet resulted in the lowest adequate fit while Cavilon™ provided the highest fit factor when compared to other interventions (p<0.05). Our findings help inform clinicians considering barriers for comfort when wearing facemasks during the COVID-19 pandemic and for future pandemics.
Machine learning for initial insulin estimation in hospitalized patients

OBJECTIVE The study sought to determine whether machine learning can predict initial inpatient total daily dose (TDD) of insulin from electronic health records more accurately than existing guideline-based dosing recommendations. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using electronic health records from a tertiary academic center between 2008 and 2020 of 16,848 inpatients receiving subcutaneous insulin who achieved target blood glucose control of 100-180 mg/dL on a calendar day, we trained an ensemble machine learning algorithm consisting of regularized regression, random forest, and gradient boosted tree models for 2-stage TDD prediction. We evaluated the ability to predict patients requiring more than 6 units TDD and their point-value TDDs to achieve target glucose control. RESULTS The method achieves an area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of 0.85 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84-0.87) and area under the precision-recall curve of 0.65 (95% CI, 0.64-0.67) for classifying patients who require more than 6 units TDD. For patients requiring more than 6 units TDD, the mean absolute percent error in dose prediction based on standard clinical calculators using patient weight is in the range of 136%-329%, while the regression model based on weight improves to 60% (95% CI, 57%-63%), and the full ensemble model further improves to 51% (95% CI, 48%-54%). DISCUSSION Owingto the narrow therapeutic window and wide individual variability, insulin dosing requires adaptive and predictive approaches that can be supported through data-driven analytic tools. CONCLUSIONS Machine learning approaches based on readily available electronic medical records can discriminate which inpatients will require more than 6 units TDD and estimate individual doses more accurately than standard guidelines and practices.
A novel multi-objective model calibration method for ecohydrological applications

Abstract The reliability and applicability of hydrological models within ecohydrological frameworks are major concerns. Two multi-objective model calibration strategies were formulated to achieve a balanced representation of ecologically relevant hydrologic indices. Two approaches were employed: 1) a performance-based method constraining the targeted hydrologic indices and 2) an unconstrained signature-based method explicitly incorporating the targeted hydrologic indices into multiple objective functions. Both strategies were successful in representing most of the selected hydrologic indices within a ±30% relative error acceptability threshold while yielding consistent runoff predictions in a watershed. The performance-based strategy was preferred since it showed a lower dispersion of near-optimal Pareto solutions when representing the selected indices based on water balance and Flow Duration Curve characteristics. Still, the overall representation of low flow magnitude and timing, rise and fall rates, and duration and frequency of extreme flows was limited in terms of interannual variability due to the hydrological model structural inadequacies.
The Faces of Despair in INS Raids

Thank you and good morning. I understand we are on a really tight schedule so my comments will be brief. Thank you very much Celina, for your overview remarks intended to guide us in our sessions today on the relationship between the emerging LatCrit theory1 and International Human Rights, and for this panel, on how the focus on identity politics in LatCrit theory can broaden our understanding of "human rights law and policy."
Calmodulin binding to recombinant myosin-1c and myosin-1c IQ peptides

Bullfrog myosin-1c contains three previously recognized calmodulin-binding IQ domains (IQ1, IQ2, and IQ3) in its neck region; we identified a fourth IQ domain (IQ4), located immediately adjacent to IQ3. How calmodulin binds to these IQ domains is the subject of this report. In the presence of EGTA, calmodulin bound to synthetic peptides corresponding to IQ1, IQ2, and IQ3 with Kd values of 2–4 μM at normal ionic strength; the interaction with an IQ4 peptide was much weaker. Ca2+ substantially weakened the calmodulin-peptide affinity for all of the IQ peptides except IQ3. To reveal how calmodulin bound to the linearly arranged IQ domains of the myosin-1c neck, we used hydrodynamic measurements to determine the stoichiometry of complexes of calmodulin and myosin-1c. Purified myosin-1c and T701-Myo1c (a myosin-1c fragment with all four IQ domains and the C-terminal tail) each bound 2–3 calmodulin molecules. At a physiologically relevant temperature (25°C) and under low-Ca2+ conditions, T701-Myo1c bound two calmodulins in the absence and three calmodulins in the presence of 5 μM free calmodulin. Ca2+ dissociated nearly all calmodulins from T701-Myo1c at 25°C; one calmodulin was retained if 5 μM free calmodulin was present. We inferred from these data that at 25°C and normal cellular concentrations of calmodulin, calmodulin is bound to IQ1, IQ2, and IQ3 of myosin-1c when Ca2+ is low. The calmodulin bound to one of these IQ domains, probably IQ2, is only weakly associated. Upon Ca2+ elevation, all calmodulin except that bound to IQ3 should dissociate.
Detection of Malingered MVA Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: An Investigation of the Ability to Detect Professional Actors by Experienced Clinicians, Psychological Tests and Psychophysiological Assessment

Abstract This study investigated the ability of professional actors to fool experienced clinical evaluators with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a motor vehicle accident. Six trained method actors were coached with criteria for PTSD. Simulators were then entered covertly into an ongoing evaluation and treatment study in which six experienced clinical psychology doctoral students unknowingly evaluated the simulators. Examination of clinical interview material, psychological test measures and psychophysiological measures was then performed in both a case-by-case and group comparison method. Results revealed that none of the simulators were initially detected in the routine evaluations. When the assessors were told that they had, in fact, seen a simulator, results revealed that initial clinical judgment resulted in identifying three of the simulators. When clinical interview material was added with psychological test data and psychophysiological measures, accuracy increased to 91%....