cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of a Conceptual Map of Negative Consequences for Patients of Overuse of Medical Tests and Treatments.

Importance Overuse of medical tests and treatments is an increasingly recognized problem across health systems; best practices for reducing overuse are not clear. Framing the problem in terms of the spectrum of potential patient harm is likely to be an effective strategy for clinician and patient engagement in efforts to reduce overuse, but the scope of negative consequences of overuse for patients has not been well described. Observations We sought to generate a comprehensive conceptual map documenting the processes through which overused tests and treatments lead to multiple domains of negative consequences for patients. For map development, an iterative consensus process was informed by structured review of the literature on overuse using PubMed and input from a panel of 6 international experts. For map verification, a systematic review was performed of case reports involving overused services, identified through literature review and manual review of relevant article collections. The conceptual map documents that overused tests and treatments and resultant downstream services generate 6 domains of negative consequences for patients: physical, psychological, social, financial, treatment burden, and dissatisfaction with health care. Negative consequences can result from overused services and from downstream services; they can also trigger further downstream services that in turn can lead to more negative consequences, in an ongoing feedback loop. Case reports on overuse confirmed the processes and domains of the conceptual map. Cases also revealed strengths and weaknesses in published communication about overuse: they were dominated by physical harms, with other negative consequences receiving far less attention. Conclusions and Relevance This evidence-based conceptual map clarifies the processes by which overused tests and treatments result in negative consequences for patients; it also documents multiple domains of negative consequences experienced by patients. The map will be useful for facilitating comprehensive communication about overuse, estimating harms and costs associated with overused services, and informing health system efforts to reduce overuse.
Clustering-Driven and Dynamically Diversified Ensemble for Drifting Data Streams

Data stream mining is a rapidly developing branch of contemporary machine learning. Ensemble approaches have proven themselves to be highly effective in this domain, due to their predictive power and capabilities for handling evolving data. One of the key aspects of ensemble learning is diversity among base classifiers – it improves accuracy and allows for anticipating and recovering from concept drifts. It has been shown that while diversity is desirable during changes, it may impede learning when data becomes stationary. In this paper, we present a novel ensemble technique that exploits the idea of dynamic diversification, which increases diversity during changes and reduces it when a stream becomes stable. The algorithm uses online clustering for this task by creating locally specialized base learners trained on spatially related instances. Three control strategies based on the novel range heuristic for managing a trade-off between error (a change indicator) and diversity are utilized. Additionally, two intensification strategies are proposed for exploitation of newly arriving instances, allowing for faster adaptation. Experimental study evaluates the general performance and diversity of the proposed algorithm, proving its capabilities to outperform state-of-the-art ensembles dedicated to drifting data stream mining.
Retromuscular Mesh Repair Using Fibrin Glue: Early Outcomes and Cost-effectiveness of an Evolving Technique.

Background:Retromuscular hernia repairs (RHRs) decrease hernia recurrence and surgical site infections but can cause significant pain. We aimed to determine if pain and postoperative outcomes differed when comparing suture fixation (SF) of mesh to fibrin glue fixation (FGF).Methods:Patients undergoi
Characterization of Fast, Accurate Leakage Power Models for IEEE P2416

Recent results in power modeling for the emerging IEEE Standard Association project P2416 are presented. The standard promises to bring accurate power-modeling capability to system-level digital design tools. This paper presents the leakage power-model characterization approach in detail in the context of a simple four-gate circuit. Simulation results with a commercial 45nm technology over a range of temperatures and supply voltages show agreement with SPICE to within 1.8% on average and 16.6% in the worst case with a speedup of over 15,000X.
Deterministic Multi-tape Turing Machines

This chapter sets up our model of deterministic, multi-tape Turing Machines that is, in one way or another, the basis of almost all of the particular programming systems we construct. We take a great deal of care in setting up this Turing Machine model. Here is why. In later chapters we’ll need programming systems in which one can efficiently combine programs in various ways to form other programs. For example, we’ll often require of a programming system ψ that, given ψ-programs p and q, one can effectively find another ψ-program c(p, q) that computes ψ p o ψ q and, moreover, constructing ψ-program c(p,q) from p and q only takes linear time (i.e., time O(\p\+ \q\)). We’ll also need to worry that the programs that result from combining other programs are reasonably efficient in terms of the original programs. For example, we’d like the run time of the above ψ-program c(p, q) on input x to be “O of” the sum of the run times of ψ-program q on input x and of ψ-program p on input ψ q (x). The general Turing Machine constructions in the prior literature do not give us quite the sensitivity we need to meet our efficiency requirements. We therefore provide the necessary constructions here.
Stimulated grip strength measurement: Validation of a novel method for functional assessment.

BACKGROUND Reliable measurement of functional recovery is critical in translational peripheral nerve regeneration research. Behavioral functional assessments such as volitional grip strength testing (vGST) are limited by inherent behavioral variability. Isometric tetanic force testing (ITFT) is highly reliable but precludes serial measurements. Combining elements of vGST and ITFT, stimulated grip strength testing (sGST) involves percutaneous median nerve stimulation to elicit maximal tetanic contraction of digital flexors, thereby allowing for consistent measurement of maximal grip strength. METHODS We measured side-to-side equivalence of force using sGST, vGST, and ITFT to determine relative reliability and repeatability. We also performed weekly force measurements following median nerve repair. RESULTS sGST demonstrated greater reliability and inter-trial repeatability than vGST and similar reliability to ITFT, with the added benefit of serial measurements. CONCLUSIONS sGST is a valid method for assessing functional recovery that addresses the limitations of the currently available modalities used in translational peripheral nerve regeneration research.
The relationship of age, early motor skills and observable child behaviors in young children with developmental delays.

Abstract Background Children with disabilities often experience delays in one or more domains of development including motor skill delays. Delays in motor skill development may put children further behind their peers without disabilities in respect to aspects of early learning. Aims The purpose of this study was to examine how gross motor skills mediated the relationship of age and the observable child behaviors of compliance and adaptive behavior in a group of young children (2–4 years) with developmental disabilities around one time point. Methods Children with developmental disabilities (N = 113) were assessed on direct measures of motor skills and the child behaviors of compliance and adaptive behavior. Two independent simple mediation analyses were conducted using PROCESS, an ordinary least squares path analysis appropriate for small sample sizes. Results. Age had a positive relationship with gross motor skills (a = .66, p Conclusions Motor skill development may promote or hinder development in other childhood behaviors such as compliance and adaptive behavior.
Optically thin outbursts of rotating neutron stars cannot be spherical

We investigate three-dimensional relativistic trajectories of test particles in the spacetime of a slowly rotating compact star, under the combined influence of gravity and a strong, near-Eddington radiation field. While in the static case a spherically symmetric shell of matter suspended above the stellar surface can be formed at the location of radial equilibrium of effective forces, the same is not true for a rotating star. In the latter case the symmetry is broken by the interplay between motion in the non-static spacetime and the influence of strong radiation drag forces, pushing particles towards the equatorial plane. As a result an expanding spherical shell of matter ejected from the neutron star surface collapses on a short timescale into a single stable equatorial ring supported by radiation. These findings have implications for the geometry of optically thin outflows during luminous neutron star bursts.
Spatial-dynamic seawater intrusion and pumping cost externalities in a confined aquifer

Abstract This paper analytically develops the economic theory of seawater intrusion in confined aquifers and, in the process, creates generally applicable solution methods for illuminating steady-state spatial externality relationships for other spatial-dynamic diffusion resource management issues. By linking a confined aquifer and its unconfined recharge region with a dynamic boundary condition neglected in the economics literature, we introduce the physical realities that generate spatial externalities in all renewable confined aquifers. We derive spatial-dynamic first-order conditions for optimal extraction and characterize the policy relevant spatial-dynamic pumping cost and seawater intrusion cost externalities with hydrological assumptions appropriate to the different dynamic timescales of system components and the focus on seawater intrusion. For confined aquifers, we prove the marginal seawater intrusion cost externality decreases linearly in distance from the coast. Moreover, we demonstrate that the marginal seawater intrusion cost externality generally exceeds marginal pumping costs near the coast, implying substantial divergence between optimal and common property extraction near the coast, and significant divergence may extend to the inland aquifer boundary depending on both the magnitude and shape of the revenue function relative to extraction costs and aquifer parameters.
chapter 12 – The gastrointestinal system

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on human studies, beginning with the classical work of William Beaumont (1785-1853) in 1833 on the gastrointestinal (GI) system. Beaumont concluded that moderate exercise was conducive to rapid and healthy digestion; however, the severe and fatiguing exercise retards digestion. In the next century, interest was focused on the exercise influencing hunger pangs, gastric emptying, and gastric secretions. During prolonged exercise, the loss of fluid and electrolytes in sweat, together with the depletion of energy stores in the liver and working skeletal muscles, can produce dehydration, hyperthermia, hyponatremia, hypoglycemia, and glycogen depletion. Any one of these factors could contribute to fatigue and limit physical performance. These effects are exacerbated when exercise is done in the heat. The magnitude of the alterations can be substantial, but they are highly variable among individuals. Sweat losses can range from 1 to 4 L.h-1 and sodium losses from 10 to 120 mEq.l-1 of sweat. Exogenous carbohydrate utilization can exceed 1 g.min-1. The GI system is essential in attenuating these losses and supplying energy, but its capacity to do so, may be compromised by reduced blood flow, changes in hormone and neurotransmitter profiles, and the disruption of intestinal barrier function. The latter impairment could produce circulatory and thermal dysfunction.
Density-Preserving Data Visualization Unveils Dynamic Patterns of Single-Cell Transcriptomic Variability

Nonlinear data-visualization methods, such as t-SNE and UMAP, have become staple tools for summarizing the complex transcriptomic landscape of single cells in 2D or 3D. However, existing approaches neglect the local density of data points in the original space, often resulting in misleading visualizations where densely populated subpopulations of cells are given more visual space even if they account for only a small fraction of transcriptional diversity within the dataset. We present den-SNE and densMAP, our density-preserving visualization tools based on t-SNE and UMAP, respectively, and demonstrate their ability to facilitate more accurate visual interpretation of single-cell RNA-seq data. On recently published datasets, our methods newly reveal significant changes in transcriptomic variability within a range of biological processes, including cancer, immune cell specialization in human, and the developmental trajectory of C. elegans. Our methods are readily applicable to visualizing high-dimensional data in other scientific domains.
The Millennial/Gen Z Leftists Are Emerging: Are Sociologists Ready for Them?:

Sociology is being challenged by the new generation of students and scholars who have another view of society. Millennial/Gen Zs are the most progressive generation since the 1960s. We have had man...
Coppicing of two native but invasive oak species in Florida

Abstract Attempts to restore savannas are often thwarted by the resprouting of unwanted woody plants after they are top-killed by fire or mechanical treatments. In an effort to reduce stump sprouting of native to the region but invasive Quercus hemisphaerica (laurel oak) and Q. nigra (water oak) in an area being restored to longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) savanna, we treated 5–19 cm diameter stumps in ways opposite to the recommended practices for coppice management. Specifically, we created high stumps (1 m) and split half longitudinally (1 m-split); we also cut a sample at ground level (0 m), as recommended for coppice management. Over the 9-year observation period about 45% of the stumps died, with no treatment or species effects. Survival of individual sprouts was higher for Q. nigra than Q. hemisphaerica. In both species, sprouts from the 1 m stumps suffered the highest mortality rates, followed by the 0 m and 1 m-split treatments; number of sprouts per stump followed the same pattern (1 m > 0 m > 1 m-split). Root collar sprouts were more likely to survive than those that emerged higher on the stump or from rhizomes, and sprout mortality decreased with stump diameter in Q. nigra but not Q. hemisphaerica. Sprout survival decreased but sprout growth increased with canopy openness. About 40% of all sprouts were from rhizomes. Contrary to our expectation, wood decay was rare in all sprouts, regardless of their diameter or the height from which they emerged. These results confirm the benefits of treating stumps with herbicides to reduce unwanted trees in savannas undergoing restoration.
Information Technology Outsourcing Contracts: An Empirical Analysis on Contract Structure and Performance Implications

The study examines two dimensions of IT outsourcing contract structure: contract specificity and flexibility. We posit that the contract structures are influenced by (a) relational elements such as prior interactions, current nature of relationship between the contracting parties, and future interactions; and by (b) the attributes of transactions such as investment specificity and task and technology complexity of the outsourcing activities. We argue that balancing out the contract structure in terms of specificity and flexibility will influence the outsourcing performance and relationship management. Well-designed balance between contract specificity and flexibility is more likely to lead to the outsourcing success. Using publicly available data from 112 IT outsourcing contracts, we empirically test the proposed model. Our analysis provides evidence that relational elements significantly explain contract specificity and flexibility in this sample of contracts. The results suggest that relational factors are important to the management of inter-firm relationships in outsourcing exchange. Furthermore, we find that more investment specificity and task complexity are associated with higher levels of contract specificity and flexibility. Choices of contract structure influence the outsourcing outcomes. Our study, based on examination of contract terms in IT outsourcing contracts, provides guidelines for the design of service contracts, especially for IT outsourcing contracts and business-process outsourcing contracts. It supplements the current limited understanding about contract design and management.
The role of campus environment on bystander intentions and behaviors.

This study examined students’ perceptions of campus environmental factors related to bystander intentions and behaviors, and if intentions mediated the relationship between students’ perceptions an...
Do Digital Natives Recognize Digital Influence? Generational Differences and Understanding of Social Media Influencers

Influencer marketing has upended traditional notions of endorsement, as advertisers partner with social media users with diverse followings but higher levels of engagement to reach key audiences. T...
A photoswitchable GPCR-based opsin for presynaptic silencing

SUMMARY Optical manipulations of genetically defined cell types have generated significant insights into the dynamics of neural circuits. While optogenetic activation has been relatively straightforward, rapid and reversible synaptic inhibition has been far more difficult to achieve. Instead of relying on unpredictable ion manipulations or slow photoactivatable toxins at axon terminals, we took a different approach to leverage the natural ability of inhibitory presynaptic GPCRs to silence synaptic transmission. Here we characterize parapinopsin (PPO), a photoswitchable non-visual opsin from lamprey pineal gland that couples to Gi/o-signaling cascades. PPO can be rapidly activated by pulsed blue light, switched off with amber light, and is effective for repeated or prolonged inhibition. We developed viral vectors for cell-specific expression of PPO, which traffics very effectively in numerous neuron types. At presynaptic terminals, PPO can silence glutamate release and suppress dopamine-dependent reward and cocaine place preference behaviors in vivo. PPO immediately fills a significant gap in the neuroscience toolkit for rapid and reversible synaptic inhibition, and has broader utility for achieving spatiotemporal control of inhibitory GPCR signaling cascades in other biological and pharmacological applications.
Migraine Features in Patients with Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness.

Objectives:To evaluate the presence of migraine features in patients with persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD).Methods:In a retrospective survey study, consecutive patients presenting to...
Six feet of separation: Physical distancing impacts on blind and low vision during COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose : Individuals with vision loss are experiencing new and unique challenges due to physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a cross sectional study to understand challenges and to learn about adaptive strategies employed. Methods : The Casey Eye Institute EHR (EPIC) was queried for patients meeting the following criteria: best corrected visual acuity of 20/70 or worse in the better seeing eye;age 18-100, and active email address. 762 requests for participation in completing a 23- question survey were emailed via REDcap and responses were received from 46 patients;19 male and 27 female. The data was analyzed using SPSS statistical software. Comparisons were made between age, duration of visual impairment, severity of visual impairment to effects of physical distancing and adaptive strategies. Comparisons were made using the chi-squared test. Results : 44% of participants reported that physical distancing impacted their willingness to run essential errands and 52% agree or strongly agree that they have difficulty maintaining physical distancing due to their visual impairment. 65% agree or strongly agree that changes to the layout of familiar places, to encourage physical distancing, makes navigating more difficult. There is an association between age and this difficulty with navigating due to changes to the layout (p 10 years, but not since birth, are most likely to report using strategies to maintain physical distancing. Conclusions : The need to physically distance during a pandemic poses unique challenges for individuals with vision loss. Policies for physical distancing should consider this population. Visual markers on the ground to indicate 6 feet of separation can be helpful and it is important to be mindful when making changes to the environmental layout. Further research to learn more about the strategies utilized by this population to adapt to these challenges is needed.
Early Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Women With or Without Type 2 Diabetes: A Pooled Analysis of 9,374 Postmenopausal Women.

OBJECTIVE Early menopause may be associated with higher cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), coupled with early menopause, may result in even greater CVD risk in women. We examined CVD risk in women with early compared with normal-age menopause, with and without T2DM overall, and by race/ethnicity. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We pooled data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study, the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, and the Jackson Heart Study. We included women with data on menopausal status, menopausal age, and T2DM, excluding pre- or perimenopausal women and those with prevalent CVD. Outcomes included incident coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, heart failure (HF), and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) (CHD or stroke). We estimated the risk associated with early ( RESULTS We included 9,374 postmenopausal women for a median follow-up of 15 years. We observed 1,068 CHD, 659 stroke, 1,412 HF, and 1,567 ASCVD events. T2DM significantly modified the effect of early menopause on CVD risk. Adjusted hazard ratios for early menopause and the outcomes were greater in women with T2DM versus those without (CHD 1.15 [95% CI 1.00, 1.33] vs. 1.09 [1.03, 1.15]; stroke 1.21 [1.04, 1.40] vs. 1.10 [1.04, 1.16]; ASCVD 1.29 [1.09, 1.51] vs. 1.10 [1.04, 1.17]; HF 1.18 [1.00, 1.39] vs. 1.09 [1.03, 1.16]). The modifying effect of T2DM on the association between early menopause and ASCVD was only statistically significant in Black compared with White women. CONCLUSIONS Early menopause was associated with an increased risk for CVD in postmenopausal women. T2DM may further augment the risk, particularly in Black women.
Breaking the Silence: A Critical Review of Language Policy and Planning for Long-Term English Learners

Despite scholarship on emergent bilingual students that continues to evolve, the subgroup of emergent bilinguals who are labeled as long-term English learners (LTELs) have been overlooked and underserved for too long. LTELs refer to English learners who have been educated in a U.S. school for six years or more. This literature review is aimed at bringing awareness to this subgroup population and identifying the characteristics and classification process of LTELs described in the present scholarship. The review critically examines the de facto policy about LTELs from perspectives of the current climate of standardized tests (language management), the label itself (language ideology), and programs and schooling experience of these students (language practice). The literature review not only speaks to the stereotypes, struggles, and challenges that LTELs face, but also calls for future research studies to be conducted in addressing these problems pedagogically, institutionally, and systematically. Keywordslong-term English learners, English proficiency, language policy, standardized test, labeling
User interface optimization for an electronic medical record system.

Many information technology-enabled healthcare applications have failed because their interfaces are difficult to use. Unfortunately, little attention has been paid in the health informatics community to designing effective user interfaces that are acceptable to healthcare professionals. This paper illustrates a method for improving application interface usability by applying sequential pattern analysis to analyse temporal event sequences recorded in an electronic medical record system. Such event sequences, or clickstreams, reflect clinicians' navigation patterns in their everyday interactions with the computer system. The identified patterns have been used by software developers to calibrate the user interface of the system, so that the within-application workflow is better aligned with clinicians' mental model of medical problem-solving. Such inferred patterns may also help to modify clinicians' suboptimal practice behaviour components, as manifested through their actual usage of this point-of-care electronic system.
Design and analysis of a 512/spl times/768 current-mediated active pixel array image sensor

Current-mediated, current-output active pixels offer the advantages of compact size and simple operation in designing large format CMOS image sensors, with performance limited by spatial fixed pattern noise. In this paper, a thorough noise analysis is made of the expected performance of a current-output pixel image sensor. This analysis is compared with experimental results from a 512/spl times/768 array imager fabricated in a 0.7 /spl mu/m process, and the effectiveness of basic error correction techniques are explored. The goal of this study was to determine the performance limits of this device and to gain insight into the design issues needed to develop a high-quality current-output imager.
Marker Rescue in Haemophilus influenzae Bacteriophage

Rescue of wild-type markers from transfecting phage DNA in competent Haemophilus influenzae cells by superinfection with temperature-sensitive phage (marker rescue) is approximately linearly dependent upon the concentration of transfecting DNA. The amount of marker rescue with a constant amount of transfecting DNA increases with increasing multiplicities of superinfecting phage up to about 4, and then decreases at higher multiplicities. Host restriction of transfecting DNA does not affect marker rescue. The frequency of wild-type recombinants from marker rescue is much greater than that from multiple infection with whole phages, and is comparable to that obtained with two mutant-transfecting DNAs. The amount of marker rescue decreases exponentially with time between entrance of the transfecting DNA and superinfection, and the rate of decrease is independent of map position of the rescued marker. Marker rescue is drastically reduced in the recombination-defective strains, rec1 and rec2.
A method for mapping phage-inducible promoters for use in bacteriophage-triggered defense systems

We have recently developed a novel bacteriophage-protection system for Lactococcus lactis, based on a two-component genetic ‘trap’. An inducible promoter from a lytic bacteriophage is used to activate a lethal gene after infection, killing the host cell and halting phage proliferation. To expand the potential use of this novel defense strategy, promoters specific to any particular phage of interest must be available for fusion to a universal death gene. A method to localize regulated promoters within the context of the total phage genome was evaluated. The ‘capping’ activity of the vaccinia virus guanylyltransferase was exploited to label newly synthesized mRNA extracted from infected cells at sequential time points over the course of a phage infection. The labeled mRNAs were then used as probes in Southern hybridization reactions to identify restriction fragments in the phage genome where new transcripts were initiated during progression of the phage lytic cycle. This method has been used successfully in our laboratory to map the general location of a number of inducible promoters on the genomes of bacteriophages attacking lactic acid bacteria. Once identified and cloned, small fragments encoding inducible promoters can be partially sequenced and primer extension reactions carried out on phage RNA, isolated over the course of an infection, to pinpoint the precise location of the promoter. In this study, we illustrate the use of the capping method to map the phage-inducible promoter on the genome of the lactococcal bacteriophage skl. This approach provides a rapid and efficient means to identify promoter regions on the genomes of relatively uncharacterized phages. These promoters can then be used in a variety of applications, including phage-triggered defenses and inducible gene expression systems.
SIFGD: Setaria italica Functional Genomics Database

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) is a member of the Poaceae grasses that was initially domesticated from the wild species of S. viridis in Northern China over 8700 years ago (Barton et al., 2009). Foxtail millet is distributed in natural and agricultural ecosystems worldwide, and it is grown as a cereal crop for both human food and fodder (Bettinger et al., 2010). With excellent characteristics such as short stature, short growing season, self-pollination, drought resistance, and high light efficiency, millet is favored as an important crop in the semi-arid tropical area, and regarded as a great model for all types of plant research (Doust et al., 2009), especially the studies of C4 photosynthesis (Li and Brutnell, 2011).
Microsatellite variation and recombination rate in the human genome.

Background (purifying) selection on deleterious mutations is expected to remove linked neutral mutations from a population, resulting in a positive correlation between recombination rate and levels of neutral genetic variation, even for markers with high mutation rates. We tested this prediction of the background selection model by comparing recombination rate and levels of microsatellite polymorphism in humans. Published data for 28 unrelated Europeans were used to estimate microsatellite polymorphism (number of alleles, heterozygosity, and variance in allele size) for loci throughout the genome. Recombination rates were estimated from comparisons of genetic and physical maps. First, we analyzed 61 loci from chromosome 22, using the complete sequence of this chromosome to provide exact physical locations. These 61 microsatellites showed no correlation between levels of variation and recombination rate. We then used radiation-hybrid and cytogenetic maps to calculate recombination rates throughout the genome. Recombination rates varied by more than one order of magnitude, and most chromosomes showed significant suppression of recombination near the centromere. Genome-wide analyses provided no evidence for a strong positive correlation between recombination rate and polymorphism, although analyses of loci with at least 20 repeats suggested a weak positive correlation. Comparisons of microsatellites in lowest-recombination and highest-recombination regions also revealed no difference in levels of polymorphism. Together, these results indicate that background selection is not a major determinant of microsatellite variation in humans.
Critical metals in strategic photovoltaic technologies: abundance versus recyclability

Research efforts have been directed toward photovoltaic technologies using “abundant” base metals such as copper and zinc (e.g., CZTS or more recently CZTSSe) to overcome the material constraint challenges posed by tellurium, indium, germanium and gallium in current generation technologies (e.g., CdTe, CIGS, a-Si/thin-film Si). These materials are limited in supply because they are minor byproducts of copper, zinc, lead and aluminum production and their economic production is inherently linked to that of the base metals. On the other hand, although the base metals currently are abundant, their reserves are not inexhaustible. In addition to resource availability, the main sustainability metrics for large scales of photovoltaics growth are low cost and minimum environmental impact. As photovoltaics installations grow to greatly displace traditional power generation infrastructures, recycling will play an increasingly important role in managing their end-of-life and relieving pressure on the prices of critical materials. Identifying potential issues of current technologies can help implement take-back or recycling program ahead of time. This work explores the material recycling potential of various commercial and under development photovoltaic technologies. It sheds light on a dimension of sustainability that has not been investigated before. On the basis of entropy analyses, documented by the experience of recycling electronic products, we show that recycling of some types of photovoltaic modules that are based on “abundant” materials could be burdened by complexity and lack of value, creating, therefore, concerns associated with both end-of life environmental impacts and resource availability. Published 2012. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
AQUIFER PARAMETER ESTIMATION USING GENETIC ALGORITHMS AND NEURAL NETWORKS

Abstract Computational tools such as genetic algorithms and neural networks are becoming increasingly popular in scientific applications involving mathematical modeling. These tools emulate natural biological processes in an attempt to build more robust and efficient mathematical models. The present study explores the applicability of genetic algorithms and neural networks for aquifer parameter estimation, in an optimization framework. Although optimization models based on genetic algorithms are more robust than conventional nonlinear programming techniques, they often necessitate many computationally expensive function evaluations. On the other hand, genetic algorithms can also tolerate approximate function evaluations. The present study employs artificial neural networks that provide quick but reasonably accurate function evaluation, in conjunction with genetic algorithms. Such an optimization framework makes the resulting calibration model highly robust and efficient. Applicability of the proposed mode...
NASA Propulsion Sub-System Concept Studies and Risk Reduction Activities for Resource Prospector Lander

NASA's exploration roadmap is focused on developing technologies and performing precursor missions to advance the state of the art for eventual human missions to Mars. One of the key components of this roadmap is various robotic missions to Near-Earth Objects, the Moon, and Mars to fill in some of the strategic knowledge gaps. The Resource Prospector (RP) project is one of these robotic precursor activities in the roadmap. RP is a multi-center and multi-institution project to investigate the polar regions of the Moon in search of volatiles. The mission is rated Class D and is approximately 10 days, assuming a five day direct Earth to Moon transfer. Because of the mission cost constraint, a trade study of the propulsion concepts was conducted with a focus on available low-cost hardware for reducing cost in development, while technical risk, system mass, and technology advancement requirements were also taken into consideration. The propulsion system for the lander is composed of a braking stage providing a high thrust to match the lander's velocity with the lunar surface and a lander stage performing the final lunar descent. For the braking stage, liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid methane (LCH4) propulsion systems, derived from the Morpheus experimental lander, and storable bi-propellant systems, including the 4th stage Peacekeeper (PK) propulsion components and Space Shuttle orbital maneuvering engine (OME), and a solid motor were considered for the study. For the lander stage, the trade study included miniaturized Divert Attitude Control System (DACS) thrusters (Missile Defense Agency (MDA) heritage), their enhanced thruster versions, ISE-100 and ISE-5, and commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware. The lowest cost configuration of using the solid motor and the PK components while meeting the requirements was selected. The reference concept of the lander is shown in Figure 1. In the current reference configuration, the solid stage is the primary provider of delta-V. It will generate 15,000-lbf of thrust with a single burn of ~ 80's seconds. The lander stage is a bi-propellant, pressure-regulated, pulsing liquid propulsion system to perform all other functions.
The Edwards Personal Preference Schedule in a Psychiatric Setting

Abstract The EPPS was given to 107 psychiatric patients in order to confirm Klett's hypotheses and replicate previous findings with other hospitalized groups. Klett's hypotheses were partially confirmed, indicating the need for re-standardization on a psychiatric population. Differences between schizophrenic Ss and psychoneurotic Ss were minimal and parallel Klett's findings on the rating of social desirability. Sex differences were minimal and offer an interesting possible use of the EPPS to investigate “sex role acceptance.”
On the unyielding hydrophobic core of villin headpiece.

Villin headpiece (HP67) is a small, autonomously-folding domain that has become a model system for understanding the fundamental tenets governing protein folding. In this communication, we explore the role that Leu61 plays in the structure and stability of the construct. Deletion of Leu61 results in a completely unfolded protein that cannot be expressed in Escherichia coli. Omission of only the aliphatic leucine side chain (HP67 L61G) perturbed neither the backbone conformation nor the orientation of local hydrophobic side chains. As a result, a large, solvent-exposed hydrophobic pocket, a negative replica of the leucine side-chain, was created on the surface. The loss of the hydrophobic interface between leucine 61 and the hydrophobic pocket destabilized the construct by ∼3.3 kcal/mol. Insertion of a single glycine residue immediately before Leu61 (HP67 L61[GL]) was also highly destabilizing and had the effect of altering the backbone conformation (α-helix to π-helix) in order to precisely preserve the wild-type position and conformation of all hydrophobic residues, including Leu61. In addition to demonstrating that the hydrophobic side-chain of Leu61 is critically important for the stability of villin headpiece, our results are consistent with the notion that the precise interactions present within the hydrophobic core, rather than the hydrogen bonds that define the secondary structure, specify a protein's fold.
The Role of Preschoolers' Social Understanding in Evaluating the Informativeness of Causal Interventions.

Preschoolers use information from interventions, namely intentional actions, to make causal inferences. We asked whether children consider some interventions to be more informative than others based on two components of an actor's knowledge state: whether an actor possesses causal knowledge, and whether an actor is allowed to use their knowledge in a given situation. Three- and four-year-olds saw a novel toy that activated in the presence of certain objects. Two actors, one knowledgeable about the toy and one ignorant, each tried to activate the toy with an object. In Experiment 1, either the actors chose objects or the child chose for them. In Experiment 2, the actors chose objects blindfolded. Objects were always placed on the toy simultaneously, and thus were equally associated with the effect. Preschoolers' causal inferences favored the knowledgeable actor's object only when he was allowed to choose it (Experiment 1). Thus, children consider both personal and situational constraints on knowledge when evaluating the informativeness of causal interventions.
Reasoning about the kinematics of mechanical devices

Abstract In this paper we address an important issue in the area of qualitative reasoning, that is, how to create qualitative models of mechanical devices that incorporate the effects of the detailed geometric structure of its components. The model we propose allows envisioning and prediction of behaviour without having to deal directly with the complexity of the detailed geometry of the parts. We claim that configuration spaces are an appropriate symbolic representation for reasoning about the kinematic behaviour of mechanical devices. We show that the kinematic behaviour of a mechanism can be precisely determined by first finding the relative motions of pairs of objects and then composing these motions. For a subclass of mechanisms, ( fixed axis mechanisms ), we show that a simplified version of the composition operation can be used to obtain the overall behaviour, and we outline a constraint propagation, label inferencing algorithm to produce a region diagram . This diagram constitutes a total qualitative envisionment of the mechanism's behaviour. Finally, given a sequence of input motions and a region diagram, we indicate how to predict the behaviour of the mechanism.
Usual choline and betaine dietary intake and incident coronary heart disease: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study.

Low dietary intake of the essential nutrient choline and its metabolite betaine may increase atherogenesis both through effects on homocysteine methylation pathways as well as through choline's antioxidants properties. Nutrient values for many common foods for choline and betaine have recently become available in the U.S. nutrient composition database. Our objective was to assess the association of dietary intake of choline and betaine with incident coronary heart disease (CHD), adjusting for dietary intake measurement error. We conducted a prospective investigation of the relation between usual intake of choline and betaine with the risk of CHD in 14,430 middle-aged men and women of the biethnic Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study. A semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to assess nutrient intake. Proportional hazard regression models were used to calculate the risk of incident CHD. A regression calibration method was used to adjust for measurement error. During an average 14 years of follow-up (1987–2002), 1,072 incident CHD events were documented. Compared with the lowest quartile of intake, incident CHD risk was slightly and non-significantly higher in the highest quartile of choline and choline plus betaine, HR = 1.22 (0.91, 1.64) and HR = 1.14 (0.85, 1.53), controlling for age, sex, education, total energy intake, dietary intakes of folate, methionine and vitamin B6. No association was found between dietary choline intake and incident CHD when correcting for measurement error. Higher intakes of choline and betaine were not protective for incident CHD. Similar investigations in other populations are of interest.
Chlorine dioxide disinfection of single and dual species biofilms, detached biofilm and planktonic cells

Disinfection efficacy testing is usually done with planktonic cells or more recently, biofilms. While disinfectants are much less effective against biofilms compared to planktonic cells, questions regarding the disinfection tolerance of detached biofilm clusters remain largely unanswered. Burkholderia cepacia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were grown in chemostats and biofilm tubing reactors, with the tubing reactor serving as a source of detached biofilm clusters. Chlorine dioxide susceptibility was assessed for B. cepacia and P. aeruginosa in these three sample types as monocultures and binary cultures. Similar doses of chlorine dioxide inactivated samples of chemostat and tubing reactor effluent and no statistically significant difference between the log(10) reductions was found. This contrasts with chlorine, shown previously to be generally less effective against detached biofilm particles. Biofilms were more tolerant and required chlorine dioxide doses ten times higher than chemostat and tubing reactor effluent samples. A second species was advantageous in all sample types and resulted in lower log(10) reductions when compared to the single species cultures, suggesting a beneficial interaction of the species.
ESTIMATING COMMUNITY STABILITY AND ECOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS FROM TIME‐SERIES DATA

Natural ecological communities are continuously buffeted by a varying environment, often making it difficult to measure the stability of communities using concepts requiring the existence of an equilibrium point. Instead of an equilibrium point, the equilibrial state of communities subject to environmental stochasticity is a stationary distribution, which is characterized by means, variances, and other statistical moments. Here, we derive three properties of stochastic multispecies communities that measure different characteristics associated with community stability. These properties can be estimated from multispecies time-series data using first-order multivariate autoregressive (MAR(1)) models. We demonstrate how to estimate the parameters of MAR(1) models and obtain confidence intervals for both parameters and the measures of stability. We also address the problem of estimation when there is observation (measurement) error. To illustrate these methods, we compare the stability of the planktonic commun...
Imitation Is the Sincerest Form of Cheating: The Influence of Direct Knowledge and Attitudes on Academic Dishonesty

What effect does witnessing other students cheat have on one's own cheating behavior? What roles do moral attitudes and neutralizing attitudes (justifications for behavior) play when deciding to cheat? The present research proposes a model of academic dishonesty which takes into account each of these variables. Findings from experimental (vignette) and survey methods determined that seeing others cheat increases cheating behavior by causing students to judge the behavior less morally reprehensible, not by making rationalization easier. Witnessing cheating also has unique effects, controlling for other variables.
Cell handling using microstructured membranes

Gentle and precise handling of cell suspensions is essential for scientific research and clinical diagnostic applications. Although different techniques for cell analysis at the micro-scale have been proposed, many still require that preliminary sample preparation steps be performed off the chip. Here we present a microstructured membrane as a new microfluidic design concept, enabling the implementation of common sample preparation procedures for suspensions of eukaryotic cells in lab-on-a-chip devices. We demonstrate the novel capabilities for sample preparation procedures by the implementation of metered sampling of nanoliter volumes of whole blood, concentration increase up to three orders of magnitude of sparse cell suspension, and circumferentially uniform, sequential exposure of cells to reagents. We implemented these functions by using microstructured membranes that are pneumatically actuated and allowed to reversibly decouple the flow of fluids and the displacement of eukaryotic cells in suspensions. Furthermore, by integrating multiple structures on the same membrane, complex sequential procedures are possible using a limited number of control steps.