cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assimilation of Time-Averaged Pseudoproxies for Climate Reconstruction

The efficacy of a novel ensemble data assimilation (DA) technique is examined in the climate field reconstruction (CFR) of surface temperature. A minimalistic, computationally inexpensive DA technique is employed that requires only a static ensemble of climatologically plausible states. Pseudoproxy experiments are performed with both general circulation model (GCM) and Twentieth Century Reanalysis (20CR) data byreconstructingsurfacetemperaturefieldsfromasparsenetworkofnoisypseudoproxies.TheDAapproach is compared to a conventional CFR approach based on principal component analysis (PCA) for experiments on global domains. DA outperforms PCA in reconstructing global-mean temperature in all experiments and is more consistent across experiments, with a range of time series correlations of 0.69‐0.94 compared to 0.19‐ 0.87 for the PCA method. DA improvements are even more evident in spatial reconstruction skill, especially in sparsely sampled pseudoproxy regions and for 20CR experiments. It is hypothesized that DA improves spatialreconstructionsbecauseitreliesoncoherent,spatiallylocaltemperaturepatterns,whichremainrobust even when glacial states are used to reconstruct nonglacial states and vice versa. These local relationships, as utilized by DA, appear to be more robust than the orthogonal patterns of variability utilized by PCA. Comparing results for GCM and 20CR data indicates that pseudoproxy experiments that rely solely on GCM data may give a false impression of reconstruction skill.
Active Surveillance for the Management of Prostate Cancer in a Contemporary Cohort

Author(s): Dall'Era, Marc A; Konety, Badrinath R; Cowan, Janet E; Shinohara, Katsuto; Stauf, Frank; Cooperberg, Matthew R; Meng, Maxwell V; Kane, Christopher J; Perez, Nanette; Master, Viraj A; Carroll, Peter R | Abstract: BackgroundActive surveillance followed by selective treatment for men who have evidence of disease progression may be an option for select patients with early-stage prostate cancer. In this article, the authors report their experience in a contemporary cohort of men with prostate cancer who were managed with active surveillance.MethodsAll men who were managed initially with active surveillance were identified through the authors' institutional database. Selection criteria for active surveillance included: prostate-specific antigen (PSA)l10 ng/mL, biopsy Gleason sum 0.75 ng/mL per year), was a secondary outcome. Chi-square and log-rank tests were used to compare groups. The association between clinical characteristics and receipt of active treatment was analyzed by using Cox proportional hazards regression.ResultsThree hundred twenty-one men (mean age [+/-standard deviation]: 63.4+/-8.5 years) selected active surveillance as their initial management. The overall median follow-up was 3.6 years (range, 1-17 years). The initial mean PSA level was 6.5+/-3.9 ng/mL. One hundred twenty men (37%) met at least 1 criterion for progression. Overall, 38% of men had higher grade on repeat biopsy, and 26% of men had a PSA velocityg0.75 ng/mL per year. Seventy-eight men (24%) received secondary treatment at a median 3 years (range, 1-17 years) after diagnosis. Approximately 13% of patients with no disease progression elected to obtain treatment. PSA density at diagnosis and rise in Gleason score on repeat biopsy were associated significantly with receipt of secondary treatment. The disease-specific survival rate was 100%.ConclusionsSelected individuals with early-stage prostate cancer may be candidates for active surveillance. Specific criteria can be and need to be developed to select the most appropriate individuals for this form of management and to monitor disease progression. A small attrition rate can be expected because of men who are unable or unwilling to tolerate surveillance.
Multi-target tracking in distributed active sensor networks

In this paper, we consider the problem of tracking multiple targets using distributed active sensing networks (DASNs). The particle filter technique is adopted to estimate the trajectories of targets moving in the DASNs. We propose a novel joint measurement method, which allows the estimation of the states of targets as the estimation of a mixture of probability densities without labeling any specific targets. The method, therefore, avoids the process of data-to-target association, and provides robust performance in tracking multiple targets. Adaptive sample size is used to remove redundant particles, and thus greatly reduces the computation complexity. Extensive simulations on single and multiple targets demonstrate the robustness and accuracy of the proposed algorithm in estimating the number of targets and their trajectories.
The zeal deal: prosecutorial resistance to post-conviction claims of innocence

This Article analyzes the institutional and political factors deterring prosecutors from accepting the possible legitimacy of post-conviction innocence claims and formulating creative responses to them. Specifically, the institutional culture of most prosecutors' offices treasures convictions; an attorney's conviction rate may serve as a barometer of that person's stature within the organization and a key factor in determining that person's chances for internal advancement. This professional incentive for prosecutors to obtain and maintain convictions may be bolstered by profound psychological and personal bases for believing in the soundness of the verdicts and pragmatic reasons for discounting the possibility that there may be some creditable claims within the heap of post-conviction filings. Likewise, there are a series of political incentives for prosecutors to resist post-conviction innocence claims, even potentially meritorious ones, with zeal. Candidates vying for the office of chief prosecutor typically campaign on a general tough-on-crime platform, strewn with references to their overall win-loss record and reminders about specific successes in high-profile cases. Appearing "soft" on criminals, such as by accepting the possible validity of a prisoner's innocence claim, detracts from that tough-on-crime rhetoric and is largely anathema to prosecutors. The major exceptions to this general rule are when political considerations suggest that openness to the innocence claim may be advantageous, which is of little consolation to the prisoner whose claim happens to surface at a time when the political stars are not so perfectly aligned. This Article concludes by mentioning a series of potential reforms designed to help rehabilitate the ideal that prosecutors are obliged to do justice in the post-conviction arena.
Inter-Bouton Variability of Synaptic Strength Correlates With Heterogeneity of Presynaptic Ca2+ Signals

The elevation of presynaptic calcium concentration is a crucial step in excitation-secretion coupling. However, the amplitudes of action-potential-induced presynaptic calcium transients can display...
Racial Inequality in Retrospective Voting

An important yet overlooked component of retrospective voting theory is the extent to which it may exacerbate existing inequalities if the outcomes for some groups of citizens are given greater attention than others when voters make their decisions at the ballot box. We investigate whether there is racial inequality in retrospective voting by evaluating the relationship between white and racial minority student achievement and the vote share of incumbent school board members seeking reelection. Analyzing election data from California for 2004-2010, we find evidence that voters reward or punish incumbent officeholders based on how well or poorly white students are faring while, in contrast, the achievement levels of African American and Hispanic students receive comparatively little attention. We then engage in a preliminary analysis to identify possible mechanisms driving these results and report survey data that indicates nearly half of Americans are not aware of the disparities in educational achievement between white and racial minority students and, among those who are aware, the vast majority believe the disparities are caused by factors outside of schools’ (and, by extension, school board members’) control.
Plant Nutrition in the Management of Plant Diseases with Particular Reference to Wheat

Plant diseases are major limiting factors in agricultural production. The control of plant diseases using pesticides although quite easy and effective is being objected due to the rising concerns for food safety, environmental quality, and development of pesticide resistance in pathogens, pressing for alternative pest management practises. The plant nutrients may be important factors in changing the levels of disease tolerance or resistance in plants. However, the effect of nutrients on plant diseases and the many factors that influence this response is not properly studied. This chapter summarizes the information related to the effect of nutrients, N, K, P, S, Mn, Mg, B, Zn, Cl, Fe, Cu, and Si, on host resistance and management of plant diseases with particular reference to wheat diseases. In most of the cases of obligate plant pathogens, high N level increases the severity of the infection. In the case of facultative pathogens, higher rates of N application decreases the incidence of diseases. Potash (K) in most cases is helpful in enhancing plant resistance to pathogens. The effect of P in plant resistance to diseases, however, appears to be inconsistent. Among the micronutrients, Mn application is helpful in disease management since it plays an important role in lignin and phenol biosynthesis to limit the spread of pathogens and also in the photosynthesis of plants. Boron reduces the severity of many diseases and plays a role in cell wall structure, plant membranes, and plant metabolism. Chlorine also enhances the resistance level in host plants to diseases. Silicon helps in the control of diseases in rice. Zinc may have negative, positive, or no effect in the management of diseases. The nutrients may have synergetic effect but in some cases may affect the effect of one nutrient in reducing the severity of diseases. The incidence of diseases of wheat like leaf blotch, powdery mildew root rot, tan spots, bunt, take-all, smuts, and stem, leaf, and stripe rusts is decreased by the application of K. Nutrients may, therefore, become an important part of integrated disease management in wheat and other crop plants.
The Presentation and Dedication of the Silvae and the Epigrams

In this paper I wish to discuss the evidence of certain pragmatic calculations in Martial's Epigrams and Statius' Silvae , prescinding entirely from whatever literary qualities this kind of poetry may have. Specifically, the paper is concerned with the problem of presentation, and it has two parts. Part I argues that the poets' published books represent only the last and least important means of presenting poems to patrons, and collects evidence for the ways in which the poems were primarily communicated, via recitation, impromptu performance, and private brochure. Discussion of a special form of presentation, the book-dedication, is reserved for Part II. After attempting to redefine the status of the dedication in an ancient book, I will explore a contrast that is apparent between Martial's procedure and Statius'.
Propagation of an Intense Ion Beam Transverse to a Magnetic Field

It has been verified experimentally that an intense, space-charge-neutralized ion beam having a dielectric constant $\ensuremath{\epsilon}\ensuremath{\gg}1$ will cross a transverse magnetic field undeflected. A polarization electric field $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{E}}$ is measured within the beam channel such that $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{E}}+(\frac{\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{v}}}{c})\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{B}}=0$, where $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{v}}$ is the beam velocity and $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{B}}$ is the applied field. It is shown theoretically that $\ensuremath{\epsilon}\ensuremath{\gg}{(\frac{{m}_{i}}{{m}_{e}})}^{\frac{1}{2}}$ is required for the beam to enter the transverse field from a region with no field, where ${m}_{i}$ and ${m}_{e}$ are the ion and electron masses.
Reply to “Comment on ‘Application of partition density-functional theory to one-dimensional models’ ”

The Comment by Elliott et al. stresses that partition density-functional theory (PDFT) yields a global partition potential and unique occupation numbers. Our reply points out that both of these results can be obtained, numerically, in model calculations, such as those reported previously to illustrate PDFT by shifting the von Weis\"acker potentials to achieve zero values in the large-$r$ limit.
Uxo Clusters And Sheet-Like Anomalies In Wide-Area Assessment Surveys

The objective of many recent UXO surveys has been described as “wide-area assessment” with the purpose of obtaining better definition of a known problem area. The targets of interest are clusters of ordnance, frag and debris which are all indicators of greater contamination, higher risk of UXO hazard and higher remediation or construction costs. This is a different problem from the detection and discrimination of individual anomalies. This paper provides a definition of a “cluster” based on the amount of overlap between individual dipole signatures. With spacing of individual sources closer than 0.5 times the sensor height, their magnetic anomalies overlap significantly and increase the response amplitude. The result is comparable to a horizontal sheet of dipoles. The equations to simulate a horizontal sheet are derived, and from these the relative density of targets may be calculated from the measured data by assuming a nominal target moment or vise versa. A field test supports both the qualitative and quantitative theory. Finally, in practice QA/QC metrics should represent the targets of interest, which means creating dense grids of surface frag. For detection of clusters, the concepts of detection probability and search radius based on single items are irrelevant. Likewise, discrimination techniques that rely on dipole fitting will be extremely inaccurate. Instead, QA parameters and models suitable for horizontal sheets will have to be derived. Background This study begins with the assumption that the response of a single target can be represented by a simple dipole. Numerous texts and papers support this assumption, especially for the source-sensor offset distances encountered in airborne applications (Nelson et al., 1998). Pairs of targets are a simple extension of the single dipole case, as are lines and sheets of targets. Overlapping responses with targets at various separations were investigated in this project to establish basic proximity requirements. This determines how close targets need to be at various sensor heights in order to combine their signatures. The two-target case is then extended to a multi-target case with a uniform distribution of sources. At this stage, target separation becomes a measure of density. This case is usually encountered in modeling theory, where complex bodies are represented by multiple unit dipoles. For the ordnance density case, we will consider the boundary conditions where individual sources are on the cusp of being too sparsely distributed to be a single body. A few select cases were simulated for a field study to verify the results.
Holocene volcanism of the upper McKenzie River catchment, central Oregon Cascades, USA

To assess the complexity of eruptive activity within mafic volcanic fields, we present a detailed geologic investigation of Holocene volcanism in the upper McKenzie River catchment in the central Oregon Cascades, United States. We focus on the Sand Mountain volcanic field, which covers 76 km 2 and consists of 23 vents, associated tephra deposits, and lava fields. We find that the Sand Mountain volcanic field was active for a few decades around 3 ka and involved at least 13 eruptive units. Despite the small total volume erupted (∼1 km 3 dense rock equivalent [DRE]), Sand Mountain volcanic field lava geochemistry indicates that erupted magmas were derived from at least two, and likely three, different magma sources. Single units erupted from one or more vents, and field data provide evidence of both vent migration and reoccupation. Overall, our study shows that mafic volcanism was clustered in space and time, involved both explosive and effusive behavior, and tapped several magma sources. These observations provide important insights on possible future hazards from mafic volcanism in the central Oregon Cascades.
Contact dermatitis in children.

After brief consideration of the various kinds of contact dermatitis, the emphasis is on allergic contact dermatitis.
Verification of treatment plans by mathematical formulas for single catheter HDR brachytherapy

In high dose-rate brachytherapy, 500 to 1000 cGy will be given in a matter of minutes. Therefore, careful treatment planning and accurate verification of the plan is critical. To expedite the plan verification procedure, simple mathematical formulas were derived in our previous paper for single catheter treatments on a Nucletron microSelectron system. In this paper, the usefulness and limitations of these formulas for the plan verification procedure are further discussed.
Fiber-optic phase modulator using magnetic force on a current carrying fiber

Over the years several techniques have been devised for phase modulating the light in an optical fiber,1,2 We present and demonstrate a novel method in which the magnetic force on a current carrying fiber is used for phase modulation. This technique is as simple as the PZT phase modulator but offers more bandwidth and better frequency response.
Numerical Calculation of the Global and Local Components of the Neutron Noise Field in Boiling Water Reactors

A numerical model of the neutron noise field in boiling water reactors (BWRs), which can be readily implemented in existing deterministic computer codes, was formulated. The basis of the model is t...
Comparative performance of the Geenius™ HIV-1/HIV-2 supplemental test in Florida's public health testing population

Abstract Background The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published updated guidelines in 2014 for the laboratory diagnosis of HIV in the United States, which recommend use of a supplemental immunoassay (IA) that differentiates HIV-1 from HIV-2 after a repeatedly reactive HIV-1/2 antigen/antibody “Combo” screening test. In October 2014, Bio-Rad Laboratories introduced the FDA-cleared Geenius HIV-1/HIV-2 Supplemental assay and in July 2016, it replaced the Multispot HIV-1/HIV-2 differentiation rapid test as the second test in the HIV diagnostic algorithm. Objective To compare performance of the new FDA-cleared Bio-Rad Geenius HIV-1/HIV-2 Supplemental assay and the Bio-Rad Multispot HIV-1/HIV-2 differentiation assay for use as the primary supplemental test in the 2014 CDC/APHL HIV Diagnostic Algorithm. Study design Two sets of specimens were used to assess the performance of Geenius; 340 select retrospective specimens, obtained through routine clinical submissions from individuals seeking HIV serostatus determinations and 10 known HIV-2 antibody reactive specimens provided by Bio-Rad Laboratories. Panels were created and characterized solely by in-house laboratory results. The panels consisted of: algorithm-defined “established HIV-1 infections” (n = 250), “acute HIV-1 infections” (n = 20), “early HIV-1 infections” (n = 10) and “false positive Combo specimens” (n = 60). Results • Geenius results for the 250 specimens classified as HIV-1 established infections were HIV-1 Positive (246) or HIV Positive Untypable (4), a 100% concordance with HIV positivity observed with Multispot results (HIV-1 Positive, HIV-2 Negative). • Of the 20 HIV-1 algorithm-defined acute infection specimens (Multispot Negative), 85% (17/20) were Geenius HIV-1 Negative and 15% (3/20) HIV-1 Indeterminate. • Similarly, of the 10 algorithm-defined early infection specimens (MS Indeterminate), 30% (3/10) were Geenius HIV-1 Indeterminate, 60% (6/10) HIV-1 Positive and 10% (1/10) HIV Negative. • Of the 60 false positive HIV-1/2 Combo panel, 98.3% (59/60) were HIV-1 Negative by Geenius and 95% (57/60) were HIV-1 Negative by Multispot. • Geenius was concordant with all HIV-2 antibody positive specimens. Conclusions The Geenius assay provides significant advantages over Multispot as an appropriate replacement for the primary supplemental test in the HIV Diagnostic Algorithm. In this retrospective study, Geenius was highly concordant with Multispot, reclassified some acute and early algorithm-defined HIV-1 positive specimens and demonstrated a potential decrease in the number HIV-1 RNA nucleic acid amplification tests needed to complete the diagnostic algorithm.
Motor skill development in low-income, at-risk preschoolers: A community-based longitudinal intervention study.

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to: (1) determine the status of fundamental movement skill (FMS) performance in low-income, at-risk preschoolers; and (2) evaluate the impact of the Food Friends Get Movin’ with Mighty Moves (MM) program on improving children’s FMS at two-year follow-up. Design Longitudinal, quasi-experimental study with matched controls. Methods The Colorado LEAP study was conducted in four Head Start/preschools (two intervention, two control) serving children aged 3–5 years. MM was delivered to the intervention group during preschool. The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition (BOT-2) subtests for balance, running speed and agility, upper-limb coordination (object control (OC) skills) and strength were administered to children at baseline, post-intervention in preschool, one-year follow-up (kindergarten), and two-year follow-up (first grade). Results Compared to the normative sample’s mean, the mean scaled score for all participants at baseline was significantly lower for balance (p = 0.016) and OC skills (p Conclusions Delivering the MM program in preschool confers a lasting impact on FMS, specifically OC skills, in at-risk elementary school children. Results suggest that at-risk preschoolers are already behind in FMS development and these delays will continue through first grade.
Oncologic Outcomes After Treatment for MRI Occult Breast Cancer (pT0N

Studies assessing outcomes in occult breast cancer have often included women treated before the routine use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This study examined outcomes for patients presenting with axillary adenopathy and no primary breast tumor detectable by MRI or other imaging methods. All patients with axillary nodal metastases consistent with breast carcinoma and no breast primary tumor detectable by physical exam, mammography, or MRI treated between 1 January 1996 and 30 June 2011 were identified from an institutional database. Data were collected on local, regional, and distant recurrences. For the study, 38 patients were identified. Modified radical mastectomy (MRM) was performed for 13 of the patients, whereas 25 of the patients underwent axillary dissection (ALND) and whole-breast radiotherapy (WBRT). Most of the women had pathologic N1 disease [median number of positive nodes, 2 (MRM cohort) and 3 (ALND + WBRT cohort); p = 0.38]. All the patients received chemotherapy, and 30 (79%) of the 38 patients received an anthracycline and taxane. Regional nodal radiation was used for 60% of those with ALND + WBRT and for all 46% of the MRM patients who received chest wall radiotherapy. During a median follow-up period of 7 years, there were no nodal recurrences. Two patients treated with ALND + WBRT had in-breast recurrences, whereas none in the MRM group experienced a local recurrence. The proportion that experienced distant disease was similar between the MRM cohort (1 of 13) and the ALND + WBRT cohort (2 of 25). Breast cancer presenting as axillary adenopathy with no detectable primary tumor is rare. Breast conservation with WBRT is a viable option for patients with a diagnosis of occult breast cancer and a negative preoperative MRI.
Nonmedical prescription stimulant users experience subjective but not objective impairments in attention and impulsivity.

Background and objectives Nonmedical prescription stimulant use is frequently reported by college students to improve academic performance, yet it is unknown whether users truly experience cognitive impairments that may drive use. This research compared students with at least one report of nonmedical prescription stimulant use and nonusers on both self-report and objective measures of inattention and impulsivity. Methods Two studies examined inattention (N = 155) and impulsivity (N = 115) among college students. Participants completed self-report questionnaires and cognitive tests, including Digit Span, the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test, and a Continuous Performance Test to assess inattention, and the Balloon Analogue Risk Task and the Stop Signal Task to assess risk-taking and impulsivity. Results Self-reports of inattention and impulsive symptoms were significantly higher among users, controlling for gender, GPA, self-reported ADHD, alcohol use, and drug use; however, no objective differences were found. Discussion and conclusions Nonmedical prescription stimulant users may engage in use to overcome perceived deficits in cognitive abilities despite lack of objective evidence. Scientific significance Understanding discrepancies in objective performance and subjective reports may aid in the development of effective interventions for nonmedical prescription stimulant use. (Am J Addict 2018;27:238-244).
A maximum likelihood estimator for spectral models of acoustic noise processes

The power spectral density of time series from many acoustic phenomena can vary rapidly through several decades of magnitude, particularly for noise processes. This property can complicate evaluation of spectral density models with respect to a non-parametric estimate of the spectral density, also known as the periodogram. Typical measures, such as the sum of squares of the residuals, can suffer from bias errors and oversensitivity to large values. A log-likelihood function is here presented for a periodogram derived from a sequence of independent, circularly-symmetric complex normal Fourier components. The bias-corrected Akaike’s information criterion of an expected-value spectral model is shown to be a useful measure for multi-model selection. A maximum-likelihood estimator is formed for spectral model parameters with respect to a known periodogram, along with approximate confidence intervals for the parameter estimates. Results from the maximum-likelihood estimator are compared with weighted and unweig...
Origin and General Nature of Retroviruses

Retroviruses are a family of animal viruses with RNA as their genetic material in virus particles and DNA as their genetic material in cells. Retroviruses have some properties like those of other viruses and also some properties like those of cellular movable genetic elements. When considered as viruses, retroviruses share some properties with DNA viruses and other properties with RNA viruses. The fundamental pattern of replication of retroviruses involving reverse transcription and transcription is also shared by some other animal and plant DNA viruses, for example, hepadnaviruses and caulimoviruses, and also with many cellular movable genetic elements, for example, retrotransposons and retroposons (Temin, 1989a). The retrotransposons, in fact, share with retroviruses details of genomic organization, for example, long terminal repeats, and replication strategy, for example, “jumping” during reverse transcription.
Modeling materials for microelectronics – The old and the new challenges

Computer modeling of materials is increasingly becoming an important ingredient in the development and manufacture of integrated circuits. This paper assesses the state of the science that underlies the areas for which modeling can play a key role and the state of existing computational implementations. The net conclusion is that both science and modeling are in good shape for electronic and electrical properties, but both have a long way to go for materials processing and mechanical reliability. The prospects for new advances in these areas are discussed.
Production and Use of the First-Row Transition Metal PET Radionuclides 43,44Sc, 52Mn, and 45Ti

With the increasing focus on a more personalized approach to medicine using imaging techniques to select patients for targeted treatment or theranostic strategies, interest in the development of new radionuclides is expanding. Through the development of production and radiochemistry techniques, several new radiometals are being added to the toolbox of the nuclear imaging community. 43,44g,mSc, 52gMn, and 45Ti are all emerging transition metal radionuclides and will be discussed in this short review. Each of these nuclides has unique imaging characteristics and shows promise for the development of new molecular imaging agents.
Our Own Worst Enemy: Psychosomatic effects of perceived stress on IgA levels

Our study is to determine and compare human IgA levels to self reported stress levels of college students and faculty at the beginning of the college semester, when stress levels are expected to be low, as compared to a later point in the semester, when stress levels are expected to be higher. This study is significant because the data will provide us with information regarding whether or not people are as biologically stressed as they report at different periods of the semester. Individuals are expected to be at a lower stress level at the beginning of the semester than at the end of the semester. Biological stressors are indications that the psychological and physical aspects of an organism are attempting to maintain an equilibrium in order to function properly. We are interested in quantifying biopsychological stressors between mental and physical stress responses and the effect of psychosomatic influence. To analyze samples for IgA molecules levels in comparison to proclaim stress levels to determine if students are as physically stressed as they are mentally feeling stressed. Stress was reported on a zero to ten scale and these reports will be compared to actual levels of human IgA attained from saliva samples. Geospatial coordinates have been taken to relate the data to location across campus. After a regression test, showing a P value of 0.206, it was clear that there was no significant correlation in the data. This tells us that, overall, the levels of IgA, and therefore stress, did not relate to the reported level of stress from the participants.
INHIBITING PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA GROWTH ASSOCIATED WITH PROSTHETIC LINERS

INTRODUCTION The conventional use of a prosthetic device by amputees involves contact of the residual limb tissue with the prosthetic socket using an intermediate elastomer liner. Roll-on gel liners are applied directly to the limb, and slide into the rigid hard socket; the gels are generally silicone or plastic. Regardless of the material, or the liner system used on a residual limb, problems occur because of direct skin and socket or liner contact.1 The skin tissue of the residual limb is subject to compressive, shear, and tensile forces through weight bearing against the interface wall. In addition the skin is subject to heat/sweat issues that may be seasonal and related to the insulation properties of the interface material. A common problem encountered by the prosthetic user is socket odor, or odor emanating from socket liners.2 Proper hygiene does not guarantee the reduction of strong socket or liner odor over time. In addition, skin problems among amputees include rashes, blistering, mold/fungal infections and other skin irritations. The socket/wall interface (regardless of material composition) is subject to local skin sloughing, sweat, and skin oils in a warm/moist dark environment over hours of use providing an ideal environment for fungal and bacterial growth.3 To address this problem, our team evaluated a titanium and silicone hybrid cleaning and coating technology containing a silver fatty acid complex against the odor producing, Gram-negative, facultative anaerobe, Pseudomonas aeruginosa.4 Abstract PDF Link: https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/cpoj/article/view/32016/24435 How to cite: Jarrell J.D, Garcia D.R, Born C.T. INHIBITING PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA GROWTH ASSOCIATED WITH PROSTHETIC LINERS. CANADIAN PROSTHETICS & ORTHOTICS JOURNAL, VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2, 2018; ABSTRACT, POSTER PRESENTATION AT THE AOPA’S 101ST NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, SEPT. 26-29, VANCOUVER, CANADA, 2018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33137/cpoj.v1i2.32016 Abstracts were Peer-reviewed by the American Orthotic Prosthetic Association (AOPA) 101st National Assembly Scientific Committee. http://www.aopanet.org/
Shoulder Arthroplasty Utilization Based on Race - Are Black Patients Underrepresented?

Background: This study aimed to analyze national and institutional trends in shoulder arthroplasty utilization basedon patient race.Methods: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) was employed to determine racial trends in shoulder arthroplastyutilization at a national level. An institutional database was then utilized to retrospectively identify all patients, undergoingshoulder arthroplasty within 2011-2013. Descriptive statistics were used to compare self-identified black and non-blacksubpopulations.Results: The NIS identified 256,832 primary shoulder arthroplasties within 2005-2011. Black patients constituted3.92% (n=10,074) of cases. Utilization increased from 3.36% in 2005 to 4.49% in 2011. Locally, a total number of1,174 primary shoulder arthroplasties were performed, the recipients of 5.96% (n=70) of which were black. Femalesaccounted for 48/70 (68.6%) of black patients. Black patients had a higher body mass index (33.6 vs. 30.1, P<0.0001)and were younger (62.6 vs. 67.2 years, P<0.0001), compared to the non-black patients. Regarding insurance type,1,074 patients (i.e., 65 black and 1,009 non-black) had comprehensive insurance data. Chi-square analysis of fivemajor insurance categories, including private, Medicare, Medicaid, workers’ compensation, and personal injury,indicated no difference in insurance patterns (χ2=3.658, P=0.454).Conclusion: The findings revealed significant racial disparity in shoulder arthroplasty utilization both at national andinstitutional levels. This disparity exists despite the similar rates of osteoarthritis in both white and black patients. Blackpatients in our institution had similar clinical, demographic, and socioeconomic characteristics as in our non-blackpatients. The obtained results highlighted the need for the expansion of black patients’ access to care services relatedto major joint reconstruction.Level of evidence: III
An Exploratory Study on Part-Time MBA Program Choice Factors and Characteristics of Part-Time MBA Students.

The majority of master of business administration (MBA) students are presently enrolled in part-time programs, yet little is known about their preferences, perspectives, and program selection proce...
Assessing Hereditary Colorectal Cancer Referral Patterns to a Tertiary Care Center: A Novel Approach Using Geographic Information System Mapping.

BACKGROUND Patients and their family members with hereditary colorectal cancer require longitudinal follow-up that is best achieved through a dedicated program with a registry. However, referrals for these conditions remain poor. Geographic information systems technology is a novel method to evaluate geographic variation in multiple realms but is being used more in health care. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate referral patterns with geographic information systems technology to better target efforts for improving overall referrals. We hypothesized that marked variation would exist as to the geospatial locations of referrals and that gastroenterologists would be the dominant referral source. DESIGN This was a retrospective cross-sectional study. SETTINGS The study was conducted at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. PATIENTS The hereditary colorectal cancer registry was queried from June 2007 to August 2016 for demographics, distance to center, genetic mutations, and the specialty of the referring providers. Geospatial data on both patient and referring specialist were collected. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES We analyzed patient and referral data with geographic information systems technology to look for gaps and patterns. RESULTS A total of 676 patients were entered into the registry during this period. Fifty-six percent were women, and the median age was 50 years (interquartile range, 42-60 y). The median distance from the center was 60 miles (interquartile range, 22-120 miles), and 31% carried an identified germline mutation. Gastroenterology represented the overall largest source of referrals and, when broken down by syndrome, they represented the top referral specialty for familial adenomatous polyposis. Surgeons were the largest referral source for Lynch syndrome. LIMITATIONS The study was limited by covariates in the database. CONCLUSIONS Our hereditary colorectal cancer registry serves a large geographic area, with the largest group of referrals coming from gastroenterologists. Performing this analysis with geographic information systems technology mapping allowed us to identify clustering of patients and providers throughout the region as well as gaps. This information will help to target outreach and distribution of educational materials for providers and their patients to increase registry enrollment. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A950.
Home life and health among Native American, African American, and Latino adolescents.

Objective Research provides limited detail on how aspects of home life influence basic health status for ethnic/racial minority adolescents. This study examined 2 aspects of the home environment as they relate to 2 markers of health status for Native American, African American, and Latino adolescents. The study addressed the hypothesis that family companionship and investment is associated with adolescent health in all 3 groups. Method Data collectors made visits to the homes of 53 Native American, 132 African American, and 155 Latino families with an adolescent living in residence. They administered the HOME Inventory along with components of the Child Health and Illness Profile and the American Community Survey to parents and adolescents. Results Significant correlations were observed between the Companionship and Investment domain of LA-HOME and the 2 markers of health for all 3 racial/ethnic groups. Very few significant correlations were observed for the other LA-HOME domain (Physical Environment). When health outcomes were regressed on the 2 home environment factors and gender, Companionship and Investment was a significant predictor in 4 of the 6 models run, with near significant differences in a 5th. Conclusions In households where there was a high level of connectedness between adolescents and other family members, adolescents showed more endurance and had fewer health problems. Because adolescence is a period when children tend to spend less time with other family members and are prone to engage in risky behavior, implementing programs that promote parent-adolescent communication and productive time together would seem helpful. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
Impact of Inter Tine Coupling on the Spring Constant of the Quartz Tuning Fork

Inter tines coupling spring constant $(k_{c})$ influences the eigenfrequencies, effective spring constant $(k_{eff)}$ and sensitivity of the quartz tuning fork (QTF). We have investigated the effect of coupling spring constant $(k_{c})$ on eigenfrequencies, effective spring constant $(k_{eff)}$ and sensitivity using analytical and simulation methods. The aim of study is to obtain an optimal design for the QTF having cantilever beam as the basic element with flexible base and enhanced sensitivity. The simulation and analytical results suggest that by reducing the coupling spring constant (kc), the effective spring constant $(k_{eff)}$ can be reduce and the sensitivity of tuning fork can be enhanced.
Gradient-Based Adversarial Training on Transformer Networks for Detecting Check-Worthy Factual Claims.

We present a study on the efficacy of adversarial training on transformer neural network models, with respect to the task of detecting check-worthy claims. In this work, we introduce the first adversarially-regularized, transformer-based claim spotter model that achieves state-of-the-art results on multiple challenging benchmarks. We obtain a 4.70 point F1-score improvement over current state-of-the-art models on the ClaimBuster Dataset and CLEF2019 Dataset, respectively. In the process, we propose a method to apply adversarial training to transformer models, which has the potential to be generalized to many similar text classification tasks. Along with our results, we are releasing our codebase and manually labeled datasets. We also showcase our models' real world usage via a live public API.
An Update on Foot and Ankle Fellowship Website Content and Accessibility

Background:The content and accessibility of foot and ankle fellowship websites impact applicants and fellowship programs. This study aimed to evaluate the accessibility provided via the American Or...
Elastic fields and effective stiffness of ellipsoidal particle composite using the representative unit cell model and multipole expansion method

Abstract The representative unit cell (RUC) model of elastic heterogeneous solid with imperfectly bonded ellipsoidal inhomogeneities is developed. The periodic displacement solution has been obtained by combining the superposition principle, Papkovich-Neuber representation of displacement in terms of scalar harmonic potentials and expansion of these potentials in terms of periodic ellipsoidal harmonics. By accurate fulfilling the interface conditions, the RUC model boundary value problem is reduced to an infinite system of linear algebraic equations for the series expansion coefficients. The modified Rayleigh homogenization scheme has been extended to the elastic composite with ellipsoidal inhomogeneities and imperfect interface. The scheme takes into account volume content and elastic moduli of constituents, shape, size and arrangement of inhomogeneities, interaction between them and elastic stiffness of interface. Numerical algorithm of the method provides an accurate analysis of the RUC model for a whole range of the structure parameters. The reported numerical data illustrate convergence rate of the series solution and discover an effect of the volume content, elastic properties and arrangement of particles and interface stiffness on the stress field and macroscopic elastic moduli of the ellipsoidal particle composite.
Methodological practices in international business research: An after-action review of challenges and solutions

We combine after-action review and needs-assessment frameworks to describe the four most pervasive contemporary methodological challenges faced by international business (IB) researchers, as identified by authors of Journal of International Business Studies articles: Psychometrically deficient measures (mentioned in 73% of articles), idiosyncratic samples or contexts (mentioned in 62.2% of articles), less-than-ideal research designs (mentioned in 62.2% of articles), and insufficient evidence about causal relations (mentioned in 8.1% of articles). Then, we offer solutions to address these challenges: demonstrating why and how the conceptualization of a construct is accurate given a particular context, specifying whether constructs are reflective or formative, taking advantage of the existence of multiple indicators to measure multi-dimensional constructs, using particular samples and contexts as vehicles for theorizing and further theory development, seeking out particular samples or contexts where hypotheses are more or less likely to be supported empirically, using Big Data techniques to take advantage of untapped sources of information and to re-analyze currently available data, implementing quasi-experiments, and conducting necessary-condition analysis. Our article aims to advance IB theory by tackling the most typical methodological challenges and is intended for researchers, reviewers and editors, research consumers, and instructors who are training the next generation of scholars.
An adaptive management approach for implementing multi-jurisdictional response to grass carp in Lake Erie

Abstract The Great Lakes are influenced by established aquatic invasive species (AIS) and the threat of new invaders persists. Grass carp, one of four species commonly referred to as Asian carp, are considered invasive because of their ability to adversely modify aquatic habitat through consumption of aquatic macrophytes. Grass carp have been infrequently detected in the Great Lakes since the mid-1980s. More frequent reports of grass carp captures from commercial fishermen in the early 2010’s elevated the concern of the potential risk of colonization in Lake Erie. This paper provides a case study detailing the development and implementation of a multi-jurisdictional response strategy for grass carp in Lake Erie. To respond to threats of grass carp in Lake Erie, Michigan and Ohio Departments of Natural Resources led targeted responses using a collaborative multi-jurisdictional approach, while simultaneously investing in reducing critical life-history uncertainties to refine strategies in an adaptive and science-based manner. Efforts to address uncertainties about grass carp life history documented spawning in two Lake Erie tributaries. Building on these early responses, the binational Lake Erie Committee developed a five-year adaptive response framework to guide response actions. The collaborative response efforts resulted in the capture and removal of 184 fertile grass carp since 2014, and efforts are ongoing to increase effectiveness of strategies to achieve desired population reduction. Coordinated grass carp response actions under the five-year strategy will continue using adaptive management principles with outcomes providing useful insights for adapting existing response frameworks and more broadly for AIS responses implemented elsewhere.
Construction from destruction using a photo-triggered self-propagating degradable polyurethane as a one-pot epoxy

We report a photo-triggered, base generating, base propagating degradable polyurethane that is triggered by 365 nm UV light irradiation. A small area of this polyurethane material can be exposed to 365 nm UV light irradiation to generate basic species that can initiate a base propagated degradation process within the bulk material leading to global degradation without the need for continous UV irradiation. The polymer was synthesized by a polycondensation polymerization of a small amount of o-nitrobenzene diol 2, a large amount of Fmoc-based diol 3, and hexylmethylene diisocyanate. Integrating both photosensitive and base-sensitive carbamate moieties into the polymer 1 backbone provides the UV light-triggered base propagating degradable polyurethane material. Degradation studies of polymer 1 using 1H NMR and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) suggest that initial UV irradiation triggers the degradation of the photosensitive o-nitrobenzene carbamate linkages, releasing a primary amino group that causes a cascade of amines to form by further degrading the remaining Fmoc carbamate groups. A bulk polyurethane film was prepared using Fmoc-based triol 4 as a monomer. UV-irradiation of a small localized area of the film initiates the propagation throughout, leading to efficient bulk degradation of the entire material. The amine degradation products could be utilized to make a one-pot epoxy adhesive, showing a potential upcycling application of this self-propagating degradable polyurethane system.