cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Problematic fractures and dislocations in the foot and ankle of athletes.

Tremendous stresses are placed on the foot and ankle of the athlete during sports. These stresses may cause either acute or chronic (overuse) injuries. Early recognition and treatment of these injuries will significantly reduce lay-off time and decrease the likelihood of prolonged impairment of performance. This review stresses the diagnostic workup of the injured foot and ankle and the appropriate treatment regimens.
Positioning and immobilization of patients undergoing radiation therapy for Hodgkin's disease.

Abstract The prognosis for patients with Hodgkin’s disease is largely determined by the initial management, therefore, special attention must be given to the precision of the often complex treatment in these relatively young and curable patients. Positioning and immobilization is extremely important and may have a role in the final outcome of the treatment. Alpha Cradles®, along with laser alignment systems, have been routinely used for these patients in our institution for approximately 10 years. Despite these efforts, difficulties are encountered in precisely reproducing the setup. A modification was therefore made to an Alpha Cradle® to include an arm support with handles that fix the position of the patient’s elevated arms during the treatment. This modification provides improved repositioning and alignment of the patients, which may have an impact on the final outcome of the treatment. The positioning device also offers improved patient comfort, and, as a result, reduced patient motion as evidenced by the reduced number of adjustments required when port films are examined. Additionally, the described technique reduces the risks of over- or underdosage at the junction between the mantle and the para-aortic fields.
A Capital Waste of Time? Examining the Supreme Court's 'Culture of Death'

In a lecture at the University of Chicago, U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Stephen Breyer highlighted that he has two jobs: the first job, he explained, is deciding what to decide, and the second job is then to decide what the Court has decided to decided. Many devote careers to analyzing and criticizing exactly how Supreme Court Justices perform their second job of deciding the cases the Court has decided to decide; far less attention has been devoted to analyzing and criticizing exactly how Supreme Court Justices perform their first job of deciding what to decide.This commentary directs attention (and criticism) toward the Justices' performance in their first job of deciding what to decide in the arena of criminal justice. This commentary contends the Supreme Court has recently done a poor job setting its own agenda and its failings have had a negative impact on state and federal legal systems. Specifically, the Supreme Court has become caught up in a "culture of death": the Court devotes extraordinarily too much of its scarce time and energy to reviewing death penalty cases and adjudicating the claims of death row defendants. As the title of the commentary is intended to suggest, this phenomenon a "capital waste" that results in various problems for the administration of both capital and non-capital sentencing systems.Beyond criticizing the Supreme Court's troublesome affinity for obsessing over capital cases, this commentary explores under-examined agenda-setting dynamics that shape the Court's engagement with legal issues and its work-product. In addition, as a final coda suggests, changes in Court personnel might prove to be as consequential with regard to how the Court sets its docket as with regard to how the Court resolves cases.
SCCT and underrepresented populations in STEM fields: Moving the needle.

The authors review research that has used social cognitive career theory as a frame to investigate factors that may explain science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) choices and work...
Structural Features of RhoGEFs

Publisher Summary This chapter surveys the structural features of RhoGEFs and highlights the key determinants responsible for dictating the activation of Rho GTPases. All GTPases cycle between two discrete states, an inactive guanosine diphosphate (GDP)-bound form, and an active guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-bound form. The removal of GDP nucleotide from an inactive GTPase allows subsequent loading of GTP, thereby triggering these “binary switches” to recognize downstream effectors. This critical process of GTPase activation is rigidly controlled by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs). Rho GTPases manage various critical cellular processes. Therefore, it is understood that these small GTPases, as well as their activators (RhoGEFs), promote oncogenesis when constitutively activated. Membership within the Dbl family of RhoGEFs is solely dependent upon the possession of an approximately 300 amino acid segment containing a Dbl homology (DH) domain directly adjacent to a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain. While PH domains exist in a multitude of signaling proteins, the DH domain is unique to these RhoGEFs, and accordingly constitutes the primary catalytic portion of a Dbl protein by supporting nucleotide exchange activity within a substrate Rho GTPase in vitro and in vivo.
Removable singularities for the Yang-Mills-Higgs equations in two dimensions

Abstract We prove that under a holonomy decay condition; with L1 growth of curvature and integral growth bounds on the Higgs field (depending on the sign of the coupling constant) that isolated point singularities of the Yang-Mills-Higgs equations on a vector bundle over a 2-dimensional manifold are removable by a smooth gauge transformation.
Improving geolocation of social media posts

Pervasive social systems often take advantage of geographical information to provide real-time information to users based on their location. However, due to privacy concerns, many social media users do not share their exact geographical coordinates. In this paper, we describe our technique that predicts locations of posts that are not associated with explicit coordinates, a process called geolocation. Existing research has utilized the content of a post as well as the post authors social media relationships with other users to estimate location. Our research provides a novel approach to geolocation by combining multiple techniques, as well as adding a new technique: estimating location by clustering similar social media posts that are centered in a geographical area.
Massive star nurseries

I.Introduction The formation process of massive O and B stars is arguably the least understood of all stars. The major observational and theoretical emphasis has been concentrated on low mass star formation during the past decade for a varitey of reasons, among which are: it is a more tractable problem than massive star formation and it is well matched with advances in instrumentation and evolution of theoretical ideas. Molecular cloud cores that give rise to low massstars have been isolated and intensely studied, providing evidence for the existence and properties of accretion disks, accretion rates, momentum shedding via HH-type jets and molecular outflows, etc. A corresponding advance in our understanding of massive stars has not occurred, although some progress has been made. Due to space limitations, this review will not be a general review of the subject, but instead will reflect some of my own particular interests although I will try to bias the topics covered to those where significant progress has been made. I will of necessity omit some interesting recent results of several groups, but many of these are discussed in posters and other reviews at this meeting. For a broad general review of newly formed massive stars see Churchwell (1990; 1991; 1993). Here, I will concentrate mostly on new results that have not been extensively discussed previously. In particular, I will discuss: 1) a possible technique to detect the hot, wind-shocked inner cavity within UC HI/regions which, at the same time, may also solve a problem with the origin of the disk component of the Fe XXV 6.7 kev line; 2) the variations of density and temperature within a particular cometary UC HI/region and consider implications for heating and cooling processes within the nebula; 3) high velocity molecular outflows associated with newly formed (or forming) massive stars; and 4) recent high spatial resolution observations of hot, dense molecular cloudlets associated with UC HI/regions and their possible relationship to the next generation of star formation.
Detection of candidate nectin gene mutations in infertile men with severe teratospermia

Approximately 40% of infertile men have an abnormal semen analysis, resulting from either abnormalities of sperm production (defective spermatogenesis) or sperm shape (defective spermiogenesis). This latter process is dependent upon the function of Sertoli cells, which maintain specialized junctional complexes with germ cells. Nectins, members of the immunoglobulin superfamily, participate in formation of these dynamic complexes. Male mice in which the nectin-2 or nectin-3 gene is knocked out are sterile. Their spermatozoa exhibit severe teratospermia, altered motility, and an impaired ability to fertilize eggs. We asked whether mutations in the protein coding regions of the nectin-2 (aka PVRL2) and nectin-3 (aka PVRL3) genes could be detected in men from infertile couples whose semen analysis revealed unimpaired sperm production, judged by normal sperm concentration, but severe abnormalities in sperm shape. Ejaculates were snap frozen in liquid nitrogen and later submitted for Sanger analysis of these two genes, to detect mutations in their protein coding regions. Eighty-nine of 455 ejaculates (19.5%) met the inclusion criteria for study. Two of the 56 samples that were successfully analyzed for nectin-2 (3.6%) and one of 73 (1.3%) analyzed for nectin-3 possessed possibly damaging mutations. Despite the small-scale nature of the study, at least two low-frequency deleterious variants were identified. These results suggest the need for a larger-scale study of sequence variants in the nectins in severe teratospermia.
Quantifying the effects of wildfire on changes in soil properties by surface burning of soils from the Boulder Creek Critical Zone Observatory

Abstract Study region This study used intact soil cores collected at the Boulder Creek Critical Zone Observatory near Boulder, Colorado, USA to explore fire impacts on soil properties. Study focus Three soil scenarios were considered: unburned control soils, and low- and high-temperature burned soils. We explored simulated fire impacts on field-saturated hydraulic conductivity, dry bulk density, total organic carbon, and infiltration processes during rainfall simulations. New hydrological insights for the region Soils burned to high temperatures became more homogeneous with depth with respect to total organic carbon and bulk density, suggesting reductions in near-surface porosity. Organic matter decreased significantly with increasing soil temperature. Tension infiltration experiments suggested a decrease in infiltration rates from unburned to low-temperature burned soils, and an increase in infiltration rates in high-temperature burned soils. Non-parametric statistical tests showed that field-saturated hydraulic conductivity similarly decreased from unburned to low-temperature burned soils, and then increased with high-temperature burned soils. We interpret these changes result from the combustion of surface and near-surface organic materials, enabling water to infiltrate directly into soil instead of being stored in the litter and duff layer at the surface. Together, these results indicate that fire-induced changes in soil properties from low temperatures were not as drastic as high temperatures, but that reductions in surface soil water repellency in high temperatures may increase infiltration relative to low temperatures.
Hypermutated Circulating Tumor DNA: Correlation with Response to Checkpoint Inhibitor-Based Immunotherapy.

Purpose: Tumor mutational burden detected by tissue next-generation sequencing (NGS) correlates with checkpoint inhibitor response. However, tissue biopsy may be costly and invasive. We sought to investigate the association between hypermutated blood-derived circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and checkpoint inhibitor response.Experimental Design: We assessed 69 patients with diverse malignancies who received checkpoint inhibitor-based immunotherapy and blood-derived ctDNA NGS testing (54-70 genes). Rates of stable disease (SD) ≥6 months, partial and complete response (PR, CR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were assessed based on total and VUS alterations.Results: Statistically significant improvement in PFS was associated with high versus low alteration number in variants of unknown significance (VUS, >3 alterations versus VUS ≤3 alterations), SD ≥6 months/PR/CR 45% versus 15%, respectively; P = 0.014. Similar results were seen with high versus low total alteration number (characterized plus VUS, ≥6 vs. 3 had a median PFS of 23 versus 2.3 months (P = 0.0004).Conclusions: Given the association of alteration number on liquid biopsy and checkpoint inhibitor-based immunotherapy outcomes, further investigation of hypermutated ctDNA as a predictive biomarker is warranted. Clin Cancer Res; 23(19); 5729-36. ©2017 AACR.
Nile: A Programmable Monitoring Coprocessor

Researchers widely employ hardware performance counters (HPCs) as well as debugging and profiling tools in processors for monitoring different events such as cache hits, cache misses, and branch prediction statistics during the execution of programs. The collected information can be used for power, performance, and thermal management of the system as well as detecting anomalies or malicious behavior in the software. However, monitoring new or complex events using HPCs and existing tools is a challenging task because HPCs only provide a fixed pool of raw events to monitor. To address this challenge, we propose the implementation of a programmable hardware monitor in a complete system framework including the hardware monitor architecture and its interface with an in-order single-issue RISC-V processor as well as an operating system. As a proof of concept, we demonstrate how to programmatically implement a shadow stack using our hardware monitor and how the programmed shadow stack detects stack buffer overflow attacks. Our hardware monitor design incurs a 26 percent power overhead and a 15 percent area overhead over an unmodified RISC-V processor. Our programmed shadow stack has less than 3 percent performance overhead in the worst case.
Preparing the Adult Practice to Accept Adolescents and Young Adults

High-quality adult health care requires productive interactions between a practice team and patients. Patients need the information, skills, and confidence to make best use of their involvement with their practice team. Practice teams must have the expertise, relevant patient information, time, and resources to ensure effective clinical and behavioral management. When accepting an adolescent and young adult with special healthcare needs (AYASHCN) into a practice, it is essential to prepare the practice team to meet the unique needs of this population. This chapter reviews the specific steps required to establish a self-sustaining transition structure and process within an adult (receiving) practice.
Differences in Well-Being between Sexual Minority and Heterosexual College Students.

ABSTRACTThis study examines differences in well-being between sexual minority and heterosexual college students and identifies factors associated with well-being among sexual minority college stude...
Understanding single-crystal superalloys

The unique properties of single crystals are considered. The anisotropic properties of single crystals, and the relation between crystal orientation and the fatigue life and slip systems of the crystals are examined. The effect of raft formation on the creep-rupture life of the crystals is studied. Proposed research on the properties of and new applications for single crystals is discussed.
Emotion and Embodiment within the Medical World

The medical world with its extended chains of instrumental appropriation of the body is perhaps the site in our postmodern world that seems most oppressive to letting the emotions have their voice and sway over the course of our lives. This had seemed true even without the growing managerial cost-accounting that has also come to transform medicine into a further reifying practice. Yet, paradoxically, most medical practice is located between the most routine kind of maintenance and the acute reaction to trauma, i.e. situations that involve a longer term coping with crises and chronic medical conditions that are obvious openings where authentic revelation through the power of emotion is legitimized. Medicine works at the boundaries of many of the most culturally charged terms of identity and meaning, intervening in regions that dramatically change our sense of who we are and what our life is about. Yet it does so blindly and awkwardly, because it intervenes in areas in which the emotional dimensions are central to these identities and meanings without an ontology that allows it fully to comprehend this. Insofar as regaining health entails regaining an emotionally capacious understanding and relationship to changes in embodiment, the biomedical model of body is unable to facilitate full healing.
Power dynamics in Catholic parishes shared by Latinos.

AbstractThe National Study of Catholic Parishes with Hispanic Ministry confirmed that most Latino Catholics share their parish with another cultural group, usually Euro-American whites. The presence of multiple ethnic or racial groups in a single parish inevitably draws attention to the power relationships between those groups. Data reveal an emerging majority of Latino Catholics in the United States, yet demographic status does not necessarily translate to increased influence in parishes. Latino Catholics are often “silent majorities” (or pluralities). Understanding racial and ethnic power dynamics within parishes requires an exploration of those dynamics in the larger social ecology within which a parish is situated as well as understanding them in historical context. From such an exploration, preliminary insights emerge that may assist scholars in their understanding of the intersection of religion, ethnicity, and race in U.S. religious groups and assist pastoral leaders in making decisions.
Corpus and Deep Learning Classifier for Collection of Cyber Threat Indicators in Twitter Stream

This paper presents a framework for detection and classification of cyber threat indicators in the Twitter stream. Contrary to the bulk of similar proposals that rely on manually-designed heuristics and keywordbased filtering of tweets, our framework provides a data-driven approach for modeling and classification of tweets that are related to cybersecurity events. We present a cascaded Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) architecture, comprised of a binary classifier for detection of cyber-related tweets, and a multi-class model for the classification of cyber-related tweets into multiple types of cyber threats. Furthermore, we present an open-source dataset of 21000 annotated cyber-related tweets to facilitate the validation and further research in this area.
Optimal vibration suppression in adaptable acoustic metamaterials by a complex wavenumber

Acoustic metamaterials are composite materials exhibiting effective properties and acoustic behavior not found in traditional materials. Through periodic subwavelength resonant inclusions, acoustic metamaterials enable steering, cloaking, lensing, and frequency band control of acoustic waves. A common drawback of acoustic metamaterials is that the properties are limited to narrow frequency bands. Investigation of practical active and adaptable acoustic metamaterials is valuable in achieving wider operation frequency bands. Here, a one dimensional metamaterial is analyzed using a finite element method. The purpose of the metamaterial is to minimize vibration. From the finite element method formulation, a complex wavenumber is calculated. The unit cell considered is active and adaptable via piezoelectric actuators attached to negative capacitance shunt circuits. Therefore, the stiffness of the unit cell is tunable through selection of the circuit parameters. Choosing the negative capacitance shunt circuit elements to maximize the attenuative part of the complex wavenumber leads to maximum vibration suppression. So far, it has been found that maximizing the attenuative part of the wavenumber gives unrealizable specifications for the shunt circuit. To prevent this, the goal of this work is to constrain the optimization problem using experimentally obtained circuit stability bounds. The experimental stability results and optimization results will be presented. Acoustic metamaterials are composite materials exhibiting effective properties and acoustic behavior not found in traditional materials. Through periodic subwavelength resonant inclusions, acoustic metamaterials enable steering, cloaking, lensing, and frequency band control of acoustic waves. A common drawback of acoustic metamaterials is that the properties are limited to narrow frequency bands. Investigation of practical active and adaptable acoustic metamaterials is valuable in achieving wider operation frequency bands. Here, a one dimensional metamaterial is analyzed using a finite element method. The purpose of the metamaterial is to minimize vibration. From the finite element method formulation, a complex wavenumber is calculated. The unit cell considered is active and adaptable via piezoelectric actuators attached to negative capacitance shunt circuits. Therefore, the stiffness of the unit cell is tunable through selection of the circuit parameters. Choosing the negative capacitance shunt circuit ...
Neonatal and Paediatric Heart and Renal Outcomes Network: design of a multi-centre retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND Cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury is common. In order to improve our understanding of acute kidney injury, we formed the multi-centre Neonatal and Pediatric Heart and Renal Outcomes Network. Our main goals are to describe neonatal kidney injury epidemiology, evaluate variability in diagnosis and management, identify risk factors, investigate the impact of fluid overload, and explore associations with outcomes. METHODS The Neonatal and Pediatric Heart and Renal Outcomes Network collaborative includes representatives from paediatric cardiac critical care, cardiology, nephrology, and cardiac surgery. The collaborative sites and infrastructure are part of the Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Consortium. An acute kidney injury module was developed and merged into the existing infrastructure. A total of twenty-two participating centres provided data on 100-150 consecutive neonates who underwent cardiac surgery within the first 30 post-natal days. Additional acute kidney injury variables were abstracted by chart review and merged with the corresponding record in the quality improvement database. Exclusion criteria included >1 operation in the 7-day study period, pre-operative renal replacement therapy, pre-operative serum creatinine >1.5 mg/dl, and need for extracorporeal support in the operating room or within 24 hours after the index operation. RESULTS A total of 2240 neonatal patients were enrolled across 22 centres. The incidence of acute kidney injury was 54% (stage 1 = 31%, stage 2 = 13%, and stage 3 = 9%). CONCLUSIONS Neonatal and Pediatric Heart and Renal Outcomes Network represents the largest multi-centre study of neonatal kidney injury. This new network will enhance our understanding of kidney injury and its complications.
The Role of CDK4/6 Inhibitors in Breast Cancer

Oral inhibitors of CDK4/6 have been shown to increase response rates and prolong disease control when combined with endocrine therapy in hormone-responsive (HR+) HER2-negative advanced breast cancer. Palbociclib, ribociclib and abemaciclib are all approved in combination with non-steroidal aromatase inhibitors in first-line therapy for post-menopausal women, with a 40–45% improvement in progression-free survival seen with the addition of any of these CDK4/6 inhibitors. Additional approved indications, including first- and second-line combination therapy for pre-menopausal women, combination with fulvestrant and use as monotherapy, vary with each agent and are reviewed fully in the subsequent texts. These agents also differ in their toxicity profiles and monitoring requirements, and prescribers should be aware of the individual requirements for each agent. Current clinical trials are investigating the expanded use of these agents in other breast cancer subtypes, such as HER2-positive and triple-negative breast cancer, as well as in the adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatments of early breast cancer. Resistance to CDK4/6 inhibition can occur through multiple mechanisms. Rational combinations with other therapies, such as PI3K inhibitors, HER2-directed therapies and immunotherapy, are being explored.
Transcriptomic evidence that cortisol alters perinatal epicardial adipose tissue maturation.

Cortisol administration during late gestation in ewes, modeling maternal stress, resulted in transcriptomic changes suggesting altered maturation and metabolic changes to the offspring heart. This ...
Geriatric Depression: A Clinical Guide, by Gary J. Kennedy: NY, NY: Guilford Press, 2015, 234 pp., $29.75 (hardcover), ISBN: 9781462519866

Nine concise chapters make up this valuable clinical guide on geriatric depression written by award-winning author and noted geriatric psychiatrist Gary J. Kennedy. Intended for a broad audience of...
Iterative and Complex Asymmetric Divisions Control Cell Volume Differences in Ciona Notochord Tapering.

Summary The notochord of the invertebrate chordate Ciona forms a tapered rod at tailbud stages consisting of only 40 cylindrical cells in a single-file column. This tapered shape involves differences in notochord cell volume along the anterior-posterior axis. Here, we quantify sibling cell volume asymmetry throughout the developing notochord and find that there are distinctive patterns of unequal cleavage in all 4 bilateral pairs of A-line primary notochord founder cells and also in the B-line-derived secondary notochord founder cells. A quantitative model confirms that the observed patterns of unequal cleavage are sufficient to explain all the anterior-posterior variation in notochord cell volume. Many examples are known of cells that divide asymmetrically to give daughter cells of different size and fate. Here, by contrast, a series of subtle but iterative and finely patterned asymmetric divisions controls the shape of an entire organ. Quantitative 3D analysis of cell shape and spindle positioning allows us to infer multiple cellular mechanisms driving these unequal cleavages, including polarized displacements of the mitotic spindle, contributions from the shape of the mother cell, and late changes occurring between anaphase and abscission that potentially involve differential cortical contractility. We infer differential use of these mechanisms between different notochord blastomeres and also between different rounds of cell division. These results demonstrate a new role for asymmetric division in directly shaping a developing organ and point toward complex underlying mechanisms.
America’s “Thrifty Food Plan”: Hunger, Mathematics, and the Valuation of Nutrition Assistance

The Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) determines maximum entitlements (i.e., food stamp allotments) for participants of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); it was last modified in 2...
Examining the Potential of a Random Forest Derived Cloud Mask from GOES-R Satellites to Improve Solar Irradiance Forecasting.

In order for numerical weather prediction (NWP) models to correctly predict solar irradiance reaching the earth’s surface for more accurate solar power forecasting, it is important to initialize the NWP model with accurate cloud information. Knowing where the clouds are located is the first step. Using data from geostationary satellites is an attractive possibility given the low latencies and high spatio-temporal resolution provided nowadays. Here, we explore the potential of utilizing the random forest machine learning method to generate the cloud mask from GOES-16 radiances. We first perform a predictor selection process to determine the optimal predictor set for the random forest predictions of the horizontal cloud fraction and then determine the appropriate threshold to generate the cloud mask prediction. The results show that the random forest method performs as well as the GOES-16 level 2 clear sky mask product with the ability to customize the threshold for under or over predicting cloud cover. Further developments to enhance the cloud mask estimations for improved short-term solar irradiance and power forecasting with the MAD-WRF NWP model are discussed.
Acute purpura fulminans—a rare cause of skin necrosis: A single-institution clinicopathological experience

Background Purpura fulminans, an uncommon syndrome of intravascular thrombosis with hemorrhagic infarction of the skin, is often accompanied by disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and multi-organ failure, and may ultimately lead to death. Methods Herein, we document 13 skin biopsies from 11 adult patients with the clinical diagnosis of sepsis and confirmed histopathologic diagnosis of intravascular thrombosis and/or DIC, compatible with acute infectious purpura fulminans (AIPF). Detailed history and clinical examination were performed, and the lesions were correlated with histopathologic findings. Any underlying medical disease was taken into consideration. Results There were 5 males and 6 females with lower extremity or peri-incisional purpuric skin lesions. The most important comorbidities identified were a history of surgical procedure or neoplasm, although 4 patients had no relevant underlying history. Most skin biopsies revealed focal epidermal ischemia or necrosis and 3 showed full-thickness epidermal necrosis. In the underlying dermis, there were fibrin thrombi in superficial and deep blood vessels with acute inflammation. Changes of an inflammatory destructive vasculitis were identified in 5 cases. No bacteria or fungi were identified on histopathology. Conclusions AIPF is a rapidly-progressing medical emergency which may be identified by histopathology in culture-negative cases. Biopsies may show neutrophilic infiltrate without infective organisms.
Pediatric Patients and Diagnostic Thoracentesis: Utility for Identifying a Microorganism and Guiding Patient Management

Diagnostic thoracentesis results rarely yield a microorganism or result in management change in children and should not be routinely performed in most children with known or suspected pulmonary inf...
Associations between adolescent sleep deficiency and prescription opioid misuse in adulthood.

STUDY OBJECTIVES The main aim of this study was to estimate the association between sleep deficiency in adolescence and subsequent prescription opioid misuse in adulthood using United States nationally representative longitudinal data. METHODS Self-reported data captured in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health at baseline (Wave 1; mean age = 16 years) and 12 year follow-up (Wave 4; mean age = 29 years). Participants (n = 12,213) reported on four measures of sleep during adolescence (Wave 1) and on lifetime prescription opioid misuse during adulthood (Wave 4). Associations between adolescent sleep and adult opioid misuse were estimated using multivariate logistic regression analysis controlling for sociodemographics, chronic pain, mental health, childhood adverse events, and a history of substance use. RESULTS During adolescence, 59.2% of participants reported sleep deficiency. Prospectively, adolescents reporting not getting enough sleep, chronic unrestful sleep, and insomnia were associated with an increased risk for prescription opioid misuse (adjusted odds ratios [OR] = 1.2, p < 0.005 for all three variables). Short sleep duration was not associated with opioid misuse. CONCLUSION This is the first study to longitudinally link sleep deficiency as an independent risk factor for the development of prescription opioid misuse. Sleep deficiency could be a driver of the opioid crisis affecting young people in the United States. Future studies should determine whether early and targeted sleep interventions may decrease risk for opioid misuse in high-risk patients prescribed opioids for pain.
Have economic models’ forecasting performance for US output growth and inflation changed over time, and when?

Abstract We evaluate various economic models’ relative performance in forecasting future US output growth and inflation on a monthly basis. Our approach takes into account the possibility that the models’ relative performance can vary over time. We show that the models’ relative performance have, in fact, changed dramatically over time, for both revised and real-time data, and investigate possible factors that might explain such changes. In addition, this paper establishes two empirical stylized facts. Specifically, most predictors for output growth lost their predictive ability in the mid-1970s, and became essentially useless over the last two decades. When forecasting inflation, on the other hand, fewer predictors are significant, and their predictive ability worsened significantly around the time of the Great Moderation.
Host-Microbe Interactions: Wallowing in Mucus Mire.

Summary Mucin glycoproteins confer robust protection against infection by regulating bacterial behavior and virulence gene expression, but the mechanistic bases are poorly understood. New work implicates glycan-based signaling through a carbohydrate-binding sensor kinase in mediating pathogen behavior at the mucosal interface.
Patient-Physician Concordance for Quantitative Formats and Treatment Options and the Relationship with State Anxiety.

Patient-physician concordance about topics discussed in a clinic visit is essential for effective communication but may be difficult to achieve in cancer care. We conducted a multicenter, observational study at two Midwestern oncology clinics. A sample of 48 English-speaking or Spanish-speaking women with newly diagnosed stage 0–3 breast cancer completed surveys before and after a visit with an oncologist. Patient-physician dyads were coded as concordant if both patient and physician follow-up self-reports agreed whether (or not) specific treatments were discussed (i.e., treatment option concordance; mastectomy, lumpectomy, hormone therapy, neoadjuvant, and adjuvant chemotherapy) and whether risk was described using certain quantitative formats (i.e., quantitative format concordance; percentages, proportions out of 100 and 1000, graphs, pictures, evidence from clinical studies, cancer stage). Agreement was determined using percent agreement and prevalence-adjusted bias-adjusted kappa (PABAK). Pearson’s correlations were used to determine relationships between anxiety and each measure concordance. Percent concordance was higher for treatment concordance (73.3%) compared to quantitative format concordance (64.5%), and PABAK scores tended to be higher for treatment options (PABAK = .21–.78). Both treatment and quantitative format concordance were negatively associated with pre-visit state anxiety, but only treatment concordance was statistically significant (treatment: r = − .504, p = .001; quantitative format: r = − .096, p = .523). Our study indicates moderate patient-physician concordance in early breast cancer care communication and that patient anxiety may impact the ability for patients and physicians to agree on the content communicated in a clinic visit.
Evaluating the ability of quarter and cow-level somatic cell count to diagnose intramammary infections with non-aureus staphylococci (NAS) and Corynebacterium species

The ability to readily and dependably identify high cell-count quarters in dairy cattle that may have intramammary infections is key before any steps can be made to improve bulk-tank milk (BTSCC) quality. Prior work evaluating quarter-level somatic cell count (SCC) showed it can be a poor predictor of intramammary infection (IMI), but this work focused on a high SCC herd and broad categories of pathogens. The objective of this project is to establish how well quarterand cow-level SCC corresponds to culture data for diagnosis of IMI in 10 herds with a low BTSCC, specifically evaluating 2 minor mastitis pathogens of increasing importance, non-aureus staphylococci (NAS) and Corynebacterium species. We will also explore if either composite or quarter SCC before and after sampling dates may predict a change in IMI status.
The effects of the mandated disclosure of CEO-to-employee pay ratios on CEO pay

This study examines whether the mandated disclosure of CEO-to-employee pay ratios motivated firms to curb CEO pay prior to their first pay ratio disclosures. In July 2010, the US Congress directed the SEC, via Section 953(b) of the Dodd–Frank Act, to enforce a rule that requires firms to disclose the ratio of the CEO’s pay to the median employee’s pay (the “rule”). The SEC proposed the rule in September 2013 and adopted it in August 2015. Though the SEC contends that the rule is intended to benefit shareholders, opponents claim that the rule is intended to shame firms into reducing CEO pay. The opponents’ claim is consistent with theory that posits, and evidence that suggests, that disclosure mandates can be used to motivate disclosers to adopt certain, desired behaviors. Based on this theory, as well as evidence indicating that firms likely expected to incur reputational losses from disclosing high pay ratios, this study hypothesizes that firms that are required to comply with the rule (relative to firms that are not) curbed CEO pay prior to their first pay ratio disclosures. This study further hypothesizes this relative curb on CEO pay was greater for firms that are more sensitive to the reputational effects of the rule—that is, firms that are more susceptible to public scrutiny of or adverse stakeholder reactions to pay ratios. These hypotheses are tested through a difference-in-differences research design that examines changes in residual total CEO pay (i.e., the portion of total CEO pay that is not predicted by economic determinants) from the periods before to the periods after the SEC’s proposal and adoption of the rule. Although there is no evidence of a curb on residual CEO pay in response to the SEC’s proposal (or adoption) at the average firm, there is evidence of a curb in response to the proposal (but not adoption) at firms that are more susceptible to public scrutiny of or adverse stakeholder reactions to pay ratios. Thus, regardless of the intended consequences of the rule, firms that are more sensitive to the reputational effects of pay ratios behaved as if the rule shamed them into curbing CEO pay. This is important because it contributes to the current understanding of how disclosure mandates can change firm behavior. The results of this study should therefore be of interest to legislators, regulators, special-interest groups, and the public.
Study of the Performance and Emissions of a Methane Fueled V-Twin Four Stroke Spark Ignited Engine

This paper discusses the on-going study of a modified two-cylinder V-twin engine used to research and analyze natural gas combustion. The purpose of the experimentation is to determine the feasibility of Natural Gas as an alternative fuel for automotive and stationary power generation applications. During testing the engine was operated under various loads and RPMs. The compression ratio (CR) of the engine was increased from 9.0:1 to 13.8:1 with the expectation of improved fuel combustion and improved emissions. The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) and air-fuel ratio (AFR) were also varied to determine optimal levels that would improve emissions without compromising excessive power (hp). Lean limit analysis was conducted to understand the effect of increased AFR on combustion and emissions. Results from testing confirmed an emissions benefit of going from low compression to high compression. The Total Hydrocarbons (THC) decreased 25%, Carbon Monoxide levels decrease by 48% and the Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) decreased by 20%. A low percentage of EGR, between 3-6 %, helped reduce Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) emissions from over 830 ppm to less than 450 ppm, an improvement of almost 50%, with less than a 2% increase in THC and CO. Power (hp) actually improved by about 1.5% with 3% EGR. Increasing the AFR proved to decrease emissions but at a cost of power and the lean limit of the engine was found to be between 22 and 23 AFR. At 22 AFR the THC emissions decreased by 40%, CO emission by 90% and NOx emissions by almost 50%, but the power decreased by over 35%.
Garden Access, Race and Vegetable Acquisition among U.S. Adults: Findings from a National Survey

With the majority of U.S. adults not meeting recommended vegetable intakes and well-documented racial and ethnic disparities in fruit and vegetable consumption, various approaches to increase vegetable consumption have been implemented. Gardening is one approach that has been associated with increased vegetable consumption in various subpopulations; however, limited national data exist examining this relationship. Since vegetable acquisition is a necessary antecedent to increased vegetable consumption, this study examines if garden access is associated with vegetable acquisition among adults in a nationally representative sample of U.S. households. Data come from the National Food Acquisition and Purchasing Survey (FAPS), a survey of 4826 US households. Descriptive analysis and modified Poisson regressions were performed to examine associations between household garden access and vegetable acquisition amongst the total population and by race. Results indicate that for foods for at-home consumption, respondents with their own garden had a 30% greater prevalence (PR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.64) of acquiring enough vegetables to meet USDA recommendations compared to respondents in households without access to any gardens. Among Black respondents, those with access to their own garden had over two times increased prevalence (PR: 2.35, 95% CI: 1.10, 5.01) of acquiring enough vegetables to meet recommended consumption amounts, compared to Black respondents without any access to a garden. No relationships between garden access and vegetable acquisition were observed for White or Asian respondents. This information may contribute to the body of evidence on strategies for increasing vegetable consumption among U.S. adults.
Household demographic factors as life cycle determinants of land use in the Amazon.

This paper seeks to broaden the application of demographyto environmental studies by complementing existing macro-level approaches, which feature aggregate populations, with a micro-level approach that highlights household life cycles. I take up the case of small farm households in the Brazilian Amazon to present a theoretical framework that identifies demographic characteristics which dispose families to engage in different forms of land use as household age structures change. Empirical models show that net of theeffects of farmer background, neighborhood context, institutional context, and off-farm incomes, demographic variables indicative of the household life cycle exert significant effects on the prominence of land uses with distinct environmental ramifications. The findings not only reveal micro-level demographic factors which affect Amazon land cover, they yield implications forfuture changes in rainforest landscapes in northern Brazil, and suggest household life cycle models as an avenue for further demographic research on environmental change in Latin America and other contexts.
Neural networks and associative memory

Summary form only given, as follows. This author presents several design techniques that can be used for continuous-time and discrete-time neural networks in order to realize associative memories. The applicability of these techniques is demonstrated by means of specific examples which illustrate strengths and weaknesses. >
The Sound of Fractal Strings and the Riemann Hypothesis

We give an overview of the intimate connections between natural direct and inverse spectral problems for fractal strings, on the one hand, and the Riemann zeta function and the Riemann hypothesis, on the other hand (in joint works of the author with Carl Pomerance and Helmut Maier, respectively). We also briefly discuss closely related developments, including the theory of (fractal) complex dimensions (by the author and many of his collaborators, including especially Machiel van Frankenhuijsen), quantized number theory and the spectral operator (jointly with Hafedh Herichi), and some other works of the author (and several of his collaborators).
Tested by Zion: The Bush Administration and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

1. Early days 2. 9/11 and the search for a policy 3. Roadmap to disengagement 4. 'New realities on the ground' 5. Arafat, disengagement, Sharon 6. Olmert - peace or war? 7. War in Lebanon - and Condi 8. From Mecca to Annapolis 9. The 'meeting' at Annapolis 10. Final days in Gaza and Turtle Bay 11. Lessons learned 12. Conclusion.
Definition, epidemiology, and prognosis

Cardiovascular disease is an all-encompassing term that includes diseases of the heart and coronary arteries, as well as diseases in other vascular beds. It is a major cause of death and disability in the United States, Europe, and worldwide (see Figure 1.1) [1]. Cardiovascular disease that is present in vascular beds outside of the coronary arteries is broadly termed peripheral arterial disease, and patients frequently have disease in such overlapping locations (see Figure 1.2) [2]. Examples include carotid and cerebrovascular disease, which are responsible for stroke and transient ischemic attack. Aortoiliac and femoral artery disease are responsible for limb ischemia and claudication. Cardiovascular disease can also manifest itself in stable or unstable forms. Stable coronary artery disease is characterized by stable angina or silent ischemia detected by stress testing, while unstable coronary artery disease (categorized, more generally, as coronary heart disease) includes myocardial infarction and unstable angina. An increasingly used and preferred term for an unstable event is acute coronary syndrome (ACS). ACS encompasses the spectrum from unstable angina to non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction and, finally, ST-elevation myocardial infarction. This chapter will review the epidemiology and prognosis of cardiovascular disease in general, with a special focus on ACS.
Mind the gap: Unexpected pitfalls in doing classroom research

Inherent in classroom research are the inevitable, and often unanticipated, challenges experienced by researchers. This article moves beyond the main issues highlighted in the literature and identifies some of the problems the authors encountered when conducting two common methodological procedures, classroom observations and stimulated recall interviews (SRIs), as part of our dissertation research investigations. The paper first surveys what the literature describes as the main areas of concern with these two procedures. It then pulls away from these resources to explore actual difficulties we experienced that we believe are inadequately addressed in the literature. Using illustrations from our dissertation projects, we examined several recurring challenges we faced, including participant discomfort with specific types of SRI questions and different forms of participant-researcher interaction during nonparticipatory classroom observations. For each of these problems, we provide a series of recommendations for researchers who plan to use similar methodological protocols in classroom research. Key Words: Classroom Research, Classroom Observation, Stimulated Recall, Qualitative Research.
The positive mass theorem and black holes

The positive energy theorem for the ADM and Bondi mass is reviewed. This is then extended to spacetimes which contain black holes. Various further generalizations are then briefly outlined.