cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electronic properties-morphology correlation of a rod-rod semiconducting liquid crystalline block copolymer containing poly(3-hexylthiophene).

The influence of the solvent and annealing temperature on the field-effect mobilities and morphologies of poly(3-hexylthiophene)-b-poly(γ-benzyl-l-glutamate) (P3HT-b-PBLG) rod–rod diblock copolymer has been investigated. Thin film X-ray diffraction studies show peaks originating from both P3HT and PBLG indicating that the crystalline nature of both the blocks is conserved after the formation of the block copolymer. It has been observed that the field-effect mobilities of the diblock copolymer are independent of the annealing temperatures for thin films deposited from both 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene and chloroform solvents. The correlation between the field-effect mobility and morphology indicates that the P3HT block self-assembles at the surface SiO2 dielectric.
Ferroelectric domain structure of SrBi2Nb2O9 epitaxial thin films.

The domain structure in a ferroelectric with well-defined crystallography and negligible ferroelastic distortion $(l0.002%)$ is reported. In contrast to prototypical ferroelectrics in which long-range elastic strain dictates the domain structure, in ${\mathrm{SrBi}}_{2}{\mathrm{Nb}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{9}$ the elastic term is insignificant, allowing dipole-dipole interactions and domain wall energies to dominate in determining the domain structure. Electron microscopy reveals ferroelectric domains that are irregularly shaped and highly curved. Out-of-phase boundary defects are shown to be weakly correlated with 90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} ferroelectric domain structure.
Paper electrophoresis of muscle fractions from vitamin E-deficient rabbits.

SummaryThree pairs of male littermate rabbits were fed a commercial vit. E deficient and a vit. E supplemented diet. When the vit. E deficient member of each pair showed typical vit. E deficient symptoms, the pair of animals was sacrificed and the water soluble muscle proteins extracted from the striated muscle. The electrophoretic pattern of the deficient animals showed a significant change in distribution of water soluble proteins as compared to the control group. This change was an increase in the fast moving peak and a decrease in the slow moving peak.
Effects of dichloroacetate and glyoxylate on low density lipoprotein uptake and on growth of cultured fibroblasts.

The effects of dichloroacetate, a known hypocholesterolemic agent, were studied in cultured growing and confluent human fibroblast cells. Microscopic examination showed no visible adverse effects of dichloroacetate on confluent cells during exposure to concentrations as high as 5 mM for 96 hr. Higher concentrations resulted in cell death after varying periods of incubation. There were no viable cells after 24 hr of exposure to 100 mM dichloroacetate. In contrast, much lower concentrations proved lethal to growing cells; cell growth, as determined by cell numbers at specified times after splitting, was suppressed by 1 mM dichloroacetate and 5 mM concentrations resulted in cell death. Similar effects were noted with glyoxylate. The hypocholesterolemic effect of dichloroacetate is probably not due to any effect on the low density lipoprotein pathway, since concentrations of up to 1 mM dichloroacetate did not affect the cellular binding and uptake of 12SI-labeled low density lipoprotein. It is concluded that growing and rapidly metabolizing cells are much more sensitive to the toxic effects of dichloroacetate and glyoxylate than confluent cells. Recent evidence has indicated that the drug sodium dichloroacetate may be effective in the treatment of lactic acidosis and in reducing plasma cholesterol levels in hypercholesterol- emia. The effect of this compound in reducing lactic acidemia is thought to be due to the increase in pyruvate dehydrogenase activity which would in turn allow the conversion of more lactate to pyruvate (1-4). The mecha- nism by which it lowers plasma cholesterol levels in humans (2, 5) is unknown, although Stacpoole et al. (6) have reported the in vitro inhibition of hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis by sodium dichloroacetate and its metabolite, glyoxylate. No toxicity has been reported in patients with lactic acidosis treated with di- chloroacetate (7), but its continuous use as a hypercholesterolemic agent cannot be rec- ommended because of the development of a polyneuropathy in one of the two patients on long-term treatment (5).
Elastic-plastic analysis of deformation induced by thermal stress in eutectic composites: I. theory

Understanding the deformation of eutectic composites under conditions of changing temperature with or without externally applied loading is important to the utilization of these materials. Here a method of calculating elastic-plastic deformation parameters in such materials is derived and its use demonstrated. The method uses stress equilibrium, strain continuity, and component constitutive relations to derive expressions for matrix stress as a function of temperature during heating and cooling or hold time at constant temperature. From that quantity several deformation parameters of interest can be calculated. Because numerical techniques must be used to determine solutions, great flexibility is available in the selection of cycling conditions and material constants. An illustrative calculation is presented and its results are discussed.
The Philadelphia Glaucoma Detection and Treatment Project: Detection Rates and Initial Management

Purpose To evaluate the detection rates of glaucoma-related diagnoses and the initial treatments received in the Philadelphia Glaucoma Detection and Treatment Project, a community-based initiative aimed at improving the detection, treatment, and follow-up care of individuals at risk for glaucoma. Design Retrospective analysis. Participants A total of 1649 individuals at risk for glaucoma who were examined and treated in 43 community centers located in underserved communities of Philadelphia. Methods Individuals were enrolled if they were African American aged ≥50 years, were any other adult aged ≥60 years, or had a family history of glaucoma. After attending an informational glaucoma workshop, participants underwent a targeted glaucoma examination including an ocular, medical, and family history; visual acuity testing, intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement, and corneal pachymetry; slit-lamp and optic nerve examination; automated visual field testing; and fundus color photography. If indicated, treatments included selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT), laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI), or IOP-lowering medications. Follow-up examinations were scheduled at the community sites after 4 to 6 weeks or 4 to 6 months, depending on the clinical scenario. Main Outcome Measures Detection rates of glaucoma-related diagnoses and types of treatments administered. Results Of the 1649 individuals enrolled, 645 (39.1%) received a glaucoma-related diagnosis; 20.0% (n = 330) were identified as open-angle glaucoma (OAG) suspects, 9.2% (n = 151) were identified as having narrow angles (or as a primary angle closure/suspect), and 10.0% (n = 164) were diagnosed with glaucoma, including 9.0% (n = 148) with OAG and 1.0% (n = 16) with angle-closure glaucoma. Overall, 39.0% (n = 64 of 164) of those diagnosed with glaucoma were unaware of their diagnosis. A total of 196 patients (11.9%) received glaucoma-related treatment, including 84 (5.1%) who underwent LPI, 13 (0.8%) who underwent SLT, and 103 (6.2%) who were prescribed IOP-lowering medication. Conclusions Targeting individuals at risk for glaucoma in underserved communities in Philadelphia yielded a high detection rate (39.1%) of glaucoma-related diagnoses. Providing examinations and offering treatment, including first-line laser procedures, at community-based sites providing services to older adults are effective to improve access to eye care by underserved populations.
Superconductivity in FeSe Thin Films Driven by the Interplay between Nematic Fluctuations and Spin-Orbit Coupling

The origin of the high-temperature superconducting state observed in FeSe thin films, whose phase diagram displays no sign of magnetic order, remains a hotly debated topic. Here we investigate whether fluctuations arising due to the proximity to a nematic phase, which is observed in the phase diagram of this material, can promote superconductivity. We find that nematic fluctuations alone promote a highly degenerate pairing state, in which both $s$-wave and $d$-wave symmetries are equally favored, and ${T}_{c}$ is consequently suppressed. However, the presence of a sizable spin-orbit coupling or inversion symmetry breaking at the film interface lifts this harmful degeneracy and selects the $s$-wave state, in agreement with recent experimental proposals. The resulting gap function displays a weak anisotropy, which agrees with experiments in monolayer FeSe and intercalated ${\mathrm{Li}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}(\mathrm{OH}{)}_{x}\text{FeSe}$.
Electronic cigarette initiation among minority youth in the United States

Background: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarette) use among youth is a pressing public health issue, with prevalence of use surpassing that of tobacco cigarettes. While research concerning e-cigarett...
Utilization of hydrophobic coatings on insulative skirts to attenuate galvanic corrosion between mechanically-fastened aluminum alloy and carbon-fiber reinforced polymer-matrix composites

Abstract This paper describes the effect of hydrophobic coatings on insulative skirts to attenuate galvanic corrosion between mechanically-fastened aluminum alloy and carbon-fiber reinforced polymer-matrix composites (CFR PMC). The utilization of hydrophobic coatings on the insulative skirt can help to attenuate galvanic corrosion by disrupting the formation of a continuous electrolyte film. Initially, Siloxel™-coated insulating skirts of various lengths (0.64 cm, 1.27 cm, 2.54 cm, 10.16 cm, and 20.32 cm) were tested in a humidity chamber at 90% relative humidity (RH) and 30 °C. The galvanic couples were sprayed with salt solutions of various concentrations (i.e., 10, 100, 1000, 10,000, and 20,000 ppm of chlorides). Results from humidity-chamber experiments showed that the Siloxel™ coatings with a contact angle of 90° generally reduced galvanic corrosion rates by three orders of magnitude for a given skirt length. When the skirt (coated with Siloxel™), however, was at an optimal length of only 0.64 cm, the galvanic current decreased by approximately six orders of magnitude due to capillary effects that wicked electrolyte away from the edge of the skirt. Skirts with different types of coatings (i.e., Siloxel™, polyurethane, epoxy, and latex) of various levels of hydrophobicity were also studied to determine the effect of the coating contact angle on the galvanic current.
Compact Soft X-ray Lasers for Imaging, Material Processing, and Characterization at the Nanoscale

We have developed compact laser-pumped and discharge-pumped lasers operating at wavelengths of lambda=13.2 nm and lambda=46.9 nm respectively, and have used them in the demonstration of nanoscale full field imaging, nanopatterning, and nanoscale laser ablation. Using these new compact short wavelength lasers we have built two microscopes, using lambda=46.9 nm or lambda=13.2 nm laser illumination. The compact lambda=46.9 nm microscope condenses the light using a multilayer coated Schwarzschild mirror, and images the test object using a diffractive zone plate lens. By rearranging the optics, the lambda=46.9 nm microscope can also image surfaces. We have recently added the capability to spectroscopically analyze the light emitted from the plasma created during the ablation, opening the possibility to develop analytic nanoprobes. All of these results illustrate the capabilities of compact short wavelength lasers for nanotechnology applications.
An Apparatus for Density and VLE Measurements for Gas-Liquid Systems

The Objective of this research project was to design and build and apparatus to measure density and vapor liquid equilibrium data for gas-liquid systems. This work was done in support of the National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center’s (NSFSTC) goal of identifying and enabling sustainable process and products using CO2-related technology. The apparatus consists of a syringe pump, a multi-port multi-position valve, a high pressure cell with multiple sampling ports and fitted with a magna-drive stirring system. A precision temperature oven, a pycnometer fitted with a 4-port 2-position valve and a GC with TCD and FID detectors and with on-line sampling capability. For the density measurements a required amount of liquid solvent and gas are delivered to the high pressure cell by the syringe pump, which also maintains the required pressure of the system. The cell and pycnometer are placed in the oven which maintains the desired temperature. The mixture is well-stirred and the composition is measured precisely by the on-line GC. The liquid is then passed through the trapped inside the pycnometer. The pycnometer is disconnected and weighed. The density is obtained from the mass of the liquid and the volume of the pycnometer. The apparatus can also be operated for VLE measurements. Static vapor-liquid equilibrium is achieved in the high pressure cell which is fitted with multiple dip-tubes for sample extraction. Upon equilibration the liquid and vapor samples are sent to GC for analysis. The density data for CO2-ethyl lactate system have been measured in the temperature range 25–80°C and at pressures from atmospheric to 2000 psi for a few compositions of the liquid mixtures. Measurements are continuing to cover the entire composition range for the binary system.
Mechanisms and factors involved in hip injuries during frontal crashes.

This study was conducted to collect data and gain insights relative to the mechanisms and factors involved in hip injuries during frontal crashes and to study the tolerance of hip injuries from this type of loading. Unembalmed human cadavers were seated on a standard automotive seat (reinforced) and subjected to knee impact test to each lower extremity. Varying combinations of flexion and adduction/abduction were used for initial alignment conditions and pre-positioning. Accelerometers were fixed to the iliac wings and twelfth thoracic vertebral spinous process. A 23.4-kg padded pendulum impacted the knee at velocities ranging from 4.3 to 7.6 m/s. The impacting direction was along the anteroposterior axis, i.e., the global X-axis, in the body-fixed coordinate system. A load cell on the front of the pendulum recorded the impact force. Peak impact forces ranged from 2,450 to 10,950 N. The rate of loading ranged from 123 to 7,664 N/msec. The impulse values ranged from 12.4 to 31.9 Nsec. Injuries were not apparent in three tests. Eight tests resulted in trauma. Fractures involving the pelvis including the acetabulum and proximal femur occurred in five out of the eight tests, and distal femoral bone fracture occurred in one test. These results underscore the importance of leg pre-positioning and the orientation of the impacting axis to produce specific types of trauma to the pelvic region of the lower extremity.
Assessment and Management of Toxidromes in the Critical Care Unit

The most important diagnostic factor in uncovering a toxic etiology for delirium or critical illness is the clinician's openness to the possibility of its existence. Therefore, a consulting psychiatrist, already prepared to perform the detail-oriented work of sorting out behavioral manifestations of disease, can be a vital asset at the bedside if also attuned to the role of purposeful, accidental, and iatrogenic exposures in the intensive care unit. This article summarizes the presentation, evaluation, and treatment of toxidromes relevant to the work of acute psychosomatic medicine.
Effect of chemical structure of S-nitrosothiols on nitric oxide release mediated by the copper sites of a metal organic framework based environment.

The effect of chemical structure of different biologically compatible S-nitrosothiols on the solvation environment at catalytic copper sites in a metal organic framework (MOF) suspended in a solution of ethanol is probed using computational methods. The use of a copper based MOF as a storage vehicle and catalyst (copper sites of the MOF) in the controlled and sustained release of chemically stored nitric oxide (NO) from S-nitrosocysteine has been shown to occur both experimentally and computationally [J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2012, 134, 3330–3333; Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2015, 17, 23403]. Previous studies on a copper based MOF, namely HKUST-1, concluded that modifications in the R-group of s-nitrosothiols and/or organic linkers of MOFs led to a method capable of modulating NO release. In order to test the hypothesis that larger R-groups slow down NO release, four different RSNOs (R = cysteine, N-acetylcysteine, N-acetyl-D,L-penicillamine or glutathione) of varying size were investigated, which in turn required the use of a larger copper based MOF. Due to its desirable copper centers and more extensive framework, MOF-143, an analog of HKUST-1 was chosen to further explore both the effect of different RSNOs as well as MOF environments on NO release. Condensed phase classical molecular dynamics simulations are utilized to study the effect of the complex MOF environment as well as the chemical structure and size of the RSNO on the species on the catalytic reaction. The results indicate that in addition to the size of the RSNO species and the organic linkers within the MOF, the reaction rates can be modulated by the molecular structure of the RSNO and furthermore combining different RSNO species can also be used to tune the rate of NO release.
The double one percent: Identifying an elite and a super-elite using the joint distribution of income and net worth

Abstract Growing inequality has heightened awareness of those at the top of the income and wealth distributions, and researchers are beginning to acknowledge the need for a way to identify top households that simultaneously accounts for their income and net worth. We contribute to the literatures on top income and wealth households by introducing a measure of top status that includes a larger number of affluent households and that explicitly accounts for the interrelationship between income and wealth. Our innovation is to start with both income and wealth holders and to divide the top into three groups: those who are top income only, those who are top net worth only, and those who are at the top of both distributions (the double one percent). Our results show that the top three groups are unique financially and demographically in ways that inform understanding of inequality and the processes that lead to membership in top income and wealth positions. Perhaps most importantly, our results identify those who are merely elite and those who occupy even more exclusive, or super elite, positions at the top of both the income and wealth distributions.
Defending internalists from acquired sociopaths

AbstractPeople who suffer brain damage to their ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VM patients) have a puzzling psychological profile: they seem to retain high intellect and practical reasoning skills after their brain injuries, but continually make poor decisions in many aspects of their lives. Adina Roskies argues that their behavior is explained by the fact that, although VM patients make correct judgments about what they ought to do, they are entirely unmotivated by those judgments. Roskies thus takes VM patients to be real-world counterexamples to motivational internalism: the thesis that, necessarily, if S judges that she ought to φ in circumstances C, then S is somewhat motivated to φ in C. In this paper, however, I argue that the neuropsychological evidence that Roskies appeals to does not actually show that VM patients are entirely unmotivated by their normative judgments. Rather, I argue, the evidence suggests that VM patients form weaker normative judgments than normals during practical deliberati...
The Impact of Leadership Characteristics on Corporate Performance

We identify three attributes of a firm that exert significant positive impact on stock return performance of companies. Specifically, quality of management, financial soundness and quality of products/services indicators are critical for successful financial performance. We then discuss the leadership characteristics that are necessary to positively affect these attributes. We believe this information provides insights into the type of leadership characteristics that result in improved financial performance.
Reversible Complexation of Lewis Bases to Low-Coordinate Fe(II), Co(II), and Ni(II) Amides: Influence of the Metal, Donor Ligand, and Amide Substituent on Binding Constants

The binding constants of several monodentate Lewis bases (L) having different donor atoms [L = tetrahydrofuran (THF), tetrahydrothiophene (THT), pyridine, 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP), PMe3, PCy3, and 1,3-bis(1,3,5-trimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene (IMes)] to the linear two-coordinate bis(amido) transition-metal complexes, M{N(SiMe3)Dipp}2 [M = Fe (1), Co (2), and Ni (3)] were determined by electronic absorption spectroscopy. In addition, 1H NMR spectroscopy was used to study the complexation of M{N(SiMe3)Dipp}2 by THF. The binding constants of the less bulky amido complexes [M{N(SiMe3)2}2]2 (M = Fe or Co; the nickel species is unstable) were also measured and found to bind THF 102-103 times more strongly than M{N(SiMe3)Dipp}2. Furthermore, unlike the corresponding -N(SiMe3)Dipp complexes, where the iron species are more strongly complexed than those of cobalt, the --N(SiMe3)2 species [Co{N(SiMe3)2}2]2 displayed a higher binding constant to THF than [Fe{N(SiMe3)2}2]2, which is in agreement with the stronger association of the [Co{N(SiMe3)2}2]2 dimer in comparison to that of its iron analogue. The binding strengths of the ligands to 1-3 were found to be in the order of DMAP > pyridine > PMe3 > PCy3 ≈ IMes > THF > THT, and those of the respective metals were in the order of Fe > Co > Ni.
Foreign policy decision making in Iran and the nuclear program

This article analyzes how foreign policy is made in the Islamic Republic of Iran. To do so, it analyzes the role of various state institutions, factions, and individuals in the formulation and cond...
Ballistic Phonon Penetration Depth in Amorphous Silicon Dioxide

Thermal transport in amorphous silicon dioxide (a-SiO2) is traditionally treated as random walks of vibrations owing to its greatly disordered structure, which results in a mean free path (MFP) approximately the same as the interatomic distance. However, this picture has been debated constantly and in view of the ubiquitous existence of thin a-SiO2 layers in nanoelectronic devices, it is imperative to better understand this issue for precise thermal management of electronic devices. Different from the commonly used cross-plane measurement approaches, here we report on a study that explores the in-plane thermal conductivity of double silicon nanoribbons with a layer of a-SiO2 sandwiched in-between. Through comparing the thermal conductivity of the double ribbon samples with that of corresponding single ribbons, we show that thermal phonons can ballistically penetrate through a-SiO2 of up to 5 nm thick even at room temperature. Comprehensive examination of double ribbon samples with various oxide layer thic...
Beyond the expected benefits: unpacking value co-creation in crowdsourcing business models

This paper explores how value is co-created in crowdsourcing business models. We envision crowd contributors as a special kind of non-consumer multi-role stakeholder. Our model suggests that the value they derive from monetary rewards and other expected benefits of participation is mediated by experiential value and identity value. The latter is driven by contributors’ identification with a crowdsourcing platform as a virtual ‘space’ for co-creation, and by the peer identification with other contributors. Both experiential and identity value creation are positively impacted by perceived control, which reflects contributors’ perception of co-creation governance and fosters identification.
Accommodations in Digital Interactive STEM Assessment Tasks: Current Accommodations and Promising Practices for Enhancing Accessibility for Students With Disabilities

In this article, we describe current research findings on assessment accommodations and universal design within the context of emerging interactive digital assessment tasks that employ simulations ...
Economic crisis, intra-MNC production shifts and MNC performance from a network perspective

Our study examines how a multinational corporation (MNC) shifts production across its international subsidiary network in response to an economic crisis and how attributes of intra-MNC production shifts (IPSs) affect MNC performance. We argue that when an MNC faces an economic crisis, the magnified cross-national differences in economic conditions give it clear direction for production shifts, thereby reducing the incidence of its IPSs. However, this negative relationship weakens if an MNC has a wider subsidiary network that enables it to exploit more cross-national differences in economic conditions. We also argue that IPSs in which more host countries are involved will have larger positive effects on MNC performance. This is because the number of host countries involved in the production shifts reflects the cross-national differences actually exploited in economic conditions by the MNC. The analysis of panel data for Korean manufacturing MNCs that experienced the 1998 and 2008 economic crises provides empirical support for our arguments.
The cerebellar norepinephrine system: inhibition, modulation, and gating.

A series of studies has been conducted to determine the mode of action on the cerebellar cortical circuitry of the norepinephrine (NE)-containing afferents from the locus coeruleus. NE has been known to exert an “inhibitory” action on the background firing observed in Purkinje cells, due presumably to a shift in conductances favoring hyperpolarization. An additional independent action at low threshold appears to be an enhancement of GABA, the inhibitory transmitter of cerebellar interneurons. Recent whole-cell patch-clamp studies on isolated Purkinje cells indicate that exposure to NE increases the chloride current caused by transient pulses of GABA applied iontophoretically. NE applied to Purkinje cells in the parafloccular lobule during stimulation by moving visual patterns revealed the capacity either to “gate” signals initially not expressed, or to amplify the gain of phasic excitations. The control of emergent circuit functions may be the functional consequence of the multiple modulatory functions of NE.
PARTICIPATORY BULLSEYE TOOLKIT INTERVIEW: IDENTIFYING PHYSICIANS' RELATIVE PRIORITIZATION OF DECISION FACTORS WHEN ORDERING RADIOLOGIC IMAGING IN A HOSPITAL SETTING

Critical Decision Method (CDM), a popular cognitive task analysis (CTA) method, is an in-depth retrospective interview that uses a historical non-routine incident to identify experts' decision-making factors in complex socio-technical settings with high consequences for failure. However, it is challenging to use CDM to make comparisons, including those between experts and trainees. We describe an alternative CTA method used to study physicians' decision making for ordering diagnostic imaging. After being primed with 11 simulated patient scenarios, nine attending and 11 resident physicians were asked to map out and present their decision-making process with a bullseye participatory design toolkit. Interviews were analyzed qualitatively, revealing four common decision factors: diagnostic efficacy, patient safety, organizational constraints, and patient comfort. The bullseye maps were used to quantitatively measure priority differences between these decision factors. Attending and resident physicians both prioritized diagnostic efficacy over the other factors (2.38 vs. 3.71, p <.01, and 2.59 vs. 3.52, p<.01, respectively), but attending physicians' decisions had a higher proportion of non-diagnostic items (65% vs. 50%, p = .008). Our results demonstrate the usefulness of this method in eliciting decision factors for a complex, face-valid task and for identifying differences due to levels of expertise and training.
A Protein from Mammalian Cells that Recognizes Platinated DNA

The anticancer drug cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cis-DDP or cisplatin), is believed to kill cells by blocking DNA replication or transcription (Roberts and Thomson, 1979; Sorenson and Eastman, 1988a, b). cis-DDP-DNA adducts have been shown to block DNA replication in vitro (Pinto and Lippard, 1985b; Heiger-Bernays et al., 1990) and in vivo (Harder and Rosenberg, 1970; Howie and Gale, 1970; Ciccarelli et al., 1985). Similar recent studies have shown that selected platinum adducts also inhibit RNA polymerases (Corda et al., 1991).
Impact of rescheduling hydrocodone-combination products in an urban Texas county healthcare system.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the rescheduling of hydrocodone- combination products (HCPs) and associated changes in prescriber patterns in an urban county healthcare system in Texas. Methods: Pharmacy data were obtained electronically for tramadol, hydrocodone-acetaminophen, and acetaminophen-codeine from 180 days before and after the schedule change on October 6, 2014. χ2 and t tests were used to calculate the significance of changes between the medications over the studied time. Results: Hydrocodone-acetaminophen saw a decline in dispense events and pills dispensed of 80.2 and 67.9 percent, respectively, in the immediate 30-day period following the scheduling change with a total decrease of 80.8 and 67.5 percent, respectively, in the 180-day period. Acetaminophen-codeine dispense events and total pills dispensed increased by 302.3 and 288.9 percent, respectively, in the immediate 30-day period while 180-day results experienced an increase of 215.1 and 209.8 percent, respectively. There were no major changes with tramadol. Additionally, an increase of 69.5 percent in pills per dispense event of hydrocodone-acetaminophen was noted in the 180-day period following the schedule change. Conclusion: The scheduling change of HCPs is associated with an immediate decrease in hydrocodone-acetaminophen use at our institution while a simultaneous rise in acetaminophen-codeine products was observed.
Association between Recent Criminal Justice Involvement and Transactional Sex among African American Men Who Have Sex with Men in Baltimore.

Non-Hispanic Black/African American men who have sex with men (AAMSM) have been disproportionately affected by criminal justice (CJ) involvement and HIV. One potential pathway between CJ involvement and high HIV prevalence and incidence among AAMSM is through risky sexual behavior. The goal of this study was to explore the association between recent CJ involvement, i.e., having been arrested and/or in prison/jail in the past 6 months, and transactional sex in a sample of AAMSM in Baltimore. We analyzed the baseline data of 396 AAMSM from a pilot behavioral HIV intervention conducted in Baltimore, MD, between October 2012 and November 2015. A multivariate logistic regression model was conducted to explore the association between recent CJ involvement and transactional sex. A total of 65 (16%) participants reported recent CJ involvement, and 116 (29%) reported transactional sex in the past 90 days. After adjusting for age, education, employment, sexual identity, HIV status, and drug use, recent CJ involvement was significantly associated with transactional sex (AOR 3.31; 95% CI 1.72; 5.70). Being 24–40 years (AOR 2.73; 95% CI 1.17, 6.33) or over 40 years older (AOR 3.80; 95% CI 1.61, 8.98) vs. younger and using drugs (AOR 4.47; 95% CI 2.43, 8.23) also remained independently associated with recent transactional sex. Findings of the current study contribute to the literature on the association between recent history of CJ involvement and transactional sex among AAMSM. More evidence-based HIV prevention interventions for people involved in the CJ system who are at high risk for contracting HIV, particularly racial and sexual minorities such as AAMSM, are urgently needed.
Prevalence and determinants of Hyperpolypharmacy in adults with heart failure: an observational study from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)

While an expanding armamentarium of pharmacologic therapies has contributed to improved outcomes among adults with heart failure (HF) over the past two decades, this has also been accompanied by an increase in the number of medications taken by adults with HF. The use of at least 10 medications, defined as hyperpolypharmacy, is particularly notable given its association with adverse outcomes. We aimed to assess the prevalence and identify determinants of hyperpolypharmacy among adults with HF. We studied adults aged ≥50 years with self-reported HF from the National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in 2003–2014. We calculated weighted means and percentages to describe patient characteristics. We conducted a multivariable Poisson regression analysis to identify factors independently associated with hyperpolypharmacy; we adjusted for survey sampling, socio-demographics, comorbidity, geriatric conditions, and health care utilization. We examined 947 participants, representing 4.6 million adults with HF. The prevalence of hyperpolypharmacy was 26%. In a multivariable regression analysis, comorbidity count, ≥10 ambulatory contacts, and ≥ 3 hospitalizations were independently associated with hyperpolypharmacy. Interestingly, functional impairment and cognitive impairment were not independently associated with hyperpolypharmacy; while low annual household income and low educational status were each associated with an almost 2-fold increase in hyperpolypharmacy. Hyperpolypharmacy is a common condition among adults with HF. We additionally found that low household income and low educational status are independently associated with hyperpolypharmacy, suggesting that non-medical factors may be contributing to this potentially harmful condition.
The impact of powerful retarding additive synergies on the kinetic profile of cementitious mineralogical transformations at high temperature

Powerful synergies between phosphonate, zinc oxide, and acrylamido-tert-butyl-sulfonate (ATBS) copolymer chemical additives render superior performance in a high-temperature retarder system for oil well grade Portland cement. The phosphonate retarder and ATBS-based retarders establish a two-tiered strength development where amorphous C-S-H converts to crystalline dicalcium silicate hydrate (C2SH) in the first (low compressive strength) tier prior to the reaction of Portlandite with quartz. The three additive retarder system can be tuned with nanosilica to eliminate the two-tiered strength development effect leading to a smooth transition from the cement in the slurry form directly to its highest compressive strength.
The Spatial Representation

In addition to the estimation of Doppler and delay, bearing or angle with respect to the sonar’s orientation is crucial for scatterer localization. Acoustic energy at the transmitter is usually introduced into the medium by a distributed source (projector array) and echo energy is received via a distributed array of individual transducer elements that convert the acoustic energy back into an electrical signal. Sonar arrays are spatially distributed and when in a line, plane, on the surface of a body, or when distributed throughout a volume, they are called line, planar, conformal, and volumetric arrays respectively. The process of summing the weighted responses of the individual receive array elements or more generally integrating the response over a continuous array is called beam formation. The integrated receive array response to acoustic energy depends upon the direction from which the energy arrives and is described by a beam or pattern function. Likewise the transmit pattern function describes the directional distribution of transmitted intensity from a projector array.
Use of actigraphy to characterize inactivity and activity in patients in a medical ICU.

Abstract Background In the intensive care unit (ICU), inactivity is common, contributing to ICU-acquired weakness and poor outcomes. Actigraphy may be useful for measuring activity in the ICU. Objectives To use actigraphy to characterize inactivity and activity in critically ill patients. Methods This prospective observational study involved 48-h wrist actigraphy in medical ICU (MICU) patients, with activity data captured across 30-s epochs. Inactivity (zero-activity epochs) and activity (levels of non-zero activity) were summarized across key patient (e.g., age) and clinical (e.g., mechanical ventilation status) variables, and compared using multivariable regression. Results Overall, 189,595 30-s epochs were collected in 34 MICU patients. Zero-activity (inactivity) comprised 122,865 (65%) of epochs; these epochs were 24% and 13% more prevalent, respectively, in patients receiving mechanical ventilation (versus none, p Conclusions Actigraphy demonstrated that MICU patients are profoundly inactive, including those who are young, non-sedated and non-restrained. Hence, ICU-specific, non-patient-related factors may contribute to inactivity, an issue requiring further investigation.
Third place theory and social work: Considering collapsed places

SummaryWhile social work as a field predicates itself upon a person-in-environment approach, limited work has explored the nuanced relationship between a person and their environment. Exploring pla...
Loss of the Pioneer Factor FOXA1 Results in Genome-wide Epigenetic Reprogramming and activation of Interferon-Response Genes including CD274/PD-L1

Abstract Forkhead Box A1 (FOXA1) is a pioneer transcription factor critical in epigenetic regulation of chromatin and cell fate determination. Reduced FOXA1 expression is an independent predictor of poor overall survival in bladder cancer patients. However, the impact of FOXA1 loss on chromatin epigenetics in bladder cancer is unknown. Therefore, we determined the impact of FOXA1 knock out (KO) on epigenetic modification of chromatin and associated gene expression. We identified 8,230 differentially expressed genes following FOXA1 KO. Surprisingly, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) identified IFNɑ/ɣ gene expression signatures as enriched following FOXA1 KO. FOXA1 KO induced both increased and decreased numbers of histone 3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac) sites throughout the genome. As expected, the majority of differences in H3K27ac across genomic areas in FOXA1 KO cells is mapped to intergenic and intronic regions where enhancers reside. In addition, a subset of differential H3K27ac levels were also mapped to proximal promoters and within gene bodies. Integrated analysis of RNA/ChIP-seq data shows changes in gene expression that are mirrored by differences in H3K27ac. Motif analysis of DNA sequence enriched for H3K27ac identified significant increases in transcription factor binding motifs including the interferon sensitive response element (ISRE) and interferon response factors such as IRF1. Moreover, we identified increased H3K27ac of regulatory elements as being associated with several upregulated interferon sensitive genes (ISGs) in FOXA1 KO cells, including CD274/PD-L1. Western blotting and Q-RT-PCR confirmed upregulation of CD274/PD-L1 following FOXA1 KO. Analysis of TCGA data confirmed an inverse relationship between FOXA1 and CD274 in bladder cancer, as well as in other cancers. In summary, we provide evidence of widespread epigenetic reprogramming after FOXA1 KO in bladder cancer cells. Additionally, we provide evidence that FOXA1 KO-induced epigenetic changes contribute to activation of a global interferon-dominant expression signature, including the immune checkpoint target CD274/PD-L1 in a cancer cell-intrinsic manner.
Non-Disclosure Agreements, Liquidated Damages and Arbitration in Context: Contracts Drawn for Good or Evil

Why are NonDisclosure Agreements not simply a matter of providing for the liberty interests of the parties to enter into contracts that they choose to make with each other? As a start, we want to offer an analysis of a cornerstone of such contracts, the prescription of agreed damages commonly referred to as liquidated damages. We will use the law and economics lens to sharpen our understanding of the economic tradeoffs involved in NDAs. We will then turn to a discussion about injunctions and their enforceability in equity, and then make some observations on the enforceability of arbitration agreements that oust the courts’ jurisdiction. In the process, we hope to draw a line between those cases where NDA’s should continue to viable, and those where at least some of their provisions should be found unenforceable.
THEORY THROUGH ARGUMENT: APPLYING ARGUMENT MAPPING TO FACILITATE THEORY BUILDING

This paper proposes an extension of Fletcher and Huff’s (1990) argument mapping technique, which focuses on an examination of individual arguments, to depict the broader argumentative terrain of a ...
The prevalence of asymptomatic COVID-19 infection in cancer patients. A cross-sectional study at a tertiary cancer center in New York City.

Abstact Objective Several factors raise concern for increased risk of COVID-19 in cancer patients. While there is strong support for testing symptomatic patients. The benefit of routine testing of asymptomatic patients remains contentious. We aim to evaluate the prevalence of asymptomatic COVID-19 infection in cancer patients. Methods Between June 1 and September 3, 2020, we obtained nasopharyngeal swab from asymptomatic cancer patients who were visiting a single tertiary-care cancer center, and tested the specimen for the presence or absence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. We performed a descriptive statistic of data Results We tested a total of 80 patients, of which 3 (3.75%) were found positive for COVID-19. A significant proportion of the tested patients were on active immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory treatment, cytotoxic chemotherapy (n = 34), and immunotherapy (n = 16). However, all three COVID-19 positive patients were only actively on hormonal therapy. All three patients observed a minimum of 2 weeks home quarantine. None of the patients developed symptoms upon follow up and no changes were required to their treatment plan. Conclusions Despite published evidence that cancer patients may be at increased risk of severe COVID -19 infection, our data suggest that some infected cancer patients are asymptomatic. The overall prevalence of asymptomatic COVID-19 infection in this population of cancer patients was similar to that in the general population. Therefore, since asymptomatic infections are not uncommon in patients with cancer, we recommend universal COVID-19 testing to help guide treatment decisions and prevent the spread of the disease.
Anti-Stokes and cascaded Stokes Raman microlaser from an organically modified optical resonator

Due to their high circulating intensities, ultra-high quality factor dielectric whispering-gallery mode resonators have enabled the development of low threshold Raman microlasers. Subsequently, other Raman-related phenomena, such as cascaded stimulated Raman scattering (CSRS) and stimulated anti-Stokes Raman scattering (SARS), were observed. While low threshold frequency conversion and generation have clear applications, CSRS and SARS have been limited by the low Raman gain. In this work, the surface of a silica resonator is modified with an organic monolayer, increasing the Raman gain. Up to four orders of CSRS is observed with sub-mW input power, and the SARS efficiency is improved by three orders of magnitude compared to previous studies with hybrid resonators.
Toward an Equity Agenda for Black Girls and Women in STEM Learning Spaces and Careers: Noticing, Validating, and Humanizing

This editorial and themed issue is a call to redirect our efforts from teaching Black women and girls how to navigate and persist in toxic STEM learning environments to a greater vision of being and becoming. As we consider what becoming means for Black girls who transition into Black women in STEM learning spaces and careers, there is often an untold story of struggle, resistance, and resilience. I present the experiences of three Black women physicists who in very recent years became the first, while contributors in this issue share cutting-edge scholarship on how Black girls engage in youth participatory action research, the role of race and gender discrimination on Black girls’ mathematical attitudes and beliefs, and how Black girls develop scientific literacies in elementary classrooms. Additional research explores how Black women experience imposter syndrome in their pursuit of terminal STEM degrees, while the final piece in this issue shares counternarratives of Black women engineering teachers by drawing attention to aspirational capital and communal support. We elevate the voices of Black women and girls to author their own stories as unsung heroes in this body of work and reposition them as experts of their experiences. This courageous and radical shift requires coconspirators and agitators to move the equity agenda forward so that Black girls and women are not burdened with the labor of undoing, disrupting, and dismantling systems of oppression that they did not create.
Cardiopulmonary Interactions in the Management of Acute Obstructive Disease

The heart and lung are mechanically coupled both by virtue of their common exposure to the pleural pressure and the direct effects of lung inflation on the pulmonary vasculature. Derangements in pulmonary mechanics that occur with obstructive lung disease may thus result in hemodynamic abnormalities. In the setting of airflow obstruction, changes in pulmonary compliance, airway resistance, or airflow limitation may result in prolonged expiratory times and the possibility of incomplete exhalation. When this occurs, alveolar pressure is greater than airway opening pressure at end expiration, a phenomenon known as auto-PEEP; this also increases mean intrathoracic pressure and dynamically increases end-expiratory lung volume. Dynamic hyperinflation and increased mean intrathoracic pressure result in increased work of breathing, increased dead space, and, potentially, in substantial hemodynamic compromise. Hemodynamic compromise may also occur through the effects of intrathoracic pressure on cardiac filling pressures, cardiac afterload, and venous return. The primary determinants of auto-PEEP are tidal volume, expiratory time, severity of airway obstruction, and lung compliance. To minimize auto-PEEP, ventilator parameters should be chosen to maximize expiratory time. The dominant determinant of expiratory time is respiratory rate. In a spontaneously breathing patient, auto-PEEP also presents an inspiratory threshold load which increases the work of breathing. In the presence of auto-PEEP, extrinsic PEEP can reduce the threshold load. However, extrinsic PEEP greater than auto-PEEP can also worsen hyperinflation. Reduction of auto-PEEP can improve venous return and cardiac output and is thus a primary therapeutic goal in the ventilatory management of patients with obstructive disease.
Teaching Tablet Technology to Older Adults

Tablets can open a new world for older adults and potentially improve their quality of life. We taught tablet skills to forty-two older adults, who were novice technology users. Sixteen socialized, group-based technology workshops were conducted and observational data was collected by the workshop facilitators. Thematic analysis revealed that older adults have some unique challenges with the tablet computer, including using its touchscreen and trusting the device with their personal information. Due to the absence of a mental model for using a tablet computer, older adults experience low self-confidence and require several iterations to master a new skill. Based on these observations, we devised some strategies that older adults found effective in developing technology skills. Pairing older adults with mentors and encouraging independent learning were the key teaching strategies. This work informs the development of a structured learning approach along with appropriate activities for future interventions and community programs targeted towards older adults.