cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Partial shading abatement through cell level inverter system topology

Partial Shading has a disproportional impact on power production of photovoltaic systems. A microinverter system architecture with a 72- cell Sanyo module is presented as baseline system for comparison. Results are presented on worst case shading scenarios for a micro inverter system. This work presents a two stage system architecture which is robust to module level partial shading. The first stage of this system architecture couples a DC- DC converter for each PV solar cell, allowing for maximum power point tracking at the cell level. The second stage utilized a cascaded multilevel inverter topology for DC-AC power conversion. A local H-bridge couples with each converter stage, allowing for bus voltage management and DC-AC power conversion to utility grid. The two stage system design effectively minimizes power lost due to partial shading. Simulation results are presented to demonstrate and verify system design performance. Under a worst case cell shading scenario, the proposed system allows for a 1.2% decrease in PV power. Comparisons between the micro- inverter baseline and our proposed system design is presented. These results demonstrate a 31.1% increase in power production using the proposed topology.
A Practical Guide for Developing Effective Technical Standards in Social Work Programs

Social work educators are increasingly faced with concerns about students who do not possess the technical standards (basic skills, values, and abilities) of the social work profession. This article discusses the purpose of technical standards, which ensure that social work programs admit, retain, and graduate students who possess the physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral attributes required for success. The history of technical standards, concerns about their use, and the growing need for technical standards are also addressed. Finally, practical advice on developing technical standards for social work education and examples of one university’s standards are offered.
On Ultimate Thermodynamic Limitations in Communication and Computation

We view reversible computation as follows. A physical system (computer), prepared in a desired initial state (i.e., given a program and data and turned on), will undergo a time evolution to a subsequent state which can be (at least partially) measured, the result of the measurement being the result of the computation (recorded on a tape, for example). Alternatively, the computer prepares the output tape, just as the programmer prepares the input tape. If the computer is a reversible dynamical system, irreversibilty occurs only in such tape preparation processes. Similarly in a communication system (transmitter plus channel plus receiver), preparation of the “input end” of the system (sending the message), after time evolution of the whole system, permits (partial) measurement at the “output end” of a new state, the result of the measurement now being the received message. Reliable (noiseless) communication is approached over noisy channels via use of redundancy and coding which is computation. As real systems, with tapes counted as part of system, must be used for successions of computations and communications, entropy production connected with preparation (including erasure) and reading of tapes is the fundamental thermodynamic limit even for perfect machines and noiseless channels. In general purpose computers there is also internal communication (between memory and CPU for example), status flags, measurements ancillary to conditional branching, etc. With refrigeration and use of devices with closely spaced quantum levels energy threshold limitations appear to have no definite positive lower limit in principle. The entropy limititations, in contrtast, are absolute (k log m for selection from m possibilities, either for measurement or preparation) and related to the third law of thermodynamics. Analysis of the complex systems involved, in terms of subsystems brought into temporary interaction and then decoupled, implies a chain of wave-packet reductions and concomitant entropy increases. Reversible time evolution occurs in intervals between such wave-packet reductions. The number of unavoidable wave-packet reductions is algorithm and problem dependent for a general purpose computer, always being at least two. This minimum is approachable in principle for a special purpose computer. Reversible computers discussed in the literature are essentially special purpose; those which appear to be general purpose require preparation procedures whose complexity is algorithm and problem dependent, or whose size grows exponentially with the size of the problem, or both.
The Cellular Basis of Traumatic Bleeding

Bleeding is clearly a major cause of morbidity and death after trauma. When bleeding is attributable to transection of major vessels, surgical repair is appropriate. Posttraumatic microvascular bleeding attributable to coagulopathy secondary to metabolic derangements, hypothermia, and depletion or dysfunction of cellular and protein components requires a different approach. Although transfusion of blood products may be necessary to replace the blood loss, it does not always correct the problem of microvascular bleeding. The type of injury, mode of care, and treatment objectives differ significantly for combat-wounded soldiers versus civilian trauma patients. Although hemorrhage is responsible for 50% of combat deaths, published information about coagulation monitoring among combat patients is very limited. These articles summarize the appropriate monitoring of hemostasis among combat trauma patients, review the unique nature of combat casualties and the medical system used to treat them, and discuss information available from civilian studies. Because the development of coagulopathy is relatively infrequent in the young, otherwise healthy, military population, the routine screening measures currently used are adequate to guide initial blood product administration. However, as new intravenous hemostatic agents are used for these patients, better laboratory measures will be required. Although hemorrhage is the leading cause of death for combat casualties, catastrophic hemorrhage is rarely a prehospital combat medical management problem because, when it occurs, it tends to cause death before medical care can be provided. In civilian environments, most seriously injured victims can be reached and transported by emergency medical services personnel within minutes; in combat, it often takes hours simply to transport casualties off the battlefield. In combat situations, even if the transport distances are small, the hazardous nature of the forward combat areas frequently prevents medical personnel from quickly reaching the wounded. Furthermore, whereas civilian blunt trauma victims may have a "golden hour," casualties with penetrating battlefield trauma often have only a "platinum 5 minutes." Because of the challenges of treating hemorrhage during combat, it is important for military medical personnel to understand their options for treating hemorrhage quickly and efficiently. These articles discuss the causes of posttraumatic microvascular bleeding and the potential treatment options for controlling catastrophic hemorrhage in combat areas.
Forecasting Pink Bollworm Emergence by Thermal Summation

Overwintering emergence of pink bollworm moths was monitored for 4 years in the Imperial Valley, Calif. Simultaneous temperatures were recorded under emergence cages and field conditions. All temperatures were converted to a cumulative degree-day summation. Accumulating degree-days was seen to be an accurate means of forecasting cumulative moth emergence under both cage and field conditions. These findings also were verified with data from Yuma, Ariz.
Antioxidant Maintenance of Hepatic Triglyceride Secretory Activity And Hepatic Function in Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoned Rats.

SummaryPrior administration of the lipid antioxidant, DPPD, to rats which subsequently received CC14 orally prevented the CCU-induced depression of plasma triglyc-eride concentration and maintained a normal hepatic release of triglyceride into the plasma compartment, as assessed by the post-Triton hypertriglyceridemic response. Administration of DPPD also prevented the CCl4-induced impairment in the hepatic removal of BSP. These findings, coupled with prior observation of inhibition of CCU-induced hepatic fatty infiltration, hepatic necrosis, and lethality, indicate that antioxidants can modify the degree and nature of hepatic cell injury resulting from exposure to certain toxic substances.
Comparisons between detection threshold and loudness perception for individual cochlear implant channels.

Objective The objective of this study was to examine how the level of current required for cochlear implant listeners to detect single-channel electrical pulse trains relates to loudness perception on the same channel. The working hypothesis was that channels with relatively high thresholds, when measured with a focused current pattern, interface poorly to the auditory nerve. For such channels, a smaller dynamic range between perceptual threshold and the most comfortable loudness would result, in part, from a greater sensitivity to changes in electrical field spread compared to low-threshold channels. The narrower range of comfortable listening levels may have important implications for speech perception. Design Data were collected from eight, adult cochlear implant listeners implanted with the HiRes90k cochlear implant (Advanced Bionics Corp.). The partial tripolar (pTP) electrode configuration, consisting of one intracochlear active electrode, two flanking electrodes carrying a fraction (σ) of the return current, and an extracochlear ground, was used for stimulation. Single-channel detection thresholds and most comfortable listening levels were acquired using the most focused pTP configuration possible (σ ≥ 0.8) to identify three channels for further testing-those with the highest, median, and lowest thresholds-for each subject. Threshold, equal-loudness contours (at 50% of the monopolar dynamic range), and loudness growth functions were measured for each of these three test channels using various pTP fractions. Results For all test channels, thresholds increased as the electrode configuration became more focused. The rate of increase with the focusing parameter σ was greatest for the high-threshold channel compared to the median- and low-threshold channels. The 50% equal-loudness contours exhibited similar rates of increase in level across test channels and subjects. Additionally, test channels with the highest thresholds had the narrowest dynamic ranges (for σ ≥ 0.5) and steepest growth of loudness functions for all electrode configurations. Conclusions Together with previous studies using focused stimulation, the results suggest that auditory responses to electrical stimuli at both threshold and suprathreshold current levels are not uniform across the electrode array of individual cochlear implant listeners. Specifically, the steeper growth of loudness and thus smaller dynamic ranges observed for high-threshold channels are consistent with a degraded electrode-neuron interface, which could stem from lower numbers of functioning auditory neurons or a relatively large distance between the neurons and electrodes. These findings may have potential implications for how stimulation levels are set during the clinical mapping procedure, particularly for speech-processing strategies that use focused electrical fields.
Insecticides tested for control of nymphal brown dog ticks by the "tea-bag" technique.

Engorged larval Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille) were enclosed 3–4 days after detachment from guinea pigs in envelopes (4×5.5 cm) made of heat-sealable tea-bag paper; larvae molted to nymphs 8–12 days after detachment. Then, 14–15 days after the ticks detached, the envelopes were dipped in insecticides and held until 24 hr posttreatment when mortality was determined. In a test of 26 insecticides at various concentrations, the LC50 values ranged from 0.000028% for pyrethrins + piperonyl butoxide (1:10) to 0.88% for dieldrin. Also, the “tea bag” technique was used for time-mortality tests of dieldrin, chlordane, heptachlor, and methoxychlor, all of which were much less effective than the other compounds at 24 hr posttreatment. Mortality did not increase drasticcally with time.
Mating and Sterility of Male Boll Weevils Treated with Busulfan Plus Hempa

Male Anthonomus grandis Boheman fed 0.08% busulfan + 0.4% hempa for 6 days were as competitive as untreated males about ½ the time (occurripg randomly), and ½ the time the treated males were ¼–⅓% as competitive as untreated males. After an average of 7 matings, the treated males had depleted their supply of sperm. Determinations of sterility based on testes examination were in full agreement 91% of the time with determinations based on egg hatch and adult emergence.
Computation in electron microscopy

Some uses of the computer and computation in high-resolution transmission electron microscopy are reviewed. The theory of image calculation using Bloch wave and multislice methods with and without aberration correction is reviewed and some applications are discussed. The inverse problem of reconstructing the specimen structure from an experimentally measured electron microscope image is discussed. Some future directions of software development are given.
Recent Developments in the Chemistry of [B12H12]2-

The dodecaborate(2-) cluster [B12H12]2-, 1, is less frequently found as the boron component in drugs designed for BNCT than the isoelectronic carboranes C2B10H12. The carboranes contain C—H vertices that are easily modified by employing methods of organic chemistry.1 Thus, it is facile to link these carborane clusters to tumor-targeting moieties. Furthermore, the B—H vertices of the carboranes differ in reactivity depending on their position relative to the electron-withdrawing carbon atoms. This difference allows for the selective modification of certain B—H vertices. The anion 1, on the other hand, consists of 12 identical boron atoms. Therefore, it is difficult to control the degree of substitution and the regiospecifity of reactions performed on the icosahedral framework of 1. For example, the diiodination of 0-carborane gives exclusively the 9,12-isomer, whereas it leads to an isomeric mixture for 1.2 Relative to the carboranes, however, the dodecaborate(2-) cluster offers advantages such as its stability regarding basic degradation, water-solubility of its derivatives, and higher boron content.
General Issues in Conceptualization and Treatment

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the general issues in conceptualization and treatment in child psychopathology. Conceptualization derived from a theoretical perspective frames the clinicians' understanding of the presenting problem. The conceptual model used by the clinicians determines whether a diagnostic formulation is necessary or appropriate. Moreover, the conceptual model as embedded in a paradigm dictates the type of nosology to be utilized. Consolidation of treatment methods may be advantageous and integration of treatment with theory would likely be useful in this endeavor. The conceptual model is essential in determining the therapist's role in the therapeutic process. The participation of the cognitive therapist is active and collaborative, because collaborative empiricism is an important aspect of cognitive conceptualization. This is in sharp contrast to the analyst, whose role in some forms of psychoanalysis is to provide an ambiguous or blank slate upon which the patient may project or transfer characteristics from past relationships. The existential or client–centered therapist emphasizes a genuine, accepting relationship in order to provide a context for new learning and self-exploration, while in the systemic approach the therapist generally selects a focus for treatment and joins subgroups within the family in order to affect its structure. Theories of psychopathology are often a product of their time, as they are likely to reflect social attitudes, levels of scientific knowledge, and the extent to which a particular paradigm is accepted.
Defining and Visualizing Your Goals (Session 3 of the Treatment Manual)

Session 3 of the treatment manual focuses on helping clients define and visualize their goals. As previously mentioned, this cultural adaptation is of critical importance because of the Asian cultural emphasis on problem-solving. Moreover, because of the high stigma toward mental illness and its treatment, Asian heritage clients often delay help-seeking, resulting in their problems getting worse and evidencing greater clinical severity when they finally do come in. As a result, there is a clinical–cultural interaction that leads clients to be very focused on problem-solving and finding immediate resolution to their distress. By aligning with the problem-solving nature evident in Asian heritage culture, the treatment becomes culturally syntonic and matches the initial treatment goals of the client. This can be very different from traditional cognitive-behavioral therapy which places a greater initial and overall focus on cognitions, the identification of irrational thoughts and maladaptive thinking patterns, and cognitive reframing.
Acid-switched Eu(III) coordination inside reverse aggregates: Insights into a synergistic liquid-liquid extraction system

Abstract Determining the structure of complex solutions bearing metal ions is challenging, but crucial for developing important technologies such as liquid-liquid extraction for metal refining and separation purposes. Herein, the structure of an organic Eu(III) solution consisting a binary mixture of lipophilic ligands di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid (HDEHP) and tetraoctyl diglycolamide (TODGA) in dodecane is studied using synchrotron small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS). This system is of technological importance in f-element separation for nuclear fuel cycle applications, where extraction is controlled by varying nitric acid concentration. Extraction is promoted at low and high concentration, but is retarded at intermediate concentration, leading to a U-shaped function; the structural origins of which we investigate. At the nanoscale, the solution is apparently comprised of reverse micelles with polar cores of approximately 1 nm in size, and these remain virtually unchanged as acid concentration is varied. Inside the polar cores, the coordination environment of Eu(III) switches from a 9-coordinate [Eu(TODGA) 3 ] 3+ motif at high acid, to a 6-coordinate HDEHP-dominated complex resembling Eu(HDEHP·DEHP) 3 at low acid. The results show that extraction is controlled within the coordination sphere, where it is promoted under conditions that favor coordination of either one of the two organic ligands, but is retarded under conditions that encourage mixed complexes. Our results link solution structure with ion transport properties in a technologically-important liquid-liquid ion extraction system.
Nomenclature of Vasculitides: 2012 Revised International Chapel Hill Consensus Conference

A nomenclature system provides names and definitions for diseases, and provides the framework for establishing classification criteria for groups of patients and diagnostic criteria for individual patients. The International Chapel Hill Consensus Conference Nomenclature of Vasculitides (CHCC) provides standardized names and definitions for different classes of vasculitis, but does not provide validated criteria for classifying cohorts of patients into these classes, or for diagnosing (classifying) an individual patient. The CHCC nomenclature and definitions are useful for communication among health care providers, understanding the medical literature, guiding development of classification and diagnostic criteria, and facilitating research on cohorts of patients with vasculitis. Names and definitions evolve more slowly than classification and diagnostic criteria because the latter must change as new diagnostic technologies and clinical laboratory testing are available. For example, the discovery of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA) added a new criterion for classifying vasculitis. The most robust ongoing effort to develop classification and diagnostic criteria for vasculitis is by the Diagnostic and Classification Criteria for Vasculitis (DCVAS) study group. Once data are collected from large vasculitis patient cohorts, identifying the most clinically and biologically relevant classes, and the most accurate and precise diagnostic criteria, may require the application of supervised and unsupervised machine learning algorithms. It will be interesting to see how machine generated vasculitis classes agree (or not) with the CHCC classes that were devised by mere mortals.
Sacroiliac Joint Complex Pain

Sacroiliac joint complex (SIJC) pain is well recognized as a potential source of pelvic pain. Its precise prevalence is unknown. However, studies suggest it affects 15–30 % of patients with chronic, nonradicular back pain. The causes of SIJC pain are numerous, yet the exact mechanisms are not completely understood. History and physical findings and radiological imaging are insufficient to diagnose SIJC pain. Nevertheless, evidence supports a combination of three or more provocative tests can predict response to diagnostic blocks. Both intra- and extra-articular injections can elucidate the possible sources of SIJ pain. For patients who experience only short-term relief from SIJC steroid injections, radiofrequency denervation may prolong the pain relief up to 1 year. This chapter covers all aspects of SIJC pain including functional anatomy, innervation, epidemiology, diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment.
SRS—Spreadsheet Response Spectrum

LOTUS 1-2-3, one of the most popular microcomputer programs, is an integrated spreadsheet, database, and graphics program for organizing and analyzing data in many useful ways. Whereas many 1-2-3 applications tend to be business oriented, a substantial base of engineering software utilizes 1-2-3. The spreadsheet demonstrates how this ubiquitous microcomputer program can be used to perform response spectrum calculations.
Mechanisms of Acute Cardioprotection with Ischemic Preconditioning: Protein Kinase C and Beyond

Brief episodes of transient, nonlethal ischemia protect or “precondition” the heart and render the myocardium resistant to a subsequent more sustained ischemic insult. Considerable evidence indicates that this paradoxical, ischemia-induced cardioprotection—the hallmark of which is the profound reduction in infarct size in preconditioned cohorts versus controls—is a receptor-mediated phenomenon, triggered by stimulation of G-protein-coupled receptors during brief antecedent ischemia/reflow. However, the downstream cellular mediators and signal transduction pathways, initiated by receptor stimulation, that ultimately effect the increased resistance to infarction remain the subject of controversy and intensive investigation. While initial theories focused on the pivotal role of protein kinase C, currently emerging data favor the concept that preconditioning-induced cardioprotection is the consequence of multiple, complex, and integrated cellular signaling pathways, involving not only protein kinase C but also the second messenger inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate or one or more receptor or nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinases.
Wireless Sensor Nodes Can Be Powered by Temperature Gradients; No Batteries Needed: Harvesting Energy from Thermoelectric Generators

Recent transducer technology advancements have increased the efficiency of devices capturing trace amounts of energy from the environment, as well as their subsequent transformation into electrical energy. As a result, there is a growing interest from the engineering community to develop more applications that utilize energy harvesting to power wireless sensors.
Erratum: Lavergne, S.N. In Vitro Research Tools in the Field of Human Immediate Drug Hypersensitivity and Their Present Use in Small Animal Veterinary Medicine Vet. Sci. 2017, 4, 1

Due to an error during production, the author, Lavergne S. Lavergne’s name in the published paper [1] was incorrect.[...]
Uruguay Round Reforms and the Developing World

The Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade represents a significant advance in multilateral trade negotiations. The Final Accord expands market access, extends foreign investment rights, and liberalizes trade in services. This paper considers the implications of Uruguay Round reforms for developing nations. Although the Accord offers some short-term advantages for these nations, it jeopardizes their long-term prospects for development. Overall, the Accord represents a further step toward the consolidation of economic power in the North and the subordination of national interests to the logic of global markets.
Sacituzumab for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer: the poster child of future therapy?

Introduction: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer that disproportionately impacts younger women and is associated with a poor prognosis. Systemic treatmen...
Vasopressor support in managing acute spinal cord injury: current knowledge.

Introduction Managing neurogenic shock following acute traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is challenging. Current guidelines target mean arterial pressure (MAP) above 85-90 mmHg to maintain cord perfusion and reduce ischemia/secondary injury. While early vasopressor utilization has been associated with improved outcomes, recent updates regarding indications of specific vasopressors for refinement of existing guidelines are needed. Evidence acquisition A comprehensive search was conducted using the National Library of Medicine PubMed database between 01/2010 and 01/2017 targeting vasopressor use in the setting of neurogenic/spinal shock and/or hypotension following acute SCI in adult patients. Special focus was provided for endpoints of comparative advantage, complications, and adjunctive agents. Evidence synthesis Seven reports met inclusion criteria. In complete and incomplete SCI, rates of vasopressor-associated complications were greater for dopamine compared to phenylephrine. Norepinephrine provided a comparative 2-mmHg increase to spinal cord perfusion pressure without differential MAP effects versus dopamine. In elderly SCI, more vasopressor and dopamine-specific complications were observed. A case series found adjunct oral pseudoephedrine to be successful in wean off intravenous vasopressors. One study of various MAP thresholds 65-90 mmHg found no correlations with neurological outcome. Conclusions Class III evidence has been augmented regarding vasopressor usage following acute SCI, however comparative benefits between vasopressors remain in need of elucidation due to small sample sizes and/or inadequate specificity to spine injury levels. Large prospective multicenter studies targeting age cohorts, and characterizing associated comorbidities and complication profiles, are of high priority in order to determine judicious use criteria of specific vasopressors for relevant subpopulations.
21st Century assessment: Online proctoring, test anxiety, and student performance

It is safe to say that online leaning has found a permanent place in higher education. Conventional higher education institutions are also gradually embracing it across the United Sates. As online learning surfaces as the new model of contemporary education both in the United States and worldwide, ensuring exam integrity in the online environment is becoming a major challenge to many higher education institutions. To meet this challenge, many of these institutions are outsourcing the examination aspect of their education to online proctoring service providers. The present study, which was conducted on a total of 631 students, assesses the effect of online proctored exams on student test anxiety and exam performance. This study shows that high trait test anxiety results in lower exam scores and that this is especially true for those students with high text anxiety taking exams in an online proctored setting. Evaluation au 21e siecle: surveillance en ligne, anxiete aux tests et rendement des eleves Resume: On peut affirmer sans risque que l’apprentissage en ligne a trouve une place permanente dans l’enseignement superieur. Les etablissements d’enseignement superieur conventionnels l’adoptent egalement progressivement aux Etats-Unis. Alors que l’apprentissage en ligne apparait comme le nouveau modele de l’education contemporaine tant aux Etats-Unis que dans le monde entier, assurer l’integrite des examens dans l’environnement en ligne devient un defi majeur pour de nombreux etablissements d’enseignement superieur. Pour relever ce defi, bon nombre de ces etablissements confient l’aspect examen de leur formation a des fournisseurs de services de surveillance en ligne. La presente etude, qui a ete menee sur un total de 631 etudiants, evalue l’effet des examens en ligne surveilles sur l’anxiete des etudiants et leur performance aux examens. Cette etude montre que lorsque le niveau d’anxiete detecte par le test est eleve, les resultats d’examen sont plus faibles et que cela est encore plus fort pour les etudiants dont l’anxiete est elevee qui passent des examens dans un contexte de surveillance en ligne. Mots cles: surveillance en ligne, apprentissage, test d’anxiete, inquietude, emotivite
Eliminating the Surprise Question Leaves Home Care Providers With Few Options for Identifying Mortality Risk

Background:Precision health initiatives for end-of-life planning require robust methods for identifying patient risk for decline and mortality. The Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) su...
Novel peer-facilitated method to decrease burnout and enhance professional development: the READ-SG prospective cohort study.

Professional burnout is characterised by increased perception of emotional exhaustion (EE) and depersonalisation (DP) with a concomitantly decreased sense of personal accomplishment (PA).1 Burnout among physicians is common, particularly in trainees and early-career physicians. Among internal medicine (IM) trainees in particular, recent data suggests that burnout is present in approximately 30%–40% of postgraduate first-year trainees (PGY-1), reaching up to 80% by the PGY-2 year.2 Significant research has defined various contributors to development of burnout including workload, lack of social support and a sense of lacking autonomy among others.1 Aside from reported negative effects on patient care, some have even shown associations between burnout and depression, prevalent in approximately 50% of trainees with up to 8% reporting suicidality.3 Given this growing epidemic and what seems to be a particularly vulnerable period during postgraduate medical training, various interventions have been tested to decrease burnout. Initially thought to be promising, professionally led discussion groups, including but not limited to Balint-style groups, were successful in decreasing burnout in faculty physicians, but showed no efficacy in decreasing burnout among physician trainees.4 We hypothesised that the lack of success using professionally led groups among trainees may be due to the lack of shared experiences with the facilitator during this unique stage of forming a professional identity. In planning a novel intervention to address this topic, a survey of IM residents at our programme found that 80% would prefer a peer-led group to one that is professionally or faculty-led. As a result, we designed peer-facilitated small-group sessions to implement in the IM postgraduate training programme at our institution. With encouraging results from our pilot survey study of PGY-1 IM trainees, we employed the Reflect, Empathize, Analyze, and Discuss in Small Groups (READ-SG) Method in monthly, topic-based, peer-facilitated small groups to prospectively assess …
The Palliative Care Needs of Lung Transplant Candidates

Purpose Palliative care (PC) has been shown to improve outcomes for seriously ill patients but has not been fully integrated into the care of lung transplant patients. Little is known about the palliative care needs for this population. Our goal was to describe adult lung transplant candidates’ perspectives of their PC needs. Methods Prospective, cross-sectional study; Pre-lung transplant patients from a large, single-center adult lung transplant program between February and October 2019, rated their PC needs using an adapted version of the Needs at the End-of-Life Screening Tool (NEST- 13). Each item was scored on a 10-point scale with higher scores indicating greater needs. Results The sample included 113 lung transplant candidates. Most (66.3%) were undergoing evaluation, 18.4% were waitlisted, and 15.3% had completed evaluation testing but were not yet listed. Almost 74% of the participants undergoing pre-transplant evaluation were outpatient and 26.2% were inpatients. Participants were predominantly middle-aged (mean: 55.5 years, SD:13.6), Caucasian (83.0%) and female (58.0%). The highest-rated PC needs were “difficulty being as physically active as you would like” (mean= 7.9; SD= 2.5), “suffer from physical symptoms” (mean= 7.4; SD= 2.5), “have to miss or cut back on work due to your illness” (mean=6.2; SD= 3.2), “distressed by the thought your life might end” (mean=5.1; SD= 3.6), and “difficulty preparing family and friends for possibility of losing you” (mean= 4.8; SD= 3.8). Psychiatric symptoms were not rated as a significant need. Participants reported that spirituality is important but did not report difficulty meeting this need. Only 7.1% reported seeing a PC specialist and many (48.2%) were unsure what a PC specialist is. Despite concerns regarding end-of-life, 60.7% indicated that they had not discussed their views on death and dying with their health care team. Conclusion Lung transplant candidates have significant PC needs, particularly related to their physical symptoms, restrictions on their daily activities, and end-of-life concerns. More research is needed to test the effectiveness of PC in meeting the physical and psychosocial needs of lung transplant patients and to examine the most effective approaches for integrating PC into regular, ongoing lung transplant care.
Enantioselective Syntheses of Strychnos and Chelidonium Alkaloids through Regio‐ and Stereocontrolled Cooperative Catalysis

We describe enantioselective syntheses of strychnos and chelidonium alkaloids. In the first case, indole acetic acid esters were established as excellent partner nucleophiles for enantioselective cooperative isothiourea/Pd catalyzed α-alkylation. This provides products containing indole-bearing stereocenters in high yield and with excellent levels of enantioinduction in a manner that is notably independent of the N-substituent. This led to concise syntheses of (-)-akuammicine and (-)-strychnine. In the second case, the poor performance of ortho-substituted cinnamyl electrophiles in the enantioselective cooperative isothiourea/Ir catalyzed α-alkylation was overcome by appropriate substituent choice, leading to enantioselective syntheses of (+)-chelidonine, (+)-norchelidonine, and (+)-chelamine.
AEROSOL PARTICLE PROCESSING AND REMOVAL BY FOGS: OBSERVATIONS IN CHEMICALLY HETEROGENEOUS CENTRAL CALIFORNIA RADIATION FOGS

Fog composition and deposition fluxes of fog waterand fog solutes were measured in six radiation fogevents in San Joaquin Valley, California duringwinter 1998/1999. Measurements made at 2 hrintervals with 0.30 m2 and 0.06 m2 Teflondeposition plates yielded excellent reproducibility(relative standard deviations of 3.8–6.0%) forwater, nitrate, sulfate and ammonium. Water fluxesmeasured at 5 min intervals with a recordingbalance agreed well with the deposition platemeasurements before 8:00 AM. After 8:00 AMevaporation proved problematic. The averagedeposition velocity from the study for fog nitrate(3.8 cm s-1) was less than those for fogsulfate (5.1 cm s-1) and ammonium (6.7 cms-1). All three species generally exhibitedsmaller deposition velocities than fog water. Thespecies dependent trend in deposition velocitieswas consistent with preferential enrichment ofthese species in small fog drops (nitrate > sulfate> ammonium).
Trailblazer: A Pioneering Journalist’s Fight to Make the Media Look More Like America: Butler-Gilliam, Dorothy. New York, NY: Center Street, 2019, 368 pp., $17.99 (hardback).

With the current attack on journalism, Dorothy Butler-Gilliam’s autobiography is timely and relevant to the understanding of the media’s advocacy role. As the first Black female reporter of the Was...
High Force Density Gripping with UV Activation and Sacrificial Adhesion

This paper presents a novel physical gripping framework intended for controlled, high force density attachment on a range of surfaces. Our framework utilizes a light-activated chemical adhesive to attach to surfaces. The cured adhesive is part of a "sacrificial layer," which is shed when the gripper separates from the surface. In order to control adhesive behavior we utilize ultraviolet (UV) light sensitive acrylics which are capable of rapid curing when activated with 380nm light. Once cured, zero input power is needed to hold load. Thin plastic parts can be used as the sacrificial layers, and these can be released using an electric motor. This new gripping framework including the curing load capacity, adhesive deposition, and sacrificial methods are described in detail. Two proof-of concept prototypes are designed, built, and tested. The experimental results illustrate the response time (15-75s depending on load), high holding force-to-weight ratio (10-30), and robustness to material type. Additionally, two drawbacks of this design are discussed: corruption of the gripped surface and a limited number of layers.
Urban Biodiversity and the Importance of Scale

Many ecological and evolutionary processes are affected by urbanization, but cities vary by orders of magnitude in their human population size and areal extent. To quantify and manage urban biodiversity, one must understand both how biodiversity scales with city size, and how ecological, evolutionary, and socioeconomic drivers of biodiversity scale with city size. We show how environmental abiotic and biotic drivers, as well as human cultural and socioeconomic drivers, may act through ecological and evolutionary processes differently, at different scales, to influence patterns in urban biodiversity. Because relationships likely take linear and nonlinear forms, the need to describe the specific scaling relationships is highlighted, including deviations and potential inflection points, where different management strategies may successfully conserve urban biodiversity.
Reproductive Efficiency in Beef Cattle

Cow-calf efficiency can be defined both in terns of biological efficiency and economic efficiency. Measures of biological efficiency include pregnancy rate, percentage calf crop weaned and calf weight weaned per cow exposed. Economic efficiency may be measured by net return per cow/calf unit or net return to the beef cattle enterprise. Biological and economic efficiency are often closely related, but in some situations only a limited relationship exists. For example, if biological efficiency defined as calf weight weaned divided by cow exposed is high, economic efficiency may or may not be high, depending on cow costs and the price of calves. Economic efficiency is of most importance to producers and is dependent on: 1) percent calf crop weaned, 2) weaning weight, 3) sale price of calves, and 4) annual cow costs (Ritchie, 1984). Maximizing production may not always be consistent with maximizing net profits over the long term. Identifying optimum levels of production ( those consistent with maximum continuing net profit) should be the goal. The optimum levels for reproductive measures such as pregnancy rate and percentage calf crop weaned are in fact high and quite close to maximum in most cases. Focusing on high reproductive efficiency at minimal cost is essential in moving cow-calf producers closer to optimum levels of production. Where do reductions in reproductive efficiency occur? Bellows (1984) summarized losses in potentially weanable calves and reported that most losses occur either because cows fail to become pregnant or lose calves at or near calving. Nutrition is a major factor contributing to these losses. The purpose of this paper is to discuss factors, primarily nutritional, contributing to these losses.
Separation of zirconium and hafnium from early actinides and rare earth elements with eichrom’s pb resin in HCl

The separation of zirconium and hafnium isotopes from the early actinides and rare earth elements (REE) with Eichrom’s Pb resin has been studied. Batch studies were performed to characterize the behavior of actinium, thorium, zirconium, hafnium, lutetium, and yttrium on Pb resin from HCl solutions (0.001 M to 11 M). The early actinides and REE had no affinity for the resin at any concentration of HCl, but zirconium and hafnium showed a moderate uptake at high concentrations of HCl with a maximum extraction at 11 M HCl. Several column separations were tested, including with only tracer isotopes and with mass. Rapid, simple separations of zirconium from actinium, thorium, protactinium, and the REE with high yields and low elution volumes are presented with applications for tracer isotope production and fission product separations. The resin is less suitable for hafnium separations as hafnium tends to bleed off the resin even at high concentrations of HCl.
Telemedicine use in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic among community dwelling U.S. Medicare beneficiaries

Objective: CMS reimbursement regulations for telemedicine changed after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to assess telemedicine utilization patterns offered by health care providers and used by Medicare beneficiaries during the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020. Methods: This study used the Fall 2020 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) supplemental COVID-19 survey to identify Medicare beneficiaries (≥ 65 years) with a regular place for medical care that offered telemedicine during 2020. Major outcomes: prevalence for whether telemedicine was offered before and during the pandemic, telemedicine use, and digital access to telemedicine. Logistic regression identified the demographic factors associated with telemedicine use. Results: The study sample included 4,380 eligible individual Medicare beneficiaries ≥ 65 years. Of those, 42.9% made telemedicine visits during the pandemic. Approximately 60% of the telemedicine visits were conducted via telephone. Telemedicine was offered to 18% of the respondents before the pandemic vs. 64% during year 2020 of the pandemic. Among telemedicine users, 57.2%, 28.3%, and 14.5% used voice calls, video calls, and both voice and video calls for health care appointments, respectively. Overall telemedicine use varied by sex, race, and region. Individuals 65-74 years, female, living in a metropolitan area, with higher incomes were more likely to make video visits. Experience using telecommunications via the internet influenced telemedicine use significantly. Conclusions: Telemedicine offered to older Medicare beneficiaries increased dramatically after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, less than half used telemedicine and differences in utilization existed by demographic characteristics.
Computer Vision in Chemistry: Automatic Titration

A novel technology that employs computer vision (CV) to carry out an automatic titration experiment is presented. The experiment is designed to facilitate understanding of the basics of the CV technology and its application in chemistry among undergraduate students. The standard chemical procedure of titration has been chosen, since it is well-known to students who completed general chemistry or similar foundation chemistry courses. A significant advantage of CV-based automation is the use of open-source software and readily available electronic devices, as no expensive specialized equipment or proprietary software is required. The experiment can be performed remotely, either live online or with prerecorded videos. The reported technology is accessible to virtually any educational institution as well as to individuals. The proposed technology provides affordable and safe means for remote execution of titration experiments for students with disabilities. Therefore, the proposed experiment is suitable for traditional laboratory instruction as well as remote synchronous or asynchronous course delivery which gained practical importance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, the proposed CV-based automation opens a new realm of opportunities for rethinking traditional chemistry procedures where computer vision is used to improve performance of standard laboratory instruments and techniques. © Published 2021 by American Chemical Society and Division of Chemical Education, Inc.
Modeling Thermal Contact Resistance

One difficulty in using cryocoolers is making good thermal contact between the cooler and the instrument being cooled. The connection is often made through a bolted joint. The temperature drop associated with this joint has been the subject of many experimental and theoretical studies. The low temperature behavior of dry joints has shown some anomalous dependence on the surface condition of the mating parts. There is also some doubt on how well one can extrapolate from test samples to predicting the performance of a real system.
Imitation and Language Development

Publisher Summary During the first four years of life, most children reared in a speech community increasingly exhibit speech forms common or typical of that community. At the same time, they exhibit an increasing ability to imitate the speech of people in their environments. This chapter reviews some of the recent research on the development of imitative behavior in children. It also reviews the use of imitation procedures to develop various language forms in children. Several studies are described, which show the establishment of generative repertoires of plurality, simple sentences, and verb-tense usage. In these studies, children are taught, by imitation and differential reinforcement procedures, to respond verbally to a series of specific stimulus cues. On the basis of this training, the children are able to produce new and appropriate responses to new stimulus cues. Thus, after training, children appropriately pluralize new items, which had been labeled for them only in the singular; similarly, after training, children produce appropriate present- and past-tense forms of new verbs presented to them.
Dialectic Conceptions In Social Psychology: An Application To Social Penetration And Privacy Regulation

Publisher Summary The long-term development of social bonds, including their growth and deterioration, their interaction processes that occur over the history of social relationships, and their holistic systems like qualities, are examined in the chapter. The chapter integrates and extends the social penetration theory and the privacy regulation theory. It introduces the study of interpersonal relationships. The chapter compares social penetration and privacy regulation frameworks in terms of their similarities and differences and their strengths and weaknesses. It examines the concept of dialectics from a historical and philosophical perspective and describes a particular dialectic approach. The idea of opposition, the unity of opposites, and the concept of change are discussed under the concept of dialectics. Then the chapter explores assumptions about social relationships, wherein it discusses about general philosophical assumptions, homeostasis and the maintenance of stability, and specific assumptions about openness-closeness and stability-change. The chapter discusses research conducted on openness-closeness and stability-change processes in reference to (1) relationship development, (2) crises in social relationships, (3) intimacy of exchange, (4) personal characteristics of interaction style, and (5) the interpersonal unit-matching and timing of interaction.