cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relationships among prescription payment methods and interactions between community pharmacists and prescribers

OBJECTIVE:This research was performed to examine community pharmacists' interactions with prescribers and to determine if these interactions are related to payment method.DESIGN:Randomly selected pharmacists (47 in chain pharmacies and 26 in independent pharmacies) collected data concerning prescriber interactions for a 40-hour period. These interactions were analyzed in terms of payment methods, prescriber acceptance, and types of information discussed.RESULTS:Information concerning 730 interactions by 72 pharmacists was obtained. Payment methods were related to the frequency of interactions per pharmacist (p<0.01). There were higher percentages of interactions for self-pay (median 2.2 percent) and Medicaid (median 1.8 percent) prescriptions than for third-party fee-for-service (mode 0 percent) or capitation prescriptions (mode 0 percent). Type of information discussed was related to payment method. The vast majority of information provided by pharmacists (91 percent) was accepted by prescribers. The rat...
A method for evaluating outbreak detection in public health surveillance systems that use administrative data

Many public health practitioners now use administrative data for surveillance to detect disease outbreaks, despite the limited evidence that this approach to surveillance is effective. The aim of this dissertation is to develop and apply a simulation-based method for evaluating outbreak detection through surveillance of administrative data. The model is mechanistically driven, reflecting what is known about the underlying processes that follow exposure and lead to an outbreak becoming evident in administrative data. The model comprises four related mechanisms and the interaction between these mechanisms: dispersion, infection, disease, and health-care utilization. In a study that uses the simulation model, I evaluate the performance of syndromic surveillance for detection of an outbreak resulting from a release of anthrax. I also compare the performance of outbreak detection through syndromic surveillance to detection through clinical case-finding using blood-culture testing. The results of the study demonstrate that the sensitivity and timeliness of outbreak detection through syndromic surveillance are influenced strongly by specificity. At a specificity above 0.9, clinical case-finding detected the majority of outbreaks before syndromic surveillance did. Syndromic surveillance did detect some outbreaks before clinical case-finding, however, even when operating at high specificity. I conclude that syndromic surveillance offers some benefit over clinical case-finding for detection of anthrax outbreaks. Further research is required to determine if this benefit is meaningful in practice.
Polymer/Metal Interconnection Systems for Microelectronics Packaging

This article provides an overview on polymer/metal interconnection systems for microelectronics packaging. It will begin with a description of the functions of interconnection, and types of polymer/metal interconnection techniques available with tape automated bonding (TAB) being the most popular for chip connection applications. This is followed by examples of worldwide TAB applications and market outlook, TAB tape offerings and trends, as well as the entire TAB technology including tape types and fabrication, substrates interconnected by TAB, bonding techniques, TAB mounting options and TAB package encapsulation. Finally, future challenges on the most demanding fine-pitch TAB technology will be discussed.
Bile acids. XLI. Hepatic microsomal 12 alpha-hydroxylation of allochenodeoxycholate to allocholate.

SummaryLiver microsomal preparations of male and female rabbits, chicken and human fortified with added NADPH promote 12α-hydroxylation of 3α, 7α-dihydroxy-5α-cholanic acid, allochenodeoxycholic acid, to form allocholic acid. The rabbit is superior to the chicken and human in formation of greater quantity of product. These data support the hypothesis that the coplanarity of the 5α-sterol nucleus is important for the sterochemical specificity of the 12α-hydroxylase system.The authors are pleased to acknowledge the very capable assistance of Dr. Mei Mei Mui in these studies.
Role of Perilymphatic Fistula in Sudden Hearing Loss: An Animal Model

The electrophysiologic response of the guinea pig cochlea was monitored after sequential lesions to Reissner's membrane and the round window (RW). Action potential (AP) responses to click stimuli were recorded from the RW before and after discrete puncture-type lesions were created in the cochlear partition of the second turn. Observed decrements were typically minor, comparable to no greater than 10 dB attenuation of stimulus intensity. The RW membranes then were perforated to create perilymphatic fistulas. Further monitoring demonstrated a rapid (within 5 to 10 minutes), severe decrement in AP amplitude and latency, with complete loss of the AP within 1 hour. Control animals with RW perforations alone did not show these decrements. Correct placement of the second turn lesions was documented by histology. We conclude that discrete lesions in the cochlear duct are not reflected in the AP input-output functions unless there is a fluid leak from the RW, and thus present a possible model for idiopathic sudden hearing loss.
Modulation of the expression of calling by temperature in the omnivorous leafroller moth, Platynota stultana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) and other moths: a hypothesis.

Temperature influences the periodicity of calling in Platynota stultana (Walsingham) in two distinct ways. First, at each temperature a different time period or gate for calling is specified: calling begins and ends earlier at lower temperatures. The composite of these gates, termed the “calling window,” is delimited by the mean time of onset and end of calling at temperatures between the upper (35°C) and lower (13°C) temperature limits of calling. Calling is expressed at any combination of time and temperature within the window, but not outside it. Calling is thus initiated by either an increase or a decrease in temperature into the window or terminated by an increase or decline in temperature out of the window. This evidence suggests that there is a different threshold for calling at each temperature and that the time calling begins and ends is related to these thresholds. Second, the timing of the calling period is affected by the temperature regime moths experience prior to it, but this regime does not affect the calling period on the following day. Moths conditioned at lower temperatures (15 and 8°C) prior to calling, begin and end calling later at 24°C than insects continuously at 24°C. The opposite response is observed in moths conditioned at a higher temperature (35°C): they call earlier. The magnitude of the delay varies with duration of exposure to the lower temperature and the temperature level, but does not appear to depend on the occurrence of calling at the lower temperature. This evidence suggests that temperature influences the rate of accumulation of one or two substances released during each photoperiod. An hypothesis is presented to explain how the expression of calling may be modified by temperature and light intensity in P. stultana and other insects.
The efficacy of microsurgical spermatic vein ligation in the treatment of varicocele

Objectives:To investigate the clinical efficacy of microsurgical spermatic vein ligation in the treatment of varicocele.Method:We conducted a retrospective analysis of 106 patients treated in our hospital from March 2010 to April 2012 for varicocele infertility.They were randomly divided into two groups,53 cases in each group.Group A received the microsurgical spermatic vein ligation,and Group B received the laparoscopic cluster ligation of spermatic vessels.The surgical results and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups.Results:The operation time of Group A was longer compared with Group B.However,there was no significant difference in the hospital stay.Preoperative semen indicators showed no statistically significant difference.Three months after the surgery,semen indicators of both groups improved,and the sperm count and sperm motility of Group A were significantly higher compared with Group B(P0.05).The sperm density and(a + b) sperm count had no statistically significant difference between the two groups(P0.05).Conclusion:Microsurgical spermatic vein ligation operation is worth clinical practice as it causes less injury and improves the sperm quality with lower recurrence rate and occurrence rate of complications despite the fact that it is more time-consuming than laparoscopic cluster ligation of spermatic vessels.
Relationship Between Television Viewing Time and the Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Chinese Adults: A Prospective Cohort Study

Objective: To examine the relationship between television(TV) viewing time and the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) in Chinese adults.Methods: This prospective study enrolled 15540 Chinese adults who participated in the International Collaborative Study of Cardiovascular Disease in Asia in 2000-2001. Data on TV viewing time, physical activity level, and other variables were obtained at baseline. The follow-up examination was conducted in 2007-2008. A total of 8174 participants(3807 men and 4367 women) were included in the final analysis. According to TV viewing time, participants were divided into 4 groups:(0-1) h/d,(1.1-2) h/d,(2.1-4) h/d and 4 h/d. The relationship between TV viewing time and risk of T2DM was examined by Cox proportional hazards model. Results: During an average follow up of 7.0 years(57 541.0 person-years), 548 incident cases of T2DM wereidentified. After adjusting for age, sex, geographic region, educational level, income, smoking, alcohol use, family history of diabetes and physical activity level, the hazard ratios(95% CIs) of T2DM for participants who watched(0-1) h/d,(1.1-2) h/d,(2.1-4) h/d, and 4 h/d of TV were 1.00(reference), 1.12(0.90~1.40), 1.14(0.90~1.44) and 1.62(1.14~2.29) respectively. Each 1 h/d increment in viewing TV was associated with a 9.2%(95%CI: 3.1%~15.7%) increase in risk of T2DM. Conclusion: Prolonged TV viewing time is associated with elevated risk of T2DM. Our findings suggest the importance of less TV viewing in the prevention of T2DM, especially among adults who watch TV for more than 4 h/d.
Study on biological characteristics of human bronchial epithelial cells with silencing of XRCC1 gene

Objective To explore the biological characteristics of human bronchial epithelial cells(HBE) with RNA interference(RNAi) for X-ray repair cross complementing group 1(XRCC1)gene. Methods Experimental group(HBE of transfection restructuring plasmid),empty vector group(HBE of transfection empty),and normal control group(normal HBE) were designed.Vector-mediated RNAi was used to inhibit the expression of XRCC1 in HBE.For experimental group and normal control group,morphological characteristics were analyzed under light microscope;for experimental group,empty vector group and normal control group,growth curves were drawn,doubling generation time was analyzed and cell cycle was studied with technology of flow cytomertry(FCM).HeLa cell was chosen as positive control group and malignancy degree for experimental group was analyzed with soft agar assay. Results In the experimental group,apparently increased cell granulations and slightly increased cell volume were found.Each group presented similar S-shaped growth curve.The doubling generation time of the experimental group,empty vector group,normal control group were 0.70,0.83 and 0.74 days respectively,while the cell cycle distribution of G1,G2 and S in 3 groups appeared similar.In soft agar assay,cell colony was not found in the experimental group,but found in the positive control group. Conclusion There is no apparent short-term influence on biological characteristics of human bronchial epithelial cells with silencing of XRCC1 gene.
Complications and management of childhood urethral stricture disease.

SUMMARY In many ways, the management of urethral stricture disease in children parallels that in adults, but striking differences exist. The technical demands made because of the small size of the strictures and the delicacy of the tissues involved certainly provide more of a challenge. Newer instrumentation, improved techniques, and increased experience in children are helping us to meet these challenges. Visual urethrotomy should be considered the initial treatment of choice for anterior urethral strictures, and urethroplasty should be reserved for treatment failures. Attention to technical detail and proper patient preparation will ensure optimum results from urethroplasty. Posterior urethral strictures as a result of pelvic injury can be influenced by proper initial management but remain an open surgical disease of considerable challenge. The fact that in children a large proportion of urethral stricture disease is iatrogenic provides us with a real opportunity for prevention. As with any disease state, prevention or minimization of complications of treatment is the ultimate goal. It is only through a careful, thoughtful approach that we can begin to achieve that end.
Firm Size, Costly Short Sales, and Shareholder Gains in Corporate Acquisitions

Small acquirers earn 2.5% higher excess returns when they acquire private and subsidiary targets than large acquirers. In efficient markets this empirical regularity could imply that shareholder wealth effects of corporate acquisitions diminish as firms grow supporting Coase’s theory that an optimal firm size exists where the marginal cost of internal coordination equals the marginal cost of obtaining the input from the external market. The evidence presented in this paper is consistent with the hypothesis that limits to arbitrage induce a greater positive market response to acquisition announcements made by small acquirers. Small acquirers experience higher abnormal announcement returns only in acquisitions of private and subsidiary targets: events interpreted as positive news. Greater announcement abnormal returns are associated with costlier short sales and larger abnormal trading volume resulting in larger temporary price pressure for acquirers whose shares are costlier to sell short regardless of size. The empirical evidence is inconsistent with the hypothesis of optimal firm size: large acquirers’ overpayment for the target and/or lower operating synergies do not explain the size effect in shareholder gains.
Condensation risk in a partially air side economized data center

Air side economization minimizes the usage of Air Conditioning Units (ACU) and water chiller when outside temperature falls below the operating set point of data centers. In many data centers, the relative humidity is less controlled compared to temperature; humidification or de-humidification are used only when upper (80%) or lower limits (10%) thresholds are exceeded. We present a case study of a data center where high humidity combined with abrupt cooling leads to condensation. Since servers racks cannot respond to instant decrease in temperature, the thermal lag time to reach equilibrium can create a transient condition when condensation can appear in locations where the temperature of the servers falls below the dew point within the data center. A new control algorithm is discussed based on dew point control to improve Information Technology (IT) equipment safety by minimizing corrosion and/or reducing condensation risks.
Resting state network topology of the ferret brain.

Abstract Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) has emerged as a versatile tool for non-invasive measurement of functional connectivity patterns in the brain. RsfMRI brain dynamics in rodents, non-human primates, and humans share similar properties; however, little is known about the resting state functional connectivity patterns in the ferret, an animal model with high potential for developmental and cognitive translational study. To address this knowledge-gap, we performed rsfMRI on anesthetized ferrets using a 9.4 T MRI scanner, and subsequently performed group-level independent component analysis (gICA) to identify functionally connected brain networks. Group-level ICA analysis revealed distributed sensory, motor, and higher-order networks in the ferret brain. Subsequent connectivity analysis showed interconnected higher-order networks that constituted a putative default mode network (DMN), a network that exhibits altered connectivity in neuropsychiatric disorders. Finally, we assessed ferret brain topological efficiency using graph theory analysis and found that the ferret brain exhibits small-world properties. Overall, these results provide additional evidence for pan-species resting-state networks, further supporting ferret-based studies of sensory and cognitive function.
Some asymptotic theory for Silverman's smoothed functional principal components in an abstract Hilbert space

Unlike classical principal component analysis (PCA) for multivariate data, one needs to smooth or regularize when estimating functional principal components. Silverman's method for smoothed functional principal components has nice theoretical and practical properties. Some theoretical properties of Silverman's method were obtained using tools in the L 2 and the Sobolev spaces. This paper proposes an approach, in a general manner, to study the asymptotic properties of Silverman's method in an abstract Hilbert space. This is achieved by exploiting the perturbation results of the eigenvalues and the corresponding eigenvectors of a covariance operator. Consistency and asymptotic distributions of the estimators are derived under mild conditions. First we restrict our attention to the first smoothed functional principal component and then extend the same method for the first K smoothed functional principal components.
Rock-physics transforms and scale of investigation

ABSTRACTRock-physics “velocity-porosity” transforms are usually established on sets of laboratory and/or well data with the latter data source being dominant in recent practice. The purpose of establishing such transforms is to (1) conduct forward modeling of the seismic response for various geologically plausible “what if” scenarios in the subsurface and (2) interpret seismic data for petrophysical properties and conditions, such as porosity, clay content, and pore fluid. Because the scale of investigation in the well is considerably smaller than that in reflection seismology, an important question is whether the rock-physics model established in the well can be used at the seismic scale. We use synthetic examples and well data to show that a rock-physics model established at the well approximately holds at the seismic scale, suggest a reason for this scale independence, and explore where it may be violated. The same question can be addressed as an inverse problem: Assume that we have a rock-physics tran...
Giant Magneto-Transport Properties in Granular Magnetic Systems

Granular magnetic solids with nanometer-sized magnetic entities exhibit unconventional transport properties. Giant magneto-transport properties, such as magneto-resistivity, Hall resistivity, and magneto-thermal conductivity recently observed in granular magnetic systems, are described.
Switchgrass Harvest Progression in the North-Central USA

In the North-Central USA, switchgrass to be used as a biomass feedstock typically will be harvested in the autumn. The accumulated area harvested over the harvest season (defined here as the harvest progression) will influence the size of the machinery fleet and seasonal labor required to complete the majority of the harvest before the first lasting snow. A harvest progression model was developed that uses drying rate, mower and baler productivity, and weather conditions as major inputs. Ten years of weather data (2005–2014) from Wisconsin, Iowa, and Nebraska (WI, IA, NE) were used. Harvest progression was modeled for four harvest systems involving conventional and intensive conditioning both swathed and tedded (CC, IC, CCT, and ICT, respectively) and two dates at which harvest began (1 September and after a killing frost). To reduce risk of exposing crop to prolonged periods of inclement weather, mowers were idled when more than 80 ha were cut but not yet baled. For all sites, the harvest start date and the mower idled constraint had greater impact on harvest progression than the type of harvest system. Harvest progression was greatest when mowing started on 1 September and continued whenever weather permitted (i.e., no mower idled constraint). Compared to the harvest system used today (CC), using the IC system resulted in more area harvested with less crop exposed to rain after cutting and considerably less area left to be baled in the spring. Starting harvest on 1 September, using intensive conditioning, and not idling the mowers might be considered the system that best balances the desire for rapid harvest progression, small equipment fleet size, low-capital expenditures, and maximum labor utilization.
Piezo-driven acoustic streaming in an electrowetting-on-dielectric digital microfluidics device

We report the integration of a lead zirconate titanate, $$\hbox {Pb[Zr}_{x}\hbox {Ti}_{1-x}\hbox {O}_{3}$$ ] (PZT), piezoelectric transducer disk into the top plate of an otherwise conventional electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWD) digital microfluidics device to demonstrate on-demand induction of circulating fluid flow within single 200 nL droplets. Microparticle image velocimetry was used to measure in-plane velocity distributions for PZT excitation voltages that ranged from 0 to 50 $$\hbox {V}_{\text {RMS}}$$ . Intra-droplet streaming velocities in excess of 2.0 $$\hbox {mm}\cdot \hbox {s}^{-1}$$ were observed without droplet breakup or damage to the EWD device layer. Additionally, we found median intra-droplet streaming velocity to depend quadratically on PZT excitation voltage up to the stress limit of the interfacial boundary. Our approach offers an alternative device architecture for active micromixing strategies in EWD digital microfluidics laboratory-on-chip systems.
The Shoshonean Migration Problem

The Shoshone were resident in northwestern Wyoming at the time of historic contact, the early mneteenth century. Two hypptheses to explain their presence and time depth there have been proposed. Th...
Analysis of MOCVD SiNx Passivated N-Polar GaN MIS-HEMTs on Sapphire With High $f_{max}\cdot V_{DS,Q}$

This letter presents an analysis of N-polar metal-insulator-semiconductor high-electron-mobility transistors (MIS-HEMTs) with a 40 nm MOCVD SiNx passivation and a trench-gate design. A device with a 50 nm gate-length ( L g ) demonstrates a 313 GHz power gain cutoff frequency ( f max ) at a quiescent drain bias ( V $_{{DS,Q}}$ ) of 26 V. The high $f_{max}\cdot V_{DS,Q}$ of 8.1 THz $\cdot$ V exhibits great potential of the device in high-frequency power applications. Investigation on small-signal parameters shows that f max improves with V $_{{DS,Q}}$ due to a reduction of gate-drain capacitance ( c gd ) and an increase of output resistance ( rds ). When comparing with the previously reported planar HEMT design, the shorter L g enabled by the trench-gate design enhances the intrinsic current gain cutoff frequency ( f $_{{T,int}}$ ) leading to a higher peak f max at a higher V $_{{DS,Q}}$ .
Democratizing During Hard Times: Germany’s Transition to Democracy in the Wake of the First World War

The number of democracies in the international system nearly doubled in 1919 in the wake of the victory of the liberal great powers in the Great War. Nearly all of those new post-war democratic regimes had collapsed by the end of the 1930s. This paper seeks to understand the international politics of the post-World War I democratic transitions and the broader relationship between liberal power in the international system and waves of democratization. It develops a simple framework that distinguishes among cases based on the strength of local pro-democratic forces and of the international commitment to democracy promotion by the victorious powers. It focuses on the pivotal post-World War I case of Weimar Germany and argues that the victorious liberal powers made almost no explicit effort to promote democracy in Germany. Instead, Germany’s transition to democracy in 1918-1919 reflected the weakening of Germany’s authoritarian order through defeat in war and the contingent commitment to democracy by elements of the authoritarian regime in the somewhat mistaken hope that a republican Germany would earn a more lenient peace agreement than one governed by Kaiser Wilhelm. American and British commitment to sustaining democratic institutions in Germany offers part of the explanation for the international support in 1924-25 that helped usher in Weimar’s “golden age.” America and Britain’s inability to provide such support during the Great Depression helps explain the breakdown of the Weimar Republic.
Global Warming and Potential Changes in Fish Habitat in U.S. Streams

To project potential habitat changes of 57 fish species under global warming, their suitable thermal habitat at 764 stream gaging stations in the contiguous United States was studied. Global warming was specified by air temperature increases projected by the Canadian Centre of Climate Modelling General Circulation Model for a doubling of atmospheric CO2. The aquatic thermal regime at each gaging station was related to air temperature using a nonlinear stream temperature/air temperature relationship.Suitable fish thermal habitat was assumed to be constrained by both maximum temperature and minimum temperature tolerances. For cold water fishes with a 0 °C lower temperature constraint, the number of stations with suitable thermal habitat under a 2×CO2 climate scenario is projected to decrease by 36%, and for cool water fishes by 15%. These changes are associated with a northward shift of the range. For warm water fishes with a 2 °C lower temperature constraint, the potential number of stations with suitable thermal habitat is projected to increase by 31%.
Special Classes of Holomorphic Functions

A holomorphic function f on the unit disc D is called schlicht if (12.1.1.1) f is one-to-one (12.1.1.2) f(0) = 0 (12.1.1.3) f’(0) = 1.
An adipocyte light-Opsin 3 pathway regulates the circadian clock and energy balance

Almost all life forms can detect and decode light information for adaptive advantage. Examples include the visual system, where photoreceptor signals are processed into virtual images, and the circadian system, where light entrains a physiological clock. Here we describe a pathway in mice that employs encephalopsin (OPN3, a 480 nm light responsive opsin) to mediate light responses in murine adipocytes. The adipocyte light-OPN3 pathway regulates neonatal growth in mice and is required for at least three important functions including (1) photoentrainment of a local circadian clock, (2) extracellular matrix deposition, and (3) regulation of mitochondrial content and the proportion of brite adipocytes. Furthermore, we show that the light-OPN3 pathway is required for normal levels of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) in white and brown adipose tissue. Consequently, neonatal Opn3 germ-line and adipocyte-conditional null mice show a reduced ability to maintain their body temperature under cold stress. This was also observed in wild-type mice deprived of blue light. We hypothesize that the adipocyte light-OPN3 pathway provides a dynamically responsive, circadian clock-integrated mechanism for regulating adipocyte function and in turn directing metabolism to thermogenesis rather than anabolism. These data indicate an important role for peripheral light sensing in mammals and may have broad implications for human health given the unnatural lighting conditions in which we live.
“It’s So Wonderful Having Different Majors Working Together”: the Development of an Interdisciplinary Design Thinking Minor

Traditionally, university students’ education is siloed into disconnected courses and programs. Increasingly, however, there is a trend toward providing interdisciplinary learning experiences to help students develop meaningful skills for becoming more successful in their chosen careers. In this paper, we describe an instructional design project in which we engaged to develop an interdisciplinary minor in design thinking at a university in the western United States. This effort involved uniting faculty from the colleges of education, business, fine arts and communications, and engineering and technology. After reviewing our needs analysis process, we describe the structure of the minor itself, and how it was designed to respond to our analysis. We also discuss the following lessons learned throughout our project: (1) common vision is the beginning, not the end, of interdisciplinary design thinking; (2) personal relationships are crucially important in interdisciplinary design thinking; and (3) iterative prototyping improves interdisciplinary design thinking. Using principles such as those discussed in this paper, we believe the field of instructional design can help lead the way in the development of additional interdisciplinary learning experiences in higher education.
Ordered logistic models of influencing factors on crash injury severity of single and multiple-vehicle downgrade crashes: A case study in Wyoming.

Abstract Introduction: The state of Wyoming, like other western United States, is characterized by mountainous terrain. Such terrain is well noted for its severe downgrades and difficult geometry. Given the specific challenges of driving in such difficult terrain, crashes with severe injuries are bound to occur. The literature is replete with research about factors that influence crash injury severity under different conditions. Differences in geometric characteristics of downgrades and mechanics of vehicle operations on such sections mean different factors may be at play in impacting crash severity in contrast to straight, level roadway sections. However, the impact of downgrades on injury severity has not been fully explored in the literature. This study is thus an attempt to fill this research gap. In this paper, an investigation was carried out to determine the influencing factors of crash injury severities of downgrade crashes. Method: Due to the ordered nature of the response variable, the ordered logit model was chosen to investigate the influencing factors of crash injury severities of downgrade crashes. The model was calibrated separately for single and multiple-vehicle crashes to ensure the different factors influencing both types of crashes were captured. Results: The parameter estimates were as expected and mostly had signs consistent with engineering intuition. The results of the ordered model for single-vehicle crashes indicated that alcohol, gender, road condition, vehicle type, point of impact, vehicle maneuver, safety equipment use, driver action, and annual average daily traffic (AADT) per lane all impacted the injury severity of downgrade crashes. Safety equipment use, lighting conditions, posted speed limit, and lane width were also found to be significant factors influencing multiple-vehicle downgrade crashes. Injury severity probability plots were included as part of the study to provide a pictorial representation of how some of the variables change in response to each level of crash injury severity. Conclusion: Overall, this study provides insights into contributory factors of downgrade crashes. The literature review indicated that there are substantial differences between single- and multiple vehicle crashes. This was confirmed by the analysis which showed that mostly, separate factors impacted the crash injury severity of the two crash types. Practical applications: The results of this study could be used by policy makers, in other locations, to reduce downgrade crashes in mountainous areas.
Helping children to tell about sexual abuse: Guidance for helpers

There are a variety of early warning signs that may indicate child sexual abuse. In Helping Children to Tell About Sexual Abuse: Guidance for Helpers, Dr. Rosaleen McElvaney, a clinical psychologis...
Explaining Scales and Statistics of Tropical Precipitation Clusters with a Stochastic Model

AbstractPrecipitation clusters are contiguous raining regions characterized by a precipitation threshold, size, and the total rainfall contained within—termed the cluster power. Tropical observatio...
Mapping the Politics of Connection

Synthesizing material from previous chapters, this chapter explores three key aspects of the “politics of connection,” drawing out their relevance for wider debates. Examining the (re)production of climate injustice and activists’ responses to it with the level and type of abstraction provided by the multi-dimensional relational perspective developed and deployed throughout this volume enables drawing connections between an analysis of climate justice and broader discussions in scholarship and politics. The chapter and volume close by indicating some of the opportunities and dilemmas climate justice advocates and activists, and those who would ally with them, face going forward.
Using Process and Motivation Data to Predict the Quality With Which Preservice Teachers Debugged Higher and Lower Complexity Programs

Contribution: This study indicates that supporting debugging processes is a strong method to improve debugging outcome quality among preservice, early childhood education (ECE) teachers. Background: Central to preparing ECE teachers to teach computer science is helping them learn to debug. Little is known about how ECE teachers’ motivation and debugging process quality contributes to debugging outcome quality. Research Questions: How do debugging process and motivation variables predict the quality with which participants debug lower and higher complexity programs? Method: A Bayesian multiple linear regression model with debugging process and motivation variables as predictors was used to predict debugging outcome quality. An inverse gamma prior distribution for sigma2 and uniform prior distribution for Betas was used. Findings: The strongest positive predictor of debugging outcome quality for both the lower complexity and higher complexity debugging task was debugging process quality.
The Effects of Broadband Deployment in Rural Areas: Evaluating the Connect America Fund Program

This paper estimates the effect of broadband deployment in unserved rural areas in the United States through Connect America Fund (CAF) Phase-II. CAF is a large-scale program sponsored by the Federal Government that subsidizes companies to provide service to unserved or underserved areas, of which Phase-II is its largest component. We take advantage of the lagged implementation of Phase-II as a natural experiment and rely on difference-in-differences estimations to evaluate the impacts of broadband availability on employment rates of rural areas. Preliminary results suggest an overall positive effect on employment rates, however, varying substantially by region.
The Afterlife of Reproductive Slavery: Biocapitalism and Black Feminism’s Philosophy of History

Review of the book The Afterlife of Reproductive Slavery: Biocapitalism and Black Feminism’s Philosophy of History, by Alys Eve Weinbaum.
Defining the New Normal" in Primary Care."

Health care organizations in the United States have transformed at an unprecedented rate since March 2020 due to COVID-19, most notably with a shift to telemedicine. Despite rapidly adapting health care delivery in light of new safety considerations and a shifting insurance landscape, primary care offices across the country are facing drastic decreases in revenue and potential bankruptcy. To survive, primary care's adaptations will need to go beyond virtual versions of traditional office visits. Primary care is faced with a chance to redefine what it means to care for and support patients wherever they are. This opportunity to shape the "new normal" is a critical step for primary care to meet its full potential to lead a paradigm shift to patient-centered health care reform in America during this time when we need it most.
Biomarkers: Is Tumor Mutational Burden the New Prognostic Grail?

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have improved outcomes for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, only a minority of patients experience benefit, and biomarkers of response are needed to improve patient selection. Tumor mutational burden (TMB), defined as the number of somatic mutations in a tumor, has been identified as a potential predictive biomarker. Studies assessing TMB and outcome in NSCLC have demonstrated improved response rates and progression-free survival to ICIs in patients with higher TMB compared to lower TMB, and patients with high TMB have a higher likelihood of benefit to ICI compared to chemotherapy. However, TMB imperfectly stratifies responders from non-responders, and these data are heterogenous with respect to treatment context, drug, TMB assay, and TMB threshold. Importantly, many of these analyses are retrospective, and few prospective clinical trials implementing TMB as a biomarker have been completed. Additional limitations to the implementation of TMB include the need for adequate tissue to perform sequencing, and heterogeneity in TMB assays. Efforts to develop blood-based TMB assays and standardization procedures may help address these limitations. Finally, further research to understand why TMB associates with response, and how TMB interacts with other biomarkers including PD-L1 and interferon-gamma expression, may help improve its predictive power.
Temperature Dependence of Intrinsic Disorder in LaHX and YHX

Intrinsic disorder in fcc metal hydrides MHX, defined as xO (2), the fraction of octahedral (0) sites occupied at stoichiometry x=2, has been measured by both spectroscopic1 and thermodynamic2 techniques for M=La and Y. The spectroscopic (NMR, ESR and neutrons) data are all for temperature t 850K. A most surprising feature is that xO(2) at 300K is greater than or equal to its value at high temperature. This is in gross disagreement with any theory which attributes xO(2) solely to the finite difference between 0-site and tetrahedral (T) site energies, including vibrational states.
Holographic Techniques for Defect Detection in Composite Materials

The results of an experimental study of holographic interferometry and tetrabromoethane (TBE)-enhanced X-ray photography for damage detection in composite materials are presented. The results show that holographic interferometry using thermal loading can accurately track delamination growth, but cannot find subsurface matrix cracks. It can also provide information on the through-the-thickness distribution of delaminations. TBE-enhanced X-ray photography can find matrix cracks, delaminations, and fiber bundle fractures, but gives no information on the through-the-thickness distribution of the damage.
Protein synthesis with messenger ribonucleic acid fractions from membrane-bound and free liver polysomes. Translation characteristics of liver polysomal ribonucleic acids and evidence for albumin production in a messenger-dependent reticulocyte cell-free system.

Abstract RNA fractions with messenger activity have been isolated from membrane-bound and free polysomes of rabbit liver. These RNAs were translated in a fractionated, messenger-dependent cell-free system derived from rabbit reticulocytes. The general conditions for translation of these liver RNAs were similar to those for reticulocyte messenger RNA. However, with the liver messenger RNA fractions there was a lower per cent release of labeled polypeptides from the ribosome and a greater requirement for ribosomal wash protein to give half-maximal saturation of messenger RNA translation. Evidence for the synthesis of albumin under the direction of liver messenger RNA was obtained by immunoprecipitation, partial chemical purification, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and gel isoelectric focusing.
The Role of Visual Stimuli in Cross-Modal Stroop Interference

It has long been known that naming the color of a color word leads to what is known as the Stroop effect (Stroop, 1935). In the traditional Stroop task, when compared to naming the color of a color-neutral stimulus (e.g. an X or color patch), the presence of an incongruent color word decreases performance (Stroop interference), and a congruent color word increases performance (Stroop facilitation). Research has also shown that auditory color words can impact the color naming performance of colored items in a similar way in a variation known as cross-modal Stroop (Cowan & Barron, 1987). However, whether the item that is colored interacts with the auditory distractor to affect cross-modal Stroop interference is unclear. Research with the traditional, visual Stroop task has suggested that the amount of color the visual item displays and the semantic and phonetic components of the colored word can affect the magnitude of the resulting Stroop interference; as such, it is possible the same components could play a role in cross-modal Stroop interference. We conducted two experiments to examine the impact of the composition of the colored visual item on cross-modal Stroop interference. However, across two different experiments, three test versions, and numerous sets of trials, we were only able to find a small effect of the visual stimulus. This finding suggests that while the impact of the auditory stimuli is consistent and robust, the influence of non-word visual stimuli is quite small and unreliable and, while occasionally being statistically significant, it is not practically so.
Isolation and characterization of fumonisins.

Publisher Summary Fumonisins B 1 (FB 1 ), B 2 (FB 2 ), B 3 (FB 3 ), and B 4 (FB 4 ) are mycotoxins produced by Fusarium moniliforme Sheldon, a common fungal contaminate found in corn (Zea mays L.) and other cereal grains. A closely related species, Fusarium proliferatum, also produces fumonisin mycotoxins on corn. There are many strains found in these two Fusarium species that produce varying amounts of each individual fumonisin or combinations of them. Therefore, specific strains should be chosen for isolation that will produce high quantities of the desired fumonisin. This will make the isolation and purification steps less demanding and will ensure that a sufficient level of the required fumonisin is present to justify the time required for the isolation. Fusarium moniliforme MRC 826 will produce high concentrations of FB 1 and moderate amounts of FB 2 , whereas F. proliferatum M6104 will produce large quantities of FB 2 and low levels of the other fumonisins. Fusarium moniliforme strain KSU 819 produces FB 3 and FB 4 but very little FB 1 and FB 2 . The structure for FB 1 was first determined by nuclear magnetic resonance. Liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry (fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, FAB/MS) gave the protonated molecular ion for FB 1 as m/z 722 and FB2 as m/z 706. The development of deuterium-labeled FB 1 as an internal standard resulted in an improved gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method for the derivatized fumonisin B 1 backbone, improved the precision and accuracy of GC/MS for fumonisins, and allowed for development of a quantitative FAB/MS method.
Should hysterectomy replace routine tubal sterilization

670 tubal sterilizations performed at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas Texas from 1946-1956 were reviewed to determine possible gynecological complaints resulting from the operation. The average age of the patient was 31 and average parity 6. 3.3% of the operations were failures. Menorrhagia occurred in 9.5% of the patients. 4.3% experienced pelvic pain subsequent to the operation. 10% underwent gynecological operations subsequent to the sterilization. It is concluded that the sterilization operation did not contribute significantly to gynecological dysfunction and that it is a relatively safe and adequate procedure. The routine use of hysterectomy to accomplish sterilization is considered unwarranted.
The formation and isolation of an arsenylated component of rat liver mitochondria.

Abstract Studies are described which show that when intact rat liver mitochondria are incubated with 74As-inorganic arsenate a new radioactive substance is produced which has been isolated and shown to possess properties that would be expected for a stable low molecular weight arsenate ester. The formation of this new compound by mitochondria is inhibited by KCN, 2,4-dinitrophenol, and oligomycin, suggesting that a functional electron transport chain and at least part of the coupling reactions of oxidative phosphorylation are required. The relationship of the new arsenylated compound to the mechanism of oxidative phosphorylation is unclear, and studies designed to clarify this aspect of the research are in progress.
On-Chip Sensing of Thermoelectric Thin Film’s Merit

Thermoelectric thin films have been widely explored for thermal-to-electrical energy conversion or solid-state cooling, because they can remove heat from integrated circuit (IC) chips or micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) devices without involving any moving mechanical parts. In this paper, we report using silicon diode-based temperature sensors and specific thermoelectric devices to characterize the merit of thermoelectric thin films. The silicon diode temperature sensors and thermoelectric devices were fabricated using microfabrication techniques. Specifically, e-beam evaporation was used to grow the thermoelectric thin film of Sb2Te3 (100 nm thick). The Seebeck coefficient and the merit of the Sb2Te3 thin film were measured or determined. The fabrication of silicon diode temperature sensors and thermoelectric devices are compatible with the integrated circuit fabrication.
A multigene phylogeny of the Gelidiales including nuclear large-subunit rRNA sequence data

Partial sequences (1032 bp) of the nuclear-encoded large ribosomal RNA gene (LSU) were determined for 16 gelidialean species, and analyzed separately and in combination with plastid rbcL and nuclear SSU gene sequences. The number of informative characters and levels of sequence divergence among taxa are intermediate in LSU sequences as compared to that for rbcL and SSU. Analyses of the separate LSU, and a combined LSU, SSU, and rbcL data sets have identified early-diverging lineages within the Gelidiales including Gelidiella, Pterocladia, Pterocladiella, and a lineage including Gelidium and species classified in other genera. The relationships among most gelidialean taxa are well-resolved and well-supported by analyses of the combined data; however, the relationships of Ptilophora and Capreolia remain unclear. It is speculated that these two lineages have diverged from a common ancestor over an evolutionarily short period of time.
A Plan for Academic Biobank Solvency—Leveraging Resources and Applying Business Processes to Improve Sustainability

Researcher-initiated biobanks based at academic institutions contribute valuable biomarker and translational research advances to medicine. With many legacy banks once supported by federal funding, reductions in fiscal support threaten the future of existing and new biobanks. When the Brain Bank at Duke University's Bryan Alzheimer's Disease Center (ADRC) faced a funding crisis, a collaborative, multidisciplinary team embarked on a 2-year biobank sustainability project utilizing a comprehensive business strategy, dedicated project management, and a systems approach involving many Duke University entities. By synthesizing and applying existing knowledge, Duke Translational Medicine Institute created and launched a business model that can be adjusted and applied to legacy and start-up academic biobanks. This model provides a path to identify new funding mechanisms, while also emphasizing improved communication, business development, and a focus on collaborating with industry to improve access to biospecimens. Benchmarks for short-term Brain Bank stabilization have been successfully attained, and the evaluation of long-term sustainability metrics is ongoing.