cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Research Doctorate in Nursing: The PhD.

When nurses are considering an advanced degree beyond the master's level of educational preparation, a number of considerations may direct the decision-making process. The doctorate of philosophy (PhD) in nursing is a research degree that will well serve nurses who have the desire to apply theory and develop formal programs of research, become faculty of nursing, combine clinical practice with formal research, and advance through professional leadership in the ranks of hospitals and health systems organizations. .
Development of Stored-Product Insects on Safflower Seeds and Meal

Results are presented from a laboratory study made to qualitatively evaluate 21 species of stored-product insects as potential pests of safflower seeds and meal. Field-run seeds, severely damaged or broken seeds, and safflower seed meal were exposed to insects for 90 days. Ability of each species to increase on the host materials during the designated exposure period was the only criterion used to indicate its potential as a pest of stored safflower. It was obvious from the results obtained that some stored-product insects are capable of establishing infestations in safflower seeds and seed meal under suitable conditions and could cause storage problems. Only Lasioderma serricorne (F.), Stegobium paniceum (L.), and the 4 species of Trogoderma tested were able to increase on field-run seeds of good quality. Many other species were able to increase on damaged or broken seeds, indicating that the condition of seeds in storage is a factor of primary importance in contributing to the success or failure of insect infestations in safflower seeds. Several species found safflower seed meal more suitable for development than safflower seeds while other species which lived on field run or damaged seeds failed to survive on the meal.
PO-0300 ‘damaged’ Bodies In The Paediatric Intensive Care Unit; Implications For Palliative Care

Background and aims Health professionals in the PICU support both child and parents when the death of a child is imminent. The aim of this contribution is to emphasise that parents can suffer from the altered physical appearance of their child (e.g. severe oedema, bruises and cuts) but physical proximity in the final hours can help them cope. Methods Parents of 24 children who died 4 to 5 years ago in the ICU were invited for a semi-structured interview. Qualitative analysis was applied with Atlas-ti 7.0. Results Parents of 14 children (response rate 58.3%) participated. The children (aged 2 weeks to 13 years) were admitted in PICU from 2 h up to 7 months. The importance of the integrity of their child’s physical appearance stood out in their narratives. Parents spoke of the ‘damaged’ body as a result of necessary medical interventions, quote: “It was terrible, after the reanimation his ribs were broken. He was looking black. It was awful, really awful.” However, getting physically close to the child in the hour of death helped, quote: “We actually crept into bed with her bed, to hold her.” Caring for the body afterwards also helped parents, quote: “After she had died I brushed her teeth like I always did when the kids were smaller. That was so good to do.” Conclusions End-of-life care asks for awareness that the child’s damaged body deeply affects parents. Yet, being able to stay physically close helps them to be the parent they want to be.
Integrins: Regulation of Adhesion and Downstream Signaling

Integrins play a critical role in all aspects of leukocyte adhesion. These heterodimeric proteins are expressed in varying patterns on all leukocyte subsets and are responsible for adhesive events in leukocyte recruitment to inflamed tissues, in activation of leukocyte function, in antigen presentation, in platelet adhesion for hemostasis, and in specialized leukocyte functions such as osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. The best-described role for integrins is in the leukocyte adhesion cascade, which is the process by which leukocytes exit the blood vasculature and enter the tissues during infection or injury. Integrin function is required for the firm adhesion, intravascular crawling, basement membrane transmigration, and pericyte interaction steps of the adhesion cascade. At the site of infection, integrin–pathogen interactions also lead to direct activation of antimicrobial and immune effector functions of various leukocyte subsets. In this role, integrins function as more than just adhesion molecules, initiating complex intracellular signaling reactions – referred to as inside-out and outside-in pathways – that have a host of effects on leukocyte function. The major role that integrins play in leukocyte adhesion and motility is revealed in patients and experimental animals that lack either integrin protein subunits or their involved signaling molecules. These patients typically present with profound immunodeficiency. By contrast, therapeutic targeting of integrins and integrin signaling offers new approaches to treatment of inflammatory disease. Understanding integrin function forms a major part of our knowledge base of immune regulation of host defense and inflammation.
Introducing Morphology: Sounds and shapes: the interface between morphology and phonology

CHAPTER OUTLINE In this chapter we will learn about the intersection between morphology and phonology, which is the study of the sound structure of languages. We will learn that some morphemes exhibit allomorphs, that is, phonologically distinct variants. We will learn how to analyze both phonologically predictable and unpredictable allomorphy. And we will consider the nature of lexical stratification, where different types of phonological behavior characterize different parts of the morphology of a language. KEY TERMS allomorph, assimilation, dissimilation, vowel harmony, intervocalic, voicing, palatalization, lexical strata Introduction Phonology is the area of linguistics that is concerned with sound regularities in languages: what sounds exist in a language, how those sounds combine with each other into syllables and words, and how the prosody (stress, accent, tone, and so on) of a language works. Phonology interacts with morphology in a number of ways: morphemes may have two or more different phonological forms whose appearance may be completely or at least partly predictable. Some phonological rules apply when two or more morphemes are joined together. In some languages morphemes display different phonological behavior depending on whether they are native to the language or borrowed into it from some other language. In this chapter we will explore the various ways in which phonology interacts with morphology. In this chapter we will frequently make use of phonetic transcriptions, so you may want to review the IPA before you begin reading it.
Finding Place in Antarctica

This chapter explores the idea of ‘place’ in Antarctica in contrast to dominant visions of a uniform Antarctic space. This chapter historicizes and critiques the idea of Antarctica as a whole or unified space, illuminating the imperial Cold War, and geopolitical projects behind such visions, and the implications of ‘global commons’ projects for Antarctica. In contrast to these visions, this chapter explores the experiences and contours of place and place-making in Antarctica through the history of biology, ecology, conservation, and environmental protection and management efforts since the signing of the Antarctic Treaty in 1959, and through the history of environmentalists’, artists’ and writers’ engagements with the region since the 1980s. This attention to place reveals the many projects and strategies of human engagement with Antarctica.
Ex vivo Akt inhibition promotes the generation of potent CD19CAR T cells for adoptive immunotherapy

Insufficient persistence and effector function of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-redirected T cells have been challenging issues for adoptive T cell therapy. Generating potent CAR T cells is of increasing importance in the field. Studies have demonstrated the importance of the Akt pathway in the regulation of T cell differentiation and memory formation. We now investigate whether inhibition of Akt signaling during ex vivo expansion of CAR T cells can promote the generation of CAR T cells with enhanced antitumor activity following adoptive therapy in a murine leukemia xenograft model. Various T cell subsets including CD8+ T cells, bulk T cells, central memory T cells and naive/memory T cells were isolated from PBMC of healthy donors, activated with CD3/CD28 beads, and transduced with a lentiviral vector encoding a second-generation CD19CAR containing a CD28 co-stimulatory domain. The transduced CD19CAR T cells were expanded in the presence of IL-2 (50U/mL) and Akt inhibitor (Akti) (1 μM) that were supplemented every other day. Proliferative/expansion potential, phenotypical characteristics and functionality of the propagated CD19CAR T cells were analyzed in vitro and in vivo after 17-21 day ex vivo expansion. Anti-tumor activity was evaluated after adoptive transfer of the CD19CAR T cells into CD19+ tumor-bearing immunodeficient mice. Tumor signals were monitored with biophotonic imaging, and survival rates were analyzed by the end of the experiments. We found that Akt inhibition did not compromise CD19CAR T cell proliferation and expansion in vitro, independent of the T cell subsets, as comparable CD19CAR T cell expansion was observed after culturing in the presence or absence of Akt inhibitor. Functionally, Akt inhibition did not dampen cell-mediated effector function, while Th1 cytokine production increased. With respect to phenotype, Akti-treated CD19CAR T cells expressed higher levels of CD62L and CD28 as compared to untreated CD19CAR T cells. Once adoptively transferred into CD19+ tumor-bearing mice, Akti treated CD19CAR T cells exhibited more antitumor activity than did untreated CD19CAR T cells. Inhibition of Akt signaling during ex vivo priming and expansion gives rise to CD19CAR T cell populations that display comparatively higher antitumor activity.
A Convergent Synthesis of Functionalized Alkenyl Halides through Cobalt(III)-Catalyzed Three-Component C-H Bond Addition.

A Co(III)-catalyzed three-component coupling of C(sp2)-H bonds, alkynes, and halogenating agents to give alkenyl halides is reported. This transformation proceeds with high regio- and diastereoselectivity, and is effective for a broad range of aryl and alkyl terminal alkynes. Diverse C-H bond partners also exhibit good reactivity for a range of heteroaryl and aryl systems as well as synthetically useful secondary and tertiary amide, urea, and pyrazole directing groups. This multi-component transformation is also compatible with allenes in place of alkynes to furnish tetra-substituted alkenyl halides, showcasing the first halo-arylation of allenes.
Pd-Catalyzed Decarbonylative Cross-Couplings of Aroyl Chlorides

This report describes a method for Pd-catalyzed decarbonylative cross-coupling that enables the conversion of carboxylic acid derivatives to biaryls, aryl amines, aryl ethers, aryl sulfides, aryl boronate esters, and trifluoromethylated arenes. The success of this transformation leverages the Pd0/Brettphos-catalyzed decarbonylative chlorination of aroyl chlorides, which can then participate in diverse cross-coupling reactions in situ using the same Pd catalyst.
Nicholas Eberstadt, Men without Work: America’s Invisible Crisis

Abstract. Since 1965, male labor force participation rates have decreased. Nick Eberstadt illustrates the magnitude of the decrease, proposes mostly supply-side explanations, and extends a research agenda into this vital policy issue. Keywords. Unemployment; Employment; American economy; American social structure. JEL. B10, L66, Q18.
CALPHAD modeling and ab initio calculations of the Np-U-Zr system

Abstract Phase diagram of Np-U-Zr, a key ternary alloy system of relevance for metallic nuclear fuels, is still largely undetermined. Here a thermodynamic model for the Np-U-Zr system is developed based on Muggianu extrapolation of our models for the U-Zr, Np-Zr, and Np-U binary systems, all employing the CALculation of PHAse Diagrams (CALPHAD) method. This model reproduces available experimental data for the high temperature phases reasonably well, but is uncertain for the lower temperature phases for which experimental data are scarce. Ab initio calculations are performed on the BCC phase of the Np-U-Zr system at 28 compositions employing density functional theory (DFT) both in its standard form and the so-called DFT plus Hubbard U (DFT + U) modification. When referencing to our CALPHAD model, standard DFT on average overestimates the enthalpy of mixing of the BCC phase by 0.093 eV/atom, while DFT + U reduces the error to 0.009–0.036 eV/atom when the effective Hubbard U parameters are in the ranges of single-structure optimized Ueff’s determined in our previous studies of the Np-Zr and U-Zr systems (0.65–0.90 for Ueff(Np) and 0.99–1.49 eV for Ueff(U), respectively). Our combined CALPHAD and ab initio modeling provides an initial attempt to determine the phase diagram of the Np-U-Zr system but further work is needed for a reliable determination.
Exploring Five Online Collaboration Tools to Facilitate a Professional Learning Community

Critical Friends Groups (CFGs) are a form professional learning community that has been used for teacher learning in K-12 environments for many years. In order to foster community and learning amongst distributed participants, CFGs are beginning to make their way online. This article describes the expereience of a four-year old online CFG whose goal was to explore how different technologies can support the work of a virtual CFG by being an online CFG. This article describes the technologies used to host this CFG, the attributes of those technologies to support this collaborative work and the lessons learned from the group’s experience.
eHealth Literacy in People Living with HIV: Systematic Review.

Background: In the era of eHealth, eHealth literacy is emerging as a key concept to promote self-management of chronic conditions such as HIV. However, there is a paucity of research focused on eHealth literacy for people living with HIV (PLWH) as a means of improving their adherence to HIV care and health outcome. Objective: The objective of this study was to critically appraise the types, scope, and nature of studies addressing eHealth literacy as a study variable in PLWH. Methods: This systematic review used comprehensive database searches, such as PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Cochrane, to identify quantitative studies targeting PLWH published in English before May 2017 with eHealth literacy as a study variable. Results: We identified 56 unique records, and 7 papers met the eligibility criteria. The types of study designs varied (descriptive, n=3; quasi-experimental, n=3; and experimental, n=1) and often involved community-based settings (n=5), with sample sizes ranging from 18 to 895. In regards to instruments used, 3 studies measured eHealth literacy with validated instruments such as the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS); 2 studies used full or short versions of Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults, whereas the remaining 2 studies used study-developed questions. The majority of studies included in the review reported high eHealth literacy among the samples. The associations between eHealth literacy and health outcomes in PLWH were not consistent. In the areas of HIV transmission risk, retention in care, treatment adherence, and virological suppression, the role of eHealth literacy is still not fully understood. Furthermore, the implications for future research are discussed. Conclusions: Understanding the role of eHealth literacy is an essential step to encourage PLWH to be actively engaged in their health care. Avenues to pursue in the role of eHealth literacy and PLWH should consider the development and use of standardized eHealth literacy definitions and measures.
Couples’ Experiences with In Vitro Fertilization: A Phenomenological Approach

This paper reports on couples1 experiences with in vitro fertilization from a phenomenological perspective.1 It discusses how the couples created the reality of the experience for themselves—how they shaped what they went through, and what the meaning of the experience was for them. It presents the results of separate telephone interviews with 20 husbands and wives who went through the IVF/ET Program, successfully and unsuccessfully, at Yale-New Haven Hospital in Connecticut in 1983-84.,The questions addressed by this study were: First, what is the social meaning of IVF as a medical experience; and second, what is the social usefulness or latent function of IVF for couples who want a child?
Empirical Studies in Learning to Read

In this paper, we present empirical results on the challenge of learning to read. That is, given a handful of examples of the concepts and relations in an ontology and a large corpus, the system should learn to map from text to the concepts/relations of the ontology. In this paper, we report contrastive experiments on the recall, precision, and F-measure (F) of the mapping in the following conditions: (1) employing word-based patterns, employing semantic structure, and combining the two; and (2) fully automatic learning versus allowing minimal questions of a human informant.
Deep Neural Network-Hidden Markov Model Hybrid Systems

In this chapter, we describe one of the several possible ways of exploiting deep neural networks (DNNs) in automatic speech recognition systems—the deep neural network-hidden Markov model (DNN-HMM) hybrid system. The DNN-HMM hybrid system takes advantage of DNN’s strong representation learning power and HMM’s sequential modeling ability, and outperforms conventional Gaussian mixture model (GMM)-HMM systems significantly on many large vocabulary continuous speech recognition tasks. We describe the architecture and the training procedure of the DNN-HMM hybrid system and point out the key components of such systems by comparing a range of system setups.
Why I am not a Bayesian

The aim of confirmation theory is to provide a true account of the principles that guide scientific argument in so far as that argument is not, and does not purport to be, of a deductive kind. A confirmation theory should serve as a critical and explanatory instrument quite as much as do theories of deductive inference. Any successful confirmation theory should, for example, reveal the structure and fallacies, if any, in Newton’s argument for universal gravitation, in nineteenth-century arguments for and against the atomic theory, in Freud’s arguments for psychoanalytic generalizations. Where scientific judgements are widely shared, and sociological factors cannot explain their ubiquity, and analysis through the lens provided by confirmation theory reveals no good explicit arguments for the judgements, confirmation theory ought at least sometimes to suggest some good arguments that may have been lurking misperceived. Theories of deductive inference do that much for scientific reasoning in so far as that reasoning is supposed to be demonstrative. We can apply quantification theory to assess the validity of scientific arguments, and although we must almost always treat such arguments as enthymematic, the premisses we interpolate are not arbitrary; in many cases, as when the same subject-matter is under discussion, there is a common set of suppressed premisses. Again, there may be differences about the correct logical form of scientific claims; differences of this kind result in (or from) different formalizations, for example, of classical mechanics. But such differences often make no difference for the assessment of validity in actual arguments. Confirmation theory should do as well in its own domain. If it fails, then it may still be of interest for many purposes, but not for the purpose of understanding scientific reasoning.
Privacy and the Criminal Process: Selvi v State of Karnataka

In Selvi v State of Karnataka, the Supreme Court of India declared that three prominent police interrogation techniques narco-analysis, the lie-detector test, and brain-mapping - violated an accused person’s right against self-incrimination under Article 20(3), and her right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution. In this essay, I shall argue that Selvi was a transformative judgment because of the way in which it understood and articulated the relationship between the individual and the State in the context in which the imbalance of power between the two is at its highest: when the individual is an accused criminal, and the State is the interrogator. I shall begin by describing two competing philosophies that underlie criminal legal regimes: the crime-control model, which views the accurate solving of crime to be the highest goal of the law, and the due process model, which holds that even for the detection of crime, there are lines that the State cannot cross – lines grounded in the belief that certain individual rights are inviolable (I); I shall then demonstrate how the Supreme Court’s early judgments on Article 20(3) were delivered within the framework of the crime-control model (II), and how Selvi departed from this understanding in its interpretation of the words “voluntary” and “compelled” (III). I shall conclude by contending that Selvi’s embrace of the due process model is correct in light of our pre-constitutional experience of an authoritarian State and the decision of the framers to elevate the guarantee of self-incrimination from a procedural safeguard to a constitutional right (IV). Furthermore, it has important implications for our understanding of the limits that the Constitution and the Code of Criminal Procedure impose upon the police and upon the criminal investigation process (V).
Big Data Research in Pediatric Neurosurgery: Content, Statistical Output, and Bibliometric Analysis

Background/aims We sought to describe pediatric "big data" publications since 2000, their statistical output, and clinical implications. Methods We searched 4 major North American neurosurgical journals for articles utilizing non-neurosurgery-specific databases for clinical pediatric neurosurgery research. Articles were analyzed for descriptive and statistical information. We analyzed effect sizes (ESs), confidence intervals (CIs), and p values for clinical relevance. A bibliometric analysis was performed using several key citation metrics. Results We identified 74 articles, which constituted 1.7% of all pediatric articles (n = 4,436) published, with an exponential increase after 2013 (53/74, 72%). The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) databases were most frequently utilized (n = 33); hydrocephalus (n = 19) was the most common study topic. The statistical output (n = 49 studies with 464 ESs, 456 CIs, and 389 p values) demonstrated that the majority of the ESs (253/464, 55%) were categorized as small; half or more of the CI spread (CIS) values and p values were high (274/456, 60%) and very strong (195/389, 50%), respectively. Associations with a combination of medium-to-large ESs (i.e., magnitude of difference), medium-to-high CISs (i.e., precision), and strong-to-very strong p values comprised only 20% (75/381) of the reported ESs. The total number of citations for the 74 articles was 1,115 (range per article, 0-129), with the median number of citations per article being 8.5. Four studies had > 50 citations, and 2 of them had > 100 citations. The calculated h-index was 16, h-core citations were 718, the e-index was 21.5, and the Google i10-index was 34. Conclusions There has been a dramatic increase in the use of "big data" in the pediatric neurosurgical literature. Reported associations that may, as a group, be of greatest interest to practitioners represented only 20% of the total output from these publications. Citations were weighted towards a few highly cited publications.
Localized Hyperthermia for the Treatment of Cerebral Tumors

Hyperthermia is a cancer-treatment modality that can cause tumor necrosis by concentrated heating of tumor tissue. The treatment of human tumors by the application of heat is an idea rooted in antiquity. Both Hippocrates (400 BC) and Galen (200 AD) described the palliative effects of red-hot irons applied to superficial tumors. A more recent rationale for hyperthermia in cancer therapy was based on the observation that patients with high fevers had spontaneous remissions of their tumor. In 1893, Coley described tumor responses to bacterial toxin therapy associated with fevers of 39–40 °C of several days duration 1. Although hyperthermia has been of historical interest for some time, in the last two decades it has reemerged as an investigational therapy. The renewed interest is due, in part, to the crucial observation by Cavaliere et al. (1967), that tumor cells are selectively thermosensitive compared to normal cells at temperatures between 42–45 In addition, data from in vitro, animal, and human studies have shown an additive or synergistic response between heat and chemotherapy, and heat and radiation therapy, at 41–43 °C Furthermore, today’s hyperthermia technology, although still in its infancy, has the capability of producing therapeutic temperatures with minimal morbidity to the host. Thus, a new modality has emerged coincident with the realization that standard cancer therapy—surgery, radiation, chemotherapy—can cure only one of three afflicted patients.
Methods for the Production of Radionuclides for Medicine

Nuclear reactions involve the interaction of particles or photons with the nuclei of target atoms, resulting in the production of radioactive atoms that can be used in medicine for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. The guiding principles and methods of radionuclide production are explored in this chapter, with a focus on reactor- and accelerator-based production. With few exceptions, nuclear reactors are used to produce neutron-rich nuclides that are mainly of interest for therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals, while cyclotrons are used to create proton-rich nuclides, which are of interest for diagnostic purposes. Additionally, generator systems and photonuclear production are briefly discussed. Included in this chapter are the practical considerations made when designing targets for radionuclide production, as well as simple tools used for predictive modeling of target behavior. The expansive combination of target materials and production methods has led to a wide range of possibilities for the development of new and exotic radionuclides—creating the framework for a well-equipped toolbox of radiopharmaceuticals.
Return to Yoga Rates Are High After Volar Plating of Distal Radius Fractures.

Background Yoga is a popular activity involving extreme wrist positioning and extension loading. Our purpose was to quantify the prevalence of preoperative yoga participation and characterize subsequent ability to return to yoga in patients undergoing volar locked plating of distal radius fractures. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all cases of distal radius open reduction internal fixation between August 2015 and March 2017. Patients were included if they were treated with volar locked plating and if they participated in yoga on a regular basis preoperatively. Patients were contacted at a minimum of 1 year postoperatively and surveyed about yoga participation. Results A total of 149 patients who underwent distal radius volar plating were surveyed. Thirty-one patients (32 procedures, 20.8% of surveyed patients) participated in yoga on a regular basis preoperatively. Overall, 90.3% returned to yoga in some capacity. Mean times to return to yoga in any capacity, with weight-bearing, and in a "steady state" were 5.7, 7.4, and 10.0 months, respectively. Of patients who resumed yoga, 65.5% returned to the same or better level of yoga. Satisfaction with participation in yoga was 8.9 (out of 10). Conclusions We found a relatively high yoga participation rate in patients undergoing distal radius fracture fixation, suggesting the need to be able to effectively counsel these patients. Our results demonstrate a high rate of return to yoga, although approximately one-third of patients experienced a decreased level of participation. Surgeons can use this information to set appropriate expectations.
Variability in Shelf Sedimentation in Response to Fluvial Sediment Supply and Coastal Erosion Over the Past 1,000 Years in Monterey Bay, CA, United States

Continental shelf environments are uniquely situated to capture some of the most dynamic processes on Earth including climatic variability and anthropogenic modifications to coastal systems. Understanding how these processes have affected sediment delivery and accumulation on the shelf in the past may provide insight into potential changes in the future. To address this, we investigated shelf sedimentation within Monterey Bay, California. Sediment cores were collected from four locations throughout the bay to capture both the modern and late Holocene sedimentological record using grain size analysis, and sediment chronologies determined from 210Pb, 137Cs, and 14C. From the grain size results we focused on the total percent sand, and established a Littoral Sand Fraction (LSF) index to assess sediment contribution from the littoral zone as a result coastal erosion. Grain size results from the multicores consistently showed an increase in sand over the past several decades (post 1970s). For the cores located within the bay proximal to three major rivers, the increase in sand corresponded to a general increase in the LSF over the same period. We attributed these trends to increased sediment contributions to the shelf due to accelerated coastal erosion in the region. This accelerated coastal erosion was likely the combined result of dam construction in the mid-twentieth century that limited fluvial supply to the coast, and a shift in climate toward wetter, stormier period. Applying these sediment characteristics back over the past ~1,000 years we found that dry climatic periods resulted in deposits that were limited in total sand but enriched in littoral material suggesting elevated coastal erosion. During wet periods deposits were enriched in total sand but limited in littoral sand suggesting elevated fluvial supply and low erosion. Compared to the late Holocene record, the previous several decades represent a shift to a new regime, uncharacteristic of deposits over the past millennia, highlighting the impact humans have had on shelf sedimentation.
Core Voters or Local Allies? Presidential Discretionary Spending in Centralized and Decentralized Systems in Latin America

Starting in the late 1990s, traditional opposition parties in Latin America started to capture presidencies. Some of these parties have dramatically shifted resources to core voters as promised, while others have been slower to realize their campaign agendas. I argue this difference depends on presidents' incentives which differ between centralized and decentralized systems. All presidents want their parties to be re-elected, but when local officials are powerful and often opposed to the president, presidents worry that local rivals will steal credit for the provision of goods. This mechanism deters presidents from targeting their voters directly. Instead, presidents in decentralized systems compensate by delivering more goods where local officials are co-partisans, even if the plurality of voters did not support the president there. Resource allocation should thus depend on partisan control of local office in decentralized systems. In centralized systems it should depend on voters' support for the president, even if the local mayor opposed the president. I demonstrate this pattern across 12 years and 100,000 municipalities in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and Venezuela. My analysis draws on observational data, as well as on in-depth interviews with current or former presidents, governors, and several mayors.
Medications for management of opioid use disorder.

Purpose The use of buprenorphine, methadone, and long-acting naltrexone for treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) is discussed, including a review of current literature detailing treatment approaches and action steps to optimize treatment in acute care and office-based settings. Summary The U.S. epidemic of opioid-related deaths has been driven by misuse of prescription opioids and, increasingly, illicit drugs such as heroin, fentanyl, and fentanyl analogs, necessitating a refocusing of treatment efforts on expanding access to life-saving, evidence-based OUD pharmacotherapy. Inpatient treatment of opioid withdrawal includes acute symptom control through a combination of nonopioid medications and long-term pharmacotherapy to lessen opioid craving and facilitate stabilization and recovery. Methadone and buprenorphine reduce opioid craving, increase treatment retention, reduce illicit opioid use, and increase overall survival. Buprenorphine has logistical advantages over methadone, such as greater flexibility of treatment setting and less risk of adverse effects. Studies have shown the efficacy of long-acting injectable naltrexone to be comparable to that of buprenorphine if patients are detoxified prior to initiation of therapy; however, patients with active OUD are often not able to complete the week-long period of opioid abstinence needed prior to initiation of naltrexone injections. Although buprenorphine is preferred by many patients and can be prescribed in office-based settings, there remains a paucity of physicians certified to prescribe it. Conclusion Buprenorphine has become the medication of choice for many patients with OUD, but its use is limited by the low number of physicians certified to prescribe the agent. Other agents studied for treatment of OUD include methadone and naltrexone.
Inferences of environmental and biotic effects on patterns of eukaryotic alpha and beta diversity for the spring systems of Ash Meadows, Nevada

Freshwater springs are important ecosystems. In the arid regions of North America, groundwater extraction has caused the desiccation of springs and the extinction of taxa. To better describe the biodiversity of freshwater springs in the hope of establishing a sensitive approach for monitoring the predicted change in spring systems, we used high-resolution genetic methods to estimate the alpha and beta diversity of 19 springs and two reservoirs within the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge in southwestern Nevada. We discovered a large number of distinct taxa based on eukaryote ribosomal gene sequences and show water temperature, spring size, and the presence or absence of non-native predators predicts alpha diversity, and temperature predicts beta diversity. Our study highlights how DNA data support inferences of environmental factors influencing community diversity and demonstrates the method may be an important tool for monitoring ecological communities.
Early Life Macular Pigment Optical Density (MPOD) and Dietary Intake of Nutrients Related to Macular Health

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a multifactorial progressive disease and is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss in the elderly. Among factors related to development of AMD are g...
The Impact of Socioeconomic Segregation in U.S. High Schools on Achievement, Behavior, and Attainment and the Mediating Effects of Peers and School Practices

Over the past half century, research has consistently linked socioeconomic segregation in schools with student achievement. Research has also established that peer influences and school practices are the primary mechanisms through which socioeconomic composition (SEC) influences achievement. Yet, little research has examined the effects of SEC on non-achievement outcomes such as attainment, behavior, or social and emotional skills or compared the SEC effect size and mediating mechanisms across outcomes. This chapter begins addressing that gap in the literature. The results show considerable variation in the effect size of SEC across outcomes and in the degree to which peer influences and school practices mediate these effects. The two main findings are that SEC has the largest effect size on academically-oriented outcomes and that school practices do not fully address the negative consequences of attending a low-SEC school. A key policy implication of these findings is that addressing this issue will likely require redistributing students so schools are more equal in terms of SEC.
Role of IT and ITES in the Indian Education Sector

This analysis carries out the empirical estimation to study the relation between information technology infrastructure and education in case of India over the time period 1990–2017. This study has applied the empirical techniques like basic regression and quantile regression to see how far the IT infrastructures impact the accessibility to education during this period. The study considers education as the explained variable and fixed telephone and Internet as the main explanatory variables. The remaining variables such as mobile communication, secured Internet servers and individual access to Internet have been considered as control variables. Our empirical estimates suggest that coefficient of fixed telephone is highly positive and significant at the conventional level of significance. Developments in fixed telephone line especially after 2009 have exhibited positive impact upon the education. Empirically, we notice that every 1% increase in telephone line access leads to 0.081% increase in the education accessibility annually after 2009. The study also reveals that coefficients of individual Internet access have shown positive and significant impact upon education across our different models during the study period. The study indicates that every 1% increase in individual Internet access has impacted education positively by 0.13% annually. The study concludes by providing a roadmap ahead in terms of reducing the interstate disparities in providing uniform and equal accessibility of Internet and that too at economical prices particularly for education purpose.
Design of a biofuel supply network under stochastic and price-dependent biomass availability

This article presents a framework for profit-maximizing strategic bio-energy supply chain design by taking into account variability in biomass as a response to price set as well as uncertainty in b...
Secondary Structure of the Novel Myosin Binding Domain WYR and Implications within Myosin Structure

Structural changes in the myosin II light meromyosin (LMM) that influence thick filament mechanical properties and muscle function are modulated by LMM-binding proteins. Flightin is an LMM-binding protein indispensable for the function of Drosophila indirect flight muscle (IFM). Flightin has a three-domain structure that includes WYR, a novel 52 aa domain conserved throughout Pancrustacea. In this study, we (i) test the hypothesis that WYR binds the LMM, (ii) characterize the secondary structure of WYR, and (iii) examine the structural impact WYR has on the LMM. Circular dichroism at 260–190 nm reveals a structural profile for WYR and supports an interaction between WYR and LMM. A WYR–LMM interaction is supported by co-sedimentation with a stoichiometry of ~2.4:1. The WYR–LMM interaction results in an overall increased coiled-coil content, while curtailing ɑ helical content. WYR is found to be composed of 15% turns, 31% antiparallel β, and 48% ‘other’ content. We propose a structural model of WYR consisting of an antiparallel β hairpin between Q92-K114 centered on an ASX or β turn around N102, with a G1 bulge at G117. The Drosophila LMM segment used, V1346-I1941, encompassing conserved skip residues 2-4, is found to possess a traditional helical profile but is interpreted as having <30% helical content by multiple methods of deconvolution. This low helicity may be affiliated with the dynamic behavior of the structure in solution or the inclusion of a known non-helical region in the C-terminus. Our results support the hypothesis that WYR binds the LMM and that this interaction brings about structural changes in the coiled-coil. These studies implicate flightin, via the WYR domain, for distinct shifts in LMM secondary structure that could influence the structural properties and stabilization of the thick filament, scaling to modulation of whole muscle function.
High entropy alloys with hexagonal close-packed structure derived from thin film combinatorial approach

Abstract A thin film combinatorial synthesis approach was utilized to develop a compositional and structural library for the OsRuWCo alloy system. The survey of this alloy space produced 24 unique compositions and their corresponding crystal structures, which represent a phase map where amorphous and single-phase hexagonal close-packed alloys were identified. Based on the identification of a promising candidate film region, a new high entropy alloy based on OsRuWCo, but with non-equiatomic composition, was synthesized in bulk form. The alloy exhibited a single-phase hexagonal close-packed structure in the as-cast state. Three derivatives from this system were also developed by considering the heat of mixing, atomic size, and binary solubility. These new alloys are based on OsRuWCoIr and OsRuWCoFe, both of which exhibit single-phase hexagonal close-packed as-cast structures, as determined by X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. Additionally, this large compositional space was utilized to evaluate conventional parameters that describe high entropy alloys (∆Smix, ∆Hmix, Ω, δ, and VEC), and these were found to elucidate the criteria for solid solution formation in this system. Trends illustrating the evolution from amorphous to crystalline phases are demonstrated and discussed. It is concluded that in this particular case, the dominant factors promoting crystallinity are thermodynamic or electronic, rather than geometric.
Music, Physics, and Psychophysics: An Interdisciplinary Approach

Imagine yourself in a concert hall listening to a soloist performing. Let us identify the systems that are relevant to the “music” you hear. First, obviously, we have the player and the instrument that “makes” the music. Second, we have the air in the hall that transmits the sound into all directions. Third, there is you, the listener. In other words, we have the chain of systems: instrument→air→listener. What links them while music is being played? A certain type and form of vibrations called sound which propagate from one point to another in the form of waves and to which our ear is sensitive. (There are many other types and forms of vibrations that we cannot detect at all, or that we may detect, but with other senses such as touch or vision.)
Personality and Physical Illness

Depending upon their personalities, patients find different aspects of their illnesses upsetting and use different techniques for coping with these difficulties (Geringer & Stern, 1986):
Relationship between Teacher Efficacy and Self-Reported Instructional Practices: An Examination of Five Asian Countries/Regions Using TIMSS 2011 Data.

Teacher efficacy in a particular content area is seen as an important factor shaping teaching practice and student learning in the Western literature. However, inadequate efforts have been made to examine this assumption empirically. Drawing on the Trends of International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2011 mathematics teachers’ data at the eighth grade level, this study examines the relationship between teacher efficacy in teaching mathematics and teachers’ mathematical instructional practices in five Asian countries/regions. Guided with Bandura’s social cognitive theory, this study finds that overall teachers in the five countries/regions reported much lower teacher efficacy in teaching mathematics and lower levels of instructional practices than the international norms. The relationship between teacher efficacy and instructional practices varied within these countries/regions. Teacher efficacies in teaching mathematics are not always statistically and positively related to their instructional practices in engaging students. Together, these findings challenge the theoretical assumption about the positive relationship between teacher efficacy and instructional practices. Possible reasons of these findings and future directions are discussed.
Concealed Handgun Licensing and Crime in Four States

Firearm policy in the United States has long been a serious policy issue. Much of the previous research on crime and firearms focused on the effects of states’ passage of concealed handgun licensing (CHL) legislation. Today, given the proliferation of CHL legislation and growing strength of the “pro-gun” movement, the primary policy focus has changed. State legislators now face issues concerning whether and how to increase access to CHLs. Because of this transformation, this research moves away from the research tradition focused on the effect of a legislative change allowing CHLs. Instead, we consider two issues more policy relevant in the current era: What are the dynamics behind CHL licensing? Do increases in concealed handgun licensing affect crime rates? Using county-level data, we found that the density of gun dealers and other contextual variables, rather than changing crime rates, had a significant effect on increases of the rates at which CHLs were issued. We also found no significant effect of CHL increases on changes in crime rates. This research suggests that the rate at which CHLs are issued and crime rates are independent of one another—crime does not drive CHLs; CHLs do not drive crime.
Gloria Nardini , Che bella figura!: The power of performance in an Italian ladies' club in Chicago . (SUNY series in Speech Communication & SUNY series in Italian/American Studies.) Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 1999. Pp. x, 164. Pb $19.95.

In this book, Nardini presents “a ‘thick description’ of the Collandia Ladies' Club” from an ethnographic, feminist perspective (p. 127). Using data she gathered as a participant observer in this women's auxiliary to an Italian-American men's club in Chicago, Nardini shows that “examining language use in this ‘community of practice’ allows us to revise our notions of women as powerless users of language” (128). In fact, these immigrant and first-generation Lucchese-American club women are shown to wield a considerable amount of power over one another and over the men in the club by using communicative tactics such as indirect speech to support the cultural norms of the club community.
Expression of Endogenous RNA C-Type Virus Group-Specific Antigens in Mammalian Cells

Highly sensitive and specific radioimmunoassays are described for quantitation of the intraspecies determinants of several mammalian C-type viral group-specific (gs) antigens. An interspecies (gs-3) immunoassay has been developed which has both the broad reactivity and great sensitivity necessary for detection of C-type viruses where intraspecies gs assays are not available. By using these immunoassays, the expression of endogenous virus-specified gs antigens in mammalian cells of different species has been studied. Whereas mouse gs antigen was clearly detectable in tissue culture cells of several mouse strains, the respective gs antigens of rat, cat, Chinese hamster, woolly monkey, and gibbon ape were not detectable in cells of those species, using assays of comparable sensitivity. Thus, differences exist in the level of endogenous virus expression in cells of different mammalian species.
Raman Scattering from Pollutant Gases and Air- Water Interfaces

to investigate the effect of temperature dependent optical properties on the solutions assuming that the influence of temperature on the properties themselves can be found. Similarly the effects of the variation of thermal and strength properties with temperature should be examined. Finally, the transpiration or sublimation effects were applied at the exposed surface, and it would be useful to fully blend these into the differential equation to get a more accurate picture of how they influence material response deep within the coating.