cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Does a Brief Motivational Intervention Reduce Frequency of Pregaming in Mandated Students

ABSTRACTBackground: Pregaming, also known as frontloading or predrinking, is a common but risky drinking behavior among college students. However, little is known about the way in which a brief motivational intervention (BMI) addressing general alcohol use and consequences may impact pregaming frequency. Objectives: This study examined whether mandated students reduced frequency of pregaming following a BMI when pregaming was spontaneously discussed and whether gender moderated these effects. Methods: Participants (n = 269, 32% female) were mandated college students who had received a campus-based alcohol citation and continued to exhibit risky alcohol use six weeks after receiving a brief advice session. Participants were randomized to a brief motivational intervention (BMI, n = 145) or assessment only (AO, n = 124) and completed follow-up assessments at 3, 6, and 9 months postintervention. Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM) was used to examine both between-person (Level 2) effects (i.e., condition) and ...
Observation of nanometer-sized electro-active defects in insulating layers by fluorescence microscopy and electrochemistry

We report a method to study electro-active defects in passivated electrodes. This method couples fluorescence microscopy and electrochemistry to localize and size electro-active defects. The method was validated by comparison with a scanning probe technique, scanning electrochemical microscopy. We used our method for studying electro-active defects in thin TiO2 layers electrodeposited on 25 μm diameter Pt ultramicroelectrodes (UMEs). The permeability of the TiO2 layer was estimated by measuring the oxidation of ferrocenemethanol at the UME. Blocking of current ranging from 91.4 to 99.8% was achieved. Electro-active defects with an average radius ranging between 9 and 90 nm were observed in these TiO2 blocking layers. The distribution of electro-active defects over the TiO2 layer is highly inhomogeneous and the number of electro-active defect increases for lower degree of current blocking. The interest of the proposed technique is the possibility to quickly (less than 15 min) image samples as large as seve...
Splenic aspiration in clinical and experimental hematology.

1. The findings obtained by the study of splenic aspirations in 140 patients are presented. Diagnostically they were most helpful in myeloid metaplasia, lymphoma, kala-azar, and Gaucher’s disease. 2. The findings were of particular theoretical interest in multiple myeloma and sickle cell anemia. This method of investigation could be extended to elucidating further the role of the spleen in other diseases. 3. No morbidity was encountered in this series. If certain precautions are observed, splenic puncture is a safe procedure, and should be undertaken in patients with undiagnosed splenomegaly.
Treatment of scoliosis in the adult.

Abstract With the increasing awareness in both the medical community, as well as the general public of the progressive nature of adult scoliosis, more patients with this condition are coming to the attention of the spinal surgeon. With recent technical developments, the surgical armamentarium currently available has certainly improved, yet these patients remain a challenging population of patients. Infantile, juvenile, and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis are defined by their age of presentation. Similarly, adult scoliosis is defined as a presentation of scoliosis after skeletal maturity. Yet most studies in the literature define adult scoliosis arbitrarily as scoliosis existing in a patient age 18 or older. The majority of these patients, therefore, have curves which have persisted through adolescence into adult life with etiologies which mirror those of a younger patient population. Degenerative scoliosis related to osteoporosis and iatrogenic causes are additional etiologies of deformity which more typically present in adult patients. The indications for treatment in the adult patient are similar to those in the adolescent: progression of the deformity, pain, deterioration of pulmonary function, and perhaps cosmesis. The complications encountered during the surgical management of these patients is quite high (50-80%) when compared to their adolescent counterparts. Complications include pseudoarthrosis, loss of lumbar lordosis, thromboembolic disease, instrumentation failure, neurologic deficits, and wound infections. Therefore, even with the recent advances in surgical technique the decision of whether or not to operate on a given patient remains the single most critical decision.
Double-edged Theatrics: Antony and Cleopatra

While Volpone is a comedy that drives home its near tragic judgments on role-playing in the denouement, Antony and Cleopatra reverses the pattern. Its lovers are energetic chameleons; Cleopatra, even in death, escapes the sombreness of being reduced to one fixed form. The drama also examines more fully than does Volpone the ambivalence at the heart of the histrionic impulse: the way that the self may be transformed creatively, and not necessarily diminished, through playing roles. Amazingly versatile, Shakespeare’s play both contains and moves beyond Volpone’s conviction that acting undermines integrity and Middleton’s grimly ironic portrayal of individuals trapped in alien personae. In doing so, it generates some of the enthusiasm for role-playing, particularly through performances of death, that is also sparked in Webster’s The White Devil (1612) and The Duchess of Malfi (1614).
Transformation of mackinawite to greigite by trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene

Trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE) are common ground water contaminants susceptible to reductive dechlorination by FeS (mackinawite) in anaerobic environments. The objective of this study was to characterize the mineral-associated products that form when mackinawite reacts with TCE and PCE. The dissolved products of the reaction included Cl− and Fe2+, and trace amounts of cis 1,2-dichloroethylene (for TCE) and TCE (for PCE). Selected area electron diffraction (SAED) analysis identified greigite as a mackinawite oxidation product formed after reaction between TCE or PCE and FeS over seven weeks. Release of Fe2+ is consistent with the solid state transformation of mackinawite to greigite, resulting in depletion of the solid with Fe. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the sulfur 2p peak showed a shift to a higher binding energy after FeS reacted with TCE or PCE, also observed in other studies of mackinawite oxidation to greigite. The results may help efforts to maintain the reactivity of FeS generated to remediate chlorinated aliphatic contaminants in ground water.
A Case Study in Smartphone Usage and Gratification in the Age of Narcissism

This research tracked the daily smartphone usage and checking habits of 43 undergraduate students at a mid-sized university for a minimum of thirty days to examine the primary uses of smartphones as well as the gratifications received from their usage. Empirical data was correlated with narcissism levels to better understand what drives a person to access media, often involuntarily. Results indicated significant differences between genders for device usage how smartphones are used, the resulting gratifications why smartphones are used, and narcissism. Findings showed an inverse relationship between smartphone usage and narcissism, and between usage and GPA. There also was a positive relationship between a user's smartphone checking habits and exhibitionism. These results are explained further through the lens of modern society's dependence on personal technologies and the gratifications that are satisfied.
Mechanochemical Kinetics in Elastomeric Polymer Networks: Heterogeneity of Local Forces Results in Nonexponential Kinetics

A common approach to inducing selective mechanochemical transformations relies on embedding the target molecules (called mechanophores) within elastomeric polymer networks. Mechanical properties of such elastomers can also be modulated through the mechanochemical response of the constituent polymer chains. The inherent randomness in the molecular structure of such materials leads to heterogeneity of the local forces exerted on individual mechanophores. Here we use coarse-grained simulations to study the force distributions within random elastomeric networks and show that those distributions are close to exponential regardless of the applied macroscopic load, entanglement effects, or network parameters. Exponential form of the distribution allows one to completely characterize the mechanophore kinetics in terms of the mean value of the force. At the same time, heterogeneity of the local force affects the kinetics qualitatively: While a narrow force distribution around the mean would lead to exponential kin...
The physical spacing between the von Willebrand factor D'D3 and A1 domains regulates platelet adhesion in vitro and in vivo.

Essentials The role of von Willebrand factor (VWF) domains in regulating platelet adhesion was studied in vivo. Multimeric VWF with spacers at the N- and C-terminus of VWF-A1 were systematically tested. N-terminal modified VWF avidly bound platelet GpIbα, causing VWD Type2B like phenotype in mice. Novel anti-D'D3 mAbs suggest that changes at the D'D3-A1 interface may be biologically relevant. Summary Background Previous ex vivo studies using truncated VWF (von Willebrand factor) suggest that domain-level molecular architecture may control platelet-GpIbα binding function. Objective We determined if this is the case with multimeric VWF in vivo. Methods Full-length human VWF ('hV') was modified with a 22-amino acid mucinous stretch at either the N-terminus of VWF-A1 to create 'hNV' or C-terminus to yield 'hCV'. This extends the physical distance between VWF-A1 and the adjacent domains by ~6 nm. Similar mucin inserts were also introduced into a human-murine chimera ('h[mA1]V') where murine-A1 replaced human-A1 in hV. This yielded 'h[mA1]NV' and 'h[mA1]CV', with N- and C-terminal inserts. The constructs were tested ex vivo and in vivo. Results Mucin insertion at the N-terminus, but not C-terminus, in both types of constructs resulted in >50-fold increase in binding to immobilized GpIbα. N-terminal insertion also resulted in greater shear-induced platelet activation, more thrombus formation on collagen, enhanced platelet accumulation and slower platelet translocation on immobilized VWF in microfluidics assays. Hydrodynamic injection-based expression of h[mA1]NV, but not h[mA1]V or h[mA1]CV, in VWF-/- mice caused profound thrombocytopenia, reduced plasma VWF concentrations, lower multimer distribution, and incessant tail bleeding that is reminiscent of von Willebrand disease type 2B. Platelet plugs were noted in the portal veins and hepatic arteries. An anti-D'D3 mAb DD3.3 that displays enhanced binding to VWF containing the N-terminal mucin insert also exhibited increased binding to wild-type VWF under shear and upon ristocetin addition. Conclusion Conformation changes at the VWF D'D3-A1 interface may be a key regulator of thrombosis in vivo. Structural features at the A1-A2 interface are likely of less significance.
Breaking the Bimolecular Crystal: The Effect of Side-Chain Length on Oligothiophene/Fullerene Intercalation

Polymer/fullerene bimolecular crystal formation has been investigated using a variety of conjugated polymers and fullerenes to understand the design rules that influence donor–acceptor interaction. Modifications of the polymer by varying the substitution side-chain position, density, and branching have demonstrated the importance of the “pocket” dimensions (free volume between side chains where the fullerene resides) for controlling intercalation. Yet the effect of pocket height has not been systematically explored because of the solubility limitations in polymers. In this report, we present an experimental investigation into the effect of the pocket height by synthesizing poly[2,5-bis(3-alkylthiophen-2-yl)thieno[3,2-b]thiophene] dimers with varied side chain lengths and track the morphological changes of the dimer/fullerene blends using grazing-incidence X-ray scattering, thermal measurements, and photoluminescence quenching. We identify two regimes: (1) oligomers with side chains greater than or equal t...
Pharmacists' knowledge, support, and perceived roles associated with providing naloxone in the community.

Abstract Introduction Prior to the Michigan naloxone standing order legislation, a sample of Michigan pharmacists was surveyed to (1) identify gaps in knowledge regarding naloxone: (2) assess supportive attitudes towards the standing order and; (3) determine perceived pharmacist roles when providing naloxone. Methods A 37-item survey was emailed to Michigan Pharmacist Association members (n = 2757), July to August 2016. Responses to knowledge, supportive attitude, and perceived roles items were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Significance set at p Results The useable response was 8% (n = 211), 92% white, 54% female, aged 46.5 ± 14.6 years. Knowledge: Eighty-five percent (179/211) agreed laypersons can administer naloxone. Sixty-four percent could identify an opioid overdose and 74% agreed with required pharmacist naloxone education; yet 20% had education. Supportive attitude: Eighty-seven percent (184/211) supported the standing order. Perceived role: Fifty-six percent agreed with responsibility for following patients after providing naloxone. Predictors of agreement were rural practice location (OR = 2.5; 95% CI 1.2–5.0, p = 0.01), and requiring naloxone education (OR = 3.0; 95% CI 1.3–6.8, p = 0.007). Having a Doctor of Pharmacy versus a Bachelor of Science Pharmacy degree decreased odds of agreement by 43.5% (OR = 0.435; 95% CI 0.221–0.857, p = 0.016). Discussion Timing of survey may explain the low number of trained respondents. The increased willingness of BS Pharmacists to follow patients may reflect longer practice and closer community ties. Limitations include low generalizability and small sample. Conclusion A small representative sample of Michigan pharmacists is knowledgeable regarding naloxone and has supportive attitudes towards the standing order.
Mapping of CGIF to operational interfaces

The Conceptual Graph Interchange Format (CGIF) is a notation for conceptual graphs which is meant for communication between computers. CGIF is represented through a grammar that defines “on-the-wire-representations”. In this paper we argue that for interacting applications in an open distributed environment this is too inefficient both in terms of the application creation process as well as runtime characteristics. We propose to employ the widespread middleware platform based on CORBA to allow the interoperability within a heterogeneous environment. The major result of this paper is a specification of an operational interface written in CORBA's Interface Definition Language (IDL) that is equivalent to CGIF, yet better suited for the efficient implementation of applications in distributed systems.
AIDS: Global Epidemiology

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has expanded rapidly to every region of the world. AIDS is now the leading cause of death among people 15–59 years old and the world's most urgent public health challenge. Unprotected sexual contact is the predominant mode of HIV transmission throughout the world, although HIV can also be transmitted by exposure to infected blood and from mother to child. Sub-Saharan Africa has been disproportionately affected with 22.5 million people living with HIV (68% of the global infections) and 1.6 million AIDS deaths in 2007 (76% of the AIDS deaths worldwide). In other regions, HIV infections have been concentrated in high-risk groups such as men who have sex with men, commercial sex workers and their clients, and injection-drug users. Many parts of the world have been slow to recognize the severity of the HIV pandemic but there have been notable prevention successes in Thailand and Uganda. In recent years, global efforts have increased substantially. The most encouraging improvements have been in sub-Saharan Africa where the number of people being treated with anti-retrovirals has increased tenfold from 2003 to 2006. A key challenge is to now build on this success and increase access to evidence-based prevention programs, especially in low-income countries and marginalized high-risk groups.
Herd-level variables associated with delayed milk ejection in Michigan dairy herds.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to determine which herd-level variables were associated with delayed milk ejection (bimodal milk let-down) in 64 Michigan dairy herds. Median herd size was 294 cows (range 59 to 2,771 cows). For each herd, milking protocols were observed and milk flow dynamics were estimated by use of digital vacuum recorders. Surveys were also administered to the producers to measure mastitis management practices and attitudes. Milk flow dynamics were recorded for a total of 3,824 cow milkings, with a mean of 60 milkings per herd (range of 11 to 154). Backward multivariable analysis was used to determine which of the 47 herd-level milking and management variables were associated with delayed milk ejection (cows with milk let-down periods between milking cluster attachment and the incline phase of milk flow of >30 s). Delayed milk ejection occurred in an average of 25% of the cows in each herd (range 0 to 75%). A multivariable model found that the proportion of cows in a herd with delayed milk ejection was negatively associated with mean total time of tactile stimulation during premilking routines and positively associated with herd size.
The Two Elementary Classes of Aesthetic Objects: Spatial and Temporal Modalities

If points of indeterminacy are the most rigorous way of characterizing medial objects and classes of them, then the spatial and temporal arts are the most basic division between such classes. Returning to the idea of existential dependence in Chap. 2, one can note a distinct kind of dependence occurring in each class. In spatial arts, all views of a work are one-sidedly dependent on the work; none is privileged. In temporal works, each successive phase of the work is dependent on a prior phase. Using ontological rigor gives new support for Lessing’s ancient argument in the Laocoon, with which Arnheim was quite sympathetic. Phenomenological analysis of cases of spatial and temporal arts reveal this basic ontological division. In the narratological distinction between plot and subject, sequence is essential to temporal arts, unlike in the arts of painting, sculpture or architecture. Consequently, each class has wholesale differences in kinds of in/determinacy. Spatial arts excel at capturing determinacies of permanence and temporal arts supply the determinacies of change. Invoking Arnheim’s categories, spatial arts are more “self-images” than “likenesses.” Just because ontology prescribes basic features of a medial object does not mean that practices cannot go against their grain. A viewer versed in the Bible will dutifully follow the narrative sequence of Christ’s life in Brueghel’s painting.
Using machine learning as an aid to seismic geomorphology, which attributes are the best input?

AbstractVolcanic rocks with intermediate magma composition indicate distinctive patterns in seismic amplitude data. Depending on the processes by which they were extruded to the surface, these patt...
A Novel ALDH1A1 Inhibitor Targets Cells with Stem Cell Characteristics in Ovarian Cancer.

A small of population of slow cycling and chemo-resistant cells referred to as cancer stem cells (CSC) have been implicated in cancer recurrence. There is emerging interest in developing targeted therapeutics to eradicate CSCs. Aldehyde-dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity was shown to be a functional marker of CSCs in ovarian cancer (OC). ALDH activity is increased in cells grown as spheres versus monolayer cultures under differentiating conditions and in OC cells after treatment with platinum. Here, we describe the activity of CM37, a newly identified small molecule with inhibitory activity against ALDH1A1, in OC models enriched in CSCs. Treatment with CM37 reduced OC cells’ proliferation as spheroids under low attachment growth conditions and the expression of stemness-associated markers (OCT4 and SOX2) in ALDH+ cells fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS)-sorted from cell lines and malignant OC ascites. Likewise, siRNA-mediated ALDH1A1 knockdown reduced OC cells’ proliferation as spheres, expression of stemness markers, and delayed tumor initiation capacity in vivo. Treatment with CM37 promoted DNA damage in OC cells, as evidenced by induction of γH2AX. This corresponded to increased expression of genes involved in DNA damage response, such as NEIL3, as measured in ALDH+ cells treated with CM37 or in cells where ALDH1A1 was knocked down. By inhibiting ALDH1A1, CM37 augmented intracellular ROS accumulation, which in turn led to increased DNA damage and reduced OC cell viability. Cumulatively, our findings demonstrate that a novel ALDH1A1 small molecule inhibitor is active in OC models enriched in CSCs. Further optimization of this new class of small molecules could provide a novel strategy for targeting treatment-resistant OC.
Quantum Trajectory Dynamics Based on Local Approximations to the Quantum Potential and Force.

The quantum nature of nuclei often affects molecular structure and properties, which are associated with the motion of protons and other light nuclei at low temperature. However, incorporation of the nuclear quantum effects into theoretical studies of large molecular systems is an outstanding challenge in theoretical chemistry. In this paper, the de Broglie–Bohm formulation of the time-dependent Schrodinger equation is used as a framework for the development of approximate quantum corrections to the dynamics of a trajectory ensemble, representing a time-dependent wave function. Specifically, the trajectory-centered local Least Square Fit (L-LSF) to the trajectory attributes is introduced, formally analyzed and illustrated on model potentials, typically used to benchmark approximate and semiclassical dynamics methods. The L-LSF method improves the dynamics accuracy, compared to the globally defined approximations, developed previously, and is shown to converge to the exact (generally impractical for large ...
Three-Dimensional Maps of Helium Nanobubbles To Probethe Mechanisms of Bubble Nucleation and Growth

We present and analyze a three-dimensional (3D) volume of nanoscale helium bubbles in a tritium-exposed palladium alloy that we have reconstructed by transmission electron tomography. Helium nanobubbles commonly form within metals during exposure to radiation and radioactive substances. The radioactive decay of tritium stored in metal tritides often results in a high density of these nanoscale helium bubbles. A persistent question about the mechanisms of bubble nucleation and growth has been the role of lattice defects and impurities. To address this matter, we have determined the 3D positions of helium nanobubbles in a palladium–nickel alloy exposed to tritium for 3.8 years. We introduce methods to determine the 3D shapes, volumes, and spatial positions of helium bubbles as small as 1 nm within solids. We find that the size and spacing of observed nanobubbles are not correlated. Our results suggest that previous models, which hypothesize initial, rapid homogeneous nucleation of nanobubbles followed by di...
Mindfulness training and systemic low-grade inflammation in stressed community adults: Evidence from two randomized controlled trials.

Mindfulness interventions have garnered significant attention as a complementary health treatment for many physical and psychological conditions. While some research has shown that mindfulness training can decrease psychological and physiological stress responses, it remains unclear whether mindfulness training impacts inflammation—a predictor of poor health outcomes. In addition, little research has examined the active components of mindfulness that may drive health-related improvements. Here, we provide data from two 3-arm randomized controlled trials that examined the effect of mindfulness training on inflammation in stressed community adults. Specifically, we examined whether training individuals to have an accepting attitude towards present moment experiences is a key emotion regulation skill that can lead to decreases in inflammation. Both studies randomly assigned participants to one of three conditions: mindfulness training that taught both attention monitoring and acceptance skills (Monitor+Accept); mindfulness training teaching monitoring without the acceptance component (Monitor Only); or a control condition. Study 1 employed a novel 2-week smartphone-based intervention and Study 2 employed a standard 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) intervention. We hypothesized that Monitor+Accept training would lead to reductions in the inflammatory biomarker C-Reactive Protein (CRP) compared to Monitor Only training and control groups. Contrary to this hypothesis, we found that Monitor+Accept mindfulness training did not lead to reductions in CRP. Exploratory analyses combining study subsamples, however, suggest that both mindfulness interventions may reduce CRP in populations at risk for systemic inflammation—midlife-to-older adults and individuals with high BMI. Overall, the present studies contribute significantly to the question of whether mindfulness interventions can reduce systemic markers of low-grade inflammation.
The late positive potential as a neurocognitive index of emotion regulatory flexibility

A growing body of research has examined regulatory flexibility as the ability to dynamically modulate emotional expression and experience (Bonanno & Burton, 2013). The late positive potential (LPP), an event-related potential reflecting processing of emotionally-evocative stimuli, is sensitive to emotion regulation (ER) or the psychological processes that underlie the experience, expression, and management of emotions. However, few studies have used the LPP to index regulatory flexibility or tested its association with self-reported emotional well-being and ER. The results of the current study showed that regulatory flexibility indexed via the LPP was associated with self-reported use of specific ER strategies. Further, greater regulatory flexibility measured as the full LPP regulatory range (indexed following prompts to enhance and suppress emotional responses to stimuli) was specifically and uniquely associated with greater self-reported coping flexibility. Findings provide preliminary support for this neurocognitive approach to conceptualizing and assessing regulatory flexibility.
Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels among individuals experiencing statin-associated symptoms: Data from the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study.

Background Guidelines recommend adults who discontinue statin therapy because of statin-associated symptoms be reinitiated. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels achieved after statin reinitiation are unknown. Objective The objective of this study was to determine LDL-C levels after statin reinitiation. Methods We analyzed data from 5498 participants in the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke study who reported ever taking a statin. We categorized participants according to their pattern of statin use including those taking a statin who did not experience statin-associated symptoms and continued treatment, and those who discontinued statins because of statin-associated symptoms and were not reinitiated, reinitiated and remained on treatment, and discontinued treatment after being reinitiated. Mortality and vascular event reduction with statin reinitiation was estimated using data from the Cholesterol-Lowering Treatment Trialists Collaboration. Results After multivariable adjustment, LDL-C was 14.1 (95% CI: 9.9–18.3) mg/dL higher among participants reinitiated and taking a statin compared with those without statin-associated symptoms who continued statin therapy. Mean LDL-C was 18.1 mg/dL (95% CI: 13.0–23.1) and 27.5 mg/dL (95% CI: 20.7–34.4) lower among participants reinitiated and taking a statin compared with those who discontinued statin therapy and were not reinitiated and those who discontinued statins after being reinitiated, respectively. An LDL-C reduction of 18.1 mg/dL with statin reinitiation was projected to reduce all-cause and coronary heart disease mortality by 5.6% and 8.9%, respectively, and myocardial infarction or coronary heart disease death and major vascular events by 10.7% and 9.8%, respectively, over 5 years. Conclusion Reinitiating individuals who discontinue statin therapy may reduce LDL-C and cardiovascular risk.
The Moderation of Raising One’s Grandchildren on the Relation Between Sleep and Depressive Symptoms

Background Recent evidence has shown that poor quality sleep is associated with depression, particularly among older individuals. Moreover, given that grandparent caregivers are more likely to report being depressed, it is crucial to identify whether poor sleep quality results in more depressive symptoms when older individuals are also caring for their grandchildren. Thus, the current study examined how caregiving status was associated with the relation between sleep quality and depressive symptoms and the further moderation of gender (ie, 3-way interaction). Participants The sample (N = 459, Mean age = 62.43, 58.40% female) was a subset of individuals recruited in the second wave of the MIDUS project completed in 2009. Methods Participants answered the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESD), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and a question regarding grandparent caregiving status. Moderation analyses were conducted using AMOS 26.0. Results The interaction between global sleep quality and grandparent caregiving status was significant in predicting depressive symptoms, and the interactions examining global sleep quality, subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, sleep efficacy, sleep medication, and daytime dysfunction were significant for males when examined separately, whereby increased sleep difficulties were associated with more depressive symptoms. In all sleep domains, the slope of the interactions was sharper for grandparent caregivers, particularly for males. Conclusion Significant differences between interactions for males and females indicated 3-way interactions, such that interactions were significant for males and not females. Therefore, the relation of sleep on depressive symptoms was dependent on grandparent caregivers' status and gender.
Subclinical hypothyroidism is not associated with neonatal morbidity in women with gestational diabetes mellitus: a case-control study.

Placental modifications observed in women with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) should be associated with altered fetal development in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and worsen perinatal outcome. We aim to determine if SCH is associated with neonatal morbidity in women with GDM. A secondary analysis of data collected for a prospective population-based cohort study including all pregnant women with singleton pregnancies at diagnosis of GDM in a tertiary care university hospital. Thyroid-stimulating hormone and free thyroxine were measured at diagnosis of GDM. Perinatal outcome was compared between two groups-women with SCH and euthyroid. Neonatal morbidity was defined by at least one of the following criteria: preterm birth, macrosomia, shoulder dystocia, respiratory distress syndrome, 5-min Apgar score < 7, pH < 7.10, and admission to the NICU (neonatal intensive-care unit) for 24 h. Of the total 200 women enrolled, 150 were evaluable for the study. Of whom, 9 (6%) women presented SCH. The mean gestational age at diagnosis of GDM was 21.7 ± 7.0 weeks. Maternal outcome of women with SCH was similar to euthyroid women. Neonatal morbidity occurred in 17.3% (26/150). Women with SCH had higher rate of neonatal morbidity (44.4% vs. 15.6%; p = 0.03), specifically due to admission to the NICU for 24 h (33.3% vs. 5.7%; p = 0.02). SCH in women with GDM is not associated with neonatal morbidity after controlling for gestational age at birth and admission to NICU (adjusted OR 2.02, 95% CI 0.75–10.23). Subclinical hypothyroidism is not associated with neonatal morbidity in women with gestational diabetes mellitus.
"Don't talk to them about goals of care": Understanding disparities in advance care planning.

Background Structurally marginalized groups experience disproportionately low rates of advance care planning (ACP). To improve equitable patient-centered end-of-life care, we examine barriers and facilitators to ACP among clinicians as they are central participants in these discussions. Methods In this national study, we conducted semi-structured interviews with purposively selected clinicians from six diverse health systems between August 2018 and June 2019. Thematic analysis yielded themes characterizing clinicians' perceptions of barriers and facilitators to ACP among patients, and patient-centered ways of overcoming them. Results Among 74 participants, 49 (66.2%) were physicians, 16.2% were nurses, and 13.5% were social workers. Most worked in primary care (35.1%), geriatrics (21.1%), and palliative care (19.3%) settings. Clinicians most frequently expressed difficulty discussing ACP with certain racial and ethnic groups (African American, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American) (31.1%), non-native English speakers (24.3%), and those with certain religious beliefs (Catholic, Orthodox Jewish, and Muslim) (13.5%). Clinicians were more likely to attribute barriers to ACP completion to patients (62.2%), than to clinicians (35.1%) or health systems (37.8%). Three themes characterized clinicians' difficulty approaching ACP (Preconceived views of patients' preferences; narrow definitions of successful ACP; lacking institutional resources), while the final theme illustrated facilitators to ACP (Acknowledging bias and rejecting stereotypes; mission-driven focus on ACP; acceptance of all preferences). Conclusions Most clinicians avoided ACP with certain racial and ethnic groups, those with limited English fluency, and persons with certain religious beliefs. Our findings provide evidence to support development of clinician-level and institutional-level interventions and to reduce disparities in ACP.
Hearing Loss and Teprotumumab

Thyroid eye disease (TED) is an unpredictable autoimmune inflammatory disease which can be sight-threatening, debilitating, and disfiguring. Teprotumumab (IV infusion every 3 weeks x 8 doses) was recently approved as the first and only FDA-approved drug for TED in 2020. Phase 2 and 3 studies showed significant improvement in proptosis, double vision, soft tissue inflammation and quality of life for patients with active moderate to severe TED. Side effects were experienced by 85% of patients on teprotumumab. Hearing loss symptoms were reported in 10% of patients and were reported to be reversible upon stopping the drug. Objective: To explore the incidence of hearing loss symptoms and sensorineural hearing loss in patients treated with teprotumumab. Methods: All patients, followed at one institution, treated with at least 4 infusions of teprotumumab were evaluated. Charts were evaluated for baseline hearing symptoms and hearing symptoms during or after therapy with teprotumumab. Those patients with hearing symptoms were referred for audiogram testing and patulous eustachian tube (PET) testing. Results: Twenty-eight patients were included in this analysis. Thirteen patients (46%) complained of hearing symptoms. The most common symptoms were autophony or an ear plugging sensation and hearing loss or muffled hearing. Hearing symptoms developed after a mean of 3.6 infusions. Of the patients with hearing symptoms, three patients (23%) had sensorineural hearing loss documented on audiogram (n=2) or patulous eustachian tube (n=1) documented on PET testing. To date, the patient with PET has experienced some improvement, but not resolution, of her symptoms. The two patients with documented sensorineural hearing loss have not experienced a significant improvement in hearing, on audiogram, on average 3 months after stopping teprotumumab. Conclusion: Teprotumumab is a promising new therapy for active moderate to severe thyroid eye disease. Providers should consider performing a baseline audiogram with PET testing and performing audiograms with PET testing for patients that develop hearing symptoms during or after therapy. Hearing loss is a concerning adverse event and its mechanism and reversibility should be further studied.
Pulsed Power Generators

This chapter presents an overview of commonly used pulsed generators in bioelectrics. The concept of pulsed power is discussed in Sect. 15.1. One of the key components of ultrashort pulse generator is the switch that is capable of closing in time of nanoseconds or subnanoseconds. A variety of switches, including gas spark gap switches and MOSFETs, can be used (Sect. 15.2). Besides the switches, the circuits that are often used in producing ultrashort pulses are discussed in Sect. 15.3. Finally, when ultra-high voltage pulses are needed, an air-core transformer or a Marx generator can be used, which are discussed in Sect. 15.4.
Risk factors for breast cancer subtypes among Black women undergoing screening mammography.

Black women are more likely than non-Hispanic White women to be diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive subtype with limited treatment options. The study objective was to evaluate the associations of known breast cancer risk factors, including breast density, with TNBC among Black women. This study included Black women who underwent screening mammography between the ages of 40–84 years at a University of Pennsylvania Health System between 2010 and 2015. Cox proportional hazard models using multiple imputation with chained equations were used to estimate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for risk factors for ER/PR+/HER2− and TNBC. Among 25,013 Black women, there were 330 incident breast cancers (1.3%) during a mean follow-up of 5.8 years; 218 (66.1%) ER/PR+ HER− and 61 (18.1%) TNBC. Having dense breasts (heterogeneously dense or extremely dense) vs. non-dense breasts (almost entirely fatty or scattered areas of fibroglandular density) increased risk of ER/PR+/HER2− breast cancer almost 80% (HR 1.79, 95% CI 1.32–2.43) and TNBC more than twofold (HR 2.53, 1.45–4.44). Older age was associated with an increased risk for ER/PR+/HER2− (HR 1.04, 1.03–1.06) and TNBC (HR 1.03, 1.00–1.05). Having a BMI of > 30 kg/m2 was associated with an increased risk (HR 2.77, 1.05–7.30) for TNBC and an increased risk of ERPR+/HER2− breast cancer in postmenopausal but not pre-menopausal women (p-interaction = 0.016). Our results suggest that breast density and obesity are strong risk factors for TNBC among Black women. Understanding breast cancer subtype specific risk factors among Black women can help improve risk assessment.
Antenna Beamwidth Optimization in Directional Device-to-Device Communication Using Multi-Agent Deep Reinforcement Learning

Exploiting the millimeter wave (mmWave) band is an attractive solution to accommodate the bandwidth-intensive applications in device-to-device (D2D) communications. The directional nature of communications at mmWave frequencies and mobility of devices require beam alignment at both transmitter and receiver ends. The beam alignment signaling overhead leads to a loss in the network’s throughput. There exists a trade-off between antenna beamwidth and the achievable throughput. Although a narrower antenna beam increases the directivity gain, it leads to a higher signaling overhead and less stable D2D links which reduce the network’s throughput. Therefore, optimizing the antenna beamwidth is crucial to maintain the D2D users’ quality-of-experience (QoE). In this paper, we propose a novel distributed antenna beamwidth optimization algorithm based on multi-agent deep reinforcement learning. We model D2D links as agents that interact with the communication environment concurrently and learn to refine their antenna beamwidth policies. Agents aim to maximize the network sum-throughput and maintain reliable communication links while taking into account the application-specific quality-of-service (QoS) requirements and the cost associated with beam alignment. Online deployment of the proposed algorithm is distributed and does not require any coordination among users. The performance of the proposed antenna beamwidth optimization algorithm is compared with other widely used baseline algorithms. Numerical results show that our proposed algorithm improves the network performance significantly and outperforms existing approaches.
The determination of plasma ethanol by gas liquid chromatography using trichloracetic acid as the protein precipitant.

Gas liquid chromatography is now a common method of estimating certain volatile compounds in body fluids [1,2,3]. There is, however, no general agreement regarding sample preparation prior to injection.
Ab initio studies of structural features not easily amenable to experiment: Part 66. Quantitative predictions of some structure-conformation relations in branched hydrocarbons from component standard geometry functions

Abstract The molecular structures of several conformations of isobutane, isopentane, 2,2-dimethylbutane, 2,2,3-trimethylbutane, and hexamethylethane were determined by ab initio gradient geometry optimization with the 4-21G basis set. The resulting structures can be used to derive standard geometry functions (SGF) which describe, for the systems considered, the changes in their bond distances and angles as functions of τ, the torsion about the central C-C bond. It is found that the SGF of composite molecules can be resolved into SGF components which are derived from simple molecules and are generally transferable to many systems. For the branched hydrocarbons considered, the relative changes in some parameters which are associated with changes in τ can be predicted from the component SGF previously calculated for τ in the unbranched systems, ethane, propane, and butane.
Iterated class-specific subspaces for speaker-dependent phoneme classification

The features based on the MEL cepstrum have long dominated probabilistic methods in automatic speech recognition (ASR). This feature set has evolved to maximize general ASR performance within a Bayesian classifier framework using a common feature space. Now, however, with the advent of the PDF projection theorem (PPT) and the class-specific method (CSM), it is possible to design features separately for each phoneme and compare log-likelihood values fairly across various feature sets. In this paper, class-dependent features are found by optimizing a set of frequency-band functions for projection of the spectral vectors, analogous to the MEL frequency band functions, individually for each class. Using this method, we show significant improvement over standard MEL cepstrum methods in speaker and phoneme specific recognition.
Gender Barriers to the Female Mentor – Male Protégé Relationship

This paper explores gender barriers to the formation of the female mentor – male protege relationship. The authors consider both physiological as well as social gender as a way to help understand the scarcity of these relationships. A number of gender-related factors are considered, including organizational demographics, relational demography, sexual liaisons, gender stereotypes, gender behaviors, and power dynamics. The paper concludes with directions for future research that will help provide further insights into the development and success of the female mentor – male protege relationship.
What Do We Mean by Information Technology? Perspectives on Studying Computing

The current information systems (IS) literature is embracing an increasingly explicit focus on organizational actions and issues relative to the design, construction, and use of IS. However, the socio-technical nature of the issues in IS suggests that this research should also inform those who build computing artifacts. For example, and as we do in this panel, both Morrison and George (1995) and Markus (2000) argue that IS research should be both more connected to, and say more about, the information technologies (IT) that are embedded in the systems being studied.
Material and Electromagnetic Properties of Faraday Shields for Ion Cyclotron Heating Antennas

The Faraday shields for ion cyclotron antennas must transmit magnetic waves and absorb little RF power. To investigate these properties, we have constructed 27 Faraday shields in many configurations, including chevrons, tubes, straps, concentric rings, various layered shields, conventionally leafed straps, and replicas of the Faraday shields for ASDEX, the Joint European Torus (JET), TEXTOR, and Alcator-C. We have measured the magnetic flux and observed loading at various operating resistances by using dielectric sheets or magnetic-coupled loads. Each Faraday shield effects a net change in the characteristic inductance of the antenna, resulting in a reduction of wave coupling. However, the load experienced by the antenna is not always reduced because the Faraday shield itself acts as a load. We differentiate between these effects experimentally. The net result of the study is that the Faraday shields now in use cost up to a factor of 50% of coupling. This, of course, reduces the power handling capability by 50% as well. However, configurations exist that are easily cooled and result in a reduction of less than 5% in loading.
Estimation of speculative attack models : Mexico yet again

An amalgamation of standard speculative attack models is applied to Mexican exchange rate regimes over the past twenty years. The paper develops the first simultaneous (non-iterative) estimator for speculative attack models. Particular attention is paid to the December 1994 devaluation of the peso. Estimation results for the recent devaluation are a disappointment, less so for earlier periods when the assumptions of the model are more appropriate.
Computational Studies on the Mechanism of Orotidine Monophosphate Decarboxylase

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on those studies that have employed computations as their primary mechanistic tool. These have been divided into two main categories: quantum mechanical studies of small model systems and molecular mechanical studies of the entire enzyme. These calculations are often intimately tied to experimental work, and where relevant, experimental studies have been described in detail. The focus of most computational studies of enzyme catalysis is on locating the structures and relative energies of the stationary points for the reaction in question in different environments. In principle, this allows one to uncover the origins of enzymatic rate acceleration and/or selectivity by comparing the geometries and relative energies of key points along the reaction coordinate in the gas phase, in a solvent, and in the heterogeneous microenvironment of an enzyme active site. The goal of using free energy calculations to study enzyme catalyzed reactions is to discover how a given enzyme increases the rate of a given reaction over its rate in aqueous solution. Two types of strategy are usually applied to this problem. In one approach, the free energies of binding, out of water into the enzyme active site, of the reactant(s) and transition structure are computed to see if rate acceleration can be explained by selective binding of the transition structure. The second approach involves directly computing the reaction coordinate for transformation of the enzyme-bound substrate(s) into product(s).