cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
“We are kind of their parents”: Child welfare workers’ perspective on sexuality education for foster youth

Abstract Adolescents and young adults placed in our child welfare system are at an increased risk for pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections due to their likelihood to engage in high-risk behaviors, such as unprotected sex and sex with multiple partners. They receive unclear and inconsistent messages about sexual and reproductive health and lack access to reproductive health services and programs. Focus groups (N = 3) comprised of child welfare workers and foster parents were conducted to capture the issues relevant to addressing the sexual reproductive health needs of youth in out-of-home care. Participants indicated that they generally did not receive sufficient training, if any, yet were expected to address sexual reproductive health issues with youth. The responses were organized into three themes that should be considered when developing training interventions: (1) how to communicate with youth about sexual reproductive health; (2) defining adults’ roles and activities in assisting youth; and, (3) discussions about their values about sex and sexual activity. The results of this study point to a need for child welfare workers and foster parents to receive concrete practice skills regarding how to address the sexual reproductive health needs of youth.
Predicting Performance in Upper Division Psychology Classes: Are Enrollment Timing and Performance in Statistics and Research Methods Important?:

A transcript analysis by Freng, Webber, Blatter, Wing, and Scott found that methodology course performance and enrollment timing predicted grade point average in advanced psychology courses. The pr...
Capturing At-Home Health and Care Information for Children With Medical Complexity Using Voice Interactive Technologies: Multi-Stakeholder Viewpoint

Digital health tools and technologies are transforming health care and making significant impacts on how health and care information are collected, used, and shared to achieve best outcomes. As most of the efforts are still focused on clinical settings, the wealth of health information generated outside of clinical settings is not being fully tapped. This is especially true for children with medical complexity (CMC) and their families, as they frequently spend significant hours providing hands-on medical care within the home setting and coordinating activities among multiple providers and other caregivers. In this paper, a multidisciplinary team of stakeholders discusses the value of health information generated at home, how technology can enhance care coordination, and challenges of technology adoption from a patient-centered perspective. Voice interactive technology has been identified to have the potential to transform care coordination for CMC. This paper shares opinions on the promises, limitations, recommended approaches, and challenges of adopting voice technology in health care, especially for the targeted patient population of CMC.
Feasibility study on use of cellular concrete for air convection embankment on permafrost foundations in Fairbanks, Alaska

Abstract The crushed-rock air convection embankment (ACE) is an excellent technique to protect the permafrost from thawing in road construction in cold regions due to its superb cooling effect in winter and excellent thermal resistance performance in summer. However, the desired materials needed for ACE are not readily available, which prevents its extensive use in Alaska. To overcome the limitation (shortage of suitable crushed rocks) of traditional ACE and further improve the cooling effect of ACE, this study investigated the feasibility of using cellular concrete as an alternative material for ACE in cold regions. The finite element method was used to predict the heat transfer patterns of the sand/gravel embankment, the crushed-rock ACE, and the cellular concrete ACE. The results of the present study showed that the cooling performance of both the cellular concrete ACE and the crushed-rock ACE was superior to the conventional sand/gravel embankment. The cellular concrete ACE had better heat insulation property in the summer, and the crushed-rock ACE had stronger natural convection in winter. For the yearly cooling efficiency of the two different ACE techniques, the proposed cellular concrete ACE had a better cooling effect on the foundation soil than the crushed-rock ACE. The results presented in the isotherms and velocity vectors plots for different months of the year also indicated that the thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity of the construction materials had a significant impact on the performance of the ACE. The preliminary cost analyses showed that the cost of the cellular concrete ACE was close to that of the conventional sand/gravel embankment but much lower than that of the crushed-rock ACE.
RNA Expression Analysis of Antibody Mediated Rejection after Heart Transplant with or without Donor Specific Antibodies

Purpose Antibody mediated rejection (AMR) is an increasingly studied cause of graft failure after heart transplantation. AMR diagnostic criteria previously required serum donor specific antibodies (DSA). However, the most recent criteria only requires pathological findings independent of DSA. This classification defined a subset of patients with AMR without known antibodies. To investigate this complication, we performed RNA sequencing using endomyocardial biopsy samples taken at the time of pathology confirmed AMR in the presence and absence of DSA. Methods We evaluated the transcriptome profile of the paraffin-embedded endomyocardial biopsy specimens of 30 representative heart transplant recipients. Patients were categorized as having no evidence of AMR (controls), immunohistochemical findings of AMR (pAMR1i) in the presence of DSA (1i+D), pAMR1i in the absence of DSA (1i-D), histopathological findings of AMR (pAMR1h) in the presence of DSA (1h+D), pAMR1h in the absence of DSA (1h-D) or presence of both immunohistochemical and histopathological findings of AMR (pAMR2) in the presence of DSA. A total of 5 patients were analyzed per group. All were matched for previous mechanical circulatory support and time from transplant to biopsy. Results There was no differential RNA expression between patients with no AMR and those in the 1i-D group. There was also no differential expression between patients in the 1h+D and pAMR2 groups. The largest difference was seen between the no AMR and 1i+D groups and the no AMR and pAMR2 groups. In addition, there was RNA expression differences between patients with immunohistochemical evidence of AMR compared to those with histopathological findings, suggesting distinct mechanisms. Conclusion These studies demonstrate that RNA expression profiling can be performed on endomyocardial biopsy tissue preserved in paraffin from the time of a rejection episode and that different expression patterns are observed dependent on the criteria used to diagnose AMR. In particular, AMR in the presence of DSA showed a different RNA expression profile than AMR without DSAs. The RNA expression associated with histological markers of AMR also appeared different than that associated with immunological markers. Overall, our findings suggest the existence of different subtypes of AMR that may rely on distinct mechanisms of injury.
Droplet Solution Exchange Platform Utilizing Dielectrophoretic Force

This paper presents an in-droplet solution exchange technology for water-in-oil emulsion droplet-based cellular assay systems. Changing out solution in which cells are suspended in within a water-in-oil emulsion droplet is challenging. Here, dielectrophoresis-based cell manipulation technique has been utilized to move all cells within a water-in-oil emulsion droplet to one side of the droplet, followed by asymmetric droplet splitting to obtain a small water-in-oil emulsion droplet with high concentration of cells within. By merging this droplet with a new droplet that contains the desired solution results in the solution in which cells are suspended in to be replaced on chip. To demonstrate the functionality of this system, the microalgal strain Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (C. reinhardtii) was successfully used. This technology enables conducting essentially a centrifugation step, one of the most commonly used steps in any cellular assays, to be performed in the water-in-oil droplet format.
Clinical Characteristics and Morbidity Associated With Coronavirus Disease 2019 in a Series of Patients in Metropolitan Detroit.

Importance In late December 2019, an outbreak caused by a novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 emerged in Wuhan, China. Data on the clinical characteristics and outcomes of infected patients in urban communities in the US are limited. Objectives To describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and to perform a comparative analysis of hospitalized and ambulatory patient populations. Design, Setting, and Participants This study is a case series of 463 consecutive patients with COVID-19 evaluated at Henry Ford Health System in metropolitan Detroit, Michigan, from March 9 to March 27, 2020. Data analysis was performed from March to April 2020. Exposure Laboratory-confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. Main Outcomes and Measures Demographic data, underlying comorbidities, clinical presentation, complications, treatment, and outcomes were collected. Results Of 463 patients with COVID-19 (mean [SD] age, 57.5 [16.8] years), 259 (55.9%) were female, and 334 (72.1%) were African American. Most patients (435 [94.0%]) had at least 1 comorbidity, including hypertension (295 patients [63.7%]), chronic kidney disease (182 patients [39.3%]), and diabetes (178 patients [38.4%]). Common symptoms at presentation were cough (347 patients [74.9%]), fever (315 patients [68.0%]), and dyspnea (282 patients [60.9%]). Three hundred fifty-five patients (76.7%) were hospitalized; 141 (39.7%) required intensive care unit management and 114 (80.8%) of those patients required invasive mechanical ventilation. Male sex (odds ratio [OR], 2.0; 95% CI, 1.3-3.2;P = .001), severe obesity (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.4-3.6;P = .02), and chronic kidney disease (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.3-3.3;P = .006) were independently associated with intensive care unit admission. Patients admitted to the intensive care unit had longer length of stay and higher incidence of respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome requiring invasive mechanical ventilation, acute kidney injury requiring dialysis, shock, and mortality (57 patients [40.4%] vs 15 patients [7.0%]) compared with patients in the general practice unit. Twenty-nine (11.2%) of those discharged from the hospital were readmitted and, overall, 20.0% died within 30 days. Male sex (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1-3.1;P = .03) and age older than 60 years (OR, 5.3; 95% CI, 2.9-9.7;P Conclusions and Relevance In this review of urban metropolitan patients with COVID-19, most were African American with a high prevalence of comorbid conditions and high rates of hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, complications, and mortality due to COVID-19.
Educating Project Stakeholders: A Preliminary Report

In college coursework, we take care to educate future professional software engineers on how software development process works. Computer Science and Software Engineering students across the globe study software process models, gather requirements, design, implement and test their software, work on software maintenance, learn to submit bug reports, build project roadmaps, construct UML diagrams, and deploy software. Yet, ever since the emergence of consumer-facing software, software development often is a collaboration between professional software engineers and multiple stakeholders whose education, professional expertise, and general experience lie outside of computing. We teach future software engineers how to develop software. Why don't we do the same with other future stakeholders? This paper is a description of a pilot Software Engineering Without Programming course developed and taught at our university for the first time in 2020. In this early stage report (the course is ongoing as of the submisison deadline, but will have been completed by the time of the workshop) we outline the need for the course, its learning objectives, its organization, and the expected results.
COVID-19 ventilator rationing protocols: why we need to know more about the views of those with most to lose.

Withholding or withdrawing life-saving ventilators can become necessary when resources are insufficient. With rising cases in many countries, and likely further peaks in the coming colder seasons, ventilator triage guidance remains a central part of the COVID-19 policy response. The dominant model in ventilator triage guidelines prioritises the ethical principles of saving the most lives and saving the most life-years. We sought to ascertain to what extent this focus aligns, or conflicts, with the preferences of disadvantaged minority populations. We conducted a bibliographical search of PubMed and Google Scholar and reviewed all ventilator rationing guidelines included in major recent systematic reviews, yielding 589 studies before screening. Post screening, we found six studies comprising a total of 10 591 participants, with 1247 from disadvantaged populations. Three studies reported findings stratified by race and age, two of which stratified by income. Studies included two to seven principles; all included 'save the most lives'. Involvement of disadvantaged minority populations in eliciting preferences is very limited; few studies capture race and income. This is concerning, as despite relatively small numbers and framing effects there is an observable and plausible trend suggesting that disadvantaged groups worry that dominant principles reduce their chances of receiving a ventilator. To avoid compounding prior historical and structural disadvantage, policy makers need to engage more fully with these populations in designing and justifying ventilator rationing guidance and review their adequacy. Likewise, clinicians need to be aware that their implementation of dominant triage guidelines is viewed with higher levels of concern by minority populations.
Outcomes After Treatment of VTOS

Timely treatment of venous thoracic outlet syndrome (VTOS) has excellent outcomes with the majority of patients having continued patency of the axillosubclavian vein, resolution of associated symptoms, freedom from long-term anticoagulation, and return to previous activities and/or work. Despite the lack of prospectively randomized studies and inconsistent reporting of outcome variables, proposed treatment algorithms have evolved over time as reported outcomes of single institution studies based at centers of excellence have demonstrated superior outcomes associated with complete decompression following thrombolysis. This chapter summarizes the outcomes of VTOS intervention in relation to endoluminal restoration of axillosubclavian vein patency prior to decompressive therapy, modes of decompression, post-decompressive anticoagulation, and adjunct interventions.
Schlussfolgerungen und Ausblick

Das Ziel dieser Arbeit war die experimentelle und simulative Untersuchung des Tropfenaufwirbelvorganges und die Betrachtung seiner Auswirkungen auf das Ergebnis einer Eigenverschmutzungssimulation. Auf diese Weise sollte eine belastbare Simulationsmethodik entstehen, die in der Fahrzeugentwicklung eingesetzt werden kann.
Optical and dielectric investigations on Ag: CdZnTe hybrid polyvinyl alcohol freestanding films

Abstract Hybrid freestanding films of polyvinyl alcohol incorporated with silver and CdZnTe quantum dots were synthesized. The effect of varying silver concentration on optical and dielectric properties were studied. Structural and morphological analysis of hybrid films were done using X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Optical parameters like absorption coefficient, extinction coefficient, refractive index, optical bandgap, urbach energy and optical conductivity were studied for the polymer nanocomposite for 0 to 0.3 wt percentage of silver content. With increasing silver content, a decrease in bandgap energy and an increase in urbach energy was observed. Dielectric constants, loss tangent and AC conductivity values of hybrid films were found to improve, with silver addition and highest values were obtained for 0.2 wt percentage. Complex impedance plots provided semicircles and Cole-Cole parameters were calculated. The nature of impedance plot revels single relaxation process and this was effectively modelled through an equivalent RC parallel circuit.
Severe Immune Reconstitution-like Inflammatory Syndrome from Cryptococcus Gotti Menigoencephalitis Treated with Cyclophosphamide (P6.322)

OBJECTIVE: We describe the clinical course of an immune competent patient with Cryptococcus gattii meningoencephalitis in Southern California that was treated successfully with methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide after he developed a nearly fatal IRIS-like reaction. BACKGROUND: Cryptococcus gatti meningoencephalitis is an emerging infectious disease particularly in the Pacific Northwest. Unlike Cryptococcus neoformans it often occurs in immunocompetent individuals and is often associated with inflammatory reactions that resemble an immune reconstitution inflammatory syndromes (IRIS). CASE REPORT: The 23 year old man without any recent travel history initially presented with headache, photophobia, neck pain and intermittent diplopia. 5 weeks after symptom onset, he was found to have Cryptococcus gatti meningitis, bilateral basal ganglia cryptococcomas with increased intracranial pressure (ICP). Appropriate antifungal therapies (amphotericin and flucytosine) and serial lumbar punctures were initiated but 2 weeks later he started deteriorating, developing signs and symptoms of worsening menigoencephalitis with rising ICP. A lumbar drain was placed, CSF analysis was consistent an IRIS-like syndrome. One week later (2 months after symptom onset) he acutely decompensated becoming unresponsive with generalized seizures requiring intubation. CSF analysis and imaging revealed worsening IRIS that did not improve after 2 days of intravenous dexamethasone. He remained akinetic and mute. The patient was started on methylprednisolone 1 gram daily and intrathecal amphotericin without improvement. 3 days later a single dose of cyclophosphamide (800mg/m 2 ) was given and the next day the patient began speaking, following simple commands, moving all 4 extremities and was extubated. He completed 10 days of methylprednisilone followed by oral prednisone with continued marked improvement. His course has been further complicated by cauda equine syndrome and arachnoiditis requiring intermittent pulse methylprednisiolone. Currently 1 year after symptom onset he is fully functional. He continues on oral voriconazole and low dose prednisone with a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt. Disclosure: Dr. Way has nothing to disclose. Dr. Patino has nothing to disclose. Dr. Nomura has nothing to disclose. Dr. Langer-Gould has received research support from Biogen Idec and Roche Diagnostics Corporation.
The Analysis of Postmarketing Drug Surveillance Data at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Surveillance of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) may be defined as the systematic ascertainment of drug-induced illness by practical uniform methods.1 Various strategies have been proposed for postmarketing surveillance of these illnesses.2,3 For example, Jick categorized these strategies on the bases of the underlying illness rates and the rates of adverse reactions attributable to drugs.3 He suggested that spontaneous ADR reporting systems would be most effective in their surveillance when the actual ADR rate is high and the underlying rate of the illness in the population is low. Thalidomide-induced phocomelia is a good example of this type of drug-related adverse reaction. If the ADR rate is low and the background rate of the illness in the general population is high, observational studies like case-control or cohort studies rather than spontaneous reporting would be needed to identify and characterize the risk of drug-induced illness.
A novel transconductance block eliminates the need for common-mode feedback in fully differential circuits

A new transconductance block with four inputs and two outputs is presented. It is shown that fully differential circuits using this block can be built without the requirement of common-mode feedback. >
Herbrand’s Theorem for a Modal Logic

Herbrand’s theorem is a central fact about classical logic [9, 10]. It provides a constructive method for associating, with each first-order formula X, a sequence of formulas X 1, X 2, X 3,..., so that X has a first-order proof if and only if some X i is a tautology. Herbrand’s theorem serves as a constructive alternative to Godel’s completeness theorem. It provides the theoretical basis for automated theorem proving, reducing a first-order problem to a search through an infinite sequence of propositional problems [12]. It provides machinery for theoretical investigations [2]. But it does not travel well. Unlike Gentzen’s cut elimination theorem, or Godel’s completeness theorem, analogs of Herbrand’s result essentially do not exist for nonclassical logics.
Nutrient and mineralogical control on dissolved organic C, N and P fluxes and stoichiometry in Hawaiian soils

We measured DOM fluxes from the O horizon of Hawaiiansoils that varied in nutrient availability and mineralcontent to examine what regulates the flux ofdissolved organic carbon (DOC), nitrogen (DON) andphosphorus (DOP) from the surface layer of tropicalsoils. We examined DOM fluxes in a laboratory study from N, P and N+Pfertilized and unfertilized sites on soils that rangedin age from 300 to 4 million years old. The fluxesof DOC and DON were generally related to the % Cand % N content of the soils across the sites. Ingeneral, CO2 and DOC fluxes were not correlatedsuggesting that physical desorption, dissolution andsorption reactions primarily control DOM release fromthese surface horizons. The one exception to thispattern was at the oldest site where there was asignificant relationship between DOC and CO2flux. The oldest site also contained the lowestmineral and allophane content of the three sites andthe DOC-respiration correlation indicates arelationship between microbial activity and DOC fluxat this site. N Fertilization increased DON fluxes by50% and decreased DOC:DON ratios in the youngest,most N poor site. In the older, more N rich sites, Nfertilization neither increased DON fluxes nordecreased DOM C:N ratios. Similarly, short termchanges in N availability in laboratory-based soil Nand P fertilization experiments did not affect the DOMC:N ratios of leachate. DOM C:N ratios were similar tosoil organic matter C:N ratios, and changes in DOM C:Nratios with fertilization appeared to have beenmediated through long term effects on SOM C:N ratiosrather than through changes in microbial demand for Cand N. There was no relationship between DON andinorganic N flux during these incubations suggestingthat the organic and inorganic components of N fluxfrom soils are regulated by different factors and thatDON fluxes are not coupled to immediate microbialdemand for N. In contrast to the behavior of DON, thenet flux of dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) and DOMC:P ratios responded to both long-term P fertilizationand natural variation in reactive P availability. There was lower DOP flux and higher DOM C:P ratiosfrom soils characterized by low P availability andhigh DOP flux and narrow DOM C:P ratios in sites withhigh P availability. DOP fluxes were also closelycorrelated with dissolved inorganic P fluxes. PFertilization increased DOP fluxes by 73% in theyoungest site, 31% in the P rich intermediate agesite and 444% in the old, P poor site indicating thatDOP fluxes closely track P availability in soils.
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act and Particularity: Why Are Some Courts in an Alternate Universe?

The focus of this Article is to suggest that the judicial decision-making process is often not as rational and objective as we would like to believe. Bias often affects the decision making of judges, sometimes to the extent that it appears that the writer of the opinion is living in an alternate universe. As we progress professionally, and become more steeped in our biases, we sometimes move toward creating a world that exists in our heads and has little relation to the “real” world. While this assertion will be developed in the context of courts’ interpreting “particularly” in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, the Article first examines a recent and highly significant Supreme Court decision, Stoneridge Investment Partners, LLC v. Scientific-Atlanta. The Article then focuses upon two cases, In re Spectrum Brands, Inc. Securities Litigation and In re Silicon Graphics Inc. Securities Litigation, to illustrate what I have called the “alternate universe” type of thinking that some courts have employed. In these two cases, the courts have either ignored or been unaware of sound management practices, the existence of which would have supported the “particularity” these courts found wanting in the pleadings. Some courts appear oblivious to both the widely recognized practice of manufacturing earnings and the economic incentives that exist for management to do just that. While courts employ a presumption that senior management is informed when applying the business judgment rule, all too often they also, in effect, employ a presumption that senior management is not informed when critiquing the specificity of plaintiffs’ pleadings. If senior management is not informed about the economic situation of the company that they represent to the public, representations which later turn out to be false, what then are they doing that justifies the million-dollar compensation packages that they enjoy?
Dynamic Scene Analysis and Motion Estimation

We give a brief overview of dynamic scene analysis and then concentrate on one of its major difficulties: motion/structure estimation from image sequences. It is seen that though typical dynamic scenes contain multiple moving objects which may not be rigid, even the simplest problem of motion estimation, that of two-view motion analysis of a single rigid object has not been satisfactorily resolved. Much remains to be done.
Early predictors of school-age behavior problems and social skills in children with intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and/or extremely low birthweight (ELBW).

Research findings: Child and family characteristics from early infancy (birth–3 months adjusted age, AA) and toddler period (24–30 months) were examined as potential predictors of behavior problems and social skills at 7.5 years of age in 90 LBW infants with IVH and/or ELBW who were part of a longitudinal study of early intervention effectiveness. Severity of medical problems at birth and child temperament at 3 months AA were associated with future social skill levels, but not with behavior problems. Family variables in the first months of the child's life including low income, single parent household, and high parenting stress were significantly correlated with behavior problems at 7.5 years of age. Difficult temperament and elevated parenting stress in the toddler period were strongly associated with later behavior problems. Toddler developmental quotient (DQ) was a strong predictor of future social skills. Practice or policy: These data highlight the importance of early intervention that targets child behavior and emotional adjustment along with cognitive development, especially in low income and single parent households. Interventions that target parent-child interaction and parent stress are also crucial in these populations, even beyond the birth-three period.
La Saeta del Tiempo: Una Lectura a Gerald Whitrow

En la vida cotidiana, el mundo muestra una marcada diferencia entre el pasado y el futuro, pero —con una pequena excepcion— las leyes de la fisica son simetricas en el tiempo. Gerald Whitrow fue uno de los primeros en darse cuenta que la resolucion de esta paradoja esta de acuerdo con la cosmologia y las condiciones iniciales en el nacimiento del universo. Pero esta simple conclusion oculta algunas profundas sutilezas que toman un nuevo giro con la aparicion de la cosmologia cuantica y la hipotesis del universo inflacionario. La cuestion aun no ha sido resuelta por completo, y sigue siendo uno de los grandes
Informed consent, parental permission, and assent in pediatric practice.

As the author of the first draft of the recently published Academy statement, Informed Consent, Parental Permission, and Assent in Pediatric Practice,1 I would like to comment on several of the "qualifying" or "clarifying" additions that have been made in this statement during its decade long struggle to gain Academy approval. I am particularly concerned about the possible misinterpretation of three of these additions. The first addition is the statement, "Parents and physicians should not exclude children and adolescents from decision-making without persuasive reasons"
The triangular lattice protocol: a highly fault tolerant and highly efficient protocol for replicated data

A protocol for managing replicated data in which data copies are organized as a triangular lattice is introduced. The smallest quorum size is O( square root N), where N is the number of data copies, which is currently considered optimal for a fully distributed environment. The protocol has the property of graceful degradation. The quorum sizes increase gradually as data copy failures increase. The protocol also has the property of asymptotically high availability, i.e., the availability approaches 1 as the number of data copies goes to infinity if the probability that a data copy available is greater than 0.5. >
Emotional Intelligence: A Novel Outcome Associated with Wellbeing and Self-Management in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Rationale: Individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often struggle with diminished autonomy and quality of life. Emotional factors play a crucial role in the well-being of patients with COPD; they are independently associated with critical outcomes such as dyspnea, quality of life, and health care use. Emotional intelligence is the capacity to understand and manage personal thoughts and feelings, as well as to positively influence interpersonal communication and social well-being. Emotional intelligence is a trainable skill that is extensively used in corporate business to improve well-being and performance, and it may also be significant in the self-management of emotions in patients with chronic disease. Importantly, research supports the proposition that emotional intelligence may be developed and learned at any time or any age, and training programs have been associated with increased well-being and better emotional regulation in patients with chronic disease. However, to date, no...
The experience of lead users in the adoption of minienvironment technology

During the past few years, the use of minienvironment technology has rapidly emerged as an important strategy for containing cost and reducing particle contamination in semiconductor integrated circuit fabrication. However, implementation of minienvironment technology is not uniform throughout the semiconductor industry and, in particular, several well-recognized leading firms have been slow to adopt the technology. This paper discusses the experiences of several lead users of minienvironment technology based on data collected from interviews and an industry-wide survey. Generally speaking, lead users have found the technology to be quite beneficial on a number of important dimensions, including cost and contamination control. The experiences and perceptions of lead users provide a contrast to firms that have studied the technology closely, but do not have much actual experience using minienvironments. Lead users report significant cost savings and sub-Class 1 at the wafer surface, while non-users usually perceive far less benefit, particularly in terms of cost. One indication of the effectiveness of the technology is that many lead users continue to expand their investments in minienvironments. The author argues that, compared to industry leaders, lead users of minienvironments may provide greater insight into the usefulness of the technology because these firms are further along the learning curve.
Risk adjustment for interhospital comparison of primary cesarean rates.

Abstract Objective: To create a method of controlling for case mix so that inferences could be made about variation in cesarean rates among hospitals. Methods: A total of 160,753 births from 1991 Illinois birth certificate data were analyzed. A multivariate model of characteristics independently associated with cesarean delivery was developed from a random 25% sample, validated on the other 75%, and used to create a probability of cesarean delivery for each woman. The validated model was used to calculate a predicted primary cesarean delivery rate for the 154 hospitals in Illinois that did at least 100 deliveries per year. Results: The final model included both medical and sociodemographic risk factors and predicted primary cesarean rates accurately over a full range of rates. Thirty-five hospitals (23%) had actual rates that were higher than their individual predicted 95% confidence interval (CI). Eighty-nine hospitals (58%) had actual rates within predicted CIs. Thirty hospitals (20%) had actual rates that were lower than the predicted 95% CI. Twenty-three percent of hospitals with actual rates greater than predicted rates were not in the top quartile of actual rates. Twenty-seven percent of hospitals with actual rates in the top quartile were doing cesarean deliveries appropriate for the risk status of the population served. Conclusion: Risk adjusting for hospital case mix more accurately identifies outlier hospitals than raw, unadjusted primary cesarean delivery rates. We believe that risk adjusting should be the first step in understanding variations in primary cesarean delivery rates.
Gaussian amplitude functions that are exact solutions to the scalar Helmholtz equation; Geometrical representation of the fundamental mode of a Gaussian beam in oblate spheroidal coordinates: reply to comment

A reply is made to Felsen’s comment [ J. Opt. Soc. Am. A6, 1640 ( 1989)], and the basis is given for the statement to which he objected.
Vibrational control of an exothermic CSTR: productivity improvement by multiple input oscillations

A. Cinar et al. (1987) have shown that vibrational control of an exothermic continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) by vibrating the total flow rate modifies its behavior and leads to stabilized operation in its unstable steady-state region. Here, the effect of multiple vibrating inputs and the contribution of their phase shift are investigated. Theoretical and experimental results indicate productivity improvement and amplitude reduction in reactor temperature swings by vibrating both input flow rate and input concentrations. >
Characteristics procedure for supersonic flows including consideration of viscous contributions to flow rotationality

A characteristics procedure has been developed which includes viscous and conductive transport terms normal to streamlines. By introducing the transport terms as corrections, the equations retain their hyperbolic character. The solutions have been developed using an inverse grid scheme in a streamline-normal network. Inclusion of the transport terms enables tracing of shock waves through the supersonic portion of the boundary layer so that shock reflections are well-located. Excellent agreement is obtained with the results of other characteristics procedures and with the experimental pressure distributions for the waisted body of Winter, Smith and Rotta.
Interest Groups, Political Communication, and Jeffrey Alexander’s Sociology of Power

This essay argues that Jeffrey Alexander’s magnum opus, The Civil Sphere, presents a valuable but curiously narrow account of how political power works in American society, especially the power of ...
A Survey of Undergraduate Course Syllabi and a Hybrid Course on Global Urban Topics

In recent years, many planning departments at American universities have begun to teach introductory world-cities courses at the undergraduate level. This trend is explained by the growing recognition of the role and importance of undergraduate planning education, increasing interests in effects of globalization on cities, and pressures from university administrators for planning faculty to increase enrollment. This article reviews strategies adopted to teach world cities to undergraduate students. It presents insights from several sources: a content analysis of forty-three world-cities syllabi, a survey of instructors whose syllabi were analyzed, and the experience of one of the authors in teaching a hybrid course in world cities in which part of the course was taught online and another in class. The study findings provide useful suggestions for instructors, departments, and universities interested in innovative approaches to teach undergraduate courses in global urban topics.
Anionic oxy-cope reaction of a divinyl cyclobutanol, pleuromutilin model study

Abstract An approach to the pleuromutilin skeleton via the use of an anionic oxy-Cope 1a,b,c,d reaction in the construction of an eight membered ring is described.
PRL modulates cell cycle regulators in mammary tumor epithelial cells

PRL is essential for normal lobulo-alveolar growth of the mammary gland and may contribute to mammary cancer development or progression. However, analysis of the mechanism of action of PRL in these processes is complicated by the production of PRL within mammary epithelia. To examine PRL actions in a mammary cell-specific context, we selected MCF-7 cells that lacked endogenous PRL synthesis, using PRL stimulation of interferon-gamma-activated sequence-related PRL response elements. Derived clones exhibited a greater proliferative response to PRL than control cells. To understand the mechanism, we examined, by Western analysis, levels of proteins essential for cell cycle progression as well as phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein. The expression of cyclin D1, a critical regulator of the G1/S transition, was significantly increased by PRL and was associated with hyperphosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein at Ser(780). Cyclin B1 was also increased by PRL. In contrast, PRL decreased the Cip/Kip family inhibitor, p21, but not p16 or p27. These studies demonstrate that PRL can stimulate the cell cycle in mammary epithelia and identify specific targets in this process. This model system will enable further molecular dissection of the pathways involved in PRL-induced proliferation, increasing our understanding of this hormone and its interactions with other factors in normal and pathogenic processes.
The knowledge continuum ‐ organizing for research and scholarly communication

The Office of Information Services (OIS) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is undergoing a major organizational transition to function as a cohesive unit under the concept of the knowledge continuum. The concept is based on the premise that the processes which contribute to the creation of new knowledge in the research environment form part of a continuum which has no beginning and no end. Thus, it concludes that the knowledge continuum is best served by an organizational structure which extends its contribution and role in the scholarly process of research to produce and disseminate results which benefit scholarly communication. The knowledge continuum assesses the various elements that contribute to scholarly communication and seeks to provide a continuum of support services whereby the identification, absorption, utilization, and manipulation of existing knowledge merge with the organization, creation, and dissemination of new knowledge. This case study analyzes the application of the concept of the knowledge continuum, through the use of Internet technology, and the resulting organizational implications and conclusions.
Group process-work outcome relationships: a note on the moderating impact of self-esteem.

Self-esteem was hypothesized to moderate relationships between peer group interaction and two workrelated variables, job performance and job strain. The study found support for the general hypothes...
Estimating cointegration parameters: an application of the double bootstrap☆

Abstract The concept of cointegration, defined as long-run relationship between two or more random-walk variables, has spread widely in economics. Many methods have been offered for estimating the cointergrating parameter and its sampling distribution. Many of these estimations, while consistent, are biased, and have been criticized for reliance on asymptotic theory in samples which usually are of moderate size. We apply the double-bootstrap method to this problem. Specifically, we consider the cointegration between GNP and aggregate consumption, and study the marginal propensity to consume and the Keynesian multiplier.
Dimer exchange and cleavage specificity of the DNA damage response protein UmuD

Abstract The cellular response to DNA damage in Escherichia coli is controlled in part by the activity of the umuD gene products. The full-length dimeric UmuD 2 is the initial product that is expressed shortly after the induction of the SOS response and inhibits bacterial mutagenesis, allowing for error-free repair to occur. Over time, the slow auto-cleavage of UmuD 2 to UmuD′ 2 promotes mutagenesis to ensure cell survival. The intracellular levels of UmuD 2 and UmuD′ 2 are further regulated by degradation in vivo , returning the cell to a non-mutagenic state. To further understand the dynamic regulatory roles of the umuD gene products, we monitored the kinetics of exchange and cleavage of the UmuD 2 and UmuD′ 2 homodimers as well as of the UmuDD′ heterodimer under equilibrium conditions. We found that the heterodimer is the preferred but not exclusive protein form, and that both the heterodimer and homodimers exhibit slow exchange kinetics which is further inhibited in the presence of interacting partner DinB. In addition, the heterodimer efficiently cleaves to form UmuD′ 2 . Together, this work reveals an intricate UmuD lifecycle that involves dimer exchange and cleavage in the regulation of the DNA damage response.
Near-infrared tracking system for epidural catheter placement: a feasibility study.

Background Epidural catheters are routinely used in regional and obstetric anesthesia. The flexible catheter is advanced without imaging control into the epidural space, and coiling or kinking of the catheter may occur, compromising the effectiveness of epidural anesthesia. Potentially near-infrared (NER) light detection may help, tracking advancement of the catheter in the epidural space. Methods Nonembalmed human cadavers donated to the University of Washington Willed Body program were placed prone. Catheters containing NER-emitting wire were introduced into the lumbar and thoracic epidural space. The progress of the emitting wire was tracked using the LumenVu NER guidance system, and the final location of the catheter was confirmed with fluoroscopy. Results Total 12 attempts were made to place the catheter. In 7 cases (4 lumbar and 3 thoracic), good progression of the catheter in the epidural space was achieved with excellent visibility at low NER power levels. Maximum light intensity was registered when the catheter tip was found in the midline dorsal interlaminar position, as confirmed by fluoroscopy. The light intensity decreased while the catheter tip was traversing under the lamina. Poor progression of the catheter with negligible visibility of the tip at the highest NER level occurred in obese specimen (n = 2) or when the tip was in extraforaminal (n = 1), paramedian or paravertebral positions (n = 2). Conclusions Many variables such as obesity, paravertebral and extraforaminal catheter locations, and intervening bony structures can impede the application of NER technology for epidural catheter placements. Further optimization of the technology for clinical use is necessary.
Physics-driven CFD modeling of complex anatomical cardiovascular flows-a TCPC case study.

Recent developments in medical image acquisition combined with the latest advancements in numerical methods for solving the Navier-Stokes equations have created unprecedented opportunities for developing simple and reliable computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools for meeting patient-specific surgical planning objectives. However, for CFD to reach its full potential and gain the trust and confidence of medical practitioners, physics-driven numerical modeling is required. This study reports on the experience gained from an ongoing integrated CFD modeling effort aimed at developing an advanced numerical simulation tool capable of accurately predicting flow characteristics in an anatomically correct total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC). An anatomical intra-atrial TCPC model is reconstructed from a stack of magnetic resonance (MR) images acquired in vivo. An exact replica of the computational geometry was built using transparent rapid prototyping. Following the same approach as in earlier studies on idealized models, flow structures, pressure drops, and energy losses were assessed both numerically and experimentally, then compared. Numerical studies were performed with both a first-order accurate commercial software and a recently developed, second-order accurate, in-house flow solver. The commercial CFD model could, with reasonable accuracy, capture global flow quantities of interest such as control volume power losses and pressure drops and time-averaged flow patterns. However, for steady inflow conditions, both flow visualization experiments and particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements revealed unsteady, complex, and highly 3D flow structures, which could not be captured by this numerical model with the available computational resources and additional modeling efforts that are described. Preliminary time-accurate computations with the in-house flow solver were shown to capture for the first time these complex flow features and yielded solutions in good agreement with the experimental observations. Flow fields obtained were similar for the studied total cardiac output range (1–3 l/min); however hydrodynamic power loss increased dramatically with increasing cardiac output, suggesting significant energy demand at exercise conditions. The simulation of cardiovascular flows poses a formidable challenge to even the most advanced CFD tools currently available. A successful prediction requires a two-pronged, physics-based approach, which integrates high-resolution CFD tools and high-resolution laboratory measurements.
The effects of specific and categorical orienting on children's incidental and intentional memory for pictures and words

Abstract This study examines the effects of differences in the encoding of specific and categorical information on second graders' (7 years; 7 months), fifth graders' (10; 6), and college adults' cued recall for cue-target picture and word pairs. The cues at retrieval were either same-modal (P-P and W-W) or cross-modal (P-W and W-P) as the cues presented in acquisition, and acquisition encoding was either incidental or intentional and constrained by orienting questions or unconstrained. The most important results were that both picture and word recall varied with the encoding of both specific and categorical information and that children differed from adults in the encoding of both kinds of information in both incidental and intentional encoding conditions. In addition, both children and adults showed congruency effects for pictures and words that were greater for specific than for categorical orienting questions. The results suggest that differences in the encoding of both specific and categorical attribute information contribute to developmental recall differences independently of encoding intent and stimulus modality.