cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Library Analytics and Assessment: The Sine Qua Non of Measuring Our Success

This "New and Noteworthy" discusses recent and classic titles related to library evaluation and assessment in academic, public, and school library settings. Key online resources are also discussed.
Abstract P292: Adverse Childhood Events Are Linked To Cardiovascular and Lung Disease Among Women In Hawaii: The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey, 2010

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease ( CVD ), which includes heart disease and stroke, account for about 30% of mortality in Hawaii and affect more women than men. In addition, lung disease ( LD ) (e.g. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [ COPD ]) continues to rise in the state with a death rate that is also higher among women. Little is known about the association between adverse childhood events ( ACEs ) and CVD or LD among women in Hawaii. Further, although the LD-CVD association has been established, the influence of ACEs in this relationship has yet to be evaluated. HYPOTHESES: We assessed the hypothesis that the type of ACEs (household dysfunction and physical, verbal and sexual abuse) will be positively associated with CVD and LD, and that the LD-CVD association will vary by the presence of ACEs. Methods: Data on 3,477 women residing in Hawaii from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey was used to examine the relationship between ACEs and CVD (coronary heart disease [ CHD ], myocardial infarction [ MI ], stroke), or LD (COPD, asthma) using multivariable logistic regression, taking into account sampling method. The LD-CVD association was also investigated, with ACE types evaluated as potential modifiers. CVD and LD were assessed as individual ailments (e.g. CHD, COPD) and combined (any CVD, any LD). Covariates included socio-demographics, health behaviors (current smoking status, binge drinking), emotional support, BMI and current depressive symptoms status. Results: Evaluation by ACE type revealed a significant relationship between household dysfunction and CHD (OR=2.6, CI=1.4, 5.0) and any CVD (OR=1.8, CI=1.2, 2.7). Physical abuse was also found associated with COPD (OR=2.1, CI=1.3, 3.6), while verbal abuse was found related with asthma (OR=1.6, CI=1.2, 2.2) and any LD (OR=1.6, CI=1.2, 2.1). Further, physical abuse modified the association between COPD and MI (p=0.003) or any CVD (p=0.042), with a positive association found in the absence but not the presence of physical abuse (OR=3.9 vs. 0.1 and 2.9 vs. 0.7, respectively). The same trend was found for sexual abuse in the asthma-MI relationship (OR=2.6 vs. 0.5). Noteworthy was that individuals who did not report childhood physical or sexual abuse were more likely to have diabetes than those reporting abuse (p<0.05 for both ACE). Conclusions: In conclusion, it might be of benefit to investigate the presence of ACEs, particularly household dysfunction and physical and verbal abuse, in treating CVD or LD among women in Hawaii. Decreasing the prevalence of ACEs might also lower CVD or LD morbidity and mortality in this population. Although the COPD-MI, or any CVD, and asthma-MI associations were significantly positive only among those who reported physical or sexual abuse, respectively, this cohort had a greater prevalence of diabetes, which might influence these relationships. These findings warrant further investigation.
National Political Opportunities and Climate Protection Movement Activity in California

This research is based on the premise that all levels of government institutions promote or constrain activities among social movement groups. It can be assumed that groups do not behave in the same way at every level of government nor can they be expected to behave the same way at any level over time if there are changes to opportunity structures. Action on climate change in the U.S. has lagged behind its international counterparts. However, where the federal government has failed to take decisive action, state governments have stepped up to implement their own greenhouse gas mitigation plans. California, in particular, has passed bold policies to reduce emissions over the last decade. Concurrently, climate protection groups have expanded their activities to push for solutions at the sub-national level. The major question driving this research project is: How have national political opportunity structures impacted the activities of the climate protection movement at the state level, particularly in California? My objective is to use the data I gather to draw some initial conclusions about the influences of national level opportunity structures on climate protection movement group activities targeted at a sub-national and sub-political level.
The Low Volatility Anomaly and the Preference for Gambling

Previous literature has established that low volatility stocks outperform high volatility stocks on a risk-adjusted basis. In this Chapter, we show that this low volatility anomaly is linked to the preference for lottery stocks, which have experienced a high daily return in the previous month. Not all high volatility stocks underperform. The underperformance of high volatility stocks arises largely from the underperformance of high volatility lottery stocks. High volatility lottery stocks underperform high volatility stocks in 31 out of 32 countries.
Prenatal diagnosis of an inguinoscrotal hernia in a fetus with cystic fibrosis.

detailed anatomic survey of the fetus by an experienced sonographer can A detect a multitude of structural anomalies. Although relatively common in the neonate, an inguinoscrotal hernia is a condition that is rarely seen prenatally. In a male fetus, this abnormality typically appears in the third trimester as a complex scrotal mass. Active intestinal peristalsis within an enlarged scrotum is diagnostic of this condition. We report a case that involves the prenatal association between cystic fibrosis and a congenital inguinal scrotal hernia. Serial sonograms from 30 to 37 weeks' gestation provided the opportunity to follow both the abnormal bowel appearance and the progression of the hernia. Postnatal follow. up confirmed both diagnoses.
Notification following new positive HIV test results

Client notification of a new HIV diagnosis is critical for timely access to treatment and reduction in behaviours associated with HIV infection. It is also an important input in HIV transmission and disease progression models. We used national, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded HIV testing events data collected through the National HIV Prevention Program Monitoring and Evaluation system to update estimates of the proportion of newly identified HIV-positives notified of their status. We compared estimates from 2008 to 2010 across test technologies, settings, and HIV risk groups. In 2010, notification following a positive rapid test was 99.6% compared with 99.3% in 2008. Notification following a positive conventional test was 81.5% in 2010 compared with 80.8% in 2008. To realise the full promise of early HIV diagnosis and treatment for the prevention of additional HIV cases, efforts to ensure prompt notification following a new HIV diagnosis will be crucial.
Tears Worth Telling

As a critical race teacher educator of Color, I constantly reflect on my K-12 classroom experience (both as an urban student and teacher) so that the essence of what I teach and research remains grounded in the struggles of my Black and Brown students. After years of teaching in both the Los Angeles Unified School District and the New York City Department of Education, forever burned in my heart were the tears of my urban students of Color.
Integrated Depression Care Among Latinos

In this chapter we discussed integrated depression care modalities that can be applied in primary care settings with Latinos. The chapter starts with information about the rates of depression and mental illness in this ethnically diverse population and discusses determinants of health that can negatively impact access and provision of care in this population. We describe some of the cultural components that providers should consider when establishing the most appropriate treatment for depression in this population. Some of these cultural components include the important role the family plays in assisting the patient to seek help for depression and the value of having a relationship with the primary care provider that promotes “confianza” (trust) and “respeto” (respect). Different strategies and treatment modalities such as the warm hand-off, mindfulness, and cognitive behavioral therapy are presented as approaches that can be implemented to help the Latino patient understand depression and adherence to its treatment.
Chemotaxis of Molecular Dyes in Polymer Gradients in Solution

Chemotaxis provides a mechanism for directing the transport of molecules along chemical gradients. Here, we show the chemotactic migration of dye molecules in response to the gradients of several different neutral polymers. The magnitude of chemotactic response depends on the structure of the monomer, polymer molecular weight and concentration, and the nature of the solvent. The mechanism involves cross-diffusion up the polymer gradient, driven by favorable dye–polymer interaction. Modeling allows us to quantitatively evaluate the strength of the interaction and the effect of the various parameters that govern chemotaxis.
A computational model of the discovery of writing

This paper reports on a computational simulation of the evolution of early writing systems from pre-linguistic symbol systems, something for which there is poor evidence in the archaeological record. The simulation starts with a completely concept-based set of symbols, and then spreads those symbols and combinations of these to morphemes of artificially generated languages based on semantic and phonetic similarity. While the simulation is crude, it is able to account for the observation that the development of writing systems ex nihilo seems to be facilitated in languages that have largely monosyllabic morphemes, or that have abundant ablauting processes. We are also able to model what appears to be two possible lines of development in early writing whereby symbols are associated to the sounds of all morphemes linked to a concept (as seems to have been the case in Sumerian), versus just one morpheme linked to a concept (as seems to have been the case in Chinese). Finally, the model is able to offer an account of the apparent rapid development of writing in Mesopotamia that obviates the need to posit a conscious invention of writing, as proposed by Glassner. The proposed model thus opens a new approach to thinking about the emergence of writing and its properties, something that, as noted above, has scant direct archaeological evidence. The software is released open-source on GitHub.
Modeling of thermal and lattice misfit stresses within a thermal barrier coating

Abstract An analytical model was developed to determine the stress distribution over thickness for a multilayered thermal barrier coating (TBC) system deposited within a cylindrical reaction vessel. Temperature dependent material properties were used to estimate the stress values. It was found that, even for small lattice misfits, very high compressive elastic stresses could exist at the ceramic-bond coat interface immediately after deposition. Furthermore, this interfacial stress could ultimately relax to a lower value with increasing film thickness by dislocation nucleation. In the presence of a Thermally Grown Oxide (TGO), however, a tensile stress was generated within the oxide layer and discrete changes in stress profile were predicted at ceramic-TGO and TGO-bond coat interfaces. While the stress-change was higher at the ceramic-TGO interface for a high deposition temperature, the change was greater at the TGO-bond coat interface at a lower deposition temperature. A high compressive stress was predicted within the TGO layer upon cooling down the TBC system to room temperature and the stress-change was highest at the TGO-bond coat interface. Finally, when the TGO layer was subjected to fatigue loading under compressive mean stress during thermal cycling, the model predicted that the internal pressure of the cylindrical vessel reduces the magnitude of mean stress and increases the stress-range in the thermal stress cycle. The effects of evolved stresses on the context of interfacial failure of TBCs should provide fundamental insight into material selection and component design.
Research on the Woodcock-Johnson Psycho-Educational Battery: Implications for Practice and Future Investigations.

Research on the Woodcock-Johnson Psycho-Educational Battery (WJPEB) is reviewed relative to three specific issues, and the practical implications of these issues are highlighted. Since the majority...
The Influence of Guided Practice on Overhand Throwing Competence in Preschool Children in a Mastery Motivational Climate

The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which guided throwing practice volume influenced gains in throwing competency in young children during exposure to a mastery motivational climate physical play program. Fifty-four preschool children attended 13 biweekly 30-minute motor skill sessions over 7 weeks. Pre- and post-test throwing competency was measured in three ways (Test of Gross and Motor Development–Third Edition [TGMD-3], developmental sequence for throwing, and throwing velocity). Throwing practice behaviors (visits, time, and trials) were then coded for each participant using video recordings. Paired-samples t-tests revealed significant gains in throwing proficiency by the children from pre- to post-test on all three measures. Results from multiple hierarchical linear regressions highlighted that pre-test scores and guided throwing practice volume (a principle component analysis of throwing visits, time, and trials) accounted for 19% (TGMD), 52% (developmental sequence), and 60% (velo...
Direct Inhibition of MmpL3 by Novel Antitubercular Compounds

MmpL3, an essential transporter involved in the export of mycolic acids, is the proposed target of a number of antimycobacterial inhibitors under development. Whether MmpL3 serves as the direct target of these compounds, however, has been called into question after the discovery that some of them dissipated the proton motive force from which MmpL transporters derive their energy. Using a combination of in vitro and whole-cell-based approaches, we here provide evidence that five structurally distinct MmpL3 inhibitor series, three of which impact proton motive force in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, directly interact with MmpL3. Medium- to high-throughput assays based on these approaches were developed to facilitate the future screening and optimization of MmpL3 inhibitors. The promiscuity of MmpL3 as a drug target and the mechanisms through which missense mutations located in a transmembrane region of this transporter may confer cross-resistance to a variety of chemical scaffolds are discussed in light of the...
Swallowing outcomes after pediatric epiglottopexy

Persistent sleep apnea following tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in children requires additional evaluation. One of the common areas of persistent upper airway obstruction in these children is the base of the tongue and lingual tonsils as well as epiglottic prolapse. Depending on the site of obstruction on sleep endoscopy or a cine MRI, surgical procedures include base of tongue reduction and lingual tonsillectomy with or without epiglottopexy. To assess the swallowing outcomes in children undergoing epiglottopexy with lingual tonsillectomy. A retrospective case series review of children undergoing epiglottopexy with or without lingual tonsillectomy. All patients underwent an epiglottopexy with lingual tonsillectomy using coblation. A detailed evaluation including a sleep study, sleep endoscopy, and thorough swallowing assessment preoperatively as well as postoperatively was performed. Five children underwent epiglottopexy with lingual tonsillectomy for obstructive sleep apnea. Epiglottopexy improved sleep apnea with Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI) falling significantly from 4.6 to 0.5 (p < 0.05). All patients had a normal swallowing assessment postoperatively with functional endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) revealing no evidence of aspiration and penetration. In our case series epiglottopexy with lingual tonsillectomy is a safe and effective technique, which improves sleep apnea in pediatric patients. It does not affect the swallowing mechanism, and the epiglottis still retains the laryngeal protective role.
Signet Ring Cell Gastric Carcinoma: Clinical Epidemiology and Outcomes in a Predominantly Latino County Hospital Population.

Gastric signet ring cell carcinoma (GSRC) is a rare but increasingly prevalent tumor histotype whose clinical features and natural history are poorly understood, particularly in the USA and minorities. To examine the occurrence, clinico-demographic characteristics, oncologic features, treatment, and outcomes of GSRC in a predominantly minority county hospital setting and benchmark them against data from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program. We queried biopsy-proven GSRC cases at a Los Angeles County hospital, from 2004 to 2017. Clinical characteristics, treatment, and survival data were collected and compared to SEER data. We identified 63 patients with GSRC. Compared to SEER, our cohort was significantly younger (52.6 vs. 63.5 years, p < 0.01), Hispanic/Latino predominant (81% vs. 20%, p < 0.01), had higher overall stage (86% vs. 69% with stage III/IV, p < 0.01), and more frequent node involvement (89% vs. 49%, p < 0.01). Lower tumor stage, Helicobacter pylori positivity, and surgical intervention were associated with significantly longer median survival (all p < 0.05), which was similar in our study compared to SEER (median 12.6 vs. 9.0 months, p = 0.26). Patients with GSRC within the Los Angeles County population have different clinical characteristics compared to what has been reported in SEER. Our cohort was younger, and despite having more advanced disease, did not have shorter survival. Further study is needed to better identify protective and risk factors in this population and improve understanding of the etiopathogenesis and natural history of this malignancy.
Beware the House that Feels: The Impact of Sentient House Hauntings on Literary Families

This essay examines Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher,” Shirley Jackson’s TheHaunting of Hill House, and Mark Z. Danielewski’s House of Leaves, texts featuring sentienthouse hauntings. The author focuses on how the family unit in each text undergoes drasticdestruction, arguing that the breakdown of the family is the true source of horror in suchhauntings where a traditional ghost is not present.
Aeroelastic Flutter Prediction Using Multifidelity Modeling of the Generalized Aerodynamic Influence Coefficients

This work proposes a multifidelity modeling approach for predicting aeroelastic flutter of airfoils and wings. Using aerodynamic models based on the doublet-lattice method and time-accurate Euler e...
Relationship Between Starting and Ending Scrotal Circumference for Bulls in 140-Day Test-of-Gain Programs

Scrotal circumference measurements were collected on 2,714 young bulls at the time they entered one of three bull test stations operated by the Virginia Beef Cattle Improvement Association during the years 1982-1988. Scrotal circumference measurements were collected again at the time bulls completed the 140 day test-of-gain period. Because of a 14 day adaptation period the time between measurements was 154 days. Data were also collected for breed, days of age at start of test, weight at start and end of test, and frame score at end of test. Bulls ranged from 156 days to 371 days of age at start of test with an average of 257 days. The average beginning weight was 339 kg (range 182 to 575 kg) and the average ending weight was 530 kg (range 331 to 786 kg).
Mitigating the Costs of Spatial Transformations With a Situation Awareness Augmented Reality Display: Assistance for the Joint Terminal Attack Controller 3-17.

ObjectiveEvaluate and model the advantage of a situation awareness (SA) supported by an augmented reality (AR) display for the ground-based joint terminal attack Controller (JTAC), in judging and d...
Asymptotic Performance In Heterogeneous Human-machine Inference Networks

We analyze the asymptotic performance of likelihood ratio based collaborative human-machine decision making systems. Human agents are assumed to make threshold based local binary decisions, where the thresholds are considered as random variables. The proposed hybrid system consists of multiple human sub-populations, with the thresholds of each sub-population characterized by non-identically distributed random variables, and a limited number of machines (physical sensors) whose exact values of thresholds are known. For such a hybrid system, we derive the asymptotic performance at the fusion center in terms of Chernoff information. When available, the effect of side information for human sensors is also studied in this paper. Moreover, a budget-constrained human worker selection optimization problem is formulated to determine the optimal number of workers selected from each sub-population according to different costs so that the best decision making performance could be achieved.
Feasibility and acceptability of virtually coaching residents on communication skills: a pilot study.

Background Developing communication skills is a key competency for residents. Coaching, broadly accepted as a training modality in medical education, has been proven a successful tool for teaching communication skills. Little research is available thus far to investigate virtual coaching on communication skills for telemedicine encounters. The purpose of the study was to test the hypothesis that virtually coaching residents on communication skills is feasible and acceptable. We surveyed 21 resident-faculty pairs participating in a "fully virtual" coaching session (patient, coach, and resident were virtual). Methods We asked 50 neurology resident-faculty coach pairs to complete one "fully virtual" coaching session between May 20 and August 31, 2020. After each session, the resident and coach completed a 15-item survey, including Likert-style scale and open-ended questions, assessing feasibility and acceptability. Descriptive statistics and qualitative content and thematic analyses were performed. Results Forty-two percent (21/50) of all eligible residents completed "fully virtual" coaching sessions. The overall survey response rate was 91 % (38/42). The majority of respondents agreed that the direct observation and debriefing conversation were easy to schedule and occurred without technical difficulties and that debriefing elements (self-reflection, feedback, takeaways) were useful for residents. Ninety-five percent of respondents rated the coach's virtual presence to be not at all disruptive to the resident-patient interaction. Virtual coaching alleviated resident stress associated with observation and was perceived as an opportunity for immediate feedback and a unique approach for resident education that will persist into the future. Conclusions In this pilot study, residents and faculty coaches found virtual coaching on communication skills feasible and acceptable for telemedicine encounters. Many elements of our intervention may be adoptable by other residency programs. For example, residents may share their communication goals with clinic faculty supervisors and then invite them to directly observe virtual encounters what could facilitate targeted feedback related to the resident's goals. Moreover, virtual coaching on communication skills in both the in-person and telemedicine settings may particularly benefit residents in challenging encounters such as those with cognitively impaired patients or with surrogate decision-makers.
“Was it “stated” or was it “claimed”?: How linguistic bias affects generative language models

People use language in subtle and nuanced ways to convey their beliefs. For instance, saying claimed instead of said casts doubt on the truthfulness of the underlying proposition, thus representing the author’s opinion on the matter. Several works have identified such linguistic classes of words that occur frequently in natural language text and are bias-inducing by virtue of their framing effects. In this paper, we test whether generative language models (including GPT-2 (CITATION) are sensitive to these linguistic framing effects. In particular, we test whether prompts that contain linguistic markers of author bias (e.g., hedges, implicatives, subjective intensifiers, assertives) influence the distribution of the generated text. Although these framing effects are subtle and stylistic, we find evidence that they lead to measurable style and topic differences in the generated text, leading to language that is, on average, more polarised and more skewed towards controversial entities and events.
Rabbit lymphocyte subpopulations. II. Separation and characterization of two Ig+ cell subpopulations.

Abstract Rabbit lymph node cells (Ig + Ig − ) were separated into Ig + and Ig − populations by rosette formation with anti-Ig antibody-coated erythrocytes and centrifugation on Ficoll-Hypaque. Subpopulations of Ig + cells were obtained by treating rosetted cells with autologous serum which dissociated approximately half of the rosettes. The stable rosetted cells (Ig + S) were separated from the labile unrosetted cells (Ig + L) by centrifugation on Ficoll-Hypaque. The Ig + S population contained most of the Ig-secreting cells and responded poorly to mitogens. The Ig + L population contained few Ig-secreting cells and responded well to mitogens. Approximately 50% of Ig + L cells became Ig + S when cultured with Ig − cells but this transition did not occur if Ig + S cells were added to the culture at the start of the incubation period. Purified Ig + L cells lost their ability to form rosettes when cultured by themselves but retained their ability to form rosettes when cultured wih Ig − cells. The data indicate that the Ig + S and Ig + L populations are at different stages in the differentiation of Ig + cells (B cells) and that the Ig + L cells are subject to the regulatory influences of both Ig − and Ig + S cells.
Non-Welfarist Paretian Methods of Policy Assessment

In a recent article, Louis Kaplow and Steven Shavell claim that any non-welfarist method of policy assessment violates the Pareto principle. This comment presents a simple example of a Paretian method of policy assessment that refutes their claim. Unless we make questionable assumptions, such as axioms regarding independence and continuity of the social welfare function, the Pareto principle does not imply that we must make social choices based only on individuals' utilities.
Patient Reported Outcomes in Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery: A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract Study design Bibliometric analysis. Objectives To identify patient-reported outcomes (PROs) used in adult spinal deformity (ASD) research over the past decade, their frequency, and usage trends. Summary of background data The emphasis on PROs is increasing along with the demand for evidence-based medicine. However, there is currently no standardization or consensus on which PROs ought to be used in ASD. Methods Five top orthopedics journals were reviewed from 2004 to 2013 for clinical studies of surgical intervention in ASD that report PROs. Publication year, level of evidence (LOE), and PROs were collected for each article. Errors and inconsistencies of PRO score reporting were analyzed for the 3 most commonly used PROs. Results A total of 84 PRO studies were published in ASD literature over the period studied. The number of PRO studies published increased from 1 in 2004 to 16 in 2013. We identified 24 unique PROs. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was the most frequently used single instrument (47.8%), followed by the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)-22 (35.6%) and SRS-24 (21.1%), and Short Form-36 (SF-36) and visual analog scale (VAS) were tied (13.3%). The combined use of SRS instruments exceeded ODI use. LOE 4 was most common (42.9%), and no LOE 1 studies were identified. Incomplete preoperative and postoperative PRO scores was the most common reporting inconsistency, occurring in 16% of articles using ODI, 58% of articles using SRS-24, and 22% of articles using SRS-22. Conclusions The frequency of studies using PROs in ASD research has increased over the past decade, yet quality studies and standardization are lacking. In general, the ODI and SRS instruments are emerging as standards in ASD surgery; however, frequent use of many uncommon PROs presents a challenge for interstudy comparisons. Additionally, of the top 5 instruments used, only SF-36 is routinely used for cost-effectiveness studies, making procedure cost–outcome decisions difficult.
Improving Acoustic Models by Watching Television

Obtaining sufficient labelled training data is a persistent difficulty for speech recognition research. Although well transcribed data is expensive to produce, there is a constant stream of challenging speech data and poor transcription broadcast as closed-captioned television. We describe a reliable unsupervised method for identifying accurately transcribed sections of these broadcasts, and show how these segments can be used to train a recognition system. Starting from acoustic models trained on the Wall Street Journal database, a single iteration of our training method reduced the word error rate on an independent broadcast television news test set from 62.2% to 59.5%.
Behavioral and genetic differentiation between native and introduced populations of the Argentine ant.

In this paper, we examine the hypothesis that reduced intraspecific aggression underlies the competitive prowess of Argentine ants in their introduced range. Specifically, we test three predictions of this hypothesis by comparing the genetic diversity, behavior, and ecology of Argentine ants in their native range to introduced populations. Differences between native and introduced populations of Argentine ants were consistent with our predictions. Introduced populations of the Argentine ant appear to have experienced a population bottleneck at the time of
System description: SPASS-FD

Using a constrained superposition calculus and a disunification procedure, it is possible to employ superposition-based first-order reasoners for reasoning not only about all models of a first-order theory, but also about all models over a specific finite domain and often as well about the perfect models of the theory (or the unique minimal model in case of a Horn theory). Both of these problems are second-order problems. In this paper, I describe the tool Spass-FD, an extension of the firstorder prover Spass that equips Spass with disunification as well as with fixed domain and minimal model theorem proving capabilities.
When contracts require risk-averse executives to hold equity: Implications for option valuation and relative performance evaluation

A growing body of literature suggests that because an executive is risk-averse and undiversified, he values equity compensation and incentives at less than market value. This discount on valuation is driven by the assumption that the executive is constrained from rebalancing his portfolio following an equity grant, and as such, the payment of equity compensation permanently increases the risk and incentives borne by the executive. We relax this exogenous assumption, and assume that firms contract with their executives and agree upon a specified level of risk. Firms expect and require that executives rebalance their portfolios when equity risk rises above or falls below the contracted level. Under these assumptions, we show that the executive does not discount the value of equity compensation or changes in the value of his equity portfolio. The notion that firms write contracts that require executives to hold equity also suggests that executive contracts are more consistent with relative performance evaluation than has been found in prior empirical research. Specifically, this type of contract requires executives to reduce the fraction of their total wealth held in a well-diversified portfolio and to increase their investment in firm equity.
Development and Maintenance of an Interdisciplinary Health Care Team

Abstract Realizing maximum independence for older persons requires understanding and collaboration among health professionals. Unfortunately, health professionals are often assigned to teams with no thought of preparatory team training. This paper is based on a case study which was an initial test of a conceptual model that depicts how an interdisciplinary health care team develops and maintains itself. It is a study of a 13 year-old interdisciplinary geriatrics team with no external or externally mandated leadership. The case study provided evidence that, once on a team, practicing professionals can learn to assume functional leadership roles to help a team survive and thrive over time. This model has relevance for both basic and continuing professional education in geriatric care.
Automated vocabulary instruction in a reading tutor

This paper presents a within-subject, randomized experiment to compare automated interventions for teaching vocabulary to young readers using Project LISTEN's Reading Tutor. The experiment compared three conditions: no explicit instruction, a quick definition, and a quick definition plus a post-story battery of extended instruction based on a published instructional sequence for human teachers. A month long study with elementary school children indicates that the quick instruction, which lasts about seven seconds, has immediate effects on learning gains that did not persist. Extended instruction which lasted about thirty seconds longer than the quick instruction had a persistent effect and produced gains on a posttest one week later.
When Push Comes to Shove: A Comparative Concept Analysis of Motivation and Coercion in Nursing Education

Background Understanding the fine line between motivation and coercion in nursing education may offer insight into satisfaction and autonomy in young nursing students, leading to increased retention, effectiveness, and professionalism in the workplace. Purpose To compare and analyze the concepts of motivation and coercion with application to nursing academia. Methods Using the Walker and Avant method for concept analyses, definitions and defining attributes of motivation and coercion were identified, along with antecedents, consequences, and model cases for each concept. Comparison of the concepts noting comparative terms and notable differences are presented. Conclusions The comparison of the concepts of motivation and coercion reveals the stark contrast in the consequences of motivational and coercive power interactions in creating professional, satisfied, and empowered nurses. Nurse educators should seek to identify the best ways to create autonomy, competence, and relatedness in their graduates while minimizing coercive power plays which foster distance and dependence.
Margaret Levi: Institutions, Individuals, Organizations, and Trust in Democratic Regimes

For a generation of political scientists witnessing dramatic declines in social and political participation and rising distrust in government at all levels, APSA President Margaret Levi's research program addresses fundamental issues concerning the bases for and effects of legitimacy, compliance, and consent in democratic regimes. Levi's scholarship has made pioneering contributions to understanding enduring questions about the conditions for and consequences of trust and distrust, compliance and resistance, and individual versus collective action. Animating this research agenda are Levi's commitment to greater authentic democratic participation, enhancing trust between the governed and those who govern, and the quest for social justice.
Multiple Domains of Human CLASP Contribute to Microtubule Dynamics and Organization In Vitro and in Xenopus Egg Extracts

Cytoplasmic linker associated proteins (CLASPs) comprise a class of microtubule (MT) plus end-binding proteins (+TIPs) that contribute to the dynamics and organization of MTs during many cellular processes, among them mitosis. Human CLASP proteins contain multiple MT-binding domains, including tumor over-expressed gene (TOG) domains, and a Ser-x-Ile-Pro (SxIP) motif known to target some +TIPs though interaction with end-binding protein 1 (EB1). However, how individual domains contribute to CLASP function is poorly understood. We generated full-length recombinant human CLASP1 and a series of truncation mutants and found that two N-terminal TOG domains make the strongest contribution to MT polymerization and bundling, but also identified a third TOG domain that further contributes to CLASP activity. Plus end tracking by CLASP requires the SxIP motif and interaction with EB1. The C-terminal coiled-coil domain mediates dimerization and association with many other factors, including the kinetochore motor centromere protein E (CENP-E), and the chromokinesin Xkid. Only the full-length protein was able to rescue spindle assembly in Xenopus egg extracts depleted of endogenous CLASP. Deletion of the C-terminal domain caused aberrant MT polymerization and dramatic spindle phenotypes, even with small amounts of added protein, indicating that proper localization of CLASP activity is essential to control MT polymerization during mitosis. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc
The hazard of starting smoking: Estimates from a split population duration model

Understanding the determinants of the hazard of starting smoking is of great importance in developing policy to reduce the number of smokers. This paper develops a split population duration model of the decision to start smoking. Using data from the 1978 and 1979 Smoking Supplements to the National Health Interview Survey, we find some evidence that lifetime educational attainment, gender, and race are important determinants of both whether and when the smoking habit is initiated. The study finds no evidence that higher cigarette prices would have a significant impact on teenage decisions to pick up the smoking habit.
Expression of Chorionic Gonadotropin α- and β-Genes in Normal and Neoplastic Human Tissues: Relationship to Deoxyribonucleic Acid Structure*

We have investigated whether the expression of hCG genes can be attributed to changes in the structure of the alpha- and beta hCG genes, such as rearrangements, duplications, or methylation patterns. Various tissues and cell lines were studied: two term placentae, three trophoblastic tumor cell lines, two tumor cell lines ectopically producing alpha-subunit, normal cells not producing hCG or subunits, and a nonproducing malignancy. Gene structure was explored by restriction enzyme analysis and Southern blotting of DNA, using as probes 32P-labeled plasmids containing alpha- and beta hCG cDNAs. Similarly, methylation was evaluated using the restriction enzymes Msp I, Hpa II, and Hha I, each sensitive to a different pattern of cytosine methylation. No structural changes were observed in alpha- and beta hCG genes, although certain polymorphisms were observed. Analysis of methylation patterns revealed variation of the methylated cytosines; however, no clear correlation was seen between overall methylation or a specific pattern of methylation of these genes and their expression. Although specific methylated nucleotides of regulatory importance may not have been detected by our methods, we can still conclude that neither DNA structural alterations nor patterns of cytosine methylation appear to be major determinants of hCG expression.
Partisan Differences in the Distributional Effects of Economic Growth: Stock Market Performance, Unemployment, and Political Control of the Presidency

AbstractThis article examines the differences in the distributional effects of economic growth. While all incumbents are incentivized to create economic growth in order to win reelection, they use a diverse variety of policies to achieve this growth. These policy choices are often congruent with the demands of the core constituent groups of the respective parties. This suggests that economic growth is not equally shared by all, but that some groups are more or less benefited from the sets of policies chosen by the incumbent parties to stimulate growth. We test this proposition by investigating the effects of economic growth on stock market performance and unemployment. Our results show that economic growth under Republican presidents has a stronger effect on stimulating stock market performance, while economic growth under Democratic presidents has a stronger effect on reducing unemployment. Overall, these results highlight the partisan differences in macroeconomic policy and illustrate one of the causal ...
Intergenerational Impact of the AIDS Pandemic in Nigeria

ABSTRACT This paper articulates and assesses the intergenerational impact of the AIDS pandemic in Nigeria based on literature reviews and mailed surveys. The findings reveal that, with the advent of colonialism in the 19th century, the wave of modernization, and the new idea of nuclear family system, intergenerational bonds and relationships were weakened to an extent. But the arrival of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s and its steady increase worsened the situation. Intergenerational relationships have been affected to the extent that bonds between generations are collapsing. The AIDS pandemic creates social isolation and stigmatization of the infected and affected population. Since the middle generation is mostly infected, the older and younger generations who depend on them suffer most of the consequences. Some efforts have been made by the government and non-governmental organizations to address the increasing rate of infection. But little has been done to mitigate the impact of the pandemic especially ...
Langerhans cell histiocytosis of the thyroid gland

Abstract Objectives A case is reported in which Langerhans cell histiocytosis was found in the thyroid gland. Although the thyroid gland is frequently affected with multiple common diseases, a search of the English language literature suggests that Langerhans cell histiocytosis in the thyroid gland is rarely reported. Study Design The study design was of a case report and literature review. Setting Academic tertiary referral practice. Methods A case was reported, and the literature was reviewed. Results A 31-year-old woman presented with an enlarged, diffusely firm, nontender, nonmobile, and not particularly nodular thyroid gland with mild compressive symptoms. She had intermittent skin papules and 1 episode of gingival ulceration. Ultrasound showed diffusely, hypoechoic thyroid with dimensions of 36 × 20 × 16 mm on the right and 36 × 16 × 17 mm on the left. No distinct nodules were noted, and thyroid function test results were normal. Laboratory testing for autoimmune abnormalities of the thyroid was negative for antithyroid peroxidase, antiparietal cell, and anti–smooth muscle cell antibodies. She tested positive for serum antithyroglobulin antibodies. A computed tomographic scan demonstrated abnormal low attenuation of her thyroid gland without any distinct nodules or masses. A fine-needle aspiration and core biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of Langerhans cell histocytosis. Dissection was technically challenging because of the firm and nonmobile lobes. Densely adherent strap musculature was encountered bilaterally, and the rare presence of a nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve was noted on the right. Histologically, thyroid parenchyma was largely obliterated by a diffuse infiltrate of mononuclear spindled to epithelioid histiocytes with few residual thyroid follicles. These histiocytes had moderate to abundant pale to eosinophilic cytoplasm, and some had prominent nuclear grooves and indentation/clefts, consistent with Langerhans histiocytes. Plasma cells and lymphocytes were sparsely dispersed. Immunohistochemistry showed that these histiocytes were positive for S-100, and rare lesional histiocytes were also positive for CD1a. Eosinophils were not readily identified in this lesion. Conclusions Langerhans cell histiocytosis in the thyroid gland is a rarely reported disease, with controversy over its management. This disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a diffusely irregular and firm thyroid gland, and multidisciplinary team cooperation is important for its diagnosis and management.
The role of fragmentation in defining the signature size distribution of diesel soot

The addition of fragmentation to the Schmoluchowski aerosol coagulation model significantly improves the prediction of the signature size distribution recently observed for light duty diesel exhaust particulate matter. Allowing fragmentation largely eliminates the asymmetric shape that is characteristic of self-preserving size distributions predicted by models that consider only coagulation and yields a very nearly lognormal distribution, in excellent agreement with diesel soot mobility size measurements. Interestingly, the addition of fragmentation does not really introduce any new adjustable parameters. The model assumes continuum dynamics, as appropriate for diesel engine combustion. The shape and width of the size distribution are independent of the overall fragmentation rate and only slightly dependent on whether the particles break into two equal pieces or pieces with a 2:1 mass ratio. Finally, the size dependencies of both the coagulation rate and the fragmentation rate are tied to the soot fractal dimension, which in agreement with the literature is chosen to equal 1.8.
Stress history effect on incubation time for stress corrosion crack growth in AISI 4340 steel

The effect of stress history on stress corrosion cracking of AISI 4340 steel in an aqueous environment has been studied with the use of double-cantilever beam specimens. The stress history effect was found to influence the incubation time period with changes in the stress intensity. When the stress intensity was decreased, the incubation time period was dependent on the △K and finalK f during stress corrosion testing. When the stress intensity was increased, the incubation time period was independent of the applied stress intensity. However, the stress history effect did not influence the steady-state crack growth rates. In this report, the stress history effect is explained by using the hydrogen embrittlement mechanism.
The volatile contents of the Galapagos plume; evidence for H2O and F open system behavior in melt inclusions

Abstract We investigated the geochemistry of naturally quenched, olivine-hosted melt inclusions from lavas corresponding to two of the four end-member mantle components from the Galapagos Archipelago: the high 3He/4He (Fernandina Is.) and the MORB-like (Santiago Is.) mantle components. Melt inclusions from both islands have a large range in chemical compositions and are trapped within olivine phenocrysts that are in FeO–MgO disequilibrium with the matrix glasses. The majority of the inclusions have major and trace element compositions similar to the matrix glasses. The volatile contents (H2O, CO2, F, S, Cl) and volatile/refractory trace element ratios (H2O/Ce, CO2/Nb, F/Nd, S/Dy, Cl/K) in these inclusions agree with previous values reported for oceanic basalt. Surprisingly, a subset of inclusions with major and trace elements contents different from the matrix glasses have water and fluorine contents that are remarkably constant and comparable to those of the matrix glasses. This produces unusual H2O/Ce and F/Nd ratios in those inclusions. These results indicate that the inclusions have not remained closed system for H2O or F. Models of diffusive re-equilibration for H+ and FeO–MgO suggest that the inclusions and their host olivines spent days to months within the surrounding magma. These timescales, combined with the depths of melt inclusion entrapment, suggest minimum melt percolation velocities of ~ 10− 2 to 10− 4 m/s within the oceanic crust.