cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
American Bar Association Supplementary Guidelines for the Mitigation Function of Defense Teams in Death Penalty Cases: Implications for Social Work

When a client faces a penalty of death, defense attorneys may call on social workers in many capacities: mitigation specialist, expert witness, consulting specialist, direct witness, or defense-initiated victim outreach worker. The American Bar Association set forth standards for capital defense attorneys, which led an interdisciplinary team to produce the "Supplementary Guidelines for the Mitigation Function of Defense Teams in Death Penalty Cases" to promote the exceptional competence and diligence required when the consequence is life or death. This article summarizes the "Supplementary Guidelines," with implications for social work practice--that is, professional responsibility, competence, interviewing skill, knowledge of behavioral and mental impairment, records review, life history compilation, data interpretation, witness support, law-related knowledge, and testimony. The social work, which is scrutinized in a court of law, requires cultural competence, diverse oral and written communication skills, diligence, and the highest ethical standards. Language: en
Frequency Modulation and the Effects of a Periodic Capacity Variation in a Nondissipative Oscillatory Circuit

Certain fundamental characteristics of the theory of frequency modulation for arbitrarily large degrees of modulation and unrestricted modulation frequencies are developed from the differential equation for a dissipationless circuit with fixed inductance and variable capacitance. The several modes of modulating the frequency are discussed and classified; it is shown that they give the same results only when the amount of modulation is very small. The case of "inverse capacity modulation" is then treated in detail. This treatment discloses the possibility of unstable oscillations occurring with certain values of the parameters; the nature and physical significance of these unstable oscillations are determined, and it is explained why they are not ordinarily observable in radio-frequency modulation or in the warble tone generator. The frequency spectrum of the stable oscillations is found, and a means of calculating the amplitude given. For certain adjustments of the circuit the oscillations may be represented by a true Fourier series, while in general this is not the case. Frequency modulation in radiotelephony, the warble tone, and the special case where the natural period of the unmodulated circuit and the frequency of modulation are of comparable magnitude, represent successively more complicated cases of the same general phenomena; the latter is of special interest. The nature of the phenomena accompanying other than a sinusoidal inverse capacity variation is mentioned.
Modulation of cholesterol metabolism by Ginkgo biloba L. nuts and their extract

Ginkgo biloba L. is among the oldest species of trees on earth. Various parts of the tree have a history of use in prevention of cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. However, most of the current scientific research is focused on the Ginkgo leaf extract. Thus, we tested the effect of Ginkgo nuts on lipid metabolism as a therapeutic for cardiovascular diseases. Four preparations of Ginkgo nuts (whole nuts, their methanol extract and its lipid and water soluble fractions) were tested using Human Hepatoma cells (Hep G2) and in vivo mouse feeding study. Ginkgo nut preparation may modulate serum cholesterol levels by modulating Apolipoprotein B secretion as well as low-density lipoprotein receptor in the liver. From mouse feeding trial, Ginkgo nut supplementation, as whole nuts, reduced the levels of hepatic cholesterol while increasing serum cholesterol compared to control. The lipid soluble fraction was responsible for decreased hepatic cholesterol, while the water soluble fraction may contribute to increased serum cholesterol. The lipid soluble fraction of Ginkgo nut may have potential to be used for the purpose of prevention of cardiovascular diseases. This is the first report investigating the effects of Ginkgo nuts on cholesterol metabolism.
Basic Aspects of Electrochemical Impedance Application for the Life Prediction of Organic Coatings on Metals

Abstract Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) applies well to surfaces having a high electrical or electrochemical impedance. The method is, therefore, particularly suitable for the early d...
Robust fault tolerant control of wind turbine benchmark model

In this research, robust fault tolerant controller design using recursive predictor-based system identification algorithm is developed for wind turbine benchmark model. One of the characteristics of wind turbine is that system dynamics is close to stability boundary, thus recursive identification of wind turbine easily fails while covariance matrix is updated. Regarding the issue, array algorithm is known numerically stable, hence it is applied to this research. Imperfect system identification is usually resulted from a bias and a noise. In this research, those factors are considered to design fault tolerant controller in full wind speed range. With simulation, it is shown that the designed controller robustly controls the system to perform under any fault situations.
Assisted Reproductive Technology and Women’s Timing of Marriage and Childbearing

This paper exploited variation in mandated insurance coverage of assisted reproductive technology (ART) across US states and over time to examine the connection between the price of ART and women’s timing of family including marriage and child bearing in and out of wedlock. Duration and competing risks analyses were estimated to investigate the effects of ART insurance mandates on women’s timing of first marriage and first birth using the 1968–2009 Panel Study of Income Dynamics. The findings suggest that the mandates were associated with delayed marriage and childbearing at younger ages and an increased likelihood of marriage and motherhood at ages 30 and older, but only for college graduate women. For the full sample of women, the mandates were associated with an increased likelihood of marriage at ages 25 and older and motherhood within marriage after at ages 30 and older, but not with delay at younger ages. Results by race were similar to those for the full sample for Whites, but were generally less significant for Blacks. No significant effects of the mandates were found for out-of-wedlock childbearing.
A practical optimal control approach for two-speed actuators

This paper addresses the closed-loop control of an actuator with both a continuous input variable (motor torque) and a discrete input variable (mode selection). In many applications, robots have to bear large loads while moving slowly and also have to move quickly through the air with almost no load, leading to conflicting requirements for their actuators. An actuator with multiple gear ratios, like in a powertrain, can address this issue by allowing an effective use of power over a wide range of output speed. However, having discrete modes of operation adds complexity to the high-level control and planning. Here a controller for two-speed actuators that automatically select both the best gear ratio and the motor torque is developed. The approach is to: first derive a low-dimensional model, then use dynamic programming to find the best actions for all possible situations, and last use regression analysis to extract simplified global feedback laws. This approach produces simple practical nearly-optimal feedback laws. A controller that globally minimizes a quadratic cost function is derived for a two-speed actuator prototype, global stability is proven and performance is demonstrated experimentally.
Shear stress activation of platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa

When normal native or heparinised blood is forced under pressure through a filter with capillary sized holes, platelets aggregate during their passage through the filter. The effluent blood is collected from 0-3s (first phase) and between 10-20s (second phase); the platelets are counted, and the percentage retained is calculated. Aggregation in the first phase requires high shear, vWf and GP IIb/IIIa only, while divalent cations are essential for the second
Continent Urinary Reconstruction in Ischiopagus Tripus Conjoined Twins

AbstractThe principle of the continent urinary reservoir involves use of a variety of intestinal segments providing continence, a mechanism of antireflux and a catheterizable stoma in either an abdominal or pelvic location. This concept was used to create a continent urinary reservoir in a 3-year-old former ischiopagus tripus conjoined twin. The solitary renal unit had been drained into a hydrocolpos with an antirefluxing ureteral reimplantation at separation. The patient remained incontinent through the urogenital sinus. At subsequent reconstruction the posterior aspect of the hydrocolpos was tubularized as a vagina, while the remainder of the hydrocolpos was augmented with ileum to create a urinary reservoir. The conduit was constructed with imbricated ileum, in which myectomy had been performed to allow for easier imbrication and tubularization for a narrow neourethra.A second set of conjoined twins have been separated similarly. Of these twins 1 will undergo creation of a continent urinary reservoir i...
Approaches to Integrated Diabetes Care: United States: San Francisco

In the US, the most important advance in integrated primary care for patients with diabetes and other chronic conditions has been the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model. A major goal of the PCMH is to provide care that is coordinated and/or integrated across all elements of the complex health-care system (including subspecialty care, hospitals, home health agencies, nursing homes) and the patient’s community (including the patient’s family and community-based services). The PCMH model includes multiple features aimed at better integrated care, including care managers/coordinators, patient registries, improved access, regular reporting of quality measures, patient access to electronic health information, and payment restructuring to support these activities. Patient participation in their care is now seen as an essential element of integrated care. Research has shown the increasing patient participation though education, self-management support and health coaching can improve patient care processes and outcomes for patients with diabetes. Realizing the potential of integrated care is particularly challenging for patients with diabetes in urban and rural underserved populations. Work at our institution (University of California, San Francisco) and the San Francisco Department of Public Health illustrates those challenges and has led to new and newly adapted approaches for providing integrated care, including health coaching, electronic referrals, automated telephone support, patient care teams registries of patients with diabetes, and practice transformation using the ten Building Blocks of High-Performing Primary Care model.
Professional Development Strategies that Promote Science Inquiry Teaching and Learning

The recently released Framework for K-12 Science Education (National Research Council, 2012) calls for science education to addresses weaknesses in current science education of unorganized learning progressions, a focus on a breadth of discrete facts, and a lack of experiences in how science is actually done. Teacher professional development in inquiry science teaching and learning is one way to address these current issues in science education effectively. Higher education faculty have been one of the major groups of providers of teacher professional development programs. Many of these professional development programs have been delivered in short-term workshops and traditionally focused on increasing teacher content or learning new lesson ideas. As such, these programs have achieved limited successes in creating substantive changes and improvements in K-12 science teaching and learning. The research presented describes features of science teacher professional development that promote the adoption of inquiry-based K-12 science teaching and learning. Education and science faculty collaborated on this project to design and implement a professional development model for practicing science teachers. Sustained professional development enhanced by an immersive field study encouraged experienced teachers to modify their instruction to include scientific inquiry strategies that challenged their students to manipulate and make sense of actual scientific data. Three case studies and end of program feedback are described along with implications for other professional development programs.
Weight Tuning of Resistive Synaptic Devices and Convolution Kernel Operation on 12 × 12 Cross-Point Array

Analog conductance of resistive random access memory (RRAM) is attractive for implementing the synaptic weights in neuro-inspired algorithms. One of the most popular deep learning algorithms is the convolutional neural network (CNN). The implementation of the convolution kernel on the resistive cross-point array is different than the implementation of the matrix-vector multiplication in prior works. In this chapter, we review our recent progress on offline weight tuning of the RRAM and its application for convolution kernel operation. First, we developed an optimized iterative programming protocol to tune the weights of HfOx-based RRAM by adjusting the pulse amplitude incremental steps, the pulse width incremental steps, and the start voltages. Then, we demonstrated the key operation in the CNN—the convolution kernel on a 12 × 12 cross-point array. We proposed a dimensional reduction of 2D kernel matrix into 1D column vector, i.e., a column of the array, and enable the parallel readout of multiple 2D kernels simultaneously. As a proof-of-concept demonstration, we used the offline trained edge filters to detect both horizontal and vertical edges of the 20 × 20 pixels of black-and-white MNIST handwritten digits and the 50 × 50 pixels of a grayscale “dog” image on a 12 × 12 resistive cross-point array based on the HfOx RRAM. The experimental results of the kernel operation perfectly match the simulation results, indicating the feasibility of the proposed implementation methodology of the convolution kernel on the resistive cross-point array for future large-scale integration.
Homophily in Higher Education: Historicizing the AERA Member-to-Fellow Pipeline Using Theories of Social Reproduction and Social Networks.

This study examines select demographics of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Fellows (n = 644), and whether or not the cohorts of AERA Fellows are becoming more diverse in racial...
Virtual Reality for Real Estate: Its evolution in Bluemind Software

This paper presents the results of the VR4RE (Virtual Reality for Real Estate) project, which aims at saving time and money for both real estate sellers and buyers by employing modern technologies. VR4RE is one of the innovative projects developed by Bluemind Software and it is in an advanced state. This paper also illustrates the history of in-house technological attempts at creating appropriate presentation tools for real estate properties with 3D and VR (Virtual Reality).
Graduating neurology residents’ experience with use of intravenous tPA for acute ischemic stroke

45 Background: Intravenous tPA was approved as a treatment for acute ischemic stroke in 1996. One potential barrier to increased use of tPA has been lack of experience and training among neurologists. To date, there has been no formal assessment of neurology residents’ experience with tPA during their training. Methods: A 12 item survey was sent in March 2000 to all graduating neurology residents as identified by AMA-GME files. Follow-up surveys were sent in April and May to non-responders. Survey items established residents’ experience and confidence with assessment of the acute stroke patient and use of tPA. Responses were assessed using a 5 point Likert scale. Presence of a dedicated stroke team, ongoing stroke clinical trials, and post-residency career plans were also assessed. Results: Of 398 graduating residents for whom addresses were available, 287 (72%) responded. 80% of respondents had personally treated a patient with tPA; 33% had done so without direct faculty supervision. 12% had neither treated nor observed a patient being treated with tPA. 89% had cared for an acute stroke patient in the first hours after administration of tPA. 73% felt comfortable independently treating acute stroke patients with tPA. 65% of residents had formal NIHSS training. Nearly all residents felt confident in their ability to identify hemorrhage (99%) and early infarct signs (94%) on CT. Residents whose institutions had a stroke team were more likely to have provided post-tPA care (93% vs 71%, p Conclusion: One fifth of graduating neurology residents had never personally treated an acute stroke patient with tPA; one in ten had never seen tPA administered. One quarter did not feel comfortable independently treating with tPA. Experience with current treatment for acute stroke should be considered an essential part of neurology residency training. Stroke teams may be helpful in accomplishing this goal.
Electrochemical Formation of a p–n Junction on Thin Film Silicon Deposited in Molten Salt

Herein we report the demonstration of electrochemical deposition of silicon p–n junctions all in molten salt. The results show that a dense robust silicon thin film with embedded junction formation can be produced directly from inexpensive silicates/silicon oxide precursors by a two-step electrodeposition process. The fabricated silicon p–n junction exhibits clear diode rectification behavior and photovoltaic effects, indicating promise for application in low-cost silicon thin film solar cells.
Force frequency effects in third overtone thickness shear quartz resonators

The behavior of vibrating crystal plates under the action of external forces was studied. The plates were respectively subjected to diametrical compression force and bending force in different configurations: (a) a clamped cantilever, (b) a cantilever with displaced knife edges, and (c) a dual support mounting with displaced knife edge applied midway between. Finite element models were developed using the theory of small deformations superposed on finite initial deformations in Lagrangian formulation. The model results compared well with the experimental results by Mingins, Ballato, et. al., [3, 4]. For the AT-cut plate, the azimuth Ψ angles of frequency insensitivity due to compressional force were found at Ψ∼65° and 115°. For the plate bending in a clamped cantilever configuration a W-shaped plot of negative frequency deviations was observed when Ψ was varied from 0° to 180°, while the maximum positive frequency deviations occurred at Ψ∼270°. For the plate bending of cantilever with displaced knife edges, the results were similar to the plate bending in a clamped cantilever configuration. For the plate bending of dual support mounting with displaced knife edge applied in midway, the results for Ψ = 0° to 180° were very similar to Ψ = 180° to 360°. By searching out the effects of frequency deviations, optimal angles can be obtained to minimize or eliminate them.
Geriatric syndromes and association with distress in older cancer patients.

189Background: Geriatric syndromes are multifactorial conditions affecting the elderly that are associated with decreased quality of life and poor outcomes. We sought to quantify the prevalence of geriatric syndromes in a group of navigated cancer patients and identify conditions associated with distress. Methods: Distress assessments were conducted between January 2012 and December 2015 on enrollment into the PCCP, a lay-navigation program that serves Medicare recipients in the UAB Health System Cancer Community Network. Assessments were made using a modified Distress Tool, which captures sources of distress in multiple domains. We identified questionnaire items related to common geriatric syndromes including functional decline, sensory impairment, cognitive and mood changes, sleep problems, incontinence, pressure ulcers, and malnutrition. Prevalence of geriatric syndromes was indicated by reported distress for an item that mapped to one of the above syndromes. Results: 8,014 patients were surveyed; 53 %...
The eyes have it: An unusual case of Escherichia coli ophthalmia neonatorum or a shifting landscape?:

Despite dramatic declines in the incidence of ophthalmia neonatorum with universal prophylaxis, it remains a clinically important cause of eye disease in newborns. While clear guidelines exist for the treatment of the historically primary agents of ophthalmia neonatorum (Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae), it is less clear how to manage newborns with conjunctivitis secondary to other bacterial organisms, particularly those also frequently implicated in neonatal sepsis. We present the case of a 3-day-old well-appearing term infant with unilateral purulent conjunctivitis. The eye culture grew Escherichia coli, an unusual cause of ophthalmia neonatorum. After a limited sepsis evaluation proved negative, the infant was switched to moxifloxacin ophthalmic drops and made a full recovery. This case highlights the challenge of managing a rare presentation with minimal guideline support, as well as the need to consider other bacterial causes of neonatal conjunctivitis which are emerging in the era of routine prophylaxis in the United States.
Updates on immunotherapy for colorectal cancer

Despite significant advances in standard of care therapies, the 5-year survival rate for metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) remains around 12%. Immunotherapy has not provided the stellar advances in colorectal cancer that has been seen in other malignancies. Immunotherapy appears to play a pivotal role in microsatellite unstable CRC tumors where the response rates are profound. These results have led to FDA approval of pembrolizumab for MSI-H CRC tumors. Additional research into several new immune agents including IDO inhibitors, vaccine therapy and combinatorial agents are being evaluated for CRC. This review will provide an overview of the approaches currently being investigated.
Human–Robot Communications of Probabilistic Beliefs via a Dirichlet Process Mixture of Statements

This paper presents a natural framework for information sharing in cooperative tasks involving humans and robots. In this framework, all information gathered over time by a human–robot team is exchanged and summarized in the form of a fused probability density function (pdf). An approach for an intelligent system to describe its belief pdfs in English expressions is presented. This belief expression generation is achieved through two goodness measures: semantic correctness and information preservation. In order to describe complex, multimodal belief pdfs, a Mixture of Statements (MoS) model is proposed such that optimal expressions can be generated through compositions of multiple statements. The model is further extended to a nonparametric Dirichlet process MoS generation, such that the optimal number of statements required for describing a given pdf is automatically determined. Results based on information loss, human collaborative task performances, and correctness rating scores suggest that the proposed method for generating belief expressions is an effective approach for communicating probabilistic information between robots and humans.
CPAP to diagnose laryngeal clefts by flexible endoscopy in infants.

BACKGROUND Laryngeal clefts (LC) are uncommon but important causes of stridor in infants. Direct laryngoscopy is the recommended method for the detection of LC because LC may be missed by flexible endoscopy. As laryngomalacia by far outnumbers any other cause of stridor in this age group flexible bronchoscopy is usually the preferred method for the evaluation of significant infantile stridor. The aim is to illustrate how the application of CPAP assists the detection of LC during flexible endoscopy. METHOD Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is applied via endoscopy mask during flexible endoscopy, titrated to open the upper esophageal sphincter, and to spread the inter-arytenoid folds. RESULTS The application of CPAP of 10-15 cmH2 O resulted in visual unmasking of otherwise obscured LC in four young children assessed for congenital stridor. CONCLUSION CPAP helps visualize LC by flexible endoscopy obviating transition to direct laryngoscopy and manual exploration.
Single Degree of Freedom Vibrations

This chapter presents applications of second-order, ordinary, constant-coefficient differential equations. The primary applications in mechanical engineering and related fields is that of vibrations analysis. Additionally, because a second-order system is a canonical system for the design of some feedback controllers, this material serves as important background for the design of feedback controllers, which are considered in Chapter 10.
Efficacy and tolerability of ADHD medications in a clinical practice

Randomized controlled trials have shown that stimulants reduce symptoms of impulsivity and hyperactivity in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); however, these rigid protocols show no advantage of one medication over another. Our study examined the question of differential efficacy and tolerability of five medications used for ADHD, in the open-label setting of our outpatient child neurology clinic. This retrospective study identified 137 children and adolescents (109 boys and 28 girls), with a mean age of 10 years (range 4 to 19 years) treated for ADHD. Treatment options were amphetamine/dextroamphetamine extended release (adderall XR) in 19.0%, amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (adderall), osmotic controlled-released (OROS) formulation of methylphenidate (OROS-MPH, concerta) in 29.2%, atomoxetine (strattera) in 21.9% and methylphenidate standard release (MPH) in 16.8%. Global effectiveness was assessed for each medication. Overall, 78% of patients improved with medication, with no significant statistical difference in efficacy among the five medications. Side effects included decreased appetite (14.6%), insomnia (10.2%), headaches (7.3%), and tics (3.7%). The only difference in side effects was with atomoxetine showing a significantly lower incidence of headaches than amphetamine/dextroamphetamine XR, amphetamine/dextroamphetamine or OROS-MPH. In conclusion, our results in the open-label setting were comparable to those found in randomized controlled trials; the medications we examined were equally effective with minimal differences in side effect profiles.
The Violent Bear it Away: Emmett Till & the Modernization of Law Enforcement in Mississippi

Few racially motivated crimes have left a more lasting imprint on American memory than the death of Emmett Till. Yet, even as Till's murder in Mississippi in 1955 has come to be remembered as a catalyst for the civil rights movement, it contributed to something else as well. Precisely because it came on the heels of the Supreme Court's 1954 ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, Till's death convinced Mississippi Governor James P. Coleman that certain aspects of the state's handling of racial matters had to change. Afraid that popular outrage over racial violence might encourage federal intervention in the region, Coleman removed power from local sheriffs, expanded state police, and modernized the state's criminal justice apparatus in order to reduce the chance of further racial violence in the state. Though his results proved mixed, many of Coleman's reforms lived on, contributing to the end of public torture and lynching as an accepted mode of punishment in the state. This article discusses those changes, suggesting that they not only influenced the fight for civil rights, but encouraged the modernization of criminal justice in the South.
Application of the Before-and-After Method Which Combines the Classic Elements of Fraud Examination and Forensic Skepticism in the Valuation of Commercial Damages

Peter L. Lohrey, Ph.D., CVA, CDBV Assistant Professor of Accounting Department of Accounting, Law & Taxation School of Business Montclair State University One Normal Avenue Montclair, NJ 07042 Phone (973) 655-3514 Fax (973) 243-2646 lohreyp@mail.monclair.edu James A. DiGabriele, P h.D./D.P.S., CPA/ABV/CFF Professor of Accounting Department of Accounting, Law & Taxation School of Business Montclair State University One Normal Avenue Montclair, NJ 07042 Phone (973) 655-7288 Fax (973) 243-2646 digabrielej@mail.montclair.edu jim@dmcpa.com
Enhancing degradation and corrosion resistance of AZ31 magnesium alloy through hydrophobic coating

Abstract AZ31 magnesium alloy is a promising implant metallic material for the process of healing hard tissue in the human body. However, it is susceptible to degradation when exposed to physiological fluid. To address this issue, we modified the surface of AZ31 to enhance its degradation resistance and corrosion resistance. The surface modification involved hydrothermal treatment, immersion into oleic acid, and subsequent heat treatment. When the alloy experienced hydrothermal treatment and immersion into oleic acid, it showed Mg(OH)2 phase and slight hydrophobicity. There were both Mg(OH)2 and MgO in the alloy experienced only hydrothermal treatment and in the alloy experienced hydrothermal treatment + immersion into oleic acid + subsequent heat treatment. The surface modification process significantly enhanced both degradation resistance and corrosion resistance of the AZ31 magnesium alloy.
Positioning updates as relevant: An analysis of child-initiated updating in American and Canadian families

Telling about your day is a documented component of close relationships. In examining nearly 31 hours of video-recorded English-speaking American and Canadian families with young children primarily between the ages of three and six, this paper analyses how children solve the problem of producing relevant updates about the goings on of their day. Findings indicate that child-initiated updates are ‘touched off ’ by prior talk or something in the immediate environment. I find that child-initiated updates occur in three sequential environments: (1) when they are prompted by a specific word/ phrase, (2) when they are prompted by an object in the locally immediate environment, and (3) when they are prompted by the local ongoing activity. Importantly, these updates are retrospectively activated in that they are responsive to what just occurred before, but also initiate a new sequence. The updating practices described here provide further evidence of the interactional sophistication of young children in that they show how children can exploit the ongoing environment to deliver updates about their own lives.
Water quality gradients and trends in New York Harbor

Abstract New York Harbor is a complex of interconnected waterways that have supported the rapid development of a thriving megacity and metropolitan region. The water quality of New York, a partner city in the World Harbour Project, is a reflection of the combined impacts of this metropolitan region. Water quality health and trends were assessed between 1996–2017in 9 different reporting regions using publicly available data. Analyses of New York Harbor water quality reveal strong persistent geographic gradients and long-term trends in improving water quality. Data was synthesized for five indicators throughout the New York harbor region including: total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), dissolved oxygen (DO), chlorophyll a (chla), and water clarity (secchi disk depth). The health of the waterways surrounding New York City was evaluated and graded on a 0%–100% scale and displayed using a ’stoplight color scheme’. The best water quality in the region evaluated was in the area of the most exchange with the Atlantic Ocean in the Lower Bay near the harbor entrance. Conversely, the most degraded water quality was in the areas of lowest water exchange in dead end canals (Newtown Creek and Flushing Bay) and Jamaica Bay. The Hudson River, East River, Upper Bay, Newark Bay, and Raritan Bay had intermediate water quality. High nutrient levels (TN and TP) were observed throughout New York Harbor, but water clarity, DO and chla levels were variable. Overall, there were improving trends in many water quality parameters over the time period of our study, especially TN. Data used in this analysis can be used as a resource for environmental managers, educators and students to explore health of New York Harbor and its associated waterways. This analysis may be seen as a model for other important and threatened harbors and waterways including partner cities in the World Harbour Project by providing a comparable method for assessing and communicating water quality health.
New to the US: Understanding the Role of CMC in International Students' Adaptation to the US

Studying abroad and adjusting to a new environment can be very stressful for non-native English-speaking international students due to challenges of language and culture. Previous research shows that computer-mediated communication (CMC) tools have the potential to help newcomers adjust to new environments. However, it is not clear what the role of communication tools is in newcomer international students' adaptation to the US. We conducted 17 semi-structured interviews with international students from China, Korea, and Japan to understand their adjustment challenges and how they use CMC tools to address them. We found that international students use CMC tools for finding reliable information, building new social networks, and providing an alternative channel for engaging in the US classroom. Based on these findings, we propose design implications for tools to better support international students' adjustment to the US.
Strong seismic anisotropy in the deep upper mantle beneath the Cascadia backarc: Constraints from probabilistic finite-frequency SKS splitting intensity tomography

Abstract The volcanically active High Lava Plains (HLP) region is a striking tectonomagmatic feature of eastern Oregon, in the backarc of the Cascadia subduction zone. It features young (
Predicting in-hospital mortality of patients with febrile neutropenia using machine learning models

Abstract Background Febrile neutropenia (FN) has been associated with high mortality among adults with cancer. Current systems for early detection of inpatient FN mortality are based on scoring indexes that require intensive physicians’ subjective evaluation. Objective In this study, we leveraged machine learning techniques to build a FN mortality risk evaluation tool focused on FN admissions without physicians’ subjective evaluation. Methods We used the National Inpatient Sample and Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) that included mortality data among adult inpatients who were diagnosed with FN during a hospital admission. Machine learning techniques that we compared included linear models (ridge logistic regression and linear support vector machine) and non-linear models (gradient boosting tree and neural network). The primary outcome for this study was death among individuals with a recorded FN admission. Model comparison was evaluated based on areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) and model performance was estimated using 30 % test set created via stratified split. Results Our analysis detected 126,013 adult admissions within the NIS data that were diagnosed with FN, among which 5,856 were declared as deceased (4.6 %). Our machine learning results demonstrate linear models and non-linear models achieved areas under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) around 92 % in survival prediction. Conclusions We developed machine learning models that do not require physicians’ subjective evaluation for FN mortality risk prediction.
Characterization of intracalyceal pressure during ureteroscopy.

To provide the first report of measuring intracalyceal pressures during ureteroscopy (URS). A prospective single-center clinical study using a cardiac pressure guidewire to measure intracalyceal pressure during flexible URS was performed. Eight patients (45 calyces) undergoing URS for nephrolithiasis were included. A Verrata® pressure guide wire was passed through the working channel of a dual lumen flexible ureteroscope and into the calyces while irrigation was maintained at 150 mmHg. Pressure was measured in the renal pelvis, upper pole, interpolar, and lower pole calyces both with and without a ureteral access sheath (UAS). The pressure in each location with and without a UAS was compared. The correlation between calyceal pressure and infundibular dimensions (width, length) was determined. Intracalyceal pressure was significantly lower in each region when a UAS was used. Compared to patients with a 12/14Fr UAS, those with a 14/16Fr UAS had significantly lower pressure in the interpolar (25.3 ± 13.1 vs. 44.0 ± 27.5 mmHg, p = 0.03) and lower pole (16.2 ± 3.5 vs. 49.2 ± 40.3 mmHg, p = 0.004) calyces. Interpolar calyceal pressure in the presence of a UAS was significantly higher than the renal pelvis pressure (RPP) (30.8 ± 19.6 vs. 17.9 ± 11.0 mmHg, p = 0.004). During flexible URS, RPP strongly correlates with, but does not uniformly represent, the intracalyceal pressure. With a 14/16Fr UAS and an inflow pressure of 150 mmHg, RPP and intracalyceal pressure never exceed the threshold for renal backflow.
Management of Chronic Pain: Medication

The pharmacological management of chronic pain begins with diagnosing the pain as neuropathic or nociceptive. There is a general consensus amongst experts that neuropathic pain can be treated with first line agents such as tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), anticonvulsants, and selective serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. Nociceptive pain is pain arising outside of the nervous system as a result of dysfunction (inflammation, musculoskeletal, compressive etiologies). This is a heterogeneous group of disorders and treatment is based on diagnosis. Pharmacological classes often used in nociceptive pain include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications and acetaminophen. Second line agents include the adjunctives used in neuropathic pain: TCA’s, anticonvulsants, and SNRIs. The pharmacology and metabolism of opioids are described in detail. The cytochrome enzyme system may metabolize some opioids, causing potential drug interactions. Some opioids have metabolites such as hydromorphone, making interpretation of drug tests challenging. Opioid therapy can cause harm to many body systems. The long term benefits of opioid therapy are not known. The decision to offer chronic opioid therapy must be individualized. Chronic opioid therapy does not need to be offered for every patient with chronic pain if risks outweigh the benefits.
Improving data access democratizes and diversifies science.

The foundation of the scientific method rests on access to data, and yet such access is often restricted or costly. We investigate how improved data access shifts the quantity, quality, and diversity of scientific research. We examine the impact of reductions in cost and sharing restrictions for satellite imagery data from NASA’s Landsat program (the longest record of remote-sensing observations of the Earth) on academic science using a sample of about 24,000 Landsat publications by over 34,000 authors matched to almost 3,000 unique study locations. Analyses show that improved access had a substantial and positive effect on the quantity and quality of Landsat-enabled science. Improved data access also democratizes science by disproportionately helping scientists from the developing world and lower-ranked institutions to publish using Landsat data. This democratization in turn increases the geographic and topical diversity of Landsat-enabled research. Scientists who start using Landsat data after access is improved tend to focus on previously understudied regions close to their home location and introduce novel research topics. These findings suggest that policies that improve access to valuable scientific data may promote scientific progress, reduce inequality among scientists, and increase the diversity of scientific research.
Fault Diagnosis of On-Load Tap-Changer Based on the Parameter-adaptive VMD and SA-ELM

Mechanical vibration signal can reflect the running state of on-load tap-changer. In order to realize effective mechanical fault diagnosis for on-load tap-changer, a fault diagnosis method based on the parameter-adapted Variational Mode Decomposition (VMD) and Extreme Learning Machine optimized by Simulated Anneal (SA-ELM) is proposed. Firstly, the signal is decomposed by VMD method, and the number of modals is selected based on energy criterion. A group of modal components with narrow band and great discrimination is obtained. Then the energy features of each modal component are calculated, which form the feature vector group, and the modal features of different fault states are clearly distinguished. Finally, the feature vector group is inputted to the extreme learning machine (ELM) optimized by simulated annealing algorithm to realize the recognition and fault diagnosis of the vibration signals. An experiment is carried out on the simulation experiment platform and the collected signals are processed. Compared with the method based on VMD and ELM, the fault diagnosis method proposed can effectively improve the diagnostic accuracy of mechanical fault of on-load tap-changer.
Closing the Loophole: A Critical Analysis of the Peremptory Challenge and Why it Should be Abolished

In theory peremptory challenges should be used to ensure a fair system of jury selection, however, in practice, they are a loophole exploited to racially discriminate. Peremptory challenges are now systematically and intentionally employed to racially discriminate in the jury selection process, effectively excluding Black potential jurors from jury service. At the outset, the author examined Swain v. Alabama, Batson v. Kentucky’s precursor, where the court’s holding made it almost impossible for a defendant to prove racial discrimination in the jury selection process. The author further reviewed Batson as a basis of understanding how the use of peremptory strikes are challenged after Swain, and Flowers v. Mississippi to demonstrate the problems that the use of peremptory challenges present. Additionally, accepted race-neutral reasons asserted during Batson inquiries in several federal cases were investigated to determine if they were in fact race-neutral. Through a thorough review and analysis of federal case law surrounding the discriminatory use of peremptory strikes, the author found that peremptory challenges are used to exclude Black prospective jurors from jury service. Furthermore, the author found that Batson is ineffective in addressing claims of race-based discrimination. The author proffers that if jury service is one of the most important civic duties, the process should be free of racial discrimination. Abolishing the use of peremptory challenges is one way to begin to eradicate racial discrimination in the jury selection process.
Conformational Change of Syntaxin-3b in Regulating SNARE Complex Assembly in the Ribbon Synapses

Abstract Neurotransmitter release of synaptic vesicles relies on the assembly of the soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complex, consisting of syntaxin and SNAP-25 on the plasma membrane and synaptobrevin on the synaptic vesicle. The formation of the SNARE complex progressively zippers towards the membranes, which drives membrane fusion between the plasma membrane and the synaptic vesicle. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of SNARE complex regulation is unclear. In this study, we investigate the syntaxin-3b isoform found in the retinal ribbon synapses using single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) to monitor the conformational changes of syntaxin-3b that modulate the SNARE complex formation. We found that syntaxin-3b is predominantly in a self-inhibiting closed conformation, inefficiently forming the ternary SNARE complex. Conversely, a phosphomimetic mutation (T14E) at the N-terminal region of syntaxin-3b promoted the open conformation, similar to the constitutively open form of syntaxin LE mutant. When syntaxin-3b is bound to Munc18-1, SNARE complex formation is almost completely blocked. Surprisingly, the T14E mutation of syntaxin-3b partially abolishes Munc18-1 regulation, acting as a conformational switch to trigger SNARE complex assembly. Thus, we suggest a model where the conformational change of syntaxin-3b induced by phosphorylation initiates the release of neurotransmitters in the ribbon synapses.
Kinetic and Mechanistic Analysis of the Hydrodeoxygenation of Propanoic Acid on Pt/SiO2

This manuscript summarizes observations made during the conversion of propanoic acid over Pt/SiO2 under H2-rich environments. Under these conditions, Pt is active for hydrogenation and hydrodeoxyge...
The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Orthopaedic Residency Program Social Media Utilization.

The COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented challenge for orthopaedic surgery residency applicants when away rotations were canceled and interviews were held virtually. The authors hypothesized that (1) Instagram would have more total social media accounts compared with Twitter or Facebook, (2) most social media accounts on all platforms would be created during 2020, and (3) the average number of Instagram followers would be higher among highly ranked programs. Methods: A list of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited orthopaedic surgery residency programs (n = 202) that were ranked by reputation was acquired from Doximity. Public Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter profiles of orthopaedic surgery residency programs were identified through a manual search. Variables assessed on each social media platform were all available summary statistics provided by the social media platform. Instagram accounts were categorized into 5 tiers based on numeric reputation ranking, with 40 programs in each tier (except tier 5 with 42 programs). Descriptive statistics were calculated, and continuous data were presented as mean ± standard deviation. Goodness-of-fit regression values were calculated for observed trends. Results: One-hundred seventy-four social media accounts were identified. There was a higher percentage of Instagram accounts (66.1%) compared with Facebook (13.2%) or Twitter (20.7%). From 2010 to 2020, an exponential increase (R2 = 0.88) of social media accounts was observed during 2020. Instagram profiles (77.2%, 98/115 [95 in 2020, 3 in 2021]) were created after the cancelation of away rotations in May 2020. Instagram profiles had 1,029 ± 522.4 average followers, more than Facebook and Twitter. Tier 1 residency programs had the largest average follower count with 1,462.4 ± 584.3 followers. Conclusion: Social media presence increased exponentially during 2020. Instagram was the social media platform with the most accounts. Many Instagram accounts were created during 2020, and most were created after away rotations were canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instagram accounts averaged the most followers. Top tier orthopaedic residency programs had a greater number of accounts and average followers than lower tier programs.
If You Build It, Will They Come?: Fiscal Federalism, Local Provision of Public Tourist Amenities, and the Vision Iowa Fund

Iowa provided partial state funding to communities to build tourist attractions, a potential solution to local under-provision of public goods. A 10 percent increase in state funds increased county taxable retail sales by 0.1 percent. The State’s return from resulting sales tax revenue averaged 11.8 percent. Local communities paid more and received less tax, and so their return was much smaller at 1.2 percent. Neighboring community sales also increased. The positive spillovers to neighbors and the state suggest that local communities will undersupply public amenities without state subsidies.