cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development and reliability of items measuring the nonmedical use of prescription drugs for the Youth Risk Behavior Survey: results from an initial pilot test.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to develop and test the reliability of self-report survey items designed to monitor the nonmedical use of prescription drugs among adolescents. METHODS: Eighteen nonmedical prescription drug items designed to be congruent with the substance abuse items in the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Youth Risk Behavior Survey were constructed, reviewed by a panel of experts, and then examined to assess reliability using a test-retest survey design. RESULTS: Simple kappa (κ) coefficients for 14 of the 18 items demonstrated “substantial” or “almost perfect” reliability. Three items had coefficients within the “fair” or “moderate” ranges and 1 item fell within in the “poor” range. Of the 10 items for which weighted κ coefficients were calculated, 6 items fell within the “almost perfect” or “substantial” ranges. Three fell within the “moderate” range and 1 fell within the “poor” range. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the expert panel review and the findings from our study, most of the 18 items developed to measure nonmedical use of prescription drugs among adolescents appear valid and reliable. The nonmedical use of prescription drugs ranks fourth among the most abused class of drugs by adolescents after alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana, respectively. The CDC should consider expanding the surveillance of these specific health-risk behaviors that are assuming new importance by including the items described in this article in future national surveys.
Functional and Structural Measures for Determining Risk of Memory Change following Epilepsy Surgery

Modern surgical intervention for the relief of medically intractable seizures was introduced by Horsley in 1886. Since that time, surgical resection of epileptogenic brain tissue has become a widely accepted medical treatment option for patients with chronic, focal seizure disorders that are refractory to conventional anticonvulsant medications (Anderman, 1987; Engel, 1987). With advanced pre-operative screening procedures and methods that are available at specialized epilepsy surgery centers, it is estimated that about 80% of patients with intractable complex partial seizures of temporal origin can become free of seizures or experience marked reductions in seizure tendency following epilepsy surgery (Dreifuss, 1987; Engel, 1987; Ivnik, Sharbrough, & Laws, 1988; Olivier, 1988; Walczak et al., 1990). Although epilepsy surgery has proven efficacy in terms of increasing seizure control, it is not without attendant risks, especially for decrements in neurocognitive function (see reviews by Chelune, 1992; Dodrill, Hermann, Rausch, Chelune, & Oxbury, 1993). As noted by Luders et al. (1987), the goal of epilepsy surgery is to maximally excise the epileptogenic tissue with a minimum of disruption of normal tissue, particularly eloquent tissue that is critical for full functional capacity. Thus, surgical success is defined in terms of a significant reduction in seizure tendency with maximal perseveration or relative improvement in cognitive function and quality of life (National Institutes of Health, 1990).
High-efficiency X-band HBT power amplifier

We report on the state-of-the-art performance of monolithic HBT amplifiers at X-band. Single-chip, two-stage amplifiers have been designed and fabricated using AlGaAs/GaAs HBT process. An output power level of 12.5 W, with 51% power-added efficiency and 13 dB associated gain have been achieved at 8.5 GHz. The amplifier delivers more than 10 W output power with minimum 41% PAE in the 8.3-9.5 GHz band, and 9 W power with minimum 38% PAE in the 8.3-10.0 GHz band. The amplifier measures 4.5/spl times/4.5 mm/sup 2/ in size and is thermally ballasted for reliable operation. To our knowledge, these results represent state-of-the-art performance in terms of the combination of power, bandwidth, and efficiency for any monolithic solid-state amplifier technology. >
Some considerations of an antenna in a high gain configuration

Planar antenna structures may be configured to realize high gain with appropriate layering including a superstrate layer of high permittivity. Such antennas were first understood in terms of transmission line theory optimizing gain using a quarter-wave transformer argument. A prototype of this antenna was constructed and tested validating the high gain effect. Analytical expressions for the electromagnetic fields can be realized using the same methodology commonly used in the analysis of a patch antenna. Calculation of terms in this formulation is consistent with quarter-wave analysis. However, such an analysis presumes an infinite structure on the transverse directions. When an actual antenna is constructed, the planar surface can significantly affect the high gain calculations. The high gain of the antenna must then be reconciled with the fundamental concept of aperture size versus directivity.
Temporal Changes in the Pathologic Assessment of Prostate Cancer

Thirty years have witnessed dramatic changes in the manner in which we diagnose and manage prostate cancer. With prostate-specific antigen screening, there was a shift towards smaller, clinically localized tumors. Tumors are often multifocal and display phenotypic and molecular heterogeneity. Pathologic evaluation of tissue obtained by needle biopsy remains the gold standard for the diagnosis and risk assessment of prostate cancer. Years of experience with grading, along with changes in the amount of biopsy tissue obtained and diagnostic tools available, have produced shifts in grading practices among genitourinary pathologists. Trends in Gleason grading and advances in pathological risk assessment are reviewed with particular emphasis on recent Gleason grading modifications of the International Society of Urologic Pathology. Efforts to maximize the amount of information from pathological specimens, whether it be morphometric, histochemical, or molecular, may improve predictive accuracy of prostate biopsies. New diagnostic techniques are needed to optimize management decisions.
Secondary Teacher Attitudes Toward Including English-Language Learners in Mainstream Classrooms

Researchers have given limited attention to teacher attitudes toward inclusion of English-language learners (ELLs) in mainstream classrooms. The author explored 4 categories within secondary teacher attitudes toward ELL inclusion: (a) ELL inclusion, (b) coursework modification for ELLS, (c) professional development for working with ELLs, and (d) perceptions of language and language learning. Findings from a survey of 279 subject-area high school teachers indicate a neutral to slightly positive attitude toward ELL inclusion, a somewhat positive attitude toward coursework modification, a neutral attitude toward professional development for working with ELLs, and educator misconceptions regarding how second languages are learned.
In-situ depth monitoring of the deep reactive ion etch process

We describe a laser-based technique to monitor the time multiplexed deep reactive ion etching of silicon. Mask and substrate etch rates, as well as mask quality information, can be extracted simultaneously and in-situ using a single laser beam system.
Fundamentally Indexed or Fundamentally Misconceived: Locating the Source of RAFI Outperformance

Fundamental indexing is based on the idea that the conventional approach to indexing, which weights according to capitalization, necessarily puts too much weight on overvalued stocks and not enough on undervalued stocks. Fundamental indexing attempts to correct for these errors by using earnings, dividends, and the like, as weights, instead of capitalization. But a logical alternative to fundamental weighting for removing errors in price is equal weighting. Because of a mistake in the original Arnott publication, equal-weighting has not received its due. This article develops the potential of equal-weighting as an alternative solution to the problems associated with cap-weighted indexes.
Using Probabilistic Characterization to Reduce Runtime Faults in HPC Systems

The current trend in high performance computing is to aggregate ever larger numbers of processing and interconnection elements in order to achieve desired levels of computational power, This, however, also comes with a decrease in the Mean Time To Interrupt because the elements comprising these systems are not becoming significantly more robust. There is substantial evidence that the Mean Time To Interrupt vs. number of processor elements involved is quite similar over a large number of platforms. In this paper we present a system that uses hardware level monitoring coupled with statistical analysis and modeling to select processing system elements based on where they lie in the statistical distribution of similar elements. These characterizations can be used by the scheduler/resource manager to deliver a close to optimal set of processing elements given the available pool and the reliability requirements of the application.
Comparing the effect of arginine vasopressin on ear and finger photoplethysmography

Abstract Study Objective To test whether the relative insensitivity of craniofacial vessels to catecholamines differs in response to arginine vasopressin. Design Prospective, observational human study. Setting University hospital. Patients 8 ASA physical status I and II women scheduled for elective myomectomy. Interventions Patients underwent elective myomectomy surgery with intrauterine injection of arginine vasopressin. Measurements Finger, ear, and forehead photoplethysmographs were monitored. Changes in the plethysmographic amplitudes were recorded before and after arginine vasopressin injection. Main Results In all subjects, ear photoplethysmographic amplitude (but not oxygen saturation) decreased precipitously (62% ± 10%; P P = 0.19). The forehead plethysmograph decreased in amplitude, but this finding did not achieve significance (33% ± 18%; P = 0.18). Conclusion In contrast to prior observations during adrenergic activation, arginine vasopressin induced relatively greater vasoconstriction at the ear and forehead than at the finger. This finding has potential implications with respect to arginine vasopressin's effect on blood flow and indicates that monitoring the ear plethysmographic signal may provide useful information during arginine vasopressin administration.
Global Poetics and State-Sponsored Transnationalism: A Reply to Jahan Ramazani

Back in the twentieth century, when modernist studies were as high as their object and the upper decks of the Cunard Line still served as the chronotope of transatlantic modernity, the nation-hopping of modem Anglophone poetry was no state secret. To take just one 600-page example, Hugh Kenner's proclamation of The Pound Era in 1971 widely broadcast news of a poet-managed "supranational movement called International Modernism" (59). By the time I declared an English major in the early 1980s, American modernist pedagogy peaked in guided tours of the multinational vortex of The Waste Land, Mauberly, and The Cantos (the equally pedantic worldliness of Libretto for the Republic of Liberia then came nowhere near the syllabus). The whole of the modem poetry survey confided a political moral somehow evaded in the rest of the curriculum: it is neither sweet nor glorious to die for the abstractions of one's country. I found myself confused, then, by Jahan Ramazani's opening suggestion that academic keepers of modern English-language verse resist our moment's eager transnationalizing of the humanities due to a settled "disciplinary paradigm" invented by German preRomanticism and cemented by Cold War Americanism. Is the highchurch cosmopolitanism of the old modernist studies, spellbound by world war, moveable feasts, and the cunning of exile, so easily separated from its Eurail pass and sent home packing? Does the undoubted Eurocentrism of a Kenner annul his pretracing of what Ramazani calls "[g]lobe-traversing influences, energies, and resistances," and did this Eurocentrism fail to grind an internationalist lens as "particularized"-if not nearly as democratic-as that which Ramazani now advocates? Meanwhile, absent a case for the persistence of the lyric's special affection for the genius loci, it is hard to grasp why poetics remains unusually wary of transnationalism's
Gastric bypass surgery patients warrant special attention for preventing urinary stones.

Obesity rates have steadily risen throughout the industrialized world, with America leading the way. Currently more than 15 million Americans fall into the extreme categorization of morbid obesity, defined as body mass index (BMI) >40. Several weight reduction treatment options exist for these patients, with surgical intervention representing an effective and popular approach. Overall, surgical approaches are categorized as restrictive, malabsorptive, or a combination of the two. Fortunately, restrictive approaches, “lap banding” or sleeve gastrectomy, do not yield an increased risk for nephrolithiasis. The same cannot be said for malabsorptive approaches, with the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) representing the most popular of these. These have been clearly shown to lead to increases in urinary oxalate and calcium while leading to a decrease in urine volume and urinary citrate where the risk of a future calculus after RYGB is 2-3 fold greater. To combat these changes, both human and animal studies support the utilization of dietary modifications (reduction of oxalate and fatty foods, increased oral hydration, and supplementation with citric salts and calcium) to reduce the risk of nephrolithiasis formation (1). These dietary change recommendations, however, must be carefully made for patients, for whom changes in gut transit time and potentially hydration status and capacity to eat food may be drastically altered. For example, in these nephrolithiasis patients with a rapid gut transit time, we routinely recommend against restricted sodium intake, contrary to recommendations given to most stone formers. Additional routine recommendations we provide to stone-forming patients who are status post RYGB include increased oral hydration, calcium in the form of dairy of calcium tablets with all meals, and often times potassium citrate supplementation. These patients should have established, long term relationships with their dietary and stone specialists to prevent recurrence of stones.
Clinical Evaluation and Management of Benign Soft Tissue Tumors of the Extremities

Benign lesions comprise a majority of soft tissue tumors. It has been estimated that their incidence outnumbers that of malignant tumors by a factor of at least 100 [1]. While history and physical examination can start the diagnostic process, imaging including the use of magnetic resonance imaging can be more helpful. Biopsy of these tumors is sometimes necessary and can be performed in a number of ways, often in conjunction with definitive treatment. Specific diagnostic and treatment strategies for a number of the more commonly encountered benign soft tissue tumors including lipomas, pigmented villonodular synovitis and hemangiomas are reviewed. An algorithm for the management of benign soft tissue tumors is discussed.
The effect of alcohol consumption on the aggressive behavior of men.

At experimental “parties” where distilled spirits or beer was available, men demonstrated more interpersonal aggressive behavior than at parties where nonalcoholic beverages were served. Although t...
Recent advances in the understanding of endometriosis: the role of inflammatory mediators in disease pathogenesis and treatment

In this review, we focus on recent advancements in our understanding of the roles of inflammatory mediators in endometriosis pathophysiology and the potential for improved therapies based upon targeting these pathways. We review the association between endometriosis and inflammation and the initial promise of anti-tumor necrosis factor therapies based upon experimental evidence, and how and why these studies have not translated to the clinic. We then discuss emerging data on the role of inter-relationship among macrophage migration inhibitory factor, prostaglandin E 2, and estrogen receptor-beta, and the potential utility of targeting these factors in endometriosis treatment. In doing so, we highlight the strengths and discuss the current research on identification of novel, anti-inflammatory-based therapy and the necessity to expand experimental endpoints to include clinically relevant measures when assessing the efficacy of potential new therapies for endometriosis.
The Myth of Universal Human Rights: Its Origin, History, and Explanation, Along with a More Humane Way, by David N. Stamos

Universal human rights—that is, rights held by all and only humans—have been criticized by numerous thinkers. Jeremy Bentham is often cited for his quip that they are ‘nonsense upon stilts’, becaus...
Dynamic Network Flow Modelling of Fixed Path Material Handling Systems

Abstract A time expanded network flow model and software for analyzing the flow traffic in dynamically loaded material handling systems with fixed paths and blocking are described. An illustration of the capabilities and limitations of the approach for evaluating alternative system concepts is provided.
Thermal Response of a Spatially Graded Metal-Ceramic Structural Panel to Non-Uniform Heating in Hypersonic Flow

In this paper, the thermal response of metal-ceramic Ti-6Al-4V/TiB2 functionally graded composite structural panels is studied and compared against a Ti-6Al-4V structural panel with an Exelis Acusil® II syntactic foam thermal protection system. Structural panels are subjected to thermal and mechanical loads resulting from hypersonic flight over a representative trajectory. Mechanical loads are the by-product of aggressive maneuvering at high air speeds and angles of attack. Thermal loads as a result of aerodynamic heating are applied to the material systems as laminar, turbulent and transitional heat flux on the outer surface. Transitional heat fluxes are used to evaluate the effectiveness of Ti-6Al-4V/TiB2 graded in two principal directions, e.g., through-thickness and surface parallel to flow. The computational results indicate that when subjected to uniform surface heat flux, the graded material system can eliminate through-thickness temperature gradients that are otherwise present in traditional thermal protection systems. Furthermore, graded material systems can also eliminate through-thickness temperature gradients and significantly reduce in-plane surface temperature gradients when subjected to non-uniform surface aerodynamic heating.
The Musculoskeletal System in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Along with cutaneous disease, musculoskeletal manifestations are quite prevalent in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Whereas some musculoskeletal complications, such as myositis and arthritis, reflect disease activity, others, such as osteonecrosis and osteoporosis, are typically adverse effects of treatment. In this chapter, we review the most common musculoskeletal manifestations that affect patients with SLE.
On Civil Disobedience in Recent American Democratic Thought

Theoretical discussions of civil disobedience on ethical and political grounds received special attention in this country during the Nuremberg trials, the security and loyalty controversies of the 1950's and the pre-arms control years of nuclear power. A fourth wave of interest formed after the early civil rights protests and a fifth is appearing to consider dissent from national policies on the Vietnam War. In this paper civil disobedience is viewed from a trough between the fourth and most recent wave. The phenomenon is interpreted with selected ideas from the study of political obligation and unconventional dissent. The essay first assesses recent American analysis of civil disobedience to determine what the criteria should be to distinguish it from other forms of political action and to discover its political ethics. Secondly, there is an attempt to answer the question: Is there any appreciable service that carefully defined civil disobedience might perform in American democratic thought? The complete enterprise is provoked by a need to examine new strategies for democratic citizenship in a time when the deficiencies of American political life are becoming known to increasing numbers and varieties of people instead of remaining the preserve of enlightened elites.
Partial delay of reinforcement: Effects of D-length, number of different D-lengths and number of reinforcements on resistance to extinction

A test of the aftereffects hypothesis as originally applied to partial reinforcement was extended to a partial delay of reward situation. From the partial reinforcement data (Capaldi, 1964) it was predicted for the present experiment that resistance to extinction should increase with increases in (a) D-length, (b) number of different D-lengths, and (c) number of reinforcements per D-length. Results of the present experiment generally confirm the predictions based on the aftereffects hypothesis.
First records of the genus Cambalida Simon, 1909 (Araneae: Corinnidae, Castianeirinae) from Asia, with the description of two new species from India and one new combination.

The hitherto Afrotropical corinnid spider genus Cambalida Simon, 1909 is recorded from Asia for the first time. Detailed morphological descriptions and genitalic illustrations of two new species, C. deorsa sp. n. and C. tuma sp. n. from India, are provided. One new combination is proposed: Cambalida flavipes (Gravely, 1931) comb. nov. The occurrence of distal femoral constrictions of III and IV legs of both male and female are recognised as additional somatic features for the genus Cambalida . The current distribution of all the three Indian Cambalida spp. is mapped.
Vanda funingensis , a new species of Orchidaceae (Epidedroideae; Vandeae; Aeridinae) from China: evidence from morphology and DNA

Vanda funingensis , a new orchid species from Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated here. This species, which has thin, regular tepals, a slender spur, and a relatively dense inflorescence, is superficially similar to species of Vanda s.l. with Ascocentrum -like flowers. However, the plant differs from the latter by having labellum structures shared by Vanda s.s ., longitudinal ridges on the adaxial surface and no expansion of the spur apex. Furthermore, molecular phylogenetic analyses indicate that the new species is a member of sect. Testacea from Vanda s.s ., especially V. coerulescens (in the nrITS analysis) and V. testacea . This new species is distinguished from the other two species by having flat petals, a rectangular midlobe with three inconspicuous ridges adaxially and a long, tubular spur.
The Rickettsiaceae, Anaplasmataceae, and Coxiellaceae

Organisms belonging to the families Rickettsiaceae, Anaplasmataceae, and Coxiellaceae are a diverse group of intracellular bacteria that cause a variety of infections in humans. As in the case of the Rickettsiaceae and Anaplasmataceae, hematophagous arthropod vectors play a role in maintaining the agents in nature and transmit the agents to cause disease. Coxiella burnetii, the sole pathogen of the family Coxiellaceae, is a zoonosis spread to humans by the inhalation of contaminated aerosols. In the last 2 decades, there has been an emergence of new rickettsial and ehrlichial species as well as new syndromes attributed to species previously deemed nonpathogenic. The growing list of pathogens and syndromic illnesses adds a layer of complexity to their recognition. Additionally, the clinical manifestations of infections caused by these agents are protean and nonspecific. For these reasons, establishing an accurate and timely diagnosis is often difficult. Therefore, knowledge of available laboratory tests, their interpretation, and their shortcomings is crucial for the management of infections caused by these bacteria.
Bone Biomechanics and Bone Quality: Effects of Pharmaceutical Agents Used to Treat Osteoporosis

The biomechanical properties of bone define skeletal fragility. Surrogates such as bone density or biochemical markers are used to estimate the mechanical properties of bone because mechanical properties cannot be measured in a clinical environment. Within the set of bone’s mechanical properties, the material properties of the tissue itself are the defining feature of bone quality. Because they are the summation of all bone quality characteristics, bone’s material properties can define whether bone is fragile or healthy, even though other studies are required to determine the exact characteristics of microarchitecture, microdamage, and tissue physical properties that make the bone more or less fragile. For these reasons, measurement of the mechanical properties of bone is critical to assess bone health following drug treatments meant to ameliorate low bone mass, and are a common outcome measure in preclinical studies that assess the potential of these medications. This review describes the effects of existing anti-catabolic (bisphosphonates, SERMS, RANKL inhibitors) and anabolic (rhPTH (1-34) agents used to treat osteoporosis, and also several emerging potential therapies (cathepsin K inhibitors, anti-sclerostin antibody), on bone’s structural and material mechanical properties.
Mechanistic Insights into the Sonochemical Activation of Multimechanophore Cyclopropanated Polybutadiene Polymers

Structure–activity relationships in the mechanochemistry of gem-dichlorocyclopropane (gDCC)-based polymer solutions triggered by pulsed ultrasound are reported. Insights into the flow-induced mechanochemical transformations of gDCC mechanophores into the corresponding 2,3-dichloroalkenes are obtained by monitoring the mechanochemistry as a function of initial polymer molecular weight and sonication conditions. The competition between gDCC activation and polymer chain scission is invariant to sonication power, temperature, polymer concentration, and solvent but is sensitive to initial polymer molecular weight. The results have practical implications for the use of polymer sonochemistry as a tool for quantifying the relative mechanical strength of scissile polymers and conceptual implications for thinking about the nature of the force distributions experienced during sonochemical experiments.
Turning on a dime: Asymmetric vortex formation in hummingbird maneuvering flight

This paper is associated with a video winner of a 2015 APS/DFD Gallery of Fluid Motion Award. The original video is available from the Gallery of Fluid Motion, http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/APS.DFD.2015.GFM.V0088
Learning Distributional Parameters for Adaptive Bayesian Sparse Signal Recovery

Power Exponential Scale Mixture (PESM), a generalized scale mixture family of distributions, has been recently proposed to model the sparsity inducing prior distributions currently in use for Sparse Signal Recovery (SSR). In this paper, we review this generalized scale mixture family and establish the necessary and sufficient condition for a distribution (symmetric with respect to origin) to have a PESM representation, which is a generalization of the results previously known for the Gaussian Scale Mixture (GSM) family. On the algorithmic front, we propose an adaptive Bayesian Sparse Signal Recovery (B-SSR) framework by learning the distributional parameters of a Generalized t-distribution (GT) which belongs to the PESM family. For specific choice of distributional parameters of GT our proposed framework corresponds to popular sparse recovery algorithms such as, LASSO, Reweighted ,1 norm minimization, Reweighted ,2 norm minimization etc. The tail nature of GT distribution family is extensively studied in this paper and an adaptive algorithm has been proposed where the tail nature of the prior is adapted over iterations based on the observation. Extensive experimental results based on traditional SSR setup have also been presented to show the efficacy of this adaptive approach.
On-Farm Corn RyzUp® Plant Growth Regulator Trials

Farmers continue to search for ways to increase corn yields, including the use of plant growth regulators. Plant growth regulators, such as gibberellic acid, are organic compounds that modify plant growth processes at very low concentrations. Gibberellic acids control cell elongation and division in plant shoots. Plant growth regulators are more commonly used on fruit and vegetable crops than on grain crops. RyzUp® contains a gibberellic acid and is labeled for corn. The purpose of these trials was to investigate the effect of foliar applications of the plant growth regulator RyzUp® on corn grain yield.
O Desafio da Formação e Inclusão no Mercado de Trabalho de Pessoas Com Deficiência Intelectual Leve (PCDIL)

O objetivo geraldeste artigo e contribuir com os estudos sobre a relacao trabalho-educacao,priorizando sua dimensao pedagogica caracterizada pela formacao para a insercaode Pessoas com Deficiencia Intelectual Leve (PCDIL) no mercado de trabalho. Ateoria de base da pesquisa buscou evidenciar entendimentos medicos ecientificos sobre PCDIL, o amparo legal brasileiro quanto as politicas publicasdestinadas a esse segmento e a interrelacao educacao e trabalho. Houve pesquisadocumental em que foram analisados documentos internos de Instituicao de EnsinoSuperior (IES) relacionados as PCDIL matriculadas e formadas nos cursospropostos e uma pesquisa de campo em que foi aplicada uma entrevista junto aonze PCDIL. Constatou-se que PCDIL atualmente tem sido inseridas no trabalho,mas a insercao cumpre obrigatoriedades legais e nao significa inclusao. Aopensar sobre o funcionamento da insercao na escola ou no trabalho, percebe-seque se nao houver mudancas de atitudes por toda a sociedade, a inclusao podefuncionar de modo perverso e se tornar mais uma palavra sem credibilidadesocial. Nao existem escolhas definitivas na gestao social nem na educacao, poissignificam processos continuos. Assim, como a inclusao por meio da educacao eum desafio, representa tambem uma possibilidade de mudanca.
Diana and Ernie return: on Carolina Sartorio’s Causation and Free Will

In the final chapter of her Causation and Free Will, Carolina Sartorio offers (among other things) a novel reply to an original-design argument for the thesis that determinism is incompatible with free will and moral responsibility, an argument that resembles Alfred Mele’s zygote argument in Free Will and Luck. This article assesses the merits of her reply. It is concluded that Sartorio has more work to do if she is to lay this style of argument to rest.
Reduced viscosity for flagella moving in a solution of long polymer chains

Brownian dynamics simulations of polymer molecules near bacterial flagella show that they experience a reduced viscosity in a long chain polymer solution. This can lead to an enhanced swimming speed when flagellum thickness is smaller than the radius of gyration of polymer molecules.
Offshore Archipelagos Enclosed by Straight Baselines: An Excessive Claim?

This article examines the conclusion in the decision of the Arbitral Tribunal in the South China Sea Case that straight baselines may not be used to enclose off-shore archipelagos unless they meet ...
Hierarchy, social pathology and the failure of recognition theory:

This article argues that the dynamics behind the generation of social pathologies in modern society also undermine the social-relational framework for recognition. It therefore claims that the theo...
The virtual power system testbed and inter-testbed integration

The Virtual Power System Testbed (VPST) at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is part of the Trustworthy Cyber Infrastructure for the Power Grid (TCIP) and is maintained by members of the Information Trust Institute (ITI). VPST is designed to be integrated with other testbeds across the country to explore performance and security of Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) protocols and equipment. We discuss potential use cases in order to motivate the integration of VPST with other testbeds, identify requirements of interconnected testbeds, and describe our design for integration with VPST.
[Molecular and cytogenetic study on 5 cases with gonadal dysgenesis: clinical applications of fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH) and BAC-FISH].

Objective To explore the applications of fluorescence in situ hybricdization (FISH) in the diagnosis for the patients with gonadal dysgenesis.Methods After routine gynecologic examination,ultrasonography and erdocrine examination,5 cases of gonadal dysgenesis and hypogonadism were analyzed by using chromosomal diagnoses including G-banding,Q-banding,multiplex FISH and BAG-FISH analyses.Results Among the 5 cases of gonad agenesis patients,2 were pure gonadal dysgenesis with 46,XY karyotype,3 were mixed gonadal dysgenesis with mos 45,X/47,XXX;45,X/46,XY or 46,X,der(Y) karyotype.Conclusion Sex chromosomal abnormalities resulted in gonadal dysgenesis symptoms.Applications of FISH and BAC-FISH analyses can correctly diagnose the sex chromosomal abnormalities for patients with gonad agenesis and provide accurate medical genetic data for clinical diagnosis and therapy Key words: fluorescence in situ hybridization; gonad agenesis; sex chromosome abnormality
Response by Ibrahim et al to Letter Regarding Article, “Effect of Intravenous Fentanyl on Ticagrelor Absorption and Platelet Inhibition Among Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: The PACIFY Randomized Clinical Trial (Platelet Aggregation With Ticagrelor Inhibition and Fentanyl)”

We appreciate the letter submitted by Dr Kikkert and colleagues regarding our randomized trial,1 which demonstrated that fentanyl administration during percutaneous intervention (PCI) impairs ticagrelor absorption and delays the platelet inhibition effects of this oral P2Y12 inhibitor. We agree with the authors that this newly described drug interaction could have the most negative impact on patients presenting with ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction for the reasons outlined. However, we also feel that this drug interaction may be important in patients presenting with …
Angular Momentum Effects in Star Formation

The star formation era is a period during which rotational effects are of crucial importance in determining the evolution of the star. Also, during this period, significant redistribution of angular momentum must occur in the star, as indicated by the substantial discrepancy between deduced angular momenta in star formation sites in the cores of molecular clouds and in the youngest optically visible stars. A major problem is the short time scale, comparable to a few initial free-fall times of the cloud core, in which this redistribution must take place. The following questions will be considered in this paper: (1) What is the origin of the angular momentum of stars? (2) What is the observational evidence for the existence of angular momentum at the earliest stages of star formation? (3) How serious is the so-called angular momentum problem? (4) For the solution of the angular momentum problem, what kinds of angular momentum transport processes are available and at what stages of star formation do they probably operate? (5) What recent theoretical information is available regarding the evolution of rotating protostars? (6) To what extent can the angular momentum problem be solved by the formation of binary or multiple systems and disks? (7) Given that the T Tauri stars, even near the birthline, are rotating slowly, what is a possible sequence of events in the evolution of the angular momentum distribution that could bring them to this state?
An Updated Review of the Literature on LGBTQ+ Intimate Partner Violence

This paper reviews the LGBTQ+ intimate partner violence (IPV) literature published since 2015. Though LGBTQ+ IPV mirrors heterosexual cisgender IPV in most ways, sexual and gender minorities face higher rates of IPV, potentially worse outcomes, and different IPV trajectories. Therefore, shared risk factors cannot fully explain these differences. Researchers attribute this variability to minority stress, such as sexuality-based discrimination and internalized homophobia, which explain differences in IPV among LGBTQ+ individuals and heterosexual cisgender individuals. Indeed, recent findings support the importance of minority stress factors, especially internalized homophobia, as risk factors for IPV. Future research should focus on identifying protective factors against IPV within the LGBTQ+ community, as well as improving understanding of the variables that influence IPV at various levels of the social ecological model. Strategies for the prevention and intervention of LGBTQ+ IPV remain under-researched and poorly understood. Reducing minority stress is likely to be a key part of IPV prevention and intervention among LGBTQ+ persons.
Laboratory Activities Used in a Sophomore Materials Science Course at Texas A&M University

A sophomore materials science course has been developed at Texas A&M University as part of a larger five course sequence through the support of the National Science Foundation. Texas A&M University is a member of the NSF sponsored Foundation Coalition. The courses were developed to include active and collaborative learning, application of technology, and integration as important components. Currently, a majority of departments within the College of Engineering (COE) at Texas A&M University have adopted the five-course sequence. During fall 99, the COE is teaching the materials course to 260 students or four sections of 70 students each. As part of the development of the materials class, a series of experiments have been developed for use within the classroom. The experiments give the students an opportunity to experience hands-on activities. Several of the activities are done within the classroom, while others are performed in a separate laboratory building. The classes consist of two- 1 h 50 min. periods, and this time provides the opportunity to have the laboratory activities in class. The experiments encourage the development of teams and support various applications of materials science. The majority of students have very limited laboratory experience, and this course provides them an opportunity to develop some laboratory skills. Currently, we do seven experiments: 4-point bending, tensile test: metals and polymers, heat treatment, thermal conductivity, viscosity demonstration, and electrical components. In the paper and during the presentation, we will demonstrate several of the experiments and provide examples of student work. A detailed description of each experiment will be included in the paper.
WHEN A COUGH ISN'T ASTHMA; WHEN A MASS IS NOT CANCER

Introduction The differential of chronic cough is broad and changes in the pattern of cough should be evaluated. We present a case with a surprising finding during our evaluation of worsening cough. Case description A 68-year-old female former smoker with a history of breast cancer status post mastectomy, asthma and allergic rhinitis presented with complaints of worsening cough, hoarseness, and intermittent dysphagia of 3 months duration. Chest radiograph revealed a 2.4 × 1.6 cm right upper lung (RUL) nodule. Chest computed tomography showed a 2.4 cm x 2.1 cm RUL mass, without cavitary lesions, and no evidence of bronchiectasis. Biopsy of this lesion revealed a mycetoma with no features of invasive aspergillosis. Upon further questioning the patient revealed having night sweats and right axillary pain; however, no hemoptysis. Labs were significant for elevated Aspergillus fumigatus IgE and no eosinophilia. She completed 6 months of treatment with decrease in aspergillus IgE and resolution of her symptoms. Simultaneous ENT evaluation revealed moderate arytenoid edema, where therapy with ranitidine therapy was initiated. Discussion We present a case of pulmonary aspergilloma discovered during an evaluation for worsening cough in an immunocompetent patient with asthma and no evidence of cavitary lung lesions or ABPA. The literature reports antifungals and/or surgery is the mainstay of therapy. Our patient's cough improved with simultaneous treatment for GERD and aspergilloma. Changes in cough patterns should prompt further evaluation and aspergilloma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of mass lesions.
Geopolitics of the knowledge-based economy

Standing on the verdant lawn outside the White House in early June 2017, President Trump pulled the United States of America out of the Paris Agreement, a global political project painfully negotia...
Hydraulic conductivity and porosity heterogeneity controls on environmental performance metrics: Implications in probabilistic risk analysis

Abstract Heterogeneities in natural porous formations, mainly manifested through the hydraulic conductivity (K) and, to a lesser degree, the porosity (ϕ), largely control subsurface flow and solute transport. The influence of the heterogeneous structure of K on transport processes has been widely studied, whereas less attention is dedicated to the joint heterogeneity of conductivity and porosity fields. Our study employs Monte Carlo simulations to investigate the coupled effect of K − ϕ spatial variability on the transport behavior (and uncertainty) of conservative and reactive plumes within a 3D aquifer domain. We explore multiple scenarios, characterized by different levels of heterogeneity of the geological properties, and compare the computational results from the joint K − ϕ heterogeneous system with the results originating from generally adopted constant ϕ conditions. In our study, the spatially variable K − ϕ fields are positively correlated. We statistically analyze key Environmental Performance Metrics: first arrival times and peak mass fluxes for non-reactive species and increased lifetime cancer risk for reactive chlorinated solvents. The conservative transport simulations show that considering coupled K − ϕ fields decreases the plume dispersion, increases both the first arrival times of solutes and the peak mass fluxes at the observation planes. A positive correlation between aquifer connectivity and peak mass fluxes is identified for both homogeneous and heterogeneous ϕ. Our conservative transport results indicate that the relevance of ϕ variability can depend on the metric of interest, the control plane-source distance as well as the level of heterogeneity of the conductivity field. The analysis on reactive transport shows that ϕ variability only slightly affects the mean increased lifetime cancer risk at the control planes but leads to a considerable reduction of the cancer risk uncertainty. We also see that the sensitivity of cancer risk towards ϕ heterogeneity can be influenced by the level of variability of the conductivity field, the source-to-control plane distance, but is not affected by the manner in which the contaminant concentration is computed.
Systems Literacy: How to Think in Systems

System thinkers are those who are able to synthesize the connectedness of components, flows, and processes that become part of the greater whole. They are holistic in their approach to a problem and able to visualize possibilities of the system, not just the expected outcomes. Novices to systems thinking sometimes use the interconnectedness of the components as an excuse to not take any action. Thinking in systems is to think in boundary conditions to predict how a system will behave under normal circumstances and when under stress, and under what conditions it will break. Energy strategists will be called upon to make decisions about scenarios that are beyond our experiences to manage. A leader needs to quickly understand the situation they are in and respond appropriately.
Parkinson Disease Associated Differences in Elective Orthopedic Surgery Outcomes: A National Readmissions Database Analysis

Background Advances in the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) have allowed for improvements in mortality and quality survival, making the management of comorbid conditions of aging, such as osteoarthritis, crucial. Objective To determine the extent to which PD impacts hospitalization outcomes after an elective orthopedic procedure. Methods This retrospective cohort study used data from the National Readmissions Database and included adults ages 40 and above with and without PD. Primary outcomes included length of stay of the index admission, discharge disposition and 30-day readmission. Logistic regression was used to compare the odds of readmission for PD patients compared to non-PD. Clinical conditions associated with readmission were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 4,781 subjects with PD and 947,475 subjects without PD met inclusion criteria. Length of stay (LOS) during the index admission was longer for PD patients. PD patients were much more likely to be discharged to inpatient post-acute care (49.3% vs 26.2%) while non-PD subjects were more likely to be discharged home with (31.9% [PD] vs 44.8% [non-PD]) or without home health (18.7% [PD] vs 28.9% [non-PD]). A total of 271 PD patients (5.66%) and 28,079 non-PD patients (2.96%) were readmitted within 30 days following surgery. After adjusting for age, sex, socioeconomic status, expected payer, comorbidities, index admission LOS, year and discharge disposition, PD subjects were 31% more likely to be readmitted than non-PD subjects (AOR 1.31, 1.07-1.62). Conclusions Parkinson's disease patients were readmitted more often than non-PD patients, although the rate of readmission was still low.
Special Topics for the Advanced Practice Provider in Urology

This chapter offers an overview of several topics that the provider caring for urology patients is likely to encounter. It offers guidance on short- and long-term complications of gender-affirming surgery, competencies that can be adapted to aid the Advanced Practice Provider (APP) as he/she seek additional and more advanced skills in the urology clinical environment, and an introduction to the evaluation and referral of male infertility patients. Men’s health and its influence on the care of male urology patients is introduced, along with guidance regarding vasectomy and male contraception and urgent issues in urology that APPs may encounter during routine clinical practice.