cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
How do patients respond when confronted with telephone access barriers to care

Objective To gain an in-depth understanding of patient barriers to accessing telephone care, subsequent responses to telephone access issues and recommendations for system improvement within a large integrated health-care system. Study Design Cross-sectional qualitative focus group study. Methods One focus group was conducted at each of 17 Veterans Affairs facilities with a total of 123 Veteran users of VA health care. All facilities followed a focus group discussion guide, and purposively sampled patients receiving care at their VA facility in primary and/or specialty care. Focus groups' recordings were sent to the authors' independent evaluation centre, transcribed verbatim and analysed using qualitative content analysis methodology. Results Participants described many issues with the phone system that resulted in delays to care needs being addressed, including difficulty getting someone to answer the phone, out-dated phone directories, frequent disconnections and incorrect transfers. Participants most frequently responded to access issues by doing nothing or waiting to contact at a later time, or seeking unscheduled in-person care in the emergency department or primary care clinic. Participants offered recommendations for improving telephone care, including access to direct extensions, and upgrades to the telephone system. Conclusions Telephone access issues could result in increased patient harm and/or increased wait times for in-person primary care or emergency services. Periodic evaluation of telephone systems is necessary to ensure telephone systems adequately meet patient needs while using resources efficiently to optimize the delivery of high quality, safe health care.
What Does It Mean to Be Globally Competent

To contribute to the valuable and ongoing debate regarding the definition of global citizenship and global competency, this study proposes a definition developed through the use of a Delphi Techniq...
A brief history and theory behind AC, DC and maglev trains and subways

This paper gives a brief history of the last 125 years of electrically propelled locomotives. It discusses the uses of DC powered motors as the mainstay of locomotive power for the first 80 years. Also talks about the technical advances that allowed for the industry to advance to a more efficient AC motor with the invention of such semiconductor devices as the diode and GTO's. Lastly it discusses the ability to magnetically levitate and propel a locomotive with maglev technology.
Histories of stress, strain-rate, temperature, and spin in steady state deformations of a thermoviscoplastic rod striking a hemispherical rigid cavity

Abstract Given the velocity field and the values of a field variable ƒ at a large number of discrete points in a bounded 2-dimensional domain, an algorithm has been developed to compute the streamline that passes through a desired point P in the domain, and the time histories of ƒ at the material particle starting from the instant it occupied the point P . Time histories of the effective stress, second invariant of the strain-rate tensor, temperature and the spin for a few material particles in the steady state axisymmetric deformations of a thermoviscoplastic rod striking a rigid hemispherical cavity are presented. This information should help develop appropriate constitutive models for the penetrator material and establish desirable testing regimes for practical problems.
Upland Forest Linkages to Seasonal Wetlands: Litter Flux, Processing, and Food Quality

The flux of materials across ecosystem boundaries has significant effects on recipient systems. Because of edge effects, seasonal wetlands in upland forest are good systems to explore these linkages. The purpose of this study was to examine flux of coarse particulate organic matter as litter fall into seasonal wetlands in Minnesota, and the relationship of this flux to development of mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti). We hypothesized that litter flux into seasonal wetlands was dominated by upland plant litter that was lower quality and slower to breakdown than wetland litter, and that development rate of mosquitoes reared on upland litter was less than those reared on wetland litter. Of total litter fall into the wetlands, 71% originated in upland forest. Carbon to nitrogen ratios differed between upland litter (mostly sugar maple (Acer saccharum) and trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) leaves) and wetland litter (mostly black ash (Fraxinus nirgra) leaves), averaging 63.9 and 47.7, respectively over two years. Breakdown rate of black ash leaves was faster than upland leaves (k (day−1) = 0.00329 and 0.00156, respectively), based on the average between wetland margins and centers. Development of mosquito larvae fed black ash leaves was faster than larvae fed upland leaves. Our results demonstrate linkages between upland forests and seasonal wetlands through litter fall. The abundance of upland litter in the wetlands may influence litter breakdown and carbon assimilation by invertebrates. Wetlands receiving high amounts of upland versus wetland litter may be lower quality habitats for invertebrates that depend on detrital pools for their development.
Crystallographic Fragment-Based Drug Discovery: Use of a Brominated Fragment Library Targeting HIV Protease

A library of 68 brominated fragments was screened against a new crystal form of inhibited HIV-1 protease in order to probe surface sites in soaking experiments. Often, fragments are weak binders with partial occupancy, resulting in weak, difficult-to-fit electron density. The use of a brominated fragment library addresses this challenge, as bromine can be located unequivocally via anomalous scattering. Data collection was carried out in an automated fashion using AutoDrug at SSRL. Novel hits were identified in the known surface sites: 3-bromo-2,6-dimethoxybenzoic acid (Br6) in the flap site and 1-bromo-2-naphthoic acid (Br27) in the exosite, expanding the chemistry of known fragments for development of higher affinity potential allosteric inhibitors. At the same time, mapping the binding sites of a number of weaker binding Br-fragments provides further insight into the nature of these surface pockets.
Adjuvant chemotherapy after resection of N1 non-small cell lung cancer: differential impact of new evidence on physician and patient decisions.

Background: Adjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy (ACT) after resection of stages II-IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) modestly increased survival in several clinical trials. This study evaluated the subsequent impact of those trials on ACT use in clinical practice. Methods: Patients who underwent lobectomy or more extensive lung resection without induction chemotherapy for pathologically confirmed N1 positive NSCLC between 2000 and 2012 were reviewed. Referrals to medical oncology, oncologist recommendations for ACT, and initiation of ACT were evaluated. Because major trials supporting ACT were published in 2004 and 2005, analysis was stratified into two eras: 2000-2005 and 2006-2012. Results: During the study period, 272 patients met inclusion criteria (110 in the 2000-2005 cohort, 162 in the 2006-2012 cohort). Referrals to medical oncology increased from 74.5% (n=82) in the 2000-2005 cohort to 90.1% (n=146) in the 2006-2012 cohort (P=0.002). Due to lack of referral or missed appointments, 35.5% (n=39) of the 2000-2005 patients and 17.9% (n=32) of the 2006-2012 patients did not have a documented conversation with an oncologist regarding ACT. The proportion of patients recommended for ACT increased from 61% (n=50) to 81.5% (n=119) between the eras (P<0.001). Of patients recommended for chemotherapy, 14% (7/50) in 2000-2005 and 13.4% (16/119) in 2006-2012 declined ACT (P=0.666). Conclusions: Publication of supporting evidence increased recommendations for ACT but did not change the percentage of patients who ultimately agreed to receive ACT. Additional research is needed to better understand patient decision-making in this situation.
Propositions and higher-order attitude attributions

An important objection to sententialist theories of attitude reports is that they cannot accommodate the principle that one cannot know that someone believes that p without knowing what it is that he believes. This paper argues that a parallel problem arises for propositionalist accounts that has gone largely unnoticed, and that, furthermore, the usual resources for the propositionalist do not afford an adequate solution. While non-standard solutions are available for the propositionalist, it turns out that there are parallel solutions that are available for the sententialist. Since the difficulties raised seem to show that the mechanism by which sentential complements serve to inform us about attitudes and about sentence meaning does not depend on their referring to propositions, this casts doubt on whether talk of propositions should retain a significant theoretical role in the enterprise of understanding thought, language and communication.
Internationalizing the Clinical Psychology Curriculum: Foundations, Issues, and Directions

Clinical psychology is that specialty area within psychology concerned with the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of psychological and behavioral adjustment problems of varying severity among adults and children. The adjustment problems range from the minor problems and stress reactions of everyday life associated with family, school, and work settings to major chronic psychotic disorders (e.g., schizophrenic spectrum and major depressions). In general, clinical psychology is concerned with the problems associated with the five “D” labels of mal-adjustment and mal-adaptation: “discomfort, dysfunction, disorder, disease, and deviancy.”
Hydrogen and carbon effects on Al 2 O 3 surface phases and metal deposition

Substantial effects of combinations of $\mathrm{H}$ and $\mathrm{C}$ impurities on wetting of metals on $\ensuremath{\alpha}{\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{Al}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}(0001)$ have been found from first principles. An ab initio surface phase diagram for $\mathrm{H}$ and $\mathrm{C}$ on the alumina surface reveals six distinct surface phases, consistent with the observed stability of $\mathrm{H}$ and $\mathrm{C}$ on ${\mathrm{Al}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ surfaces. These different surface phases exhibit a variety of adhesion strengths with $\mathrm{Cu}$ and $\mathrm{Co}$, and correspondingly different wetting behaviors. These results are consistent with the variety of wetting characteristics observed experimentally.
Low Other-Regard and Adolescent Addiction

ABSTRACTAlthough 12-step literature posits inconsiderate behaviors to characterize alcoholics and addicts, there is little data to support this association among adolescent populations. Using a matched-pair study design with 579 youths ages 14 to 18 (52% female, 30% minority), a significant, dose-response relationship was found between greater alcohol and drug use severity and increased likelihood of driving under the influence, having unprotected sex with and without a history of sexually transmitted incidence, and low volunteerism among boys. Findings suggest that alcohol and drug use severity is associated with poor awareness of the impact of behaviors on others.
Effects of natural disasters on social and economic well being: A study in Nigeria

The study set out to assess the effects of natural disasters on households' livelihoods, their assets and other aspects of well being in Nigeria. As expected, there were differential impacts on respondents from natural disaster occurrences. Floods were found to be the most common natural disaster type in a study carried out in six states of the country. FINDINGS from the survey conducted on 1116 respondents show that a significant proportion of respondents' experienced severe negative effects on their dwelling units (47%), household assets (41%) and on children's schooling (45%). Others suffered severe health related impacts, while access to utilities such as electricity and water supply was also severely constrained for some. About half of the respondents from rural areas were displaced as a result of natural disaster events. Children formed the highest number among those displaced. The damage/loss/replacement assessment shows that respondents spent a little above N200,000 on the average to replace losses and fix damages incurred from natural disaster impacts. Urban/rural differentials show that mean spending to replace losses was higher for rural respondents, although these also had lower average earnings. Male/female analysis of natural disaster impacts shows that males had a higher proportion of spending. The chi-square test to analyze significant differences in level of spending to fix damages show significant differences for urban/rural groups, as well as for male/female groups (P The authors suggest the need for insurance schemes with counterpart government funding to ensure speedy recovery from natural disaster impacts for all categories of people. Language: en
Consumer Finance Company Charges: II

As stated in the preceding section of this article, the consumer finance companies generally were achieving reductions in operating cost ratios before World War II. To take one large company operating in many states, as an example, its operating cost ratio was reduced from 21 per cent of the loan account in 1933 to 18 per cent in 1935 and 14 per cent in 1941. The number of accounts handled per office rose from 1,759 in 1935 to 2,227 in 1941. But then operating expenses as a percentage of the loan account began to rise from 14 per cent in 1941 to 16 per cent in 1944. The major causes of the increase were the rise in salaries,l and the decline in the
ADHD and Psychiatric Comorbidity Functional Outcomes in a School-Based Sample of Children

Objective: Investigate the prevalence and impact of psychiatric comorbidities in community-based samples of schoolchildren with/without ADHD. Method: Teachers and parents screened children in South Carolina (SC; n = 4,604) and Oklahoma (OK; n = 12,626) for ADHD. Parents of high-screen and selected low-screen children received diagnostic interviews (SC: n = 479; OK: n = 577). Results: Psychiatric disorders were increased among children with ADHD and were associated with low academic performance. Conduct disorder/oppositional defiant disorder (CD/ODD) were associated with grade retention (ODD/CD + ADHD: odds ratio [OR] = 3.0; confidence interval [CI] = [1.5, 5.9]; ODD/CD without ADHD: OR = 4.0; CI = [1.7, 9.7]). School discipline/police involvement was associated with ADHD alone (OR = 3.2; CI = [1.5, 6.8]), ADHD + CD/ODD (OR = 14.1, CI = [7.3, 27.1]), ADHD + anxiety/depression (OR = 4.8, CI = [1.6, 14.8]), and CD/ODD alone (OR = 2.8, CI = [1.2, 6.4]). Children with ADHD + anxiety/depression had tenfold risk for poor academic performance (OR = 10.8; CI = [2.4, 49.1]) compared to children with ADHD alone. This should be interpreted with caution due to the wide confidence interval. Conclusion: Most children with ADHD have psychiatric comorbidities, which worsens functional outcomes. The pattern of outcomes varies by type of comorbidity.
Menstruation’s Cultural History: The French Connection

McClive, C. (2015). Menstruation and Procreation in Early Modern France. Burlington, VT: Ashgate. Price: $125.00. ISBN 780754 666035As discussed in a previous review (Linton, 2015) of Read's (2013)...
The Legacies of Totalitarianism: A Theoretical Framework

The first political theory of post-Communism examines its implications for understanding liberty, rights, transitional justice, property rights, privatization, rule of law, centrally planned public institutions, and the legacies of totalitarian thought in language and discourse. The transition to post-totalitarianism was the spontaneous adjustment of the rights of the late-totalitarian elite to its interest. Post-totalitarian governments faced severe scarcity in the supply of justice. Rough justice punished the perpetrators and compensated their victims. Historical theories of property rights became radical, and consequentialist theories, conservative. Totalitarianism in Europe disintegrated but did not end. The legacies of totalitarianism in higher education met New Public Management, totalitarian central planning under a new label. Totalitarianism divorced language from reality through the use of dialectics that identified opposites and the use of logical fallacies to argue for ideological conclusions. This book illustrates these legacies in the writings of Habermas, Derrida, and Žižek about democracy, personal responsibility, dissidence, and totalitarianism.
Molecular nuclear medicine: from genotype to phenotype via chemotype.

Molecular nuclear medicine can image in vivo biochemistry. Studies with receptor-based radiopharmaceuticals provide windows to the biochemical processes of proteins as they carry out instructions from genetic coding. The patient's genotype determines this biochemical expression o phenotype. Radiotracer studies that visualize in vivo biochemistry provide a glimpse at a patient's chemotype. Molecular nuclear medicine enables us to connect genotype to phenotype via chemotype. Diagnostic medicine will move past the point of grouping patients according to clinical signs and symptoms. More and more, diseases will be viewed as biochemical processes rather than the clinical manifestations of those processes. Today, there are examples of molecular nuclear medicine studies that affect medical decision-making
Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and likelihood ratios.

1. Diana N. Carvajal, MD* 2. Peter C. Rowe, MD* 1. *Department of Pediatrics, Division of General and Adolescent Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md. You are seeing a previously healthy 5-year-old girl in your office for a complaint of sore throat and fever. Her mother explains that the child does not have a cough, but she has had a decreased appetite and unusual fatigue over the past 1 to 2 days. Physical examination reveals a slightly ill-appearing child who has an erythematous oropharynx, mild cervical adenopathy, and a temperature of 37.5°C. A white blood cell (WBC) count from the previous evening was 9.2×103/mcL (9.2×109/L). According to the mother, her daughter had similar symptoms last year, but she is sure it was not a streptococcal throat infection, and the symptoms resolved without treatment. She asks you whether the current presentation is a streptococcal throat infection that requires antibiotic treatment. Based on the history and physical examination findings, you decide on the basis of your experience that there is about a 30% chance of bacterial pharyngitis. You recall an article discussing the effectiveness of the Breese clinical scoring system for the diagnosis of group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus (GABHS) pharyngitis. (1) You consider whether the results of this study are valid and relevant to your current patient. (2) For clinicians, it is important to understand and interpret the effectiveness of certain diagnostic tests, especially when such great advancements are being made in medical technology. The usefulness of a test can be determined by how accurately it identifies the target disorder. (3) It is important to know about the properties of individual tests and how each test compares with the gold standard (reference test). (2)(3) The pretest probability of a …
Achieving the Full "PROMISE" of Imaging Outcomes Research.

Like many areas in cardiology, ongoing imaging technology development creates a need for high-quality data on how best to incorporate potential game changers such as coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA) into clinical care. In 2015, several large, outcomes-based, randomized trials compared the use of CTA with stress testing for the diagnosis of stable chest pain, including the PROMISE (Prospective Multicenter Imaging Study for Evaluation of Chest Pain; NCT01174550), SCOT-HEART (Scottish Computed Tomography of the Heart; NCT01149590), and PLATFORM (Prospective Longitudinal Trial of FFRCT Outcome and Resource Impacts; clinical outcomes of FFRCT-guided diagnostic strategies versus usual care trial; NCT01943903) trials.1–3 Although each of these studies provides evidence that CTA improves diagnostic thinking and catheterization laboratory referral decisions, clinical event rates with CTA and usual care strategies were similar. As a result, although many observers view these trials as establishing new evidence-based testing options, others find them to be insufficiently compelling to change clinical care. This debate aside, digging more deeply into these trials uncovers a great deal of important and novel information about patients with stable chest pain and suspected coronary artery disease, applicable to both clinical care and future research. These data are particularly important given the large size of this population and the dearth of contemporary studies of patients undergoing elective testing for suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). Although all 3 trial cohorts were symptomatic and had a high risk factor burden, they had low cardiovascular event rates, just 1% to 2% per year. This low event rate has prompted some observers to suggest that a strategy of …
P153 Donor specific anti-HLA antibodies in haplo-transplant- What to tell the clinician?

Case 55 year Caucasian female with AML was evaluated for stem cell transplant (SCT). Patient had no 10/10 matched siblings or unrelated donors and thus haplo-SCT was considered. Investigations High resolution HLA typing was performed on the recipient and donor. Recipient sera was screened for anti-HLA antibodies by single antigen beads (LabScreen, One Lamda). MFI > 1000 was the cutoff. Findings Recipient and donor typing: Download : Download high-res image (73KB) Download : Download full-size image SAB demonstrated patient was alloimmunized with DSA to HLA-DRB1∗04:04. As this was an antibody to ‘self’ antigen, after testing a different sample and vendor kit, it was thought to be a due to passive transfer of antibodies from blood transfusions. Serial SAB initially demonstrated decreasing DSA: Download : Download high-res image (40KB) Download : Download full-size image However, Feb results were concerning about this being a true antibody. Recipient typing ruled out a rare null DRB1∗04 allele. Flow crossmatch with donor cells and all recipient sera were negative. Susbsequent testing after treating the beads with fetal calf serum (FCS) resulted in the removal of anti-HLA specificity to self. This change in reactivity was not seen in the positive control. Download : Download high-res image (150KB) Download : Download full-size image Based on these recipient was transplanted in March 2016. Recipient engrafted by 21 days and continues to do fine. Conclusion This case demonstrates that SAB assay may show non-specific reactivity that can be blocked by FCS treatment. Detailed laboratory investigation allowed correct analysis and speedy transplant.
Determining the Effectiveness of Visualization Techniques for Representing Intrusion Detection System Log Files

After several knowledge elicitation activities with intrusion detection system analysts, two different techniques were used to generate visualizations that best portrayed the most important information relevant to a cyber security task. These two visualization techniques (parallel coordinates and scatter plots) were then compared for their effectiveness in portraying potential attack patterns to novices. Both visualization types were varied by levels of distortion and complexity to determine their robustness. A total of 44 volunteers participated in the study. Results showed that participants experienced quicker response times for all distortion and complexity levels when viewing the scatter plots. Accuracy results were mixed. Lessons learned and future research ideas are discussed.
Official Positions for FRAX® clinical regarding prior fractures from Joint Official Positions Development Conference of the International Society for Clinical Densitometry and International Osteoporosis Foundation on FRAX®

The 2010 Position Development Conference addressed four questions related to the impact of previous fractures on 10-year fracture risk as calculated by FRAX(®). To address these questions, PubMed was searched on the keywords "fracture, epidemiology, osteoporosis." Titles of retrieved articles were reviewed for an indication that risk for future fracture was discussed. Abstracts of these articles were reviewed for an indication that one or more of the questions listed above was discussed. For those that did, the articles were reviewed in greater detail to extract the findings and to find additional past work and citing works that also bore on the questions. The official positions and the supporting literature review are presented here. FRAX(®) underestimates fracture probability in persons with a history of multiple fractures (good, A, W). FRAX(®) may underestimate fracture probability in individuals with prevalent severe vertebral fractures (good, A, W). While there is evidence that hip, vertebral, and humeral fractures appear to confer greater risk of subsequent fracture than fractures at other sites, quantification of this incremental risk in FRAX(®) is not possible (fair, B, W). FRAX(®) may underestimate fracture probability in individuals with a parental history of non-hip fragility fracture (fair, B, W). Limitations of the methodology include performance by a single reviewer, preliminary review of the literature being confined to titles, and secondary review being limited to abstracts. Limitations of the evidence base include publication bias, overrepresentation of persons of European descent in the published studies, and technical differences in the methods used to identify prevalent and incident fractures. Emerging topics for future research include fracture epidemiology in non-European populations and men, the impact of fractures in family members other than parents, and the genetic contribution to fracture risk.
Wavelength-Swept VCSELs

The ability to continuously tune the wavelength of a laser is of critical importance and is a fundamental building block for many optical systems, including wavelength division multiplexed optical fiber communication systems. Vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) structure offers a unique advantage to engineer the lasing wavelength because of its ultrashort cavity length, inherently supporting a single Fabry–Perot mode. Hence, a continuous change in VCSEL cavity thickness leads to a continuous sweep of VCSEL wavelength. Wavelength-tunable VCSELs have been a subject of intense interest for the last two decades. Incorporating part or entire top mirror of a VCSEL in an optical microelectromechanical structure (MEMS), continuous wavelength sweeps have been reported. The monolithic integration brings together the best of both technologies and leads to an unprecedented performance in the continuously swept wavelength range. In addition, with the advances of ultrathin high contrast gratings and metastructures (HCG/HCM), the wavelength tuning speed of MEMS-VCSELs has been increased to 1–10 MHz range. Such lasers, now referred as wavelength-swept lasers, are enabling new applications in optical coherent tomography and light detection and ranging systems. In this paper, we review various structures and recent progress of MEMS-VCSELs. We summarize some of the early breakthroughs in designs and properties of micromechanical tunable VCSELs, including advances in HCG/HCM-based MEMS-VCSELs emitting at 850, 1060, and 1550 nm wavelength regimes. In addition, we report a brand new design leading to a record high Δλ/λo = 6.9% tuning ratio with 600 kHz speed at center wavelength of 1060 nm.
Uncovering the relationships between military community health and affects expressed in social media

Military populations present a small, unique community whose mental and physical health impacts the security of the nation. Recent literature has explored social media’s ability to enhance disease surveillance and characterize distinct communities with encouraging results. We present a novel analysis of the relationships between influenza-like illnesses (ILI) clinical data and affects (i.e., emotions and sentiments) extracted from social media around military facilities. Our analyses examine (1) differences in affects expressed by military and control populations, (2) affect changes over time by users, (3) differences in affects expressed during high and low ILI seasons, and (4) correlations and cross-correlations between ILI clinical visits and affects from an unprecedented scale - 171M geo-tagged tweets across 31 global geolocations. Key findings include: Military and control populations differ in the way they express affects in social media over space and time. Control populations express more positive and less negative sentiments and less sadness, fear, disgust, and anger emotions than military. However, affects expressed in social media by both populations within the same area correlate similarly with ILI visits to military health facilities. We have identified potential responsible cofactors leading to location variability, e.g., region or state locale, military service type and/or the ratio of military to civilian populations. For most locations, ILI proportions positively correlate with sadness and neutral sentiment, which are the affects most often expressed during high ILI season. The ILI proportions negatively correlate with fear, disgust, surprise, and positive sentiment. These results are similar to the low ILI season where anger, surprise, and positive sentiment are highest. Finally, cross-correlation analysis shows that most affects lead ILI clinical visits, i.e. are predictive of ILI data, with affect-ILI leading intervals dependent on geolocation and affect type. Overall, information gained in this study exemplifies a usage of social media data to understand the correlation between psychological behavior and health in the military population and the potential for use of social media affects for prediction of ILI cases.
Redox Catalysis Facilitates Lignin Depolymerization

Lignin is a recalcitrant and underexploited natural feedstock for aromatic commodity chemicals, and its degradation generally requires the use of high temperatures and harsh reaction conditions. Herein we present an ambient temperature one-pot process for the controlled oxidation and depolymerization of this potent resource. Harnessing the potential of electrocatalytic oxidation in conjugation with our photocatalytic cleavage methodology, we have developed an operationally simple procedure for selective fragmentation of β-O-4 bonds with excellent mass recovery, which provides a unique opportunity to expand the existing lignin usage from energy source to commodity chemicals and synthetic building block source.
Diglossia and Literacy: The Case of the Arab Reader.

Using life-history interviews as a method of data collection and NVivo as a data analysis tool, this article presents a case study that focuses on how literacy, mainly reading, is practiced by four Arabic speakers from different parts of the Arab world. The narratives elicited from the interviews paint a picture of the Arab reader as dispassionate, whose exposure to reading rarely goes beyond the walls of the classroom. They attribute this situation partly to the diglossic nature of the Arabic language wherein users are oftentimes more proficient in the regional spoken varieties of the language than they are in Standard Arabic, the language of written discourse. This paper argues that the lack of a “reading culture” in the Arab world is due to an amalgamation of cultural and linguistic factors, among which is diglossia.
Hybrid Problem-Based Learning in Digital Image Processing: A Case Study

Contribution: This paper reports a curriculum development in hybrid problem-based learning (h-PBL), addresses the design, implementation, effectiveness, and assessment issues of h-PBL, and explains the mixed results observed regarding the impact of problem-based learning (PBL) on student grades from a hybrid perspective. Background: The effect of PBL on student learning is difficult to analyze. Empirical research on h-PBL has been scant in the engineering education field. Intended Outcomes: The hybrid approach described in this paper can be used to guide other course designs. Future research directions are also provided in order to better capture the positive effects of PBL on student learning. Application Design: A 3-D imaging project was developed and implemented using h-PBL. A non-parametric hypothesis test was conducted to compare four-year student performance data collected after the implementation of h-PBL with four-year student performance data collected under traditional lecturing; both sets of students were taught by the same instructor. Findings: Student project grades improved after h-PBL, whereas student cumulative course grades did not show significant improvement. The study suggests that higher ratios and weights of PBL, better timing in introducing PBL, and more integrated course components in the hybrid approach may further improve student performance.
Drop out, switch majors, or persist? The contrasting gender gaps

Abstract Men and women respond differently to early-college struggles. Men are more likely than women to drop out of college, while women are more likely to switch majors. These effects offset so that there is no gender gap in the probability of graduating in one’s initial major choice. For students who begin in STEM majors, however, women are far less likely to graduate in the field, driven by the fact that they are twice as likely to switch majors. We find no evidence that women are more sensitive to poor academic performance in the switching or dropout decisions.
KKR — Reminiscences About Walter Kohn

Many years ago I was a professor at Indiana University. In 1980, plus or minus a few years, I and many others attended the annual meeting of the Midwest Solid State Theorists. That year it was held at Ohio State University. The theorist at OSU put on a great meeting. It was a two day event, with a banquet on the night in between. The banquet was an occasion to honor Prof. Jan Korringa, who was retiring after an illustrious career at OSU.
Evolving Understanding of the Relationship Between Mercury Exposure and Autism

Over the last decade autism and autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) have become an increasing focus of scientific research and public interest. The idea that mercury exposure may play a causative role in autism was first suggested in connection with postnatal exposures to ethylmercury via vaccination. This hypothesis has not been supported by the results of several large epidemiology studies and scientific reviews but nonetheless the notion that mercury in vaccines causes autism has remained fixed in the public mind. Several ecological studies have also suggested that inorganic mercury exposures from environmental (i.e., non-vaccine) sources are correlated with autism prevalence. To better understand some of the limitations of these ecological analyses, and to explore the robustness of the mercury-autism hypothesis, we used data collected for the U.S. State of Texas to examine whether other surrogate exposure measures (e.g., emissions of other chemicals, downwind status from a power plant, local fish consumption advisories) and different analytical approaches led to similar findings. Using multilevel Poisson regression analysis we found that air mercury emissions reports were significantly associated with same year autism prevalence in Texas school districts using data obtained for 2001 and 2002 but that associations were not significant using data from 2003 to 2005. Evaluations using other surrogate exposure variables (i.e., downwind location from coal-fired power plants or existence of mercury related fish consumption advisories) also did not yield statistically significant associations. We did observe that the treatment of censored data had an important effect on the analysis; results which were statistically significant when censored data were handed as zeros became non statistically significant when they were treated as the mid-point of the censored range. This indicates that what is required to clearly answer questions about environmental mercury and autism is a well controlled case-control or cohort study with extensive pre- and post-natal mercury exposure assessment. Government agencies, advocacy groups and mercury emitting industries should all consider supporting such studies so that this contentious health concern can be definitively addressed
Male mate preference as an agent of fecundity selection in a polymorphic salamander.

Color polymorphisms are associated with variation in other traits which may affect individual fitness, and these color-trait associations are expected to contribute to nonrandom mating in polymorphic species. The red-backed salamander (Plethodon cinereus) exhibits a polymorphism in dorsal pattern: striped and unstriped, and previous studies have suggested that they may mate nonrandomly. However, the mechanism(s) contributing to this behavior remain unclear. Here we consider the role that male preference may have in driving mating behavior in P. cinereus. We limit our focus to striped individuals because this morph is most likely to be choosy given their dominant, aggressive behavioral profiles relative to unstriped males. Specifically, we evaluated (a) whether striped males preferentially associate with females with respect to her dorsum color, size, and body condition and (b) if so, whether female traits are evaluated via visual or chemical cues. We also considered whether the frequency of another male social behavior, nose taps, was associated with mate preferences. We found that striped male P. cinereus nose tapped more often to preferred females. However, males only assessed potential mates via chemical cues, preferring larger females overall. Reproductive phenology data on a sample of gravid females drawn from the same population indicated that the color morphs do not differ in reproductive traits, but larger females have greater fecundity. Given our findings, we conclude that female P. cinereus are under fecundity selection, mediated by male preference. In this manner, male mating behavior contributes to observations of nonrandom mate associations in this population of P. cinereus.
Changes in the relationship between zooplankton and phytoplankton biomasses across a eutrophication gradient

The relationship between zooplankton biomass and phytoplankton biomass can provide insight into the structure and function of lake biological communities. We used a Bayesian network model to analyze a continental-scale data dataset to estimate changes in the relationship between zooplankton (Z) and phytoplankton (P) biomasses along a eutrophication gradient. The Bayesian network model allowed us to combine two different measurements of phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll a concentration and directly observed biovolume) to improve the precision of estimates of true biomass within each sample. The model also allowed us to estimate separate relationships between P and zooplankton abundance and between P and mean individual zooplankton biomass and then to combine these two relationships into an estimate of seasonal mean zooplankton biomass. The resulting analysis indicated that seasonal mean zooplankton biomass increased proportionally with phytoplankton biomass in oligotrophic lakes, yielding a constant ratio between Z and P and suggested that bottom-up forces determined zooplankton biomass in these systems. In eutrophic lakes, seasonal mean zooplankton biomass was nearly constant with increases in phytoplankton biomass, yielding a decrease in the ratio between Z and P with increasing eutrophication. Bottom-up forces, as quantified by an increase in the proportion of cyanobacteria, accounted for approximately one fifth of the residual variance in the model as the relationship between Z and P changed from direct proportionality in oligotrophic lakes to the nearly constant value of Z observed in eutrophic lakes, suggesting that a combination of both top-down and bottom-up forces likely determined zooplankton biomass in eutrophic lakes.
Learning a Warping Distance from Unlabeled Time Series Using Sequence Autoencoders

Measuring similarities between unlabeled time series trajectories is an important problem in many domains such as medicine, economics, and vision. It is often unclear what is the appropriate metric to use because of the complex nature of noise in the trajectories (e.g. different sampling rates or outliers). Experts typically hand-craft or manually select a specific metric, such as Dynamic Time Warping (DTW), to apply on their data. In this paper, we propose an end-to-end framework, autowarp, that optimizes and learns a good metric given unlabeled trajectories. We define a flexible and differentiable family of warping metrics, which encompasses common metrics such as DTW, Edit Distance, Euclidean, etc. Autowarp then leverages the representation power of sequence autoencoders to optimize for a member of this warping family. The output is an metric which is easy to interpret and can be robustly learned from relatively few trajectories. In systematic experiments across different domains, we show that autowarp often outperforms hand-crafted trajectory similarity metrics.
Resource Utilization with the Use of Seclusion and Restraint in a Dedicated Emergency Psychiatric Service.

Objectives There is a dearth of data regarding the use of emergency interventions in dedicated emergency psychiatric service settings, and reliable data are needed. This article describes the frequency and duration of the use of seclusion and restraint for imminent or existing agitation, aggression, or violence in a dedicated emergency psychiatric service located within an academic university hospital and staffed by sufficient numbers of trained personnel. Methods We performed a retrospective chart review of 6 months' visits to a dedicated emergency psychiatric service. Results Men outnumbered women with a 1.6 ratio of visits. Of 2843 subjects, 425 (14.6%) received emergent medication for anxiety (n = 90), substance withdrawal (n = 28), or agitation (n = 290). Physical interventions were used in 3.4%; 96 (3.3%) were secluded, and 9 (0.3%) were restrained. The average duration of seclusion was (mean ± standard deviation) 58.7 ± 37.4 minutes and for restraint 63.2 ± 23.4 minutes. Each episode of seclusion or restraint required approximately 3 hours of staff time. Conclusions The use of an intervention such as seclusion in >3% and restraint in 0.3% of patients represents the use of seclusion and restraint in a dedicated psychiatric emergency service with personnel trained to minimize the use of seclusion and restraint.
Variations in visual evoked potentials under anesthesia.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses variations in visual evoked potentials under anesthesia. Even though the brain is the target organ of anesthetics, relatively little is known about brain function under anesthesia, and the means of monitoring it are meager. In contrast, abundant research on the heart and lungs, which are secondarily affected by anesthetics, has provided the basis for aggressive, invasive monitoring of circulation, and ventilation. The electroencephalography (EEG) and power spectrum analysis of the EEG have been used to monitor the effects of anesthetics, anesthetic concentration and the patient's response to surgical stimulation, however, the EEG has not been a rewarding tool in these applications since it represents the overall activity of the brain and lacks specificity. Sensory evoked responses may provide a better index of brain function under anesthesia since the ultimate aim of anesthesia is to prevent central nervous system (CNS) registration of sensory stimulation. Visual evoked responses (VERs) are obtained in an awake condition prior to medication and at varying concentrations of halothane in oxygen during surgery. All patients received thiopental induction, followed by anesthetic maintenance with halothane in oxygen, paralysis, and endotracheal intubation.
Induced Current Effects in Josephson Voltage Standard Circuits

A study has been performed to understand the effects of magnetic field induced current in Josephson voltage standard (JVS) circuits. Inductive filtering is an essential component in JVS devices for isolation of the microwave and dc bias signals within the circuit. However, currents induced by bias currents flowing in the inductor coil cause undesirable effects in the neighboring junctions. These undesirable effects are amplified as circuits grow in density, with limited die space causing inductors to be placed in close proximity to devices. This paper characterizes critical-current suppression of a junction array, as induced currents are introduced into the circuit under various conditions. Results show that critical current suppression is both a function of inductor magnetic field but also of the coupling to the nearby circuit structure. Design variations explore solutions for rerouting or reducing induced currents. A shield around the inductors proved to be best and most practical for protecting the junction circuit from induced currents. Results from actual JVS devices with shielded low-pass filters confirm the technique.
Design and Control of a Controlled Trajectory Rapid Compression and Expansion Machine

This paper presents the design of a controlled trajectory rapid compression and expansion machine (CT-RCEM) that offers the unique capability of real-time piston trajectory control. While in a conventional rapid compression machine/rapid compression and expansion machine (RCEM), changing the operating parameters such as compression ratio and compression time requires mechanical alteration of the hardware, the same can be achieved in the CT-RCEM merely by changing the reference trajectory fed electronically to the controller. With this capability, a CT-RCEM offers higher operational flexibility, wider range of operation, and better repeatability compared to the current state-of-the-art RCEM. More interestingly, a CT-RCEM is naturally suited to investigate the coupling between the piston trajectory and the combustion kinetics—a phenomenon that is extremely difficult to investigate using conventional combustion research facilities. However, high-speed operation and high-force requirement for piston motion present a major challenge for design and control of a suitable actuation system that can provide precise motion control. For the design of the CT-RCEM, first, a dynamic model is developed to understand the impact of various design parameters on the system performance and to identify suitable control strategy for the actuation system. The design parameters in the dynamic model and the controller are tuned in-tandem using simulation studies to obtain the system specifications, which are subsequently translated into a mechanical design. Experimental results obtained after commissioning of the designed CT-RCEM demonstrate that the desired functionality of real-time piston trajectory control has been achieved.