cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Changes in anxiety following a randomized control trial of a theatre-based intervention for youth with autism spectrum disorder:

Increased anxiety and stress are frequently found in children with autism spectrum disorder and are associated with social challenges. Recently, we reported changes in social competence following peer-mediated, theatre-based intervention. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the intervention on reducing anxiety and stress. Participants included 30 youth with autism spectrum disorder (8-14 years old) randomly assigned to the experimental (17) or waitlist control (13) group. Pretest adjusted, between-group differences were analyzed for state-anxiety, trait-anxiety, play-based cortisol, and diurnal cortisol. Pearson correlations were conducted between anxiety, cortisol, and group play. Significant pretest-adjusted between-group differences at posttest were observed on trait-anxiety (F(1, 27) = 9.16, p = 0.005) but not state-anxiety (F(1, 27) = 0.03, p = 0.86), showing lower trait-anxiety in the experimental group. There were no between-group differences on cortisol. There was a significant negative correlation between group play and trait-anxiety (r = -0.362, p = 0.05). Playground cortisol correlated with group play, for the experimental group (r = 0.55, p = 0.03). The theatre-based, peer-mediated intervention not only contributes to improvement in social competence in youth with autism spectrum disorder but also contributes to reductions in trait-anxiety associated with more social interaction with peers. Results suggest that some degree of physiological arousal is essential for social interaction.
Detection of Enteric-Urinary Fistulas with a Noninvasive Quantitative Method

AbstractThe 51chromium test is an inexpensive, noninvasive test to evaluate patients for enteric-urinary fistulas. Of 11 patients studied the 51chromium test demonstrated correctly a fistula in 5 of 6 patients with fistulas and showed no lesion in all 5 without fistulas. Excretory urography, barium enemas, visible contrast medium, cystograms and upper gastrointestinal series failed to demonstrate the fistulas with similar accuracy. Cystoscopy suggested a possible lesion in 4 patients but was definite for a fistula in only 2 of those patients.
Approximation algorithms for clustering and related problems

The clustering problem is a well-studied problem in computer science. Given a set of points in metric space, the objective of the clustering problem is to partition the data points into clusters such that the distances between points within the same cluster are small and the distance between points in different cluster are large. As an unsupervised learning procedure, a number of variants of clustering problem have been investigated and many important approaches have been proposed. Among these variants, the Euclidean k-center problem and Euclidean k-median problem have received considerable attentions [2; 4; 10; 11; 13; 34; 36; 40; 81] from the fields of computational geometry and combinatorial optimizations. Such problems are NP-hard, and have been studied from the perspective of worst case performance guarantees. The approaches to design approximation algorithms can be roughly classified into three categories [75], LP rounding techniques [27; 76], local search heuristics [8; 17], and primal dual method [57]. We will present results for the clustering and related problems by exploring various techniques. First, we study the clustering problem with prescribed grouping information in this thesis. In such clustering problem, some pre-existing partial grouping information, which requires that some points must belong to the same cluster, has to be preserved by the clustering algorithm. In particular, we consider the interesting generalizations of the Euclidean k-center and k-median problems called k-center problem with prescribed grouping information (denoted as KCWPGI) and k-median problem with prescribed grouping information (denoted as KMWPGI) respectively in d-dimensional Euclidean space Rd. Our results about clustering problem with prescribed grouping information can be summarized as follows: (1) an O( m + n log k)-time 3-approximation algorithm for the KCWPGI problem; (2) an O( km)-time (1 + 3 )-approximation algorithm for the KCWPGI problem; (3) an O(dm/e + 2O (k log k/e)dn + (1/e)5n)-time (2 + e)-approximation algorithm for the KCWPGI; (4) a (3 + e)-approximation algorithm for KMWPGI problem. Next, we study clustering problem on bipartite graph formed by a set of facility locations and client locations, which is also called facility location problem. The clients location served by the same facility belongs to the same cluster. Instead of specifying the number of clusters, we seeks to open facilities so as to minimize the sum of cost of building facilities and connecting clients to opened facilities. Such clustering problem is also called facility location problem. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
Intraurban Variation of Fine Particle Elemental Concentrations in New York City

Few past studies have collected and analyzed within-city variation of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) elements. We developed land-use regression (LUR) models to characterize spatial variation of 15 PM2.5 elements collected at 150 street-level locations in New York City during December 2008–November 2009: aluminum, bromine, calcium, copper, iron, potassium, manganese, sodium, nickel, lead, sulfur, silicon, titanium, vanadium, and zinc. Summer- and winter-only data available at 99 locations in the subsequent 3 years, up to November 2012, were analyzed to examine variation of LUR results across years. Spatial variation of each element was modeled in LUR including six major emission indicators: boilers burning residual oil; traffic density; industrial structures; construction/demolition (these four indicators in buffers of 50 to 1000 m), commercial cooking based on a dispersion model; and ship traffic based on inverse distance to navigation path weighted by associated port berth volume. All the elements excep...
Perceived Quality of Life

Publisher Summary This chapter examines the quality of life (QoL) among older adults. The vast majority of research on subjective well being (SWB) of an individual focuses on the relationships between objective life conditions and perceived life quality. A research model discussed in the chapter is based on cross-sectional data that is designed to provide both a temporal and a conceptual template for understanding the determinants of SWB. In addition, the model suggests that some of the determinants of SWB will be partially or totally mediated by predictors that appear in later stages of the model. Among middle-aged and younger adults, income is the strongest single predictor of SWB and health is a much weaker predictor of SWB than among older adults. Activities are conceptualized and measured in multiple ways, ranging from those that involve social interaction to purely physical forms of activity to detailed categories based on time-budget data. All types of activities—social, physical, and solitary—predict higher levels of SWB in late life. Levels of activity also appear to mediate some of the relationships between the basic demographic characteristics and the perceived life quality.
Extended Mechanistic Explanations: Expanding the Current Mechanistic Conception to Include More Complex Biological Systems

Mechanistic accounts of explanation have recently found popularity within philosophy of science. Presently, we introduce the idea of an extended mechanistic explanation, which makes explicit room for the role of environment in explanation. After delineating Craver and Bechtel’s (2007) account, we argue this suggestion is not sufficiently robust when we take seriously the mechanistic environment and modeling practices involved in studying contemporary complex biological systems. Our goal is to extend the already profitable mechanistic picture by pointing out the importance of the mechanistic environment. It is our belief that extended mechanistic explanations, or mechanisms that take into consideration the temporal sequencing of the interplay between the mechanism and the environment, allow for mechanistic explanations regarding a broader group of scientific phenomena.
Absorptive capacity: A conceptual framework for understanding district central office learning

Globally, school systems are pressed to engage in large-scale school improvement. In the United States and other countries, school district central offices and other local governing agencies often engage with external organizations and individuals to support such educational change efforts. However, initiatives with external partners are not always productive. We draw on the idea of absorptive capacity to present a conceptual framework for understanding when and under what conditions partnerships are likely to foster district learning and support change efforts. We contend that prior knowledge, communication pathways, strategic knowledge leadership, and resources to partner are preconditions for a district central office’s absorptive capacity, and we identify the features of the external partner that likely matter for productive partnering. We argue that the relationship between district absorptive capacity and features of the partner is mediated by the nature of the interactions between district and partner, with likely consequences for organizational learning outcomes. For researchers, this framework serves as a tool for understanding how a district central office can learn from an external partner for educational improvement efforts. For school district leaders and external partners, this framework provides a structure for thinking strategically about when and under what conditions a partnership is likely to be productive.
Electrocardiograms and Arrhythmias: An Introduction

This is the second in a series of four continuing education articles addressing patient care and management. This text is designed to present the technologist with a basic understanding of the principles and workings of the EKG and its applications in the diagnosing and monitoring of arrhythmias. Upon completion of this article, the technologist should be able to: 1) explain the principles of an EKG and the heart’s conduction system; 2) identify a normal rhythm strip; and 3) recognize abnormal strips that may influence patient care during a nuclear procedure.
Computer-Based Algorithmic Determination of Muscle Movement Onset Using M-Mode Ultrasonography

The study purpose was to evaluate the use of computer-automated algorithms as a replacement for subjective, visual determination of muscle contraction onset using M-mode ultrasonography. Biceps and quadriceps contraction images were analyzed visually and with three different classes of algorithms: pixel standard deviation (SD), high-pass filter and Teager Kaiser energy operator transformation. Algorithmic parameters and muscle onset threshold criteria were systematically varied within each class of algorithm. Linear relationships and agreements between computed and visual muscle onset were calculated. The top algorithms were high-pass filtered with a 30 Hz cutoff frequency and 20 SD above baseline, Teager Kaiser energy operator transformation with a 1200 absolute SD above baseline and SD at 10% pixel deviation with intra-class correlation coefficients (mean difference) of 0.74 (37.7 ms), 0.80 (61.8 ms) and 0.72 (109.8 ms), respectively. The results suggest that computer automated determination using high-pass filtering is a potential objective alternative to visual determination in human movement science.
Abduction and the Emergence of Necessary Mathematical Knowledge

The prevailing epistemological perspective on school mathematical knowledge values the central role of induction and deduction in the development of necessary mathematical knowledge with a rather taken-for-granted view of abduction. This chapter will present empirical evidence that illustrates the relationship between abductive action and the emergence of necessary mathematical knowledge.
Impact of body mass index on 30-day outcomes after spinopelvic fixation surgery.

BACKGROUND Obesity is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases associated with degenerative spinal disease. There is limited evidence regarding the short-term outcome of patients with elevated BMI following spinopelvic fixation surgery. METHODS We used the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) database from 2013 to 2014. Inclusion criteria included: adults, aged 18 and older, who underwent all-cause spinopelvic fixation surgery. Primary outcome measures were 30-day readmission, reoperation, and major complication rates. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the effect of elevated body mass index (BMI) on 30-day outcome. RESULTS A total of 618 patients met inclusion criteria stratified into levels of BMI: 11.2% were Class 2 obese and 10.3% were Class 3 obese. Significant differences were found between the classes for the incidence of revision surgery, reoperations, and deep wound infections. However, there were no significant increases in readmissions and major complications rates, and only Class 3 obese patients had significantly higher odds of reoperation than those who were not obese. CONCLUSION Significant differences between all classes of obesity regarding revision surgery, reoperation, and deep wound infection rates were found. Class 3 obese patients had significantly higher odds of reoperation, most likely attributed to the greater number/severity of preoperative comorbidities.
Host species heterogeneity in the epidemiology of Nesopora caninum.

Pathogen transmission across species drives disease emergence; however, mechanisms by which multi-host pathogens cross species boundaries are not well identified. This knowledge gap prevents integrated and targeted control in an epidemiologically continuous ecosystem. Our goal is to describe the impact of host species heterogeneity on the epidemiology of Neospora caninum circulating between livestock and wildlife in southeastern Ohio. We collected biological samples from Pere David’s deer (Elaphurus davidianus) located at an outdoor wildlife conservation center; from cattle raised at farms adjacent to the center; and from wild white-tailed deer that roamed across farm and center boundaries. We designed nested infectious disease models of competing hypotheses about transmission and used collected data to fit the models, thereby estimating important immunological and transmission quantities which describe the species-specific contribution to the persistence of this pathogen in the community. We applied these data and models to suggest appropriate species-specific disease control methods. Results show that immunity in cattle and Pere David’s deer wanes over time, while in white-tailed deer immunity appears to be lifelong. Transmission quantities for cattle were estimated at values below the threshold for an outbreak (Rt 1). Therefore, we propose that control of contact with outside sources will be useful for disease control in cattle; boosting immunity with vaccines might be an avenue to prevent infection in cattle and Pere David’s deer. White-tailed deer are a potential maintenance host for infection and require further study to determine optimal control methods. Community-level investigations like this allow us to better evaluate heterogeneities in transmission processes that ultimately guide targeted control.
Mechanism of Stress Ulcer: III. Effects of hemorrhagic shock on energy metabolism in the mucosa of the antrum, corpus, and fundus of the rabbit stomach

We have proposed that "stress ulceration" complicating hemorrhagic shock results from a severe deficit in gastric mucosal energy metabolism. In experimental animals, as well as in man, shockinduced acute gastric mucosal lesions characteristically involve only the corpus and fundus and spare the antrum. If the hypothesis that we have proposed is valid, any energy deficit occurring in gastric mucosa during hemorrhagic shock should be less severe in the mucosa of the antrum than in that of the corpus or fundus. The data presented in this report indicate that, in rabbits subjected to hemorrhagic shock, the breakdown of high energy phosphates is significantly less severe in the mucosa of the antrum than in that of the corpus and fundus.
In Silico Methods

Alternative methods to traditional toxicology testing have evolved with the use of innovative and highly efficient in silico methods to enhance our understanding of the risk of toxicity and hazards of substances relevant to public and animal health. These methods include computer-based predictive toxicity modeling, mechanistic modeling, data mining, imaging tools, and screening. In silico methods have promise to reduce animal use, conduct analyses at super efficiency with low cost, and are widely recognized as enabling tools for uncovering new information with the potential to serve as scientific evidence in support of risk assessment. Several initiatives have been undertaken to begin using in silico approaches, and furthermore, point to the development, testing, and validation of in silico testing as an alternative method for the toxicological sciences.
Gene Functions in Host-Parasite Systems

There are two important reasons for trying to explain the nature of host-parasite specificity. The first is to be able to manipulate and improve specific resistance and hence deploy it more effectively against crop plant parasites. The second reason is that an understanding of the mechanism of specificity will increase knowledge of the nature and control of gene action in eukaryotes an end with broad philosophical and practical rewards. My interest in specificity began with work in the early 50’s on breeding tomatoes for resistance to the fungal parasite Cladosporium fulvum and with the consequences of releasing resistant varieties and seeing that their resistance was race specific.
The Mechanism of Plasma Etching of Polymers and Its Relevance to Adhesion

Experiments combining the use of a quartz crystal micro-balance and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for the study of oxygen and water plasma interactions with polymer surfaces have been carried out on a variety of thin film composites. A two-step mechanism involving first the oxidation of polymer moieties, followed by the desorption of these oxidized surface functionalities, is consistent with the observations made. The oxidation reaction is confined to the outermost region of the polymer surface (top 10–20 A of material). The rate of removal of surface material is found to be considerably higher for water plasmas under comparable plasma conditions, although the steady state surface concentration of oxygen containing functionalities is lower for the water plasmas. The involvement of the plasma sheath in the desorption step is essential in that little etching is observed unless the polymer is immersed in the discharge.
A Digital Technique to Estimate Polynya Characteristics from Synthetic Aperture Radar Sea-Ice Data

A new technique has been developed to estimate digitally the concentration and structure of open-water leads (polynyas) in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sea-ice data. This procedure consists of smoothing the original SAR sea-ice data to reduce speckle effects, level slicing this smoothed image to produce a binary image consisting of ice and open water, generating the autocorrelation function of this image, and interpreting the autocorrelation function for lead information. Preliminary results indicate that this technique yields useful estimates of lead characteristics, but that additional research is required to evaluate fully its performance.
The effect of re-solution models on fission gas disposition in irradiated UO2 fuel

A computer code developed earlier by Villalobos et al. to predict fission gas behavior in uranium oxide fuel under steady-state irradiation conditions and where bubble gas resolution is represented with the single knock-on model (SKO) is modified to replace the SKO model with the complete bubble destruction model (CBD). The CBD model required that bubble nucleation be included in the analysis. The revised code is used to compute gas release and total swelling. Both are found to be insensitive to whether they are obtained with the CBD or the SKO option. This is mainly because at low atomic percent of burnup, total swelling is dominated by the grain-edge bubble gas contribution, and release is dependent on the formation of a complete grainface/grain-edge tunnel network - factors that are not much affected by either the SKO or CBD models. At higher atomic percent of burnup, intragranular swelling, which can be sensitive to the re-solution model, contributes more to swelling. But even then, computations at 1.0 at .% burnup suggest total swelling will continue to be dominated by grain-edge gas. These results suggest that in modeling swelling and release in irradiated uranium dioxide fuel, the simpler SKO resolution model is satisfactory.
Behavioral Evidence for a Sex Pheromone in Female Roughskin Newts, Taricha Granulosa

To determine if a chemical signal produced by female roughskin newts (Taricha granulosa) stimulates amplectic clasping in males, we recorded behavioral responses by males to scented plastic models of female newts. Female-scented models elicited robust amplectic clasping by male newts, whereas unscented models or models scented with male odors were rarely clasped by males. Models treated with female-scented water elicited clasping responses, but not as effectively as models that were scented by placing them in direct contact with females. Protease or heat treatment did not disrupt the clasp-eliciting activity in female-scented water. These findings provide evidence that a pheromone produced by female roughskin newts acts as a releasing stimulus that elicits a specific, stereotypical courtship response in males, and they suggest that the chemical signal is not proteinaceous.
Latin American Science Fiction Studies: A New Era

Gone are the days of a nascent Science Fiction Studies (SFS) in Latin America. In 2004, pioneering scholars like Darrell Lockhart, Yolanda Molina-Galivan with Andrea Noble, and Elizabeth Ginway hel...
Damage sensing in multi-functional hybrid natural fiber composites under shear loading

A comprehensive experimental study is performed to investigate the electro-mechanical response of jute/epoxy composites for in situ damage detection under in-plane shear loading conditions. By embedding carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in epoxy matrix and also reinforcing carbon fibers (CFs) using electro-flocking process between the jute laminates, a three-dimensional sensory network is generated inside the composites. A parametric study is conducted to examine the effect of two different weight percentages of CNTs (0.025% and 0.1%), two different CFs lengths (150 and 350 μm), four different CF flock densities (500, 1000, 1500, and 2000 fibers mm−2), and two different laminate orientations ((0-0-0-0)T and (0-90-0-90)T) on the generation of electrical conductive network and its role on damage detection. The electrical resistance values are measured using four circumferential ring probes measurement system. Results indicated that (0-0-0-0)T orientation showed 400% improvement in interlaminar shear strength compared to (0-90-0-90)T composites. CF flocking between the laminates experienced maximum increase of 50% in shear strength compared to non-flocked composites. For all composite types, there is no change in resistance during the elastic deformation of shear loading. Beyond elastic deformation, the increase in CF length and its density showed similar electrical response. The increase in CNTs concentration and laminate orientations did not show significant change in electrical response under shear loading conditions.
Regulation of Ribosome Biogenesis in Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy.

The ribosome is the enzymatic macromolecular machine responsible for protein synthesis. The rates of protein synthesis are primarily dependent on translational efficiency and capacity. Ribosome bio...
Discrete-Time Two-Stage Feedback Controller Design

In this chapter the two-stage feedback controller design for linear discrete-time control systems is presented by following the results of Radisavljevic-Gajic (2015a), Sect. 3.1. The design algorithm is specialized and simplified for linear systems with slow and fast modes, known as singularly perturbed linear discrete-time systems. Since there are two formulations of discrete-time singularly perturbed systems, the results are presented for both of them as discussed in Radisavljevic-Gajic (2015a, b), Sects. 3.2 and 3.3. The conditions needed for applicability of the presented two-stage design in two time scales are established. The proposed two-stage feedback controller design procedure and its very high accuracy were demonstrated on the eigenvalue assignment problem and the mixed linear-quadratic optimal controller/eigenvalue assignment controller problem for the steam power system, hydropower system, and proton exchange membrane fuel cell.
Pathway and Gene Discovery from Natural Hosts and Organisms

Information in public sequence databases on the genomes and metagenomes of microbes and plants has grown rapidly. In conjunction with technological developments in computational identification of biosynthetic gene clusters, molecular biology, synthetic biology, and analytical tools, this has revealed genes for enzymes with optimal and targeted function, as well as a rich pool of uncharacterized metabolic pathways. This chapter discusses different approaches to discovery of genes and metabolic pathways in microbes and plants in nature, such as genomic mining, transcriptome analysis, and metabolite profiling.
Association between Regular Electronic Nicotine Product Use and Self-Reported Periodontal Disease Status: Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Survey

Electronic nicotine product use is increasing in the U.S., but few studies have addressed its effects on oral health. The goal of this work was to determine the association between electronic nicotine product use and periodontal disease. Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health adult survey data from 2013–2016 (waves 1, 2 and 3) was used for the analysis. Longitudinal electronic nicotine product users used electronic nicotine products regularly every day or somedays in all three waves. Participants with new cases of gum disease reported no history of gum disease in wave 1 but reported being diagnosed with gum disease in waves 2 or 3. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated to determine the association between electronic nicotine product use and new cases of gum disease after controlling for potential confounders. Compared to never users, longitudinal electronic nicotine product users had increased odds of being diagnosed with gum disease (OR 1.76, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.12–2.76) and bone loss around teeth (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.06–2.63). These odds were higher for participants with a history of marijuana and a history of illicit or non-prescribed drug use. Our findings show that e-cigarettes may be harmful to oral health.
Analysis of Relationship Between Five Domains of TPACK Framework: TK, PK, CK Math, CK Science, and TPACK of Pre-service Special Education Teachers

This long-term single group study was conducted with pre-service special education elementary teachers taking a required graduate level course on integrating technology into mathematics and science instruction in a New York City public University. The purpose of this study was to explore whether Technological Knowledge (TK), Pedagogical Knowledge (PK), Content Knowledge in mathematics and science (CKM and CKS) and Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) are independent constructs in the TPACK framework and to develop instruments for assessment of each basic domain of the theoretical TPACK framework. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of the developed instruments suggest that the TPACK construct is independent from TK, PK, CKM and CKS. Further analysis using multiple linear regression showed that TK, PK, and CK are not predictors of TPACK. These findings provide an opportunity for independent assessment of different types of teacher knowledge defined by the TPACK framework. This could help teacher preparation programs to evaluate effectiveness of courses that prepare teachers for integration of technology.
Integrative Propositional Analysis for developing capacity in an academic research institution by improving strategic planning

Although current systems‐based methods of organization development provide some benefit to improving the ability of organizations to reach their goals, consultants are continually seeking to improve the way they may be used to support internal and external clients. This paper reports on an emerging systems‐based analytical method, “Integrative Propositional Analysis,” and its use for improving strategic plans leading to improvements in the capacity of an academic research institution. This preliminary report suggests a new structural perspective that may be useful for consultants and leaders interested in improving the usefulness of strategic plans for improving organizational effectiveness so that organizations may better fulfil their missions.
Brain connectivity evaluation during selective attention using EEG-based brain-computer interface

Attentional deficits may be caused by neurological diseases, including Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), etc. This work aims...
Anion adsorption and desorption characteristics of a Piedmont Ultisol : Some implications for the fate of sulfate deposition

Batch-type experiments were used to determine the anion (fluoride, nitrate, sulfate, and phosphate) adsorption and desorption characteristics of an Ultisol from the Piedmont Province of Georgia. The results were best described using ‘initial mass’ isotherms when the initial anion concentration was less than two meq l-1. The Langmuir adsorption maximum for sulfate (initial concentration range of 0.2–20 meq l-1) was 24.4 meq kg-1. Oxalate, acetate, nitrate, fluoride, and phosphate were used as exchangeable ‘counter’ anions to investigate the sulfate retention characteristics of this soil. High concentrations (> one meq l-1) of oxalate, phosphate and fluoride were shown to release sulfate from this soil. However, little sulfate desorption resulted when lower and more environmentally realistic concentrations of competing anions were applied. Application of oxalate revealed that a minimum of 19 meq kg-1 of sulfate has been adsorbed on this soil through natural processes. The Langmuir adsorption maximum suggests that this Ultisol, typical of many B horizons within this region, has a large capacity to adsorb additional inputs of atmospheric sulfate.
Control Technology-Driven Changes to In-Use Heavy-Duty Diesel Truck Emissions of Nitrogenous Species and Related Environmental Impacts.

Emissions from thousands of in-use heavy-duty diesel trucks were sampled at a highway and an arterial street location in the San Francisco Bay Area, spanning a time period when use of diesel particle filters (DPFs) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) increased rapidly. At the highway site where a diverse mix of trucks is observed, SCR systems on 2010 and newer engines reduce emitted nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 87 ± 5% relative to pre-2004 engines. SCR also mitigates DPF-related increases in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions. However, a majority of trucks had in-use NOx emission rates that exceeded applicable emission standards. SCR systems increase emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) and ammonia (NH3) from near-zero levels to 0.93 ± 0.13 and 0.18 ± 0.07 g kg-1, respectively. Emissions of all nitrogenous species and especially NH3 are skewed; 10% of trucks contribute 95% of the on-road fleet's total NH3 emissions. Similar emission changes are observed at the arterial street site where exclusively drayage trucks operate. The environmental effects of decreased black carbon, NOx, and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and increased N2O and NH3 emissions due to the rapid adoption of DPF and SCR systems by the California truck fleet are: (1) a 65% net decrease in the social cost of statewide exposure to diesel truck emissions (-3.3 billion 2018 US dollars per year), and (2) a 3% net decrease in the global warming potential-weighted emission factor (-27 g CO2-eq km-1).
Biosimilars for breast cancer: a review of HER2-targeted antibodies in the United States

The utilization of trastuzumab biosimilar medications is of particular interest in HER2-positive breast cancer as these drugs have the potential for cost savings and increased utilization/access to HER2 targeted therapy in both early stage and metastatic HER2-positive breast cancers. Five trastuzumab biosimilars: MYL-1401O (Ogivri), CT-P6 (Herzuma), SB3 (Ontruzant), PF-05280014 (Trazimera), and ABP980 (Kanjinti), have now been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in HER2-positive breast cancers. This review provides an overview of these agents with special consideration of the development and approval process, including available clinical data results for these trastuzumab biosimilars. Adoption in the clinic will depend on the degree of comfort with the overall evidence.
Insurance impacts survival for children, adolescents, and young adults with bone and soft tissue sarcomas.

Author(s): Penumarthy, Neela L; Goldsby, Robert E; Shiboski, Stephen C; Wustrack, Rosanna; Murphy, Patricia; Winestone, Lena E | Abstract: BackgroundWhile racial/ethnic survival disparities have been described in pediatric oncology, the impact of income has not been extensively explored. We analyzed how public insurance influences 5-year overall survival (OS) in young patients with sarcomas.MethodsThe University of California San Francisco Cancer Registry was used to identify patients aged 0-39 diagnosed with bone or soft tissue sarcomas between 2000 and 2015. Low-income patients were defined as those with no insurance or Medicaid, a means-tested form of public insurance. Survival curves were computed using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using log-rank tests and Cox models. Causal mediation was used to assess whether the association between public insurance and mortality is mediated by metastatic disease.ResultsOf 1106 patients, 39% patients were classified as low-income. Low-income patients were more likely to be racial/ethnic minorities and to present with metastatic disease (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.35-2.86). Low-income patients had significantly worse OS (61% vs 71%). Age at diagnosis and extent of disease at diagnosis were also independent predictors of OS. When stratified by extent of disease, low-income patients consistently had significantly worse OS (localized: 78% vs 84%, regional: 64% vs 73%, metastatic: 23% vs 30%, respectively). Mediation analysis indicated that metastatic disease at diagnosis mediated 15% of the effect of public insurance on OS.ConclusionsLow-income patients with bone and soft tissue sarcomas had decreased OS regardless of disease stage at presentation. The mechanism by which insurance status impacts survival requires additional investigation, but may be through reduced access to care.
Coronary Artery Disease

Cardiac CT and MR are very useful for detection of coronary artery anomalies and ischemic disease. Cardiac CT is often susceptible to artifact formation, which may mimic disease and can be offset by the use of multiplanar reformatted imaging. T2 sequences in MR can be used to differentiate old from acute ischemic disease.
Cerebral Hemodynamics and Metabolism Following Brain Trauma. Demonstration of Luxury Perfusion Following Brain-Stem Laceration

Changes in cerebral blood flow and metabolism were correlated with the EEG in 64 experiments in 58 baboons during concussion, contusion or brain-stem laceration.
Using Science and Law to Promote Humans’ Biological Integrity

This chapter first briefly considers the idea of humans’ biological integrity and a characterization of chronic diseases, the dominant source of illness in developed countries. Next, it reviews some highlights of chronic disease risks to the most vulnerable of humans, children, and, finally, considers how both science and the law can fail to protect the public, or in contrast how they can protect the public much better than at present.
Teaching a mental health diagnosis course online: Lessons learned from a case study

In the last 10 years there has been a dramatic expansion of social work courses offered online. Concurrently, there is skepticism as to whether it is possible for online social work classes to be of high quality, particularly classes covering practice skills. There is a gap in the social work literature examining theoretically informed, high-quality pedagogical strategies to teach social work practice skills online. This conceptual paper provides critical reflection on the pedagogical lessons learned from teaching an asynchronous, online, mental health diagnosis course that is part of the foundational curriculum for a Master of Social Work degree at a public university in the United States (US). Our reflections on the strengths and limitations of teaching social work practice skills online are guided by the Garrison, Anderson, and Archer (2001) community of inquiry framework for online learning environments which emphasises that three intersecting processes – the social presence, cognitive presence and teaching presence – are critical to the online educational experience. Integrating our exp- erience teaching an asynchronous mental health diagnosis class and the community of inquiry framework, we reflect on three lessons learned. First, we suggest that, when well designed, an online course offers strong opportunities for students to apply personal exp- eriences to practice knowledge. We further find that the online setting offered instructors the opportunity to closely monitor student practice skills. Finally, we reflect that ethical dilemmas related to diagnosis can be addressed in online courses, but require a strong teaching presence. We propose that high-quality teaching of mental health diagnosis can occur in online platforms, but would benefit from guidance from the community of inquiry framework.
Analysis of a Chain of Integrators with Pulse-Width-Modulation Controller.

In application, many controllers are implemented through Pulse-Width-Modulation (PWM). Owing to the non-linearity and discontinuity of PWM signal, the closed-loop stability analysis is challenging even for linear systems. In this paper, we investigate the stability problem for a linear chain of integrators with PWM controller. Different from the existing works, the proposed procedure is developed based on Zero-Order-Hold (ZOH) and we prove that the system is stable when the switching period of the PWM signal is small enough. Simulation results of 1-order and 2-order systems demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Epistemic Uncertainty Treatment in Seismically Induced Slope Displacements Using Polynomial Chaos

AbstractPerformance-based probabilistic approaches (PBPAs) for estimating seismically-induced slope displacements (D) provide hazard-consistent estimates through the evaluation of D hazard curves (...
Bargaining with Private Equity: Implications for Hospital Prices and Patient Welfare

I use proprietary insurance claims data covering over 60% of individuals with private health insurance in the United States to study the impact of private equity (PE) hospital buyouts on hospital price negotiations, health spending, and patient welfare. I structurally estimate a model featuring PE buyouts, hospital–insurer bargaining, and patient choices. I find that PE buyouts lead to an 11% increase in total spending of the privately insured in affected markets, mostly driven by an increase in bargained prices at PE-backed hospitals and price spillovers to local rivals. Specifically, PE investors' superior bargaining skills account for 43% of the price and spending increases, while financial engineering and bankruptcy threats contribute 40%, changes in patient demand contribute 10%, and less focus on social objectives contributes 8%. Operational efficiency gains reduce spending, but only by 1%. A counterfactual ban on PE hospital buyouts would increase patient surplus by an amount equivalent to 10.7% of health expenses. If antitrust regulators who conduct merger review ignore PE-backed acquirers' unique features, they risk greatly underestimating the impact of hospital mergers.
The Concept of the Therapeutic Landscapes

The concept of therapeutic landscapes describes how landscapes and places in general are described, explained and constructed as a health resource.
Prognosis Negative: Evaluating Real-Time Behavioral Ransomware Detectors

Ransomware attacks continue to grow in both severity and prevalence as attackers target public infrastructure, governments, and companies. This problem has spawned a wide range of anti-ransomware techniques which are evaluated by their capability of detecting known samples, but these samples are difficult to obtain and unreliable. Due to polymorphism and the ease of implementing new methods of attack, anti-ransomware is more likely needed to protect against an unknown binary than a known sample. In this paper, we create an extensible framework (Farfel) for testing anti-ransomware products that does not rely on evaluation with known samples. Our framework consists of 21 unique fundamental behavior variations which can be selected to form 1,536 unique attacks. Using this, we evaluate seven commercial and academic anti-ransomware products to identify gaps in coverage of fundamental behaviors. Our evaluation uncovers significant gaps in every product, with three commercial products detecting zero cases. We believe that testing on a wide variety of behaviors will ultimately result in more effective detectors in the future.
On the fill-in when sparse vectors are orthonormalized

If the RevisedGram-Schmidt method is used for orthonormalizing a given set of sparse vectors, then it is shown that the local fill-in of non-zero elements at each stage can be easily determined. This makes it possible to rearrange the remaining vectors at each stage such that the local fill-in is minimized. It is also shown that a similar method can also be used in the case of theHouseholder triangularization method.
Food Ingredient Labeling: The Effects of Disclosure on Consumer Product Evaluation

Food ingredient labeling has been a controversial topic in recent years. Current proposed regulations are aimed toward greater specificity in food ingredient information by using chemical names. Industry representatives believe this approach ineffective and likely to heighten consumers’ negative attitudes toward preservatives and additives contained in a product. This study examines the effects of alternative food ingredient labeling information on consumer product evaluations. Three different products and three levels of food labeling specificity are employed to measure their impact on consumer product perceptions.
Oligocene deep water export from the North Atlantic and the development of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current examined with neodymium isotopes

[1] Neodymium (Nd) isotopes were measured on 181 samples of fossil fish teeth recovered from Oligocene to Miocene sections at Ocean Drilling Program Site 1090 (3700 m water depth) on Agulhas Ridge in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. A long-term decreasing trend toward less radiogenic Nd isotope compositions dominates the record. This trend is interrupted by shifts toward more radiogenic compositions near the early/late Oligocene boundary and the Oligocene/Miocene boundary. Overall, ɛNd values at Agulhas Ridge are more radiogenic than at other Atlantic locations, and are similar to those at Indian Ocean locations. The pattern of variability is remarkably similar to Nd isotope results from Walvis Ridge (South Atlantic) and Ninetyeast Ridge (Indian Ocean). In contrast, Agulhas Ridge and Maud Rise Nd isotope records do not show similar patterns over this interval. Results from this study indicate that deep water in the Atlantic flowed predominantly from north to south during the Oligocene and Miocene, and that export of Northern Component Water (NCW) to the Southern Ocean increased in the late Oligocene. There is also evidence for efficient exchange of deep waters between the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean and the Indian Ocean, although the direction of deep water flow is not entirely clear from these data. The shifts to more radiogenic Nd isotopic compositions most likely represent increases in the flux of Pacific waters through Drake Passage, and the timing of these events reflect development of a mature Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC). The relative timing of increased NCW export and ACC maturation support hypotheses that link deep water formation in the North Atlantic to the opening of Drake Passage.
Job Instability and Wages for Young Adult Men

Debate continues over whether job instability is rising in the United States, with data and measurement complicating the search for definitive answers. In this paper we compare two cohorts of young white men from the National Longitudinal Surveys (NLS), construct a rigorous measure of job change, and confirm earlier findings of a significant increase in job instability in recent years. Further validation of this increase is found when we benchmark the NLS against the other main datasets in the field and conduct a thorough attrition analysis. Extending the analysis to wages, we find that the wage returns to job changing have both declined and become more unequal for young men, mirroring the trends in their long-term wage growth, and in the overall cross-sectional trends in earnings.
Health education: the basic of the basics.

(1985). Health Education: The Basic of the Basics. Health Education: Vol. 16, AAHPERD-AAHE Centennial 1885-1985, pp. 105-109.
Cytonuclear genetic signatures of hybridization phenomena: Rationale, utility, and empirical examples from fishes and other aquatic animals

By definition, organisms of hybrid ancestry carry amalgamations of divergent genomes. Thus, exaggerated effects of genomic interactions might be anticipated in hybrid populations, thereby magnifying the impact of natural selection and making this and other evolutionary forces easier to document. Mating biases and other gender-based asymmetries also frequently characterize hybrid populations. Thus, maternally inherited cytoplasmic polymorphisms assayed jointly with those at biparentally inherited nuclear loci provide powerful genetic markers to dissect ethological, ecological, and evolutionary processes in hybrid settings. Population-level topics that can be addressed using cytonuclear markers include the frequency of hybridization and introgression in nature, behavioral and ecological factors (such as mating preferences and hybrid fitnesses) influencing the genetic architectures of hybrid zones, the degree of consistency in genetic outcomes across multiple hybrid contact regions, and environmental impacts (including the introduction of alien species) on hybridization processes. Several empirical studies on fish populations in hybrid settings illustrate the application of cytonuclear appraisals in such contexts.
Can We Get a Complete ACL Tear to Heal

Many factors are likely to significantly affect the outcome of a bioenhanced primary repair of the ACL. These factors include the choice of implanted scaffold, bioactive agent, and suture technique as only a few variables. In this chapter, we will review how each of these factors influences functional ACL healing in a complete ACL transection model. We will also demonstrate the discovery that by optimizing all of these factors, the current technique of bioenhanced ACL repair used in our laboratory results in a healing ACL with equal strength to an ACL reconstruction after 3 months of healing in a large animal model. These findings provide hope that 1 day, bioenhanced ACL repair will be a viable option for patients with ACL injuries.