cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract P254: Health-Related Internet Use in Patients with Hypertension: A Population-Based Analysis

Background: With widely available web-based information about hypertension, internet has the potential to improve health literacy and to affect clinical outcomes. In this study we assessed the prevalence of health-related internet (HRI) usage by patients with hypertension and its association with health outcomes. Methods: Hypertension was defined by the question, “Have you ever been told by a doctor or health profession that you have high blood pressure?” Participants who answered “Yes” were included in the sample. If the participants stated that they accessed the Internet to look up health information, to learn about health topics in chat groups, to refill prescriptions, to schedule appointments, or to communicate with their provider, they were included in ‘HRI user’ group. Two logistic regression models were run to assess predictors of HRI usage and to explore the impact of HRI use on health status among hypertension patients. All models were controlled by age, gender, marital status, race, education, and poverty income ratio (PIR). Sampling weights were utilized to produce population-based results. Results: The prevalence of HRI use in hypertension patients was: 57% (40-55 yrs), 50% (56-65 yrs) and 26% (>65 yrs). In comparison, 58% (40-55 yrs), 56% (56-65 years) and 29% (>65 yrs) of population without hypertension used HRI. The difference between two groups was not statistically significant. Younger age (OR 4.0, p =3) were predictors of using HRI with statistical significance. Compared to Caucasians, Africans Americans (OR 0.5, p=0.04) were less likely to use the HRI. After adjusting for socio-demographic variables, patients who used HRI in the last 12 months were 1.3 time more likely to report improvement in health status (p=0.04). Conclusions: HRI usage between the hypertension patients and general population did not differ significantly in different age groups. Age, gender, education, PIR, and race were significant predictors of HRI usage pattern. HRI use was associated with improvement in health status within 12 months of using internet.
Comparative phylogeography of oceanic archipelagos: Hotspots for inferences of evolutionary process

Remote island archipelagos offer superb opportunities to study the evolution of community assembly because of their relatively young and simple communities where speciation contributes to the origin and evolution of community structure. There is great potential for common phylogeographic patterns among remote archipelagos that originate through hotspot volcanism, particularly when the islands formed are spatially isolated and linearly arranged. The progression rule is characterized by a phylogeographic concordance between island age and lineage age in a species radiation. Progression is most likely to arise when a species radiation begins on an older island before the emergence of younger islands of a hotspot archipelago. In the simplest form of progression, colonization of younger islands as they emerge and offer appropriate habitat, is coincident with cladogenesis. In this paper, we review recent discoveries of the progression rule on seven hotspot archipelagos. We then discuss advantages that progression offers to the study of community assembly, and insights that community dynamics may offer toward understanding the evolution of progression. We describe results from two compelling cases of progression where the mosaic genome may offer insights into contrasting demographic histories that shed light on mechanisms of speciation and progression on remote archipelagos.
An Evaluation of the Laboratory Ranking Test

The laboratory ranking test is a nonparametric procedure that W.J. Youden recommended in 1963 for identifying outlying laboratories in collaborative studies. Though potential problems with the performance of this test have been noted by Youden and other..
The mismatch between current statistical practice and doctoral training in ecology

Ecologists are studying increasingly complex and important issues such as climate change and ecosystem services. These topics often involve large data sets and the application of complicated quantitative models. We evaluated changes in statistics used by ecologists by searching nearly 20,000 published articles in ecology from 1990 to 2013. We found that there has been a rise in sophisticated and computationally intensive statistical techniques such as mixed effects models and Bayesian statistics and a decline in reliance on approaches such as ANOVA or t tests. Similarly, ecologists have shifted away from software such as SAS and SPSS to the open source program R. We also searched the published curricula and syllabi of 154 doctoral programs in the United States and found that despite obvious changes in the statistical practices of ecologists, more than one-third of doctoral programs showed no record of required or optional statistics classes. Approximately one-quarter of programs did require a statistics course, but most of those did not cover contemporary statistical philosophy or advanced techniques. Only one-third of doctoral programs surveyed even listed an optional course that teaches some aspect of contemporary statistics. We call for graduate programs to lead the charge in improving training of future ecologists with skills needed to address and understand the ecological challenges facing humanity.
Decreased fetal hemoglobin over time among youth with sickle cell disease on hydroxyurea is associated with higher urgent hospital use.

Background Hydroxyurea (HU) induces dose-dependent increased fetal hemoglobin (HbF) for sickle cell disease (SCD). Large deviation from historical personal best (PBest) HbF, a clinic-based version of maximum dose, may identify a subset with suboptimal HU adherence over time. Procedure Retrospective clinical data from youth ages 10–18 years prescribed HU at two centers were extracted from medical records at three time points: pre-HU initiation, PBest and a recent assessment. Decrease from PBest HbF of 20% or more at recent assessment despite stable dosing was designated as high deviation from PBest. Acute hospital use was compared between 1-year periods, pre-HU and ±6 months for PBest and recent assessment. Groups were compared using descriptive and bivariate nonparametric statistics. Results Seventy-five youth, mean HU duration 5.9 years, met eligibility criteria. Mean ages of HU initiation, PBest and recent assessment were 8.0, 10.9 and 13.9 years, respectively. Despite stable dosing, average HbF of 19.5% at PBest overall declined by 31.8% at recent assessment. PBest HbF declined by 11.7 and 40.1% in two groups, the latter comprised 70.7% of the sample, had lower pre-HU and recent HbF and higher dosing. They experienced more urgent hospital use during the year framing recent assessment than during PBest; these findings were supported by sensitivity analysis. Conclusions Decline from PBest HbF is a novel approach to assess HU effectiveness, is common among youth and may represent suboptimal adherence. Larger prospective studies using additional adherence measures are needed to confirm our approach of tracking HbF deviation over time and to define an appropriate cutoff.
Frontiers of 3D Printing/Additive Manufacturing: from Human Organs to Aircraft Fabrication†

It has been more than three decades since stereolithography began to emerge in various forms of additive manufacturing and 3D printing. Today these technologies are proliferating worldwide in various forms of advanced manufacturing. The largest segment of the 3D printing market today involves various polymer component fabrications, particularly complex structures not attainable by other manufacturing methods. Conventional printer head systems have also been adapted to selectively print various speciated human cells and special molecules in attempts to construct human organs, beginning with skin and various tissue patches. These efforts are discussed along with metal and alloy fabrication of a variety of implant and bone replacement components by creating powder layers, which are selectively melted into complex forms (such as foams and other open-cellular structures) using laser and electron beams directed by CAD software. Efforts to create a “living implant” by bone ingrowth and eventual vascularization within these implants will be discussed briefly. Novel printer heads for direct metal droplet deposition as in other 3D printing systems are briefly described since these concepts will allow for the eventual fabrication of very large and complex products, including automotive and aerospace structures and components.
Toward the Resolution of Discrepancies between Phenetic and Paleontological Data Bearing on the Question of Human Origins

Since the publication of comparative serological data and the protein clock (Sarich, 1968; Sarich and Wilson, 1967; Wilson and Sarich, 1969; Goodman, 1963, 1975, 1976), there has been a continuing controversy among serologists and paleoanthropologists over the timing of the divergence between human and Great Ape lineages. Based upon the high degree of similarity in the blood proteins and DNA of Pan, Gorilla, and Homo (King and Wilson, 1975), serologists have suggested a late divergence (5 m.y.a.), while most paleoanthropologists, citing middle Miocene “Ramapithecus”(Simons, 1961, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1977; Simons and Pilbeam, 1965, 1972; Tattersall, 1975; Conroy, 1972) or middle Miocene “thick-enameled” dryopithecines (Pilbeam et al., 1977) as evidence of an independent human lineage, suggested an earlier divergence date of 15–20 m.y.a. (the early date possibilities are hereafter referred to as the early divergence hypotheses).
Model-Based Engineering for Platform System Design

Tools and methods currently in use for requirements capture and design are not integrated and are inadequate to support complex, product-oriented system engineering. A trade study was conducted to analyze model-based technology solutions. The most favorably rated tools were piloted to evaluate alternatives and improve existing practices between multiple disciplines. The objective was to use a model-based design environment to gather requirements and develop a model. The result was a process that linked and synchronized the work environment and improved traditional design approaches. Issues addressed include: requirements capture, early validation, requirements allocation and system design, traceability, requirements management, and configuration management. Model-based engineering is a means to provide significant reductions to cycle time for the life of a project. This paper will summarize what was accomplished and the best practices found for this particular application.
Teacher identities and English learners in mainstream classrooms: A discourse analysis

The increasing placement of English learners (ELs) in mainstream classrooms in conjunction with scant attention given to teaching these students in preservice education and professional development...
Many Body Effects and Icosahedral Order in Superlattice Self-Assembly.

We elucidate how nanocrystals “bond” to form ordered structures. For that purpose we consider nanocrystal configurations consisting of regular polygons and polyhedra, which are the motifs that constitute single component and binary nanocrystal superlattices, and simulate them using united atom models. We compute the free energy and quantify many body effects, i.e., those that cannot be accounted for by pair potential (two-body) interactions, further showing that they arise from coalescing vortices of capping ligands. We find that such vortex textures exist for configurations with local coordination number ≤6. For higher coordination numbers, vortices are expelled and nanocrystals arrange in configurations with tetrahedral or icosahedral order. We provide explicit formulas for the optimal separations between nanocrystals, which correspond to the minima of the free energies. Our results quantitatively explain the structure of superlattice nanocrystals as reported in experiments and reveal how packing argume...
Expressive Forms and the Evolution of Consciousness

Expressive forms are seen from an evolutionary perspective as attempts on the part of individuals possessed of self-reflective consciousness to discover and to express their images of self. The main focus is on how symbolic forms ranging from household objects, clothing, dance and music to ritual performances serve to reify both individuation on the one hand, and social integration on the other. The adaptive significance of expression is explored
Instantons and Asymmetric Vacua

It is shown that with asymmetric classical vacua the quantum mechanical instanton approach to the energy splitting of degenerate states applies even though the degenerate state in one well is not the quantum mechanical ground state of that well. The instanton approach leads to the correct leading exponential behavior of the energy splitting ΔE, but the prefactor is much more difficult to compute due to the asymmetric nature of the fluctuation potential V″(φc(t)), which is in turn a direct consequence of the asymmetry of the two classical minima between which the instanton interpolates.
DIRART – A Software Suite for Deformable Image Registration and Adaptive Radiotherapy Research

Recent years have witnessed tremendous progress in IGRT technology and potential possibilities for adapting treatment planning on a daily basis. However, there is a lack in having software tools toward this goal. Therefore, we have implemented a software suite, DIRART, for deformable image registration (DIR) plus adaptive radiotherapy (ART) research. DIRART is a large set of programs developed using MATLAB. It contains DIR algorithms, common ART functions, integrated graphics user interfaces, visualization features, and dose metrics analysis functions. In addition, it complementarily works together with CERR (Computational Environment for Radiotherapy Research) to offer more functions. DIRART is designed around the concepts of the interactive RT objects, including images, structures, doses and deformation vector fields (DVF) etc. By exchanging RT objects with TPS via DICOM-RT files, DIRART provides a full featured working environment for ART related research tasks. It is capable of transforming dose distributions and structures between the planning CT and the daily images according to the computed DVF so that such RT information could be viewed and evaluated on either image sets. It can also rescale, subtract and sum up the transformed doses, and convert isodose lines to structures. For DIR applications, DIRART is a toolbox which provides 20+ DIR algorithms, including the newer inverse consistency algorithms to provide consistency DVF in both directions with better accuracy. As a DIR research environment, DIRART dose not only provide a good set of image preprocessing algorithms and post-processing functions to facilitate the development and testing of DIR algorithms, but also offers a good amount of options for results visualization, evaluation and validation. DIRART is designed in a data-oriented style with focus on usability, user-friendliness, performance, accuracy, flexibility, features, configurability and stability. It has great potential for the ART and DIR research.
Predicting Group Membership using National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Mathematics Data

Since 1969 in the United States, the federally mandated National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) has been used to assess the condition of student learning at the state and national levels, in particular subject areas, and in specific grades and/or ages (US National Center for Educational Statistics [NCES], n.d.-a). In the 1990s, academic achievement in various disciplines derived from NAEP scores were tracked by state and measured via the percentage of students at or above the levels established in a three-tiered scoring model: basic, proficient, or advanced (Hombo, 2003). In concert with the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB, 2002), the US Congress decreed NAEP as the Nation’s Report Card, to be used to indicate student-achievement score trends in academic areas such as mathematics, reading, science, and history among states in nationally representative samples (US NCES, n.d.-a). Results derived from NAEP data aggregated at the state level pertaining to student achievement—which in the latter years of its nearly 40-year existence have been employed as a means toward ascertaining accountability affiliated with high-stakes testing, such as NCLB—have yielded mixed interpretations and perceptions (see the American Educational Research Association, 2000, definition for a standard interpretation of the term high-stakes testing). For example, Hanushek and Raymond (2006) found that NAEP mathematics scores provided some positive evidence for accountability, whereas Amrein and Berliner (2002) determined the contrary with various state-level NAEP scores in certain academic areas. Darling-Hammond (2007) contended that NAEP, in areas such as mathematics, did not measure higher-order cognitive domains but instead “measures less complex application of knowledge” (p. 319). This lack of NAEP’s application of knowledge via measuring—for instance, problem-solving skills—is linked to multiplechoice-type tests used for accountability purposes under NCLB that do not allow for the assessment of student achievement with the following question: “What can students do with what they have learned?” (p. 319).
The Human Globin Genes

Only slightly more than 40 years have elapsed since publication of the classic study of Avery, MacLeod, and McCarty (1944) which first showed that genetic information is stored in the form of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Subsequent milestones in the advancement of knowledge of how DNA fulfills its role as a genetic carrier have included the elucidation of the helical structure of the DNA molecule and the complementary relationship of its base sequences (Watson and Crick, 1953a); the determination of how information encoded in the polynucleotide sequences of the DNA molecule is ultimately translated into polypeptides (Jacob and Monod, 1961); and the delineation of the genetic code (Nirenberg and Leder, 1964) demonstrating the nature and specificity of messenger RNA nucleotide base sequences.
The roots of knowledge

Most knowledge requires complex forms of learning and several types of memory that serve different functions, localized in different parts of the brain. What we commonly call memory refers to the declarative or explicit memory for language. This memory is the core of propositional knowledge, mainly localized in the left frontal and temporal lobes of the brain; it is affected early on by Alzheimer’s disease, which damages the hippocampus, a structure that plays an essential role in memory consolidation. In contrast, the memory for sensorimotor skills, such as cycling or swimming, is language-independent and involves the extrapyramidal system affected by Parkinson’s disease. The physical encoding of different types of memory in distinct brain circuits contradicts the popular belief that knowledge is a non-physical psychological process.
Linear Quantization by Effective-Resistance Sampling

In this paper we consider the problem of allocation of measurement bits in order to reduce the statistical signal recovery error resulting from quantization error. We propose a continuous optimization problem that serves as a relaxation of the original combinatorial problem, which is amenable to classical continuous optimization solvers such as the gradient descent. We also design a “rounding” algorithm based on the idea of effective resistance sampling to turn the continuous fractional solution into a feasible bit allocation strategy with integer number of bits allocated to each design point.
CARDIAC MAGNETIC RESONANCE AFTER CRT DEMONSTRATES DISCORDANT EFFECTS ON RIGHT AND LEFT VENTRICULAR FUNCTION

Assessment of (CRT) response could be improved with the use of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), which provides high quality imaging for right ventricular (RV) and left ventricular (LV) structure and function CMR exams using steady state free precession (SSFP) and gradient echo (GRE) imaging were
Helicobacter pylori Infection

Key Clinical Points Helicobacter pylori Infection Testing for H. pylori is recommended in patients with peptic ulcer disease, gastric cancer, or gastric mucosa–associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (...
Choosing wisely: Selecting PARP inhibitor combinations to promote anti-tumor immune responses beyond BRCA mutations

PARP inhibitors have transformed the management of advanced high-grade serous ovarian cancer. Despite the overwhelming success of PARP inhibition, particularly in BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer, several limitations and unanswered questions remain. With PARP inhibitors now being used in earlier treatment settings, the issue of both de novo and acquired resistance mechanisms and appropriate post-PARP management are pressing concerns. In addition, the population appropriate to target with PARP inhibitors and their use in patients without BRCA mutations is controversial and evolving. In this review we will discuss exciting PARP combinations and biologic rationale for the development and selection of PARP inhibitor combinations.
The 100 Most Impactful Papers in Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery over the Last 25 Years: A Bibliometric Analysis of the Orthopaedic Literature

Introduction Despite growth in hand/upper extremity investigation, impactful studies have not been thoroughly identified. Previous studies have been limited in scope. This study sought to identify and characterize the most impactful orthopaedic papers in hand/upper extremity over the past 25 years. Materials and Methods The top 1,000 hand/upper extremity orthopaedic studies published from 1992 to 2017 were identified with Web of Science. After screening for relevance in order of decreasing citation number, the top 100 articles were identified for bibliometric analysis. Results The mean number of authors and citations were 4.51 (range, 1–21) and 169.4 (range, 105–863). Common study types included, case series (n = 52), randomized controlled trial (n = 17), and prospective cohort (n = 16), which predominantly covered topics related to shoulder (n = 34), wrist/forearm (n = 21), and hand (n = 17). Among wrist/forearm and hand studies, distal radius fractures (n = 12) and nerve-related topics (n = 10) were most frequently analyzed. Most studies were of level IV (n = 51) and level II (n = 16) evidence. Recent studies had greater impact (mean citations/year: 2011, 82.7/year vs. 1992, 16.1/year). Conclusion Most of the 100 top orthopaedic articles in hand/upper extremity were of level IV or II evidence, retrospective, and nonrandomized. Despite an observed recent increase in level I studies, a lack of prospective, randomized trials is apparent.
Comparing the Cases

While the type of scandal is significant to understand, the scandals sampled for this book require an analysis of other factors that are equally or more important when trying to explain the actions of presidents in response to scandals. The comparisons presented in this chapter note the importance of the variations in the type of scandal that each president experienced, the peculiarities of the circumstances and events of each scandal, the variations in the political environment (i.e., party control of government, degree of polarization, public support for a president and his policies), changes in the form and delivery of information via different media, and changes in the public’s perception of leadership and government. A set of counterfactual exercises help to highlight the amount of impact these variables had on each of the four cases.
SLO2.1 and NALCN form a functional complex to modulate myometrial cell excitability

Abstract At the end of pregnancy, the uterus transitions from a quiescent state to an excitable, contractile state. These changes are linked to depolarization of the myometrial smooth muscle cell (MSMC) resting membrane potential. The membrane potential is primarily determined by the balance between an outward potassium (K+) leak current and an inward sodium (Na+) leak current. We recently described a Na+-activated K+ channel (SLO2.1) and a non-selective Na+ leak channel (NALCN) in human MSMCs. Here, we asked whether these channels function together. We show that SLO2.1 currents are activated by an inward NALCN-dependent Na+ leak current, leading to MSMC hyperpolarization. The regulation of the membrane potential by NALCN/SLO2.1 activity modulates both Ca2+ entry through VDCCs, and myometrial contractility. Finally, NALCN and SLO2.1 are in proximity to one another in human MSMCs. We conclude that SLO2.1 and NALCN function together to regulate human MSMC membrane potential and excitability.
Safety of piggyback intraocular lenses (polypseudophakia) in children: long-term outcomes of a 15-year, single-surgeon study.

Purpose To report the outcomes of piggyback (PB) intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, or temporary polypseudophakia, in children who have undergone cataract surgery and to assess their safety in pediatric patients. Methods The medical records of consecutive patients who underwent PB IOL implantation at a single institution over a period of 15 years were reviewed retrospectively. Outcome measures were reoperation rate, complications, and outcome of planned explantation. Results A total of 48 eyes of 38 children received PB IOL implantation: 40 eyes at the time of cataract surgery and 8 eyes as a later secondary procedure. Of these, 38 eyes of 31 patients with primary PB IOL implantation had follow-up of >3 years and were included in the present analysis. Median age at cataract surgery with PB IOL implantation was 6.5 months (0.5 months to 2.4 years). Median follow-up was 12.5 years (range, 3.0-20.7). Four eyes required reoperation for adverse events related to PB IOL implantation (1 each for IOL tilt, pupillary capture, pupillary block glaucoma, and pupillary membrane). All 4 of these eyes were operated for cataract before 3 months of age. The sulcus-fixated PB IOL underwent a planned explantation in 33/38 eyes. Eight eyes needed intraocular pressure–lowering topical medications. Planned PB IOL explantation was uncomplicated in our series. Conclusions Early complications occurred in 4 eyes, but late complications were not noted, and glaucoma developed at predictable rates for this population. Piggyback IOL placement in our cohort of young children appears to have an acceptable safety profile.
When Psychologists Work with Older Adults: A Survey of Ethical Beliefs and Practices

Despite the number of publications concerning legal and ethical issues faced by psychologists, and despite the increased interest in addressing specific concerns related to aging, little is known about the actual beliefs and practices of psychologists when they work with older adults. Given the changing demographics in the United States, many mental health professionals will have contact with older adult clients, and the focus of the present study was to examine the extent to which psychologists are prepared to work competently with older adult clients. Survey data were collected from 156 APA Division 12 (Clinical Psychology) and 17 (Counseling Psychology) members regarding the degree to which they engaged in each of 50 behaviors and the degree to which they considered each behavior ethical. Findings are presented in terms of percentages of responses to items on the questionnaire, and ANOVAs were performed on important demographic items to identify statistically significant differences among variables. Coursework in geropsychology or aging, specialization with older adults, and working with a high percentage of older adults were related to higher scores on the Overall Ethical Behavior scale. Females scored higher than males on the Overall Ethical Belief scale.
Highly Sensitive Flexible/Stretchable Smart Insole Pressure Sensor with Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes and Polydimethylsiloxane Double-layer Composites

To realize a pressure sensor capable of detecting human motions and gait disease for a smart insole system, highly flexible/stretchable and electrical sensing materials are required. In addition, the impact parameters of pressure sensors such as high linearity and sensitivity and a wide range of dynamic pressure are needed to accurately detect external pressure stimuli during the operation. Recent researches have demonstrated a low-cost wearable sensing insole by using scalable and deformable conductive materials. However, although the sensors are suitable to wearable insole system due to scalable and deformable properties, there still are the lack of stretchability and sensor’s performances such as high sensitivity, hysteresis, linearity, and fast response time to obtain an accurate and reliable data. Here, a double-layer multi-walled carbon nanotubes/polydimethylsiloxane (MWCNT/PDMS) pressure sensor with a gap gradient is fabricated by stacking two different composites consisting of 6 and 7 wt% compositions of MWCNTs for top and bottom layers, respectively. Due to the stacked double-layer configuration with different concentrations, the pressure sensor shows high linear sensitivity (~700 kPa) and a pressure range of 0-2 MPa, providing extensively potential applications in monitoring human motions. Moreover, the sensor attached to a shoe insole not only can classify user’s motion states for walking, running, and jumping but also exhibited stability for long-term use.
Systematic Problem Authoring: Constant Acceleration and Projectile Motion

When authoring physics problems, professors may develop an intuition for how much information they need to provide such that the problem has a unique answer and is not over constrained. It is an open question as to whether using intuition leads to a sufficiently broad range of problems. In this paper we discuss a systematic way of authoring problems to guarantee that problems are fully constrained and that all possible variations of certain classes of problems are explored.
Low mental health scores are associated with worse patient-reported outcomes and difficulty with return to work and sport after distal biceps repair

Background Most patients have successful outcomes with minimal limitations after distal biceps repair, but a minority continues experiencing functional constraints. We hypothesize that low scores on a validated mental health measure correlate with worse patient-reported outcomes and increased difficulty with return to work and sport. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of a consecutive series of patients who underwent distal biceps repair with a single-incision cortical button technique and immediate mobilization. Patient-reported outcome data were available at 1 year or later for 33 (85%) patients. The primary outcomes were American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons-Elbow (ASES-E) score, Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation score, Visual Analog Scale for pain, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Score (QuickDASH), and Veterans RAND 12 (VR-12) quality-of-life assessment. Results All patients were male, with a median age of 49 years (range, 28-65). None had reruptures, and 1 (3%) had superficial wound dehiscence that healed without further surgery. Eleven (33%) had postoperative neuropraxia, 6 of which resolved completely. At latest follow-up, the median Visual Analog Scale was 0 (range, 0-5; mean, 1), and median ASES-E functional score was 36 (range, 24-36; mean, 34). Median Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation score was 92 (range, 41-100). The median QuickDASH was 5 (range, 0-50; mean, 11). More than half of the patients with VR-12 mental component score (MCS) < 50 (5 of 9, 56%) reported difficulty with work activities, compared with 4% (1 of 24) of patients with an MCS ≥ 50 (P = .001). Most patients (8 of 9, 89%) with an MCS < 50 also reported difficulty with return to sporting activities, compared with only 8% (2 of 24) of patients with MCS ≥ 50 (P < .0001). Patients with an MCS < 50 (n = 9) had significantly worse ASES-E functional scores (median, 34; range, 27-36) and QuickDASH scores (median 23, range 0-43), compared with those with an MCS ≥ 50 (ASES-E: median, 36; range, 24-36; P = .033; QuickDASH: median, 2; range, 0-50; P = .026). Most patients (17 of 24, 71%) with MCS ≥ 50 had a perfect score of 36 on the ASES-E functional outcome score, compared with only 22% (2 of 9) among patients with MCS < 50. Conclusion Patients who undergo distal biceps repair show excellent functional patient-reported outcomes at 1-year and later follow-up. Lower scores on the VR-12 MCS are associated with worse patient-reported outcome scores and difficulty with return to work and sporting activities.
A word about . . . Claude Broach, pastoral ecumenical activist:

This article explores the life and ministerial career of Claude U. Broach (1913–1997), who served as the pastor of St. John’s Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, from 1944 through 1974 and...
Clinical Annotations for Prostate Cancer Research: Defining Data Elements, Creating a Reproducible Analytical Pipeline, and Assessing Data Quality

BackgroundRoutine clinical data from clinical charts are indispensable for retrospective and prospective observational studies and clinical trials. Their reproducibility is often not assessed. ObjectiveTo develop a prostate cancer-specific database with a defined source hierarchy for clinical annotations in conjunction with molecular profiling and to evaluate data reproducibility. Design, setting, and participantsFor men with prostate cancer and clinical-grade paired tumor-normal sequencing, we performed team-based retrospective data collection from the electronic medical record at a comprehensive cancer center. We developed an open-source R package for data processing. We assessed reproducibility using blinded repeat annotation by a reference medical oncologist. Outcome measurements and statistical analysisWe evaluated completeness of data elements, reproducibility of team-based annotation compared to the reference, and impact of measurement error on bias in survival analyses. Results and limitationsData elements on demographics, diagnosis and staging, disease state at the time of procuring a genomically characterized sample, and clinical outcomes were piloted and then abstracted for 2,261 patients (with 2,631 samples). Completeness of data elements was generally high. Comparing to the repeat annotation by a medical oncologist blinded to the database (100 patients/samples), reproducibility of annotations was high to very high; T stage, metastasis date, and presence and date of castration resistance had lower reproducibility. Impact of measurement error on estimates for strong prognostic factors was modest. ConclusionsWith a prostate cancer-specific data dictionary and quality control measures, manual clinical annotations by a multidisciplinary team can be scalable and reproducible. The data dictionary and the R package for reproducible data processing are freely available to increase data quality in clinical prostate cancer research. Patient summaryInformation in the medical record is the backbone for clinical research on prostate cancer. The tools provided in this study can increase quality and efficiency of this research.
An introduction to the theory of knowledge

Now revised and containing three new chapters, this book provides a clear and accessible introduction to epistemology, or the theory of knowledge. It discusses some of the main theories of justification, including foundationalism, coherentism, reliabilism, and virtue epistemology. Other topics include the Gettier problem, internalism and externalism, skepticism, the problem of epistemic circularity, a priori knowledge, naturalized epistemology, and the epistemic significance of testimony and disagreement. Intended primarily for students taking their first classes in epistemology, this lucid and well-written text will provide an excellent introduction to anyone interested in knowing more about this important area of philosophy.
On the uniform consistency of the Bernstein density estimator

Abstract We study the almost sure rate of uniform consistency of the Bernstein density estimator. The stochastic error on [ a , b ] where 0 a ≤ b 1 is strictly smaller than that over [ 0 , 1 ] . This implies that the estimator is not minimax under the sup norm loss on [ 0 , 1 ] if the density is bounded and twice continuously differentiable.
Conker(quer) Time Again: How to Win at Boys Games

I examine the gendered nature of university adult education and how women continue to be disadvantaged in the "games" which characterize many graduate and professional programs. How can we change the "rules," or substitute "girls'" rules, for those in play? I suggest that, as women working for change, we first need to acknowledge the discursive practices and structures of university adult education as a "boys' game." I intersperse stories of women learning at university (drawn from my empirical research with women, and my everyday experience), with theoretical insights from post-modern and post-structural scholarship. I suggest we maintain the strategic essentialism of the feminist project, and work within the gendered spaces available to us. We can then make combined use of both gender and liberatory models of feminist pedagogy to improve women's learning experiences in their graduate education. Resume Dans cette etude, j'examine la formation permanente en milieu universitaire sous l'angle des rapports hommes-femmes et la maniere dont les femmes continuent a se trouver desavantagees par ces «jeux» qui caracterisent nombre de programmes d'etudes superieures et de formation professionnelle. Comment pouvons-nous changer les regies du jeu ou leur en substituer qui soient conformes a notre maniere de jouer, nous, les femmes? Je propose que, en tant quefemmes engagees pour le changement, nous devons tout d'abord reconnaitre le caractere masculin des pratiques discursives et des structures de la formation permanente en milieu universitaire. J'emaille cet article d'histoires de femmes qui etudient a l'universite (elles sont tirees de ma propre recherche empirique aupres de femmes ainsi que de mon experience personnelle), en y ajoutant des perspectives theoriques fondees sur la recherche dans les domaines du post-modernisme et du post-structuralisme. Je propose que nous conservions l'essentialisme strategique du projet feministe tout en travaillant au sein des espaces ou s'exercent les rapports hommes-femmes et qui nous sont accessibles. Ensuite, nous pouvons egalement combiner les modeles de rapports hommes-femmes et les modeles de liberation afin d'ameliorer les experiences d'apprentissage des femmes dans leur programme d'etudes superieures.
Replication of Sindbis Virus II. Multiple Forms of Double-stranded RNA Isolated from Infected Cells

Three species of double-stranded RNA (replicative forms) have been isolated from cells infected with Sindbis virus after treating the extracts with pancreatic ribonuclease. Their molecular weights have been estimated to be 8.8 x 10^6, 6.6 x 10^6 and 2.9 x 10^6 daltons (RFI, RFII and RFIII, respectively). RFII and RFIII were found to exist in a one-to-one molar ratio throughout the infection cycle, although the total amounts of these replicative forms varied. The molar ratio of RF1 to the other two replicative forms was different at various times after infection. However, in the middle of the virus life-cycle, from two to six hours post-infection, this ratio was constant at 0.4 to 1. Sedimentation analysis of pulse-labeled RNA from Sindbis-infected cells indicated that all replicative intermediates had molecular weights greater than or equal to 8.8 x 10^6 daltons. Since all three replicative forms were liberated from the peak of replicative intermediates by treatment with ribonuclease, this suggested that RFII and RFIII were joined together before digestion. The constant one-to-one molar ratio of RFII and RFIII supported this hypothesis. Kinetic experiments demonstrated that while RFI and RFIII were labeled equally rapidly, RFII was labeled some 20 to 50 times more slowly. Hybridization competition experiments showed that the minus strand of RFIII is complementary to 26 s RNA, a species of single-stranded RNA found in infected cells, and that the minus strand of RFII is complementary to the remainder of the 49 s viral genome. We postulate, therefore, that a precursor-product relation exists between RFI and 49 s RNA, between RFIII and 26 s RNA and between RFII and a third species of Sindbis-specific RNA, which we have not yet detected. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that two classes of replicative intermediates exist in Sindbis-infected cells. One serves as the template for the synthesis of 49 s RNA, and the second manufactures two smaller segments of viral-specific RNA.
Inhibition of tissue factor/factor VIIa activity in plasma requires factor X and an additional plasma component.

A study was carried out to explore requirements for the inhibition of tissue factor-factor VIIa enzymatic activity in plasma. Reaction mixtures contained plasma, 3H-factor IX or 3H-factor X, tissue factor (vol/vol 2.4% to 24%), and calcium. Tissue factor-factor VIIa activity was evaluated from progress curves of activation of factor IX or factor X, plotted from tritiated activation peptide release data. With normal plasma, progress curves exhibited initial limited activation followed by a plateau indicative of loss of tissue factor-factor VIIa activity. With hereditary factor X-deficient plasma treated with factor X antibodies, progress curves revealed full factor IX activation. Adding only 0.4 micrograms/mL factor X (final concentration) could restore inhibition. Inhibition was not observed in purified systems containing 6% to 24% tissue factor, factor VII, 0.5 micrograms/mL, factor IX, 13 micrograms/mL, and factor X up to 0.8 micrograms/mL, but could be induced by adding barium-absorbed plasma to the reaction mixture. Thus, both factor X and an additional material in plasma were required for inhibition. The amount of factor X needed appeared related to the concentration of tissue factor; adding more tissue factor at the plateau of a progress curve induced further activation. These results also indicate that inhibited reaction mixtures contained active free factor VII(a). Preliminary data suggest that inhibition may stem from loss of activity of the tissue factor component of the tissue factor- factor VII(a) complex.
Suppression of proximity effect and the enhancement of p-wave superconductivity in the Sr2RuO4-Ru system.

We report unexpected phenomena observed on the ${\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}{\mathrm{RuO}}_{4}$-Ru eutectic phase featuring Ru islands embedded in a bulk crystal of the chiral $p$-wave superconductor ${\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}{\mathrm{RuO}}_{4}$. It was found that the ${\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}{\mathrm{RuO}}_{4}/\mathrm{Ru}$ interface is atomically sharp, terminated uniformly by a $\mathrm{Sr}/\mathrm{O}$ layer. Surprisingly, the proximity-induced $p$-wave superconducting energy gap predicted by theory was not detected inside Ru islands. Our results suggest that the previously observed enhancement of superconductivity in this eutectic phase occurs away from rather than near the ${\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}{\mathrm{RuO}}_{4}/\mathrm{Ru}$ interface, where dislocations and phonon hardening were found.
Heart rot hotel: fungal communities in red-cockaded woodpecker excavations

Tree-cavity excavators such as woodpeckers are ecosystem engineers that have potentially complex but poorly documented associations with wood decay fungi. Fungi facilitate cavity excavation by preparing and modifying excavation sites for cavity excavators. Associations between fungi and endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers (RCWs) are particularly interesting because these are the only birds that specialize in excavating into the heartwood of living pines, a process that takes years to complete. Using molecular methods, we examined fungal communities in complete and incomplete RCW excavations, and non-cavity control trees. In addition to finding a high diversity of fungi, we found three groupings of fungal communities corresponding to the three groups of trees sampled. We show that trees selected for cavity excavation by RCWs are infected by distinct fungal communities, and propose two hypotheses to explain this outcome: the bird facilitation hypothesis and the tree selection hypothesis.
Memento Mori : Gary Lease and the Study of Religion

Gary Lease wrote vividly about the entanglement of religion and power, pursuing critical histories of religious claims and their social support structures. He sought to replace a standard story of religion's ubiquity (often coupled with an attitude of approval) with a much darker version of the human desires and conflicts embedded in, and masking as, religious discourse. But Lease seems to have been fundamentally ambivalent about the object in question. Is it "religion," namely the ideological dynamics deployed by human beings to dominate one another (and themselves), or is it religion, a void or death wish at the heart of human existence, a now-refashioned ubiquity but without the happy ending? I claim that there are profound, and ultimately productive, ambivalences in Lease's attempt cleanly to circumscribe the object of study—ambivalences which makes him a vital interlocutor in the effort to move beyond conventional histories of religion and consciousness.
Sniffing Out Efficacy: Sniffy Lite, a Virtual Animal Lab

We investigated the benefits of using a virtual laboratory, Sniffy Lite CD-ROM (Alloway, Wilson, Graham, & Krames, 2000), as a supplemental teaching tool to present schedules of reinforcement in operant conditioning. Our results suggest that using the virtual laboratory significantly enhanced understanding. Students who used the virtual laboratory earned a mean score of 76% on the measure of comprehension, whereas control group participants who studied an equivalent period of time as the virtual laboratory assignments earned 63%, as did those who received no intervention. Increased student comprehension supports the efficacy of this low-cost learning tool.
Electron density measurements of an inhomogeneous plasma using millimeter wave Fabry-Perot interferometers.

The electron density of a laboratory generated inhomogeneous plasma was measured using 60-90, GHz flat-plate and 150 GHz semi-confocal Fabry-Perot interferometers. The plasma was a negative glow-type and had a measured parabolic electron density profile. An analytical comparison between the derived equations of electron density for an assumed homogeneous plasma slab and an inhomogeneous plasma with parabolic distribution showed that the slab approximation was valid for such a profile. Comparison of measured values of electron density with those using X-band and K-band interferometers for the same plasma indicated good agreement.
Effects produced by fast neutron bombardment of Ge(Li) gamma ray detectors

Abstract The effects of fast neutron bombardment on Ge(Li) gamma-ray detectors have been investigated at neutron energies of 1.10, 5.75 and 16.49 MeV. Measurements were made of reverse leakage current, capacitance, rise-time, energy resolution, and pulse-height decrease as a function of neutron dose. A degradation of energy resolution was the most notable effect and occurred for each energy after approximately 10 10 n/cm 2 . Experiments with a collimated gamma-ray source show that the degradation in energy resolution is due primarily to hole trapping. Calculations were made of the total number of defects produced by the bombardment of 1.2×10 11 n/cm 2 at 1.10 MeV and a value of 1.3×10 13 defects/cm 3 is estimated. Some rougher estimates were made at the other energies. Procedures and results obtained in processing two detectors after irradiation are described. The detector irradiated at 16.49 MeV was restored by redrifting at ∼30°C.
Risk and crisis management in facilities: emerging paradigms in assessing critical incidents

Provides an analysis of why facility managers need to have risk management in the business world today. Details how the risk manager′s duties differ from those of the crisis manager – while the risk manager assesses potential incidents, the crisis manager actually manages a crisis environment. Discusses stockholder business and legal environments, then analyses the chemical waste management and crisis response requirements of different organizations.