cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
M36. Social Cognition Psychometric Evaluation (SCOPE): Results: Of the Final Validation Study.

Abstract Background: Social cognition is increasingly seen as a viable treatment target due to its strong influence on functional outcomes. However, in order to enhance the validity of basic research on social cognition and to improve social cognitive interventions, it is necessary that psychometrically sound measures be used. The current work presents new data from the NIMH-funded Social Cognition Psychometric Evaluation (SCOPE) study, which aims to identify and improve the best existing measures of social cognition so they can be suitably applied in large-scale treatment studies. Initial phases of this project evaluated the psychometric properties of 8 of the most widely used measures and found that the Bell Lysaker Emotion Recognition Task (BLERT) and Hinting Task could be recommended for use in clinical trials but that the Penn Emotion Recognition Task (ER-40), Reading the Mind in the Eyes Task (Eyes), and The Awareness of Social Inferences Test (TASIT) would benefit from modification. Here, we evaluated the reliability and validity of the modified tasks as well as 2 novel tasks. Methods: Two hundred eighteen individuals with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and 154 healthy controls completed a 4-week test-retest study designed to evaluate the psychometric properties of 7 measures of social cognition. Tasks include the BLERT, ER-40, Eyes task, TASIT, Hinting Task, the Mini Profile of Nonverbal Sensitivity (MiniPONS), and the Social Attribution Task – Multiple Choice (SAT-MC). Results: Preliminary data demonstrate that all tasks except the SAT-MC showed adequate test-retest reliability. BLERT, Hinting, SAT and TASIT all showed small, but significant, practice effects, and the SAT-MC showed the greatest degree of practice effects with 10% of the patient sample scoring at or below chance levels. All tasks were significantly correlated with social competence and functional capacity, with BLERT, ER40, Hinting, and TASIT showing the most robust relationships (all r > .40). Likewise, for all tasks, healthy controls performed significantly better than individuals with schizophrenia. The majority of tasks were completed in under 10 minutes, with the exception of TASIT which took 18 minutes on average. Participants reported favorable impressions of all tasks except the MiniPONS. Conclusion: These preliminary psychometric data suggest that the BLERT and Hinting tasks continue to be strong candidates for use in clinical trials. The ER40 also appears to be particularly promising. While the 2 social perception measures (SAT-MC and MiniPONS) have positive features, both show areas of weakness that suggest they may be of more limited use in clinical trials. These findings also highlight the significant need for continued development of psychometrically sound social perception measures.
Dynamic Windows with Neutral Color, High Contrast, and Excellent Durability Using Reversible Metal Electrodeposition

Summary Dynamic windows, which switch between transparent and opaque states upon application of a voltage, have applications in buildings, automobiles, and switchable sunglasses. Here, we describe dynamic windows based on the reversible electrodeposition of Cu and a second metal on transparent indium tin oxide electrodes modified by Pt nanoparticles. Three-electrode cyclic voltammetry experiments reveal that the system possesses high Coulombic efficiency (99.9%), indicating that the metal electrodeposition and stripping processes are reversible. Two-electrode 25-cm 2 windows without bus bars uniformly switch between a transparent state (∼80% transmission) and a color-neutral opaque state (
An Evolving, Evolutionary Science of Human Differences

In this chapter, I trace the transformation of the field of biological anthropology from a science of race to a science of human spatiotemporal variation. This has involved grappling with two fallacies over the course of the twentieth century: first, that there is an underlying zoological taxonomic structure to our species and, second, that political and economic history is the consequence of an underlying biological destiny. The history of this science corroborates the anthropological generalization that no human societies contemplate their ancestors and relatives in purely rational terms; but invariably in meaningful, symbolic, and value-laden ways. Acknowledging these properties in our own science allows us to begin grappling with its political and moral dimensions.
Sexual segregation in Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins is driven by female avoidance of males

In many species, males and females segregate from each other because they allocate time differently, forage on different foods, or tolerate predators differently. In Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, male aggression can deter mixed-sex groups. When males and females encounter each other, males often join females while females often leave males. Females likely evade males to avoid aggression.
Comparison of dynamic plantar foot pressure in normal subjects and patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis for health science research

Gait characteristics are typically used to confirm the movement status of healthy subjects and patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). However, little research has focused on comparing the foot pressure and center of pressure (COP) of healthy subjects and AIS patients. This brief review thus compares foot pressure between healthy subjects and AIS patients and analyzes the resulting data according to variables such as the different parts of the foot for health science research.
Eminence in presence of time-delay and structured uncertainties in linear consensus networks

In this manuscript, we investigate the network centrality based on the coupling graph, structure of network uncertainties and time-delay. The focus of this paper is on time-delay linear consensus networks, where the network uncertainty is modeled by structured additive noise input on the update dynamics of each agent. The performance of the network is measured by the square of the H 2 -norm which manifests itself as the degree of the agreement among the nodes in existence of external disturbances. First, we derive this performance measure as a function of time-delay, the Laplacian matrix of the network, and the covariance matrix of the input noise. We study a few uncertainty structures that have real-world interpretation. Then, we discuss two classes of centrality indices one focusing on intensity of the noise and the other one considering strength of the couplings of the network. In addition, we find an explicit formula for the centrality index for all types of uncertainty structure. Lastly, we rank nodes or edges based on their centrality index and through our examples we discuss the role of time-delay and uncertainty structure in our centrality ranking. Our counter intuitive grasp is that some of centrality measures are highly volatile with respect to time delay.
China’s special economic zones: an analysis of policy to reduce regional disparities

There is no doubt that major regional disparities exist within China. The gap between its eastern coastal regions compared with the central and western regions has only grown wider over time. China...
Spatialized audio improves call sign recognition during multi-aircraft control.

Abstract We investigated the impact of a spatialized audio display on response time, workload, and accuracy while monitoring auditory information for relevance. The human ability to differentiate sound direction implies that spatial audio may be used to encode information. Therefore, it is hypothesized that spatial audio cues can be applied to aid differentiation of critical versus noncritical verbal auditory information. We used a human performance model and a laboratory study involving 24 participants to examine the effect of applying a notional, automated parser to present audio in a particular ear depending on information relevance. Operator workload and performance were assessed while subjects listened for and responded to relevant audio cues associated with critical information among additional noncritical information. Encoding relevance through spatial location in a spatial audio display system--as opposed to monophonic, binaural presentation--significantly reduced response time and workload, particularly for noncritical information. Future auditory displays employing spatial cues to indicate relevance have the potential to reduce workload and improve operator performance in similar task domains. Furthermore, these displays have the potential to reduce the dependence of workload and performance on the number of audio cues.
A single, extinction-based treatment with a kappa opioid receptor agonist elicits a long-term reduction in cocaine relapse.

Kappa opioid receptor (KOR) agonists have known anti-addiction properties and can reduce drug seeking. Their potential for clinical use has largely been daunted by their aversive properties mediated through p38 MAPK signaling. Here we examined the therapeutic potential of the KOR agonist U50,488 (U50) to reduce cocaine seeking in a self-administration model. Following cocaine self-administration and 7 days of forced home-cage abstinence, rats were administered a single dose of U50 (5 mg/kg, i.p.) 30 min prior to the first extinction training session, wherein cocaine and the discrete cocaine-paired cues were no longer available. U50 reduced cocaine seeking on this first extinction session, but did not alter extinction training over subsequent days. 2 weeks after U50 treatment, rats underwent a test of cue-induced reinstatement, and rats that had received U50 reinstated less than controls. Central inhibition of p38 MAPK at the time of U50 administration prevented its long-term therapeutic effect on reinstatement, but not its acute reduction in drug seeking on extinction day 1. The long-term therapeutic effect of U50 required operant extinction during U50 exposure, extended to cocaine-primed reinstatement, and was not mimicked by another aversive drug, lithium chloride (LiCl). These data suggest U50 elicits its long-term anti-relapse effects through a KOR-p38 MAPK-specific aversive counterconditioning of the operant cocaine-seeking response. A single, albeit aversive treatment that is able to reduce relapse long-term warrants further consideration of the therapeutic potential of KOR agonists in the treatment of addiction.
Impaired coronary contraction to phenylephrine after cardioplegic arrest in diabetic patients.

Abstract Background We have previously found that hyperkalemic cardioplegic arrest in the setting of cardiopulmonary bypass (CP/CPB) is associated with impairment of the coronary arteriolar response to phenylephrine in nondiabetic (ND) patients. We hypothesized that diabetes may alter coronary arteriolar response to alpha-1 adrenergic agonist in the setting of CP/CPB. In this study, we further investigated the effects of diabetes on the altered coronary arteriolar response to phenylephrine in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Methods Coronary arterioles (90-150 μm in diameter) were harvested pre- and post-CP/CPB from the ND and diabetic mellitus (DM) patients (n = 8/group) undergoing cardiac surgery. In-vitro microvascular reactivity was examined in response to phenylephrine. The protein expression/localization of the alpha-1 adrenergic receptors in the atrial myocardium was measured by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Results Phenylephrine (10−9 to 10−4 M) induced a dose-dependent contractile response in both ND and DM vessels pre- and post-CP/CPB. There was no significant difference in the pre-CP/CPB contractile responses to phenylephrine between ND and DM groups. The post-CP/CPB contractile response was significantly diminished in both ND and DM groups compared with the respective pre-CP/CPB response (P Conclusions Diabetes is associated with a decreased contractile response of coronary arterioles to phenylephrine in the setting of CP/CPB versus that observed in ND patients. This alteration may contribute to the vasomotor dysfunction of coronary microcirculation seen early after CP/CPB in patients with diabetes.
Improving Science Teacher Education Practice: Influence from Professional Development School Involvement

Professional development school collaborations provide opportunities for science teacher educators to collaborate with full-time K-12 classroom teachers to enact simultaneous renewal. Nathan Carnes participated within this school–university partnership structure and shares how his involvement impacted how he prepares teacher candidates for classroom realities. Dr. Carnes approaches his story of professional growth from the perspective of building on his personal accounts of middle level science teaching and a desire to make professional knowledge relevant to preservice teachers. What Nate learns (and relearns) in middle school classrooms adds greater credibility and practicality to his teaching.
Identifying health policy and systems research priorities on multisectoral collaboration for health in low-income and middle-income countries.

Introduction While efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have reinvigorated interest in multisectoral collaborations (MSCs) among the global health and development community, there remains a plethora of questions about how best to conceptualise, plan, implement, evaluate and sustain MSCs. The objective of this paper is to present research priorities on MSC for health from researchers and policymakers around the globe, with an emphasis on low-income and middle-income countries. Methods The authors identified 30 priority research questions from two sources: (1) 38 review articles on MSC for health, and (2) interviews and focus groups with a total of 81 policymakers, including government officials (largely from ministries of health and state/provincial departments of health, but also offices of planning, public service, social development, the prime minister and others), large multilateral or bilateral organisations, and non-governmental organisations. In a third phase, questions were refined and ranked by a diverse group of researchers from around the globe using an online voting platform. Results The top-ranked questions focused predominantly on pragmatic questions, such as how best to structure, implement and sustain MSCs, as well as how to build stakeholder capacity and community partnerships. Despite substantial variation between review articles, policymakers’ reflections and online ranking by researchers, two topics emerged as research priorities for all three: (1) leadership, partnership and governance structures for MSCs; and (2) MSC implementation strategies and mechanisms. The review articles underscored the need for more guidance on appropriate study designs and methods for investigating MSCs, which may be a prerequisite for other identified research priorities. Conclusion These findings could inform efforts within and beyond the health sector to better align research objectives and funding with the evidence needs of policymakers grappling with questions about how best to leverage MSCs to achieve UHC and the SDGs.
Time-Resolved Velocity Measurements in a Matched Refractive Index Facility of Randomly Packed Spheres

Complex geometries and randomly connected void spaces within packed beds have hindered efforts to characterize the underlying transport phenomena occurring within. In this communication, we present our experimental studies on a facility of randomly packed spheres that can be a representative of sections within a reactor core in a nuclear power plant. The results of high-fidelity velocity measurements can be seen using Time-Resolved Particle Image Velocimetry (TR-PIV) at the pore scales and near the wall boundary in the Matched Index of Refraction (MIR) facility. The MIR approach allows for a non-invasive analysis of the flow within packed spheres at the microscopic scales with high temporal and spatial resolution. Flow characteristics obtained from the TR-PIV measurements at various Reynolds numbers are presented. The results include the first- and second-order flow statistics, such as mean velocity, root-mean-square fluctuating velocity and Reynolds stresses. Effects of the wall boundary and Reynolds numbers on flow patterns are currently being investigated. Comparisons of the mean velocities, root-mean-square fluctuating velocities, and Reynolds stress components show the increase of flow mixing and turbulent intensities within the gaps between spheres in the packed bed. Sizes of recirculation regions, however, seem to be independent of the increase of Reynolds numbers.Copyright © 2018 by ASME
Input-to-Output Instantaneous Polarization Characterization

This paper proposes a method to represent and predict received signal instantaneous polarization states as a function of arbitrary transmit polarization states for time-dispersive channels. The model incorporates frequency-dependent characterizations to represent the polarization dispersion behavior of a received signal across its bandwidth in a multipath channel. The representation takes advantage of signal dispersion features typical of depolarized signals, and employs subbanded characterizations to achieve polarization representations exhibiting high degrees of polarization in each subband. Experiments are conducted that demonstrate the utility of the modeling approach to predict polarization dispersion responses for arbitrary transmit polarizations based on measurements from two orthogonal transmit polarizations.
EEG in WNV Neuroinvasive Disease.

Purpose Neuroinvasive West Nile virus (WNV) is rare, occurring in less than 1% of those infected, and may manifest as meningitis, encephalitis, and/or acute flaccid paralysis. Patients may present initially with nonspecific symptoms including fevers. Although rare, neuroinvasive WNV is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The mainstay of treatment is supportive care. Electroencephalography (EEG) allows for identification of nonconvulsive status epilepticus and other epileptiform and nonepileptiform patterns suggestive of underlying cognitive dysfunction. Our aim was to describe specific EEG patterns observed in WNV neuroinvasive disease. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted. West Nile virus was confirmed with serum and/or cerebrospinal fluid markers. Patients with a history of abnormal EEG were excluded. Electroencephalography reports were classified into categories based on the presence of epileptiform activity, focal slowing, generalized periodic discharges with triphasic morphology, and frontally predominant generalized rhythmic delta activity. Results In our cohort of 34 patients, 60% of focal EEG abnormalities were anterior-predominant, seen as epileptiform discharges, focal slowing, or frontally predominant generalized rhythmic delta activity. Nonepileptiform EEG patterns included nonspecific slowing and generalized periodic discharges with triphasic morphology. Two patients had electrographic seizures, one arising from the frontocentral head region. Conclusions EEGs are important in the evaluation of WNV infection to rule out seizures or alternative causes of encephalopathy, and because of the risk of nonconvulsive seizures or status epilepticus in encephalitis. Although an anterior predominance of EEG abnormalities was seen in our cohort, this most likely is more correlative to encephalopathy than WNV itself. Although a specific correlative EEG pattern may not accompany all cases of WNV neuroinvasive disease, WNV should be considered as a possible etiology in patients presenting with an encephalitic or meningitic syndrome in the presence of abnormal EEG findings including encephalopathic patterns, particularly those with anterior predominant EEG changes.
Epidermal Ia molecules from the I-A and I-EC subregions of the mouse H-2 complex

Immune response region-associated (Ia) antigens encoded by genes in theI-A orI-EC subregions have been detected on murine epidermal cells by indirect immunoprecipitation, using antisera produced against murine lymphoid cells. The Ia antigens encoded by genes in these subregions are composed of two polypeptides with approximate molecular weights of 33,000 and 28,000. The Ia antigens are not derived from contaminating B- or T-cell populations. The Ia molecules from lymphocytes and epidermal cells appear to have identical subunit structures and very similar, if not identical, molecular weights. The possible biological role of the Ia antigens on epidermal cells is discussed.
Cognitive, affective, and physiological expressions of anxiety symptomatology among Mexican migrant farmworkers: Predictors and generational differences

Scant research has examined the mental health of migrant farmworkers in the United States. The purposes of the present study were threefold: to assess the prevalence levels of anxiety symptoms in a sample of Mexican migrant farmworkers in the Midwest United States; to examine the relationship between acculturative stress and anxiety; and to determine the variables that significantly predict anxiety. High levels were found for overall anxiety and in the cognitive, affective, and physiological expressions of anxiety. Elevated acculturative stress, low self esteem, ineffective social support, lack of control and choice in the decision to live a migrant farmworker lifestyle, low religiosity, and high education were significantly related to high anxiety levels. The overall findings suggest that Mexican migrant farmworkers who experience high acculturative stress may be at risk for developing anxiety-related disorders. The findings highlight the necessity of establishing prevention and treatment services for migrant farmworkers that increase levels of emotional support, self esteem, and coping skills.
How to Make an Expert: The Social Network Drivers of Expert Development

This paper adopts a network view of organizational structure to explain how firms may implement structures and policies that facilitate the development of its employees from novices to experts. The...
Expectations of Psychiatry Residents’ Clinical Competence

Recent studies10 have described perceptions by psychiatric educators and residents of the relative importance of various training objectives and also the degree to which those training objectives were accomplished in the process of psychiatric residency training. These studies have shown good agreement among faculty about the relative importance of most objectives. However, one study of residents’ views found a disparity between the views of residents and training directors, with residents giving lower ratings than training directors to both the importance of certain training objectives and their perceived accomplishment of those objectives,5 We designed the present study to extend these findings with a diverse group of faculty and residents, looking more closely at both the dimensions of skill expectations and the rate at which various skills are expected to be developed over the four years of training.
Disparities in Cancer Incidence and Trends among American Indians and Alaska Natives in the United States, 2010-2015.

Background: Cancer incidence rates for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations vary by geographic region in the United States. The purpose of this study is to examine cancer incidence rates and trends in the AI/AN population compared with the non-Hispanic white population in the United States for the years 2010 to 2015. Methods: Cases diagnosed during 2010 to 2015 were identified from population-based cancer registries and linked with the Indian Health Service (IHS) patient registration databases to describe cancer incidence rates in non-Hispanic AI/AN persons compared with non-Hispanic whites (whites) living in IHS purchased/referred care delivery area counties. Age-adjusted rates were calculated for the 15 most common cancer sites, expressed per 100,000 per year. Incidence rates are presented overall as well as by region. Trends were estimated using joinpoint regression analyses. Results: Lung and colorectal cancer incidence rates were nearly 20% to 2.5 times higher in AI/AN males and nearly 20% to nearly 3 times higher in AI/AN females compared with whites in the Northern Plains, Southern Plains, Pacific Coast, and Alaska. Cancers of the liver, kidney, and stomach were significantly higher in the AI/AN compared with the white population in all regions. We observed more significant decreases in cancer incidence rates in the white population compared with the AI/AN population. Conclusions: Findings demonstrate the importance of examining cancer disparities between AI/AN and white populations. Disparities have widened for lung, female breast, and liver cancers. Impact: These findings highlight opportunities for targeted public health interventions to reduce AI/AN cancer incidence.
Small Diameter Xenogeneic Extracellular Matrix Scaffolds for Vascular Applications

Currently, despite the success of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) remains among the most commonly performed cardiac surgical procedures in the United States. Unfortunately, the use of autologous grafts in CABG presents a major clinical challenge as complications due to autologous vessel harvest and limited vessel availability pose a significant setback in the success rate of CABG surgeries. Acellular extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds derived from xenogeneic vascular tissues have the potential to overcome these challenges, as they offer unlimited availability and sufficient length to serve as "off-the-shelf" CABGs. Unfortunately, regardless of numerous efforts to produce a fully functional small diameter xenogeneic ECM scaffold, the combination of factors required to overcome all failure mechanisms in a single graft remains elusive. This article covers the major failure mechanisms of current xenogeneic small diameter vessel ECM scaffolds, and reviews the recent advances in the field to overcome these failure mechanisms and ultimately develop a small diameter ECM xenogeneic scaffold for CABG. Impact Statement Currently, the use of autologous vessel in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is common practice. However, the use of autologous tissue poses significant complications due to tissue harvest and limited availability. Developing an alternative vessel for use in CABG can potentially increase the success rate of CABG surgery by eliminating complications related to the use of autologous vessel. However, this development has been hindered by an array of failure mechanisms that currently have not been overcome. This article describes the currently identified failure mechanisms of small diameter vascular xenogeneic extracellular matrix scaffolds and reviews current research targeted to overcoming these failure mechanisms toward ensuring long-term graft patency.
Spatio-temporal variations in unmet need for family planning in Ghana: 2003–2014

Ghana has long prioritized family planning as a key strategy for improving health and socioeconomic development. However, despite the heavy investments in the sector over the last decade, the family planning program has not successfully improved the country’s family planning indicators. In this study, we describe the spatial and temporal patterns of unmet need for family planning from 2003 to 2014 and mainly estimate the socioeconomic factors affecting it. Using data from the 2003, 2008, and 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys, we map the regional and temporal trends in unmet need for family planning and used Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models to estimate the effects of individual-level socioeconomic characteristics on unmet need for family planning. The results show that there are considerable regional disparities in unmet need for family planning for the study period. These disparities show diverse trends among the ten regions in the country over the study period. The patterns of unmet need for family planning are considerably affected by socioeconomic factors such as educational attainment, household wealth, marital, and work status, as well as age, ethnicity, parity, and time (year). Both socioeconomic and demographic factors play a significant role in the patterns of unmet need for family planning in Ghana. There is the need to formulate consistently effective family planning policies focusing mainly on the higher risk groups of women in the country.
Interference in multi-user optical wireless communications systems.

Visible light communications (VLC) (including LiFi) represent a subset of the broader field of optical wireless communications. Where narrow beams, typical of free space optical communications are ...
Anthocyanin Genes as Visual Markers for Wheat Transformation

Regulatory genes of the maize anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway have proven useful as scorable markers for transformation because of their high sensitivity, ease of visualization, cell-autonomous expression and lack of requirement for exogenous substrates. This is particularly advantageous when using particle bombardment as a DNA delivery system, since cells expressing genes can be counted easily and unambiguously (Bowen 1992). Furthermore, the cells that have been damaged by microprojectile bombardment can still express GUS (giving false positive), but they will not accumulate anthocyanin since the latter requires an intact vacuole and coordinate expression of many genes. Expression of anthocyanin genes in plant tissues will be useful where false positive results have been reported due to intrinsic GUS-like activity in several plant parts (Hu et al. 1990) and GUS production by endophytic microorganisms (Tor et al. 1992). The anthocyanin markers permit visualization of transgenic tissue from the beginning and throughout development without sacrificing the tissues. In addition, expression of anthocyanin genes in transformed tissues can provide a system for investigating the regulation of gene expression in plants, which is difficult with GUS (Ben-fey et al. 1990). Transient and stable expression of anthocyanin genes in various corn intact tissues (Klein et al. 1988; Ludwig et al. 1990; Wong et al. 1991; Bowen 1992; Dunder et al. 1993) and transient expression in wheat seedling tissues (Wong et al. 1991) has been reported previously. We have used anthocyanin as a visual marker for optimization of bombardment conditions using different target tissues (transiently) and evaluation of different selectable markers (stably) for wheat transformation by selecting the transformants visually in the early stage of development.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith: A Student Introduction to Federal Tax Compliance and Documentation

In this case, students assume the role of new accounting staff tasked with the preparation of a personal income tax return and supporting documentation for a perennial client of their firm. Students are provided with a prior year engagement file (consisting of prior year working papers, client communications, and a copy of last year’s tax return) as well as a letter and initial set of documents from the client detailing activities for the current year. To complete the tax return and required documentation for the current year, students first generate questions based on the initial information provided and meet with a senior accountant to determine which questions are appropriate for a meeting with the client. Students then have a face-to-face meeting with the client before completing the current year engagement file for senior review.The overarching goal of the case is to expand classroom tax education by illustrating to students how class topics translate to the preparation of a tax return for an actual client. Several specific learning objectives are targeted. First, this case encourages a level of critical thinking beyond traditional textbook cases and problem sets, requiring students to evaluate several pieces of information to determine what additional details may be needed to complete the case. Second, formulating questions for the client provides students with practice discussing technical topics in a non-technical manner and underscores the required balance between attitudes of client advocacy stressed in professional tax practice and the requirements for “good-faith” tax return reporting embodied in IRS Circular 230. Third, the use of electronic working papers familiarizes students with methods commonly used in practice and allows further development of Excel skills. Fourth, the use of prior year working papers to aid preparation of a current year engagement file illustrates to students the value of strong supporting documentation and helps them practice valuable written communication skills (Bagley and Harp 2012). Finally, the case provides students with an opportunity to apply many of the basic concepts and technical rules discussed in the classroom, tying them all together in one assignment. This case is appropriate for an individual income tax course at either the undergraduate or graduate level, and can be easily adapted to increase or decrease difficulty.
Ten-Year Follow-up of Persons With Sun-Damaged Skin Associated With Subsequent Development of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Importance Risk of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) after the diagnosis of actinic keratosis (AK) has not been studied during long follow-up periods. Objective To estimate the risk up to 10 years and identify risk factors for cSCC development. Design, Setting, and Participants This longitudinal cohort study, performed from January 1, 2009, to February 29, 2020, examined Kaiser Permanente Northern California patients with AK and control patients matched 1:1 on age, sex, race/ethnicity, medical center, and date of the initial diagnosis plus 30 days in the patients with AK. Exposures Patients with AK and control participants were followed up for up to 10 years for incidence of cSCC. Main Outcomes and Measures Incident cSCC was obtained from pathologic data, and subdistribution hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, accounting for competing risks, calendar year, demographic factors, and number of AKs. Results The study included 220 236 patients with AK and 220 236 matched control patients (mean [SD] age, 64.1 [12.2] years; 231 248 [52.5%] female). After losses to follow-up were accounted for, risk of cSCC increased with each year of follow-up by 1.92% (95% CI, 1.89%-1.95%) in patients with AK and 0.83% (95% CI, 0.81%-0.85%) in matched control patients (subdistribution HR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.85-1.95). However, among patients 49 years or younger, those diagnosed with AK were nearly 7 times more likely to be diagnosed with cSCC than those without AK (HR, 6.77; 95% CI, 5.50-8.32). At 10 years, the cumulative incidence of cSCC reached 17.1% (95% CI, 16.9%-17.4%) in patients with AK and 5.7% (95% CI, 5.5%-5.9%) in control patients. Increased numbers of AKs were modestly associated with increased cSCC risk (≥15 AKs vs 1 AK: subdistribution HR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.75-2.04). Older patients had much higher risk of cSCC than younger patients (compared with those ≤49 years of age at AK diagnosis; ≥80 years of age: subdistribution HR, 8.18; 95% CI, 7.62-8.78). Other than AK, risk factors for cSCC included older age, White race (a proxy for skin type), history of basal cell carcinoma, and male sex. Risk decreased between 2009 and 2019 (2018-2019 vs 2009-2010: subdistribution HR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.63-0.72). Conclusions and Relevance The results of this longitudinal cohort study can be used to develop recommendations to increase early detection of cSCC. Additional research is needed to understand the effect of AK treatment on cSCC risk and outcomes of cSCC.
Optimizing Diagnostic Accuracy and Treatment Decisions in Men With Testosterone Deficiency

Abstract Objective This narrative review offers a guideline-based approach for optimizing diagnostic evaluation and treatment decision making in men being evaluated for testosterone deficiency. Methods A narrative review. Results Testosterone deficiency is a clinical syndrome that results from the inability of the testes to produce normal amounts of testosterone and is characterized by a constellation of symptoms and signs associated with consistently low testosterone concentrations. The diagnosis of testosterone deficiency is made by the ascertainment of symptoms and signs; the measurement of total and, if indicated, free testosterone levels in early-morning fasting samples on ≥2 days; the measurement of luteinizing hormone and follicular-stimulating hormone levels to distinguish primary from secondary hypogonadism; and an additional evaluation to ascertain the cause of testosterone deficiency. Nonspecificity of symptoms and signs, variations in testosterone levels over time, inaccuracy in the measurement of total and free testosterone levels, variations in binding protein concentrations, and suboptimal reference ranges contribute to diagnostic inaccuracy. Testosterone treatment is indicated for men with symptomatic testosterone deficiency. Testosterone treatment should be avoided in men with prostate or breast cancer, erythrocytosis, thrombophilia, increased risk of prostate cancer or severe lower urinary tract symptoms without prior urologic evaluation, a recent major adverse cardiovascular event, uncontrolled heart failure, or severe untreated sleep apnea. Testosterone replacement therapy should be accompanied by a standardized monitoring plan. Conclusion A shared decision of the patient and physician to treat should be guided by the consideration of the burden of symptoms, potential benefits and risks, patient’s values, and the cost and burden of long-term treatment and monitoring.
An overview of penetration behavior in magnesium alloys

Abstract The combination of alloying and thermo-mechanical processing are used to design advanced magnesium alloys. In this work a comprehensive review of existing ballistic data on magnesium alloys is examined with a focus of connecting how the microstructure is generated during processing, and how it gives a particular ballistic response. Simple analytical descriptions of material response and ballistic response are used in this work to connect microstructure and properties to ballistic performance, which should be accessible to both materials scientists as well as practiced ballisticians. Based on the ballistic data and accompanying analysis of failure behavior, future efforts for improved ballistic performance of magnesium should focus on further development of rare-earth-containing alloys, dilute high strength alloys, and heavily pre-twinned microstructures.
Comparative Effectiveness of Digital Breast Tomosynthesis and Mammography in Older Women.

Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) has become a prevalent mode of breast cancer screening in recent years. Although older women are commonly screened for breast cancer, little is known about screening outcomes using DBT among older women. To assess proximal screening outcomes with DBT compared to traditional two-dimensional(2-D) mammography among women 67–74 and women 75 and older. Cohort study. Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries aged 67 years and older with no history of prior cancer who received a screening mammogram in 2015. Use of subsequent imaging (ultrasound and diagnostic mammography) as an indication of recall, breast cancer detection, and characteristics of breast cancer at the time of diagnosis. Analyses used weighted logistic regression to adjust for potential confounders. Our study included 26,406 women aged 67–74 and 17,001 women 75 and older who were screened for breast cancer. Among women 75 and older, the rate of subsequent imaging among women screened with DBT did not differ significantly from 2-D mammography (91.8 versus 97.0 per 1,000 screening mammograms, p=0.37). In this age group, DBT was associated with 2.1 additional cancers detected per 1,000 screening mammograms compared to 2D (11.5 versus 9.4, p=0.003), though these additional cancers were almost exclusively in situ and stage I invasive cancers. For women 67–74 years old, DBT was associated with a higher rate of subsequent imaging than 2-D mammography (113.9 versus 100.3, p=0.004) and a higher rate of stage I invasive cancer detection (4.7 versus 3.7, p=0.002), but not other stages. Breast cancer screening with DBT was not associated with lower rates of subsequent imaging among older women. Most additional cancers detected with DBT were early stage. Whether detecting these additional early-stage cancers among older women improves health outcomes remains uncertain.
Mentors in self-advocacy: beacons to employment

Over the last several years organizations and agencies, across the country, have begun developing and delivering excellent self-advocacy training programs. Classroom training programs, by themselves are not proving effective as a strategy to assist persons with disabilities to obtain suitable careers. Unemployment among persons with disabilities continues to remain at a high level. An effective self-advocacy mentor program can assist the customer in navigating the vocational delivery system in route to a career. With vocational rehabilitation programs coming under attack for being too expensive and ineffective, it is time to use creative and innovative approaches. Experienced self-advocates. serving as mentors, and working in partnership with vocational counselors is an approach worthy of consideration. This article will describe the development of the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center's self advocacy mentoring program.
Rethinking the phase in single-channel SAR imagery

Focused single-channel synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery is a complex-valued. The common practice in the radar community is to entirely discard the phase information and to only use the detected intensity or magnitude image. This practice hinges on the hypotheses of the so-called fully-developed speckle model which is no more applicable to sub-meter high-resolution SAR imagery. Through properly utilizing the phase information content, not only the spatial resolution present in the complex-valued SAR image is retained, but also the accuracy of detection and recognition of targets can be potentially boosted. Two main contributions are presented in this paper. First, a novel method termed backscatter relative phase image (BRPI) is proposed to characterize the phase content in single-channel SAR imagery. Second, the von Mises (vM) distribution is adopted as a new statistical model for modeling the characteristic phase. The applicability of our proposed algorithm is demonstrated on ground-truthed Radarsat-2 civilian vehicle targets. The proposed method is straightforward to use with any complex-valued high-resolution radar data other than SAR.
Cardiovascular Outcomes and Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors: Beyond Blood Pressure Control

Atherosclerosis and its complications, stroke, coronary artery disease and peripheral arterial disease, remain the leading cause of mortality and morbidity and are increasing in incidence in the developing world [1]. Multiple mechanisms are associated with the development of atherosclerosis but since the discovery of renin by Tigerstedt and Bergman [2] more that 100 years ago, the renin–angiotensin system (RAS) has been focus of intensive investigative efforts. Although our understanding of the RAS and the development of atherosclerosis has grown increasingly complex, inhibition of the RAS with an angiotensinconverting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I) has become a firmly established therapeutic approach for reducing morbidity and the risk of death across a broad spectrum of cardiovascular diseases based on multiple, well-conducted, randomized clinical outcome trials (RCT) [3–6]. The benefits of ACE-I on clinical outcomes are due in part to blood pressure control but other mechanisms beyond blood pressure lowering, such as their anti-atherosclerotic properties has been postulated in recent clinical trials [7]. These clinical trials have broadened our knowledge of management of cardiovascular risk The Heart Outcome Prevention and Evaluation (HOPE) study [8] demonstrated the benefits of ACE-I on clinical outcomes in patients with established atherosclerosis or diabetes. The HOPE study by excluding patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction and heart failure made obvious that the ACE-I ramipril not only reduced cardiovascular mortality, but also significantly reduced incidence of myocardial infarction and stroke. Similarly, the European Reduction of Cardiac Events with Perindopril in Stable Coronary Artery Disease (EUROPA) [9] study demonstrated that inhibition of the RAS with an ACE-I perindopril will result in secondary prevention of coronary events in a much broader population, patients with stable coronary disease irrespective of risk profile. The ACE-I perindopril in EUROPA [9] significantly reduced the combined endpoint of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and resuscitated sudden cardiac death by 20%. However studies such as PEACE [10] failed to replicate the results of EUROPA and HOPE. In the PEACE trial, patients with coronary artery disease and with preserved left ventricular systolic function treated with ACE-I trandolapril in a dose of 4 mg for several years did not show any reduction in cardiovascular outcomes. The lack of benefits of trandolapril in PEACE may be due to a lower cardiovascular risk population included in the trial and that patients were optimally treated with other evidence based treatments such as statins, beta blockers, antiplatelets and revascularization therefore they do not benefit with additional ACE-I. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther (2009) 23:109–111 DOI 10.1007/s10557-008-6152-5
Use of Ar+ plasma etching to localize structural proteins in the capsid of herpes simplex virus type 1.

Abstract Partially cored herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) capsids (B capsids) were eroded in a low-energy (0.5-keV) Ar+ ion plasma under conditions in which the outermost structural proteins were expected to be degraded before more internal ones. After various periods of etching, the proteins remaining intact were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and determined quantitatively by densitometric scanning of the stained gels. The results showed that the major capsid polypeptide (VP5) and two other capsid proteins, VP19 and VP23, were degraded rapidly beginning as soon as capsids were exposed to the ion plasma. In contrast, significant lags were observed for erosion of VP21, VP22a, and VP24, suggesting that these proteins were available to accelerated ions only after other, more external structures had been damaged or eroded away. The results suggest that VP5, VP19, and VP23 are exposed on the surface of the capsid, while VP21, VP22a, and VP24 are found inside the capsid cavity. The experiments are consistent with the view that VP5 constitutes the major structural component of the hexavalent capsomers. It is proposed that VP19 and VP23 may form other surface structures such as the pentavalent capsomers, the capsid floor, or the intercapsomeric fibers.
Verifying Temporal Properties of Reactive Systems: A STeP Tutorial

We review a number of formal verification techniques supported by STeP, the Stanford Temporal Prover, describing how the tool can be used to verify properties of several versions of the Bakery Mutual exclusion algorithm for mutual exclusion. We verify the classic two-process algorithm and simple variants, as well as an atomic parameterized version. The methods used include deductive verification rules, verification diagrams, automatic invariant generation, and finite-state model checking and abstraction.
Effects of zinc substitution on the electron superconductor Nd 1.85 Ce 0.15 CuO 4 − δ

We report the effects of Zn substitution for Cu on the superconducting properties of the electron superconductor ${\mathrm{Nd}}_{1.85}$${\mathrm{Ce}}_{0.15}$${\mathrm{CuO}}_{4\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$. Detailed comparisons are made to earlier work on Zn substitution effects on the single-${\mathrm{CuO}}_{2}$-layer hole superconductor ${\mathrm{La}}_{1.85}$${\mathrm{Sr}}_{0.15}$${\mathrm{CuO}}_{4\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$. Theoretical implications are discussed briefly.