cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Family Caregiver Needs and Preferences for Virtual Training to Manage Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia: Interview Study.

Background: Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are associated with increased stress, burden, and depression among family caregivers of people with dementia. STAR-Caregivers Virtual Training and Follow-up (STAR-VTF) is adapted from an evidence-based, in-person program that trains family caregivers to manage BPSD. We used a human-centered design approach to obtain feedback from family caregivers about STAR-VTF. The program will be evaluated using a pragmatic randomized trial. Objective: The objective of the study was to understand the needs of family caregivers for improving BPSD management and the extent to which caregivers perceived that STAR-VTF could address those needs. Methods: Between July and September 2019, we conducted 15 semistructured interviews with family caregivers of people with dementia who receive care at Kaiser Permanente Washington in the Seattle metropolitan area. We identified participants from electronic health records, primarily based on a prescription for antipsychotic medication for the person with dementia (a proxy for caregivers dealing with BPSD). We showed caregivers low-fidelity prototypes of STAR-VTF online self-directed materials and verbally described potential design elements. We obtained caregiver feedback on these elements, focusing on their needs and preferences and perceived barriers to using STAR-VTF. We used a hybrid approach of inductive and deductive coding and aggregated codes to develop themes. Results: The idea of a virtual training program for learning to manage BPSD appealed to caregivers. They said health care providers did not provide adequate education in the early disease stages about the personality and behavior symptoms that can affect people with dementia. Caregivers found it unexpected and frustrating when the person with dementia began experiencing BPSD, symptoms they felt unprepared to manage. Accordingly, caregivers expressed a strong desire for the health care organization to offer programs such as STAR-VTF much sooner. Caregivers had already put considerable effort into problem solving challenging behaviors. They anticipated deriving less value from STAR-VTF at that point. Nonetheless, many were interested in the virtual aspect of the training due to the convenience of receiving help from home and the perception that help from a virtual program would be timelier than traditional service modalities (eg, face to face). Given caregivers’ limited time, they suggested dividing the STAR-VTF content into chunks to review as time permitted. Caregivers were interested in having a STAR-VTF provider for additional support in managing challenging behaviors. Caregivers reported a preference for having the same coach for the program duration. Conclusions: Caregivers we interviewed would likely accept a virtual training program such as STAR-VTF to obtain information about BPSD and receive help managing it. Family caregivers anticipated deriving more value if STAR-VTF was offered earlier in the disease course.
Contrasting Ligand-Exchange Behavior of Wurtzite and Zinc-Blende Cadmium Telluride Nanoplatelets

The ligand-exchange chemistries of wurtzite (WZ) and zinc-blende (ZB) CdTe nanoplatelets are compared and contrasted. WZ CdTe nanoplatelets of composition (CdTe)[(n-octylamine)0.15(oleylamine)0.27]...
Creating Narrative Entertainment for Health Communication: Perspectives from Practice:

This project aimed to explore the perspectives of entertainment industry and health communication practitioners in the United States on creating health storylines in entertainment programming. Thes...
Trends in Opioid Prescriptions after Laparoscopic Sterilization.

Background and Objectives Examine trends in opioid prescriptions after laparoscopic sterilization over time, and identify any individual patient, provider, or procedural factors influencing prescribing. Methods A retrospective observational cohort analysis of laparoscopic sterilizations between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2019 at Montefiore Medical Center. A review of the medical records was performed and information on patient demographics, comorbid conditions, and surgical characteristics were collected. The number of opioid pills prescribed postoperatively and any pain related patient calls, visits, or refills was recorded. Results Between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2019, 615 laparoscopic sterilizations were performed. The median number of opioid pills prescribed was 10, ranging from 0 to 40. There was a significant decrease in the number of opioid pills prescribed (p < .0001) and refill incidence (p < .001) over time. Patients with a documented diagnosis of pelvic pain received significantly more opioid pills (p = .02), as did patients who underwent tubal occlusion versus salpingectomy (p = .01). There was no association between the number of opioid pills prescribed and other patient or procedural characteristics. Finally, the number of pills prescribed was not associated with urgent patient contact (p = .34). Conclusions The overall number of opioid pills prescribed after laparoscopic sterilization decreased at our institution over time, which paralleled a decrease in refills and urgent postoperative patient contact. Further, few clinical characteristics influenced postoperative prescribing and there was no association between number of pills prescribed and urgent patient contact. These findings suggest excess prescribing and highlight the need to identify and adopt an evidenced-based approach to postsurgical opioid prescriptions.
Fate of 150 year old beaver ponds in the Laurentian Great Lakes region.

The North American beaver, Castor canadensis, has recovered from historic overtrapping, recolonizing much of its former range as its population expanded. Previous studies using historical aerial photos document recent increases in number of beaver ponds, but the long-term sustainability of beaver populations and their ponds over centuries of landscape alteration is unknown. This paper analyzes the fate of beaver ponds mapped in 1868 near Ishpeming, Michigan, USA. Of the 64 beaver dam and pond sites mapped in the 1860s, 72 % were still discernible in 2014. Land use changes that altered the terrain (mining, residential development) or stream paths (channelization) were the main sources of beaver pond loss. This remarkable consistency in beaver pond placement over the last 150 years is evidence of the beaver’s resilience.
AAHE's seven principles for good practice applied to an online literacy course

Many of the Computer Science courses at Middle Tennessee State University contain material that a student can access online. However until Spring 2001, the Computer Science department had never offered a course that was completely online. The actual course development began in Fall 2000 when the authors decided that an online Computer Literacy course should be offered. The course was offered for the first time in Spring 2001 and for the second time in Fall 2001.The authors prepared for the course by reviewing the literature and gathering best practices. Many decisions had to be made during the course development phase including developing guidelines to allow a student to enroll in the class, creation of a method to orient the student to the class, deciding course content and makeup of course materials, deciding on the actual course delivery method, and finally determining how testing and grading would be handled. During this decision making phase, the best practices learned were utilized extensively.When the course actually started, there was a whole new set of learning experiences. Learning experiences included the discovery that an online course is definitely not for everyone and that an online course is time-intensive for the instructor even after course materials are developed. This paper will discuss the best practices learned and how they were used to develop course materials and procedures for the class. Finally a list of tips summarizing the learning experiences and recommendations will be shared.
Adaptive synaptogenesis constructs networks which allocate network resources by category frequency

Demonstrates the effectiveness of two adaptive processes in constructing simple, feedforward networks which allocate the resources of the output layer based on the frequencies of the categories that compose the input environment. Specifically, the adaptive processes build networks which allocate more output layer resources to categories that appear more frequently in the input. In turn, less frequently appearing input categories are allocated fewer output resources. The two adaptive processes, synaptogenesis and associative modification, build a network connectivity in initially unconnected networks. The first process, synaptogenesis, creates new synaptic connections; the second process, associative synaptic modification, modifies the strength of existing synaptic connections. Because these processes operate in a unsupervised fashion using only information available locally at the neurons and synapses, they provide a biologically plausible model for the allocation of neural resources. >
A previously unrecognized drug interaction between quinidine and digoxin

Following the development of digoxin radioimmunoassay, we noted that serum digoxin concentrations appeared to rise in patients given quinidine. To further evaluate this important possible interaction between digoxin and quinidine, charts from 863 cardiology patients were reviewed. Ninety two patients received both drugs after having been on digoxin alone; 38 were ineligible for the study because of insufficient data and 27 were excluded because of changing renal function and/or concomitant antiarrhythmic drug therapy, leaving 27. Serum digoxin increased in 25 of the 27 study patients (93%) during quinidine therapy; mean serum digoxin rose from 1.4 ng/ml before quinidine to 3.2 ng/ml during quinidine. Anorexia, nausea and/or vomiting developed in 16 patients (59%) during quinidine therapy, but disappeared in all 10 patients in whom digoxin alone was reduced in dose, suggesting that digoxin had a causative role in the appearance of these symptoms although they developed only after quinidine had begun. Three of thirteen patients with only atrial arrhythmias on digoxin prior to quinidine developed new ventricular premature depolarizations (VPD) after starting quinidine; two of these three as well as four patients with prior VPDs developed new ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, asystole, or sudden death. When starting quinidine in patients who are taking digoxin, the clinical course, ECG and serum digoxin should be followed closely.
ISOLATION OF CALOTHRIX RHIZOSOLENIAE (CYANOBACTERIA) STRAIN SC01 FROM CHAETOCEROS (BACILLARIOPHYTA) SPP. DIATOMS OF THE SUBTROPICAL NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN1

In November 2004, Chaetoceros spp. (diatom) cells were collected from 5 m at Station ALOHA (22o45′ N, 158o0′ W) in the subtropical North Pacific Ocean. Attached to the spines of several Chaetoceros spp. were symbiotic heterocystous cyanobacterial cells, identified as Calothrix rhizosoleniae Lemmerm. The symbiotic diatom cells were handpicked and placed in N-deplete media. The host cells have been absent since isolation, and the cyanobacterial symbiont has persisted in a free-living state in two different liquid and solid media: one made from artificial seawater, and another with natural seawater. All media are devoid of fixed inorganic nitrogen. Trichome length varied from three to four vegetative cells when growing colonially, to >10 vegetative cells when growing as single trichomes. The DNA and amino acid sequences of the narB, rbcL, and rnpB genes are most similar to those from other heterocystous cyanobacteria (Anabaena and Fischerella). Acetylene reduction (AR) assays were run in conjunction with multiplexing quantitative reverse transcription–PCR (qRT–PCR) assays. Gene transcription for rbcL and nifH was high, coincident with maximum AR, and occurred in the middle of the photoperiod. Eight irradiance curves of nitrogenase activity at varying biomass concentrations showed evidence of photoinhibition at high light intensities. Here, we report on the genetic identification and photophysiology for the first symbiotic isolate, Ca. rhizosoleniae SC01, of an open-ocean diatom (Chaetoceros).
Classing Sex Offenders: How Prosecutors and Defense Attorneys Differentiate Men Accused of Sexual Assault

As public awareness of and concern about sexual victimization has increased in recent decades, stigmatization of sex offenders has also increased considerably. Contemporary sex offender policies transform discrete criminal behaviors into lifelong social identities. Although there is much debate about the efficacy and constitutionality of such policies, we know little about how the category of “sex offender” is constituted in the first place. In this article, I reveal how prosecutors and defense attorneys construct sex offenders, not as monsterous or racialized as is commonly thought, but as “lower class” men. This analysis is based on 30 in-depth interviews with prosecutors and defense attorneys in Michigan. These legal actors wield disproportionate power in defining the boundaries of criminal behaviors and individuals. That they associate sexual criminality with lower class men demonstrates yet another way that class-based inequalities are reproduced in the legal field.
The OTHER Keck Observatories

The W. M. Keck Foundation is well known in astronomical circles for funding major telescopes in Hawaii. Less well known is the Foundation’s support of astronomy in a group of eight liberal arts colleges, the Keck Northeast Astronomy Consortium (KNAC). Funds from the Keck Foundation enabled the eight colleges to purchase CCD cameras and to upgrade telescope and computer facilities. More importantly, KNAC devised an exchange program for summer research students that allows students to follow up their astronomical interests at any of the other colleges except their home campus, thus providing them with a choice of up to two dozen faculty members to work with, rather than one or two. “KNAC students” report on their summer research at an annual symposium. A substantial number of student co-authored journal papers have emerged from the KNAC program. KNAC students have been very successful in graduate school admissions and in their later scientific careers.
A Coronavirus E Protein Is Present in Two Distinct Pools with Different Effects on Assembly and the Secretory Pathway

Coronaviruses (CoVs) assemble by budding into the lumen of the early Golgi complex prior to exocytosis. The small CoV envelope (E) protein plays roles in assembly, virion release, and pathogenesis. CoV E has a single hydrophobic domain (HD), is targeted to Golgi complex membranes, and has cation channel activity in vitro. However, the precise functions of the CoV E protein during infection are still enigmatic. Structural data for the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV E protein suggest that it assembles into a homopentamer. Specific residues in the HD regulate the ion-conducting pore formed by SARS-CoV E in artificial bilayers and the pathogenicity of the virus during infection. The E protein from the avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) has dramatic effects on the secretory system which require residues in the HD. Here, we use the known structural data from SARS-CoV E to infer the residues important for ion channel activity and the oligomerization of IBV E. We present biochemical data for the formation of two distinct oligomeric pools of IBV E in transfected and infected cells and the residues required for their formation. A high-order oligomer of IBV E is required for the production of virus-like particles (VLPs), implicating this form of the protein in virion assembly. Additionally, disruption of the secretory pathway by IBV E correlates with a form that is likely monomeric, suggesting that the effects on the secretory pathway are independent of E ion channel activity. IMPORTANCE CoVs are important human pathogens with significant zoonotic potential, as demonstrated by the emergence of SARS-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)-CoV. Progress has been made toward identifying potential vaccine candidates in mouse models of CoV infection, including the use of attenuated viruses that lack the CoV E protein or express E-protein mutants. However, no approved vaccines or antiviral therapeutics exist. We previously reported that the hydrophobic domain of the IBV E protein, a putative viroporin, causes disruption of the mammalian secretory pathway when exogenously expressed in cells. Understanding the mechanism of this disruption could lead to the identification of novel antiviral therapeutics. Here, we present biochemical evidence for two distinct oligomeric forms of IBV E, one essential for assembly and the other with a role in disruption of the secretory pathway. Discovery of two forms of CoV E protein will provide additional targets for antiviral therapeutics.
On Cartesian stiffness matrices in rigid body dynamics: an energetic perspective

Several Cartesian stiffness matrices for a single rigid body subject to a conservative force field are developed in this paper. The treatment is based on energetic arguments and an Euler angle parameterization of the rotation of the rigid body is employed. Several new representations for the stiffness matrix are obtained and the relation to other works on Cartesian stiffness matrices and Hessians is illuminated. Additional details are presented with respect to determining the Cartesian stiffness matrix for a pair of rigid bodies, as well as for a system of rigid bodies constrained to a plane.
Erosion and dilation as solutions to regularization problem

ABSTRACT In this paper we show that gray scale dilation, erosion aixi consequently hit-miss iransform, are solutions to a regularizationproblem. The theoiy is an extension to the fact that maximum and minimum (Max/mm) operators are Green's functions.These morphological operators are used successfully in a morphological shared-weight neural network &sied for automatictarget recognition and handwritten digit recognition.Keywords: Regularization, Green's function, erosion, dilation, hit-miss transform, Morphological Neural Networks 1. INTRODUCTION The problem oflearning a smooth mapping from data samples is ill-posed in the sense that the reconstructed mapping is not unique 1.2 Constraints can be imposed on the mapping to make the problem well-posed. Typical constraints are smoothnessand piecewise smoothness. This technique that uses constraints to transform an ill-posed problem into a well-posed one iscalled regWarizatioiIn this paper we show that morphological shared-weight neural netwks (MSNN)8" can be viewed as regularizationnetworks by showing that gray scale dilation, erosion aixi consequently hit-miss transfonn, are solutions to a regularizationproblem.First, we give a brief introduction to regularization theory and Green's functions. Second, we show that Max/mmoperators are Green's functions in one-dimensional case, and then extent the finding to two-dimensional case. Third, we extendthis idea and show that gray scale dilation and erosion, defined in terms of Max/mm operators, can also be seen as solutions
Modeling and experimental validation of a bistable mechanism for chord extension morphing

The concept proposed in thei work for chord extension is the use of a bistable arch and thin plate system. There are two foci of this paper: (1) Design of the arch and (2)Model validation via experiment. Results show that bistability and symmetric deformation can be achieved when there are flexible hinges at the boundary and input. In addition, the presented finite element model provides good agreement with experimental results.
Determination of trichlormethiazide in bovine milk by high-performance liquid chromatography

Abstract A liquid chromatographic procedure was developed and validated for the quantitative determination of trichlormethiazide (TCMTZ) in bovine milk. Whole milk was defatted by initial centrifugation at 4°C. The resulting skim milk was treated with lead acetate and acetonitrile, vortex mixed, and centrifuged. The acetonitrile from the supernatant was back extracted in ethyl acetate. The organic solvent mixture which contained TCMTZ was further treated with sodium tungstate, vortex mixed, and centrifuged. The top organic layer was removed and evaporated to dryness; the resulting residue was reconstituted in the mobile phase, and the final extract was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The HPLC conditions employed included a polymer column, a mobile phase consisting of 30% acetonitrile or 30% acetonitrile–tetrahydrofuran (2:1, v/v) in a phosphate buffer (pH 3), and a UV detection at 225 nm. The average recoveries of TCMTZ from milk fortified at 7, 14, 35, 70, and 140 ppb were 88, 93, 117, 110, and 99%, respectively, with corresponding C.V. values of 7, 18, 11, 9, and 21%. The method was validated by assaying milk obtained from a cow dosed with Naquasone. TCMTZ concentration was detected only in the 8 h post dose milk samples and was determined to be 6 ppb.
64-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) for detection of aortic regurgitation and quantification of severity.

Background: Recent advances in 64-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) provide an opportunity to assess coronary artery disease, left ventricular function and, potentially, valvular heart disease. Objective: To determine the ability of 64-MDCT to both detect and to quantify the severity of aortic regurgitation (AR), as compared with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). Methods: We evaluated a total of 64 patients (43 males, mean age 63 ± 11 years), 30 with varying severities of AR as assessed by TTE and 34 matched controls. The severity of AR by TTE was determined using the vena contracta, the ratio of jet to left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) height, and the ratio of the jet to LVOT cross-sectional area. AR by MDCT was defined as a lack of coaptation of the aortic valve leaflets in diastole and, if detected, the maximum anatomic aortic regurgitant orifice was determined. Results: All 34 control patients without AR were correctly identified by MDCT. There were 14 patients with mild AR, 10 with moderate AR, and 6 with severe AR by TTE. Of these patients, MDCT correctly identified 21 patients with AR (sensitivity 70%, specificity 100%, positive predictive value [PPV] 100%, and negative predictive value [NPV] 79%). Anatomic regurgitant orifice area measured by MDCT correlated well with the TTE-derived vena contracta (r = 0.79, P < 0.001), ratio of jet to LVOT height (r = 0.79, P < 0.001), and ratio of jet to LVOT cross-sectional area (r = 0.75, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Direct planimetric measurement of the aortic valve anatomic regurgitant orifice area on 64-MDCT provides an accurate, noninvasive technique for detecting and quantifying AR.
Ancylostoma caninum: reduced glutathione stimulates feeding by third-stage infective larvae.

Abstract The resumption of feeding in vitro has been proposed as an indicator of the reactivation of development by arrested third-stage hookworm larvae. The tripeptide glutathione was tested for its ability to induce in vitro feeding by third-stage infective larvae of the canine hookworm Ancylostoma caninum. Reduced glutathione, but not oxidized glutathione, stimulated larval feeding in a specific, concentration-dependent manner. Feeding began at 5–10 mM, and reached a plateau at 25–50 mM. Incubation in reduced glutathione for 3 hr was sufficient to stimulate the maximum feeding response at 24 hr. Larvae began feeding within 6 hr of incubation with reduced glutathione, and feeding reached a maximum percentage by 24 hr. The reducing agents dithiothreitol and 2-mercaptoethanol failed to stimulate feeding, whereas S-alkyl derivatives of reduced glutathione were stimulatory. Reduced glutathione synergistically increased serum-stimulated feeding to greater than 90% of the sample population, and low concentrations of glutathione appeared to enhance feeding by sensitizing the larvae to a stimulatory component in serum and not by a chemical interaction with a serum component. The data suggest that reduced glutathione might participate in the transition from the free-living third-stage larva to the parasitic third-stage larva during infection.
Systematics of the ITEX species

ITEX research was begun to develop generalizations on the growth of tundra plants through synthesis of data from distant arctic and alpine sources gathered by strict protocols. Target species have been selected from among widely distributed ones with attention to those without serious unresolved taxonomic problems, since valid comparisons and generalizations rest on data reported consistently from the same species. The consortium of researchers must firmly establish the identity of the experimental subjects to preserve the integrity of the ITEX synthesis. Documentation is possible only when voucher specimens are conserved. Notes on taxonomy and biology are provided as background for 14 primary, five secondary, and three additional candidate ITEX species.
Pressure effects on neutral and charged excitons in self-assembled ( In , Ga ) As ∕ GaAs quantum dots

By combining an atomistic pseudopotential method with the configuration-interaction approach, we predict the pressure dependence of the binding energies of neutral and charged excitons: ${X}^{0}$ (neutral monoexciton), ${X}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ and ${X}^{+}$ (charged trions), and $X{X}^{0}$ (biexciton) in lens-shaped, self-assembled ${\mathrm{In}}_{0.6}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{0.4}\mathrm{As}∕\mathrm{GaAs}$ quantum dots. We predict that (i) with applied pressure the binding energy of ${X}^{0}$ and ${X}^{+}$ increases and that of ${X}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ decreases, whereas the binding energy of $X{X}^{0}$ is nearly pressure independent. (ii) Correlations have a small effect in the binding energy of ${X}^{0}$, whereas they largely determine the binding energy of ${X}^{\ensuremath{-}}$, ${X}^{+}$, and $X{X}^{0}$. (iii) Correlations depend weakly on pressure; thus, the pressure dependence of the binding energies can be understood within the Hartree-Fock approximation and it is controlled by the pressure dependence of the direct Coulomb integrals $J$. Our results in (i) can thus be explained by noting that holes are more localized than electrons, so the Coulomb energies obey ${J\phantom{\rule{0.1em}{0ex}}}^{(hh)}g{J\phantom{\rule{0.1em}{0ex}}}^{(eh)}g{J\phantom{\rule{0.1em}{0ex}}}^{(ee)}$.
Local climate action: motives, enabling factors and barriers

Background: Despite the relative lack of climate action at the national level in the USA, local climate action is happening. Our focus is on the motivating reasons, stakeholders, and institutional enabler and barrier factors that are directly relevant to making local climate action happen. Results/Methodology: We report here on the results of a two-phase study of local climate action in California (USA): a set of in-depth case studies, and a subsequent web-based survey of all cities and counties in the state. Conclusions: The motives for local climate action often came from within communities and include both tangible local co-benefits of action, as well as the concept that climate action is the ‘right thing‘ to do. Important factors that enable action include strong local champions, supportive residents, and state and national policies and actions. Important barriers to action include lack of local-government staff time and financial resources.
A double-blind comparison of butorphanol and meperidine in labour: maternal pain relief and effect on the newborn.

Butorphanol tartrate 1 mg and 2 mg were compared in 80 normal mothers at term in a doubleblind study with meperidine hydrochloride 40 mg and 80 mg for the relief of pain in labour. Butorphanol was found to be as effective as meperidine in relieving pain in labour. The foetal condition, as measured by ECG monitoring, Apgar scores, time to sustained respiration, umbilical venous H+ (pH) and Pco2, and a general nursery survey were comparable for meperidine and butorphanol. No psychomimetic phenomena were seen. Assays indicated that both butorphanol and meperidine crossed the placenta. The mean concentration of butorphanol in neonatal serum was 0.84 times maternal serum at 1.5 to 3.5 hours after intramuscular administration of a single or two successive doses of butorphanol 1 mg or 2 mg to the mother. The mean concentrations for meperidine in neonatal serum was 0.89 times maternal serum at 0.85 to 3.6 hours after intramuscular administration of meperidine 40 mg or 80 mg to the mother. Neither analgesic caused severe depression of the infant except for one meperidine-treated case.
A New Approach to Detect Ground Clutter Mixed With Weather Signals

Considering that the statistics of the phase and the power of weather signals in the spectral domain are different from those statistics for echoes from stationary objects, a spectrum clutter identification (SCI) algorithm has been developed to detect ground clutter using single polarization radars, but SCI can be extended for dual-pol radars. SCI examines both the power and phase in the spectral domain and uses a simple Bayesian classifier to combine four discriminants: spectral power distribution, spectral phase fluctuations, spatial texture of echo power, and spatial texture of spectrum width to make decisions as to the presence of clutter that can corrupt meteorological measurements. This work is focused on detecting ground clutter mixed with weather signals, even if the clutter power to signal power ratio is low. The performance of the SCI algorithm is shown by applying it to radar data collected by University of Oklahoma-Polarimetric Radar for Innovation in Meteorology and Engineering.
Instability of the Low-Level Jet and Severe Storm Formation

Abstract It is shown that the low-level southerly jet of the continental United States is susceptible to a dynamic instability similar to symmetric instability and Lilly's (1966) parallel instability. The possible role of this instability in organizing the squall lines of 3 April 1974 is discussed. It is further speculated that the instability was instrumental in producing the widespread tornado outbreak on this date, due to its ability to concentrate low-level vorticity into narrow shear lines.
Breast cancer screening, area deprivation, and later-stage breast cancer in Appalachia: does geography matter?

Objective To model the relationship of an area-based measure of a breast cancer screening and geographic area deprivation on the incidence of later stage breast cancer (LSBC) across a diverse region of Appalachia.
The wisdom of indecision

Abstract The origins of zeteophobia, the anxiety associated with career decision making and exploration, may be in (1) the negative connotations of the term “undecided,” (2) the social pressure to make some decision—any decision, (3) the social pressure to choose prestigious occupations as goals whether or not the choice is well founded, and (4) the absence of legitimate mechanisms in our society to teach career decision-making skills. Correlational evidence among employed adults leaves in question whether career indecision is a cause or a result of job dissatisfaction. Being undecided might mean that one has adopted a profound philosophical perspective that desire itself is the source of human unhappiness. Open-mindedness can be viewed as a greater virtue than decisiveness.
EUV mask cleans comparison of frontside and dual-sided concurrent cleaning

The cleaning requirements for EUV masks are more complex than optical masks due to the absence of available EUVcompatible pellicles. EUV masks must therefore be capable of undergoing more than 100 cleaning cycles with minimum impact to lithographic performance. EUV masks are created on substrates with 40 multilayers of silicon and molybdenum to form a Bragg reflector, capped with a 2.5nm-thick ruthenium layer and a tantalum-based absorber; during usage, both ruthenium and absorber are exposed to the cleaning process. The CrN layer on the backside is used to enable electrostatic clamping. This clamp side must also be free of particles that could impact printing and overlay, and particles could also potentially migrate to the frontside and create defects. Thus, the cleaning process must provide decent particle removal efficiencies on both front- and backside while maintaining reflectivity with minimal surface roughness change. In this paper, we report progress developing a concurrent patterned-side and clamped-side cleaning process that achieves minimal reflectivity change over 120 cleaning cycles, with XPS and EDS indicating the presence of ruthenium after 125 cleaning cycles. The change in surface roughness over 100 cleaning cycles is within the noise (0.0086nm) on a mask blank, and SEM inspection of 100nm and 200nm features on patterned masks after undergoing 100 cleaning cycles show no indications of ruthenium pitting or significant surface damage. This process was used on test masks to remove particles from both sides that would otherwise inhibit these masks from being used in the scanner.
Stelastellara Baxter, axes of questionable gymnosperm affinity with unusual habit--Middle Pennsylvanian

Abstract Two specimens of Stelastellara are described from Middle Pennsylvanian age coal balls from mid-continent United States. The stellate main axis of both specimens has a solid, exarch, actinostele with elliptical to circular bordered pitting, secondary growth and a distinctive cortex with differential thickenings. One axis is assigned to S. parvula ; it divides sympodially at one end into four typical S. parvula axes. A second specimen described as a new species, S. baxteri , is 6 mm in diameter, highly stellate with primary xylem ribs extended radially up to 1.25 mm and with radially elongate and thickened cortical cells. Along the 5 cm length, seven endogenous structures are produced, mostly from one face. The axes are largely root-like and the morphological alternatives are considered. A gymnosperm affinity is suggested. The peculiar anatomy of the root-like axes and lack of in situ evidence suggest the possibility of some kind of a perched habit.
P.58: Quantitative Assessment of Host — to — Activator Energy — Transfer Efficiency of Multiple d — Orbital Trap States for Microcrystalline YBO3:Tb3+

Host — to — activator energy — transfer efficiencies under VUV excitation for YBO3:Tb3+ have been determined for three d — orbital trap states. Resulting calculations suggest the lowest in energy trap state is the primary trap for an electron in the conduction band.
The role of calcium in determination of size and elastic properties of human leg vessels with and without atherosclerosis

Summary Thirty-nine rings of the iliac, femoral, and popliteal arteries from 10 patients with advanced vascular disease were studied. Tension-length diagrams before, during, and after decalcification in vitro with NH 4 EDTA were compared. All vessel rings increased in radius as calcium was removed. The radii of all vessels with normal architecture increased from 1 % to 15 %. The radii of most rings containing atheromas also increased from 1 % to 15 %. The radii of a few atheromas (1 in 6) increased 15 % to 99 %. Tension-length diagrams of all vessels, normal and atheromatous, showed no appreciable change with decalcification. A mechanical model to explain the effect of calcification in normal vessels and most atheromas is proposed. Calcium is visualized as forming in ultramicroscopic nodules between collagen fibres. These hold collagen fibres apart and limit the ability of fibres to uncoil. As a result the length of the collagen fibre network in vessel walls is shorter and vessel radius smaller. Calcific nodule accumulation does not affect the basic ability of collagen fibres to stretch and therefore tension-length diagrams of vessels do not change. Atheromas which increase in radius from 15 % to 99 % when calcium is removed are different from most atheromas in some important respect. It is possible that they contain calcium with a more intimate bond to collagen.
Use of hormonal contraceptives and HIV acquisition in women: a systematic review of the epidemiological evidence

Summary Whether or not the use of hormonal contraception affects risk of HIV acquisition is an important question for public health. We did a systematic review, searching PubMed and Embase, aiming to explore the possibility of an association between various forms of hormonal contraception and risk of HIV acquisition. We identified 20 relevant prospective studies, eight of which met our minimum quality criteria. Of these eight, all reported findings for progestin-only injectables, and seven also reported findings for oral contraceptive pills. Most of the studies that assessed the use of oral contraceptive pills showed no significant association with HIV acquisition. None of the three studies that assessed the use of injectable norethisterone enanthate showed a significant association with HIV acquisition. Studies that assessed the use of depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) or non-specified injectable contraceptives had heterogeneous methods and mixed results, with some investigators noting a 1·5–2·2 times increased risk of HIV acquisition, and others reporting no association. Thus, some, but not all, observational data raise concern about a potential association between use of DMPA and risk of HIV acquisition. More definitive evidence for the existence and size of any potential effect could inform appropriate counselling and policy responses in countries with varied profiles of HIV risk, maternal mortality, and access to contraceptive services.
Polarizing mirror/absorber for visible wavelengths based on a silicon subwavelength grating: design and fabrication.

A one-dimensional 280-nm period silicon grating designed to exhibit polarization-dependent reflection or antireflection behavior at visible wavelengths has been fabricated and tested. For normally incident 575-nm light, this grating reflects less than 3% of the incident radiation polarized perpendicular to the grating grooves and approximately 23% of the orthogonal polarization. To demonstrate the grating’s broadband characteristics, reflectance measurements are presented over the free-space wavelength range 475 nm < λ0 < 800 nm, for angles of incidence in the range 0° < θ < 40°, for polarization parallel and perpendicular to the grating grooves, and for planes of incidence parallel and perpendicular to the grooves. A description of the fabrication process is also given.
Particle Impaction Patterns from a Circular Jet

The surface distributions of particles that have impacted from a circular jet have been measured by optical microscopy and image analysis. Monodisperse, 3-μm ammonium fluorescein particles were impacted onto greased surfaces at various velocities from the nozzle. The spot radius is approximately equal to the nozzle radius at √St = 0.8. At √St = 1.6, the spot radius is about half of the nozzle radius; convergence of the flow into the nozzle results in a focusing effect. The surface density has a peak which moves out to larger radius with decreasing Stokes number, reaching the nozzle radius at about √St = 0.5. The radii enclosing 10.5% and 70.3% of the particles as a function of √St are in good agreement with the theoretical predictions of Marple (1970); however, the upturn of the experimental data for √St 0.5 is somewhat sharper. Empirical formulas were fitted to the data
Treatment of Child Sexual Abuse: Programs, progress, and prospects

Recent years have witnessed the development and implementation of clinical services designed to remediate the many deleterious effects of child sexual abuse. However, little information has been disseminated and reviewed in the professional literature to facilitate clinical application and empirical investigation of specific procedures with child victims and their families. This paper provides an overview and critique of treatment programs and modalities, highlighting their achievements and limitations. The methods, characteristics, and empirical outcomes of specific programs are discussed along with future directions and recommendations.
Vortices and superfluidity in a strongly interacting Fermi gas

Quantum degenerate Fermi gases provide a remarkable opportunity to study strongly interacting fermions. In contrast to other Fermi systems, such as superconductors, neutron stars or the quark-gluon plasma of the early Universe, these gases have low densities and their interactions can be precisely controlled over an enormous range. Previous experiments with Fermi gases have revealed condensation of fermion pairs. Although these and other studies were consistent with predictions assuming superfluidity, proof of superfluid behaviour has been elusive. Here we report observations of vortex lattices in a strongly interacting, rotating Fermi gas that provide definitive evidence for superfluidity. The interaction and therefore the pairing strength between two 6Li fermions near a Feshbach resonance can be controlled by an external magnetic field. This allows us to explore the crossover from a Bose-Einstein condensate of molecules to a Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer superfluid of loosely bound pairs. The crossover is associated with a new form of superfluidity that may provide insights into high-transition-temperature superconductors.
A new phenotypically constrained control policy in boolean networks based on basins of attraction

ABSTRACT In this paper, a new stationary control policy in Boolean networks (BNs) is derived based on the structural properties of basins of attraction (BOA). The new greedy control policy guarantees that no new attractor cycles will be created by intervention to the original BNs. Hence, it will not introduce significant steady-state mass to ambiguous network states, which may represent unknown phenotypes corresponding to potential collateral damage. Comparing the control performance of this new phenotypically constrained BOA control policy with previous control policies based on long-run network behavior, the experiments based on randomly generated networks have shown that the new control policy obtains competitive performance with reduced complexity.
Wherefore cognitive therapy?: A critical scrutiny of three papers by beck, bergin, and ullmann

A critical examination of three recent papers dealing with behavioral versus cognitive interpretations of behavior therapy. Some widely held misconceptions about the behavioristic outlook are corrected, and a strong plea made for permitting the canons of science, rather than personal conviction and predilection, to judge the merits of rival hypotheses. Attention is also called to the fact that the differences between the cognitive and behavioristic perspectives have been exaggerated and that they are largely reflections of different interests in the phenomena being studied.
Ethical dilemmas of prosocial television

The present article examines the ethical dilemmas associated with the use of entertainment television for prosocial development. During the 1980s, the production of entertainment television programs for consumption worldwide was unprecedented. While entertainment television is generally created to attract large audiences and sell commercial products, many countries are producing entertainment‐educational programs that are intended to diffuse prosocial messages. U.S. television producers are increasingly pressured by various lobby groups to address social issues on prime‐time television. The promotion of prosocial beliefs and behaviors through television raises important ethical dilemmas, four of which are discussed here: (1) the ethics of distinguishing prosocial television content from antisocial television content, (2) the ethics of depicting socio‐cultural equality through television programs, (3) the ethics of limiting the unintended effects of television programs, and (4) the ethics of using televisi...
Prevention of Staphylococcus aureus infections among surgical patients: Beyond traditional perioperative prophylaxis

Abstract Background Health care–related infections cause significant patient morbidity and mortality rates and add excess costs that frequently are not reimbursed. Staphylococcus aureus has long been recognized as an important pathogen in human disease and is the most common cause of nosocomial infections. Method The objective of this review of the English language literature and a MEDLINE search was to describe recent advances in the prevention of S aureus health care–related infections that are attributable to patients' endogenous colonization. The ecologic niche of S aureus is the anterior nares and nasal carriage increases the risk of the development of a surgical-site, lower respiratory tract, or bloodstream infection. S aureus carriers have a 2- to 9-fold increased risk of the development of a surgical-site or intravenous catheter infection. Results Three treatment strategies may eliminate nasal carriage: locally applied antibiotics or disinfectants, systemic antibiotics, and bacterial interference. Among these strategies, locally applied or systemic antibiotics are used most commonly. Nasal ointments or sprays and oral antibiotics have variable efficacy, and their use frequently results in antimicrobial resistance among S aureus strains. Of the commonly used agents, mupirocin (pseudomonic acid) ointment has been shown to be 97% effective in reducing S aureus nasal carriage. In a recently published randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine whether intranasal mupirocin reduced the rate of S aureus-infected surgical-site and other S aureus health care–related infections; 4% of S aureus nasal carriers who received mupirocin acquired S aureus health care–related infections compared with 7.7% of S aureus nasal carriers who received placebo (P = .02). The S aureus surgical-site infection rate was not reduced significantly, but carriers who received mupirocin before cardiothoracic or general surgery operations had almost 50% fewer S aureus surgical-site infections than carriers who received placebo. In this setting resistance rarely has been reported. Conclusions Given the importance of S aureus nosocomial infections and the increased risk of S aureus nasal carriage in patients with health care–related infections, investigators must study cost-effective strategies to further prevent certain types of health care–related infections or nosocomial infections that occur in specific settings. One potential strategy is to decrease or eliminate S aureus nasal carriage among certain patient populations or in certain healthcare settings.
Channel, capacity, and flow assignment in wireless mesh networks

We study the problem of channel capacity, and flow assignment (CCFA) in multi-channel wireless mesh networks (WMNs). CCFA involves the joint assignment of channels, distribution of wireless capacity, and determination of link flows to enhance the effectiveness of WMNs. We first study the capacity assignment (CA) problem in WMNs (WMN-CA) which involves the distribution of wireless capacity, given the topology and the flows (i.e., traffic demands and routing). Unlike wired networks, the capacities of different wireless links in a WMN have to be carved out of the capacities of wireless nodes. Since the wireless medium is shared by various wireless nodes, interference between different wireless links constrains the distribution of the wireless capacity available at individual nodes. We formulate WMN-CA as a convex non-linear optimization problem (NLP). We also present efficient heuristics to solve the problem and compare their relative performance. We then propose a linear programming (LP) based iterative algorithm for CCFA. We define a new metric, called network utility, which takes both throughput and average packet delay into account and includes a parameter that can be used to emphasize one over the other. Our approach has two separate phases - (1) channel assignment and (2) multi-channel capacity and flow assignment. The two phases of the iterative CCFA algorithm are performed repeatedly to improve the network utility which allows for a tradeoff between delay and throughput that can be achieved in a WMN.