cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Emotional climate in families experiencing homelessness: associations with child affect and socioemotional adjustment in school

This study examined associations among family-level risks, emotional climate, and child adjustment in families experiencing homelessness. Emotional climate, an indirect aspect of emotion socialization, was indexed by parents’ expressed emotion while describing their children. Sociodemographic risk and parent internalizing distress were hypothesized to predict more negativity and less warmth in the emotional climate. Emotional climate was expected to predict observer-rated child affect and teacher-reported socioemotional adjustment, mediating effects of risk. Participants were 138 homeless parents (64 percent African-American) and their four- to six-year-old children (43.5 percent male). During semi-structured interviews, parents reported demographic risks and internalizing distress and completed a Five Minute Speech Sample about their child, later rated for warmth and negativity. Children's positive and negative affect were coded from videotapes of structured parent-child interaction tasks. Socioemotional adjustment (externalizing behavior, peer acceptance, and prosocial behavior) was reported by teachers a few months later. Hypotheses were partially supported. Parent internalizing distress was associated with higher parent negativity, which was linked to more negative affect in children, and parent warmth was associated with children's positive affect. Neither emotional climate nor child affect predicted teacher-reported externalizing behavior or peer acceptance, but parental negativity and male sex predicted lower prosocial behavior in the classroom. Future research directions and clinical implications are discussed.
Hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls from the unsaponifiable fraction of anhydrous milk fat

Abrtract Using a combination of gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry, the presence of 39 aliphatic hydrocarbons was firmly established in the unsaponifiable fraction of anhydrous milk fat. The hydrocarbons were the Clr to Cn and the Cp9 to Cn straight-chain paraffins, their monoolefin analogs, and the ClS to Cpg branched alkanes. Phytene (3,7,11, 15-tetramethyl-n-hexadec-2-ene), identified for the first time in milk fat, was isolated and identified by high-resolution mass spectrometry and infrared analysis. The total hydrocarbon content amounted to 30 ppm of the milk fat. Polychlorinated biphenyls also were detected in trace amounts in the area of the chromatogram between the CU and the Czr hydrocarbons.
How to Achieve Your Personal Best on Multiple-Choice Questions

Law school multiple-choice questions can be as sophisticated as traditional essay questions. They can be more demanding in some ways, and more difficult for some students. They are also fairer and more reliable.Experts agree that three types of people do poorly on multiple-choice questions: those who panic, those who operate on instinct rather than analysis, and those who are unprepared -- either on the material tested or for that type of test.This presentation to the Caribbean Law Students Association covers strategies for preparing for and taking law school multiple-choice tests. Students who put these suggestions into practice will be prepared for the test, will have trained themselves to be guided by analysis, and therefore will not panic. They will perform at their best.
Why Gender Matters in Economics by Eswaran, Mukesh

Mukesh Eswaran’s book Why Gender Matters in Economics provides a comprehensive study of observed gender differences in individual decision making and economic outcomes, such as human capital accumu...
Enduring Effects of Demography on Retirement Planning

Almost a century and half of evidence suggests that only individuals who start saving for retirement in the later stages of population busts and the early stages of population booms spend most of their retirement planning phase in bull stock markets with tame inflation, thus benefiting greatly from investing in stocks. Demography, particularly the proportional size of aggregate savers as measured by the Geanakoplos, Magill, and Quinzii (2004) MY ratio — the ratio of middle-age to young population — is the most pertinent determinant of intergenerational variations in retirement planning results. Unlucky generations, those who start saving during high MY ratio periods, are well advised to overweight corporate bonds in their portfolios. Moreover, when the retirement planning horizon is short, all generations should use caution in weighting stocks in their portfolios.
Teaching Engineers Materials Selection via the Internet: The Issue of Diverse Student Backgrounds

The recent advances in the internet communication technologies have provided convenient access to education for time-restricted and place-bound students. This article discusses the opportunities and implications for materials science and engineering educators to reach out, via online courses, to students engaged in a broad range of engineering disciplines. Based on observations in the design and online delivery of a course on the selection of materials, we shall examine in particular the issue of diverse student backgrounds and interests and discuss the benefits and problems of teaching a diverse student body.
The Effect of N and B Doping on Graphene and the Adsorption and Migration Behavior of Pt Atoms

We utilize periodic density functional theory to study singly and triply N- and B-substituted graphene. We examine their doping mechanisms and effects on Pt atom adsorption and migration on graphene. We find a seemingly contradictory behavior between dopant type (n- vs p-type) and charge accumulation on the dopant atoms: the N atoms in both n-type singly N-doped graphene (NG) and p-type triply N-doped graphene (3NG) gain electron density while the B atoms in both singly (BG) and triply (3BG) B-doped graphene are p-type and lose electron density. This behavior arises from unequal charge sharing within C–B and C–N sp2 σ bonds and the requirement that the pz orbitals of N and B are singly occupied in order to maintain graphene’s aromaticity. NG’s N atom stabilizes Pt atom adsorption up to −0.39 eV (Eads = −1.86 eV) and by −0.13 eV even at distances 12.3 A away from the N dopant. The Pt atom hopping energy barrier is lowered in graphene rings containing an NG N atom relative to undoped graphene, but the migra...
Effects of the Protein Phosphatase Inhibitor Okadaic Acid on the Actions of Prolactin in Cultured Mouse Mammary Gland Explants

The effects of okadaic acid on ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and milk product formation were studied in cultured mammary tissues derived from midpregnant mice. Okadaic acid stimulated ODC activity as well as the synthesis of lactose, lipids, and casein-rich phosphoproteins. When tested together, okadaic acid and prolactin evoked a nonadditive stimulation of lactose synthesis. In addition, the time-courses for the okadaic acid and prolactin effects on lactose synthesis were the same. In contrast to the effects of okadaic acid and prolactin on lactose synthesis, these agents generated additive stimulatory effects on ODC activity and the synthesis of lipids and casein-rich phosphoproteins. Since okadaic acid is known to inhibit protein phosphatases-1 and 2A, we conclude that the substrate(s) of these phosphatases are involved in the signal transduction pathway by which prolactin expresses its effect on lactose synthesis in mammary tissues. Whether these substrates are also involved in other actions of prolactin in mammary tissues remains to be established.
A simple heuristic proof of Hardy and Littlewood's conjecture B

"Proof" We begin by considering the following combinatorial problem: Let A = {1, 2,3, .. ., a} and choose from A a subset B consisting of b elements. Now, say we choose another subset B' from A consisting of b' elements. The elements in B' are chosen randomly (by randomly I mean that every element of A has an equal chance of being picked). Then, the expected number of elements in B n B' is equal to b' * (b/a) = b'b/a. Since this trivial result is used throughout this article, we refer to it as (1). We also reference Dirchlet's Theorem (see [1] for a proof of Dirichlet's Theorem) which states that given an arithmetical progression ak + b, where (a, b) = 1, then
Optimized transection: a prelude to oriented sectioning.

A technique is described which permits blocks of tissue to be flat-embedded in euhedral plastic castings and then to be transected along a plane so that sections may be cut which are optimally oriented to the internal ultrastructure of the block. In the transection procedure a hollow plastic cylinder is placed on the specimen trimming block. The cylinder's top prescribes a plane to which the tissue block is accurately oriented and clamped at a predetermined level. Two hand files and a burnisher are worked across the cylinder's top to 1) remove extraneous material above the plane of transection, 2) expose the tissue for sectioning and 3) smooth the block face. The clear plastic at the periphery of the exposed tissue is then easily trimmed away with a razor blade. The result is a block face with a flat, reflective surface which may be quickly aligned to the knife on the ultramicrotome. The effort needed to transect, align and face the block is minimal and 1-micron or semithin sections produced will be preci...
The Demography of Scholarly Reading

This paper argues that the demographic consequences of the ending of U. S. academic expansion in the 1970s virtually guaranteed a large decline in the total disciplinary effort available to read any given unit of sociological publication. These effects are partly composition effects related to shift from a pyramidal to a columnar age distribution and partly substitution effects related to the switch from a seller’s to a buyer’s market for academic talent. As buyers raised standards, publication expanded rapidly, which both increased the material to be read and decreased the time available to read it. The crisis in scholarly reading is less a result of changes in individual scholarly propensities to read than in the numbers and ages of scholars and of the newly central role of publication in scholarly careers. Since publication is now a system of excess, the paper closes with an analysis of the various strategies available to handle that excess.
Implant arthroplasty in the hand. An introduction.

SUMMARY In summary, there are now many implant arthroplasties available for the patient with arthritis in the hand. They have definite indications, and when the criteria and techniques are carefully followed, the results are most gratifying to both patient and surgeon.
Effects of ligustrazine on extracellular dopamine levels in rat brain dialysate

Using brain microdialysis and LC-ECD, the content of dopamine in rat brain was detected to investigate the effects of ligustrazine. A liquid chromatography-electrochemical detector method has been established and validated for the determination of dopamine in rat brain dialysate. The results indicate that ligustrazine administration by subcutaneous injection significantly increased dopamine release in rat medial prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens and hippocampus in a dose-related manner. The drug's effects on dopa release in rat brain could be directly detected by microdialysis combined with HPLC-ECD and this method has the preponderance over traditional neurology methods.
Problems of Oxygen Stoichiometry in Analyses of Coal and Related Materials

Publisher Summary Classical coal analysis today still utilizes many methods developed nearly 100 years ago. Coal chemists and engineers are well aware of the possible inaccuracies, errors, and confusion that result when these estimated quantities are used in research or to rank and classify the coal or coal products. This chapter presents a few problems that exist in coal analysis today and discusses possible better solutions using instrumental techniques. It also discusses a few more quantitative and specific approaches utilizing fast-neutron activation for oxygen determination. The chapter explores the stoichiometry of oxygen in coal and coal-related materials in general, and a few oxidation and coalification processes.
Data and Methodology

This chapter describes the data and methodology used in this analysis. Data were gathered from the American Community Survey and the National Survey of Families and Households for the quantitative part of this study. Time is spent discussing the operationalization of the dependent variable and the rationale for utilizing multinomial logistic regression for this analysis. It describes the independent variables and the sample characteristics.
Reinforce, shape, expose, and fade: a review of treatments for selective mutism (2005–2015)

Selective mutism (SM) is a rare anxiety disorder that impairs children’s daily functioning, often during critical periods of early development. Given that schools are a common setting for mutism, it is vital that school-based practitioners are knowledgeable of recent advances in the SM treatment literature. Unfortunately, the literature base is comprised primarily of case studies and limited single-case designs, and no published narrative review has included treatment studies published after 2005. This review served to describe the SM treatment approaches, methodologies, and outcomes of 21 studies published between 2005 and 2015. Treatments most commonly utilized behavioral and systems approaches, including behavioral strategies such as contingency management, shaping, hierarchical exposure, and stimulus fading and systems strategies such as adult skills training, psychoeducation, and consultation. Although treatments were most frequently provided in schools, they were most often provided by researchers or clinicians rather than school-based professionals. Reviewed treatments were generally effective, although effect sizes were rarely provided. In general, methodological limitations noted in prior reviews applied to these studies; however, the presence of randomized controlled trials demonstrates efforts to address these criticisms. Future research directions and implications for school-based practitioners are described.
Access Control Policy Extraction from Unconstrained Natural Language Text

While access control mechanisms have existed in computer systems since the 1960s, modern system developers often fail to ensure appropriate mechanisms are implemented within particular systems. Such failures allow for individuals, both benign and malicious, to view and manipulate information that they should not otherwise be able to access. The goal of our research is to help developers improve security by extracting the access control policies implicitly and explicitly defined in natural language project artifacts. Developers can then verify and implement the extracted access control policies within a system. We propose a machine-learning based process to parse existing, unaltered natural language documents, such as requirement or technical specifications to extract the relevant subjects, actions, and resources for an access control policy. To evaluate our approach, we analyzed a public requirements specification. We had a precision of 0.87 with a recall of 0.91 in classifying sentences as access control or not. Through a bootstrapping process utilizing dependency graphs, we correctly identified the subjects, actions, and objects elements of the access control policies with a precision of 0.46 and a recall of 0.54.
Open-loop power control error on a land mobile satellite link

In order to combat large scale shadowing and distance losses in a land mobile satellite system, an adaptive power control (APC) scheme is essential. Such a scheme, implemented on the uplink, ensures that all users' signals arrive at the base station with equal average power as they move within the satellite spot beam. Because of the lengthy round-trip delay on a satellite link, closed-loop power control systems are only of marginal benefit. Therefore, an open-loop APC scheme is proposed to counteract the effects of shadowing. A fairly general channel model, consisting of log-normal shadowing; and Rician fading, is assumed. This can be applied to a specific two-state land mobile satellite channel model, involving shadowed intervals with Rayleigh fading and unshadowed intervals with Rician fading. It is found that the power control error can be approximated by a log-normally distributed random variable. To quantify the performance of the APC, the standard deviation of the power control error in decibels is derived. >
Privatization of health systems with care: A message to East Europe from western systems

Eastern European countries are experiencing major changes in their political and socio-economic systems. Similarly, health care systems are facing major policy changes. The enthusiasm for privatization and decentralization, without adequate preparation, is likely to produce unfavorable results unless careful planning and analysis of policy options is followed. This paper analyses the current status, problems and policies of health care systems in Eastern Europe. It raises the argument that privatization may not be the solution, based on western countries’ experiences.
Performance of a large-area, gamma imager using a point source injection technique

We recently developed a fieldable large-area, coded-aperture, gamma imager (the large area imager - LAI). The instrument was developed to detect weak radiation sources in a fluctuating natural background. Ideally, the efficacy of the instrument is determined using a receiver-operator statistics generated from measurement data in terms of probability of detection versus probability of false alarm. However, due to the impracticality of hiding many sources in public areas, it is difficult to measure the data required to generate receiver- operator characteristic (ROC) curves. Instead, we developed a high statistics "model source" from measurements of a real point source. The model source is then injected into data collected from the world at large where, presumably, no source exists. In this paper we have applied this "source injection" technique to evaluate the performance of the gamma imager. We injected the model source at many locations parallel to the imager driving direction keeping the source to imager distance fixed. From this data, we generated probabilities of detection and false alarms and plotted ROC curves for 1,1.25 and 1.5 mCi sources placed at 50-m from the imager. We also developed ROC curves for 1 mCi source injected at 35, 40, 45 and 50-m from the imager. The result shows that this prototype instrument provides excellent performance for a 1-mCi source injected at 50-m perpendicular distance from the imager in a single pass at an average velocity of 11 m/s.
Independent Versus Co-occurring Substance Use in Relation to Gambling Outcomes in Older Adolescents and Young Adults.

Abstract Purpose Gambling is prevalent among college students and can be associated with significant negative consequences. Students who report gambling also tend to report use of alcohol and cannabis, but little research has explored the associated risks of using these substances in relation to gambling episodes. This study explored associations between the independent and co-occurring use of alcohol and cannabis before/during gambling episodes and gambling outcomes. Methods Students (n = 1,834) completed an online survey that included measures of gambling frequency, amount lost, negative gambling consequences, gambling problem severity, and substance use. Results As hypothesized, individuals who reported using either alcohol or cannabis alone or both substances before/while gambling endorsed greater gambling quantity, frequency, negative consequences, and problem severity than individuals who used alcohol and cannabis in general but denied use of either substance before/while gambling. Use of both substances compared to use of alcohol alone was associated with greater gambling quantity, frequency, and negative consequences, although these groups did not differ on gambling problem severity. Cannabis use alone was no different on any outcome than use of both substances, and alcohol use alone was no different than cannabis use alone on any outcome. Conclusions Use of cannabis alone before/while gambling may confer the same level of risk for negative gambling outcomes as use of both cannabis and alcohol. Prevention efforts may, therefore, benefit from targeting cannabis use in relation to gambling. Additional investigation is needed in light of recent and upcoming state legislation on the legalization of cannabis.
Risk of sharps injuries among home care aides: Results of the Safe Home Care survey

Objectives Home care (HC) aides constitute an essential, rapidly growing workforce. Technology advances are enabling complex medical care at home, including procedures requiring the percutaneous use of sharp medical devices, also known as sharps. Objectives were to quantify risks of sharps injuries (SI) in a large HC aide population, compare risks between major occupational groups, and evaluate SI risk factors. Methods A questionnaire survey was administered to aides hired by HC agencies and directly by clients. One thousand one hundred seventy-eight aides completed questions about SI and potential risk factors occurring in the 12 months before the survey. SI rates were calculated and Poisson regression models identified risk factors. Results Aides had a 2% annual risk of experiencing at least 1 SI (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-2.6). Client-hired aides, men, and immigrants had a higher risk than their counterparts. Risk factors among all HC aides included helping a client use a sharp device (rate ratio [RR], 5.62; 95% CI, 2.75-11.50), observing used sharps lying around the home (RR, 2.68; 95% CI, 1.27-5.67), and caring for physically aggressive clients (RR, 2.82; 95% CI, 1.36-5.85). Conclusions HC aides experience serious risks of SI. Preventive interventions are needed, including safety training for clients and their families, as well as aides.
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Algorithm Analysis Visualizations

Algorithm Visualizations (AVs) have been used for years as an interactive method to convey data structures and algorithms concepts. However, AVs have traditionally focused on illustrating the mechanics of how an algorithm works. We have developed visualizations that we name Algorithm Analysis Visualizations (AAVs), that focus on conveying algorithm analysis concepts. We present our findings from an initial evaluation study of the effectiveness of AAVs when applied to a semester long Data Structures course. AAVs were evaluated in terms of student engagement, student satisfaction, and student performance. Results indicate that the intervention group students spent significantly more time with the AAVs than did the control group students who used primarily textual content. Students gave positive feedback regarding the usefulness of the AAVs in illustrating algorithm analysis concepts. Students from the intervention group had better performance on the algorithm analysis part of the final exam than did control group students.
Microstructure and mechanical performance of autogenously fibre laser beam welded Ti-6242 butt joints

Abstract This work deals with the effects of laser beam power, focus position and advance speed on the geometry, microstructure and mechanical properties such as the tensile strength and microhardness of autogenously fibre laser beam welded Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo (denoted as Ti-6242) butt joints used for high temperature applications. The Ti-6242 sheet employed here is characterized by a globular (α+β) microstructure. Laser beam welded butt joints consisted of a martensitic fusion zone, inhomogeneous heat affected zones and equiaxed base materials. The microhardness increased from 330 HV 0.3 in base material to 430 HV 0.3 in fusion zone due to the martensitic transformation. Butt joints showed the base material level of strength in tensile test. The local increase in microhardness provided a shielding effect that protected the Ti-6242 butt joint against mechanical damage during the static tensile load test. The predicted critical total underfill depth that does not reduce the tensile strength of the weld was determined to be 25% of the specimen thickness.
Thermally-induced optical bistability in Cr and Fe doped ZnSe mid-IR laser materials

Thermally-induced optical bistability and temperature broadening of spectroscopic bands in Cr(Fe):ZnSe mid-IR laser materials were studied over 1–6 μm spectral range to identify critical parameters for minimization of thermally induced optical noise.
Measurement of high-speed ADCs

High-speed high-resolution ADCs are challenging in design and measurement. High accuracy on data and clock input have to be ensured. To minimize nonlinearity, it is important to avoid signal-dependent errors. With these goals in mind, we discuss design trade-offs that have to be considered for high-resolution ADCs. Furthermore, a full measurement setup using needle probing for high-speed ADCs is described. On-chip memory enables accurate analysis of the output samples without the need for a high-speed digital interface or data decimation. An efficient shift-register-based approach for an on-chip memory to handle the large aggregated output data of highly interleaved ADCs is presented. The shift-register-based custom memory is compared with a register-based synthesized memory in terms of area and energy efficiency.
Does the DEKA Arm substitute for or supplement conventional prostheses

Background:Research on home use of advanced upper limb prostheses is needed.Objectives:To describe and compare DEKA Arm usage patterns during the last 4 weeks of a home trial for participants with ...
Effects of sample cleaning and storage on the elemental composition of shark vertebrae

Rationale Application of vertebral chemistry in elasmobranchs has the potential to progress our understanding of individual migration patterns and population dynamics. However, the influence of handling artifacts such as sample cleaning and storage on vertebral chemistry is unclear and requires experimental investigation. Methods Vertebrae centra from blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus) were cleaned with bleach (NaOCl) for 5 minutes (min), 1 hour (h) and 24 (h) in a cleaning experiment and stored frozen, in 70% ethanol, and 10% formalin treatments for 20 days in a storage experiment. Element concentrations (Li, Na, Mg, Mn, Cu, Zn, Sr, Ba, Pb) were quantified in the outer edges of vertebrae centra using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and the [element:Ca] molar ratios were compared among treatments and individual sharks. Results Bleach cleaning significantly increased [Na:Ca] and formalin storage decreased [Na:Ca] and [Mg:Ca], but ethanol storage did not affect any [element:Ca] ratios. Vertebrae edge [Sr:Ca], [Ba:Ca] and [Mn:Ca] varied among individual sharks, potentially reflecting different environments that they had previously inhabited. Conclusions This study shows how archiving methods for vertebrae cartilage can affect primary element:Ca compositions. We demonstrate greatest element:Ca stabilities for vertebrae with limited bleach exposure that are either stored in ethanol or frozen, supporting the use of comparably archived sample sets in future elemental studies.
Learning to Attend to Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners Through Teacher Inquiry in Teacher Education

available for all at this link, and full article available for subscribers: http://www.tcrecord.org/content.asp?contentid=16470 Citation: Athanases, S. Z., Wahleithner, J. M., & Bennett, L. H. (2012). Learning to attend to culturally and linguistically diverse learners through teacher inquiry in teacher education. Teachers College Record, 114(7), 50 pages. Authors’ Note: This study was funded, in part, by a grant from the Spencer Foundation. An earlier version of this article was presented at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Denver, May, 2010. Steven Athanases (szathanases@ucdavis.edu) is professor in the School of Education at the University of California, Davis. He studies diversity and equity in the teaching and learning of English and in teacher education and development. Recent publications include “Advocacy for Equity in Classrooms and Beyond: New Teachers’ Challenges and Responses” with L. C. de Oliveira (Teachers College Record) and Mentors in the Making: Developing New Leaders for New Teachers, co-edited with B. Achinstein (Teachers College Press). He has received awards for distinguished research from the Association of Teacher Educators and the National Council of Teachers of English. Juliet Michelsen Wahleithner (jwahleithner@ucdavis.edu) is a Ph.D. Candidate in the School of Education at the University of California, Davis. Drawing from her experience as a high school English Language Arts teacher and a Teacher Consultant with a regional site of the National Writing Project, her dissertation research examines how high school English language arts teachers use their knowledge of writing instruction to negotiate the diverse writing needs of their students and the pressures of high stakes accountability. Lisa H. Bennett (lbennett@ucdavis.edu) is a Ph.D. Candidate in the School of Education at the University of California, Davis. She currently teaches reading methods and academic literacy courses at California State University, Fresno. Her research interests include inquiry in teacher education, academic literacy, and early literacy instruction. Her dissertation focuses on how an inquiry stance is shaped and mediated by teachers’ practices over time.
Brief Social Support Interventions with Adolescents

Adolescence is a period of great change and strong emotions. It is also a time when friends are particularly significant and where mutual support, caring, and guidance are all needed. Social networks consisting of fellow adolescents are central in the process of helping teenagers to learn how to respond to difficult situations and crises throughout their lives. Thus the choice of friends becomes particularly important for young teens because these peers are so active in shaping behavior and attitudes. These networks and cliques define one’s status and “image” to his or her fellow adolescents (Epstein, 1983).
Weighing in on Bariatric Surgery: Effectiveness Among Medicaid Beneficiaries—Limited Evidence and Future Research Needs

Introduction In the general population, bariatric surgery is well documented as the most effective obesity treatment for sustained weight loss and remission of comorbidities. Characterization of the patient populations most likely to benefit from surgical intervention is needed, but the heterogeneity of treatment effects across payer groups has not been reviewed. Methods A systematic review of published studies focusing on bariatric surgery outcomes among Medicaid beneficiaries was conducted. By using PubMed and Scopus, this study searched for studies that quantitatively compared clinical or social bariatric surgery outcomes for United States adult Medicaid recipients and commercially insured patients. Results Of the 568 titles reviewed, 21 met inclusion criteria. Weight loss and the remission of comorbidities at 1 or 2 years postoperatively were similar between groups despite differences in baseline health status. Short-term health care utilization and mortality outcomes were worse in Medicaid recipients; for instance, Medicaid patients had an average length of stay that was 2 days longer and experienced three more deaths in the first postoperative year. Conclusions The critical research gaps in the evidence base needed to improve treatment guidelines for Medicaid patients undergoing bariatric surgery include an understanding of the causes of the baseline health differences and how these differences contribute to postoperative outcomes.
A Shortened Version of the Reasons for Living-Older Adults Scale for Clinical and Research Utility.

Background and objectives Older adults have elevated suicide rates, and identification of protective factors, such as reasons for living, is important in preventing suicide. The Reasons for Living-Older Adults scale (RFL-OA) is a 69-item measure of these protective factors in late life, which yields good psychometric properties. However, its length limits its utility in some clinical and research contexts where a shorter measure is ideal. The objective of this study was to create a shortened version of the RFL-OA. Research design and methods First, data collected previously during validation of the original RFL-OA (n = 199, age 65 and older, 65% female) were used to select 30 items, spanning all content areas, that were highly endorsed. Second, new data were collected (n = 219, age 60 and older, 52% female) with the 30-item RFL-OA and measures of depression, hopelessness, suicidal ideation, religiosity, health, and social desirability to examine the measure's internal consistency and convergent and discriminant validity. Results Scores on the 30-item RFL-OA exhibited strong internal consistency. The short RFL-OA demonstrated good convergent validity via significant, moderate correlations with suicidal ideation, hopelessness, depression, and religiosity. It demonstrated adequate discriminant validity via only small correlations with disability, subjective health, and social desirability. Discussion and implications The shorter RFL-OA has good psychometric properties among community-dwelling older adults. It may have greater utility, compared to the original 69-item measure, for clinicians and researchers with limited time but who want to assess protective factors against suicidal behavior in late life.
Cystatin C Is a Gender-Neutral Glomerular Filtration Rate Biomarker in Patients with Cirrhosis.

Lower serum Cr levels in women as compared to men result in underestimation of renal dysfunction and lower model for end-stage liver disease-sodium scores leading to reduced access to liver transplantation in women compared to men with comparable hepatic dysfunction. The aim of this study was to determine the gender differences in serum Cr, cystatin C, and other endogenous glomerular filtration rate (GFR) biomarkers, measured and estimated GFR, Cr clearance, and Cr production rates. We measured GFR by iothalamate plasma clearance in 103 patients with cirrhosis and assessed gender differences in GFR, Cr clearance and production rate, serum Cr, cystatin C and other endogenous GFR biomarkers including beta-trace protein, beta-2 microglobulin, and dimethylarginines. Comparison of men and women showed significantly lower values for mean serum Cr (0.97 vs. 0.82 mg/dl, P = 0.023), and Cr production rate (13.37 vs. 11.02 mg/kg/day, P = 0.022). In contrast to the serum Cr and Cr production rate, men and women exhibited no significant differences in the means of serum cystatin C and other GFR biomarkers, measured GFR, GFR estimated using Cr–cystatin C GFR equation for cirrhosis, measured and estimated Cr clearances. After controlling for age, race, weight, height, and GFR, female gender remained associated with lower serum Cr levels (P = 0.003). Serum cystatin C levels were not associated with gender, age, race, weight, height, C-reactive protein, and history of hypothyroidism. Our results suggest that cystatin C and endogenous GFR biomarkers other than Cr, measured GFR, GFR estimated by Cr–cystatin C GFR equation for cirrhosis, measured and estimated Cr clearance minimized between-gender biases in accounting for renal function in patients with cirrhosis. Therefore, serum cystatin C should be measured as a complementary test to serum Cr when renal function is assessed in patients with cirrhosis, particularly in women and those with sarcopenia.
Polyelectrolytes at Interfaces: Pattern Recognition

We present a brief review of the recent theory of adsorption of isolated polyelectrolytes to patterned surfaces and the associated kinetic conseqences. Simple formulas are presented to describe the necessary condition for adsorption under different experimental conditions, which are checked against Monte Carlo simulation results. Polymer chains with several sequences of monomers of same type always lead to poor recognition of imprinted patterns on interfaces and glassy features are borne out in the kinetics of recognition.
The Effect of Personal Computers on Statistical Practice

Statistical computer packages for large computers, both in batch and interactive environments, have focused on traditional statistical analyses and the computations associated with them. With few exceptions, statistical software development has emphasized numerical computations and data management, and few statistical procedures have been designed specifically for use on computing machines. Personal computers offer new and fundamentally different computing tools around which new methods for exploratory data analysis can be developed. These methods make essential use of the personal machine’s capabilities for data presentation and display.
Presleep cognitions in patients with insomnia secondary to chronic pain.

This study had two primary objectives: (1) characterize the content of presleep cognitions of chronic pain patients and (2) evaluate the association between presleep cognitions and sleep disturbance. Thirty-one outpatients with benign chronic pain completed the Beck Depression Inventory, pain and sleep diaries and participated in an in vivo, presleep thought sampling procedure for 1 week in their homes. The three most frequently reported presleep cognitions were general pain-related thoughts (36%), thoughts about the experimental procedure (27%), and negative sleep-related thoughts (26%). Stepwise multiple regression analyses found that presleep thoughts pertaining to pain and environmental stimuli were significantly associated with sleep continuity, independent from the effects of depression and nightly pain severity. Pain severity was found to be positively associated with Wake After Sleep Onset Time. These results are consistent with cognitive-behavioral models of primary insomnia and suggest the content of presleep cognitive arousal may contribute to sleep disturbance secondary to pain.
Operating room organization. Lasers and advanced operative laparoscopy.

SUMMARY Advanced operative laparoscopy and laser surgery require a trained team of physicians, nurses and technicians to be properly carried out. The institution, surgeons, and nursing department must understand this concept if the laparoscopic program is to be successful.
Impact of a fully integrated specialty pharmacy on patients’ out-of-pocket cost for oral therapies in a hematology clinic.

e18928Background: Oral therapies have revolutionized the treatment of cancer, providing alternatives to infusion therapies while increasing convenience and outcomes. However, patient financial burd...
Endovascular treatment of duplicated inferior vena cava compression from retroperitoneal fibrosis

Abstract A 68-year-old man with a history of retroperitoneal fibrosis was referred to our clinic because of disabling bilateral lower extremity swelling and venous claudication, worse on the right side than on the left. He was noted to have a duplicated inferior vena cava and an iliac vein obliteration from retroperitoneal fibrosis. The patient underwent bilateral iliac vein stenting and had complete relief of symptoms through follow-up of 46 months with no recurrence.
Nanoscale mixing of dissimilar phases in bulk materials by current activated pressure assisted densification (CAPAD) of core-shell powders

Abstract Currently, activated pressure assisted densification (CAPAD) has become a well-established tool for synthesizing nanocrystalline materials. Achieving well-controlled nanoscale phase distributions in large composites is still a challenge. Here we present strategies for achieving nanoscale mixing based on densifying core-shell powders. We discuss the CAPAD core-shell approach with regard to the densification process, i.e., the balance between densification and phase agglomeration and the use of core-shell structures to help with densification. In addition, we show that the combination of core-shell powders and CAPAD is a useful platform for achieving fundamentally different nanoarchitectures. For example, producing dense large sized composites composed of metastable nano-phases and achieving intimately mixed oxide-metal nanocomposites.
An aspirin a day? Clinical utility of aspirin therapy for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Since the description of its therapeutic potential, aspirin has been a cornerstone of therapy following vasc...
Patient Perception of Medical Learners and Medical Education during Clinical Consultation at a Family Medicine Residency.

Introduction. Experience in treating patients under supervisionof faculty is an important factor in medical education at all levels.However, unpleasant patient experiences with a medical learnerduring clinical consultation can damage the relationship betweenthe medical learner, physician supervisor, and patient. A goal of thisstudy was to examine patient experiences and preferences regardingmedical learners during clinical consultation at a family medicineresidency clinic. Another goal was to determine factors relating topatients’ experiences and preferences regarding medical learners. Methods. This cross-sectional study relied on patients completinga survey designed from extant questionnaires to measure patients’experiences and preferences relating to interactions with medicallearners at a family medicine clinic. Data were collected from 216patients between December 2016 and August 2017. We correlatedpatients’ feelings, overall experiences with medical learners and theimportance of medical education. Results. There was a 93% participation rate. The patients rated theiroverall experiences with medical learners as 3.8 on a 5-point scale,suggesting positive experiences. Eighty-eight percent prefer not morethan three medical learners to be involved in their care during clinicalconsultation. Patients’ overall experiences with medical learnersparticipating in medical care correlated with their preferences regardingmedical learners’ involvement in their treatment (r[209] = .524;p = 0.01). Patients’ perception of medical learners participating inmedical care correlated with the importance of medical education(r[209] = .878; p = 0.01). Conclusions. The results showed that most patients have positiveexperiences with medical learners and are generally in favor ofmedical education.Kans J Med 2018;11(4):102-105.
Use of Gene Transfer Vectors in Lymphedema Treatment: A Systematic Review.

Different delivery mechanisms have been proposed in the literature for targeted therapies in the treatment of lymphedema. They vary from simple and direct injection to sophisticated induction of gene expression in a targeted tissue. We conducted a systematic review of publications assessing the use of viral vectors for gene transfer in lymphedema treatment. We hypothesized that viral vectors are an effective way to deliver targeted therapy in lymphedema treatment. We conducted a comprehensive systematic review of the published literature on targeted therapies associated with lymphedema surgery using the PubMed database. Eligibility criteria excluded papers that reported use of viral vectors for other medical conditions. Abstracts, presentations, reviews, meta-analyses, and non-English language articles were also excluded. From 21 potential articles found in the literature, fourteen fulfilled study eligibility criteria. Positive outcomes in terms of lymphangiogenesis were seen. The viral vectors used included adenovirus and recombinant adeno-associated virus. Most of the genes expressed were growth factors, but expression of dominant-negative transforming growth factor-β1 receptor-II or Prox1 was also proposed. Five studies targeted genetic expression on lymphedema tissue, five on transplanted lymph nodes, two on skeletal muscle, and one on adipose-derived stem cells. Publications assessing use of viral vectors for gene transfer in lymphedema treatment demonstrated that it is an effective mechanism of delivering targeted therapies. However, to date, all studies were experimental and further studies must be performed before translating these therapies into clinical practice.
ASSOCIATION BETWEEN FRAILTY AND DEVELOPMENT OF COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT: EVIDENCE FROM THE HEALTH AND RETIREMENT STUDY

Research has shown there is currently an increasing prevalence of cognitive impairment and dementia in older adults. To date, there remains a paucity of research to explain this increase and research on early markers and risk factors are warranted. This study aims to assess the association of cognitively normal older adults who are frail and the development of cognitive impairment four years later. Data from the Health and Retirement Study – a nationally representative sample of older US adults – was used from 2004-2008 for individuals 65 and older (n=8,377). Frailty was categorized by using Fried’s phenotype model: individuals were grouped into frail, pre-frail, and robust. Cognitive impairment – a composite score that assessed memory recall and global mental status – was classified as scoring eight or less on a 35-point scale. After restricting to cognitively healthy individuals, logistic regression with weights was used to assess the association between frailty status and the development of cognitive impairment four years later. The model was adjusted for baseline age, gender, race, education years, smoking status, and chronic health issues (high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, lung disease, heart disease, stroke, psychiatric problems, and arthritis). Frail individuals, compared to those who were robust, had increased odds of cognitive impairment (OR=1.74; 95% CI: 1.48-2.16), after fully adjusting. Evidence from this study suggest that frail individuals are more likely to become cognitively impaired over time. This provides a potential pathway of intervention to help delay or prevent the development of cognitive impairment in older US adults.
The Impact of Medicaid Managed Care on Obstetrical Care and Birth Outcomes: A Case Study.

Background: As Medicaid has increasingly financed managed care plans since the 1990s, it is important to understand the corresponding impacts on the well-being of disadvantaged mothers and infants....
Short-Term Study Abroad: The Students' Perspective on London 2019

Context Many study abroad experiences are difficult for athletic training students to attend because of the prescriptive nature of the athletic training curriculum. Short-term study abroad programs...
Sex differences in neurodevelopmental abnormalities caused by early-life anaesthesia exposure: a narrative review

Summary Exposure to anaesthetic drugs during the fetal or neonatal period induces widespread neuronal apoptosis in the brains of rodents and non-human primates. Hundreds of published preclinical studies and nearly 20 clinical studies have documented cognitive and behavioural deficits many months or years later, raising the spectre that early life anaesthesia exposure is a long-term, perhaps permanent, insult that might affect the quality of life of millions of humans. Although the phenomenon of anaesthesia-induced developmental neurotoxicity is well characterised, there are important and lingering questions pertaining to sex differences and neurodevelopmental sequelae that might occur differentially in females and males. We review the relevant literature on sex differences in the field of anaesthesia-induced developmental neurotoxicity, and present an emerging pattern of potential sex-dependent neurodevelopmental abnormalities in rodent models of human infant anaesthesia exposure.