cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A model for spatially correlated radar clutter

On the basis of empirical evidence, a model for spatially correlated radar clutter is developed. In this model, echo amplitudes from two different resolution cells are described statistically by the correlated K-distribution. Explicit expressions for the joint probability density function and joint members of this distribution are developed. The problem of minimum-mean-square-error (MMSE) clutter estimation, where the clutter level in a given resolution cell is estimated from the clutter level in a different cell by minimizing the MSE, is addressed. The effects of spatial correlation and resolution cell size on the overall characteristics of echo are considered. Results show that clutter in this class may be characterized by a family of K-distributions whose parameters are determined by the resolution cell area and the spatial autocorrelation function. These results are in agreement with reported measurements. >
Surface Characterization of Chemical-Mechanical Polished GaAs by Inclined Bragg Plane Triple Crystal X-Ray Diffraction

The incorporation of triple crystal x-ray diffraction (TCD) under conditions of a nearly grazing incident x-ray beam provides a unique capability to characterize surface and subsurface structural damage. The effects of bromine-methanol chemical-mechanical (CM) polishing on the surface quality of GaAs were investigated by inclined Bragg plane triple crystal x-ray diffraction. GaAs samples polished under varying conditions of Br2 concentration, total polish time, polish wheel rotation speed, and force exerted on the samples were analyzed using TCD profiles from inclined (220) planes, with the samples oriented at both the exact Bragg condition, iaB, and at deviations from the exact Bragg condition. As the deviation from the 220 reciprocal lattice point was increased, multiple peaks corresponding to both the dynamic and the kinematic components were observed. The peak positions and the relative intensities of the various peaks were used to characterize the effects of the CM polishing variables on the GaAs surfaces.
Teachers’ perceptions of students’ mathematical work while making conjectures: an examination of teacher discussions of an animated geometry classroom scenario

This paper reports on a study examining teachers’ perceptions of students they observed in an animated episode and who were engaged in the work of making conjectures in a geometry classroom. We examined eight conversations among subsets of 29 experienced geometry teachers with respect to how they described students and the mathematical work they perceived students to be engaged in. Across the study group conversations, participants described students in terms of the tasks’ mathematical resources which students could understand or misunderstand and the tasks’ material and social resources which they could use or misuse, but participants paid little attention to the operations that students might employ in the task or the goals that students were working toward in the task. This study suggests that, when supporting students’ work on conjecturing tasks, teachers focus on the tasks’ resources which students use. This conjecture suggests in turn that in exchanging students’ work on conjecturing tasks for claims that students have learned a bit of the geometry curriculum, teachers might deem that particular work valuable on account of the resources used.
Portfolio management using hybrid recommendation system

The goal of a decision support system is to provide the human user with an optimized decision recommendation when operating under uncertainty in complex environments. The particular focus of our discussion is the investment domain - the goal of investment decision-making is to select an optimal portfolio that satisfies the investor's objective, or, in other words, to maximize the investment returns under the constraints given by investors. The investment domain contains numerous and diverse information sources, such as expert opinions, news releases and economic figures, and so on. This presents the potential for better decision support, but poses the challenge of building a decision support agent for accessing, filtering, evaluating, incorporating information from different sources, and for making final investment recommendations. We proposed a hybrid recommendation system that utilized two different artificial intelligence techniques to provide human user a decision recommendation on stock portfolio management.
Morphology and Mechanical Properties of Cellulose Acetate Fibers Grafted with Polyacrylonitrile

Vapor phase grafting of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) on cellulose acetate fibers produced a quite homogeneous material, even up to 74% PAN (285% add-on). It is suggested that this homogeneity is responsible for the improved properties of fibers spun from mixtures of cellulose acetate and PAN which also contain the graft copotymer.
URINARY CONTINENCE IS WELL PRESERVED AFTER TOTAL UROGENITAL MOBILIZATION

ABSTRACTPurpose: Total urogenital sinus mobilization (TUM) has been advocated as a successful technique in the repair of common urogenital sinus anomalies. To our knowledge the long-term effects on continence, voiding pattern and bowel control have not been published. We present our experience and assessment regarding these issues.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our experience with TUM. Medical records were reviewed for each patient along with long-term followup by telephone questionnaire and clinical visits. Uroflowmetry was performed in recent patients who were old enough to cooperate in the study.Results: A total of 13 females underwent TUM. Medical records were reviewed for all patients. Patients were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 consisted of 7 patients who underwent surgery before the age of achieving continence, and group 2 consisted of 6 patients who were incontinent before surgery. One patient in group 2 was lost to long-term followup. Two children in group 1 have enuresis, a ...
Serving Twice-Exceptional Preschoolers: Blending Gifted Education and Early Childhood Special Education Practices in Assessment and Program Planning.

This article addresses considerations for assessment and intervention planning in serving twice-exceptional preschool children. The authors propose blending recommended assessment practices in earl...
Microbial Reduction Efficiencies of Filtration, Electrostatic Polarization, and UV Components of a Germicidal Air Cleaning System

This study determined the effectiveness of components of a germicidal air-cleaning system involving filtration, electrostatic polarization, and UV light on the reduction of airborne bacteria and molds. The filter alone, filter and electrostatic polarization combined, and the filter, electrostatic polarization, and UV light were found to be effective (P < 0.05) in reducing a given concentration of M. luteus and S. marcescens by 90 to 92%. The same components were also found to be effective (P < 0.05) in reducing indigenous airborne bacteria and molds from ambient air in processing plant production conditions by 62 to 77% after only 1 pass through the filtration system. A germicidal air-filtration system utilizing electrostatic polarization and ultraviolet light can be used to reduce the chance of contaminating surfaces with airborne bacteria and molds.
The future of applied child development research and public policy.

After reviewing a brief general history of applied child development research, this paper suggests that in the future we should study questions that society needs to answer as well as questions that might contribute to theory, and that our research methods need to be adjusted to match these types of questions. Further, academics are urged to broaden their audience from a nearly exclusive focus on other academics to a focus on the three ps — practitioners, policymakers, and the public — and to recognize that scholarship is packaged differently for these audiences. Finally, it is suggested that applied child development research should market as well as sell, partner with nonacademic groups, disseminate results more vigorously, and focus efforts on local as well as national issues.
Interactions Between Carnosine and the Different Redox States of Myoglobin

To better understand the mechanism by which carnosine inhibits myoglobin oxidation in salted ground pork, interactions of carnosine with fenylmyoglobin (ferMb), metmyoglobin (metMb) and oxymyoglobin (oxyMb) were investigated. Camosine (0-50 mM ; pH 5.0-7.5) accelerated the conversion of metMb to oxyMb at pH ≥ 7.0 and carnosine concentrations ≥ 25 mM. Camosine (1-50 mM) also accelerated the conversion of oxyMb to metMb with its formation rates increasing with decreasing pH and increasing camosine concentrations. Carnosine (1-25 mM) inhibited ferMb-catalyzed oxidation of phosphatidylcholine liposomes 16-76% and reduced the ferMb electron paramagnetic resonance signal 24-43%. Results suggested that the color stabilizing effects of camosine were related to its antioxidant activity.
Abstract 209: Resistin Regulates Dynamin-Related Protein 1, a Mitochondrial Fission Protein in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Recent studies indicate increased mitochondrial fission and organ dysfunction in models of obesity. While the mechanisms for this morphological alteration are not completely understood it is likely that the altered adipokine profile that occurs during obesity may play a permissive role in enhanced mitochondrial fragmentation. In this study, we investigated the role of resistin, a pro-inflammatory adipokine that is elevated in the plasma of obese individuals, on regulation of the mitochondrial fission protein, dynamin-related protein 1(DNM1L) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). We hypothesized that serum and glucocorticoid inducible kinase 1 (SGK1) plays a role in resistin-induced mitochondrial fission expression in VSMCs. In dose and time response studies, we found that resistin stimulated DNM1L protein levels in both rat and human aortic smooth muscle cells suggesting a role for resistin in regulation of mitochondrial fission. In addition, we observed that resistin enhances expression and activity of SGK1. To determine whether SGK1 regulates resistin-mediated expression of DNM1L, we examined the effect of SGK1 over-expression, or inhibition on resistin-induced expression of DNM1L. Over-expression of wildtype SGK1 potentiated resistin-mediated DNM1L expression, while dominant-negative SGK1 inhibited resistin-mediated expression of DNM1L in human VSMC. In conclusion, we have demonstrated for the first time that SGK1 is a potential downstream mediator of resistin. Interestingly, SGK1 activity has been linked to pathological vascular remodeling in various cardiovascular disease settings. Our data suggests that the elevated plasma levels of resistin that occur in obese individuals may lead to activation of SGK1. This in turn, could exacerbate mitochondrial fragmentation in VSMC and predispose to the development of vascular dysfunction that is evident during obesity. Together with further mitochondrial fission studies, additional elucidation of how resistin also alters components of mitochondrial fusion machinery may uncover novel mechanisms of potential theraputic targets for obesity-mediated vascular dysfunction.
Acute Effects of a “Physiological” Dose of 1, 25-Dihydroxy Vitamin D3 on Renal Phosphate Transport

The renal phosphate transport response of thyroparathyroidectomized, vitamin D-deficient rats to the infusion of 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 (1,25 D3) was studied with and without the simultaneous administration of a small (or “permissive”) nonphosphaturic amount of bovine parathyroid hormone (bPTH). Although phosphate excretion (UPV) was unaltered by the infusion of either 0.1 U (=.0025 μg or 6 pmoles) of 1,25 D3 or 0.2 U bPTH per hour for 6 hours, their combined administration reduced UPV from 14.8 + 1.6 to 10.3 1.2 μg/min. (P <.05). There were no alterations in inulin excretion. These data verify that; 1) 1,25 D3 is antiphosphaturic in this experimental setting in a very low dose which may represent a “physiological” amount of the metabolite; and 2) to enhance phosphate transport, the 1,25 D3 requires the presence of a small (“permissive”) amount of PTH.
Precipitin Formation in S. Viridans Subacute Endocarditis

The sera of nineteen patients∗ with S. viridans sub-acute endocarditis have been studied for precipitins against protein fractions of S. hemolyticus,1S. viridans,2Staph, aureus,2 and the group specific carbohydrate of S. hemolyticus. The S. viridans and Staph. aureus fractions were 5 and 7 years old, respectively, whereas the S. hemolyticus fractions were freshly prepared. All of the patients had the classical disease picture. Blood cultures were negative in 2 of the cases. These patients are to be studied further. The sera were collected at a time when the disease had been sufficiently advanced to justify the patient's admission to the hospital. On the basis of clinical history and the autopsy findings in some cases, 17 of the patients had rheumatic heart disease, and one of the remaining individuals had a normal heart at post-mortem, except for the fresh bacterial endocarditis.The precipitin test was performed by adding 0.3 cc. of each serum to 0.3 cc. of the respective antigen and incubating the tubes ...
Aerosol Charging Using Pen-Type UV Lamps

ABSTRACTA portable aerosol charger utilizing pen-type Hg lamps was constructed to investigate the particle charging process under UV irradiation. The charger primarily consisted of a quartz tube surrounded by four pen-type low-pressure Hg lamps and an ion trap located downstream of the quartz tube to remove excessive ions. The performance of the prototype UV charger at 5 L/min flow rate and with four UV lamps turned on using monodisperse silver (Ag) particles with diameters ranging from 7 to 30 nm was evaluated. As expected, the prototype UV charger provided higher particle charging efficiencies than corona-based unipolar chargers for Ag particles. To evaluate the effect of irradiation intensity on particle photocharging, the charging efficiencies and charge distributions for Ag particles ranged from 7 to 30 nm when the prototype was operated at an aerosol flow rate of 5 L/min for the cases of one, two, and four lamps turned on. The UV charging model with the photoemission based on the Fowler-Nordheim law was further applied to predict the charging performance of the UV charger at different operational conditions.
Factors Influencing Spatial and Temporal Variation in Abundance of the Large Milkweed Bug (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae)

Populations of the large milkweed bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus (Dallas), were censused in patches of Asclepias syriaca L. in eastern Iowa from 1979 to 1982. Bugs were more abundant in patches with large numbers of fruiting plants, but fruit availability explained only 36% of the variance observed. A second contributing factor was proximity of the field sites to major rivers. A possible explanation is that O. fasciatus follows water courses during migration. Bugs were numerous in 1979 and 1982, but were almost completely absent in 1980 and 1981. This absence was not explained by a reduction in fruit abundance. The lack of bugs in 1980 was probably due to severe heat and drought in areas to the south, such as Missouri, which are likely sources for insects migrating to Iowa. Recovery of populations of O. fasciatus in Iowa did not take place until 1982. Thus it is likely that environmental factors along the migratory route influenced population numbers at the destination.
μ-Opioid Receptor Internalization: Opiate Drugs Have Differential Effects on a Conserved Endocytic Mechanism In Vitro and in the Mammalian Brain

mu-Opioid receptors are the pharmacological targets of endogenous opioid peptides and morphine-like alkaloid drugs. Previous studies of transfected cells and peripheral neurons indicate that opioid receptors are rapidly internalized after activation by the alkaloid agonist etorphine but not after activation by morphine. To determine whether opioid receptors in the central nervous system are regulated by a similar process of agonist-selective internalization, mu-opioid receptors were examined in rat brain neurons after treatment of animals with opioid drugs. Internalized mu receptors were observed within 30 min after intraperitoneal injection of the alkaloid agonist etorphine, and this process was blocked by the antagonist naloxone. Colocalization of internalized opioid receptors with transferrin receptors in confocal optical sections indicated that receptor internalization observed in vivo is mediated by a membrane trafficking pathway similar to that observed previously in vitro using transfected human embryonic kidney 293 cells. Morphine failed to induce detectable rapid internalization of receptors, even when administered to animals at doses far in excess of those required to induce analgesia. To quantify these agonist-selective differences and to analyze an array of opioid ligands for their ability to trigger internalization, we used flow cytometry on stably transfected 293 cells. These studies indicated that the different effects of individual agonists are not correlated with their potencies for receptor activation and that a variety of clinically important agonists differ significantly in their relative abilities to stimulate the rapid internalization of opioid receptors.
GLucocorticoids inhibit the generation of leukocyte procoagulant (tissue factor) activity.

Abstract Human leukocytes may be induced to generate powerful procoagulant (tissue factor) activity (TFa). The TFa, generated by three different inducers—bacterial endotoxin, complement-activated plasma, or antigen-antibody interaction—was suppressed by glucocorticoids. In most instances, micromolar concentrations of methylprednisolone (MP) caused 50% or greater suppression of the procoagulant activity, offering a rationale for the use of steroids in diseases related to these inducers.
Assessing the Nutrition Literacy of Parents and Its Relationship With Child Diet Quality.

Abstract Objective To estimate the reliability and validity of the Nutrition Literacy Assessment Instrument for Parents (NLit-P) and to investigate relationships among parental nutrition literacy, parental and child body mass index, and child diet quality (Healthy Eating Index). Methods Cross-sectional study of 101 parent–child dyads that collected measures of socioeconomic status, nutrition literacy, 2 24-hour child diet recalls, and body mass index. Reliability of NLit-P was assessed by confirmatory factor analysis. Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression were used. Results Fair to substantial reliability was seen across 5 NLit-P domains, whereas Pearson correlations support concurrent validity for the NLit-P related to child diet quality and parental income, age, and educational attainment ( P P Conclusions and Implications The NLit-P demonstrates potential for measuring parental nutrition literacy, which may be an important educational target for improving child diet quality.
A PREDICTIVE MODEL OF FISCAL DISTRESS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

This paper investigates the financial risk factors associated with fiscal distress in local governments. We hypothesize that fiscal distress is positively correlated with revenue concentration and debt usage, while negatively correlated with administrative costs and entity resources. The regression model results in a prediction of the likelihood of fiscal distress, which correctly classifies up to 91% of the sample as fiscally distressed or not. The model also allows for an analysis of the impact of a change in a risk factor on the likelihood of fiscal distress. A decrease in intergovernmental revenues as a percent of total revenues and an increase in administrative expenditures as a percent of total expenditures have the biggest influences on reducing the likelihood of fiscal distress.
Mother and Child: Trauma in Pregnancy

The role of the emergency physician in optimizing outcome for the maternal and fetal victims of trauma is pivotal. Knowledge of the anatomic and physiologic changes of pregnancy aid in understanding the nuances of care of the pregnant trauma patient. Both catastrophic and noncatastrophic trauma can be managed with confidence and expertise by recalling the maternal and fetal pathophysiologic responses to trauma. Burns and electrical injuries carry significant fetal risks, which may be minimized by rapid and knowledgeable emergency care.
Analysis and Control of Chain Mobility in Protein Hydrogels

Coiled-coil domains can direct the assembly of protein block copolymers into physically cross-linked, viscoelastic hydrogels. Here, we describe the use of fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) to probe chain mobility in reversible hydrogels assembled from engineered proteins bearing terminal coiled-coil domains. We show that chain mobility can be related to the underlying dynamics of the coiled-coil domains by application of a three-state “hopping” model of chain migration. We further show that genetic programming allows the effective mobility of network chains to be varied 500-fold through modest changes in protein sequence. Destabilization of the coiled-coil domains by site-directed mutagenesis increases the effective diffusivity of probe chains. Conversely, probe mobility is reduced by expanding the hydrophobic surface area of the coiled-coil domains through introduction of the bulky leucine surrogate homoisoleucine. Predictions from the three-state model imply asymmetric sequential binding...
Detection of 17 β-Estradiol in Environmental Samples and for Health Care Using a Single-Use, Cost-Effective Biosensor Based on Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV).

Environmental estrogen pollution and estrogen effects on the female reproductive system are well recognized scientifically. Among the estrogens, 17 β-estradiol is a priority in environmental estrogen pollution, and it is also a major contributor to estrogen which regulates the female reproductive system. 17 β-estradiol is carcinogenic and has a tumor promotion effect relating to breast cancer, lung cancer and others. It also affects psychological well-being such as depression, fatigue and others. Thus, a simple method of detecting 17 β-estradiol will be important for both environmental estrogen pollution and health care. This study demonstrates a single-use, cost-effective 17 β-estradiol biosensor system which can be used for both environmental and health care applications. The bio-recognition mechanism is based on the influence of the redox couple, K3Fe(CN)6/K4Fe(CN)6 by the interaction between 17 β-estradiol antigen and its α-receptor (ER-α; α-estrogen antibody). The transduction mechanism is an electrochemical analytical technique, differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The levels of 17 β-estradiol antigen studied were between 2.25 pg/mL and 2250 pg/mL; Phosphate buffered saline (PBS), tap water from the Cleveland regional water district, and simulated urine were used as the test media covering the potential application areas for 17 β-estradiol detection. An interference study by testosterone, which has a similar chemical structure and molecular weight as those of 17 β-estradiol, was carried out, and this 17 β-estradiol biosensor showed excellent specificity without any interference by similar chemicals.
Echocardiographic evaluation of the right ventricle: Clinical implications

Interest in evaluation of the right ventricle (RV) has increased recently. With the growth of new echocardiographic techniques and technology, there has been a corresponding increase in the ability to evaluate the RV, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Older echocardiographic techniques, such as right ventricular fractional area of change, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, and tissue S', and newer echocardiographic techniques including 3-dimensional evaluation and global longitudinal strain, can improve our evaluation of RV function. These techniques provide both diagnostic and prognostic data on a large variety of clinical diseases including pulmonary hypertension and congestive heart failure. With the continuing and exponential advances in technology, echocardiography is well poised to become the primary modality to evaluate the RV.
The HGF/SF Mouse Model of UV-Induced Melanoma as an In Vivo Sensor for Metastasis-Regulating Gene

Cutaneous malignant melanoma is an aggressive and potentially lethal form of skin cancer, particularly in its advanced and therapy-resistant stages, and the need for novel therapeutics and prognostic tools is acute. Incidence of melanoma has steadily increased over the past few decades, with exposure to the genome-damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) well-recognized as a primary cause. A number of genetically-engineered mouse models (GEMMs) have been created that exhibit high incidence of spontaneous and induced forms of melanoma, and a select subset recapitulates its progression to aggressive and metastatic forms. These GEMMs hold considerable promise for providing insights into advanced stages of melanoma, such as potential therapeutic targets and prognostic markers, and as in vivo systems for testing of novel therapies. In this review, we summarize how the HGF/SF transgenic mouse has been used to reveal metastasis-regulating activity of four different genes (CDK4R24C, survivin and NME1/NME2) in the context of UV-induced melanoma. We also discuss how these models can potentially yield new strategies for clinical management of melanoma in its most aggressive forms.
Cell Surface Proteomics of N-Linked Glycoproteins for Typing of Human Lymphocytes

Lymphocytes are immune cells that are critical for the maintenance of adaptive immunity. Differentiation of lymphoid progenitors yields B-, T-, and NK-cell subtypes that individually correlate with specific forms of leukemia or lymphoma. Therefore, it is imperative a precise method of cell categorization is utilized to detect differences in distinct disease states present in patients. One viable means of classification involves evaluation of the cell surface proteome of lymphoid malignancies. Specifically, this manuscript details the use of an antibody independent approach known as Cell Surface Capture Technology, to assess the N-glycoproteome of four human lymphocyte cell lines. Altogether, 404 cell surface N-glycoproteins were identified as markers for specific cell types involved in lymphocytic malignancies, including 82 N-glycoproteins that had not been previously been described for B or T cells within the Cell Surface Protein Atlas. Comparative analysis, hierarchical clustering techniques, and label-free quantitation were used to reveal proteins most informative for each cell type. Undoubtedly, the characterization of the cell surface proteome of lymphoid malignancies is a first step toward improving personalized diagnosis and treatment of leukemia and lymphoma.
Breast Cancer: Overview of Decision Making by the Medical Oncologist

Optimal managment of breast cancer patients requires multidisciplinary collaboration at the time of diagnosis. Medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists and other team members need to develop a comprehensive treatment plan as the pathologic and radiologic data is available. Factors that influence treatment include the size of the cancer, age of the patient, tumor markers, fertility, and the presence of disease outside of the breast. Medical oncologists are responsible for chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, Her2 directed therapy, long term care and when necessary, the end of life care.
TQM bei Motorola Theorie und Praxis der Sechs Sigma Philosophie — was kommt danach

In einem weltweit tatigen Elektonik — Unternehmen wie Motorola spielt Total Quality Management eine herausragende Rolle. Durch gezielte Qualitatssicherung im gesamten Unternehmen konnte der Konzern eine fuhrende Position in der mobilen Kommunikationstechnik, bei elektronischen Bauelementen, in der Computer- und Datenubertragungstechnik erreichen.
Network size, structure, and pathogen transmission: a simulation study comparing different community detection algorithms

Social substructure can influence pathogen transmission. Modularity measures the degree of social contact within versus between “communities” in a network, with increasing modularity expected to reduce transmission opportunities. We investigated how social substructure scales with network size and disease transmission. Using small-scale primate social networks, we applied seven community detection algorithms to calculate modularity and subgroup cohesion, defined as individuals’ interactions within subgroups proportional to the network. We found larger networks were more modular with higher subgroup cohesion, but the association’s strength varied by community detection algorithm and substructure measure. These findings highlight the importance of choosing an appropriate community detection algorithm for the question of interest, and if not possible, using multiple algorithms. Disease transmission simulations revealed higher modularity and subgroup cohesion resulted in fewer infections, confirming that social substructure has epidemiological consequences. Increased subdivision in larger networks could reflect constrained time budgets or evolved defences against disease risk.
Sexual and gender minority health research in nursing.

Abstract Background Sexual and gender minorities (SGMs) experience substantial health disparities. Evidence suggests nurses may be unprepared to work with these populations. A previous literature review of top-ranked nursing journals found that 0.16% of published articles addressed SGM health. Purpose To evaluate changes in coverage of SGM health in the top-ranked nursing journals since the earlier review using a scoping approach. Methods Electronic search of articles published between December 2009 and December 2017 in 20 nursing journals with the highest 5-year impact factors. Findings Thirty-three articles (0.19%) in the top-ranked nursing journals focused on SGM health. There is increasing attention to SGM health recently, evidenced by the numbers of empirical and nonempirical research articles published, as well as nonresearch articles about SGM health. Discussion In light of well-documented health disparities affecting SGM people, it is essential that nurses continue to conduct and disseminate research related to the health of these populations.
Strategies for the Recruitment and Retention of Racial/Ethnic Minorities in Alzheimer Disease and Dementia Clinical Research

Background Racial/ethnic minorities have among the highest risks for Alzheimer disease and dementia, but remain underrepresented in clinical research studies. Objective To synthesize the current evidence on strategies to recruit and retain racial/ethnic minorities in Alzheimer disease and dementia clinical research. Methods We conducted a systematic review by searching CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Scopus. We included studies that met four criteria: (1) included a racial/ethnic minority group (African American, Latino, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander); (2) implemented a recruitment or retention strategy for Alzheimer disease or dementia clinical research; (3) conducted within the U.S.; and (4) published in a peer-reviewed journal. Results Of the 19 included studies, 14 (73.7%) implemented recruitment strategies and 5 (26.3%) implemented both recruitment and retention strategies. Fifteen studies (78.9%) focused on African Americans, two (10.6%) on both African Americans and Latinos, and two (10.5%) on Asians. All the articles were rated weak in the study quality. Four major themes were identified for the recruitment strategies: community outreach (94.7%), advertisement (57.9%), collaboration with health care providers (42.1%), and referral (21.1%). Three major themes were identified for the retention strategies: follow-up communication (15.8%), maintain community relationship (15.8%), and convenience (10.5%). Conclusion Our findings highlight several promising recruitment and retention strategies that investigators should prioritize when allocating limited resources, however, additional well-designed studies are needed. By recruiting and retaining more racial/ethnic minorities in Alzheimer disease and dementia research, investigators may better understand the heterogeneity of disease progression among marginalized groups. PROSPERO registration #CRD42018081979.
Distance Education Enrollment Is Associated with Greater Academic Progress among First Generation Low-Income Undergraduate Students in the US in 2008.

First Generation undergraduate students from low-income households (FGLI students) continue to have substantially higher dropout rates than non first generation students or students from more affluent households despite numerous efforts over many decades to improve graduation rates among this group of students. The purpose of this research is to determine whether FGLI students in the US who enroll in distance education classes are likely to make greater academic progress (more likely to be enrolled for the entire academic year and more likely to be enrolled full time during the academic year) than FGLI students who enroll in face-to-face classes exclusively. For this research, we used data from the National Postsecondary Student Aid Survey (NPSAS) conducted in 2008. The NPSAS 2008 used a complex survey design to collect data from a nationally representative sample of about 113,500 postsecondary undergraduate students in the US. The results of this study show that FGLI students who enrolled in distance education were significantly less likely to have an enrollment gap in 2008 than FGLI students who did not enroll in any distance education class. Indeed, the negative association between distance education enrollment and the likelihood of an enrollment gap was significantly greater among FGLI students than among non-FGLI students. Distance education enrollment was also associated with a greater likelihood of fulltime enrollment in 2008, among both FGLI students and non-FGLI students. These results, from a large nationally representative sample, suggest that providing FGLI students with greater access to distance education classes may increase degree progress rates and degree completion rates. Abbreviations Low-income = Household income of no greater than 150% of the Federal Poverty Level income. First generation student = student whose parents do not have a bachelor’s degree. First generation low-income (FGLI) students = first generation undergraduate students from low-income households. Non first generation low-income (non FGLI) students = Undergraduate students who are not first generation students from low-income households.
Obesity and breast cancer screening: Cross-sectional survey results from the behavioral risk factor surveillance system

BACKGROUND Postmenopausal obese women demonstrate an elevated breast cancer risk and experience increased breast cancer morbidity and mortality compared with women with a normal body mass index (BMI). However, to the authors' knowledge, prior studies have yielded inconclusive results regarding the effects of obesity on mammography screening adherence. Using national cross-sectional survey data, the objective of the current study was to assess the current association between increasing BMI and use of mammography screening. METHODS Cross-sectional survey data from the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a state-based national telephone survey of noninstitutionalized adults in the United States, was used to identify the association between mammography screening use and increasing incremental BMI categories, including normal (18.5-24.9 kg/m2 ), overweight (25-29.9 kg/m2 ), obese class I (30-34.9 kg/m2 ), obese class II (35-39.9 kg/m2 ), and obese class III (>40 kg/m2 ), with adjustments for potential confounders. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to evaluate the effect of each BMI category on self-reported mammography use, using unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios. Effect modification by race/ethnicity was determined by testing interaction terms using Wald tests. RESULTS Of 116,343 survey respondents, 33.5% (38,984 respondents) had a normal BMI, 32.6% (37,969 respondents) were overweight, 19.3% (22,416 respondents) were classified as obese class I, 8.4% (9791 respondents) were classified as obese class II, and 6.2% (7183 respondents) were classified as obese class III. There was no statistically significant difference (P < .05) observed with regard to mammography use between women with a normal BMI and obese women from each obese class (classes I-III) when compared individually. There also was no evidence of effect modification by race (P = .53). CONCLUSIONS In contrast to prior reports, the results of the current study demonstrated no association between obesity and adherence to screening mammography. These findings may relate to the increasing social acceptance of obesity among women from all racial/ethnic groups and the removal of weight-related facility-level barriers over time.
Quality of life among ischemic stroke patients eligible for endovascular treatment: analysis of the DEFUSE 3 trial.

Background The endovascular treatment (ET) for acute ischemic stroke is increasing among eligible patients. Assessing patients’ perspectives on quality of life (QOL) can supplement the use of formal outcome scales and enable the assessment of outcomes across multiple domains affected by stroke. Methods We analyzed publicly available data from the Endovascular Therapy Following Imaging Evaluation for Ischemic Stroke (DEFUSE 3) trial. We evaluated patients who survived beyond the time of discharge from their acute hospitalizations and completed all Neuro-QOL short forms at 90-day follow-up. Results Our final analysis included 128 patients (median age 67 [range 23–90] years, 50.8% men). As modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores increased, there was a consistent increase in the severity of Neuro-QOL measures. T-scores for mobility, cognitive function, and the ability to participate in social roles declined significantly while depression T-scores increased significantly. We found that QOL T-scores for patients with mRS 3 did not differ significantly from T-scores for patients with mRS 2 in any domain. Conclusions Among ischemic stroke patients eligible for ET, QOL scores help validate and supplement quantitatively measured outcomes.
E-152 Subarachnoid hemorrhage quantitative volume analysis: blood volume predicts cerebral vasospasm, delayed cerebral infarction and clinical outcome

Introduction Conventional grading scales in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) do not take into account the total blood volume and have been criticized for being open to variability in interpretation. We aimed to evaluate an automatic tool for quantification of the hemorrhage volume in aSAH. Methods Blood volumes were retrospectively analyzed and added to a comprehensive prospectively maintained institutional SAH database. Patients with non-aSAH were excluded. We designed an automatic quantitative blood volume analysis tool that utilizes a segmentation system that differentiates seed points corresponding to the different intracranial compartments. Through logistic regression analysis, we evaluated the association of blood volume with clinical cerebral vasospasm, delayed cerebral infarction (DCI) and 3-months clinical outcome. The diagnostic accuracy (AUC) of the quantitative blood volume analysis was compared to the modified Fisher score, the Hunt and Hess sore, the Hijdra score, and the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) score. Results 288 aSAH patients with a mean total blood volume of 74.9 ml (± 39.7 ml) made up the study population. 73 patients developed clinical vasospasm (25.3%) and 52 patients developed DCI (18.06%). In univariate and multivariate analysis, total blood volume was significantly predictive of clinical vasospasm, DCI and clinical outcome. Blood volume had the highest AUC for clinical vasospasm as well as DCI when compared to conventional SAH scales. The modified Fisher score was not significantly predictive of either outcome. Conclusion Quantitative analysis of blood volume in aSAH provides a tool for prediction of cerebral vasospasm, DCI and clinical outcome that may have a higher performance and improved accuracy when compared to grading systems used in current practice. Disclosures B. Daou: None. S. Khalsa: None. S. Anand: None. C. Williamson: None. K. Rajajee: None. K. Sheehan: None. A. Pandey: None.
Utility of a commercial unmanned aerial vehicle for in-field localization of biomass bales

Abstract Baling is an accepted process for densifying and transporting herbaceous biomass. Prior to transporting bales to an outlet for utilization, producers often group or stack the bales at the edge of the field. This is a tedious and labor-intensive task. Also, bale retrieval is time-sensitive to avoid losing the dry matter or damaging crop regrowth. In this work we developed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system for operational mapping and surveying of fields with bales waiting for removal. To that end, a commercial UAV (Inspire 2 with Zenmuse XS4 camera) was utilized to determine bale locations via the onboard vision system and the low-accuracy Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). Also bale locations were estimated by ground survey utilizing an RTK-corrected GNSS signal, in order to determine the bale locating accuracy of the developed system. Seven fields were investigated, in which various number of bales had been produced (from 9 bales up to 58 bales) in corn stover and soybean stubble. Based on this work we were able to make the following observations. Field orthomosaic images generated with and without ground control points yielded localization accuracies that were practically similar. Hence, a localization error of less than 0.4 m was observed when aerial and ground surveys taking place in the same day. Results also showed that when flights occurred in the same day, the precision error was low (0.019–0.142 m for different fields). Different flight velocities and aircraft altitudes maintained an accuracy within practical limits of detecting bales while improving the field capacity up to 91% through the increase in flight velocity and 184% through doubling flight altitude. The results of this work could be used by both manned and robotic bale collectors for in-field navigation and bale retrieval.
Medical Tourism: Global Bariatric Healthcare

With the increase in world connectivity and ease of travel, ASMBS issued its position statement on medical tourism in bariatric surgery calling it ‘Global Bariatric Healthcare’. They feared the term ‘Medical Tourism’ would not accurately describe all the issues or concerns associated with bariatric surgery. They defined global bariatric healthcare as “travel to undergo bariatric surgery across any distance that precludes routine follow-up and continuity of care with the surgeon or program”. Any distance associated with such conditions, was seen to fulfill this definition, even if within the same country, across cities, regions or states. The number of publications addressing medical tourism has been increasing exponentially since 2004, in line with the increase in value mentioned above. However, there are plethora of areas for potential research to understand the realities of this sector. In this chapter, we will try to review the available literature to understand the impact of global bariatric healthcare on bariatric surgery outcomes worldwide, while identifying the areas of deficiency to promote more research to address them.
Empowering the frontline: internal and external organizational antecedents of teacher empowerment

Although frontline empowerment is central to managerial reform, few scholars have explored the conditions which effectively promote empowerment. We argue that empowerment is linked to inherent orga...
Abstract P051: Lifestyle Change In Mid-life And Long-term Weight Gain In Women With And Without History Of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Introduction: Identifying strategies to mitigate gradual long-term weight gain is critical for preventing obesity and its related chronic diseases, particularly for persons at high risk, such as wo...
Renewing Knightian Uncertainty: A Pragmatic Prospectus and Demonstration

Frank Knight distinguished between 'uncertainty' and 'risk' to specify the true nature of 'profit’, but his specification never caught on and I do not see realistic possibilities for renewing research in this direction. Using uncertainty to analyze the organization and conduct of contemporary entrepreneurial activity offers more promising prospects.
A Note on Causes of Effects

Abstract : Interest in applying counterfactual logic to legal settings has resulted in disagreements regarding the proper interpretation of the legal term but for, as in It is more probable than not that the injury would not have occurred but for the defendant action (Robertson, 1997). Let A = 1 stands for the defendant's action, R = 1 for the observed response (e.g., injury or damage), and R0 (respectively R1) for the value that R would have had the action not taken (A = 0). The standard interpretation of the but for criterion is captured by the inequality PN greater or equal to 1/2 where PN stands for counterfactual probably PN = P(R0 = 0/A = 1,R = 1) (1) termed probability of necessity in Pearl (2000a).
Using a Curricular Vision to Define Entrustable Professional Activities for Medical Student Assessment

Background The new UCSF Bridges Curriculum aims to prepare students to succeed in today’s health care system while simultaneously improving it. Curriculum redesign requires assessment strategies that ensure that graduates achieve competence in enduring and emerging skills for clinical practice.
Natural Disturbance Production Functions

Natural disturbances in forests are driven by physical and biological processes. Large, landscape scale disturbances derive primarily from weather (droughts, winds, ice storms, and floods), geophysical activities (earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, even asteroid strikes), fires, insects, and diseases. Humans have always been affected by these processes and have invented ways to harness such processes or manipulate vegetation to enhance the values obtained from nature or reduce their negative impacts on human societies. For example, humans have cleared brush using fire to reduce pest! populations and encourage forage for animals (Pyne 1995). Historically, humans have relied on traditions, rules of thumb, and trial and error to predict how their actions may affect disturbance probabilities and characteristics. More recently, economic assessment tools have helped gauge the consequences of natural disturbances on forests . As the availability of science, technology, and environmental data have improved, scientists and economists have been able to quantify disturbances as production processes that emanate from a combination of biological, physical, and (or) human-initiated inputs. Ecologists have long recognized that disturbances lead to changes in ecological corrmlUnities, which subsequently affect human societies. Economists, on the other hand, have been focused on understanding how humans can intervene to alter both the frequency and severity of natural disturbances. Improving scientific and economic assessment tools, and experience using them, have in turn helped us to appreciate the many consequences of natural disturbances. The objectives of this chapter are to (1) define disturbances and their stages, (2) discuss how mathematical expressions of disturbance processes, disturbance production functions, may differ from the production functions defined in neoclassical economics, (3) identify the stages of disturbances, (4) provide a typology of production functions relevant to forest