cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Choice of agreement indices for assessing and improving measurement reproducibility in a core laboratory setting

Clinical core laboratories, such as Echocardiography core laboratories, are increasingly used in clinical studies with imaging outcomes as primary, secondary, or surrogate endpoints. While many factors contribute to the quality of measurements of imaging variables, an essential step in ensuring the value of imaging data includes formal assessment and control of reproducibility via intra-observer and inter-observer reliability. There are many different agreement/reliability indices in the literature. However, different indices may lead to different conclusions and it is not clear which index is the preferred choice as an overall indication of data quality and a tool for providing guidance on improving quality and reliability in a core lab setting. In this paper, we pre-specify the desirable characteristics of an agreement index for assessing and improving reproducibility in a core lab setting; we compare existing agreement indices in terms of these characteristics to choose a preferred index. We conclude that, among the existing indices reviewed, the coverage probability for assessing agreement is the preferred agreement index on the basis of computational simplicity, its ability for rapid identification of discordant measurements to provide guidance for review and retraining, and its consistent evaluation of data quality across multiple reviewers, populations, and continuous/categorical data.
EFFECT OF BREAK TEMPERATURE AND HOLDING TIME ON PECTIN AND PECTIC ENZYMES IN TOMATO PULP

SUMMARY –The effect of break temperature and holding time on chemical and physical properties of canned tomato pulp and on the activity of polygalacturonase (PG) and pectin esterase (PE) was investigated. Samples preheated above 200°F were slightly higher in pH value and lower in titratable acidity than those preheated at 160°F and 140°F. The gross viscosity and serum viscosity of the canned tomato pulp increased as break temperature increased. A slight increase in serum viscosity was also observed when holding time was lengthened. The effect of break temperature on serum viscosity was much greater than that of holding time. The total pectin content of the tomato pulp as well as that of the serum increased as the break temperature increased. The same observation holds true for the effect of holding time on the total pectin content of the tomato pulp and tomato serum. This was explained by the inactivation of pectic enzymes at higher break temperature and longer holding periods. The level of PE and PG activity in the frozen tomato pulp decreased as break temperature and holding time increased. No PE activity was detected in samples preheated at 180°F for 15 sec. Samples preheated at 220°F for 15 sec showed no PG activity, while those preheated at 200°F for 15–87 sec still show some PG activity with a retention of about 3.54–5.68%. PG in tomatoes may be inactivated by giving the macerated fruits a hot break temperature higher than 200°F. The critical conditions for inactivation of PE (180°F for 15 sec) and of PG (220°F for 15 sec) found in the course of this investigation are supported by the data obtained on pectin analysis and serum viscosity.
β‐arrestins and heterotrimeric G‐proteins: collaborators and competitors in signal transduction

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), also known as seven transmembrane receptors (7-TMRs), are the largest protein receptor superfamily in the body. These receptors and their ligands direct a diverse array of physiological responses, and hence have broad relevance to numerous diseases. As a result, they have generated considerable interest in the pharmaceutical industry as drug targets. Recently, GPCRs have been demonstrated to elicit signals through interaction with the scaffolding proteins, β-arrestins-1 and 2, independent of heterotrimeric G-protein coupling. This review discusses several known G-protein-independent, β-arrestin-dependent pathways and their potential physiological and pharmacological significance. The emergence of G-protein-independent signalling changes the way in which GPCR signalling is evaluated, from a cell biological to a pharmaceutical perspective and raises the possibility for the development of pathway specific therapeutics.
Comparison of acoustically coupled and mechanically coupled speech.

Phonetically balanced word lists were mechanically coupled onto the ossicular chain of anesthetized guinea pigs by piezoelectric-type drivers and the resulting cochlear microphonic (CM) recorded on magnetic tape. Similar recordings of the CM resulting from free field tympanic membrane stimulation by hi-fi speakers were also obtained. The recordings were compared by conventional discrimination testing. In discrimination testing of all the raw recordings, listeners achieved essentially perfect scores. Addition of masking noise sufficient to reduce mean discrimination scores to 65-70% revealed no significant discrimination differences. When piezoelectrically initiated, CM-derived lists were compared with similar lists passed through hearing aids in an anechoic chamber, the preference of a panel of listeners for the quality of mechanically coupled speech was significantly higher. Mechanical-acoustical displacement equivalency at normal physiological levels and freedom from mechanical-electrical artifact were ...
Functional evidence for TCR-intrinsic specificity for MHCII

How T cells become restricted to binding antigenic peptides within class I or class II major histocompatibility complex molecules (pMHCI or pMHCII, respectively) via clonotypic T-cell receptors (TCRs) remains debated. During development, if TCR–pMHC interactions exceed an affinity threshold, a signal is generated that positively selects the thymocyte to become a mature CD4+ or CD8+ T cell that can recognize foreign peptides within MHCII or MHCI, respectively. But whether TCRs possess an intrinsic, subthreshold specificity for MHC that facilitates sampling of the peptides within MHC during positive selection or T-cell activation is undefined. Here we asked if increasing the frequency of lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase (Lck)-associated CD4 molecules in T-cell hybridomas would allow for the detection of subthreshold TCR–MHC interactions. The reactivity of 10 distinct TCRs was assessed in response to selecting and nonselecting MHCII bearing cognate, null, or “shaved” peptides with alanine substitutions at known TCR contact residues: Three of the TCRs were selected on MHCII and have defined peptide specificity, two were selected on MHCI and have a known pMHC specificity, and five were generated in vitro without defined selecting or cognate pMHC. Our central finding is that IL-2 was made when each TCR interacted with selecting or nonselecting MHCII presenting shaved peptides. These responses were abrogated by anti-CD4 antibodies and mutagenesis of CD4. They were also inhibited by anti-MHC antibodies that block TCR–MHCII interactions. We interpret these data as functional evidence for TCR-intrinsic specificity for MHCII.
Chaotic lidar

A novel chaotic lidar (CLIDAR) system that utilizes a chaotic laser as the light source is proposed and studied. In CLIDAR, the detection and ranging are realized by correlating the signal waveform reflected back from the target with a delayed reference waveform. Benefiting from the very broad bandwidth of the chaotic waveform that can be easily generated by a semiconductor laser, a centimeter-range resolution is readily achieved. The correlation performance of CLIDAR is studied both numerically and experimentally. The power spectra, phase portraits, time series, and correlation traces of the chaotic waveforms obtained at different operating conditions are compared. The relation between the complexity of the attractor and the correlation property is examined. The correlation dimension and the largest positive Lyapunov exponent of each waveform are calculated. To compare the correlation performance of the waveforms quantitatively, peak sidelobe levels of the correlation traces with different correlation lengths and relative noise levels are investigated. Preliminary experiments show a subcentimeter accuracy in ranging with a 3-cm-range resolution, which currently is limited by the bandwidth of the oscilloscope used.
Selective Wettability Assisted Nanoliter Sample Generation via Electrowetting-Based Transportation

A novel method for nanoliter sample generation is demonstrated. In this method, an electrowetting-based platform (EWOD) was used to transport a water droplet which was sandwiched between two hydrophobic plates, and the transportation was carried out by the direct electrical control of planar electrodes on the bottom glass substrate. In contrast to the air environment in ordinary EWOD, silicone oil was employed to surround the water droplet to reduce the surface hysteresis; therefore, the fluidic operations including cutting and transportation became easier to manipulate. While the droplet was moving through the electrodes, a nanoliter sample was produced within the circular hydrophilic area which was patterned on the upper ITO coated plate. Hence, based on the definition of selective wettability areas, the sample volume is capable to be well generated and controlled. Besides, in order to optimize the dimensions of electrode, the dimensional criterion for complete sample generation was investigated. The result shows that larger electrode width permits more flexibility to determine the radius of hydrophilic circle. Upon this mechanism, the hydrophilic circle of 0.25 mm diameter is able to generate the tiny sample of 3.9 nanoliter. Since the dimensions of the hydrophilic circle could be easily patterned in tens microns, this method has the potential to achieve the picoliter sample via similar procedure. Consequently, according to the tiny sample generation and reduction of hysteresis, such method is well-suitable for the versatile applications.© 2007 ASME
Sequential corneal infection with two genotypically distinct Acanthamoebae associated with renewed contact lens wear.

Sequential corneal infection with two genotypically distinct Acanthamoebae associated with renewed contact lens wear
Judged attractiveness in recognition memory of women's faces.

A series of 35 3 1/2- × 2 1/2-in., full-face photographs of female undergraduates were used as stimuli. Each subject rated the randomly presented photographs into high, medium, and low attractiveness and 2 hr. later subjects recognized photographs they judged most and least attractive significantly better than the more “neutral” faces when all were mixed with 10 previously unused control stimuli. Arousal and “distinctive cues” were discussed as possible explanations for the improved memory associated with attractive and unattractive faces.
The Use of Tumor Extracts in the Production of the Schwartzman Phenomenon

Method of extraction of tumor tissue.-The tumor was weighed and minced immediately after excision. Cultures were taken when possible. The minced tissue was suspended in 4 volumes of 95% alcohol and refluxed over a water bath for 1 hour. The mixture was then centrifuged, and the residue refluxed in 4 volumes of absolute alcohol for a similar period. The suspension was again centrifuged and this was followed by an extraction of the sediment with 2 volumes of saline for 2 two-hour periods. This was also centrifuged and the extract so obtained was placed in the icebox overnight. (All centrifugation was done before cooling of the solutions.) A precipitate formed the next morning which was removed by centrifugation. Four volumes of 95% alcohol were added to the supernatant fluid and the precipitate so formed was washed in absolute alcohol, followed by ether, and then dried. The extracts after this treatment were considered bacteriologically sterile.
Climate change impact on the roles of temperature and precipitation in western U.S. snowpack variability

We employ dynamical downscaling and pseudo global warming methodologies to evaluate climate change impact on the roles of temperature and precipitation in spring snowpack (S) variability across the western United States (U.S.). The negative correlation between S and temperature weakens linearly with elevation, whereas the correlation between S and precipitation increases asymptotically with elevation. The curvilinear relationship in the latter case was not visible in prior studies because of the observation networks' limited range. In our historical validation, there is a range of threshold elevations (1580–2181 m) across six mountainous regions, above which precipitation is the main driver of snowpack variability and below which temperature is the main driver. Under a moderate end-of-century climate change scenario, these thresholds increase by 191 to 432 m. These rising thresholds indicate increasing spatial and elevational vulnerability of western U.S. spring snowpack along with associated impacts to hydrologic and ecologic systems.
Comparative Perspectives on Strategic Remedial Delay: Newspaper Source List

This document lists the newspaper articles that comprise the dataset analyzed in “Comparative Perspectives on Strategic Remedial Delay,” by Holning Lau, forthcoming in the Tulane Law Review.
Gender differences in self-reported withdrawal symptoms and reducing or quitting smoking three years later: A prospective, longitudinal examination of U.S. adults.

Abstract Background Little is known about gender differences in withdrawal symptoms among smokers in the community. This study used longitudinal epidemiologic data to examine gender differences in current smokers’ report of withdrawal symptoms during past quit attempts and the relationship between withdrawal symptoms and the odds of reducing or quitting smoking three years later. Methods Data were drawn from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC; Wave 1, 2001-2001, n = 43,093; Wave 2, 2004–2005, n = 34,653). Analyses were conducted on respondents who reported current daily cigarette smoking at Wave 1 (n = 6911). Withdrawal symptoms during past quit attempts were assessed at Wave 1. Current smoking status was assessed at Wave 2. Results Wave 1 current smoking women, compared to men, were more likely to endorse any withdrawal symptoms, withdrawal-related discomfort, and withdrawal-related relapse (ps Conclusions Women were more likely to report withdrawal while the relationship between withdrawal symptoms and decreased likelihood of reducing smoking was stronger in men. Identifying gender differences in withdrawal can help develop strategies to help reduce withdrawal for both men and women.
Memory and Aging

Publisher Summary This chapter examines four accounts of the nature of memory impairment in old age. These range from the view that poorer memory in old age arises from inefficient encoding and retrieval strategies that are subject to remediation by appropriate interventions to less optimistic views that declining memory is the result of irreversible age-related changes in basic mechanisms underlying cognition, such as reductions in working memory capacity, reduced processing speed, and impaired inhibition. The four classes of hypotheses considered are that age-related decrements in memory are attributable to (1) failures of strategic processing, (2) deficits in semantic processing, (3) problems in the utilization of context, and (4) changes in basic mechanisms underlying all aspects of cognition. Processing-resource approaches are appealing because they seek to identify deficits in basic mechanisms underlying not only memory but also other aspects of cognition. The findings relevant to the hypotheses that memory changes in old age are due to reduced attentional capacity, smaller working-memory capacity, defective inhibitory processing, or general slowing have been reviewed.
Palonosetron and hydroxyzine pre-treatment reduces the objective signs of experimentally-induced acute opioid withdrawal in humans: a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study

ABSTRACTBackground: Treatments for reducing opioid withdrawal are limited and prone to problematic side effects. Laboratory studies, clinical observations, and limited human trial data suggest 5-HT3-receptor antagonists and antihistamines may be effective. Objectives: This double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled study employing an acute physical dependence model evaluated whether (i) treatment with a 5-HT3-receptor antagonist (palonosetron) would reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms, and (ii) co-administration of an antihistamine (hydroxyzine) would enhance any treatment effect. Methods: At timepoint T = 0, healthy (non-opioid dependent, non-substance abuser) male volunteers (N = 10) were pre-treated with either a) placebo, b) palonosetron IV (0.75 mg), or c) palonosetron IV (0.75 mg) and hydroxyzine PO (100 mg) in a crossover study design. This was followed at T = 30 by intravenous morphine (10 mg/70kg). At T = 165, 10 mg/70kg naloxone IV was given to precipitate opioid withdrawal. The objective opioid ...
Humor y agudeza en Gracias y desgracias del ojo del culo

Francisco de Quevedo used in Gracias y desgracias del ojo del culo the paradox and the setting of the pseudo-praise to show his wit and an approach towards the laughable world through scatology. For many scholars, behind the joke and this show of wit, we can find other interpretations, including a satire of his society. Obviously, the scatology serves as a degrading instrument, and satirical topics of those times are present in this work, but it seems that the priority is the achievement of laughter. The search for other interpretations seems risky and perhaps the result of ideological prejudices about Quevedo, specially in the critics of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, temporally and contextually distant and possibly with a less permissive value system on this subject.
Probabilistic interpretation of relativistic scattering

We present a detailed diseussion of the interpretation of a seattering process within the framework of relativistic quantum mechanics. This argument is particularly well suited to the seattering of charged scalar particles in an external electromagnetic field, but it breaks down for spin-1/2 particles. In the latter case, we can improve certain features if we use the Klein-Gordon equation instead of the Dirae equation.
A novel evidence based phone system reduces symptoms of chemotherapy induced neuropathy (P7.095)

OBJECTIVE:Compare a telephone based nurse practitioner directed case management system to standard of care for management of chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) related symptoms. BACKGROUND:CIPN causes pain, sensory loss and reduced quality of life and is the most common dose limiting chemotherapy side-effect. Effective pain treatment exists but symptoms are often undertreated and a universally accepted evidence based patient care model is lacking. DESIGN/METHODS:Chemotherapy patients were randomized to Symptom Care (SC), an automated telephone system with nurse practitioner (NP) follow-up, or Usual Care (UC). Patients logged symptom severity daily on 0-10 scales for 11 symptoms including numbness. The SC cohort received automated symptom specific advice and those reporting moderate/severe symptoms (score 蠅4) received NP phone follow-up with symptom management following the Oncology Nursing Society Putting Evidence Into Practice guidelines. The UC cohort was advised to call their provider regarding symptoms. RESULTS:358 patients enrolled. Age: 56 +/- 11 years, 75[percnt] female, 44[percnt] breast cancer. There was no difference in age, sex, race, or malignancy between groups. Negative binomial regression was used to investigate the numbers of severe (蠅7), moderate (4 - 6), mild (1 - 3) and asymptomatic days of numbness. SC had fewer severe (0.36 vs. 2.83, p<.001) and moderate (1.48 vs. 6.96, p<.001), but similar mild (11.23 vs. 8.92, NS) and asymptomatic (86.30 vs. 78.18, NS) days as UC. This represents 87[percnt] less severe and 79[percnt] less moderate days. Spearman Rho correlations showed numbness was related to pain, fatigue, trouble thinking, trouble sleeping, and nausea (p< 0.001). CONCLUSIONS:Use of a novel phone based symptom management system led to a significant reduction in the number of days impacted by moderate/severe numbness compared to the current CIPN standard of care. These data demonstrate the need for, and potential of, a prospectively designed evidence based CIPN patient care pathway. Study Supported by: Disclosure: Dr. Kolb has nothing to disclose. Dr. Smith has received personal compensation for activities with Pfizer and Allergan as a consultant. Dr. Smith has received research support from the NIH, the ADA, Viromed, and Impeto. Dr. Singleton has received personal compensation for activities with Medical Review Institute. Dr. Brown has nothing to disclose. Dr. Wong has nothing to disclose. Dr. Dunson Jr. has nothing to disclose. Dr. Wujcik has nothing to disclose. Dr. Beck has nothing to disclose. Dr. Mooney has nothing to disclose.
How is big data changing what we do?: panel discussion

Big data is currently being created at a staggering estimate of 2.5 exabytes per day with data from sources such as sensors, social media sites, mobile devices, and business transaction records. With this quantity of generated and stored data (Volume), the speed at which these data are being generated (Velocity) and the various forms of data (Variety), traditional relational database processing techniques are unable to effectively handle the size and complexity of these data sets. This panel will discuss how businesses are currently dealing with big data, needs businesses have for scientists able to process these data, and how educational institutions can better prepare students for the challenges of big data.
Marketing Models for Internet Advertising

This chapter reviews recent advances in the application of marketing models to improve decision-making in internet advertising. It focuses on models developed for use in display advertising and sponsored search advertising. Together, these media account for the bulk of online advertising spending and most of the recent modeling advances in internet advertising. The chapter describes the challenges that confront modelers in these areas, including data limitations and selection effects due to targeting, and details how recent advances in model formulation and model-enhanced experiments are able to address them. The chapter closes with a look at recent modeling work that incorporates the effects of both online display and sponsored search advertising.
Incorporating Patient Preferences into Estimation of Optimal Individualized Treatment Rules

Summary Precision medicine seeks to provide treatment only if, when, to whom, and at the dose it is needed. Thus, precision medicine is a vehicle by which healthcare can be made both more effective and efficient. Individualized treatment rules operationalize precision medicine as a map from current patient information to a recommended treatment. An optimal individualized treatment rule is defined as maximizing the mean of a pre-specified scalar outcome. However, in settings with multiple outcomes, choosing a scalar composite outcome by which to define optimality is difficult. Furthermore, when there is heterogeneity across patient preferences for these outcomes, it may not be possible to construct a single composite outcome that leads to high-quality treatment recommendations for all patients. We simultaneously estimate the optimal individualized treatment rule for all composite outcomes representable as a convex combination of the (suitably transformed) outcomes. For each patient, we use a preference elicitation questionnaire and item response theory to derive the posterior distribution over preferences for these composite outcomes and subsequently derive an estimator of an optimal individualized treatment rule tailored to patient preferences. We prove that as the number of subjects and items on the questionnaire diverge, our estimator is consistent for an oracle optimal individualized treatment rule wherein each patient's preference is known a priori. We illustrate the proposed method using data from a clinical trial on antipsychotic medications for schizophrenia.
Bypass surgery and angioplasty led to similar 5-year mortality rates in multivessel coronary artery disease

Source Citation The Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation (BARI) Investigators. Comparison of coronary bypass surgery with angioplasty in patients with multivessel disease. N Engl J Me...
Prophylactic enoxaparin doses may be inadequate in patients undergoing abdominal cancer surgery.

Abstract Background The incidence of venous thromboembolism has increased in patients following cancer surgery despite the increased use of prophylactic anticoagulants, suggesting standard doses may be inadequate. We sought to determine the adequacy of enoxaparin prophylaxis in patients undergoing abdominal cancer surgery. Methods Peak and trough anti-Xa levels were measured in patients receiving enoxaparin thromboprophylaxis (40 mg daily or 30 mg twice daily, at the surgeon's discretion) after undergoing open abdominal cancer surgery at a single institution. Results Fifty-five patients received enoxaparin 40 mg daily (group 1), 18 received 30 mg twice daily (group 2; total n = 73). There were no significant differences in gender, age, body mass index, creatinine clearance, diagnosis, or procedure between the two groups. Thirty-nine patients (53.4%) had inadequate peak anti-Xa levels ( Conclusions The majority of patients had inadequate anti-Xa levels following abdominal cancer surgery, calling into question standard prophylactic enoxaparin dosing.
Ecological niche modeling and distribution of Ornithodoros hermsi associated with tick-borne relapsing fever in western North America

Tick-borne relapsing fever in western North America is a zoonosis caused by the spirochete bacterium, Borrelia hermsii, which is transmitted by the bite of infected Ornithodoros hermsi ticks. The pathogen is maintained in natural cycles involving small rodent hosts such as chipmunks and tree squirrels, as well as the tick vector. In order for these ticks to establish sustained and viable populations, a narrow set of environmental parameters must exist, primarily moderate temperatures and moderate to high amounts of precipitation. Maximum Entropy Species Distribution Modeling (Maxent) was used to predict the species distribution of O. hermsi and B. hermsii through time and space based on current climatic trends and future projected climate changes. From this modeling process, we found that the projected current distributions of both the tick and spirochete align with known endemic foci for the disease. Further, global climate models predict a shift in the distribution of suitable habitat for the tick vector to higher elevations. Our predictions are useful for targeting surveillance efforts in areas of high risk in western North America, increasing the efficiency and accuracy of public health investigations and vector control efforts.
The redesigned Forensic Research/Reference on Genetics-knowledge base, FROG-kb.

Abstract The Forensic Resource/Reference on Genetics-knowledge base (FROG-kb) web site was introduced in 2011 and in the five years since the previous publication ongoing research into how the database can better serve forensics has resulted in extensive redesign of the database interface and functionality. Originally designed as a prototype to support forensic use of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), FROG-kb provides a freely accessible web interface that facilitates forensic practice and can be useful for teaching and research. Based on knowledge gained through its use, the web interface has been redesigned for easier navigation through the multiple components. The site also has functional enhancements, extensive new documentation, and new reference panels of SNPs with new curated data. FROG-kb focuses on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and provides reference population data for several published panels of individual identification SNPs (IISNPs) and several published panels of ancestry inference SNPs (AISNPs). For each of the various marker panels with reference population data, FROG-kb calculates random match probabilities (RMP) and relative likelihoods of ancestry for a user-entered genotype profile (either completely or partially specified). Example genotype profiles are available and the User’s Manual presents interpretation guidelines for the calculations. The extensive documentation along with ongoing updates makes FROG-kb a comprehensive tool in facilitating use of SNPs in forensic practice and education. An overview of the new FROG-kb with examples and material explaining the results of its use are presented here.
A Reflective Assignment Assessing Pharmacy Students’ Interprofessional Collaborative Practice Exposure During Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences

Objective. To assess the effectiveness of a required reflective writing assignment to document students' exposure to and experience with interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP) during introductory pharmacy practice experiences (IPPEs). Methods. Pharmacy students completed the assignment during their community or institutional pharmacy IPPE and electronically submitted their written reflections. Twelve codes were created to indicate opportunities, barriers, and patient-centered care identified in the community pharmacy reflections. Fourteen codes were created to indicate interprofessional communication, roles, patient-centered care, and teamwork identified in the institutional pharmacy reflections. The reflections were then qualitatively analyzed to identify and code themes related to IPCP. Results. Two hundred twenty-eight reflections were submitted. Exposure to an observed IPCP was described in 51% of the community pharmacy reflections and in 100% of the institutional pharmacy reflections. Identified opportunities to improve IPCP in community pharmacy were extended pharmacy services, expanded networking and relationships, making more phone calls to other health professionals, and greater use of technology. The identified barriers to IPCP in community pharmacy were difficulty accessing patient health data, lack of direct access to prescribers, hierarchy, pharmacy workload, and lack of timely communication. The identified themes that impacted IPCP in institutional settings included dysfunctional communication, technology use, mutual respect, role overlap, teamwork, nonphysician leadership, and personal relationships. Conclusion. Implementing a reflective assignment during IPPEs was an effective way to document student exposure to and experience in IPCP in two types of pharmacy practice settings and helped to meet pharmacy accreditation standards of having IPE included in early experiential education settings.
Key Concepts for a Data Science Ethics Curriculum

Data science is a new field that integrates aspects of computer science, statistics and information management. As a new field, ethical issues a data scientist may encounter have received little attention to date, and ethics training within a data science curriculum has received even less attention. To address this gap, this article explores the different codes of conduct and ethics frameworks related to data science. We compare this analysis with the results of a systematic literature review focusing on ethics in data science. Our analysis identified twelve key ethics areas that should be included within a data science ethics curriculum. Our research notes that none of the existing codes or frameworks covers all of the identified themes. Data science educators and program coordinators can use our results as a way to identify key ethical concepts that can be introduced within a data science program.
Percutaneous coronary intervention versus coronary bypass surgery for unprotected left main disease: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was aimed at comparing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for the treatment of unprotected left main coronary disease. Methods: All RCTs randomizing patients to any type of PCI with stents vs. CABG for left main disease (LMD) were included. Primary outcome was a composite of follow-up death/myocardial infarction/stroke/repeat revascularization. Secondary outcomes were peri-procedural mortality and the individual components of the primary outcome. Incidence rate ratio (IRR) or odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using a generic inverse variance method with random effects model. Subgroup analyses were done based on: (I) type of PCI [bare metal stents (BMS) vs. drug-eluting stents (DES)] and; (II) mean SYNTAX score tertiles. Leave one-out analysis and meta-regression were performed. Results: Six trials were included (4,700 patients; 2,349 PCI and 2,351 CABG). Follow-up ranged from 2.33 to 5 years. PCI was associated with higher risk of follow-up death/myocardial infarction/stroke/repeat revascularization (IRR =1.328, 95% CI, 1.114–1.582, P=0.002) and of repeated revascularization (IRR =1.754, 95% CI, 1.470–2.093, P<0.001). The risk of peri-procedural mortality (OR =0.866, 95% CI, 0.460–1.628, P=0.654), follow-up mortality (IRR =0.947, 95% CI, 0.711–1.262, P=0.712), myocardial infarction (IRR =1.342, 95% CI, 0.827–2.179, P=0.234) and stroke (IRR =0.800, 95% CI, 0.374–1.710, P=0.565) were similar between groups. No differences were found between DES and BMS subgroups. The risk of follow-up death/myocardial infarction/stroke/repeat revascularization with PCI was higher in all SYNTAX tertiles, with a progressive increase from the 1 st to the 3 rd tertile. At meta-regression, higher mean SYNTAX score was associated with higher risk for the primary outcome in the PCI group (beta =0.02, P=0.05), whereas no association was found with female gender, mean age, or diabetes. Conclusions: CABG remains the therapy of choice for the treatment of unprotected LMD, especially for patients with a high SYNTAX score.
The Role of Quantity Discounts in the Presence of Heterogeneous Buyers

In this paper we develop a model to examine the role of quantity discounts in synchronizing production and order cycles for a system consisting of one manufacturer and two heterogeneous buyers. The model developed can serve as a guideline for the manufacturer and the buyers as how to integrate their decisions to achieve higher benefits. The numerical examples indicate that the benefit of synchronization decreases with the degree of heterogeneity of the buyers. The conditions under which it is profitable for the manufacturer to synchronize with the heterogeneous buyers are demonstrated through numerical examples.
Crystal growth and piezoelectric characterization of mechanically stable ZnO nanostructure arrays

The highest piezoelectric performance of ZnO can be achieved by utilizing the piezoelectric operation along the c-axis due to its anisotropic permanent dipole moment. However, a 1-dimensional ZnO crystal is vulnerable to mechanical stress along the c-axis because it is susceptible to breaking. The synthesis of mechanically stable ZnO hexagonal, nanopyramidal arrays is achieved by modulating the premature oxidation of a Zn precursor on a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate during the chemical vapor depositon (CVD) process. The as-synthesized ZnO step-wise nanostructures show a piezoelectric charge coefficient of d33 = 13.20 pm V−1 measured by piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). Post-synthesis annealing under an oxygen condition improves the piezoelectric response by 98% to a value of d33 = 26.10 pm V−1. The growth mechanism, morphology, crystal structure, and crystal defects are characterized and discussed in this paper.
Chemical Kinetics in Theory

One way to approach the theoretical study of chemical reactions is to bring the reactants together in well-defined crossed molecular beams. Then energy allocations to reactant and product molecules can be calculated with a kinematic analysis, as will be shown in Sec. 11.1 and in the program Newton. Beneath the kinematics lies reaction dynamics and its principle theoretical tool, the potential energy surface. A simple method for constructing potential energy surfaces is described in Sec. 11.2, and the program Leps displays graphical representations. The course of a reaction is traced as a path on the potential energy surface, up the valley of the reactants, through a pass at the head of that valley, and down the valley of the products. The configuration of the reacting system at the saddle point in the pass defines the activated complex, which often behaves as if it were in equilibrium with reactant molecules. If so, a statistical method for estimating rate constants introduced by Eyring is applicable. Rudiments of Eyring’s theory are sketched in Sec. 11.3 and implemented for unimolecular and bimolecular reactions in the programs Eyring1 and Eyring2. Some features of the further theory of unimolecular reactions are mentioned in Sec. 11.4 and illustrated with the programs Beyer, Rrkm, and Whitten. We saw many examples of steady-state conditions in Chapter 10. Usually, as the name implies, steady states are stable, but not always.
Off label use of direct oral anticoagulants for left ventricular thrombus. Is it appropriate

A 57 year old gentleman with a history of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation presented with worsening lower extremity edema and dyspnea on exertion. He had been compliant with his medications including rivaroxaban (Xarelto) for atrial fibrillation that he takes with the evening meal daily. His echocardiogram showed an ejection fraction of 10-15% and a new left ventricle (LV) apical thrombus. During his hospital stay, he developed right sided weakness. Magnetic Resonance Imaging showed a subacute infarct involving the left parietal lobe. The decision was made to discontinue rivaroxaban and initiate heparin infusion instead. Meanwhile, the patient's neurological symptoms were closely monitored. The patient was then transitioned to warfarin. He was eventually transferred to the rehabilitation floor with minimal residual neurologic weakness. Left ventricular thrombus is an important complication in the setting of systolic dysfunction. The combination of blood stasis, endothelial injury and hypercoagulability, is a prerequisite for in-vivo thrombus formation. The slow onset of action and reversal, need for frequent monitoring, narrow therapeutic range, dietary restrictions, and multiple drug interactions limit the use of vitamin K antagonists. Direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) do not have these limitations and may also reduce the risk of hemorrhagic stroke. Our patient developed an LV thrombus while on uninterrupted DOAC therapy.
Arabidopsis Flowers Unlocked the Mechanism of Jasmonate Signaling.

The Arabidopsis male-sterile phenotype has been a wonderful model for jasmonate action in plants. It has allowed us to identify transcription factors that control gene expression during stamen and pollen maturation and provided for the discovery of the JAZ repressor proteins and the mechanism of jasmonate signaling. More recently, it has revealed intriguing details of the spatial localization of jasmonate synthesis and perception in stamen tissues. The extensive and thoughtful application of protein–protein interaction assays to identify JAZ-interacting partners has led to a much richer appreciation of the mechanisms by which jasmonate integrates with the actions of other hormones to regulate plant growth and physiological responses. This integration is strikingly evident in stamen and pollen development in Arabidopsis, which requires the actions of many hormones. Just as importantly, it is now evident that jasmonate has very different actions during flower development and reproduction in other plant species. This integration and diversity of action indicates that many exciting discoveries remain to be made in this area of jasmonate hormone signaling and response.
Effects of nano-confinement and conformational mobility on molecular imprinting of cross-linked micelles

Molecular imprinting is a facile method to create guest-complementary binding sites in a cross-linked polymeric network. When performed within cross-linked micelles, the resulting molecularly imprinted nanoparticles (MINPs) exhibited an extraordinary ability to distinguish subtle structural changes in the guest, including the shift of a hydrophilic or hydrophobic group by 1 carbon and addition of a single methylene/methyl group. A high surface-cross-linking density prior to core-cross-linking was key to the high-fidelity imprinting, enhancing both the binding affinity of the imprinted micelle for the template and selectivity among structural analogues. Whereas the imprinted site closely complemented the hydrophilic surface anchoring group and rigid hydrophobic aromatic core, it was expanded significantly for a conformationally mobile small group (i.e., methoxy).
Remarks by Guest Editors

The Police Research Group, housed within George Mason University, is honored to serve as the guest editors for this Special Issue of Police Practice and Research: An International Journal. PPR has ...
Prediction of effective moisture diffusivity in plant tissue food materials over extended moisture range

Effective moisture diffusivity provides an easy and expeditious route to understanding many moisture transport processes involving food materials. Instead of making the moisture diffusivity a param...
Linear Micromechanical Phased Arrays

Linear micromechanical optical phased arrays solve many of the problems facing their two-dimensional counter parts. In this paper we cover the basics of linear micromechanical phased arrays and show how their fundamental properties lead to desirable functional characteristics for optical applications. Experimental results on sheet microscopy with improved axial resolution demonstrates how the scanning performance of linear phased arrays can be combined with other scanning elements to create three dimensional images with high resolution at high speed.
The One-Party Presidential Contest: Adams, Jackson, and 1824’s Five-Horse Race

Don Ratcliffe is a historians’ historian, and no part of his prodigious scholarly output encapsulates that better than this book. It is a political history junkie’s dream. His encyclopedic knowledg...
Social Influences on Decisions to Refrain or Desist from Two Common Crimes among Incarcerated Men

Desistance scholars have increasingly focused on what is conceived of as a lengthy process of moving away from criminality, especially the central role of the individual making a decision to do so....
A Rapid Change in Pressure

A Rapid Change in Pressure A 74-year-old woman presented with a 6-week history of progressive dyspnea on exertion. She also noted a nonproductive cough, fatigue, loss of appetite, and an unintentio...
Epitaxial growth of rock salt MgZrN2 semiconductors on MgO and GaN

Ternary nitride compound semiconductors have attracted recent attention as electronic materials since their properties can be tuned by cation stoichiometry and ordering. A recently discovered example is MgZrN2, a ternary analog to the rock salt semiconductor ScN. MgZrN2 has a larger bandgap and stronger dielectric response than the binary compound. Polycrystalline thin films of MgZrN2 have been studied, but demonstration of high-quality growth is still required to establish its suitability for technological applications. Here, we report on epitaxial growth of MgZrN2 thin films on (100) and (111) MgO substrates and (001) GaN templates. The MgZrN2 composition is confirmed by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, showing no oxygen in the film except for a thin surface oxide layer. Epitaxial growth results in MgZrN2 with x-ray diffraction rocking curves with a full-width at half-maximum in the range of 0.3–3.0°, depending on the substrate. Transmission electron microscopy analysis of the MgZrN2 film grown on a (111) MgO substrate confirms epitaxial growth and shows a sharp film/substrate interface. In-plane temperature-dependent Hall effect measurements show that the material is an n-type semiconductor with a relatively high concentration (n300K ≈ 1019–1020 cm−3) of thermally activated electrons. Room-temperature transport measurements show a conductivity of 25 S cm−1 and a Seebeck coefficient of −80 μV K−1. Overall, these results provide an important step toward integration of rock salt MgZrN2 with other technological nitrides for device applications.
Yeast grown in continuous culture systems can detect mutagens with improved sensitivity relative to the Ames test

Continuous culture systems allow for the controlled growth of microorganisms over a long period of time. Here, we develop a novel test for mutagenicity that involves growing yeast in continuous culture systems exposed to low levels of mutagen for a period of weeks. In contrast, most microorganism-based tests for mutagenicity expose the potential mutagen to the biological reporter at a high concentration of mutagen for a short period of time. Our test improves upon the sensitivity of the well-established Ames test by at least 20-fold for each of two mutagens that act by different mechanisms (the intercalator ethidium bromide and alkylating agent methylmethane sulfonate). To conduct the tests, cultures were grown in small, inexpensive continuous culture systems in media containing (potential) mutagen, and the resulting mutagenicity of the added compound was assessed via two methods: a canavanine-based plate assay and whole genome sequencing. In the canavanine-based plate assay, we were able to detect a clear relationship between the amount of mutagen and the number of canavanine-resistant mutant colonies over a period of one to three weeks of exposure. Whole genome sequencing of yeast grown in continuous culture systems exposed to MMS demonstrated that quantification of mutations is possible by identifying the number of unique variants across each strain but with lower sensitivity than the plate-based assay. In conclusion, we propose yeast grown in continuous culture systems can provide an improved and more sensitive test for mutagenicity.
A Tight I/O Lower Bound for Matrix Multiplication

A tight lower bound for required I/O when computing a matrix-matrix multiplication on a processor with two layers of memory is established. Prior work obtained weaker lower bounds by reasoning abou...
Tine-Based Leadless Pacemaker: Strategies for Safe Implantation in Unconventional Clinical Scenarios

Leadless pacemakers (LPs) have emerged as a meaningful alternative to transvenous pacemakers for single-ventricular pacing. LPs eliminate many of lead- and pocket-associated complications observed with transvenous pacemakers. Owing to the lack of atrioventricular synchronous pacing until recently, the use of LP was generally reserved for those patients who either required minimal ventricular pacing or had permanent atrial fibrillation. The only commercially available LP is the Micra transcatheter pacing system (Micra-TPS, Medtronic Inc. Fridley, Minnesota), which requires insertion of a 27-F (outer diameter) introducer sheath in the femoral vein. The LP is delivered to the right ventricle using a 23-F delivery catheter. Owing to the need for a large-bore sheath, the pivotal studies for the Micra transcatheter pacing system excluded patients with indwelling inferior vena cava filters and included only a few patients with bioprosthetic or repaired tricuspid valve. Subsequent real-world experience has demonstrated the overall safety and feasibility of LP placement, and use in various unconventional clinical settings has been validated, albeit with specific precautions. Additionally, incorporation of adjunctive techniques and strategies can improve the safety of the procedure in routine clinical settings as well. The objective of this state-of-the-art review is to highlight the key procedural elements to facilitate safe and efficient implantation of LP in routine as well as in unique clinical settings.