cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Uncoupling associations of risk alleles with endophenotypes and phenotypes: insights from the ApoB locus and heart-related traits.

Summary Traditionally, genomewide association studies (GWAS) have emphasized the benefits of large samples in the analyses of age-related traits rather than their specific properties. We adopted a realistic concept of genetic susceptibility to inherently heterogeneous, age-related traits driven by the elusive role of evolution in their properties. We analyzed in detail the associations of rs693 and rs562338 polymorphisms representing the Apolipoprotein B locus with endophenotypes (total cholesterol [TC] and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and phenotypes (myocardial infarction [MI] and survival) in four large-scale studies, which include 20 748 individuals with 2357 MI events. We showed that a strong, robust predisposition of rs693 and rs562338 to TC (β = 0.72, P = 7.7 × 10−30 for rs693 and β = −1.08, P = 9.8 × 10−42 for rs562338) is not translated into a predisposition to MI and survival. The rs693_A allele influences risks of MI and mortality after MI additively with lipids. This allele shows antagonistic effects—protecting against MI risks (β = −0.18, P = 1.1 × 10−5) or increasing MI risks (β = 0.15, P = 2.8 × 10−3) and mortality after MI, in different populations. Paradoxically, increased TC concentrations can be protective against MI for the rs693_A allele carriers. Our results uncouple the influences of the same alleles on endophenotypes and phenotypes despite potential causal relationships among the latter. Our strategy reveals virtually genomewide significance for the associations of rs693 with MI (P = 5.5 × 10−8) that is contrasted with a weak estimate following the traditional, sample-size-centered GWAS strategy (P = 0.16) in the same sample. These results caution against the use of the traditional GWAS strategy for gaining profound insights into genetic predisposition to healthspan and lifespan.
Expansion of the cerebral ventricles and correlation with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome neuropathology in 232 patients.

. Background.-Expansion of the cerebral ventricles is highly prevalent in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The mechanism remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to correlate the volume of the cerebral ventricles with histopathologic abnormalities in the brain. Methods.-At autopsy, the volume of the cerebral ventricles in brain slices was estimated planimetrically in 232 patients with AIDS and 77 age-appropriate controls. Estimated volumes were compared with the neuropathologic results using multiple regression analysis. Results.-Multiple regression analysis demonstrated a significant relationship between ventricular volume and cerebral cytomegalovirus infection (P <.0004). When human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) encephalitis with multinucleated cells was present, median volume did not differ significantly from other subjects with AIDS. In 11 patients who had HIV-1 proviral DNA detected using the polymerase chain reaction, average volume was not different from 22 patients who tested negatively using polymerase chain reaction. Ventricular expansion did not have a clear-cut neuropathologic substrate in many instances. Conclusions.-In some subjects with AIDS, cytomegalovirus encephalitis was the underlying neuropathologic lesion associated with ventricular expansion. Key indicators of brain HIV-1 infection were related either weakly or not at all, and the role of HIV-1 remains uncertain in most cases.
Post-investigation service need and utilization among families at risk of maltreatment

Abstract This study examined the relationship between different areas of family need and the utilization of home-based, post-investigation services (HBPS) following a child protective services (CPS) investigation. The sample consisted of 2598 families with children who remained at home after an initial CPS investigation between July 2006 and April 2011. Family need was measured in three areas (concrete, clinical, and educational) using the Family Assessment Form (FAF), and families received one or more of the following HBPS: case management, concrete, educational, and clinical services. Pearson chi-square analyses were utilized to identify significant areas of needs to be included in a final multivariate logistic regression for each HBPS while controlling for demographic characteristics. Numerous areas of family need were associated with receipt of services intended to address those needs. Specifically, concrete need related to financial conditions was met with concrete services, educational need related to child development (an indicator of parenting need) was met with educational services, and clinical need related to interactions between caregivers (a potential indicator of domestic violence) was met with clinical services. In contrast, caregivers with concrete need related to living conditions were less likely to receive both educational and clinical services. Findings from the study highlight that matching concrete needs to related services is relatively straightforward but that the match between educational and clinical needs to respective services is more complex. We discuss the complexities of matching different areas of need and HBPS following a CPS investigation and the importance of "bridging services" to engage families at risk of maltreatment in additional prevention services.
Gaze Typing Through Foot-Operated Wearable Device

Gaze Typing, a gaze-assisted text entry method, allows individuals with motor (arm, spine) impairments to enter text on a computer using a virtual keyboard and their gaze. Though gaze typing is widely accepted, this method is limited by its lower typing speed, higher error rate, and the resulting visual fatigue, since dwell-based key selection is used. In this research, we present a gaze-assisted, wearable-supplemented, foot interaction framework for dwell-free gaze typing. The framework consists of a custom-built virtual keyboard, an eye tracker, and a wearable device attached to the user's foot. To enter a character, the user looks at the character and selects it by pressing the pressure pad, attached to the wearable device, with the foot. Results from a preliminary user study involving two participants with motor impairments show that the participants achieved a mean gaze typing speed of 6.23 Words Per Minute (WPM). In addition, the mean value of Key Strokes Per Character (KPSC) was 1.07 (ideal 1.0), and the mean value of Rate of Backspace Activation (RBA) was 0.07 (ideal 0.0). Furthermore, we present our findings from multiple usability studies and design iterations, through which we created appropriate affordances and experience design of our gaze typing system.
Susceptibility Loci for Clinical Coronary Artery Disease and Subclinical Coronary Atherosclerosis Throughout the Life-Course.

Background— Recent genome-wide association studies have identified 49 single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with clinical coronary artery disease. The mechanism by which these loci influence risk remains largely unclear. Methods and Results— We examined the association between a genetic risk score composed of high-risk alleles at the 49 single nucleotide polymorphisms and the degree of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in 7798 participants from 6 studies stratified into 4 age groups at the time of assessment (15–34, 35–54, 55–74, and >75 years). Atherosclerosis was quantified by staining and direct visual inspection of the right coronary artery in the youngest group and by scanning for coronary artery calcification in the remaining groups. We defined cases as subjects within the top quartile of degree of atherosclerosis in 3 groups and as subjects with a coronary artery calcium score >0 in the fourth (35–54 years) where less than one quarter had any coronary artery calcium. In our meta-analysis of all strata, we found 1-SD increase in the genetic risk score increased the risk of advanced subclinical coronary atherosclerosis by 36% ( P =8.3×10 −25 ). This increase in risk was significant in all 4 age groups including the youngest group where atherosclerosis consisted primarily of raised lesions without macroscopic evidence of plaque rupture or thrombosis. Results were similar when we restricted the genetic risk score to 32 single nucleotide polymorphisms not associated with traditional risk factors or when we adjusted for traditional risk factors. Conclusions— A genetic risk score for clinical coronary artery disease is associated with advanced subclinical coronary atherosclerosis throughout the life-course. This association is apparent even at the earliest, uncomplicated stages of atherosclerosis.
Fracture initiation in a thermoelastic solid with relaxation: Transient three-dimensional analysis

ABSTRACTTransient, 3D growth of a plane, brittle crack in an isotropic, thermoelastic solid is considered. The solid is initially at rest at uniform (absolute) temperature and contains a semi-infinite, plane crack. Growth is caused by the application of in-plane and normal point forces to each face of the crack. The related problem of displacement discontinuities that exist on regions that exhibit dynamic similarity is first considered. An exact solution in integral transform space leads to asymptotic forms, valid for short times. These are used to generate equations of the Wiener–Hopf type for the fracture problem. Analytic solution expressions are obtained and, upon inversion, subjected to a dynamic energy release rate criterion that includes kinetic energy. Results show that a particular form of rapid growth in time of the forces can, in the crack initiation phase, cause crack growth rates that vary with position, but not with time.
Shifts in Sectoral Wealth Shares and Risk Premia: What Explains Them?

We empirically show across several broad asset classes that sectoral wealth shares do not positively correlate with their risk premia---a first-order prediction of canonical equilibrium models. We then analyze the roles mean-variance and hedging demand play in accounting for sectoral shifts within a two-sector production economy that features imperfect substitutability across goods and demand shocks. With these two features, the model's performance improves, yet still unsatisfactorily accounts for sectoral shifts in wealth shares. We argue that equilibrium models thus face a challenge to explain the cross-sectional evolution of wealth shares and investors' incentives to hold them over time.
An 18-bit 2MS/s pipelined SAR ADC utilizing a sampling distortion cancellation circuit with −107dB THD at 100kHz

This paper presents an 18-bit SAR ADC capable of −107dB THD for a 10V pk to pk 100kHz input. Distortion originating from the input switch's nonlinear on-resistance is cancelled by sampling the input onto two separate capacitor arrays, whose components are scaled to give the same nonlinear charge error, and then subtracting this charge during conversion. The new sampling scheme can support event-driven sampling, requires no active circuits and draws zero quiescent power.
Therapeutic Impact of Nanoparticle Therapy Targeting Tumor-Associated Macrophages.

Antiangiogenic therapies, despite initial encouragement, have demonstrated a limited benefit in ovarian cancer. Laboratory studies suggest anti-angiogenic therapy induced hypoxia can induce tumor "stemness9 as resistance to antiangiogenic therapy develops and limits the therapeutic benefit. Resistance to antiangiogenic therapy and an induction of tumor stemness may be mediated by proangiogenic tumor associated macrophages (TAMs). As such TAMs have been proposed as a therapeutic target. We demonstrate here that ovarian TAMs express high levels of the folate receptor-2 (FOLR2) and can be selectively targeted using G5-dendrimer nanoparticles using methotrexate as both a ligand and a toxin. G5-methotrexate (G5-MTX) Nps deplete tumor associated macrophages in both solid tumor and ascites models of ovarian cancer. As a therapeutic these nanoparticles are more effective than cisplatin. Importantly, these nanoparticles could (i) overcome resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy, (ii) prevent antiangiogenic therapy induced increases in cancer stem-like cells in both murine and human tumor cell models, and (iii) prevent anti-angiogenic therapy induced increases in VEGF-C (iv) prevent anti-angiogenic therapy induce BRCA1 gene expression. Combine this work strongly supports the development of TAM targeted nanoparticle therapy.
How a Kantian Decides What to Do

Kantians decide what to do by deciding what you ought to do. Wood argues that Kantian ethics proposes no discursive criterion of right action. The testing of maxims for universalizability represents only a way of judging whether actions are permissible exceptions to already recognized duties. A more crucial concept is provided by conscience.
The rewarding nature of provocation-focused rumination in women with borderline personality disorder: a preliminary fMRI investigation

Understanding why individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) ruminate on prior provocations, despite its negative outcomes, is crucial to improving interventions. Provocation-focused rumination may be rewarding in the short term by amplifying anger and producing feelings of justification, validation, and increased energy, while reducing self-directed negative affect. If provocation-focused rumination is utilized regularly as a rewarding emotion regulation strategy, it could result in increased activation in reward-related neural regions. The present pilot study examined neural correlates of provocation-focused rumination, relative to other forms of thought, in BPD. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was utilized to examine this theory in a pilot study of women diagnosed with BPD (n = 13) and healthy controls (n = 16). All participants received highly critical feedback on a previously written essay in the scanner, followed by prompts to engage in provocation-focused, self-focused, and neutral thought. Whole-brain analyses showed that in response to the provocation, participants with BPD (compared to controls) demonstrated increased activation in the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (PFC). BPD participants also showed greater activation in the dorsomedial PFC during provocation-focused rumination (relative to neutral-focus). Subsequent ROI analyses revealed that provocation-focused rumination (compared to neutral-focus) increased activation in the nucleus accumbens for the BPD group only. These findings, while preliminary due to the small sample size and limitations of the protocol, provide initial data consistent with the proposed neurobiological mechanism promoting provocation-focused rumination in BPD. Directions for further research are discussed.
Estimating state of charge and health of lithium-ion batteries with guided waves using built-in piezoelectric sensors/actuators

Abstract This work presents the feasibility of monitoring state of charge (SoC) and state of health (SoH) of lithium-ion pouch batteries with acousto-ultrasonic guided waves. The guided waves are propagated and sensed using low-profile, built-in piezoelectric disc transducers that can be retrofitted onto off-the-shelf batteries. Both experimental and analytical studies are performed to understand the relationship between guided waves generated in a pitch-catch mode and battery SoC/SoH. The preliminary experiments on representative pouch cells show that the changes in time of flight (ToF) and signal amplitude (SA) resulting from shifts in the guided wave signals correlate strongly with the electrochemical charge-discharge cycling and aging. An analytical acoustic model is developed to simulate the variations in electrode moduli and densities during cycling, which correctly validates the absolute values and range of experimental ToF. It is further illustrated via a statistical study that ToF and SA can be used in a prediction model to accurately estimate SoC/SoH. Additionally, by using multiple sensors in a network configuration on the same battery, a significantly more reliable and accurate SoC/SoH prediction is achieved. The indicative results from this study can be extended to develop a unified guided-wave-based framework for SoC/SoH monitoring of many lithium-ion battery applications.
Stability analysis on D-Q frame impedances in power systems with multiple STATCOMs in proximity

It has been found out that in power systems with multiple STATCOMs could have stability issue due to STATCOM control. Impedance-based stability criterion has been proven to be a powerful tool for small-signal stability analysis and design, derived from Nyquist stability criterion. This paper addresses the stability issue from the impedance point of view and discusses on the features of STATCOM impedances. The interactions between STATCOMs is also analyzed in terms of dq-frame impedances with respects to different control parameters. Compared to previously found instability patterns of multiple converters in ac systems, STATCOMs could interact with each other mainly due to the ac voltage loop control instead of phase locked loop, in a new way never reported before.
Flavin-Dependent Enzymes

Flavins are one of the most chemically diverse prosthetic groups in biochemistry. Flavins can react in one- or two-electron redox reactions as well as form covalent adducts that can also perform reactions. The protein environment of an enzyme controls the reactions available, enhancing one or two modes of reactivity while suppressing competing reactions. Flavoenzymes can oxidize carbon–heteroatom bonds, activated carbon–carbon bonds, thiols, and metal electron donors. There are also many flavoenzymes that catalyze the production of such compounds by reduction reactions. Additionally, O2 reacts with reduced flavins, forming H2O2 or flavin hydroperoxide, which is used for hydroxylations. The examples considered in this chapter demonstrate the wide range of chemistry available to flavins and the large number of enzyme catalysts possible by the combination of various reactions. This chemical versatility makes flavins central participants in all biological processes.
Diurnal pattern of QTc interval: How long is prolonged?: Possible relation to circadian triggers of cardiovascular events

Objectives. This study sought to evaluate the range and variability of the QT and corrected QT (QTc) intervals over 24 h and to assess their pattern and relation to heart rate variability. Background. Recent Holter monitoring data have revealed a high degree of daily variability in the QTc interval. The pattern of this variability and its relation to heart rate variability remain poorly characterized. Methods. We developed and validated a new method for continuous measurement of QT intervals from three-channel, 24-h Holter recordings. Average RR, QT, QTc and heart rate variability were measured from 5-min segments of data from 21 healthy subjects. Results. Measurement of 6,048 segments showed mean (±SD) RR, QT and QTc intervals of 830 ± 100, 407 ± 23 and 445 ± 16 ms, respectively (mean QTc interval for men 434 ± 12 ms, 457 ± 10 ms for women, p Conclusions. The maximal QTc interval over 24 h in normal subjects is longer than heretofore thought. Both QT and QTc intervals are longer during sleep. The QTc interval and QTc variability reach a peak shortly after awakening, which may reflect increased autonomic instability during early waking hours, and the time of the peak value corresponds in time to the period of reported increased vulnerability to ventricular tachycardia and sudden cardiac death. These findings have implications regarding the definition of QT prolongation and its use in predicting arrhythmias and sudden death.
Students Veterans’ Preference for Traditional Versus Online Course Formats: A Case Study at Two Midwestern Universities

Recently, there have been many discussions about how to meet student veterans’ needs according to curricular and course formats. While national studies indicate that many student veterans enroll in online classes, questions about the nature of their preferences and requisites, especially in some university environments, remain. For instance, how do traditional and online course formats address different student veterans’ needs and desires? This article discusses a three-year, case study of student veterans’ course preferences at a comprehensive research university and a regional university and involves forty-two student veterans and fifty-nine nonveterans. Based upon results from survey data and the follow-up interviews of thirty student veterans, students describe their course format preferences. Many students in our sample have a low-socioeconomic status, live in a rural location, work full-time, and have children. Moreover, despite the large number of adult learners participants included, the majority describe themselves as having the digital proficiency necessary for engaging in online courses. Nonetheless, in this study, most students, including those of all ages, preferred traditional classes, with the student veterans reporting that the traditional format gave them a better connection with their teacher and peers, as well as accommodating their learning style. The study’s results have implications for teachers and administrators seeking information about providing course format options for student veterans.
Social and biophysical determinants of future forest conditions in New England: Effects of a modern land-use regime

Abstract The future forests of eastern North America will be shaped by at least three broad drivers: (i) vegetation change and natural disturbance patterns associated with the protracted recovery following colonial era land use, (ii) a changing climate, and (iii) a land-use regime that consists of geographically variable rates and intensities of forest harvesting, clearing for development, and land protection. We evaluated the aggregate and relative importance of these factors for the future forests of New England, USA by simulating a continuation of the recent trends in these drivers for fifty-years, nominally spanning 2010 to 2060. The models explicitly incorporate the modern distribution of tree species and the geographical variation in climate and land-use change. Using a cellular land-cover change model in combination with a physiologically-based forest landscape model, we conducted a factorial simulation experiment to assess changes in aboveground carbon (AGC) and forest composition. In the control scenario that simulates a hypothetical absence of any future land use or future climate change, the simulated landscape experienced large increases in average AGC—an increase of 53% from 2010 to 2060 (from 4.2 to 6.3 kg m−2). By 2060, climate change increased AGC stores by 8% relative to the control while the land-use regime reduced AGC by 16%. Among land uses, timber harvesting had a larger effect on AGC storage and changes in tree composition than did forest conversion to non-forest uses, with the most pronounced impacts observed on private corporate-owned land in northern New England. Our results demonstrate a large difference between the landscape’s potential to store carbon and the landscape’s current trajectory, assuming a continuation of the modern land-use regime. They also reveal aspects of the land-use regime that will have a disproportionate impact on the ability of the landscape to store carbon in the future, such as harvest regimes on corporate-owned lands. This information will help policy-makers and land managers evaluate trade-offs between commodity production and mitigating climate change through forest carbon storage.
In-Hospital Bleeding Outcomes of Myocardial Infarction in the Era of Warfarin and Direct Oral Anticoagulants for Atrial Fibrillation in the United States: A Report From the National Cardiovascular Data Registry Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcomes Network Registry.

Background We sought to examine patient characteristics, peri‐infarction invasive and pharmacologic management, and in‐hospital major bleeding in myocardial infarction patients with atrial fibrilla...
Revolution and world order: the case of the Islamic State (ISIS)

Scholars have studied revolutions mostly as domestic events while neglecting their transnational character. From the French to the Chinese Revolution, revolutionary ideologies and networks have never been confined to national boundaries. As transnational events, revolutions can create ruptures in global politics and challenge world order. Some young revolutionary states have perished. Others such as Iran have endured, but tensions persist. Given the importance of the topic, the literature is surprisingly limited. We propose a theoretical framework that explains the evolution of the relationship between anti-Western revolutionary states and the global order and apply it to the case of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Our framework explains why some revolutionary states are accommodated or tolerated, whereas others are opposed, isolated, and destroyed. Using the Islamic State to illustrate our framework, we explain the main reason for the demise of the Islamic State (ISIS): its own radicalism.
Study of self-diffraction from laser generated plasma gratings in the nanosecond regime

We investigate the formation and diffraction efficiency of plasma gratings generated by the interference of two laser beams crossing at a small angle on the surface of a planar aluminum target. Such gratings were observed during National Ignition Facility experiments with the ratio of energy in the first-order to zeroth order of ≈60%. Recently, additional experiments were performed on the Optical Sciences Laser. These experiments with only two interfering beams showed high normalized energy (ratio of energy in diffracted order to zeroth order) of approximately 10% and 3% at the first and second diffracted order locations, respectively, for intensities less than 1012 W/cm2. The existence of the higher-orders is the characteristic of diffraction from gratings in the Raman-Nath as opposed to the Bragg regime. In addition, we show conical diffraction from the generated plasma grating. Using numerical simulations, we explore the large difference in diffraction efficiency observed in these two experiments and highlight the role of plasma temperature and density scale length. The simulations suggest a modulation depth of the plasma grating refractive index ranging from 1.77 × 10−4 to 3.5 × 10−2. These results are relevant to Inertial Confinement Fusion experiments or plasma photonics applications of gratings in high-field laser-physics and high-energy density science, specifically in the nanosecond regime.We investigate the formation and diffraction efficiency of plasma gratings generated by the interference of two laser beams crossing at a small angle on the surface of a planar aluminum target. Such gratings were observed during National Ignition Facility experiments with the ratio of energy in the first-order to zeroth order of ≈60%. Recently, additional experiments were performed on the Optical Sciences Laser. These experiments with only two interfering beams showed high normalized energy (ratio of energy in diffracted order to zeroth order) of approximately 10% and 3% at the first and second diffracted order locations, respectively, for intensities less than 1012 W/cm2. The existence of the higher-orders is the characteristic of diffraction from gratings in the Raman-Nath as opposed to the Bragg regime. In addition, we show conical diffraction from the generated plasma grating. Using numerical simulations, we explore the large difference in diffraction efficiency observed in these two experiments and h...
Fire in central Piedmont as recorded by fire scars at Pilot Mountain State Park, NC

Fire has been well studied in the Appalachians but has not been well characterized within Piedmont xeric forests. Herein we describe a dendrochronological study at Pilot Mountain State Park, NC add...
Mapping Trajectories of Behavioral and Emotional Risk Among Predominately African American Youth Across the Middle School Transition

Abstract This study used growth curve modeling to map risk by gender across the middle school transition. Participants included 609 (49.5% female) students in grades 4–8 in an urban school serving ...
Empirical Modeling of Photoenhanced Current-Voltage Hysteresis in PEDOT:PSS/ZnO Thin-Film Devices

“Hybrid” organic–inorganic semiconducting devices consisting of zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films coated with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) with Au and Al surface electrodes have been fabricated and electrically characterized. In dark condition, devices with Au electrodes exhibited ohmic behavior, while Al electrodes resulted in diodic behavior. These devices demonstrated photostimulated current–voltage (I–V) hysteresis, in which dissimilar electrical current is observed based on the voltage sweep direction, notably as a function of the illuminated wavelength exposed on the device surface during electrical characterization. Ultraviolet-induced oxygen desorption on the ZnO surface, leading to electrons transitioning into the conduction band, gives rise to an increase of accumulated charges within the ZnO/PEDOT:PSS dipole interface. This effect was found to produce a hysteresis effect that increased under ultraviolet illumination. Characteristic I–V hysteresis was empirically modeled using a series of first-order multiple linear regression expressions that decouple device processing and characterization conditions. The numerical markers of hysteresis in I–V traces, including first-order estimates of scaled and shifted transformations, were modeled. The results of this analysis indicated that illumination is statistically a stronger explanatory variable for hysteresis than all other parameters, which further suggests that space charges stored on the dipole interface more significantly influence hysteresis than do trapped charges alone.
Cultural and Linguistic Issues in Assessing Trauma in a Forensic Context

This chapter examines cultural and linguistic issues that may arise when assessing trauma from a forensic context. This chapter begins by describing the immigration and migrant influx in recent years, the different immigration experiences, and the potential traumas likely to emerge in that context. The chapter goes on to describe important terms and how they relate to the immigrant experience. The subject of culture, its role in assessment, potential dangers of not being attuned to culture, and culture-bound syndromes are explored. Another perspective explored is that of communication, both verbal and nonverbal, and how it affects the content, emotion, and personality assessed. This chapter concludes with an exploration of testing issues that may occur when assessing trauma in a bicultural or bilingual individual.
Mathematics Identity, Self-efficacy, and Interest and Their Relationships to Mathematics Achievement: A Longitudinal Analysis

Using the overlap sample of about 3500 students who participated in both the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 and the 2013 grade 12 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) mathematics assessment, this study investigates the relationships of mathematics identity, efficacy and interest to mathematics achievement in high school. Role identities, such as having a mathematics identity, as well as mathematics efficacy and interest are hypothesized to be important motivators of role-related behavior. Using a structural equation modeling approach, measures of these constructs at grades 9 and 11 are related to grade 12 NAEP mathematics achievement, simultaneously taking into account grade 9 mathematics achievement, high school mathematics coursetaking, educational expectations at grades 9 and 11 and student and school background factors. The results indicate that a mathematics identity and educational expectations at grade 11 are statistically and substantively significant predictors of grade 12 mathematics achievement in the presence of these other factors, whereas neither of the other two motivation factors—grade 11 mathematics self-efficacy and mathematics interest—were shown to have direct effects on grade 12 mathematics achievement. However, mathematics self-efficacy at grade 9 was shown to have an indirect effect on grade 12 mathematics achievement through grade 11 mathematics identity. The implications of these findings for identity theory are discussed.
OMG GMO! Parent-child conversations about genetically modified foods

Abstract Studies indicate that Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMOs, are safe to consume, but many adults remain skeptical. What kind of input are children receiving about GMOs? And how does that input shape their understanding of what GMOs are? We investigated this question in the context of parent-child conversations about food product decisions. Seventy parent-child dyads were shown a series of food product pairings and asked to discuss their preferences. The products differed by whether they were made from GMOs, as well as whether they contained gluten and whether they were grown organically. Non-GM foods were preferred over gluten-free foods, and conversations about GM foods contained more moral language than conversations about gluten. Preferences for organic foods equaled preferences for non-GM foods, and conversations about organic foods were as morally charged, but parents were less knowledgeable about the meaning of GMO than they were about the meaning of organic. Children’s knowledge of these terms varied with their parents’ knowledge, and their participation in the food-product conversations varied with their parents’ use of moral language. Taken together, these findings suggest that children’s conceptions of GMOs are shaped by their parents’ conceptions, despite the fact that parents’ preferences and attitudes toward GMOs outstrip their knowledge of what GMOs actually are.
CuH-Catalyzed Asymmetric Reductive Amidation of α,β-Unsaturated Carboxylic Acids

The direct enantioselective copper hydride (CuH)-catalyzed synthesis of β-chiral amides from α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids and secondary amines under mild reaction conditions is reported. The method utilizes readily accessible carboxylic acids and tolerates a variety of functional groups in the β-position including several heteroarenes. A subsequent iridium-catalyzed reduction to γ-chiral amines can be performed in the same flask without purification of the intermediate amides.
Legacy of Oppression: Drawing the Connection between Colonization and Global LGBTQ Rights

Although the world has made great strides towards LGBTQ protections, there are groups around the world that are still victims of colonization’s ripple effect. Following a pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial timeline there is a clear line from colonization to its negative impacts on LGBTQ rights.
The 51st Clinical Aphasiology Conference

The annual Clinical Aphasiology Conference (CAC) provides a forum for clinicians and researchers engaged in the study and clinical management of persons with acquired neurologic language disorders ...
Molecular phylogenetic analysis of the Prostanthera phylicifolia (Lamiaceae) assemblage resolves relationships of the ‘Critically Endangered’ P. gilesii and other putative new species

Prostanthera gilesii is a critically endangered species from the Central Tablelands of New South Wales. A conservation management strategy is currently underway for this species, whose phylogenetic affinities are not known. Morphologically, P. gilesii resembles P. phylicifolia and a population of uncertain identity from Evans Crown Nature Reserve in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales (P. sp. Evans Crown). The taxonomy of P. phylicifolia, however, is unclear. Prostanthera phylicifolia was described from populations in the Victorian Alps and Monaro; however, populations spanning from Victoria to southern Queensland have been variously identified as either P. phylicifolia or P. scutellarioides despite substantial geographic disjunctions and morphological dissimilarity. To examine the relationship between populations identified as P. phylicifolia, P. gilesii and P. sp. Evans Crown, nuclear (external transcribed spacer, ETS) and chloroplast (trnH-psbA intergenic spacer) regions were sequenced and combined with an existing Prostanthera dataset and analysed with maximum-likelihood and Bayesian-inference methods. Prostanthera gilesii and P. sp. Evans Crown were recovered as sister taxa within a clade consisting of populations morphologically similar to the type of P. phylicifolia from the Victorian Alps and Snowy Mountains, Monaro and Southern Tablelands of New South Wales. Populations from northern New South Wales and southern Queensland identified as P. phylicifolia or P. scutellarioides were recovered as an assemblage of unrelated clades. The molecular phylogeny supports P. gilesii and P. phylicifolia as closely related as hypothesised based on morphology and supports P. sp. Evans Crown as a population which requires additional study to assess its taxonomic status.
Brain Metastases from Breast Cancer and Response to Treatment with Eribulin: A Case Series:

Brain metastases are common in patients with advanced breast cancer (BC), causing considerable morbidity and mortality. Eribulin is a microtubule dynamics inhibitor approved for treating certain patients with metastatic BC, previously treated with an anthracycline and a taxane. In the 301 phase 3 study in 1102 women with advanced BC, eribulin and capecitabine treatments did not differ for co-primary endpoints (overall survival [OS]: 15.9 vs 14.5 months, P = 0.056; progression-free survival [PFS]: 4.1 vs 4.2 months, P = 0.30). Here, we report outcomes for six patients (eribulin, n = 3; capecitabine, n = 3) who had received treatment for brain metastases from BC (BCBM) at baseline. All eribulin-treated patients experienced brain lesion shrinkage at some point during treatment, compared with one capecitabine-treated patient. Fewer patients in study 301 developed new BCBM with eribulin (13/544, 2.4%) compared with capecitabine (25/546, 4.6%). Eribulin does not cross the healthy blood–brain barrier (BBB), but could have the potential to do so after cranial radiation therapy. Capecitabine may cross the BBB and has demonstrated activity in BCBM. Data from these patients and previous cases suggest that further investigation of eribulin for BCBM may be warranted.
Toxicity Testing with Constant or Decreasing Concentrations of Chemically Dispersed Oil

An exposure system and method of quantitating toxicity have been developed to provide an estimate of the effects of dispersed oil on marine organisms under a variety of exposure conditions. Results of constant concentration exposures (for hours or days) can be compared to those of diluting exposures (decreasing to zero in 8 or 24 h) on a basis of the ''toxicity index.'' This index is equal to the total exposure when time in hours or days is multiplied by the concentration at each hour (ppm h or ppm days). Tests have been conducted with shrimp (Pandalus danae), two oils (Prudhoe Bay crude and a light Arabian crude), and two dispersants. There is a seasonal pattern to the tolerance of the shrimp. Tests in the colder months (fall/winter) produce toxicity indices approximately three times higher than summer/spring values. During tests in summer, there was also little difference observed when the toxicity of the light Arabian oil was compared to that of Prudhoe Bay crude (2.3 and 3.4 ppm days, respectively). The usefulness of our methods is that in addition to the comparisons already noted, it is possible to predict the outcome of dispersant application under varying environmental conditions.
Edmund D. Pellegrino's philosophy of family practice

Family medicine has grown as a specialty from its early days of general practice. It was established as a Board Certified specialty in 1969. This growth and maturation can be traced in the philosophy of family medicine as articulated by Edmund D. Pellegrino, M.D. Long before it was popular to do so, Pellegrino supported the development of family medicine. In this essay I examine the development of Pellegrino’s philosophical thought about family practice, and contrast it to other thinkers like Ian McWhinney, Kerr White, Walter Spitzer, Donald Ransom, and Hebert Vandervoort. The arguments focus on whether the goals of family medicine and family practice (possibly two distinct entities) can be articulated, especially considering the definitional problems of “family” and “community.” I conclude by echoing Pellegrino’s hope that family medicine can contribute a fresh alternative to isolated, individualistic and technological thinking in medicine.
Biological inspired system for Localization and Mapping in underwater environments

One of the most important challenge in robotic is teach a robot how to locate itself in one unknown environment. Nowadays, the most applied solution to this problem relies in Probabilistic Filters. Lead by the discovery of neurons in the mammalian brain associated with navigation tasks, this paper presents a bio inspired system to solve the problem in three-dimensional environments, such as underwater scenarios. Preliminaries results in simulated environments shows the relevance of the proposed method, which is highly parallelizable and capable of running in real time applications.
Spectral Analysis of Sound Propagation in Stratified Fluids

The purpose of this chapter is to construct families of normal mode functions and to derive corresponding normal mode expansions for the acoustic propagator A. The basic physical concepts and results are summarized in §1. A more detailed formulation and complete proofs of all the results are developed in the remaining sections. This rather long chapter provides the analytical foundation for the solutions of the propagation problems that are developed in Chapters 4 and 5.
Theorizing on the take-up of social technologies, organizational policies and norms, and consultants' knowledge-sharing practices

We identify the effects of specific organizational norms, arrangements, and policies regarding uses of social technologies for informal knowledge sharing by consultants. For this study, the term social technologies refers to the fast-evolving suite of tools such as traditional applications like e-mail, phone, and instant messenger; emerging social networking platforms (often known as social media) such as blogs and wikis; public social networking sites (i.e., Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn); and enterprise social networking technologies that are specifically hosted within one organization's computing environment (i.e., Socialtext). Building from structuration theory, the analysis presented focuses on the knowledge practices of consultants related to their uses of social technologies and the ways in which organizational norms and policies influence these practices. A primary contribution of this research is a detailed contextualization of social technology uses by knowledge workers. As many organizations are allowing social media-enabled knowledge sharing to develop organically, most corporate policy toward these platforms remains defensive, not strategic, limiting opportunities. Implications for uses and expectations of social technologies arising from this research will help organizations craft relevant policies and rules to best support technology-enabled informal knowledge practices.
A CMOS Fractional- $N$ PLL-Based Microwave Chemical Sensor With 1.5% Permittivity Accuracy

A highly sensitive CMOS-based sensing system is proposed for permittivity detection and mixture characterization of organic chemicals at microwave frequencies. The system determines permittivity by measuring the frequency difference between two voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs); a sensor oscillator with an operating frequency that shifts with the change in tank capacitance due to exposure to the material under test (MUT) and a reference oscillator insensitive to the MUT. This relative measurement approach improves sensor accuracy by tracking frequency drifts due to environmental variations. Embedding the sensor and reference VCOs in a fractional- N phase-locked loop (PLL) frequency synthesizer enables material characterization at a precise frequency and provides an efficient material-induced frequency shift read-out mechanism with a low-complexity bang-bang control loop that adjusts a fractional frequency divider. The majority of the PLL-based sensor system, except for an external fractional frequency divider, is implemented with a 90-nm CMOS prototype that consumes 22 mW when characterizing material near 10 GHz. Material-induced frequency shifts are detected at an accuracy level of 15 ppmrms and binary mixture characterization of organic chemicals yield maximum errors in permittivity of 1.5%.
Cryosurgery for cutaneous malignancy. An update.

background Cryosurgery is a successful modality for destruction of basal and squamous cell carcinomas. There is a trend toward more aggressive freezing of lesions and treatment of selected difficult tumors. objective The indications and advantages for Cryosurgery, recent treatment techniques, tissue response, complications, and results merit description. method The standard method of treatment is used with aggressive freezing of the lesion, including a greater lateral spread of freeze and attainment of lower tissue temperatures. results. The cure rate of Cryosurgery is high and the cosmetic results are good to excellent. conclusion The results of Cryosurgery are comparable with other modalities. It may be preferable or advantageous for some patients because of the quickness and safety of the procedure and its low cost. With changes in health care spending due to law or regulation, and within the environment of a managed care system, dermatologists may choose cryosurgery on the basis of outcome and cost.
Survey of nuclear structure systematics for A ⩾ 229

Abstract Log ft values for β- and e -transitions and experimental hindrance factors for a -decays are presented for the A ⩾ 229 mass region in a systematic way. For some favored and hindered a -transitions, comparisons of experimental hindrance factors with theoretical calculations are made. Band-head energies and rotational band parameters are given. Measured magnetic moments of odd-A nuclei are compared with those calculated using Nilsson wavefunctions. Experimental B(E2)† values to first 2 + states in even-even nuclei are plotted as a function of mass number.
Editorial Comment—Neuroimaging After TIA: A Crystal Ball?

Previous studies of the Kaiser-Permanente Northern California database have indicated that 10.5% of patients will develop stroke in the 90 days after a TIA and that approximately half of these events will occur within 48 hours.1 In this issue of Stroke , Douglas et al query the same database to provide novel information regarding the short-term risk associated with a new infarction on head CT after symptoms of TIA.2 In their study, 4% of 322 patients had this finding, which was associated with an approximately 4-fold increase in the risk of stroke in the next 90 days, after adjusting for all other known risk factors. In absolute …
HALOPERIDOL FOR NAUSEA AND VOMITING

ABSTRACT. Timely and important studies are reviewed and commentaries provided by leading palliative care clinicians. Symptoms, interventions, and treatment-related adverse events addressed in this issue are haloperidol for nausea and vomiting; transdermal fentanyl and cachexia; drugs impact on opioid efficacy; denosumab for bone metastases; and cognitive behavioral insomnia therapy.