cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The “Second Generation”: LGBTQ Youth with LGBTQ Parents

The experiences of youth and young adults who report nonheterosexual and gender nonconforming identities, and who also have LGBTQ parents (i.e., the “Second Generation”), have received very little attention in the family and social science literatures. Nonacademic writers and queer activists, however, have been discussing the second generation—and providing many of them with community and support—for more than 15 years. Systematic examination of the experiences of the second generation may be beneficial in that challenges, as well as advantages, that are unique to this population could be revealed. In this chapter, social constructionism is presented as the frame for the present discussion. The chapter reviews what is currently known about the experiences of second generation individuals from both academic and nonacademic sources. Preliminary findings from the author’s current research, based upon in-depth interviews with 30 LGBTQ young adults with LGBTQ parents, are presented. Lastly, future research directions are discussed for expanding knowledge and understanding of the second generation and their families.
Navigating Intersession Contact

Common challenges posed by intersession contact with BPD patients include their propensity to become overly dependent on therapists and ensuring problematic behavioral patterns that develop to maintain increased intersession support. Yet, intersession contact can help facilitate effective treatment under certain conditions, usually when parameters for its use are clearly framed at the onset of treatment and maintained thereafter. Therapists electing to be available between sessions should do so judiciously, keep contact brief and goal directed, re-evaluate over time whether intersession contact is promoting or hindering self-reliance, and predict increased dependency on such contact during times of acute difficulty. Patients benefit from having a coherent rationale for intersession contact parameters presented within psychoeducation about BPD-related interpersonal vulnerabilities. Patients helped by these interventions to become more independent may still revert to problematic use of intersession contact, and therapists should maintain consistent expectations for intersession contact even during these more challenging times. At all stages of treatment, patients benefit from being reminded of the overarching treatment goal of achieving greater self-reliance and from sensing their clinicians believe in their capacities to do so.
Interstitial lung diseases in dogs and cats part I: The idiopathic interstitial pneumonias

Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs), also called diffuse parenchymal lung diseases, are a large heterogenous group of non-infectious, non-neoplastic disorders characterized by varied patterns of inflammation and fibrosis (Travis et al., 2002). In humans, accurate classification of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) requires multidisciplinary collaboration between clinicians, radiologists and pathologists. The same is likely to be true for canine and feline ILDs; however, this collaborative approach is rarely taken, leading to a paucity of knowledge of ILDs in small animal species. A proposed classification scheme of canine and feline ILDs, modified from a human classification scheme, consists of three major groups: idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs), ILDs secondary to known causes, and miscellaneous ILDs (Travis et al., 2002). The focus of this review is on the IIPs in dogs and cats. A framework of what is known about the major IIPs in humans will be used to draw parallels when relevant to the canine and feline species. Differences will also be highlighted. When available from the veterinary literature, clinical presentation, diagnostic results, treatment and/or prognosis will be reported. The review underscores that to advance in our knowledge of veterinary IIPs and other ILDs, clinicopathologic features, advanced imaging and histopathology must be carefully integrated and larger groups of animals studied.
Timing Jitter Distribution and Power Spectral Density of a Second-Order Bang–Bang Digital PLL With Transport Delay Using Fokker–Planck Equations

In this paper, a second-order bang–bang digital phase-locked loop (BBPLL) with dominant random walk phase noise and transport delay is analyzed using Fokker–Plank equations. Explicit closed-form expressions are derived for the timing error probability distribution function, jitter variance, and power spectral density (psd). For the type-II BBPLL considered in this paper, the timing error distribution is shown to be Laplacian and not Gaussian distributed as previously assumed, while the derived psd is Lorentzian, which is consistent with earlier works. The analytical solutions are valid as long as the continuous-time approximation of the BBPLL dynamics is accurate as is the case for typical operating loop bandwidths. The accuracy of the derived expressions is validated via simulation.
How International Accounting Research Influences Policy and Standard Setting

ABSTRACT For accounting to be a learned profession, research must play an important role in shaping accounting practice. This keynote address focuses on how international accounting research influences policy and financial reporting standard setting. It begins by clarifying what is, and is not, accounting. Next, it provides perspective on characteristics of the research that make it suitable for informing standard setters and identifies sources of research topics. Seven studies provide examples of research that can influence global financial reporting standard setting. The address closes by reinforcing the keys to conducting research to influence policy.
Medical Ethical Considerations in Collaborative Research

The purpose of research should be to generate new knowledge that has potential to benefit society. Thus, there will be many views of what constitutes a benefit. A scientist would probably be satisfied with the discovery of a new bit of information that helped explain something. That “something” may be perceived by existing science as insignificant, in the same way the formula for relativity was once thought to be insignificant. Of course, this formula led to the scientific understanding of atomic energy. A benefit of research to a patient might be a cure for a fatal disease or a pill that treats a disease but has fewer side effects. A drug company may look at research as that which leads to any new information allowing for increased sales and greater profit for the company and its stockholders. In a free society that has as one of its fundamental concerns the creation of new knowledge, the scientist should be allowed to explore ideas and to labor in an environment that facilitates the effort. It is obvious that not all of the work of scientists will lead to the creation of new knowledge, nor to a product that makes money. Thus, a fundamental conflict exists between society, with its desire for new knowledge, and the responsibility of a drug company to make a profit. Not all medical research leads to a profitable outcome. If profit determines the research projects that will be funded, it is likely that the research that leads to discovery will be jeopardized. This is because most research does not lead to discovery. In our present predicament of a decrease in new molecules—otherwise known as a “drying up” of the pipeline—a very likely cause is the control of university and government laboratories by industry. Industry does not have a social covenant with society to create new knowledge that does not yield a profit; its responsibility is to its stockholders. On the other hand, government does have a responsibility to society, which is abjured when business interests take control.
PATH TO THE PEOPLE: ENGAGING CULTURALLY AND EDUCATIONALLY DIVERSE OLDER ADULTS IN PROBLEM-BASED PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS

Abstract 1/5 of older adults are of a diverse ethnic or racial background. Older minorities with depression report higher levels of disability and are more persistently ill than non-Hispanic white older adults despite lower utilization of mental health care. In addition, 40% of homebound older adults have a psychiatric illness but have limited access to mental health services. Despite increased illness burden, both minority and homebound older adults are underrepresented in clinical trials. Furthermore, the education level of participants in clinical trials tends to be higher than what is observed in a culturally diverse clinic population. Problem Solving Therapy (PST) is an effective intervention to treat depression and disability in older adults. While most PST trials have been conducted in ambulatory settings, the Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives for Seniors (PEARLS) intervention was developed as a home-based intervention for medically ill, homebound older adults with depression. Given the high prevalence of cognitive disorders in homebound older adults, Kiosses and colleagues developed Problem Adaptation Therapy (PATH) for older adults with depression and cognitive impairment. This psychosocial intervention utilizes compensatory strategies, environmental adaptations and caregiver involvement. Montefiore Home Care (MHC) serves a culturally and educationally diverse patient population. In 2016, the MHC-Geriatric Psychiatry Program pursued two funding opportunities to provide problem based psychosocial interventions in the home. The first was a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene grant to partner with the Jewish Services for the Aged to provide PEARLS to homebound older adults in the Bronx. Secondly, MHC partnered with Weill Cornell, under the leadership of Dr. Dimitris Kiosses, on a Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation grant to pilot PATH for depressed and cognitive impaired older adults. Over ¾ of the patients served by these programs are minority older adults, most of which have less than 12 years of education. Moreover, Kiosses and colleagues found that PATH not only reduced depression and disability, but it improved cognitive outcomes over 24 weeks. During this session, presenters will describe disparities in clinical trial recruitment, present strategies to overcome these difficulties, and discuss how MHC incorporated both PEARLS and PATH into a clinical setting. Presenters will share results from the Home-Delivered PATH vs. Supportive Psychotherapy study for older adults with depression and mild cognitive impairment. Finally, presenters will discuss how these findings will inform the translation of study interventions into clinical care for culturally and educationally diverse populations.
Into the Unknown: A Chemical Biology Approach Provides Mechanistic Insight into HCV Entry

In this issue of Cell Chemical Biology, Hu et al. (2020) demonstrate that chlorcyclizine blocks HCV fusion by targeting the putative fusion peptide on the viral envelope glycoprotein E1. The study provides new insights into the viral fusion machinery, presenting an opportunity to study novel antivirals against HCV.
Prescription drug misuse, other substance use, and sexual identity: The significance of educational status and psychological distress in US young adults.

The aim was to examine the effects of sexual identity, educational status, and their interaction on the past-year prevalence of controlled prescription use and prescription drug misuse (PDM) in U.S...
Audit quality indicators: Perspectives from Non-Big Four audit firms and small company audit committees

Abstract Through a combined study, we explore the professional perspectives of two distinct PCAOB constituent groups related to the PCAOB's proposed regulatory approach for audit quality indicators. First, we examine the comment letters of Non-Big Four audit firms and find that this specific constituent group views most of the PCAOB's proposed audit quality indicators as infeasible and redundant. Further, Non-Big Four audit firms contend that the indicators require greater clarification from the regulator as well as substantial accompanying qualitative context to avoid misinterpretation that may lead to unintended consequences. Second, we survey a collection of audit committee members from small, publicly-traded companies regarding the current evaluation and perceived effectiveness of eleven specific PCAOB audit quality indicators, each of which is well-established in the extant audit quality literature. We find indicators related to auditor personnel with specialized skill and knowledge, experience of audit personnel, and the timely reporting of internal control issues are perceived to possess the highest level of effectiveness in the evaluation of audit quality.
A Lunar Astronaut Launcher

This article discusses the issues involved in launching humans with an electromagnetic railgun launcher. The acceleration tolerance limits are discussed based on prior work by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and USAF. A potential application is described, wherein an emergency recovery system for astronauts on the lunar surface could be used for launch into lunar orbit for subsequent rendezvous and recovery aboard a parent vehicle. Tradeoffs between tolerable astronaut Gee-loads and launcher parameters are discussed, and the possibility of direct drive with batteries is considered. The tentative conclusion, subject to further analysis, is that such a system may be possible but that comparison with alternatives is required before a decision could be made to undertake such a development.
The Nigro-Thalamic Projection contributes to the Control of Action Initiation Timing

ABSTRACT The nigro-thalamic pathway is one of the main outputs from the basal ganglia, known to be involved in action selection, learning motor skills, and/or control the vigor of actions. However, the specific function of the nigral input to the motor thalamus remains unclear. Using a combination of in vivo electrophysiological recordings from motor thalamic neurons and optogenetic activation of nigral inputs in behaving head-fixed mice, we determined that this pathway is primarily involved in the proper timing of the release of goal directed actions. At the behavioral level, we were able to reduce the amount of impulsive licking by activating thalamic terminals. We describe changes in thalamic neuronal activity explaining this effect and propose a parsimonious model to account for our observations. These results provide new insight in the circuitry for timing control, a critical part of motor planning, and reveal a potential new target to modulate impulsivity.
Manipulating two-photon absorption of cavity polaritons by entangled photon

Two-photon excitations of a polaritonic system with many molecules in an optical cavity can be manipulated by quantum light. The photon entanglement modifies the quantum interference of transition pathways with different intermediate polaritons.
Constraint cumulativity in phonotactics: evidence from artificial grammar learning studies

An ongoing debate in phonology concerns the treatment of cumulative constraint interactions, or ‘gang effects’, and by extension the question of which phonological frameworks are suitable models of the grammar. This paper uses a series of artificial grammar learning experiments to examine the inferences that learners draw about cumulative constraint violations in phonotactics in the absence of a confounding natural-language lexicon. I find that learners consistently infer linear counting and ganging cumulativity across a range of phonotactic violations.
Cover crops decrease maize yield variability in sloping landscapes through increased water during reproductive stages

Abstract Rolling hill style topography is a common feature of agricultural land throughout the United States. Topographic complexity causes subfield variation in soil resources such as water and nutrients, leading to a mosaic of high- and low-productivity zones that can shift from one year to the next due to weather. Stabilizing yields across these productivity zones using agroecological methods may improve land use efficiency, prevent unnecessary cropland expansion, and reduce the environmental impact of these systems. Here, we hypothesized that cover crops may help to reduce soil water and nutrient losses and increase the stability of subsequent maize yields across time and space. We performed a field study to evaluate the effect of a cereal rye (Secale Cereale L.) cover crop on maize (Zea mays L.) yield at three landscape positions (summit, backslope, and toeslope) in Central KY in 2018–2019, and calibrated the DSSAT v4.7.0.001 computer simulation program to test our hypothesis across a thirty-year period. Our field trial showed pronounced variability in maize yield across different landscape positions, ranging from 6.3 Mg ha−1 in the backslope, to 12.2 Mg ha−1 in the toeslope. Model simulations were consistent with results from our field trial and indicated that low yields in the backslope were primarily due to water stress, with >10 % yield reductions in 17 out of 30 simulated years relative to simulations under irrigated conditions where water was not limiting. In contrast, the toeslope and summit positions experienced >10 % yield reductions due to water stress in only 6 of the 30 years. Growing a cereal rye cover crop before maize reduced the frequency of water stress and raised maize yields in the backslope by 6% (500 kg ha-1) on average, and 24 % (1235 kg ha-1) during dry years. The coefficient of variation across all weather conditions and landscape positions was reduced from 33 % to 26 % when maize followed a rye cover crop compared to fallow. The yield benefits of the cover crop were associated with decreased soil evaporation and runoff that increased water availability during anthesis and late maize reproductive phases. Crop model simulations allowed us to evaluate and parse out the fundamental drivers of the interaction between cover crops and complex topography under different weather scenarios. Overall, our study demonstrates the outsized potential of cover crops to increase and stabilize grain yields in rolling hill landscapes and emphasizes the value of cover crops as a tool for ecological intensification.
Drebrin, an actin-binding protein, is required for lens morphogenesis and growth.

Background Lens morphogenesis, architecture, and clarity are known to be critically dependent on actin cytoskeleton organization and cell adhesive interactions. There is limited knowledge, however regarding the identity and role of key proteins regulating actin cytoskeletal organization in the lens. This study investigated the role of drebrin, a developmentally regulated actin-binding protein, in mouse lens development by generating and characterizing a conditional knockout (cKO) mouse model using the Cre-LoxP recombination approach. Results Drebrin E, a splice variant of DBN1 is a predominant isoform expressed in the mouse lens and exhibits a maturation-dependent downregulation. Drebrin co-distributes with actin in both epithelium and fibers. Conditional deficiency (both haploinsufficiency and complete absence) of drebrin results in disrupted lens morphogenesis leading to cataract and microphthalmia. The drebrin cKO lens reveals a dramatic decrease in epithelial height and width, E-cadherin, and proliferation, and increased apoptotic cell death and expression of α-smooth muscle actin, together with severely impaired fiber cell organization, polarity, and cell-cell adhesion. Conclusions This study demonstrates the requirement of drebrin in lens development and growth, with drebrin deficiency leading to impaired lens morphogenesis and microphthalmia. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Allied Air Command

This component command is responsible for synchronizing air and space power allocated to NATO. Moreover, this chapter looks at how it runs Combined Air Operations Centers (CAOCs), the development of Air Tasking Orders, the execution of air sorties, as well as ballistic missile defense, and more. It will also cover NATO’s hedge against real-world threats from Russia and the Baltic air police mission that is ongoing.
A bandwidth balance routing approach for saving network capacity in static elastic optical networks

Nowadays, most optical network planning strategies route the users by the shortest paths. However, balancing the network paths may achieve remarkable savings by using network resources as even as possible. In this work, we propose a balancing routing strategy for elastic optical networks (EON) architectures with static network operation, called Bandwidth-Balanced (BB). We compute the connection paths balancing the number of FSUs demanded in all network links, contrary to the users balancing strategies found in the literature. To evaluate our proposal, we perform the Routing, Modulation Level, and Spectrum Assignment problems (RMLSA), taking into account physical-layer impairments (PLI) found in optical communications. Experimental results show that the BB strategy outperforms commonly used strategies in capacity savings and spectral fragmentation.
High-Performance Atomic-Layer-Deposited Indium Oxide 3-D Transistors and Integrated Circuits for Monolithic 3-D Integration

In this work, we report the experimental demonstration of In₂O₃ 3 D transistors coated on fin structures and integrated circuits by a back end of line BEOL compatible atomic layer deposition ALD process High performance planar back gate In₂O₃ transistors with high mobility of 113 cm² V·s and high maximum drain current ( $I_{{D}}$ ) of 2.5 mA/μm are achieved by channel thickness engineering and postdeposition annealing. The high-performance ALD In₂O₃-based zero- $V_{{GS}}$ -load inverter is demonstrated with a maximum voltage gain of 38 V/V and a minimum supply voltage ( $V_{{DD}}$ ) down to 0.5 V. Top-gate indium oxide (In₂O₃) transistors by low-temperature ALD of both gate insulator and channel semiconductor are also demonstrated with $I_{{D}}$ of 570 μA/μm and low subthreshold slope (SS) down to 84.6 mV/decade. ALD In₂O₃ 3-D Fin transistors with the top-gate structure are then demonstrated, benefiting from the conformal deposition capability of ALD. These results suggest that ALD oxide semiconductors and devices have unique advantages and are promising toward BEOL-compatible monolithic 3-D integration for 3-D integrated circuits.
The Information in Low Forecasts

This article introduces an intuitive, earnings-based sentiment indicator that is useful for forecasting overall market direction. The indicator aggregates the difference between the mean and the low forecasts on individual stocks, with the rationale being that the indicator captures for the entire market what dispersion captures for a single stock. The basic results are that when the aggregate low forecast is considerably lower than the aggregate mean forecast, subsequent forecast revisions tend to be more negative and future index returns tend to be lower and more volatile. However, when the aggregate low forecast is extremely low compared with the aggregate mean forecast, investor and analyst sentiments tend to be overly pessimistic, and the market thus tends to perform strongly. Key Findings ▪ When the aggregate low forecast (i.e., the sum of the low forecasts on each individual stock) is considerably lower than the aggregate mean forecast (i.e., the sum of the mean forecasts on each individual stock), subsequent forecast revisions tend to be more negative and future index returns tend to be lower and more volatile. ▪ The mechanism of the aggregate low forecast signal for a portfolio of stocks is comparable to the mechanism of the dispersion signal for individual stocks; they both signal that consensus earnings forecasts are too high. ▪ When the aggregate low forecast is extremely low compared with the aggregate mean forecast, it provides a strong signal that investor and analyst sentiments are overly pessimistic and that the market is likely to perform strongly.
Whose criminal justice? State or community?, edited by Katherine Doolin, John Child, John Raine, and Anthony Beech

Whose Criminal Justice? State or Community? includes contributions from the University of Birmingham Criminal and Community Justice Group (BCCJ). It provides the first contribution of the BCCJ's in...
Le Foster Poetry Conference (1963)

Cet article s’interesse a un evenement tenu en 1963 dans les Cantons-de-l’Est, le Foster Poetry Conference, qui avait reuni plusieurs poetes de langue anglaise, ainsi qu’au volume publie dans sa foulee, English Poetry in Quebec (1965). Aujourd’hui presque oubliee, cette rencontre poetique organisee par John Glassco, Frank Scott et A.J.M. Smith, qui beneficia du soutien financier du Gouvernement du Quebec, avait l’ambition de rapprocher les poetes anglophones et francophones du Quebec, et cela a un moment charniere tant du developpement des evenements publics de poesie en Amerique du Nord que des politiques publiques et culturelles du Quebec.
Software Fault Localization Using N-gram Analysis

A major portion of software development effort is spent in testing and debugging. Execution sequence collected in the testing phase can be a rich source of information for locating the fault in the program, but the exact execution sequence of a program, i.e., the actual order of execution of the statements in the program, is seldom used due to the huge volume. In this study, we apply data mining techniques on this data to reduce the debugging time by narrowing down the possible location of the fault. Our method applies N-gram analysis to rank the executable statements of a software by level of suspicion. We conducted three case studies to demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed method. We also present comparison with other approaches, and illustrate the potential of our method.
Health Care Politics, Policy, and Services: A Social Justice Analysis, 2nd ed. edited by Gunnar Almgren

The U.S. health care system and the policy issues that surround it represent the complex interplay of competing ideas of social justice. Social justice, according to Associate Professor Gunnar Almg...
Prescribing Errors in Adult Congenital Heart Disease Patients Admitted to a Pediatric Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit

Background Adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) are often cared for at pediatric hospitals. There are no data describing the incidence or type of medication prescribing errors in adult patients admitted to a pediatric cardiovascular intensive care unit (CVICU). Methods A review of patients >18 years of age admitted to the pediatric CVICU at our institution from 2009 to 2011 occurred. A comparator group 70 kg (a typical adult weight) was identified. Medication prescribing errors were determined according to a commonly used adult drug reference. An independent panel consisting of a physician specializing in the care of adult CHD patients, a nurse, and a pharmacist evaluated all errors. Medication prescribing orders were classified as appropriate, underdose, overdose, or nonstandard (dosing per weight instead of standard adult dosing), and severity of error was classified. Results Eighty-five adult (74 patients) and 33 pediatric admissions (32 patients) met study criteria (mean age 27.5 ± 9.4 years, 53% male vs. 14.9 ± 1.8 years, 63% male). A cardiothoracic surgical procedure occurred in 81.4% of admissions. Adult admissions weighed less than pediatric admissions (72.8 ± 22.4 kg vs. 85.6 ± 14.9 kg, P < .01) but hospital length of stay was similar. (Adult 6 days [range 1–216 days]; pediatric 5 days [Range 2–123 days], P = .52.) A total of 112 prescribing errors were identified and they occurred less often in adults (42.4% of admissions vs. 66.7% of admissions, P = .02). Adults had a lower mean number of errors (0.7 errors per adult admission vs. 1.7 errors per pediatric admission, P < .01). Prescribing errors occurred most commonly with antimicrobials (n = 27). Underdosing was the most common category of prescribing error. Most prescribing errors were determined to have not caused harm to the patient. Conclusions Prescribing errors occur frequently in adult patients admitted to a pediatric CVICU but occur more often in pediatric patients of adult weight.
Synthesis of Indole-Derived Fluorine-Containing Amino Acids

A Bronsted acid promoted direct aminoalkylation of various indoles with trifluoromethyl oxazolidine is described. A catalytic amount of triflic acid provided straightforward access to the corresponding trifluoromethyled amino esters under mild reaction conditions and a short reaction time of 4 h. On further hydrogenolysis and hydrolysis of ester, the synthesis of indole derived unnatural trifluoromethylated amino acids was achieved. Journal of Nature and Science, 1(8):e1 69 , 2015
Catalyzed silicon‐mediated living polymerizations, structure control, catalyst design and mechanisms

Group transfer polymerization (GTP) and the related Aldol-GTP are new types of living polymerization mediated by silicon for precise control of polymer structure. The two processes are regenerative in that the reactions are accompanied by transfer of silyl group from living end to the incoming monomer and vice versa to produce a reactive functional group as the living end. The reaction can be carried out on solid supports, such as crosslinked polystyrene. Even though the reactions are normally catalyzed, they can be carried out at high pressures without the use of any catalyst. They operate above room temperature, thus enabling one to control molecular weight, polydispersity and monomer sequence under industrially significant conditions. The scope of catalysis is broadened to cover oxyanions.
Detection of benzaldehyde and formaldehyde in the UV photolysis of gas-phase methyl benzoate

Abstract The excitation of gas-phase methyl benzoate at 240 nm leads to the observation of phosphorescence. The dispersed phosphorescence spectrum has an assigned origin of 25 270 cm−1 and a prominent CO progression of 1720 cm−1, consistent with literature reports of gas-phase benzaldehyde spectroscopy. Weaker bands, which correspond to formaldehyde ν17 and ν25, are also evident. Time-resolved IR diode laser absorption spectroscopy has been used to probe formaldehyde. Excitation of methyl benzoate at 222 nm clearly indicates the generation of formaldehyde as a photoproduct. The temporal profile of the formaldehyde signal is consistent with significant nascent vibrational excitation in this product. The ratio of formaldehyde initially in the ground vibrational state to that in the excited vibrational states is estimated to be 0.6 ± 0.1. The proposed elimination mechanisms are analogous to those postulated for the formation of CO2 and acetaldehyde from pyruvic acid.
The risk of risk-adjustment measures for perioperative spine infection after spinal surgery.

Study Design. Cross-sectional data analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS). Objective. To develop a risk-adjustment index specific for perioperative spine infection and compare this specific index to the Deyo Comorbidity Index. Assess specific mortality and morbidity adjustments between teaching and nonteaching facilities. Summary of Background Data. Risk-adjustment measures have been developed specifically for mortality and may not be sensitive enough to adjust for morbidity across all diagnosis. Methods. This condition-specific index was developed by using the NIS in a two-step process to determine confounders and weighting. Crude and adjusted point estimates for the Deyo and condition-specific index were compared for routine discharge, death, length of stay, and total hospital charges and then stratified by teaching hospital status. Results. A total of 23,846 perioperative spinal infection events occurred in the NIS database between 1988 and 2007 of 1,212,241 procedures. Twenty-three diagnoses made up this condition-specific index. Significant differences between the Deyo and the condition-specific index were seen among total charges and length of stay at nonteaching hospitals (P < 0.001) and death, length of stay, and total charges (P < 0.001) for teaching hospitals. Conclusion. This study demonstrates several key points. One, condition-specific measures may be useful when morbidity is of question. Two, a condition-specific perioperative spine infection adjustment index appears to be more sensitive at adjusting for comorbidities. Finally, there are inherent differences in hospital disposition characteristics for perioperative spine infection across teaching and nonteaching hospitals even after adjustment.
Objectives and the past-community health education.

If we view health education historically, one finds that in the beginning, there were two components: school health education and community health education, the latter often referred to as public health education. Today our panel has identified three additional specialty health education areas but many more exist. Language: en
Augmentation of failed human vertebrae with critical un-contained lytic defect restores their structural competence under functional loading: An experimental study.

Abstract Background Lytic spinal lesions reduce vertebral strength and may result in their fracture. Vertebral augmentation is employed clinically to provide mechanical stability and pain relief for vertebrae with lytic lesions. However, little is known about its efficacy in strengthening fractured vertebrae containing lytic metastasis. Methods Eighteen unembalmed human lumbar vertebrae, having simulated uncontained lytic defects and tested to failure in a prior study, were augmented using a transpedicular approach and re-tested to failure using a wedge fracture model. Axial and moment based strength and stiffness parameters were used to quantify the effect of augmentation on the structural response of the failed vertebrae. Effects of cement volume, bone mineral density and vertebral geometry on the change in structural response were investigated. Findings Augmentation increased the failed lytic vertebral strength [compression: 85% ( P P P P P P 2 = 0.47, P 2 = 0.52, P 2 = 0.45, P Interpretation Vertebral augmentation is effective in bolstering the failed lytic vertebrae compressive and axial structural competence, showing strength estimates up to 50–90% of historical values of osteoporotic vertebrae without lytic defects. This modest increase suggests that lytic vertebrae undergo a high degree of structural damage at failure, with strength only partially restored by vertebral augmentation. The positive effect of cement volume is self-limiting due to extravasation.
Keloid treatment: Is there a role for acellular human dermis (Alloderm)?

Summary Background Keloid management is faced with high recurrence rates. Keloid fibroblasts lack the normal negative feedback mechanism resulting in an exuberant scar formation. Alloderm® doesn't undergo the same proliferative process as keloidal scar dermis. Objective To evaluate Alloderm as a treatment modality for keloids Methods A retrospective chart review of six patients with a total of eight large recurrent keloids was performed. Patients were treated with excision of the keloid followed by placement of Alloderm. Each patient was evaluated for recurrence and complications. Results During follow-up ranging from 1 month to 4½ years there were 0% recurrences. Two out of 8 (25%) had residual induration. one of the two patients with residual induration, required an intralesional injection of kenalog at 6 months post-op. Conclusion Our results from this small study show that with the use of Alloderm after keloid excision, recurrence is low. Further study is warranted.
Calciphylaxis in patients on hemodialysis: A prevalence study

Abstract Background. Calciphylaxis is characterized by painful, violaceous, mottled skin lesions (livedo reticularis) that may progress to tissue necrosis, nonhealing ulcers, gangrene, and potentially amputation, sepsis, or death. The prevalence and characteristics of patients who have calciphylaxis need further identification to predict which patients on dialysis may benefit from close monitoring or early surgical intervention. Methods. All 242 patients undergoing hemodialysis in an outpatient unit were reviewed retrospectively during a 15-month cross-sectional study of the prevalence and characteristics of calciphylaxis. Results. Ten patients (prevalence, 4.1%) had calciphylaxis. Patients with calciphylaxis were significantly younger (49 versus 60 years; p = 0.01), had undergone hemodialysis longer (80 versus 20 months; p Conclusions. The presence of calciphylaxis is higher among younger patients who had undergone longer periods of hemodialysis. Therefore this group of patients should be monitored aggressively and treated expeditiously for complications of secondary hyperparathyroidism.
Gas phase ion chemistry of the vinylidene radical anion and the acidity of the vinyl radical

Abstract Quantitative and qualitative aspects of the thermally equilibrated (298±3 K) reactions of vinylidene radical anion with a variety of neutrals have been examined in the helium filled (0.20–0.40 Torr) reactor of a flowing afterglow. The bracketed acidity of the vinyl radical, Δ H ° acid (H 2 CC H ) = 385± 3 kcal mol −1 , is the first experimental measurement of this important quantity. From this experimental acidity of the vinyl radical and appropriate information from the literature, we derive an estimate of the heat of formation of the vinyl radical, Δ H ° f (H 2 CCH − ) = 67.9± kcal mol −1 , the CH bond dissociation energy in ethylene as BDE(HCHCH 2 ) = 107.6± kcal mol −1 and a CH bond dissociation energy in the vinyl radical as BDE(HCCH 2 ) = 82.7± kcal mol −1 . H 2 CC − is found to display a number of efficient reaction channels with various neutral reagents including proton transfer, electron transfer, atom transfer and associative detachment. For those reactions involving an electron transfer component, a reaction scheme involving first electron transfer, then vinylidene-to-acetylene isomerization and finally proton transfer, is proposed as a convenient tool with predictive capability.
ECONOMIC APPLICATIONS OF FUZZY SUBSET THEORY AND FUZZY LOGIC: A BRIEF SURVEY

Traditional mathematics is the language of precision. Statements are either true or false. But, in reality there are few things that are truly simply true or false. Life is full of shades of grey. Capturing these shades of grey has been problematic using traditional mathematics. Mathematics can model the uncertainty itself but rarely incorporates it into the model. However, an emerging area of mathematical inquiry known as the mathematics of uncertainty seeks to overcome some of these problems by integrating the uncertainly, the shades of grey, directly into the model. Fuzzy theory is one of those emerging ideas. This paper is simply an overview of some of the basic mechanics of fuzzy theory and recent economic applications in both micro and macro-economics.
The impact of limited English proficiency on asthma action plan use.

AbstractObjective: The goal of this study was to compare rates of asthma action plan use by limited English proficiency (LEP) caregivers to English proficient (EP) caregivers. Methods: A cross-sectional bilingual survey was distributed at an urban, academic, pediatric emergency department (PED). Surveys were completed by adult caregivers of children with asthma who sought PED care for asthma related chief complaints. LEP was defined as caregiver ability to speak English less than “very well”. Data were analyzed using Fisher’s exact test and odds ratios (OR). Results: One hundred seven surveys were completed and analyzed. Fifty-one surveys (48%) were completed by LEP caregivers and 56 (52%) by EP caregivers. A 25% difference (p = .01) in action plan use rates between LEP caregivers (39%) and EP caregivers (64%) was observed. EP alone was associated with action plan use (OR 2.8 [95% CI 1.3–6.1]). Variables not associated with plan use included mother acting as caregiver (OR 2.1 [95% CI 0.7–7.0]), age of chi...
Using Case Documentation to Strengthen Counselor Trainees' Case Conceptualization Skills.

A format for organizing case notes is presented that could increase counselor trainees' case conceptualization skills. The STIPS format of case note writing consists of 5 major sections, including documenting clients' current Signs and symptoms, Topics discussed in counseling, counseling Interventions used, clients' Progress and counselors' continuing plan for treatment, and finally, any Special issues of importance regarding clients (e.g., suicidality). The structure and design of this STIPS format is intended to enhance trainees' ability to acquire relevant facts about clients, better understand clients' presenting problems, better monitor counseling processes, and better evaluate and adjust treatment interventions.
Work in progress: From sage on the stage to guide on the side: Examining shifts in teaching practice through stories of open community participation

Many professors are reluctant to transform their teaching practices from "sage on the stage" to "guide on the side” for understandable reasons. Facilitating student work in a potentially unfamiliar setting has a steep learning curve and requires professors to relinquish control of their classrooms without assurance their career evaluations will benefit. However, professors who do transform their teaching practices continue to report exactly the same concerns — so how does the sage-to-guide shift occur? This work-in-progress paper describes early efforts in a grounded theory study whose initial participants are professors who have involved their classes in open software, hardware, and content communities, a choice which requires such a shift in teaching practices for successful student participation. Inspired by the radical transparency of the open communities our participants work with, the study itself is an open content project, creating a public compendium of teaching transformation stories that can be accessed by educators considering similar transformations to their own teaching practices.
Decay of spin in sputnik I

Abstract A secular change took place in the spin-fading rate during the three weeks of observation of the radio transmissions from Sputnik I, between 4 October 1957 and 24 October 1957. This effect allows a determination of atmospheric density near the perigee point. For an assumed atmospheric scale height of 30 km, we derive a value 3.8 × 10 −13 g cm −3 for the density at 220 km. Some fluctuations in the spin decay appear to be real, and may result from small changes in the orientation of the spin axis within the satellite. An alternative interpretation in terms of charged drag resulting from motion of the satellite through the ionospheric plasma, requires a charge of at least 10 4 volts on the satellite. This charge might be acquired in the auroral zone.
DataHub: knowledge-based science data management for exploratory data analysis

It is our belief that new modes of research and new tools are required to handle the massive amount of diverse data that is to be stored, organized, accessed, distributed, visualized, and analyzed in this decade. The fundamental innovation required is the integration of three automation technologies: viz. knowledge-based expert systems, science visualization and science data management. This integration is based on a concept called the DataHub. In order to prove the concept, a series of software prototypes are being implemented. On the basis of used comments DataHub is continually changing. The current changes in philosophy and design are described here, including two major changes made to the Motif/X Windows DataHub interface. Additionally, because of the drawbacks of the current implementation in label or file recognition, an expert system is being investigated. Finally, short and long term design and implementation issues are discussed.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
First-principles investigation of location and electronic structure of adsorbed halogen atoms on semiconductor surfaces

Self-consistent-field Hartree-Fock investigations have been carried out for clusters representative of chlorine atoms adsorbed on a silicon 111g surface and for the Si${\mathrm{H}}_{3}$Cl molecule, leading to a Si-Cl distance of 2.07 \AA{} for the chemisorbed system, close to the Si-Cl distance of 2.06 \AA{} obtained for the molecule, in good agreement with results of recent surface-extended x-ray fine-structure measurements. The density-of-states curve obtained for the cluster satisfactorily reproduces the observed ultraviolet photoelectron spectral peaks.
Microvascular Structure and Function in Vitro

Vascular structure — a network of convective paths — is a ubiquitous element in multicellular, living systems. The key function of vascular structure in animals and plants is mediation of convective mass transfer over macroscopic distances; this transfer allows an organism to monitor and control the chemical state of its tissues. In our laboratory, we are developing methods to embed and operate microfluidic systems within tissue-like materials in order to capture this function for both biological and non-biological applications. I will present two examples to illustrate our efforts: 1) Capillary beds for the culture of mammalian cells in three-dimensions. In this section, I will discuss the development of methods both to fabricate synthetic capillary beds and to grow them directly out of endothelial cells. I will highlight how simple ideas from continuum mechanics and material science have guided our efforts. 2) Synthetic xylem networks that allow for the transpiration of water at large negative pressures. I will point out the unusual thermodynamic and transport phenomena that are involved in the transpiration process in plants. I will then present our perspectives on the design criteria for systems — synthetic and biological — that mediate this process. Finally, I will describe our experiments with “synthetic trees” in which we have reproduced the main features of transpiration. I will conclude with perspectives on applications and generalizations of both these classes of vascularized materials.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
A simulation model with verification and validation for time-phased education planning in Afghanistan

Decision-makers have rightly come to expect thorough, relevant analysis prior to allocating resources. The field of education planning is no different in its requirement for such analysis. In this research, we present a discrete event simulation model in which individual students and teachers flow through the Afghanistan education system across a variable time horizon. We explain the simulation and its premises through some verification and validation processes that allow the user to glean insight into the implications of security, policy, and infrastructure in this complex and capricious environment.
Viewers Like You: Community Norms and Contributions to Public Broadcasting:

The logic of collective action (Olson 1965) suggests that public broadcasting may be underprovided, because non-contributors are not excluded from receiving the benefits. Why do so many individuals...
Laser processing of BN and AN films

We have formed cubic boron nitride (c-BN) and hexagonal aluminum nitride (h-AlN) using novel pulsed laser processing methods. To synthesize c-BN, the boron target was evaporated by pulsed KrF laser (λ = 248 nm) with simultaneous bombardment with nitrogen ions. On the other hand, epitaxial deposited h-AlN on silicon and sapphire substrates was accomplished by pulsed laser evaporation of AlN target. The films of c-BN were polycrystalline on Si(100) and Si(111) substrates, and high-quality epitaxial h-AlN film was grown on (0001) sapphire with a following in-plane alignment of \( AlN[\overline 1 2 \overline 1 0] ||Al_2 O_3 [0 \overline 1 10] and AlN[10 \overline 1 0] || Al_2 O_3 [\overline 2 110] \). This is equivalent to 30° rotation of the film with respect to the substrate in the basal c-plane. The absorption edge measured by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy for the epitaxial AIN film was sharp and the band gap was found to be 6.1eV. Details of microstructure-property correlation of these films and possible applications are discussed.