cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Resident perceptions of autonomy in a complex tertiary care environment improve when supervised by hospitalists.

Background and Objective: Increasingly, academic hospitals have adopted hospitalist-based systems of inpatient pediatric care. Some studies comparing hospitalists with other attending physicians have suggested trainees are more satisfied with education from hospitalists. However, there are published concerns that the increased presence of hospitalists may reduce residents’ autonomy. The objective of the current study was to evaluate pediatric residents’ perceptions of their own autonomy after a broad ward restructuring to hospitalist-led teams. Methods: We analyzed data from standardized attending evaluations before and after a pediatric ward restructuring at an academic tertiary care hospital. Provision of most inpatient pediatric care changed from subspecialist-led teams to hospitalist-led teams. Numerical scores from evaluations before and after the restructuring were compared quantitatively. Comments from the evaluations were analyzed qualitatively to identify key themes. Results: Before the restructuring, there were 65 evaluations of 5 hospitalists and 602 evaluations of 32 subspecialists. After the restructuring, there were 188 evaluations of 8 hospitalists. Hospitalists were rated significantly higher on all teaching attributes compared with all attending physicians before the restructuring. The attending role in promoting autonomy was mentioned infrequently and reflected residents’ perceived lack of autonomy before the restructuring. The primary theme after the restructuring was autonomy, specifically emphasizing resident leadership and decision-making and the appropriate balance of resident autonomy and supervision. Conclusions: Although patient complexity was unchanged, a comparison of numerical ratings and resident comments before and after the restructuring indicates that hospitalists lead teams differently from subspecialists, with more emphasis on resident decision-making and autonomy.
Chip Level Reliability of MANOS Cells under Operating Conditions

MT reliability of MANOS cell was examined from cell array. Lots of retention tail bits occurred even at RT. The fail cells were classified as the manner of q-loss. Defective cell lost abundant charge at early stage, while the q-loss rate of worse cell was faster and lasted in a certain period. Si-cluster in our nitride was supposed to make the worse cell, and this cell redeemed its retention capability by reducing shallow trap in Si-rich nitride.
Incidental Findings During Routine Antepartum Obstetrical Sonography

The standard for performing an antepartum obstetrical sonogram primarily involves the examination of the fetus; however, both the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) and American Co...
Demonstrating distributed transmit beamforming with software-defined radios

We present a fully wireless implementation of distributed transmit beamforming using software-defined radios. Distributed beamforming is a cooperative transmission scheme whereby a number of nodes in a wireless network organize themselves into a virtual antenna array and focus their transmission in the direction of the intended receiver, potentially achieving order of magnitude improvements in energy efficiency. The main technical challenge in realizing these gains is in precisely synchronizing the radio frequency signals of the cooperating nodes. This idea has been studied extensively over the past decade, and several techniques and architectures for its practical implementation have been developed. In this work, we demonstrate our recent implementation of distributed beamforming on a standard, open-source, software-defined radio platform, where the low quality oscillators make synchronization particularly challenging. Our demonstration will consist of three cooperating transmitters sending signals that add up constructively at the receiver. Low-rate feedback packets broadcast from the receiver are employed for frequency and phase synchronization at each transmitter in completely distributed fashion.
Turbulent Consumption Speed Scaling of H2/CO Blends

This paper describes measurements and analysis of global turbulent consumption speeds, ST,GC, of hydrogen/carbon monoxide (H2/CO) mixtures. The turbulent flame properties of such mixtures are of fundamental interest because of their strong stretch sensitivity and of practical interest since they are the primary constituents of syngas fuels. Data are analyzed at mean flow velocities and turbulence intensities of 4 < U0 < 50 m/s and 1 < u’rms /SL,0 < 100, respectively, for H2/CO blends ranging from 30-90% H2 by volume. Data from two sets of experiments are reported. In the first, fuel blends ranging from 30-90% H2 and mixture equivalence ratio, , were adjusted at each fuel composition to have nominally the same un-stretched laminar flame speed, SL,0. In the second set, equivalence ratios were varied at constant H2 levels. The data clearly corroborate results from other studies that show significant sensitivity of ST,GC to fuel composition. For example, at a fixed u’rms, ST,GC of a 90% H2 case (at  = 0.48) is a factor of three times larger than the baseline  = 0.9, CH4/air mixture that has the same SL,0 value. We also describe physics-based correlations of these data, using leading points concepts and detailed kinetic calculations of their stretch sensitivities. These results are used to develop an inequality for negative Markstein length flames that bounds the turbulent flame speed data and show that the data can be collapsed using the maximum stretched laminar flame speed, SL,max, rather than SL,0.
Cell division: pressure-induced reversal of the antimeiotic effects of heavy water in the oocytes of the starfish, Asterias forbesi.

Meiotic activity in the ocytes of the starfish, Asterias forbesi, may be blocked by immersion in deuterated sea water (60% or more) as is judged by a stoppage in the breakdown of the germinal vesicles and a failure of the cells to form persistent polar bodies. These anti-meiotic effects of heavy water were reversed in significant degree by application of suitable intensities (3,000 to 6,000 psi) of hydrostatic pressure. In this regard meiosis resembles mitosis, as studied previously in the first cleavage division of the sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. In studying germinal vesicle breakdown, immersion of the ocytes in deuterated (60, 70 and 80% D2O) sea water was initiated ten minutes after shedding and pressurization was established six minutes later. None of the non-pressurized deuterated cells showed complete breakdown of the germinal vesicle, whereas complete breakdown was observed in a significant percentage of the pressurized deuterated specimen. In studying their capacity to form and maintain polar bodies, the ocytes were deuterated 60 minutes after shedding and pressurized six minutes later. Maximum release from deuterational blockage, as judged by the percentage of persistent polar bodies after one hour of treatment, was as follows: 85% at 2,000 psi for 50% D2O; 65% at 2,500 psi, for 60%; 77% at 3,000 psi for 70%; 55% at 3,500 psi for 80% and 65% at 3,500 psi for 90%. Persistence of polar bodies in the non-pressurized deuterated cells did not exceed 15% in any medium containing 60% or more of D2O and the average persistence in such media was only 2.5%. Basic mechanisms which may account for the observed effects are discussed.
Impact of Data Assimilation and Resolution on Modeling the Gulf Stream Pathway

In this paper, we study, in detail, one important aspect of our ongoing work on global ocean prediction. Modeling the behavior of western boundary currents, like the Gulf Stream, has been a long-standing issue. Recent modeling results suggest that the abyssal currents play an important role in determining the pathway of the Gulf Stream. The present-generation ocean prediction model fails to adequately reproduce the Gulf Stream pathway, and does not generate a vigorous abyssal circulation. Here we use twin simulations, at different horizontal resolutions and with and without data assimilation, to study their effects on modeling the observed Gulf Stream pathway. Increasing the resolution of the model improves the strength of the abyssal circulation, but still fails to predict the Gulf Stream pathway. Surprisingly, assimilating sea level anomalies and upper ocean profiles produces a robust abyssal circulation and a Gulf Stream pathway similar to the observed pathway. However, the Gulf Stream with assimilation is weaker than observed and, unlike most regions of the deep ocean, there is no skill in the 14-day forecasts. All simulations were performed under our current Department of Defense (DoD) High Performance Computing Modernization Program (HPCMP) Challenge Project, Eddy Resolving Global Data Assimilation Including Tides, or our earlier HPC Challenge Project, Global Ocean Prediction using HYCOM.
Forecasting Dew Duration at Pendleton, Oregon, Using Simple Weather Observations

Abstract The importance of dew to agriculture, together with the absence of dew measurements at standard weather station sites, resulted in the development of predictive models for dew formation in the Umatilla River Basin, Oregon. Meteorological data were obtained at the Pendleton Experiment Station in close proximity to dew-measurement devices, and from the Pendleton National Weather Service Office. Dew measurements, made during the months of April, May and June for the years 1971–76, were compared with values of wind speed, relative humidity and minimum temperature at the Experiment Station. All three variables were found to have significantly different average values when dew occurred as opposed to when dew did not occur. The duration of relative humidity above 90% exhibited the strongest correlation with dew duration (r = 0.60). Using these boundary values beyond which the occurrence of dew was unlikely, dew occurrence was predicted with an accuracy of 81%. With the addition of a boundary value for s...
The environmental and economic effects of regional bioenergy policy in the southeastern U.S.

The unique generation, landownership, and resource attributes of the southeastern United States make the region an important test bed for implementation of novel renewable energy policy interventions. This study evaluates the environmental and economic implications of one such intervention, a hypothetical region-wide renewable portfolio standard (RPS) with biomass carve-outs. It utilizes the Forest and Agriculture Sector Optimization Model with Greenhouse Gases (FASOMGHG) to assess the multi-sector and interregional allocation of forest harvest activity, and then uses the Sub-Regional Timber Supply (SRTS) model to assess intraregional variation in forest composition and greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation potential. The analysis finds that existing resource conditions influence the regional distribution of land use and harvest changes, resulting in a spatially and temporally diverse forest carbon response. Net forest carbon in the Southeast is greater in the RPS Scenario than in the No RPS Scenario in all but the final years of the model run. Accounting for displaced fossil emissions yields net GHG reductions in all time periods. Both research methodology and findings are also applicable to a broader suite of domestic and international policies, including European Union renewable energy initiatives and GHG mitigation under Section 111 of the U.S. Clean Air Act.
Airborne WiFi networks through directional antennae: An experimental study

In this paper, we study the design and development of airborne WiFi networks through directional antennae. Specifically, we conduct an experimental study to investigate the feasibility of transmitting WiFi signals over two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). WiFi has become the de facto configuration for most communication devices, from personal smartphones to industrial instruments. The integration of WiFi signals with airborne networks will enable a fast deployment of WiFi infrastructures, which provide real-time communication for disaster scenarios where a communication infrastructure does not exist. One unique feature of this work is the use of directional antennae for long range WiFi signal transmission. Directional antennae are considered because they not only boost the signal strength, but also have the potential to reduce interference with other WiFi channels. However, the performance of communication using directional antennae depends highly on the alignment of facing directions, which requires online control in response to the movement of UAVs. In our experimental study, we develop two hexacopters that are equipped with NanoStations. They maintain correct facing and thus connectivity through an automatic mechanical heading control. Field tests are conducted to understand how distance impacts the WiFi signal throughput. The experimental study suggests the promising use of directional antennas for WiFi aerial communication, and also discloses challenges to enable robust WiFi airborne networks.
Abstract W MP2: Daily Goals Poster Supports Effective Patient Education

Background: Patient education is a central component of any stroke program. Patients are educated on their stroke etiology, warning signs of stroke, activation of EMS, individualized stroke risk factors, medications prescribed at discharge and follow-up care. Patients are frightened and overwhelmed with the sudden change in their life leading to information overload. Education is further challenged due to the average LOS of 4 days during which patients are busy with tests, therapy and frequent nursing assessments. Purpose: The purpose of this process improvement is to develop a tool to support and facilitate effective stroke education. Methods: Stroke team members met to develop an interactive daily goals poster to address patient education and to serve as a communication tool between staff members, patients and families. This tool focused on the first four days, included all of the core measures and reflects documentation in the electronic medical record. The tool allows the staff to customize educational components to address patient-specific risk factors, is used as a teaching chart between the nurse and patient to track individual progress and remains with the patient from admission thru discharge. After discharge, the tool continues to serve as a reference for personal risk factors and prevention education. Results: This poster served as a communication tool to educate the patient and families on daily expectations and prompted questions of their individual treatment plan. After the tool was implemented, the stroke education core measure compliance improved from 75% in June 2011 to 86% in June 2013. Additionally, there was a marked improvement in patient satisfaction rating of 74% (n=322) in June 2011 to 88% (n=976) in June 2013. Indirectly, the tool served as a guide for new staff and fostered continuity of care between units. Conclusion: This tool proved to be an effective means to support and facilitate stroke patient and family education. Based on the new self- management standards implemented by The Joint Commission, this tool can easily be revised to successfully include an area to establish mutually agreed upon goals between patient and practitioners.
Temperature and Loading-Dependent Diffusion of Light Hydrocarbons in ZIF-8 as Predicted Through Fully Flexible Molecular Simulations.

Accurate and efficient predictions of hydrocarbon diffusivities in zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) are challenging, due to the small pore size of materials such as ZIF-8 and the wide range of diffusion time scales of hydrocarbon molecules in ZIFs. Here we have computationally measured the hopping rates of 15 different molecules (kinetic diameters of 2.66–5.10 A) in ZIF-8 via dynamically corrected transition state theory (dcTST). Umbrella sampling combined with the one-dimensional weighted histogram analysis method (WHAM) was used to calculate the diffusion free energy barriers. Both the umbrella sampling and dynamical correction calculations included ZIF-8 flexibility, which is found to be critical in accurately describing molecular diffusion in this material. Comparison of the computed diffusivities to extant experimental results shows remarkable agreement within an order of magnitude for all the molecules. The dcTST method was also applied to study the effect of hydrocarbon loadings. Self and tra...
Epidemiological Characteristics of HFMD in Hedong District of Tianjin City in 2010

[Objective]To understand the epidemiological characteristics of hand,foot and mouth disease(HFMD) in Hedong District of Tianjin CIty in 2010,and provide scientific evidence for prevention and control measures. [Methods]Descriptive epidemiology was adopted to analyze the data of HFMD epidemics in Hedong District in 2010. [Results]A total of 931 HFMD cases were reported,and the incidence rate was 104.41/100 000.The ratio of male cases to female cases was 1.56∶1.HFMD cases were mainly diagnosed in summer and autumn.The cases aged 1 to 5 years accounted for 78.41%.A total of 113 HFMD cases were conformed by laboratory testing.The percentage of cases caused by enterovirus71(EV71),Coxsackie virus A 16(CVA 16) and type 2 enteric virus accounted for 35.40%,21.2% and 3.5%,respectively. [Conclusion]The incidence of HFMD has significant seasonal,gender and age specific differences.Nurseries and kindergartens are the key places for prevention and control of HFMD.Effective methods for HFMD prevention and control include early isolation and treatment of HFMD cases,health education and self-protection of general population
Determination of 5 food additives in fruit juice by ion chromatography with solid-phase extraction

[Objective]To establish a fast and simple method for analyzing sorbic acid,sodium cyclamate,benzoic acid,acesulfame potassium,and saccharin sodium in fruit juice by ion chromatography with solid-phase extraction.[Methods]100% pure fruit juice samples were directly diluted with water with PH of 9-10 and purified by nylon prefilter and Cleanert-IC C18 column for removing insoluble and organic impurities.Through hydrophobic IonPac AS17-C anion-exchange column using eluent by a two-step isocratic elution procedure,the detection of five food additives was performed by using a conductivity detector.[Results] The linear range was 0.5-10 μg/ml.The coefficient of the linear regression equation was 0.999 0-0.999 9.The recovery rate was 92.8%-107.7%.The detection limit was 6 mg/kg.The precision was 1.3%.[Conclusion]This method can determine sorbic acid,sodium cyclamate,benzoic acid,acesulfame potassium,and saccharin sodium of fruit juice rapidly,simply,accurately and reliably.It is suitable for analyzing samples in large quantities of supervising and monitoring.
Visual Fields in Mothers and Children Exposed in Utero to Vigabatrin

Three mothers with 4 children exposed to vigabatrin in utero (but not breast fed) underwent perimetry and imaging of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) at the University Hospital of Wales and School of Optometry, Cardiff, UK.
Smoking cessation from office to bedside: An evidence-based, practical approach

PREVIEWCigarette smoking imparts a staggering healthcare cost, yet its toll can be prevented. Smoking cessation is a desirable patient goal, but most physicians have not been trained to counsel patients to quit. Although many barriers exist to smoking cessation, effective counseling guidelines and pharmacologic treatments are now available. In this article, Drs Grable and Ternullo offer a smoking cessation approach modeled on the US Public Health Service (PHS) guideline for treating tobacco use and dependence.
Erotic pursuit and narrative seduction in Ovid's Metamorphoses

The Metamorphoses is a poem full of tales of erotic pursuit. It is also a poem full of fictional narrators and audiences. These two features frequently intersect, since erotic pursuit is often the subject of an embedded tale, and sometimes — but considerably less often — the occasion for one. Erotic seduction is much more common as the subject for a story than as the objective of one. Narrative seduction in the frame, however — that is, a narrator's seduction of an audience into listening to, or even soliciting, a story — is quite common. Indeed, most embedded tales in the Metamorphoses are requested tales, and quite often the request is engineered by the prospective narrator. In considering instances of narrative discourse as ‘narrative transactions’, Barbara Hernnstein Smith has suggested that one should examine the general question ‘why … someone has chosen (or agreed) to tell someone else that something happened and why the latter has chosen (or agreed) to listen’. More specifically, Robert Scholes and Gerald Prince have both pointed to a figuratively erotic relationship between narrator and audience, viz. the fact that the narrator must first arouse desire for a story. Ovid himself seems to hint at this connection between erotic and narrative seduction by calling attention to the narrative situation in so many of his tales of erotic pursuit.
Self-Reported Disorders Among Serial Homicide Offenders: Data From the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory–III

ABSTRACTThis project reports the results of 60 male serial homicide offenders’ profiles on the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory–III (MCMI-III). The geographical distance between potential participants increases the difficulty in effectively measuring psychological features. Therefore, self-report is a viable option for this type of research. Using a computer-generated correctional report, the Severe Personality Pathologies and Clinical Personality Patterns were analyzed for possible traits relating to Axis I and Axis II suggested diagnoses.1 Results show that the majority of murderers sampled had at least one Axis I classification and nearly half had more than one. All participants had either features or traits of an Axis II disorder, with slightly more than half having met the cutoff for a diagnosed disorder. The measurement of a highly violent specialized group requires many considerations and extensive resources, but a preliminary understanding is possible with a carefully gauged approach.
Assessment of heart microstructure: from mouse to man.

Stem cell therapy has undergone a rapid translation from bench research to clinical trials as a promising approach for the regeneration of the injured myocardium1,2. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a pivotal role in the assessment of stem cell therapy efficacy and elucidation of the mechanisms behind therapeutic effects3. One important aspect of stem cell therapy, however, remains missing: there are currently no non-invasive methods to evaluate the restoration of myocardial tissue microstructure. A study by Sosnovik et al.4 published in this issue of Circulation fills this gap and demonstrates the feasibility of evaluating the integrity and spatial organization of myofibers after cell therapy.
Computing Residual Diffusivity by Adaptive Basis Learning via Spectral Method

We study the residual diffusion phenomenon in chaotic advection computationally via adaptive orthogonal basis. The chaotic advection is generated by a class of time periodic cellular flows arising in modeling transition to turbulence in Rayleigh-Benard experiments. The residual diffusion refers to the non-zero effective (homogenized) diffusion in the limit of zero molecular diffusion as a result of chaotic mixing of the streamlines. In this limit, the solutions of the advection-diffusion equation develop sharp gradients, and demand a large number of Fourier modes to resolve, rendering computation expensive. We construct adaptive orthogonal basis (training) with built-in sharp gradient structures from fully resolved spectral solutions at few sampled molecular diffusivities. This is done by taking snapshots of solutions in time, and performing singular value decomposition of the matrix consisting of these snapshots as column vectors. The singular values decay rapidly and allow us to extract a small percentage of left singular vectors corresponding to the top singular values as adaptive basis vectors. The trained orthogonal adaptive basis makes possible low cost computation of the effective diffusivities at smaller molecular diffusivities (testing). The testing errors decrease as the training occurs at smaller molecular diffusivities. We make use of the Poincare map of the advection-diffusion equation to bypass long time simulation and gain accuracy in computing effective diffusivity and learning adaptive basis. We observe a non-monotone relationship between residual diffusivity and the amount of chaos in the advection, though the overall trend is that sufficient chaos leads to higher residual diffusivity.
The Unintended Impact of Academic Research on Asset Returns: The CAPM Alpha

This paper explores a channel whereby asset-pricing anomalies can appear as investors alter portfolios according to findings in academic research. In particular, I find that assets with low realized CAPM Alphas outperform those with high ones, but this finding only appears after the CAPM’s publication in the 1960s. I find evidence consistent with the widespread application of the CAPM model generating incentives to tilt portfolios systematically away from low CAPM Alpha assets, causing such assets to be undervalued.
Paroxetine and fluconazole therapy for HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment: results from a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Paroxetine and fluconazole have neuroprotective effects in an in vitro model of HIV protein-mediated neuronal injury. This study evaluated the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of both paroxetine and fluconazole for the treatment of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). A 24-week randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled 2 × 2 factorial design study was used. HIV+ individuals with cognitive impairment were enrolled in the 24-week trial. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups: (1) paroxetine 20 mg/day, (2) fluconazole 100 mg every 12 h, (3) paroxetine and fluconazole, or (4) placebo. Safety, tolerability, and efficacy were evaluated. Forty-five HIV+ individuals were enrolled. Medications were well tolerated. Compared to no paroxetine arms, HIV+ individuals receiving paroxetine showed improved NPZ8 summary scores, (mean change = 0.25 vs − 0.19, p = 0.049), CalCAP sequential test reaction time (mean change = 0.34 vs −0.23, p = 0.014), Trail Making Part B test performance (mean change = 0.49 vs − 0.33, p = 0.041), and FAS verbal fluency (mean change = 0.25 vs 0.02, p = 0.020) but a decline in the Letter number sequencing test (mean change = − 0.40 vs 0.26, p = 0.023). Biomarkers of cellular stress, inflammation, and neuronal damage were not affected by paroxetine. HIV+ individuals receiving fluconazole did not show a benefit in cognition and showed an increase in multiple markers of cellular stress compared to the no fluconazole arms. In conclusion, paroxetine was associated with improvement in a summary neuropsychological test measure and in several neuropsychological tests but worse performance in one neuropsychological test. Further studies of paroxetine for the treatment of HAND and to define its precise neuroprotective properties are warranted.
Understanding Task-in-Process through the Lens of Laughter: Activity Designs, Instructional Materials, Learner Orientations, and Interpersonal Relationships.

Abstract: Using the framework of conversation analysis, this study investigated the interactional workings of laughter in task‐based interactions. The analysis was drawn from 160 cases of pair work interactions, collected in 2nd‐semester Japanese‐as‐a‐foreign‐language classrooms. The pair work activities examined in this study are mostly grammar‐focused, with prescribed sequences of turns presented on activity prompts. While the learners are closely following these prescribed sequences, analysis of their laughter reveals the complex interplays of their interpretations of activity designs, their appropriation of instructional materials, their negotiation of moment‐by‐moment orientations, and their positioning in interpersonal relationships, all of which give rise to unique interactional outcomes. Moreover, the resourceful use of laughter can be deemed relevant to language learning as it relates to active engagement with language use. This study suggests that a close examination of laughter provides rich information about task‐based interactions that may otherwise be overlooked. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Reducing fugitive methane emissions from the North American oil and gas sector: a proposed science-policy framework

ABSTRACTThe shale gas boom in the United States spurred a shift in electricity generation from coal to natural gas. Natural gas combined cycle units emit half of the CO2 to produce the same energy as a coal unit; therefore, the market trend is credited for a reduction in GHG emissions from the US power sector. However, methane that escapes the natural gas supply chain may undercut these relative climate benefits. In 2016, Canada, the United States and Mexico pledged to reduce methane emissions from the oil and natural gas sector 40–45% from 2012 levels by 2025. This article reviews the science-policy landscape of methane measurement and mitigation relevant for meeting this pledge, including changes in US policy following the 2016 presidential election. Considerable policy incoherence exists in all three countries. Reliable inventories remain elusive; despite government and private sector research efforts, the magnitude of methane emissions remains in dispute. Meanwhile, mitigation efforts vary significant...
MicroRNA and T Helper Cell-Mediated Immune Responses

Abstract MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a family of small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. miRNAs have diverse expression patterns and regulate various physiological processes, including immune system development and function. Altered expression of specific miRNAs in immune cells has been associated with several inflammatory disorders and autoimmunity. Emerging evidence indicates that miRNAs can modulate epigenetic pathways, and that the production of miRNAs can in turn be modulated by epigenetic mechanisms. This chapter discusses the association between miRNAs and epigenetic pathways in the regulation of T helper cell differentiation and function.
How We Could Measure Community Impact of Nonprofit Graduate Students’ Service-Learning Projects: Lessons from the Literature

Nonprofit management education scholars are asking the question, “How do we measure community impact of nonprofit programs?” One way to study the community impact of nonprofit management education ...
Nanoscale Mechanics and Materials: Experimental Techniques

One of the fundamental difficulties associated with the measurement of the mechanical properties of nanomaterials is that nanomaterial samples generally cannot be obtained in sufficiently large sizes to do traditional mechanical testing. From another perspective, one must use experimental techniques that can operate at scales that are relevant to the nanomaterial problem. For both of these reasons, there has been a drive towards the development of small-scale experimental techniques that can provide mechanical information on materials or structures. This chapter discusses a number of these techniques. Note that this is not a comprehensive discussion because these techniques are in rapid evolution, and the reader would be well advised to review the current literature in this area.
Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients With Postfundoplication Dysphagia

Background & Aims Dysphagia is a consequence of antireflux surgery (ARS) for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). We studied patient management and symptomatic outcomes. Methods We performed a retrospective study of 157 consecutive adult patients with GERD (mean age, 65.1 ± 1.0 y; 72% female) who underwent ARS at a tertiary care center from 2003 through 2014. We characterized postfundoplication dysphagia using a self-reported Likert scale, which ranged from a low score of 0 (no dysphagia) to a high score of 4 (severe daily dysphagia); scores of 2 or more indicated clinically significant dysphagia. Postfundoplication dysphagia was categorized as early (≤6 wk after ARS) or late (>6 wk after ARS), and Kaplan–Meier analyses were used to assess the time to development of clinically significant dysphagia. We performed univariate and multivariate analyses to assess management response and identify factors associated with dysphagia. The primary aim was to determine the prevalence and clinical course of postfundoplication dysphagia in patients with GERD treated with ARS. Results Of the 157 patients, 54.8% had early postfundoplication dysphagia (clinically significant in 20.4%); only 3.5% required endoscopic intervention. Over 2.1 ± 0.2 years of follow-up evaluation, 29 patients (18.5%) developed late postfundoplication dysphagia. Based on Kaplan–Meier analysis, the median time to clinically significant late postfundoplication dysphagia was 0.75 years (95% CI, 0.26–1.22). Of 13 patients (44.8%) who underwent endoscopic dilation, improvement was reported by 92.3%, with a mean decrease in dysphagia severity of 1.55 ± 0.3, based on the Likert scale. Prefundoplication dysphagia, early postfundoplication dysphagia, recurrent hiatal hernia, and lack of contraction reserve following multiple rapid swallows were univariate predictors of late postfundoplication dysphagia (P ≤ .04); lack of contraction reserve was associated independently with late postfundoplication dysphagia, based on multivariate logistic regression analysis (odds ratio, 3.73; 95% CI, 1.11–12.56). Conclusions Early and late postfundoplication dysphagia can be successfully managed conservatively or with endoscopic dilation, respectively. Lack of contraction reserve on multiple rapid swallows is associated independently with late postfundoplication dysphagia.
Patient understanding, expectations, outcomes, and satisfaction regarding surgical management of shoulder instability

Shoulder instability is a common condition encountered by sports medicine and shoulder surgeons. Management can be challenging, both with regards to the underlying pathology and the high expectations associated with the very active patient population that this condition typically affects. High-performance athletes who are used to performing at activity levels which typically challenge the normal physiologic limits of the glenohumeral joint may be particularly difficult to treat. As physicians increasingly evaluate patient reported outcomes (PROs), a growing body of literature has emerged related to patient expectations for a variety of orthopaedic conditions, including shoulder instability. Physicians may face difficulty when using the literature to counsel patients due to the difference between a successful PRO and true patient satisfaction. Having a better understanding of patient expectations may improve preoperative evaluation, patient counseling, postoperative PROs, and patient satisfaction with shoulder instability surgery. The purpose of this paper was to review the literature regarding patient understanding of shoulder instability injuries, expectations following surgical repair of shoulder instability pathology, and satisfaction with operative intervention. Additionally, we sought to determine the effect of patient expectations on outcomes.
Diagnostic performance of prospectively assigned clear cell Likelihood scores (ccLS) in small renal masses at multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract Introduction Detection of small renal masses (SRM) is increasing with the use of cross-sectional imaging, although many incidental lesions have negligible metastatic potential. A method to identify this subtype would aid in risk stratification. A previously reported clear cell likelihood score (ccLS; 1-very unlikely, 2-unlikely, 3-equivocal, 4-likely, and 5-very likely), based on retrospective review of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI), predicted the likelihood of encountering clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) at surgery. Here, we assess the performance of ccLS prospectively assigned for prediction of ccRCC. Methods Patients with a known renal mass who underwent mpMRI at a single institution between June 2016 and April 2018 were prospectively assigned a ccLS as part of the clinical MRI report. These patients were retrospectively reviewed, and those with a cT1a lesion and available pathological tissue diagnosis (diagnostic biopsy or extirpative surgery) were selected for analysis. Results In total, 57 patients (mean age 61.7 ± 14.9 years) with 63 cT1a renal masses were identified. Mean tumor size was 2.7 ± 0.7 cm. Defining ccLS 4-5 lesions as positive demonstrated an overall accuracy of 84%, sensitivity of 89%, specificity of 79%, positive predictive value of 84%, and negative predictive value of 86%. A ccLS of 1-2 demonstrates an 86% accuracy and 100% sensitivity/positive predictive value of identifying non-ccRCC histology. Conclusions Utilizing prospectively assigned ccLS, we confirm that mpMRI can reasonably identify ccRCC histology in cT1a renal masses. Standardization of imaging protocols and reporting criteria such as the ccLS can be used to aid in the diagnosis and management of small renal masses.
Chapter 7 – The Erythrocyte: Physiology, Metabolism, and Biochemical Disorders

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the physiology, metabolism, and biochemical disorders of erythrocytes. Mammalian erythrocytes or red blood cells (RBCs) are anucleate cells that normally circulate for several months in blood despite limited synthetic capacities, and repeated exposures to mechanical and metabolic insults. The primary purpose of RBCs is to carry hemoglobin (Hb), a heme-containing protein that accounts for more than 90% of the protein within RBCs. Most RBCs in normal dogs, cats, horses, cattle, and sheep occur in the shape of biconcave disks (discocytes). The degree of biconcavity is most pronounced in dogs, and less so, in cats and horses. RBCs from goats generally have a flat surface with little surface depression; a variety of irregularly shaped RBCs (poikilocytes) may be present in clinically normal goats. This chapter begins with a discussion on differences in erythrocyte shape and functions of RBCs. The chapter then elaborates concepts related to hematopoietic microenvironment and hematopoietic growth factors. Biochemistry of iron metabolism, Hb synthesis, and reticulocytes are also discussed. The chapter explains in detail the membrane structure of RBCs, as well as concepts related to shape and deformability, membrane transport, and carbohydrate metabolism. The chapter concludes with discussing inherited disorders of RBCs.
Escape the (Remote) Classroom: An Online Escape Room for Remote Learning.

An online virtual escape-room game was created using the Google Forms survey app for an undergraduate chemistry lab class. Zoom video conferencing service was used to make the activity a collaborative learning experience. The theme was an escape from an abandoned chocolate factory, and the students solved problems to move to the next section or “room” on the Google Forms survey.
Kinetic-Mechanistic Evidence for Which E. coli RNA Polymerase-λPR Open Promoter Complex Initiates and for Stepwise Disruption of Contacts in Bubble Collapse

Abstract In transcription initiation, specific contacts between RNA polymerase (RNAP) and promoter DNA are disrupted as the RNA-DNA hybrid advances into the cleft, resulting in escape of RNAP. From the pattern of large and small rate constants for steps of initiation at λPR promoter at 19°C, we proposed that in-cleft interactions are disrupted in extending 3-mer to 5-mer RNA, −10 interactions are disrupted in extending 6-mer to 9-mer, and −35 interactions are disrupted in extending 10-mer to 11-mer, allowing RNAP to escape. Here we test this mechanism and determine enthalpic and entropic activation barriers of all steps from kinetic measurements at 25°C and 37°C. Initiation at 37°C differs significantly from expectations based on lower-temperature results. At low concentration of the second iNTP (UTP), synthesis of full-length RNA at 37°C is slower than at 25°C and no transient short RNA intermediates are observed, indicating a UTP-dependent bottleneck step early in the 37°C mechanism. Analysis reveals that the 37°C λPR OC (RPO) cannot initiate and must change conformation to a less-stable initiation complex (IC) capable of binding the iNTP. We find that IC is the primary λPR OC species below 25°C, and therefore conclude that IC must be the I3 intermediate in RPO formation. Surprisingly, Arrhenius activation energy barriers to five steps where RNAP-promoter in-cleft and −10 contacts are disrupted are much smaller than for other steps, including a negative barrier for the last of these steps. We interpret these striking effects as enthalpically-favorable, entropically-unfavorable, stepwise bubble collapse accompanying disruption of RNAP contacts. Significance Transcription initiation is highly regulated. To understand regulation, mechanisms of initiation and escape of RNA polymerase (RNAP) from the promoter must be understood. RNAP forms a highly-stable open complex (RPO) with λPR promoter at 37°C. From experiments determining effects of temperature on rate constants for each step of RNA synthesis, we find that RPO cannot bind the initiating nucleotides, that the I3 intermediate and not RPO is the initiation complex, and that contacts of RNAP with single-stranded DNA of the discriminator and −10 region and with −35 duplex DNA are disrupted stepwise as the RNA-DNA hybrid moves into the cleft. Evidence is obtained for stepwise bubble collapse and base stacking accompanying disruption of interactions of the single-stranded discriminator and −10 regions with RNAP.
Computation of effective source size for extended sources

A laser hazard evaluation compares the potential laser exposure to the maximum permissible exposure (MPE). Direct intrabeam viewing of a collimated laser beam produces a minimally sized retinal image. Viewing other laser sources often produces a larger retinal image known as an extended source. An optical limiter is designed to protect the eye from direct laser exposure through a combination of absorption and scattering, producing an extended source. Diode lasers in combination with diffusers also produce extended sources when viewed at a close distance. A substantial increase in the MPE is allowed for extended sources, based on the size of the retinal image. The larger retinal image produced by the optical limiter does not exhibit a Gaussian or top-hat profile, making it often difficult to judge its effectiveness. Therefore, it is necessary to define methods to quantify the reduction in hazard. The partial areas method that is currently used overestimates the reduction in hazard from a single extended source with a strong central peak.
Tag you’re it! Development of a clinical decision support tool to identify NCCN regimens without a costly pathways program.

308Background: Reducing variation in care can improve outcomes and decrease costs. Evidence based medicine drives cancer guidelines and adherence promotes quality cancer care. Value based programs ...
Spectral signatures of soil horizons and soil orders – An exploratory study of 270 soil profiles

Abstract Soil mid-infrared (MIR) spectra contain absorption features related to soil physical, chemical, and biological properties. In this study, we explored the use of soil MIR spectra (7500 to 600 cm−1) to characterize and classify soil horizons and soil orders and identified the important features in the MIR spectra. The dataset consisted of 1167 soil samples collected from soil horizons of 270 soil profiles encompassing eight soil orders across 12 National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) domains in the USA. The spectral features of the soil samples were qualitatively explored on the five master horizons (O, A, E, B, and C) and five B horizons (Bhs, Bs, Bk, Bt, and Bw). Random forest models were developed to investigate the predictability of soil MIR spectra on the soil master horizons and B horizons. Organic soils had different absorption features in the MIR spectra compared to mineral soils. Many absorption features in the MIR spectra were caused by organic functional groups, clay minerals, quartz, and carbonates in soils. The random forest models had an overall accuracy of 0.74 and 0.72 in classifying the five master horizons and the five B horizons for the validation, respectively. Hierarchical clustering analysis was applied on the concatenated topsoil (averaged from O and A horizons) and subsoil (averaged from E, B, and C horizons) MIR spectra of the 270 soil profiles to investigate the similarity of soil profiles in the spectral space. The MIR spectra of Spodosols had strong features of O horizons and Bhs and Bs horizons and thus Spodosols were well distinguished from other soil orders. Mollisols, Ultisols, Aridisols, and Inceptisols were not easily differentiated using MIR spectra. The random forest model to classify eight soil orders had an overall accuracy of 0.72 in the validation. The Alfisols, Aridisols, and Spodosols were fairly well classified by the MIR spectra, whereas the MIR spectra could not be used to differentiate Entisols, Inceptisols, Mollisols, and Ultisols. Soil MIR spectra can be used for characterizing and classifying soil horizons and soil orders when there are distinct spectral features in the soils. Soils with similar features cannot be easily distinguished using soil MIR spectra.
Transmission loss of Fish Spawning Vocalizations and the Detection Range of Passive Acoustic Sampling in Very Shallow Estuarine Environments

Acoustic signaling in fish is commonly associated with spawning and sound production has been used to identify spawning sites for multiple species. However, the transmission loss of those signals and subsequent ranges at which those sounds can be detected are often not accounted for, confounding the spatial resolution of those studies. We examined transmission loss of spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) vocalizations in four habitat types (mud, seagrass, channel edges, and structures) within the very shallow (< 10 m) environment of an estuary. Recorded C. nebulosus vocalizations were projected through an underwater speaker while hydrophones measured the sound pressure levels along transects at doubling distances 2–512 m from the source. A linear-log regression was used to compare transmission loss across sites as a function of distance, and a mixed effects model was used to estimate the impact of distance, water depth, temperature, and salinity on the rate of transmission loss. Sounds were rapidly attenuated as the slopes of the regression lines ranged from − 14.9 to − 22.9 and were significantly different among sites. After distance from the source, water depth had the greatest effect on transmission loss in the mixed effects model, although sound is likely propagating through the sediment at all sites. Sound was most quickly attenuated in the channel edge habitat and least attenuated in the mud habitat. Considering the rate of transmission loss, the estimated source level of C. nebulosus sounds, and the background noise level during spawning, the detection range of passive acoustic sampling varied between 44 and 281 m from the source. These results indicate that the spatial precision of passive acoustic sampling of fish within the estuary is < 281 m, but that habitat type and water depth should also be considered when designing sampling protocols and estimating the location of vocalizing fish.