cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An automated thermocouple calibration system

An automated thermocouple calibration system (ATCS) was developed for the unattended calibration of type-K thermocouples. This system operates from room temperature to 650 degrees C and has been used for calibration of thermocouples in an eight-zone furnace system which may employ as many as 60 thermocouples simultaneously. It is highly efficient, allowing for the calibration of large numbers of thermocouples in significantly less time than required for manual calibrations. The system consists of a personal computer, a data acquisition/control unit, and a laboratory calibration furnace. The calibration furnace is a microprocessor-controlled multipurpose temperature calibrator with an accuracy of +or-0.7 degrees C. The computer software is menu-based for flexibility and ease of use. The user needs no programming experience to operate the system. >
Effects of age, gender, education and race on two tests of language ability in community-based older adults

Background: Neuropsychological tests, including tests of language ability, are frequently used to differentiate normal from pathological cognitive aging. However, language can be particularly difficult to assess in a standardized manner in cross-cultural studies and in patients from different educational and cultural backgrounds. This study examined the effects of age, gender, education and race on performance of two language tests: the animal fluency task (AFT) and the Indiana University Token Test (IUTT). We report population-based normative data on these tests from two combined ethnically divergent, cognitively normal, representative population samples of older adults. Methods: Participants aged ≥65 years from the Monongahela-Youghiogheny Healthy Aging Team (MYHAT) and from the Indianapolis Study of Health and Aging (ISHA) were selected based on (1) a Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) score of 0; (2) non-missing baseline language test data; and (3) race self-reported as African- American or white. The combined sample (n = 1885) was 28.1% African-American. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression was used to model the effects of demographic characteristics on test scores. Results: On both language tests, better performance was significantly associated with higher education, younger age, and white race. On the IUTT, better performance was also associated with female gender. We found no significant interactions between age and sex, and between race and education. Conclusions: Age and education are more potent variables than are race and gender influencing performance on these language tests. Demographically stratified normative tables for these measures can be used to guide test interpretation and aid clinical diagnosis of impaired cognition.
Attachment to Personal Possessions

OBJECTIVE: An exploratory study was undertaken to examine the role of personal possessions in older people's attachment to place. RESEARCH DESIGN: A qualitative research strategy was selected to gather descriptive data and to capture meanings of personal experience (Rowles and Reinharz, 1988). Over a ten-month period, multiple, in-depth interviews were conducted with a small sample of volunteer subjects in their homes. ANALYSIS: A phenomenological method of analysis based on procedures outlined by Giorgi (1985) was followed. KEY FINDINGS: A complex pattern of attachment to possessions was revealed through discovery of two interpretive themes, connection/extension and continuity/discontinuity, that provide deeper understanding of the person-place phenomenon as experienced by the older person. CONCLUSION: The study validates and extends other studies showing relationships between personal possessions and identity of older people. Attachment of a sense of self to micro-elements of the physical environment has crucial implications for place-making in the older person's residential setting.
Lessons of a Figley fellow, or how I learned to stop worrying and love the publication game.

Received December 20, 1993; accepted after revision December 1, 1993. Presented at the annual meeting of the American Ridiculous Research Society. 1Dep nt of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas TX 75235-9071. Reprints not available for all you cheapskates who wont pop for your own copy of the Joumal; my family and friends can get them by writing me at the above address. Apologies to Stanley Kubrick. AJR 1994;162:783-790 0361-803X/94/1624-0783 OAmencan Roentgen Ray Society The process of getting scientific articles published is a mystery to many authors, especially early in their academic careers. What information should be in the cover letter sent with the manuscript? How are manuscript reviewers chosen? What quality controls, if any, exist for the review process? How much input does the journal editor have? Who are copy editors and why do they insist on substituting one word for asa Figley fellow in the AJR editorial office last summer, I found answers to these and other questions about medical journalism. This article is a summary of what I learned, V..r&An L$. that’ I hope will be of use to others starting out in academic radiology. It is not
Economic Principles of Risk Management in Production

Risk management in a production context refers to strategic choice of input and output mix (“self insurance”) when production is risky. Production risk may be due to price risk (when market prices are not known at the time input decisions must be made) and/or due to the “state of nature” (e.g. weather risk or machine breakdown risk). Decisions made regarding production affect the level of its riskiness.
Motivational Internalism: A Somewhat Less Idealized Account

Contemporary internalists typically idealize the conditions for motivation, claiming for example that motivation must be present in rational persons under certain conditions. Robert Johnson, in The Philosophical Quarterly, 49 (1999), convincingly argues that these versions of internalism overlook ways in which the conditions in the antecedent of the conditional expressing the analysis are incompatible with the claim under analysis. However, avoiding the fallacy decouples internalism from its use to explain and justify moral action. I use Johnson’s argument as the basis of a new proposal for defining central internalist claims, modifying the conditions in which motivation must be manifest so that it is less idealized. We can specify conditions which are ideal enough to ensure motivation, but which are not so ideal as to be incompatible with the grounds of an agent’s reasons.
Measuring Urban Streetscapes for Livability: A Review of Approaches

Increasing interest in urban livability demands that geographers and planners more precisely define what constitutes a livable streetscape, a fundamental building block of urban places. Widespread examination of streetscape livability will require precise and efficient measurements of (1) physical characteristics at the spatial scale of individual streetscapes and (2) indicators of experiential quality based on revealed behavior or stated preference. This article reviews approaches to collecting both types of measurements, showing that innovative methods using geographic information systems (GIS), Internet-enabled surveys, and even social media could be useful complements to traditional qualitative methods for collecting streetscape measurements.
The Pontryagin Maximum Principle: From Necessary Conditions to the Construction of an Optimal Solution

We now proceed to the study of a finite-dimensional optimal control problem, i.e., a dynamic optimization problem in which the state of the system, x = x(t), is linked in time to the application of a control function, u = u(t), by means of the solution to an ordinary differential equation whose right-hand side is shaped by the control. We now consider multidimensional systems in which both the state and the control variables no longer need to be scalar. In particular, the results presented here also provide high-dimensional generalizations for the classical theorems of the calculus of variations developed in Chap. 1. So far, we have considered only the simplest problem in the calculus of variations in which the functional is minimized over all curves that satisfy prescribed boundary conditions. Much more than in the calculus of variations, an optimal control problem is determined by its constraints.
Runny nose sign: Sequential rhinorrhea and syncope in dementia with Lewy bodies

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is characterized by a triad of core features: fluctuating cognition, visual hallucinations, and parkinsonism; other commonly associated features include REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and dysautonomia (e.g., orthostatic hypotension, urinary incontinence, constipation, and impotence).1 Case-control studies have reported a higher prevalence of rhinorrhea in patients with Parkinson disease (PD) compared to healthy controls.2–6 Of interest, 76% of patients with PD reported rhinorrhea exacerbation while eating.2 Further studies have corroborated a 5-fold increased prevalence of rhinorrhea in patients with PD compared to controls and also an association with lightheadedness among rhinorrhea-affected patients with PD.4
Overview of Hydrologic and Geologic Investigations Conducted in Canaan Valley, West Virginia

Abstract Canaan Valley (hereafter, the Valley), a unique wetland complex set in the Allegheny Highlands of northeastern West Virginia, has been the subject of several investigations by the US Geological Survey (USGS). These projects include studying the surface-water hydrology and processes affecting dissolved oxygen, groundwater hydrology, wetland biogeochemistry, and the formation of peat. Additionally, recent revisions of the region's geologic maps have enhanced our understanding of the Valley's surface rocks. The Valley's streams typically conduct dilute calcium- and magnesium-bicarbonate type waters that are low in alkalinity, nutrients, and dissolved solids. The Blackwater River and its major tributaries, the Little Blackwater River and the North Branch of the Blackwater River, are low-gradient streams. Other tributaries are high-gradient streams that originate on the Valley's sides and fall rapidly to the Valley floor before joining the Blackwater River and the major tributaries. Generally, low-gra...
Collaborative Learning Eliminates the Negative Impact of Gender Stereotypes on Women's Self-Concept (Abstract Only)

Cultural stereotypes about women's "fit" and ability in technical fields, like computing, are alive and well. These cultural beliefs can make their way into women's personal belief system. When this happens, women's self-conceptions in computing suffer, namely, self-efficacy, sense of belonging, and identification with computing. The current research examines whether collaborative learning methods (pair programing; supplemental instruction) can erase the negative relationship between women's endorsement of negative gender stereotypes and their computing self-concept. Longitudinal survey data from 48 women computing majors indicated that participation in collaborative learning activities nullified the negative impact of gender stereotype endorsement on women's self-efficacy, sense of belonging, and identification with computing. These findings showcase the benefits of existing pedagogical strategies in computing on increasing the likelihood that women will persist in a computing career path.
Performance of Existing Launch Vehicle Stages for Earth Departure with Refuel from Orbital Propellant Depot

The goal of this study was to determine the capability of reusing existing launch vehicle stages as in-space Earth Departure Stages (EDS) with refuel from an on-orbit propellant depot. Utilization of an orbiting propellant depot to refuel spacecraft may offer distinct advantages over traditional launch vehicle and staging methods. A survey and examination of several existing launch vehicles was conducted to determine the ability of their stages to reach orbit and their performance as a fully refueled EDS. The results of this study give strong evidence that currently available upper stages as well as inner core stages offer considerable potential for payload delivery to both low Earth orbit and EDS transportation in combination with a depot-centered architecture. Further, the results revealed several of the vehicles have different advantages that can be combined and used strategically for depot delivery and re-supply.
Solubility of CaHPO4 · 2H2O in the System Ca(OH)2-H3PO4-H2O at 5, 15, 25, and 37.5 °C.

Solubility isotherms of beta-tricalcium phosphate, β-Ca(PO4)2, prepared by heating mixtures of CaCO3 and CaHPO4 above 800 °C, were determined in the ternary system Ca(OH)2-H3PO4-H2O at 5, 15, 25, and 37 °C in the pH range 6.0-7.5 by equilibration with dilute H3PO4 solutions. The results indicate that β-Ca3(PO4)2 has a negative thermal coefficient of solubility. The solubility product, K s , was determined as a function of temperature by a generalized least-squares procedure; the resulting equation is log K s = - 45723.26 / T + 287.4536 - 0.546763 T ; the values of K s and its dispersion at 25 and 37 °C are 1.20(0.056), and 0.283(0.011) × 10-29. Thermodynamic functions for the dissolution of the salt at the four experimental temperatures are reported. When treated as an adjustable constant, the Ca/P ratio in these β-Ca3(PO4)2 solutions was found to have the value 1.514(0.010), confirming that the stoichiometry of the high temperature form of this salt is correctly indicated by the above formula. The computed isotherms at 25 °C for several calcium phosphates are compared; it is shown that β-Ca3(PO4)2 is, next to Ca5(PO4)3OH, the most stable at pH's above 6.36. The singular points of the β-Ca3(PO4)2 isotherm with those of CaHPO4 · 2H2O and CaHPO4 are at pH's 5.88 and 6.36, respectively.
An Ultra-Miniature SIW Cavity-Backed Slot Antenna

A metamaterial-inspired ultra-miniature substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) cavity-backed slot antenna (CBSA) is presented in this letter. A ramp-shaped slot is used in an SIW CBSA to force the structure to work in the first negative-order resonance. Other miniaturization elements such as ramp-shaped strips as the ground plane around the antenna and another loading patch underneath the slot antenna are used to achieve an 87% miniature antenna working at 2.1 GHz. Close agreement is observed for the proposed simulated and measured performance results and suggests maximum gain of 3.6 dBi with an 80% efficiency.
Healthcare costs: the engine driving the decline in insurance.

he increase in the percent of the population that is uninsured in both North Carolina 1 and across the nation 2 is driven by the increasing costs of health insurance premiums. Nationally, health insurance premiums increased 65% between 2000 and 2004. This rise was more than six times greater than general inflation (9.7%), and more than five times the wage growth (12.2%). 3 The increase in premiums makes it harder for employers to offer insurance to employees and for individuals to purchase healthcare coverage. Research indicates that for every 10% increase in health insurance premiums, the number of firms that offer health insurance to their employees falls by roughly 2.5%. 4 Most of the increase in health insurance premiums is due to the increase in the underlying costs of healthcare. 5,6,7,8 Healthcare costs increase for a variety of reasons, some due to the increased cost of individual services, some due to greater utilization of services, and some due to changes in overall disease prevalence. This commentary examines trends in personal healthcare spending in North Carolina between 1990 and 2000, changes in unit costs and utilization of different services, and the effects of changes in disease prevalence and demographic changes on healthcare spending. The commentary concludes with how these changes impact health insurance premiums and how employers and individuals respond to rising premium costs.
Coleman’s Theorem

Theprinciple of determinism, which is one of the main metaphysical ideas underlying all of natural science, asserts that past and present experience determines present response. In this generality and vagueness, it affirms the belief that such a thing as natural science is possible, and so we have only to look for it. In the construction of a particular branch of natural science we set up a mathematical model in which certain particular variables are made to represent the past and present, while others represent what it is they determine.
Use of Maize Root Protoplasts for Herbicide Absorption Studies

Protopiasts isolated from higher plant tissues are advantageous for studying membrane transport because they provide direct access to the plasma membrane of cells. Protoplast systems are now being used to study mineral ion transport across the plasma membrane (1, 2). However, few studies have utilized protoplasts to study the movement of xenobiotic chemicals (e.g. pesticides) into plant cells (3). Because many such molecules can penetrate plants cell rapidly, isolated protoplasts would be valuable experimental material to investigate the kinetics and distribution of pesticide absorption by plant cells. The purpose of this research was to determine the feasibility of using protoplasts isolated from maize roots to study herbicide absorption. Absorption of atrazine, a neutral herbicide, and 2,4-D, a weakly acidic herbicide (pKa = 2.96) was measured.
Assessing Court Histories of Mass Crimes

NOTHING BUT THE LAW? Now, in a country of laws, the whole law and nothing but the law must prevail. – Tzvetan Todorov (1996:114–5) In the literature on legal responses to crimes against humanity, a consensus has emerged that courts of law produce mediocre historical accounts of the origins and causes of mass crimes. This book reviews recent international criminal trials, and it finds much evidence to support a critical view of law's ability to write history. At the same time, historical debates in international trials have provided important insights into the underlying factors of an armed conflict. By examining closely the concrete strategies pursued by prosecutors and defense lawyers, this study seeks to understand their motivations for venturing into the past in the first place and to discern the legal relevance of historical evidence. A cursory review of recent international criminal trials would lend support to a skeptical stance toward the place of history in the courtroom, and at no point has the incompatibility of these two activities been more evident than during the four-and-a-half-year trial of Slobodan Milosevic at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). With the death of Milosevic in March 2006, only months before the court could pass judgment, a British Financial Times article diagnosed the Tribunal's central mistake: “the court confused the need to bring one man to account with the need to produce a clear narrative of war crimes and atrocities for the history books.”
Leucine supplementation at the onset of high-fat feeding does not prevent weight gain or improve glycemic regulation in male Sprague-Dawley rats

Obesity is a major public health concern and it is essential to identify effective treatments and preventative strategies to stop continued increases in obesity rates. The potential functional roles of the branched chain amino acid leucine make this amino acid an attractive candidate for the treatment and/or prevention of obesity. The objective of this study was to determine if long-term leucine supplementation could prevent the development of obesity and reduce the risk factors for chronic disease in rats fed a high-fat (60 % fat) diet. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 30 per dietary treatment) were meal-fed (3 meals/day) either a control, low-fat diet (LF), control + leucine (LFL), high-fat (HF), or high-fat + leucine (HFL) for 42 days. On day 42, rats were sacrificed at 0, 30, or 90 min postprandial. Animals fed the HF and HFL diets had higher (P < 0.05) final body weights and weight gain compared to animals fed the LF and LFL diets. Leucine supplementation increased epididymal fat mass (P < 0.05) and decreased muscle mass (P < 0.05). There was no effect of leucine supplementation on postprandial glucose or insulin response. However, there was a significant effect (P < 0.05) of diet and time on free fatty acid concentrations. There was no effect of leucine on muscle markers of protein synthesis (4E-BP1, p70S6K) or energy metabolism (Akt, AMPK). Leucine supplementation decreased (P < 0.05) PGC1α expression and increased (P < 0.05) PPARγ expression in skeletal muscle. In conclusion, long-term leucine supplementation does not prevent weight gain, improve body composition, or improve glycemic control in rats fed a high-fat diet.
Effect of terminal 3′-hydroxymethyl modification of an RNA primer on nonenzymatic primer extension

The significance of the precise position of the hydroxyl at the 3′-end of an RNA primer for nonenzymatic template-directed primer extension is not well understood. We show that an RNA primer terminating in 3′-hydroxymethyl-2′,3′-dideoxy-guanosine has greatly diminished activity, suggesting that the spatial preorganization of the terminal sugar contributes significantly to the efficiency of primer extension.
Impact of site of service on chemotherapy costs: Influence of geographic location and diagnosis.

6601 Background: Site of service strongly influences the cost of cancer treatment. The migration of community oncology practices to the hospital based practice setting has generated considerable di...
Prior-knowledge Fitting of Accelerated Five-dimensional Echo Planar J-resolved Spectroscopic Imaging: Effect of Nonlinear Reconstruction on Quantitation

1H Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic imaging (SI) is a powerful tool capable of investigating metabolism in vivo from mul- tiple regions. However, SI techniques are time consuming, and are therefore difficult to implement clinically. By applying non-uniform sampling (NUS) and compressed sensing (CS) reconstruction, it is possible to accelerate these scans while re- taining key spectral information. One recently developed method that utilizes this type of acceleration is the five-dimensional echo planar J-resolved spectroscopic imaging (5D EP-JRESI) sequence, which is capable of obtaining two-dimensional (2D) spectra from three spatial dimensions. The prior-knowledge fitting (ProFit) algorithm is typically used to quantify 2D spectra in vivo, however the effects of NUS and CS reconstruction on the quantitation results are unknown. This study utilized a simulated brain phantom to investigate the errors introduced through the acceleration methods. Errors (normalized root mean square error >15%) were found between metabolite concentrations after twelve-fold acceleration for several low concentra- tion (<2 mM) metabolites. The Cramer Rao lower bound% (CRLB%) values, which are typically used for quality control, were not reflective of the increased quantitation error arising from acceleration. Finally, occipital white (OWM) and gray (OGM) human brain matter were quantified in vivo using the 5D EP-JRESI sequence with eight-fold acceleration.
Testing a mobile mindful eating intervention targeting craving-related eating: feasibility and proof of concept.

Theoretically driven smartphone-delivered behavioral interventions that target mechanisms underlying eating behavior are lacking. In this study, we administered a 28-day self-paced smartphone-delivered intervention rooted in an operant conditioning theoretical framework that targets craving-related eating using mindful eating practices. At pre-intervention and 1-month post-intervention, we assessed food cravings among adult overweight or obese women (N = 104; M age = 46.2 ± 14.1 years; M BMI = 31.5 ± 4.5) using ecological momentary assessment via text message (SMS), self-reported eating behavior (e.g., trait food craving), and in-person weight. Seventy-eight participants (75.0%) completed the intervention within 7 months (‘all completers’), and of these, 64 completed the intervention within 3 months (‘timely completers’). Participants experienced significant reductions in craving-related eating (40.21% reduction; p < .001) and self-reported overeating behavior (trait food craving, p < .001; other measures ps < .01). Reductions in trait food craving were significantly correlated with weight loss for timely completers (r = .30, p = .020), this pattern of results was also evident in all completers (r = .22, p = .065). Taken together, results suggest that smartphone-delivered mindful eating training targeting craving-related eating may (1) target behavior that impacts a relative metabolic pathway, and (2) represent a low-burden and highly disseminable method to reduce problematic overeating among overweight individuals. ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT02694731.
Dynamics and unsteady morphologies at ice interfaces driven by D2O-H2O exchange.

The growth dynamics of D2O ice in liquid H2O in a microfluidic device were investigated between the melting points of D2O ice (3.8 °C) and H2O ice (0 °C). As the temperature was decreased at rates between 0.002 °C/s and 0.1 °C/s, the ice front advanced but retreated immediately upon cessation of cooling, regardless of the temperature. This is a consequence of the competition between diffusion of H2O into the D2O ice, which favors melting of the interface, and the driving force for growth supplied by cooling. Raman microscopy tracked H/D exchange across the solid H2O–solid D2O interface, with diffusion coefficients consistent with transport of intact H2O molecules at the D2O ice interface. At fixed temperatures below 3 °C, the D2O ice front melted continuously, but at temperatures near 0 °C a scalloped interface morphology appeared with convex and concave sections that cycled between growth and retreat. This behavior, not observed for D2O ice in contact with D2O liquid or H2O ice in contact with H2O liquid, reflects a complex set of cooperative phenomena, including H/D exchange across the solid–liquid interface, latent heat exchange, local thermal gradients, and the Gibbs–Thomson effect on the melting points of the convex and concave features.
‘The people's choice’: popular (il)legitimacy in autocratic Cameroon*

While many analysts assume that the autocratic regime of Paul Biya is deeply unpopular amongst ordinary Cameroonians, there is almost no existing analysis of public opinion in Cameroon. In fact, Cameroonians are deeply divided in their beliefs about politics; while many view the government as democratic and legitimate, others see the regime as entirely autocratic. What explains these fundamental divides in beliefs? While existing theories point to demographic factors as the most important predictors of political opinions, this article argues that in autocratic regimes, political geography is even more important to understanding these divides. Political parties in autocratic regimes develop opposite narratives about the legitimacy of the state, and regardless of education, partisanship, age, or ethnicity, citizens living in party strongholds are far more likely to adopt these narratives than citizens outside of strongholds. Understanding these divides is critical to explaining regime legitimisation in Cameroon, and African autocracies more broadly.
A hybrid approach for image retrieval using visual descriptors

Retrieval of images using visual features is a hot research field in image processing used in various utilizations like in the business field, medical image, geographical images etc. In this research work, we propose and implement a fused approach for image retrieval technique using HSV Histogram color feature, LBP and SFTA texture feature of an image. Standardized Euclidean distance is operated as similarity check method. Wang image repository is used having 1000 images categorized into 10 classes of images for experimental evaluation. Experimental outcomes clear that the proposed system gives improved result of precision than the other conventional methods which is also presented in this paper.
Current Views of the Biology of Cancer

In order to place the different methods used to estimate carcinogenic risk from chemical exposure into context, and to help decide on the best approach to improve this process, it is useful to discuss carcinogenesis with an emphasis on mechanism. Although the mecha nism of action of no carcinogen is completely characterized, the efforts over the last ten years have been very fruitful, and mechanistic explanations of a number of components in the grand design that is carcinogenesis have been described in detail.
Sexually Dimorphic Regulation of EET Synthesis and Metabolism: Roles of Estrogen.

Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are metabolites of arachidonic acid via cytochrome P450 (CYP)/epoxygenase and are hydrolyzed by soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH). Circulating and tissue levels of EETs are controlled by CYP (EET synthesis) and sEH (EET degradation). Therefore, both increases in CYP activity and decreases in sEH expression potentiate EET bioavailability, responses that prevail in the female sex as a function of estrogen. This mini review, based on subtitles listed, briefly summarizes studies focusing specifically on (1) female-specific potentiation of CYP/epoxygenase activity to compensate for the endothelial dysfunction; and (2) estrogen-dependent downregulation of sEH expression, which yields divergent actions in both systemic and pulmonary circulation, respectively. Estrogen-Potentiating EET Synthesis in Response to Endothelial Dysfunction: This section summarizes the current understanding regarding the roles of estrogen in facilitating EET synthesis in response to endothelial dysfunction. In this regard, estrogen recruitment of EET-driven signaling serves as a back-up mechanism, which compensates for NO deficiency to preserve endothelium-dependent vasodilator responses and maintain normal blood pressure. Estrogen-Dependent Downregulation of Ephx2/sEH Expression: This section focuses on molecular mechanisms responsible for the female-specific downregulation of sEH expression. Roles of EETs in Systemic Circulation, as a Function of Estrogen-Dependent Downregulation of sEH: This section summarizes studies conducted on animals that are either deficient in the Ephx2 gene (sEH-KO) or have been treated with sEH inhibitors (sEHIs), and exhibit EET-mediated cardiovascular protections in the cerebral, coronary, skeletal, and splanchnic circulations. In particular, the estrogen-inherent silencing of the Ephx2 gene duplicates the action of sEH deficiency, yielding comparable adaptations in attenuated myogenic vasoconstriction, enhanced shear stress-induced vasodilation, and improved cardiac contractility among female WT mice, male sEH-KO and sEHI-treated mice. Roles of Estrogen-Driven EET Production in Pulmonary Circulation: This section reviews epidemiological and clinical studies that provide the correlation between the polymorphism, or mutation of gene(s) involving estrogen metabolism and female predisposition to pulmonary hypertension, and specifically addresses an intrinsic causation between the estrogen-dependent downregulation of Ephx2 gene/sEH expression and female-susceptibility of being pulmonary hypertensive, a topic that has never been explored before. Additionally, the issue of the "estrogen paradox" in the incidence and prognosis of pulmonary hypertension is discussed.
On the Reynolds number dependence of velocity-gradient structure and dynamics

We seek to examine the changes in velocity-gradient structure (local streamline topology) and related dynamics as a function of Reynolds number ( ). The analysis factorizes the velocity gradient ( ) into the magnitude ( ) and normalized-gradient tensor ( ). The focus is on bounded as (i) it describes small-scale structure and local streamline topology, and (ii) its dynamics is shown to determine magnitude evolution. Using direct numerical simulation (DNS) data, the moments and probability distributions of and its scalar invariants are shown to attain independence. The critical values beyond which each feature attains independence are established. We proceed to characterize the dependence of -conditioned statistics of key non-local pressure and viscous processes. Overall, the analysis provides further insight into velocity-gradient dynamics and offers an alternative framework for investigating intermittency, multifractal behaviour and for developing closure models.
Comparison of Hyperpriors for Modeling the Intertrait Correlation in a Multidimensional IRT Model

Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithms have made the estimation of multidimensional item response theory (MIRT) models possible under a fully Bayesian framework. An important goal in fitting a MIRT model is to accurately estimate the interrelationship among multiple latent traits. In Bayesian hierarchical modeling, this is realized through modeling the covariance matrix, which is typically done via the use of an inverse Wishart prior distribution due to its conjugacy property. Studies in the Bayesian literature have pointed out limitations of such specifications. The purpose of this study is to compare the inverse Wishart prior with other alternatives such as the scaled inverse Wishart, the hierarchical half-t, and the LKJ priors on parameter estimation and model adequacy of one form of the MIRT model through Monte Carlo simulations. Results suggest that the inverse Wishart prior performs worse than the other priors on parameter recovery and model-data adequacy across most of the simulation conditions when variance for person parameters is small. Findings from this study provide a set of guidelines on using these priors in estimating the Bayesian MIRT models.
Radiocarbon in Marsh Periwinkle (Littorina Irrorata) Conchiolin: Applications for Archaeology

In coastal and island archaeology, carbonate mollusk shells are often among the most abundant materials available for radiocarbon (14C) dating. The marsh periwinkle (Littorina irrorata) is one of these such species, ubiquitously found along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States in both modern and archaeological contexts. This paper presents a novel approach to dating estuarine mollusks where rather than attempting to characterize the size and variability of reservoir effects to “correct” shell carbonate dates, we describe a compound-specific approach that isolates conchiolin, the organic matter bound with the shell matrix of the L. irrorata. Conchiolin typically constitutes <5% of shell weight. In L. irrorata, it is derived from the snail’s terrestrial diet and is thus not strongly influenced by marine, hardwater, or other carbon reservoir effects. We compare the carbon isotopes (δ13C and Δ14C) of L. irrorata shell carbonate, conchiolin, and bulk soft tissue from six modern, live-collected specimens from Apalachicola Bay, Florida, with samples that represent possible sources of carbon within their environment including surface sediments, marsh plant tissues, and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in water. Ultimately, this paper demonstrates that samples obtained from wet chemical oxidation of L. irrorata conchiolin produces accurate 14C dates.
Using light stable isotopes to assess stream food web ecology in a general ecology laboratory course

Stable isotopes in natural materials provide a powerful way to study energy flow in many systems and are widely used in fields such as archaeology, ecology, forensics, geochemistry, geology, oceano...
Unilateral Cardioembolic Stroke in a Patient With Aortic Arch Anomaly

A human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive 29-year-old man presented with pre-syncope and acute left hemispheric infarction in multiple vascular territories. Thorax computed tomography (CT) with contrast showed bovine aortic arch and a left atrium large mass. On transthoracic echo, a 2.1 × 2.6 cm mass pointed to the heart as the embolic source. Successful surgical resection revealed cardiac myxoma. Although this presentation mimicked artery to artery embolization but having a bovine aortic arch can contribute to this stroke propensity to the left hemisphere. J Neurol Res. 2020;10(3):95-98 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jnr584
Medical Vulnerability of Young Adults to Severe COVID-19 Illness-Data From the National Health Interview Survey.

Abstract Purpose COVID-19 morbidity and mortality reports in the U.S. have not included findings specific to young adults. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides a list of conditions and associated behaviors, including smoking, conferring vulnerability to severe COVID-19 illness regardless of age. This study examines young adults' medical vulnerability to severe COVID-19 illness, focusing on smoking-related behavior. Methods A young adult subsample (aged 18–25 years) was developed from the National Health Interview Survey, a nationally representative data set, pooling years 2016–2018. The medical vulnerability measure (yes vs. no) was developed, guided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention medical indicators. The estimates of medical vulnerability were developed for the full sample, the nonsmoking sample, and the individual risk indicators. Logistic regressions were conducted to examine differences by sex, race/ethnicity, income, and insurance. Results Medical vulnerability was 32% for the full sample and half that (16%) for the nonsmoking sample. Patterns and significance of some subgroup differences differed between the full and the nonsmoking sample. Male vulnerability was (33%) higher than female (30%; 95% CI: .7–.9) in the full sample, but lower in nonsmokers: male (14%) versus female (19%; 95% CI: 1.2–1.7). The white subgroup had higher vulnerability than Hispanic and Asian subgroups in both samples—full sample: white (31%) versus Hispanic (24%; 95% CI: .6–.9) and Asian (18%; 95% CI: .4–.5); nonsmokers: white (17%) versus Hispanic (13%; 95% CI: .06–.9) and Asian (10%; 95% CI: .3–.8). Conclusions Notably, lower young adult medical vulnerability within nonsmokers versus the full sample underscores the importance of smoking prevention and mitigation.
Abstract 5747: A single center's ten-year experience in sustaining a cancer survivorship program

Introduction: In 2009, our institution9s leadership supported the creation of the Cancer Survivorship Program founded on core elements from the 2006 Institute of Medicine report “From Cancer Patient to Cancer Survivor: Lost in Transition.” These elements align with those recently posited in the 2019 Commission on Cancer (CoC) Standard 4.8. to establish and monitor a Survivorship Program. Here we describe our program model and present data collected over a decade to evaluate the program9s outcomes. Procedures: Six key components guided the program9s implementation and sustainability. These factors included: 1) inclusion of patients treated with curative intent, 2) recruitment of a transdisciplinary program staff, 3) delivery of clinical services based on 4 domains of survivorship care, 4) provision of consultative services available on-site or through referrals, 5) use of a quality improvement plan to monitor services provided, and 6) the creation and dissemination of treatment summaries and survivorship care plans. We reviewed electronic health records (EHR) of patients seen in the 12-survivorship clinics between 2009 and 2019. Data sources consisted of OneConnect, EPIC universes, and a departmental database. Data elements collected on arrived or missed appointments, no-show rate, and completion rates for the treatment summary and 30-day Passport (Survivorship Care Plans). Descriptive statistics summarized metrics per clinic and as a group. Results: Twelve site-specific cancer survivorship clinics scheduled appointments for survivors who had completed their curative treatment. A medical and operations director led the 6-member team who coordinated and monitored program activities. Patients had access to consultative services (i.e. cardiologists, nutritionists, social workers, etc.) provided by the institution or through community referrals. Table 1 summarizes data related to clinic visits for 10 years. In FY 2019, clinics with the highest number of arrived appointments included breast (4985), GU (1709), and head and/neck (1175). Clinics with the highest treatment summary compliance rates were lymphoma (97%), thyroid (77%), and stem cell transplant (72%). Each year, about 20% of patients scheduled are being seen for the first time in a survivorship clinic (rates vary by clinic). Conclusions: Results from our 10-year program experience suggest the newly proposed CoC survivorship program model can be practical and successful. Citation Format: Guadalupe Palos, Katherine R. Gilmore, Weiqi Bi, Patricia Hansberry Chapman, Kathy Carpenter, Maree Joy Pancho-Acorda, Maria Alma Rodriguez. A single center9s ten-year experience in sustaining a cancer survivorship program [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 5747.
The Impact of Nonaudit Services Fee Levels on Investor Perceptions of Auditor Independence, Market Efficiency, and Wealth Distribution

We use experimental markets to examine the impact of proportionate levels of nonaudit fees on investor perceptions of auditor independence and market behavior. Consistent with Dopuch et al. (2003), we find disclosure of nonaudit fees reduces the accuracy of investor perceptions of auditor independence. More importantly, we document the level of nonaudit fees has a varying impact on investor perception of auditor independence and market behavior. In particular, there appears to be an asymptotic effect when the level of nonaudit fees are disclosed, wherein investor perception of auditor independence and market behavior remains unchanged when the level of nonaudit fees equals or exceeds total audit fees. In summary, when investors perceive auditor independence is impaired as a result of the level of nonaudit fees, they are more likely to invest less confidently, pricing is less efficient and profits are less uniformly distributed across investors.
Modeling of a Variable-Geometry Wave Energy Converter

A variable-geometry wave energy converter (VGWEC) is presented in this article. The proposed device is designed with multiple controllable panels and a gas chamber. This design allows the buoy to change shape in response to changing wave conditions. A hydrothermodynamic model is developed for the VGWEC and numerical simulations are conducted on the proposed design. First, the hydrodynamic model of the buoy is validated with the classical force oscillation model. Then, a comparison between a VGWEC with a fixed-geometry wave energy converter (FGWEC) is conducted via simulations. The simulation results show that the proposed design has a significant increase in power production compared to the FGWEC when both are controlled using a simple linear damping power take-off unit.
Insulin Requirements in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Undergoing Bariatric Surgery in the Inpatient Setting and Upon Discharge: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis of Insulin Management Strategies.

Abstract Objective Rapid improvement in blood glucose (BG) after weight-loss surgery (WLS) can make postoperative glucose management challenging in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Our study examined the safety and efficacy of insulin management strategies during hospitalization and after discharge following WLS. Methods This single-center retrospective cohort study included 160 adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus undergoing WLS. Patients with glycated hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) level Results Mean age was 46.3 years. Median preoperative HbA1C level was 8% (64 mmol/mol). Postoperatively, most patients received basal insulin plus sliding-scale insulin (SSI; 79/160, 49%) or SSI alone (77/160, 48%). The initial postoperative basal dose was 0.23 units/kg/day. The median basal insulin dose at discharge was 61% lower than preoperative dose. At 2-week follow-up, 34 of 44 patients (77%) had BG levels between 70-200 mg/dL and 1 of 44 (2.2%) had BG levels >200 mg/dL, with no hypoglycemia. Patients with HbA1C level >9% (75 mmol/mol) had higher BG on admission and during hospitalization, required higher insulin doses while hospitalized, and were more frequently discharged on insulin. Conclusion SSI is effective in managing BG in some patients immediately after WLS. However, about half of the patients may require basal insulin at doses similar to those required by other inpatients. Preoperative hyperglycemia may affect inpatient insulin needs and BG. Low-dose basal insulin appears safe and effective upon discharge for select patients.
“Amid the Filth and the Flies:” The Terms of Refuge in the Life Writings of Ariel Dorfman and Kao Kalia Yang

In this paper, I draw attention to the need for new, critical forms of textual representation that can begin to discuss the liminal refugee figure, tracing Kao Kalia Yang’s refugee narrative against the autobiography of the self-proclaimed exile, Ariel Dorfman. Unlike Dorfman’s Heading South, Looking North, which returns to a Modernist exile tradition of isolation and singularity while relegating the refugee to a position of silence, Yang’s The Latehomecomer negotiates the interconnected relationships between the writer and the collective, accepting the challenge of writing a refugee narrative. Although both authors are pushed from their homelands and share a similar need for refuge, only one has the ability to strategically take on the label of “Exile” instead of “Refugee.” And, in doing so, Dorfman presents the “Exile” as the more legible status, one that allows for an intellectualized and singular retelling and that, inadvertently, creates a false dichotomy between the voiced exile and the voiceless refugee. With John Beverley’s notion of testimonio, which draws together the issues of representing voicelessness and collectivity, I argue that Yang provides an example of how to represent what is often portrayed as a silent and marginalized group. Ultimately, by giving voice and agency to a peripheral collective, Yang’s memoir provides new models for thinking critically about refugee literature, particularly as it confronts Western traditions of understanding forced displacement and the construction of the refugee as a mass of silent victims.
Clinical Outcomes of Low-Cost, Anchorless Repair of the Triceps Tendon Using a Proximal Knot Technique.

Purpose To use validated outcome measures to evaluate the clinical results of surgical repair of distal triceps tendon ruptures using transosseous tunnels and high-strength sutures with proximally based knots. Methods A consecutive series of traumatic distal triceps tendon ruptures at a single institution was studied. All cases were surgically repaired by 1 surgeon using high-strength suture with a bone tunnel–based repair technique. Repair knots were oriented proximally instead of in the traditional distal position. All patients were evaluated at long-term follow-up with a physical examination performed by the orthopaedic surgeon and the following validated outcome measures: Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score; Mayo Elbow Performance Score; and visual analog scale score. Results Seven male patients with a mean age of 38 years (range, 19-50 years) and mean follow-up period of 4.1 ± 1.2 years underwent distal triceps tendon repair with bone tunnels and high-strength sutures with proximally positioned knots. Of the repairs, 4 involved the dominant arm. At final follow-up, the mean Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score was 1.3 ± 3.1; the mean Mayo Elbow Performance Score was 99.3 ± 1.9; and the mean visual analog scale score was 0. One additional patient who declined participation in the study had wound dehiscence and infection with an associated partial rerupture. Conclusions This case series of triceps tendon repairs using transosseous tunnels and proximally based knots showed favorable postoperative elbow function based on validated outcome measures. Level of Evidence Level IV, therapeutic case series.