cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Polyolefin Development and Prospects

This introductory chapter provides an introduction to polyolefins and deals with its development and future prospects. Polyolefins are the most widely used commercial polymers because of their excellent combination of chemical and physical properties along with low cost, superior processibility, and good recyclability. By controlling crystallinity and molecular weight, polyolefins with a wide range of thermal and mechanical properties have been produced for wide range of commercial applications. The chapter provides an overview of the key components and steps in the coordination polymerization. This book captures some of the most important recent advances in the polyolefins, with the emphasis on functionalization approaches and an understanding of their scope and limitations.
Theory of current injection in insulators — The regional approximation method

Problems of current injection into insulators generally do not yield to exact analysis. A particularly useful approximate method for studying such problems is the method of regional approximations. This method is illustrated by applying it to several problems of one-carrier, steady-state current injection into an insulator with ohmic (reservoir) contacts. The principles of the method undoubtedly have wider application.
Parental influence on driver licensure in adolescence: A randomized controlled trial.

Objective Newly licensed adolescent drivers have skill deficits that increase risk for motor vehicle crashes. Development of programs targeted to prelicensed adolescents has been hindered by concerns about encouraging overconfidence and early licensure. The study had 2 primary objectives: (a) determine whether an Internet-based intervention designed to improve parent-supervised practice (TeenDrivingPlan [TDP]) influenced adolescents' time to licensure and parents' perceptions of adolescents' driving skill, expertise, and safety and (b) evaluate the association of these perceptions and practice diversity (number of different environments where practiced occurred) with time to licensure. Method A randomized controlled trial was used to compare TDP with a control condition. Participants (N = 295 parent-adolescent dyads) completed periodic surveys over 24 weeks and were subsequently followed for up to a year to determine adolescents' licensure status. Results TDP did not influence time to licensure and did not affect parents' perceptions of skill, expertise, and safety. Practice diversity was associated with faster licensure. A more favorable perception of adolescents' skill in comparison to peers was associated with faster licensure. Conclusions Targeting parents' beliefs about adolescents' safety in relation to other road users may not be conducive to altering licensing trajectories, whereas sensitizing parents to their adolescents' emerging skills might be more effective in promoting safe entry into licensure. (PsycINFO Database Record
Phonon representations.

Abstract The gap between the nonlocalized lattice-phonon description and the localized Einstein oscillator treatment is filled by transforming the phonon Hamiltonian back to the particle variables. The particle-coordinate, normalized, wave function for the phonon vacuum state is exhibited.
Microcavitation as a Neuronal Damage Mechanism in an In Vitro Model of Blast Traumatic Brain Injury

Blast traumatic brain injury (bTBI) is a leading cause of injury in the armed forces. Diffuse axonal injury, the hallmark feature of blunt TBI, has been investigated in direct mechanical loading conditions. However, recent evidence suggests inertial cavitation as a possible bTBI mechanism. Cavitation damage to free surfaces has been well-studied near hard, metallic surfaces. However, inertial, high-speed bubble interactions within confined, soft 3D hydrogels have not been largely investigated, particularly experimentally.
New spectral bounds on H2-norm of linear dynamical networks

Abstract In this paper, we obtain new lower and upper bounds for the H 2 -norm of a class of linear time-invariant systems subject to exogenous noise inputs. We show that the H 2 -norm, as a performance measure, can be tightly bounded from below and above by some spectral functions of state and output matrices of the system. In order to show the usefulness of our results, we calculate bounds for the H 2 -norm of some network models with specific coupling or graph structures, e.g., systems with normal state matrices, linear consensus networks with directed graphs, and cyclic linear networks. As a specific example, the H 2 -norm of a linear consensus network over a directed cycle graph is computed and shown how its performance scales with the network size. Our proposed spectral bounds reveal the important role and contribution of fast and slow dynamic modes of a system in the best and worst achievable performance bounds under white noise excitation. Finally, we use several numerical simulations to show the superiority of our bounds over the existing bounds in the literature.
Implantation of trabecular micro-bypass stent using a novel "landing strip" technique.

AIM To describe a novel technique of creating a landing strip within the trabecular meshwork to guide trabecular micro-bypass stent (iStent) implantation in patients who underwent phacoemulsification. METHODS Thirty-four eyes from 30 patients who underwent iStent implantation after phacoemulsification from May 2014 to February 2015 were included in our retrospective study. All iStents were implanted via the "landing strip" technique. A 25-gauge microvitreoretinal blade was used to bisect the trabecular meshwork to less than 1 clock-hour, effectively creating a landing strip. The iStent applicator was pressed along the landing strip and then the stent was released into the trabecular meshwork. RESULTS Of the 34 eyes with iStent implantation, 27 (79.4%) eyes had primary open-angle glaucoma, 6 (17.6%) eyes had pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, and 1 (2.9%) eye had ocular hypertension. At 6-month follow-up (n=17), the mean number of hypotensive medications decreased from 2.2±1.2 at baseline to 0.8±1.3 (P=0.05) and mean intraocular pressure decreased from 19.7±4.1 mm Hg at baseline to 16.7±2.1 mm Hg (P=0.58). Two eyes (5.9%) required subsequent trabeculectomy. CONCLUSION The "landing strip" technique appears to be an effective way to assist with iStent implantation.
Transgender Military Service: A Snapshot in Time

Although transgender individuals have served in militaries across time and place, only recently has the open military service of transgender personnel been considered. Embser-Herbert begins with a brief discussion regarding the term ‘transgender,’ and notes the centrality of gender to the organization of the military. Citing the groundbreaking work of the Palm Center, the chapter then considers the issues that frame the US military’s exclusionary position and highlights the policies of other nations such as Canada. Embser-Herbert illustrates that the bases for exclusion, such as mental health concerns, are largely antiquated and without merit. In conclusion, Embser-Herbert, argues that welcoming all who are qualified and willing to serve is best for the military and calls for the repeal of prohibitions on transgender military service.
Teaching in the Operating Room

Within surgical education, effective teaching in the operating room is clearly one of the most important and yet most challenging and difficult-to-define tasks for any surgical educator. Although there has been an evolution in the education structure of residency training regarding didactics and research, evaluation and training of operative skills remains largely unchanged from the apprentice model of the past century. Greater demands for public accountability and the pressures of a busy modern academic medical practice highlight the need to apply what we have learned from education and motivation psychology and harness new technologies to make operative education more effective and more efficient. Assessment of operative skill must move away from infrequent semiannual or end-of-rotation evaluations which are incomplete, untimely, and ineffective for guiding improvement toward frequent, numerous, and immediate coaching sessions about help trainees make consistent improvement toward well-defined goals. Fortunately, new technologies can facilitate the collection and processing of larger volumes of high-quality detailed evaluations. This use of technology coupled with a shift toward a collaborative feedback-based approach to teaching can create an education experience that is more effective, efficient, and rewarding for all involved.
Synthetic Access to the Mandelalide Family of Macrolides: Development of an Anion Relay Chemistry Strategy.

The mandelalides comprise a family of structurally complex marine macrolides that display significant cytotoxicity against several human cancer cell lines. Presented here is a full account on the development of an Anion Relay Chemistry (ARC) strategy for the total synthesis of (−)-mandelalides A and L, the two most potent members of the mandelalide family. The design and implementation of a three-component type II ARC/cross-coupling protocol and a four-component type I ARC union permits rapid access respectively to the key tetrahydrofuran and tetrahydropyran structural motifs of these natural products. Other highlights of the synthesis include an osmium-catalyzed oxidative cyclization of an allylic 1,3-diol, a mild Yamaguchi esterification to unite the northern and southern hemispheres, and a late-stage Heck macrocyclization. Synthetic mandelalides A and L displayed potent cytotoxicity against human HeLa cervical cancer cells (EC50, 1.3 and 3.1 nM, respectively). This synthetic approach also provides acce...
Notes from underground: fugitive ecology and the ethics of place

In this essay, I argue for “fugitive gardening” as a form of “poaching” or “resignifying,” a radical appropriation of hegemonic spaces and practices that both deconstructs the logics of mastery and...
Local associations between knee cartilage T1ρ and T2 relaxation times and patellofemoral joint stress during walking: A voxel-based relaxometry analysis

Abstract Background This study aimed to utilize voxel-based relaxometry (VBR) to examine local correlations between patellofemoral joint (PFJ) stress during gait and PFJ cartilage relaxation times. Methods Eighty-three subjects with and without PFJ osteoarthritis (OA) underwent knee magnetic resonance (MR) images using fast spin-echo, T1ρ and T2 relaxation time sequences. Patellar and trochlear cartilage relaxation times were computed for each voxel. Peak PFJ stress was computed during the stance phase from three-dimensional gait analysis. Statistical Parametric Mapping was used to perform VBR analyses. Pearson partial correlations were used to evaluate the associations between peak PFJ stress and cartilage relaxation times while controlling for age, sex, and body mass index. Results A higher percentage of the trochlear cartilage (15.9–29.1%) showed significant positive correlations between PFJ stress and T1ρ and T2 than the patellar cartilage (7.4–13.6%). Average correlation coefficient (R) of the voxels showing significant positive correlations ranged from 0.27 to 0.29. Subcompartment analysis revealed a higher percentage of lateral compartment cartilage (trochlea: 30.2–34.7%, patella: 8.1–14.8%) showed significant correlations between peak PFJ stress and T1ρ and T2 than the medial compartment cartilage (trochlea: 7.1–27.2%, patella: 5.5–5.9%). Subgroup analysis showed that larger percentages of PFJ cartilage demonstrated significant positive correlations with PFJ stress in subjects with PFJ OA than those without PFJ OA. Conclusions The findings of this study suggest that peak PFJ stress has a greater influence on the biochemical composition of the trochlear than the patellar cartilage, and the lateral than the medial PFJ compartment.
Emerging treatment options for cholangiocarcinoma

Introduction: Cholangiocarcinomas are rare malignancies arising from the epithelium of the biliary tree and are classified as either intrahepatic (iCCA) or extrahepatic (eCCA) subtypes based on the...
Somatomedin Gene Expression

Three independent and seemingly unrelated lines of inquiry led to the discovery and characterization of the family of growth-promoting polypeptides now known as somatomedins (SM) or insulin-like growth factors (IGF):
Interior Properties and Fixed Points of Certain Discontinuous Operators

Abstract The fixed point properties of four classes of operators mapping a Banach space into itself are considered. These classes include contraction and nonexpansion mappings, but also include discontinnous operators for certain parameter values of the classes. A cone ordering scheme is devised for one of these classes, while another class is shown to have open mapping properties similar to the Koebe 1/4 theorem of complex analysis.
In vitro assays of rod and cone opsin activity: retinoid analogs as agonists and inverse agonists.

Upon absorption of a photon, the bound 11-cis-retinoid isomerizes to the all-trans form resulting in a protein conformational change that enables it to activate its G protein, transducin, to begin the visual signal transduction cascade. The native ligand, 11-cis-retinal, acts as an inverse agonist to both the apoproteins of rod and cone visual pigments (opsins); all-trans-retinal is an agonist. Truncated analogs of retinal have been used to characterize structure–function relationships with rod opsins, but little has been done with cone opsins. Activation of transducin by an opsin is one method to characterize the conformational state of the opsin. This chapter describes an in vitro transducin activation assay that can be used with cone opsins to determine the degree to which different ligands can act as an agonist or an inverse agonist to gain insight into the ligand-binding pocket of cone opsins and differences between the different classes of opsins. The understanding of the effects of ligands on cone opsin activity can potentially be applied to future therapeutic agents targeting opsins.
The use of computers in education: A response to streibel

This article is a reply to Michael Streibel's "Critical Analysis of the Use of Computers in Education" [ECTJ 34(3), Fall 1986]. I congratulate Streibel for forcing us to consider issues we prefer to sweep under the intellectual rug. Too often we act as "mindless technicians," as James D. Finn once put it, with little thought given to our philosophical assumptions about learning, the organization of instruction, and instructional vehicles (including teachers). The level of discourse in the article is at a consistently high level. However, I am afraid that Streibel has fallen into the trap described by Charles Kettering as using logic to go wrong systematically. It is a trap that I have been caught in myself on more than one occasion. There is an irresistible urge to push an argument too far, with a consequent loss of touch with experience. For example, Streibel's analysis of the logic of computerbased instruction (p. 138) is driven by his own assumptions, a common enough be-
Advancing Democratic Leadership through Critical Theory.

Critical interpretation of leadership and democracy in today's society and educational institutions has created conflict and division concerning empowerment, social justice and the credibility of a leader's moral practice. Democracy needs to be redefined, especially by those educational institutions that approach leadership through traditional models of hierarchical oppression. It is through critical theory that democratic leaders have begun the task of self-reflection in order to uncover immoral procedures in an effort to reconstruct the social drama of human decency. Democratic leaders, as public servants, have a moral obligation to the people they represent, and that only as a collective unit can they aspire to. We are challenged then, as transformative intellectuals, to continue the struggle for democracy in institutions of education for justice of all people, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or class.
A Research Agenda

As a graduate student at the University of Chicago in the early 1970s it was personally comforting but professionally disheartening to realize the ease with which one could claim that he or she had read the major theoretical and empirical literature on adolescence. In the mid-1980s there are few, including myself, who would make this same claim because of the radical increase in volumes devoted to adolescence. Although I cease to be personally comforted, I am still professionally disheartened because the increased quantity of output has not been accompanied by a parallel increase in descriptive foundation research that is necessary for a field of study to evolve in a healthy, scientific manner. In this chapter I will review recent proposals for future research agendas for studying adolescence; all essentially ignore this point. In response to them, an alternate research agenda is proposed that argues for an ethological approach to the study of adolescence. This back-to-the-basics agenda is partially fulfilled by the remaining chapters of this manuscript.
Cell Biology, Biochemistry and Genomics of Coccolithophore Biomineralization

The coccoliths that form the outer cell covering of the unicellular coccolithophores are assembled in a coccolith vesicle. The coccolith vesicle maintains the conditions and protein carriers sufficient to import the raw materials (Ca 2+ and CO 3 2- ) for calcite formation and, furthermore, to initiate and sustain mineralization. We have isolated the coccolith vesicle membrane on which a proton-pumping, vacuolar ATPase has been localized. The V-ATPase has been characterized and its membrane-spanning subunit c has been cloned and sequenced. We used the highly conserved sequence for designing and constructing probes and primers that allowed us to analyze expression patterns to show a direct relationship between expression of the gene and calcification. Our collaborative work has now turned to a genomics approach that will lead us to additional calcification-specific genes.
Mass synaptometry: High-dimensional multi parametric assay for single synapses.

Abstract Background Synaptic alterations, especially presynaptic changes, are cardinal features of neurodegenerative diseases and strongly correlate with cognitive decline. New method We report “Mass Synaptometry” for the high-dimensional analysis of individual human synaptosomes, enriched nerve terminals from brain. This method was adapted from cytometry by time-of-flight mass spectrometry (CyTOF), which is commonly used for single-cell analysis of immune and blood cells. Result Here we overcome challenges for single synapse analysis by optimizing synaptosome preparations, generating a ‘SynTOF panel,’ recalibrating acquisition settings, and applying computational analyses. Through the analysis of 390,000 individual synaptosomes, we also provide proof-of principle validation by characterizing changes in synaptic diversity in Lewy Body Disease (LBD), Alzheimer’s disease and normal brain. Comparison with existing method(s) Current imaging methods to study synapses in humans are capable of analyzing a limited number of synapses, and conventional flow cytometric techniques are typically restricted to fewer than 6 parameters. Our method allows for the simultaneous detection of 34 parameters from tens of thousands of individual synapses. Conclusion We applied Mass Synaptometry to analyze 34 parameters simultaneously on more than 390,000 synaptosomes from 13 human brain samples. This new approach revealed regional and disease-specific changes in synaptic phenotypes, including validation of this method with the expected changes in the molecular composition of striatal dopaminergic synapses in Lewy body disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Mass synaptometry enables highly parallel molecular profiling of individual synaptic terminals.
Cruise Considerations and What to Pack Astronomy-Wise

Cruising, as most call it, is a travel industry segment that is growing by leaps and bounds, as exhibited by the large number of cruise ships on order by the cruise lines. New ships are being built in order to meet cruise ship passenger growth that is projected to keep increasing in the coming years.
Handbook of Conformal Mappings and Applications

The subject of conformal mappings is a major part of geometric function theory that gained prominence after the publication of the Riemann mapping theorem — for every simply connected domain of the extended complex plane there is a univalent and meromorphic function that maps such a domain conformally onto the unit disk. The Handbook of Conformal Mappings and Applications is a compendium of at least all known conformal maps to date, with diagrams and description, and all possible applications in different scientific disciplines, such as: fluid flows, heat transfer, acoustics, electromagnetic fields as static fields in electricity and magnetism, various mathematical models and methods, including solutions of certain integral equations.
Solvent fluctuations in the solvation shell determine the activation barrier for crystal growth rates

Solution crystallization is a common technique to grow advanced, functional crystalline materials. Supersaturation, temperature, and solvent composition are known to influence the growth rates and thereby properties of crystalline materials; however, a satisfactory explanation of how these factors affect the activation barrier for growth rates has not been developed. We report here that these effects can be attributed to a previously unrecognized consequence of solvent fluctuations in the solvation shell of solute molecules attaching to the crystal surface. With increasing supersaturation, the average hydration number of the glutamic acid molecule decreases and can reach an asymptotic limit corresponding to the number of adsorption sites on the molecule. The hydration number of the glutamic acid molecule also fluctuates due to the rapid exchange of solvent in the solvation shell and local variation in the supersaturation. These rapid fluctuations allow quasi-equilibrium between fully solvated and partially desolvated states of molecules, which can be used to construct a double-well potential and thereby to identify the transition state and the required activation barrier. The partially desolvated molecules are not stable and can attach spontaneously to the crystal surface. The activation barrier versus hydration number follows the Evans-Polanyi relation. The predicted absolute growth rates of the α-glutamic acid crystal at lower supersaturations are in reasonable agreement with the experimental observations.
From cheap ethane to a plastic planet: Regulating an industrial global production network

Abstract Although the connection between plastics and fracking may seem obscure, ethane, a gas liquid produced through natural gas fracking, is currently stimulating increases in world plastics production. The result is likely to be an increase in the amount of plastic garbage, which ultimately is liable to contribute to pollution of the world's oceans with plastic wastes and fuels concern over the impacts of plastic pollution on ecosystems and human health. Here, I examine the regulation of the newest strand of an industrial global production network (GPN) for ethane, which starts in Pennsylvania, USA. Ethane is an attractive feedstock for plastics because it is chemically efficient and inexpensive, allowing plastics to be manufactured more profitably. U.S. regulations have failed to mitigate environmental harms from the ethane-to-plastics GPN. Regulatory failure is not due to lack of regulation, but instead stems from different policy problems in each GPN sector. These include regulatory capture; regulatory exemption for gas and oil drillers; re-regulation involving gas pipelines and LNG terminals, and regulatory drift involving plastic garbage. While efforts to reform the environmental practices of ethane-to-plastics GPNs face formidable barriers, GPNs embody economic and political vulnerabilities, and offer multiple opportunities for policy interventions.
Prevalence of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting with moderately emetogenic chemotherapy in platinum-based regimens.

e24131Background: Kaiser Permanente East Bay considers cisplatin ≤40 mg/m2, carboplatin at any AUC, and oxaliplatin at any dose as moderate emetogenic risk where patients are administered 5-hydroxy...
Association of Geriatric Comanagement and 90-Day Postoperative Mortality Among Patients Aged 75 Years and Older With Cancer.

Importance Collaboration between geriatricians and surgeons in the perioperative treatment of older patients has been associated with improved outcomes in several nononcologic specialties. Similar associations may be possible among older patients with cancer. Objective To investigate the associations of geriatric comanagement of care for older patients undergoing cancer-related surgical treatment with 90-day postoperative mortality, rate of adverse surgical events, and postoperative use of inpatient supportive care services. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective cohort study assessed outcomes of patients who received geriatric comanaged care vs those who did not using multivariable logistic regression analysis, with 90-day mortality as the outcome and geriatric comanagement of care as the main variable, with adjustment for age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiology score, Memorial Sloan Kettering Frailty Index score, preoperative albumin level, operative time, and estimated blood loss. A similar model was used to assess the association of geriatric comanagement with adverse surgical events, defined as any major complication, readmission, or emergency department visit within 30 days. Patients aged 75 years and older who underwent an elective surgical procedure with a hospital stay of at least 1 day at a single tertiary-care cancer center between February 2015 and February 2018 were included. Data were analyzed from January to July 2019. Exposures Postoperative care comanaged by the geriatrics service and surgical service (geriatric comanagement group) vs by the surgical service only (surgical service group). Main Outcomes and Measures 90-day mortality, adverse surgical events, and use of supportive care services. Results Of 1892 patients included, 1020 (53.9%) received geriatric comanagement of care; these patients, compared with those who received care managed by the surgery service only, were older (mean [SD] age, 81 [4] years vs 80 [4] years;P Conclusions and Relevance This cohort study found that geriatric comanagement was associated with significantly lower 90-day postoperative mortality among older patients with cancer. These findings suggest that such patients may benefit from geriatric comanagement, which could improve their ability to survive adverse postoperative events.
Cost estimate system using structured query language in BIM

Projects mainly fail due to inaccurate cost estimates. Building Information Modelling (BIM) provides an opportunity to utilize its database to develop a reliable cost estimate. The existing BIM-Bas...
Modulation of Coronary Arterial Prostacyclin Synthetase Activity

Prostacyclin (PGI2), a major product of prostaglandin endoperoxide (PGH2) metabolism in blood vessels, has potent vasodilator and platelet antiaggregatory activity (1). Therefore, modulation of PGI2 synthetase activity is of prime physiological importance in the regulation of blood vessel function. Reducing agents, such as GSH, have been reported to augment prostaglandin production by protecting the cyclooxygenase enzyme system (arachidonic acid → PGH2) from self-catalyzed deactivation (2). However, little evidence exists for the effects of these agents upon augmenting prostacyclin synthetase activity.
Experimental Estimation of Fabric in Granular Materials Using Shear Wave Velocity Measurements

The arrangement of soil particles and inter-particle contacts constitutes the basis of the soil fabric, which influences the behavior of sandy and clayey soils and can lead to anisotropic soil properties and behavior. Experimental studies have quantified soil fabric using non-destructive methods, such as X-ray computed tomography, which require specialized equipment and complex analysis techniques. Such studies have reported the effect of soil fabric on the small strain shear modulus (Gmax) and shear strength and dilative behavior of coarse- and fine-grained soils. The purpose of this study is to develop an indirect measure of coarse-grained soil fabric using shear wave velocity (Vs) measurements for coarse-grained materials with different particle shapes. Vs is obtained in different directions using a multi-bender element system consisting of five bender element pairs. The test results are presented as polar distributions of Vs, indicating that particle shape and sample preparation methods influence the stiffness anisotropy. The results highlight the potential of using Vs measurements in different orientations to obtain an indirect estimation of a soil specimen’s fabric.
Implementing Real-Time Food Intake Detection in a Wearable System Using Accelerometer

The objective of this study was to develop a realtime food intake detection method in a wearable sensor system using an accelerometer sensor. The Automatic Ingestion Monitor v2 (AIM-2) wearable sensor consists of a chewing sensor, accelerometer, camera, microcontroller, battery, and other components. The accelerometer is used to capture signals of chewing and head-movements. Time-domain statistical features were computed from the 3-axis accelerometer signal. A decision tree classifier was trained offline and implemented in the microcontroller to predict food intake events in real-time. The classifier was trained on a dataset collected from 30 free-living volunteers. The classifier achieved a sensitivity of 86.79%, specificity of 96.24%, and F1-score of 57.57% in leave-one-out subject validation. The proposed method was implemented and tested for eight days of free-living data and achieved 97.62% accuracy of eating episode detection. Real-time food intake detection in a wearable sensor system may enable future implementation of just-in-time feedback to the user for improving eating habits and achieving weight-loss.
Coral reef-associated bryozoans of Jamaica

As part of a long-term ecological study of the cryptic comunity of Jamaican coral reefs carried out by Jeremy B.C. Jackson and associates during the 1970s and early 1980s, collections were made of reef bryozoans found at 14 sites around the island. Space occupied by bryozoans on undercoral surfaces is dominated by relatively few species. However, during scanning electrone microscopy study and monograph preparation a diverse assortment of relatively rare species was discovered. Of the 132 species found, 56%, 74 species (70 cheilostomes and 4 cyclostomes) are new, as are one family (Inversiscaphidae) and 5 genera (Planospinella, Caribaria, Spirocoleopora, Gemellitheca, and Palliocella).
Adapting Helping Babies Breathe into a Virtual Curriculum: Methods, Results, and Lessons Learned

Introduction. The Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) curriculum is an established, effective method to combat neonatal mortality. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted in-person HBB training sessions worldwide, portending deficits in the dissemination of this important intervention. Methods. A pilot study to compare in-person versus virtual HBB training among US-based pediatric and family medicine residents. Two HBB master trainers condensed the curriculum into an abbreviated course that was offered to 14 learners in-person (n = 6) and virtually via Zoom (n = 8). A standardized 10-item survey was administered before and after the session to measure reported self-efficacy of critical elements of HBB. Difference of difference analysis was performed to detect differences in post vs pre-training results among the 2 groups using STATA MP 15. Results. All learners showed improvement in preparedness, assessment, and skills subcomponents of self-efficacy with no notable differences based on the type of learning medium. At baseline, in-person learners had a 7-point higher self-efficacy score (69.7) in comparison to virtual learners (62.8; P = .26). After training, the confidence score improved significantly; by 14.3 units for in-person learners (P = .01) and 12.9 for virtual learners (P = .04). There was no statistically significant difference in improvement between the 2 groups (P = .67). Furthermore, all learners passed the post-training knowledge assessment. Discussion. Virtual learning of HBB may be an alternative option in the setting of resource and travel limitations. Future work needs to assess possible differences in attainment of assessment skills and retention of the HBB curriculum among virtual learners.
Housing Booms and Bank Growth

The rapid increase in U.S. house prices during the 2001--2006 period was accompanied by a historically rapid expansion of bank assets. We exploit cross-regional variation in local housing booms to study how housing demand shocks affected the growth of the banking sector. We estimate the effect of housing demand shocks that are orthogonal to local non-housing demand shocks and a range of observed local credit supply shocks. We employ several instrumental variables that plausibly identify variation in local housing demand that is exogenous to local banks. We find that the housing boom had a large effect on bank asset growth---the cross-regional elasticity of bank growth with respect to housing demand shocks is around 0.6. The regional elasticity estimate suggests that in aggregate, non-credit-supply-induced housing demand shocks can potentially account for more than a third of the growth of the banking sector during this period.
China and Authoritarian Collaboration

This article examines two key trends: China’s collaboration with other authoritarian nations and its expanding ambitions in the international human rights system. These developments fuel questions ...
Evolution of Focal Therapy in Prostate Cancer: Past, Present, and Future.

Organ sparing approaches for the management of localized prostate cancer were developed in part to overcome the morbidity associated with standard, whole gland treatment options. The first description of focal therapy was now over two decades ago and since that time much has changed. The evolution of patient selection, the approach to ablation, and surveillance after focal therapy have mirrored the technologic advancements in the field as well as the improved understanding of the biology of low-grade, low-risk prostate cancer. This review presents the evidence for the basis of focal therapy from the past to the present and future endeavors.
Dielectric Polymer Genome: Integrating Valence-Aware Polarizable Reactive Force Fields and Machine Learning

Informatics-driven computational design of advanced dielectric polymers (i.e., dielectric polymer genome) has remained a challenge. We have developed a computational framework for (i) high-throughput computational synthesis of polymer structures, (ii) evaluation of their dielectric properties using reactive molecular dynamics (RMD) simulations based on a new valence-aware polarizable reactive force field (ReaxPQ-v), and (iii) learning polymer structure–property relationships using machine-learning (ML) models. The resulting large size of simulated training dataset provides an unprecedented opportunity to uncover hitherto-unknown structure–property relationships purely computationally, thereby predicting new polymers with desired dielectric properties. Employing a large dataset of structurally diverse 1276 polymers, multilayer perceptron (MLP) and random forest models achieved good accuracy for predicting the dielectric constants of these polymers, while a recurrent neural network (RNN) model is being developed. Such ML prediction models are indispensable for further enlarging the search space for superior dielectric polymers by orders-of-magnitude.
Slaves to Contradictions: 13 Myths That Sustained Slavery

People have a fundamental need to think of themselves as “good people.” To achieve this we tell each other stories – we create myths – about ourselves and our society. These myths may be true or they may be false. The more discordant a myth is with reality, the more difficult it is to convince people to embrace it. In such cases to sustain the illusion of truth it may be necessary to develop an entire mythology – an integrated web of mutually supporting stories. This paper explores the system of myths that sustained the institution of slavery in the antebellum United States.
Index-Based R-S Similarity Joins

Similarity Joins are some of the most useful and powerful data processing operations. They retrieve all the pairs of data points between different data sets that are considered similar within a certain threshold. This operation is useful in many situations, such as record linkage, data cleaning, and many other applications. An important method to implement efficient Similarity Joins is the use of indexing structures. The previous work, however, only supports self joins or requires the joint indexing of every pair of relations that participate in a Similarity Join. We present an algorithm that extends a previously proposed index-based algorithm (eD-Index) to support Similarity Joins over two relations. Our approach operates over individual indices. We evaluate the performance of this algorithm, contrast it with an alternative approach, and investigate the configuration of parameters that maximize performance. Our results show that our algorithm significantly outperforms the alternative one in terms of distance computations, and reveal interesting properties when comparing execution time.
Renal brush-border chloride transport mechanisms characterized using a fluorescent indicator

Cl transport mechanisms in brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV) isolated from rabbit renal cortex were characterized using the Cl-sensitive fluorescent indicator 6-methoxy-N-[3-sulfopropyl]quinolinium (SPQ). In control experiments using 36Cl, SPQ did not itself alter rates for Cl transport. Cl fluxes (JCl) in nanomoles per second per milligram vesicle protein in response to gradients of Cl and other ions were calculated from the SPQ fluorescence time course, fluorescence vs. [Cl] calibration, and BBMV glucose space (microliter/mg protein). For a 50 mM inwardly directed Cl gradient in BBMV (voltage and pH clamped) JCl was 0.26 +/- 0.01 nmol.s-1.mg-1 (mean +/- SD, 4 vesicle preparations). JCl was not altered by a 50 mM inwardly directed Na gradient (0.25 +/- 0.01 nmol.s-1.mg-1) but increased to 0.52 +/- 0.04 nmol.s-1.mg-1 when driven by a 1.5 pH unit inwardly directed proton gradient. The pH driven increase in JCl was blocked by H2DIDS (100 microM, JCl = 0.38 +/- 0.02 nmol.s-1.mg-1). In the absence of a gradient, JCl increased by 64 +/- 4% in the presence of 1 mM formate on both sides of the membrane; the increase was blocked by H2DIDS. JCl increased to 0.38 +/- 0.02 nmol.s-1.mg-1 for a 60-mV K valinomycin diffusion potential (internal positive); the increase was inhibited by the Cl channel blocker diphenylamine-2-carboxylate (DPC, 100 microM, JCl = 0.26 +/- 0.03 nmol.s-1.mg-1). Br and I transport was also blocked by DPC.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Creating human‐resource management value in the twenty‐first century

Purpose – The aim of the paper is to discuss specific HR practices that business leaders must embrace to create HR value and competitive advantage for their organizations.Design/methodology/approach – The paper integrates the authors' previous research on critical HR practices.Findings – The paper reveals that HR value creation is driven by: progressive HR thinking and planning; staffing for success; talent development; results‐orientated performance management and appraisal systems; aligned compensation and incentive systems; line‐managers acting as HR managers; and fostering an ethical culture.Practical implications – The paper discusses specific practices directly related to improving an organization's ability to create competitive advantage through its people.Social implications – The paper contends that better HR practices lead to stronger organizational performance and greater use of human‐resource assets.Originality/value – The paper reinforces the importance of taking HR beyond administrative acti...
Using term lists and inverted files to improve search speed for metabolic pathway databases

This paper describes a technique for efficiently searching metabolic pathways similar to a given query pathway, from a pathway database. Metabolic pathways can be converted into labeled directed graphs where the nodes represent chemical compounds. Similarity between two graphs can be computed using a metric based on Maximal Common Subgraph (MCS). By maintaining an inverted file that indexes all pathways in a database on their edges, our algorithm finds and ranks all pathways similar to the user input query pathway in time, which is linear in the total number of occurrences of the edges in common with the query in the entire database.
Distributed generation and transmission

This is a summary in support of a presentation by the author on the interactions between distributed power generation (DG) and the high voltage transmission network. It uses the electricity market and commercial arrangements in England and Wales as a context for discussing issues concerning the economic development and operation of the network as distributed generation becomes widespread.
The effect of hepatic lipase on coronary artery disease in humans is influenced by the underlying lipoprotein phenotype

Increased or decreased hepatic lipase (HL) activity has been associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). This is consistent with the findings that gene variants that influence HL activity were associated with increased CAD risk in some population studies but not in others. In this review, we will explain the conditions that influence the effects of HL on CAD. Increased HL is associated with smaller and denser LDL (sdLDL) and HDL (HDL(3)) particles, while decreased HL is associated with larger and more buoyant LDL and HDL particles. The effect of HL activity on CAD risk is dependent on the underlying lipoprotein phenotype or disorder. Central obesity with hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) is associated with high HL activity that leads to the formation of sdLDL that is pro-atherogenic. In the absence of HTG, where large buoyant cholesteryl ester-enriched LDL is prominent, elevation of HL does not raise the risk for CAD. In HTG patients, drug therapy that decreases HL activity selectively decreases sdLDL particles, an anti-atherogenic effect. Drug therapy that raises HDL(2) cholesterol has not decreased the risk for CAD. In trials where inhibition of cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) or HL occurs, the increase in HDL(2) most likely is due to inhibition of catabolism of HDL(2) and impairment of reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). In patients with isolated hypercholesterolemia, but with normal triglyceride levels and big-buoyant LDL particles, an increase in HL activity is beneficial; possibly because it increases RCT. Drugs that lower HL activity might decrease the risk for CAD only in hypertriglyceridemic patients with sdLDL by selectively clearing sdLDL particles from plasma, which would override the potentially pro-atherogenic effect on RCT. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Advances in High Density Lipoprotein Formation and Metabolism: A Tribute to John F. Oram (1945-2010).
Internal deformations of intact and denucleated human lumbar discs subjected to compression, flexion, and extension loads.

Three rows of six evenly spaced 0.5 mm metal beads were implanted midsagittally into the discs of ten L4–5 human lumbar motion segments. The intradiscal bead displacements in response to compression, flexion, and extension loads were obtained by digitizing the bead positions from sagittal plane radiographs taken before and during the load application. Each disc was denucleated and the loading process was repeated. For the intact discs, in compression, the intradiscal bead displacements were predominantly anterior. In flexion, the beads in the center of the disc moved posteriorly whereas the beads closer to the periphery of the disc moved anteriorly. In extension, the central beads moved anteriorly and the beads closer to the periphery of the disc moved posteriorly. After denucleation, the bead displacements for compression and flexion implied an inward bulging of the inner wall of the annulus, despite outward bulging of the disc surface. We hypothesize that the inward bulging causes radial tensile stresses within the disc, leading to disruption of adjacent layers of annulus.
Use and effectiveness of performance enhancing substances

The use and effects of selected performance-enhancing drugs and nutritional supplements are reviewed. Recent sports medicine studies are mostly double blind and placebo controlled but contain relatively small sample sizes. Their data appear reliable and are reported in reputable journals. Definitions and methods used in sports medicine are provided to enhance the understanding of this literature. The use of performance-enhancing substances is probably under-reported. Anabolic-androgenic steroids are reportedly used in 0% to 1% of women, 0.5% to 3% of high school girls, 1% to 5% of men, 1% to 12% of high school boys, and up to 67% of some groups of elite athletes. The use of combinations of performance-enhancing substances is common. Carbohydrate loading, adequate protein intake, creatine, blood doping, and erythropoietin (epoetin alfa) appear to enhance performance. Anabolic-androgenic steroids enhance performance, but health risks limit their use. Growth hormones and β2-selective adrenergic agonists may ...
Membrane receptors and transporters involved in the function and transport of vitamin A and its derivatives

The eye is the human organ most sensitive to vitamin A deficiency because of vision's absolute and heavy dependence on vitamin A for light perception. Studies of the molecular basis of vision have provided important insights into the intricate mechanistic details of the function, transport and recycling of vitamin A and its derivatives (retinoid). This review focuses on retinoid-related membrane receptors and transporters. Three kinds of mammalian membrane receptors and transporters are discussed: opsins, best known as vitamin A-based light sensors in vision; ABCA4, an ATP-dependent transporter specializes in the transport of vitamin A derivative; and STRA6, a recently identified membrane receptor that mediates cellular uptake of vitamin A. The evolutionary driving forces for their existence and the wide spectrum of human diseases associated with these proteins are discussed. Lessons learned from the study of the visual system might be useful for understanding retinoid biology and retinoid-related diseases in other organ systems as well. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Retinoid and Lipid Metabolism.
African American writing on the road to hell: Faulkner as literary ancestor

(1998). African American writing on the road to hell: Faulkner as literary ancestor. Renaissance and Modern Studies: Vol. 41, No. 1, pp. 144-158.
Cortactin Phosphorylated by ERK1/2 Localizes to Sites of Dynamic Actin Regulation and Is Required for Carcinoma Lamellipodia Persistence

Background Tumor cell motility and invasion is governed by dynamic regulation of the cortical actin cytoskeleton. The actin-binding protein cortactin is commonly upregulated in multiple cancer types and is associated with increased cell migration. Cortactin regulates actin nucleation through the actin related protein (Arp)2/3 complex and stabilizes the cortical actin cytoskeleton. Cortactin is regulated by multiple phosphorylation events, including phosphorylation of S405 and S418 by extracellular regulated kinases (ERK)1/2. ERK1/2 phosphorylation of cortactin has emerged as an important positive regulatory modification, enabling cortactin to bind and activate the Arp2/3 regulator neuronal Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (N-WASp), promoting actin polymerization and enhancing tumor cell movement.