cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Esophageal motility disorders: Current concepts of pathogenesis and treatment

Current concepts of esophageal motility disorders are summarized. Primary data sources were located via MEDLINE or cross-citation. No attempt was made to be comprehensive or inclusive of the literature because fewer than 10% of citations are discussed. Instead, emphasis was placed on new developments in diagnosis, therapeutics, and practice patterns. Controlled therapeutic trials and pathophysiological observations are emphasized. Achalasia is a rare disease of failed lower sphincter relaxation and aperistalsis. Diffuse esophageal spasm (DES), an equally rare disease, is defined by non-propagated esophageal contractions. Nonspecific motility disorders, including nutcracker esophagus and hypertensive lower esophageal sphincter, are identified only by manometry and are ten times as prevalent. Neuromuscular pathology is evident only with achalasia (myenteric plexus neurons destruction). Pharmacological therapies have limited efficacy with achalasia; more limited with DES; and none with the nonspecific motility disorders. More efficacious therapies for the nonspecific disorders are directed at associated reflux disease or psychiatric disorders. Pneumatic dilation is effective therapy for achalasia 72% of instances, but frequently requires repeat dilation and is complicated by a 3% perforation rate. Surgical myotomy is effective in 88% of achalasics; morbidity from thoracotomy has been the major limitation but this has been sharply reduced with a laparoscopic approach. In conclusion, although it has been suggested that esophageal motility disorders are distinct clinical entities, critical review of the literature supports this only in the case of achalasia, a disease of well defined pathophysiology, functional disturbance, and therapies. This clarity diminishes progressively for DES and non-specific esophageal motility disorders.
HIV testing among racial and ethnic minority adolescents living in an urban community

ABSTRACTThis study examined the factors that influence HIV testing among a sample of African American and Hispanic/Latino adolescents (N = 747) living in an economically disadvantaged community in the Northeastern United States. The majority of sexually active participants in our study (77%) have never been tested for HIV. However, youth engaging in risky sexual behaviors, interacting in positive peer networks, and having access to sources of prevention information were more likely to seek HIV testing services. Our findings underscore the importance of developing multifaceted HIV/AIDS prevention protocols that provide direct education and skill-building activities, leverage peer education as a means to disseminate health-related information, and deliver broad-based prevention messaging that is both culturally-tailored and gender-specific.
Surface Characterization and Clinical Performance of Femoral Knee Components Made From Cobalt-Chromium Alloy and Oxidized Zirconium

Femoral components with an oxidized zirconium-niobium (OxZr) gradient ceramic surface (Oxinium, Smith & Nephew, Memphis, TN) were introduced as an alternative to cobalt-chromium (CoCr) alloy femoral components for the purpose of PE wear reduction in total knee replacements [1]. In the present study, the surface damage and clinical performance of both CoCr alloy and OxZr femoral components were investigated. By matching CoCr alloy and OxZr femoral components for clinical factors, as done by Heyse et al. [2], the surface damage on retrieved CoCr alloy and OxZr femoral component was assessed. Twenty-six retrieved cobalt-chromium (CoCr) alloy femoral components were matched with twenty-six retrieved oxidized zirconium (OxZr) femoral components for implantation period, body-mass index, patient gender, implant type (cruciate ligament retaining/substituting), and polyethylene insert thickness. Detailed surface profilometry was performed on retrieved femoral condyles in areas that had not been damaged by gouging [3] with the specific purpose of investigating the in vivo wear behaviour of undamaged OxZr surface. In addition, the cumulative survivorships were calculated for patients who had received CoCr alloy or OxZr femoral components from our orthopaedic database. In order to identify factors that affect the clinical performance of CoCr alloy and OxZr femoral components, the findings from the retrieval analysis and the survivorship analysis were combined. The Rp, Rpm, and Rpk-values for the retrieved CoCr alloy femoral components were found significantly higher than the Rp, Rpm, and Rpk-values for the retrieved OxZr femoral components (p ≤ 0.031). The roughness parameters values (Ra, Rq, Rz, Rp, Rpm, Rpk, Rv, and Rsk) for the retrieved CoCr alloy femoral components were found significantly higher than the values of the new, never implanted CoCr alloy femoral components (p ≥ 0.001). The surface roughness was higher on the medial condyles than the lateral condyles of the retrieved CoCr alloy femoral components; such a difference was not observed on the retrieved OxZr femoral components. The OxZr bearing surface appeared to protect the femoral components from abrasive wear in vivo. At 8.5-years follow up, the cumulative survivorship for the CoCr alloy femoral components (98%) was not found to be statistically significantly different (p = 0.343, Breslow test) from the OxZr femoral components (97.5%). Therefore, OxZr femoral components appeared to possess low wear characteristics and could be particularly suitable for younger, heavier patients to ensure long-term durability.
Abstract 1487: Rotating 3D projections of prostate lesions imaged by Cu-64-VPAC1 ligand PET and CT

Surgeons are obliged to examine multiple planar images of fine needle biopsies, CT, and PET images for diagnosis and evaluation of prostate cancer. We hypothesize that optimal comprehension of prostate lesions in the prostate, as they present in the surrounding tissue, will be achieved by 3D registration and presentation of all available images. In particular, PET imaging of a cancer cell surface marker maximizes specificity, relative to imaging of F-18-deoxyglucose uptake. We have demonstrated specific PET imaging in patients of vasoactive intestinal peptide and pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide receptor 1 (VPAC1), which is overexpressed on breast cancer and prostate cancer cells. Our PET agent is Cu-64-TP3805, a peptide derived from vasoactive intestinal peptide. From our ongoing prostate cancer patient imaging study, we segmented and co-registered CT image slices and TP3805 PET image slices, then created moving 3D images. Viewing the rotating 3D images from all sides revealed clear delineation of prostate lesions from the adjoining bladder. The lesion images colocalized in space with intraprostatic tumor foci identified from HE 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 1487. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-1487
Problematizing and Addressing the Article-as-Concept Assumption in Wikipedia

Wikipedia-based studies and systems frequently assume that no two articles describe the same concept. However, in this paper, we show that this article-as-concept assumption is problematic due to editors' tendency to split articles into parent articles and sub-articles when articles get too long for readers (e.g. "Portland, Oregon" and "History of Portland, Oregon" in the English Wikipedia). In this paper, we present evidence that this issue can have significant impacts on Wikipedia-based studies and systems and introduce the sub-article matching problem. The goal of the sub-article matching problem is to automatically connect sub-articles to parent articles to help Wikipedia-based studies and systems retrieve complete information about a concept. We then describe the first system to address the sub-article matching problem. We show that, using a diverse feature set and standard machine learning techniques, our system can achieve good performance on most of our ground truth datasets, significantly outperforming baseline approaches.
Disrupted Lymphocyte Homeostasis in Hepatitis-Associated Acquired Aplastic Anemia Is Associated with Very Low Telomere Lengths

Acquired aplastic anemia (AA) is a hematologic disorder characterized by low blood counts and a hypocellular bone marrow, caused by autoimmune destruction of early hematopoietic cells. The diagnosis of AA is made by excluding other disorders that can present with bone marrow failure (BMF). Such disorders include dyskeratosis congenita (DC), a multisystem BMF syndrome, caused by an inherited defect in telomere maintenance. Although classical DC presents in childhood with stereotypical mucocutaneous changes, milder forms of telomere dysfunction associated with mutations in TERT and TERC genes can present with non-syndromic bone marrow failure clinically indistinguishable from AA. In clinical practice, lymphocyte telomere length measurements are used as a first-line screen for inherited telomeropathies before initiating treatment for AA. In our BMF center, we have observed that several patients with features of hepatitis-associated AA (HAA) had lymphocyte telomere lengths at diagnosis at or below the first percentile of age-matched controls, in the range similar to inherited telomere disorders. To confirm our initial observation, we performed a retrospective analysis of telomere lengths of consecutively enrolled HAA patients with non-hepatitis associated AA patients in our institution. A total of 30 patients with AA were included in this study: 10 had HAA and 20 had other AA (Table 1). The median age at telomere testing was 8.0 years (range 1-19 years). There was no significant difference in age or disease severity between the two groups (p=0.827). The patients9 median lymphocyte telomere length (TL) was significantly lower in the HAA patients compared to AA (7.4kb versus 9.1kb, P= 0.021); the difference remained significant after adjusting for patient age (p Because differences in lymphocyte activation and subset composition are known to impact telomerase activity, we hypothesized that alterations in lymphocyte populations caused by the unique inflammatory state of HAA could partly account for significantly shorter TL in this population. HAA patients exhibited significantly lower absolute lymphocyte counts and lower lymphocyte subsets across the board, as well as the decreased CD4/CD8 ratio compared to non-hepatitis AA patients (Figure 2). The median telomere length in the two groups was significantly correlated with lymphocyte counts (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.52, p=0.003). An altered lymphocyte homeostasis such as the one characteristic for HAA limits the specificity of telomere measurements as a screening method to identify patients with AA due to a genetic defect in telomere maintaining genes. As such, short telomeres in HAA in the absence of other features suggestive for DC does not necessarily warrant genetic testing for telomere length. Longitudinal studies of telomeres and study of clonal hematopoiesis in this population is ongoing. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Microstructure and mechanical properties of laser-deposited Ti-6Al-4V scaffold

Direct Metal Deposition (DMD) is a rapid manufacturing process which can be used to manufacture near net shape components using powders from their CAD files. Ti-6Al-4V alloy is widely used as an implantable material mainly in the application of orthopedic prostheses because of its high strength, low elastic modulus, excellent corrosion resistance, and superior biocompatibility. In the present study, Ti-6Al-4V scaffold (a supporting structure for growing cells and tissues) has been successfully fabricated for bone tissue engineering. To enhance the cell growth, thin (∼1μm) hydroxyapatite coating was deposited on the surface of the scaffold by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) at room temperature. The as-deposited films were amorphous. The amorphous PLD films were annealed at 340° C for 2 h in air in order to restore the crystalline structure. The surface morphology and microstructure of the as-deposited scaffold was studied by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. The mechanical response of the as-deposited sample was investigated by microhardness test.Direct Metal Deposition (DMD) is a rapid manufacturing process which can be used to manufacture near net shape components using powders from their CAD files. Ti-6Al-4V alloy is widely used as an implantable material mainly in the application of orthopedic prostheses because of its high strength, low elastic modulus, excellent corrosion resistance, and superior biocompatibility. In the present study, Ti-6Al-4V scaffold (a supporting structure for growing cells and tissues) has been successfully fabricated for bone tissue engineering. To enhance the cell growth, thin (∼1μm) hydroxyapatite coating was deposited on the surface of the scaffold by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) at room temperature. The as-deposited films were amorphous. The amorphous PLD films were annealed at 340° C for 2 h in air in order to restore the crystalline structure. The surface morphology and microstructure of the as-deposited scaffold was studied by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. The mechanical response...
The High School Dropout: Antecedents and Alternatives.

Administrators recognize that students dropping out of school is one of the most difficult challenges to our public school system. Today's school administrators can begin to deal with this crisis b...
Differences in Infiltration and Evaporation of Diesel and Gasoline Droplets Spilled onto Concrete Pavement

Pollution at gas stations due to small spills that occur during vehicle refueling have received little attention. We have performed laboratory experiments to assess evaporation and infiltration of fuel spilled onto concrete. Changes in the concrete mass after small amounts of diesel and gasoline were spilled have been analyzed. Variation in humidity, among other parameters, clearly affects the measured mass since condensed water is constantly added to or released from the concrete. This mass experiences an about exponential decay in time. The difference in behavior between both fuel types is important as the percentage of evaporated mass is much larger for gasoline, while infiltration is more significant for diesel. A statistical analysis suggests that the initial spill amount does not significantly affect the fraction of infiltrated fuel over time. This finding is in agreement with pore-scale simulations that we performed. A significant amount of fuel could be seeping into soil and groundwater underneath concrete pavement at gas stations or could be released to the atmosphere. Possible solutions for pavement and groundwater pollution are considered.
Woody residue utilization for bioenergy by primary forest products manufacturers: An exploratory analysis

Abstract For countries, such as the United States, where one-third of the land area is covered with forests, production of woody biomass-based bioenergy can help lower carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions, mitigate climate change impacts, and improve energy security. This study involved an exploratory analysis of how current woody residue utilization as well as willingness to use, pay for, and haul additional logging residues varied among mills representing different primary forest products manufacturer types and different processing capacities. A four-contact mail survey was sent in 2012 to 2138 mills in the southern United States. The study used nonparametric independent sample test and analysis of variances to make comparative and explanatory inferences. Approximately 70% of mills utilized woody residues for bioenergy purposes and 11% were willing to utilize additional logging residues to produce electricity. Mills were willing to pay US$11.58/green tonne (t) (2012 dollars) of logging residues at the mill gate. Mills already utilizing woody residues for bioenergy were more likely to improve their utilization, especially those with existing woody residue processing capacities of 1000 to 6000 t/month. Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills and composite wood product mills were the largest woody residues utilizers and were willing to increase use, pay more, and haul additional logging residues over longer distances. These results will be helpful in identifying mills most suitable for increasing utilization of woody residues, guiding investment decisions regarding retrofitting and constructing new facilities for production of bioenergy, and formulating future policies related to biomass-based energy production.
Fast Cycling NOx Storage and Reduction: Identification of an Adsorbed Intermediate Pathway

An experimental study describes fast cycling NOx storage and reduction on a Pt/Rh/BaO/CeO2/Al2O3 monolith catalyst for emission control of lean burn vehicles. Comparison of the temporal dependence of the effluent composition when using H2 and C3H6 as reductants enables an assessment of the mechanism. Involvement of a surface N-containing oxygenate pathway is indicated by the appearance of peaks of N2O, N2, and CO2 during the rich to lean switch. Adsorbed intermediate reactivity measurements provide further evidence. m/e = 28 signal indicating thermal decomposition and oxidation of HC-intermediates under lean/rich/blank cycle of different durations.
A production capacity optimisation model for a global supply chain coordinator

A supply chain coordinator (SCC) serves as an intermediary between raw material suppliers, contract manufacturers, and end customers who are typically large retailers. The SCC may not actually own a physical manufacturing plant or supply raw material, but performs a crucial coordinating role in a supply chain by orchestrating the purchase of raw material and contract manufacturing of customised products for distribution to globally dispersed retailers. In this intermediary role, the SCC exploits global differences in manufacturing costs at various candidate facilities, but also bears operational risks if the demand at end retailers is significantly different from projected forecasts. This research addresses a facility choice, capacity selection, productions and transportation decisions faced by a SCC who tries to fulfil a multi-period, counter-seasonal demand at a guaranteed service level. A mathematical programming model is developed that integrates the various decision variables. The use of the model as a contract negotiation tool is also illustrated.
Applicability of fixed-price contracts for successful cost control

The current budget-constrained environment in the Department of Defense (DoD) has motivated DoD officials to adopt contracting methods to enhance systems affordability. One method, often seen as desirable, is using fixed-price contracts to save money, increase price certainty and limit DoD liability. Conventional wisdom for successful use of fixed-price contracting relies on establishing firm requirements for new systems and developing solutions with mature technology, design, and manufacturing techniques — with stable funding. Yet, the DoD environment may appear to encourage requirements flexibility well into the design and build phase, which can result in substantial price increases, schedule delays, and increased program risk. This desire for requirements flexibility is exacerbated in space systems acquisition due to long development and manufacturing schedules, and small manufacturing lot sizes. How can the DoD effectively use fixed-price contracting as a tool to promote acquisition efficiency and to control costs, while acknowledging the difficulties in the acquisition environment? This paper presents the results and recommendations of an objective suitability analysis of firm-fixed-price (FFP) and fixed-price incentive, firm (FPIF) type contracts in government space systems acquisitions, particularly within the DoD, and provides supporting rationale and guidance for successful use of fixed-price contracts. The study is based on a combination of government acquisition guidance, literature on the use of fixed-price contracts in government acquisition, and interviews with seasoned program managers who successfully delivered space systems using fixed-price contracting. The study's findings point toward the need for a cultural change in the DoD acquisition community to foster an environment that encourages successful fixed-price contracting in the right circumstances and preemptively addressing the potential unintended consequences in a changing environment. Its recommendations are distilled into four categories: technical baseline, socio-political issues, contractual-managerial issues, and program orchestration.
Complex Digital Visual Systems

This article identifies possibilities for data visualization as art educational research practice. The author presents an analysis of the relationship between works of art and digital visual culture, employing aspects of network analysis drawn from the work of Barabasi, Newman, and Watts (2006) and Castells (1994). Describing complex network dynamics as they relate to digital image data sets, the author explores notions of influence and interpretation through the language of network analysis and suggests opportunities for art education taking place within complex digital visual systems.
Long-Term Time Series Prediction Using k-NN Based LS-SVM Framework with Multi-Value Integration

Time series modeling and prediction are very attractive topics, which play an important role in many fields such as transportation prediction [4], power prediction [13, 18], and health care study [7]. The purpose of time series prediction is to forecast the values of data points ahead of time, where long-term time series prediction is to make the predictions multi-step ahead. The prediction process is commonly performed by observing and modeling the past values, and assuming that the future values will follow the same trend. When the prediction horizon increases, the uncertainty of the future trend also increases, rendering a more challenging prediction problem. Researchers have dedicated their effort to study how to extract as much knowledge as possible from the past values, and how to better utilize such knowledge for long-term time series prediction. There has been previous research work in order to tackle this challenge based on some classical time series prediction approaches, such as exponential smoothing [12], linear regression [14], autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) [33], support vector machines (SVM) [25], artificial neural networks (ANN) [10, 33], and fuzzy logic [10].
Going back to the ward-transitioning care back to the ward team.

Transition of care from the intensive care unit (ICU) to the ward is usually an indication of the patient’s improving clinical status, but is also a time when patients are particularly vulnerable. The transition between care teams poses a higher risk of medical error, which can be mitigated by safe and complete patient handoff and medication reconciliation. ICU readmissions are associated with increased mortality as well as ICU and hospital length of stay (LOS); however tools to accurately predict ICU readmission risk are limited. While there are many mechanisms in place to carefully identify patients appropriate for transfer to the ward, the optimal timing of transfer can be affected by ICU strain, limited resources such as ICU beds, and overall hospital capacity and flow leading to suboptimal transfer times or delays in transfer. The patient and family perspectives should also be considered when planning for transfer from the ICU to the ward. During times of transition, families will meet a new care team, experience uncertainty of future care plans, and adjust to a different daily routine which can lead to increased stress and anxiety. Additionally, a subset of patients, such as those with new technology, require additional multidisciplinary support, education and care coordination which can contribute to longer hospital LOS if not addressed proactively early in the hospitalization while the patient remains in the ICU. In this review article, we describe key components of the transfer from ICU to the ward, discuss current strategies to optimize timing of patient transfers, explore strategies to partner with patients and families during the transfer process, highlight patient populations where additional considerations are needed, and identify future areas of exploration which could improve the care transition from the ICU to the ward.
Predictors of mortality after elective ventral hernia repair: an analysis of national inpatient sample.

Deciding between surgery and non-operative management of a non-obstructive ventral hernia (VH) in a high-risk patient often poses a clinical challenge. The aim of this study is to evaluate a national series of open and laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (VHR), and to assess predictors of mortality after elective VHR. A retrospective analysis of 2008–2014 data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project-Nationwide Inpatient Sample was performed. All patients with a primary diagnosis of abdominal wall hernia were included. Inguinal, femoral, or diaphragmatic hernias were excluded. Patients were stratified by elective versus emergent repair. Factors associated with mortality after elective VHR were analyzed. 103,635 patients were studied, including 14,787 (14.3%) umbilical, 63,685 (61.5%) incisional, and 25,163 (24.3%) other ventral hernias. Operative procedures included 59,993 (57.9%) elective and 43,642 (42.1%) emergent VHR. 21.3% elective VHRs were laparoscopic versus 13% in emergent cases (P 50 years [Odds ratio (OR) = 1.96], male gender (OR = 2.37), congestive heart failure (OR = 2.15), pulmonary circulation disorders (OR = 5.26), coagulopathy (OR = 3.93), liver disease (OR = 1.89), fluid and electrolyte disturbances (OR = 8.66), metastatic cancer (OR = 4.66), neurological disorders (OR = 2.31), and paralysis (OR = 5.29). VHR has a low mortality, especially when performed laparoscopically. In patients undergoing elective VHR, higher age and some comorbidities are predictors of mortality. These include congestive heart failure, pulmonary circulation disorders, coagulopathy, liver disease, metastatic cancer, neurological disorders, and paralysis. Conservative management should be considered for these high-risk subgroups in context of the overall clinical presentation.
Genome-wide screening reveals a novel class of carbonic anhydrase-like inorganic carbon pumps in chemoautotrophic bacteria

Many bacterial autotrophs rely on CO2 concentrating mechanisms (CCMs) to assimilate carbon. Although many CCM proteins have been identified, including a 200+ MDa protein organelle called the carboxysome, a systematic screen of CCM components has not been carried out. Here, we performed a genome-wide barcoded transposon screen to identify essential and CCM-related genes in the gamma-proteobacterium H. neapolitanus. Our screen revealed an operon encoding a domain of unknown function (PFAM:PF10070) and putative cation transporter subunit (PFAM:PF00361) is critical for CCM function. These two proteins, which we name DabA and DabB for "DABs accumulate bicarbonate," function as a heterodimeric, energy-coupled inorganic carbon pump in E. coli. Furthermore, DabA has distant homology to a beta-carbonic anhydrase and binds a zinc ion necessary for activity. Based on these results, we propose that DABs function as vectorial CAs coupled to cation gradients and serve as inorganic carbon pumps throughout prokaryotic phyla.
The Quinault Blowdown: A Microscale Wind Event Driven by a Mountain-Wave Rotor

AbstractOn 27 January 2018, a highly localized, strong wind event occurred along the north shore of Lake Quinault, Washington. The resulting loss of large old-growth trees in a roughly 0.5-km2 regi...
Metal organic cluster photoresists: new metal oxide systems

Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, using 13.5 nm radiation, is a prominent candidate for next generation manufacturing. Our main effort has recently focused on metal organic cluster photoresists, including both Zr and Hf metal oxides, both relatively low EUV absorbing metals. However, integration of high EUV absorption elements is now considered to be a more promising route to further improve lithographic performance under EUV radiation. Here, we report lithography of zinc oxide-based metal organic cluster photoresists, and EUV patterning below 15 nm. The lithographic performance of this and other metal oxides is described and etch characteristics discussed.
Perceptions of a large amount of food based on binge-eating disorder diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE This study examined what adults with binge-eating disorder (BED) and obesity perceived as the threshold for a large amount of food and how their evaluations compared to ratings by participants with obesity but without BED. METHOD This was a cross-sectional study of 150 participants with obesity. BED was assessed using the Questionnaire on Eating and Weight Patterns and confirmed via interview. Participants completed the Eating Patterns Questionnaire and Eating Inventory. RESULTS Participants with BED had significantly higher thresholds for a large amount of food relative to those without BED. Compared to participants without BED, those with BED had significantly higher thresholds on 13 of the 22 food items. In the overall sample, being male and having higher hunger scores were associated with greater thresholds. DISCUSSION Individuals with obesity and BED had larger portion standards than participants without BED. Individuals with BED may benefit from interventions targeted toward decreasing perceptions of portion sizes.
Diastereoselective conjugate additions to pi-allylmolybdenum complexes: a stereocontrolled route to 3,4,5-trisubstituted gamma-butyrolactones.

π-Allylmolybdenum complex 6b is obtained as a single isomer by Knoevenagel condensation of aldehyde 1 with Meldrum's acid. Conjugate additions of Grignard reagents to Meldrum's acid alkylidene derivative 6b are shown to be completely diastereoselective. Further functional group transformation of the 1,4-adducts, followed by demetalation, leads to trisubstituted tetrahydrofurans and γ-butyrolactones. Whereas the synthesis of tetrahydrofurans (X = 2H) is not completely stereoselective, the γ-butyrolactones (X = O) are obtained with good to excellent diastereoselectivities.
Integrating physical circulation models and genetic approaches to investigate population connectivity in deep-sea corals

Abstract Deepwater corals are found on hard grounds of the continental shelf and slope of all ocean basins, where they enhance the abundance and biodiversity of invertebrates and fishes. Despite their essential role in deep-sea ecosystems, the knowledge of the factors that promote or impede connectivity among discrete coral communities remains elusive. Logistical challenges prevent a direct quantification of the essential factors affecting connectivity, such as timing of spawning, time spent in the water column, and settlement behavior, as well as the details of the physical environment and its variability. This study argues that an integrated framework including population genetic approaches and physical models of the ocean circulation with larval particle tracking capabilities can enhance our understanding. Genetic approaches allow determination of general time-integrated patterns of dispersal distance and direction in virtually any species, while transport models can refine understanding of the processes behind the observed dispersal patterns. Here, this integrated approach is applied towards investigating the connectivity of a deepwater coral, Callogorgia delta , along the upper continental slope of the northern Gulf of Mexico. The circulation in the basin is simulated by a regional ocean model at 1 km horizontal resolution, which is sufficiently detailed to allow for the generation and evolution of submesoscale eddies and vorticity filaments, and for a reliable representation of major bathymetric features. Building upon data from four sites spanning about 250 km of distance and 400 m of depth, it is concluded that depth differences on scales of tens to at most few hundreds of meters are sufficient to limit C. delta connectivity among sites. This result has important implications in the development of restoration and preservation strategies of deepwater corals in the Gulf of Mexico and calls for carefully accounting for the depth dimension in these efforts.
Professionalism Rubric: A Tool to Avoid Conflating Content Knowledge with Professional Behaviors in Academic Assessments

We are all engaged in the assessment of student learning. The assessments, regardless of form, are meant to determine if students are adequately gaining the required knowledge and skills in respons...
Microglia as dynamic cellular mediators of brain function

Originally hypothesized to function solely as immunologic responders within the central nervous system (CNS), emerging evidence has revealed that microglia have more complex roles in normal brain development and in the context of disease. In health, microglia influence neural progenitor fate decisions, astrocyte activation, neuronal homeostasis, and synaptogenesis. In the setting of brain disease, including autism, brain tumors, and neurodegenerative disorders, microglia undergo substantial morphological, molecular, and functional changes, which establish new biological states relevant to disease pathogenesis and progression. In this review, we discuss the function of microglia in health and disease and outline a conceptual framework for elucidating their specific contributions to nervous system pathobiology.
Who doesn’t mind waiting? Examining the relationships between waiting attitudes and person- and travel-related attributes

Waiting, whether for services, for someone, or for something, is an inescapable part of life. This paper addresses a gap in the waiting time literature by examining previously sparsely studied relationships between individual- and travel-related characteristics and attitudes toward waiting using a revealed preference dataset of Northern California commuters (N = 2617). Correlational analyses, followed by a trivariate seemingly unrelated regression equations model, are developed for three waiting attitudinal constructs: general tolerance toward waiting, and attitudes toward equipped and expected waiting. Socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, time use perceptions and preferences, personality traits, multitasking attitudes (polychronicity), commute preferences and expectations, and general attitudes (e.g. pro-technology) are all seen to have significant effects on waiting attitudes. As this survey was executed on commuters, it also facilitates a unique simultaneous exploration of travel and wait time attributes, time uses that are often similarly viewed in day-to-day life. From this perspective, we see that longer commute times and distances are correlated with negative attitudes toward waiting, while commuters with pro-transit, pro-density, and pro-active transportation attitudes tend to have positive attitudes toward waiting. Additionally, we see that those with preferences for multitasking in general or at their jobs can tolerate waiting better. Overall, this study constitutes a distinctive contribution to the waiting time literature, capitalizing on a rich dataset to make important connections between related time uses and a multitude of other variables—key among them polychronicity, with its potential ability to reduce the negative perception and experience of waiting. Findings from this study may also benefit transportation and other service providers by facilitating an understanding of how various consumer groups/demographics view waiting, thus enabling providers to better cater to diverse needs/populations.
Ionization behavior of nanoporous polyamide membranes.

Escalating global water scarcity necessitates high-performance desalination membranes, for which fundamental understanding of structure–property–performance relationships is required. In this study, we comprehensively assess the ionization behavior of nanoporous polyamide selective layers in state-of-the-art nanofiltration (NF) membranes. In these films, residual carboxylic acids and amines influence permeability and selectivity by imparting hydrophilicity and ionizable moieties that can exclude coions. We utilize layered interfacial polymerization to prepare physically and chemically similar selective layers of controlled thickness. We then demonstrate location-dependent ionization of carboxyl groups in NF polyamide films. Specifically, only surface carboxyl groups ionize under neutral pH, whereas interior carboxyl ionization requires pH >9. Conversely, amine ionization behaves invariably across the film. First-principles simulations reveal that the low permittivity of nanoconfined water drives the anomalous carboxyl ionization behavior. Furthermore, we report that interior carboxyl ionization could improve the water–salt permselectivity of NF membranes over fourfold, suggesting that interior charge density could be an important tool to enhance the selectivity of polyamide membranes. Our findings highlight the influence of nanoconfinement on membrane transport properties and provide enhanced fundamental understanding of ionization that could enable novel membrane design.
Illicit and Prescription Drug Misuse among Sexual Minority Women in the United States: A Protocol for a Scoping Review

Background: The United States Institute of Medicine (IOM) published reports in 1999 and 2011 identifying drug use as a priority area for sexual minority health research, specifically focused on mechanisms contributing to drug use disparities and the development of tailored interventions. Limited research has prioritized sexual minority women (SMW) with the majority of substance use research among sexual minorities focused on adolescents and men who have sex with men. This scoping review will characterize the research literature related to illicit drug use and prescription drug misuse among SMW and sub-groups within the SMW population. Through this, we will identify: (1) specific substances used; (2) patterns of substance use; (3) risk and protective factors; (4) prevention interventions; and (5) drug treatment programs specific to SMW. Methods/Design: This review will include studies with empirical data of illicit or prescription drug misuse among sexual minority women. Peer-reviewed quantitative research conducted in the United States and published in English from 2011-Present will be included. We will search Medline, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases for relevant articles. Two independent reviewers will screen abstracts and relevant full-text studies for eligibility. Data will be extracted from eligible articles and results will be presented in narrative and tabular form as appropriate. Discussion: This work will identify gaps of knowledge in the research pertaining to illicit or prescription drug misuse among sexual minority women since the 2011 US IOM report. As a result of this work, we will propose directions for future research to address identified gaps.
Pain: A Review of Interleukin-6 and Its Roles in the Pain of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Pain is a major and common symptom reported as a top priority in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Intuitively, RA-related pain is often considered to be a natural consequence of peripheral inflammation, so treatment of RA is expected to manage pain concurrently as part of inflammation control. However, pain in patients with RA can be poorly correlated with objective measures of inflammation, for example, in patients who are otherwise in remission. Joint damage appears to account for only a fraction of this residual pain. Emerging evidence suggests that alteration of peripheral and central pain processing contributes to RA-related pain; this is parallel to, but somewhat independent of, joint inflammation. Interleukin (IL)-6 is a proinflammatory cytokine that contributes to the pathogenesis of RA. It exerts systemic effects via signaling through soluble forms of the IL-6 receptor ("trans-signaling"). Evidence from preclinical studies demonstrates that intra-articular IL-6 can produce long-lasting peripheral sensitization to mechanical stimulation and suggests an important role for IL-6 in central pain sensitization. This may be partly explained by its ability to activate neurons through trans-signaling, affecting nociceptive plasticity and nerve fiber regrowth. Local activity at neuron endings may culminate in altered pain processing in the central nervous system because of persistent signaling from sensitized peripheral neurons. Peripheral and central sensitization can promote the development of chronic pain, which can have a significant impact on patients' health and quality of life. A proportion of pain in RA may be more appropriately managed as an entity separate from inflammation. Both the peripheral and central nervous systems should be recognized as important potential systems targeted by RA. The substantial burden of RA-related chronic pain suggests that pain should be a key focus in RA management and should be assessed and addressed early and separately from the inflammatory component.
Special educators’ knowledge of high-leverage practices: Construction of a pedagogical content knowledge measure

Abstract Teachers who draw upon specialized knowledge in their instructional practice can be drivers of positive student outcomes, especially for students classified as having special educational needs. Although there are generally agreed upon characteristics of high-quality instruction that can be measured with well-constructed instruments (e.g., Danielson, 2011), supporting the development of teachers with specialized credentials (e.g., special education teachers)—whose instructional practice is grounded in a qualitatively different professional expertise—necessitates measurement tools that reflect that unique practice. Given the field’s recent agreement that special educators should possess deep knowledge of 22 High-Leverage Practices, there is a need for well-constructed tests that can be interpreted to support teacher capacity building in this body of knowledge. This study describes the construction of the Teacher Knowledge of HLPs, an instrument that measures special educators’ knowledge of High-Leverage Practices, and initial validity evidence for instrument use.
Improving spatial precision and field-of-view in wavelength-tagged single-particle tracking using spectroscopic single-molecule localization microscopy.

Spectroscopic single-molecule localization microscopy (sSMLM) generates super-resolution images of single molecules while simultaneously capturing the spectra of their fluorescence emissions. However, sSMLM splits photons from single-molecule emissions into a spatial channel and a spectral channel, reducing both channels’ precisions. It is also challenging in transmission grating-based sSMLM to achieve a large field-of-view (FOV) and avoid overlap between the spatial and spectral channels. The challenge in FOV has further significance in single-molecule tracking applications. In this work, we analyzed the correlation between the spatial and spectral channels in sSMLM to improve its spatial precision, and we developed a split-mirror assembly to enlarge its FOV. We demonstrate the benefits of these improvements by tracking quantum dots. We also show that we can reduce particle-identification ambiguity by tagging each particle with its unique spectral characteristics.
Major adverse events associated with inducible cardiac ischemia during treadmill exercise testing for peripheral artery disease.

Abstract Background The coexistence of coronary artery disease and peripheral artery disease (PAD) is well-established. Whether myocardial ischemia by electrocardiography during treadmill testing to evaluate PAD severity is associated with adverse cardiac and limb events has not been established. The aim of the current study is to assess the risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), major adverse limb events (MALE), and all-cause mortality in patients with evidence of myocardial ischemia on ECG compared with those without ischemia in patients undergoing treadmill testing for PAD evaluation. Methods Patients undergoing treadmill exercise ankle-brachial index (ABI) evaluation (January 1, 2003, to December 31, 2006) were identified using the Mayo Clinic Gonda Vascular Laboratory database. Patients with ischemia by electrocardiogram (ECG) were age and sex matched to patients without ischemia. Outcomes were compared by ECG category. Results Of 4128 patients who underwent treadmill exercise, 170 (4.1%) had inducible myocardial ischemia by ECG. These were matched with 340 patients without ischemia. The positive ECG group had a higher percentage of diabetes mellitus (31.2% vs 21.8%; P = .02), carotid artery disease (22.4% vs 13.2%; P = .009), exercise-induced angina (14.1% vs 2.9%; P Conclusions ECG monitoring during vascular treadmill testing identified a subset of patients with more frequent MACE but less MALE.
Common Advisers in Mergers and Acquisitions: Determinants and Consequences

AbstractWe examine the determinants of merging firms’ choice of a common or separate mergers and acquisitions adviser and the consequences of this choice on several deal outcomes. In a large sample of acquisitions, common advisers appear to be chosen in economically sensible ways. After controlling for other variables and accounting for endogeneity, we find that deals with common advisers take longer to complete and provide lower premiums to targets. We find some evidence of lower target valuations and higher bidder returns in such deals. While there is no significant difference in deals’ overall quality, our evidence showing that deals with common advisers are somewhat better for acquirers than for targets favors the conflict-of-interest hypothesis over the deal improvement hypothesis. We find no evidence that merging firms avoided sharing advisers during the 1980s but strong and growing evidence of such avoidance over the following 2 decades.
Learning Locomotion Controllers for Walking Using Deep FBSDE.

In this paper, we propose a deep forward-backward stochastic differential equation (FBSDE) based control algorithm for locomotion tasks. We also include state constraints in the FBSDE formulation to impose stable walking solutions or other constraints that one may want to consider (e.g., energy). Our approach utilizes a deep neural network (i.e., LSTM) to solve, in general, high-dimensional Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman (HJB) equation resulting from the stated optimal control problem. As compared to traditional methods, our proposed method provides a higher computational efficiency in real-time; thus yielding higher frequency implementation of the closed-loop controllers. The efficacy of our approach is shown on a linear inverted pendulum model (LIPM) for walking. Even though we are deploying a simplified model of walking, the methodology is applicable to generalized and complex models for walking and other control/optimization tasks in robotic systems. Simulation studies have been provided to show the effectiveness of the proposed methodology.
Genetic vs. Environmentally Induced Variation in Medusahead (Taeniatherum Asperum [Simokai] Nevski)

The influences of seed—nursery environment upon genecological characteristics of 20 medusahead strains was studied. Environmentally induced variation was observed in germination, early height development, and winter survival. Small, but significant, variation in dates of spike emergence and anthesis, caused by differences in seed—nursery environment, were observed. Results suggest that the common practice of attaching genecological significance to wild—grown seed may be subject to error, especially in germination and early phenological stages following germination.