cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Routes of Transmission of Swine Hepatitis E Virus in Pigs

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is believed to be transmitted by the fecal-oral route in pigs. To date, in experiments, HEV has been transmitted successfully only by the intravenous or intrahepatic route. To assess the route of HEV transmission, 27 pigs were separated into nine groups of three pigs. Positive-control pigs were inoculated intravenously with swine HEV and served as the source of HEV for the other groups. Uninoculated contact pigs were placed in the positive-control group. On three consecutive days, naive pigs were inoculated using samples collected from the positive-control pigs at 9, 10, and 11 days postinoculation. The tonsils and nasal mucosa of each positive-control pig were swabbed and that swab was used to rub the tonsils and nasal and ocular mucosa of naive pigs. The positive-control pigs were also injected with bacterin, and the same needle was used to immediately inject naive pigs. Feces were collected from positive controls and fed by oral gavage to naive pigs. Weekly fecal and serum samples from each pig were tested for anti-HEV antibodies and HEV RNA. All positive-control pigs shed the virus in feces; two pigs were viremic and seroconverted to anti-HEV. All contact control pigs shed the virus in feces; two seroconverted and one became viremic. One of three pigs in the fecal-oral exposure group shed the virus in feces and seroconverted. Pigs exposed to the contaminated needles or the tonsil and nasal secretion swabs remained negative. This is the first report of experimental fecal-oral transmission of HEV in swine.
Modal Analysis of Coupling Problems in Optical Fibers

A modal analysis of the problems of excitation of the dominant mode in an optical fiber by incident plane waves and Gaussian beams has been carried out, and the results applied to the effect on transmission of misalignment in fiber junctions due to offsets, tilts, and gaps. The results in cases of matched media confirm the accuracy of previous theoretical treatments using the Born approximation, which in turn show good agreement with experimental results. In addition, the modal analysis gives more precise solutions when there is a mismatch of media and makes possible the treatment of some problems to which the Born approximation is not applicable.
Acute motor axonal neuropathy in childhood: Clinical and MRI findings

Clinical and radiologic findings in a child with acute motor axonal neuropathy are reported. A 16-year-old boy with mild cerebral palsy presented 1 week after an upper respiratory tract infection with low back pain, ascending weakness, and areflexia. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination revealed albuminocytological dissociation. Serial electromyograms (EMGs) with nerve conduction velocity (NCV) studies revealed findings of motor axonal neuropathy. Spine MRI revealed enhancement of the cauda equina. Acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) may be an underrecognized cause of acute flaccid paralysis, and to our knowledge no pediatric cases have been reported in the United States. MRI findings have not been reported previously.
Recognition of vertebrate egg abnormalities in the Upper Cretaceous fossil record

Abstract In fossil vertebrate eggs, the most commonly reported abnormality consists of an unusually thick shell with one or more superimposed eggshell layers. Although rare, taxonomically referable abnormal specimens provide a more reliable basis for inferences regarding reproductive biology of extinct taxa. Eggshell abnormalities recognized in a Cretaceous turtle and three dinosaurs (hadrosaur, sauropod, theropod) are assigned to these taxa base on: 1) normal eggs containing embryos within the same clutch, 2) identical eggshell microstructure as eggs containing embryonic remains from the same stratum; and 3) inclusion of normal eggs of the same oospecies in a cladistic analysis of egg characters. Distinguishing multiple eggshell layers of biological origin from those produced by taphonomic processes is a critical component in the study of fossil specimens. Features useful for distinguishing a pathological condition in fossil eggs include: 1) multiple eggshell layers separated by permineralized membrane, 2) close conformation of the base of the outer eggshell to the unweathered surface of the underlying egg, and 3) structural relationships of eggshell features (e.g. pore truncation, intercalated membrane and shell fragments, optical continuity of superimposed fragments). Documentation of microstructural features of abnormal eggshell provides important information on the timing and magnitude of stress and facilitates recognition of phylogenetically significant patterns of egg abnormality in the fossil record.
ENHANCEMENT OF MICROALGAL GROWTH BY USING PERFLUOROCARBON AS OXYGEN CARRIER

The contribution of green microalgae has been recognized in the production of useful products such as chemicals, fatty acids, proteins, carotenoids, pigments, polysaccharides, and pharmaceuticals. One of the challenges to the development of profitable bioproduct markets is the design, development, modeling, and evaluation of cost-effective production systems. The photobioreactors for microalgae can be either open or closed systems in large-scale production. In various situations, it has been reported that closed photobioreactors offer many advantages over open systems. These advantages include lower contamination, higher biomass densities, and better process control. Nevertheless, for the scale-up of enclosed tubular photobioreactors, the accumulation of oxygen as a photosynthetic byproduct has been a major limitation because it severely inhibits growth of microalgae. In this study, we use the distinctive feature of liquid perfluorocarbons (PFCs) as a carrier that efficiently removes the accumulated oxygen from algal medium phase in the spinner culture flasks. The results show the growth kinetics of microalgae cultivated by this approach is significantly improved.
Critical factors in an enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) for antibodies to mouse thymic virus (MTLV).

Summary Mouse thymic virus (MTL V; murid herpesvirus 3) is a naturally occurring herpesvirus of mice. Critical variables in an enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) for antibodies to mouse thymic virus (MTLV) were assessed. High protein binding plates proved unsuitable. For storing coated plates, the most consistent results were obtained when coated plates were washed and stored with coating buffer (phosphate buffered saline, PBS) at - 70°C. Storage of antigen at - 20°C was unsatisfactory, although coated plates could be stored at - 20°C for at least 1-2 weeks. In performing the ELISA, vigorous washing and blocking were critical. However, substituting isotonic (0'90/0) saline for PBS in washing solutions gave reliable results at considerable cost savings. For blocking, and as sample diluent, a modification of 'BLOTTO' (5% nonfat dry milk and 0,20/0 Tween 20) was most satisfactory.
The Ever Evolving Identity of Counseling Psychologists: Musings of the Society of Counseling Psychology President

Understanding our identity as counseling psychologists has been an issue since the inception of our specialty in the 1940s and one that the authors of these two articles (Goodyear et al., 2008 [this issue]; Munley, Pate, & Duncan, 2008 [this issue]) tackle in new and different ways. In this response, this author (a) identifies additional reasons why studying our identity as counseling psychologists is beneficial to the specialty, (b) commends the authors on the methodological improvements they made, (c) comments on the underutilization of the American Psychological Association membership database as a resource for answering questions about change and stability in our identity, and (d) recommends that future studies focus on the approximately 75% of counseling psychologists who are not members of the Society of Counseling Psychology, Division 17 of the American Psychological Association. In an effort to capture more counseling psychologists as members of the Society of Counseling Psychology, attention shou...
SCT: A novel approach for testing and configuring nanoscale devices

Novel strategies are necessary to efficiently test and configure emerging reconfigurable nanoscale devices, in addition to providing defect tolerance. This is mainly due to the high defect densities that are expected for these devices. Among different approaches, reconfiguration-based defect avoidance has proven to be a practical solution. However, configuration time, test time, and defect-map size remain among the major challenges for these new devices. In this article, we propose a new approach (called SCT) that simultaneously performs test and configuration. The proposed method uses a built-in self-test (BIST) scheme for test and defect tolerance. The method is based on testing reconfigurable nanoblocks at the time of implementing a function of a desired application on that block. The SCT method considerably reduces the total test and configuration time. It also eliminates the need for storing the location of defects in a defect map on- or off-chip. The presented probabilistic analysis results show the effectiveness of this method in terms of test and configuration time for architectures with rich interconnect resources. Also, a Verilog simulation model is developed for crossbar-based nano-architectures. This model is used to implement several MCNC benchmarks based on the proposed SCT method. The simulation results demonstrate efficiency of the method in terms of test time and yield under different defect rates.
Further experience with exchange transfusion in sickle cell anemia and pregnancy.

Exchange transfusion was performed on 7 women with sickle cell anemia and pregnancy during the third trimester. Two of the exchanges were done as emergency procedures. The most beneficial effect of exchange transfusion was the restoration of a normal red cell volume with nonsickling cells. The technique is simple and completed in a short period of time without elaborate apparatus. There were no untoward results from the procedure and all 7 mothers and 7 infants were in good health at the end of the puerperium and neonatal period. Exchange transfusion restored the red cell volume to normal levels in patients with sickle cell anemia and appeared to put them in an optimal state to face the hazards of labor and delivery.
Frugal Streaming for Estimating Quantiles

Modern applications require processing streams of data for estimating statistical quantities such as quantiles with small amount of memory. In many such applications, in fact, one needs to compute such statistical quantities for each of a large number of groups (e.g.,network traffic grouped by source IP address), which additionally restricts the amount of memory available for the stream for any particular group. We address this challenge and introduce frugal streaming, that is algorithms that work with tiny – typically, sub-streaming – amount of memory per group.
A Push for Caring Imposition against Passive Tolerance: Reflections on the Virginia Tech Massacre through a Multicultural Lens

Children’s Defense Fund. (2004). The state of America’s children 2004: A continuing portrait of inequality fifty years after Brown v. Board of Education. Washington, DC: Children’s Defense Fund. Cohen, J. (1999). Educating minds and hearts: Social emotional learning and the passage into adolescence. New York: Teachers College Press. Eisler, R., & Miller, R. (2004). Educating for a culture of peace. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann. Elias, M., Zins, J. Weissberg, R., Frey, K., Greenberg, M., Haynes, N., et al. (1997). Promoting social and emotional learning: Guidelines for educators. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Elliot, D., Hamburg, B., & Williams, K. (1999). Violence in American schools. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. Galtung, J., and Jacobsen, C. (2000). Searching for peace. Sterling, VA: Pluto Press. Gassin, E., Enright, R., & Knutson, J. (2005). Bringing peace to the central city: Forgiveness education in Milwaukee. Theory Into Practice, 44, 303–318. Gladden, M. R. (2002). Reducing school violence: Strengthening student programs and addressing the role of school organizations. In W. G. Secada (Ed.), Review of research in education, 2002. Washington, DC: American Educational Research Association. Global Peace Index (2007). Retrieved July 27, 2007, from http://www.visionofhumanity. com/rankings/ Harris, I. (2000). Peace-building responses to school violence. Bulletin: The National Association of Secondary School Principals, 84, 5–24. Harris, I., & Morrison, M. (2003). Peace education (2nd ed.). Jefferson, NC: McFarland. Harris, I., & Shuster, A. (2006). The global directory of peace and conflict studies programs (7th ed.). San Francisco: Peace and Justice Studies Association. Iram, Y. (2006). Educating toward a culture of peace. Greenwich, CT: Information Age. Lamberg, L. (1998). Preventing school violence: No easy answers. JAMA, 280, 404–407. Lantieri, L., & Patti, J. (1996). Waging peace in our schools. Boston: Beacon Press. Prothrow-Stith, D. (1991). Deadly consequences. New York: Harper Collins. Reardon, B. (1988). Comprehensive peace education. New York: Teachers College Press. Sandy, S. (2001). Conflict resolution in schools: Getting there. Conflict Resolution Quarterly, 19, 237–250. Scanlon, D. (1959). The Pioneers of International Education: 1817–1914, Teachers College Record, 4, 210– 219. Stomfay-Stitz, A. (1993). Peace education in America 1828–1999: Sourcebook for education and research. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press. Wax, E. (2000, October 4). Educating more than the mind. Washington Post, p. B1. Woolman, D. (2002). The quest for international understanding in United States education. Social Alternatives, 21(1), 23–27.
Returns to Scale, Productivity and Competition: Empirical Evidence from U.S. Manufacturing and Construction Establishments

We build a model of firm entry and exit and show how returns to scale shape firm survival, the equilibrium productivity and size distributions and firm concentration. High productivity dispersion and high concentration ratios need not reflect inefficiencies when returns to scale are strongly decreasing. We apply a broad set of structural and reduced-form estimation techniques to establishment-level data from the U.S. Census of Construction and Manufacturing to assess returns to scale and productivity dispersion across establishments. Indeed, industries with lower returns to scale are characterized by higher productivity dispersion and lower concentration ratios as predicted in the model. Returns to scale are 0.96 on average, but range from 0.86 in Non-metallic Minerals to 1.3 in Semiconductors. Returns to scale tend to be highest in durable manufacturing, medium in non-durable manufacturing and lowest in the production of housing. An economy characterized by such differences in its sectoral production structure will exhibit long-run structural change away from construction and non-durable manufacturing, as in the data, and endogenously replicate the cyclical behavior of relative prices in the U.S.: relative durable prices are counter-cyclical while relative housing prices are pro-cyclical.
Acute Blood Loss Anemia in the Octogenarian Total Knee Arthroplasty, Estimated Blood Loss and Transfusions Rates.

Introduction Acute blood loss anemia is an expected morbidity after a total knee replacement. The purpose of this study is to quantify the rates of blood transfusions in the octogenarian population after a total knee replacement and its association with the surgeon’s estimated blood loss (EBL). Methods This is a retrospective review of the senior orthopedic surgeon’s charts. All patients were 80 years of age, or older at the time of surgical intervention. All patients with the diagnosis of primary osteoarthritis where included. Results A total 74 total knee arthroplasties were considered, in a total of 64 patients. Overall, 53% patients had an uneventful stay without a blood transfusion. The rates of transfusions increased with EBLs of 200, 250, and >250 ml with rates of 43%, 80%, and 55 % respectively. The average hematocrit of all patients that were transfused was 33.98, compared to 38.20 for the patients that were not transfused. Conclusion 47% of patients required a blood transfusion during their hospital course regardless of the EBL estimated by the surgeon during surgery. The average hematocrit was found to be lower in the group that was transfused. Publication Indices Pubmed
MONTHLY FREQUENCY CHANGES OF DROSOPHILA PSEUDOOBSCURA THIRD CHROMOSOME GENE ARRANGEMENTS IN A CALIFORNIA LOCALITY.

Evolutionary changes in the frequencies of third chromosome gene arrangements of natural populations of Drosophila pseudoobscura have been widely documented since the initial discovery of this polymorphism by Dobzhansky and Sturtevant (1938). In the American Southwest, these changes encompass long term trends such as the marked increase in the frequency of the Pikes Peak arrangement in California from 1940 to 1957 (Dobzhansky, 1958) as well as the shorter seasonal changes noted in some localities of the San Jacinto Mountains (Dobzhansky, 1947; Epling et al., 1953) and Yosemite (Dobzhansky, 1956). In each case, the selective factors responsible for these frequency changes have not yet been identified. As a further study of this problem, the present observations were begun in order to gather as much data as possible about the frequencies of third chromosome gene arrangements and their climatological associations in a particular California locality. This locality, called Strawberry Canyon, is on the University of California campus at Berkeley, and contains a population of D. pseudoobscura that can be sampled continuously throughout the entire year. During the 28-month sampling period reported in this paper, the frequencies of certain third chromosome gene arrangements at Strawberry Canyon are shown to be uniquely different from those at other sampled California localities and follow somewhat different seasonal changes. The adaptive significance of these unusual frequencies is still unknown although it is undoubtedly related to the unique environment of the area. THE LOCALITY AND COLLECTIONS
BLACK AND WHITE FERTILITY, DIFFERENTIAL BABY BOOMS: THE VALUE OF EQUAL EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY

This paper produces new estimates for white and black mortality and fertility at the state level from 1800(20)–2000. It produces new estimates of black and white schooling for this same period. Using a calibrated model of black and white parents, we fit the time series of black and white fertility and schooling. We then produce estimates of the benefits of equal education opportunity for blacks over the period 1820–2000. For the better part of US history, blacks have suffered from less access to schooling for their children than whites. This paper quantifies the magnitude of this discrimination. Our estimates of the welfare cost of this discrimination prior to the Civil War range between 0.5 and 20 times black wealth, and between 0.5 and 10 times black wealth prior to 1960. Further we find that the Civil Rights era was valued by blacks in the South by between 1% to 2% of wealth. Outside of the South, we find significant costs of discrimination prior to 1960, ranging from 6% to 150% of black wealth. For these divisions from 1960–2000, blacks have attained rough parity in schooling access. The welfare magnitudes are similar to the hypothetical gains to blacks if they had white mortality rates. We show that the model’s black and white human capital series are strongly, positively correlated with state output measures, black and white permanent incomes and black and white earnings.
Three-Colorings of Finite Groups or an Algebra of Nonequalities

Graph coloring theory is a remarkable branch of mathematics. It begins with one of the simplest of ideas, that of coloring a geographical map or the vertices of a graph in such a way that adjacent regions or vertices are colored differently. And yet, as the celebrated four color and Heawood map-coloring theorems show, the existence of such colorings reflects profoundly the fundamental topological properties of the graph. In general terms, one may say that the set of colorings of a graph contains structural information about the graph. This paper, going by the principle that a good way to understand a theory is to try to construct a parallel one, will develop a coloring theory in a quite different context, that of groups. The ultimate conclusion will be the same as it was for graphs: The set of colorings contains structural information about the group. Along the way to this conclusion, there will be a chance to think about what makes graph colorings so special, and also, we hope, a pleasant jaunt through elementary group theory, seen from a novel perspective.' What is the unique essential ingredient in the idea of coloring a graph? Perhaps it is the fact that making one choice when defining a coloring does not dictate the next step, but merely limits its possibilities. Coloring point 1 in FIGURE 1 red does not force point 2 to be blue, but only constrains it not to be red. Algebraic constructions, in contrast, are usually much more deterministic-once the value of a homomorphism is defined at x, it is fixed forever at all xn . There is a heady freedom in defining colorings, like dealing with a card sharper or a gambit player who smiles and says "Pick any card!" or "Now make any move at all!" And yet the freedom is often only temporary. Some point in FIGURE 1 eventually must be assigned a third color. There is, similarly, no 3-coloring at all of FIGURE 2. In colorings, as in cards or chess, a few moves later one may be locked in-or out-just as tightly as with the homomorphism! An n-coloring of a graph is thus a mapping into a set of n colors, assigned with absolute freedom except for one special kind of constraint: If two points are directly related by the graph structure (that is, are adjacent), then the simplest choice (coloring them both the same) is forbidden. What would be a parallel construction for
Inhibition of fatty acid oxidation modulates immunosuppressive functions of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and enhances cancer therapies

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) promote tumor growth by inhibiting T-cell immunity and promoting malignant cell proliferation and migration. The therapeutic potential of blocking MDSC in tumors has been limited by their heterogeneity, plasticity, and resistance to various chemotherapy agents. Recent studies have highlighted the role of energy metabolic pathways in the differentiation and function of immune cells; however, the metabolic characteristics regulating MDSC remain unclear. We aimed to determine the energy metabolic pathway (s) used by MDSC, establish its impact on their immunosuppressive function, and test whether its inhibition blocks MDSC and enhances antitumor therapies. Using several murine tumor models, we found that tumor-infiltrating MDSC (T-MDSC) increased fatty acid uptake and activated fatty acid oxidation (FAO). This was accompanied by an increased mitochondrial mass, upregulation of key FAO enzymes, and increased oxygen consumption rate. Pharmacologic inhibition of FAO blocked immune inhibitory pathways and functions in T-MDSC and decreased their production of inhibitory cytokines. FAO inhibition alone significantly delayed tumor growth in a T-cell–dependent manner and enhanced the antitumor effect of adoptive T-cell therapy. Furthermore, FAO inhibition combined with low-dose chemotherapy completely inhibited T-MDSC immunosuppressive effects and induced a significant antitumor effect. Interestingly, a similar increase in fatty acid uptake and expression of FAO-related enzymes was found in human MDSC in peripheral blood and tumors. These results support the possibility of testing FAO inhibition as a novel approach to block MDSC and enhance various cancer therapies.
A Pilot Study of a Self-Administered Parent Training Intervention for Building Preschoolers’ Social–Emotional Competence

Social–emotional skills are equally as crucial for school success as cognitive and academic skills (Webster-Stratton and Reid in Infants Young Child 17:96–113, 2004), yet many young children lack these skills (Lavigne et al. in J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 35:204–214, 1996). Therefore, it is essential to invest in the development of social–emotional competence at an early age—a task that necessitates active parent involvement (Webster-Stratton and Reid 2004). This pilot study explored the effectiveness, integrity, and acceptability of a self-administered parent training intervention [Devereux Early Childhood Assessment—Second Edition (DECA-P2) family guide (Mackrain and Cairone in Promoting resilience for now and forever: a family guide for supporting the social and emotional development of preschool children, 2nd edn. Kaplan Early Learning Company, Lewisville, 2013)] targeting the promotion of social–emotional competence in young children (N = 12). Pre- and post-test parent reports revealed that children’s social–emotional competence increased and behavior problems decreased following program completion. Parent ratings indicated the intervention was carried out as intended (i.e., integrity) and that it was helpful (i.e., acceptability). These exploratory findings suggest that this self-administered parent intervention shows promise as an alternative to face-to-face early childhood prevention services.
A Kinetic Sculpture Intervention for Individuals Grieving the Deaths of Family Members

ABSTRACTThis article presents a creative intervention called kinetic sculpture for loss adaptation in grief counseling. This intervention is supported by professional literature regarding Bowenian family systems and creativity in counseling. The deaths of family members may generate much uncertainty for clients regarding functioning of their family systems. Kinetic sculpture allows clients to create visual examples of family equilibrium before, in the midst of, and after the deaths of family members. Insight gained from engaging in this intervention can aid clients in making aspirational plans for their own adaptations to loss. In this article, we present step-by-step instructions for creating the kinetic sculpture, make recommendations for process questions to accompany the intervention, and apply the kinetic sculpture in a case example.
Tailoring in the Application of Regulatory Accounting Guidelines: Evidence from Community Banks

We examine the latitude that regulators provide to banks in how they manage loan loss allowances. Empirical tests on subsamples of 64,807 annual observations of banks, 2006 to 2015, show that correlations of provisions for loan losses and subsequent charge-offs, which are expected under regulatory guidelines, are weaker for smaller banks and that, further, the weaker correlations of smaller banks do not necessarily constrain them from achieving a given regulatory-assessed managerial performance rating. We consider this to be evidence of a “tailoring” in accounting oversight that is relevant to the enforcement of former, current and future standards established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board.
Buying and selling human eggs: infertility providers’ ethical and other concerns regarding egg donor agencies

Egg donor agencies are increasingly being used as part of IVF in the US, but are essentially unregulated, posing critical ethical and policy questions concerning how providers view and use them, and what the implications might be. Thirty-seven in-depth interviews of approximately 1 h were conducted – with 27 IVF providers and 10 patients. Clinicians vary in their views and interactions concerning egg donor agencies, ranging widely in whether and how often they use agencies. Agencies may offer egg recipients increased choices, but raise ethical and other concerns regarding respect for donors as individuals (e.g., adequacy of informed consent), potential harms, justice (e.g., concerns about possible eugenics – by encouraging and facilitating selection and marketing of facts for offspring), and donors constituting a vulnerable group. The quality of agencies appears to vary considerably, from acceptable to problematic. Agencies’ medical and psychological screenings of donors can range, and be minimal. Not all agencies adequately track donors’ prior numbers of donations, or share the relevant records with clinics. Clinics may find that potential donors have genetic mutations and medical problems about which they were unaware. Yet agencies and clinics do not provide care for such donors, generating stress. Dissemination of donors’ personal data can potentially threaten confidentiality. Questions emerge of whether increased monitoring/oversight of agencies may be beneficial. These data, the first to examine providers’ views and interactions regarding egg donor agencies, suggest wide variations in quality and use of agencies, and have critical implications for practice, policy, education and research. Given the potential limitations of the current model of self-regulation of agencies, the present data suggest needs to consider stronger professional guidelines or possible governmental regulations to establish, require and enforce higher standards for agencies to follow, regarding advertising to potential donors and recipients, arranging for appropriate informed consent concerning risks and benefits involved, and for quality control. Appropriate informed consent should be obtained from potential egg donors, including the fact that they may learn about mutations or medical problems about which they were unaware, but for which they will not receive treatment as part of this process. Enhancing understanding among the public-at-large about what egg donation entails may also be helpful.
House of Card: Ender's Game and Speculative Fiction as a Vehicle for Religio-Political Values

Speculative fiction, through its explicit engagement with possible futures of the present world, represents a unique opportunity for writers and readers to connect present-day cultural concerns to ...
Hexagonal boron nitride epilayers for deep UV photonics

Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) possesses extraordinary physical properties including wide bandgap, high temperature stability and corrosion resistance, and large optical absorption and thermal neutron capture cross section. Furthermore, h-BN is also an ideal platform for probing fundamental 2D properties in semiconductors. In comparison to AlN, p-type h-BN appears to be easier to obtain [1-4].
Leading toward equality: the effect of women mayors on gender equality in local bureaucracies

ABSTRACTDo women elected officials contribute to the creation of public sector workforces that are more representative of the populations they serve? A more representative bureaucracy is expected t...
Taphonomic signatures of owls: New insights into micromammal assemblages

Abstract Paleoenvironmental reconstructions based on micromammalian assemblages are a commonly used tool in paleoecology and zooarcheology. However, predator prey preferences may bias these assemblages to an unknown degree, thus leading to unreliable paleoenvironmental reconstructions. While attempts at taxonomically identifying micromammal predators through taphonomy has been conducted in the past, none has satisfactorily differentiated between owl taxa. Here we introduce the novel postcranial fracture index and revised versions of digestion indices for obtaining higher taxonomic resolution in taphonomic signatures. We taphonomically analyzed bone assemblages created by owls both in controlled feeding experiments and in the wild. We used blind experiment methodology involving multiple experimenters (each analyzing different bones) to test known and novel indices for reproducible taphonomic signatures within five species of owls (Tyto alba, Asio otus, Athene noctua, Bubo bubo and Strix aluco), Falco tinnunculus and Vulpes vulpes for comparison. We found that experimenter identity has a profound impact on the digestion indices. Nonetheless, the breakage indices and our novel fracture index found significant differences and subjective differences between owl species. Mandible breakage differentiated between Tyto alba and the other, more destructive owls. Postcranial breakage distinguished Strix aluco from the other owls. The postcranial fracture index differentiated between all species except between Athene noctua and Bubo bubo. We recommend a combination of taphonomic indices as a reliable tool for inferring owl species identity of micromammal assemblages.
Sensitivity of the circadian system to evening bright light in preschool-age children

Although the light-induced melatonin suppression response is well characterized in adults, studies examining the dynamics of this effect in children are scarce. The purpose of this study was to quantify the magnitude of evening light-induced melatonin suppression in preschool-age children. Healthy children (n = 10; 7 females; 4.3 ± 1.1 years) participated in a 7-day protocol. On days 1-5, children followed a strict sleep schedule. On day 6, children entered a dim light environment (<15 lux) for 1-h before providing salivary samples every 20- to 30-min from the afternoon until 50-min after scheduled bedtime. On day 7, subjects remained in dim light conditions until 1-h before bedtime, at which time they were exposed to a bright light stimulus (~1000 lux) for 1-h and then re-entered dim light conditions. Saliva samples were obtained before, during, and after bright light exposure and were time anchored to samples taken the previous evening. We found robust melatonin suppression (87.6 ± 10.0%) in response to the bright light stimulus. Melatonin levels remained attenuated for 50-min after termination of the light stimulus (P < 0.008). Furthermore, melatonin levels did not return to 50% of those observed in the dim light condition 50-min after the light exposure for 7/10 children. Our findings demonstrate a robust light-induced melatonin suppression response in preschool-age children. These findings have implications for understanding the role of evening light exposure in the development of evening settling difficulties and may serve as experimental evidence to support recommendations regarding light exposure and sleep hygiene practices in early childhood.
Bootstrapping LASSO-type estimators in regression models

Abstract We study the consistency of the standard (non-parametric) bootstrap, the m -out-of- n bootstrap, and the oracle bootstrap distributions of some popular LASSO-type estimators in regression models with random predictors. These estimators have an oracle property and are often used in estimation of sparse regression models. A local asymptotic analysis further reveals the behavior of these estimators and of their bootstrap distributions when some regression coefficients approach zero at various rates. In a simulation study, we assess the finite sample properties of the estimators and of their bootstrap distributions for various sample sizes and model parameters. The analysis of a prostate cancer data set shows an application of LASSO-type inference and bootstrap methods in practice.
Histopathologic Reporting of Melanoma

The pathology report (see Appendix) should include the following minimum information: diagnosis (i.e., malignant melanoma, in situ or invasive), depth of tumor invasion (in millimeters) measured vertically from the granular layer of the epidermis or from the surface of an ulcer with an ocular micrometer), and the adequacy of and proximity of surgical margins (Table 33). The following histologic features should also be reported or mentioned if present: mitotic rate per square millimeter, ulceration, angiotropism, desmoplasia or neurotropism, marked or virtually complete regression, microscopic satellites, and true vascular/lymphatic invasion. Other prognostic factors, such as anatomic level, host response, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes might be reported as well (see Appendix for additional discussion).
Outreach with Teenage Fathers: A Preliminary Report on Three Ethnic Groups.

This article presents preliminary data on suggestions for reaching Anglo, black, and Hispanic unmarried adolescent fathers. Results reveal that reaching out to these young fathers may be complicated because their needs vary within and across their culture. The data suggest that these fathers need diverse information, practical help, and counseling.
Detection and Identification of Potential Impurities Activated by Neutron Irradiation of Czochralski Silicon

A worst-case experiment was carried out wherein a matrix of Czochralski-grown silicon crystals irradiated to the five ohm-cm level was analyzed for radioactive isotopes that might result from activation of impurities initially present in the crystals. A computer study was used to predict the nuclides most likely to occur. Results from the two methods of analysis—radioactivity decay rate and gamma spectroscopy—were consistent with each other. Methods of measurements, calibrations and calculations to assure that radioactivity levels do not exceed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission exempt concentrations standards are presented.
Patient expectations and satisfaction in orthopaedic surgery: A review of the literature

Patient expectations have been shown to be an independent predictor of outcomes in clinical medicine. In the orthopaedic literature, the majority of studies have focused on the relationship between pre-operative expectations and post-operative outcomes in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty, total knee arthroplasty, shoulder surgery, and spine surgery. Various methodologies have been used to assess patient expectations in orthopaedic surgery, including direct questioning, short questionnaires, and validated surveys. Multiple patient factors have been associated with greater expectations prior to elective orthopaedic surgery, and greater pre-operative expectations have been shown to be associated with better subjective and objective outcomes after total hip and knee arthroplasty, shoulder surgery, and spine surgery. While there are very few validated measures of patient satisfaction after orthopaedic surgery, increased post-operative patient satisfaction is consistently associated with meeting pre-operative patient expectations. Given the relationship between pre-operative patient expectations and post-operative outcomes and patient satisfaction, understanding and defining expectations prior to elective orthopaedic surgery may optimize outcomes. In this review, we aim to summarize the current literature on patient expectations in orthopaedic surgery.
In Silico Performance of a Recellularized Tissue-Engineered Transcatheter Aortic Valve

Commercially available heart valves have many limitations, such as a lack of re-modeling, risk of calcification and thromboembolic problems. Many state-of-the-art tissue engineered heart valves rely on recellularization. Current in vitro testing is insufficient in characterizing a soon to be living valve. It is imperative to understand the performance of an in situ valve, but due to the complex in vivo environment this is difficult to accomplish. Finite element analysis has become a standard tool for modeling mechanical behavior of heart valves; yet, research to date has mostly focused on commercial valves. The purpose of this study has been to develop finite element models of a decellularized and recellularized tissue engineered heart valve. Mechanical properties from porcine aortic valves were utilized to develop finite element models, which were run through a full physiological cardiac cycle. Maximum principal stresses and strains from the leaflets and commissures were analyzed. The results of this study demonstrate that the explanted tissues had reduced mechanical strength compared to the implants but were similar to the native tissues. For the finite element models the explanted recellularized leaflets showed lower stress but increased compliance in the leaflet belly compared to native tissues and higher compliance than implant tissues. Histology demonstrated recellularization and remodeling although remodeled collagen had no clear directionality. In conclusion, we observed successful recellularization and remodeling of the tissue, however, the mechanical response indicates the further remodeling is required following implantation in the aortic/pulmonary position.
Tahrir patterns in a professional Iranian classical singer

“Iranian classical singing” (“avaz” in Persian) contains the ornament called a tahrir. It typically is a sequence of tekyeh fundamental frequency gestures that quickly increase and then decrease. The primary aim was to determine and describe the tahrir patterns produced by a professional avaz singer. An unaccompanied recording was made of a professional avaz singer singing the popular song “Morghe Sahar” (“Dawn Bird”). Consistent patterns of tahrir productions were determined after repeated listening. Four primary tahrir patterns were identified, based on (1) the number of tekyehs within the tahrir, (2) fundamental frequency extent from the baseline to the tekyeh peaks, and (3) inter-tekyeh interval durations. Pattern 1 consists of one tekyeh and is called a “zinat.” Pattern 2 is a multiple tekyeh gesture with relatively long inter-tekyeh intervals. Pattern 3 is a multiple tekyeh gesture with relatively short inter-tekyeh intervals. Pattern 4 is a vibrato-like pattern with multiple tekyehs with short inter-tekyeh intervals like Pattern 3 but with relatively short frequency extents. The results are pertinent to voice scientists interested in the mechanics of phonatory production, to singing teachers and artists interested in pedagogy based on acoustic and perceptual information, and to ethnomusicologists interested in cultural musical performance and production. “Iranian classical singing” (“avaz” in Persian) contains the ornament called a tahrir. It typically is a sequence of tekyeh fundamental frequency gestures that quickly increase and then decrease. The primary aim was to determine and describe the tahrir patterns produced by a professional avaz singer. An unaccompanied recording was made of a professional avaz singer singing the popular song “Morghe Sahar” (“Dawn Bird”). Consistent patterns of tahrir productions were determined after repeated listening. Four primary tahrir patterns were identified, based on (1) the number of tekyehs within the tahrir, (2) fundamental frequency extent from the baseline to the tekyeh peaks, and (3) inter-tekyeh interval durations. Pattern 1 consists of one tekyeh and is called a “zinat.” Pattern 2 is a multiple tekyeh gesture with relatively long inter-tekyeh intervals. Pattern 3 is a multiple tekyeh gesture with relatively short inter-tekyeh intervals. Pattern 4 is a vibrato-like pattern with multiple tekyehs with short inte...
Living With Parkinson's: The Process of Finding Optimism

Individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) often experience poor mental and emotional well-being, which negatively affect their quality of life. Optimism is a protective factor which has been shown to promote resiliency, reduce distress in health crises, and protect against the effects of negative mental health outcomes. The current article utilized grounded theory methodology to examine personal accounts (N = 85) detailing how individuals were able to cultivate optimism despite challenges presented by PD. The grounded theory indicated that a process occurs in which individuals with PD move through the following five phases on their journey toward optimism: (a) diagnosis, (b) initial reactions, (c) adjustment, (d) acceptance, and (e) living with optimism. These findings indicate that individuals with PD often struggle to experience optimism. Nevertheless, by reframing optimism as a choice rather than a feeling, participants were able to make decisions that allowed them to progress on their journey toward optimism.
Sexual Victimization of Juveniles Incarcerated in Jails and Prisons: An Exploratory Study of Prevalence and Risk Factors

This exploratory research quantifies the prevalence of sexual victimization of juvenile inmates ages 16–17 housed in the adult correctional system in the United States, using data collected from 1,...
Clustered low rank approximation of graphs in information science applications.

In this paper we present a fast and accurate procedure called clusteredlow rank matrix approximation for massive graphs. The procedure involvesa fast clustering of the graph and then approximates e ...
Long‐term follow‐up of a racially and ethnically diverse population of men with localized prostate cancer who did not undergo initial active treatment

Background There is limited research on the racial/ethnic differences in long-term outcomes for men with untreated, localized prostate cancer. Methods Men diagnosed with localized, Gleason ≤7 prostate cancer who were not treated within 1 year of diagnosis from 1997-2007 were identified. Cumulative incidence rates of the following events were calculated; treatment initiation, metastasis, death due to prostate cancer and all-cause mortality, accounting for competing risks. The Cox model of all-cause mortality and Fine-Gray sub distribution model to account for competing risks were used to test for racial/ethnic differences in outcomes adjusted for clinical factors. Results There were 3925 men in the study, 749 Hispanic, 2415 non-Hispanic white, 559 non-Hispanic African American, and 202 non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander (API). Median follow-up was 9.3 years. At 19 years, overall cumulative incidence of treatment, metastasis, death due to prostate cancer, and all-cause mortality was 25.0%, 14.7%, 11.7%, and 67.8%, respectively. In adjusted models compared to non-Hispanic whites, African Americans had higher rates of treatment (HR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.15-1.68); they had an increased risk of metastasis beyond 10 years after diagnosis (HR = 4.70, 95% CI = 2.30-9.61); API and Hispanic had lower rates of all-cause mortality (HR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.52-0.84, and HR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.62-0.85, respectively), and API had lower rates of prostate cancer mortality in the first 10 years after diagnosis (HR = 0.29, 95% CI = 0.09-0.90) and elevated risks beyond 10 years (HR = 5.41, 95% CI = 1.39-21.11). Conclusions Significant risks of metastasis and prostate cancer mortality exist in untreated men beyond 10 years after diagnosis, but are not equally distributed among racial/ethnic groups.
The Balancing Role of Distribution Speed against Varying Efficacy Levels of COVID-19 Vaccines under Variants

ObjectiveRecent mutations in SARS-CoV-2 raised concerns about diminishing vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 caused by particular variants. Even with a high initial efficacy, if a vaccines efficacy drops significantly against variants, or if it cannot be distributed quickly, it is uncertain whether the vaccine can provide better health outcomes than other vaccines. Hence, we evaluated the trade-offs between speed of distribution vs. efficacy of multiple vaccines when variants emerge. MethodsWe utilized a Susceptible-Infected-Recovered-Deceased (SIR-D) model to simulate the impact of immunization using different vaccines with varying efficacies and assessed the level of infection attack rate (IAR) under different speeds of vaccine distribution. ResultsWe found that a vaccine with low efficacy both before and after variants may outperform a vaccine with high efficacy if the former can be distributed more quickly. Particularly, a vaccine with 65% and 60% efficacy before and after the variants, respectively, can outperform a vaccine with 95% and 90% efficacy, if its distribution is 46% to 48% faster (with the selected study parameters). ConclusionsOur results show that speed is a key factor to a successful immunization strategy to control the COVID-19 pandemic even when the emerging variants may reduce the efficacy of a vaccine.
Industrial Sector Feels Fine About Its Labor Productivity

The issue of labor productivity has constantly been debated among analysts and government officials. The common understanding here is that labor productivity is low and needs to be ramped up. According to our business survey, the level of satisfaction with labor productivity reached its peak in 2017. Only 8% of enterprises in Q3 2017 recognized low labor productivity as a headwind to output growth. Furthermore, the industrial sector is not yet prepared to enhance labor productivity to address the issue of personnel shortage.