cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling Safety Impacts of Off-Hour Delivery Programs in Urban Areas

Truck travel on urban road networks during daytime can be a major contributor to traffic congestion. A possible approach to relieve traffic congestion in urban areas is shifting a portion of trucks from regular daytime hours to nighttime off-hours. Benefits of this off-hour delivery strategy can be noticeable, but safety impacts need to be investigated. Manhattan, the most densely populated borough of New York City, with a large demand for truck deliveries, was the study area. Truck crashes, traffic volumes, and geometric design features of 256 road segments in Manhattan were collected to develop safety evaluation models. For quantification of the safety impacts of off-hour deliveries, an improved modeling approach was proposed; it involved the use of the multivariate Poisson-lognormal model integrated with measurement errors in truck volumes. The proposed model could address the inherent correlation of specific truck crash types and correct the estimation bias for safety effects of daytime and nighttime ...
Polymerization of α,α-disubstituted β-propiolactones and lactams. VII. Stereoregular polymers from optically active lactones

Optically active α-phenyl-ααethyl-β-propiolactone of high optical purity was prepared and polymerized by homogeneous anionic initiation to the isotactic polyester. The racemic and isotactic polymers had apparently different crystalline properties suggesting that the former may be syndiotactic or may crystallize with unit cells containing both R and S blocks. Similar attempts to prepare α-methyl-α-isopropyl-β-propiolactone of high optical purity were unsuccessful although a partially crystalline polymer was obtained from the racemic monomer.
The complete nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial genome of the lungfish (Protopterus dolloi) supports its phylogenetic position as a close relative of land vertebrates.

The complete DNA sequence (16,646 bp) of the mitochondrial genome of the African lungfish, Protopterus dolloi, was determined. The evolutionary position of lungfish as possibly the closest living relative among fish of land vertebrates made its mitochondrial DNA sequence particularly interesting. Its mitochondrial gene order conforms to the consensus vertebrate gene order. Several sequence motifs and secondary structures likely involved in the regulation of the initiation of replication and transcription of the mitochondrial genome are conserved in the lungfish and are more similar to those of land vertebrates than those of ray-finned fish. A novel feature discovered is that the putative origin of L-strand replication partially overlaps the adjacent tRNA(Cys). The phylogenetic analyses of genes coding for tRNAs and proteins confirm the intermediate phylogenetic position of lungfish between ray-finned fishes and tetrapods. The complete nucleotide sequence of the African lungfish mitochondrial genome was used to estimate which mitochondrial genes are most appropriate to elucidate deep branch phylogenies. Only a combined set of either protein or tRNA mitochondrial genes (but not each gene alone) is able to confidently recover the expected phylogeny among vertebrates that have diverged up to but not over ~400 mya.
Characterization of occupational exposures to cleaning products used for common cleaning tasks-a pilot study of hospital cleaners

In recent years, cleaning has been identified as an occupational risk because of an increased incidence of reported respiratory effects, such as asthma and asthma-like symptoms among cleaning workers. Due to the lack of systematic occupational hygiene analyses and workplace exposure data, it is not clear which cleaning-related exposures induce or aggravate asthma and other respiratory effects. Currently, there is a need for systematic evaluation of cleaning products ingredients and their exposures in the workplace. The objectives of this work were to: a) identify cleaning products' ingredients of concern with respect to respiratory and skin irritation and sensitization; and b) assess the potential for inhalation and dermal exposures to these ingredients during common cleaning tasks. We prioritized ingredients of concern in cleaning products commonly used in several hospitals in Massachusetts. Methods included workplace interviews, reviews of product Materials Safety Data Sheets and the scientific literature on adverse health effects to humans, reviews of physico-chemical properties of cleaning ingredients, and occupational hygiene observational analyses. Furthermore, the potential for exposure in the workplace was assessed by conducting qualitative assessment of airborne exposures and semi-quantitative assessment of dermal exposures. Cleaning products used for common cleaning tasks were mixtures of many chemicals, including respiratory and dermal irritants and sensitizers. Examples of ingredients of concern include quaternary ammonium compounds, 2-butoxyethanol, and ethanolamines. Cleaning workers are at risk of acute and chronic inhalation exposures to volatile organic compounds (VOC) vapors and aerosols generated from product spraying, and dermal exposures mostly through hands. Cleaning products are mixtures of many chemical ingredients that may impact workers' health through air and dermal exposures. Because cleaning exposures are a function of product formulations and product application procedures, a combination of product evaluation with workplace exposure assessment is critical in developing strategies for protecting workers from cleaning hazards. Our task based assessment methods allowed classification of tasks in different exposure categories, a strategy that can be employed by epidemiological investigations related to cleaning. The methods presented here can be used by occupational and environmental health practitioners to identify intervention strategies.
Anterior cervical corpectomy and strut graft fusion using a different method.

Abstract Background context: Strut graft fusion after corpectomy is frequently indicated for certain pathologies in the cervical spine. The “key-hole” technique and “dove-tail” technique are the popular methods used to insert the strut graft at present. Segmental collapse secondary to seating of the graft on cancellous bone and cord injury from placement or dislodgement the graft are our concerns. Our method was designed to solve these possible problems without affecting the arthrodesis. Purpose: To evaluate the results of this method that allows the graft to seat on both the hard end plate and cancellous bone of the upper and lower contacting vertebrae in a easy and safe way after varying levels of corpectomy in the cervical spine. Study design: A retrospective clinical and radiographic study conducted by an independent observer was performed on 23 patients treated with this different strut grafting method after cervical corpectomy, with at least 2 years of follow-up. Patient sample: A total of 23 patients from 1983 to 1994 underwent fusion using our strut grafting method with fibular allograft packed with autogenous bone. No augmented internal instrumentation was used in all these patients. The patients with an incomplete record or less than 2 years of follow-up were excluded beforehand. Outcome measures: Clinical outcome was assessed by a score based on three factors: neck pain, dependence on medicine and ability to return to work. The total score of these factors was seven. A score from 0 to 3 was defined as satisfactory, and a score from 4 to 7 was defined as unsatisfactory. The result of graft fusion, collapse of interbody height and loss of lordotic angle corrected by the graft were evaluated through the radiographic studies. Methods: The operative technique creates a notch in the anterior cortex and end plate of the respective superior and inferior vertebraes. Cylinder allograft filled with autogenous cancellous bone was used as bone graft for all patients. The bone graft is cut with corresponding pegs at both ends. The graft is inserted into the corpectomy space with the pegs inserted into the notches and the remainder of the graft placed onto the preserved superior and inferior bony end plates. Results: Twenty patients achieved successful fusion (87%). On average, the loss of anterior and posterior interbody height was 2.79 mm and 2.93 mm, respectively. The average loss of lordotic correction was 2.83 degrees. Eighty-three percent achieved satisfactory clinical outcomes. There were no neurologic injuries encountered during the operation. Partial graft dislodgment occurred in two patients (8.7%). Conclusions: This different method of strut grafting after cervical corpectomy has proven its safety and efficacy in its fusion and clinical results.
Investigation of GMI in CoSiB and NiFe tri-layer thin film structures

The giant magneto-impedance (GMI) effect is being studied extensively because of its potential applications as sensor elements. The focus of this research work is to explore multilayer CoSiB and NiFe films for GMI sensor applications.
K 4 -free graphs with no odd hole: Even pairs and the circular chromatic number

An odd hole in a graph is an induced cycle of odd length at least five. In this article we show that every imperfect K4-free graph with no odd hole either is one of two basic graphs, or has an even pair or a clique cutset. We use this result to show that every K4-free graph with no odd hole has circular chromatic number strictly smaller than 4. We also exhibit a sequence lHnr of such graphs with limn→∞χc(Hn)=4. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 65: 303–322, 2010
Predictive leg strength values in immediately prepubescent and postpubescent athletes

Sixty healthy, athletic children were treated on a Cybex II Dynamometer to obtain values for the relative strengths of the major muscle groups of the lower extremity. Prepubescent and postpubescent boys and girls were tested. Of the anthropometric parameters measured, lean body weight correlated best with max imal torque force development. In prepubescent chil dren, the mean maximal quadriceps torque force, meas ured in foot-pounds at 60 deg/sec, is equal to 70% of the lean body weight. In postpubescent subjects, the mean peak quadriceps torque equalled 80% of the lean body weight in girls and 90% of the lean body weight in boys. Correlations can be established between the maximal torque force generated by the quadriceps and the strength of the hamstrings, ankle dorsiflexors, and plantar flexors. The values obtained are useful in plan ning training and rehabilitation programs and in deter mining when an injured young athlete can safely return to his or her sport.
MODERNIZATION AND CHINA'S URBAN DEVELOPMENT*

ABSTRACT Economic development and modernization programs launched in the past three decades have significantly altered the traditional urban systems in China, which had essentially evolved within physiographic regions through centuries. Construction of railroads, development of energy sources, agricultural transformation, expansion of foreign trade, and a rapid process of demographic transition have all contributed to the emergence of a more integrated national urban system in China with articulated linkages between physiographic regions. In spite of political overtones in China's development policies since 1949, the new patterns of urbanization reflect the need to meet the specific realities of resources, cultural values, and social heritage in the nation building process.
GPD1L links redox state to cardiac excitability by PKC-dependent phosphorylation of the sodium channel SCN5A.

The SCN5A-encoded cardiac sodium channel underlies excitability in the heart, and dysfunction of sodium current (INa) can cause fatal ventricular arrhythmia in maladies such as long QT syndrome, Br...
Directional clutter removal of aerial digital images using X-ray wavelet transform and Markov random field

Aerial images are one of the primary data sources for underwater oceanographic studies. These images are often corrupted by clutter induced by surface water waves. Removal of the wave clutter from these images is an important preprocessing step for accurate assessment of information. In this paper, we introduce a novel technique combining the X-ray wavelet transform (XWT) with Markov random field (MRF) for directional noise removal. Surface water waves are classified according to their features into two types: ripple wave (long-wave) and spark wave (short-wave). We show in our numerical experiments that by performing XWT along the direction of wave propagation, the wave clutter can he successfully detected. To remove long-waves, resampling and subband filtering techniques are used. To remove short-waves, on the other hand, a spectral-spatial maximum exclusive mean (SMEM) filter is used in this study. Finally, because of the directional characteristic of the clutter, nonisotropic MRF is introduced into the post-processing step to refine the output. Experimental results show that one can remove both kinds of wave clutter with only small background distortion using the proposed hybrid algorithm.
Atmospheric changes caused by galactic cosmic rays over the period 1960–2010

Abstract. The Specified Dynamics version of the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (SD-WACCM) and the Goddard Space Flight Center two-dimensional (GSFC 2-D) models are used to investigate the effect of galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) on the atmosphere over the 1960–2010 time period. The Nowcast of Atmospheric Ionizing Radiation for Aviation Safety (NAIRAS) computation of the GCR-caused ionization rates are used in these simulations. GCR-caused maximum NOx increases of 4–15 % are computed in the Southern polar troposphere with associated ozone increases of 1–2 %. NOx increases of ∼ 1–6 % are calculated for the lower stratosphere with associated ozone decreases of 0.2–1 %. The primary impact of GCRs on ozone was due to their production of NOx. The impact of GCRs varies with the atmospheric chlorine loading, sulfate aerosol loading, and solar cycle variation. Because of the interference between the NOx and ClOx ozone loss cycles (e.g., the ClO + NO2+ M → ClONO2+ M reaction) and the change in the importance of ClOx in the ozone budget, GCRs cause larger atmospheric impacts with less chlorine loading. GCRs also cause larger atmospheric impacts with less sulfate aerosol loading and for years closer to solar minimum. GCR-caused decreases of annual average global total ozone (AAGTO) were computed to be 0.2 % or less with GCR-caused column ozone increases between 1000 and 100 hPa of 0.08 % or less and GCR-caused column ozone decreases between 100 and 1 hPa of 0.23 % or less. Although these computed ozone impacts are small, GCRs provide a natural influence on ozone and need to be quantified over long time periods. This result serves as a lower limit because of the use of the ionization model NAIRAS/HZETRN which underestimates the ion production by neglecting electromagnetic and muon branches of the cosmic ray induced cascade. This will be corrected in future works.
Recent fibrillation studies: attempts to wrest order from disorder.

Not so long ago, the basic mechanism of the maintenance of fibrillation was thought to be understood, with only the details to be worked out. Whereas the relative roles of reentry and foci were intensely debated during the first half of the twentieth century,1 by the 1970s, the preponderance of evidence suggested that fibrillation was maintained solely by reentry.2,3 This reentry was thought to be evanescent and unstable, maintained by wandering wavelets of activation following constantly changing paths of activation and exhibiting frequent conduction block caused by a nonuniform dispersion of refractoriness.2,4 In the last few years, these cherished ideas have been challenged from several different directions. Clinical data suggest that in some patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, foci arising primarily from the pulmonary veins contribute to both the initiation and maintenance of the arrhythmia.5–7 Although recent experimental and simulation investigations still point to reentry as the sole mechanism for the maintenance of ventricular fibrillation,8–11 they suggest that there may be other causes of reentry than the dispersion of refractoriness and other types of reentry than wandering wavelets. Some of these investigations have dealt with the nonlinear, temporal aspects of the relationship between the activation rate and the refractory period, ie, the restitution curve.12,13 Other investigations have dealt with the nonlinear, spatial aspects of activation and recovery8,10,14–16 and, from the study of excitable media, have introduced the concepts of wavefront, wavetail, wavebreak, and rotor as replacements for and improvements upon the classic concepts of activation sequence, recovery pattern, conduction block, and reentry. Rotors can be short-lived, equivalent to wandering wavelets or nonsustained reentry or they can be long-lived, equivalent to sustained monomorphic reentry. In a series of articles,10,17–21 Jalife’s group has described the importance of sustained, long-lived rotors in the maintenance of …
Internally Heated Convection Experiments and Simulations

Laboratory experiments and numerical simulations of internally heated convection are reviewed. The emphasis is on quantitative results, especially integral quantities important to heat transport and their dependence on the Rayleigh number, which is proportional to the heating rate. For all experiments and three-dimensional simulations, the various measures of mean temperature can be fit to powers of the rate of volumetric heating. The exponents of these fits range from 0. 75 to 0. 77 when the bottom is insulating, and they range from 0. 78 to 0. 82 when the top and bottom are fixed at equal temperatures. In the latter configuration, the fraction of internally produced heat flowing outward across the bottom boundary falls quite slowly as heating is strengthened. When this fraction is fit to a power of the heating rate, the fit exponents lie between − 0. 049 and − 0. 099.
Sponge distribution and the presence of photosymbionts in Moorea, French Polynesia

Photosymbionts play an important role in the ecology and evolution of diverse host species within the marine environment. Although sponge-photosymbiont interactions have been well described from geographically disparate sites worldwide, our understanding of these interactions from shallow water systems within French Polynesia is limited. We surveyed diverse habitats around the north coast of Moorea, French Polynesia and screened sponges for the presence of photosymbionts. Overall sponge abundance and diversity were low, with <1% cover and only eight putative species identified by 28S barcoding from surveys at 21 sites. Of these eight species, seven were found predominately in shaded or semi-cryptic habitats under overhangs or within caverns. Lendenfeldia chondrodes was the only species that supported a high abundance of photosymbionts and was also the only species found in exposed, illuminated habitats. Interestingly, L. chondrodes was found at three distinct sites, with a massive, fan-shaped growth form at two of the lagoon sites and a thin, encrusting growth form within a bay site. These two growth forms differed in their photosymbiont abundance, with massive individuals of L. chondrodes having higher photosymbiont abundance than encrusting individuals from the bay. We present evidence that some sponges from French Polynesia support abundant photosymbiont communities and provide initial support for the role of these communities in host ecology.
Accumulation of guanylate binding proteins in patients treated with interferons.

We have previously described an interferon (IFN)-induced protein with a molecular weight of 67,000. This protein has an affinity to guanylates and is thus called guanylate binding protein (GBP). Th...
The Seeds of Protest: From Elite Initiation to Grassroots Mobilization:

The article reports the findings of our case study of a social movement organization opposed to the pollution of a river by a paper mill. Using data from participant-observation and archival source...
Prevention of Foot Pad Dermatitis in Poults with Methionine

Abstract Poults fed diets containing isolated soybean protein or soybean meal developed a dermatitis on their foot pads. It could be prevented by the addition of methionine to the diet but was unrelated to the addition of sulfate or extra biotin. This disorder was observed more in White than Bronze poults.
Experimental production of polycythemia in humans by administration of cobalt chloride.

ConclusionDaily oral administration of 150 mg of cobaltous chloride to 6 normal human subjects caused development of increased erythropoiesis characterized by erythrocyte increases ranging from 0.5 to 1.19 M (average 0.96 million) cells/mm3 of blood within 7 to 22 days. The high red blood cell counts returned to normal within 9 to 15 days after cessation of cobalt administration.
Progress in VAD fiber manufacture

The vapor-phase axial deposition (VAD) technique has made dramatic progress over a few years and achieved satisfactory productivity as well as excellent performance in spite of its short development history compared with the MCVD and OVPO processes. Large amounts of VAD fiber have been manufactured by production plants with a capacity of more than several thousand kilometer fiber per month. This plant operation provided enough data to indicate successful performance and productivity of the VAD process with all kinds of fiber including conventional graded-index, high N.A. with large core, and single-mode fibers. For example, VAD graded-index fibers were successfully used in commercial tests of interoffice trunk with medium capacity by NTT in Japan. VAD single-mode fibers have been used in field trials to assure the performance required for high-capacity intercity and submarine cable systems.
Light-Responsive Iron(III)–Polysaccharide Coordination Hydrogels for Controlled Delivery

Visible-light responsive gels were prepared from two plant-origin polyuronic acids (PUAs), alginate and pectate, coordinated to Fe(III) ions. Comparative quantitative studies of the photochemistry of these systems revealed unexpected differences in the photoreactivity of the materials, depending on the polysaccharide and its composition. The roles that different functional groups play on the photochemistry of these biomolecules were also examined. Mannuronic-rich alginates were more photoreactive than guluronic acid-rich alginate and than pectate. The microstructure of alginates with different mannuronate-to-guluronate ratios changed with polysaccharide composition. This influenced the gel morphology and the photoreactivity. Coordination hydrogel beads were prepared from both Fe–alginate and Fe–pectate. The beads were stable carriers of molecules as diverse as the dye Congo Red, the vitamin folic acid, and the antibiotic chloramphenicol. The photoreactivity of the hydrogel beads mirrored the photoreactivi...
On Automorphisms of Complete Algebras And The Isomorphism Problem for Modular Group Rings

In [5], Roggenkamp and Scott gave an affirmative answer to the isomorphism problem for integral group rings of finite p-groups G and H, i.e. to the question whether Z G ⥲ Z H implies G ⥲ H (in this case, G is said to be characterized by its integral group ring). Progress on the analogous question with Z replaced by the field F p of p elements has been very little during the last couple of years; and the most far reaching result in this area in a certain sense - due to Passi and Sehgal, see [8] - may be compared to the integral case, where the group G is of nilpotency class 2.
Companion matrices with integer entries and integer eigenvalues and eigenvectors

Recent articles in the MONTHLY have discussed the construction of matrices with integer entries, integer eigenvalues, and integer eigenvectors (see [3], [4], [6]). In this note we give a simple method for this construction by use of companion matrices [1, chap. X, ?5]. The method gives, in addition, matrices whose eigenvalues have any specified algebraic multiplicity but spectral multiplicity one. This is related to [2]. The corresponding Jordan strings have integer entries. Finally, the method provides matrices with integer entries whose inverses also have integer entries. Consider a monic polynomial of degree n,
Calculating Approach Capacity of Diverging Diamond Interchanges with Consideration of Internal Queue Effects

The diverging diamond interchange (DDI) is an innovative alternative to the conventional diamond interchange. Its operational efficiency has proved promising because its unique geometric design allows the operation of flexible signal phasing schemes. Of all DDI phasing schemes, two-phase operations can best highlight the merit of the DDI design by using overlaps. An internal queue is allowed with different types of two-phase operations. Therefore, conventional capacity calculation methods may not be appropriate for the DDI if the effects of the internal queue need to be considered. To fill this gap, a method was developed to calculate the approach capacity of the DDI by using an analytical model that would consider the impacts of the internal queue on the traffic progression of either arterial roads or freeway ramps. The proposed model was fully calibrated with microscopic traffic simulation in Vissim; comparison of the results indicates that the model has promising accuracy and stability. One of the prop...
Sonographic Prediction of Pediatric Renal Scarring With Full Parameter Normalization

Objectives To predict the chronic kidney disease (CKD) state for pediatric patients based on scaled renal cortical echogenicity. Methods Sonograms from a cohort of 26 patients, half of whom had stage 4 or 5 CKD, whereas the other half had normal renal function, were analyzed. For each patient image, a region of interest (ROI) was drawn around the renal cortex for comparison with an ROI drawn around the hepatic parenchyma. The latter ROI was shifted spatially to normalize the signal attenuations and time-gain compensations of the two organs’ ROIs. Then the average pixel intensity of the renal ROI was divided by the corresponding hepatic value, resulting in scaled renal cortical echogenicity. Results The average scaled renal cortical echogenicity was higher for diseased than healthy kidneys by roughly a factor of 2 (2.01 [95% confidence interval, 1.62–2.40] versus 1.05 [95% confidence interval, 0.88–1.23] for normal kidneys). This difference was statistically significant (P < .001). Conclusions Our results show that the pediatric CKD state correlates with rigorously calculated scaled renal cortical echogenicity.
Prevention of Iatrogenic Keratectasia.

Iatrogenic corneal ectasia is a rare but devastating complication after refractive surgery. While its incidence appears to be declining, it has not been eliminated. Its cause is probably related to a combination of an intrinsic predisposition to ectasia and an additional anatomical destabilising effect from the refractive surgery. Determining which eyes are intrinsically “weak” and exactly how much additional “weakening” an eye can withstand before developing progressive thinning and protrusion are both difficult tasks. The essentially universal availability of corneal topography and the increasing use of corneal tomography have significantly improved our ability to preoperatively diagnose early forms of corneal ectasias, especially keratoconus and pellucid marginal degeneration. Advanced software algorithms have also enhanced the sensitivity and specificity of these technologies. Newer technologies, such as measuring corneal biomechanics and corneal epithelial distribution, will hopefully continue to help us to differentiate normal from abnormal corneas preoperatively. In addition to abnormalities in anterior and posterior corneal curvature, a number of other risk factors for the development of post-refractive surgery ectasia have been proposed, including younger patient age, thinner central corneal thickness, thinner residual stromal bed thickness and high myopia. If the percentage of altered tissue is > 40 %, this is an extremely accurate predictor of corneal ectasia after refractive surgery. While there are a number of effective treatments for iatrogenic corneal ectasia, such as contact lenses, corneal crosslinking, intracorneal rings and corneal transplantation, prevention should be the goal. With newer and better corneal imaging technology to help screen out patients with abnormal corneas along with an improved understanding of exactly how much weakening a given cornea can take, we should be able to minimize this vision threatening complication.
Increased Reliability in Detection of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli by DNA Colony Hybridization 1.

Previously a DNA hybridization assay was designed to detect the presence of and to enumerate enterotoxigenic foodborne Escherichia coli . The determinative step in the method involves autoradiographic analysis of the DNA from foodborne isolates after hybridization with a 32P-labeled probe specific for an enterotoxin gene. Dark spots appearing on the X-ray film after exposure indicate which colonies carry genes encoding the pathogenic determinant. A problem with this assay is the tendency of some colonies to detach from the nitrocellulose filters during hybridization or washing to remove the unbound probe DNA; this results in a false-negative interpretation in up to 60% of the samples processed at 80°C. By lowering the temperature to 70°C and increasing the incubation time to 3 h during in vacuo baking of filters, detachment (flotation) of colonies is reduced to about 37%. At 65°C only 2% of the colonies came off the filter after in vacuo baking of filters for 24 h. Another problem has been the inadequacy of exposure of X-ray film at -20°C when a -70°C freezer is not available. This problem can be alleviated by exposing the X-ray film in cassette holders "sandwiched" between slabs of dry ice (CO2 ice has a temperature of -78.5°C). These modifications improve the reliability and accuracy of this DNA colony hybridization method.
Rasmussen’s Syndrome and Uveitis

Two children with Rasmussen’s syndrome complicated by asymptomatic uveitis are reported from the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, and Montreal Neurological Institute, Montreal, Canada.
Computer tablet distraction reduces pain and anxiety in pediatric burn patients undergoing hydrotherapy: A randomized trial.

Abstract Background Distraction is often used in conjunction with analgesics to minimize pain in pediatric burn patients during treatment procedures. Computer tablets provide many options for distraction items in one tool and are often used during medical procedures. Few studies have examined the effectiveness of tablet distraction in improving the care of pediatric burn patients. Aim This study examines the effectiveness of tablet distraction provided by a child life specialist to minimize pain and anxiety in pediatric burn patients undergoing hydrotherapy. Methods Thirty pediatric patients (4–12) undergoing hydrotherapy for the treatment of burns participated in this randomized clinical trial. The tablet distraction group received tablet distraction provided by a child life specialist while those in the control group received standard care. Pain was assessed through self-reports and observation reports. Anxiety was assessed through behavioral observations. Length of procedure was also recorded. Results Nurses reported significantly less pain for the tablet distraction group compared to the control group. There was no significant difference between groups on self-reported pain. The tablet distraction group displayed significantly less anxiety during the procedure compared to the control group. Also, the tablet distraction group returned to baseline after the procedure while those in the control group displayed higher anxiety post-procedure. There was no difference in the length of the procedure between groups. Conclusions These findings suggest tablet distraction provided by a child life specialist may be an effective method for improving pain and anxiety in children undergoing hydrotherapy treatment for burns.
Mapping Abramović, from Affect to Emotion

Marla Carlson contends that Marina Abramovic’s recent emergence as a blockbuster art star owes a great deal to her implicit embrace of neoliberal individualism and explicit rejection of feminism, even as her work remains profoundly generative for feminist scholarship and performance practice. In reperformances of The Biography (1993–1996) or The Life and Death of Marina Abramovic (2011–2013), provocations that once disturbed merge into celebrity, and critics traffic in the artist’s psychological history as the press might do with a movie star. Recontextualizing earlier actions as incidents in the artist’s family and relationship history, making them more readily palatable for mass audiences, closing down the field of affective possibility, and marketing her emotional experience with astonishing success, the artist’s performances appear suited to neoliberal times.
Investigation of index change in compression molding of As40Se50S10 chalcogenide glass

Chalcogenide glasses are emerging as alternative materials for low-cost and high-volume glass molding processes for infrared optics. In precision glass molding, it is well documented that the refractive index variation in the molded elements can lead to substantial amounts of aberrations. The variation has such a significant effect that the optical designs with molded lenses need to be carefully considered and compensated for index variation to achieve targeted optical performance. This research is aimed to evaluate the refractive index change of a chalcogenide glass during the molding process by both finite element method-based simulation and optical experiment. First, a set of mold inserts was designed and machined by high-speed single-point diamond milling. The structure of the lower mold insert was semiclosed and detachable, which facilitated the molded infrared prisms’ release from the mold. Second, finite element method simulation was implemented to predict the refractive index change during the cooling phase by using the Tool–Narayanaswamy–Moynihan model for structural relaxation behavior. It was confirmed that refractive index variation occurred inside the molded wedge due to rapid thermal cycling. However, the amount of variation in the molded element indicates that the refractive index change during the molding process was not uniform. Finally, the refractive index of the molded wedge was measured by an optical setup. The results showed that the index shift is approximately −0.0226 for As40Se50S10, which matched the numerical result by simulation. Compared with oxide glass materials, the index drop of As40Se50S10 has a significant effect on optical performance of molded optics, and the postmolding refractive index should be taken into account in the optical design. In summary, the results presented in this article provided reliable references for refractive index change of As40Se50S10 glass, crucial for precision glass molding or similar applications.
The Role of Quorum Sensing in Biofilm Development

Quorum-sensing (QS) systems have been discovered in over 100 microbial species, many of which use these cell-to-cell signaling mechanisms for the coordinated production of biofilms. While our understanding of QS dynamics in laboratory culture conditions has dramatically expanded over the last few decades, we still understand very little about how these systems govern bacterial behavior in complex, natural settings. What we do know is that QS can influence every stage of biofilm formation; however, this influence is dependent on the microorganism and the type of QS system it employs. Furthermore, QS can both positively and negatively regulate biofilm formation in different environmental conditions. Investigations of QS in situ have been hampered by a lack of experimental tools; however, innovative new strategies are being developed that should help shed light on the involvement of QS in complex, polymicrobial biofilms. While developing agents that modulate QS to control microbial biofilm formation has faced significant hurdles, there are some promising agents in development and a more complete understanding of the role QS plays in biofilm formation should help drive future advances.
Personality and Communication Skills as Predictors of Hospice Nurse Performance

Based on a detailed job analysis, job-related personality dimensions and communication skills were used as predictors of hospice nurse performance. In particular, it was predicted that communication/social competence and certain dimensions of empathy (empathic concern, perspective-taking) would be positively related to hospice nurse performance, and that another type of empathy, personal distress, and trait dogmatism would be negatively associated with performance. Ninety-two hospice nurses were administered the battery of tests, and “file drawer” assessments of their performance were obtained. Possession of communication/social competence and certain dimensions of empathy led to good prediction of job performance. Implications for personnel screening and selection are discussed.
The Tax Gap

How much tax revenue is lost due to noncompliance? The IRS and other researchers attempt to answer this question by estimating the difference between taxes owed and those actually paid. The result is known as the tax gap.
Digital Inequality Across Major Life Realms

This issue of the American Behavioral Scientist probes digital inequality as both an endogenous and exogenous factor shaping key life realms and social processes. These include aging and the life c...
Feasibility of Oophorectomy at the Time of Vaginal Hysterectomy in Patients with Pelvic Organ Prolapse.

ABSTRACT Study Objective To determine the feasibility of oophorectomy at the time of vaginal hysterectomy in patients with pelvic organ prolapse and to define prognostic factors and perioperative morbidity associated with the procedure. Design A retrospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). Setting An academic medical center. Patients All women who underwent total vaginal hysterectomy for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse over 5 years were considered for inclusion in the study. Interventions Total vaginal hysterectomy and concomitant pelvic organ prolapse repair with or without oophorectomy. Measurements and Main Results A total of 289 women underwent total vaginal hysterectomy with pelvic organ prolapse repair. Vaginal oophorectomy was attempted in 179 patients (61.9%). The procedure was successful in 150 patients (83.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 77.6%–88.9%). High ovarian location was the most commonly cited reason for the inability to perform a planned unilateral/bilateral oophorectomy (n = 24, 82.7%). Attempting oophorectomy vaginally was associated with an increased duration of surgery by 7.3 minutes (p = .03), an increased change in hemoglobin by 0.2 g/dL (p = .02), and a higher rate of readmission (7.3% vs 1.8%, p = .04). Multiple logistic regression showed that increasing age (odds ratio = 1.12; 95% CI, 1.05–1.20; p Conclusion In patients with pelvic organ prolapse, a planned oophorectomy at the time of vaginal hysterectomy can be successfully performed in the majority of cases. Greater age and body mass index are associated with an increased likelihood of failure.
Advancing a Conceptual and Empirical Model of School Climate for School Staff in California

ABSTRACTSchool climate is increasingly intertwined with efforts to create safe schools and improve social-emotional learning and academic outcomes. While current definitions of school climate impli...
Comparison of different body measurement techniques: 3D stationary scanner, 3D handheld scanner, and tape measurement

Body measurements play an import role in pattern generation and size determination. Traditionally, body measurements were captured with tape measures. The tape measure technique is often time-consu...
Optimal operation and control of intensified processes — challenges and opportunities

Process systems engineering (PSE) tools can be utilized to enable the optimal operation and control of intensified processes. In this work, the challenges in the control of intensified processes are summarized, including the difficulties in modelling and performing online optimization of these highly complex dynamic systems. Nevertheless, PSE progress in the areas of nonlinear programming, reduced-order modeling, development of software tools, parallel computing and artificial intelligence are enabling the implementation and optimization of large-scale intensified systems. Future opportunities for research are identified, including the simultaneous optimization of scheduling of operation and control, a promising strategy that has proven its value in regular operations, and can expand the operating windows of intensified processes.
Interior Point Methods

In this chapter we will describe the methods that start with a point in the interior of the feasible region and continue through the interior towards the boundary solution. The study of these methods was started by the work of Karmarkar, and has been an area of intense international activity during the past decade.
Child Witness Research from a Children’s Rights Perspective

A children’s rights perspective illuminates and informs child witness research, sometimes in unexpected ways. In this commentary, I outline what a children’s rights perspective can contribute to the study of child witnesses, and tackle the question of how to define what children’s rights are. A discussion of each of the articles in this remarkable special issue highlights research findings and challenges, the applications of children’s rights, and future directions for the field.
Current Insights into Migratory Endoparasitism: Deciphering the Biology, Parasitism Mechanisms, and Management Strategies of Key Migratory Endoparasitic Phytonematodes

Despite their physiological differences, sedentary and migratory plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) share several commonalities. Functional characterization studies of key effectors and their targets identified in sedentary phytonematodes are broadly applied to migratory PPNs, generalizing parasitism mechanisms existing in distinct lifestyles. Despite their economic significance, host–pathogen interaction studies of migratory endoparasitic nematodes are limited; they have received little attention when compared to their sedentary counterparts. Because several migratory PPNs form disease complexes with other plant-pathogens, it is important to understand multiple factors regulating their feeding behavior and lifecycle. Here, we provide current insights into the biology, parasitism mechanism, and management strategies of the four-key migratory endoparasitic PPN genera, namely Pratylenchus, Radopholus, Ditylenchus, and Bursaphelenchus. Although this review focuses on these four genera, many facets of feeding mechanisms and management are common across all migratory PPNs and hence can be applied across a broad genera of migratory phytonematodes.
Improved survival after treatments of patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease associated hepatocellular carcinoma.

Worldwide, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has reached epidemic proportions and in parallel, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has become one of the fastest growing cancers. Despite the rise in these disease entities, detailed long-term outcomes of large NAFLD-associated HCC cohorts are lacking. In this report, we compared the overall and recurrence-free survival rates of NAFLD HCC cases to patients with HBV and HCV-associated HCC cases. Distinguishing features of NAFLD-associated HCC patients in the cirrhosis and non-cirrhosis setting were also identified. We conducted a retrospective study of 125 NAFLD, 170 HBV and 159 HCV HCC patients, utilizing clinical, pathological and radiographic data. Multivariate regression models were used to study the overall and recurrence-free survival. The overall survival rates were significantly higher in the NAFLD-HCC cases compared to HBV-HCC (HR = 0.35, 95% CI 0.15–0.80) and HCV-HCC (HR = 0.37, 95% CI 0.17–0.77) cases. The NAFLD-HCC patients had a trend for higher recurrence-free survival rates compared to HBV and HCV-HCC cases. Within the NAFLD group, 18% did not have cirrhosis or advanced fibrosis; Hispanic ethnicity (OR = 12.34, 95% CI 2.59–58.82) and high BMI (OR = 1.19, 95% CI 1.07–1.33) were significantly associated with having cirrhosis. NAFLD-HCC cases were less likely to exhibit elevated serum AFP (p < 0.0001). After treatments, NAFLD-related HCC patients had longer overall but not recurrence-free survival rates compared to patients with viral-associated HCC. Non-Hispanic ethnicity and normal BMI differentiated non-cirrhosis versus cirrhosis NAFLD HCC. Further studies are warranted to identify additional biomarkers to stratify NAFLD patients without cirrhosis who are at risk for HCC.
The Relation of Social Capital to Child Psychosocial Adjustment Difficulties: The Role of Positive Parenting and Neighborhood Dangerousness

Substantial research attention has focused on the psychosocial adjustment problems of children and adolescents residing in disadvantaged neighborhoods. However, less attention has been directed to neighborhood factors within disadvantaged neighborhoods that may facilitate child psychosocial adjustment. An expanded model, assessing how social capital, neighborhood dangerousness, and positive parenting relate to child psychosocial adjustment difficulties, was estimated using structural equation modeling (Lisrel 8.3). Participants included 130 African American mothers and their children (mean age = 12.9 years) residing in inner city New Orleans, LA. The model examined 3 avenues through which social capital (e.g., support, neighborhood cohesion) may relate to fewer child psychosocial adjustment difficulties: a direct relation; through its relation to positive parenting; and through its relation to neighborhood dangerousness. Results indicate that social capital related to child psychosocial adjustment difficulties through positive parenting and neighborhood dangerousness, but not directly. Overall, the proposed model fit the observed data reasonably well. The results suggest that social capital in disadvantaged neighborhoods is important in indirectly facilitating child psychosocial adjustment and should be incorporated into assessment and intervention practices.
Accurate Prediction of NBA Players’ Lifespan with Big Sports Data

This study aims to figure out which factors can be a significant risk predictor for the lifespan of professional basketball players and to figure out which machine learning model can be used to predict NBA players’ lifespan. This paper explores the relationship between response variable American professional players’ lifespan and predictors including handness, total points earned during career (PTS), height, weight, position, and ethnicity using data from departed sportsmen who have worked in the National Basketball Association and the American Basketball Association. This study compares different machine learning and decides to use regression for the prediction. The cut-off date for death data collection is August 1, 2020. Overall, this analysis included and identified 920 deceased players. As a result, weight and PTS play the most crucial factor which affects NBA players’ lifespan. Besides, the range of weight is between 137.00 pounds to 284.00 pounds, with a standard deviation of 22.48, and has a mean weight of 199.03 pounds. Except birth periods before 1920 and from 1941 to 1950, the most massive players are more likely to die younger than the lightest players based on the descriptive finding. Similarly, Polynomial, Lasso, and Ridge regression analyses show a strong relationship between the predictor weight, PTS, and response lifespan. The mortality risk of more massive and high PTS players is significantly higher than lighter and lower PTS players. Understanding the potential risks of early mortality can help NBA players better plan their training sessions to improve their life quality.