cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Economic viability of consolidated bioprocessing utilizing multiple biomass substrates for commercial-scale cellulosic bioethanol production

Abstract The depletion of fossil fuel resources requires a greater emphasis on the development of renewable energy technologies. Ethanol produced via biochemical means is a renewable liquid fuel option that shows great promise. In this paper, the large scale production of ethanol via a method of converting lignocellulosic material without the need for enzyme hydrolysis, termed consolidated bioprocessing (CBP), is analyzed and compared to traditional separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF) methods to determine the profitability of biochemical ethanol production. Optimal process topologies for both the CBP and SHF technologies are selected from superstructures considering multiple biomass feeds, chosen from those available across the United States, and multiple prospective pretreatment technologies. Steam cogeneration is also considered to produce the necessary hot utilities as well as electricity as a salable byproduct. Results show the optimal consolidated bioprocessing plant produces about 66 million gallons of ethanol to be sold at a breakeven price of $1.31 per gallon ($0.35 per liter) from a pure sugarcane bagasse feed and sodium hydroxide pretreatment method in addition to 67 MW of electricity per year. These results compare favorably to SHF production methods, showing a 20% decrease in the minimum ethanol selling price (MESP) and 197.5% increase in electricity generation despite a 13.3% drop in ethanol production. A long term economic evaluation is performed to determine an attractively profitable selling price for the ethanol produced. Additional analysis is done on the effect of a mixed biomass feed on process profitability and impact on biomass harvesting radius.
Feasibility of smartphone application and social media intervention on breast cancer survivors' health outcomes.

Breast cancer survivors are at risk for poor health, with physical activity a possible treatment. Little research has examined how technology might promote breast cancer survivor physical activity or health. The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of employing a commercially available mobile health application- and social media-based health education intervention to improve breast cancer survivor physical activity or health.Ten breast cancer survivors (X age = 45.80 ± 10.23 years; X weight = 79.51 ± 20.85 kg) participated in this 10-week single-group pilot study from 2015 to 2016. Participants downloaded the MapMyFitness application, documented all physical activity with MapMyFitness, and were enrolled in a Social Cognitive Theory-based, Facebook-delivered health education intervention. Objectively measured physical activity, weight or body composition, cardiovascular fitness, psychosocial constructs, and quality of life indices were measured at baseline and 10 weeks. Intervention use and acceptability was evaluated during and following the intervention. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all study outcomes, with qualitative analyses performed regarding use and acceptability.At postintervention, average daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and steps increased by 2.6 min and 1,657, respectively, with notable decreases in weight (2.4 kg) and body fat percentage (2.3%). Physical activity-related social support and ability to engage in social roles or activity demonstrated the greatest improvements among all psychosocial and quality of life indices, respectively. Participants enjoyed the feedback and tracking features of MapMyFitness, with most finding the Facebook component helpful. All participants recommended the intervention for future use.Physical activity interventions combining commercially available mobile health applications and theoretically based social media-delivered health interventions may promote certain physiological, psychosocial, and quality of life outcomes among breast cancer survivors. Larger samples and randomized studies are warranted.
Development and psychometric evaluation of the Pornography Purchase Task.

Abstract Excessive pornography use and hypersexuality are frequently evaluated via direct self-report of problem severity and negative consequences associated with these behaviors. These face-valid assessments may be less sensitive to problems of hypersexuality in persons with low insight into their condition or in persons with motivation to minimize the negative impact of their pornography use. Demand for addictive substances has been effectively evaluated through a behavioral economic framework using a hypothetical purchase task, in which respondents are asked to report their degree of engagement with the substance as the financial costs associated with use increase. The present study describes the development and psychometric evaluation of the Pornography Purchase Task (PPT), a novel hypothetical purchase task for internet pornography use, in both a general population sample of adults (Study 1) and a clinical sample of men seeking hypersexuality treatment (Study 2). Overall, results showed good test-retest reliability of the PPT and the exponential-demand equation provided an excellent fit to responses on the PPT. The demand characteristic Intensity was most strongly related to concurrent indicators of hypersexuality and differentiated participants in Study 1. A similar pattern of results was observed in Study 2, with markedly stronger associations between most measures of demand for pornography and measures of hypersexuality for persons with recent use of pornography. Research and clinical implications of the PPT are discussed.
Kids, Privacy, Free Speech & the Internet: Finding the Right Balance

In the field of Internet policy, 2011 has been the year of privacy. Congress has introduced six bills related to online privacy, and the Obama administration released two major reports recommending greater federal oversight of online markets. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) appears poised to step up regulatory activity on this front. State-level activity is also percolating, led by California, which floated two major bills recently. These efforts would expand regulatory oversight of online activities in various ways. Some measures would institute Fair Information Practice Principles (FIPPS), governing the collection and use of personal information online. Others would limit some types data collection, ban certain data or advertising practices, or create new mechanisms to help consumers block online ad-targeting techniques. Another measure would mandate websites adopt a so-called Internet Eraser Button, which would allow users to purge unwanted personal information from online sites and services. Expansion of the Children's Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA), which already mandates certain online privacy protections for children under the age of 13, is also being considered. While well-intentioned, efforts to expand privacy regulation along these lines would cause a number of unintended consequences of both a legal and economic nature. In particular, expanding COPPA raises thorny issues about online free speech and anonymity. Ironically, it might also require more parental consent provisions. There are better ways to protect the privacy of children online than imposing burdensome new regulatory mandates on the Internet and online consumers. Education, empowerment, and targeted enforcement of unfair and deceptive practices represent the better way forward.
An exploratory study examining how nano-liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry and phosphoproteomics can differentiate patients with advanced fibrosis and higher percentage collagen in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is among the leading causes of liver disease worldwide. It is increasingly recognized that the phenotype of NASH may involve a number of different pathways, of which each could become important therapeutic targets. The aim of this study is to use high resolution mass spectrometry (MS) and phosphoproteomics techniques to assess the serum proteome and hepatic phosphoproteome in subjects with NASH-related fibrosis. Sixty-seven biopsy-proven NAFLD subjects with frozen sera and liver tissue were included. Reverse phase protein microarray was used to quantify the phosphorylation of key signaling proteins in liver and nano-liquid chromatography (LC)-MS was used to sequence target biomarkers in the serum. An image analysis algorithm was used to quantify the percentage of collagen (% collagen) using computer-assisted morphometry. Using multiple regression models, serum proteomes and phosphorylated hepatic proteins that were independently (p ≤ 0.05) associated with advanced fibrosis (stage ≥ 2) and higher % collagen were assessed. Phosphorylated signaling pathways in the liver revealed that apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1, mitogen-activated protein kinase (ASK1-MAPK pathway involving ASK1 S38 (p < 0.02) and p38 MAPK (p = 0.0002)) activated by the inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL-10) (p < 0.001), were independently associated with higher % collagen. LC-MS data revealed that serum alpha-2 macroglobulin (α2M) (p = 0.0004) and coagulation factor V (p = 0.0127) were independently associated with higher % hepatic collagen. Simultaneous profiling of serum proteome and hepatic phosphoproteome reveals that the activation of ASK1 S38, p38 MAPK in the liver, and serum α2M and coagulation factor V are independently associated with hepatic collagen deposition in patients with NASH. These data suggest the role of these pathways in the pathogenesis of NASH-related fibrosis as a potential therapeutic target.
45nm PD SOI FET gate resistance optimization for mmw applications

This paper investigates the impact of phosphorous polysilicon gate pre-doping and silicide thickness on the gate resistance of NFETs. The analysis is performed on a 45nm partially depleted (PD) Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) technology with a Ni silicided poly SiON gate stack. It is shown that both process features contribute differently to R g improvements, making their respective benefits dependent on device finger width (W f ). The data also show that combining both approaches can simultaneously improve R g and, consequently, device maximum oscillation frequency (F max ) on both small and large W f devices.
Single-Agent Indirect Herding of Multiple Targets With Uncertain Dynamics

In this paper, an indirect herding problem is considered for a single herder that is outnumbered by multiple target agents. Indirect herding is a problem that involves a network of one or more controllable herding agents and indirectly controlled target agents (i.e., the target agents can only be controlled through the herder by exploiting herder–target interactions), where the goal is to achieve a network-wide objective. This paper investigates the unique problem where a single herder is required to regulate all the target agents to some desired formation. The problem is further complicated by the fact that the target agents have uncertain nonlinear dynamics, including uncertainties in the herder–target interaction. Neural network function approximation methods are used along with switched systems methods to ensure uniformly ultimately bounded convergence of the agent trajectories provided the developed sufficient dwell-time conditions are satisfied. Simulation and experimental results that involve one herding agent and multiple target agents demonstrate the validity of the designed controller and function approximation scheme for multiple herding objectives.
Principles of Banach Spaces

The theme of our presentation up to this point may be described as a study of the interplay between the algebraic-geometric notions of convex sets and mappings, extreme points, etc. and the topological notions of openness, compactness, continuity, etc. For such a study the correct setting is, as we have seen, the linear topological space (frequently required also to be locally convex). The resulting theory is broad and powerful, as we hope has been demonstrated by Chapter II. Further development now requires some additional specialization of our setting. The crucial new hypothesis which we now bring in is that of completeness. We shall also generally limit our considerations to normed linear spaces, unless the results under consideration can be clearly and cleanly extended to locally convex spaces. More typically, locally convex topologies will play a vital supporting role in our theory of Banach spaces, particularly the weak and weak* topologies.
Bayesian model calibration and optimization of surfactant-polymer flooding

The physical models governing surfactant-polymer (SP) flooding process are subject to parametric uncertainties, accurate quantification of which is crucial for improved decision making. Moreover, history matching of SP flooding is an ill-posed problem, typically characterized by a multimodal posterior distribution of these model parameters. This paper presents a systematic approach for Bayesian history matching and uncertainty quantification in the model calibration stage of SP flooding using coreflood experimental data. The approach is as follows. First, we construct a surrogate of the computationally expensive physics-based model using a polynomial chaos expansion (PCE-proxy). Second, we formulate a Bayesian calibration problem for inferring the model parameters from a single coreflood experiment that measures pressure drop and oilcut profiles. Third, we solve the Bayesian calibration problem by sampling directly from the posterior using Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC). We validate the calibrated parameters by successfully predicting the result of two other coreflood experiments. Then, we extend this framework to stochastic multiobjective optimization of injection slug size design under uncertainties in model parameters (captured by the posterior of Bayesian calibration problem) and oil price (modeled as a geometric random walk with constant drift and volatility). To identify the Pareto frontier of the stochastic multiobjective optimization problem, we employ a variant of Bayesian global optimization (BGO), a class of algorithms capable of optimizing black-box, gradient-free, computationally expensive functions. In particular, we use the extended expected improvement over the dominated hypervolume to sequentially select simulations that seek to reveal the Pareto frontier. An addendum of the implemented BGO is that it quantifies the epistemic uncertainty about the Pareto frontier as induced by the limited number of simulations used to construct it.
Evaluation of a high-protein DDGS product in broiler chickens: performance, nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolisable energy, and standardised ileal amino acid digestibility

1. New production processes and additional uses for corn co-products have increased the availability of distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) with varying energy and amino acid digestibility, for use in poultry feed. The objective of this study was to determine the performance, N-corrected metabolisable energy (AMEn), and amino acid (AA) digestibility of a 34% CP (as fed) high-protein DDGS (HP-DDGS) included in poultry diets for Cobb 500 broiler chickens.2. A total of 832 Cobb 500 broilers were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments containing 5% conventional DDGS (CV-DDGS) as a control or 10%, 15% and 20% HP-DDGS and fed for 42 d. After the performance trial, 240 birds from the original 832 were selected for a concurrent AMEn and AA digestibility experiment consisting of two AMEn diets and two AA diets.3. Birds fed diets containing 15% and 20% HP DDGS gained less weight than birds fed the CV-DDGS (P < 0.05) but did not differ in feed intake (FI), and therefore had a less efficient FCR than the control (P < 0.05). The AMEn of HP-DDGS was determined to be 11.4 MJ/kg. The standardised ileal amino acid digestibility (SIAAD) of the essential amino acids Lys and Met were determined to be 80.9% and 88.6%, respectively.4. HP-DDGS can be included in broiler diets up to 10% without any negative impact on performance or requiring supplemental Lys and Arg. The results from the AA digestibility study indicated that HP-DDGS could be a good source of digestible Lys.
Proof Without Words: Pythagorean Primes and Triangular Numbers

A Pythagorean prime is an odd prime p that is the sum of two integer squares. It follows that the two squares have opposite parity and p≡1mod4 . Let Tk denote the triangular numbers 1+2+⋯+k=k(k+1)/...
Keeping the Faith Alive: The Tertön as Mythological Innovator in the Tibetan Treasure Tradition

This paper presents a phenomenological study of how the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism preserves its religious beliefs amidst significant external and internal cultural shifts through an agency of mythopoesis intrinsic to its theological doctrine. The Nyingma School is singular in the world of Buddhism for its recognition of tertons, or “Treasure revealers,” who are men and women believed to possess mystical powers that enable them to discover and decipher sacred texts and religious relics hidden throughout the Tibetan landscape by Buddhist luminaries and masters of the past. These teachings and objects, known as Terma or Treasures, are then shared with the community, monastic and secular alike, to advance their quest for enlightenment and liberation in a world they perceive to be in perpetual decline. This study will demonstrate how the mythopoeic function of the terton has been efficacious in preserving the Nyingma community’s faith in the Buddhist mythos as that mythos is communally perceived from their idiosyncratic worldview. From the specific example of the Nyingma’s Terma tradition, a general conclusion can be drawn that an internal means of mythopoesis is instrumental to the perpetuation of religious and spiritual belief systems whose worldviews become increasingly vulnerable to the momentous changes with which globalization has impacted the modern world.
Pedagogical Imperialism: American Education of Muslim Filipinos, 1898–1935

Drawing upon annual reports of the American government of the Moro Province and the Philippine Islands, contemporaneous press reports, and archival information in the United States and the Philippines, this chapter describes the policies, practices, and underlying ethos of American efforts to spread education in Muslim Mindanao. It identifies three colonial discourses—the pioneer discourse, the civilization discourse, and the infantalization discourse—that were deployed by American officials and observers to rationalize the occupation of Muslim Mindanao as an educational rather than colonial project and frame Muslim Filipino resistance as irrational opposition to civilization rather than an anti-colonial struggle. This framing of the Moro Problem as an educational problem, it argues, grew out of the recent US experience with African-Americans and Native Americans and set the pattern for future relations between non-Muslim and Muslim Filipinos in the postcolonial Philippine state.
P2X4 receptor exacerbates ischemic AKI and induces renal proximal tubular NLRP3 inflammasome signaling

We tested the hypothesis that the P2X4 purinergic receptor (P2X4) exacerbates ischemic acute kidney injury (AKI) by promoting renal tubular inflammation after ischemia and reperfusion (IR). Supporting this, P2X4-deficient (KO) mice were protected against ischemic AKI with significantly attenuated renal tubular necrosis, inflammation, and apoptosis when compared to P2X4 wild-type (WT) mice subjected to renal IR. Furthermore, WT mice treated with P2X4 allosteric agonist ivermectin had exacerbated renal IR injury whereas P2X4 WT mice treated with a selective P2X4 antagonist (5-BDBD) were protected against ischemic AKI. Mechanistically, induction of kidney NLRP3 inflammasome signaling after renal IR was significantly attenuated in P2X4 KO mice. A P2 agonist ATPγS increased NLRP3 inflammasome signaling (NLRP3 and caspase 1 induction and IL-1β processing) in isolated renal proximal tubule cells from WT mice whereas these increases were absent in renal proximal tubules isolated from P2X4 KO mice. Moreover, 5-BDBD attenuated ATPγS induced NLRP3 inflammasome induction in renal proximal tubules from WT mice. Finally, P2X4 agonist ivermectin induced NLRP3 inflammasome and pro-inflammatory cytokines in cultured human proximal tubule cells. Taken together, our studies suggest that renal proximal tubular P2X4 activation exacerbates ischemic AKI and promotes NLRP3 inflammasome signaling.
The spatio-temporal distribution of naloxone administration events in rural Ohio 2010-16.

Abstract Introduction In 2017, Ohio had the second highest rate of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Current opioid related epidemiologic literature has begun to uncover the environmental level influences on the opioid epidemic and how the end results may ultimately manifest over space and time. This work is still nascent however, with most clustering research conducted at a spatial unit such as county level, which (1) can obscure differences between urban and rural communities, (2) does not consider dynamics that cross county lines, and (3) is difficult to interpret directly into strategic and localized intervention efforts. We address this gap by describing, at the Census block level, the spatial-temporal clustering of opioid related events in rural Ohio. Methods We use the outcome of the administration of naloxone emergency medical service (EMS) calls in rural Ohio Census blocks during 2010-16 in a Poisson model of spatial scan statistics. Results We found that naloxone event clustering in rural Ohio in the recent decade was widely dispersed over time and space, with clusters that average 17 times the risk of having an event compared to areas outside the cluster. Many of the larger spatial clusters crossed administrative boundaries (i.e., county lines) suggesting that opioid misuse may be less responsive to county level policies than to other factors. Discussion Timely identification of localized overdose event clustering can guide affected communities toward rapid interventions aimed at minimizing the morbidity and mortality resulting from contagious opioid misuse.
One-year chronic toxicity evaluation of single dose intravenously administered silica nanoparticles in mice and their Ex vivo human hemocompatibility.

Abstract Chronic toxicity evaluations of nanotechnology-based drugs are essential to support initiation of clinical trials. Ideally such evaluations should address the dosing strategy in human applications and provide sufficient information for long-term usage. Herein, we investigated one-year toxicity of non-surface modified silica nanoparticles (SNPs) with variations in size and porosity (Stober SNPs 46 ± 4.9 and 432.0 ± 18.7 nm and mesoporous SNPs 466.0 ± 86.0 nm) upon single dose intravenous administration to female and male BALB/c mice (10 animal/sex/group) along with their human blood compatibility. Our evidence of clinical observation and blood parameters showed no significant changes in body weight, cell blood count, nor plasma biomarker indices. No significant changes were noted in post necropsy examination of internal organs and organ-to-body weight ratio. However, microscopic examination revealed significant amount of liver inflammation and aggregates of histocytes with neutrophils within the spleen suggesting an ongoing or resolving injury. The fast accumulation of these plain SNPs in the liver and spleen upon IV administration and the duration needed for their clearance caused these injuries. There were also subtle changes which were attributed to prior infarctions or resolved intravascular thrombosis and included calcifications in pulmonary vessels, focal cardiac fibrosis with calcifications, and focal renal injury. Most of the pathologic lesions were observed when large, non-porous SNPs were administered. Statistically significant chronic toxicity was not observed for the small non-porous particles and for the mesoporous particles. This one-year post-exposure evaluation indicate that female and male BALB/c mice need up to one year to recover from acute tissue toxic effects of silica nanoparticles upon single dose intravenous administration at their 10-day maximum tolerated dose. Further, ex vivo testing with human blood and plasma revealed no hemolysis or complement activation following incubation with these silica nanoparticles. These results can inform the potential utility of silica nanoparticles in biomedical applications such as controlled drug delivery where intravenous injection of the particles is intended.
A Review of the Relationship Between Vitamin D and Parkinson Disease Symptoms

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble secosteroid that exerts its effects by binding to the vitamin D receptor (VDR), through which it directly and indirectly modulates the expression of hundreds to thousands of genes. While originally known for its role in regulating calcium homeostasis and metabolism, vitamin D is now associated with many other health conditions, including Parkinson's disease (PD). A high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency has been noted in PD for at least the past two decades. These findings, along with the discovery that the VDR and 1α-hydroxylase, the enzyme that converts vitamin D to its active form, are highly expressed in the substantia nigra, led to the hypothesis that inadequate levels of circulating vitamin D may lead to dysfunction or cell death within the substantia nigra. Studies investigating the relationship between vitamin D status and PD, however, have been inconsistent. Two prospective studies examined the association between mid-life vitamin D levels and risk of PD and produced conflicting results-one demonstrated an increased risk for PD with lower mid-life vitamin D levels, and the other showed no association between vitamin D and PD risk. One of the most consistent findings in the literature is the inverse association between serum vitamin D level and motor symptom severity in cross-sectional studies. While these data suggest that vitamin D may modify the disease, another likely explanation is confounding due to limited mobility. Fall risk has been associated with vitamin D in PD, but more study is needed to determine if supplementation decreases falls, which has been demonstrated in the general population. The association between vitamin D and non-motor symptoms is less clear. There is some evidence that vitamin D is associated with verbal fluency and verbal memory in PD. Studies in PD have also shown associations between vitamin D status and mood, orthostatic hypotension and olfactory impairment in PD. While more research is needed, given the numerous potential benefits and limited risks, vitamin D level assessment in PD patients and supplementation for those with deficiency and insufficiency seems justified.
Premature battery depletion of EMBLEM subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillators.

The EMBLEM subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD) has an expected longevity of 7 years. In August 2019, Boston Scientific released an advisory regarding a limited subset of ~400 S-ICDs that exhibited an increased likelihood of an electrical component malfunction causing accelerated battery depletion. We observed several cases of nonadvisory S-ICD early battery depletion and sought to systematically evaluate the cohort of EMBLEM devices implanted and followed in our medical center. Out of 118 nonadvisory EMBLEM S-ICDs with a median time to most recent follow-up after implant of 735 days (interquartile range 375-1219 days), there were four premature battery failures identified. Serial device interrogations showed a sudden reduction in battery life at 1 195, 1 205, 1 300, and 678 days after implant. The number of shocks delivered during the lifetime of the devices did not explain the premature depletion. There was a sudden departure from the gradual linear decrease in battery longevity observed over time. We are the first to report a signal of premature battery depletion among S-ICD EMBLEM devices that were not among the initial advisory devices. The prevalence of premature battery failure in our cohort was 3.4%, occurring at an average of 1 095 days. Following these reports, Boston Scientific issued an advisory on EMBLEM devices in December 2020 extending beyond the initial advisory subset. The current projected occurrence rate for hydrogen-induced accelerated battery depletion is 3.7% at 5 years. Increased surveillance of this potential device issue and mitigation to identify patients at risk for this is warranted.
Endogeneity in the Mutual Fund Flow-Performance Relationship: An Instrumental Variable Solution

We use an instrumental variables (IV) approach to examine the effects of dynamic endogeneity when estimating the relationship between mutual fund flows and performance. Unlike the one-stage estimation approach commonly used in prior research, the IV approach allows us to address reverse causality between flow and performance. Through rigorous exclusion tests, we conclude that fund media coverage, risk ranking, and management structure win in a horse race as exogenous instruments for fund flow, while the fund turnover ratio and institutional share perform best as instruments for fund performance. We then demonstrate that endogeneity bias leads to inaccurate inferences in one-stage estimates, as evidenced by the reversals of the signs of flow and performance coefficient estimates when we switch to the IV approach. We find that careful attention to model specification allows us to resolve several widespread inconsistencies in the literature that were likely driven by model misspecification.
Perceived Impacts, Acceptability, and Recommendations for Ecological Momentary Assessment Among Youth Experiencing Homelessness: Qualitative Study

Background: The use of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to study youth experiencing homelessness (YEH) behaviors is an emerging area of research. Despite high rates of participation and potential clinical utility, few studies have investigated the acceptability and recommendations for EMA from the YEH perspective. Objective: This study aimed to describe the perceived benefits, usability, acceptability, and barriers to the use of EMA from the homeless youth perspective. Methods: YEH were recruited from a larger EMA study. Semistructured exit interviews were performed using an interview guide that focused on the YEH experience with the EMA app, and included perceived barriers and recommendations for future studies. Data analyses used an inductive approach with thematic analysis to identify major themes and subthemes. Results: A total of 18 YEH aged 19-24 years participated in individual and group exit interviews. The EMA was highly acceptable to YEH and they found the app and EMA surveys easy to navigate. Perceived benefits included increased behavioral and emotional awareness with some YEH reporting a decrease in their high-risk behaviors as a result of participation. Another significant perceived benefit was the ability to use the phones for social support and make connections to family, friends, and potential employers. Barriers were primarily survey and technology related. Survey-related barriers included the redundancy of questions, the lack of customizable responses, and the timing of survey prompts. Technology-related barriers included the “freezing” of the app, battery charge, and connectivity issues. Recommendations for future studies included the need to provide real-time mental health support for symptomatic youth, to create individually customized questions, and to test the use of personalized motivational messages that respond to the EMA data in real time. Conclusions: YEH are highly receptive to the use of EMA in studies. Further studies are warranted to understand the impact of EMA on YEH behaviors. Incorporating the YEH perspective into the design and implementation of EMA studies may help minimize barriers, increase acceptability, and improve participation rates in this hard-to-reach, disconnected population.
Creating Space for Community Representation in Police Reform Litigation

Input from affected communities is an essential component of the reform process aimed at remedying unconstitutional police practices. Yet, no court in DOJ-initiated police reform consent decree cases has ever granted a community organization’s motion to intervene as a matter of right. Judicial opinions in those cases have largely truncated the Federal Civil Rule 24 analysis when evaluating the interests of impacted communities. Thus, the most success achieved by a small few has been permissive intervention or amici status. The models used by the Department of Justice to elicit the community perspective have largely been frustrating and have failed to incorporate community voice with equal weight and authority in the process. This article identifies a uniform standard for courts to utilize in public law cases when community organizations seek intervention and proposes an alternative approach to the composition and structure of organization(s) so that the voices and input of those affected by police brutality are included in a meaningful way. The solution proposed by this Article involves applying an adequate representation analysis more suitable for the dynamic relationship between the federal government and marginalized communities. The right to intervene can be attained by those impacted by police violence while ensuring practical and representative concerns articulated by the judiciary in prior reform cases.
Perceptions and predictors of intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Abstract Background The control of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may be dependent on widespread receipt of an effective vaccine. It is important to understand patient health-related behaviors and perceptions to guide public health vaccination strategies. Objectives To examine perceptions of COVID-19 and vaccination beliefs, and identify predictors of intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in the US. Methods A cross-sectional, web-based survey guided by the Health Belief Model was conducted using a web-based Qualtrics survey panel of US adults. The main outcome was the intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine if offered. Additional measures included: demographics, perceptions of COVID-19 severity, risk and susceptibility, views of a potential COVID-19 vaccine, virus and vaccine information sources, vaccine beliefs and behaviors, and seasonal flu vaccine history. Results A total of 1047 complete responses were included. Females had lower odds of intending to receive the COVID-19 vaccine than males (AOR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.36–0.80). Those with a two-year degree/some college had lower odds of intending to receive the COVID-19 vaccine compared to those with a high school degree/GED (AOR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.36–0.97). Respondents who perceived the severity of the virus to be higher, perceived a greater COVID-19 vaccine benefit, and perceived greater general vaccine benefits had higher odds of intending to receive a COVID-19 vaccine (AOR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.09–1.91; AOR = 2.82, 95% CI: 2.24–3.56; AOR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.41–2.21, respectively). Conclusions In this study, intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine varied across demographics, perceived virus severity, COVID-19 vaccine and general vaccine beliefs. Successful implementation of a COVID-19 immunization strategy by healthcare providers and public health officials will need to incorporate diverse COVID-19 vaccination education strategies tailored to patients' health beliefs.
Development, Implementation and Evaluation of a Limited English Proficiency Curriculum

Background: Sixty percent of U.S. internal medicine (IM) residency directors report their program includes a curriculum focused on the needs of patients with limited English proficiency (LEP). Objective: This quality improvement project sought to improve knowledge of best practices for caring for LEP patients by IM residents by implementing an educational curriculum. Methods: Residents from three IM residency programs in a large academic health system were surveyed on their perceived LEP education and barriers at the beginning of the 2018–2019 academic year. A LEP curriculum was developed and delivered to interns of one of the programs. These residents were re-surveyed early in the following academic year. Results: 118/392 (30%) residents completed the pre-curriculum survey. 35% of respondents reported frustration or stress while caring for LEP patients. 59% of residents reported deferring an interpreter for LEP patients less than half of the time. After implementation of the curriculum, a significantly higher percentage of residents responded they informed patients of LEP services at the beginning of the patient encounter (42% vs. 58%, p = 0.03), used “teach-back” (38% vs. 63%, p = 0.002), and felt confident in their ability to know if the patient understood the interpreter (25% vs. 42%, p = 0.01). There were no significant changes after implementation of the curriculum on the effect of time pressures, deferring of formal interpretation, and use of ad-hoc interpreters. Conclusions: A LEP curriculum delivered as a brief workshop for IM residents increased perceived education in caring for LEP patients and heightened awareness of LEP patient rights to formal interpretation.
Correcting the Misinformed: The Effectiveness of Fact-checking Messages in Changing False Beliefs

While research consistently shows that fact-checking improves belief accuracy, debates persist about how to best measure and interpret expressions of factual beliefs. We argue that this has led to ...
THz time-domain characterization of amplifying quantum-cascade metasurface

An amplifying quantum-cascade (QC) metasurface, the key component of the QC vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting-laser (VECSEL), is studied as a function of injected current density using reflection-mode terahertz time domain spectroscopy. Nearly perfect absorption is measured at zero bias, which is associated with the transition from the weak to strong coupling condition between the metasurface resonance and an intersubband transition within the QC material. An increase in reflectance is observed as the device is biased, both due to reduction in intersubband loss and the presence of intersubband gain. Significant phase modulation associated with the metasurface resonance is observed via electrical control, which may be useful for electrical tuning of QC-VECSEL. These results provide insight into the interaction between the intersubband QC-gain material and the metasurface and modify the design rules for QC-VECSELs for both biased and unbiased regions.
Business Process Improvement - UAV Pilot Training Reengineering

As stated by General Schwartz, the Air Force wishes to employ UAVs as tactical, operational and strategic resources; however, with the current UAV pilot training process, attainment of this goal is difficult due to the high transition rate into and out of the career filed (Mulrine). In addition, the costs associated with training and retraining pilots from manned to unmanned and back to manned aircraft exceeds the congressional budget limits while simultaneously spending money that could be put toward the technological advancement of UAVs or other similar equipment. As such, the Air Force’s UAV organization is in deep trouble due to over budget spending and pilot discontent with regards to the current process. Hammer and Champy recognize the necessary “order-of-magnitude improvement” as a sign of future process reengineering. The authors define reengineering as “the fundamental rethinking and radical redesign of business processes to achieve dramatic improvements in critical, contemporary measures of performance, such as cost, quality, service and speed” (Hammer and Champy). As a result, the UAV pilot selection process is currently positioned for reengineering due to the dysfunctional process, the importance of the UAV missions to ground troops, and the feasibility with regards to technological capabilities, funding limits and cultural acceptance.
Myocardial perfusion pattern for stratification of ischemic mitral regurgitation response to percutaneous coronary intervention.

OBJECTIVE Ischemic mitral regurgitation (MR) is common, but its response to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is poorly understood. This study tested the utility of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) for the stratification of MR response to PCI. METHODS MPI and transthoracic echocardiography (echo) were performed among patients undergoing PCI. MPI was used to assess stress/rest myocardial perfusion. MR was assessed via echo (performed before and after PCI). RESULTS A total of 317 patients with abnormal myocardial perfusion on MPI underwent echo 25±39 days before PCI. MR was present in 52%, among whom 24% had advanced (≥moderate) MR. MR was found to be associated with left ventricular (LV) chamber dilation on MPI and echo (both P<0.001). The magnitude of global LV perfusion deficits increased in relation to MR severity (P<0.01). Perfusion differences were greatest for global summed rest scores, which were 1.6-fold higher among patients with advanced MR versus those with mild MR (P=0.004), and 2.4-fold higher versus those without MR (P<0.001). In multivariate analysis, advanced MR was found to be associated with a fixed perfusion defect size on MPI [odds ratio 1.16 per segment (confidence interval 1.002-1.34), P=0.046], independent of LV volume [odds ratio 1.10 per 10 ml (confidence interval 1.04-1.17), P=0.002]. Follow-up via echo (1.0±0.6 years) demonstrated MR to decrease (≥1 grade) in 31% of patients and increase in 12% of patients. Patients with increased MR after PCI had more severe inferior perfusion defects on baseline MPI (P=0.028), whereas defects in other distributions and LV volumes were similar (P=NS). CONCLUSION The extent and distribution of single-photon emission computed tomography-evidenced myocardial perfusion defects impact MR response to revascularization. An increased magnitude of inferior fixed perfusion defects predicts post-PCI progression of MR.
One Coughs, the Other Dances: Freud, Strauss, and the Perversity of Modern Life

Despite his reputed indifference to music, Freud sometimes refers knowledgeably to it. This paper suggests that the Freudian unconscious is partly modeled on the music of late Romanticism in association with representations of feminine desire. Freud’s Dora case and Richard Strauss’s opera Salome converge on a fin-de-siecle concept of a musical unconscious.
The decay of bacterial messenger RNA.

Publisher Summary The many demonstrations that the Escherichia coli (E. coli ) rne gene product (RNase E) is involved in messenger RNA (mRNA) decay have given real impetus to the study of this unusual protein's properties and role. The recent attention given to the polyadenylylation of bacterial mRNAs and the discovery that polyadenylylation plays a role in the turnover of an E. coli plasmid-specific RNA show that bacterial mRNA decay has similarities to the eukaryotic process. Functional decay of a messenger refers to the inactivation of a messenger's template activity, whereas chemical decay refers to the degradation of the mRNA itself. Functional decay, as a process distinct from the cleavages that initiate degradation, has been demonstrated for only a few mRNAs. Specific messengers have half-lives that range from about 0.5 to 20 minutes. The rates of decay of many messengers are actively regulated, thus, affecting the yields of the proteins synthesized. Unique to bacteria, portions of polycistronic mRNAs may decay at different rates, independent of the size of the segment or its position in the transcript. Overall, the decay of mRNA in bacterial cells is a major metabolic function. The turnover of mRNA constitutes about half of the cells' RNA synthesis; the actual amount is related to their growth rate.
Functional analysis of macrophage hybridomas: II. Antibody-independent tumor cytotoxicity and its dissociation from IL-1 production and Ia expression☆

Cloned macrophage hybridoma cells derived from fusions between splenic adherent cells of CKB mice and the drug-marked P388D1 cell line were studied to further understand macrophage-mediated tumoricidal activity at the clonal level. Most of the macrophage hybridomas were specifically activated by a combination of lymphokine and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), but were not activated by either agent alone. There is no apparent correlation between macrophage-mediated tumor cytotoxicity and the ability of LPS to induce interleukin 1 (IL-1) secretion or of concanavalin A (Con A) supernatants containing interferon-gamma to increase H-2 and Ia expression. Thus, one hybridoma clone which was unable to kill tumor cells was still sensitive to LPS and lymphokine activation by the latter criterion.
Expert consensus-building for developing guidelines: lessons learned from a dengue economics workshop

A workshop with 20 experts of diverse backgrounds from five countries in the Americas was convened for two-and-a-half days in March 2012 to discuss and develop a standardized methodology for assessing the economic cost of dengue. This article discusses a number of factors that contributed to the workshop's success, including: engaging the experts at various stages of the process; convening a multidisciplinary group to reduce expert bias and provide a more comprehensive and integrated approach; facilitating guided small- and large-group discussions; developing effective cross-cultural collectivism, trust, communication, and empathy across the expert panel; establishing clear lines of responsibilities within each group of experts; breaking down the complex issues into smaller and simpler ideas; providing ample background materials in multiple languages prior to the workshop. Challenges and areas for improvement are also covered.
Benchmarking in Sports

Operations Research, management science, and economics analyses have frequently been conducted in the area of sports. Not surprisingly, DEA has also been used frequently in sports. These applications provide convenient and accurate data that a broad audience can understand. As such it provides a useful pedagogical tool for explaining DEA as well as demonstrating methodological extensions and implications. This chapter uses DEA to provide insights into the debate of who had the most dominant baseball batting season: Babe Ruth or Barry Bonds. The analysis highlights important characteristics of DEA such as the ability to adjust to changing operating conditions.
Landowner Incentives and Normative Tolerances for Managing Beaver Impacts

Limited research has examined landowner acceptance of using incentives for managing wildlife (e.g., compensation schemes). We examined acceptance of strategies for managing beaver impacts, use of i...