cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vertical Versus Horizontal Infection Control Interventions

Healthcare-associated infections are a major burden on a nation’s healthcare system, and prevention has been an area of major focus. Several strategies have been used to target transmission risks and various organisms including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), and carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB). Vertical strategies target a specific organism and include measures such as active surveillance cultures which may be followed by isolation or decolonization. In contrast, horizontal strategies aim to reduce infections caused by all microorganisms sharing a common means of transmission. Examples of horizontal measures include implementation of hand hygiene, universal decolonization, selective digestive tract decolonization, antimicrobial stewardship, and environmental cleaning. While there is no clear consensus over which strategies are most optimal in different settings, horizontal strategies are more likely to have a broader impact and are more cost-effective.
Air travel and thromboembolic events after orthopedic surgery: Where are we and where do we need to go?

Abstract Introduction As medical tourism expands, guidelines must be established to allow for appropriate patient counseling, as there is already an inherent increased venous thromboembolism risk with air travel. We review orthopedic literature to determine if there are post-operative air travel recommendations that can be made and where additional focus should be directed that may decrease thromboembolic complication rates in this already at-risk population. Methods A systematic review of the Medline and Cochrane databases was conducted for articles related to air-travel and orthopaedics. As joint arthroplasty research focuses heavily on venous thromboembolisms and their prevention, we initially directed our review to this field using the search terms- “thromboembolism OR flight OR flying AND arthroplasty”. Criteria for inclusion were abstracts and articles related to the topic of venous thromboembolism in orthopaedic procedures, which were relevant to the study question. A meta-analysis for risk estimation of thromboembolism was to be conducted. Results The query identified 1542 studies. 6 articles were assessed for eligibility, 2 proved to be relevant. None of the studies were prospective or randomized. Conclusion Due to the small sample and heterogeneity of the studies available, a meta-analysis could not be performed. Acute post-operative air travel appears safe following joint arthroplasties and upper extremity fractures, but is unclear for spine and trauma patients. Further research should be directed towards the growing trend of air travel following surgical procedures.
“God Smites You!”: Atheists’ Experiences of Stigma, Identity Politics, and Queerness*

Existing research on Atheists is sparse. The lived experiences of Atheists have been ignored almost entirely. Triangulating from autoethnographic materials and life-history interviews, this project...
Sensitivity of transcription by purified Streptomyces antibioticus RNA polymerase to actinomycin.

Abstract DNA-dependent RNA polymerase has been purified 400-fold from 48 hr old, actinomycin producing cells of Streptomyces antibioticus . Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified S. antibioticus polymerase reveals the presence of bands corresponding to the β, β′, and α subunits of Escherichia coli polymerase, but no σ subunit. The purified S. antibioticus polymerase is also associated with a protein component of 145,000 daltons and it is suggested that this protein is produced by limited proteolysis of either the β or β′ subunits. “In vitro” studies have shown that transcription catalyzed by either S. antibioticus or E. coli RNA polymerase is inhibited to about the same extent by actinomycin.
Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of thyroid nodules: Is routine ultrasound-guidance necessary?

Background Current guidelines recommend either ultrasound-guided or palpation-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy for evaluation of a thyroid nodule. However, it has been suggested that ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy should be used routinely in all patients to reduce the rate of nondiagnostic and false negative results. The purpose of this study was to determine whether any difference exists in nondiagnostic and false negative rates between the two methods of fine-needle aspiration biopsy at our institution. Methods A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained thyroid database was completed to determine the rates of nondiagnostic and false negative fine-needle aspiration biopsy in patients with nodular thyroid disease evaluated during the period 1990–2017. Results From 1990 to 2017, a total of 2,322 patients underwent fine-needle aspiration biopsy for evaluation of nodular thyroid disease, 1,123 (48%) underwent ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy and 1,199 (52%) underwent palpation-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy. Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy was nondiagnostic in 4.5% and had a 5.2% false negative rate, compared with palpation-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy, which was nondiagnostic in 5.0% and had a 2.6% false negative rate (P = .53 and .14, respectively). Conclusion The rate of nondiagnostic and false negative fine-needle aspiration biopsy results is similar whether US guidance is used or not. To minimize resource utilization, ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy can be used selectively for nonpalpable, predominantly cystic, or previously nondiagnostic nodules.
Experimental validation of optimized ultra-high-performance concrete shear key shape for precast pre-stressed adjacent box girder bridges

Abstract Recently, ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) material has been adopted as a grout material to fill connections between adjacent girders. Research to date has showed that using UHPC in the shear key connections of bridges improves the bridge superstructure performance. However, shear key configuration used in the most bridges are custom-designed and do not follow any specific design code. In a previous study by the authors, an optimized shape of the UHPC shear key (OPT-UHPC) was introduced in attempt to enhance load transfer and increase ultimate strength capacity. The optimization was conducted using three 3D finite element models simulating direct shear, flexural, and direct tension tests. The objective of the present study is to experimentally measure the performance and ultimate load capacity of the OPT-UHPC shear key by placing it between two high strength concrete (HSC) components and subjecting to direct shear, direct tension, and flexural tests. These results are then compared to the modeling predictions from the previous study. Two 45°-rectangular rosette strain gauges were placed on the surface of UHPC shear key and HSC components under direct shear load to obtain the strain in the shear key and the adjacent HSC components. The test results showed the OPT-UHPC design has an ultimate load capacity 32% larger than the FHWA-UHPC shear key, even though the cross-sectional areas are approximately equal, 19677 mm2 for FHWA-UHPC and 20161 mm2 for OPT-UHPC, a difference of about 2.5%. Also, the experimental results indicate the OPT-UHPC shear key enhanced the strain distribution between the concrete components and as result improved the load transfer. Thus, the load transfer mechanism is substantially influenced by the shear key configuration.
The smelly path to sympatric speciation

In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Poelstra et al. () use genomic data to show that cichlid species in the adaptive radiation in Lake Ejagham, Cameroon, experienced gene flow with a riverine relative, primarily prior to their diversification. Intriguingly, this introgression brought with it olfactory alleles that the authors suggest may play a sensory role in speciation. As a classic example of sympatric speciation due to the highly restricted geography of this small (0.49 km2 ) crater lake (Schliewen et al., ), this result sheds new light on the history of this fascinating radiation. As genomic data for cichlid radiations accumulate, finding evidence of introgression increasingly appears to be the rule rather than the exception (Kautt et al., ; Meier et al., , ). However, two points are pressing as evidence for introgression mounts: (a) It is crucial to understand the assumptions of analytical approaches used and (b) it is important to think clearly about the divergent contexts in which evidence for introgression has been invoked as an important feature of adaptive radiation.
Mechanical formation of micro- and nano-plastic materials for environmental studies in agricultural ecosystems.

Release of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) into agricultural fields is of great concern due to their reported ecotoxicity to organisms that provide beneficial service to the soil such as earthworms, and the potential ability of MPs and NPs to enter the food chain. Most fundamental studies of the fate and transport of plastic particulates in terrestrial environments employ idealized MP materials as models, such as monodisperse polystyrene spheres. In contrast, plastics that reside in agricultural soils consist of polydisperse fragments resulting from degraded films employed in agriculture. There exists a need for more representative materials in fundamental studies of the fate, transport, and ecotoxicity of MPs and NPs in soil ecosystems. The objective of this study was therefore to develop a procedure to produce MPs and NPs from agricultural plastics (a mulch film prepared biodegradable polymer polybutyrate adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT) and low-density PE [LDPE]), and to characterize the resultant materials. Soaking of PBAT films under cryogenic conditions promoted embrittlement, similar to what occurs through environmental weathering. LDPE and cryogenically-treated PBAT underwent mechanical milling followed by sieve fractionation into MP fractions of 840 μm, 250 μm, 106 μm, and 45 μm. The 106 μm fraction was subjected to wet grinding to produce NPs of average particle size 366.0 nm and 389.4 nm for PBAT and LDPE, respectively. A two-parameter Weibull model described the MPs' particle size distributions, while NPs possessed bimodal distributions. Size reduction did not produce any changes in the chemical properties of the plastics, except for slight depolymerization and an increase of crystallinity resulting from cryogenic treatment. This study suggests that MPs form from cutting and high-impact mechanical degradation as would occur during the tillage into soil, and that NPs form from the MP fragments in regions of relative weakness that possess lower molecular weight polymers and crystallinity.
Validation and confirmatory factor analysis of the pediatric Adherence Barriers to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Questionnaire.

Abstract Objective To evaluate and refine a newly proposed factor structure for the Adherence Barriers to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Questionnaire (ABCQ) and to present psychometric data from a large, geographically diverse sample of children and young adults with sleep disordered breathing (SDB) treated with positive airway pressure (PAP). Methods A sample of 181 patients prescribed PAP for treatment of SDB, ages 8–21 years, and caregivers (n = 234) of patients ages 2–21 years, completed the ABCQ during routine sleep medicine clinic visits. Adherence data from participants' PAP machines were obtained via electronic download, providing objective data on PAP adherence immediately preceding the clinic visit during which the ABCQ was completed. Results A three-factor structure (1. Behavior, Beliefs, Environment, 2. Emotional Barriers, & 3. Physical Barriers) exhibited good model fit in confirmatory factor analysis. Results indicate that the ABCQ has strong psychometric properties, including good internal consistency among subscales and strong convergent validity with objectively measured PAP adherence. Analysis of the Receiver Operator Characteristic Curve (ROC) yielded an ABCQ total cut-off score of 46.5 for patient report and 53.5 for caregiver report. Scores above the cutpoint predicted nonadherence to PAP, defined as failure to use PAP for ≥4 h on 70% of nights. Conclusions The three-factor ABCQ appears to be a useful patient- and caregiver-report instrument to measure barriers to PAP treatment in children and young adults with sleep disordered breathing.
Patrick Lonergan, Irish Drama and Theatre since 1950

Patrick Lonergan’s Irish Drama and Theatre Since 1950 maps archival material against political, social, and literary groundswells to show the precision with which independent theatre makers in Irel...
Atom-by-atom electrodeposition of single isolated cobalt oxide molecules and clusters for studying the oxygen evolution reaction

We report an electrodeposition protocol for preparing isolated cobalt oxide single molecules (Co1Ox) and clusters (ConOy) on a carbon fiber nanoelectrode. The as-prepared deposits are able to produce well-defined steady-state voltammograms for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline media, where the equivalent radius (rd) is estimated by the limiting current of hydroxide oxidation in accordance with the electrocatalytic amplification model. The size of isolated clusters obtained from the femtomolar Co2+ solution through an atom-by-atom technique can reach as small as 0.21 nm (rd) which is approximately the length of Co–O bond in cobalt oxide. Therefore, the deposit was close to that of a Co1Ox single molecule with only one cobalt ion, the minimum unit of the cobalt-based oxygen-evolving catalyst. Additionally, the size-dependent catalysis of the OER on ConOy deposits shows a faster relative rate on the smaller cluster in terms of the potential at a given current density, implying the single molecular catalyst shows a superior OER activity.
Sustaining a warm corona in active galactic nucleus accretion discs

Warm coronae, thick ($\tau_{\mathrm{T}}\approx 10$-$20$, where $\tau_{\mathrm{T}}$ is the Thomson depth) Comptonizing regions with temperatures of $\sim 1$ keV, are proposed to exist at the surfaces of accretion discs in active galactic nuclei (AGNs). By combining with the reflection spectrum, warm coronae may be responsible for producing the smooth soft excess seen in AGN X-ray spectra. This paper studies how a warm corona must adjust in order to sustain the soft excess through large changes in the AGN flux. Spectra from one-dimensional constant density and hydrostatic warm coronae models are calculated assuming the illuminating hard X-ray power-law, gas density, Thomson depth and coronal heating strength vary in response to changes in the accretion rate. We identify models that produce warm coronae with temperatures between $0.3$ and $1.1$ keV, and measure the photon indices and emitted fluxes in the $0.5$-$2$ keV and $2$-$10$ keV bands. Correlations and anti-correlations between these quantities depend on the evolution and structure of the warm corona. Tracing the path that an AGN follows through these correlations will constrain how warm coronae are heated and connected to the accretion disc. Variations in the density structure and coronal heating strength of warm coronae will lead to a variety of soft excess strengths and shapes in AGNs. A larger accretion rate will, on average, lead to a warm corona that produces a stronger soft excess, consistent with observations of local Seyfert galaxies.
Conflict resolution between physicians and nurse practitioners.

Background In the United States health care system, nurse practitioners (NPs) and physicians work very closely in the delivery of high-quality patient care across lifespans and acuities. In fact, advanced practice nurses work closer with physicians in their day-to-day care delivery than with any other group of professionals. This remains true even in states with independent practice for NPs. Because of the significant relationships between physicians and NPs, assessment of how these professionals resolve conflict is essential. Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the style of conflict resolution employed by NPs and physicians. Methods Nurse practitioners (n = 57) and physicians (n = 58) were randomly sampled from the Florida Department of Health-Health Care Practitioner Data Portal (N = 115). Participants completed a demographic questionnaire assessing experience in conflict resolution training and the Rahim Organizational Conflict Inventory-II, Form C, which defined the style of conflict resolution they most used and preferred. Results Results showed that 29.8% of physicians and 40.4% of NPs received formal conflict resolution/management education/training (p = .24). The dominant style of conflict resolution used for 78% of physicians and 74% of NPs was the integrating style, with no statistical difference between the two professions (p = .87). Implications for practice Physicians and NPs lack formal education on conflict resolution in their graduate studies. In addition, both professionals tend to use similar styles of conflict resolution among one another in clinical practice, which affects their collaboration and ultimately how optimal care is delivered to patients.
Revealing the evolving mixture of molecular aggregates during organic film formation using simulations of in situ absorbance.

In this work, we introduce a method for modeling the evolving absorbance spectrum of an organic molecule, pseudoisocyanine (PIC), measured during the process of molecular aggregation. Despite being historically considered a J-aggregate, we find that the absorbance spectrum of PIC cannot be adequately modeled using solely J-aggregates either during molecular aggregation or in the final dry film. The collection of absorbance spectra during solution-casting is particularly difficult since a distribution of aggregates with various sizes and structures can coexist. Here, spectra measured during film formation are fit to a weighted sum of simulated spectra of two aggregate species, revealing the combinations of Coulombic coupling values, Huang–Rhys parameters, and aggregate sizes that provide good fits to measured spectra. The peak intensity ratios and relative peak positions are highly sensitive to the aggregate structure, and fitting only these features enables the rapid comparison of aggregate combinations. We find that the spectra of PIC aggregates cannot be modeled using the Huang–Rhys factor of the PIC monomer, as is typically assumed, leading us to consider models that utilize independent Huang–Rhys factors for each aggregate species. This method of fitting only the key spectral features allows an experimental spectrum to be modeled within 1 h–2 h when using a single Huang–Rhys factor, making the simulation of a series of in situ measurements during aggregation computationally feasible.
Validated models for pre-test probability of stable coronary artery disease: a systematic review suggesting how to improve validation procedures

ABSTRACT An overuse of invasive and non-invasive anatomical testing for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) affects patients’ and healthcare professionals’ safety, and the sustainability of Healthcare Systems. Pre-test probability (PTP) models can be routinely used as gatekeeper for initial patient management. Although with different positions, international organizations clearly underline the need for more information on the various risk factors acting as modifier of the PTP. This systematic review addresses validation of PTP models adopting variables available at the first-line assessment of a suspected stable CAD. A comprehensive search has been done in MEDLINE®, HealthSTAR, and Global Health databases. Nearly all the models considered in the 27 analysed papers include age, sex, and chest pain symptoms. Other common risk factors are smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidaemia. Only one model considers genetic profile. Reported AUCs range from 0.51 to 0.81. Relevant heterogeneity sources have been highlighted, such as the sample size, the presence of a PTP cut-off and the adoption of different definitions of CAD which can prevent comparisons of results. Very few papers address a complete validation, making then impossible to understand the reasons why the model does not show a good discrimination capability on a different data set. We consequently recommend a more clear statement of endpoints, their consistent measurement both in the derivation and validation phases, more comprehensive validation analyses and the enhancement of threshold validations of PTP to assess the effects of PTP on clinical management.
Accelerated design of vanadium redox flow battery electrolytes through tunable solvation chemistry

Summary Operational stability of electrolytes is a persistent impediment in building redox flow battery technology. Stabilizing multiple vanadium oxidation states in aqueous solution is a primary challenge in designing reliable large-scale vanadium redox flow batteries (VRBs). Here we demonstrate that rationally selected ionic additives can stabilize the aqua vanadium solvate structures through preferential bonding and molecular interactions despite their relatively low concentrations (≤0.1 M). The competing cations (NH4+ and Mg2+) and bonding anions (SO42−, PO43−, and Cl−) introduced by bi-additives are used to tune the vanadium solvation chemistry and design an optimal electrolyte for VRB technology. Such molecular engineering of VRB electrolytes results in enhancement of the operational temperature window by 180% and energy density by more than 30% relative to traditional electrolytes. This work demonstrates that tunable solvation chemistry is a promising pathway to engineer an optimal electrolyte for targeted electrochemical systems.
HeteroGraphRec: A heterogeneous graph-based neural networks for social recommendations

Abstract Recommender systems in social networks are widely used for connecting users to their desired items from a vast catalog of available items. Learning the user’s preferences from all the possible sources of information in an extensive, multi-dimensional social network is one of the main challenges when building such recommenders. Graph Neural Networks have been gaining momentum in recent years and have been successful when dealing with large-scale graphs, and they can be applied to social networks with some modifications. In this research, we propose the HeteroGraphRec, which provides social recommendations by modeling the social network as a heterogeneous graph and utilizing GNNs with attention mechanisms to intelligently aggregate information from all sources when building the connections between user to user, item to item, and user to item. The HeteroGraphRec can gather information about the user’s connections (friendships, trust network), item interaction history, and item similarities to attain rich information about the preferences. To evaluate the HeteroGraphRec, we use three real-world benchmark datasets and demonstrate that the proposed HeteroGraphRec achieves superior performance compared to ten other state-of-the-art social recommender systems. We extensively analyze the HeteroGraphRec model to illustrate the effectiveness by changing the embedding dimensions of the users and items. We also show the interpretability of our model by examining each component of the model’s contribution. The results show that the HeteroGraphRec is robust and can consistently perform better than the baseline systems.
Does the Negro Need Separate Schools? A Retrospective Analysis of the Racial Composition of Schools and Black Adult Academic and Economic Success

W.E.B. Du Bois asserted that black students are better served by attending predominantly black schools than hostile integrated schools in a context of racial discrimination. The conventional assumption is that black students benefit educationally by attending schools with more white peers, which have access to greater resources. However, the theory of the functionality of discrimination advances the idea that black students may face greater discrimination in school settings with numerous white peers as a result of a competitive process and white appropriation of preferred resources. Using the National Survey of Black Americans, we find evidence of a nonmonotonic relationship between high school racial composition and years of schooling completed, high school graduation, likelihood of being employed, and likelihood of owning a home. We conclude, contrary to conventional belief, that it is not unambiguously the case that black students gain from attending schools with more white peers.
Electronic crash reporting: Implementation of the Model Minimum Uniform crash Criteria (MMUCC) and crash record life cycle comparison

Abstract Electronic crash records have become the standard crash reporting method in most states, but crash report elements vary between states and there is little publicly available information detailing the data provenance and life cycles for these records. As crash report granularity increases, proper data management is critical to ensure report quality with minimal errors. States are encouraged to meet federal standards for minimum crash report elements detailed in the Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria. MMUCC standardization helps states manage long-term crash data, enables multi-state analysis, and promotes sound traffic safety policies. This paper details how the states of Alabama and Wisconsin manage crash reports by evaluating their compliance with MMUCC standards as well as tracking the life cycle of crash reports in the two states from provenance, through approval and validation processes, to preservation as official records. A web-based MMUCC Compliance Tool was developed using elements from Alabama and Wisconsin crash reports, and aids other states in mapping existing crash report elements to MMUCC standards. The tool uses an automated check to map crash report elements and flags missing elements. The output of the tool includes a report detailing changes needed for the crash report to more closely align with the MMUCC standards. Common crash report lifecycle elements in Alabama and Wisconsin were identified, including initial web service validations, supervisor review, transactional database backups, linkage to driver record systems, and processes in place to manage and fix void requests. To aid crash recording procedures nationwide, a set of best practices for crash report lifecycle management is synthesized from the analysis.
Creating an Effective Law School Mission

This chapter of Building on Best Practices: Transforming Legal Education in a Changing World includes contributions from three authors:Section A, The Accreditation Context and the Law School Mission, is by Judith Welch Wegner.Section B, Mission Statements that Accurately Define, Distinguish, and Reflect the Law School's Praxis, is by Vanessa Merson & Irene Scharf.Chapter 2 is available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2637068 Chapter 3 is available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2637102 Chapter 4 is available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2637490 Chapter 5 is available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2637495 Chapter 6 is available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2637499 Chapter 7 is available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2637541 Chapter 8 is available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2637544
Vipe Financing: Venture (Capital) Investments in Public Equity

This paper studies 1,655 venture investments in public equity (“VIPEs”) over 1995-2008. Although it has been conjectured that venture capital firms (VCs) have increased investments in public equity over time, we find little evidence to support this claim as VIPEs represent less than 2 percent of total VC investment in most years. VCs appear to invest in VIPEs to leverage their experience and to capitalize on perceived undervaluation of the issuer’s equity shares. Consistent with this, VIPEs are highly concentrated in a few industries and VCs purchase stakes at a price 47 percent below the issuer’s previous year’s high price. We do not, however, find evidence that the experience VCs gain from investing in private companies results in an ability to consistently identify undervalued public companies.
A Comparison of Algorithm Generated Sectorizations

This paper discusses a comparison of several algo- rithm generated airspace boundary designs, known as sectoriza- tions. Three algorithms are chosen that approach the airspace sectorization problem in different ways and produce radically dif- ferent looking sectorizations due to the disparity in their methods. Simulations of air traffic using each of the sectorizations is com- pleted and their resulting demand, capacity, complexity, and delay metrics are compared. Results identify strengths and weaknesses of each sectorization algorithm.
Into the Third Stage: A Review of the Film The Open Road: America Looks at Aging

At face value, The Open Road: America Looks at Aging appears to be on the common themes of seniors facing retirement and on the impact of the baby boomer generational cohort reaching retirement age...
The Effect of Academics' Dress and Gender on Student Perceptions of Instructor Approachability and Likeability.

This study sought to discover student perceptions of academics’ dress and gender and their impact on perceived instructor approachability and likeability. Three categories of dress were examined: casual, business casual and professional. The results of this study suggest students at career-arts institutions perceive female teachers as less approachable and less likeable than male teachers, and teachers in casual attire less likeable than teachers in business casual or professional attire. However, the results of the two-way ANOVA suggest there is no statistical significance in students’ perceptions of the approachability of teachers based upon attire, and no statistical significance in students’ perceptions of the approachability or likeability of teachers based upon attire and gender.
Percutaneous Mechanical Disc Decompression Using Dekompressor Device: An Appraisal of the Current Literature

Objectives. The objective of this study was to determine if the available literature answers the following questions: does percutaneous disc decompression using Dekompressor device relieve radicular pain caused by a small disc herniation? Is the duration of response stable and clinically worthwhile? Is relief of pain corroborated by improvements in physical and social function? Does relief of pain result in reduction in the use of other health care? Is there a risk of serious side effects or complications? Design/Settings. The study was designed as a narrative review and description of the available evidence, drawn from the databases of PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library. Innovatively, the concept of the “context of the patient” was introduced in the assessment. It required the assessors to consider the alternatives the patients and their treating practitioners faced. Results. The literature search identified three nonrandomized clinical trials, and a single case series. All studies were reasonably rigorous in reporting relief of pain and the use of analgesics. Evidence with respect to physical functioning was scarce. Although investigators reported on the relief of pain, they lacked rigor when reporting associated outcome measures such as use of other health care and physical functioning. Conclusions. Unfortunately, the context of a patient with persistent radicular pain caused by a small disc herniation is the lack of good alternatives to Dekompressor procedure. The moral question is whether Dekompressor is any less valid an option than perpetual opioids or discectomy. This question would be much easier to answer if the literature on Dekompressor was more rigorous and more compelling in its evidence.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Diagnosis of Budd-Chiari Syndrome

Noninvasive imaging modalities may suggest the diagnosis of Budd—Chiari syndrome but they are rarely diagnostic. Inferior vena cavography, hepatic venography, and liver biopsy, alone or in combination, are usually necessary for definitive diagnosis. Because of its excellent depiction of blood vessels as regions of absent signal, magnetic resonance imaging has the potential to make a noninvasive diagnosis of hepatic vein thrombosis. A case illustrating the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of Budd—Chiari syndrome is presented.
Battling Pornography: Seeds of Discontent

In the late 1960s, many young Americans rejected traditional standards of sexual morality that forbade sex outside of marriage, and embraced the “sexual revolution” – the popular movement that equated sexual freedom with personal liberation. They championed a more permissive sexual climate that fostered concrete behavioral changes, such as higher rates of premarital sex, rising divorce rates, shrinking family size, and greater numbers of sexual partners for both women and men. Individuals had more choice regarding their sexual lives, and many openly engaged in sex before marriage, living with someone outside of marriage, or having casual sex with numerous partners, all with relatively little fear of social ostracism. Although these changes may have seemed shocking to mainstream America, they actually built on long-term, gradual trends toward greater sexual freedom that had been at work in American culture since the 1920s. Since that time, Americans' attitudes regarding sexual behavior had moved, somewhat haltingly and with bouts of opposition, in a direction that the historians John D'Emilio and Estelle Freedman refer to as “sexual liberalism.” To the extent that a true sexual revolution occurred in the 1960s and 1970s, it found its fullest expression in a widespread set of attitudinal changes regarding the meaning of sex. Many people came to regard sex as a gratifying touchstone of life – a “self-enriching, joyous phenomenon” – that did not have to be restricted to marriage or serious courtship.
Gender and communication theory

(1991). Gender and communication theory. Communication Education: Vol. 40, Gender Issues in the Communication Classroom, pp. 94-98.
A conceptual model of medical student well-being: promoting resilience and preventing burnout.

This article proposes and illustrates a conceptual model of medical student well-being. The authors reviewed the literature on medical student stress, coping, and well-beingand developed a model of medical student coping termed the “coping reservoir.” The reservoir can be replenished or drained by various aspects of medical students’ experiences. The reservoir itself has an internal structure, conceptualized as consisting of the individual’s personal traits temperament and coping style. The coping reservoir metaphor is used to highlight the dynamic nature of students’ experiences, with potential outcomes including enhanced resilience and mental health versus distress and burnout. Medical student well-being is affected by multiple stressors as well as positive aspects of medical training. Attention to individual students’ coping reservoirs can help promote well-being and minimize burnout; formal and informal offerings within medical schools can help fill the reservoir. Helping students cultivate the skills to sustain their well-being throughout their careers has important payoffs for the overall medical education enterprise, for promotion of physician resilience and personal fulfillment, and for enhancement of professionalism and patient care. This and other models of coping should be empirically validated.
Morphological and biochemical differences expressed in separate dissociated cell cultures of dorsal and ventral halves of the mouse spinal cord.

Abstract The neuronal properties of separate dissociated cell cultures of dorsal and ventral halves of the embryonic mouse spinal cord (E 13.5) were investigated. Ventral-half cultures grew on a variety of substrates and in a variety of media; dorsal-half cultures required a non-neuronal feeder layer and supplemented medium for survival. The two types of cultures differed in their morphological and biochemical properties. Ventral-half neurons remained well separated on the culture plate, whereas dorsal-half neurons tended to aggregate. Lucifer yellow fills showed that ventral-half neurons were substantially larger and had more processes than dorsal-half neurons. Because of the large size and good separation of the neurons, ventral-half cultures provide an especially attractive system for electrophysiologic and morphologic studies. Ventral-half cultures were highly enriched for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity and had more neurons that stained for intracellular acetylcholinesterase (AChE); dorsal-half cultures were enriched for glutamic acid decar☐ylase (GAD) activity, and high-affinity γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) uptake. The clear differences between the two cultures indicate that many morphological and biochemical properties are already specified on embryonic day 13.5.
In situ current voltage measurements for optimization of a novel fullerene acceptor in bulk heterojunction photovoltaics

The evaluation of the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of new materials for organic bulk heterojunction (BHJ) photovoltaics is difficult due to the large number of processing parameters possible. An efficient procedure to determine the optimum conditions for thermal treatment of polymer-based bulk heterojunction photovoltaic devices using in situ current-voltage measurements is presented. The performance of a new fullerene derivative, 1,9-dihydro-64,65-dihexyloxy-1,9-(methano[1,2] benzomethano)fullerene[60], in BHJ photovolatics with poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) was evaluated using this methodology. The device characteristics of BHJs obtained from the in situ method were found to be in good agreement with those from BHJs annealed using a conventional process. This fullerene has similar performance to 1-(3-methoxycarbonyl)propyl-1-phenyl-[6,6]-methano fullerene in BHJs with P3HT after thermal annealing. For devices with thickness of 70 nm, the short circuit current was 6.24 mA/cm2 with a fill factor of 0.53 and open circuit voltage of 0.65 V. The changes in the current-voltage measurements during thermal annealing suggest that the ordering process in P3HT dominates the improvement in power conversion efficiency. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2012
A SISO, MULTI-ANALYTE SENSOR BASED ON A COUPLED MICRORESONATOR ARRAY

This work details a preliminary analytical and experimental investigation of a new class of resonant, single input - single output (SISO) microsensors, which are capable of detecting multiple analytes. The key feature of these sensors is that they exploit vibration localization in a set of N microbeams, coupled indirectly through a common shuttle mass, to allow for the detection of N distinct resonance shifts (induced by the presence of up to N distinct analytes) using solely the shuttle mass’ response. The work includes a brief overview of the proposed sensor design, the formulation and subsequent analysis of a representative lumpedmass model of the sensor, and details of a recently-completed simulated mass detection experiment, which verified the feasibility of the proposed sensor design. Where appropriate, practical design issues, essential to sensor development, are described.
Modeling optical properties of mineral aerosol particles by using nonsymmetric hexahedra

We explore the use of nonsymmetric geometries to simulate the single-scattering properties of airborne dust particles with complicated morphologies. Specifically, the shapes of irregular dust particles are assumed to be nonsymmetric hexahedra defined by using the Monte Carlo method. A combination of the discrete dipole approximation method and an improved geometric optics method is employed to compute the single-scattering properties of dust particles for size parameters ranging from 0.5 to 3000. The primary optical effect of eliminating the geometric symmetry of regular hexahedra is to smooth the scattering features in the phase function and to decrease the backscatter. The optical properties of the nonsymmetric hexahedra are used to mimic the laboratory measurements. It is demonstrated that a relatively close agreement can be achieved by using only one shape of nonsymmetric hexahedra. The agreement between the theoretical results and their measurement counterparts can be further improved by using a mixture of nonsymmetric hexahedra. It is also shown that the hexahedron model is much more appropriate than the "equivalent sphere" model for simulating the optical properties of dust particles, particularly, in the case of the elements of the phase matrix that associated with the polarization state of scattered light.
Poly(oxyethylene)−Water Interactions: A Molecular Dynamics Study

Molecular dynamics simulations of a poly(oxyethylene) (POE) chain with 15 ethylene oxide (EO) units have been performed in an aqueous solution for 2 ns at 300 K and for 1 ns at 373 K, a cloud point for POE. The conformation and the hydration structure of POE and the structure and the dynamics of water molecules in the vicinity of POE were examined. The conformation of POE was transformed from a collapsed chain in the gas phase to a helix in water which was maintained for 2 ns. After a simulated annealing at 1000 K, POE still showed a preference for a helix. An extended network of POE−water and water−water hydrogen bonds was found throughout inside the helix, stabilizing the helix backbone. The same helical conformation was maintained even at 373 K. The pair distribution functions for water oxygen atoms near POE indicated significantly enhanced water structures in the hydrophilic region of POE, and to a lesser extent in the hydrophobic region, at both 300 and 373 K. Considerably reduced translational movem...
Seasonal variation of peroxidase activity in chestnut trees

Peroxidase (E.C.1.11.1.7) activity in twigs of American (Castanea dentata), Chinese (C. mollissima), and Japanese (C. crenata) chestnut was determined monthly over an eight month period. The total amount of peroxidase activity was highest in December and April for most trees. An inhibitor of peroxidase activity was present in the extracts which could be removed by gel filtration. Extracts from healthy twigs had consistent major bands on IEF gels. However, a new band was detected in bark of American chestnut after wounding or infection with chestnut blight fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica).
Survival of human colony-forming cells (CFC) after freezing.

Abstract To examine the ability of human macrophage-granulocyte colony-forming cells (CFC) to survive a defined freeze-thaw procedure, we cultured fresh and cryopreserved marrow cells from the same specimens in a methylcellulose system. The cultures were stimulated by two kinds of conditioned medium, fibroblast (FCM) or leukocyte (LCM). We have shown previously that LCM stimulated CFC smaller in size than those stimulated by FCM. Cultures of cryopreserved and fresh cells stimulated by LCM showed no significant difference either in the number of colonies formed or in colony formation kinetics. In contrast with FCM stimulation there was a significant decrease in colony number in cryopreserved specimens, and in addition, the kinetics of colony formation between cryopreserved and fresh specimens were distinctly different. Cryopreserved specimens stimulated with serially diluted FCM or LCM always exhibited their respective kinetic pattern of colony formation. Cell size distribution analysis and morphological examination of fresh and cryopreserved cells revealed that following freeze-thaw there was a marked reduction in cells 9 μm or larger, and that there was a shift in the morphological cell differential from myeloid to lymphoid predominance. From these observations, we concluded that CFC responsive to LCM stimulation survived the freeze-thaw procedure better than CFC responsive to FCM stimulation.
Are symmetrical tilt boundaries “true” high-angle grain boundaries?

L'etude des joints de flexion symetriques dans une structure cristalline donnee fournit plus d'informations sur les proprietes physiques des defauts d'empilement que sur les joints de grains a grand angle. La variation correspondante de terminologie, proposee ici peut aider des travaux futurs sur la correlation entre les proprietes de structure et physiques des «vrais» joints de grains a grand angle
Novel processing method for metallic materials

The feasibility of a new process that integrates all thermal and mechanical operations involved in the production of wrought metal strips was examined. The process involves continuous extrusion on a screw type extruder. A Pb-2.0% Sb alloy was used as a model material. Continuous strips of metal could be produced when back leakage of the melt was limited. For this, the clearance between screw and extruder barrel had to be kept small and the viscosity of the partially solidified alloy had to be kept high by limiting the rotational speed and by maintaining an experimentally determined temperature profile along the extruder barrel. Intense shearing of the material resulted in rapid homogenization and in dynamic recrystallization of the metallic matrix.
A new electrode holder for experimental electroanesthesia.

Smooth induction and maintenance of electroanesthesia permitting surgery requires a device for applying current that is mechanically stable and maintains good electrical contact. The electrode holder described meets these requirements. It can be easily and rapidly attached and is well tolerated by the animal. Skin burn has been eliminated at current levels of up to 60 mA peak in tests using both sinusoidal and pulsed d.c. waveforms.
Industrial organization, economic conditions, and the labor market success of young men: An overview and extension

Abstract The relationship between workplace organization and socioeconomic attainments of workers, although an issue of some currency in contemporary stratification research, is complex and as yet not well understood. In contrast to dual economic theory, this paper attempts to sort out the separate effects of various components of the social organization of production on job rewards by adopting an explicit multidimensional approach to the conceptualization and measurement of organizational structure. Moreover, various considerations suggest that these structural impacts vary with business cycle activity. Accordingly, one of the research aims is to examine the extent to which various dimensions of organizational structure serve to differentially insulate workers from wage stagnation as economic conditions deteriorate. Finally, because firms may devise different institutional responses to declining product demand, these structural effects on both wage rates and unemployment propensities are examined.
Thermal conductivity and thermal expansion of hot-pressed trisodium uranate (Na3UO4)

Abstract Thermal conductivity and thermal expansion of Na 3 UO 4 prepared by two different reaction processes were determined over a temperature range of 20–1000°C. Compositional differences in the samples resulting from the different reaction processes have a pronounced effect on thermal expansion and on thermal conductivity below 500°C. Above 500°C, these compositional differences in the thermal conductivities decrease.
Atoms and democracy: Political transition and the role of nuclear energy

Under periods of political change from authoritarianism to democracy, why does nuclear energy become a catalyst for political protest in some countries and not others? This study investigates the link between anti‐nuclear protest and democratization, arguing that the extent to which a high‐risk technology becomes a target of democratization movements is a function of the institutional characteristics of the technology generated under the preceding authoritarian regime. In the case of nuclear energy, where authoritarian states have built an institutional foundation for the technology rooted in national identity and technical prestige, political opposition during subsequent periods of democratization will be weaker than if they had relied on its instrumental utility and on regulatory power. Such institutional claims make it difficult to attack the technology without appearing to oppose progress or the aspirations of the nation itself. During periods of political change, variations in technological instituti...