cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Substantiated Best Practices in Transition: Fifteen Plus Years Later.

Since the transition movement in the 1980s, numerous transition practices have been developed. Kohler (1993) provided a comprehensive review and analysis of transition best practices and divided them into substantiated and implied practices based on the existence of empirical evidence. Since that review was published, the field of transition has changed. The purpose of this article is to provide an updated review of transition best practices since Kohler’s study. A total of 29 documents were collected that substantiated best transition practices. The resulting most- to least-substantiated practices were paid or unpaid work experience, employment preparation, family involvement, general education inclusion, social skills training, daily living skills training and self-determination skills training, and community or agency collaboration.
Incidental Finding of Renal Cell Carcinoma Detected by a Thrombus in the Inferior Vena Cava

Renal cell carcinoma, the most common renal neoplasm, often goes undetected since it typically remains asymptomatic. In some cases, renal cell carcinoma invades the renal vein and infiltrates the i...
Efficient implementation of large-scale multi-structural databases

In earlier work, we defined "multi-structural databases," a data model to support efficient analysis of large, complex data sets over multiple numerical and hierarchical dimensions. We defined three types of queries over this data model, each of which required solving an optimization problem. An example is to find the ten most significant non-overlapping regions of geography crossed with time in which coverage of the Olympics was much stronger in newspapers than online sources.In this paper, we present a general query framework capturing the original three queries as part of a much broader family. We then give efficient algorithms for particular subclasses of this family. Finally, we describe an implementation of these algorithms that operates on a collection of several billion web documents. Using our algorithms in conjunction with random sampling techniques, our system can solve these queries in real time.
Magnetic resonance and electronic spectroscopy of M2P2S6 intercalation compounds

The transition metal chalcogeno-phosphates, M2P2X6 (M=Mn, Cd, Zn, Fe; X=S, Se) belong to a family of broad-band semiconductors with two dimensional, layered crystal structures. The basic structural repeat unit of these compounds is a sandwich of three covalently bonded atomic layers: a central layer of metal atoms and P-P pairs (in a ratio 2:1), between two layers of chalcogen atoms. These units are held together by weak van der Waals (VDW) bonds to form at the lamellar crystal lattice. The stacking arrangement produces a monoclinic or trigonal lattice at ambient temperature. Under appropriate conditions guest molecules can diffuse into the VDW region causing changes in the structural and physical properties of the host materials.
Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium BipA Exhibits Two Distinct Ribosome Binding Modes

BipA is a highly conserved prokaryotic GTPase that functions to influence numerous cellular processes in bacteria. In Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, BipA has been implicated in controlling bacterial motility, modulating attachment and effacement processes, and upregulating the expression of virulence genes and is also responsible for avoidance of host defense mechanisms. In addition, BipA is thought to be involved in bacterial stress responses, such as those associated with virulence, temperature, and symbiosis. Thus, BipA is necessary for securing bacterial survival and successful invasion of the host. Steady-state kinetic analysis and pelleting assays were used to assess the GTPase and ribosome-binding properties of S. enterica BipA. Under normal bacterial growth, BipA associates with the ribosome in the GTP-bound state. However, using sucrose density gradients, we demonstrate that the association of BipA and the ribosome is altered under stress conditions in bacteria similar to those experienced during virulence. The data show that this differential binding is brought about by the presence of ppGpp, an alarmone that signals the onset of stress-related events in bacteria.
Almost global attitude stabilization of an orbiting satellite including gravity gradient and control saturation effects

Control saturation effects new results are presented for the problem of attitude stabilization of a rigid satellite in a circular orbit. Most prior results on this problem have addressed use of linear controllers to achieve local asymptotic stability; this paper presents controllers that achieve near global asymptotic stability. This is accomplished by using globally defined models that incorporate gravity gradient effects and a definition of the attitude of the satellite with respect to the rotating local vertical local horizontal coordinate frame. Lyapunov methods are used to analyze the closed loop properties, but their application takes into account the geometry of the tangent bundle TSO(3) on which the global dynamics evolve. Furthermore, the designed control law accommodates control saturation effects.
Massive weight loss-induced mechanical plasticity in obese gait

We examined the hypothesis that metabolic surgery-induced massive weight loss causes mass-driven and behavioral adaptations in the kinematics and kinetics of obese gait. Gait analyses were performe...
Approximate theory of large-amplitude wave propagation

An orbit perturbation procedure is applied to the description of monochromatic, large-amplitude, electrostatic plasma wave propagation. In the lowest-order approximation, untrapped electrons are assumed to follow constant-velocity orbits and trapped electrons are assumed to execute simple harmonic motion. The deviations of these orbits from the actual orbits are regarded as perturbations. The nonlinear damping rate and frequency shift are then obtained in terms of simple functions. The results are in good agreement with previous less approximate analyses. A significant feature of the analysis is that it treats a single wave by techniques previously applied to turbulent spectra. The analysis can consequently be extended to the case of a large-amplitude wave interacting with a lower-amplitude spectrum of waves.
Spatial Error Analysis of Species Richness for a Gap Analysis Map

Variation in the distribution of species richness as a result of introduced errors of omission and commission in the Gap Analysis database for Oregon was evaluated using Monte Carlo simulations. Random errors, assumed to be independent of a species' distribution, and boundary errors, assumed to be dependent on the species' distribution, were simulated using ten rodent species. Error rates of omission and commission equal to 5 and 20 percent were used in the simulations. Indications are that predictions of species richness within a Gap Analysis database can be very sensitive to both types of errors with sensitivity to random error being much greater. Implications are that the inclusion of error modeling in applied GIS databases is critical to spatially explicit conservation recommendations.
Synthesis of complex dynamic character motion from simple animations

In this paper we present a general method for rapid prototyping of realistic character motion. We solve for the natural motion from a simple animation provided by the animator. Our framework can be used to produce relatively complex realistic motion with little user effort.We describe a novel constraint detection method that automatically determines different constraints on the character by analyzing the input motion. We show that realistic motion can be achieved by enforcing a small set of linear and angular momentum constraints. This simplified approach helps us avoid the complexities of computing muscle forces. Simpler dynamic constraints also allow us to generate animations of models with greater complexity, performing more intricate motions. Finally, we show that by learning a small set of key parameters that describe a character pose we can help a non-skilled animator rapidly create realistic character motion.
Topics in electroweak baryogenesis: the sphaleron and t-violation

Assuming that beyond the standard model physics can be parametrized in terms of high dimensional operators, we examine their effects on the energy of the sphaleron and the classical solution of the gauge and Higgs fields. In the absence of fermions, all of the six dimension 6 operators which are SU(2) symmetric have a small effect when calculated perturbatively. However, calculated non-perturbatively, one of the operators alters the boundary conditions of the equations of motion of the Higgs and gauge fields involved, and another operator gives rise to an abrupt change in the sphaleron energy at a small but definite Higgs quartic coupling. The magnitude of the T-violating muon polarization induced by electromagnetic final state interaction in the radiative Kaon decay K{sup +} {yields} {mu}{sup +}{nu}{mu}{gamma} is order of 10{sup {minus}3}.
Analysis of Healthcare Workflows in Accordance with Access Control Policies

Healthcare information systems deal with sensitive data across complex workflows. They often allow various stakeholders from different environments to access data across organizational boundaries. This elevates the risk of exposing sensitive healthcare information to unauthorized personnel, leading 'controlling access to resources' a major concern. To prevent unwanted access to sensitive information, healthcare organizations need to adopt effective workflows and access control mechanisms. Many healthcare organizations are not yet considering or do not know how to accommodate the 'context' element as a crucial element in their workflows and access control policies. The authors envision the future of healthcare where 'context' will be considered as a crucial element. They can accommodate context through a new element 'environment' in workflows, and can accommodate context in policies through well-known attribute based access control mechanism ABAC. This research mainly addresses these problems by proposing a model to integrate workflows and access control policies and thereby identifying workflow activities that are not being protected by access control policies and improving the workflow activities and/or existing access control policies using SARE Subject, Action, Resource, and environment elements.
Chapter 7 – Soil Biodiversity and Linkages to Soil Processes

A great number of scientific papers have asked: “what is the relationship between ecosystem function and biodiversity?” Few have provided concrete examples although some have argued that relationships between diversity and quantifiable measures, such as decomposition, nutrient mineralization, and primary production have been demonstrated. A case study of biodiversity and ecosystem services, in the context of agro-ecosystems management, is a convincing demonstration of the enhancement of primary production, under field conditions, via management reducing principal herbivores. This is an important result in applied soil ecology: where biodiversity is manipulated to enhancing biocontrol. We are tantalizingly close to explaining the interactions between high species diversity affecting ecosystem function. We hope the new generation of soil ecologists can “crack the code” of this fascinating phenomenon.
8 – Future Developments in Soil Ecology

Abstract We focus on the future effects of soil biotas and soil processes on Global Climate Change. This includes changes in evolution and uptake of the principal greenhouse gases and their interplay with pools of labile and resistant soil organic matter. The full costs of ecosystem services, as human population pressure increases, require innovative thinking and research. Simulation models provide insights and uncertainties in soil-atmosphere-biosphere fluxes. Soil biodiversity changes driven by global change are the result of direct impacts (changes in temperature and moisture), and indirectly, through shifts in nutrient supply from plants. Invasive plants and animals add to the complexity of these long-term processes. Future studies of land-use management will encompass the fact that soil biota act in concert to provide multiple benefits. Increasing food web complexity in soils should provide improved “health” (i.e., enhanced recycling of nutrients) in agro-ecosystems. We conclude with a critique of the interfaces between soil food webs, ecosystem engineers, and enhanced provision of ecosystem services over landscapes at millennial time scales.
Normativity and Innovation: An Approach to Concepts of Innovation from the Perspective of Philosophy of Technology

The aim of this short paper is to sketch an analytic approach to innovation from the perspective of philosophy of technology. Until now, philosophers have been reluctant to address issues of innovation - even though both innovation research and philosophy of technology share the same object of study: the intersection of science, technology, and society. In this paper I will reveal normative assumptions in innovation research. I identify normativity in four areas: (1) theory of society and innovation, (2) objects of innovation (artifacts, processes, knowledge, problems), (3) process of innovation, and (4) ethics and innovation. This paper presents an outline for a research program and a catalog of questions - and not a net argumentation or final answers. The aim is to attract philosophical interest and to stimulate interdisciplinary collaboration between social scientists and philosophers.
THE ORAL AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY OF AN INDONESIAN BILINGUAL CHILD IN THE OHIO STATE, USA

This study was a qualitative case study conducted to investigate the oral and written language proficiency of an Indonesian bilingual child living in The Ohio State, USA. There were three research questions guiding this study as follows: (1) how the bilingual Indonesian child used the languages she spoke in oral and written forms?, (2) how was the child’s oral proficiency for each language she spoke?, and (3) how was the child’s written language proficiency for each language she spoke? The data in this study were gathered through analytical observation sheets, semi structured interviews, audio and video recording and transcriptions, and reading aloud and writing scoring. Then, the data were analyzed using inductive analysis such as doing field work to observe and recording the data, developing topics and categorizing the data into categories, refining and coding the data into more specific patterns to see the themes of the data, and seeking for narrative structures and visual representations. Based on the results of the study, there were three points concluded. First, my focal student and her community chose different languages to communicate based on the listeners’ cultural background, age, and gender. Second, the Indonesian parents living there had an awareness of the importance of heritage language in spoken and written forms. Third, the student’ oral and written language proficiency in English were higher than in Indonesian and Javanese. In conclusion, the student needed more space for developing her abilities in Indonesian and Javanese. Keywords: bilingual, bilingualism, biliteracy, language proficiency
Older adults' marijuana use, injuries, and emergency department visits.

ABSTRACTBackground: Despite increasing marijuana use among older adults, little research has been done on marijuana’s effects on their healthcare use. Objectives: To examine whether (1) marijuana use is associated with the likelihood of emergency department (ED) visits through increased injury risk, and (2) marijuana use patterns are associated with injury risk and ED visits among older adults. Methods: Using the 2012–2013 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Problems (N = 14,715 aged 50+; 6,379 men and 8,336 women), descriptive statistics were used to compare past-year marijuana users to nonusers on sociodemographic and physical/mental health characteristics. Structural equation modeling was used to simultaneously estimate whether injury mediates past-year marijuana use’s association with ED visits. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine associations of marijuana use patterns with injury and ED visits. Results: Past-year injury rates were 18.9% for nonusers and 28.8% for users (...
“Nothing has stopped me. I keep going:” Black gay narratives

ABSTRACTAre being Black and gay problematic in the United States? Are Black gay youth suffering with these two intersecting identities? Traditional Eurocentric epistemologies would have one believe that Black males, Black gay males, and gay males (liminal groups) are suffering, rarely acknowledging those successfully navigating through society. Oftentimes, Black males and gay males are viewed as being at a disadvantage and struggling through life, which several scholars challenge in their work. What about those Black gay males who love themselves and accept their intersecting identities? Themes are presented here from a qualitative study that gathered life histories of how Black gay youth have negotiated their identities by navigating through social spaces and institutions while having self-possession and an acceptance and appreciation of their Blackness and sexuality.
Assigning students to schools to minimize both transportation costs and socioeconomic variation between schools

Abstract Several studies have found that students' academic achievement is as much determined by the socioeconomic composition of their school as their own socioeconomic status. In this paper we provide a methodology for assigning students to schools so as to balance the socioeconomic compositions of the schools while taking into consideration the total travel distance. Our technique utilizes a biobjective general 0–1 fractional program that is linearized into a mixed 0–1 linear program that can be submitted directly to a standard optimization package. We show how a parametrized model could be utilized to provide a spectrum of different possible assignments so that a decision maker can decide how to balance socioeconomic factors with transportation costs. As a test case for our approach we analyze data from the Greenville County School District in Greenville, South Carolina.
Creative technology advances tissue preservation

Technological advances within the last two decades vastly increased options to restore damaged or diseased tissues and organs with viable replacements. Techniques to harvest, generate and implant them continue to evolve. Specialized knowledge, expertise and facilities make it possible to restore tissue function previously only imagined within current memory. Unfortunately, there are constraints on the total distance between donor and the recipient. This is due to fixed windows of time for tissue survival between harvest and implantation. The maximum allowable time reduces the transport distance to somewhat local versus global. Mechanisms to improve tissue and organ preservation will precipitously increase the potential recipient pool and reduce loss of invaluable tissue donations.
A combined carrier-adjuvant system of peptide nanofibers and toll-like receptor agonists potentiates robust CD8+ T cell responses

Improving CD8+ T cell responses activated by subunit vaccination is crucial for improving vaccine efficacy and safety. Here we report a carrier-adjuvant system composed of self-assembling peptide nanofibers presenting an immunodominant antigen from herpes simplex virus (HSV) and toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists that induces robust effector and memory CD8+ T cell responses in mice. The effector function of vaccine-induced CD8+ T cells was influenced by the type of TLR agonist. The use of CpG (TLR9 agonist) resulted in significantly greater specific in vivo cytotoxicity and trended towards more cells producing both IFN-γ and TNF-α compared to gardiquimod (TLR7 agonist). Prime-boost immunization with peptide nanofibers combined with either adjuvant resulted in development of HSV-specific CD8+ memory T cells further demonstrating the capability of the carrier-adjuvant system to induce strong HSV-specific CD8+ T cell responses. Inclusion of peptide epitope-nanofibers in protein-based subunit vaccines should increase the functional spectrum of the vaccine-elicited immune response and protection.
Agrarian Policy in the European Union and Financial Support to Serbia

Measures of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) that are defined and implemented by the European Union (EU) differ depending on whether or not the country is a member state of the EU. Their realization is carried out on an annual basis through two funds – the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). The purpose of the paper is to show the dynamics of funds paid out from funds in the period of 2012-2016, as well as the planned budgets from 2017 to 2020. However, for non-EU countries, financial assistance is paid from the so-called IPA found (Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance). Serbia has been granted EU funds successively, depending on whether it has acquired the status of a candidate for EU membership or not. An overview of the funds paid out of the IPA Fund will be divided into two phases: I 2007-2013; II 2012-2013. Given that Serbia has acquired the status of EU membership, funds are also available from the so-called IPARD fund (fifth component of IPA fund).
Comparison of Indium-111 pentetreotide SPECT, Indium-111 pentetreotide planar and magnetic resonance imaging in detecting hepatic metastasis in patients with neuroendocrine tumors

1710 Objectives To compare Indium-111 Pentetreotide Spect (In-S), Indium-111 Pentetreotide Planar (In-P) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in detection of hepatic metastasis (met) in patients(pts) with neuroendocrine tumors(NET). Methods 27 pts with biopsy confirmed NET and hepatic met underwent In-S and In-P 48-72 hrs following 5 mCi In-111 Pentetreotide. All pts had abdominal MRI. Images were interpreted by board certified physicians and evaluated for presence of hepatic abnormality and number of met. 2 sample T-test was used to compare number of met on In-S and In-P. Results In 27 pts, a total of 147 met were seen on In-S, and 67 met on In-P. Mean number of met on In-S was 5.44 (std dev 4.08), and on In-P was 2.48 (std dev 2.29), p= 0.0018. In 21 pts, In-S was more sensitive than In-P, detecting more met. In 6 pts, In-S and In-P were equal. 2 pts had met on In-S and no met on In-P. 7 pts had multiple(>2) met on In-S and one met on In-P.In 4 pts, In-S was more specific in detecting hepatic met than MRI. 5 pts had more met detected on MRI than In-S. 18 pts showed equal number of met on In-S and MRI. In 1 pt MRI was not able to confirm that hepatic lesions were metastatic neuroendocrine tumor. 2 pts had MRI negative for met with (+)met on In-S. Conclusions In-S is more sensitive than In-P in detecting and evaluating hepatic met in pts with NET. MRI may be better able to detect discrete hepatic lesions than In-S, but cannot always differentiate met from non met lesions. In-S imaging for hepatic met should be routinely performed in pts with NET.
Concepts of Effectiveness and Orientation Toward Constituencies

Effectiveness of a purposeful entity is conceptualized in terms of the degree to which it attains its end-objectives. With most entities having multiple end-objectives, overall measures of effectiveness are invariably multi-dimensional. This chapter focuses on processes of setting end-objectives for economic entities, and relating them to intermediate objectives (e.g. product characteristics levels), choice of strategies, and management of resources and constraints. Shakun’s (1980) Evolutionary Systems Design (ESD) process is applied to structuring a managerial reconciliation mechanism among seemingly incompatible goals.
Energy-aware Persistent Control of Heterogeneous Robotic Systems

In this paper, we consider the problem of online planning and control of heterogeneous robotic systems for energy constrained safety operations. Specifically, a team of aerial and ground vehicles is tasked with completing a set of previously unknown goals within a bounded region and automatically deciding future recharging operations to avoid depleting energy throughout a mission. We propose a prioritized distributed virtual potential scheme with spring-mass and magnetic virtual force control behaviors in order to plan and coordinate the motion of the vehicles so that to guarantee positive energy (achieved with recharging operations) and task completion. The proposed approach is demonstrated to work also in the event of failures and eventually self-heal the heterogeneous system over time. Stability analysis in the sense of Lyapunov is presented to prove safety of the system. Finally, we validate the proposed approach with simulations and experimental results.
Synthetic Polymer Contamination in Bottled Water

Eleven globally sourced brands of bottled water, purchased in 19 locations in 9 different countries, were tested for microplastic contamination using Nile Red tagging. Of the 259 total bottles processed, 93% showed some sign of microplastic contamination. After accounting for possible background (lab) contamination, an average of 10.4 microplastic particles >100 um in size per liter of bottled water processed were found. Fragments were the most common morphology (66%) followed by fibers. Half of these particles were confirmed to be polymeric in nature using FTIR spectroscopy with polypropylene being the most common polymer type (54%), which matches a common plastic used for the manufacture of bottle caps. A small fraction of particles (4%) showed the presence of industrial lubricants. While spectroscopic analysis of particles smaller than 100 um was not possible, the adsorption of the Nile Red dye indicates that these particles are most probably plastic. Including these smaller particles (6.5–100 um), an average of 325 microplastic particles per liter of bottled water was found. Microplastic contamination range of 0 to over 10,000 microplastic particles per liter with 95% of particles being between 6.5–100 um in size. Data suggests the contamination is at least partially coming from the packaging and/or the bottling process itself. Given the prevalence of the consumption of bottled water across the globe, the results of this study support the need for further studies on the impacts of micro- and nano- plastics on human health.
Randomized controlled trial of a brief cognitive-behavioral strategies intervention for the pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance symptom cluster in advanced cancer.

OBJECTIVE Patients receiving treatment for advanced cancer suffer significant symptom burden, including co-occurring pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance. There is limited evidence for effective interventions targeting this common symptom cluster. METHODS A randomized controlled trial of a brief cognitive-behavioral strategies (CBS) intervention was conducted. A sample of 164 patients with advanced cancer receiving chemotherapy practiced imagery, relaxation, and distraction exercises or listened to cancer education recordings (attention-control) to manage co-occurring pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance over a 9-week period. Symptom cluster severity, distress, and interference with daily life were measured at baseline and 3, 6, and 9 weeks. We also evaluated the moderating influence of imaging ability and number of concurrent symptoms, and mediating effects of changes in stress, anxiety, outcome expectancy, and perceived control over symptoms. RESULTS Compared with the cancer education condition, participants receiving the CBS intervention reported less symptom cluster distress at week 6 (M = 1.82 vs 2.15 on a 0-4 scale, P < .05). No other group differences were statistically significant. The number of concurrent symptoms moderated the intervention effect on symptom cluster interference. Changes in stress, outcome expectancy, and perceived control mediated the extent of intervention effects on symptom outcomes, primarily at weeks 6 and 9. CONCLUSIONS The brief CBS intervention had limited effects in this trial. However, findings regarding potential mediators affirm hypothesized mechanisms and provide insight into ways to strengthen future interventions to reduce the suffering associated with co-occurring pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance.
Financial Incentives to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening Uptake and Decrease Disparities: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance Colorectal cancer screening rates are suboptimal, particularly among sociodemographically disadvantaged groups. Objective To examine whether guaranteed money or probabilistic lottery financial incentives conditional on completion of colorectal cancer screening increase screening uptake, particularly among groups with lower screening rates. Design, Setting, and Participants This parallel, 3-arm randomized clinical trial was conducted from March 13, 2017, through April 12, 2018, at 21 medical centers in an integrated health care system in western Washington. A total of 838 age-eligible patients overdue for colorectal cancer screening who completed a questionnaire that confirmed eligibility and included sociodemographic and psychosocial questions were enrolled. Interventions Interventions were (1) mail only (n = 284; up to 3 mailings that included information on the importance of colorectal cancer screening and screening test choices, a fecal immunochemical test [FIT], and a reminder letter if necessary), (2) mail and monetary (n = 270; mailings plus guaranteed $10 on screening completion), or (3) mail and lottery (n = 284; mailings plus a 1 in 10 chance of receiving $50 on screening completion). Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was completion of any colorectal cancer screening within 6 months of randomization. Secondary outcomes were FIT or colonoscopy completion within 6 months of randomization. Intervention effects were compared across sociodemographic subgroups and self-reported psychosocial measures. Results A total of 838 participants (mean [SD] age, 59.7 [7.2] years; 546 [65.2%] female; 433 [52.2%] white race and 101 [12.1%] Hispanic ethnicity) were included in the study. Completion of any colorectal screening was not significantly higher for the mail and monetary group (207 of 270 [76.7%]) or the mail and lottery group (212 of 284 [74.6%]) than for the mail only group (203 of 284 [71.5%]) (P = .11). For FIT completion, interventions had a statistically significant effect (P = .04), with a net increase of 7.7% (95% CI, 0.3%-15.1%) in the mail and monetary group and 7.1% (95% CI, −0.2% to 14.3%) in the mail and lottery group compared with the mail only group. For patients with Medicaid insurance, the net increase compared with mail only in FIT completion for the mail and monetary or the mail and lottery group was 37.7% (95% CI, 11.0%-64.3%) (34.2% for the mail and monetary group and 40.4% for the mail and lottery group) compared with a net increase of only 5.6% (95% CI, −0.9% to 12.2%) among those not Medicaid insured (test for interactionP = .03). Conclusions and Relevance Financial incentives increased FIT uptake but not overall colorectal cancer screening. Financial incentives may decrease screening disparities among some sociodemographically disadvantaged groups. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier:NCT00697047
A spatial model of growth relationships and Latino-owned business

The expansion of ethnic minorities evokes policy debate about their impact on the local economy, driving a need to measure their effects. This article introduces a spatial econometrics approach to Deller et al.’s expansion of the Carlino-Mills growth model. We employ the confidential US Census data to investigate drivers of local economic performance with emphasis on the role of Latino-owned businesses (LOB) on convergence. The model also includes a number of controls. The model produces direct, indirect, and total impact estimates, and expected values for the non-LOB controls. The estimated total impact of LOB employment on county-level average annual growth rates is significant and positive, but a rurality interaction carries the opposite sign, such that the total impact in rural areas is negative. The negative effect in rural areas is due to negative spatial spillovers captured by the model. The spatial Durbin error model empirical results indicate that although LOB employment interacted with rurality significantly impacts county-level growth rates of population, employment, and income, they do not change the equilibrium relationship between these variables captured by the speed of convergence.
A Preliminary Study of the Attitudes and Barriers of Family Physicians to Prescribing HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis.

Introduction. Attitudes of individuals who provide HIV caretowards prescribing Preexposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) to at-riskpopulations have been studied, but few studies indicate if familyphysicians would be willing to prescribe PrEP as most familyphysicians do not specialize in HIV medicine. Few data existon the perceived barriers preventing family physicians fromprescribing PrEP. The purpose of this project was to assess theattitudes and perceived barriers of family physicians in Kansastowards prescribing PrEP to high risk patient populations. Methods. This study was a descriptive, observational,and cross-sectional survey of family physicians who respondto email surveys issued through the Family MedicineResearch and Data Information Office (FM RADIO). Results. Fifty-three percent of family physicians take a sexualhistory on new patients less than frequently, and only35% frequently ask about the use of safe sex practices. Only29% frequently ask if the patient has sex with men, women,or both. Seventy-six percent of respondents would be willingto prescribe PrEP to men who have sex with men, and anequal percentage would be willing to prescribe to heterosexuallyactive men and women who are at substantial risk of acquiringHIV. While 59% of participants agreed that PrEP belongsin the primary care domain of treatment, 71% agreedthat they had limited or no knowledge of PrEP guidelines. Conclusions. This preliminary study indicated a need for increasedfamily physician screening of new patients for high risksexual behaviors who would be eligible for PrEP. The limitedknowledge of PrEP guidelines and its use in clinical practiceare significant limiting factors to increasing prescribing practicesin the family medicine community rather than a perceivedethical dilemma of prescribing PrEP to men who have sex withmen. As a result, an increase in continuing medical educationabout PrEP could significantly increase its prescribing inthe family medicine community. KS J Med 2017;10(2):40-42.
Optical control of layered nanomaterial generation by pulsed-laser ablation in liquids

Pulsed-laser ablation in liquids capitalizes on combining chemical and optical control to rapidly generate size, composition, and phase-controlled nanostructures, without the need for surfactants. ...
Unmasking, Unveiling, Demystifying, Stripping Bare

An investigation and elaboration of Peter Baehr’s theory of “unmasking” as expressed in his recent book and article, with additional attention to relevant ideas of Vilfredo Pareto and other theorists whose modus vivendi included the rhetorical and substantive dismantling of oppositional ideas.
Role of immunotherapy and co-mutations on KRAS-mutant non- small cell lung cancer survival

Background KRAS mutations reported in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represent a significant percentage of patients diagnosed with NSCLC. However, there still remains no therapeutic option designed to target KRAS. In an era with immunotherapy as a dominant treatment option in metastatic NSCLC, the role of immunotherapy in. Kras mutated patients is not clear. Methods Eligible patients diagnosed with NSCLC and found to have a KRAS mutation were identified in an institutional lung cancer database. Demographic, clinical, and molecular data was collected and analyzed. Results A total of 60 patients were identified for this retrospective analysis. Majority of patients were Caucasian (73%), diagnosed with stage IV (70%) adenocarcinoma (87%), and had a KRAS codon 12 mutation (78%). Twenty percent of patients were treated with immunotherapy. Median overall survival was 28 months in the cohort and patients who received immunotherapy were found to have better survival versus those who did not (33 vs. 22 months, P=0.31). Furthermore, there was an association between high survival and patients who received immunotherapy (P=0.007). Conclusions Patients with KRAS mutations have a unique co-mutation phenotype that requires further investigation. Immunotherapy seems to be an effective choice of treatment for KRAS positive patients in any treatment-line setting and yields better outcomes than conventional chemotherapy. The relationship between immunotherapy and KRAS mutations requires further studies to confirm survival advantage.
Family and social functioning in adults with hoarding disorder

Hoarding is associated with problems engaging in social activities, lower social support, increased isolation and poses substantial challenges to family functioning. The aim of this investigation was to explore the relationship between hoarding severity and family and social functioning variables in 60 treatment-seeking adults with hoarding disorder (HD). Participants completed a battery of self-report measures during a baseline assessment completed prior to treatment. Forty-seven percent of participants reported they live alone. Forty-eight percent of participants reported that family and friends never visit them in their home, and 33% indicated they never had visitors to their home, not even service workers or repair people. Twelve percent of participants indicated they never visit with family or friends outside of their home; however, 55% of participants endorsed phoning family or friends more than 9 times each month. Increased clutter and hoarding severity was associated with a lower frequency of family and friends visiting in the home. Family competence and conflict were both positively associated with hoarding severity. Our results shed light on family and social impairment in HD and their relationship with symptom severity; however, additional research should examine social dysfunction among non-treatment-seeking individuals who may be more impaired or isolated.
Plant diversity increases in an urban wildland after four decades of unaided vegetation development in a post-industrial site

Abstract Spontaneous plant communities found in abandoned post-industrial landscapes develop in unique conditions which can create novel community assemblages. We examined changes in plant community composition and its relation to soil properties in an urban brownfield more than 40 years following site abandonment to better understand the community’s long-term trajectory. A former railyard and industrial area built on fill material, the study site includes four primary habitat types: grasslands, perennial forb assemblages, shrubland, and early successional forest. Plant species cover was measured in permanent plots in 2008 and 2016/17. In 2008, soil samples were collected and analyzed for a suite of properties. Species richness and Shannon diversity increased across the site from 2008 to 2016 (40 and 48 years post-abandonment) though increases in these parameters were highest in plots with lower metal concentrations. Evenness changed little in this time period. Percent cover of woody species increased in grassland and forb plots while percent cover of vines increased across all habitat types. Forb species tended to be associated with higher nutrient concentrations while woody species distribution was correlated with higher concentrations of heavy metals. The mitigation of soil stress, limitations in propagule availability, and loss of tree canopy cover following disturbances may have all played a role in influencing increases in diversity in this time period. Considering difficulties in comparing post-industrial abandoned landscapes to other anthropogenic and natural habitats, long-term study is needed to refine our understanding of community assembly in urban brownfields and better guide management practices.
Comparison of Outcomes of Coronary Revascularization for Acute Myocardial Infarction in Men Versus Women

This study sought to examine the differences in the characteristics and outcomes between men and women who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in contemporary US practice. The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was used to identify patients who underwent revascularization for AMI between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2016. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Propensity score matching was utilized to account for differences in baseline characteristics. In total, 3,603,142 patients were included, of whom only 1,180,436 (33%) were women. Compared with men, women were older and had higher prevalence of key co-morbidities including diabetes, hypertension, congestive heart failure, and chronic kidney and lung disease (p <0.001). In the PCI cohort, women were significantly less likely to undergo multivessel PCI, to receive mechanical circulatory support, or to undergo atherectomy. In the CABG group, women were more likely to have concomitant valve surgery. In the propensity-matched cohorts, in-hospital mortality was higher for women than men regardless of revascularization strategy: 7.6% versus 6.6% for PCI in ST-elevation myocardial infarction, 2.0% versus 1.9% for PCI in non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction, and 5.7% versus 4.3% for CABG in any AMI (p <0.001). Women also had higher rates of major complications, longer hospitalizations, higher costs, and were less likely to be discharged home (vs nursing facility). These sex-based differences persisted over the study 14-year period. In conclusion, in a contemporary nationwide analysis of propensity score-matched patients, women who undergo revascularization for AMI have worse in-hospital outcomes than men regardless of revascularization mode.
Socioeconomic Influences on Short-term Postoperative Outcomes in Patients With Oral Cavity Cancer Undergoing Free Flap Reconstruction.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the associations between median household income (MHI) and area deprivation index (ADI) on postoperative outcomes in oral cavity cancer.Study DesignRetrospective review (2000-2...
What are the variables associated with Altmetric scores

BACKGROUND Social media has been used to disseminate the contents of scientific articles. To measure the impact of this, a new tool called Altmetric was created. Altmetric aims to quantify the impact of each article through online media. This systematic review aims to describe the associations between the publishing journal and published article variables and Altmetric scores. METHODS Searches on MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, CENTRAL, and Cochrane Library were conducted. We extracted data related to both the publishing article and the publishing journal associated with Altmetric scores. The methodological quality of included articles was analyzed by the Appraisal Tool for Cross-sectional Studies. RESULTS A total of 19 articles were considered eligible. These articles summarized a total of 573,842 studies. Citation counts, journal impact factor, access counts, papers published as open access, and press releases generated by the publishing journal were associated with Altmetric scores. The magnitude of these associations ranged from weak to strong. CONCLUSION Citation counts and journal impact factor are the most common variables associated with Altmetric scores. Other variables such as access counts, papers published in open access journals, and the use of press releases are also likely to be associated with online media attention. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION This review does not contain health-related outcomes. Therefore, it is not eligible for registration.
AI Ethics in the Public, Private, and NGO Sectors: A Review of a Global Document Collection

In recent years, numerous public, private, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have produced documents addressing the ethical implications of artificial intelligence (AI). These normative documents include principles, frameworks, and policy strategies that articulate the ethical concerns, priorities, and associated strategies of leading organizations and governments around the world. We examined 112 such documents from 25 countries that were produced between 2016 and the middle of 2019. While other studies identified some degree of consensus in such documents, our work highlights meaningful differences across public, private, and NGO sectors. We analyzed each document in terms of how many of 25 ethical topics were covered and the depth of discussion for those topics. As compared to documents from private entities, NGO and public sector documents reflect more ethical breadth in the number of topics covered, are more engaged with law and regulation, and are generated through processes that are more participatory. These findings may reveal differences in underlying beliefs about an organization’s responsibilities, the relative importance of relying on experts versus including representatives from the public, and the tension between prosocial and economic goals.
The effects of sodium bicarbonate infusion on cerebrovascular function in newborn pigs.

BACKGROUND Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) is no longer recommended by the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP), but is still being used by some neonatologists. The effects of NaHCO3 on cerebral hemodynamics are unclear. Therefore, we investigated the effects of NaHCO3 on cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebrovascular function using a newborn piglet model. METHODS Newborn pigs were anesthetized, intubated, and ventilated. Cranial windows were implanted to evaluate changes in pial arteriolar diameters (PADs) as a surrogate for CBF during a 4-h intravenous infusion of 3% NaHCO3. Cerebrovascular reactivity to vasodilators and vasoconstrictors was investigated during vehicle control and during NaHCO3 infusion. RESULTS NaHCO3 infusion caused significant and progressive pial arteriolar vasoconstrictions. During NaHCO3 infusion, cerebrovascular reactivity was preserved. Adding vasodilators decreased cerebral vasoconstriction, while adding vasoconstrictors exaggerated cerebral vasoconstriction. CONCLUSIONS Intravenous infusion of NaHCO3 over 4 h caused progressive vasoconstriction of pial arterioles. Cerebrovascular function evaluated by the responses of pial arterioles to physiologically relevant vasoconstrictors and vasodilators was preserved during NaHCO3 infusion. A notable additional reduction of PADs was observed during NaHCO3 infusion in the presence of vasoconstrictors. Extrapolating our findings to human neonates should alarm the clinicians that using NaHCO3 in neonates may cause cerebral hypoperfusion. IMPACT Cerebral vasoconstriction occurs during slow infusion of 3% diluted NaHCO3. Cerebral vasoconstriction is exaggerated when another vasoconstrictor is added during NaHCO3 infusion. Cerebrovascular function is preserved during NaHCO3 infusion. Clinicians should be aware of the risk of cerebral hypoperfusion with NaHCO3 infusion in vulnerable neonates.
On homomorphic encryption and chosen-ciphertext security

Chosen-Ciphertext (IND-CCA) security is generally considered the right notion of security for a cryptosystem. Because of its central importance much effort has been devoted to constructing IND-CCA secure cryptosystems. In this work, we consider constructing IND-CCA secure cryptosystems from (group) homomorphic encryption. Our main results give natural and efficient constructions of IND-CCA secure cryptosystems from any homomorphic encryption scheme that satisfies weak cyclic properties, either in the plaintext, ciphertext or randomness space. Our results have the added benefit of being simple to describe and analyze.