cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intrauterine Contraception Continuation in Adolescents and Young Women: A Systematic Review.

Abstract Study Objective Adolescents are at high risk for unintended pregnancies. Although intrauterine devices (IUDs), long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), are known to be highly effective in preventing pregnancy, little is known about IUD adherence in adolescents. In this systematic review (SR) we examined IUD continuation rates compared with other forms of contraception in young women aged 25 years and younger. Design, Setting, Participants, Interventions, and Main Outcome Measures A systematic search of Ovid Medline, Cochrane Library, and Embase was conducted for the years 1946-2015. Included studies examined IUD use in women 25 years of age and younger, compared IUD use with another form of contraception, and measured continuation rates at 12 months. The quality of each study was appraised using the Downs and Black criteria, and 12-month continuation rates among studies were pooled and analyzed according to contraceptive type. Results Of 3597 articles retrieved, 9 studies met criteria for SR. Synthesized across studies, 12-month continuation was significantly higher for IUD users (86.5%, 12,761/14,747) compared with oral contraceptives (39.6%, 1931/4873), Depo-Provera (Pfizer Inc, New York, NY) hormonal injection (39.8%, 510/1282), vaginal ring (48.9%, 196/401), and transdermal patch (39.8%, 37/93; all P values Conclusion Findings of this SR suggest that continuation rates for IUDs are generally higher compared with other contraceptive methods for women aged 25 years and younger. In a population with high rates of unintended pregnancies, generally low adherence, and imperfect use with other non-LARCs, IUD use should be encouraged.
Biomimetic hydrogel with tunable mechanical properties for vitreous substitutes

Abstract The vitreous humor of the eye is a biological hydrogel principally composed of collagen fibers interspersed with hyaluronic acid. Certain pathological conditions necessitate its removal and replacement. Current substitutes, like silicone oils and perfluorocarbons, are not biomimetic and have known complications. In this study, we have developed an in situ forming two-component biomimetic hydrogel with tunable mechanical and osmotic properties. The components are gellan, an analogue of collagen, and poly(methacrylamide-co-methacrylate), an analogue of hyaluronic acid; both endowed with thiol side groups. We used response surface methodology to consider seventeen possible hydrogels to determine how each component affects the optical, mechanical, sol-gel transition temperature and swelling properties. The optical and physical properties of the hydrogels were similar to vitreous. The shear storage moduli ranged from 3 to 358 Pa at 1 Hz and sol-gel transition temperatures from 35.5 to 43 °C. The hydrogel had the ability to remain swollen without degradation for four weeks in vitro. Three hydrogels were tested for biocompatibility on primary porcine retinal pigment epithelial cells, human retinal pigment epithelial cells, and fibroblast (3T3/NIH) cells, by electric cell-substrate impedance sensing system. The two-component hydrogels allowed for the tuning and optimizing of mechanical, swelling, and transition temperature to obtain three biocompatible hydrogels with properties similar to the vitreous. Future studies include testing of the optimized hydrogels in animal models for use as a long-term substitute, whose preliminary results are mentioned. Statement of Significance Although hydrogels are researched as long-term vitreous substitute, none have advanced sufficiently to reach clinical application. Our work focuses on the development of a novel two component in situ forming hydrogel that bio-mimic the natural vitreous. Our thiol-containing copolymers can be injected as an aqueous solution into the vitreous cavity wherein, at physiological temperature, the rigid component will instantaneously form a physical gel imbedding the random coil copolymer. Upon subsequent oxidation, the two components will form disulfide cross-links and a stable reversible hydrogel capable of providing osmotic pressure to reattach the retina. It may be left in the eye permanently or easily removed by injection of a simple reducing agent to cleave the disulfide bonds, rather than surgery. This contribution is significant because it is expected to provide patients with a much better quality of life by improving surgical outcomes, creating much less post-operative burden, and reducing the need for secondary surgeries.
The Global Context

Women’s health movements exist in a global context of inequality between men and women, and between countries of the global North and South (formerly referred to as the First World and Third World). Inequality is an empirical concept measured in terms of income or consumption (usually a basic food basket) whereas equity is normative, a question of values associated with the idea of social justice. Economists generally derive definitions of poverty from measurements of inequality that are biased in favor of men. A broader measure of well-being that includes health is a more accurate definition of poverty for women excluded from the cash economy (Kabeer 1996). Economists generally define equity as the reduction of unfair and unjust differences (Gwatkin 2002).
Dental School Vacant Budgeted Faculty Positions, 2007–08

The annual turnover of dental school faculty creates a varying number of vacant budgeted positions at any given time. The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) conducts an annual survey, the ADEA Survey of Vacant Budgeted Faculty Positions, to determine the status and characteristics of these
SmartStuff: A case study of a smart water bottle

The rapid growth of Internet of Things (IoT) and miniature wearable biosensors have generated new opportunities for personalized eHealth and mHealth services. Smart objects equipped with physiological sensors can provide robust monitoring of activities of daily living and context for wearable physiological sensors. We present a case study of an intelligent water bottle that can precisely measure the amount of liquid in the bottle, monitor activity using inertial sensors, and physiological parameters using a touch and photoplethysmographic sensor. We evaluate two system configurations: a smart water bottle integrated into a personal body sensor network and a cloud based device. This paper presents system organization and the results from preliminary field testing of the prototype device.
Watch out for the bully!: job interference study on dragonfly network

High-radix, low-diameter dragonfly networks will be a common choice in next-generation supercomputers. Preliminary studies show that random job placement with adaptive routing should be the rule of thumb to utilize such networks, since it uniformly distributes traffic and alleviates congestion. Nevertheless, in this work we find that while random job placement coupled with adaptive routing is good at load balancing network traffic, it cannot guarantee the best performance for every job. The performance improvement of communication-intensive applications comes at the expense of performance degradation of less intensive ones. We identify this bully behavior and validate its underlying causes with the help of detailed network simulation and real application traces. We further investigate a hybrid contiguous-noncontiguous job placement policy as an alternative. Initial experimentation shows that hybrid job placement aids in reducing the worst-case performance degradation for less communication-intensive applications while retaining the performance of communication-intensive ones.
A comparison of reliability and precision of subscore reporting methods for a state English language proficiency assessment

K–12 English language proficiency tests that assess multiple content domains (e.g., listening, speaking, reading, writing) often have subsections based on these content domains; scores assigned to ...
New method for the experimental study of topological effects in the quark-gluon plasma

A new method is presented for the quantitative measurement of charge separation about the reaction plane. A correlation function is obtained whose shape is concave when there is a net separation of positive and negative charges. Correlations not specifically associated with charge, from flow, jets, and momentum conservation, do not influence the shape or magnitude of the correlation function. Detailed simulations are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method for the quantitative measurement of charge separation. Such measurements are a prerequisite to the investigation of topological charge effects in the quark-gluon plasma as derived from the ``strong $\mathcal{CP}$ problem.''
Linker Variation and Structure–Activity Relationship Analyses of Carboxylic Acid-based Small Molecule STAT3 Inhibitors

The molecular determinants for the activities of the reported benzoic acid (SH4–54), salicylic acid (BP-1–102), and benzohydroxamic acid (SH5–07)-based STAT3 inhibitors were investigated to design optimized analogues. All three leads are based on an N-methylglycinamide scaffold, with its two amine groups condensed with three different functionalities. The three functionalities and the CH2 group of the glycinamide scaffold were separately modified. The replacement of the pentafluorobenzene or cyclohexylbenzene, or replacing the benzene ring of the aromatic carboxylic or hydroxamic acid motif with heterocyclic components (containing nitrogen and oxygen elements) all decreased potency. Notably, the Ala-linker analogues, 1a and 2v, and the Pro-based derivative 5d, all with (R)-configuration at the chiral center, had improved inhibitory activity and selectivity against STAT3 DNA-binding activity in vitro, with IC50 of 3.0 ± 0.9, 1.80 ± 0.94, and 2.4 ± 0.2 μM, respectively. Compounds 1a, 2v, 5d, and other analo...
The Origin of Consciousness in the Integration of Analog (Right Hemisphere) & Digital (Left Hemisphere) Codes

This article proposes that human self-consciousness came into existence through the transcendence of previously constructed but separate analog and digital codes, primarily located in the right and left hemisphere. This concept of transcendence is modeled on the sudden insight of Helen Keller. This insight, starting with the ability to name things, gives rise to a qualitatively unique human self-consciousness. It initiated human language and brought about the first human experiences of the past, the future, awareness of death, moral responsibility, and other distinctly human experiences. After a discussion of analog and digital codes in support of this interpretation, it is proposed that the self-conscious insight took place about 50,000 years ago in the brain of an early primitive human. The work of Tomasello and of Bickerton is used to identify necessary mental abilities that preceded the capacity for self-consciousness and language. Other relevant theorists treated include McGilchrist & Jaynes.
Phase Diagram of Dense H 2 − He Mixtures: Evidence for Strong Chemical Association, Miscibility, and Structural Change

The phase diagram of hydrogen-helium mixtures is presented to 75 GPa, underscoring the formation of metastable ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$-rich crystallite in He-rich fluid mixtures and the structural phase transition in He lattice at $\ensuremath{\sim}52\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GPa}$. The Raman data also indicate a significant level of mixing between ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ and He even in solids, giving rise to new vibrational bands in He-rich solid at $\ensuremath{\sim}2400\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ for H-He stretching and $140\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ for the lattice phonon of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ incorporated hcp He. Therefore, the present result signifies unexpected, strong chemical association of the interstitial-filled guest molecules (${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ or He) with the host lattice (hcp He or ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$) in this quantum solid mixture.
Risk Assessment and Presymptomatic Molecular Diagnosis in Hereditary Breast Cancer

Breast cancer susceptibility genes are being isolated at a rapid pace. Current molecular diagnostic techniques are being adapted to detect mutations in the germline and in tumors. The isolation of the breast and ovarian cancer gene 1 IBRCA1) has brought about the potential for screening large numbers of individuals for genetically increased susceptibility to breast cancer. The advantages and limitations of presymptomatic testing are discussed.
Cognitive and Behavioral Outcomes from Traumatic Brain Injury

Outcome following traumatic brain injury (TBI) depends on many factors, including severity of injury. Research has demonstrated a dose–response relationship between TBI severity and cognitive outcomes, with more severe deficits associated with increasingly severe injuries. Additionally, changes in psychological functioning, behavior, and participation in the community may be sequelae of TBI. This chapter focuses on recovery and outcomes from TBI, including mild, mild-complicated, and moderate-to-severe, as well as mitigating factors, such as demographics and premorbid factors, psychological comorbidities, type of injury, repeated concussions, and financial incentives. Outcome prediction is essential for planning rehabilitation goals, patient and family education about long-term changes, and identifying necessity of future assistance. This task is made challenging by the additional influence of factors such as premorbid functioning, type and severity of injury, and other situational factors.
STUDIES ON HYPOPROTEINEMIA. II. FAMILIAL IDIOPATHIC DYSPROTEINEMIA

1. A new syndrome, idiopathic familial dysproteinemia, is described in 4 adult members of one generation, in 2 of their paternal uncles and in 4 members of the second generation. The syndrome is characterized by hypoproteinemia and/or abnormalities in the electrophoretic patterns of the blood plasma (dysproteinemia). These are accompanied in the adult by peripheral vascular changes (ulcers of the legs in the men, low oscillometric indices in the women) and edema. There are also malformations of the thoracic cage and of the occipital hair distribution in some of the cases. 2. The idiopathic nature of the disease was ascertained in some of the patients by study of the nutritional history, of the renal, hepatic and adrenal functions, and of the response to a high-protein diet under controlled conditions. 3. In one case detailed studies of the mechanisms of plasma protein regulation resulted in findings that indicate a disturbance in the production of certain protein components. The disappearance rate of injected albumin and the rate of replacement of acutely withdrawn plasma protein were normal. 4. The clinical and physio-pathologic significance of this syndrome and the possible role of genetic factors are discussed. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We wish to acknowledge the courtesy of Dr. E. Shorr and Dr. E. A. Burkhardt, who referred to us the first patient of this group. Several members of the staff of Memorial Cancer Center have helped in this study. The authors wish to thank Drs. E. McCabe and J. B. Trunnell for assistance in the clinical management of the patients; Dr. Aurelia Potor, for performing the renal and adrenal function studies; Dr. N. F. Young, who supervised laboratory procedures; Dr. H. J. Tagnon, who performed the liver function tests, assisted by Miss P. Nichols; Dr. C. G. Child, III, for performing the biopsies; Dr. S. Spitz, for the pathological interpretations and Dr. E. C. Reifenstein, Jr., for advice in preparing the graphs and manuscript.
Unlocking the gating mechanism of Kv2.1 using guangxitoxin.

The Boa constrictor uses its powerful muscles to suffocate and kill its prey. Unlike the mighty Goliath, smart little David—spiders, scorpions, and other venomous creatures—uses an arsenal of toxins to inflict pain, paralyze, and kill. In the ion channel arena, the fearless investigator also
Detection of distant metastatic disease by positron emission tomography with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET) at initial staging of cervical carcinoma.

Objective The detection of distant metastatic disease in cervical cancer patients at diagnosis is critical in accurate prognostication and directing treatment strategies. This study describes the frequency and sites of distant metastatic disease at diagnosis in patients with cervical cancer as detected by positron emission tomography with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET). Methods Patients with newly diagnosed cervical cancer underwent pre-treatment whole-body FDG-PET starting in 1997 at an academic institution. Patients with evidence of distant FDG-avid disease, defined as disease outside of typical sites of lymphatic spread, were included for analyses. Patients were not surgically staged, but biopsy to confirm metastatic disease was attempted at the discretion of the treating physicians. Overall survival was calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results From 1997 to 2017, 72 (6.2%) of 1158 consecutively evaluated cervical cancer patients exhibited FDG-avid distant disease at diagnosis; 27 (38%) of these had biopsy confirmation of distant disease. Only 35 (49%) of FDG-detected metastases were clinically apparent. The sites of distant disease were lung (35%), multiple sites (25%), omentum (16.5%), bone (16.5%), and liver (7%). There were 12 (17%) patients with distant disease who did not display FDG-avid lymph nodes. Median overall survival among patients with distant FDG-avid disease was 7.0 months (95% CI 4.3 to 9.7). Patients with multiple sites of distant disease demonstrated the worst overall survival. Conclusions Distant metastatic disease detected by FDG-PET is found in 6.2% of patients with cervical cancer at the time of initial diagnosis and the most common site of disease is the lung. Further prospective investigation is warranted to delineate best treatment practices for cervical cancer patients presenting with distant metastases.
Sociology as a science

Presented here is an overview from the standpoints of sociology, history of science, philosophy of science and “pure science” of the lingering question of whether sociology is a form of scientific pursuit. The conclusion is drawn that sociology barely meets any of the rigid criteria traditionally associated with the natural sciences. Sociology is viewed as having a position of theory and argument which is labeled “inconoclastic scepticism.”
The Data Representation Sublanguage

The level of a programming language is determined by the power of the semantic primitives which it provides. The operations provided by the ordinary low-level languages, e.g., languages of the FORTRAN type, all lie close to those elementary operations with a few dozen bits of input and output which computer hardware implements directly. Languages of somewhat higher level, e.g., PL/I, PASCAL, or Ada, supplement these primitives with more advanced pointer-oriented memory management mechanisms and also support recursion; nevertheless, even these languages stay close to operations which can be translated into efficient machine code in relatively obvious ways. SETL aims more radically than any of these languages at simplification of the programmer’s task; for this reason it supports use of abstract objects (sets and maps) whose best machine-level representation is not obvious. Of course, many possible representations for objects of this kind are known, but which representation is best will vary from program to program in subtle ways that depend on the specific operations that a program applies to the objects that it manipulates. If the most effective representation of a program’s data objects is not chosen, efficiency will suffer, and it is this efficiency barrier that has prevented rapid and widespread adoption of very high level languages like SETL.
The mindset disconnect in mathematics teaching: A qualitative analysis of classroom instruction

Abstract The idea of growth mindset has gained popularity internationally in educational contexts, particularly in mathematics classrooms. Those with a fixed mindset believe intelligence is an unchangeable or fixed trait, while those with a growth mindset believe intelligence is malleable and can grow through focused effort. Through analysis of classroom observations, teacher and student interviews, and course materials, this article examines the relationship between four teachers’ self-reported mindset beliefs, their instructional practices, and the messages these practices might communicate to students. This article also examines how contextual factors may have played a role in shaping teachers' mindset-related instructional practices. Findings identify the ways in which mathematics instruction might or might not consistently communicate growth mindset messages. Findings suggest that teaching in a way that consistently communicates growth mindset messages about mathematics ability might be impeded by existing structures in schools, such as policies related to tracking, instructional strategies, and standardized assessment.
The Accuracy of SPECT/CT for Diagnosing Lumbar Zygapophyseal Joint Pain: a Systematic Review

To determine the accuracy of Tc-99m methylenediphosphonate single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT/CT) for the diagnosis of lumbar zygapophyseal joint-related pain with dual medial branch block (> 70% threshold) as the reference standard. To date, the accuracy of SPECT/CT for the diagnosis of lumbar zygapophyseal joint pain has not been systematically reviewed. One study met inclusion criteria. A prospective cohort study of 35 patients reported a prevalence of 24% (95% CI 9.0–40.0%) using dual medial branch blocks (MBBs) as the means of diagnosis and found that SPECT/CT had a sensitivity of 0.57 (95% CI 0.18–0.90), specificity of 0.77 (95% CI 0.55–0.92), LR+ of 2.51 (95% CI 0.92–6.85), and LR− of 0.55 (95% CI 0.23–1.34). According to OCEBM 2011 guidelines, the evidence is rated as level 3. More research is needed to determine the accuracy of SPECT/CT for the diagnosis of Z-joint pain, as technological improvement and interpretation could potentially improve overall diagnostic accuracy and reduce associated costs.
Thermal Effects on Hydromechanical Response of Seabed-Supporting Hydrocarbon Pipelines

AbstractSubsea pipelines are commonly used for transportation of hot hydrocarbons from offshore sites. The temperature difference between the hot pipeline and the cold seabed induces thermal loads....
Comparison of International Ovarian Tumor Analysis Simple Rules to Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound Guidelines for Detection of Malignancy in Adnexal Cysts

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) simple rules and the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound (SRU) guidelines for detecting ovarian malignancy in a general population of women presenting to radiology departments with adnexal cystic lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A retrospective multicenter study of ultrasound-detected adnexal cystic lesions with appropriate follow-up was conducted. Lesions were classified into benign, indeterminate, or malignant categories according to criteria based on the IOTA simple rules and the SRU guidelines. The prevalence of nonneoplastic cysts, neoplasms, and malignant tumors was calculated. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy were calculated, and ROC analysis for the diagnosis of malignancy was performed. RESULTS. A total of 697 women with 764 cystic lesions were included; 85.2% (651/764) of the lesions were nonneoplastic, 12.2% (93/764) were benign neoplasms, and 2.6% (20/764) were malignant neoplasms. Nearly all malignancies were classified into indeterminate and malignant categories. The prevalence of malignancy in the indeterminate category was 4.8% (7/145) (SRU) to 10.7% (7/65) (IOTA) and in the malignant category was 18.1% (13/72) (SRU) to 34.3% (12/35) (IOTA). Only one malignancy was misclassified as benign by the IOTA simple rules. The sensitivity of the IOTA simple rules for malignancy was 90.0%; specificity, 96.5%; PPV, 29.0%; NPV, 99.8%; and accuracy, 96.4%. The corresponding values for the SRU guidelines were 100%, 89.6%, 14.9%, 100%, and 89.8%. In ROC analysis, the IOTA simple rules were slightly more accurate than the SRU guidelines (AUC, 0.9805 versus 0.9713; p = 0.0003). CONCLUSION. Both imaging characterization methods were sensitive for identifying ovarian malignancies, but the PPV was low among women presenting to radiology departments, and the indeterminate classification harbored one-third of the total malignancies. Exploration of varied clinical settings and inclusion of secondary tests may help to refine these systems.
15 – CARBOHYDRATE BIOSYNTHESIS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses carbohydrate biosynthesis. Many bacteria have the ability to grow in media with acetate as the sole carbon source, and it follows that carbohydrate and other cellular components are synthesized from acetate. The scheme for the biosynthesis of hexose from acetate occurs in bacteria. The first step in the assimilation of acetate is the formation of acetyl-CoA either by the acetokinase-phosphotransacetylase pathway or by the action of acetyl-CoA synthetase that has been reported in a few species of bacteria. Acetate is incorporated into citrate and isocitrate by tricarboxylic acid cycle reactions. The key reaction in the assimilation of acetate is catalyzed by isocitritase. Isocitritase has been found in many species of bacteria, yeast, and fungi but not in higher animals. Another reaction unique to assimilation of acetate by microorganisms is the condensation of glyoxylate and acetyl-CoA to malate catalyzed by malate synthetase.
Study on risk assessing indicator system after schistosomiasis transmission interruption in Wuxi City

OBJECTIVE To establish a risk assessing indicator system after the transmission interruption of schistosomiasis in Wuxi City, so as to provide evidences for formulating strategies on schistosomiasis control and prevention. METHODS A primary risk assessing indicator system was established based on the literature review. Alternative indicators were scored and screened to establish a final indicator system through two rounds of Delphy method and the related normalized weights and combined weights were also calculated. RESULTS The risk assessing indicator system was established through two rounds of expert consultation including 3 first grade indicators and 15 second grade indicators. Among the first grade indicators, the normalized weights of natural environment, key populations and social environment were 0.370 6, 0.292 9 and 0.336 5, respectively. Among the second grade indicators, the migrant population accounted for the highest combined weight of 0.125 2 compared to domestic animal of 0.037 1. The authority degree among the first grade indicators was between 0.91 and 0.93, while the authority degree among the second grade indicators was between 0.79 and 0.92. CONCLUSIONS The scientific and authoritative risk assessing indicator system after the transmission interruption of schistosomiasis is established, which provides the evidences for risk assessment on schistosomiasis transmission in Wuxi City.
How you measure matters; defining social capital in drought-prone areas

Abstract Social capital, or social connections that a household possesses that can provide support and access to resources, is an important indicator to consider when assessing one's ability to withstand shocks and stressors. This study seeks to operationalize social capital within the context of two disaster-prone settings – Burkina Faso and Niger. Burkina Faso and Niger are two landlocked countries located in the Sahel region of West Africa. They are prone to frequent stressors including drought, flooding, and insect invasions. Secondary data from a representative cross-sectional household survey of 2492 households conducted in May 2015 were re-analyzed. The analysis compared three methods most commonly employed in the literature against a new method and compared each operationalization of social capital. This study identified latent class analysis, asan appropriate method for this context. Selection criteria included method limitations, dataset constraints, interpretability, and the amount of variance the classes contributed to an outcome of interest, food security. The three classes had both a significant and positive association with food security (p These findings demonstrate approximate equivalence of findings using different methods; however, latent class analysis may be most appropriate given this context.
Neighborhood Poverty and Physical Health at Midlife: The Role of Life-Course Exposure

Studies of the effect of neighborhood poverty on health are dominated by research designs that measure neighborhood poverty at a single point in time, ignoring the potential influence of exposure to neighborhood poverty over the life course. Applying latent class analysis to restricted residential history data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1979 Cohort, we identify four trajectories of life-course exposure to high-poverty neighborhoods between adolescence and midlife and then examine how these groups differ in their physical health conditions (SF-12 score) and self-rated health at around age 40. Linear and logistic regression analyses show that life-course exposure to high-poverty neighborhoods is a stronger predictor of midlife physical health than are point-in-time measures of neighborhood poverty observed during either adolescence or midlife. Our findings suggest that a life-course approach can enhance our understanding of how neighborhood poverty affects physical health.
Developing Physical Assessment Skills in Pharmacy Students through Participation in a Creative Movement Workshop: An Interdisciplinary Study between Pharmacy and Dance

The role a pharmacist plays in the care of patients is continually changing and expanding. Most recently, there is movement towards including pharmacists in the physical assessment of patients. We developed a creative movement workshop with the purpose of increasing students' levels of comfort with touch, ability to interpret non-verbal mannerisms, to increase empathy for the patient, and to increase student comfort in conducting physical exams. In this interventional study, surveys were administered to third year pharmacy students, before and after the creative movement workshop, in order to assess participant's change in level of comfort with a variety of behaviors needed to conduct effective physical assessment. The two hour workshop involved: partner stretching, mirroring, and creative spatial exploration between bodies. The 11-item survey evaluated students' perceptions on touch, nonverbal communication, and sharing personal space. Our results showed that the level of comfort improved for the ability to give touch (p = 0.001), the ability to receive touch (p = 0.002), and the ability to share personal space (p = 0.001). Participants commented that the workshop increased their understanding of how important confidence is when performing physical assessment and reported an increased appreciation for how much non-verbal mannerisms can communicate to another. This study explores how an interdisciplinary workshop between pharmacy and dance has the potential to increase student effectiveness as future healthcare professionals, by targeting skills not often focused on within traditional pharmacy curriculums, including: sharing personal space, displaying empathy, and providing a comforting and confident touch.
Clinical Trials Data Management in the Big Data Era

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Cooperative Studies Program (CSP), Clinical Research Pharmacy Coordinating Center (Center) has supported clinical trials for more than four decades. Managing information from clinical trials and published results in the Big Data era presents new challenges and opportunities. These include and are not limited to data attribution, aggregation, adaptability, and prompt analysis. Hence, the Center has created a dynamic application to present a broad understanding of the clinical trials’ achievements. To collect crucial information from clinical trials, this application includes 1) data attribution to identify provenance and to preserve relationships between trials and resulting publications, 2) data normalization to deal with variety of formats and concepts, 3) data aggregation to integrate information from different trials, and 4) data analysis with a friendly interface to consult aggregated information promptly. This work establishes a Semantic Data Model for each clinical trial to create a summary of key information in a machine-readable format, and to enrich each summary with semantic information. In addition, it allows the union of these models to represent a global knowledge source from a set of clinical trials. The organized models offer compatibility and interoperability within and among clinical trials.
Coupled supersymmetry and ladder structures beyond the harmonic oscillator

The development of supersymmetric (SUSY) quantum mechanics has shown that some of the insights based on the algebraic properties of ladder operators related to the quantum mechanical harmonic oscil...
Quasi-Static Analysis of Larc Thunder Actuators

An analytic approach is developed to predict the shape and displacement with voltage in the quasi-static limit of LaRC Thunder Actuators. The problem is treated with classical lamination theory and Von Karman non-linear analysis. In the case of classical lamination theory exact analytic solutions are found. It is shown that classical lamination theory is insufficient to describe the physical situation for large actuators but is sufficient for very small actuators. Numerical results are presented for the non-linear analysis and compared with experimental measurements. Snap-through behavior, bifurcation, and stability are presented and discussed.
Sexual function following radical prostatectomy : influence of preservation of neurovascular bundles

AbstractThe influence of preservation or excision of the neurovascular bundles on return of sexual function is analyzed. Between 1982 and 1988, 600 men 34 to 72 years old underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy for prostate cancer. Of the 503 patients who were potent preoperatively and followed for a minimum of 18 months 342 (68%) are potent postoperatively. Three factors were identified that correlated with the return of sexual function: 1) age, 2) clinical and pathological stage, and 3) surgical technique (preservation or excision of the neurovascular bundle). In men less than 50 years old potency was similar in patients who had both neurovascular bundles preserved (90%) and patients who had 1 neurovascular bundle widely excised (91%). With advancing age of more than 50 years sexual function was better in patients in whom both neurovascular bundles were preserved than in patients in whom 1 neurovascular bundle was excised (p <0.05). When the relative risk of postoperative impotence was adjusted for a...
Persistent nonmalignant pain and analgesic prescribing patterns in elderly nursing home residents.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of analgesics used, their prescribing patterns, and associations with particular diagnoses and medications in patients with persistent pain. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Nursing homes from 10 U.S. states. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 21,380 nursing home residents aged 65 and older with persistent pain. MEASUREMENTS: Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments on pain, analgesics, cognitive, functional, and emotional status were summarized. Logistic regression models identified diagnoses associated with different analgesic classes. RESULTS: Persistent pain as determined using the MDS was identified in 49% of residents with an average age of 83; 83% were female. Persistent pain was prevalent in patients with a history of fractures (62.9%) or surgery (63.6%) in the past 6 months. One-quarter received no analgesics. The most common analgesics were acetaminophen (37.2%), propoxyphene (18.2%), hydrocodone (6.8%), and tramadol (5.4%). Only 46.9% of all analgesics were given as standing doses. Acetaminophen was usually prescribed as needed (65.6%), at doses less than 1,300mg per day. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were prescribed as a standing dose more than 70% of the time, and one-third of NSAIDs were prescribed at high doses. CONCLUSION: In nursing home residents, persistent pain is highly prevalent, there is suboptimal compliance with geriatric prescribing recommendations, and acute pain may be an important contributing source of persistent pain. More effective provider education and research is needed to determine whether treatment of acute pain could prevent persistent pain. J Am Geriatr Soc 52:867-874, 2004.
Spectroscopic studies of radio-frequency induced plasma

Abstract A highly stable and quiet induction-coupled, radio-frequency plasma torch capable of continuous operation has been developed. The electronic spectra produced by various organic compounds when introduced into the plasma, have been studied. Results indicate that the tendency is for the molecules to be shattered in the plasma and to emit electronic spectra typical of functional groups.
Towards P2P-routed IF overlay networks for grid virtual machines

This poster describes current work on the application of network virtualization and peer-to-peer routing techniques that overlay IP traffic and provide seamless connectivity to virtual machines in grid computing. Such IP-over-P2P virtual network - IPOP - is an overlay network that uses a virtual IP address space and allows nodes that belong to a grid to be seamlessly pooled together. The overlay network is self-configured as nodes join/leave the virtualized grid, and IP-level bi-directional connectivity among peers is provided. The decoupling provided by the overlay enables grid applications to leverage a wealth of IP-based software typically available in local-area environments. Such virtual networks, when combined to complementary resource virtualization techniques provided by O/S virtual machines [Xen, Rarham et al. (2003), VMware, Sugerman et al., (2001), User Mode Linux, Dike, J. (2000)], provide a scalable framework for dealing with a fundamental goal of grid computing: sharing resources in a secure and flexible manner by Figueiredo, Dinda and Fortes (2003)
Strength Size Effects in Cellular Ceramic Structures

Strength size effects were studied in two cordierite cellular ceramic structures with two different cell densities, namely Coming Incorporated's Duratrap® CO 100/17 and CO 200/12 diesel particulate filter products. Strength tests in bending were conducted on bars with sizes that ranged from 2 x 4 cells to 15 x 30 cells for the 100/17 product and from 3 x 6 cells to 21 x 42 cells for the 200/12 product. Contrary to the Weibull strength size effect relationship, no significant strength size effect was observed for either of these two materials in this experiment. This size independent strength is thought to be linked to the structural features of these extruded cordierite materials such as porosity and microcracking. Calculation of the moment of inertia term, capturing the cellular structure, shows that the assumption of a homogeneous continuum in the strength calculations results in an overestimate of reported bend strength. This overestimate becomes large for coarse structures where the bar dimensions approach the scale of the cellular dimensions.
Stop Doing Stupid: An Essential Requirement For Effective Teaching, Management And Leadership

There is an old adage that reads “the suffering of fools”, which for this paper is the passive form of the “stop doing stupid” in the title. For either of these sayings the key concern when dealing with foolishness is not only the loss of resources, in time and money, that result from this indulgence and tolerance, but more importantly the direct impact that not objecting can have on morale and the long-term effectiveness of any decision-making process. Whether it is during the teaching of students, the management of people and business processes or more importantly the highly involved and visionary leadership process, the need to speak up and to try to mitigate stupid and wasteful interruptions has become an essential requirement if we are to continue to grow socially and economically. This paper has been prepared to make the case for taking the road less travelled, which has as a reward growing personal self-worth and enhanced social value. It also has the drawback of becoming identified as one of those few that just can’t sit quietly with their mouths shut when some act of foolishness is in motion.
Language Development Factors Related to Reading Development.

Language is a single phenomenon consisting of both receptive and roductive modes. When the ral code is used, the receptive mode is listening and the pro ductive mode is speaking. When the graphic code is used, the receptive mode is reading, and the productive mode is writing. All four modes are different, but closely related, aspects of language. The relationships, however, are not static. In infancy, listening precedes intelligible speech, and reading and writing are nonexistent. During the years of early childhood language growth is rapid: the level of spoken language begins to approximate that of oral reception. Around the age of six reading instruction begins, with writing coming somewhat later. Some educators believe that reading and writing should be taught concurrently, or even that writing instruction should precede reading instruction. There have also been attempts to teach reading at the age of two, when language development is most concentrated. Although such attempts may be misguided for other reasons, they do show an appreciation for the unitary nature of language. The common root, and hence the reason for the interdependence among the four aspects of language, lies in the search for meaning. It is our nature to expect things and events in the world to con form, to follow certain patterns, to make sense. When they do not, we seek further explanation to satisfy our need for order and consistency, or we force the informa tion into a form we can deal with. We are constantly bending information to suit our predilections much more than we care to think. It is this realization that has
Advocacy and Equity Planning

Until recently, most American city planners dealt solely with the physical city. But an alternative planning practice dealing with social equity has existed since the early 1900s, at the margins of the profession. These ‘equity or advocacy’ planners flourished during times of crisis, which bring forward the reform elements of the American state. They have had an impact on the profession. At the end of the twentieth century, American city planning was more sensitive and collaborative than it had been earlier.
Even-aged restrictions with sub-graph adjacency

Restrictions on the size and proximity of clearcuts have led to the development of a variety of exact and heuristic methods to optimize the net present value of timber harvests, subject to adjacency constraints. Most treat harvest units as pre-defined, and impose adjacency constraints on any two units sharing a common border. By using graph theory notation to define sub-graph adjacency constraints, opening size can be considered variable, which may be more appropriate for landscape-level planning. A small example data set is used in this paper to demonstrate the difference between the two types of adjacency constraints for both integer programming and heuristic solution methods.
Measuring primary production rates in the ocean: Enigmatic results between incubation and non‐incubation methods at Station ALOHA

[1] Primary production (PP) rates were estimated using concurrent 14 C and 18 0 bottle incubations and a non-incubation oxygen isotope ( 17 Δ) based method during monthly cruises to the time series station ALOHA in the subtropical N. Pacific Ocean between March, 2006 and February, 2008. The mean gross oxygen production (GOP) rate in the photic layer (0-200m) at ALOHA was estimated at 103 ± 43 and 78 ± 17 mmol O 2 m -2 d -1 from the 17 Δ and 18 O methods, respectively. In comparison, the mean 14 C-PP rate (daytime incubations) in the photic layer was 42 ± 7 mmol C m -2 d -1 (502 ± 84 mg C m -2 d -1 ). Seasonal and depth variability (% change) for GOP rate was 2-3 times that for 14 C-PP. The non-incubation 17 Δ-GOP rates consistently exceeded the incubation 18 O-GOP rates by 25-60%, and possible methodological biases were evaluated. A supersaturation of the dissolved O 2 /Ar gas ratio was measured every month yielding a mean annual value of 101.3 ± 0.1% and indicating a consistent net autotrophic condition in the mixed layer at ALOHA. The mean annual net community production (NCP) rate at ALOHA estimated from dissolved O 2 /Ar gas ratio was 14 ± 4 mmol O 2 m -2 d -1 (120 ± 33 mg C m -2 d -1 or 3.7 ± 1.0 mol C m -2 yr -1 ) for the mixed layer. A NCP/GOP ratio of 0.19 ± 0.08 determined from 17 Δ and O 2 /Ar measurements indicated that ~20% of gross photosynthetic production was available for export and harvest.
Jury Sentencing in Non-Capital Cases: Comparing Severity and Variance with Judicial Sentences in Two States

Recently commentators have championed sentencing by jury as more democratic, less sensitive to electoral pressure, and better suited to current theories of punishment than sentencing by judge alone. Despite the importance of reliable empirical information about jury sentencing, contemporary discussions of this practice either fail to address empirical questions or rely on outdated and incomplete studies. This study is the first to present basic information on the comparative severity and variance of jury and judge sentencing as practiced at the turn of the twenty-first century. We present offense-specific analyses of the variance and severity of jury sentences as compared to judge sentences, controlling for available factors associated with sentence severity, using several years of archival sentencing data from Arkansas and Virginia. In both states, juries select sentences in felony cases after jury trial. Judicial sentencing after bench trial or guilty plea is governed by voluntary sentencing guidelines. Regression analyses evaluated sentences of incarceration for individual offenses, and included as independent variables available offense, offender, and case characteristics associated with sentence severity. For most of the offenses examined in these two states, the sentences selected by juries after trial were both more varied and more severe than sentences selected by judges after bench trial. The findings also suggest that these disparities may be deliberately maintained by judges and prosecutors and facilitated by state law that restricts the sentencing options and information provided to juries as compared to judges.