cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of Femoral Offset on Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty Outcomes

Introduction: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is extremely effective in treating debilitating arthritic conditions of the hip. With the many modular prosthetic designs available, surgeons can now precisely construct mechanical parameters such as femoral offset (FO). Although several studies have investigated relationships between offset choice and hip abductor strength, hip range of motion, and prosthetic wear rate, there is scarce data on the effect of FO on pain and functional outcomes following THA. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of restoring FO (within varying degrees compared to the contralateral non-diseased hip [CL]) on physical function, mental well-being, pain, and stiffness outcomes as measured by the Short Form 12 Health Survey (SF-12) and Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) at post-operative follow-up. Methods: We prospectively collected data on 249 patients that underwent unilateral THA with no or minimal disease of the contralateral hip. Baseline data collection included: age, gender, diagnosis, femoral head size, type of stem, and pre-operative SF-12 and WOMAC scores. Post-operative SF-12 and WOMAC scores were recorded during annual follow-up visits. Post-operative FO was retrospectively measured on standard anteroposterior (AP) pelvis radiographs and compared to FO of CL. FO was measured as the perpendicular distance from the femoral head center of rotation to the anatomic axis of the femur with appropriate adjustments made for image magnification. Patients were categorized into one of three groups: decreased femoral offset (dFO, less than −5 mm compared to CL), normal femoral offset (nFO, between −5 and +5 mm of CL), and increased femoral offset (iFO, greater than +5 mm compared to CL). Results: In all, 31 patients were categorized into dFO, 163 categorized into nFO, and 55 categorized into iFO. At baseline, the groups differed in categorical diagnoses (p = 0.01). Further analysis revealed a higher percentage of posttraumatic arthritis in dFO as compared to nFO and iFO (12.9%, 1.2%, and 1.8%, respectively). Moreover, a higher percentage of hip dysplasia was present in iFO as compared to nFO and dFO (14.5%, 3.6%, and 6.5%, respectively). Pre-operatively, dFO had lower WOMAC Pain scores than nFO and iFO (29.68, 43.39, and 43.63, respectively; p Discussion: Reduction of patients9 native FOs by greater than 5 mm during THA can lead to inferior levels of physical function. Furthermore, increasing FO by greater than 5 mm did not lead to increased levels of pain nor decreased levels of function.
Latin America’s Protagonist Role in Human Rights

Latin American governments, social movements, and regional organisations have made a far bigger contribution to the idea and practice of international human rights than has previously been recognised. Most discussions of the global human rights regime stress its origins in the countries of the Global North. This article explores the role of Latin America states as early protagonists of the international protection of human rights, focusing in particular on the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man, adopted 8 months before passage of the Universal Declaration. In light of this, Sikkink calls into question the idea that human rights originated only in the Global North.
Effect of annealing on molybdenum films used as a back contact for Cu(In, Ga)Se 2 solar cells

Mo films were deposited on SLG substrates by sputtering to observe the influence of substrate temperature (Tss) and post-deposition annealing on film structure and alkali diffusion. The Mo films were characterized by XRD and AFM, indicating an increase of the grain size and a decrease of the roughness with Tss. After annealing, the samples deposited at 100°C show smaller grain size and higher surface roughness. Secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) analysis were also performed, and indicated a decrease of the Na and K with increased Tss, with the smallest intensity for the samples deposited at 100°C. A 3-D numerical model was used for simulating the grain boundary diffusion.
New Directions in Teaching Forensic Psychology

Due to the highly public nature of forensic psychology ( the testimony of forensic psychologists in courts and other adjudicative tribunals) there exists a critical need in forensic psychology training programs to teach not only didactically, but to give students ways of handling psychological data when confronted by attacks on their findings (such as cross examination). Several aspects of the training program in forensic psychology at Nova Southeastern University are described, all the way from basic courses in ethics and professional issues, to advanced courses in forensic consulting, civil and criminal law, and forensic assessment. Experiential exercises such as serving as expert witnesses in trials and hearings, and defending various psychological assessments against cross examination are described. Students write briefs and argue the psycho-legal issues in front of a mock supreme court justice, as well as prepare amicus briefs that address certain psychological issues in family law settings.
Computer Simulation for Construction Education Using the Structure-Behavior-Function Theory: A Pilot Study on Learning Estimating Concepts

ABSTRACTA computer simulation based on the structure-behavior-function (SBF) theory is developed and tested to study its impact on teaching construction estimating. While students eventually excel at estimating, grasping basic estimating concepts often presents a challenge to many students when they start learning estimating. It requires students to have a solid understanding about the relationship between actual construction and a typical estimating process to derive a good estimate. A computer simulation of a simple construction estimating process presents an opportunity for students to meet the challenge. One hundred and nine junior year students in a construction management department at a major state university in the southeastern United States participated in the study. The experimental group had sixty students using the simulation; while the control group had forty-nine students without using the simulation. The results showed that the simulation significantly improved students in learning both est...
First Semester College Students’ Definitions of and Expectations for Engaging in Hookups:

Our study was guided by a developmental lens (emerging adulthood) and the theory of symbolic interaction as we attended to the meanings and definitions that contextualize expectations for engaging ...
Feasibility of Text Message Influenza Vaccine Safety Monitoring During Pregnancy.

Introduction The feasibility and accuracy of text messaging to monitor events after influenza vaccination throughout pregnancy and the neonatal period has not been studied, but may be important for seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccines and future maternal vaccines. Methods This prospective observational study was conducted during 2013–2014 and analyzed in 2015–2016. Enrolled pregnant women receiving inactivated influenza vaccination at a gestational age Results Most (80.2%, n =166) eligible women enrolled. Median gestational age was 8.9 (SD=3.9) weeks at vaccination. Response rates remained high (80.0%−95.2%). Only one Day 0–2 fever was reported. Women reported via text both pregnancy- and non-pregnancy−specific health events, not all associated with medical visits. Most pregnancy-specific events in the electronic medical record (EMR) were reported via text message. Of all enrollees, 84.9% completed the study (131 reported live birth, ten reported pregnancy loss). Two losses reported via text were not medically attended; there was one additional EMR-identified loss. Gestational age and weight at birth were similar between text message−reported and EMR-abstracted data and 95% CIs were overlapping for proportions of prematurity, low birth weight, small for gestational age, and major birth defects, as identified by text message−reported versus EMR-abstracted plus text message−reported versus EMR-abstracted data only. Conclusions This study demonstrated the feasibility of text messaging for influenza vaccine safety surveillance sustained throughout pregnancy. In these women receiving inactivated influenza vaccination during pregnancy, post-vaccination fever was infrequent and a typical pattern of maternal and neonatal health outcomes was observed.
Concealed Ownership: Americans’ Perceived Comfort Sharing Gun Ownership Status with Others

ABSTRACTWhile much is known about how Americans feel about guns and gun control policy, less is known about how Americans perceive gun owners, or how gun owners and nonowners view themselves. The present study examines how comfortable individuals feel disclosing their gun ownership status with family, friends, coworkers, employers, doctors, teachers, police, and strangers. This article uses stigma theory as a guiding framework. Data were obtained from a nationwide survey conducted in February 2016 of more than 250 current gun owners and more than 250 nonowners. Analyses utilize ordered logistic regression. Findings show that whites, older Americans, and those with more pro-gun attitudes express more comfort sharing whether they own a gun. Respondents also indicate that familiarity with the individual requesting gun ownership information and concern over how that person might react are key factors that affect comfort with disclosure. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.
50 Religion and spirituality: benefits for latino adolescents exposed to community violence

Purpose Latino adolescents face elevated risks of exposure to community violence, both as witnesses and victims. The negative effects of community violence exposure on youth’s psychological outcomes are well-documented; however, less is known about culturally-relevant factors that might buffer against this risk. This study examines how different aspects of religiosity and spirituality might protect Latino adolescents who are exposed to chronic urban violence. Methods The sample included 223 Latino ninth grade students attending three high schools located in two economically disadvantaged Northeastern cities in the United States. Students completed self-report questionnaires about lifetime exposure to community violence (witnessing violence and personal victimisation), psychological well-being (depression and PTSD symptoms), and three aspects of religiosity: spiritual experience, perceptions of religious importance at home, and religious involvement. Results Moderation analyses showed interactive effects between community violence exposure and different aspects of religiosity on symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after controlling for demographic factors. Both witnessing violence and personal victimisation were associated with symptoms of depression and PTSD at low and average reports of spirituality, but not at high levels of spirituality. Witnessing violence was associated with PTSD symptoms at low and average ratings of importance of religion at home, but not at high ratings of religious importance at home. Lastly, witnessing violence was associated with depressive symptoms at low and average levels of religious involvement, but not at high levels of religious involvement. Conclusions Spirituality, valuing religion at home, and religious involvement serve as protective factors against the negative effects of community violence exposure on Latino adolescents’ psychological functioning. Significance/contributions to injury and violence prevention science Religious and spiritual development should be supported in intervention programs aimed at reducing the negative impact of violence exposure on adolescents’ psychological well-being.
Examining Material Hardship in Mothers: Associations of Diaper Need and Food Insufficiency with Maternal Depressive Symptoms.

Abstract Objectives: Material hardship represents a potential mechanism by which poverty influences the mental health of mothers. This study examined the association between two forms of material hardship, diaper need and food insufficiency, and maternal depressive symptoms. Methods: Data were from a cross-sectional study of 296 urban, pregnant or parenting, low-income women. A linear regression model was used to examine the association of maternal depressive symptoms, measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) score, with diaper need and food insufficiency, after adjustment for demographic factors. Results: More than half of women reported diaper need (50.3%) and food insufficiency (54.7%). Nearly one-third of women who reported diaper need did not report food insufficiency (32.2%). In bivariate analyses, diaper need and food insufficiency were associated with maternal CES-D score. In multivariate analyses, women who reported diaper need had a significantly higher CES-D score tha...
Pre-Columbian Studies of Ritual and Religion: Place, Power, Practice, and Ontology

This essay reviews the following works: Social Identities in the Classic Maya Northern Lowlands: Gender, Age, Memory, and Place. By Traci Ardren. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2015. Pp. ix + 210. $22.95 paper. ISBN: 9780292768116. The Archaeology of Wak’as: Explorations of the Sacred in the Pre-Columbian Andes. Edited by Tamara Bray. Boulder: University Press of Colorado, 2014. Pp. xvi + 403. $70.00 cloth. ISBN: 9781607323174. The Power of Huacas: Change and Resistance in the Andean World of Colonial Peru. By Claudia Brosseder. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2015. Pp. xi + 456. $65.00 cloth. ISBN: 9780292756946. Ancient Zapotec Religion: An Ethnohistorical and Archaeological Perspective. By Michael Lind. Boulder: University Press of Colorado, 2015. Pp. xviii + 386. $70.00 cloth. ISBN: 9781607323730. Inca Sacred Space: Landscape, Site and Symbol in the Andes. Edited by Frank Meddens, Katie Willis, Colin McEwan, and Nicholas Branch. London: Archetype Publications, 2014. Pp. vii + 309. £65.00 paper. ISBN: 9781909492059. Maya Imagery, Architecture, and Activity: Space and Spatial Analysis in Art History. Edited by Maline D. Werness-Rude and Kaylee R. Spencer. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2015. Pp. xiv + 426. $75.00 cloth. ISBN: 9780826355799.
Selection-Enhanced Mutagenesis of lac Genes Is Due to Their Coamplification with dinB Encoding an Error-Prone DNA Polymerase

To test whether growth limitation induces mutations, Cairns and Foster constructed an Escherichia coli strain whose mutant lac allele provides 1-2% of normal ability to use lactose. This strain cannot grow on lactose, but produces ∼50 Lac+ revertant colonies per 108 plated cells over 5 days. About 80% of revertants carry a stable lac+ mutation made by the error-prone DinB polymerase, which may be induced during growth limitation; 10% of Lac+ revertants are stable but form without DinB; and the remaining 10% grow by amplifying their mutant lac allele and are unstably Lac+ Induced DinB mutagenesis has been explained in two ways: (1) upregulation of dinB expression in nongrowing cells ("stress-induced mutagenesis") or (2) selected local overreplication of the lac and dinB+ genes on lactose medium (selected amplification) in cells that are not dividing. Transcription of dinB is necessary but not sufficient for mutagenesis. Evidence is presented that DinB enhances reversion only when encoded somewhere on the F'lac plasmid that carries the mutant lac gene. A new model will propose that rare preexisting cells (1 in a 1000) have ∼10 copies of the F'lac plasmid, providing them with enough energy to divide, mate, and overreplicate their F'lac plasmid under selective conditions. In these clones, repeated replication of F'lac in nondividing cells directs opportunities for lac reversion and increases the copy number of the dinB+ gene. Amplification of dinB+ increases the error rate of replication and increases the number of lac+ revertants. Thus, reversion is enhanced in nondividing cells not by stress-induced mutagenesis, but by selected coamplification of the dinB and lac genes, both of which happen to lie on the F'lac plasmid.
Leadership Practices Linked to Involvement in School–Family–Community Partnerships: A National Study

Using the School Counselor Leadership Survey and the School Counselor Involvement in Partnerships Survey, this study of 546 school counselors explored which of the 5 school counselor leadership dim...
Shock Wave Overtake Measurements on Cesium Iodide

The present shock wave experiments on cesium iodide were carried out as a complement to the shock wave optical pyrometry measurements on cesium iodide by Radousky, et al.1 Those experiments gave temperatures along the Hugoniot from 0.25 Mbar to 0.91 Mbar, and suggested that melting occurred at approximately 0.32 Mbar and 3700 K. One reason for the interest in melting in CsI is the suggestion by Ross and Rogers2 that under these conditions the coordination number for liquid CsI will have changed from the normal 6 to 12, the value for a rare gas atom. The luminosity of the shock front for CsI makes it an ideal material for which to measure directly sound velocities along the Hugoniot using shock wave overtake methods.3 In these measurements, the occurrence of melting along the Hugoniot is marked by a discontinuous decrease in the measured sound velocity.4,5 In addition, CsI is isoelectronic with xenon, and is expected to begin to show metallic behavior along the Hugoniot near 0.9 Mbar.6 The directly-determined sound velocities and corresponding elastic moduli would be expected to be more sensitive to this transition than either Hugoniot equation of state or optical pyrometry experiments. The following gives a brief description of the present experiments and results. A more complete discussion of the results will be published elsewhere.7
How Sarah Got Her Groove Back, or Notes Toward a Black Feminist Theology of Pleasure

This article takes up the pivotal question that Sarah asks upon learning that she and Abraham are to have a child of their own: “After I am waxed old, shall I have pleasure?” (Genesis 18:12) This q...
Variation of Parameters

This chapter discusses variation of parameters applicable to forced, linear ordinary differential equations. The chapter illustrates the general technique for the linear ordinary differential equation of second order. It considers the equation y ″ + P ( x ) y ' + Q ( x ) y = R ( x ), and { y 1 ( x ) , y 2 ( x )} two linearly independent solutions to the homogeneous (unforced) equation y“ + P ( x ) y' + Q ( x ) y = 0. That is, every solution of y“ + P ( x ) y' + Q ( x ) y = 0 is a linear combination of y 1 ( x ) and y 2 ( x ). The chapter explores the particular solution of y “ + P ( x ) y ' + Q ( x ) y = R ( x ) in the form y ( x ) = v 1 ( x ) y 1 ( x ) + v 2 ( x ) y 2 ( x ), where v 1 ( x ) and v 2 ( x ) are to be determined. Differentiating y ( x ) = v 1 ( x ) y 1 ( x ) + v 2 ( x ) y 2 ( x ) with respect to x yields y' = ( v 1 y 1 + v 2 y' 2 ) + ( v 1 y 1 + v' 2 y 2 ). The second term in y' = ( v 1 y 1 + v 2 y' 2 ) + ( v 1 y 1 + v' 2 y 2 ) is then chosen to vanish, so that ( v' 1 y 1 + v’ 2 y 2 ) = 0.
Drugs for Long Acting Injections and Implants

Long acting injections and implants have been developed for controlled drug delivery to improve therapeutic effects, decrease dosing frequency, and also avoid potential drug toxicity. Many pharmaceutical agents, such as biomacromolecules (e.g. peptides, proteins and gene therapeutics), drugs with poor bioavailability, and drugs for local delivery are good candidates for developing long acting injections and implants. However, not all drugs are suitable for these formulations (for example, drugs with high dose or narrow therapeutic index).
The Lymph Proteome, Peptidome, and Degradome

During the last decade advanced proteomic analysis have allowed detailed characterization of the composition of the lymphatic fluid. A picture start to emerge indicating that far from being an ultra filtrate of the plasma the lymph carries a rich repertoire of proteins and peptides reflecting the tissue of origin and its physiological state. Indeed in few pathological conditions it has been shown that proteins transported by the lymph closely represent a molecular signature of the diseased organs. Altogether the “omic analysis” (proteomic, peptidomic, degradomic and lipidomic) prove to be a powerful tool to fingerprint variations in the lymph fluid collected from different parenchymal organs and to discover molecular biomarkers for the early detection of diseases.
"When the Government Changes, the Card Will Also Change": Questioning Identity in Biometric Smartcards for National Health Insurance (RSBY) in India

Since the mid-2000s, government initiatives in India have been gripped by the idea that biometric identification is more efficient than any form of paper-based documentation. In this article, I exp...
Predictors of lymphopenia in esophageal cancer patients receiving photon or proton radiation therapy: A dosimetric analysis.

147Background: Lymphopenia during radiation therapy (RT) has been associated with worse oncologic outcomes in a number of malignancies, including esophageal cancer (EC). No studies to date have inv...
Asset Pricing in the Information Age: Employee Expectations and Stock Returns

Using a new dataset of online employee expectations, I show that employees' beliefs about their employers' business prospects predict future stock returns. A long-short portfolio based on employee expectations delivers an annualized abnormal return of 8% to 11%. The forecasting power of employee expectations is distinct from existing return predictors such as analyst forecasts, insider trading, and employee satisfaction. Furthermore, employee expectations predict future trading by hedge funds and consequently return predictability is weaker at longer holding horizons. Outlook of relatively senior employees has stronger forecasting power for returns. Importantly, even the outlook of the lowest-rank employees is valuable because, as textual analysis of the employee reviews reveals, their information significantly overlaps with that of senior employees.
What Is the Optimal Antibiotic (Type, Dose and Route of Administration) Treatment for Infections After Foot/Ankle Fracture or Fusion Procedures?:

Recommendation:The optimal antibiotic treatment after foot/ankle fractures or fusion should be determined based on the result of culture. In the absence of culture results, administered antibiotics...
Association between Clonal Hematopoiesis and Late Nonrelapse Mortality after Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

ABSTRACT Clonal hematopoiesis (CH), characterized by the accumulation of acquired somatic mutations in the blood, is associated with an elevated risk of aging-related diseases and premature mortality in non-cancer populations. Patients who undergo autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) are also at high risk of premature onset of aging-related conditions. Therefore, we examined the association between pretreatment CH and late-occurring (≥1 year) nonrelapse mortality (NRM) after HCT. We evaluated pathogenic and likely pathogenic CH variants (PVs) in 10 patients who developed NRM after HCT and in 29 HCT recipient controls matched by age at HCT ± 2 years (median, 64.6 years; range, 38.5 to 74.7 years), sex (79.5% male), diagnosis (61.5% with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 18.0% with Hodgkin lymphoma, and 20.5% with multiple myeloma), and duration of follow-up. We analyzed mobilized hematopoietic stem cell DNA in samples collected before HCT using a custom panel of amplicons covering the coding exons of 79 myeloid-related genes associated with CH. PVs with allele fractions >2% were used for analyses. Cases were significantly more likely than controls to have CH (70% versus 24.1%; P = .002), to have ≥2 unique PVs (60% versus 6.9%; P
Associations Between Preoperative Depression, Hysterectomy, and Postoperative Opioid Use

Study Objective Preoperative depression has been linked to adverse outcomes following hysterectomy, including increased acute and chronic postoperative pain. The goal of this study was to determine whether preoperative depression is associated with increased opioid use following hysterectomy. Design Retrospective analysis of women who underwent benign hysterectomy between January 2001 and March 2015. Women without opioid prescriptions 180 days prior to surgery were identified in IBM Watson/Truven Health Analytics MarketScan® database, a large claims database and were required to have continuous enrollment in one of these health plans for 180 days before and after hysterectomy. Persistent opioid use was defined as an opioid fill during the perioperative period (10 days before to 30 days after surgery) and an additional opioid fill 90-180 days after hysterectomy. Setting N/A Patients or Participants 531,059 women who underwent hysterectomy for non-cancer causes during the study period; 72% (n=383,243) were opioid naive and included. Interventions N/A Measurements and Main Results Multivariable log-binomial regression was used to assess whether women with preoperative depression had a higher risk of persistent opioid use and 30-day complications, after adjusting for demographics, comorbidities, and surgical characteristics. The prevalence of pre-surgical depression was 20% (n=75,230). 74% of women were given an opioid prescription during the perioperative period and, of those that initiated, 8% had at least one additional opioid fill 90-180 days after their hysterectomy. After adjustment, women with depression were only 8% more likely to get an initial opioid fill (RR 1.08, 9%%CI 1.07, 1.08) but were 43% more likely to have persistent opioid use (RR 1.43, 95% CI 1.39, 1.47). Women with depression were also more likely to have any surgical complication (RR 1.04, 95% CI 1.03, 1.06). Conclusion In our cohort, women with preexisting depression had a greater risk of persistent opioid use post-hysterectomy suggesting chronic pain beyond the immediate recovery period and potentially increased risk of opioid dependence.
Noninvasive Concept for Optical Ethanol Sensing on the Skin Surface with Camera-Based Quantification

Law enforcement and the general public do not yet have adequate means of assessing and preventing drunk driving. Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is unable to be determined on-site, as it typically requires the use of complex chromatographic methods. Breathalyzers have been well established in law enforcement for correlating breath alcohol concentrations (BrAC) to BAC estimations, as they involve portable equipment with rapid analysis times. Although these BrAC measurements allow police officers to determine probable cause and to arrest an intoxicated driver at the scene, the results are preliminary and are not often considered as evidence in court. A new, noninvasive method was developed to assess an individual's level of intoxication based on the presence of ethanol in sweat on the skin surface. This intuitive system uses two enzymes, alcohol oxidase and horseradish peroxidase, to correlate ethanol sweat concentrations to the production of a color that is visible to the naked eye. The results of the controlled drinking study demonstrate the ability of both the spectrophotometric and the visualization system to quantify the amount of ethanol within authentic sweat samples collected from individuals who had consumed an alcoholic beverage. The pictorial analysis allows for the system to be analyzed without the use of a UV-vis spectrophotometer. With this method, a smartphone application would be capable of documenting and evaluating the intoxication levels of an individual based on sweat ethanol levels. The developed alcohol sensing system has the potential to impact both the general public and law enforcement, as well as the fields of forensic and biomedical science.
Colony fitness and garden growth in the asexual fungus-growing ant Mycocepurus smithii (Attini, Formicidae)

Nest-founding in the fungus-growing ant Mycocepurus smithii is typically by single queens (monogyny) and colonies transition to multiple queens (polygyny) as they grow larger. Here, we study the transition from monogyny to polygyny of M. smithii under lab conditions. We hypothesize that the worker-to-queen ratio affects colony growth, fungus-garden growth, and colony survival. Monogyne colonies with small gardens (0.1 g) had greater garden growth than polygyne colonies, suggesting that monogyny may be the superior strategy for small colonies after initial nest establishment. In monogyne colonies with small gardens and either 30, 60, or 90 workers, colonies with 60 workers produced the largest gardens, suggesting that an intermediate worker-to-queen ratio is optimal for monogyne colonies with small gardens. For monogyne colonies with larger gardens (0.45 g) and with either 6, 18, 60, or 90 workers, colonies with 60 or 90 workers had significantly greater garden growth than those with 6 or 18 workers. New daughter queens were produced only by colonies with a worker-to-queen ratio of 60 or 90, suggesting that only colonies with sufficient worker numbers and garden growth are stimulated to produce new queens. A single queen lays only 1.12 ± 0.06 (SE) eggs within 24 h, therefore, limiting growth of monogyne colonies. The transition from monogyny to polygyny through the addition of supernumary queens, as well as a worker-to-queen ratio of around 60, are, therefore, critical for colony growth and reproduction in M. smithii.
Shedding light on endometriosis: Patient and provider perspectives on a challenging disease:

Background:Endometriosis is a serious yet understudied medical condition impacting millions of women worldwide.Methods:This mixed-methods study aimed to understand healthcare provider perceptions a...
Accidental associates are not symbionts: the absence of a non-parasitic endosymbiotic community inside the common periwinkle Littorina littorea (Mollusca: Gastropoda)

One of the most thoroughly studied marine snails in the world is the North Atlantic periwinkle Littorina littorea. In 2013, Buckland-Nicks et al. reported upon an “extensive community of organisms” living “inside” L. littorea in Nova Scotia, Canada. Conflicting with this report is a vast body of research on this snail since the mid-nineteenth century that has never identified the presence of such a taxonomically diverse endosymbiotic community, with the exception of a well-known assemblage of parasitic digenean trematodes that utilize the snail as a first-intermediate host. The absence of prior reports of a non-parasitic endosymbiotic community, and our own long-term observations, inspired us to study the biological community associated with L. littorea in two locations (Nova Scotia and Connecticut). We were unable to verify the endosymbiotic nature of any of the species (other than trematodes) noted by Buckland-Nicks et al. (Can J Zool 91:293–301, 2013) associated with L. littorea. Instead, we identified three likely sources of associated taxa reported by Buckland-Nicks et al. (Can J Zool 91:293–301, 2013) and by us: species were (1) ingested and defecated alive; (2) attached to the mucous-covered foot and drawn into the mantle cavity when the snail closed its operculum; and/or (3) associated with shell surface cracks and crevices, including within encrusting algae. We could not find any evidence that L. littorea hosts a diverse community of endosymbionts. Instead, we argue that the organisms interpreted as members of an endosymbiotic community by Buckland-Nicks et al. are instead free-living taxa that are transiently associated with the snails.
Optical Signal Processing Aided by Optical Frequency Combs

This paper highlights certain optical signal processing (OSP) functions that can be achieved when using optical frequency combs. An optical frequency comb can provide many narrow-linewidth, mutually coherent, and equidistant optical carriers, making it a potentially useful tool for facilitating efficient signal processing functions. In this paper, we explore the following general topics: (a) tailoring a comb for enhanced usability in OSP, such as inserting more lines, generating Nyquist pulse trains, and regenerating a comb at a distance; (b) achieving a tunable linear and nonlinear filter for correlation, equalization, and Volterra filtering, and (c) enabling various transmission and networking functions, such as multicasting, format conversion, and dynamic bandwidth allocation.
Exploring Chemistry with Wireless, PC-Less Portable Virtual Reality Laboratories

Although virtual reality (VR) has been around for decades, the primary market has been video game entertainment. Because VR allows for realistic interaction with computer-generated 3-dimensional (3...
Voice Reversals and Syntactic Structure: Evidence from Hittite

We address the relationship between syntactic valency and voice morphology in Hittite (Anatolian, Indo-European), focusing on cases where active syntax is expressed using non-active morphology, and vice versa. We argue that apparent “mismatches” between syntax and morphology are strictly a morphological rather than a syntactic phenomenon (contra Alexiadou et al. 2015; Grestenberger 2018). Our study highlights voice “reversals” — i.e., cases in which the expected mismatch disappears and morphological and syntactic valency match. We determine that such reversals correlate with morphological locality, and cannot be derived by hierarchical factors. Our findings provide a novel argument for a uniform syntactic structure of voice (Wood 2015; Wood & Marantz 2018).
Qualifying domains of student struggle in undergraduate general chemistry laboratory

Learning and learning goals in undergraduate chemistry laboratory have been a popular research topic for the past three decades due to calls for curriculum reform, cost justification, and overall efficacy of necessary skill development. While much work has been done to assess curricular interventions on students’ learning and attitudes towards lab, few have discussed the increased difficulties of these non-traditional laboratory activities or the obstacles students must overcome in the laboratory setting. The work presented here focuses on student struggles in undergraduate general chemistry laboratory activities, the source of these struggles, and the actions students take to overcome them. Using an activity theoretical lens and multiple domains (cognitive, epistemological, socioemotional, and psychomotor), we developed a domains-of-struggle framework which encompasses how struggles emerge through contradictions within the laboratory activity system. This framework was extended and refined through iterative analysis of two consecutive semesters of undergraduate general chemistry laboratory (GC1 and GC2) video (n = 51), survey (n = 327), and interview (n = 44) data. In this paper, we model the activity system of the general chemistry laboratory, define the domains of struggle observed, and present actions the students took to move past these obstacles, while illustrating the interconnected complexity of the activity system. We then discuss how this framework may be used in future curriculum design or teacher training, as well as potential for future research on the learning outcomes associated with moments of struggle.
Evaluation and Risk Assessment of Congenital Anomalies in Neonates

Congenital anomalies (CA) are a large heterogeneous group of disorders of abnormal morphogenesis or biochemistry which present at birth and carry widely variable implications for morbidity and mortality. They are the leading cause of infant mortality in the USA, with an incidence of 3–4% of all births. CA are the fourth leading cause of neonatal mortality worldwide, with an estimated 295,000 deaths annually. The enormous variability in the clinical presentation in terms of severity, time of occurrence, course, complications, management, and outcomes makes the evaluation of CA complicated, highly specific, and individualized. The anomalies can impart tremendous physical, social, and emotional distress on the patient with massive emotional, social, financial, and medical implications for the family and society. The diagnosis may remain elusive despite rigorous, elaborate, and extensive investigations in many cases. While the enormous strides in genetic testing and gene modification therapy have an encouraging impact on the diagnosis and treatment, the risk assessment of recurrence in the family and population of CA remains obscure in most cases due to the lack of information and referable evidence.
Jefferson (LA) Parish Study on Race, Homicides, and Prosecutions, 1976-2011

This study examines the racial characteristics of homicides occurring in Louisiana’s Jefferson Parish (the south and west metro New Orleans area) during the 36 years from 1976 through 2011, and then compares them to the racial characteristics of death-eligible (first degree at some stage) murder cases prosecuted during the same period. Are these prosecutions a statistically random, race-neutral subset of the homicides that occurred? What we find is that there is a negligible (less than one-in-one-million) chance of obtaining these data if the hypothesis – that death-eligible cases are a racially random sample drawn from the homicide group – were true.The report counts and calculations for this article can be found here: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2479373.
The regionalization of intergovernmental organization networks: A non-linear process☆

Abstract We use a computationally intensive approach to explore how the world polity is becoming more fractured along regional lines. We discover that regionalization is a non-linear process and show that the world polity oscillates between fracturing and re-contracting. We do so by applying the technique of Hierarchical Link Clustering (HLC) to yearly intergovernmental organization (IGO) networks from 1971 to 2005. The mechanism for explaining this seemingly contradictory result lies in the behavior of IGOs, which depends largely on the organizations’ geographic focus: regionally focused IGOs create more communities, thereby fracturing the world polity, while globally focused IGOs create relationships across communities, thereby bringing communities together. Every year, different percentages of global and regional IGOs enter the network, thereby producing oscillations in the overall structure.
Vitamins in Microorganisms—Distribution and Quantitative Synthesis

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the distribution and quantitative synthesis of vitamins in microorganisms. On the basis of their sporadic distribution in microorganisms and their general lack of essentiality, ascorbic acid and the fat-soluble vitamins and provitamins are readily separable from the regularly accepted members of the B complex. Certain species capable of producing extraordinary amounts of riboflavin, pantothenic acid, biotin, and folic acid are discovered and others are described which acquire and store substantial quantities of thiamine and niacin. The chapter illustrates the range of potencies to be expected. The thiamine, which occurs in microorganisms, arises from total synthesis, absorption from the medium, and partial synthesis involving precursors. Riboflavin synthesis is demonstrated qualitatively in a wide variety of microorganisms through growth studies. Numerous bacteria, yeasts, and molds are capable of a marked degree of vitamin elaboration, yeasts usually attain highest cell potencies because of an added ability to absorb and retain vitamins within their cells. The production of extraordinary amounts of vitamins in most instances is associated with abnormal environmental conditions.
Neurosis Versus Neuroticism

Keywords: behavioral genetics; Freud, Sigmund; neurosis; neuroticism; personality; the big five; psychiatry
Enhancing the parenting skills of Head Start families during the transition to kindergarten.

Head Start centers provide an excellent context for the implementation and success of family-based interventions, particularly home visiting. Based on a developmental–ecological model, a universal family-centered intervention was implemented with Head Start families. Outcome data from this parenting and home visiting program is presented (Project STAR: Steps to Achieving Resilience). Results suggest that both parenting groups and home visiting interventions are effective at enhancing parenting skills: however, home visiting programs have a higher participation rate. Additionally, home visiting by familiar staff was particularly successful at improving parenting skills at follow-up. Results suggest that embedding targeted interventions in universal strategies can be an effective means of engaging families in services. The results have implications for service delivery methods in early childhood as a means of enhancing parent participation.
Evaluating Change Processes: Assessing Extent of Implementation (Constructs, Methods and Implications).

Purpose – In far too many cases the initiatives to change schools by introducing new programs, processes and reforms has not resulted in obtainment of the desired outcomes. A major reason for limited outcomes suggested in this paper is that there has been a failure to learn from and apply constructs and measures related to understanding, facilitating and measuring dimensions of change processes. The aim of this paper is to introduce the three diagnostic dimensions of the Concerns Based Adoption Model (CBAM) along with illustrations of how each can be used to assess extent of implementation. Highlights from the four decades of development and use of each of these constructs are presented. Each of the constructs, Stages of Concern, Levels of Use and Innovation Configurations, is described along with review of the four decade story of its measurement development. Reference is made to selected studies. Implications of each construct for research, program evaluation and facilitating change processes are highli...
A Comparative Study of Large-Scale Nonlinear Optimization Algorithms

In recent years, much work has been done on implementing a variety of algorithms in nonlinear programming software. In this paper, we analyze the performance of several state-of-the-art optimization codes on large-scale nonlinear optimization problems. Extensive numerical results are presented on different classes of problems, and features of each code that make it efficient or inefficient for each class are examined.
Variation in flintknapping skill among Folsom-era projectile point types: A quantitative approach

Abstract The “Folsom-Midland Problem” has been a subject of considerable debate among archeologists who study lithic technology during the Folsom interval. Differing skill among flintknappers is one of the interpretations invoked to explain the co-occurrence of Folsom points with unifacially fluted and unfluted specimens. This research uses several quantitative variables to determine whether different Folsom-age point forms represent different levels of knapping skill. The width/thickness ratio, flake counts per ten millimeters, and a ratio of flintknapping errors are compared among four Folsom typological variants using Kruskal–Wallis H and Wilcoxon Each Pair tests. Coefficients of variation are also examined across several variables to compare consistency of production between the point forms. Results generally indicate that Folsom points are the most skillfully made, followed by unifacially fluted, Midland, and pseudo-fluted points, respectively. Miniature versions of the aforementioned point types do not appear to follow this trend, however.
Cross-cultural understanding through visual representation

This article analyzes international students’ drawings of their home countries’ essay assignments. These English as a Second Language (ESL) students often have difficulty in meeting the local demands of our Writing Program, which centers on argumentative writing with thesis and support. Any part of an essay deemed irrelevant is censured as “off topic;” some students see this structure as too direct or even impolite. While not all students found visual representation easy, the drawings reveal some basic assumptions about writing embodied in their native cultures’ assignments. We discuss the drawings first for visual rhetorical content, then in the students’ own terms. Last, we consider how our own pedagogy has been shaped.
Use of addictive substances and gambling among Slovak immigrants in the Czech Republic

Abstract The article is focused on addictive substance abuse and gambling, and its relationship to the subjective perception of health and basic socio-demographic variables among Slovak immigrants living in the Czech Republic. The Slovak minority is the second largest ethnic minority in the Czech Republic, but surveys concerning this area are lacking. Foreign surveys in the field of addictive substance abuse point to the differences between immigrant populations and the populations in their home countries. The research was carried out using a self-questionnaire in the immigrants’ native language. 184 Slovak immigrants completed the questionnaire, and they were living in seven selected regions of the Czech Republic for different periods of time. The data were statistically analyzed by the SPSS programme. In all areas surveyed, the results pointed to some differences between immigrants and the Slovak population. There were more smokers among immigrants, and daily smokers outnumbered occasional ones. No link between smoking and employment was proved. Also no link between gender and alcohol consumption was proved. In terms of the subjective state of health assessment, occasional smokers felt themselves to be the most comfortable. No statistically significant relationship between the subjective perception of health and passive smoking, alcohol consumption or playing slot machines was proved.
Acetyl-coenzyme A synthetase 2 is a nuclear protein required for replicative longevity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Acs2p is one of two acetyl-coenzyme A synthetases in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We have prepared and characterized a monoclonal antibody specific for Acs2p and find that Acs2p is localized primarily to the nucleus, including the nucleolus, with a minor amount in the cytosol. We find that Acs2p is required for replicative longevity: an acs2∆ strain has a reduced replicative life span compared to wild-type and acs1∆ strains. Furthermore, replicatively aged acs2∆ cells contain elevated levels of extrachromosomal rDNA circles, and silencing at the rDNA locus is impaired in an acs2∆ strain. These findings indicate that Acs2p-mediated synthesis of acetyl-CoA in the nucleus functions to promote rDNA silencing and replicative longevity in yeast.
Nonlinear optic phase conjugation

An overview of the field of nonlinear optical phase conjugation is given. The basic properties of a phase-conjugate mirror are discussed, and examples of how this technology can be applied to the areas of high-power lasers, optical communication systems, and optical data processing (including neural networks) are presented. It is shown that the massively parallel data processing capabilities inherent in nonlinear optical interactions, coupled with their passive, all-optical nature, make this class of system potentially useful for the next generations of advanced laser systems, remote sensors, and communications systems, as well as optical data processors and network systems architectures. >
Getting Beyond Tit for Tat: Better Strategies for Moving Target Prototyping and Evaluation

The cyber moving target (MT) approach has been identified as one of the game-changing themes to rebalance the cyber landscape in favor of defense. MT techniques make cyber systems less static, less homogeneous, and less deterministic in order to create uncertainty for attackers. Although many MT techniques have been proposed in the literature, little has been done to evaluate their effectiveness, benefits, and weaknesses. In this talk, we describe the status quo in MT prototyping and evaluation and provide recommendations for a more systematic approach in designing and implementing more effective MT defenses.
Ricci recurrent space-times with torsion

A Ricci recurrent space-time with covariantly constant stress tensor is an Einstein space-time. We extend this result to Ricci recurrent space-times with torsion. The result is applied to the case of Riemann-Cartan space-times with spin density.