cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanical performance comparison between RotaFlow and CentriMag centrifugal blood pumps in an adult ECLS model

Introduction: Centrifugal blood pumps have been widely adopted in conventional adult cardiopulmonary bypass and circulatory assist procedures. Different brands of centrifugal blood pumps incorporate distinct designs which affect pump performance. In this adult extracorporeal life support (ECLS) model, the performances of two brands of centrifugal blood pump (RotaFlow blood pump and CentriMag blood pump) were compared.Methods: The simulated adult ECLS circuit used in this study included a centrifugal blood pump, Quadrox D membrane oxygenator and Sorin adult ECLS tubing package. A Sorin Cardiovascular® VVR® 4000i venous reservoir (Sorin S.p.A., Milan, Italy) with a Hoffman clamp served as a pseudo-patient. The circuit was primed with 900ml heparinized human packed red blood cells and 300ml lactated Ringer’s solution (total volume 1200 ml, corrected hematocrit 40%). Trials were conducted at normothermia (36°C). Performance, including circuit pressure and flow rate, was measured for every setting analyzed.Res...
Physician assessments of medication adherence and decisions to intensify medications for patients with uncontrolled blood pressure: still no better than a coin toss

Many patients have uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) because they are not taking medications as prescribed. Providers may have difficulty accurately assessing adherence. Providers need to assess medication adherence to decide whether to address uncontrolled BP by improving adherence to the current prescribed regimen or by intensifying the BP treatment regimen by increasing doses or adding more medications. We examined how provider assessments of adherence with antihypertensive medications compared with refill records, and how providers’ assessments were associated with decisions to intensify medications for uncontrolled BP. We studied a cross-sectional cohort of 1169 veterans with diabetes presenting with BP ≥140/90 to 92 primary care providers at 9 Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities from February 2005 to March 2006. Using VA pharmacy records, we utilized a continuous multiple-interval measure of medication gaps (CMG) to assess the proportion of time in prior year that patient did not possess the prescribed medications; CMG ≥20% is considered clinically significant non-adherence. Providers answered post-visit Likert-scale questions regarding their assessment of patient adherence to BP medications. The BP regimen was considered intensified if medication was added or increased without stopping or decreasing another medication. 1064 patients were receiving antihypertensive medication regularly from the VA; the mean CMG was 11.3%. Adherence assessments by providers correlated poorly with refill history. 211 (20%) patients did not have BP medication available for ≥ 20% of days; providers characterized 79 (37%) of these 211 patients as having significant non-adherence, and intensified medications for 97 (46%). Providers intensified BP medications for 451 (42%) patients, similarly whether assessed by provider as having significant non-adherence (44%) or not (43%). Providers recognized non-adherence for less than half of patients whose pharmacy records indicated significant refill gaps, and often intensified BP medications even when suspected serious non-adherence. Making an objective measure of adherence such as the CMG available during visits may help providers recognize non-adherence to inform prescribing decisions.
The functional age profile: an objective decision criterion for the assessment of pilot performance capacities and capabilities.

The initial development of a computer-based information-processing performance battery with aviation-relevant task structures is reported. It is shown that the currently existing prototype is sensi...
Self-assembled multilayers and photoluminescence properties of a new water-soluble poly(para-phenylene)

This paper reports the synthesis and characterizations of a new water-soluble poly(para-phenylene) (PPP) and its applications in preparing self-assembled multilayer films. This new water-soluble conducting polymer was prepared through the sulfonation reaction of poly(p-quarterphenylene-2,2{prime}-dicarboxylic acid). The incorporation of sulfonate groups has dramatically improved PPP`s solubility in water at a wide pH range, whereas previous PPP is only slightly soluble in basic solutions. Dilute aqueous solutions of this polymer with acidic, neutral or basic pH emit brilliant blue light while irradiated with UV light. The sulfonated PPP emits from 350 nm to 455 nm with a maximum intensity at 380 nm. Self-assembled multilayers of this sulfonated PPP were constructed with a positively charged polymer poly(diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) and characterized with various surface analyses. Conductive (RuO{sub 2} and ITO), semiconductive (Si wafer), and non-conductive (SiO{sub 2}) substrates were used in the preparation of self-assembled multilayers. Electrical, optical and structural properties of these novel self-assembled thin films will be discussed.
Finite Element study of skin and fat delineation in an obese subject for transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

Because of pilot data suggesting the efficacy of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in treating a range of neuropsychiatric disorders as well as in controlling cravings, there is interest to apply to obese subjects. The abnormal thickness of fat that exist in obese subjects may influence current delivery from scalp electrodes to the brain. MRI-derived Finite Element (FE) models of a morbidly obese subject were created with and without fat delineated. The inclusion of fat to the FE model reduced the effective volume of the relatively conductive skin. This led to greater current penetration to the cortical surface. Electric field was substantially greater (60%) in magnitude and a difference in the spatial profile was noted in the model with fat. Additional models testing the effect of varying fat conductivity revealed an inflection in current penetration as fat conductivity is varied. It was postulated that this may be due to a shunting effect both when the shell of fat surrounding the skull is too resistive for penetration and when the fat is so conductive as to lead current around rather than through the head. Precise FE tDCS model of obese patients requires the precise inclusion of fat.
The Effects of Torsion on the Lumbar Intervertebral Joints: The Role of Torsion in the Production of Disc Degeneration

Sixty-six necropsy specimens of human lumbar spines were studied. After preliminary screening by discograms ninety intervertebral joints were subjected to torsional loading; the torsional strengths of the intact lumbar intervertebral joint and of its component parts were determined. The intact intervertebral joint with a normal discogram failed at an average torque of 881.4 x 106 dyne-centimeters. The disc of this joint supplied 35 per cent of the resistance to the torque, while the remaining 65 per cent of the resistance could be attributed to the posterior assembly comprising the articular processes, their capsules, and the interspinous ligaments. Whole intervertebral joints with degenerated discs were found to be weaker than those with normal discs. There was no gross damage to the vertebrae associated with experimental torsional failure of the intervertebral joint. The torsional strength of the disc was found to depend on the shape and area of the disc, on the integrity of its annulus, and on the loading rate. It was found that injury to the joint could be produced by slowly applied rotation in amounts within the range of normal lumbar movement. Annular fibers do not deteriorate purely as the result of age. The deterioration seems principally due to damage and scarring of annular fibers. Disc rupture induced experimentally by torsion produced changes similar to those seen in naturally occurring disc degeneration suggesting that both changes were the result of the same causative mechanism. It is postulated that in vivo disc degeneration is due to imposed torsional strains rather than to compressive loads. Since the joints between the articular processes stabilize the intervertebral joint against torsion, it is suggested that any impairment of the function of the joints between the articular processes may result in a higher risk of disc degeneration.
Heavy quarkonium properties from Cornell potential using variational method and supersymmetric quantum mechanics

Using the variational method and supersymmetric quantum mechanics we calculated, in an approximate way, the eigenvalues, eigenfunctions and wave functions at the origin of the Cornell potential. We compared results with numerical solutions for heavy quarkonia $c\bar {c}$ , $b\bar {b}$ and $b\bar {c}$ .
Optimization of the Stratified-Charge Regime of the Reverse-Tumble Wall-Controlled Gasoline Direct-Injection Engine

An optimum combustion chamber was designed for a reverse-tumble wall-controlled gasoline direct-injection engine by systematically optimizing each design element of the combustion system. The optimization was based on fuel-economy, hydrocarbon, combustion-stability and smoke measurements at a 2000 rev/min test-point representation of road-load operating condition. The combustion-chamber design parameters that were optimized in this study included: piston-bowl depth, piston-bowl opening width, piston-bowl-volume ratio, exhaust-side squish height, bowl-lip draft angle, distance between spark-plug electrode and piston-bowl lip, sparkplug-electrode length, and injector spray-cone angle. No attempt was made to optimize the gross engine parameters such as bore and stroke or the intake system, since this study focused on optimizing a reverse-tumble wall-controlled gasoline direct-injection variant of an existing port-fueled injection engine. The results of this study showed that numerous tradeoffs in engine performance parameters have to be made in selecting the geometric features of the piston bowl, spray angle and spark-plug protrusion in arriving at the optimum design. The results of this study also showed that by preserving certain physical characteristics of the piston, operating characteristics of the engine with that piston could be passed on to other piston designs. A piston bowl that combines the design features of a positive draft-angle lip in the back of the bowl and a negative draft-angle lip on the sides of the bowls generates a hybrid piston bowl that possesses features from both original designs. In the final design, the positive draft-angle lip in the back of the piston bowl as well as its increased bowl depth allowed it to achieve very low smoke. While the negative draft-angle lips on the side of the piston bowl allowed the final piston-bowl design to achieve very low hydrocarbons emissions.
Extra-anatomic Revascularization

In the presence of severe unilateral iliac occlusive disease that is not amenable to endovascular therapy, revascularization can be accomplished via an extraanatomic route by performing a crossover femorofemoral bypass originating from the contralateral limb. The donor limb should not suffer untoward effects from the extra-anatomic revascularization even in the presence of infrainguinal disease unless proximal hemodynamic stenoses were missed or left untreated. If the donor inflow is marginal due to the presence of proximal disease in its iliac system, endovascular therapy is used to correct the proximal pathology. This can be performed a few days prior to the extra-anatomic revascularization, typically when the pathology is identified on preoperative angiography. Alternatively, the endovascular therapy can be performed simultaneously during the construction of the femoro-femoral bypass especially if magnetic resonance angiography or CT angiography was used for preoperative evaluation.
Establishment of Photo-Activated Localization Microscopy (PALM) for Imaging Signaling Complexes on the Surfaces of Cells

Photoactivated Localization Microscopy (PALM) permits visualization of single molecules inside cells at ~10 times the resolution of existing optical microscopes. The 10-50 nanometer resolution afforded by PALM is ideally suited to studying the organization of receptor signal transduction occurring on the surfaces of cells. Initial efforts presented here focused on cells expressing Fc receptor fused to photoactivatable green fluorescent protein (paGFP). A small fraction of the paGFP molecules were photoactivated using a 405 nm laser pulse, resulting in single molecule spots that could then be imaged using 488 nm laser excitation until they photobleached. Both lasers illuminated the sample through the objective lens using Total Internal Reflection (TIR) excitation which allowed for selective imaging of molecules within about 200 nm of the cell/coverglass interface. Iterations of alternating laser excitations results in thousands of images of single molecules. These images were analyzed using the ImageJ plugin, QuickPALM, which performs a least squares fit of a two dimensional Gaussian to each diffraction-limited (~250 nm wide) fluorescent spot captured in the PALM images (Henriques). This process recovers the most probable position to within ~40 nm accuracy of each paGFP molecule. This information is used to create the super resolution image of the cell. Ongoing efforts are aimed at establishing two-color PALM to determine the distribution of signaling receptors relative to key sub-resolution regulators of signaling. A better understanding of the nanoscale ESTABLISHMENT OF PHOTO-ACTIVATED 76 molecular activities within cells will allow for more in depth studies into many different fields including biophysics, molecular biology, and medicine.
What Happens When Rules Stay the Same? Examining Changes in Implementation Intent over Time

ABSTRACTRules are dynamic entities whose implementation is shaped by context, resources, and institutions. Variations in this implementation influence the functionality and effectiveness of rules. While the last decade has seen considerable scholarship on the determinants and effects of ineffective and effective rules, less is known about how rule implementation evolves over time. Particularly, what are the factors that influence administrative implementation intent over time? This study uses interview and archival data to examine administrative implementation intent of a single rule over a 25-year period. From qualitative data analysis, propositions are developed to explain why, although the text of the rule remained nearly the same, administrative intent of implement changed drastically.
Media Portrayals of Hashtag Activism: A Framing Analysis of Canada’s #Idlenomore Movement

The confluence of activism and social media—legitimized by efforts such as the Arab Spring and Occupy Movements—represents a growing area of mainstream media focus. Using Canada’s #IdleNoMore movement as a case, this study uses framing theory to better understand how traditional media are representing activism borne of social media such as Twitter, and how such activism can ultimately have an impact in political and public policy debates. A qualitative framing analysis is used to identify frames present in media reporting of #IdleNoMore during its first two months by two prominent Canadian publications. Emergent frames show that hashtag activism as a catalyst for a social movement was embraced as a theme by one of the publications, therefore helping to legitimize the role of social media tools such as Twitter. In other frames, both positive and negative depictions of the social movement helped to identify for mainstream audiences both historical grievances and future challenges and opportunities for Canada’s First Nations communities.
Tobacco control policies and youth smoking: evidence from a new era.

This chapter examines the impact of cigarette prices, taxes, and tobacco control policies on youth and young adult smoking propensity and intensity in the U.S. during the years 1997–2001, a period characterized by significant changes in cigarette prices and tobacco control policies. Employing a fixed effects technique, we find a strong negative impact of cigarette prices and taxes on youth and young adult smoking prevalence and conditional demand. Moreover, we find purchase, use, and possession laws to be inversely related to youth and young adult smoking prevalence.
Cincinnati'S Timeline: 450 Million Years in a Quarter-Mile

(1988). Cincinnati'S Timeline: 450 Million Years in a Quarter-Mile. Rocks & Minerals: Vol. 63, No. 6, pp. 466-469.
Quality of Life in Children with Cochlear Implants: Effect of Implant Age on Social Relationships

Studies in the past years have shown that cochlear implant is the most effective management for profound hearing loss. Quality of life in implantees has to be evaluated to state the efficacy of implantation. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of implant age on social relationships in children with cochlear implants.A Total of 60 parents whose children had cochlear implants participated in the study. The participants were divided into 2 Groups based on their implant age. A questionnaire assessing the nature of social relationships in children with cochlear implants was constructed and was administered to the target population after the pilot study. The results showed that the social relationships in children with cochlear implants improved as a function of implant age.
Hallervorden-Spatz disease and infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy: Ultrastructural observations, anatomical pathology and nosology

Abstract The gross and light-microscopic findings at autopsy of 2 new cases of Hallervorden-Spatz disease (HSD) of early onset and/or infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy (IND) are presented. Electron-microscopic detail of mineral pigment deposits and dystrophic axons (“spheroids”) proved to be indistinguishable in the 2 cases. The presence of numerous Lewy bodies in the substantia nigra of 1 of the cases was an unusual finding. In the same case, the ultrastructure of cytoplasmic inclusions in nerve cells of the cerebral cortex resembled the Lewy body. An analysis of the striking similarities and differences between these 2 cases and a review of previous reports lead to the conclusion that present knowledge does not permit a clear distinction between HSD of early onset and IND.
Accurate Energy Use Estimation for Nonintrusive Load Monitoring in Systems of Known Devices

This paper presents a method of nonintrusive load monitoring (NILM) for electrical systems consisting of a fixed and known set of devices. This constraint is inherently met by embedded and mobile power systems, and is also commonly satisfied in industrial settings. The proposed NILM method provides time-accurate profiles of device behavior using only probabilistic device models and system-level measurements. The full method consists of model training, construction of a system-level model, and prediction of device-level energy use. Energy use estimations are determined by maximizing the probability of the predicted behavior given the system-level measurements, and are calculated online at each sampling instant. The method is validated using test data from public databases, and its performance is assessed using standard NILM accuracy metrics. The intended application of the proposed method is to support system status assessments and to provide early indications of potential equipment damage through identification of atypical device behavior.
Sports Injuries in the Adolescent

With increasing sports participation, the incidence of sports injuries rises. Adolescents are a heterogeneous population in regard to the musculoskeletal system and their sports injuries. Sports injuries are a frequent presenting complaint in the Emergency Department and Adolescent Medicine Clinic. We will discuss common sports injuries of the upper and lower extremities and conclude with sports-related concussions.
A Critical Review of Instruments Measuring Breastfeeding Attitudes, Knowledge, and Social Support:

Background:Breastfeeding provides beneficial health outcomes for infants and their mothers, and increasing its practice is a national priority in many countries. Despite increasing support to exclu...
Evaluation of Video Modeling and In Situ Training to Teach Firearm Avoidance Skills to Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Research has shown that children typically engage in gunplay behaviors if they find a firearm. These behaviors can lead to injuries and even death, especially for young children. Research has shown the success of video modeling for teaching various skills to individuals with autism. This study examined the effectiveness of video modeling for teaching firearm avoidance skills to three children with autism spectrum disorder and found that video modeling was effective for one participant, but in situ training (IST) was needed to promote maintenance. For a second participant, IST was effective for skill acquisition and maintenance. Finally, a modified IST procedure was effective for a third participant when implemented by a trainer but not when implemented by his mother.
What is the global landpower network and what value might it provide

ABSTRACTUS national security guidance, as well as the US Army’s operational experiences since 2001, emphasizes the importance of working closely with partner countries to achieve US strategic objectives. The US Army has introduced the global landpower network (GLN) concept as a means to integrate, sustain and advance the Army’s considerable ongoing efforts to meet US national security guidance. This study develops the GLN concept further, and addresses three questions. What benefits can the GLN provide the Army? What are the essential components of the GLN? What options exist for implementing the GLN concept? By developing the GLN concept, the Army has the opportunity to transition the GLN from an often ad hoc and reactive set of relationships to one that the Army more self-consciously prioritizes and leverages as a resource to meet US strategic objectives.
Chest X-ray Prior to Thyroidectomy: Is It Really Needed?

Chest X-ray (CXR) prior to thyroid surgery continues to be routinely obtained at some institutions despite the lack of evidence for its utility. This study aimed to determine the utility of preoperative CXR in patients undergoing thyroidectomy at a single institution. In total, 594 thyroidectomy patients were included in the study. Demographics, CXR findings, anesthesia records and pathologic data were assessed. We investigated whether difficult intubation or cancer stage correlated with the presence of CXR abnormalities. Of the total cohort, 83% had a preoperative CXR and 67% had cancer on surgical pathology. In total, 56% had at least one CXR abnormality, the most frequent being skeletal abnormalities (25%), followed by tracheal deviation (16%). Of 78 patients (15.8%) with tracheal deviation on CXR, only 5% had a difficult intubation. Tracheal deviation was more commonly seen in non-cancer cases compared to cancer cases (27 vs. 12%, p 2) was associated with higher rate of tracheal deviation compared to T1 (17 vs. 8%, p < 0.001). While patients with non-metastatic cancer (n = 277) compared to metastatic cancer patients had a higher proportion of any abnormality on CXR (57 vs. 44%, p = 0.045), there was no significant difference for tracheal deviation, skeletal abnormalities or lung nodules. Of patients with nodules on CXR (n = 29), only 14% were found to have metastatic disease. The utility of preoperative CXR in patients undergoing thyroidectomy is very limited. In the climate of value-based care, routine use of this modality may be redundant and should only be ordered if clinically indicated.
Impact of a living mulch cover crop on sugarbeet establishment, root yield and sucrose purity

Abstract Lack of crop rotation diversity and extensive tillage leaves the soil in many sugarbeet-based production systems vulnerable to wind erosion. Intercropping sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) with a living mulch is a practice that aims to protect sugarbeet seedlings from blowing soil and provide ecosystem services such as enhancing soil organic matter, reducing sedimentation in surface-irrigated farms, and improving soil biological activity. If managed improperly, nevertheless, the living mulch can compete with sugarbeet and reduce its production. Selection of an appropriate crop species along with timely termination are the two critical points that need to be researched in order to minimize the impact of living mulch on sugarbeet performance while still offering ecosystem services. A 4-yr field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of living mulch and its termination time on sugarbeet population, root yield, and purity. Over four years of the study, living mulch terminated at sugarbeet V2 growth stage had no significant effect on sugarbeet yield and quality. However, when living mulch termination was delayed to V4 and V6 growth stages, root yield declined by 17 and 14 Mg ha−1, respectively, compared to 66.4 Mg ha−1 yield in the control. Living mulch had a positive impact on root quality traits by increasing sucrose concentration and decreasing root impurities (sodium, potassium, and amino-N concentration in the beet). The results indicated that planting sugarbeet with a living mulch can offer ecosystem services without negatively impacting sugarbeet productivity (recoverable sucrose yield) if terminated no later than V2 growth stage.
Precambrian geology and ductile normal faulting in the southwest corner of the Beartooth Uplift, Montana

The northwestern flank of the Beartooth uplift exposes the Snowy shear zone, a thick belt of NW-dipping, ductilely-deformed Archean rocks. In the South Snowy Block north of Gardiner, Montana, the shear zone separates high-grade sillimanite + cordierite-bearing biotite gneisses and augen gneisses (to the southeast) from andalusite-bearing biotite-staurolite schists (to the northwest). The shear zone contains fine-grained, mylonitized, and retrograded equivalents of these rocks interfingering with lenses of actinolite amphibolite, metagabbro, and quartzite.
Pollutional Concerns, Causes, and Concepts

There have been five or six general areas of concern over the years which have preoccupied individuals concerned with water contamination and its ecological ramifications.
A Case Study on CAD/CAM data transfer in CIM Environment

This case study enumerates the steps involved in testing the data exchange among dissimilar CAD systems using a standard exchange mechanism and discusses the level of inter-operability that can be achieved to facilitate successful transfer of CAD data among three CAD software’s namely Pro/E version 17, I-DEAS Master series version 3.1 and AutoCAD release 13 in a CIM environment. First the Initial Graphics Exchange Specification (IGES) is used as the data exchange mechanism to test these software’s using a standard test procedure. The same test procedure is then used to find out the effectiveness of the data exchange between Pro/E and IDEAS using a different exchange standard called the Standard For Exchange Of Product Model Data (STEP). AutoCAD does not support STEP. Experimental results show that Pro/E and I-DEAS have the capability to share complete CAD information but AutoCAD has some limitations in transferring information on surfaces and solids using ICES. By using the STEP translator, we are able to translate CAD data efficiently one way from Pro/E to I-DEAS and vice versa but have some difficulty carrying out back and forth data transfer between them.
Here Begins Chapter Thirteen on the Method Elchataym and How with It Nearly All Problems of Mathematics Are Solved

Indeed the Arabic elchataym [I] by which the solutions to nearly all problems are found is translated as the method of double false position; one of these problems solved by the method of trees is in the third part of the twelfth chapter; we shall show how to solve this and similar problems in which one need not use the entire elchataym, namely two positions, as these problems can be solved by one of them; and we wish moreover to demonstrate how they and many other problems can be solved by elchataym. Indeed the two false positions are put arbitrarily, when sometimes they both occur smaller than the true argument, sometimes greater, or sometimes one is greater and the other is smaller, and the true argument is found according to the proportion of the difference of one position to the other which is what occurs in the method of four proportionals in which three numbers are known and the fourth unknown, namely the true argument, is found; the first number is the difference between one false position and the other. The second is the difference between the approximations to the true value. The third is the difference which is between the second approximation and the true value. And we will first demonstrate how it is done with the method on hundredweights, so that the three differences are demonstrated subtly with hundredweights, and you will know how to understand the subtle solutions to other problems by elchataym.
Rheological properties of cellulose nanocrystals engineered polylactic acid nanocomposites

Abstract Ecofriendly materials such as polylactic acid (PLA) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are widely sought as potential substitute for petrochemical-based plastics. Uniform dispersion of cellulose nanocrystals in polymer matrices has inhibited their wide-spread application. In this study the influence of masterbatch preparation techniques on molecular structure, melt strength, rheological and dynamic mechanical properties of nanocomposite were systematically analyzed. Film casting and spin-coating methods were used to prepare masterbatches. Nanocomposites were obtained by masterbatch dilution via melt compounding followed by injection molding process. The higher molecular weight and lower molecular number were observed in spin-coated samples in comparison with film cast nanocomposites. The spin-coated nanocomposites exhibited higher storage modulus than film cast samples in the glassy state. However, tan δ curves exhibited higher peak value in spin-coated nanocomposites, which were in good agreement with higher dispersity index of spin-coated samples. The complex viscosity of PLA and nanocomposites exhibited non-Newtonian behavior at a low shear rate, followed by shear thinning phenomenon. The spin-coated nanocomposites demonstrated higher complex viscosity than film cast samples, which was attributed to higher molecular weight in spin-coated samples. The shear-thinning tendency in spin-coated samples was higher than film cast nanocomposites.
How Good is Good Enough?: Quantifying the Effects of Training Set Quality

There is a general consensus in the neural network community that noise in training data has a negative impact on model output; however, efforts to quantify the impact of varying levels have been limited, particularly for semantic segmentation tasks. This is a question of particular importance for remote sensing applications where the cost of producing a large training set can lead to reliance on publicly available data with varying degrees of noise. This work explores the effects of different degrees and types of training label noise on a pre-trained building extraction deep learner. Quantitative and qualitative evaluations of these effects can help inform decisions about trade-offs between the cost of producing training data and the quality of model outputs. We found that, relative to the base model, models trained with small amounts of noise showed little change in precision but achieved considerable increases in recall. Conversely, as noise levels increased, both precision and recall decreased. Precision and recall both lagged behind a model trained with pristine data. These exploratory results indicate the importance of quality control for training and, more broadly, that the relationship between degrees and types of training data noise and model performance is more complex than trade-offs between precision and recall.
Mid-Infrared Dual-Comb Spectroscopy with Interband- and Quantum-Cascade Lasers - Recent Progress Towards Integrated Photonics Chemical Sensing

This paper will present recent results in chemical sensing using a chip-scale mid-infrared dual-comb spectroscopy systems and their potential for future system integration.
Informal Networks of Low-Income Mothers: Support, Burden, and Change.

Objective The authors examined the support and burden of low-income, urban mothers' informal networks. Background Living or growing up in poverty strongly predicts barriers and instability across several life domains for mothers and their children. Informal networks can play a critical role in promoting maternal and child well-being particularly in the midst of poverty. Understanding informal support and the reciprocal burden it may create is especially relevant for low-income families living with a reduced public safety net in the post-welfare reform era. Therefore, study aims were to measure support and burden among low-income mothers and determine if support and burden change over time. Method Data were from the Welfare, Children, Families (WCF) project, a longitudinal study of 2,400 low-income, caregivers of children and adolescents living in Boston, Chicago, or San Antonio (http://web.jhu.edu/threecitystudy/index.html)). We applied latent class analyses to support and burden indicators in four domains-emotional, favor, child care, and financial. Results Results supported four profiles of informal networks - healthy, unhealthy, burden only, and support only. Although most mothers had healthy informal networks, approximately one-third experienced no support or support imbalance which related to network changes at later time points. Demographic characteristics largely were not predictive of support profile or profile change. Conclusion Although many mothers had healthy support and burden, the most vulnerable did not have consistently healthy informal networks. The identification of a sizable minority of low-income mothers who cannot consistently rely on informal support is significant in light of diminished formal supports available to children and families.
Sexual orientation differences in non-suicidal self-injury, suicidality, and psychosocial factors among an inpatient psychiatric sample of adolescents

Within broader community samples, sexual minority adolescents (SMA, e.g., lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer) are at greater risk than their heterosexual counterparts for nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The present study investigated whether sexual minority orientation continues to confer additional risk for these behaviors in an already higher-risk sample of youth. Frequency and function of NSSI, suicidal behavior, and psychosocial factors were assessed in a sample of 52 adolescents (aged 12-18 years) admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit due to suicide risk; 27 of them identified as SMA, and 25 as heterosexual (HA). Greater proportions of SMA reported engaging in lifetime NSSI, compared to HA, with a greater variety and frequency of NSSI behaviors and greater endorsement of intrapersonal NSSI functions. SMA reported higher levels of suicide ideation than HA, but not suicidal behavior. Group differences in NSSI and SI persisted when controlling for the greater prevalence of abuse and levels of peer-victimization reported by SMA. In inpatient clinical settings, SMA may be more likely than heterosexual youth to engage in NSSI, including more severe forms, and to experience suicide ideation. Providing alternative coping mechanisms may serve as treatment goals for reducing NSSI in SMA.
Baseline Demographic Profile of Syria in 2009

The current chapter presents basic population characteristics of Syrians before the conflict as a reference for subsequent, country-specific refugee descriptions. Using the nationally representative Syria Family Health Survey administered in 2009, the profile provides standard demographic measures and a detailed examination of educational attainment by age, sex, and geographic location. Sex differences in education decline in younger ages, but sharp geographic contrasts remain. Marital and fertility characteristics also highlight sex and geographic differences by educational attainment. The final sections outline salient political, ethnic, and religious designations and potential rifts present at the beginning of the conflict to inform comparisons of characteristics not measured in the Survey.
Correction to: Liminal Legality Among Mixed-Status Latinx Families: Considerations for Critically Engaged Clinical Practice

The original version of this article unfortunately contained an error in the co-author name. The author name should be Jeffrey B. Jackson instead it was published incorrectly as Jeffrey Jackson.
Case study: Noise reduction of a vacuum-assisted toilet

Flushing a vacuum-assisted toilet generates noise levels that can be disturbing both to users and those nearby. Peak radiated noise levels correlate with the time when the valve opens and closes, while the noise levels when the valve is completely open are also relatively high. Significant noise ranges between 300 Hz and 3000 Hz. It was hypothesized that increasing the in-tube distance between the flush valve and the bowl in addition to increasing the bend radius of the tube would reduce radiated noise levels. These modifications resulted in a reduction of about 14 dB in the radiated noise during the valve opening and closing in addition to a reduction of about 5 dB while the valve is completely opened. Intermediate results of varying the tube length and bend radius are presented to show their effects on the radiated sound levels. Two tube inserts were designed to fit (1) underneath and (2) behind the toilet in a compact manner. They were tested to show that they maintain noise control performance without modifying any other part of the toilet. © 2020 Institute of Noise Control Engineering.
Hardball Republic: Constitutional Hardball During Periods of Ordinary Politics

Since the 1980s, congressional parties have traded increasingly narrow majorities, forgoing interparty compromise for unabashedly partisan lawmaking tactics. This includes “constitutional hardball,” in which lawmakers entrench their party position on high stakes votes by bending normal lawmaking procedure. Nevertheless, literature on the topic is new and descriptive (Balkin 2017, Fishkin and Pozen 2018, Pozen 2018), suggesting that hardball occurs briefly, during rare transformative moments (Tushnet 2003, Ackerman 1993, 1998, 2014). I argue that constitutional hardball is a durable, regular feature of congressional struggles over judicial nominations and voting rights. Specifically, I argue that given Article V’s high barriers to amendment, members of Congress unable to pass formal amendments have instead used hardball measures to achieve quasi-constitutional reform on judicial powers and voting rights. To test this claim, I offer case studies on the Enabling Act of 1889, House reapportionment after the 1920 Census, and contemporary Article V amendment proposals.
Kinetochores respond to subtle changes in the stability of microtubule attachments

Proper attachment of spindle microtubules to kinetochores is necessary to satisfy the spindle assembly checkpoint and ensure faithful chromosome segregation. Microtubules detach from kinetochores to correct improperly oriented attachments, and overall kinetochore-microtubule (k-MT) attachment stability is determined in response to regulatory enzymes and the activities of kinetochore-associated microtubule stabilizing and destabilizing proteins. However, it is unknown whether regulatory enzyme activity or kinetochore-associated protein localization respond to subtle changes in k-MT attachment stability. To test for this feedback response, we monitored Aurora B kinase activity and the localization of select kinetochore proteins in metaphase cells following treatments that subtly stabilize or destabilize k-MT attachments using low dose Taxol or UMK57 (an MCAK agonist), respectively. Increasing k-MT stability induced changes in the abundance of some kinetochore proteins. In contrast, reducing k-MT stability induced both increases in Aurora B kinase signaling and changes in the abundance of some kinetochore proteins. Thus, kinetochores dynamically respond to changes in the stability of their attached microtubules. This feedback control contributes to tuning k-MT attachment stability required for efficient error correction to facilitate faithful chromosome segregation. Summary StatementLive cell imaging demonstrates that kinetochore signaling responds to feedback from attached microtubules to tune their stability to ensure faithful chromosome segregation during cell division.
The mediating effect of parenting stress and couple relationship quality on the association between material hardship trajectories and maternal mental health status.

Abstract Background Household material hardships could have a negative impact on maternal mental health. Understanding mechanisms by which material hardship trajectories affect maternal depression and anxiety could aid health care professionals and researchers to design better interventions to improve mental health outcomes among mothers. Methods The study identified family-level mechanisms by which material hardship trajectories affect maternal depression and anxiety using Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study data (n = 1,645). Latent growth mixture modelling was used to identify latent classes of material hardship trajectories at Years-1, -3, and -5. Parenting stress and couple relationship quality was measured at Year-9. The outcome measures included maternal depression and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) at Year-15 based on the Composite International Diagnostic Interview - Short Form. Results Parenting stress mediated the association between low-increasing hardship (b = 0.020, 95% confidence interval (CI):0.003, 0.043) and maternal depression. Parenting stress also mediated the association between high-increasing hardship (b = 0.043, 95% CI:0.004, 0.092), high decreasing hardship (b = 0.034, 95% CI=0.001, 0.072), and low-increasing (b = 0.034, 95% CI:0.007, 0.066) and maternal GAD. In all models, current material hardship was directly related to maternal depression (b = 0.188, 95% CI:0.134, 0.242) and GAD (b = 0.174, 95% CI:0.091, 0.239). Limitations Study results need to be interpreted with caution as the FFCWS oversampled non‐marital births as part of the original study design. Conclusions While current material hardship appears to be more related to maternal mental health, prior material hardship experiences contribute to greater parenting stress which places mothers at risk for experiencing depression and GAD later on.
Distinguishing Vinylic and Aromatic 1H NMR Signals Using Selectively Deuterated Chalcones

1H NMR spectroscopy is a molecular characterization technique that is ubiquitously used in research and teaching laboratories alike. Strategic deuteration of molecules is a commonly employed technique in the deconvolution of 1H NMR signals. Here this approach is applied in a second-year chemistry course in which students synthesize 4-methoxychalcone using the Claisen–Schmidt variant of the foundational aldol reaction. The 1H NMR spectrum is complicated by a crowded aromatic and alkene region due in part to extensive conjugation through the two phenyl groups surrounding an α,β-unsaturated ketone. This report demonstrates that students gain competence and confidence in making 1H NMR assignments when presented with a curated set of selectively deuterated chalcones rather than the corresponding spectrum of the fully protiated chalcone. While deuteration does not resolve all of the challenges associated with interpreting this spectrum, it is an invaluable tool to complement chemical shifts (including the predictive nature of resonance structures), integration, and spin–spin splitting. A proposed lecture is presented that is timed to correlate with the performance of the chalcone synthesis lab. Assessment data collected before and after the lecture and then again on the final exam point to the effectiveness of this approach.
Binge Drinking: Patterns, Explanations, and Policy

This chapter reviews the leading theories of causation of binge drinking and policies that address binge drinking. The most dangerous and destructive form of alcohol abuse is commonly referred to as “binge drinking,” a phenomenon characterized by heavy episodic consumption. Binge drinking is identified as primary public health crises throughout the United States, particularly on college campuses. Large-scale research endeavors have been undertaken by several federal agencies and nonprofit organizations that focus on the scope of the problem and the utility of awareness. This addresses definitional issues and binge drinking patterns and related problems. Drinking is a multidimensional behavior, varying in frequency, quantity, motivation to use, contexts of use, and related social and psychological ramifications. Bingeing is considered particularly problematic because of both its prevalence and associated adverse consequences. This activity occurs almost indiscriminately throughout the United States, predominantly among the nation's adolescent and young adult populations. Experts estimate that approximately four out of five high school students have consumed alcohol by their senior year and well over half (61.6%) have engaged in binge drinking prior to high school graduation. Equally troubling are estimates for young adults (ages 18–25), which range from 44% to 52.3%.
Studies of rates of escape of protiens through membranes. II. Effect of hydraulic flow.

Abstract An equation for the escape-rate coefficient which applies to diffusion through a membrane while solvent is allowed to flow in the opposite direction is given. The dependece of this coefficient on the flow rate and the pH for the case of bovine plasma albumin diffusing through a “very dense” Type A nitrocellulose membrane was expressed by a single equation, from which the dependence on flow at constant pH and the dependence on pH at zero flow were obtained as special cases. A flow rate of 0.5·10 −4 ml/min which was 3% of the value of the escape-rate coefficient biased the latter by 0.5%.
Binding and Catalysis

Binding and catalysis in the biological context are defined as the formation of a relatively long-lived and specific complex between a macromolecular catalyst and a substrate molecule, which subsequently undergoes a chemical transformation much faster than would occur in the absence of the macromolecular catalyst. Keywords: entropy loss; induced fit; stereoelectronic effects; ground state destabilization; transition state stabilization; circe effect