cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
When Self-Affirmations Reduce Defensiveness: Timing Is Key

Research on self-affirmation has shown that simple reminders of self-integrity reduce people’s tendency to respond defensively to threat. Recent research has suggested it is irrelevant whether the self-affirmation exercise takes place before or after the threat or the individual’s defensive response to it, supposedly because the meaning of threats is continuously reprocessed. However, four experiments revealed that affirmations may be effective only when introduced prior to the initiation of a defensive response. Affirmations introduced before threatening feedback reduced defensive responding; affirming after a threat was effective in reducing defensiveness only if the defensive conclusion had yet to be reached. Even though threats may activate a defensive motivation, the authors’ results suggest that defensive responses may not be spontaneous and may be prompted only when suggested by the dependent measures themselves. This explains why some affirmations positioned after threats are effective in reducing...
Survey of and problems with acoustically pulsed transponder navigation systems

This paper presents a brief survey of ideas about acoustic transponder navigation based on experience with working systems used in oceanographic research at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). These systems have been designed to work effectively because of the presence of an operator. The vehicular navigation has its base of operations aboard a surface ship that sets a network of transponders and surveys the net. The survey data is reduced onboard the surface ship to produce the relational positions for navigating an underwater vehicle. In most cases, the underwater vehicle is actually navigated from aboard the ship. If it can be assumed that the setting and surveying of the transponder net is independent of navigating an underwater vehicle, techniques can be logically extended to navigate a remote, independent submersible by acoustically pulsed transponders. Problems of acoustic pulse transmission and reception, environmental noise, signal-to-noise ratio, and considerations of effective range must be overcome to nagivate effectively. Once these are overcome for a remote underwater vehicle, the problem is reduced to one of guidance.
Allergic and immunologic features of Ménière's disease.

Meniere's disease (MD), which by definition is idiopathic, has been ascribed to various causes, including both inhalant and food allergies. Patients with MD report higher rates of allergy history and positive skin or in vitro tests compared with a control group of patients with other otologic diseases and to the general public. Recent immunologic studies have shown higher rates of circulating immune complexes, CD4, and other immunologic components in patients with MD compared with healthy controls. Published treatment results have shown benefit from immunotherapy and/or dietary restriction for symptoms of MD in those patients who present with both allergy and MD.
Evaluation of delocalized lipophilic cationic dyes as delivery vehicles for photosensitizers to mitochondria

Mitochondria are attractive targets in photodynamic therapy. Two conjugates: TPP-Rh (a porphyrin-rhodamine B conjugate) and TPP-AO (a porphyrin-acridine orange conjugate), each possessing a single delocalized lipophilic cation, were designed and synthesized as photosensitizers. Their ability to target the mitochondria for photodynamic therapy was evaluated. The conjugates were synthesized by conjugating a monohydroxy porphyrin (TPP-OH) to rhodamine B (Rh B) and acridine orange base (AO), respectively, via a saturated hydrocarbon linker. To evaluate the efficiency of the conjugates as photosensitizers, their photophysical properties and in vitro photodynamic activities were studied in comparison to those of TPP-OH. Although fluorescence energy transfer (FRET) was observed in the conjugates, they were capable of generating singlet oxygen at rates comparable to TPP-OH. Biologically, exciting results were observed with TPP-Rh, which showed a much higher phototoxicity [IC(50), 3.95 microM: irradiation of 400-850 nm light (3 mW cm(-2)) for 1 h] than either TPP-OH or Rh B (both, IC(50), >20 microM) without significant dark toxicity at 20 microM. This improved photodynamic activity might be due to a greater cellular uptake and preferential localization in mitochondria. The cellular uptake of TPP-Rh was 8 and 14 times greater than TPP-OH and Rh B, respectively. In addition, fluorescence imaging studies suggest that TPP-Rh localized more in mitochondria than TPP-OH. On the other hand, TPP-AO showed some dark toxicity at 10 microM and stained both mitochondria and nucleus. Our study suggests that conjugation of photosensitizers to Rh might provide two benefits, higher cellular uptake and mitochondrial localization, which are two important subjects in photodynamic therapy.
Computation step-size study in digital post-compensation of fiber optic communication systems

After an introduction to the nonlinear fiber transmission and an optimal channel equalization scheme, recently proposed analytical step-size selection and scaling rules was verified to achieve comparable global simulation accuracy for split-step Fourier (SSF) simulations of optical pulse propagation through fiber with low simulation accuracy. Its application to digital post-compensation and its computational performance was systematically studied for return to zero (RZ) and carrier suppressed return to zero (CSRZ) modulation formats with different inline dispersion map degrees.
Rotation-invariant similarity in time series using bag-of-patterns representation

For more than a decade, time series similarity search has been given a great deal of attention by data mining researchers. As a result, many time series representations and distance measures have been proposed. However, most existing work on time series similarity search relies on shape-based similarity matching. While some of the existing approaches work well for short time series data, they typically fail to produce satisfactory results when the sequence is long. For long sequences, it is more appropriate to consider the similarity based on the higher-level structures. In this work, we present a histogram-based representation for time series data, similar to the "bag of words" approach that is widely accepted by the text mining and information retrieval communities. We performed extensive experiments and show that our approach outperforms the leading existing methods in clustering, classification, and anomaly detection on dozens of real datasets. We further demonstrate that the representation allows rotation-invariant matching in shape datasets.
Design, Control, and Simulation of a Novel Power Conversion System

This paper investigates a novel high frequency power conversion system to harness clean energy from distributed resources. A generalized link involving multi-stage power conversion is investigated for a wind energy system, wherein a three-phase source with variations in voltage and frequency is considered. The first intermediate stage of the link uses a quasi-square wave DC-AC inverter operating at 20 kHz. A transformer is fed from the high frequency quasi-square wave inverter to maintain power handling capability to the level of a 60Hz transformer and reduce the size and cost of the transformer and passive elements. A feed forward and feedback based multi-loop control system is used to regulate output voltage irrespective of variations in supply voltage and frequency. Detailed mathematical model of the entire system is provided. Simulation results are given to establish the idea of high frequency energy conversion link for distributed sources and a variety of loads
Program Evaluation at the Local Level: Recommendations for Improving Services.

This paper adopts the position that impact evaluation studies of programs serving infants and preschoolers with handicaps should be restricted to those investigations that are scientifically defendable. Specific types of impact studies are suggested, and issues to consider when conducting those evaluation studies are listed. Further, the paper suggests that program leaders should focus evaluation activities on their project's status in terms of meeting project objectives. A process for conducting such evaluation studies is described.
Laterality of deep venous thrombosis among trauma patients: are we screening our patients adequately?

Objectives Major trauma represents a significant risk for development of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Duplex ultrasonography is a noninvasive test to identify DVT and has been suggested for screening asymptomatic high-risk trauma patients. While some risk factors for DVT are well described, it remains unclear whether site of DVT development is associated with anatomical location of injury. An association between anatomical locations of injury would serve to highlight the importance of directed screening of those extremities at highest risk. Therefore, we hypothesize that location of DVT correlates with side of lower extremity injury. Methods We performed an 11-year (1995–2005) retrospective review from the prospectively collected trauma registry at an urban, university-based, level I trauma center. All trauma patients with lower extremity DVT were included. Lateralizing lower extremity injuries were defined as penetrating or blunt injuries affecting only one lower extremity. Fisher’s exact test compared concordance between side of injury and side of DVT. Results A total of 6674 trauma patients were admitted, of whom 40 (0.6%) were diagnosed with lower extremity or pelvic DVT. Mean age of patients with DVT was 39 y, with 80% male, 80% African American, and 55% penetrating trauma. Fourteen patients (35%) with DVT sustained lateralizing lower extremity injuries (6 gunshot wounds, 5 tibia/fibula fractures, 2 femur fractures, and 1 calcaneus fracture). Twelve of these 14 patients (86%) developed DVT on the same side as their injury; (7/7 on right side and 5/7 on left side, P = 0.02). The 26 patients without lateralizing injuries had equal distribution of DVT (39% right, 42% left, and 19% bilateral). Conclusion Patients who sustained lateralizing lower extremity injury and developed lower extremity DVT had a high likelihood of developing their DVT on the same side as their injury. A larger multi-institutional analysis is needed to assess the correlation between injury site and anatomical location of DVT before suggesting any changes in recommendations for duplex screening.
Another test for snowball Earth

The concept of a Neoproterozoic “snowball Earth”–an ice age in the tropics ([Kaufman, 1997][1])–has captured the imagination of the public and scientists alike. The idea of global-scale glaciation, indicated by the abundance of Neo-proterozoic glacial deposits (some with low-latitude
Quantum mechanical reaction rate constants by vibrational configuration interaction: The OH + H2→H2O + H reaction as a function of temperature

The thermal rate constant of the 3D OH + H2→H2O + H reaction was computed by using the flux autocorrelation function, with a time-independent square-integrable basis set. Two modes that actively participate in bond making and bond breaking were treated by using 2D distributed Gaussian functions, and the remaining (nonreactive) modes were treated by using harmonic oscillator functions. The finite-basis eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the Hamiltonian were obtained by solving the resulting generalized eigenvalue equation, and the flux autocorrelation function for a dividing surface optimized in reduced-dimensionality calculations was represented in the basis formed by the eigenvectors of the Hamiltonian. The rate constant was obtained by integrating the flux autocorrelation function. The choice of the final time to which the integration is carried was determined by a plateau criterion. The potential energy surface was from Wu, Schatz, Lendvay, Fang, and Harding (WSLFH). We also studied the collinear H + H2 reaction by using the Liu–Siegbahn–Truhlar–Horowitz (LSTH) potential energy surface. The calculated thermal rate constant results were compared with reported values on the same surfaces. The success of these calculations demonstrates that time-independent vibrational configuration interaction can be a very convenient way to calculate converged quantum mechanical rate constants, and it opens the possibility of calculating converged rate constants for much larger reactions than have been treated until now.
ALEXANDER DISEASE: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Alexander disease (AD) is a rare progressive lethal leukodystrophy usually affecting infants and characterized, by progressive failure of central myelination and accumulation of Rosenthal fibers (RFs) in astrocytes. Despite strong male predilection and. infrequency of involved siblings, an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance is presumed. We report a typical case of infantile AD with imaging studies, a complete autopsy, and a critical literature review. Recent studies of AD have identified several stress proteins plus glial fibrillary protein as major constituents of RFs but have not clarified the basic defect. Advances in understanding of astrocyte function suggest an important role in the process of myelination that may be interrupted in AD. The nosology of putative juvenile-onset and. adult-onset examples continues to be uncertain.
Investigating energy and security trade-offs in the classroom with the atom LEAP testbed

We recently used the Atom LEAP as the foundation for CS 188, an undergraduate research seminar investigating potential trade-offs between security and energy consumption in a hypothetical, battery-powered tablet device. Twenty-three students, in five groups, researched the energy costs of full disk encryption, network cryptography, and sandboxing techniques, as well as the potential savings from two concepts: offloading security computation, and enabling user-level applications to modulate their security behavior based on battery capacity and environmental security. The Atom LEAP is an exciting and powerful tool. A self-contained energy measurement platform, it can generate 10,000 component-level power samples per second during runtime. The Atom LEAP synchronizes individual samples to the time stamp counter of the Intel Atom CPU, allowing us to measure small code segments in the kernel or in user space. The success of CS 188 was possible because of the Atom LEAP's unique capabilities and ease of use. Following the success of the class, we are working to improve the hardware and software tools, in the hope that the Atom LEAP might someday become a widespread tool for energy research and education.
Interrogation of Bilayers in a Multi-Droplet Cluster for Membrane-Based Sensing

The long-term vision of our work is to create a new class of smart material that utilizes networks of active, synthetic cell membranes for sensing, actuation, and energy harvesting. Having multiple membrane structures is specifically targeted because a higher density of functional membranes is expected to enable amplification and collective utility, similar to how living tissues and organisms utilize networks of highly connected cells to accomplish large tasks. While there are several known methods for assembling droplet-based networks of synthetic lipid bilayers, there has been much less effort to develop methods for electrically characterizing each interface in a multi-bilayer-droplet network. This paper specifically focuses on a strategy for using electrical measurements to independently record transmembrane currents occurring at each bilayer in multi-bilayer networks where the number of bilayers present is equal to or greater than the number of droplets in the system. Using a multichannel patch clamp amplifier, we develop a measurement technique for sequentially assigning sensing electrodes to apply a non-zero voltage or function as virtual ground (V=0). Experimental studies on a three-droplet cluster containing three bilayers confirm the validity of the proposed approach for independently interrogating each membrane, and the results allow extension of the method to networks with 4–7 droplets. Furthermore, alamethicin peptide gating is monitored using the measurement cycle in order to interrogate all interfaces. Due to high total membrane area, highly packed systems can provide an increase in the magnitude of sensing current generated by a stimulus. Such amplification could feasibly be employed in droplet-based hair cell sensing applications in which airflow or vibration acts as the perturbation source, and the proposed approach and challenges for interrogating the transduction response in a multi-membrane hair cell sensor are discussed herein.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Young Adults’ Inferences Surrounding an Alleged Sexual Assault Alcohol Consumption, Gender, Dress, and Appearance Schematicity

A 2 (dress) × 2 (victim alcohol use) × 2 (perpetrator alcohol use) between subjects factorial design was used to investigate the influence of dress, alcohol use, and gender of participants on infer...
The correlation between *tj-reflex and syntax

L'examen porte sur un phenomene particulier dans le champ de la variation des formes lexicales entre le vieux slave religieux et le vieux slave oriental : le reflexe phonologique * tj du slave commun qui apparait sous des formes distinctes en slave religieux et en vieux slave oriental. L'A. s'interesse particulierement a cette variation au niveau du participe present actif. Son objectif est de determiner le degre de correlation entre la forme * tj et la syntaxe en se fondant sur les formes de ces participes dans deux textes en slave medieval du 12 e siecle
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder at Ages 13–18: Results from the National Comorbidity Survey—Adolescent Supplement

Abstract Objective: “Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder” (DMDD) has been introduced into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed. but the utility of this new label and the clinical correlates of the children it describes are yet to be determined. Methods: A proxy for the DMDD diagnosis was extracted from the National Comorbidity Survey - Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A) data on 6483 adolescents (51.4% female) including Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) diagnoses and measures of impaired functioning from the Sheehan Disability Scale. Cross tabulations and logistic regression were used to assess for prevalence and comorbidity. Results: A total of 310 (5.26%) adolescents met the criteria for DMDD when diagnostic hierarchy and frequency of outbursts were not considered. At the low end of prevalence estimation, only nine adolescents (0.12%) met the most stringent proxy diagnosis, and they also met criteria for a number of comorbid disorders and functional impairment...
Retrograde vitrification in CO2/Polystyrene thin films

The devitrification of polystyrene, PS, thin films, supported by oxidized silicon (SiOx/Si) wafers was examined under various conditions of CO2 pressure and temperature using in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry. PS films in the thickness range of 15 nm < h < 200 nm were studied at temperatures from 25 to 75 °C. The CO2 pressures, Pg, at which devitrification of the PS films occurred decreased with decreasing film thickness for h ≲ 50 nm at each temperature, indicating the effect of excess CO2 in the free surface and substrate regions. For thicker films, Pg remained constant. The largest drop of the transition pressure in this thickness range (15 nm < h < 50 nm) occurred at 75 °C. The phenomenon of retrograde vitrification is shown to occur in this system, wherein with decreasing temperature isobarically a PS film would first undergo the expected rubbery-to-glassy transition and at yet lower T the film would subsequently exhibit a glassy-to-rubbery (devitrification) transition. Retrograde vitrification is c...
Arthroscopic reduction and percutaneous pinning of a radiocarpal dislocation: a case report.

Radiocarpal dislocations are complex injuries characterized by high-energy shear and rotational forces to the wrist, often combined with a fracture of the distal part of the radius or ulna1. They often present as open fractures and can be complicated by soft-tissue injuries such as intercarpal and radiocarpal ligament tears and nerve injuries1-3. Current management of radiocarpal dislocations is based on treatment principles described by Ilyas and Mudgal, which include concentric reduction of the radiocarpal joint, identification and appropriate treatment of intercarpal ligament injuries, and stable repair of the osseous-ligamentous avulsions1. While these injuries were previously managed with the use of closed reduction and immobilization4-7, authors of recent reports have recognized the instability of these complex injuries and have described treatment algorithms using open reduction and internal fixation1. We report a case of ulnar radiocarpal wrist dislocation treated with wrist arthroscopy and percutaneous pinning without repair of the extrinsic wrist ligaments. A twenty-three-year-old right-hand-dominant male presented with pain in the left wrist one week after a motorcycle accident. He had no neurological symptoms and no pain in other extremities. The patient's medical and surgical histories were noncontributory. The findings on the neurovascular examination of the left hand were normal, and the patient was able to actively flex and extend the wrist approximately 20° with extreme pain. There was diffuse swelling about the wrist and pain with passive wrist motion. There was diffuse tenderness about the radiocarpal and midcarpal joints, and the patient was unable to tolerate any instability examinations secondary to severe pain. He had painless motion of the ipsilateral elbow and shoulder. Radiographs of the wrist demonstrated an ulnar styloid fracture, triquetral avulsion fracture, and ulnar shift of the carpus that was approximately 3.3 mm more …
Profiling of Cytokine and Chemokine Responses Using Multiplex Bead Array Technology

Multiplex bead array technology expands upon the principles of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay by allowing the simultaneous quantification of a large number of cytokines and chemokines within a single sample. This allows researchers more freedom and opportunities to investigate complex immune responses both in vivo and in vitro. Here we describe and update the detailed assay protocol and technical tips for simultaneous quantification of multiple cytokines and chemokines in mouse biological fluids such as sera, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, tissue homogenate supernatant, and tissue culture supernatant, using a multiplex bead array assay.
Cerebellar Vermis Split Syndrome

Surgical transection of the posterior inferior cerebellar vermis in 5 children (ages 6-15 years) treated at Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, was followed by selective impairment of tandem gait.
Return to Play for Athletes

Sports-related activities are associated with a variety of spinal injuries. Spine surgeons must be able to determine an athlete's readiness to return to play. Most spine surgeons agree that an athlete should be neurologically intact, be pain free, be at full strength, and have full range of motion before returning to full, unrestricted athletic activity. Certain spine injuries such as stingers may allow for return to play nearly immediately; whereas, other clinical entities such as spear tackler's spine are considered absolute contraindications to return to play.
Ethnic disparities in the impact of breast cancer on the workforce: A pilot study.

e17600 Background: Return to work (RTW) is understudied in immigrant breast cancer survivors (BCS), who are less likely to have work accommodations associated with increased RTW (e.g. sick leave). ...
Restrained shrinkage cracking of recycled aggregate concrete

The increase in drying shrinkage and decrease in tensile properties of concrete proportioned with recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) can result in a high risk of cracking under restrained conditions. However, the reduction of the modulus of elasticity of such concrete, can lead to greater stress relaxation and reduction in cracking potential. An experimental program was undertaken to evaluate the effect of using RCA at high substitution rates of 50 and 100% (by vol.) on the cracking potential under restrained conditions. Four different types of coarse RCA, two binder types, and water-to-cementitious materials ratio (w/cm) of 0.37 and 0.40 were considered in the study. Mechanical properties, drying shrinkage, and cracking potential using the ring test were investigated. Test results indicated no cracking up to 35 days in the case of the reference mixture and the concrete prepared with 50% RCA replacement. The 28-day stress rate of such mixtures were limited to 0.12 MPa/day. Depending on the RCA type, the incorporation of 100% coarse RCA in a binary system made with 0.40 w/cm increased the 35-day cracking potential to up to 74%, with values of stress rate ranging from 0.25 to 0.34 MPa/day. The mixtures proportioned with 100% RCA developed tensile creep coefficient of 0.34–0.78 at the time of cracking compared to 0.34–0.36 for the reference concrete at the same age. However, greater elastic concrete strain and lower tensile strength resulted in reduced time to cracking at 100% RCA replacement, which was 9.0–11.0 days.
Human Gut-Derived Commensal Bacteria Suppress CNS Inflammatory and Demyelinating Disease

Summary The human gut is colonized by a large number of microorganisms (∼10 13 bacteria) that support various physiologic functions. A perturbation in the healthy gut microbiome might lead to the development of inflammatory diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Therefore, gut commensals might provide promising therapeutic options for treating MS and other diseases. We report the identification of human gut-derived commensal bacteria, Prevotella histicola , which can suppress experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in a human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II transgenic mouse model. P. histicola suppresses disease through the modulation of systemic immune responses. P. histicola challenge led to a decrease in pro-inflammatory Th1 and Th17 cells and an increase in the frequencies of CD4 + FoxP3 + regulatory T cells, tolerogenic dendritic cells, and suppressive macrophages. Our study provides evidence that the administration of gut commensals may regulate a systemic immune response and may, therefore, have a possible role in treatment strategies for MS.
Rethinking TCP Throughput and Latency Modeling

TCP throughput and latency models are useful tools to characterize the TCP performance. The canonical throughput model [2], while useful, has some limitations since it does not consider how packet loss rate changes over time. This approach leads to poor predictions for short flows. We present a new modeling approach that characterizes the throughput and latency models by: (i) discovering the relationship between the packet loss rate and the congestion window size, and (ii) incorporating the starting congestion window and the number of parallel connections. Experimental results show that our models significantly improve modeling accuracy.
The heterogeneous impact of insurance on health care demand among young adults: a panel data analysis*

Success of the recently implemented Affordable Care Act hinges on previously uninsured young adults enrolling in coverage. How will increased coverage, in turn, affect health care utilization? This...
Efficient Customer Selection Process for Various DR Objectives

For timely and effective dispatch of demand response (DR) events, utilities require an efficient customer selection process that considers multiple factors, such as customer energy consumption patterns, customer compliance, and DR event time intervals. Moreover, customer targeting strategies may be different depending on the priority of each DR program. Thus, this paper investigates how to efficiently select customers for certain types of incentive-based DR programs (e.g., direct load control and curtailable load control) with various objectives based on hourly energy consumption data. To cope with computation issues arising from big data, we propose a filtering process that reduces the number of eligible customers based on proper criteria and use a novel approximate algorithm to solve the proposed customer selection problems in the format of a stochastic knapsack problem. This paper also suggests how to consider a customer compliance factor in the customer selection process.
Digital Privacy and Security

Column description. The Internet Resources column is designed to be a clearinghouse for free, online websites; each column will focus on themes relevant to current issues in academic libraries and ...
1 Developing consensus on hospital prescribing indicators of potential harm for infants and children

Aims To develop a list of hospital based paediatric prescribing indicators that can be used to assess the impact of electronic prescribing or clinical decision support tools on paediatric prescribing errors. Background Medication errors are a major cause for concern in the NHS. Prescribing is part of the medication use process and is a complex task requiring an understanding of medicines, disease processes, and patient parameters. Systematic reviews have reported that medication errors occur in as many as 50% of hospital admissions and prescribing error rates in the UK hospitals vary between 9% and 15%. Prescribing for children is further complicated by the need to take into account weight, altered physiology and pharmacokinetics. Prescribing error rates of 13.1% have been reported in children with a potentially greater impact due to the nature of the patients. Electronic prescribing (EP) while relatively uncommon in UK hospitals is an important tool in reducing prescribing errors. EP systems have been shown to have a positive impact on prescribing errors, however methodologies vary and the reduction in harm is rarely investigated. A standard tool to allow an evaluation of the harm reduction is desirable and currently does not exist for the paediatric setting. Methods Two rounds of an electronic consensus method (eDelphi) were carried out with 21 expert panellists from the UK. Panellists were asked to score each prescribing indicator for its likelihood of occurrence and severity of outcome should the error occur. The scores were combined to produce a risk score and a median score for each indicator calculated. The degree of consensus between panellists was defined as the proportion that gave a risk score in the same category as the median. Indicators were included if a consensus of 80% or higher was achieved and were in the high risk categories. Results An expert panel consisting of 8 pharmacists and 13 paediatricians with a total of 437 years of clinical experience completed an exploratory round and two rounds of scoring. This identified 41 paediatric prescribing indicators with a high risk rating and greater than 80% consensus. The most common error type within the indicators was wrong dose (n=19) and the most common drug classes were antimicrobials (n=10) and cardiovascular (n=7). Conclusions A set of 41 paediatric prescribing indicators describing potential harm for the hospital setting have been identified by an expert panel. The indicators provide a standardised method of evaluation of prescribing data on both paper and electronic systems. They can also be used to assess implementation of clinical decision support systems or other quality improvement initiatives.
Measuring the SMBH Spin Distribution

“This chapter discusses sources of systematic error in our modeling approach and reviews the spin constraints that have been reported in 22 SMBH systems to date. The spin distribution seen in this small sample of AGN is used to draw inferences and to make projections about the relative role of accretion vs. mergers in nearby AGN systems.”
Immunological Toxicity of Cancer Chemotherapy

The effective use of modern anti-cancer agents is always associated with some toxicity. Various forms of toxicity such as that directed toward the kidney, liver and bone marrow can often be easily measured and quantitated. The physician through experience is able to avoid irreversible toxicity by careful monitoring of several laboratory parameters. Toxicity to the immune system on the other hand is not easily measured although the consequences of profound immunosuppression in terms of increased susceptibility to viral, protozoal and fungal infections are well known.
Looking at Dogs: Moving from Anthropocentrism to Canid Umwelt

As a companion to humans, the domestic dog is naturally interpreted from a human-centered (anthropocentric) perspective. Indeed, dog behavior and actions are often explained by using anthropomorphisms: attributions to the dog that would hold if the actor were human. While sometimes useful, anthropomorphisms also have the potential to be misleading or incorrect. In this chapter we describe work to replace an anthropocentric perspective with a more dog-centered research program. First we detail research systematically testing anthropomorphisms of emotional complexity—the appearance of guilt and jealousy—that are made of dogs, by testing the context of appearance of the “guilty look” and by testing advantageous and disadvantageous inequity aversion. Relatedly, we describe research looking at the contribution of specific dog physical attributes to human preference and anthropomorphizing. Finally, we identify anthropocentric and canid-centric elements of our own and others’ research, and suggest ways that research can be more sensitive to the dog’s umwelt.
Modeling of Particle Deposition in Cleanroom Environments: Current Status

Recently many models have been presented to describe particle deposition in cleanroom environments. The models can be classified according to the scale of flow — cleanroom scale, equipment scale, or product scale. For the latter case, a detailed flow field is numerically generated or an idealized flow field is assumed. Particle deposition rates, in the presence of various external forces, are subsequently calculated by solving either the equation of convective diffusion or the particle equation of motion. A wide range of deposition mechanisms can be included: to account for actual operating conditions; and to assess the effectiveness of anti-contamination schemes.
Receptor-mediated gene targeting to tissues in vivo following intravenous administration of pegylated immunoliposomes

Purpose. Gene therapy has been limited by the immunogenicity of viral vectors, by the inefficiency of cationic liposomes, and by the rapid degradation in vivo following the injection of naked DNA. The present work describes a new approach that enables the non-invasive, non-viral gene therapy of the brain and peripheral organs following an intravenous injection. Methods. The plasmid DNA encoding b-galactosidase is packaged in the interior of neutral liposomes, which are stabilized for in vivo use by surface conjugation with polyethyleglycol (PEG). The tips of about 1% of the PEG strands are attached to a targeting monoclonal antibody (MAb), which acts as a “molecular Trojan Horse” to ferry the liposome carrying the gene across the biological barriers of the brain and other organs. The MAb targets the transferrin receptor, which is enriched at both the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and in peripheral tissues, such as liver and spleen. Results. Expression of the exogenous gene in brain, liver, and spleen was demonstrated with b-galactosidase histochemistry, which showed persistence of gene expression for at least 6 days after a single intravenous injection of the pegylated immunoliposomes. The persistence of the transgene was confirmed by Southern blot analysis. Conclusions. Widespread expression of an exogenous gene in brain and peripheral tissues is induced with a single intravenous administration of plasmid DNA packaged in the interior of pegylated immunoliposomes. The liposomes are formulated to target specific receptor systems that enable receptor-mediated endocytosis of the complex into cells in vivo. This approach allows for non-invasive, non-viral gene therapy of the brain.
Cochlear Implantation and Facial Nerve Synkinesis in an Infant with Hypoplastic Internal Auditory Canals - A Case Report.

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is a common finding in cases of the congenital internal acoustic canal (IAC) stenosis. Previous reports reveal a relationship between IAC stenosis and facial palsy as well as vestibular dysfunction. This case identifies a patient with bilateral profound SNHL, bilateral IAC stenosis, and temporary unilateral facial palsy who went on to receive bilateral cochlear implants (CI). The facial nerve synkinesis that was found in this patient with hypoplastic IACs occurred after a cochlear implant activation. The synkinesis was ipsilateral to prior transient facial palsy after salmonella infection. Patients with IAC stenosis and cochlear nerve hypoplasia may respond well to cochlear implantation, but caution should be used when considering CI with an emphasis on counseling for possible facial nerve complications.
Dynamic Parameter Estimation of Brain Mechanisms.

Demystifying effective connectivity among neuronal populations has become the trend to understand the brain mechanisms of Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, mild traumatic brain injury, and many other unlisted neurological diseases. Dynamic modeling is a state-of-the-art approach to explore various connectivities among neuronal populations corresponding to different electrophysiological responses. Through estimating the parameters in the dynamic models, including the strengths and propagation delays of the electrophysiological signals, the discovery of the underlying connectivities can lead to the elucidation of functional brain mechanisms. In this report, we survey six dynamic models that describe the intrinsic function of a single neuronal/subneuronal population and three effective network estimation methods that can trace the connections among the neuronal/subneuronal populations. The six dynamic models are event related potential, local field potential, conductance-based neural mass model, mean field model, neural field model, and canonical micro-circuits; the three effective network estimation approaches are dynamic causal modeling, structural causal model, and vector autoregression. Subsequently, we discuss dynamic parameter estimation methods including variational Bayesian, particle filtering, Metropolis-Hastings algorithm, Gauss-Newton algorithm, collocation method, and constrained optimization. We summarize the merits and drawbacks of each model, network estimation approach, and parameter estimation method. In addition, we demonstrate an exemplary effective network estimation problem statement. Last, we identify possible future work and challenges to develop an elevated package.
Stopping-power enhancement from discrete particle-wake correlations in high-energy-density plasmas.

Three-dimensional (3D) simulations of electron beams propagating in high-energy-density plasmas using the quasistatic Particle-in-Cell (PIC) code QuickPIC demonstrate a significant increase in stopping power when beam electrons mutually interact via their wakes. Each beam electron excites a plasma wave wake of wavelength $\ensuremath{\sim}2\ensuremath{\pi}c/{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{pe}$, where $c$ is the speed of light and ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{pe}$ is the background plasma frequency. We show that a discrete collection of electrons undergoes a beam-plasma-like instability caused by mutual particle-wake interactions that causes electrons to bunch in the beam, even for beam densities ${n}_{b}$ for which fluid theory breaks down. This bunching enhances the beam's stopping power, which we call ``correlated stopping,'' and the effect increases with the ``correlation number'' ${N}_{b}\ensuremath{\equiv}{n}_{b}{(c/{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{pe})}^{3}$. For example, a beam of monoenergetic 9.7 MeV electrons with ${N}_{b}=1/8$, in a cold background plasma with ${n}_{e}={10}^{26}\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ (450 g ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ DT), has a stopping power of $2.28\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.04$ times the single-electron value, which increases to $1220\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}5$ for ${N}_{b}=64$. The beam also experiences transverse filamentation, which eventually limits the stopping enhancement.
Evaluating Artifacts Using Experiments as Part of the Design Science Framework

Design science is of increasing importance in information systems (IS) with top journals and funding agencies recognizing it as an important component of IS research. One critical element of good design science is a solid evaluation of the artifacts, i.e., of individual algorithms and completed information systems. This tutorial focuses on the design and execution of experiments to evaluate such artifacts in an efficient manner. The artifact’s life cycle is taken into account to ensure the evaluation is appropriate, effective and efficient through optimal use of resources. Evaluations can range from automated evaluations of algorithms using gold standards to user studies of an entire information system with representative users in situ. The tutorial will focus on the controlled experiment for artifacts, appropriate statistical analysis, and tips on common errors that can be avoided.
Preoperative opioid use is associated with increased readmission, revision surgery and cost after total shoulder arthroplasty

Abstract Background Preoperative opioid use has been associated with higher pain scores and lower functional outcomes after total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA), but the association between preoperative opioid use and readmission, revision surgery and cost following TSA is less well-known. The purpose of this study is to determine the association between preoperative opioid use and readmission, revision surgery and cost after total shoulder arthroplasty. Methods Using the Marketscan© administrative claims database, we identified patients from 2010–2015 who underwent primary TSA using Current Procedural Terminology codes. 5,621 patients aged 18–64 were identified who had 6-months of continuous coverage preoperatively and one year of continuous coverage postoperatively. Patients who were using opioids up until the 30-day period prior to surgery were classified as preoperative opioid users. Our primary outcomes were rates of 90-day all-cause hospital readmission, 1-year rates of revision surgery, and 1-year healthcare payments. Logistic regression and a generalized linear model were used to analyze binomial and payment data, respectively. All models were controlled for age, gender and Charlson comorbidity index. Results Mean age of patients was 57 ± 5.6 years, 42% were females. Average length of stay was 1.7 ± 1.2 days. 28% of patients were using opioids preoperatively. Preoperative opioid use was associated with significantly increased odds of 90-day readmission (OR 2.6, p Conclusions Preoperative opioid use is associated with increased rates of readmission and revision surgery following TSA. Patients undergoing TSA have significantly higher total healthcare costs and a modest increase in length of hospital stay. Level of evidence Level II
Thermodynamic feasibility of the four-stage chloride-induced depassivation mechanism of iron

The atomistic mechanism of chloride-induced depassivation of iron is still debated. A recent study suggests a four-stage depassivation mechanism, in general agreement with the point defect model. The proposed four-stage mechanism is based on reactive force field molecular dynamics simulations and is rather complex but here we use density functional theory to confirm the thermodynamic feasibility of the proposed mechanism. We find that the four surface species, formed in the four stages, have decreasing surface stability, which is consistent with the order of species formed in the depassivation process proposed in the reactive force field molecular dynamics study. The Fe vacancy formation energy, that is the energy needed to form a surface Fe vacancy by removing different surface species, indicates that surface species with more chlorides dissolve more easily from the surface, suggesting that chloride acts as catalyst in the iron dissolution process. The results are consistent with the suggested four-stage reaction mechanism and the point defect model.
Band alignment of β-(AlxGa1−x)2O3 alloys via atomic solid-state energy scale approach

We presented a simple estimation method for band alignment of semiconductor alloys based on the atomic solid-state energy (SSE) scale. Our method has the advantage that natural band alignment can be determined using the SSE and energy gap of materials. We investigated several examples of the valence band offset and conduction band offset for β-(AlxGa1−x)2O3 related heterostructures, and our results were in good agreement with previous experimental data. These results indicated that simple and practical prediction of the band offset and alignment of ionic bonded semiconductors can be attained.
Intersectional minority stress and identity conflict among sexual and gender minority people of color assigned female at birth.

Objective: Sexual and gender minority people of color (SGM-POC) experience intersectional forms of minority stress, including heterosexism within racial/ethnic minority communities, which can contribute to feelings of conflict between SGM and racial/ethnic identities. Internalized stigma may be a consequence of sexual orientation-based discrimination but has not been tested as a mechanism linking intersectional minority stress to identity conflict among SGM-POC. We hypothesized that the association between experiences of heterosexism in racial/ethnic minority communities and identity conflict would be mediated by internalized stigma among SGM assigned female at birth (SGM-AFAB). Method: Participants were 316 SGM-AFAB who identified as POC. Data were collected as a part of an ongoing longitudinal cohort study of young SGM-AFAB. We tested the longitudinal mediation using data from baseline, 6-month follow-up, and 1-year follow-up assessments. Results: Internalized stigma at 6-month follow-up partially mediated the association between experiences of heterosexism in racial/ethnic minority communities at baseline and identity conflict at 1-year follow-up. Conclusions: For SGM-POC, experiences of heterosexism within their racial/ethnic communities may lead to internalization of those negative attitudes. A consequence of internalizing heterosexist attitudes from one's racial/ethnic group could be a feeling that one's sexual orientation and racial/ethnic identities must remain separate, perhaps to maintain connection to one's racial/ethnic community. Identifying internalized stigma as a mediating process is critical to better understand identity development for SGM-POC, and has important clinical implications for working with this population. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).