cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rapid high pressure liquid chromatographic determination of amitriptyline hydrochloride in tablets and injectables: collaborative study

A previously reported high pressure liquid chromatographic method for the determination of amitriptyline hydrochloride in dosage forms was modified to permit its use as a stability-indicating method. The modified method, entailing a nitrile bonded microparticulate column, a methanol-0.005M ammonium acetate (90 + 10) mobile phase, and photometric detection at 239 nm, was collaboratively tested by 10 laboratories. Each collaborator received samples of synthetic and commercial tablets and injections. The recovery from a synthetic injection at the 10.06 mg/mL spiking level averaged 98.6%. The amount of declared found in commercial injections averaged 103.1%. The pooled reproducibility SD (CV%) and repeatability SD (CV%) were +/- 2.12 (2.15) and +/- 1.81 (1.84), respectively. The recovery from synthetic tablet composite at the 7.45% spiking level averaged 102.0%. The amount of declared found for commercial 25 mg and 100 mg tablets averaged 96.7 and 97.9%, respectively. The pooled reproducibility SD (CV%) and repeatability SD (CV%) for these 3 tablet samples were +/- 1.89 (1.86) and +/- 1.66 (1.64), respectively. Content uniformity analysis of commercial 25 mg and 100 mg tablets (n = 10) gave amounts of declared values averaging 100.5% (range 92.4-108.8%) and 99.3% (range 89.6-107.0%), respectively. The pooled reproducibility SD (CV%) and repeatability SD (CV%) were +/- 3.23 (3.2) and +/- 2.78 (2.8), respectively. A commercial injectable preparation spiked with dibenzosuberone was also collaboratively analyzed by a thin layer method. The method was adopted interim official first action.
Study of b-hadron to J/ψh+h− decays

Using data collected by the LHCb detector corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb−1, several types of b-hadron to J/ψh+h− decays are studied. Reported are the most recent results including amplitude analyses of B‾s0 and B‾0→J/ψπ+π− decays, precision measurement of lifetime ratio of Λb0 to B‾0 using Λb0→J/ψpK−, and first observation of a Cabibbo-suppressed decay Λb0→J/ψpπ−. Studies of f0(980) and f0(500) substructure are also discussed in π+π− final states.
In the pursuit of happiness all family leisure is not equal

ABSTRACTIn the context of family leisure, individuals are more likely to achieve happiness when recreating with their families in predictable activities and in familiar environments. This hypothesis was tested by comparing three models predicting individual happiness. The three models were grounded in distinct frameworks of family leisure incongruity: (a) the null model – all family leisure is equal; (b) activity incongruity model – familiar versus unfamiliar family activities; and (c) location incongruity model – indoor-home, outdoor-home, community, and beyond the community. Analyses used a sample of 1502 individuals in 751 families from the U.K. Models were assessed using multi-level modelling. Overall, results indicated that in the pursuit of happiness all family leisure is not equal. The best predictors of happiness in the context of family leisure were quality family leisure time spent in familiar activities inside the home. Implications for today’s families and future research are discussed.
Immunosuppressant drugs and bone disease: a clinician's perspective.

Abstract Immunosuppressant agents are used widely for a variety of diseases, and their usage will increase as organ transplantation becomes more frequent. One of the consequences of their administration is the occurrence of rapid bone loss with fractures. Generally, glucocorticoids (GC) are the main culprit, but calmodulin-calcineurin phosphatase inhibitors, e.g., cyclosporine and tacrolimus, seem to play a role as does the underlying disease, which necessitates treatment or organ transplantation. The mechanisms for the bone disease are multifactorial and actively being researched. The management at present is largely empirical and consists of calcium, vitamin D, and antiresorbers, especially bisphosphonates. In order to achieve an optimum treatment strategy, bone density measurements are essential to define the severity of the bone loss, help decide therapy and monitor progress of the patient.
Family Support and Elderly Well-being in China: Evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

Rapid demographic change, economic growth, and evolving social norms have put increasing pressure on the traditional system of filial piety and family-based eldercare in China. This paper examines the current role of intergenerational transfers in providing old-age support using nationally representative data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. The analysis explores varied modes of care that exist in rural and urban areas, as well as the role of internal migration in influencing methods of old-age support. The results paint a rich description of the contemporary dynamics between filial obligations and economic development.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Diabetes Screening Between Asian Americans and Other Adults: BRFSS 2012–2014

Background Although Asian Americans are at high risk for type 2 diabetes, it is not known whether they are appropriately screened for this disease.
Strong vibration nonlinearity in semiconductor-based nanomechanical systems

We study the effect of the electron-phonon coupling on vibrational eigenmodes of nano- and micromechanical systems made of semiconductors with equivalent energy valleys. We show that the coupling can lead to a strong mode nonlinearity. The mechanism is the lifting of the valley degeneracy by the strain. The redistribution of the electrons between the valleys is controlled by a large ratio of the electron-phonon coupling constant to the electron chemical potential or temperature. We find the quartic in the strain terms in the electron free energy, which determine the amplitude dependence of the mode frequencies. This dependence is calculated for silicon microsystems. It is significantly different for different modes and the crystal orientation, and can vary nonmonotonously with the electron density and temperature.
Horses and At-Risk Youth: An Equine Facilitated Learning Program Focusing on Authentic Leadership Skill Development

Interesting and innovative youth development programs are important to further youth education. Programs focused on developing leadership skills in youth, specifically at-risk youth, are important when thinking of the future of our communities. The primary purpose of the study was to determine the impact of an equine facilitated, authentic leadership program on at-risk youth. Youth participated in a three-day equine facilitated learning program based on authentic leadership with focus groups conducted three days before and three days after the program. In this article, we describe the development and methodology of the program and specific implications for practice.
Our Brand Is Revival: The Roundabout Theatre Company

A New York City not-for-profit theatre company since 1965, Roundabout began producing revivals of Broadway musicals in 1993 (She Loves Me). Its critically acclaimed revival of Cabaret in 1998 exceeded the original production’s run on Broadway and helped to establish a new standard for innovative revivals on Broadway.
In This Issue: Different Paths to Discovery

This issue of Annals shows different paths to discern relevant evidence for understanding and improving health and health care. Ways of discovery in this issue include: experimentation[1][1],[2][2] and systematic synthesis of experimental evidence[3][3]; simulations of process and outcomes of policy
Do Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERPs) Constrain Real Earnings Management

ABSTRACT The examination of the beneficial impact of enterprise resource planning systems (ERPs) on firm performance appears in extensive literature. Prior studies also examine how ERP implementations impact the timeliness of financial information. Few studies, however, address the question of whether the increase in managers' access to accounting data differentially influences managerial behavior. We investigate the association of ERP implementation with managers' flexibility to deviate from normal operating practices to present better financial results. Our findings suggest that after the implementation of an ERP, earnings management through real activities declines. These results particularly indicate that ERP implementations enhance the quality of financial reporting by constraining opportunistic managerial behavior.
Doing more with less: Removing trees in a prairie system improves value of grasslands for obligate bird species.

Grassland birds endemic to the Northern Great Plains have declined faster and more severely than any other avian guild on the continent. Remaining prairie fragments that sustain breeding populations are continually converted to a disturbed state, or degraded by fragmentation. Planted tree rows (shelterbelts) in prairie landscapes are a prominent feature and have been implicated in propagating negative edge effects on breeding birds, perhaps through harboring a diverse suite of nest predators. We experimentally removed shelterbelts on areas in the northern tallgrass prairie in North and South Dakota USA while conducting avian surveys to evaluate hypotheses about grassland bird response to the removal of a woodland edge. We predicted that 1) grassland-nesting species would avoid shelterbelt edges, 2) removing shelterbelts would eliminate avoidance, and 3) trends in bird counts would increase at sites with shelterbelts removed. Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus), Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis), and Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis) demonstrated avoidance from woodland edges up to 220 m, the farthest distance considered, though results for Grasshopper Sparrows (Ammodramus savannarum) were equivocal. There was no evidence of avoidance following removal of shelterbelts, and predicted counts increased at greater rates in treatment compared to control sites among species that exhibited avoidance. With limited financial resources for conservation, our findings support shelterbelt removal as one cost-effective management strategy to improve grassland bird habitat in the northern tallgrass prairie.
Variations in couples’ egalitarian attitudes: implications for therapists

AbstractWorking with couples can be a challenge for a therapist due to the importance of deciphering their expectations of roles within the relationship. Although current literature has focused on ...
Advance Directives, Hospitalization, and Survival Among Advanced Cancer Patients with Delirium Presenting to the Emergency Department: A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND To improve the management of advanced cancer patients with delirium in an emergency department (ED) setting, we compared outcomes between patients with delirium positively diagnosed by both the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) and Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS), or group A (n = 22); by the MDAS only, or group B (n = 22); and by neither CAM nor MDAS, or group C (n = 199). MATERIALS AND METHODS In an oncologic ED, we assessed 243 randomly selected advanced cancer patients for delirium using the CAM and the MDAS and for presence of advance directives. Outcomes extracted from patients' medical records included hospital and intensive care unit admission rate and overall survival (OS). RESULTS Hospitalization rates were 82%, 77%, and 49% for groups A, B, and C, respectively (p = .0013). Intensive care unit rates were 18%, 14%, and 2% for groups A, B, and C, respectively (p = .0004). Percentages with advance directives were 52%, 27%, and 43% for groups A, B, and C, respectively (p = .2247). Median OS was 1.23 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.46-3.55) for group A, 4.70 months (95% CI 0.89-7.85) for group B, and 10.45 months (95% CI 7.46-14.82) for group C. Overall survival did not differ significantly between groups A and B (p = .6392), but OS in group C exceeded those of the other groups (p < .0001 each). CONCLUSION Delirium assessed by either CAM or MDAS was associated with worse survival and more hospitalization in patients with advanced cancer in an oncologic ED. Many advanced cancer patients with delirium in ED lack advance directives. Delirium should be assessed regularly and should trigger discussion of goals of care and advance directives. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Delirium is a devastating condition among advanced cancer patients. Early diagnosis in the emergency department (ED) should improve management of this life-threatening condition. However, delirium is frequently missed by ED clinicians, and the outcome of patients with delirium is unknown. This study finds that delirium assessed by the Confusion Assessment Method or the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale is associated with poor survival and more hospitalization among advanced cancer patients visiting the ED of a major cancer center, many of whom lack advance directives. Therefore, delirium in ED patients with cancer should trigger discussion about advance directives.
k-Equivalence of Polytopes

In chapter 11 we have investigated some properties of complexes realizable by skeletons of polytopes. The present chapter complements this by discussing the known results on the uniqueness of such realizations.
Versatility of the suprapubic port in robotic assisted laparoscopic myomectomy

Objective To demonstrate the multiple advantages of the suprapubic port in robotic assisted laparoscopic myomectomy. Design Video demonstration of a robotic assisted laparoscopic myomectomy technique using a suprapubic incisional retractor (GelPOINT). Setting Hospital. Patient(s) A 32-year-old primigravid women with heavy menstrual bleeding and pelvic pain with a 12-cm leiomyoma (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics type 5). Intervention(s) Illustrate a surgical approach during robotic assisted laparoscopic myomectomy with the use of a 5-cm suprapubic incision, an incisional retractor (GelPOINT) for the enucleation, and extraction of a large leiomyoma. Main Outcome Measure(s) The effective enucleation and extraction of a leiomyoma specimen using an incisional retractor and GelPOINT. The steps of the technique and the role of GelPOINT are demonstrated. Result(s) The procedure was performed without incident, and the patient experienced pain relief and lighter menses postoperatively. This technique has been performed successfully since June 2014 on 22 women. Conclusion(s) During a robotic assisted laparoscopic myomectomy the suprapubic incision is both advantageous and practical. The small incision allows the surgery to remain minimally invasive; the primary umbilical trocar is inserted under direct visualization in an already insufflated abdomen; the location of the incision allows the surgical assistant easy access to the port; the passing of the needles occurs under direct visualization with minimal camera manipulation; and last, the extraction of large tissue can be performed within a specimen pouch through this same suprapubic incision in a short period.
Cracking her codes: understanding shared technology resources as positioning artifacts for power and status in CSCL environments

There is a positive relationship between student participation in computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) environments and improved complex problem-solving strategies, increased learning gains, higher engagement in the thinking of their peers, and an enthusiastic disposition toward groupwork. However, student participation varies from group to group, even in contexts where students and teachers have had extensive training in working together. In this study, we use positioning theory and interaction analysis to conceptualize and investigate relationships between student interactions across two partner pairs working with technology in an all-female cryptography summer camp and their negotiated positions of power and status. The analysis resulted in uneven participation patterns, unequal status orderings, and an imbalance of power in both comparison cases. We found a reflexive relationship between partner interactions around shared technology resources and negotiated positions of power and status, which leads us to conclude that interactions around technology function as an important indicator of negotiated positionings of power and status in CSCL settings, and vice-versa. With that said, we found qualitative differences in the ways emergent status problems impacted each team’s productivity with the cryptography challenge, which has important implications for future research on CSCL settings and classroom practice.
German Women's Life Writing and the Holocaust: Complicity and Gender in the Second World War

This important study examines women's life writing about the Second World War and the Holocaust, such as memoirs, diaries, docunovels, and autobiographically inspired fiction. Through a historical and literary study of the complex relationship between gender, genocide, and female agency, the analyzes correct androcentric views of the Second World War and seek to further our understanding of a group that, although crucial to the functioning of the National Socialist regime, has often been overlooked: that of the complicit bystander. Chapters on army auxiliaries, nurses, female refugees, rape victims, and Holocaust survivors analyze women's motivations for enlisting in the National Socialist cause, as well as for their continuing support for the regime and, in some cases, their growing estrangement from it. The readings allow insights into the nature of complicity itself, the emergence of violence in civil society, and the possibility of social justice.
Identifying Factors Related to Luxury Brands’ International Market Selection

Today, luxury brands are everywhere, and are dominantly distributed in global markets. With the increase of international operation of luxury brands, the luxury market has grown on average by 7% per year during the last four years (Burberry, 2010). While the internationalization of the luxury market is increasing, very limited information is known about how and why luxury brand companies choose an international market to enter. Among several factors, economy and cultural differences are important dimensions of international market entry. The purpose of this study is to identify factors related to luxury brands’ international market selection decision.
Predicting Engagement in Smoking Cessation Treatment Following a Brief Telephone Evaluation and Referral Session

Introduction: Smoking cessation treatment combining medication and counselling yields the best outcomes; however, few smokers employ both modalities.Aims: The purpose of this study was to examine variables predicting treatment attendance.Methods: This was a chart review of US military Veterans (N = 340; 89% male, 59% non-Hispanic white) referred for smoking cessation, who completed a telephone call to encourage treatment utilization. Treatment engagement was defined as attending a smoking cessation session within 30 days following telephone contact. A logistic regression analysis examined predictors (demographics, smoking variables, and psychiatric diagnoses) of treatment engagement.Results/Findings: Greater age (Odds Ratio [OR] = 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01–1.06), more cigarettes (OR = 1.03, 95% CI 1.00–1.06), and higher perceived importance of quitting (OR = 1.11, 95% CI 1.00–1.23) predicted engaging in treatment within 30 days (all p values < 0.05).Conclusion: Veterans who attended treatment were older, smoked more cigarettes, and perceived quitting as more important than those who did not attend. These findings are consistent with prior studies examining factors associated with treatment utilization. Results highlight the need to identify strategies for engaging into treatment smokers who are younger, smoke fewer cigarettes, and view quitting as less important.
Anterior chamber-associated immune deviation promotes corneal allograft survival

Purpose. To determine whether anterior chamber-associated immune deviation (ACAID) promotes corneal allograft survival. Methods. CB6F1 mice were grafted with orthotopic corneal transplants from C3H donors (mismatch at the entire major histocompatibility complex plus multiple minor histocompatibility loci) and from NZB donors (mismatch only at multiple minor histocompatibility loci). ACAID was induced by priming in the anterior chamber (AC) with either Ia - spleen cells, Ia + spleen cells, corneal endothelial cells, or corneal epithelial cells from corneal allograft donors before orthotopic transplantation. The role of ACAID in promoting corneal allograft survival was examined by determining the fate of corneal allografts in splenectomized and eusplenic mice. Results. Anterior chamber priming produced a modest enhancement of the survival of fully allogeneic C3H corneal allografts. By contrast, AC priming with Ia - NZB spleen cells or NZB corneal endothelial cells results in the permanent acceptance of NZB corneal grafts in 60% and 90% of the CB6FI hosts, respectively. Abolition of ACAID by splenectomy resulted in a sharp increase in the incidence of graft rejection in donor-host combinations involving multiple minor histocompatibility disparity. Conclusions. Anterior chamber priming with alloantigens promotes corneal allograft survival in nonimmune and preimmune hosts. Disruption of the camero-splenic axis prevents the induction of ACAID and greatly increases the risk for corneal allograft rejection.
Scientific Realism and the Pessimistic Meta-Modus Tollens

Broadly speaking, the contemporary scientific realist is concerned to justify belief in what we might call theoretical truth, which includes truth based on ampliative inference and truth about unobservables.1 Many, if not most, contemporary realists say scientific realism should be treated as ‘an overarching scientific hypothesis’ (Putnam 1978, p. 18). In its most basic form, the realist hypothesis states that theories enjoying general predictive success are true. This hypothesis becomes a hypothesis to be tested. To justify our belief in the realist hypothesis, realists commonly put forward an argument known as the ‘no-miracles argument’. With respect to the basic hypothesis this argument can be stated as follows: it would be a miracle were our theories as successful as they are, were they not true; the only possible explanation for the general predictive success of our scientific theories is that they are true.2
Electrical Measurements of Band Discontinuities at Heterostructure Interfaces

Experimental methods of measuring band discontinuities at heterostructure interfaces are discussed using the GaAs/AlxGa1-xAs system as an example. Electrical measurements of current-voltage and capacitance-voltage characteristics of single barrier systems are emphasized.
Direct Numerical Simulation of Turbulent Flows Laden with Droplets or Bubbles

This review focuses on direct numerical simulations (DNS) of turbulent flows laden with droplets or bubbles. DNS of these flows are more challenging than those of flows laden with solid particles due to the surface deformation in the former. The numerical methods discussed are classified by whether the initial diameter of the bubble/droplet is smaller or larger than the Kolmogorov length scale and whether the instantaneous surface deformation is fully resolved or obtained via a phenomenological model. Also discussed are numerical methods that account for the breakup of a single droplet or bubble, as well as multiple droplets or bubbles in canonical turbulent flows.
The War and Its Impact on Research: 1943–1945

Researchers at the atomic research facilities at Los Alamos and elsewhere needed access to scholarly information, and this was a problem because of the impact of the war and the severe security policies at these “atomic cities.” This chapter describes the work of Professor Langer at the Office of Strategic Services to launch a program to acquire secret German scientific research, the government’s seizure of German copyrighted scholarly publications and the republication program, the decision to consider killing Werner Heisenberg (who led the German atomic research during the war), the creation of a secret research library at Los Alamos, the development of plans for the atomic bomb, and the G.I Bill. President Truman’s decision to use the atomic bomb ended the war, and the Bretton Woods conference set the stage for the growth of scholarly publishing in the sciences and the social sciences.
A Google Chromium Browser Extension for Detecting XSS Attack in HTML5 Based Websites

The advent of HTML 5 revives the life of cross-site scripting attack (XSS) in the web. Cross Document Messaging, Local Storage, Attribute Abuse, Input Validation, Inline Multimedia and SVG emerge as likely targets for serious threats. Introduction of various new tags and attributes can be potentially manipulated to exploit the data on a dynamic website. The XSS attack manages to retain a spot in all the OWASP Top 10 security risks released over the past decade and placed in the seventh spot in OWASP Top 10 of 2017. It is known that XSS attempts to execute scripts with untrusted data without proper validation between websites. XSS executes scripts in the victim's browser which can hijack user sessions, deface websites, or redirect the user to the malicious site. This paper focuses on the development of a browser extension for the popular Google Chromium browser that keeps track of various attack vectors. These vectors primarily include tags and attributes of HTML 5 that may be used maliciously. The developed plugin alerts users whenever a possibility of XSS attack is discovered when a user accesses a particular website.
The Application of Systems Thinking to the Sustainable Design Process

It is essential to evolve the sustainable design process in response to extraordinary socio-environmental issues that are associated with the design of the built environment. Issues such as the loss of biodiversity, ecosystem services, urban resilience, the consumption of large amounts of energy and material resources, among others, derive at least in part from design. Sustainable designers intend to address these issues, but the existing design model overlooks essential topics. The conceptual boundaries that separate what’s explicitly considered from what’s ignored need to be redrawn and expanded to include topics that lie outside the prevailing design process and fundamentally address these issues mentioned above. Systems thinking is a suitable means to model design processes because of its ability to simultaneously view diverse elements and the dynamic relationships between them. This paper applies systems thinking to reveal the prevailing design model’s dynamics, externalities, feedback loops and leverage points. The leverage points unveil some opportunities for transformation, and a list of potential tools and skills are proposed. Among those explored are cross-scalar analysis between conceptual systems boundaries (individual/building/city-regional scales) and methods of including externalities (cross-disciplinary knowledge, thermal human comfort as design tool, and long term programming). Furthermore, these proposals are tested through student work and the methods, skills and tools are generalizable to other professors.
Intersectionality, Sikhism, and Black feminist legal theory: Reconceptualizing Sikh precarity and minoritization in the US and India

Intersectionality was developed by legal scholar Kimberle Williams Crenshaw in the late 1980s to broaden legal and epistemological frameworks for peoples at the intersection of multiple oppressions...
A microcomputer-controlled microcalorimeter calibration circuit. II

The heats (enthalpies) of hydrogenation of three simple mono-unsaturated hydrocarbons have been determined using a new microcomputer controlled electrical calibration system. Results agree with selected (“best”) literature values to within an arithmetic mean absolute deviation of 0.32 kJ·mol−1. We believe that the total uncertainty at the 95% confidence level for determination of the enthalpy of hydrogenation of these compounds is somewhat less than 1kJ·mol−1.
Retrograde dorsalis pedis angiosomal flow compromised by small puncture wound leading to transmetatarsal amputation

Abstract Pedal puncture wounds can precipitate a variety of complications, often resulting from a delay in treatment. Although the risk of infection predominates, direct vascular insult and subsequent ischemia is a lesser reported complication of these injuries. Consequently, this may have morbid results, especially on a background of pre-existing peripheral vascular disease. A case involving a small, plantar forefoot puncture wound, ultimately resulting in transmetatarsal amputation due to ischemic dry gangrene in an uncontrolled, but sensate, diabetic with profound vasculopathy is presented. This presentation highlights the importance of considering the potential for macrovascular damage via pedal puncture, and the potentially magnified complications in patients with dependent retrograde angiosomal flow and compromised collateral circulation. Based on a thorough analysis of the literature and the findings in this clinical example, a detailed investigation of angiosomal blood supply through direct and indirect vessel flow in patients with peripheral arterial disease incurring puncture wounds is advocated. In these patients, lack of compensatory avenues of the pedal circulation may portend significant tissue loss in an otherwise inoffensive situation. Knowledge of this complication, although rare, may prompt the clinician to assess for its potential, and emphasize a preference for direct revascularization in those with critical limb ischemia. Level of Clinical Evidence: 4
Triggering of cardiovascular hospital admissions by source specific fine particle concentrations in urban centers of New York State.

Abstract Background Previous work reported increased rates of acute cardiovascular hospitalizations associated with increased PM2.5 concentrations in the previous few days across urban centers in New York State from 2005 to 2016. These relative rates were higher after air quality policies and economic changes resulted in decreased PM2.5 concentrations and changes in PM composition (e.g. increased secondary organic carbon), compared to before and during these changes. Changes in PM composition and sources may explain this difference. Objectives To estimate the rate of acute cardiovascular hospitalizations associated with increases in source specific PM2.5 concentrations. Methods Using source apportioned PM2.5 concentrations at the same NYS urban sites, a time-stratified case-crossover design, and conditional logistic regression models adjusting for ambient temperature and relative humidity, we estimated the rate of these acute cardiovascular hospitalizations associated with increases in mean source specific PM2.5 concentrations in the previous 1, 4, and 7 days. Results Interquartile range (IQR) increases in spark-ignition emissions (GAS) concentrations were associated with increased excess rates of cardiac arrhythmia hospitalizations (2.3%; 95% CI = 0.4%, 4.2%; IQR = 2.56 μg/m3) and ischemic stroke hospitalizations (3.7%; 95% CI = 1.1%, 6.4%; 2. 73 μg/m3) over the next day. IQR increases in diesel (DIE) concentrations were associated with increased rates of congestive heart failure hospitalizations (0.7%; 95% CI = 0.2% 1.3%; 0.51 μg/m3) and ischemic heart disease hospitalizations (0.8%; 95% CI = 0.3%, 1.3%; 0.60 μg/m3) over the next day, as hypothesized. However, secondary sulfate PM2.5 (SS) was not. Increased acute cardiovascular hospitalization rates were also associated with IQR increases in concentrations of road dust (RD), residual oil (RO), and secondary nitrate (SN) over the previous 1, 4, and 7 days, but not other sources. Conclusions These findings suggest a role of several sources of PM2.5 in New York State (i.e. traffic emissions, non-traffic emissions such as brake and tire wear, residual oil, and nitrate that may also reflect traffic emissions) in the triggering of acute cardiovascular events.
Using Data to Improve Student Learning in Elementary School

This book helps you make sense of the data your school collects, including state student achievement results as well as other qualitative and quantitative data. Easy-to-use templates, tools, and examples are available on the accompanying downloadable resources.
Users’ Interpretation of Pictograms and Pictures for Conveying Instructions and Warnings on Pharmaceutical Labels

Pharmaceutical pictograms are figures that provide a visual representation of medication instructions and warnings. Pictograms were created in order to lower the continuously rising problem of poor medication adherence due to patients misunderstanding what is being instructed on medication labels. Research on pictograms show that their use could increase patients’ comprehension of medication instructions, but the comprehension rates are still low. Researchers have argued that in order to improve the effectiveness of pictograms, they must be more concrete, simple, meaningful, and familiar. Pictures have these properties. Thus, the goal of this study was to examine if the use of pictures (i.e., real images) provide a better representation of what is being instructed to users on medication labels than pictograms. We hypothesized that real images would lead to a better understanding of the instructions and warnings for taking medication, and in turn, users would have higher comprehension levels. Participants completed an online survey evaluating the meaning of either pictograms or pictures. Both quantitative and qualitative data analyses were conducted on free responses to the questions and on users’ ratings of the “goodness” of the stimuli. The results showed that participants were moderately accurate (74%) in their interpretation of pictograms, and the use of pictures did not improve their comprehension.
A born-digital field-to-database solution for collections-based research using collNotes and collBook.

Premise The digitization of natural history collections includes transcribing specimen label data into standardized formats. Born-digital specimen data initially gathered in digital formats do not need to be transcribed, enabling their efficient integration into digitized collections. Modernizing field collection methods for born-digital workflows requires the development of new tools and processes. Methods and results collNotes, a mobile application, was developed for Android and iOS to supplement traditional field journals. Designed for efficiency in the field, collNotes avoids redundant data entries and does not require cellular service. collBook, a companion desktop application, refines field notes into database-ready formats and produces specimen labels. Conclusions collNotes and collBook can be used in combination as a field-to-database solution for gathering born-digital voucher specimen data for plants and fungi. Both programs are open source and use common file types simplifying either program's integration into existing workflows.
Abnormal QTc Syndrome in HIV-Infected Patients: A Systematic review of Prevalence and Risk Factors:

BackgroundThe purpose of this review is to critically analyse data regarding the prevalence and risk factors for developing a prolonged QTc interval and subsequent sudden cardiac death (SCD) in per...
Occurrence of Thielaviopsis basicola and Phytopathogenic Nematodes on Healthy and Declining Landscape-Grown Ilex crenata ‘Helleri’

Examination of the soil and root systems of 34 landscape-grown Japanese holly, (17 rated as healthy/17 as declining) was undertaken to determine the role of Thielaviopsis basicola and phytopathogen...
Basic Properties and Examples of Minimal Discrete Energy

In this chapter, we begin our study of point configurations minimizing an energy defined in terms of pairwise interactions. We introduce the notions of minimal discrete energy along with some of their basic properties. We further provide several classical examples where optimal configurations can be determined implicitly or explicitly.
Preliminary study on HIV status disclosure to perinatal infected children: retrospective analysis of administrative records from a pediatric HIV clinic in the southern United States.

The World Health Organization recommends disclosing HIV-status between 6 and 12 years; American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children are informed at “school age.” Neither suggests an optimal age when children should learn of their status to improve viral load suppression. Considering that virally suppressed people do not transmit HIV and that interrupting the transmission cycle is critical to ending the HIV epidemic, our objective is to examine the relationship between age of disclosure and viral load suppression by evaluating data from a pediatric HIV clinic in the southern United States. Records from perinatal infected patients seen between 2008 and 2018 were analyzed (N = 61). Longitudinal suppression was low across all groups when benchmarked against the UNAIDS 90% global target; black patients were less likely to achieve suppression compared to white patients (41% vs. 75%, p = 0.04). Adopted children were more likely to achieve suppression than children living with biological family (71% vs. 44%, p < 0.05). Children who learned of their status between 10 and 12 had the highest rate of suppression (65%) compared to peers who learned of their status younger (56%) or older (38%). Our preliminary study is designed to spark research on refining the current recommendations on HIV-status disclosure to perinatal infected children.
Have we got the universe right

Nobel prizewinner Jim Peebles contributed more than most to our standard model of cosmology - but it´s unlikely to be the final answer, he says
The Art and Science of Voir Dire: Empirical Research, Anecdotal Lessons from the Masters, and Illustrations Supporting the Ten Commandments of Voir Dire

The least examined aspect of trial is voir dire. While numerous law review articles and textbooks have studied and analyzed opening statements, direct and cross examinations, and closing arguments, voir dire has been largely left under discussed. In part, that can be explained because, with few exceptions, voir dire is the product of local customs and idiosyncrasies which vary not just from state to state, or even county to county, but oftentimes from courtroom to courtroom within a particular courthouse. Another reason accounting for the relative paucity of voir dire research and examination is the free-wheeling nature of voir dire. As the only aspect of trial where advocates directly interact with persons from outside the system prospective jurors bring an element of uncertainty and randomness to voir dire that can defy efforts to suggest approaches let alone specific rules. Yet despite the somewhat chaotic and even messy nature of voir dire, there are truisms that can and will assist counsel. It is to those truisms that this article speaks. The ten commandments set forth herein instruct that counsel should (1) be personable, be professional; (2) personalize self and client; (3) eliminate barriers; (4) escalate gradually; (5) use open-ended questions; (6) initiate group discussions; (7) recognize that disclosure begets disclosure; (8) avoid blue-sky questions; (9) prick boils; and (10) end with a catch-all question.
Creating an Organizational Culture for the Chest Physician: Creating an Organizational Culture for the Chest Physician.

Organizational culture matters Culture is a key driver of organizational performance and underpins strategy. As previously discussed, if the strategy is the plants and the garden plan for a garden, the culture is the soil. Without a healthy culture, nothing will grow, irrespective of how well planned the garden or how beautiful the individual flowers. Using the case of establishing the culture in an institute at the Cleveland Clinic, the article examines an approach to establishing and maintaining an organizational culture. Anchors for this process are a situational assessment of the current culture as a new leader steps in and mindfulness by the leader of how members of the institute should experience the organization. Critical success factors include open communication and establishing psychological safety as well as modeling integrity. Fundamentally, when cultures are grounded in the seven classical virtues—trust, compassion, courage, justice, wisdom, temperance, and hope—they are best positioned to unleash the discretionary effort of its members. When people expend discretionary effort, they do the right thing when nobody is watching and the performance drivers are internal motivation and alignment with mission rather than external drivers to seek reward (carrots) or to avoid punishment (sticks).
Cone asymptotes of convex sets

Based on the notion of plane asymptote, we introduce the new concept of cone asymptote of a set in the n-dimensional Euclidean space. We discuss the existence and describe some families of cone asymptotes.
Breastfeeding in Context: African American Women’s Normative Referents, Salient Identities, and Perceived Social Norms:

The purpose of this study was to describe social norms and salient social identities related to breastfeeding intentions among African American mothers in Washington, D.C. Five focus groups were he...
A bioinspired, passive microfluidic lobe filtration system

Size-based microfluidic filtration systems can be affected by clogging, which prevents their use in high-throughput and continuous applications. To address these concerns, we have developed two microfluidic lobe filters bioinspired by the filtration mechanism of two species of manta ray. These chips enable filtration of particles around 10-30 μm with precise control and high throughput by using two arrays of equally spaced filter lobes. For each filter design, we investigated multiple inlet flow rates and particle sizes to identify successful operational parameters. Filtration efficiency increases with fluid flow rate, suggesting that particle inertial effects play a key role in lobe filter separation. Microparticle filtration efficiencies up to 99% were obtainable with inlet flow rates of 20 mL min-1. Each filter design successfully increased microparticle concentrations by a factor of two or greater at different inlet flow rates ranging from 6-16 mL min-1. At higher inlet flow rates, ANSYS Fluent simulations of each device revealed a complex velocity profile that contains three local maxima and two inflection points. Ultimately, we show that distances from the lobe array to the closest local maxima and inflection point of the velocity profile can be used to successfully estimate lobe filtration efficiency at each operational flow rate.
Robotic Endoscopic Mitral Valve Repair: Trans-thoracic Clamp Technique

Herein, we describe our approach to robotic mitral valve repair. We now use the trans-thoracic cross clamp to arrest the heart. Using robotic techniques, we have used both traditional and modified repair methods with excellent outcomes. We describe the entire operative process including patient positioning, anesthesia, robotic arm trocar placement, cardiopulmonary perfusion, aortic occlusion, cardioplegia, and execution of the robotic mitral valve repair. Operative tips and pitfalls are included as well as details of our repair results.
Synthesis of Certain Specific Electroactive Polymers

Among the many synthetic challenges in electroactive polymers we consider here those which we believe are the most important: (a) to prepare polymers which have a very small semiconductor bandgap and (b) to prepare polymers which are soluble and hence fabricable. In this presentation we describe our efforts as well as those of others to achieve these goals.
Escherichia coli mutant trpA34 has an Asp----Asn change at active site residue 60 of the tryptophan synthetase alpha chain.

Asp-60 is believed to be a catalytically essential residue of the tryptophan synthetase alpha chain of Escherichia coli (Nagata, S., Hyde, C.C., and Miles, E.W. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 6288-6296). Surprisingly, mutations altering Asp-60 were not observed in the many trpA missense mutants characterized in the 1960s. However, there was one genetic class of trpA missense mutants, represented by trpA34, for which protein structure analyses failed to detect an amino acid substitution. DNA sequence analyses have now shown that the trpA34 mutation was in codon 60 and that it resulted in replacement of Asp-60 by Asn. This finding provides additional support for the conclusion that the tryptophan synthetase alpha chain contains only a small number of absolutely essential residues.
Software Libraries and Their Reuse: Entropy, Kolmogorov Complexity, and Zipf's Law

We analyze software reuse from the perspective of information theory and Kolmogorov complexity, assessing our ability to ``compress'' programs by expressing them in terms of software components reused from libraries. A common theme in the software reuse literature is that if we can only get the right environment in place-- the right tools, the right generalizations, economic incentives, a ``culture of reuse'' -- then reuse of software will soar, with consequent improvements in productivity and software quality. The analysis developed in this paper paints a different picture: the extent to which software reuse can occur is an intrinsic property of a problem domain, and better tools and culture can have only marginal impact on reuse rates if the domain is inherently resistant to reuse. We define an entropy parameter $H \in [0,1]$ of problem domains that measures program diversity, and deduce from this upper bounds on code reuse and the scale of components with which we may work. For ``low entropy'' domains with $H$ near 0, programs are highly similar to one another and the domain is amenable to the Component-Based Software Engineering (CBSE) dream of programming by composing large-scale components. For problem domains with $H$ near 1, programs require substantial quantities of new code, with only a modest proportion of an application comprised of reused, small-scale components. Preliminary empirical results from Unix platforms support some of the predictions of our model.
Registration of microscopic iris image sequences using probabilistic mesh

This paper explores the use of deformable mesh for registration of microscopic iris image sequences. The registration, as an effort for stabilizing and rectifying images corrupted by motion artifacts, is a crucial step toward leukocyte tracking and motion characterization for the study of immune systems. The image sequences are characterized by locally nonlinear deformations, where an accurate analytical expression can not be derived through modeling of image formation. We generalize the existing deformable mesh and formulate it in a probabilistic framework, which allows us to conveniently introduce local image similarity measures, to model image dynamics and to maintain a well-defined mesh structure and smooth deformation through appropriate regularization. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and accuracy of the algorithm.
Surface Composition and Cooling Histories of Neutron Stars

One of the major questions which has been raised with the rotating neutron star model of pulsars, is whether cosmic rays can be produced by the pulsar phenomenon through the acceleration of the surface material of neutron stars. It is therefore very instructive to review the calculations which have been made on the surface structure and cooling histories of neutron stars.