cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cognitive Engineering and Information Displays

While the intention behind the use of information displays may be the inducement of different forms of perception, high-level cognitive processes are always engaged when viewing information displays. Cognitive Engineering, which involves the meaning of display content, should be considered when designing display systems. In this chapter, we present an overview of human reasoning and decision making, which we believe is most relevant to the future of information display design including wearable displays. In this perspective, we discuss how displays may be categorized to interface either with the analytical reasoning system via content involving symbology or with the intuitive reasoning system that may require some level of immersion and more advanced levels of display hardware to achieve cognitive engineering.
Comparison of primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with ST‐elevation myocardial infarction during and prior to availability of an in‐house STEMI system: Early experience and intermediate outcomes of the HARRT program for achieving routine D2B times <60 minutes

Background Over the last decade, significant advances in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) workflow have resulted in most hospitals reporting door-to-balloon (D2B) times within the 90 min standard. Few programs have been enacted to systematically attempt to achieve routine D2B within 60 min. We sought to determine whether 24-hr in-house catheterization laboratory coverage via an In-House Interventional Team Program (IHIT) could achieve D2B times below 60 min for STEMI and to compare the results to the standard primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) approach. Methods An IHIT program was established consisting of an attending interventional cardiologist, and a catheterization laboratory team present in-hospital 24 hr/day. For all consecutive STEMI patients, we compared the standard primary PCI approach during the two years prior to the program (group A) to the initial 20 months of the IHIT program (group B), and repeated this analysis for only CMS-reportable patients. The D2B process was analyzed by calculating workflow intervals. The primary endpoint was D2B process times, and secondary endpoints included in-hospital and 6-month cardiovascular outcomes and resource utilization. Results An IHIT program for STEMI resulted in significant reductions across all treatment intervals with an overall 57% reduction in D2B time, and an absolute reduction in mean D2B time of 71 min. There were no differences pre- and post-program implementation in regard to individual or composite components of in-hospital cardiovascular outcomes; however at 6 months, there was a reduction in cardiovascular rehospitalization after program implementation (30 vs. 5%, P < 0.01). The IHIT program resulted in a significant reduction in length-of-stay (LOS) (90 ± 102 vs. 197 ± 303 hr, P = 0.02), and critical care time (54 ± 97 vs. 149 ± 299 hr, P = 0.02). Conclusions Availability of an in-house 24-hr STEMI team significantly decreased reperfusion time and led to improved clinical outcomes and a shorter LOS for PCI-treated STEMI patients. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Evaluating credit risk and loan performance in online Peer-to-Peer (P2P) lending

Online Peer-to-Peer (P2P) lending has emerged recently. This micro loan market could offer certain benefits to both borrowers and lenders. Using data from the Lending Club, which is one of the popular online P2P lending houses, this article explores the P2P loan characteristics, evaluates their credit risk and measures loan performances. We find that credit grade, debt-to-income ratio, FICO score and revolving line utilization play an important role in loan defaults. Loans with lower credit grade and longer duration are associated with high mortality rate. The result is consistent with the Cox Proportional Hazard test which suggests that the hazard rate or the likelihood of the loan default increases with the credit risk of the borrowers. Finally, we find that higher interest rates charged on the high-risk borrowers are not enough to compensate for higher probability of the loan default. The Lending Club must find ways to attract high FICO score and high-income borrowers in order to sustain their businesses.
Screening family members at high risk for coronary disease. Why isn't it done?

Abstract Background: The National Cholesterol Education Program strongly recommends screening family members of patients with early cardiovascular disease (CVD) for coronary risk factors, but the physician and patient compliance with this recommendation has not been extensively studied. The American College of Cardiology Evaluation of Preventive Therapeutics (ACCEPT) study, a national survey conducted in 1996–1997, determined if physicians were screening first-degree relatives of patients with early CVD. Setting/Participants: The ACCEPT study included 5553 patients with either their first bypass surgery, first angioplasty, an acute myocardial infarction, or myocardia ischemia, admitted to 53 hospitals throughout the United States. Main Outcome Measure: Self-reported screening of first-degree relatives obtained by interview follow-up 6 months after event. Results: Less than 1% of inpatient medical records contained a discharge plan by the physician recommending screening family members of patients younger than age 55. Only 17.8% of these patients had their family screened within 6 months of their cardiovascular event, while only 19.6% with a recognized family history of premature coronary artery disease had their family screened. The only factors that were significant (p Conclusions: U.S. physicians do not appear to follow national recommendations for the screening of family members of their high-risk patients. These data also suggest that physicians are not ready to use and exploit known genetic factors in treating CVD even as the human genome data become available for clinical use.
The GnRH Gene

There are multiple GnRHs in the brains of many organisms (see Chapter 6). The GnRH-1 gene encoding the decapeptide synthesized in the preoptic area and hypothalamus, and responsible for hypophysiotropic function, is the focus of the current chapter. The proGnRH-1 gene has been cloned in a number of species including rats, mice, humans, teleost fish, amphibians, and birds (Adelman et al., 1986; Hayflick et al., 1989; Mason et al., 1986; Seeburg and Adelman, 1984; reviewed in Fernald and White, 1999; Lin et al., 1998; Wierman et al., 1995). The non-hypophysiotropic GnRHs (GnRH-2, found primarily in midbrain, and GnRH-3, in olfactory and terminal nerve regions) derive from different genes than GnRH-1, although the amino acid sequences of these three GnRH molecules are highly homologous.
Tumors and Tumor-Like Lesions of the Soft-Tissues

Most soft-tissue tumors are benign, of which the majority are lipomas. Malignant sarcomas account for about 1% of all malignant tumors. Most sarcomas arise in the deep soft-tissues of the extremities, the incidence increasing with age. With current treatment, about one third of patients die of their disease, largely because of lung metastases. Currently, most authors recognize the categories of benign, locally aggressive, rarely metastasizing and frankly malignant tumors.
Visualization for enhancing the data mining process

Visualization has proved to be a suitable paradigm for the analysis and exploration of datasets. In the data mining cycle, visualization has been mainly focused on data visualization and output generation. However, besides datasets, many other entities need to be explored and understood by users and analysts. In this paper, we describe the role of visualization in the data mining process, and we present a model to support the interaction between users and data mining entities. We discuss visualizations of datasets, parameter spaces of data mining algorithms, models induced from datasets, and patterns generated by the application of data mining algorithms to datasets. We have developed a Java-based testbed, that implements the extended data mining model with visual support to interact with datasets, models, parameter spaces, and patterns. Experimental results based on several public datasets, data mining algorithms, multidimensional visualization techniques, and other novel visualizations, show clearly the benefits of the integration of visualization in the data mining process.
Analysis of the temperature gradient effect on the free-edge interlaminar stresses in layered structures

For a multilayered anisotropic laminate subjected to non-uniform temperature loads, the intense and localized interlaminar stresses in the vicinity of a free edge may be significantly affected by the temperature gradient in the thickness direction. An efficient and reliable analysis method is presented, based on polynomial expansions of the Lekhnitskii stresses functions in the various layers and the principle of complementary energy. The variational method yields closed-form solutions of the interlaminar stresses in terms of eigenfunctions. Two types of non-uniform temperature fields, one depending only on the thickness coordinate and the other varying linearly in the normal direction of the free edge, are considered. A suitable combination of the respective solutions yields the local approximations of the free-edge interlaminar stresses in laminates under general non-uniform temperature loads. A temperature gradient normal to the free edge has a relatively small effect upon the interlaminar stresses.
Health benefits and costs of filtration interventions that reduce indoor exposure to PM2.5 during wildfires

Increases in hospital admissions and deaths are associated with increases in outdoor air particles during wildfires. This analysis estimates the health benefits expected if interventions had improved particle filtration in homes in Southern California during a 10-day period of wildfire smoke exposure. Economic benefits and intervention costs are also estimated. The six interventions implemented in all affected houses are projected to prevent 11% to 63% of the hospital admissions and 7% to 39% of the deaths attributable to wildfire particles. The fraction of the population with an admission attributable to wildfire smoke is small, thus, the costs of interventions in all homes far exceeds the economic benefits of reduced hospital admissions. However, the estimated economic value of the prevented deaths exceed or far exceed intervention costs for interventions that do not use portable air cleaners. For the interventions with portable air cleaner use, mortality-related economic benefits exceed intervention costs as long as the cost of the air cleaners, which have a multi-year life, are not attributed to the short wildfire period. Cost effectiveness is improved by intervening only in the homes of the elderly who experience most of the health effects of particles from wildfires.
A SLIDING MODE CONTROLLER AND OBSERVER FOR SATELLITE ATTITUDE CONTROL

A de-coupled sliding mode controller and observer is derived for spacecraft attitude tracking maneuvers and regulation in terms of quaternions. The controller sliding manifold guarantees globally stable asymptotic convergence to the desired time dependent quaternion profile and the quaternion tracking error responds as a linear homogeneous vector differential equation with constant coefficients and desired eigenvalues placement. The full order sliding mode observer is used to avoid quaternion error differentiation noise and to eliminate the need for angular velocity measurement.
The Effect of Coracoclavicular Fixation on the Stability of Type IIB Distal Clavicle Fractures Fixed with a Superior Locking Plate and Screws

DATA Purpose: Surgical treatment of distal clavicle fractures is controversial. The role of coracoclavicular (CC) fixation on biomechanical stability in fractures fixed with plate and screws is not known. Our hypothesis is that coracoclavicular fixation will add stability to type IIB distal clavicle fractures treated with a superior locking plate and screws by neutral- izing supero-inferior translational forces in the coronal plane. Materials and Methods: Twelve fresh frozen cadaveric specimens were used to create type IIB distal clavicle fractures in consistent manner. Matched pairs and DEXA scans were used to ensure similar bone quality. Group I (6 specimens) consisted of specimens stabilized with a supe- rior precontoured distal clavicle locking plate, screws and supplemental coracoclavicular fixation using a suture anchor device. Group II (6 matched contralateral speci- mens) was the same construct without coracoclavicular fixation. Each specimen was cyclically loaded in the coronal plane at 40 to 80 N for 17,500 cycles (equivalent to cyclic loading on the protected shoulder in ambulating patient for 1 week). Load to failure testing up to 1000N was then performed on the specimens that did not fail cyclical loading. Outcome measures included the mode of failure and either the number of cycles or maximum load required to create 10 mm of displacement in the construct.
Evolutionary Genetics and Zoogeography of Middle American Pocket Gophers, Genus Orthogeomys

Average levels of protein heterozygosity ( H = 0.015) and polymorphism ( P = 0.048) in 13 populations of Middle American pocket gophers ( Orthogeomys , subgenus Macrogeomys ) are unusually low by mammalian standards. This low genetic variability is attributed to subdivision of populations into small, isolated demes. Locus-by-locus and parsimony analyses of the protein data generally support retention of the currently recognized species of Macrogeomys . Phylogenetic analysis reveals that gross morphological similarities among highland pocket gophers (large body size and long pelage) and among lowland species (small body size and short pelage) are the result of evolutionary convergence. Most speciation in Macrogeomys appears to have occurred during the past 4.5 × 106 years, presumably influenced by Quaternary sea-level fluctuations that resulted in repeated fragmentations of geographic ranges of the species.
Finite Element Model of High Strength Reduced Modulus High Performance Concrete

High Performance Concrete (HPC) with early strength development is the material of choice in the fabrication of prestressed concrete railroad ties. The higher strength of HPC results in significantly higher values of the Elastic Modulus and increases the brittleness and the rigidity of the material, leading to premature cracking and the deterioration of the railroad ties. A High-Strength Reduced-Modulus High Performance Concrete (HSRM-HPC) material has been developed by the authors and used in the fabrication of prototype concrete ties. Detailed models based on the Finite Element Method of the HSRM-HPC have been developed to simulate the ASTM-C469 tests for elastic modulus. The HSRM-HPC constituent materials, i.e. aggregates and cement mortar, have been explicitly modeled and assigned properties determined experimentally. Aggregates size and distribution is modeled using a combination of probabilistic distributions consistent with the results of an experimental sieve analysis. Details of the development of each model are discussed. The models are verified with experimental data. Assessment studies have been performed in order to optimize the models with respect to efficiency, the quality of the results and computational times.Copyright © 2016 by ASME
Repeated Measures Analysis Using Mixed Models: Some Simulation Results

Currently available software (e.g., the MIXED procedure in SAS) makes it easy to analyze repeated measures data having such “nonstandard” features as incomplete observations and structured covariance matrices. Unfortunately, in small samples, the hypothesis tests based on the asymptotically valid Wald chi-square statistics and related F statistics can be grossly inaccurate. Previously reported simulations showed that accurate results could be obtained from adjusted F statistics using both univariate (Greenhouse-Geisser and Huynh-Feldt) and multivariate (Lawley-Hotelling trace) approaches to adjustment. Both approaches worked well when using the potentially time-consuming REML estimates of covariances, but not with the faster, non-iterative MIVQUEO estimates. The present paper reports encouraging results from new simulations comparing REML with alternative non-iterative SSCP estimates based on sums-of-squares-and-cross-products of residuals — in effect, using 2-stage least squares.
Spin-Orbit Effects in Disordered Systems

When Dirac equation is expanded to second order in v/c, one finds various relativistic corrections to the Hamiltonian. One of these terms, Vso, is of the form $$ {V_{so}} = \frac{\hbar }{{2{m^2}{c^2}}}\sigma\cdot \left( {\nabla V \times \left( {p - eA/c} \right)} \right) $$ (1) where ℏσ is the electrons’s spin, p its momentum, V is the scalar potential and A the vector potential. The contribution of eA/c to the momentum can be neglected for most values of magnetic fields. For a spherically symmetric potential, V so takes the form $$ {V_{so}} = \frac{\hbar }{{2{m^2}{c^2}}}\frac{1}{r}\frac{{\partial V}}{{\partial r}}\sigma\cdot L $$ (2) where L = r × p is the angular momentum operator. Thus, this term is coined spin-orbit interaction.
The Politics of Corruption in Dictatorships: Jordan: Institutional Change and Corruption

We analyze the Jordan case from approximately the mid-1970s to around 2009 in this chapter. Jordan offers us “the experimental treatment” of introducing direct, multiparty legislative elections in an autocracy where a national private SME business association (formed by geographically concentrated private SMEs) exists. If our theoretical prediction presented is valid, we should expect to see corruption declining in Jordan after the introduction of multiparty legislative elections in 1989 in which de facto opposition parties were allowed to participate. We should also expect to observe (as per our theoretical story) that de facto legislative opposition parties and the national SME association formed an anti-corruption alliance after 1989 to jointly exert pressure on the ruling elite to curb corruption. This joint pressure compels the ruling elite to implement anti-corruption measures that reduce corruption. We employ a variety of techniques and sources including analysis of original survey data, open-ended interviews, existing studies, and time-series data on corruption to evaluate the empirical validity of our causal claims in the Jordan case. We begin our analysis with a brief overview of Jordan's economy and the political history of the country's multiparty legislature. The rest of the chapter is organized into four sections. The first section discusses the main features of domestic private SMEs in Jordan, the geographic concentration of these firms, the views that SME owners hold regarding corruption, and the tactics that they favor to address their corruption problems. This section shows that Jordanian SME owners view corruption as a serious obstacle to their business and have rebuilt the Amman Chamber of Commerce into a national SME business organization. They have also used this business chamber as a platform to raise their voice against corruption. The second section examines the response of Jordan's rulers to the SME-led Amman Chamber of Commerce's corruption concerns across two time periods – the pre-1989 era when an elected multiparty legislature did not exist and the post-1989 period during which an elected multiparty legislature (that included de facto opposition parties) was established. We show that Jordan's ruling elite was not responsive to the SMEs’ grievances about corruption in the absence of a multiparty legislature before 1989. But after a multiparty legislature was established in 1989, Jordan's rulers adopted measures to combat corruption in response to the joint anti-corruption pressure exerted by the Amman Chamber of Commerce and legislative opposition parties.
What Is Hate

In this chapter, I tried to explain the hate in light of the available psychology literature. I tried to define general human feeling of hate with examples in two important components: “threatened egotism” and “perceived injustice”. I focused on threatened egotism and perceive injustice as the major root-causes of feeling of hate and anger. I used Sternberg’s hate classification in order to define the various dimensions of hate. I have discussed various forms of hate from low level to high level (or alternatively severe hate) in terms of Sternberg’s Triangular hate model. After reading this chapter, readers should have a basic understanding of the concept of hate and its dimensions.
High-throughput electrical characterization for robust overlay lithography control

Realizing sensitive, high throughput and robust overlay measurement is a challenge in current 14nm and advanced upcoming nodes with transition to 300mm and upcoming 450mm semiconductor manufacturing, where slight deviation in overlay has significant impact on reliability and yield1). Exponentially increasing number of critical masks in multi-patterning lithoetch, litho-etch (LELE) and subsequent LELELE semiconductor processes require even tighter overlay specification2). Here, we discuss limitations of current image- and diffraction- based overlay measurement techniques to meet these stringent processing requirements due to sensitivity, throughput and low contrast3). We demonstrate a new electrical measurement based technique where resistance is measured for a macro with intentional misalignment between two layers. Overlay is quantified by a parabolic fitting model to resistance where minima and inflection points are extracted to characterize overlay control and process window, respectively. Analyses using transmission electron microscopy show good correlation between actual overlay performance and overlay obtained from fitting. Additionally, excellent correlation of overlay from electrical measurements to existing image- and diffraction- based techniques is found. We also discuss challenges of integrating electrical measurement based approach in semiconductor manufacturing from Back End of Line (BEOL) perspective. Our findings open up a new pathway for accessing simultaneous overlay as well as process window and margins from a robust, high throughput and electrical measurement approach.
Memory Safety for Embedded Devices with nesCheck

Applications for TinyOS, a popular operating system for embedded systems and wireless sensor networks, are written in nesC, a C dialect prone to the same type and memory safety vulnerabilities as C. While availability and integrity are critical requirements, the distributed and concurrent nature of such applications, combined with the intrinsic unsafety of the language, makes those security goals hard to achieve. Traditional memory safety techniques cannot be applied, due to the strict platform constraints and hardware differences of embedded systems. We design nesCheck, an approach that combines static analysis and dynamic checking to automatically enforce memory safety on nesC programs without requiring source modifications. nesCheck analyzes the source code, identifies the minimal conservative set of vulnerable pointers, finds static memory bugs, and instruments the code with the required dynamic runtime checks. Our prototype extends the existing TinyOS compiler toolchain with LLVM-based passes. Our evaluation shows that nesCheck effectively and efficiently enforces memory protection, catching all memory errors with an overhead of 0.84% on energy, 5.3% on code size, up to 8.4% on performance, and 16.7% on RAM.
Transgender Health in Endocrinology: Current Status of Endocrinology Fellowship Programs and Practicing Clinicians.

Context The transgender population continues to face challenges in accessing appropriate health care. Adequate training of endocrinologists in this area is a priority. Objectives Assess the status of transgender health care education in US endocrinology fellowship training programs and assess knowledge and practice of transgender health among practicing US endocrinologists. Design Mayo Clinic and the Endocrine Society developed and administered a Web-based anonymous survey to 104 endocrinology fellowship program directors (PDs; members of the Association of Program Directors in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism) and 6992 US medical doctor members of Endocrine Society. Results There were 54 total responses from 104 PDs (51.9%). Thirty-five of these 54 programs (72.2%) provide teaching on transgender health topics; however, 93.8% respondents indicated that fellowship training in this area is important. Barriers to provision of education included lack of faculty interest or experience. The most desired strategies to increase transgender-specific content included online training modules for trainees and faculty. Of 411 practicing clinician responders, almost 80% have treated a transgender patient, but 80.6% have never received training on care of transgender patients. Clinicians were very or somewhat confident in terms of definitions (77.1%), taking a history (63.3%), and prescribing hormones (64.8%); however, low confidence was reported outside of the hormonal realm. The most requested methods of education included online training modules and presentation of transgender topics at meetings. Conclusions Confidence and competence in transgender health needs to increase among endocrinologists. Strategies include the development of online training modules, expansion of formal transgender curricula in fellowship programs, and presentations at national and international meetings.
Coprime factor perturbation models for closed-loop model validation techniques

Abstract This paper addresses the problem of checking the consistency of experimental closed-loop frequency-domain data with uncertainty models that are structured using coprime factorizations. The uncertainty models presented in this paper use the knowledge of a stabilizing feedback controller to structure and formulate the uncertainty on a model. Subsequently, the controller dependent coprime factor uncertainty model can be used to formulate model (in)validation tests on the basis of closed-loop data. Closed-loop model validation results are developed for the cases of noise-free and noise perturbed closed-loop data. The model validation tests involve the computation of a structured singular value over a finite frequency grid. It is also shown that the computation of the structured singular value simplifies considerably when the feedback controller used for the closed-loop experiments is the same as the controller used for formulating the controller dependent coprime factor uncertainty model.
2 s − 2 p transitions in heliumlike ions

Precision wavelength measurements are presented for the $1s2s^{3}S_{1}\ensuremath{-}1s2p^{3}P_{0,2}$ transitions of silicon, sulfur, and chlorine. Calculations have been made for these transitions using a double expansion in ${Z}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ and ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}^{2}{Z}^{2}$. These calculations include the nonrelativistic energy, one-electron Dirac energy, plus relativistic corrections and the Breit interaction calculated in first-order perturbation theory in both high-$Z$ and low-$Z$ approximations. After considering the one-electron Lamb-shift corrections to high order, comparison with our measurements and with other experiments for $Z=4\ensuremath{-}26$ reveals a discrepancy which is approximately $0.015{Z}^{3}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. We show that this can arise from two-electron quantum electrodynamic corrections to the one-electron Lamb shift and we derive an ab initio estimate of this correction in good agreement with the observations.
A content analysis of dissemination and implementation science resource initiatives: what types of resources do they offer to advance the field?

The recent growth in organized efforts to advance dissemination and implementation (D & I) science suggests a rapidly expanding community focused on the adoption and sustainment of evidence-based practices (EBPs). Although promising for the D & I of EBPs, the proliferation of initiatives is difficult for any one individual to navigate and summarize. Such proliferation may also result in redundant efforts or missed opportunities for participation and advancement. A review of existing D & I science resource initiatives and their unique merits would be a significant step for the field. The present study aimed to describe the global landscape of these organized efforts to advance D & I science. We conducted a content analysis between October 2015 and March 2016 to examine resources and characteristics of D & I science resource initiatives using public, web-based information. Included resource initiatives must have engaged in multiple efforts to advance D & I science beyond conferences, offered D & I science resources, and provided content in English. The sampling method included an Internet search using D & I terms and inquiry among internationally representative D & I science experts. Using a coding scheme based on a priori and grounded approaches, two authors consensus coded website information including interactive and non-interactive resources and information regarding accessibility (membership, cost, competitive application, and location). The vast majority (83%) of resource initiatives offered at least one of seven interactive resources (consultation/technical assistance, mentorship, workshops, workgroups, networking, conferences, and social media) and one of six non-interactive resources (resource library, news and updates from the field, archived talks or slides, links pages, grant writing resources, and funding opportunities). Non-interactive resources were most common, with some appearing frequently across resource initiatives (e.g., news and updates from the field). Findings generated by this study offer insight into what types of D & I science resources exist and what new resources may have the greatest potential to make a unique and needed contribution to the field. Additional interactive resources may benefit the field, particularly mentorship opportunities and resources that can be accessed virtually. Moving forward, it may be useful to consider strategic attention to the core tenets of D & I science put forth by Glasgow and colleagues to most efficiently and effectively advance the field.
ROS Navigation Stack for Smart Indoor Agents

Advances in compute power, sensor technology, and machine learning have facilitated a plethora of assistive and personal agents. These agents are poised to make our life more efficient, safer, feature rich, and more enjoyable. With so much activity in this area, there has been a lot of progress developing algorithms for localization, path planning, path guiding, and obstacle avoidance. Similarly, numerous frameworks for human computer interaction, obstacle recognition, object tracking, and advanced reasoning have been introduced. This research introduces a navigation stack written in Python using the Robot Operating System for modular indoor agent development. The localization system makes use of deep learning and particle filters and is easily trained to localize in new environments. The obstacle avoidance system can be changed to reflect the agents size, required safety margin, sensor properties and behavior. Different path planning algorithms can be substituted and used in the path guiding system. The created navigation stack was tested on an assistive technology wheelchair, exhibiting state of the art localization, collision avoidance, and navigation in complex scenarios.
THE STATUS OF BACTERIOLOGICAL STANDARDS FOR FROZEN FOODS

The growth in production and distribution of frozen precooked foods has focused the attention of the Food and Drug Administration and the Association of Food and Drug Officials of the United States upon these products. Concern about the microbiological content as related to production sanitation and proper handling during distribution to maintain product safety and quality has led to the development of the AFDOUS Frozen Food Code. Establishment of bacteriological standards for frozen pot pies and dinners has been hampered by the lack of (a) sufficient data, (b) uniform methods, and (c) agreement upon criteria for such standards. Development of standards is complicated by variation in the nature of the products and processing techniques. When interpreted on the basis of factory inspection observations, bacteriological findings can be used to effect correction of insanitary conditions and practices.
Combating Racial Inequity Through Local Historical Analysis: A Community-Informed Social Studies Unit

One way for teachers to use engaging and relevant social studies curriculum is by delving into local history to help students understand the influence that community activists have had on national ...
Characteristics among adult patients with diabetes who received a foot exam by a health care provider in the past year: An analysis of NHANES 2011-2016.

Abstract Introduction According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), patients with diabetes should receive annual foot exams from a HCP to identify and reduce risk factors for ulcers and other complications. Little is known regarding factors that may increase or decrease the likelihood of having an annual foot examination by a health care provider (HCP). Methods Cross-sectional analysis of 1830 patients age 20 years and older with a previous diagnosis of diabetes. Patients selected for inclusion in NHANES receive an in-home interview and then undergo a comprehensive physical at a CDC mobile examination center. The adjusted odds ratios for a patient having received a foot exam from a HCP in the past year were conducted using appropriate weighting variables assessed with logistic regression analysis. Results Both Hispanic Americans with diabetes [aOR 0.62 (0.47, 0.82)] and Asian Americans with diabetes [aOR 0.65 (0.44, 0.97)] were significantly less likely to have had a foot exam by a HCP in the last year, when compared to non-Hispanic White Americans. Conclusions Hispanic Americans and Asian Americans with diabetes were significantly less likely to have had a foot exam by a HCP in the last year.
A TREM2 dependent control of Microglial and Astrocytic responses in a mouse model of Alzheimer's Disease

Background and Hypothesis: Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is characterized by deposition of extracellular amyloid beta plaques resulting in activation of plaque associated CNS glial cells, namely microglia and astrocytes. While extensive research has been directed to understand the role of microglia in neurodegenerative changes in AD, relatively little is known of astrocytic contributions to the disease. Studies using nerve injury models have shown that pro-inflammatory microglia can induce neurotoxic astrocytic phenotypes. In AD, the microglial gene TREM2 has been implicated in mediating neuroprotective immune functions. Research suggests that microglia go through TREM2-independent, followed by TREM2-dependent activation to mediate neuroprotection in diseases like AD, ALS and PD. The central objective of this project is to evaluate whether TREM2 dependent skewing of microglial activation generates neuro-protective/toxic astroglial populations. Experimental Design or Project Methods: We will use the 5XFAD mouse model of AD in this project. Changes in microglial and astroglial activation will be evaluated in 4-month-old 5xFAD; TREM2+/-mice using immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy Results: Our results show an increase in proinflammatory, plaque associated microglia expressing MHCII and C1qA in 5XFAD;TREM2+/- mice relative to 5XFAD;TREM2+/+ mice. This is accompanied by an increase in GFAP+S100B- reactive astrocytes in the hippocampus and subiculum. Conclusion and Potential Impact: TREM2 deficiency in a mouse model of AD skews the microglia to a proinflammatory phenotype, which may correlate with heightened astroglial reactivity and neurotoxicity. As loss of function mutations in TREM2 have been associated with an increased risk of neurodegenerative changes, these data shed light on how TREM2-mediated microglial-astrocytic crosstalk may influence disease progression.
Disability Studies 2019 Summer Online Courses

Disability Studies 2019 Summer Online Courses: DIS 380 Disability and Diversity; DIS 382 Accessible Learning Technology; and DIS 628 Special Topics in Disability: Representation in Film.
The Football Players' Health Study at Harvard University: Design and objectives.

The Football Players Health Study at Harvard University (FPHS) is a unique transdisciplinary, strategic initiative addressing the challenges of former players' health after having participated in American style football (ASF). The whole player focused FPHS is designed to deepen understanding of the benefits and risks of participation in ASF, identify risks that are potentially reversible or preventable, and develop interventions or approaches to improve the health and wellbeing of former players. We are recruiting and following a cohort of former professional ASF players who played since 1960 (current n = 3785). At baseline, participants complete a self-administered standardized questionnaire, including initial reporting of exposure history and physician-diagnosed health conditions. Additional arms of the initiative are addressing targeted studies, including promising primary, secondary, and tertiary interventions; extensive in-person clinical phenotyping, and legal and ethical concerns of the play. This paper describes the components of the FPHS studies undertaken and completed thus far, as well as those studies currently underway or planned for the near future. We present our initiatives herein as a potential paradigm of one way to proceed (acknowledging that it is not the only way). We share what we have learned so that it may be useful to others, particularly in regard to trying to make professional sports meet the needs of multiple stakeholders ranging from players to owners, to fans, and possibly even to parents making decisions for their children.
Correction to: MOTIVIC DECOMPOSITION OF PROJECTIVE PSEUDO-HOMOGENEOUS VARIETIES

We point out an error in the proof of a lemma in [Sri17] and correct it by proving a stronger version of the lemma using a theorem of Pierre Deligne.
Optimized Planning Approach for Multiple Tower Cranes and Material Supply Points Using Mixed-Integer Programming

AbstractIt is common to implement multiple tower cranes on building construction projects. The plan for usage of multiple tower cranes should be optimized for better project performance, such as re...
Modified P.S.I.: A Solution to the Vast Class

A very large class held in an auditorium presents a number of problems including severe student alienation and a low level of learning. P.S.I., a Personalized System of Instruction first developed by Professor Fred Keller and his colleagues fifteen years ago, offers one potential solution to these problems. This article describes a modification of the system for an introductory marketing course with two classes of 600 and 200 students respectively.
Further Validation and Cross-Cultural Replication of the Video Game Demand Scale

Abstract. The Video Game Demand Scale (VGDS) is a 26-item, five-factor scale designed to assess the cognitive, emotional, physical, and social demands experienced by video game players. Given the i...
Does the Framing of Transparency Impact Trust? Differences Between Self-Benefit and Other-Benefit Message Frames

This study examines the impacts of self-(i.e., egoistic) versus other-(i.e., social) benefit frames used in organizational transparency messaging. While research in various strategic communication ...
Postpartum care content and delivery throughout the African continent: An integrative review.

Abstract Objective The objective of this review was to describe and evaluate the content of postpartum care and models of delivery throughout the African continent. Design Integrative review was used to allow for the combination of studies using diverse research methodologies. Data sources A comprehensive search strategy using the phrases ‘postpartum period’, ‘healthcare delivery’, and ‘Africa,’ including all spelling variants and countries within the continent, was used in the following databases: PubMed, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature Plus, and Embase for studies published through September 2019. Review method The integrative review process included five stages: problem identification, literature search, data evaluation, data analysis and presentation. Twelve studies from eight African countries were identified in the search and met the inclusion criteria for the review. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to evaluate the quality of the studies included in the review. The theoretical framework developed by the World Health Organization Maternal Morbidity Working Group for healthcare interventions to address maternal morbidity was used for data analysis and to synthesize the results for presentation. Results Definitions of the postpartum period varied among studies with service delivery ranging from six weeks to one year postpartum. There was no standard package of postpartum care across studies. Based on the World Health Organization theoretical framework, five primary topics were covered in postpartum care interventions: preventive care and counseling, health systems innovation, a life course approach, family planning, and health literacy and education. In contrast, five gaps in content of postpartum care services and service delivery included: integration of screening and treatment of noncommunicable diseases with maternal healthcare, intimate partner violence screening, social protection, a rights-based approach, and social vulnerability. No study addressed all aspects of the World Health Organization framework to address maternal morbidity. Conclusions The results from this review indicate the need to address gaps in postpartum care services throughout the African continent in order to reduce maternal morbidity. Re- conceptualizing the paradigm of maternal health to take a life course approach and focusing future research on developing and building interventions to target postpartum care and healthcare delivery of postpartum care are necessary and important in efforts to reduce maternal morbidity and improve health outcomes for mother and child.
Frozen-thawed embryo transfers: time to adopt a more “natural” approach?

The increasing use of frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles has magnified the focus on endometrial preparation protocols in assisted reproduction. Emerging evidence suggests that natural cycle (NC) FETs are associated with improved outcomes, and that providers should consider increasing the utilization of NC FET at the expense of the currently favored artificial cycle (AC) FET as primary method for endometrial preparation.
Structural Basis for Error-Free Bypass of the 5-N-Methylformamidopyrimidine-dG Lesion by Human DNA Polymerase η and Sulfolobus solfataricus P2 Polymerase IV

N6-(2-Deoxy-d-erythro-pentofuranosyl)-2,6-diamino-3,4-dihydro-4-oxo-5-N-methylformamidopyrimidine (MeFapy-dG) arises from N7-methylation of deoxyguanosine followed by imidazole ring opening. The lesion has been reported to persist in animal tissues. Previous in vitro replication bypass investigations of the MeFapy-dG adduct revealed predominant insertion of C opposite the lesion, dependent on the identity of the DNA polymerase (Pol) and the local sequence context. Here we report crystal structures of ternary Pol·DNA·dNTP complexes between MeFapy-dG-adducted DNA template:primer duplexes and the Y-family polymerases human Pol η and P2 Pol IV (Dpo4) from Sulfolobus solfataricus. The structures of the hPol η and Dpo4 complexes at the insertion and extension stages, respectively, are representative of error-free replication, with MeFapy-dG in the anti conformation and forming Watson–Crick pairs with dCTP or dC.
Inhibition of trophoblast invasion by the growth arrest-specific 6 (Gas6) protein

Preeclampsia (PE) is a complicated obstetric complication characterized by increased blood pressure and decreased trophoblast invasion. The growth arrest-specific 6 (Gas6) protein is known to induc...
Leadership and Conflict Resolution on the Production Line

Conflict between coworkers on the production line can be expensive as well as time consuming for companies. The business problem investigated in the study is the inability of supervisors on the production line to resolve conflict in nonunion companies, which, consequently, may lead to a drop in organizational productivity. Behaviors impacting shop floor productivity and performance were detected through miniethnographic and descriptive case study qualitative research methods through research of the production line leadership in a global company that manufactures kitchen and fireplace accessories. Results obtained from themes demonstrated that the production supervisor had some leader–member exchange leader characteristics including modeling behavior, individualized support of team members, resolving conflict in an appropriate manner that respected company culture and the existence of inner as well as outer circle members. Recommendations for future research included calling for additional empirical studies exploring the relationship between gender, diversity, and leader–member exchange effectiveness.
Estimation of genomic complexity, heterologous expression, and enzymatic characterization of mouse glutathione S-transferase mGSTA4-4 (GST 5.7)

We have previously isolated a cDNA clone for a unique mouse lung glutathione S-transferase, mGSTA4-4 (GST 5.7) (Zimniak, P., Eckles, M. A., Saxena, M., and Awasthi, Y. C. (1992) FEBS Lett. 313, 173-176). By genomic Southern blotting and polymerase chain reaction single strand conformation polymorphism analysis we have now demonstrated the presence of at least two mGSTA4-related genes in the mouse. The heterogeneity of mGSTA4-4 was further examined by comparing the structural and kinetic properties of mGSTA4-4 isolated from mouse lung with those of recombinant rec-mGSTA4-4 expressed in Escherichia coli. Except for the isoelectric point, the physical properties of the two proteins were indistinguishable. Western blots using antibodies against rec-mGSTA4-4 have shown selective expression of the enzyme in mouse tissues. Even though the substrate specificity profiles of the tissue-isolated and recombinant enzymes, which point to a role of mGSTA4-4 in the detoxification of lipid peroxidation products, were generally similar, significant differences were observed with selected substrates. The existence of functionally distinct forms of mGSTA4-4 and the presence of more than one gene strongly suggest that the previously observed differences in properties of mGSTA4-4 isolated from various mouse tissues (Awasthi, S., Singhal, S. S., Srivastava, S. K., and Awasthi, Y. C. (1993) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 301, 143-150) may be due to tissue-specific expression of mGSTA4-related genes.
Lower Resistance Scaled Metal Contacts to Silicide for Advanced CMOS

A key challenge for high performance CMOS devices is the external parasitic resistance. This paper addresses scaling trends of contact level and discusses emerging constraints related to the properties of materials used in the current technology. Experimental and theoretical data presented herein are critical in understanding CA challenges beyond the 45 nm technology node and show great potential for copper as the alternative to tungsten process for CA metallization
W-band Sheet Beam Klystron PCM Focusing Design

A sheet-beam klystron has been designed, built and tested in the klystron department at SLAC. The first prototype, WSBK-1A, is a 95 GHz W-band device with a 74 kV, 3.6 A electron gun. Electrostatic focusing in the gun produces a sheet beam of approximately elliptical cross section with a height to width ratio of 1 to 12. Beam transmission over 90% was measured