cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identifying events that impact self-efficacy in physics learning

We present a method of analyzing the development of self-efficacy in real time using a framework of self-efficacy opportunities (SEOs). Considerable research has shown a connection between self-efficacy, or the confidence in one's own ability to perform a task, and success in science fields. Traditional methods of investigating the development of self-efficacy have required participants to recollect past events. This reliance on participant memory makes it difficult to understand what impact particular events may have on developing self-efficacy in the moment. We use video recordings of three undergraduate Modeling Instruction students solving a physics problem to characterize SEOs in a moment-by-moment analysis. We then validate these characterizations of the development of self-efficacy by reviewing the problem-solving session with the participants and find evidence that the SEOs identified are taken up and impact self-efficacy. This characterization and validation of SEOs in the moment represents a first step towards establishing a methodology for analyzing the development of self-efficacy in real time.
Feminist Identity, Feminist Politics: U.S. Feminists’ Attitudes toward Social Policies

Feminist scholars and activists have endorsed a broad and intersectional political agenda that addresses multiple dimensions of inequality, such as gender, sexuality, race/ethnicity, and class. We ...
305 ENDOSCOPIC PYLORIC INJECTION OF BOTULINUM TOXIN FOR THE TREATMENT OF POSTVAGOTOMY GASTROPARESIS.

Background Gastroparesis is a common clinical condition characterized by nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, postprandial fullness, loss of appetite, and, in severe cases, malnutrition. It is more prevalent in women, and common etiologies include diabetes, postsurgical usually secondary to a vagotomy and/or gastric resections, and idiopathic. Therapy includes prokinetic agents such as metoclopramide, domperidone, erythromycin, and nutritional support. Recently, botulinum toxin injected into the pylorus is being used to treat refractory gastroparesis, which is idiopathic or secondary to diabetes. Little is known about its efficacy in postsurgical gastroparesis due to vagal nerve and where in the past a surgical pyloroplasty would have been considered. Aims of the Study To evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic injection of botulinum toxin injection into the pylorus of the stomach in patients with postsurgical gastroparesis. Methods This open-labeled trial identified and recruited 11 patients who developed symptomatic gastroparesis after a surgical procedure (10 fundoplication, 1 exploratory laparoscopy). Gastroparesis was defined as an abnormal solid-phase gastric emptying test using the standardized 4-hour radionuclide egg beater meal method. Eight patients had vagal nerve injury documented by sham meal testing. Subjects were being followed in the gastrointestinal motility clinic and completed at least the sixth month follow-up visit after their pylorus was injected with botulinum toxin injection in a four-quadrant manner. Patients either received 100 (n = 2) or 200 (n = 9) units of botulinum toxin. Questionnaires recorded symptom severity beginning at baseline prior to the injection and at monthly intervals for the next 6 months. Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, early satiety, loss of appetite, and weight loss were scored on a scale of 0 to 5 for severity. All but one patient completed the questionnaire. Results Seven females and three males (age range 31-84 years) finished the sixth month follow-up visit. The mean symptom score prior to therapy was 18 ± 5.8 (1 SD) and showed a consistent and significant (p Conclusions Endoscopic injection of botulinum toxin in the pylorus appears to be a safe and effective addition to the therapeutic armamentarium for refractory postvagotomy gastroparesis. Randomized trials with botulinum toxin injections seem warranted in this subset of gastroparesis.
Understanding Supportive Care Factors Among African American Breast Cancer Survivors

Introduction: Comprehensive breast cancer care includes not only diagnosis, staging, and treatment of cancer but also assessment and management of the physical, psychological, social, and informational needs, collectively known as supportive care. Several studies have documented the importance of addressing supportive care factors among breast cancer survivors. However, there appears to be a paucity of research concerning African American breast cancer survivors (AABCS). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to describe and understand the patient-centered supportive care factors among self-identified AABCS. Method: Using a qualitative descriptive approach, an open-ended question explored supportive care factors that were used by N = 155 AABCS. Results: Four supportive care factors were identified: faith, supportive structures, optimism, and access to information. Discussion: An understanding of these factors might facilitate discussion between survivors and the health care team. The resultant effect co...
Vector-pseudoscalar mass splitting and Upsilon - eta b mass difference.

For the vector-pseudoscalar mass difference, we propose a new unified empirical formula which works very well for almost all known mesons whether or not they contain one light quark. For heavy mesons, we predict $\ensuremath{\Upsilon}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\eta}}_{b}=55.0\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}5.0$ MeV and in particular ${\ensuremath{\psi}}^{\ensuremath{'}}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\eta}}_{c}^{\ensuremath{'}}=96.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}5.0$ MeV without any additional parameters. This new relation seems also valid for the radially excited states of mesons. The well-known approximate relation ${M}_{V}^{2}\ensuremath{-}{M}_{P}^{2}\ensuremath{\simeq}0.56$ Ge${\mathrm{V}}^{2}$ can be reproduced as a special case for a narrow region of the reduced mass. A problem concerning the difference in the hyperfine splittings of self-conjugate mesons with zero isospin and in other mesons is solved.
Disability identity development model: Voices from the ADA-generation.

Abstract Background For persons with disabilities, 2015 was a historic year, marking the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) and the 40th anniversary of the passing of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). It is important to consider the effects of this fundamental shift towards equal opportunity and participation on persons with disabilities' identity development. In practice, however, there are few empirical studies that have looked at this phenomenon and even fewer models of disability identity development. Objective We conducted a qualitative study to explore the disability identity development of college students with disabilities. Methods At two research sites, we conducted individual interviews and observations with 17 college students with varying disabilities, and used in vivo and structural coding analysis to identify and develop themes. Results The results of this study led to establishing a model of psychosocial identity development for individuals with disabilities. The model highlights four developmental statuses: acceptance, relationship, adoption and engagement. Sharing voices from the participants themselves, we also provide commentary on the possible impacts of this work for healthcare professionals and areas for future research. Conclusions Our findings suggest that this model of psychosocial disability identity development can help to provide an understanding of the psychological processes that individuals with disabilities go through. The model also has application as a framework for healthcare professionals and psychologists who are working with individuals with disabilities.
Network-Guided Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Depression.

Purpose of Review First, we will identify candidate predictive biomarkers of antidepressant response of TMS based on the neuroimaging literature. Next, we will review the effects of TMS on networks involved in depression. Finally, we will discuss ways in which our current understanding of network engagement by TMS may be used to optimize its antidepressant effect.
High Precision FRET at Single-molecule Level for Biomolecule Structure Determination.

A protocol on how to perform high-precision interdye distance measurements using Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) at the single-molecule level in multiparameter fluorescence detection (MFD) mode is presented here. MFD maximizes the usage of all "dimensions" of fluorescence to reduce photophysical and experimental artifacts and allows for the measurement of interdye distance with an accuracy up to ~1 A in rigid biomolecules. This method was used to identify three conformational states of the ligand-binding domain of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor to explain the activation of the receptor upon ligand binding. When comparing the known crystallographic structures with experimental measurements, they agreed within less than 3 A for more dynamic biomolecules. Gathering a set of distance restraints that covers the entire dimensionality of the biomolecules would make it possible to provide a structural model of dynamic biomolecules.
A Life of Grief: an Exploration of Disenfranchised Grief in Sex Offender Significant Others

In criminal justice, researchers have identified disenfranchised grief, or the denial of empathy and social support during the grieving process, in family members who have lost relatives through imprisonment and execution. Although both of these situations involve the physical removal of the offender from the family members’ lives, non-physical losses may also prompt the grieving process. One of these non-physical losses is a psychosocial loss, in which the person the family members knew is now gone. Given the public stigma of the label “sex offender” and the collateral consequences that occur as a result of that label, it is possible that sex offender significant others experience a psychosocial loss. The current research is an exploratory study that used qualitative interviews with 29 spouses and significant others of convicted sex offenders to explore if and how disenfranchised grief impacts sex offender partners. Findings support both the existence of and the detrimental impact of disenfranchised grief on sex offender partners.
Clinical and metabolic effects associated with weight changes and obeticholic acid in non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis

SummaryBackground In a 72-week, randomised controlled trial of obeticholic acid (OCA) in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), OCA was superior to placebo in improving serum ALT levels and liver histology. OCA therapy also reduced weight. Aims Because weight loss by itself can improve histology, to perform a post hoc analysis of the effects of weight loss and OCA treatment in improving clinical and metabolic features of NASH. Methods The analysis was limited to the 200 patients with baseline and end-of-treatment liver biopsies. Weight loss was defined as a relative decline from baseline of 2% or more at treatment end. Results Weight loss occurred in 44% (45/102) of OCA and 32% (31/98) of placebo-treated patients (P = 0.08). The NAFLD Activity score (NAS) improved more in those with than without weight loss in both the OCA- (−2.4 vs −1.2, P<0.001) and placebo-treated patients (−1.2 vs −0.5, P = 0.03). ALT levels also improved in those with vs without weight loss in OCA- (−43 vs −34 U/L, P = 0.12) and placebo-treated patients (−29 vs −10 U/L, P = 0.02). However, among those who lost weight, OCA was associated with opposite effects from placebo on changes in alkaline phosphatase (+21 vs −12 U/L, P<0.001), total (+13 vs −14 mg/dL, P = 0.02) and LDL cholesterol (+18 vs −12 mg/dL, P = 0.01), and HbA1c (+0.1 vs −0.4%, P = 0.01). Conclusions OCA leads to weight loss in up to 44% of patients with NASH, and OCA therapy and weight loss have additive benefits on serum aminotransferases and histology. However, favourable effects of weight loss on alkaline phosphatase, lipids and blood glucose seen in placebo-treated patients were absent or reversed on OCA treatment. These findings stress the importance of assessing concomitant metabolic effects of new therapies of NASH. Clinical trial number: NCT01265498.
Distributed Model Predictive Control for Cooperative and Flexible Vehicle Platooning

This paper investigates the cooperative and flexible vehicle platooning problem in automated highway systems. We formulate the platoon into a dynamically decoupled system and address the flexible platooning problem using distributed model predictive control (DMPC) techniques. A two-step noniterative DMPC strategy is proposed that sequentially solves local components of a constrained optimal control problem over two batches of vehicle clusters based on intervehicle communication. By introducing the clustering procedure, the proposed DMPC scheme only requires compatibility constraints of common neighbors of two adjacent vehicle clusters. With the two-step DMPC scheme, stability of the overall closed-loop system is guaranteed by a series of linear matrix inequalities that can be efficiently solved in practical applications. Collision-free properties are addressed using coupled state constraints together with terminal sets during a cooperation procedure. Simulations of flexible platooning are conducted for both joining and leaving events to show the effectiveness of the two-step DMPC scheme.
Stability and Deformation in Clayey Slopes with Varying Slope Density and Inclinations Subjected to Rainfall

A reduction in the shear strength resulting from an increase in degree of saturation and pore pressures due to the infiltration of rainwater is often cited as a trigger for shallow slope failures. Models were prepared, in this study, to examine the influence of the density of the slope forming material and the inclination of the slope on the evolution of the seepage velocity, deformation mechanisms and stability of the clayey slopes. The relative compaction of the slope forming material ranged from 60% to 85% with slope inclinations ranging from 30 to 50°. The seepage velocity was found to decrease as the depth of the wetting front increased. Furthermore, the seepage velocity along the slope was greater than the seepage velocity at the head of the slope. The seepage velocity measured with tensiometers located throughout the slope matched well with the seepage velocity determined from the wetting fronts. When the relative compaction of the slope forming material was less than 75%, the slopes would tend to settle as the material became saturated with greater volumetric strains occurring in models with lower relative compactions. On the other hand, for slopes with relative compactions greater than 75%, the infiltration of rainwater would cause the slope to swell with greater negative volumetric strains at higher relative compactions.
Quantum dot micro-lasers integrated with photodetectors and optical amplifiers on (001) Si via waveguide coupling

We demonstrate the first integrated electrically pumped quantum dot micro-ring lasers epitaxially grown on (001) silicon. On-chip photodetection under continuous-wave excitation was achieved with a low threshold current of 3 mA.
Distribution of Freshwater Ostracods in the Canadian North and Implications for Palaeoclimate Reconstructions

Abstract A new modern freshwater ostracod calibration set spanning Northern Canada was compiled to explore relationships between ostracods and their environment for the ultimate purpose of the quantification of past environments. Environmental data were available for 91 lakes; however, 31 ostracod species representing 9 genera were present in only 68 of these lakes. Variables contributing significantly to species distributions across the region were mean July air temperature, lake water alkalinity–calcium ratio and water depth. Application of the dataset included the calculation of 22 species optima and tolerances to mean July air temperature and the reconstruction of mean July air temperature from a fossil ostracod record at Upper Fly Lake in the southwest Yukon Territory. Ostracod-inferred mean July air temperatures corresponded with reconstructions using other proxies from the same site, indicating the utility of a calibration set from the Canadian North to provide modern analogues during the Late glacial–Early Holocene.
Control of small two-body heaving wave energy converters for ocean measurement applications

Abstract Buoys carrying scientific equipment usually need continuous power supply for the operation of these equipments. These buoys can be equipped with actuators and controlled to harvest power from the heaving motion of the buoy. A two-body wave energy converter can be designed such that the buoy heaves to harvest energy while the second (lower) body carries the science equipments. This paper presents a control approach for this type of two-body wave energy converter. This control approach is a multi resonant control that attempts to maximize the harvested energy from the buoy (upper body). In this model, the actuator is attached to both bodies. The lower body however is required to have minimal heave motion. The proposed multi resonant control utilizes measurements of the buoy position. The frequencies of the measured buoy position are estimated, along with the motion amplitudes of these frequencies, and used for feedback control. Estimation is carried out using two approaches; the first uses a linear Kalman filter while the second uses an extended Kalman filter. A new method for handling the motion and actuation limitations, suitable for the multi resonant control, is proposed. Various numerical simulation results are presented in the paper. Simulation results show that the linear Kalman filter estimation approach is more robust and computationally efficient compared to the extended Kalman filter.
Fine Pitch(40μm) Integration Platform for Flexible Hybrid Electronics using Fan-Out Wafer-level Packaging

Abstract A flexible fan-out wafer-level packaging (FOWLP) process for heterogeneous integration of high performance dies in a flexible and biocompatible elastomeric package (FlexTrateTM) was used to assemble 625 dies with co-planarity and tilt <1μm, average die-shift of 3.28 μm with σ < 2.23 μm. Fine pitch interconnects (40μm pitch) were defined using a novel corrugated topography to mitigate the buckling phenomenon of metal films deposited on elastomeric substrates. Corrugated interconnects were then used to interconnect 200 dies, and then tested for cyclic mechanical bending reliability and have shown less than 7% change in resistance after bending down to 1 mm radius for 1,000 cycles.
A critical RCU safety property is... ease of use

Some might argue that read-copy update (RCU) is too low-level to be targeted by hackers, but the advent of Row Hammer [19] demonstrated the naivete of such views. After all, if black-hat hackers are ready, willing, and able to exploit hardware bugs such as Row Hammer, they are assuredly ready, willing, and able to exploit bugs in RCU. Nor is it any longer the case that RCU's involvement in exploitable Linux-kernel bugs is strictly theoretical. However, this bug involved not RCU's correctness, but rather its ease of use. Nevertheless, it was a real bug that really needed fixing. This paper describes this bug and the road to its eventual fix.
An exploration of BCI performance variations in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using longitudinal EEG data.

OBJECTIVE Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology enables people to use direct measures of brain activity for communication and control. The National Center for Adaptive Neurotechnologies and Helen Hayes Hospital are studying long-term independent home use of P300-based BCIs by people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This BCI use takes place without technical oversight, and users can encounter substantial variation in their day-to-day BCI performance. The purpose of this study is to identify and evaluate features in the electroencephalogram (EEG) that correlate with successful BCI performance during home use with the goal of improving BCI for people with neuromuscular disorders. APPROACH Nine people with ALS used a P300-based BCI at home over several months for communication and computer control. Sessions from a routine calibration task were categorized as successful ([Formula: see text]70%) or unsuccessful (<70%) BCI performance. The correlation of temporal and spectral EEG features with BCI performance was then evaluated. MAIN RESULTS BCI performance was positively correlated with an increase in alpha-band (8-14 Hz) activity at locations PO8, P3, Pz, and P4; and beta-band (15-30 Hz) activity at occipital locations. In addition, performance was significantly positively correlated with a positive deflection in EEG amplitude around 220 ms at frontal mid-line locations (i.e. Fz and Cz). BCI performance was negatively correlated with delta-band (1-3 Hz) activity recorded from occipital locations. SIGNIFICANCE These results highlight the variability found in the EEG and describe EEG features that correlate with successful BCI performance during day-to-day use of a P300-based BCI by people with ALS. These results should inform studies focused on improved BCI reliability for people with neuromuscular disorders.
Assessment of Soft Ligand Removal Strategies: Alkylation as a Promising Alternative to High-Temperature Treatments for Colloidal Nanoparticle Surfaces

Advances in nanocrystal syntheses over the past decades now enable routine manipulation of particle shape, size, and chemistry with unprecedented precision. Building on decades of knowledge in coll...
Thrombocytosis is associated with complications after microvascular surgery: An NSQIP data analysis

Background Complications after microvascular surgery, such as partial flap loss, and arterial/venous compromise cannot only increase morbidity for the patient but also tax the healthcare system. Thrombocytosis, both essential and reactive, can predispose patients to thrombosis and hemorrhage and thus should intuitively have an effect on the outcome of microvascular free tissue transfers. We sought to evaluate the effect of preoperative thrombocytosis on outcomes after microvascular free flap surgery. Methods A retrospective review of the 2013-2016 American Collges of Surgeons, National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) database identified 4,299 patients who had microsurgical flaps. Of these 3,744 had preoperative platelet levels recorded. Fifty-four patients had preoperative thrombocytosis, defined as a platelet count >450 K/CUMM, while 3,690 did not. The groups were compared; demographics, comorbidities, and smoking status were recorded. We then examined outcomes between groups including average operative time, length of hospital stay, need for transfusion, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) postoperatively, and need for reoperation. Results When comparing the two cohorts, there was no statistical difference in comorbidities. We found a significant difference between the thrombocytosis and control cohort in need for transfusion (29.6 vs. 12.8%, p = .0002), average days till discharge (8.36 vs. 5.75, p = .009), and need for reoperation (27.8 vs. 13.8%, p = .003). There was no difference in DVT occurrence (0 vs. 0.1%, p = .46) or average operation time (535 m vs. 482 min, p = .088). Conclusion Patients with thrombocytosis undergoing microvascular free flaps are at increased risk for complications, including the need for a blood transfusion, prolonged hospital stays, and reoperation.
The effects of hemodilution on coagulation in term parturients: an in vitro study utilizing rotational thromboelastometry.

Objective: To examine the impact of hemodilution on components of blood coagulation using rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM®) in term parturientsMethods: This is a prospective, observational pil...
Epidemiologic and Serologic Evidence for a Role of Herpesviruses in HIV Infection

Since the recognition of AIDS, herpesviruses have played a significant role in the transmission, clinical presentation, and pathogenesis of HIV infection. Herpesviruses, including cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) are among the most common opportunistic infections observed in AIDS patients. The immunosuppressive effects of herpesviruses and their recurrent nature have led many investigators to study the immunomodulating effects of these viruses and their direct effect on HIV infection. In vitro studies have demonstrated that latent HIV infection can be activated during HSV and CMV infections resulting in increased viral replication. Seroepidemiologic studies have demonstrated a strong association with recent seroconversion to HSV-2 and the subsequent acquisition of HIV infection, suggesting that genital ulcerations due to HSV may enhance the transmissibility of HIV infection during sexual intercourse. This association between genital HSV-2 infection and HIV infection was found to be independent of age, sex, risk group, or the number of sexual partners. Additional studies have also suggested that herpesvirus infections, particularly HSV-2 and VZV are poor prognostic factors and may accelerate the immunosuppression associated with HIV infection leading to the development of clinical AIDS. These studies therefore suggest that accurate diagnosis and therapy of infections with herpesviruses may reduce the efficiency of HIV transmission and possibly slow the progression of HIV infection to AIDS.
Effects of Modality Interactivity and Deception on Communication Quality and Task Performance

This study examines the joint impact of modality interactivity and deception on the quality of group communication and subsequent group outcomes. Communication quality was examined as three meta-dimensions of relational communication, interactional communication, and task communication qualities. Results from two experiments indicated that audio communication performed as well as or better than face-to-face interaction and far better than text on all three communication quality factors. Deception did not impair communication qualities but did impair performance, suggesting that deceivers successfully led group members astray in their decision-making without noticeably damaging the group’s communication. Communication quality meta-dimensions were positively correlated with both perceived and actual task performance.
A LOGICAL APPROACH TO THE TREATMENT OF TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDERS

SUMMARY This article has reviewed the various painful masticatory muscle disorders and TMJ problems that affect the masticatory system. Suggested diagnostic terminology, treatment outlines, and a logical step-by-step sequence of treatment have been presented for consideration (Figs. 7 and 8). If treatment is based on a careful diagnosis and is selected logically, the majority of patients should be managed successfully with low morbidity.
Gastric electrical stimulation improves symptoms and need for supplemental nutrition in children with severe nausea and vomiting: A ten-year experience.

BACKGROUND Gastric electrical stimulation (GES) is a promising therapy for children with severe nausea and vomiting, but information on long-term outcomes is limited. We sought to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of GES and to describe patient benefit and satisfaction. METHODS Using a prospective registry, we identified patients aged <21 years treated with GES at our institution between 2009 and 2019. Encounters were selected at baseline prior to GES and at follow-up at 1 month, 12 months, and the most recent visit. We compared symptoms, route of nutrition, and medication usage at baseline to follow-up timepoints. Factors associated with improvement were evaluated. We recorded complications and need for battery replacement. We contacted families to administer the Glasgow Children's Benefit Inventory (GCBI) and a parent satisfaction questionnaire. KEY RESULTS Eighty-five patients (68.2% female, median age 15.8 years) completed a trial of temporary GES due to severe nausea and vomiting. Seventy-seven (90.6%) had a positive response and underwent permanent stimulator placement. Use of tube feeding or parenteral nutrition (PN) decreased from 72.7% at baseline to 29.9% at the most recent follow-up (p < 0.001). Higher baseline vomiting severity was associated with the ability to stop supplemental nutrition by 1 month (p < 0.05). Fourteen patients (18.2%) had complications, primarily due to stimulator-associated discomfort, and 29 (37.7%) required battery replacement. Median GCBI was +52.1, indicating health-related benefit. CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES Children with severe nausea and vomiting treated with GES experienced significant and durable improvement in symptom severity and their ability to tolerate oral nutrition.
Update on Evaluation and Management of Calcific Tendinopathy

This paper aims to assess the pathophysiology, clinical evaluation, and latest evidence-based treatments for calcific tendinopathy (CT). We focus on shoulder CT and provide other regional anatomy pearls when applicable. Ultrasound and plain radiographs are the primary imaging modalities for diagnosis. Imaging findings can also be helpful in guiding prognosis and treatment. Ultrasound-guided percutaneous lavage coupled with a subacromial injection should be considered if symptoms persist despite conservative management. High-energy shockwave therapy, both focused and radial, also appears to provide positive outcomes. Additional research is needed before ultrasonic tenotomy can be routinely recommended. For patients in which the aforementioned treatments are unsuccessful, arthroscopic debridement shows a high level of success. CT is a commonly encountered pathology, particularly in the shoulder rotator cuff. Most often cases are self-limited; however in cases of severe or persistent pain, minimally invasive treatment techniques provide encouraging results.
Risk of Non-Vertebral Fracture in Gout Compared to Rheumatoid Arthritis

Objective: To evaluate the risk of non-vertebral fractures in patients with gout compared with those with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: Using claims data from Medicare (2008–2015), we conducted a cohort study of patients with gout versus RA matched on age, sex, and index date with a 1:1 ratio. The primary outcome was a composite endpoint of non-vertebral fractures including hip, pelvis, humerus, and wrist identified with the validated algorithms. We also assessed hip fractures separately. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression estimated the hazard ratio (HR) for the outcomes in gout versus RA adjusted for 45 covariates. Results: We included a total of 134,157 matched pairs of gout and RA patients (mean age: 73.7 years). Risk factors for fracture were more prevalent in RA, while other comorbidities including obesity, coronary heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes were more common in gout. Over the mean 2.8 years follow-up, the incidence rate (IR)/1000 person-year (PY) of non-vertebral fractures was 10.42 in gout and 15.01 in RA. For hip fractures, the IR/1000 PY was 4.86 in gout and 7.73 in RA. The multivariable HR associated with gout versus RA was 0.84 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.80–0.88) for non-vertebral fractures and 0.76 (95% CI 0.71–0.82) for hip fractures. Stratified analyses by age, sex, prior fractures, steroid use, and TNF inhibitor use showed similar results. Conclusions: In this large cohort of older patients, gout was associated with a modestly decreased risk of non-vertebral or hip fractures versus RA. However, non-vertebral fractures occurred frequently in both gout and RA.
Airborne Fluid Lensing for Precision Reef Mapping – New Results from Guam’s Priority Coral Reefs

Fluid lensing, a passive remote sensing technology, exploits refractive fluid distortions and caustics caused by ocean waves for cm-scale 3D imaging of coral reefs. Results at 45ft depth are presented from a recent Guam campaign.
Fluidized‐Bed Firing Systems

Publisher Summary Fluidized-bed combustion (FBC) is a leading technology for the combustion of a range of fuels, fossil and others, because of several inherent advantages it has over conventional combustion systems including fuel flexibility, low NOx, in situcontrol of SO2, excellent heat transfer, high combustion efficiency, and good system availability. The development of the fluidized-bed concept started in 1922 with the Winkler patent for gasification of lignite. The first major implementation of the concept was around 1940 in the chemical industry to promote catalytic reactions. This chapter discusses the two main FBC groups, atmospheric FBC and pressurized FBC, and the two minor subgroups, bubbling and circulating fluidized-bed. It presents a brief technology overview focusing on fluidization characteristics, heat transfer, fuel flexibility, emissions formation and control, and combustion efficiency. It also describes ash chemistry and agglomeration issues, and the role of FBC boilers in clean coal technology development in the United States and worldwide. Furthermore, it discusses unique opportunities for FBC technology, specifically a potential role in providing security to the food industry.
Enhanced Subsurface Characterization for Prediction of Contaminant Transport Using Co-Kriging

Groundwater flow and advective transport were simulated in a heterogeneous synthetic aquifer. These simulations were conducted when the aquifer was fully defined and when it was characterized using a limited amount of hard and soft data (hydraulic conductivity data and soil classifications). Co-kriging was used to combine the data types when estimating the hydraulic conductivity field throughout the aquifer. Results of the flow and transport simulations showed that soil classifications were useful in characterizing the hydraulic conductivity field and reducing errors in statistics describing the plume.
Neighborhood Stabilization Strategies for Vacant and Abandoned Properties

Vacant and abandoned properties are a growing inventory in many American neighborhoods as a result of unusually high foreclosure numbers, population loss, and property value declines. The impact of vacant and abandoned properties is tangible and requires a willingness by local governments to acknowledge and address the problem. This article outlines the problems caused by vacant and abandoned properties and suggests a variety of potential strategies, from property tax foreclosure reform to land banking.
The Top Ten Concerns about Person-Centered Care Planning in Mental Health Systems

Person centered approaches to mental health care are at the forefront of behavioral healthcare transformation, yet how to implement this approach raises questions for practitioners. Based on extensive consultation and systems transformation work, the following paper describes the top ten concerns frequently raised by those providing services and addresses these concerns in the context of the provision of recovery-oriented care.
De novo signaling pathway predictions based on protein-protein interaction, targeted therapy and protein microarray analysis

Mapping intra-cellular signaling networks is a critical step in developing an understanding of and treatments for many devastating diseases. The predominant ways of discovering pathways in these networks are knockout and pharmacological inhibition experiments. However, experimental evidence for new pathways can be difficult to explain within existing maps of signaling networks. In this paper, we present a novel computational method that integrates pharmacological intervention experiments with protein interaction data in order to predict new signaling pathways that explain unexpected experimental results. Biologists can use these hypotheses to design experiments to further elucidate underlying signaling mechanisms or to directly augment an existing signaling network model. When applied to experimental results from human breast cancer cells targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) network, our method proposes several new, biologically-viable pathways that explain the evidence for a new signaling pathway. These results demonstrate that the method has potential for aiding biologists in generating hypothetical pathways to explain experimental findings. Our method is implemented as part of the PathwayOracle toolkit and is available from the authors upon request.
A Structural Comparison of Different Lysine-rich Histones of Calf Thymus

A structural study was made of the four lysine-rich histones isolated previously. Two of these histones (Fraction I and Fraction II) were studied individually, but the other two were studied as a mixture (Fraction III). Amino acid analysis established only a few conclusive differences among these fractions. Fraction I had 4 moles of arginine per mole of histone (mol wt 21,000), Fraction II had 3, and Fraction III had 3.5. Fractions I and II had 10 moles of valine per mole of histone, while Fraction III had 8. Peptide fractionation by ion exchange chromatography and paper electrophoresis resolved 50 to 55 components in the tryptic digest of each histone fraction. There was a coincidence of 45 of these components when the three fractions were compared, suggesting that the four histones in these fractions had very closely related primary structures. All these fractions appeared to have the same amino acid sequence around the tyrosine residue and around the phenylalanine residue found in each fraction. All seemed to have identical sequences around 3 arginine residues, but Fraction II and one of the histones in Fraction III apparently lacked a fourth arginine-containing sequence. Although much of the primary structure of these histones is common to all of them, a number of differences were established. There was one peptide unique to Fraction I, four unique to Fraction II, and seven unique to Fraction III. One peptide found in Fractions II and III was missing from Fraction I; two peptides found in Fractions I and III were missing from Fraction II; two peptides found in Fractions I and II were missing from Fraction III. It was concluded that these four lysine-rich histones have closely related primary structures, but exist endogenously as distinct molecular species.
Myself and me

Introduction The concept of self has interested the Western mind from the beginning of recorded history. How we approach our understanding of ourselves has varied, both in method and study. Historically, we have been concerned with our relationship with God, and that of ourselves to others, as well as with the idea of identity. In this chapter I have chosen to focus on the general problem of the self. Three questions are addressed: What is a self? How do we measure a self? What does a self do? In the first, I try to distinguish between many of the current ideas about the self, bringing to bear the idea of levels of self. Of importance here is a particular aspect of the self, perhaps the most restrictive: that of the self as aware of itself. In the second question, I suggest that the measurement of self is highly dependent upon what is meant by self. Here I suggest that the self, aware of its self, can best be measured, especially in nonverbal creatures, through self-recognition. Finally, in addressing the third question, I consider the issue of the social and the feeling self. These three questions address what for me are some of the critical issues in the study of self, and in particular, in the study of its development.
Whole‐Cell Voltage Clamp Recording

This unit describes the use of whole-cell voltage clamping to study voltage-gated channels. Stepwise changes in voltage produced by this technique cause channels to interconvert between different states, and these transitions are monitored as changes in membrane current. The time course of this redistribution of states contains a great deal of information about the mechanism of channel gating. Furthermore, the voltage clamp can be used to activate different populations of channels selectively. In this way, a specific channel targeted by biological or pharmacological manipulations can often be identified and studied in detail. This technique is also readily adapted to the study of ligand-gated channels, synaptic potentials, and exocytosis.
Cultivate Self‐efficacy for Personal and Organizational Effectiveness

"Fomentar la autoeficacia para la efectividad personal y profesional" [Capitulo de "Handbook of Principles of Organizational Behavior"] -- Un importante conjunto de evidencias confirman que la autoeficiencia percibida opera como mecanismo en comun a traves de la cual se logran cambios por medio de diversas formas de influencia, en diferentes esferas de funcionamiento, con poblacion heterogenea y bajo distintas condiciones de vida.
In-plane characterization of graded dielectrics fabricated through additive manufacturing

A custom made 3D printer has been developed that is capable of printing high dielectric constant ceramic powders on a low-loss substrate. Utilizing low-loss composite laminates as the substrate, it is possible to fabricate a structural grade composite with custom graded dielectric properties. The ability to fabricate structural composites with graded electromagnetic properties has various practical applications including antireflective surfaces, low profile antennas, radomes, electromagnetic lenses, and passive beam forming networks. The focus of this research was to evaluate the in-plane dielectric properties of composites produced using powder printing. A number of samples were fabricated and used to determine the complete permittivity tensor of the printed samples as a function of local powder weight. This data was then experimentally validated using several practical examples.
Drought forecasting: Methodological topics from a systems perspective

A systemic framework is presented for organizing knowledge about drought forecasting. It includes these topics: couplings among a descriptive drought model, monitoring system, and forecasting system; propagation of uncertainties; types of forecasts and attributes of performance such as the lead time and skill; sufficient measures of skill and economic value of forecasts; theoretical and operational limits of predictability; and the interface between forecasts and drought management decisions. Reviews of operational forecasts of the seasonal snowmelt runoff volumes and forecasts of the seasonal cyclone frequencies. temperature, and precipitation in the United States illustrate the methodological topics, outline the present limits of drought predictability, and suggest promising research paths. Among them are modeling of forecast uncertainties and their propagation from states of atmospheric circulation to states of a hydrologic regime, and exploring novel forms of the hydro-meteorologic coupling that would extend the lead time and/or increase the skill of long-range drought forecasts.
Design Principles for Machining System Configurations

Abstract Until recently, mass producers have relied on long serial lines of dedicated machines in order to machine products at high volumes. Today, as the cost of CNC machining centers decreases, more and more high-volume manufacturers are examining the alternative of shorter lines with more machines configured in parallel. This paper presents the main principles for selecting the right machining system configurations. We propose a system classification and show that only symmetric configurations are of interest to industry. We compare four classes of systems: pure serial lines, pure parallel lines, short serial lines arranged in parallel, and short serial lines arranged in parallel with the ability to move products between the lines (i.e., with crossover). Specifically, we compare the different configurations in terms of throughput, line balancing, machine investment cost, and capacity scalability. Finally, we introduce an upgradable multi-spindle reconfigurable machine as a cost-effective alternative for system scalability.
Reactions of Iron (II) and Copper (I) with Dioxygen and Aromatic Nitrogen Donor Ligands

Abstract Reactions of dioxygen with iron(II) perchlorate and Cu(I) chloride in the presence of di-2-pyridylketone (dpk), 2,2′,2″-tripyridine (terpy) or pyridine (py) produce the solids [Fe2(dpk)4(py)2O](ClO4)4.H2O, [Fe2(dpk.H2O)4 (py)2O] (ClO4)4, [Fe(terpy)2](ClO4)2, [Fe(dpk)2 (py)2] (ClO4)3 and [Cu2 (dpk)pyCl4]. The complexes were prepared by passing oxygen through solutions of the metal salts with the appropriate ligand mixture. In aqueous solution, oxo-bridged iron(III) dimers were formed while a dimeric copper (II) complex was isolated from acetonitrile. The copper compound represents the first reported example of di-2-pyridyl ketone coordinated through all three hetero-atoms (N,N,O) as a neutral ligand. Thermogravimetric studies reveal the loss of H2O, HCN, CO and pyridine at temperatures below 200°C.
Ethical issues in the case of surgical repair of cleft palate

There are some advantages to prospective randomized clinical trials (PRCT) to resolve some limited clinical problems. But, when this method is used to determine the best surgical procedure to close the palatal cleft space, there are strong ethical considerations that cannot be overcome. There are two basic problems. The first is having the surgeon perform surgical procedures which he/she does not believe is the treatment of choice or that can be performed as skillfully as others, even after demonstrations. Secondly, this method does not consider the theoretical aspect that many clefts within the same cleft type are different in the relative size of cleft space to size of soft tissue available for closing the cleft space, thereby creating different degrees of scarring. Different outcomes to the same surgery must, therefore, result irrespective of the surgeons' skills or treatment plans. Retrospective research studies, whether they involve one or more institutions, have been and are still very valuable in improving the knowledge base of all areas of cleft palate habilitation.
Can a journal club bridge the gap between research and practice

It is imperative that nursing students learn to use research as a basis for making clinical decisions. The author discusses how a journal club was structured and designed to promote evidence-based practice and to reduce several of the barriers in utilizing research in the clinical setting. Vignettes illustrate the serendipitous events that also triggered the staff nurses' participation. An informal evaluation of the journal club is presented and suggestions for implementing future journal clubs are provided.