cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Introduction to a Special Mini-Issue on Advanced Terahertz Technologies and Efforts Towards Practical Applications

The papers in this special issue focus on advanced terahertz technologies and explores applications for their use.
Measurements of N 2 ( X,v ) densities in low-pressure afterglow by using scanning CARS corrected for stimulated Raman scattering

The number densities in the low-lying vibrational states of N2 in the electronic ground state of flowing active nitrogen have been measared by using coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) spectroscopy at 17 Torr as a function of the residence time of the gas exposed to a specimen solid surface. The active nitrogen was generated in the positive column of a water-cooled dc discharge. Vibrational deactivation coefficients were determined for several materials, including Pyrex, aluminum, and stainless steel. These studies used a narrow-line (0.1-cm−1) tuneable dye (probe) laser and a single-mode (0.006-cm−1) pulsed (7-ns) doubled Nd:YAG pump laser that produced very high peak-spectral-power irradiances. In the Doppler-broadening regime, this situation involves significant contributions from stimulated Raman scattering (SRS).
Postoperative Intensity-Modulated Proton Therapy for Head and Neck Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma

Abstract Purpose: Postoperative radiation therapy can improve control for adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the head and neck; however, delivering adequate dose to the tumor bed must be balanced with limiting dose to nearby critical organs. Intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) may help improve the therapeutic ratio, though concerns exist regarding tissue heterogeneity and other sources of uncertainty in several head and neck subsites. We report control and toxicity outcomes for patients with ACC of the head and neck treated at a single institution with postoperative IMPT and robust planning and analysis. Patients and Methods: Sixteen patients with head and neck ACC treated with postoperative IMPT were identified. Intensity-modulated proton therapy was delivered by using multifield optimization. Robust planning and analysis were performed. The median dose was 60 (range, 60 to 70) Gy (RBE) (Gy [relative biological effectiveness]). Adjuvant IMPT was given with (N = 12) or without (N = 4) platinum-based ...
Provider assessment of interactions with dementia caregivers: Evaluation and application of the therapeutic engagement index

Abstract This study presents the psychometric properties of the Therapeutic Engagement Index (TEI), a provider-rated measure of family caregiver engagement for home-based interventions. The 14-item TEI was developed with 10 occupational therapists and 99 caregivers in a randomized controlled trial. Using a separate sample of 118 caregivers rated by six occupational therapists, test-retest reliability, intraclass correlations, and construct validity were evaluated over five treatment sessions. Factor analyses revealed three dimensions of therapeutic engagement (Openness, Connectedness, and Involvement); also temporal stability was demonstrated. Dimensions of TEI were associated with caregiver readiness to use intervention strategies, anxiety, depression, and patient problem behaviors, but not with patient functional status. TEI scores were not associated with caregiver demographic characteristics. Also, TEI scores for non-completers of the intervention significantly decreased by the third treatment session...
Intralaboratory comparison of enzymatic analysis on the Gemsaec, Clinicard, and technicon SMA-12-60.

The Electro-Nucleonic’s Gemsaec, Scientific Products’ Clinicard, and the Technicon SMA-12/60 were compared on the basis of original cost, accuracy, precision, cost per determination, and duplication of results. Methods of assay for the enzymes creatine phosphokinase (CPK), lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH), and glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT) were compared.
Influence of Tissue on Bacteriostatic Effect of Paranitrobenzoic Acid.

ConclusionThe bacteriostatic effect of paranitrobenzoate on the pneumococcus is markedly reduced by the products of disintegrating tissue.
Cage for Experimental Observations of Liriomyza trifolii (Diptera: Agromyzidae) Adults

A cage was designed to allow observations of individual adults of a lcafmincr, Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess). This cage provides a limited leaf surface area for feeding and oviposition, thereby allowing comparisons of leaf acceptability regardless of size, shape, or position of the leaf on the plant. Fly longevity and fecundity data are comparable to those previously reported by other workers who used whole-plant cages. The cage is made of readily available, inexpensive materials.
Research on Verification Equipment of DC Electrical Energy Meter for Electric Vehicle Charger

With the increasing demands of electric vehicles,many DC electrical energy meters for vehicle battery charger appear.In this paper,a verification equipment of DC electrical energy meter is developed based on real-time pulse period compare method,which used PCI-6281 for data acquisition,LabVIEW for data processing and human-computer interface.This article describes the working principle of the verification equipment and core technology.The practical application verified the equipment can use for calibration of DC electrical energy meter efficiently.
Causes and preventive actions of the wrinkles for the tooth-paste tube foil after final annealing

By analyzing the wrinkles of the tooth-paste foil after final annealing,we found the really causes and adopt the correct preventive actions.And it improved recovery rate.
Epidemiologic analysis of weight gain in U.S. adults.

Although the prevalence of overweight as estimated from nationally representative cross-sectional studies is well documented, much less is known about the incidence of overweight and major weight gain in United States adults. I review results from the First National Health Examination Follow-Up Study involving 9862 people aged 25-74 yr who were first weighed between 1971 and 1975 and reweighed 10 yr later between 1982 and 1984.
Alterations of Physical and Biochemical Parameters of the R3327-CP Rat Prostate Adenocarcinoma Following Hormonal Manipulation of the Host

Several physical and biochemical parameters of a rapidly growing, hormonally responsive, poorly differentiated strain of Dunning R3327 rat prostatic adenocarcinoma (the CP strain) were monitored for 1 month during growth in control and hormonally manipulated male Fischer X Copenhagen rats. The tumor was implanted into control rats and into rats 1 month following orchiectomy. Twenty-nine days following tumor implantation, 1 group of unoperated rats was orchiectomized while the rats implanted subsequent to orchiectomy were repleted with pharmacological doses of testosterone. At 2 and 4 weeks following treatment, half the original number of rats from each group were sacrificed and the growth rate (doubling time), per cent of aneuploid cells and androgen receptor levels (total, cytoplasmic and nuclear) were determined for each tumor. Orchiectomy increased tumor doubling time, while testosterone repletion decreased it, demonstrating the hormonal dependence of this tumor strain. Orchiectomy also decreased the levels of aneuploid cells in the tumor; however, repletion of testosterone to rats orchiectomized prior to implantation did not restore the aneuploid cell number to control levels. A sensitive indicator of the hormonal status of the tumor was the per cent of androgen receptors in the nucleus. Tumors grown in rats orchiectomized after implantation had the lowest percentage of androgen receptor in the nucleus while orchiectomized rats repleted with testosterone had the highest percentage. Comparison of the levels of androgen receptors in the tumors from the various groups (androgen receptor per gram of tissue) unexpectedly revealed that tumors grown in the orchiectomized rats had slightly higher total receptor levels than did control tumors, while the tumors of orchiectomized rats repleted with testosterone had lower amounts than did the control tumors. In contrast to these findings, the prostates of orchiectomized rats replenished with testosterone had higher levels of total androgen receptor than did the prostates of control rats.
Assessment of early atherosclerosis and left ventricular dysfunction in children with 21-hydroxylase deficiency.

SummaryAim We analysed 25 children with 21-hydroxylase deficiency who received glucocorticoid and/or mineralocorticoid treatment for at least 12 months to determine the effects of the disease and its treatment on vascular structures and ventricular function. Methods Twenty-five patients with 21-hydroxylase-deficient congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and 25 control subjects were enrolled into this observational, cross-sectional study. The patients were investigated in terms of fasting blood glucose and insulin; fasting serum lipid profile; serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone; dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate; androstenedione; and adrenocorticotropic hormone. M-mode tracings of the wall motion of major arteries were obtained to measure carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), as well as elasticity and distensibility of the aorta and carotid artery. Conventional and relatively new tissue Doppler imaging techniques were employed to assess ventricular systolic and diastolic functions. Results The median age and weight of patients were 9·4 years (1·5–16·75) and 35·5 kg (7·5–76·3), respectively. The median duration of treatment was 52·2 months. Tissue Doppler imaging measurements revealed left ventricular diastolic impairment in the patient group compared to the controls. Carotid intima-media thickness, stiffness index, elastic modulus of the aorta and carotid artery were significantly higher; meanwhile, aortic distensibility and carotid distensibility were lower in the patient group, all of which indicates the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis. BMI was found to be an independent variable for cIMT (s: 0·5, P = 0·01) and aortic stiffness index (s: 0·52, P < 0·001). Conclusion Cardiovascular function and the elastic properties of major arteries are disturbed in children and adolescents with 21-hydroxylase-deficient CAH.
Unemployment and international shadow economy: gender differences

ABSTRACTAdding to the body of research on cross-country determinants of the informal economy, this article studies how unemployment differences across gender drive the propensities to work in the informal sector. Results, accounting for possible simultaneity between unemployment and the shadow economy, show that unemployed males, rather than unemployed females, were more likely to operate underground. These findings about greater male propensities are generally robust to alternative considerations.
Perceptions of interprofessional collaborative practice and patient/family satisfaction

Abstract Interprofessional providers of healthcare services need to function effectively as a team to deliver patient-focused interventions that are safe, of high quality, and clinically effective to generate improved patient outcomes. An academic pediatric hospital conducted a descriptive, correlational study to (a) describe clinicians' perceptions of interprofessional (IP) collaboration and to (b) identify the relationship between Collaborative Practice Assessment Tool (CPAT) scores with selected items from the Press Ganey ® (PG) patient satisfaction survey. The results of the study indicated a moderately high perception of IPCP (M = 5.51, SD = 0.75), with the highest perceptions noted in the domains of Patient Involvement (M = 6.18, SD = 0.95) and Decision Making (M = 4.53, SD 0.82). There was no relationship between average CPAT scores and responses on PG ( r = 0.009, p = 0.964). Results of this study provide baseline data for future research and can be used to develop strategies that further enhance interprofessional collaborative team practices.
Modeling spatial variation in winter abundance to direct conservation actions for a vulnerable migratory songbird, the Bicknell's Thrush (Catharus bicknelli)

ABSTRACT The winter range of the Bicknell's Thrush (Catharus bicknelli), a globally vulnerable Nearctic–Neotropical migratory songbird, is restricted to the Greater Antilles. Most birds occur on Hispaniola, where the species exhibits sexual habitat segregation, and where the loss of its preferred wet broadleaf habitats has been severe. Conservation of female-dominated habitats has been identified as a top priority for the species' preservation. During 2010, we conducted standardized field surveys for the Bicknell's Thrush in forests of the Dominican Republic's Cordillera Septentrional, an area of high importance for females. We combined occurrence data with environmental variables to create a model of thrush distribution and habitat selection in the region. Elevation (densities peaked at ∼600 m), aspect (northeastern slopes), the amount of forest cover within 1 km, and forest density best described thrush presence and abundance. As an example of how predictive models of abundance can inform conservation, ...
Development Of Psychometrically Validated Standardized Test Instruments For Outcomes Assessment In Experiential Engineering Education

There is a major trend in engineering education to provide students with realistic hands-on learning experiences. This paper reports on the results of work done to develop standardized test instruments to use for student learning outcomes assessment in an experiential hands-on manufacturing engineering and technology environment. The specific outcomes targeted for assessment are those defined under the MILL (Manufacturing Integrated Learning Laboratory) Manufacturing Competency Model. In a unique feature aimed at experiential learning, the test instruments incorporate the use of a physical manipulative to evaluate attainment of particular hands-on skills. The resulting standardized tests have been subjected to extensive psychometric analysis. The results of the analysis indicate excellent structure of the test instruments. The test instruments have shown high levels of stability, internal consistency, and reliability. These tests can be used as instruments for outcomes assessment to help document attainment of targeted learning outcomes for program assessment, accreditation, and other assessment purposes. Outcomes Assessment; Standardized Test; Psychometrically Validated; Experiential Learning
"Unspoken Agreements": Perceived Acceptability of Couples HIV Testing and Counseling (CHTC) Among Cisgender Men with Transgender Women Partners.

Transgender women (TW) are one of the highest risk groups for HIV infection globally; however, the HIV testing needs of their cisgender (non-transgender) male partners remain largely unknown. This study sought to examine the perceived acceptability of couples HIV testing and counseling (CHTC) for TW-male dyads from the perspective of cisgender men who partner with TW. Between September 2016 and June 2017, 19 cisgender men (mean age = 40.1, SD = 12.8) who currently have, or have ever had a TW partner completed an in-depth semi-structured phone interview and brief survey to gather data on acceptability of CHTC, as well as perceived barriers and facilitators to CHTC for TW-male couples. Qualitative data were thematically analyzed and integrated with survey data. Acceptability of CHTC was high in the sample (89.5%) but was complex and largely contingent on: (1) monogamy and commitment as critical precursors to CHTC acceptability; (2) risk perception and level of comfort with CHTC; (3) understandings of sexual agreements; and (4) personal relationships versus other TW-male relationships. Findings have implications for culturally-adapting and implementing CHTC in real-world settings for TW-male couples, as well as for meeting the individual HIV testing needs of cisgender men who partner with TW.
1.11 – Primary Radiation Damage Formation

The physical processes that give rise to changes in the microstructure and the physical and mechanical properties of materials exposed to energetic particles are initiated by essentially elastic collisions between atoms in what has been called an atomic displacement cascade . The formation and evolution of this primary radiation damage mechanism are described to provide an overview of how stable defects are formed by displacement cascades, as well as the nature and morphology of the defects themselves. The impact of the primary variables cascade energy and irradiation temperature are discussed, along with a range of secondary factors that can influence damage formation.
Multidrug-resistant viridans streptococcus (MDRVS) osteomyelitis of the mandible successfully treated with moxifloxacin

Multidrug-resistant viridans group streptococcus (MDRVS) strains have emerged as important pathogens. Treatment of MDRVS infections is problematic. The use of fluoroquinolones for treatment of MDRVS osteomyelitis has not been established. We present the first case of MDRVS osteomyelitis of the mandible successfully treated with sequential intravenous then oral moxifloxacin, and review the literature on the subject.
Issues and Initiatives in the Testing Process in Primary Care Physician Offices

Article-at-a-Glance Background Errors occur frequently in management of the testing process in primary care physicians' offices. These errors may result in significant harm to patients and lead to inefficient practice. Important issues are summarized for primary care clinicians and their offices to consider in improving the management of the testing processes. Methods To identify published efforts to improve management of the testing process, a literature search was performed, and the references from the identified articles were checked for additional studies. Descriptive studies, expert opinion pieces, and controlled trials were all included. Unpublished results of ongoing studies in laboratory testing errors in primary care practice are presented. Results A conceptual model of the testing process was developed, with identified general and specific errors that occur in the testing process. On the basis largely of descriptive studies, ways are described to reduce testing process errors and the harm resulting from these errors. Conclusions Standardization of processes, computerized test tracking systems (especially those embedded in electronic medical records), and attention to human factors issues are likely to reduce errors and harm. These ideas need confirmation in well-designed randomized trials and quality improvement initiatives.
Hedge Funds: Issues and Studies

This chapter provides an overview of the characteristics of hedge funds and the academic literature on them. By limiting their investors and their marketing efforts, hedge funds are exempt from most of the major securities acts adopted by the United States over the past 75 years. Because disclosures by hedge funds are voluntary, there exist serious challenges to those who analyze hedge fund performance results and trading strategies. Some of the interesting findings about these funds are as follows: (1) Many hedge funds undertake significantly more aggressive/risky trading strategies than those adopted by other investment companies; (2) the contingent incentive fee structure employed by hedge funds can lead to significantly more income for their managers than managers of other investment companies per dollar of performance; (3) the after-fee performance of hedge funds does not appear to be significantly different from that of other investment companies; and (4) there is no conclusive evidence that hedge funds have exacerbated (or caused) any of the significant worldwide financial crises during the past 25 years.
Maternal obesity is not associated with placental lipid accumulation in women with high omega-3 fatty acid levels.

Abstract Introduction Placentas of obese women have higher lipid content compared to lean women. We have previously shown that supplementation of overweight and obese women with omega-3 fatty acids decreases placental esterification pathways and total lipid content in a mid-western population (Ohio). We hypothesized that placental lipid accumulation and inflammation would be similar between lean and obese women living in a region of high omega-3 intake, such as Hawaii. Methods Fifty-five healthy, normal glucose tolerant women from Honolulu Hawaii, dichotomized based on pre-pregnancy BMI into lean (BMI 30 kg/m2, n = 26), were recruited at scheduled term cesarean delivery. Maternal plasma DHA levels were analyzed by mass spectrometry. Expression of key genes involved in fatty acid oxidation and esterification were measured in placental tissue using qPCR. Total lipids were extracted from placental tissue via the Folch method. TNF-α concentration was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in placental lysates. Results DHA levels were higher in lean women compared to obese women (P = 0.02). However, DHA levels in obese women in Hawaii were eight times higher compared to obese Ohioan women (P= 0.05) between lean and obese women in Hawaii. Furthermore, TNF-α placental lysates were not different between lean and obese women. Conclusions Though obese women in Hawaii have lower DHA levels compared to their lean counterparts, these levels remain over eight times as high as obese Ohioan women. These relatively high plasma omega-3 levels in obese women in Hawaii may suppress placental lipid esterification/storage and inflammation to the same levels of lean women, as seen previously in vitro.
City-Wide Eco-Routing Navigation Considering Vehicular Communication Impacts

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSs) utilize Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks (VANETs) to collect, disseminate, and share data with the Traffic Management Center (TMC) and different actuators. Consequently, packet drop and delay in VANETs can significantly impact ITS performance. Feedback-based eco-routing (FB-ECO) is a promising ITS technology, which is expected to reduce vehicle fuel/energy consumption and pollutant emissions by routing drivers through the most environmentally friendly routes. To compute these routes, the FB-ECO utilizes VANET communication to update link costs in real-time, based on the experiences of other vehicles in the system. In this paper, we study the impact of vehicular communication on FB-ECO navigation performance in a large-scale real network with realistic calibrated traffic demand data. We conduct this study at different market penetration rates and different congestion levels. We start by conducting a sensitivity analysis of the market penetration rate on the FB-ECO system performance, and its network-wide impacts considering ideal communication. Subsequently, we study the impact of the communication network on system performance for different market penetration levels, considering the communication system. The results demonstrate that, for market penetration levels less than 30%, the eco-routing system performs adequately in both the ideal and realistic communication scenarios. It also shows that, for realistic communication, increasing the market penetration rate results in a network-wide degradation of the system performance.
Switching-Sequence Control of a Higher Order Power-Electronic System Driving a Pulsating Load

In a conventional linear-control design of a higher order power-electronic system (PES), the gains of the control laws are typically determined by small-signal analysis of the averaged model of the PES. The closed-loop control of such a PES (driving a pulsating load that periodically shifts the equilibrium) using its small-signal model is often found to be unsatisfactory with regard to the overall stability and performance. To address the challenges in control design for a PES driving such a nonlinear time-varying pulsating load, this paper delineates an optimal switching-sequence-based control (SBC) scheme, which applies stability-bound switching sequence(s) to the PES. A novel method has been formulated to ensure the reachability of the PES dynamics based on its switching sequence in terms of the time horizon of the switching sequence and the allocation of this time among the switching states of the same switching sequence. This is ascertained by modeling the PES and the pulsating load as a nonlinear map and then using this map and multiple Lyapunov functions determined by solving a set of linear-matrix inequalities corresponding to each of the switching states of a given switching sequence. It has been further shown that the knowledge of the stability bounds of a reachable switching sequence helps in reducing the online computation time for optimal SBC associated with solving the optimization problem by reducing the overall search space. Finally, to validate the optimal SBC, an experimental GaN-FET-based 100-kHz Cuk-PES has been fabricated and tested on a pulsating load. The overall SBC is implemented on a low-cost TMS320F28335 DSP, which also implements an observer to preclude the need for plurality of sensors for the higher order Cuk-PES. The overall performance of the SBC is found to be satisfactory under varied dynamical conditions.
Skill Proficiency is Predicted by Intubation Frequency of Emergency Medicine Attending Physicians.

Author(s): Gillett, Brian; Saloum, David; Aghera, Amish; Marshall, John P. | Abstract: Introduction: Airway management is a fundamental skill of emergency medicine (EM) practice, and suboptimal management leads to poor outcomes. Endotracheal intubation (ETI) is a procedure that is specifically taught in residency, but little is known how best to maintain proficiency in this skill throughout the practitioner’s career. The goal of this study was to identify how the frequency of intubation correlated with measured performance.Methods: We assessed 44 emergency physicians for proficiency at ETI by direct laryngoscopy on a simulator. The electronic health record was then queried to obtain their average number of annual ETIs and the time since their last ETI, supervised and individually performed, over a two-year period. We evaluated the strength of correlation between these factors and assessment scores, and then conducted a receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to identify factors that predicted proficient performance.Results: The mean score was 81% (95% confidence interval, 76% - 86%). Scores correlated well with the mean number of ETIs performed annually and with the mean number supervised annually (r = 0.6, p = 0.001 for both). ROC curve analysis identified that physicians would obtain a proficient score if they had performed an average of at least three ETIs annually (sensitivity = 90%, specificity = 64%, AUC = 0.87, p = 0.001) or supervised an average of at least five ETIs annually (sensitivity = 90%, specificity = 59%, AUC = 0.81, p = 0.006) over the previous two years.Conclusion: Performing at least three or supervising at least five ETIs annually, averaged over a two-year period, predicted proficient performance on a simulation-based skills assessment. We advocate for proactive maintenance and enhancement of skills, particularly for those who infrequently perform this procedure
Titanium Nitride Nanotubes Electrodes for Chronic Neural Stimulation

For the first time, this paper presents corrosion resistant and high-capacity implantable titanium nitride (TiN) nanotubes electrodes for the application of neural probes. Traditionally, the TiN electrodes are prepared using reactive sputtering techniques and have limited surface areas. To research smaller electrodes to minimize tissue damage, high aspect ratio TiN nanotube structures with high surface areas were fabricated using electrochemical anodization of Ti wires followed by high-temperature nitration. The specific charge capacity of nanoporous TiN was found proportionally with the surface area and pore size. Compared to tungsten electrode, the impedance and morphology of nanoporous TiN was found stable in an accelerated stress test (at an elevated temperature in phosphorous buffered solution).
BUILDING THE ENVIRONMENT AT PALENQUE: THE SACRED POOLS OF THE PICOTA GROUP

Throughout the world, past and present, social organizations develop to cope with restricted water sources. Relying on traditional archaeology, labor estimates, and ethnographic data, the Palenque Pool Project set out to better understand a series of interconnected artificial water features located in the western sector of this Classic Maya site. Here, we detail our 2014–2015 fieldwork. First, there is consideration that the Picota Group was a civic-ceremonial center first established in the Early Classic period (a.d. 250–500), one km to the west of the “downtown” nucleus of the site. A review of labor estimates for the construction of architectural features of the Picota Group follows. We then explore the ethnographic component, comparing similar pool configurations investigated in the highland Tzotzil community of Chamula in 2015. The article concludes with a theoretical discussion of how and why social organizations evolve to manage water resources in the region, with reference to ethnographic information from highland Tzotzil communities.
Rhetorical work in emergency medical services: communicating in the unpredictable workplace: by Elizabeth Angeli, New York, NY, Routledge, 2019, 204 pp., $47.95 (paperback), $47.95 (e-book)

In an in-depth study of communication in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) field, Angeli broadens the scope of health and medical professional communication through an analysis of the high stake...
A mediação como um meio de solução pacífica de conflitos internacionais

O objetivo deste artigo e apresentar mediacao como um metodo eficaz no que se refere a resolucao de conflitos no âmbito internacional. Buscaremos trazer definicoes de mediacao, como ela e tratada na literatura contemporânea de resolucao de conflitos e apresentar os atores que lancam mao dessa metodologia de trabalho. Apresentamos a relevância da mediacao, atraves de sua alusao na Carta da Organizacao das Nacoes Unidas, bem como em Organizacoes Regionais. Sendo assim, apresentamos o lugar da mediacao nos conflitos internacionais e, por fim, trazemos o estudo de caso de um conflito em que a mediacao foi fundamental para a sua resolucao de forma pacifica. Acreditamos que o leitor certamente tera aprofundado seus conhecimentos acerca da mediacao internacional e o lugar que esta ocupa dentre os meios alternativos de resolucao de conflitos.
184 Shared risk and protective factors for crime and poor health on the street

Statement of Purpose Geographic areas with high rates of crime and violence are often the same places that evidence concentrated, chronic diseases and high morbidity and mortality rates. Yet, little is known about whether and how strategies that target crime and violence can also enhance health outcomes. We aimed to identify the shared risk and protective factors for crime and ill health on the street. Methods We used survey data from 3,738 respondents living on 449 street segments and physical observation data in Baltimore, Maryland. Mixed effects models were used to partition the variabilities of crime (i.e., general offending, violent offending, and violent victimization) and health outcomes (i.e., general perception of personal health, health limitations, and diagnoses of diseases) at the street versus community level and to identify the shared risk and protective factors on the street while controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. Results Between 3.8% and 8.3% of the total variabilities of crime outcomes are at the community level, whereas between 11.4% and 12.0% of the total variabilities of health outcomes are at the community level. Results from regression analyses (i.e., mixed effects model for each of the aforementioned outcomes) indicated that collective efficacy and police legitimacy are two of the most important shared factors when mitigating the undesirable co-occurrence of crime and ill health on the street. Conclusion The variabilities of crime and health outcomes are more at the street-segment than community level. Shared risk and protective factors exist for reducing the co-occurrence of crime and ill health on the street. Contributions to Injury and Violence Prevention Science: As members of the criminal justice and public health disciplines often work collaboratively with marginalized populations, it is imperative to address the shared risk and protective factors for public safety and health.
On Convex Relaxation-Based Distribution Locational Marginal Prices

We investigate and analyze properties of convex relaxation based prices to compensate distributed energy resources (DERs) connected to a radial distribution grid. Our main contribution is the identification of sufficient conditions under which this distribution locational marginal pricing (DLMP) mechanism supports an efficient market equilibrium and is revenue adequate. We illustrate our analysis through examples.
Dual Molecular Diagnosis of Microsporidia (Encephalitozoon hellem) Keratoconjunctivitis in an Immunocompetent Adult.

Purpose To report a case of microsporidia (Encephalitozoon hellem) keratoconjunctivitis acquired through avian transmission in an immunocompetent adult, diagnosed by metagenomic deep sequencing (MDS), and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. Methods A case report. Results An 18-year-old woman was referred with unilateral keratoconjunctivitis unresponsive to topical and systemic therapy after exposure to birdcage debris. Slit-lamp examination of the left eye revealed a follicular papillary reaction of the palpebral conjunctiva and multiple corneal punctate epithelial opacities that stained minimally with fluorescein. In vivo confocal microscopy revealed bright double-walled structures and smaller bright round structures in the superficial epithelial debris and epithelium. Molecular diagnosis with MDS of E. hellem was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. Clinical resolution and normalization of in vivo confocal microscopy was observed after a 6-week course of topical azithromycin. The patient elected a 3-week course of topical voriconazole 1% for definitive antimicrosporidial treatment, with no evidence of persistent infection 1 month later. Conclusions Microsporidial (E. hellem) keratoconjunctivitis can occur through avian transmission in immunocompetent hosts. Topical azithromycin may be effective against this pathogen. MDS has utility in the diagnosis of atypical keratoconjunctivitis.
Clinical features and laboratory diagnosis of emerging arthropod-transmitted viruses: A Report from the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology Clinical Practice Committee

Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) are an increasing global threat due to their ability to cause human disease and their expanding geographical distribution. They circulate in nature between arthropod vectors and vertebrate hosts. Infection of susceptible human hosts leads to harmful developmental and neurological manifestations. Arboviruses have caused recent outbreaks with significant public health implications, such as the Zika virus outbreak in the western hemisphere which caused fetal abnormalities in some infected pregnant women, or Eastern Equine Encephalitis which caused 15 deaths in 2019. This review discusses several arboviral infections and their clinical manifestations while highlighting the importance of laboratory diagnostics to detect infections and current attempts at vaccine development. The ability to accurately diagnose an arbovirus infection is critical for initiating a timely response to infections in order to improve patient outcomes.
Aortic remodeling and competitive flow after surgical treatment of aortic dissection

Aortic remodeling after dissection is poorly understood and remains a focus of current research. In the present report, we have described the cases of two patients with acute lower extremity ischemia related to malperfusion from aortic dissection treated with extra-anatomic axillobifemoral bypass. During long-term follow-up, aortic remodeling led to reinstitution of flow through the native aorta. This resulted in competitive flow, leading to complete thrombosis of the extra-anatomic conduits. These cases highlight the occurrence of spontaneous aortic recanalization and subsequent competitive flow, two vascular phenomena that are not well understood but can significantly affect patient outcomes.
An Examination of Redditors’ Metaphorical Sensemaking of Prenuptial Agreements

Through a reflexive thematic analysis of user-generated Reddit threads and a sensemaking lens, this study investigated how people made sense of prenuptial agreements through metaphors. Some posters framed prenuptial agreements as undesirable, antithetical to marriage’s purpose (comparing them to escape or back up plans and harbingers of doubt). However, most viewed prenups as beneficial, conceptualizing them as a safety net (a form of insurance or prevention) or essential contract. Redditors’ understanding of prenups provides valuable insight into how people rationalize something that remains taboo and stigmatized in society, despite potential benefits to people’s interpersonal and financial well-being. As metaphors guide individuals’ everyday thinking and behaviors, prenuptial agreement sensemaking can inform how stigma can be affected through people’s narratives, as well as the power of metaphor to influence and alter people’s thoughts, actions, and identities. The findings both underscore the need to destigmatize prenuptial agreements in order to encourage premarital conversations about money and inform several implications for practice and policy.
GIS-based multi-criteria decision analysis of utility-scale wind farm site suitability in West Virginia

Worldwide, demand is increasing for renewable energy. While wind power is a proven, sustainable energy source, siting can be challenging. Identifying potential sites for wind turbines is a significant step in renewable energy resource planning. Wind turbine site suitability is primarily dependent upon location wind speed along with other economical, environmental and social factors. It is critical to arrive at robust wind farm decision to improve public acceptance, preserve the environment, and assure economic viability. This study provides a modelling approach that incorporates expert opinions of siting criteria in determining potential locations for wind farms in the state of West Virginia. The research involved a two-stage holistic approach: (1) a multi-criteria decision analysis—Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and (2) Geographic Information System assessment of sites. This research builds upon previous studies and contributes to the literature by incorporating two important components: (1) inclusion of critical wildlife habitat for birds and bats as an elimination criterion within the AHP, and (2) the participation by wind power experts in the AHP decision-making process for the utility-scale wind farm suitability modeling. By incorporating expert opinions with weighing of ten siting factors, about 70,000 hectares of land are identified as 'highly suitable' for wind power development throughout the state of West Virginia. This area represents the potential to yield an estimated 29,000 MW of future utility-scale wind power capacity, which is larger than the current coal dominated electricity generation capacity in West Virginia.
Hard Cases Make Bad Law? A Theoretical Investigation

I use formal models to probe the aphorism that “hard cases make bad law.” The analysis illuminates important features of the common law process, especially the influence of case characteristics on lawmaking and the role of strategic litigators. When a case raises concerns that are not reflected in doctrine, the court might distort the law to avoid a hardship. Distortion is more likely when the case is important or the facts are close to the border of legality. Litigators may exploit courts’ attention to extra-doctrinal concerns by strategically selecting cases for litigation. Surprisingly, though, a strategic litigator improves lawmaking relative to random case selection--even when her preferences are far from the ideal rule--if her influence over case selection is modest. The effect is more nuanced when the strategic litigator has greater selection power. Finally, the analysis incorporates a judicial hierarchy with asymmetric information and factfinding discretion.
Antarctic Marine Geology: Antarctica's Environment

This chapter introduces the reader to the various components of Antarctica's glacial, atmospheric, and oceanographic environment. It is not intended as an in-depth treatment of these subjects. Rather, this chapter is intended to provide marine geologists with sufficient information to focus on and solve problems related to sedimentary processes and to examine the stratigraphic record as it relates to changes in the Antarctic environment. It is also intended to provide the information needed to plan and execute successful marine geologic and geophysical expeditions. ANTARCTICA's ROLE IN THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT Isolated from other continents by the Southern Ocean (oceans south of ∼60° S), Antarctica is the only continent that experiences a true polar climate. The Antarctic Ice Sheet is almost as large as it was during the last glacial maximum, containing at least 80% of its previous volume (Denton and Hughes, 1981). Thus, Antarctica provides a modern setting in which to study “Ice Age” Earth. Antarctica claims a long history of Cenozoic glaciation and has played a key role in regulating world climate, oceanography, and eustasy for most of this geologic era. Antarctica's lithosphere, atmosphere, cryosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere are closely linked and have been for much of the continent's glacial history, but the continent has not always been glaciated. During the Cretaceous, the coastal regions of Antarctica supported lush, temperate forests inhabited by a wide diversity of animals. At that time, the continent was situated at a latitude similar to southern South America. As Antarctica drifted away from the other Gondwana continents and toward the south, its climate cooled and daylight hours became more seasonally distributed.
Biosynthesis of the Aspartate Family of Amino Acids

Diaminopimelate, lysine, methionine, and threonine derive most of their carbon atoms from L-aspartate, and these amino acids are therefore often referred to as the aspartate family. Their biosynthesis is effected by a complex pathway involving common intermediates from which multiple branches lead to the end products. The so-called aspartate pathway has several features that distinguish it from other pathways of amino acid biosynthesis and lend its study particular interest in the contexts of bacterial physiology and biochemical evolution. A number of different mechanisms for the control of the aspartate pathway that has evolved in the eubacteria and even within the genus Bacillus is discussed in this chapter. The primary focus of this chapter is on B. subtilis and closely related species. The aspartate pathway splits after the synthesis of aspartate semialdehyde, one branch leading to biosynthesis of diaminopimelate and lysine and the other leading to biosynthesis of threonine and methionine. The branch point enzyme homoserine dehydrogenase is the counterpart of dihydrodipicolinate synthase in controlling the utilization of aspartate semialdehyde for the biosynthesis of threonine and methionine by catalyzing the NADPH-dependent reduction of L-aspartate semialdehyde to L-homoserine. The major route for the biosynthesis of aspartate from glycolytic intermediates involves the carboxylation of pyruvate to oxaloacetate and subsequent transamination.
Performance Evaluation of Novel Strain-Engineered Ge-InGaAs Heterojunction Tunnel Field-Effect Transistors

Novel strain-engineered staggered gap Ge/In x Ga1– x As heterojunction tunnel FETs (H-TFETs) are proposed and theoretically evaluated. Modulation of the indium alloy composition at the source–channel heterointerface resulted in $18.6\times $ and $16.9\times $ enhancement in $I_{\mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle ON}}$ for n- and p-channel Ge/In x Ga1– x As H-TFETs, respectively, as compared with strained Ge homojunction TFETs (p+-Ge/i-Ge/n+-Ge). The n-type H-TFETs (p+-Ge/i-In x Ga1– x As/n+-In x Ga1– x As) exhibited superior leakage suppression due to a larger tunneling barrier at the channel–drain interface. Moreover, the p-type H-TFETs (n+-In x Ga1– x As/i-Ge/p+-Ge) demonstrated a significant enhancement in $I_{\mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle ON}}$ due to an unequal shift in the conduction band edge as a result of doping-induced bandgap narrowing. The simulated tensile-strained Ge/In x Ga1– x As H-TFETs show a great promise for ultralow-power switches with high ON-state and low OFF-state current, providing a new path for low-power complimentary TFET logic.
On the global anisotropy of cosmic ray data above 4???1019 eV

The distribution of arrival directions of ultra-high energy cosmic rays may yield clues to their mysterious origin. We introduce a method of invariant statistics to analyse cosmic ray data which eliminates coordinate-dependent artifacts. When combined with maximum likelihood analysis, the method is capable of quantifying deviations of the distribution from isotropy with high reliability. We test our method against published AGASA events with energies above 4 × 1019 eV. Angular cuts from observational limitations are taken into account. A model based on the Fisher distribution reveals the rotation of the Earth with the axis along the direction (5h 53.36m, 85.78°) in (RA, DEC) coordinates, which is within 5° of the equatorial north pole. Global anisotropy of the data, if any, hinges on finer understanding of detector acceptance than what is available from the published literature.
Geothermal Well Drilling

This chapter describes the drilling process for a more detailed and quantitative presentation. The confirmation of the optimistic outcome of the exploration phase comes with the successful drilling of the first exploratory well. Generally three wells are drilled as the first step in the field confirmation stage. The wells are sited at the most promising locations as determined by the synthesis of all the exploration studies. Geothermal fields are often remote, far from developed areas, and require significant site preparation before drilling can begin. The study further illustrates drilling operations and shows that the drilling fluid, or ‘mud’, is a critical element in the operation. One of the main problems encountered involves the loss of cement to the formation through permeable zones. There is always the risk of a blowout when drilling a geothermal well. This occurs when an unexpected, high-pressure permeable zone is encountered. Enough of these dramatic and dangerous events have happened so that there are now strict regulations in most countries on the proper safety precautions to be followed during drilling.