cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Group Theoretical Synthesis of Binary Manipulators

This paper addresses a paradigm based on binary (two-state) actuation which may lead to lower cost and higher reliability for robotic manipulators. Binary manipulators constructed from pneumatic cylinders are both light weight and inexpensive, requiring minimal feedback hardware and trivial computer interfaces. However, for the benefits of binary actuation to be realized, methods developed in the pure mathematics literature over that past thirty years must be used to make the design and inverse kinematics of these manipulators tractable. As is demonstrated, the Fourier transform of functions on the Euclidean motion group is a powerful tool which can be used to this end.
Pharmacologic manipulation of lysosomal enzyme transport across the blood–brain barrier

The adult blood-brain barrier, unlike the neonatal blood-brain barrier, does not transport lysosomal enzymes into brain, making enzyme replacement therapy ineffective in treating the central nervous system symptoms of lysosomal storage diseases. However, enzyme transport can be re-induced with alpha-adrenergics. Here, we examined agents that are known to alter the blood-brain barrier transport of large molecules or to induce lysosomal enzyme transport across the blood-brain barrier ((±)epinephrine, insulin, retinoic acid, and lipopolysaccharide) in 2-week-old and adult mice. In 2-week-old adolescent mice, all these pharmacologic agents increased brain and heart uptake of phosphorylated human β-glucuronidase. In 8-week-old adult mice, manipulations with (±)epinephrine, insulin, and retinoic acid were significantly effective on uptake by brain and heart. The increased uptake of phosphorylated human β-glucuronidase was inhibited by mannose 6-phosphate for the agents (±)epinephrine and retinoic acid and by L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester for the agent lipopolysaccharide in neonatal and adult mice. An in situ brain perfusion study revealed that retinoic acid directly modulated the transport of phosphorylated human β-glucuronidase across the blood-brain barrier. The present study indicates that there are multiple opportunities to at least transiently induce phosphorylated human β-glucuronidase transport at the adult blood-brain barrier.
Joint Synchronization and Symbol Detection Design for Pulse-Based Communications in the THz Band

Ongoing research in graphene-based nano-transceivers and nano-antennas points to the Terahertz (THz) band (0.1-10 THz) as the communication frequency range for nano-devices. Femtosecond-long pulse-based modulation schemes have been proposed to enable ultra-broadband communication among nano-devices. One of the main challenges with ultra-high-speed pulse-based communications is the need for tight symbol synchronization between transmitter and receiver. In this paper, a synchronization scheme for pulse-based THz-band communications is designed and analyzed. The proposed scheme is aimed at iteratively estimating the symbol start time and reducing the observation window length for the symbol detector. The proposed scheme is fully analog and can be implemented with a combination of voltage-controlled delay (VCD) lines and Continuous-Time Moving-Average (CTMA) symbol detectors. Closed form expressions are obtained for the number of preamble symbols needed to achieve synchronization as well as the maximum number of bits that can be transmitted before requiring re-synchronization in the presence of clock skew. Similarly, the symbol error rate of the CTMA receiver is analytically modeled as a function of the resulting observation window length. Finally, the synchronization and symbol detection impact on the achievable throughput is studied. The developed scheme is experimentally tested with measured THz pulses and its performance is numerically investigated. The results show how the proposed scheme can successfully estimate the symbol start time and minimize the symbol error rate with less than ten synchronization preamble bits.
A DesignOriented SemiAnalytical Emissions Predict ion Method for Gas Turbine Combustors

A set of physics-based and empirical equations are used to size a gas turbine combustor for take-off condition. A one dimensional analysis is performed to obtain a simple internal flow field model of the combustor and based on that a network of elementary chemical reactors created to model the combustion process. The model is executed for four ICAO engine power settings of idle, take-off, climb and approach to determine the level of )Ox and CO emissions. A combustion mechanism of aviation fuel (Jet-A) is provided to be used by the network of reactors and combustion analysis.
NI-66COLOR CODED MAPS OF WHITE MATTER TRACTS: NO NEED FOR TRACTOGRAPHY

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: White matter tracts can be observed using tractograms generated from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). However, the dependence of these tract images on subjective variables, including how seed points are placed and the preferred level of fractional anisotropy, introduces interobserver inconsistency and potential lack of reliability. We propose that color coded maps (CCM) generated from DTI can be a preferred method for the visualization of important white matter tracts. METHODS: DTI was acquired in 25 patients with brain tumors. Lesions included 15 tumors of glial origin, 9 metastatic tumors, two meningiomas, and one cavernous angioma. Tractograms of the pyramidal and/or optic radiations, based on tumor location, were created by marking seed regions of interest using known anatomical locations. We compared the degree of tract involvement and white matter alteration between CCMs and tractograms. Neurological outcomes were obtained from chart reviews. RESULTS: The pyramidal tract was evaluated in 20/25 patients, the visual tracts were evaluated in 10/25, and both tracts were evaluated in 5/25. In 19/25 studies, the same patterns of white matter alternations were found between the CCM and tractograms. In the 6 patients where patterns differed, 2 tractograms were not useful in determining pattern alteration; in the remaining 4/6, no practical difference was seen in comparing the studies. Two patients were lost to follow up. Thirteen patients were neurologically improved or remained intact after intervention. In these, 10 of the 13 patients showed displaced white matter tracts on CCM. Twelve patients had no improvement of their preoperative deficit. In 9 of these 12 patients, CCM showed white matter disruption. CONCLUSION: CCMs provide a convenient, practical, and objective method of visualizing white matter tracts, obviating the need for potentially subjective and time-consuming tractography. CCMs are at least as reliable as tractograms in predicting neurological outcomes after neurosurgical intervention.
Our Social Work Imagination: How Social Work Has Not Abandoned Its Mission

Abstract The aim of this article is to present the case for social work, the case that the old truths and fighting spirit of an earlier day-our social work imagination-live on, even in the face of uncaring economic forces and resurrected punitiveness. Sustained by an idealism as old as humankind, members of the profession continue to advocate for the poor, the sick, and the oppressed.
Tris-[8]annulenyl Isocyanurate Trianion Triradical and Hexa-anion from the Alkali Metal Reduction of [8]Annulenyl Isocyanate.

The solution phase alkali metal reduction of [8]annulenyl isocyanate (C8H7NCO) yields an EPR spectrum, which reveals electron couplings to seven protons and only one nitrogen. Although this strongly suggested that the C8H7NCO anion radical was generated, experiments on the oxidized product reveal the actual reduced species to be tris-[8]annulenyl isocyanurate. Unlike the previously studied phenyl isocyanurate anion radical, the unpaired electron(s) is now localized within an [8]annulenyl moiety. Further exposure to metal results in the formation of an equilibrium mixture of trianion triradical and trianion radical species. The cyclotrimerization to form the isocyanurate is proposed to be driven by a reactive C8H7NCO dianion, which is produced from the large equilibrium disproportionation of the anion radical. Exhaustive reduction of the tris-[8]annulenyl isocyanurate with potassium in THF generates the first-ever observed hexa-anion of an isocyanurate. NMR analysis reveals that the polarity of the carbony...
Further study and characterization of the yellow pigments in follicular fluid that are related to oocyte quality.

Objective To characterize the 455-nm (yellow) absorbing pigments in human follicular fluid (FF). Design Serum and FF samples obtained from patients undergoing in vitro fertilization were analyzed for carotenoids, bilirubin, and β -glucuronidase concentrations. Spectrophotometric analysis in the visible spectrum was performed on FF samples, and the ΔOD 455 absorbance was calculated. Results Thin-layer chromatography confirmed the presence of β -carotene and bilirubin in FF. The mean (±SD) contribution of bilirubin and carotenoids to the FF ΔOD 455 absorbance was 64%±9.6% and 22.7%±12.1%, respectively. Bilirubin fractions in serum and FF samples were then compared. The median unconjugated bilirubin concentration in FF was lower than that in the serum (0.130 versus 0.288mg/dL; P P =0.0018). β -Glucuronidase levels in the FF were significantly lower when compared with serum concentrations. Conclusions Bilirubin is the major contributor to the FF 455-nm spectrophotometric peak. The higher levels of conjugated bilirubin noted in the FF could in part be explained by the lower levels of β -glucuronidase.
Sporadic Gene Loss After Duplication Is Associated with Functional Divergence of Sirtuin Deacetylases Among Candida Yeast Species

Gene duplication promotes the diversification of protein functions in several ways. Ancestral functions can be partitioned between the paralogs, or a new function can arise in one paralog. These processes are generally viewed as unidirectional. However, paralogous proteins often retain related functions and can substitute for one another. Moreover, in the event of gene loss, the remaining paralog might regain ancestral functions that had been shed. To explore this possibility, we focused on the sirtuin deacetylase SIR2 and its homolog HST1 in the CTG clade of yeasts. HST1 has been consistently retained throughout the clade, whereas SIR2 is only present in a subset of species. These NAD+-dependent deacetylases generate condensed chromatin that represses transcription and stabilizes tandemly repeated sequences. By analyzing phylogenetic trees and gene order, we found that a single duplication of the SIR2/HST1 gene occurred, likely prior to the emergence of the CTG clade. This ancient duplication was followed by at least two independent losses of SIR2 Functional characterization of Sir2 and Hst1 in three species revealed that these proteins have not maintained consistent functions since the duplication. In particular, the rDNA locus is deacetylated by Sir2 in Candida albicans, by Hst1 in C. lusitaniae, and by neither paralog in C. parapsilosis In addition, the subtelomeres in C. albicans are deacetylated by Sir2 rather than by Hst1, which is orthologous to the sirtuin associated with Saccharomyces cerevisiae subtelomeres. These differences in function support the model that sirtuin deacetylases can regain ancestral functions to compensate for gene loss.
Implementation of a Value-Driven Outcomes Program to Identify High Variability in Clinical Costs and Outcomes and Association With Reduced Cost and Improved Quality

Importance Transformation of US health care from volume to value requires meaningful quantification of costs and outcomes at the level of individual patients. Objective To measure the association of a value-driven outcomes tool that allocates costs of care and quality measures to individual patient encounters with cost reduction and health outcome optimization. Design, Setting, and Participants Uncontrolled, pre-post, longitudinal, observational study measuring quality and outcomes relative to cost from 2012 to 2016 at University of Utah Health Care. Clinical improvement projects included total hip and knee joint replacement, hospitalist laboratory utilization, and management of sepsis. Exposures Physicians were given access to a tool with information about outcomes, costs (not charges), and variation and partnered with process improvement experts. Main Outcomes and Measures Total and component inpatient and outpatient direct costs across departments; cost variability for Medicare severity diagnosis related groups measured as coefficient of variation (CV); and care costs and composite quality indexes. Results From July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2015, there were 1.7 million total patient visits, including 34 000 inpatient discharges. Professional costs accounted for 24.3% of total costs for inpatient episodes ($114.4 million of $470.4 million) and 41.9% of total costs for outpatient visits ($231.7 million of $553.1 million). For Medicare severity diagnosis related groups with the highest total direct costs, cost variability was highest for postoperative infection (CV = 1.71) and sepsis (CV = 1.37) and among the lowest for organ transplantation (CV ≤ 0.43). For total joint replacement, a composite quality index was 54% at baseline (n = 233 encounters) and 80% 1 year into the implementation (n = 188 encounters) (absolute change, 26%; 95% CI, 18%-35%; P P P P P = .02). Conclusions and Relevance Implementation of a multifaceted value-driven outcomes tool to identify high variability in costs and outcomes in a large single health care system was associated with reduced costs and improved quality for 3 selected clinical projects. There may be benefit for individual physicians to understand actual care costs (not charges) and outcomes achieved for individual patients with defined clinical conditions.
Research Needs for Biologically Based Risk Assessment

Because of gaps in our current scientific understanding of the cancer-causing process, human risk assessment for chemicals which have demonstrated carcinogenicity in rodents requires the use of a series of judgmental decisions on numerous unresolved scientific issues. Major assumptions are based on the necessity to extrapolate experimental results (1) across species from mice or rats to humans, (2) from the high-dose regions to which animals are exposed in the laboratory to the low-dose regions to which humans are exposed in the environment, and (3) across routes of administration.
An Expanded Retrospective Review of Trocar Site Hernias in Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass Patients

Abstract Background: Trocar site hernias (TSH) are reported in 0.3% to 5.4% of laparoscopic cases, depending on diameter and type. Most occur with trocars over 10 mm in diameter. Some recommend routine fascial closure, but this requires time, costs, pain, and increased infection rates. All prior series are based on clinical presentation alone. We examined the possibly underreported prevalence of asymptomatic TSH on postoperative computed tomography (CT) scans in a series of laparoscopic gastric bypass (LGBP) patients with unclosed port site fascia. Materials and Methods: After Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, a retrospective review of all patients undergoing LGBP at our center from 2005 to 2014 was performed. All procedures were performed using dilating optical trocars up to 12 mm diameter, placed above the arcuate line. No fascial closures were performed. Any patients undergoing abdominal CT scanning for any reason in the study period were included; patients who had undergone a separate laparos...
Understanding Preschool Children’s Reported Knowledge of Food, Nutrition, and Health

Early childhood is recognized as a key time period in the prevention of overweight and obesity. The knowledge young children gain about food and its health benefits for the body may impact their dietary choices and preferences later in life. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the nutrition knowledge of young children. A total of 26 children participated in a one-on-one interview with the researcher. Among five common food items, most children were able to label the food items, but fewer children were able to successfully place them into food groups (e.g., MyPlate). Children also were able to describe the food, but they did not accurately report what benefit the food was to the body. The results suggest the need to reinforce child-centered nutrition education appropriate for young children’s cognitive development.
Associations between stress biology indicators and overweight across toddlerhood.

Abstract Biological stress responses are proposed as a pathway through which stress exposure can “get under the skin” and lead to health problems, specifically obesity. Yet, it is not clear when such associations may emerge or whether they are bidirectional. Cortisol and salivary alpha amylase (sAA) were considered indicators of the biological stress response. We tested the longitudinal association between cortisol and sAA and weight in 215 low-income children at ages 21, 27, and 33 months (52% male; 46% non-Hispanic white). sAA and cortisol intercept and slope (representing morning level and rate of change across the day) were calculated for each age point using random effect models. Children were weighed and length measured and categorized as overweight versus normal weight (overweight defined as weight-for-length z-score ≥85th percentile for age and sex). Cross-lagged models stratified by sex and controlling for birthweight z-score tested the concurrent and cross-lagged associations between each of 4 indices of stress biology individually (cortisol and sAA intercept and slope) and overweight. Overweight status was correlated across time. Cortisol and sAA were correlated across occasions of measurement, though somewhat less strongly in boys. There were no concurrent associations between stress indicators and overweight. sAA at 27 months predicted greater risk of overweight at 33 months in girls, such that both lower sAA intercept and more rapidly increasing sAA at 27 months predicted greater risk of overweight at 33 months (β = −0.64, p
Investigation of inherent differences between oxide supports in heterogeneous catalysis in the absence of structural variations

Abstract Oxide supports in heterogeneous catalysts can profoundly influence the catalytic properties of the metal or alloy active phase. Supports prepared by conventional methods can have not only different chemical properties but also different structural properties depending on the oxide. These structural differences can in turn affect the dispersion, distribution, and accessibility of the active phase. In this study, we apply an atomically-controlled synthesis method to isolate the effects arising from the different chemical properties of three oxide supports – titania, alumina and silica – used in Rh catalysts for syngas conversion reactions. We perform atomic layer deposition of titania and alumina to chemically modify the surface of silica gel, without changing its structural characteristics such as surface area and porosity. An inverse catalyst structure is also fabricated by depositing titania and alumina as overlayers onto silica-supported Rh. Titania is found to increase syngas conversion activity and higher hydrocarbon selectivity as both a support layer and an overlayer. An alumina support layer increases Rh nanoparticle dispersion and activity whereas an alumina overlayer decreases the activity of Rh. No significant increase in higher oxygenate selectivity was observed with either titania or alumina.
A method of extracting speed-dependent vector correlations from 2 + 1 REMPI ion images

We present analytical expressions for extracting Dixon's bipolar moments in the semi-classical limit from experimental anisotropy parameters of sliced or reconstructed non-sliced images. The current method focuses on images generated by 2 + 1 REMPI (Resonance Enhanced Multi-photon Ionization) and is a necessary extension of our previously published 1 + 1 REMPI equations. Two approaches for applying the new equations, direct inversion and forward convolution, are presented. As demonstration of the new method, bipolar moments were extracted from images of carbonyl sulfide (OCS) photodissociation at 230 nm and NO2 photodissociation at 355 nm, and the results are consistent with previous publications.
Focal Neurologic Deficits in Adults After Global Hypoxia-Ischemia and Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

P243 Introduction: Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation, or ECMO, provides cardiopulmonary support in critically ill patients with reversible cardiac or respiratory disease processes. Neurologic sequelae after ECMO have been well-studied in infants, but have not been evaluated in adults. We investigated the incidence of focal neurologic deficits in adults after global hypoxia-ischemia and ECMO as reported by the survivors or as seen on physical examination of the survivors. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of all adult patients who received ECMO urgently between 12/95 and 1/99. Fifty-nine percent of the survivors were contacted to participate in a telephone survey regarding neurologic symptoms and quality of life measures, including a Barthel Index. One survivor declined to participate. Results: During the time period of 12/95 to 1/99, 86 adult patients received ECMO urgently at the University of Michigan, 42 patients survived the hospitalization, and 44 patients died. Of the 42 survivors, 7 were lost to followup, and 8 died at a later date, with a mean length of survival after the ECMO hospitalization of 17 months. The mean age of the ECMO survivors was 38 (18–72), racial distribution was 66% white, 27% black, and 7% unknown or other. The survivors were 58% male and 42% female. Underlying diagnoses requiring ECMO support were 85% respiratory, and 15% cardiac. Average length of followup was 36.5 months. Of those contacted, 39% reported at least one neurologic symptom, moderately to severely disabling, that was new since the hospitalization during which ECMO occurred. Those symptoms are as follows: 13% unilateral weakness in face and/or body, 13% difficulty with language, 17% difficulty walking, and 9% blurred or double vision. All patients reported a completely independent Barthel Index score. Conclusions: A significant proportion of adult survivors of global hypoxia-ischemia and ECMO report neurologic deficits that are at least moderately disabling which are new since receiving ECMO. Of these deficits, problems with ambulation were the most common. Physical examinations are planned to further investigate these findings.
International business research output and rankings of Asia-Pacific universities: A 40-year time-series analysis

This study measures and ranks the performance of countries and academic institutions based on a 40-year analysis of publications appearing in 14 leading business and management journals. The focus is on the evolution of Asia-Pacific institutions in international business research output during this period. In addition, an examination is performed to identify factors associated with Asia-Pacific institutions that have achieved the highest rankings. This research shows that the Journal of International Business Studies and the Journal of World Business were central in spreading international business research, as well as in supporting research by authors from the Asia-Pacific region. Further, schools such as Harvard, Wharton, and University of South Carolina have maintained the highest ranks in research output throughout the 40-year period, but recent years have witnessed the emergence of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and University of Hong Kong, among others, in those top ranks.
Gender differences in sleep symptoms after repeat concussions.

Abstract Objectives There are notable gender differences in concussion as well as sleep. Sleep disturbance is a major symptom of post-concussive syndrome. The interplay between sleep disturbance, concussion, and gender has yet to be examined. The objective of this study was to determine whether sleep disturbance plays a role in the known gender differences associated with concussion. Methods Males and females (ages 10–35 years) completed a pre-concussion and post-concussion evaluation. Levels of sleep disturbance were assessed at baseline (N = 1284), after first concussion (N = 432) and after repeated concussions (one or more concussions, N = 296). Sleep disturbance levels were also compared among males and females with headaches, mood changes, and cognitive dysfunction. Analyses included group comparisons and correlations of post-concussive symptoms and cognitive dysfunction, respectively. Data was adjusted for age. Results Compared to males, females reported higher levels of sleep disturbance after a single concussion; however, levels of sleep disturbance equalized after repeated concussions. Females with higher levels of sleep disturbance had more headaches and more mood changes requiring medical treatment, compared to males. In addition, sleep disturbance was more strongly correlated with cognitive dysfunction in females compared to males. Conclusion Gender differences in concussion recovery after repeat concussions may be primarily due to a difference in sleep disturbance between the genders. This difference in sleep appears to moderate the levels of other post-concussive symptoms. This indicates that sleep disturbance should be closely monitored and treated in females after a concussion. Further studies are required to determine the underlying reasons for these gender differences.
Therapeutic Antibody-Like Immunoconjugates against Tissue Factor with the Potential to Treat Angiogenesis-Dependent as Well as Macrophage-Associated Human Diseases

Accumulating evidence suggests that tissue factor (TF) is selectively expressed in pathological angiogenesis-dependent as well as macrophage-associated human diseases. Pathological angiogenesis, the formation of neovasculature, is involved in many clinically significant human diseases, notably cancer, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), endometriosis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Macrophage is involved in the progression of a variety of human diseases, such as atherosclerosis and viral infections (human immunodeficiency virus, HIV and Ebola). It is well documented that TF is selectively expressed on angiogenic vascular endothelial cells (VECs) in these pathological angiogenesis-dependent human diseases and on disease-associated macrophages. Under physiology condition, TF is not expressed by quiescent VECs and monocytes but is solely restricted on some cells (such as pericytes) that are located outside of blood circulation and the inner layer of blood vessel walls. Here, we summarize TF expression on angiogenic VECs, macrophages and other diseased cell types in these human diseases. In cancer, for example, the cancer cells also overexpress TF in solid cancers and leukemia. Moreover, our group recently reported that TF is also expressed by cancer-initiating stem cells (CSCs) and can serve as a novel oncotarget for eradication of CSCs without drug resistance. Furthermore, we review and discuss two generations of TF-targeting therapeutic antibody-like immunoconjugates (ICON and L-ICON1) and antibody-drug conjugates that are currently being tested in preclinical and clinical studies for the treatment of some of these human diseases. If efficacy and safety are proven in current and future clinical trials, TF-targeting immunoconjugates may provide novel therapeutic approaches with potential to broadly impact the treatment regimen of these significant angiogenesis-dependent, as well as macrophage-associated, human diseases.
Limited dissent: commentary article on ‘Accounts and rebuttals in Israeli discourse of dissent’

Does dissent have a limit? If so, by whom, for what or how is such a limit established? The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) and the Occupation of the Palestinian Territories (OPT) of the West Bank and ...
Mangrove carbon assessment tool: Model validation and assessment of mangroves in southern USA and Mexico

While mangroves are widely recognized as a significant carbon (C) reservoir and the valued ecosystem services are inextricably linked to the C stocks and fluxes. Modeling tools haven't been available to simulate C dynamics in mangroves to inform assessments, Monitoring, Reporting and Verification for REDD+, or management and restoration prescriptions. The process-based model MCAT-DNDC (Mangrove-Carbon-Assessment-Tool-DeNitrification-DeComposition) was validated using measurements from sites in Quintana Roo, Mexico and Florida, USA. The validated model was then applied to model C sequestration in mangroves sites in Texas, Louisiana and Florida that had measured data for comparison. The model validation against aboveground biomass (AGB) showed that the simulation provided good agreement with observations with a proper slope (1.06) and small intercept (1.32 Mg ha−1, about 1.4% of observed mean); the model performance efficiency for assessing AGB was high (R2 = 0.99). Among ten C pools and fluxes validated using data from the Everglades National Park, eight components were in good agreement with the observations, and two were within the range of observation; demonstrating effective model performance (R2 > 0.95). The metrics from the model validation showed that MCAT-DNDC can be used to estimate C sequestration in mangroves within the coastal areas along Gulf of Mexico and Mexican Caribbean with good model performance. Simulated C dynamics for plots in Texas, Louisiana and Florida showed that the relationship between above-ground biomass and stand age was non-linear, and that gross and net primary productivity increased logarithmically with stand age. The differences in C components among the sites exhibited the effects of ecological drivers on C sequestration in mangroves. Simulations also demonstrated that the model may be useful in considering the effect of forest management on C sequestration. The model appears to be stable and sufficiently robust to warrant further testing with additional data and across a variety of sites.
Coding Marital and Family Interaction

Despite the truth of Yogi Berra’s redundant statement, the study of the family via direct observation is a relatively recent event. The foundations of research on the family were sociological in origin and often employed large-sample self-report questionnaires to uncover relations within the family, as well as between the family and other social institutions. In a rather sweeping judgment, Straus (1964) cast doubt on the validity of research based on self-report measures: “Because of the great importance to both the individual and the society of ‘good families’ all measurement techniques based on self-report are suspect” (p. 369). Researchers are attracted to self-report measures because they are inexpensive to administer and may appear to be more useful than prudent evaluation would suggest. Many self-report instruments simply do not provide a valid assessment of the family variable(s) of interest to family researchers (e.g., family power). However, some variables, such as marital and family satisfaction, appear to be reliably and validly measured by self-report variables, as are other perceptual variables (e.g., perceived social support received from family relationships).
Near-space operation of compact CsI, CLYC, and CeBr3 sensors: Results from two high-altitude balloon flights

Abstract Three different types of gamma-ray sensors (CsI, CLYC, and CeBr3) were flown on balloon flights as hosted payloads. Two CsI sensors were flown from a September 2014 flight from Fort Sumner, New Mexico for 18 h; CLYC and CeBr3 sensors were flown from Antarctica in December 2016 for 22 days. The data from these flights were used to test and characterize the operation of these sensors in a near-space environment. All sensors returned excellent data. Gamma rays, neutrons, and energetic galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) were measured. Expected atmospheric features, such as the Regener–Pfotzer maximum, were observed, and gamma-ray line emission from materials near the sensors, as well as atmospheric oxygen and nitrogen, were detected. The measured data were compared to simulations of energetic protons, neutrons, and 0.511 MeV gamma rays produced by GCR interactions with the atmosphere. While the simulated protons and neutrons generally matched the data, there were fewer simulated 0.511 MeV gamma rays than measured with the data. This mismatch is likely due to additional 0.511 MeV gamma rays produced in material near the sensors that were not taken into account in the simulations. Discussion is provided for how these types of measurements in space-based missions can be used to characterize upper atmospheric densities at planets with dense atmospheres like the Earth.
Low Latency Detection of Sparse False Data Injections in Smart Grids

We study low-latency detections of sparse false data injection attacks in power grids, where an adversary can maliciously manipulate power grid operations by modifying measurements at a small number of smart meters. When a power grid is under attack, the detection delay, which is defined as the time difference between the occurrence and detection of the attack, is critical to power grid operations. A shorter detection delay can shorten the response time, thus prevent catastrophic impacts from the attack. The objective of this paper is to develop low-latency false data detection algorithms that can minimize the detection delay subject to constraints on false alarm probability. The false data injection can be modeled with a sparse attack vector, with each non-zero element corresponding to one meter under attack. Since neither the support nor the values of the sparse attack vector is known, a new orthogonal matching pursuit cumulative sum (OMP-CUSUM) algorithm is proposed to identify the meters under attack while minimizing the detection delay. In order to recover the support of the sparse vector, we develop a new stopping condition for the iterative OMP algorithm by analyzing the statistical properties of the power grid measurements. Theoretical analysis and simulation results show that the proposed OMP-CUSUM algorithm can efficiently identify the meters under attack, and reliably detect false data injections with low delays while maintaining good detection accuracy.
Onset of new diastolic murmur as a sign of bioprosthetic valve dysfunction: A case report.

The diagnosis of prosthetic valve dysfunction remains challenging because visualization is limited due to artifacts on echocardiography. We herein report a case of bioprosthetic valve dysfunction, in which cardiac auscultation was useful as an initial clue to the diagnosis. An 81-year-old man, who had undergone bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement due to aortic stenosis 10 years earlier, presented to the emergency department with chest discomfort. Cardiac auscultation revealed a newly developed diastolic murmur, although no diastolic murmurs were previously detected on auscultation or phonocardiography. There were no notable changes in electrocardiography, chest radiograph, laboratory tests, or echocardiography except for trivial aortic regurgitation. His hemodynamic status progressively deteriorated due to prosthetic valve dysfunction, which was later confirmed on echocardiography, and aortic valve re-replacement was semi-urgently performed with success. The diastolic murmurs disappeared after surgery. .
Experimental Evaluation of Data-Driven Predictive Indoor Thermal Management

This paper considers the problem of thermal management in a typical shared indoor space that may be equipped with multiple heterogeneous heat sources and have different temperature requirements in different sections (thermal zones) of the shared space. Utilizing an on-campus smart conference room as a testbed, we discuss the practical challenges involved in real-time data-driven model learning, when a simple first-order dynamical model is used to capture the dependencies between the heat controls and the air temperatures measured at sensor locations. The data-driven model is then utilized for predictive control of the thermal environment towards minimizing the error between the desired and attained temperatures, and the integrated solution is evaluated against a standard thermal control employed by the BMS.
Assessment of Modern Silicon Photomultiplier Radiation Hardness in a Nuclear Security Context

The impact of radiation damage on silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) performance is essential in evaluating their suitability for use in long-term applications and/or high-radiation environments. In this work multiple SiPMs are tested from Hamamatsu, Ketek, and SensL. SiPMs are exposed separately to both gamma ray and fast neutron fields up to 1000 kRad and 1011 neutrons/cm2 respectively. Characteristics of interest are pulse shape discrimination (PSD) with organic scintillators, energy resolution, noise, and signal amplitude. It is found that PSD is more dramatically impacted by radiation damage than energy resolution, and significant increases in noise levels are observed at the irradiation levels employed. Attenuation of the signal amplitude is only significant for some SiPMs, notably those that produce the largest charge integrals. As expected, performance in larger SiPMs deteriorates faster because noise levels increase more drastically compared to smaller SiPMs. Neutron activation is also shown to not be the primary factor in performance degradation.
An Offset-Fed Wideband 3D Printed Aperture Coupled Trapezoidal Dielectric Resonator Antenna

An offset-fed aperture coupled trapezoid shaped dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) is presented and investigated for wideband operation. In the first step, a square DRA is studied and then modified to a trapezoidal shape resonator, which achieves a wideband impedance bandwidth of 500 MHz. For potential operation as a dual-polarized antenna, an offset-feed system is implemented in the next stage. The offset-fed DRA achieves a bandwidth of 440 MHz centered at 2.45 GHz.
Using Experience Industry Strategies to Increase Quality of Youth Program Experiences

We evaluated 4 “experience industry” strategies for enhancing the quality of immediate experiences for 4-H youth: theming, adding multisensory experiences, personalizing interactions, and providing memorabilia. These strategies are commonly used by theme parks, restaurants, resorts, attractions, and other experience industry organizations, but their application to youth services is sporadic. 4-H youth ( n = 30) participated in a series of 8 outdoor recreation activity sessions. Each activity session, 1 per week for 8 consecutive weeks, was structured using a unique combination of the 4 strategies. Participants completed questionnaires measuring 5 dimensions of experience quality after each activity session. Theme and personalization of experiences were found to significantly increase experience quality.
The Effect of Birth weight on Child Development Prior to School Entry.

The present study examines variation in the effect of birth weight on children?s early cognitive and socioemotional outcomes by family socioeconomic status (SES). It is hypothesized that not only will lower birth weight children display worse cognitive and socioemotional outcomes prior to school entry, as prior research has found, but that effects will be stronger for lower-SES children. Using data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study?Birth Cohort, the study compares the age 4 outcomes of twins discordant for birth weight (N ~ 1,400). Twin fixed-effects models are run on the full twin sample and separately for low- and high-SES children. Results support the study?s hypotheses, suggesting that socioeconomic risk accentuates the effects of birth weight on early development.
200 The history of mass shootings

Statement of Purpose Though mass shootings do not account for the greatest number of gun deaths, these incidents garner a great deal of public attention; particularly in light of the disparate media coverage which varies according to victim, location and perpetrator characteristics. The perceived increase in mass shooting incidents may be due to the lack of a standardized definition among media, researchers and law enforcement and consequently, the general population. Methods/Approach We conducted a narrative review of the literature to understand the evolving definition of mass shooting, the history of the term and specific events that led to paradigm shifts. We coded content for characteristics and patterns of mass shooting events that made them newsworthy. Results The first documented mass shooting occurred in 1949. The phenomena did not exist before because there was no access to semi-automatic weaponry. The first notable modern mass shooting took place at Columbine High School, an event that remains the most reported mass shooting to date. Over the last 5 years, the use of the term mass shooting has outpaced the true increase in number of events though variation in measurement accounts for the lack of agreement on exactly how much. For example, in 2015, there were either 7, 65, 322, or 371 mass shootings. Conclusions There is an increased public perception of mass shootings because of a lack of understanding of their real prevalence or their determinants, trends, social costs, and policy implications. Significance and Contributions to Injury and Violence Prevention Science In order to understand the change in mass shootings over time, a formal definition of the term needs to be established using the same victim, event, location, and perpetrator characteristics to capture the majority of mass shooting events.
State Wellness Policy Requirement Laws Matter for District Wellness Policy Comprehensiveness and Wellness Policy Implementation in the United States.

Beginning with the school year 2006–2007, U.S. school districts participating in the federal Child Nutrition Programs were required to adopt and implement a local wellness policy (LWP) that included goals and/or standards for nutrition education, school meals, other foods sold or served in schools, and physical activity. A primary challenge with LWPs has been inconsistent implementation. This study examined whether state wellness policy requirement laws and district LWP comprehensiveness influence district level implementation, using law/policy data from the National Wellness Policy Study and school food authority (SFA)-reported district LWP implementation from the School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study. Generalized linear and structural equation models were used, controlling for SFA and district characteristics. SFAs in states with wellness policy requirement laws (vs. those in states without) reported implementing significantly more practices (59.56% vs. 44.57%, p < 0.01). State wellness policy requirement laws were associated with district LWP comprehensiveness (coeff.: 0.463; 95% CI: 0.123, 0.803) and district-level implementation (coeff.: 1.392; 95% CI: 0.299, 2.485). District LWP comprehensiveness was associated with district implementation (coeff.: 0.562; 95% CI: 0.072, 1.053), but did not mediate the state law–district implementation relationship. This study highlights the important role that state laws and district LWPs can play in facilitating wellness policy implementation.
The role of grain boundary character in solute segregation and thermal stability of nanocrystalline Pt–Au

Nanocrystalline (NC) metals suffer from an intrinsic thermal instability; their crystalline grains undergo rapid coarsening during processing treatments or under service conditions. Grain boundary (GB) solute segregation has been proposed to mitigate grain growth and thermally stabilize the grain structures of NC metals. However, the role of GB character in solute segregation and thermal stability of NC metals remains poorly understood. Herein, we employ high resolution microscopy techniques, atomistic simulations, and theoretical analysis to investigate and characterize the impact of GB character on segregation behavior and thermal stability in a model NC Pt–Au alloy. High resolution electron microscopy along with X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy and automated crystallographic orientation mapping is used to obtain spatially correlated Pt crystal orientation, GB misorientation, and Au solute concentration data. Atomistic simulations of polycrystalline Pt–Au systems are used to reveal the plethora of GB segregation profiles as a function of GB misorientation and the corresponding impact on grain growth processes. With the aid of theoretical models of interface segregation, the experimental data for GB concentration profiles are used to extract GB segregation energies, which are then used to elucidate the impact of GB character on solute drag effects. Our results highlight the paramount role of GB character in solute segregation behavior. In broad terms, our approach provides future avenues to employ GB segregation as a microstructure design strategy to develop NC metallic alloys with tailored microstructures.
Clinical effects of morning and afternoon radiotherapy on high-grade gliomas.

Initial clinical reports comparing the delivery of radiotherapy (RT) at distinct times of the day suggest that this strategy might affect toxicity and oncologic outcomes of radiation for multiple h...
Impact of contraceptive coverage policies on contraceptive use and risky sexual behavior among adolescent girls in the USA.

OBJECTIVE This study used representative data to examine the impact of changes in contraceptive coverage policies (contraceptive insurance mandates and pharmacy access to emergency contraception) on contraceptive use and risky sexual behavior among adolescent girls. STUDY DESIGN Using 2003-17 Youth Risk Behavior Survey data on 116 180 adolescent girls from 34 states, we conducted difference-in-differences models to examine changes in contraceptive use and unprotected sexual intercourse with the implementation of contraceptive coverage policies. We also tested interactions between age and pharmacy access to emergency contraception. RESULTS Findings indicate that contraceptive insurance mandates and pharmacy access to emergency contraception were not associated with changes in contraceptive use or unprotected sexual intercourse among adolescent girls, although some changes were observed in specific age groups. Despite this, our results show an overall increase in reported use of birth control pills and longer-acting methods from 2003 through 2017. CONCLUSIONS Using representative data, this study lends support to existing evidence that increased access to emergency contraception does not impact contraceptive method used or unprotected sexual intercourse among adolescent girls. The results underscore the need for expanding access to a wide range of contraceptive options for adolescents, with a focus on safer and more effective longer-acting methods.
Institutions and Ethnic Politics in Africa

1. Introduction: institutions and ethnic politics Part I. Accounting for the Ethnic Cleavage Structure: 2. Accounting for Zambia's ethnic cleavage structure I: the emergence of tribal identities in colonial Northern Rhodesia 3. Accounting for Zambia's ethnic cleavage structure II: the emergence of language identities in colonial Northern Rhodesia Part II. Accounting for Ethnic Coalition-Building Choices: 4. Ethnicity and ethnic politics in post-independence Zambia 5. Explaining changing patterns of ethnic politics Part III. Testing the Model: 6. Competing explanations 7. Ethnic campaigning: testing the observable implications of the model for elite behavior 8. Ethnic voting: testing the observable implications of the model for mass behavior Part IV. Beyond Zambia: 9. Regime change and ethnic politics in Africa 10. Beyond regime change, beyond Africa Appendix A. Native authorities and tribal identifications Appendix B. Survey and focus group methodologies Appendix C. Tribal affiliations of parliamentary candidates Appendix D. Tribal demographies of electoral constituencies.
Using Perl to Facilitate Biological Analysis

This chapter is an introduction to the Perl programming language, the de facto programming standard in the field of bioinformatics. The chapter concludes with a real-world example and an indication of future directions.