cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measurement of and Trends in Unintended Birth in Bangladesh, 1983-2000

Bangladesh has experienced a rapid decline in fertility in the past several decades, facilitated by proactive population policies, provision of contraceptives, and broader societal shifts, encouraging smaller families and use of contraceptive to achieve revised childbearing norms. This paper presents 18 years of data from the Sample Registration System, a demographic surveillance system operated by the Maternal and Child Health–Family Planning Extension Project in six study areas in Bangladesh. Prospective measurements of women's fertility preferences were used for classifying nearly 25,000 birth outcomes from 1983 to 2000 as intended, unintended, or ‘up to God/Allah’. Over the 18-year period, the level of unintended births varied from 22% to 38%, with the lowest levels in the mid-1990s. Fatalistic responses declined significantly from 25% in the mid-1980s to 1% by the late 1990s. Results of the comparison of two geographic areas of Bangladesh indicate differential declines in the levels of unintended pregnancies over the study period. Pros-pective measurements of unintended pregnancies were 2-3 times the magnitude indicated by retrospective estimates of unwanted births from the demographic and health surveys conducted during the study period. This unique dataset provides a rare opportunity to visualize the vast changes in fertility preferences and unintended births in Bangladesh from 1983 to 2000. Significant declines in fatalistic responses reflect broader social changes that occurred in Bangladesh to facilitate the fertility decline and contraceptive uptake. The drastic differences between prospective and retrospective measurements of fertility preferences highlight the importance of considering the strengths and limitations of each method when attempting to estimate the true level of unintended pregnancies and births in a population.
Executive Compensation and Financial Accounting

1. Introduction. 2. Does Executive Compensation affect Financial Accounting Choices? 3. Does Executive Compensation affect Voluntary Disclosure Choices? 4. Does Financial Reporting Regulation Affect the Structure of Executive Compensation Plans? 5. Does Income Tax Regulation Affect the Structure of Executive Compensation Plans? 6. Concluding Remarks. References.
Probabilistic Approach To Seismic Waveform Inversion

Elastic waves carry substantial information about the characteristics of the medium they propagate in. However, most of the current methods which use elastic waves for engineering evaluations, only utilize a limited portion of this information, such as peak return frequency or dispersion curve. Seismic waveform inversion is a relatively new technique for engineering applications, which seeks to use full information content of the seismic waveform. The objective of the waveform inversion is to find a reasonable subsurface model which its theoretically predicted waveforms match reasonably well the observed waveforms. The inversion of seismic data in general and waveform inversion in particular can be carried out using either a deterministic or a probabilistic approach. In the deterministic approach, a single model is identified as the problem solution, which implicitly assumed there are no uncertainties in the problem. However, in the probabilistic approach uncertainties in the data and forward model are included in the analysis and their effects on the obtained results are evaluated as a part of the solution. The probabilistic seismic waveform inversion is introduced in this paper as a robust technique for subsurface evaluations in engineering applications. To provide the background, the probabilistic approach to inversion is presented in general terms and a technique for its numerical implementation using Monte Carlo Markov Chains (MCMC) with Neighborhood Algorithm (NA) approximation is outlined. Seismic waveform inversion for shallow subsurface evaluation is then described, and the results of a waveform inversion experiment using synthetic data are presented.
Ignition Systems Challenges for Next Generation Internal Combustion Engines

To achieve maximum fuel economy and minimum emissions potential for a diverse range of global application, future internal combustion engine automotive powertrains will need to synergistically integrate key building block technologies. Chief among these technologies are downsized boosting, closed loop engine controls, dilute and lean combustion and electrification. Improvements to conventional ignition systems and development of alternate ignition systems to enable lean-burn combustion strategies is a significant challenge.
Dynamic Surface Properties of Amino-Terminated Self-Assembled Monolayers Incorporating Reversible CO2 Chemistry

An innovative approach to creating a dynamically controllable smart surface is proposed, incorporating the reversible reaction of CO2 with free primary and secondary amines of amino-terminated self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). Solutions of N-(2-aminoethyl)(3-aminopropyl)methyldimethoxysilane (AEAPMDS), N-(6-aminohexyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (AHAPTS), and trimethoxysilylpropyl(polyethleneimine) (PEI-silane) were exposed to CO2, producing the respective carbamate species. The reacted CO2 was readily released by application of moderate heating and reduced pressure. Thermogravametric analysis (TGA) showed a weight loss percentage corresponding to 1 mol of CO2 per 1 mol of diamine at roughly 50 °C, and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the formation of the carbamate species. Well-ordered amino-terminal SAMs of AEAPMDS, AHAPTS, and PEI-silane were prepared on silicon substrates from toluene solutions and were then exposed to CO2. The subsequent cha...
Growth in Adrenalectomized Puppies on Diet Low in Potassium, High in Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate:

That the adrenal cortex or the cortical hormone is not necessary for maintenance of adrenalectomized adult dogs, adequately supplied with sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate (or better, sodium citrate) was reported in June, 1935, by Harrop et al.,1 and by one of us.2 While Harrop and his coworkers paid little attention to the concentration of potassium in the diet, Allers2,3 fed synthetic diets low in potassium and was able to sustain more normal balances in electrolytes provided sufficient sodium salts were added to the diet. That feeding small amounts of a potassium salt suddenly produces typical symptoms of insufficiency in such treated animals has very recently been shown by Allers, Nilson and Kendall.4 The latter investigators have further shown that the ability to reproduce is also normal in both the adrenalectomized male and female dogs maintained in good condition by sodium salts and a low potassium diet.We now report that growth also occurs in adrenalectomized puppies in the absence of cortin....
Democracy, gender quotas, and political recruitment in Mexico

Do male and female legislators have different qualifications, experience, and backgrounds? If so, what are the main differences and what explains these differences? Are women more likely to rely on personal connections? Are well qualified women routinely passed over in favor of similarly qualified men? Do gender quotas and transitions to multiparty democracy affect the recruitment patterns of men and women? Do gender quotas lead to the recruitment of less qualified women? This article attempts to explain how informal gendered selection norms change over time using detailed data from over 500 Mexican Senators since 1964. The data provide evidence of discrimination in that to be successful, female senators need to have more legislative experience and more party experience than male senators. We also find evidence that traditional gender roles lead women to follow different paths to power. After the transition to democracy and the implementation of gender quotas, the importance of local legislative experienc...
Do patent commons and standards-setting organizations help navigate patent thickets?

Examining the institutions underlying the patent system for information and communication technologies.
Quantitative study on fault sealing ability in sandstone and mudstone thin interbed

The sealing ability of faults in the sandstone and mudstone thin interbed is mainly determined by the displacement pressure contrast of fault rock against reservoir,while the displacement pressure of fault rock is controlled by shale content and diagenetic grade of fault rock.The proportion of mudstone thickness in faulted formation decides the shale content of fault rock,and the positive pressure exerted on the fracture surface determines the diagenetic grade of fault rock.The positive pressure of fractured surface has relation with the fault dip and buried depth of the fault rock,while the displacement pressure of reservoir is controlled by the shale content and buried depth of reservoir.A new quantitative method for evaluating fault sealing ability is proposed on the basis of sealing rule of displacement pressure contrast in the sandstone and mudstone thin interbed.The evaluating procedure is as follows:①regarding the shale content of fault rock as being equal to the proportionality of mudstone thickness to faulted formation thickness;②setting the alternation relationship between displacement of different shale content rock and burial depth;③calculating the positive pressure on the fracture surface;④calculating the positive pressure in the break point and the buried depth of strata corresponding to the pressure exerted on the fracture surface according to the relationship between geostatic pressure and buried depth of strata;⑤defining the displacement pressure of fault rock according to the relationship between displacement pressure and buried depth of strata;⑥calculating the reservoir displacement pressure on the objective plate according to the shale content and buried depth of the reservoir,and determining the displacement pressure contrast to the reservoir displacement pressure using the fault rock displacement pressure.The displacement pressure contrast expresses quite right the sealing ability of the fault in the break point.This method is feasible by means of actual verification in Beir Depression of Hailar Basin.
Research on fluctuating wind characteristics near ground of typhoon ‘Soulik'by field measurement

The turbulent wind speeds of typhoon ‘Soulik'have been recorded by five 3D ultra-sonic anemometer at different heights located in Xiapu,Fujian province. The fluctuating characteristics near ground of typhoon are provided,such as turbulence intensity,gust factor,turbulence integral scale and power spectra. The results show that turbulence intensity and gust factor decrease with wind speed increasing until wind speed reaches 10 m / s. The turbulence energy in across-wind and vertical direction of typhoon become large and the ratio of turbulence intensity in along-wind,across-wind and vertical direction reaches 1∶ 0. 8∶ 0. 55. The turbulence integral scale of typhoon seems to have no correlation with wind speed and turbulence intensity. The measured power spectra agree with von Karman spectrum.
The Effects of Contraceptive and Young Adult Dependent Coverage Mandates on Coverage, Care and General and Reproductive Health Outcomes

This research investigates two features of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that especially affect young adults, the young adult dependent coverage (YADC) mandate and the requirement to cover contraception. Both mandates were enacted at the state level prior to the ACA. However, existing research only studies each mandate in isolation and does not consider a comprehensive set of outcomes. We estimate models that allow the two mandates to have joint effects on a wide range of outcomes, including insurance coverage, health care access, health outcomes and fertility. Our results lend support to past YADC research by finding that YADCs (only) increase health insurance coverage and help settle the mixed findings of contraception mandate research by finding no meaningful impact, of either mandate, on fertility. We also provide suggestive evidence that the two mandates reinforce each other to improve the affordability of health care and the mental health of young adults.
Music familiarity modulates mind wandering during lexical processing.

Mind wandering has been investigated in a variety of sustained attention tasks. In the present research, we investigated the role of mind wandering while listening to familiar or unfamiliar musical excerpts, and its effects on linguistic processing. Participants performed a lexical congruity task involving judging the semantic relatedness of a list of word pairs while listening to familiar classical music, unfamiliar classical music, or non-music environmental sound clips. Mind wandering episodes were probed randomly and intermittently for participants to self-report their mind wandering episodes during the task. Results showed that listening to familiar music is associated with faster response times and lower frequency of mind wandering. Whereas mind wandering episodes tend to be more frequent when participants listened to unfamiliar music. Implications from previous attention models and theories of music familiarity suggest that familiar music might increase task enjoyment without compromising behavioral performance.
Chapter 3 – Absorption, Transport, and Retention

With the exception of inhaled oxygen, all of the atoms and molecules for building, maintaining, and powering the body normally have to be taken in by mouth. Food and beverages then have to be processed in the digestive tract to become useful. The various segments of the gastrointestinal tract cooperate to acquire and modify food, extract nutrients from it, and prepare the residue for excretion. This chapter goes into details of the anatomy, function, and specific interactions between the digestive organs. Molecular mechanisms of nutrient transport, renal processing, the blood–brain barrier (BBB), and materno-fetal nutrient transport all have large, devoted coverage.
Imaging and Navigation

The ability to identify a target through imaging and to navigate hollow tubes are core competencies in both cardiovascular medicine and in the oil and gas business. The imaging modalities used in the cardiovascular space include: ultrasound, fluoroscopy, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography scanning. The essential components integral to imaging and navigation are high-resolution imaging, spatial awareness and ability to steer that device. The combination of imaging technology with catheter robotics will revolutionize the ability to navigate catheters in three dimensions, remotely or semi automatically over predetermined “glide paths” in the body, improving accuracy, safety and patient outcomes.
Essays on Economics of Information Technology

This dissertation studies the effect of user incentives on software security in a network of individual users under costly patching and negative network security externalities. For proprietary software or freeware, we compare four alternative policies to manage network security. We show that for proprietary software, when the software security risk and the patching costs are high, a patching rebate dominates the other policies. However, when the patching cost or the security risk is low, self patching is best. We also show that when a rebate is effective, the profit maximizing rebate is decreasing in the security risk and increasing in patching costs. For freeware, a usage tax is the most effective policy except when both patching costs and security risk are low, in which case, a patching rebate prevails. Optimal patching rebates and taxes tend to increase with increased security risk and patching costs but can decrease in the security risk for high risk levels. We also study the question of whether a software vendor should allow users of unlicensed (pirated) copies of a software product to apply security patches. We present a joint model of network software security and software piracy and contrast two policies that a software vendor can enforce: (i) restriction of security patches only to legitimate users or (ii) provision of access to security patches to all users whether their copies are licensed or not. We find that when the software security risk is high and the piracy enforcement level is low, or when tendency for piracy in the consumer population is high, it is optimal for the vendor to restrict unlicensed users from applying security patches. We also show that the vendor can use security patch restrictions as a substitute to investment in software security, and this effect can significantly reduce welfare. Finally, we demonstrate that although unrestricted patching can maximize welfare when the piracy enforcement level is low, contrary to what one might expect, when the piracy enforcement level is high, restricting security patches only to licensed users can be socially optimal.
Progress in standardizing and harmonizing thyroid function tests

Iodine is an essential component of thyroid hormone. Because thyroid hormone synthesis is affected by iodine deficiency on the one hand and by excess iodine intake on the other, thyroid function biomarkers may be useful for assessing iodine status and studying the effects of iodine supplementation. However, reference intervals for some of the most useful thyroid function biomarkers, including serum concentrations of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), and thyroglobulin, vary widely due to variability in the commercially available immunoassays for these tests. Recognizing the need for standardization of thyroid function testing, the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine established a working group, later restructured as the Committee for Standardization of Thyroid Function Tests, to examine its feasibility. The committee has established a conventional reference measurement procedure for FT4 and an approach to harmonization of results for TSH. Panels of single-donation human blood specimens that span the measuring interval of the immunoassays were used to assess the performance of commercially available immunoassays and form the basis for their recalibration. Recalibration of the manufacturers' methods for both FT4 and TSH has shown that the variability among immunoassays can be successfully eliminated for euthyroid individuals as well as for patients with thyroid disease. The committee is not investigating the standardization of thyroglobulin at the present time.
Motor Neuropathy in Varicella

An acute motor axonal neuropathy developed within 4 days of the appearance of the varicella rash in a 26-year-old male reported from the University of Geneva, Switzerland.
The Limits of World Literature

This essay examines recent work on world literature theory, with a particular focus on those theorists who treat individual texts as in dialogue with the circulations of linguistic and cultural translation. I treat world literature as the theory without an object and make the counterintuitive claim that its objectlessness makes it well suited for leaving behind antiquated modes of categorizing and canonizing so-called world texts, in order to make room for new kinds of structured thinking about the world. The essay begins with an introduction to the manifold interconnections of the new world literature, including its broad overlap with fields of globalization, translation studies, comparative literature, and postcolonialism. I position four key theorists of 21st century world literature – Emily Apter, Rebecca Walkowitz, Berthold Schoene, and David Palumbo-Liu – in oppositional pairs in order to show the underlying commonality in their thinking about the value of a literature of and for the world. My entry point into the “thinking machine” of the world literature text is the concept of the limit. Far from the commonplace understanding of limit as a limitation or boundary, I argue that understanding world literature at the limit allows literary texts and theory to be read as an event of thinking that is in-process, in-common, and incomplete, an analogue to the necessary impossibility of knowing the world.
EVALUATION OF THE PERFORMANCE OF SOLAR ENERGY RETROFITS AND HOT WATER HEATERS IN NEW YORK STATE

ABSTRACT Six solar energy devices were constructed and their performance monitored in northeastern New York state during the winter, spring and summer of 1982. The devices included a thermosiphoning air panel (TAP), a fan-assisted air panel (FAAP), an unvented masonry Trombe Wall (TW), a greenhouse (GH), a drainback hot water heater (DB) and a batch water heater (BWH). Each device was monitored for a 3–5 week period utilizing a state-of-the art data acquisition system. From the short term data collected, predictions were made of the seasonal performance and economic viability of each device for five selected cities in New York state. Predictions were made by constructing multiple regression models which correlated device energy output with some time averaged solar inputs and appropriate temperatures, and by utilizing estimates for various economic parameters.
Top-down fabrication of fluorine-doped tin oxide nanopillar substrates for solar water splitting

Because of its high electronic conductivity, electrochemical stability, and optical transparency, fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) is a frequently used substrate for photoelectrochemical water splitting (PEC), dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and other electrocatalytic systems. These applications often require high surface-area substrates, but typical wet-chemical and lithographic approaches to nanostructure this promising material have been limited by the toxic fluorine ion and the resistance of tin oxide to standard chemical etchants. In this work, we develop a novel process to nanostructure commercial FTO by combining nanosphere lithography with argon ion-milling. We show nanostructured FTO with nanopillars of tunable height and diameter. Depositing tungsten oxide with atomic layer deposition on the nanostructured FTO substrate yields a PEC photoanode improvement of 40% over the baseline FTO substrate. The improvement is ascribed mainly to the increased roughness factor achieved by nanostructuring the substrate.
Tao & Willis, Inc.: Inventory Accounting Methods

An executive with Tao & Willis, Inc. (TW), is faced with choosing an inventory accounting method for a new Brazilian subsidiary of a U.S.-based company. Students are asked to assess the different profit implications of LIFO and FIFO for five years of data. During the time period, exchange rates between Brazil and the United States had been fluctuating significantly. This case focuses on the basics of inventory accounting in an interesting international context, and can be used in graduate or undergraduate business courses, specifically those teaching the fundamentals of financial accounting. Excerpt UVA-C-2384 Rev. Sept. 15, 2016 Tao & Willis, Inc.: Inventory Accounting Methods Tao & Willis, Inc. (TW), was a video gaming and entertainment company headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. The company specialized in the manufacture and distribution of computer games and stand-alone gaming consoles. It sold its products all over the world, and experienced particularly strong demand in South America. High import tariffs in those countries, however, were cutting into profits. Under the leadership of John Gary Sommers, TW had become proactive. For years, Sommers had lobbied senior management to move manufacturing operations to Brazil, and his vision was finally a reality. The new subsidiary, TW-Brazil, would handle all manufacturing operations in the Western hemisphere south of the equator. TW had never before operated an entity in a foreign country, so this represented a true inflection point for the company. Sommers was put in charge and given full decision-making responsibility for all financial and operational aspects of TW-Brazil. One of the early tasks Sommers assigned his CFO was to evaluate TW-Brazil's financial options related to inventory accounting. He specifically wanted comparisons of expected financial results for two different inventory cost flow methods: last in, first out (LIFO), and first in, first out (FIFO). Sommers knew that the inventory cost flow method that he ultimately chose would influence profits. TW was a publicly traded company and was thus always focused on maintaining margins and meeting EPS growth expectations. TW-Brazil was expected to help in this regard in 2016, but the longer-term benefits were not as obvious. Sommers fully understood that there was a company-wide expectation that 30% gross margins be maintained. . . .
Virtual Reality for Marketing Research

Computer graphic simulations of retail shopping environments have become a popular tool for conducting marketing research, allowing manufacturers and retailers to test innovative marketing concepts with shoppers in realistic, competitive contexts. Virtual store tests can deliver more detailed behavioral data than traditional methods of consumer research, and are faster and less expensive than in-store field tests. This chapter outlines the benefits and limitations of virtual reality simulations, describes the steps involved in creating and running a simulated shopping study, discusses the validity of the simulation technique, provides examples of several commercial and academic research applications, and summarizes the future prospects for using the virtual store for marketing research and other business applications.
Loci and rolling circles

Some mathematics problems, while easy to pose and visualise, can be deceptively difficult to solve. For example, suppose we want to find the area of a three foot wide footpath around the edge of an elliptical shaped swimming pool. The problem is trivial if the pool is circular, in which case we simply subtract the areas of two concentric circles. At first blush, the elliptical pool problem does not appear to be much more difficult, especially if we can recall that the formula for the area of an ellipse is A = πab where a and b are respectively the lengths of the semi-major and semi-minor axes. In any case, we might think that it would be a straightforward calculus problem involving the area between two curves.
Imbalanced dietary levels of branched-chain amino acids affect growth performance and amino acid utilization of juvenile red drum Sciaenops ocellatus

Abstract Imbalanced dietary levels of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are known to produce antagonistic effects in pigs, rats and humans, affecting the concentration of BCAAs in plasma and ultimately depressing growth. In fish, antagonism involving BCAAs has not been fully characterized or understood. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of imbalanced dietary levels of BCAAs on growth performance and amino acid utilization of juvenile red drum. A control diet was prepared by combining lyophilized red drum muscle and crystalline amino acids, while keeping leucine (Leu), isoleucine (Ile) and valine (Val) at the previously quantified minimum dietary requirement levels for red drum. Six experimental diets were prepared by supplementing the control diet with (1) an excess of Leu, (2) an excess of Ile, (3) an excess of Val, (4) an excess of Leu and Ile, (5) an excess of Ile and Val, and (6) an excess of Leu and Val. Red drum juveniles were stocked in 38-L glass aquaria, and diets were fed to fish in triplicate aquaria, twice daily, for 45 d. At the end of the feeding trial, growth performance was evaluated and postprandial levels of BCAAs in plasma were analyzed. Growth performance of red drum was significantly depressed by an excess of dietary Leu, but not by an excess of Ile nor Val. The postprandial concentration of plasma Leu, Ile or Val was significantly higher in fish fed an excess of Leu, Ile or Val, respectively. Postprandial levels of BCAAs in plasma did not indicate that an excess of Leu blocked the intestinal absorption or promoted the catabolism of Ile and/or Val in red drum, as has been reported in other species. However, excess Leu did significantly reduce the postprandial concentration of α-ketoglutarate in plasma, possibly indicating a higher ratio of transamination due to the imbalanced postprandial concentration of BCAAs in plasma. In conclusion, an antagonistic effect due to excess dietary Leu was confirmed in juvenile red drum. This study represents a step forward in understanding the nature of the antagonistic effects among BCAAs in fish.
Social organization in the ant Pheidole dentata: physical and temporal caste ratios lack ecological correlates

Caste theory states that the proportions of individuals in different demographic classes of an insect society should vary with environmental factors, and are adaptive because they enhance colony-level efficiency. We examined the proportions of workers in different age and size classes (temporal and physical castes) in whole colonies of the ant Pheidole dentata collected in two different habitats. Despite significant ecological differences between the habitats in competition, resource availability and predation, we found no differences in the physical and temporal caste structures of colonies. Also, there was no correlation between physical or temporal caste ratios and the reproductive output of colonies. Because of topography, distance between sites, and apparent low vagility of Pheidole alates, we assume that gene flow between the sites is inadequate to account for the observed similarities. Although age- and size-related patterns of division of labor were observed, similarities in the behavioral profiles (the sum of the relative contributions of each age cohort to the performance of tasks) in colonies having different age caste structures suggests that worker, flexibility may be more important than rigidly programmed age- and size-correlated patterns of task performance.
Postvoiding FEM Analysis for Electromigration Failure Characterization

In this paper, we propose a novel finite-element method-based stress analysis for void growth process after the void is nucleated in the confined copper interconnects. We focus on the postvoiding analysis of void evolution, which remains challenging and less addressed in the past because void growth leads to transient structural changes in the copper interconnects. The new method explicitly considers the stress distribution’s impacts on the void volumes due to atomic conservation in confined wires. We introduce a phase-field equation that results in two coupled dynamic systems to describe the whole postvoiding stress evolution process. A novel regulated void growth velocity is introduced in order to consider the inherent physical interaction between the void volume and stress distribution in a confined interconnect wire. Numerical results show that the computed stress distributions and extracted current exponent values fit the measured results better than a recent postvoiding analysis work. Furthermore, the proposed electromigration analysis method models the Joule heating effect on wire resistance and temperature change, which were well observed in the published experiments.
Techniques and Considerations in the Microfabrication of Parylene C Microelectromechanical Systems

Parylene C is a promising material for constructing flexible, biocompatible and corrosion-resistant microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices. Historically, Parylene C has been employed as an encapsulation material for medical implants, such as stents and pacemakers, due to its strong barrier properties and biocompatibility. In the past few decades, the adaptation of planar microfabrication processes to thin film Parylene C has encouraged its use as an insulator, structural and substrate material for MEMS and other microelectronic devices. However, Parylene C presents unique challenges during microfabrication and during use with liquids, especially for flexible, thin film electronic devices. In particular, the flexibility and low thermal budget of Parylene C require modification of the fabrication techniques inherited from silicon MEMS, and poor adhesion at Parylene-Parylene and Parylene-metal interfaces causes device failure under prolonged use in wet environments. Here, we discuss in detail the promises and challenges inherent to Parylene C and present our experience in developing thin-film Parylene MEMS devices.
Miami heat: Urban heat islands influence the thermal suitability of habitats for ectotherms

The urban heat island effect, where urban areas exhibit higher temperatures than less-developed suburban and natural habitats, occurs in cities across the globe and is well understood from a physical perspective and at broad spatial scales. However, very little is known about how thermal variation caused by urbanization influences the ability of organisms to live in cities. Ectotherms are sensitive to environmental changes that affect thermal conditions, and therefore, increased urban temperatures may pose significant challenges to thermoregulation and alter temperature-dependent activity. To evaluate whether these changes to the thermal environment affect the persistence and dispersal of ectothermic species in urban areas, we studied two species of Anolis lizards (Anolis cristatellus and Anolis sagrei) introduced to Miami-Dade County, FL, USA, where they occur in both urban and natural habitats. We calculated canopy openness and measured operative temperature (Te ), which estimates the distribution of body temperatures in a non-thermoregulating population, in four urban and four natural sites. We also captured lizards throughout the day and recorded their internal body temperature (Tb ). We found that urban areas had more open canopies and higher Te compared to natural habitats. Laboratory trials showed that A. cristatellus preferred lower temperatures than A. sagrei. Urban sites currently occupied by each species appear to lower thermoregulatory costs for both species, but only A. sagreihad field Tb that were more often within their preferred temperature range in urban habitats compared to natural areas. Furthermore, based on available Te within each species' preferred temperature range, urban sites with only A. sagrei appear less suitable for A. cristatellus, whereas natural sites with only A. cristatellus are less suitable for A. sagrei. These results highlight how the thermal properties of urban areas contribute to patterns of persistence and dispersal, particularly relevant for studying species invasions worldwide.
Frequency-Warped Cepstral Heatmaps for Deep Learning of Human Motion Signatures

Automatic target recognition (ATR) using micro-Doppler analysis is a technique that has been a topic of great research over the past decade, with key applications to border control and security, perimeter defense, as well as indoor human activity recognition and human gait analysis. Typically, radar-based human motion recognition task is based on time-frequency (TF) representation of the radar signal which is a natural tool for revealing the local signal behavior. However, in motion recognition the number of similar classes increases which might result in a degraded classification performance when spectrograms are given as an input to the deep neural networks (DNNs). This paper proposes another two-dimensional (2D) representation based on cepstral analysis from a diversified simulation database and an optimization procedure. We first find the optimum filter bank of a diversified simulation database by employing performance-based genetic algorithm (GA). Then, cepstral heatmaps are computed from the real radar data by applying the optimized filter bank to the spectrograms and then taking the logarithm of the output. Results achieved from a 6-class multi-aspect angle motion database show that the proposed cepstral heatmaps provide superior classification accuracy to that of spectrograms when a 4-layer convolutional neural network (CNN) is employed.
Public insurance expansions and smoking cessation medications

We study the effect of public insurance on smoking cessation medication prescriptions and financing. We leverage variation in insurance coverage generated by recent Affordable Care Act expansions to Medicaid. We estimate differences-in-differences models using administrative data on the universe of Medicaid-financed prescriptions sold in retail and online pharmacies 2011-2017. Our findings suggest that these expansions increased Medicaid-financed smoking cessation prescriptions by 34%. This increase reflects new medication use and a shift in payment from private insurers and self-paying patients to Medicaid. Adjusting our estimate for changes in financing implies that Medicaid expansion lead to a 24% increase in new medication use.
Charge-Density-Dominated Phase Behavior and Viscoelasticity of Polyelectrolyte Complex Coacervates

The composition dependence of the phase behavior and viscoelasticity of polyelectrolyte complex coacervates was investigated in a series of model acrylamide copolymers with varying charge density a...
Fostering PharmD Skills Related to Research and Quality Improvement Through Mentored Projects

Objective. To assess the impact of a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) capstone project on students’ ability to conduct research and quality improvement, and to assess the feasibility of requiring projects in the core curriculum. Methods. Project proposals were solicited from faculty members and local colleagues, and students matched with an individual project and mentor. After developing a written research proposal in their third professional year, students completed the project with mentor oversight in their third and fourth professional years, culminating with a poster session and completion of a manuscript prior to graduation. Students’ knowledge of biostatistics, research confidence, and attitudes regarding research were evaluated using a validated survey instrument. Students and mentors were surveyed for feedback, and students’ publications and presentations were tracked. Results. Sixty-one students (97%) completed their projects on time. Students’ confidence in their ability to understand and participate in research increased, but improvement in statistical knowledge and interest in conducting future research projects was minimal. Fifty-eight percent of students presented posters at national conferences. Thirteen (21%) published manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals. Students and mentors responded positively overall about the program and the associated time requirements. Conclusion. Requiring PharmD students to complete a capstone project prior to graduation was feasible and increased student confidence in their ability to participate in research and the number of student and faculty poster presentations and peer-reviewed publications. These findings support the consideration of the Academy that analysis, synthesis, and creation of new knowledge can be successfully implemented into the core PharmD curricula.
A Model to Be Emulated

I was delighted to read Dickert et al.’s (2020) summary of the outstanding work conducted as part of the Patient-Centered Approaches to Research Enrollment Decisions in Acute Cardiovascular Disease...
Quinolin-8-yl Formate: A New Option for Small-Scale Carbonylation Reactions in Microwave Reactors

A convenient procedure for conducting small-scale carbonylations of aryl or benzyl halides in a microwave reactor by using quinolin-8-yl formate is described. The resulting 8-acyloxyquinolines were shown to be more reactive than phenyl esters in acyl-transfer reactions, and their utility for the production of esters and amides was demonstrated.
Why Do Practitioners Want to Connect with Researchers? Evidence from a Field Experiment

Researchers often want to increase the broader societal impact of their work. One way to do that is to discuss research findings directly with practitioners. Yet, such interactions are voluntary and do not regularly arise, which raises a key demand question: Under what conditions do practitioners want to connect with researchers? This article shows that relational considerations affect these decisions—that is, what practitioners expect the interaction will be like. I partnered with a US-based civic association to conduct a field experiment. I find that group leaders in this association are more likely to speak with researchers after learning that the researchers will (1) efficiently share information during the interaction, and (2) value practitioners’ knowledge. The results provide actionable guidance for how researchers should approach practitioners and also demonstrate one powerful way that social science evidence can inform efforts to bridge research and practice.
AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO BETTER MAINTENANCE OF POSITIVE END EXPIRATORY PRESSURE (PEEP): FUNCTIONAL RESIDUAL CAPACITY (FRC) DURING SURFACTANT INFUSION

The use of nasal CPAP (NCPAP) maintaining FRC and timely surfactant replacement has made a significant difference in Hyaline Membrane Disease management, dramatically reducing mechanical ventilation especially in the greater than 1200 g infants. We describe an innovation to better maintain oxygenation and FRC during surfactant replacement. Once the decision to infuse surfactant is made, the appropriate equipment is prepared and the surfactant is warmed. Ideally the resuscitation bag (RB) has PEEP-maintaining capabilities. In our case we use the Ambu Spur II with an Airlife PEEP valve set at 5 cm water. Alternatively the Neopuff infant resuscitator (Fisher & Paykel) set at a PEEP of 5 cm water and a PIP of 16–20 cm water may be a better option. Once ready, the child is removed from the NCPAP and placed on Nasal Cannula at 2 Liters per minute flow at 100% to provide ancillary oxygen in the oropharynx for the intubation process. The infant is then intubated. The tube placement is confirmed and the RB is removed and the surfactant is instilled. Better, if using the Neopuff, one does not have to detach; the surfactant can be instilled through the T-piece portal, maintaining PEEP throughout the procedure. Recruitment breaths are given. The resuscitator repositions the RB towards the chest to allow for free access of the head for re-attachment of the NCPAP set-up. Once ready, the child can then be extubated with the mouth closed, maintaining PEEP with minimal loss of FRC.
Formate-Dependent Heterodisulfide Reduction in a Methanomicrobiales Archaeon.

ABSTRACT Hydrogenotrophic methanogens produce CH4 using H2 as an electron donor to reduce CO2. In the absence of H2, many are able to use formate or alcohols as alternate electron donors. Methanogens from the order Methanomicrobiales are capable of growth with H2, but many lack genes encoding hydrogenases that are typically found in other hydrogenotrophic methanogens. In an effort to better understand electron flow in methanogens from the Methanomicrobiales, we undertook a genetic and biochemical study of heterodisulfide reductase (Hdr) in Methanoculleus thermophilus. Hdr catalyzes an essential reaction by coupling the first and last steps of methanogenesis through flavin-based electron bifurcation. Hdr from M. thermophilus copurified with formate dehydrogenase (Fdh) and only displayed activity when formate was supplied as an electron donor. We found no evidence of an Hdr-associated hydrogenase, and H2 could not function as an electron donor, even with Hdr purified from cells grown on H2. We found that cells catalyze a formate hydrogenlyase activity that is likely essential for generating the formate needed for the Hdr reaction. Together, these results highlight the importance of formate as an electron donor for methanogenesis and suggest the ability to use formate is closely integrated into the methanogenic pathway in organisms from the order Methanomicrobiales. IMPORTANCE Methanogens from the order Methanomicrobiales are thought to prefer H2 as an electron donor for growth. They are ubiquitous in anaerobic environments, such as in wastewater treatment facilities, anaerobic digesters, and the rumen, where they catalyze the terminal steps in the breakdown of organic matter. However, despite their importance, the metabolism of these organisms remains understudied. Using a genetic and biochemical approach, we show that formate metabolism is closely integrated into methanogenesis in Methanoculleus thermophilus. This is due to a requirement for formate as the electron donor to heterodisulfide reductase (Hdr), an enzyme responsible for catalyzing essential reactions in methanogenesis by linking the initial CO2 fixing step to the exergonic terminal reaction of the pathway. These results suggest that hydrogen is not necessarily the preferred electron donor for all hydrogenotrophic methanogens and provide insight into the metabolism of methanogens from the order Methanomicrobiales.
A case of endocrine mucin-producing sweat gland carcinoma with distant metastasis.

Endocrine mucin-producing sweat gland carcinoma (EMPSGC) is a rare cutaneous adnexal neoplasm typically arising on the face of older individuals, most commonly around the eyelids. Histopathologic features include a circumscribed proliferation of low-grade epithelioid cells with areas of cystic and cribriform growth, foci of intracytoplasmic and extracellular mucin, and coexpression of endocrine, neuroendocrine, and cytokeratin markers by immunohistochemistry. Given histopathologic and immunohistochemical similarities, EMPSGC is often likened to solid papillary carcinoma of the breast and endocrine ductal carcinoma in situ, and is thought by many to represent a forme fruste of mucinous carcinoma of the skin. To date, the vast majority of reported cases of EMPSGC have been described as having indolent behavior, with no cases of distant metastasis yet reported. Here we report a unique case of EMPSGC that recurred over several years following standard surgical excision and Mohs micrographic surgery, with subsequent metastasis to the parotid gland and axial skeleton.
Telemedicine quality assessment by eye clinic patients at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose : The COVID-19 pandemic has placed unprecedented challenges on the provision of eye care. This study assessed patient attitudes about eye care with relation to visit type at the outset of the coronavirus pandemic when eye care offices were limiting patient visits to urgent and emergent care based on recommendations from the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Methods : This is a cross-sectional survey of patients who completed either an in-person or telemedicine visit or who deferred their previously scheduled visit at the Callahan Eye Hospital & Clinics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham during April 2020. Quantitative self-reported responses about eyesight quality, worry about eyesight, and satisfaction were collected. Responses to qualitative questions were categorized positively or negatively by themes of quality, risk, precaution, convenience, trust, and communication. Responses were assessed by visit type and compared using Fisher's exact or the Pearson chi-square test. Results : 450 patients completed the survey with a mean age 55.1 ± 22.7 years. The majority were female (63.7%) and white (54.7%). A greater number of patients reporting fair to very poor eyesight were seen in-person (25.6%) or by telemedicine (40.0%) compared to those who deferred (19.1%) (p=0.0005). Worrying about eyesight some, most or all of the time was significantly greater in patients seen in-person (18.8%) or by telemedicine (14.9%) compared to deferral (9.7%) (p=0.0002). When asked about feelings regarding their visit, those who had a telemedicine visit more frequently responded with a positive comment about quality (p<0.0001) while those completing in-person visits were more positive regarding precaution (p<0.0001). There were no significant differences by visit type with regard to positive or negative comments on risk, trust, and communication. Patients completing a telemedicine visit less frequently reported complete satisfaction (67.8%) compared to deferred (86.3%) and in-person visits (74.4%) (p=0.0001). Conclusions : Patient responses demonstrate that telemedicine may be an acceptable modality for eye health management, especially among patients with fair to poor eyesight. During the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine may provide a way for patients worried about their eyesight to feel supported by their eye care provider. Further analysis regarding patient satisfaction with telemedicine is needed.