cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract PR13: External validation of a risk prediction model for lung cancer among smokers

Early detection strategies for lung cancer may be improved by using valid risk prediction models to identify persons at highest risk for the disease. However, external validation of lung cancer risk prediction models has been limited. We sought to externally validate the PLCOM2012 model, which predicts the probability of lung cancer within six years on the basis of age, race, education, body mass index, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, personal history of cancer, family history of lung cancer, and smoking status, quantity, duration, and quit years, in the Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) Research Program on Genes, Environment, and Health (RPGEH) cohort. To increase comparability to the populations of smokers used to initially develop and validate the PLCOM2012 model, we restricted our analysis to the 28,757 ever smokers ages 55 to 74 with no history of lung cancer, no history of other non-melanoma skin cancers in the prior five years, and complete data on all model predictors. For each person, the predicted probability of lung cancer risk was estimated with data ascertained from the RPGEH survey on all predictors except quit years, which was ascertained from electronic health records. Using KPNC Cancer Registry data, we identified 672 diagnosed with lung cancer within six years post-survey. Both calibration and discrimination were examined to assess model performance. Calibration was assessed by determining the mean absolute difference in observed and predicted probabilities of lung cancer for each decile of predicted risk. Discrimination was assessed by estimating the area under curve (AUC). The absolute difference in observed and predicted probabilities of lung cancer risk was generally small: Citation Format: Lori C. Sakoda, Laurel A. Habel, Khanh K. Thai, Charles P. Quesenberry, Jr. External validation of a risk prediction model for lung cancer among smokers. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Improving Cancer Risk Prediction for Prevention and Early Detection; Nov 16-19, 2016; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2017;26(5 Suppl):Abstract nr PR13.
Low Latency Acoustic Modeling Using Temporal Convolution and LSTMs

Bidirectional long short-term memory (BLSTM) acoustic models provide a significant word error rate reduction compared to their unidirectional counterpart, as they model both the past and future temporal contexts. However, it is nontrivial to deploy bidirectional acoustic models for online speech recognition due to an increase in latency. In this letter, we propose the use of temporal convolution, in the form of time-delay neural network (TDNN) layers, along with unidirectional LSTM layers to limit the latency to 200 ms. This architecture has been shown to outperform the state-of-the-art low frame rate (LFR) BLSTM models. We further improve these LFR BLSTM acoustic models by operating them at higher frame rates at lower layers and show that the proposed model performs similar to these mixed frame rate BLSTMs. We present results on the Switchboard 300 h LVCSR task and the AMI LVCSR task, in the three microphone conditions.
BRD4 is a newly characterized transcriptional regulator that represses autophagy and lysosomal function.

ABSTRACTAs a member of the bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) family, BRD4 (bromodomain containing 4) can bind to acetylated histones and transcription factors, and is also able to recruit various transcriptional regulators. Previous studies have shown that BRD4 mainly plays a positive role in cell growth and cell cycle progression. In a recent study conducted by Sakamaki et al., the authors found that BRD4 acts as a transcriptional repressor in regulating macroautophagy/autophagy and lysosome gene expression, via binding to the histone lysine methyltransferase EHMT2/G9a. The oncoprotein BRD4-NUTM1/NUT also helps block autophagy and lysosome functions. A knockdown of BRD4 allows the retention of MTOR activity during starvation and significantly undermines starvation-induced cell death. However, BRD4 repression only contributes to stimulus-dependent autophagy and aggrephagy, and is not involved in other types of selective autophagy. Taken together, the newly reported repressive role of BRD4 in autophagy a...
Gender differences in glucose homeostasis and diabetes

Some aspects of glucose homeostasis are regulated differently in males and females. This review discusses the most fundamental gender differences in glucose homeostasis and diabetes. These include the prevalence of impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance, the prevalence and incidence of type 2 and type 1 diabetes, and the sex-specific effects of testosterone and estrogen deficiency and excess. These gender-specific differences in glucose homeostasis represent a source of factors that should be studied to develop gender-based therapeutic avenues for diabetes.
Women in the Archive: Locating the International Tracing Service in German Memory Work

The International Tracing Service in Bad Arolsen is one of the largest collections of documents related to the Holocaust and Nazi persecution in the world. Originally set up as a tracing service to help provide information for survivors and family members of victims, it has become an invaluable centre for documenting Nazi persecution since it was opened to researchers in 2007. This paper analyzes the interaction of the people of Bad Arolsen with the ITS, which was set up in their small town without their consent. By focusing on the gender relations inscribed into the archive and on the way the people of Bad Arolsen interacted with the archive, I show how we arrive at an expanded notion of the archive on the one hand and at a more multi-dimensional understanding of cultural memory on the other.
Demographic and Mental Health Characteristics of Individuals Who Present to Community Health Clinics With Substance Misuse

Introduction:Community health clinics (CHCs) are an opportune setting to identify and treat substance misuse. This study assessed the characteristics of patients who presented to a CHC with substan...
Low level Hg 2+ exposure modulates the B-cell cytoskeletal phosphoproteome

Abstract Exposure of Wehi-231 B-cells to Hg 2 + for 5 min resulted in concentration dependent changes in protein phosphorylations. Phosphorylation was quantified using mass spectrometry to analyze TiO 2 and anti-pTyr antibody selected phosphopeptides from Wehi-231 digests. The most frequent and largest amplitude responses to Hg 2 + exposure were increased phosphorylation although a decrease was observed for 1% of phosphoproteins detected in the untreated cells. A subset of proteins responded with an increase in phosphorylation to Hg 2 + exposure at low micromolar concentrations. The majority of proteins required Hg 2 + over 20 μM in order to increase phosphorylation. Ser/Thr phosphorylations are prominent in the cytoskeletal organization and the GTPase signaling systems and these systems are notable as the primary ones responding to the lowest concentrations of Hg 2 + . Systems that required higher concentrations of Hg 2 + to increase phosphorylation included immune receptor signaling. The proteins for which an increase in phosphorylation occurred at Hg 2 + above 20 μM have a higher proportion of pTyr sites. Anti Ig stimulation of Wehi-231 cells confirmed that cytoskeletal protein phosphorylation and GTPase signaling are modulated in physiologically relevant B-cell receptor activation. Candidate kinases that respond to Hg 2 + exposure at the low μM concentrations include MAP Kinase 1, CaM Kinase II delta and PAK2. Significance Mercury (Hg) is a wide spread environmental toxicant. Epidemiological and laboratory studies suggest that exposure to environmental Hg at current levels, which have been perceived to be non-toxic, may contribute to immune system dysfunction and autoimmune disease in humans and animals respectively. While we have previously shown that exposure of B lymphocytes to low levels of mercury interferes with B-cell receptor signaling mediated by post transcriptional phosphorylation events, overall the mechanism that is responsible for increased autoimmunity in mercury exposed human or animal populations is not well understood. The current study evaluated the dose dependent actions of mercury to change phosphorylation in the Wehi-231 cell line, an immature B-cell model in which actions of mercury on development of cell function can be evaluated. The study identified the cytoskeletal proteins as the most sensitive to modulation by mercury with changes in Ser/Thr phosphorylation being observed at the lowest concentrations of mercury. These findings indicate that the actions of mercury on B-cell immune function and development are at least in part likely mediated through changes in cytoskeletal protein phosphorylation.
Red Flags for Low Back Pain Are Not Always Really Red: A Prospective Evaluation of the Clinical Utility of Commonly Used Screening Questions for Low Back Pain

Background:Low back pain has a high prevalence and morbidity, and is a source of substantial health-care spending. Numerous published guidelines support the use of so-called red flag questions to screen for serious pathology in patients with low back pain. This paper examines the effectiveness of re
Do high school sports build or reveal character? Bounding causal estimates of sports participation

Abstract We examine the extent to which participation in high school athletics in the United States has beneficial effects on future education, labor market, and health outcomes. Due to the absence of plausible instruments in observational data, we use recently developed methods that relate selection on observables with selection on unobservables to estimate bounds on the causal effect of athletics participation. We do not find consistent evidence of individual education or labor market benefits. However, we do find that male (but not female) athletes are more likely to exercise regularly as adults, but are no less likely to be obese.
Mediating Systems of Care: Emergency Calls to Long-Term Care Facilities at Life's End.

Abstract Background: Nursing home (NH) residents account for over 2.2 million emergency department visits yearly; the majority are cared for and transported by prehospital providers (emergency medical technicians and paramedics). Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate prehospital providers' perceptions of emergency calls at life's end. This article focuses on perceptions of end-of-life calls in long-term care (LTC). Design: This pilot study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design. Concepts from the symbolic interaction theory guided the exploration of perceptions and interpretations of emergency calls in LTC facilities. Setting/Subjects: A purposeful sample of prehospital providers was developed from one agency in a small northeastern U.S. city. Measurements: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 43 prehospital providers to explore their perceptions of factors that trigger emergency end-of-life calls in LTC facilities. Qualitative data analysis involved iterative coding in a...
The Social Gospel, the YMCA, and the Emergence of the Religious Left After World War I

This chapter examines the impact of the Protestant Social Gospel movement on the development of the religious left in the United States, focusing upon the role of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA). Influenced by the writings of important social gospel leaders, such as Walter Rauschenbusch, collegiate YMCA youth explored how the Social Gospel’s emphasis upon the ethical teachings of Jesus could be applied to a range of social issues in the aftermath of World War I. During the interwar period, both radical and liberal activists with connections to the YMCA embraced shared commitments to economic justice, racial equality, and nonviolent direct action. This interwar activism laid a critical foundation for the religious left’s contributions to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
Oryzomys ratticeps tropicius (Rato-do-mato ferrugineo)

The acrocentrics present a decreasing size and it is not possible to distinguish them morphologically.
A Multilevel Framework for Local Policy Development and Implementation

Children and families deserve to have confidence that the services and supports they receive are the most effective interventions available. The concept of evidence-based and promising practices has developed as a strategy for achieving improved mental health outcomes for children and families in recent years, and the implementation of evidence-based and promising practices has grown more influential in the United States (Raghavan, Bright, & Shadoin, 2008; Tanenbaum, 2003). The term evidence-based practices (sometimes called EBPs) refers to prevention or treatment approaches that are supported by documented scientific evidence (e.g., research results from randomized or quasi-experimental designs). Promising practices are those which, although lacking a rigorous base of research evidence, show promising field-based or theoretical support. These might include locally developed services and supports intended to meet the specific strengths and needs of local populations.
A new bifunctional chelate, BrMe2HBED : an effective conjugate for radiometals and antibodies

A new bifunctional chelate, N-(2-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylbenzyl)-N{prime}-(2-hydroxy-5-(bromoacetamido)benzyl)ethylenediamine-N,-N{prime}-diacetic acid (BrMe{sub 2}HBED), was designed and synthesized to bind trivalent cationic metals with monoclonal antibodies. The stability constants (log values) for indium complexed with a similar ligand, HBED, were increased over those of more commonly used ligands DTPA and EDTA. Predictably, the increased metal-ligand complex stability would expedite the in vivo clearance from nontarget regions and perhaps enhance the localization of the radiolabeled antibody (Ab). BrMe{sub 2}HBED was conjugated with the Ab (24 h) and then radiolabeled with indium-111 citrate (24 h). Additionally, the Ab was radiolabeled by using conventional methods ({sup 111}In-DTPA and {sup 125}I-lactoperoxidase) and then compared by measuring the in vitro stability, in vitro immunoreactivity(IR), and in vivo distribution and clearance. A 10:1 BrMe{sub 2} HBED:Ab mole ratio resulted in good labeling efficiency with {sup 111}In and more importantly a very high IR. In a hamster tumor model, {sup 111}In-BrMe{sub 2} HBED-labeled monoclonal antibody (1A3) had high uptake in the tumor tissue and preferable blood clearance compared to either of the more conventional radiolabeled 1A3 monoclonal antibodies ({sup 111}In-DTPA or {sup 125}I-lactoperoxidase). 49 refs., 4 figs., 8 tabs.
Epigenetic Systems: A Meta-Integrative Model of Human Functioning and Therapy

Saxe’s metaphor admirably captures the present model’s thesis that the major therapeutic systems each focus on different facets of the human condition. Questions over the legitimacy of integrating therapeutic systems with incompatible assumptions, which have impeded past integrative efforts, are addressed by Safran’s (1998) postmodern perspective that all world views are partial, inadequate representations of the world. He recommends instead a “… superordinate worldview that views all worldviews as partial and inadequate in nature and recognizes the importance of viewing reality from the perspective of multiple lenses” (p. 265).
Characterizing the joint effects of pesticide exposure and criteria ambient air pollutants on pediatric asthma morbidity in an agricultural community.

Background Environmental contributions to pediatric asthma morbidity have been studied extensively in urban settings; exposures characteristic of agricultural and rural communities have received less attention despite a comparable burden of morbidity. Methods We obtained repeated urine samples (n = 139) from 16 school-age children with asthma in the Yakima Valley of Washington State between July and October 2012. Biomarkers of organophosphate (OP) pesticide exposure (dialkyl phosphates [DAPs]) and asthma exacerbation (leukotriene E4 [LTE4]) were analyzed in samples. Corresponding 24-hour average particulate matter <2.5 μg (PM2.5) and maximum 8-hour ozone concentration data for the study period were available from local monitoring stations. We evaluated the independent and multi-pollutant associations between LTE4 and exposure to ambient air pollutants and DAPs using generalized estimating equations. For multi-domain and multi-pollutant models, we created categorized pollution combination levels and estimated the relative health impact of exposure to pollutant mixtures. Results In single-pollutant models, an interquartile range increase in exposures to DAPs was associated with increase in LTE4 levels (β: 4.1 [0.6-7.6] pg/mg). PM2.5 and ozone were also associated with increase in LTE4, though confidence intervals contained the null value. Increase in LTE4 levels was consistently associated with increase in median-dichotomized multi-pollutant combination exposures; the highest effect estimates were observed with joint highest (vs. the lowest) category of the three-pollutant exposure (PM2.5, ozone, and OP; β: 53.5, 95% confidence interval = 24.2, 82.8 pg/mg). Conclusion Concurrent short-term exposure to criteria air pollutants and OPs in an agricultural community was associated with an increase in a marker of asthma morbidity.
Echo-mode aberration tomography: Sound speed imaging with a single linear array

Tomographic sound speed imaging has previously demonstrated the capability of producing images of comparable quality to that of X-ray CT and MRI. Traditionally, such reconstructions have only been achievable in transmission mode, either using diametrically opposed linear arrays or ring arrays. This is due to the conventional wisdom that forward scatter data are necessary for reconstruction in the general case, and consequentially, such setups are typically limited to easily externalized, soft tissues such as the female breast and thus are impractical for clinical usage. Recently, it has been demonstrated that in the presence of diffuse scatterers (Jaeger, 2015), pulse-echo reconstructions of slowness (inverse sound speed, proportional to refractive index) is feasible with a conventional single conventional linear array. By correlating data acquired with steered plane wave transmissions, depth dependent maps of phase lags can be generated and subsequently used to solve a multilinear inverse problem. The resulting images allow for baseband, speckle-free characterization of the underlying medium, which is complementary to the data acquired in traditional B-mode ultrasound. In this presentation, the fundamentals of echo-mode aberration tomography will be reviewed, completely with algorithmic formulation, beamformation considerations, and current challenges in practical reconstruction.
Hospital variation in carotid stenting outcomes.

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study was to examine variation in outcomes for patients receiving carotid artery stenting (CAS) across a sample of U.S. hospitals and assess the extent to which this variation was attributable to differences in case mix and procedural volume. Background As CAS is increasingly being used throughout the United States, assessing hospital variation in CAS outcomes is critical to understanding and improving the quality of care for patients with carotid artery disease. Methods Hospitals participating in the National Cardiovascular Data Registry–Carotid Artery Endarterectomy and Revascularization Registry contributing more than 5 CAS procedures from 2005 through 2013 were eligible for inclusion. We estimated unadjusted and risk-standardized rates of in-hospital stroke or death for each participating hospital using a previously validated prediction model and applying hospital-level random effects. Results There were 188 hospitals contributing 19,381 CAS procedures during the period of interest. Unadjusted and risk-standardized in-hospital stroke or death rates ranged from 0% to 18.8% and 1.2% to 4.7%, respectively. Operator and hospital volumes were not significant predictors of outcomes after adjustment for case mix (p = 0.15 and p = 0.09, respectively). Conclusions CAS outcomes vary 4-fold among hospitals, even after adjustment for differences in case mix. Future work is needed to identify the sources of this variation and develop initiatives to improve patient outcomes.
A Model for Costing Absenteeism in Hotels

While absenteeism models have been developed and applied in the manufacturing industries, little work has been done on absenteeism in service industries. Due to the labor intensity of service industries, specifically the hotel industry, a model to track and quantify the costs of absenteeism could be useful to managers. The authors propose just such a model.
DASH diet and prevalent metabolic syndrome in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

Abstract The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet is recommended for lowering blood pressure and preventing cardiovascular disease (CVD), but little data exist on these associations in US Hispanics/Latinos. We sought to assess associations between DASH score and prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components in diverse Hispanics/Latinos. We studied 10,741 adults aged 18–74 in the multicenter Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. Dietary intake was measured using two 24-hour recalls, and MetS defined per the 2009 harmonized guidelines. We assessed cross-sectional associations of DASH score and MetS (and its dichotomized components) using survey logistic regression, and DASH and MetS continuous components using linear regression. We also stratified these models by Hispanic/Latino heritage group to explore heritage-specific associations. We found no associations between DASH and MetS prevalence. DASH was inversely associated with both measures of blood pressure (p
Teaching students with mathematics disabilities to solve multiplication and division word problems: the role of schema-based instruction

Mathematical knowledge involving whole number multiplication and division is integral to understanding multiplicative structures such as ratios, slope, rate of change, and proportions, which are important in subsequent mathematical learning. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of a research-based intervention, schema-based instruction (SBI), to teach multiplicative whole number word-problem solving to three-fifth-grade students with mathematics disabilities. SBI emphasizes the underlying mathematical problem structure, uses visual-schematic diagrams to show how quantities in a problem are related, focuses on problem solving procedures grounded in reasoning, and highlights metacognitive strategy knowledge to monitor and reflect on the problem-solving process. We used a multiple probe across participants design to evaluate the functional relation between the SBI intervention and word-problem solving performance. Immediately following treatment as well as 1–3 weeks later, results indicated acquisition and retention of word problem-solving skills by all three students. In addition, the percentage of student use of representations (i.e., drawing a diagram, writing a number sentence) increased from the baseline to the intervention phases. These findings and their relation to theory, research, and practice are discussed.
Effect of Al on high-temperature corrosion of Co-15a/oNb alloys in H2-H2O-H2S environments

Co−15 at.% Nb alloys containing up to 15 at.% Al were corroded in gaseous H2−H2O−H2S mixtures over the temperature range of 600–900°C. The corrosion kinetics followed the parabolic rate law at all temperatures. Corrosion resistance improved with increasing Al content except at 900°C. Duplex scales formed on alloys consisting of an outer layer of cobalt sulfide and a heterophasic inner layer. A small amount of Al2O3 was found only on Co−15Nb−15Al. Contrary to what formed in Co−Nb binary alloys, neither NbS2 nor NbO2 were found in the inner layer of all alloys, but Nb3S4 did form. The absence of NbS2 and NbO2 is due to the formation of stable Al2O3 and Al2S3 that effectively blocked the inward diffusion of oxygen and sulfur, respectively, and to the reduction of activity of Nb by Al additions in the alloys. Intercalation of ions in the empty hexagonal channels of Nb3S4 is associated with the blockage of the transport of cobalt. An unknown phase (possibly Al0.5NbS2) was detected. Alloys corroded at 900°C were abnormally fast and formed a scale containing CoNb3S6 and Co. Pt markers were found at the interface between the inner and outer layers.
Assessing and reducing PET radiotracer infiltration rates: a single center experience in injection quality monitoring methods and quality improvement.

Successful injection of radiolabeled compounds is critical for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. A poor quality injection limits the tracer availability in the body and can impact diagnostic results. In this study, we attempt to quantify our infiltration rates, develop an actionable quality improvement plan to reduce potentially compromised injections, and compare injection scoring to PET/CT imaging results. A commercially available system that uses external radiation detectors was used to monitor and score injection quality. This system compares the time activity curves of the bolus relative to a control reading in order to provide a score related to the quality of the injection. These injection scores were used to assess infiltration rates at our facility in order to develop and implement a quality improvement plan for our PET imaging center. Injection scores and PET imaging results were reviewed to determine correlations between image-based assessments of infiltration, such as liver SUVs, and injection scoring, as well as to gather infiltration reporting statistics by physicians. A total of 1033 injections were monitored at our center. The phase 1 infiltration rate was 2.1%. In decision tree analysis, patients 127.5 lbs. with non-antecubital injections were associated with lower quality injections. Our phase 2 infiltration rate was 1.9%. Comparison of injection score to SUV showed no significant correlation and indicated that only 63% of suspected infiltrations were visible on PET/CT imaging. Developing a quality improvement plan and monitoring PET injections can lead to reduced infiltration rates. No significant correlation between reference SUVs and injection score provides evidence that determination of infiltration based on PET images alone may be limited. Results also indicate that the number of infiltrated PET injections is under-reported.
Recommendations for the Future

Some personal recommendations for conservation in the archipelago are offered. Many needs have already been achieved, such as permits for research and collecting activities and better control of domesticated animals. More fencing is needed to keep cattle and sheep restricted to areas that now only contain introduced plants. Focus should be on cutting and poisoning the maqui and zarzamora. These two species are aggressive, easily outcompeting native species. Control of the goats and rabbits also must be a priority. Both are periodically hunted by CONAF personnel and villagers, but their rate of proliferation easily outpaces harvesting. Solutions may involve biological control by introduction of a lethal virus or development of a dominant male sterile line to mate with females and produce sterile progeny. Education of the next generation of villagers is important, as also is development of educational materials for island visitors. CONAF guides might profit from additional training on biological aspects of endemic and invasive species. Phytosanitation is a high priority to stop influx of plants that have potential of becoming serious pests. Continued research on native and endemic species and vegetation is needed to better inform conservation initiatives.
Improving Accuracy of Handoff by Implementing an Electronic Health Record-generated Tool: An Improvement Project in an Academic Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Background Written patient handoffs are susceptible to errors or incompleteness. The accuracy is dependent on the person inputting the information. Thus, handoff printouts generated by electronic health records (EHR) with automation reduces the risk of transcription errors and improves consistency in format. This single-center quality improvement project aims to increase the accuracy of handoff printouts with an EHR-generated handoff tool. Methods This project used a plan-do-study-act methodology. Participants included registered nurses, neonatal nurse practitioners, neonatal hospitalists, pediatric residents, neonatal fellows, and neonatologists. The goals were to (1) increase accuracy of information to 80%, (2) reduce verbal handoff time by 20%, (3) reduce the frequency of incorrectly listed medications below 20%, and (4) improve user satisfaction by 1 point (on a 5-point Likert scale) over 6 months. Baseline assessment included a survey and a review of handoff reports 4 months before transitioning to the new handoff tool. We created a new handoff tool using EHR autogenerated phrases (Epic SmartPhrases) and autopopulated fields for pertinent Neonatal Intensive Care Unit patient data. Results After the unit-wide implementation of the new tool, the accuracy of 16 patient data points increased from 51% to 97%, while the frequency of patients with incorrectly listed medications decreased from 51% to 0%. Handoff time remained unchanged, while a 5-question user satisfaction survey showed an increase on the Likert scale. Conclusions We demonstrated that handoff printouts generated by EHR have fewer inaccuracies than manually scripted versions and do not add to the time required to give verbal handoff.
The impact of engineering information formats on learning and execution of construction operations: A virtual reality pipe maintenance experiment

Abstract Given the increasing complexity of construction tasks, and the growing number of construction operations within confined workplaces, construction workers rely heavily on working memory. In this context, working memory is defined as the short-term and temporary storage of information related to near future events to ensure the seamless execution of construction tasks. Although a strong relationship between engineering information format and task performance has been observed in the relevant literature, there remains an obvious theoretical disagreement—in particular, about the cognitive mechanisms for explaining why different information formats affect working memory development and retrieval in distinct ways. This study presents a human–subject experiment (n = 120) to examine the impact of information format on the performance of a pipe maintenance task, and the implications of cognitive costs in both working memory development (information encoding) and retrieval (information recalling). Participants were required to review the operational instructions for a pipe maintenance task for a short period, and then perform the task from memory. Participants were divided into four groups depending on the format of information they received: 2D isometric drawing of the plate heat exchanger with bulleted-text operational instructions (2D-simple group); 2D isometric drawing of the plate heat exchanger with rich-text operational instruction (2D-complex group); an interactive 3D model of the plate heat exchanger with bulleted-text operational instructions (3D group); or an immersive Virtual Reality (VR) environment with bulleted-text operational instructions (VR group). The results indicated that 3D and VR groups outperformed 2D-simple and 2D-complex groups in both operation time and maintenance accuracy. A further cognitive load analysis (based on surveys and pupil dilation) suggested that the superior performance of these groups is driven by more efficient usage of working memory, measured by how easily the encoded information can be recalled in the operation phase. Larger pupil dilation during encoding, indicative of successful working memory formation, was associated with better subsequent performance. These findings provide more evidence about cognitive mechanisms engaged by different information formats, help to resolve the current theoretical disagreement within the construction literature, and may inspire designs of cognition-driven information systems that can improve working memory in construction workers.
An Evaluation Framework of End-to-End 5G Millimeter Wave Communication for Connected Vehicle Applications.

The internet-of-things (IoT) environment connects different intelligent devices together and enables seamless data communication between the connected devices. Connected vehicles (CVs) are one of the primary example of the IoT, and the efficient, reliable, and safe operation of CVs demands a reliable wireless communication system, which can ensure high throughput and low communication latency. The 5G millimeter wave (5G mmWave) wireless communication network offers such benefits, which can be the enabler of CV applications, especially for dense urban areas with high number of CVs. In this study, we present a simulation-based evaluation framework of end-to-end 5G mmWave communication for CV applications. In addition, we compare the 5G mmWave with the Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC) technology for a CV application. The simulation framework is developed using two simulators, a network simulator and a traffic simulator. In order to develop the framework in this study, we have used Network Simulator 3 (ns-3) and SUMO, an open-source microscopic roadway traffic simulator. We have used end-to-end latency, packet loss and throughput as the performance evaluation metrics. We have found that for dense urban areas, 5G mmWave can achieve higher throughput, lower latency and lower data loss compared to DSRC. 5G mmWave can support CV applications with high throughput requirement on the downlink data flow. Through further investigation, we have found that the performance of 5G mmWave is significantly impacted by the penetration level of CVs, maximum CV speed, and CV application requirements.
Freedom’s Debtors: British Antislavery in Sierra Leone in the Age of Revolution/Granville Sharp’s Uncovered Letter and the Zong Massacre: Freedom’s Debtors: British Antislavery in Sierra Leone in the Age of Revolution, by Padraic X. Scanlan, New Haven, Yale UP, 2017, xiii + 299 pp., 12 illustrations.; Granville Sharp’s Uncovered Letter and the Zong Massacre, by Michelle Faubert, Cham, Palgrave Macmillan, 2018, x + 166 pp.

In 2019, Freetown and Kingston upon Hull celebrated 40 years of the “twinning” of the two cities—the word used to describe the partnership between the birthplace of William Wilberforce and the capi...
Sources of nonreplicability in aging ethnoracial health disparities research.

The older adult population in the U.S. is becoming increasingly diverse across a constellation of factors including ethnoracial group, socioeconomic status, and immigration status. However, our understanding of the consequences of this diversity for cognitive and mental health is masked by the lack of inclusion of diverse sample characteristics, the use of assessments that might hold a different meaning for different groups of people, and analytical choices that do not probe the impact of diverse characteristics or assume an unwarranted degree of homogeneity within groups. Each of these factors not only hinders our ability to understand various psychological mechanisms that differ as a function of age but also threatens the likelihood of replicability across aging research studies. This article provides our perspective on three key sources of nonreplicability in ethnoracial health disparities research among older adults: (a) what is lost in creating monolithic groups rather than identifying subgroups of minorities, (b) understanding aging from the perspective of intersecting identities, and (c) biases of research materials. We also provide recommendations to increase replicability in aging research with respect to the challenges outlined. Approaching questions on aging from a health disparities lens can both increase the generalizability of research outcomes and improve initiatives of social justice that are long overdue. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Lower Extremity Impact and Injury Responses of Male and Female PMHS to High-Rate Vertical Loading

Whole-body PMHS (Post Mortem Human Surrogate) testing was conducted on the Accelerative Loading Fixture (ALF), which is designed to generate floor and seat loading conditions at the level, rate, location, direction, and extent seen in UBB (Underbody Blast). The overarching goal of this research effort was to examine potential differences in the lower extremity response of females and males under UBB conditions. The ALF consists of an occupant platform that is driven upward by the detonation of an explosive charge. The floor plate undergoes plastic deformation. The occupant platform supports two rigid seats for surrogates. Twenty un-embalmed PMHS were tested, including 50th-percentile males, 75th-percentile females, and 5th-percentile females. Two test series were conducted. Series A had a target floor speed of 8 m/s (2-ms time-to-peak) with a target seat speed of 5 m/s (4-ms time-to-peak). Series B had a target floor speed of 20 m/s (2-ms time-to-peak) with a target seat speed of 4 m/s (7-ms time-to-peak). Major damage occurred to the femur, tibia, fibula, talus, and calcaneus. Lower extremity damage type, incidence, and extent varied between the two sexes. Fifty-percent probability of calcaneus fracture for less than 3-ms time-to-peak is associated with a 781-g peak tibia vertical acceleration for 50th-percentile males, 650-g for 75th-percentile females, and 396-g for 5th-percentile females. Fifty-percent probability of calcaneus fracture, regardless of time-to-peak, is associated with a 368-g peak femur vertical acceleration for 50th-percentile males, 332-g for 75th-percentile females, and 218-g for 5th-percentile females. These results show differences in kinematics and damage outcome between female and male PMHS in UBB conditions. These findings will inform future decisions regarding the requirements for test capabilities that incorporate the female Warfighter. Ultimately, advancements can be made in injury assessment tools such as improved physical surrogates, injury assessment and prediction criteria, modeling and simulation capabilities, test methods, and the optimization of military ground vehicles, personal protective equipment, and injury countermeasures.
Effect of additives in aqueous electrolytes on CO2 electroreduction

Abstract Electrochemical reduction of CO2 (CO2ER) is a promising technology to mitigate the CO2 level in the atmosphere, as well as, to produce value-added chemicals and fuels. Aqueous solutions are regarded as the most common electrolytes for CO2ER. However, there are some challenges such as low CO2 solubility and the presence of parasitic hydrogen evolution reaction which cause CO2ER in aqueous electrolytes to be inefficient in terms of selectivity and activity. A number of strategies have been proposed to enhance the efficiency for CO2ER in aqueous electrolytes. Among them, introducing additives to the aqueous solutions has attracted considerable attention. Depending on the chemical and physical properties of the additives, they have been demonstrated to improve the selectivity and activity in CO2ER. Herein, we provide a review on classification, mechanism, challenges, and perspectives of the additives in the aqueous electrolytes for CO2ER.
The Impact of Corporate Governance on Discretionary Accrual Changes around the Sarbanes-Oxley Act*

Previous research such as Cohen, Dey and Lys (2005) and Lobo and Zhou (2006) document that there is a decrease in discretionary accruals following the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (hereafter SOX). More specifically, Cohen et al. (2005) document that firms' management of accounting earnings increased steadily from 1987 until the passage of the Sarbanes Oxley Act (SOX) in 2002, with a significant increase in the two years before SOX when major scandals occurred, and a significant decline after passage of SOX. Lobo and Zhou (2006) find that firms report lower discretionary accruals after SOX than in the period preceding SOX and firms incorporate losses more quickly into their earnings in the post-SOX period. In this paper we posit that corporate governance plays an important role in the behavior of discretionary accruals. We present evidence that firms with stronger corporate governance engage in less earnings management in the post-SOX period. More importantly, firms with stronger governance experience a lower reduction in discretionary accruals in the post-SOX period. This study provides further evidence of the impact of corporate governance on managers' discretionary accounting decisions. More importantly this study shows that the decrease in discretionary accruals behavior in the post-SOX period is not homogeneous across sample firms; it is inversely related to the quality of corporate governance.
Nomads: Nomadic Material Culture in the Asian Collections of the Horniman Museum

Nomads: Nomadic Material Culture in the Asian Collections of the Horniman Museum, Ken Teague. London: The Horniman Museum and Gardens and Museu Antropologico da Universidade de Coimbra. 2000.100 pp. 52 color and 27 black and white photographs,. maps, bibliography.
Transfection of Fibroblasts by Cloned Abelson Murine Leukemia Virus DNA and Recovery of Transmissible Virus by Recombination with Helper Virus

A cloned, permuted DNA copy of the Abelson murine leukemia virus (A-MuLV) genome was capable of eliciting the morphological transformation of NIH/3T3 fibroblasts when applied to cells in a calcium phosphate precipitate. The efficiency of the process was extremely low, yielding approximately one transformant per microgram of DNA under conditions which give 104 transfectants per microgram of other DNAs (e.g., Moloney sarcoma virus proviral DNA). The DNA was able to induce foci, even though the 3′ end of the genome was not present. The transforming gene was thus localized to the 5′ portion of the genome. The transformed cells all produced viral RNA and the virus-specific P90 protein. Transmissible virus could be rescued from these cells at very low frequencies by superinfection with helper virus; the rescued A-MuLV virus had variable 3′ ends apparently derived by recombination with the helper. Dimerization of the permuted A-MuLV cloned genome to reconstruct a complete provirus did not improve transformation efficiency. Virus could be rescued from these transformants, however, at a high efficiency. Cotransfection of the permuted A-MuLV DNA with proviral M-MuLV DNA yielded a significant increase in the efficiency of transformation and cotransfection of dimeric A-MuLV and proviral M-MuLV resulted in a high-efficiency transformation yielding several thousand more transformants per microgram than A-MuLV DNA alone. We propose that helper virus efficiently rescues A-MuLV from transiently transfected cells which would not otherwise have grown into foci. We hypothesize that multiple copies of A-MuLV DNA introduced into cells by transfection are toxic to cells. In support of this hypothesis, we have shown that A-MuLV DNA sequences can inhibit the stable transformation of cells by other selectable DNAs.
Welfare-to-Work Program Benefits and Costs: A Synthesis of Research

Most welfare programs seek to ensure that poor families have adequate income while at the same time encouraging self-sufficiency. Based on studies of 28 programs involving more than 100,000 sample members, this synthesis compares the costs, benefits, and returns on investment of six welfare program strategies - from the perspectives of participants, government budgets, and society as a whole.
Relationship between antibody affinity and hemolytic plaque diameter--II. Maturation of primary immune responses to DNP and SRBC.

The primary immune responses of C3H mice to the model monodeterminant antigen DNP† and the multideterminant antigen SRBC were studied in order to determine the relationship between relative antibody affinity and the hemolytic plaque diameter of individual antibody-secreting cells during maturation of the primary immune responses. Competitive inhibition PFC assays, employing either DNP-lysine or SRBC stromata, were used to assess relative antibody affinity and the degree of heterogeneity. Both immune responses exhibited typical maturational features with a progressive increase in mean antibody affinity and a progressive decrease in the heterogeneity of antibody affinities. The mean diameter of anti-DNP plaques increased during maturation and high affinity anti-DNP antibody produced larger plaques than low affinity antibody. However, the mean plaque diamter of anti SRBC plaques decreased during maturation. This discrepancy was explored by analysis of the distribution of PFC sizes and the capacity of large vs small plaques to be neutralized by competing antigen. The anti-SRBC response was characterized by a significantly greater frequency of small plaques during maturation as compared to the anti-DNP response. These new small plaques were less susceptible to inhibition than the larger plaques, a result consistent with the progressive emergence of PFC producing low affinity antibody. This study suggests that immunization with a complex multideterminant antigen such as SRBC may significantly influence the distribution of plaque sizes. Whereas competitive inhibition PFC analyses may provide a relative measure of antibody affinity and the clonal distribution of antibody affinities in responses to both monodeterminant and multideterminant antigens, analysis of maturation by reference to plaque diameter per se wean be erroneous, owing perhaps to the appearance of subpopulations of PFC synthesizing low affinity antibody or antibody directed to less dense determinants.
Improved capture of adverse events after spinal surgery procedures with a longitudinal administrative database

OBJECT The significant medical and economic tolls of spinal disorders, increasing volume of spine surgeries, and focus on quality metrics have made it imperative to understand postoperative complications. This study demonstrates the utility of a longitudinal administrative database for capturing overall and procedure-specific complication rates after various spine surgery procedures. METHODS The Thomson Reuters MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters and the Medicare Supplemental and Coordination of Benefits database was used to conduct a retrospective analysis of longitudinal administrative data from a sample of approximately 189,000 patients. Overall and procedure-specific complication rates at 5 time points ranging from immediately postoperatively (index) to 30 days postoperatively were computed. RESULTS The results indicated that the frequency of individual complication types increased at different rates. The overall complication rate including all spine surgeries was 13.6% at the index time point...