cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Echocardiographic Assessment of Diastolic Function

Diastole is the portion of the cardiac cycle that spans from isovolumic ventricular relaxation to the Her exercise tolerance has been slowly declining completion of antegrade mitral flow. There are four distinct phases of diastole (Fig. 1): (1) isovolumetric ventricular relaxation: an active, adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-requiring process that occurs from end-systole until left ventricular pressure falls below left arterial pressure leading to mitral valve (MV) opening; (2) rapid early ventricular filling: blood flows from left atrium (LA) into the left ventricle (LV) during continued, active, then passive LV relaxation; (3) diastasis: active ventricular relaxation is completed and near equilibration of LA and LV pressures occurs with resultant slow LA filling from pulmonary venous (PV) flow; and (4) atrial systole: increased transmitral pressure gradient from atrial contraction results in acceleration of blood flow from LA to LV.
Mechanism of the Intramolecular Hexadehydro-Diels–Alder Reaction

Theoretical analysis of the mechanism of the intramolecular hexadehydro-Diels–Alder (HDDA) reaction, validated against prior and newly measured kinetic data for a number of different tethered yne-diynes, indicates that the reaction proceeds in a highly asynchronous fashion. The rate-determining step is bond formation at the alkyne termini nearest the tether, which involves a transition-state structure exhibiting substantial diradical character. Whether the reaction then continues to close the remaining bond in a concerted fashion or in a stepwise fashion (i.e., with an intervening intermediate) depends on the substituents at the remaining terminal alkyne positions. Computational modeling of the HDDA reaction is complicated by the significant diradical character that arises along the reaction coordinate, which leads to instabilities in both restricted singlet Kohn–Sham density functional theory (DFT) and coupled cluster theory based on a Hartree–Fock reference wave function. A consistent picture emerges, h...
The Emerging Function and Mechanism of ceRNAs in Cancer

Complex diseases, such as cancer, are often associated with aberrant gene expression at both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional level. Over the past several years, competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) have emerged as an important class of post-transcriptional regulators that alter gene expression through a miRNA-mediated mechanism. Recent studies in both solid tumors and hematopoietic malignancies showed that ceRNAs have significant roles in cancer pathogenesis by altering the expression of key tumorigenic or tumor-suppressive genes. Characterizing the identity, function, and mechanism of the ceRNAs will not only further our fundamental understanding of RNA-mediated cancer pathogenesis, but may also shed light on the development of new RNA-based therapeutic strategies for treating cancer.
Baptists in Burma: collaboratively mapping missionary archives

Purpose – The purpose of this case study is to discuss and analyze the process of developing and sustaining a multi-institutional digital humanities projects across several institutions. Design/methodology/approach – This case study will provide an overview of a multi-institutional digital humanities project from the planning phase to implementation. In particular, this case study will discuss identifying institutional partners, collaborating with a design, designing for curricular integration and best practices for sustaining a project of this size and scope. Findings – Sustainable collaboration develops slowly over time. Communication and consensus-building are key components to completing and sustaining a multi-institutional digital project. Scalable design is a crucial step in planning for project expansion. Originality/value – Though many journal articles articulate “best practices” for collaboration among geographically dispersed institutions, very few case studies discuss “best practices” within th...
Functioning of the Labor Market

to provide for an efficient utilization of the nation's labor resources. For present purposes the following (incomplete) criterion of efficiency has been accepted: Labor of equivalent capacities should earn the same real (marginal) return in all employments.2 Our inquiry emphasizes two main issues: (1) What is the relationship between real returns to labor in agricultural and nonagricultural employments for comparable labor? (2) Does the functioning of the nonfarm labor
UNDERSTANDING THE CONTOURS OF DEEPENING URBAN INEQUALITY: THEORETICAL UNDERPINNINGS AND RESEARCH DESIGN OF A MULTI-CITY STUDY

Funded principally by the Ford Foundation and the Russell Sage Foundation, the Multi-City Study of Urban Inequality (MCSUI)—a primary data gathering initiative undertaken by an interdisciplinary team of social and behavioral scientists—is designed to advance our knowledge and understanding of the forces responsible for the growing schism between the haves and the have-nots in urban America over the last two decades. This paper highlights the study's research design and sampling frame, identifies the types of research and policy issues that will be addressed with the data collected, and discusses the significance and expected outcomes of the research.
A relationship between d104 value and composition in the calcite-disordered dolomite solid-solution series

X-ray diffraction has been widely used in analyzing Ca-Mg carbonates. Compositions of biogenic and inorganic (Ca,Mg)CO3 crystals are often calculated by comparing their d 104 values with published empirical curves. However, previous studies suggested that these curves do not apply to very high-Mg calcite and disordered dolomite. Based on synthesized high-Mg calcite and disordered dolomite, a new empirical curve between values of magnesian calcite d 104 and MgCO3 content in the calcite-disordered dolomite solid-solution series is constructed. This new curve is consistent with the significant cell parameter changes accompanying the Mg-Ca cation disorder in dolomite, and it can help the characterization of the MgCO3 content of both natural and synthetic magnesian calcite and disordered dolomite, especially for the mineral mixtures that are not suitable for other analysis methods.
The Agency of Place: Toward a More-Than-Human Geographical Self

Contemporary Indigenous activism asserts an agency for place not normally found in geographical scholarship. Through place-based protest, organizing, and direct action, Native and non-Native people are interacting with place as a conscious being with the capacity to speak, create, and teach the responsibilities required for more inclusive forms of coexistence in today’s settler states. This “placework” articulates a more-than-human geographical self whose subjectivities are grounded in, and accountable to, land-based relationships and knowledges. Placework contributes to a geographical posthumanism that offers a distinctively Indigenous approach to the predicaments of the Anthropocene.
Research on Hydraulic Support Knowledge Modeling Based on Ontology

In view of knowledge management problems for the coal mining industries in the largescale, integrated process of mining equipments, this paper presented knowledge organization and management approach based on ontology,which adopted modular lifecycle method, then hydraulic support knowledge model was completed. It achieved a greater range of knowledge sharing and reuse and provided a technical support for the enterprise to speed up product design, and had a certain significance on knowledge accumulation and innovation of coal mining manufacturers.
Prolonged Muscle Weakness After Neuromuscular Blockade in the Intensive Care Unit

Recent reports from around the world have demonstrated that some critically ill patients remain profoundly weak for days to weeks after receiving a neuromuscular blocking agent in the intensive care unit. Because muscle weakness can be caused by several different conditions in the ICU, management should begin with a systematic evaluation, including neurologic examination and electrodiagnostic studies. Central nervous system dysfunction should be considered first. Prolonged muscle weakness can be caused by persistent neuromuscular blockade resulting from delayed elimination of a parent drug or an active metabolite. An acute, necrotizing myopathy sometimes develops after prolonged administration of a neuromuscular blocking drug, especially when used in combination with a glucocorticoid. Critical care polyneuropathy should also be considered in these patients. The rate of recovery from prolonged muscle weakness varies according to the cause but is often complete following appropriate rehabilitation.
Flame resistant nonwoven fabrics

Abstract: As the nonwovens continue to be one of the fastest growing categories of textiles, there are many demanding applications that require flame retardancy. Flame retardant (FR) nonwovens can be produced by using inherently FR fibers or by applying appropriate chemical treatments on the produced nonwovens. After a brief introduction of nonwovens and their production, different approaches, both commercially available and under development, to make nonwovens flame retardant are discussed. It is important to achieve the desired performance at an affordable cost without any undesired effect on the environment or human health. Special emphasis is given to mechanisms and approaches for developing cellulosic FR nonwovens.
Incorporating animal-assisted therapy into psychotherapy: guidelines and suggestions for therapists

Publisher Summary Research is needed to identify the underlying mechanisms of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) that produce therapeutic changes. The findings from the studies would be valuable to understand how the interventions work, so that the best practice procedures can be implemented. There is a limited awareness of how AAI is applied and there is a need to demystify the process. There also needs to be a more appropriate bridge between clinical practice and best practice research. Practitioners are encouraged to pay closer attention to the need for program evaluation and documentation. This chapter aims to provide the practical insight into how animals may be incorporated into a therapeutic practice. It suggests that AAT is based on the very strong emotional connection and evolving relationship between the therapist, client, and animal. The most powerful finding from this study pertained to the specific uses of the animal within the therapeutic setting. Few studies are implemented investigating the impact that animals have in altering the therapeutic effects of an environment. A skilled and well-informed clinician should be able to recognize a multitude of benefits that animals can fulfill.
Historical and Ecological Injustices Through the Lens of Genocide: The United Church of Canada’s Acts of Contrition and the Project to Decolonize North America

This chapter outlines the linkage between historical and ecological injustices in the contemporary discourses of Canada’s United Church. The first section identifies the Church’s historical role in the Indian residential school system and its contemporary acts of contrition through the framework of restorative justice. The second section concerns the nature of intensive resource extraction in northern Canada and the Church’s effort to resist such destructive activities through the lens of ecological justice. The third section considers how the term genocide, which has otherwise been avoided by the Church, can be used in these contexts. Despite the apparent misgivings of the United Church in using this provocative term, the keyword of genocide has analytical value as a rhetorical device, capturing the experiences of Indigenous peoples. As such, the conclusion reflects on how the United Church may benefit from incorporating the language of genocide in its related initiatives for historical and ecological justice.
Sufism and Islamist activism in Morocco: an examination of the tradition of ‘commanding right and forbidding wrong’ in the thought of ʿAbd al-Salam Yassine

ABSTRACTIn this article, I contribute to ongoing debates regarding proper conceptions of ‘political Islam’ or ‘Islamism’ by bringing greater attention to the roles that Islamic mysticism, or Sufism, have played in some traditions of Islamist thought and practice. I do so by situating the ‘commanding right and forbidding wrong’ discourse in the wider thought of ʿdeb al-Salam Yassine (d. 2012), founder of the Moroccan Justice and Benevolence Association (Jamaʿat al-ʿAdl wal-Ihsan). This discourse has been interpreted and deployed in various ways by Islamist movements to conceptualize their activist visions, and in the hands of Yassine, we find an understanding which has been thoroughly shaped by Sufism, especially in the role played by spiritual and ethical formation (tarbiya) in cultivating a successful socio-political vanguard. This perspective challenges analytical frameworks which describe Islamist groups primarily as products of modernity or as political ideologies. Additionally, attention to the Sufi-...
Vancomycin-associated Henoch-Schönlein purpura

Intravenous vancomycin is a widely used antibiotics, but it causes different types of cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions, ranging from maculopapular rash, red-man syndrome, drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms, IgA bullous dermatosis, leukocytoclastic vasculitis, Stevens-Johnsons syndrome, to IgE-mediated anaphylaxis. We report an elderly patient with the end-stage renal disease presented with diffuse palpable purpura while receiving IV vancomycin therapy for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus septicemia. Histopathology of skin biopsy revealed perivascular infiltrates of leukocytoclastic debris with necrosis of the small-sized blood vessels. Direct immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated vivid IgA plus C3 immune-complex deposits localized to the vessel walls, and no immune complexes were noted on the dermoepidermal junction. There was no IgG or IgM immunoreactivity detected on the tissue specimen. Rheumatologic disease work-ups were negative. A diagnosis of vancomycin-associated Henoch-Schonlein variant of vasculitis was made. Vancomycin was substituted by daptomycin, and the purpuric skin rashes were resolved. Since vancomycin is a commonly used antibacterial agent, clinicians are encouraged to have a heightened awareness of this rare adverse skin reaction. Early recognition and prompt discontinuation of the medication is the key in management. As it is not an Ig-E mediated reaction, desensitization of vancomycin or re-challenge with vancomycin is not recommended as re-exposure to the drug may result in a recurrence of similar manifestations with potential permanent renal failure.
Repealing the Affordable Care Act – What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

As a nation, we depend upon those in highest office to monitor such changes, adding provisions where applicable and paring down what is no longer practical. Much of the divided nation fears that come January 20, 2017, Barack Obama’s legacy, the Affordable Care Act, may find itself vulnerable to a single stroke of the pen, potentially leaving millions of Americans without meaningful access to medical care. Others will celebrate as Donald John Trump accepts the role of 45th President of the United States. The only immediate certainty for modern American health care is that both sides will continue to argue whether the Affordable Care Act is a frivolous luxury or a social necessity.
Explaining the overlap between bullying perpetration and bullying victimization: assessing the time-ordered and correlative relationships

Abstract The integrated theoretical framework of lifestyles and routine activities and self-control theories is used to estimate the relationship between bullying perpetration and bullying victimization. Measures of bullying perpetration and associations with bullies are seen as risky behaviors to improve the rigor of the analysis of consistent behaviors within bullying victimization. The current study includes a comparison between the time-ordered and the reciprocal/correlative relationships between bullying perpetration and bullying victimization in path models. Both analyses of 2844 fourth grade students in South Korea from 2004 to 2008 support the main hypotheses: (1) Youth with low self-control had greater odds of being victimized by collective and verbal bullying (even after controlling for risky lifestyles), and (2) youth who were associated with bullies during the previous year were at higher risk of later collective and verbal bullying victimization (i.e., the time-ordered effect). Three different types of bullying perpetration (collective, verbal, and physical bullying) were significantly and positively correlated with each type of bullying victimization (i.e., the reciprocal effect).
Learning-Based Adaptive Optimal Tracking Control of Strict-Feedback Nonlinear Systems

This paper proposes a novel data-driven control approach to address the problem of adaptive optimal tracking for a class of nonlinear systems taking the strict-feedback form. Adaptive dynamic programming (ADP) and nonlinear output regulation theories are integrated for the first time to compute an adaptive near-optimal tracker without any a priori knowledge of the system dynamics. Fundamentally different from adaptive optimal stabilization problems, the solution to a Hamilton-Jacobi–Bellman (HJB) equation, not necessarily a positive definite function, cannot be approximated through the existing iterative methods. This paper proposes a novel policy iteration technique for solving positive semidefinite HJB equations with rigorous convergence analysis. A two-phase data-driven learning method is developed and implemented online by ADP. The efficacy of the proposed adaptive optimal tracking control methodology is demonstrated via a Van der Pol oscillator with time-varying exogenous signals.
Fluorescent Tracking of Yeast Division Clarifies the Essential Role of Spleen Tyrosine Kinase in the Intracellular Control of Candida glabrata in Macrophages.

Macrophages play a critical role in the elimination of fungal pathogens. They are sensed via cell surface pattern-recognition receptors and are phagocytosed into newly formed organelles called phagosomes. Phagosomes mature through the recruitment of proteins and lysosomes, resulting in addition of proteolytic enzymes and acidification of the microenvironment. Our earlier studies demonstrated an essential role of Dectin-1-dependent activation of spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) in the maturation of fungal containing phagosomes. The absence of Syk activity interrupted phago-lysosomal fusion resulting in arrest at an early phagosome stage. In the current study, we sought to define the contribution of Syk to the control of phagocytosed live C. glabrata in primary macrophages. To accurately measure intracellular yeast division, we designed a carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE) yeast division assay in which bright fluorescent parent cells give rise to dim daughter cells. The CFSE-labeling of C. glabrata did not affect the growth rate of the yeast. Following incubation with macrophages, internalized CFSE-labeled C. glabrata were retrieved by cellular lysis, tagged using ConA-647, and the amount of residual CFSE fluorescence was assessed by flow cytometry. C. glabrata remained undivided (CFSE bright) for up to 18 hours in co-culture with primary macrophages. Treatment of macrophages with R406, a specific Syk inhibitor, resulted in loss of intracellular control of C. glabrata with initiation of division within 4 hours. Delayed Syk inhibition after 8 hours was less effective indicating that Syk is critically required at early stages of macrophage-fungal interaction. In conclusion, we demonstrate a new method of tracking division of C. glabrata using CFSE labeling. Our results suggest that early Syk activation is essential for macrophage control of phagocytosed C. glabrata.
Congregations in Europe and the United States: Surprising Similarities and Common Priorities for Future Research

Every country is unique in its own way, and every country has its own religious particularities. But a main lesson that I take from these chapters is that there also are striking similarities across countries in their current religious situations. Perhaps it is not surprising to see religious similarities across European countries. But I am struck by similarities even between the European realities described in these chapters and the contemporary religious scene in the United States. I will highlight three points of similarity: decline, immigration as a source of religious diversity, and the suspicion that much religion now occurs outside religious organizations in general and outside congregations in particular. And I will conclude by suggesting several priorities for future research.
Conformational studies of copper proteins. Pseudomonas blue protein and Polyporus laccase.

Abstract Optical rotatory dispersion and circular dichroism spectra of the Pseudomonas blue protein and laccase B from Polyporus versicolor are presented from 190 to 700 mµ. Circular dichroism spectra of both proteins show six ellipticity bands above 300 mµ associated with the copper chromophore, indicating more transitions to be present in these copper protein complexes than the three parity-forbidden d-d transitions associated with Cu(II) in its common symmetries. A Gaussian analysis of the visible spectra of these proteins is presented. The same set of bands generates both the absorption and the circular dichroism spectra by the adjustment of the signs and the heights of the bands, while keeping the positions and the band widths constant. Below 1.8 x 104 cm-1, both proteins show three bands in the circular dichroism spectrum with signs (+, +, -) for the blue protein and (+, -, +) for laccase B. The uniqueness of the analysis has been established by using the Kronig-Kramers transform to generate the optical rotatory dispersion spectrum of the blue protein. Comparisons are made to the circular dichroism spectra of a Cu(II) complex of known donor atoms and geometry, [Cu(II)(glycyl-l-valine)]. Each protein creates a unique chemical environment for the aromatic residues. The Pseudomonas blue protein shows at least seven aromatic ellipticity bands, both positive and negative ([θ] ∼ ±6 x 103 deg cm2 per decimole), whereas laccase B shows three large positive aromatic bands ([θ] = 1 to 2.7 x 104 deg cm2 per decimole). In the region of the absorption bands of the peptide bonds, the blue protein shows a negative ellipticity band at 222 mµ ([θ] = 4.9 x 103 on a mean residue basis) and a positive band at 196 mµ ([θ] = 1.28 x 104 on a mean residue basis). A prominent negative band is not present at 206 mµ, and the circular dichroism spectrum exhibits a crossover point at 206 mµ. A preliminary analysis based on the computed contours of both the optical rotatory dispersion and circular dichroism spectra indicates a mixture of approximately 40% α-helix, 37% β structure, and 23% random coil. Laccase B shows a negative ellipticity band at 216 mµ ([θ] ∼ 4.1 x 103 on a mean residue basis) and a positive band at 196 mµ ([θ] ∼ 5.5 x 103 on a mean residue basis). Both features fit a β structure; however, the crossover occurs at 204 mµ and the computed curves indicate a mixture of β structure and random coil. The chemical interactions leading to the three-dimensional structure of the blue protein are apparently inherent in the primary chain. Acid denaturation, pH 1.5, destroys the ellipticity bands associated with the peptide bonds, the aromatic residues, and the copper chromophore. All are restored by return of the protein to neutral pH.
Modeling of Fission-Gas-Induced Swelling of Nuclear Fuels

The behavior of fission gases in a nuclear fuel is intimately tied to the chemical and microstructural evolution of the material. Various interrelated critical phenomena that dominate fission-gas-induced swelling in both oxide and metal fuels are discussed in the context of mechanistic modeling. The underlying theme underscores the similarities and differences in gas behavior between these two classes of nuclear materials. The discussion focuses more on a description of key mechanisms than on a comparison of existing models. Models for the role of intra- and intergranular gas-bubble nucleation and evolution, irradiation-induced re-solution, and irradiation-induced recrystallization on gas-driven swelling are explored. The results of calculations are compared to experimental observations.
Model-Based Development for High-Assurance Embedded Systems

Low cost embedded cyber-physical systems and ubiquitous networking have opened up a new world of connected devices in our homes and workplaces, and in safety critical contexts such as automobiles, medical care, and drone-based air vehicles. There are many different approaches to developing and assuring these systems, but not all take a rigorous approach and even fewer offer integrated assurance frameworks.
Acoustic Discriminability of the Complex Phonation System in !Xóõ.

Phonation types, or contrastive voice qualities, are minimally produced using complex movements of the vocal folds, but may additionally involve constriction in the supraglottal and pharyngeal cavities. These complex articulations in turn produce a multidimensional acoustic output that can be modeled in various ways. In this study, I investigate whether the psychoacoustic model of voice by Kreiman et al. (2014) succeeds at distinguishing six phonation types of !Xoo. Linear discriminant analysis is performed using parameters from the model averaged over the entire vowel as well as for the first and final halves of the vowel. The results indicate very high classification accuracy for all phonation types. Measures averaged over the vowel’s entire duration are closely correlated with the discriminant functions, suggesting that they are sufficient for distinguishing even dynamic phonation types. Measures from all classes of parameters are correlated with the linear discriminant functions; in particular, the “strident” vowels, which are harsh in quality, are characterized by their noise, changes in spectral tilt, decrease in voicing amplitude and frequency, and raising of the first formant. Despite the large number of contrasts and the time-varying characteristics of many of the phonation types, the phonation contrasts in !Xoo remain well differentiated acoustically.
Efficient order-adaptive methods for polymer self-consistent field theory

Abstract A highly accurate and memory-efficient approach for the solution of polymer self-consistent field theory (SCFT) is proposed. The central idea is to combine spectral integration in the polymer chain contour variable with a spectral deferred correction technique to solve the SCFT modified diffusion equations with arbitrarily high order of accuracy. The result is a robust method that achieves high accuracy with a minimal number of discrete contour nodes, which translates into vastly reduced memory requirements and increased computational efficiency. In particular, this spectral deferred correction method enables the computation of strongly segregated systems with unprecedented accuracy. Moreover, the framework of deferred corrections allows us to adaptively increase the order of accuracy during the outer saddle point iteration to drastically reduce the cost of a SCFT computation.
Temporal changes in fruit production between recurrent prescribed burns in pine woodlands of the Ouachita Mountains

Abstract The use of prescribed fire is integral to the restoration of open woodlands and savannas, including shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata) woodlands in the Ouachita Mountains of Oklahoma and Arkansas. Fire offers many potential benefits to numerous wildlife; however, short-term implications for understory fruit production are not fully understood, especially in stands subjected to frequent, recurrent burns. We examined the effects of dormant-season prescribed burns on woody fruit production (kg ha−1) and fruit producing vegetative cover in the understory of restored pine woodlands. We inventoried 32 stands during four temporal periods after dormant season prescribed fires: 1, 2, 3, and 5 growing seasons post-burn. We counted fruit ( 7% each), but this did not translate into substantial fruit production. American beautyberry and summer grape had both substantial coverage and production. Results suggest that burning on a 3-year rotation maximizes and prolongs fruit production; however, occasional burning on a 5-year rotation will promote a higher diversity of woody mast-producing understory species.
Hydrogen Bonding: A Coulombic σ-Hole Interaction

Molecular electrostatic potentials, in conjunction with polarization, provide the key to understanding hydrogen bonding. As required by the Hellmann–Feynman theorem, hydrogen bonding is a Coulombic interaction between (a) a positive electrostatic potential associated with a region of lower electronic density on the hydrogen (a σ-hole), and (b) a negative site on the hydrogen-bond acceptor. The charge distributions of both the hydrogen-bond donor and the acceptor reflect the polarizing effects of each other’s electric fields. The greater the polarization, the stronger the interaction. This interpretation of hydrogen bonding applies to all of the different categories into which it has been subdivided; they are fundamentally similar. We show that if polarization is minor and the hydrogen bonds relatively weak, then their interaction energies correlate well with the product of the most positive electrostatic potential on the hydrogen and the most negative one on the negative site. It is argued that the partial covalent character that is often attributed to hydrogen bonds simply reflects a greater degree of polarization.
Boycotting Japan: Explaining Divergence in Chinese and South Korean Economic Backlash:

AbstractJapan has a ‘cold politics, hot economics’ relationship with both China and South Korea where political relations are tense and business overall flourishes. Despite the similarities, the po...
The impact of socioeconomic status and social deprivation on musculoskeletal limitations

Abstract Background Objective (SES) and subjective socioeconomic status (SSS) affect symptom intensity and magnitude of limitations. Identification of potentially modifiable social risk factors might contribute to additional opportunities for optimizing musculoskeletal health. Questions/purposes (1) There are no correlations between magnitude of limitations (as measured with Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Function [PROMIS PF computer adaptive test]) and components of SES or SSS in people with musculoskeletal disease; (2) There are no factors (including level of social deprivation) independently associated with PROMIS PF. Methods One hundred and fifty-nine patients presenting to clinicians specializing in the treatment of a broad variety of musculoskeletal conditions were prospectively enrolled in the study. We recorded patient demographics and assessed patients' socioeconomic status using the MacArthur Sociodemographic questionnaire and physical disability rating using PROMIS PF. Patients deprivation index was retrieved using their 9-digit ZIP codes. We used bivariate analysis to determine correlations between magnitude of limitations and socioeconomic status. We created a stepwise backward multivariable linear regression model to assess factors independently associated with PROMIS PF. Results Weak correlations were found on bivariate analysis of PROMIS PF with SSS measured as “Place in community” (r 0.28; P Conclusions Objective and subjective measures of socioeconomic status are associated with magnitude of physical limitations in patients with musculoskeletal illness. These factors should be considered when developing treatment plans for patients with musculoskeletal conditions. Level of evidence Level II prognostic study.
Electron Paramagnetic Resonance as a Tool for Studying Membrane Proteins

Membrane proteins possess a variety of functions essential to the survival of organisms. However, due to their inherent hydrophobic nature, it is extremely difficult to probe the structure and dynamic properties of membrane proteins using traditional biophysical techniques, particularly in their native environments. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy in combination with site-directed spin labeling (SDSL) is a very powerful and rapidly growing biophysical technique to study pertinent structural and dynamic properties of membrane proteins with no size restrictions. In this review, we will briefly discuss the most commonly used EPR techniques and their recent applications for answering structure and conformational dynamics related questions of important membrane protein systems.
Metabolic Decompensations in the Diabetic

The three major metabolic decompensations in the diabetic are diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome, and lactic acidosis (LA). Prompt identification and proper therapy are vital to prevent the complications from these metabolic derangements.
“The gratitude attitude”: growing evidence for medical and veterinary professionals

Gratitude is a topic of increasing popularity across social media platforms, literature and the press. There is mounting evidence for its positive effects in mental health, physical wellbeing and c...
Joseph Bryennios and eschatological theology in Late Byzantium

The Last Judgment, the extraordinary conclusion to Christ's parousia, played a consequential role in Byzantine religious culture. However, the scarcity of biblical information and the lack of an official council-sanctioned theology of the afterlife resulted in the creation of varying and sometimes contradictory narratives. The most systematic treatment of questions pertaining to the Last Judgment is by Joseph Bryennios (d. c. 1430/1), a theologian and court preacher, in a series of two sermons. This paper offers a detailed investigation of Bryennios’ eschatological thought and discusses its sources and its importance as ‘official’ theology in the last decades of the empire.
Perceptions of the Benefits and Risks of Antibiotics Among Adult Patients and Parents With High Antibiotic Utilization.

Background Inappropriate antibiotic use is common. Understanding how patients view antibiotic risks and/or benefits could inform development of patient education materials and clinician communication strategies. We explored current knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to antibiotics among populations with high antibiotic use. Methods We conducted 12 focus groups with adult patients and parents across the United States by telephone in March 2017. Purposive sampling was used to identify participants with high antibiotic use. We transcribed the discussions verbatim and performed thematic analysis. Results We identified 4 major themes. First, participants expressed uncertainty regarding which clinical syndromes required antibiotics, and emotion often influenced their desire for antibiotics. Second, they had a limited understanding of antibiotic risks. Antibiotic resistance was viewed as the primary risk but was seen as a "distant, future" issue, whereas immediate adverse events, such as side effects, were minimized; however, patients expressed concern when told about the risk of serious adverse events. Third, they prioritized antibiotic benefits over risks in their decision-making, both due to an inaccurate estimation of antibiotic risks and/or benefits and a tendency to prioritize instant gratification. Fourth, most participants were willing to defer to their clinicians' decisions about antibiotics, especially if their clinician provided symptomatic treatment and anticipatory guidance. Conclusions Patients have a limited understanding of antibiotic risks, potentially explaining why they are willing to try antibiotics even if it is unclear antibiotics will help. Educating patients on the potential antibiotic risks versus benefits, rather than just antibiotic resistance, may have a bigger impact on their decision-making.
The body as a site of care: food and lactating bodies in the U.S.

The breast/chestfeeding body is a site of intense politics and power relations in the United States. Hardly a week passes without an incident in the news of a person being publically shamed, or unl...
Examining Relationships Between GRBAS Ratings and Acoustic, Aerodynamic and Patient-Reported Voice Measures in Adults With Voice Disorders.

SUMMARY Objective To determine if auditory-perceptual voice ratings performed using the GRBAS scale correlate with acoustic and aerodynamic measures of voice. A secondary aim was to examine the relationship between GRBAS ratings and patient-reported quality of life scales. Methods GRBAS ratings, acoustic, aerodynamic and patient-reported quality of life ratings were collected from the University of Wisconsin Madison Voice and Swallow Outcomes Database for 508 adults with voice disorders. Acoustic measures included noise to harmonic ratio, jitter%, shimmer%, highest fundamental frequency (F0) of vocal range, lowest F0 of vocal range, maximum phonation time and dysphonia severity index. Aerodynamic measures included phonation threshold pressure, subglottal pressure, mean transglottal airflow and laryngeal airway resistance. Patient-reported quality of life measures included the Vocal Handicap Index (VHI) and Glottal Function Index (GFI). Results GRBAS ratings were significantly correlated with several acoustic and aerodynamic measures, VHI and GFI. The strongest significant correlations for acoustic measures were observed between GRBAS ratings of overall voice quality and perturbation measures (jitter% r = 0.58, shimmer% r = 0.45, noise to harmonic ratio r = 0.36, Dysphonia Severity Index r = -0.56). The strongest significant correlation for aerodynamic voice measures was observed between GRBAS ratings of breathiness and transglottal airflow (r = 0.23), subglottal pressure (r = 0.49), and phonation threshold pressure (r = 0.26). GRBAS ratings were also significantly correlated with both VHI and the GFI scales. R values were higher for the VHI, but remained largely in low range for both scales. Conclusions Although GRBAS ratings were significantly correlated with multiple objective voice and patient related quality of life ratings, r values were low. These findings support the need for multiple voice measures when performing voice evaluations as no single voice measure was highly correlated with voice quality as measured by the GRBAS scale.
Global Microphysical Sensitivity of Superparameterized Precipitation Extremes

Author(s): Charn, AB; Collins, WD; Parishani, H; Risser, MD | Abstract: A recent study found statistically significant differences in extreme precipitation distributions over the contiguous United States (CONUS) when changing the microphysics scheme in a superparameterized global climate model. Here, we repeat the analysis globally and similarly find that differences are widespread when varying the number of predicted moments in the microphysics parameterization, but not when comparing variants of the double-moment scheme. However, contrary to the previous study in which differences largely disappeared over CONUS when 5-day simulations were conducted, we found that the signal in these shorter integrations remains within the tropics, implying a direct local effect of microphysics on precipitation extremes in these regions. The effect on precipitation is traced back to changes in vertical velocity profiles changes that are then amplified in the climatological simulations compared to the 5-day ones. Finally, the superparameterized extremes, regardless of the microphysics scheme, are shown to be larger than those from the Global Precipitation Climatology Project One-Degree Daily data set and generally smaller than those from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission 3B42 data set.
Feature Availability Comparison in Free and Paid Versions of Popular Smartphone Weight Management Applications.

OBJECTIVE Characterize capabilities of nutrition applications (apps) for weight management and associations between features, ratings, and app installations. DESIGN Calorie tracking apps with weight management as a primary outcome were selected from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store using keywords "diet" and "weight loss." METHODS Reviewers assessed free and upgraded versions of nutrition apps (n = 15) for features within 4 categories: (1) dietary intake, (2) anthropometrics, (3) physical activity, and (4) behavior change strategies. OUTCOME MEASURES Presence of specific app features, app ratings, and app installations. ANALYSIS Descriptive statistics of free and paid app versions. Spearman rank-order correlations were used to determine associations between feature inclusion, app ratings, and installations. RESULTS The apps had the greatest number of features in the dietary intake category. Additional dietary intake features were those most likely obtained through a subscription purchase. Behavior change content was absent from most apps. The macronutrient adjustment feature was strongly associated with average app ratings (rs = 0.74; P < 0.002) and with subscription costs (rs = 0.60; P < 0.019). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS This study found most nutrition apps possess an abundance of features dedicated to dietary intake, anthropometric, and physical activity tracking while also being notably devoid of behavior change content features.
A study on the oxidation kinetics of warm mix asphalt

Abstract Warm mix asphalt (WMA) is increasingly used in pavements to reduce energy consumption and emissions, and to extend workability times. Literature reports on warm mix asphalt have addressed its usage, but its oxidation kinetics and possible effects on pavement durability are unknown. In this work, several popular types of WMAs were used in multi-temperature experiments to estimate oxidation kinetics parameters of an Arrhenius reaction model. Additionally, an example pavement aging simulation explored the potential effects of differences in activation energy on pavement aging. Constant rate activation energies show statistically insignificant differences between the base binder and its WMAs; additionally, for each WMA material all four kinetics parameters follow the same correlations previously established for 15 non-WMA binders. These results suggest no adverse effect of WMA additives on asphalt oxidation, compared to the base binder. An example pavement binder oxidation simulation specific to Lubbock, Texas indicates that first, between a base binder and its corresponding WMAs, differences in pavement oxidation over 10 years of pavement service would be minimal and second, oxidative hardening may (or may not) slow the overall reaction rate as diffusion resistance increases, depending on the balance between diffusion and reaction rates.
Modeling Inner Magnetospheric Electric Fields: Latest Self‐Consistent Results

This paper presents some of the latest results of self-consistent numerical modeling of large-scale inner-magnetospheric electric fields obtained with the Rice Convection Model (RCM). The RCM treats plasma drifts, electric fields, and currents in the inner magnetosphere self-consistently in the quasi-static (slow-flow) approximation under the assumption of isotropic pitch-angle distribution. Event simulations of the magnetic storm of March 31, 2001 are used with two newly available RCM input models: an empirical model of the storm-time magnetospheric magnetic field, and an empirical model of the plasma sheet. Results show that the effect of severe distortion of the magnetic field during very large magnetic storms improves the ability of the RCM to predict the location of Sub-Auroral Polarization Stream (SAPS) events, although there is not perfect agreement with observations. Weakening of shielding by region-2 Birkeland currents during times of severe magnetic field inflation also improves comparison of the RCM-computed plasmapause location with data. Results of simulations with plasma boundary sources varying in response to measured solar wind inputs show that the plasma sheet may become interchange unstable under certain geomagnetic conditions.
Welfare Benefits, Competitive Races, and Policy Diffusion: Toward a Theory of Pressure Group Intensity

Over the last twenty years, a range of studies have been undertaken to evaluate whether states engage in a ‘race to the bottom’ (RTB) in the provision of welfare services. Many of these studies have primarily used spatial lags to prove/disprove the existence of RTB and have painted RTB as a continuous, linear process where welfare services approach a minimal limit. Here, I re-conceptualize RTB in the context of local political determinants and use geographically weighted regression to determine whether RTB can occur in locally specific settings but not in a global geographic space. I find that RTB is a much more local process than was previously thought and also find that much of what we consider to be RTB took place in the industrial Midwest rather than the South. Additionally, RTB is not limited to welfare benefits but can take other forms, such as restricting access. Rather than being continuous and linear, RTB is highly dynamic and influenced by local exigencies and necessities.
Avionics and perching systems of free-flying robots for the International Space Station

This paper introduces NASA's new free-flying robot, Astrobee, especially focusing on its avionics and perching subsystems. Astrobee is a cube-shaped autonomous robot designed for various missions on the International Space Station (ISS). Its major goal is to offload routine and repetitive work from the ISS crews and assist their science activities. Astrobee is also designed for scientists to use it as a micro-gravity robotics research platform. It can host various science equipment and software, allowing scientists to conduct their experiments using Astrobees on the ISS. The robot has a small compliant, detachable arm with a griper so that it can perch on the ISS wall to support long duration tasks. This arm will grasp ISS handrails to hold its position without using propulsion or navigation subsystems to minimize power consumption. Due to its special missions and operating environment, Astrobee has a set of unique design requirements. This paper gives an overview of Astrobee and the details of its avionics and perching subsystems with distinctive design challenges. We also present the trade studies that we have conducted to decide the critical hardware and software components for the avionics.
Comparison of three models for permeation of CO2/CH4 mixtures in poly(phenylene oxide)

Extension et generalisation de 2 modeles de permeabilite de gaz purs (modeles de Petropoulos et de Barrer) pour predire la permeabilite d'un melange gazeux a partir des parametres de sorption et de transport des gaz purs. Comparaison de ces 2 modeles et d'un 3eme base sur les gradients de concentration dans le cas du PPO. Le modele de Barrer etendu et le 3eme modele donnent les meilleurs resultats pour le CO 2 et le CH 4 respectivement. Les erreurs de prediction sont attribuees a la «planification de transport» du PPO due a la sorption du CO 2