cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Epidemiology as a Practical Resource to Examine the Hype & Deliver Reliable Messages

Objective Epidemiologists will be better prepared to serve as a practical resource within their communities and spheres of influence by taking the time to examine data sources behind and implications of news stories and studies that are being widely circulated. Introduction It can be difficult to distinguish between truth, half-truth, fiction, and misinformation as we watch the news, read headlines, and scroll through various social media feeds. Fortunately, epidemiologists have the tools needed to serve as a practical resource for colleagues, partners, and communities. The Scrutinizer Challenge is an opportunity for epidemiologists to tackle at least one news story or study a month that is relevant to public health. The goal is that we would do the research necessary to examine data sources and implications of news stories and studies. This process can help us deliver consistent and reliable messages to share with colleagues, partners, and communities. It also provides an opportunity for epidemiologists that practice in different settings to consolidate resources and develop working relationships that may be needed to more thoroughly examine issues. Methods The Scrutinizer Challenge project was launched in January 2018 and introduced to Texas Public Health Association (TPHA) Epidemiology Section members. Participants were asked to select a headline or study to scrutinize. They were provided a guidance document with 10-25 questions to help identify and determine the credibility of data sources, compare these sources to claims being made, and assess overall implications of the news story or headline. Lastly, participants were asked to submit an actionable summary or end product that could be shared with colleagues, a local partner, or the general public. Scrutinizer Challenge project submissions were shared in the Epidemiology Section Newsletter or distributed to members as an educational resource. Results Three Scrutinizer Challenges were submitted between January 2018 and July 2018. News stories and study topics that were scrutinized addressed maternal mortality and morbidity in the United States, social media and population-level behavior change, and supplemental vitamins and minerals for disease prevention and treatment. The actionable summaries that were submitted were aimed at healthcare providers, researchers, and the general public. Limited but positive feedback was provided for each submission. Sources were found to be mostly credible for each news story or study, however, 2 out of 3 headlines did not support the claims made in the news story or study. Conclusions The Scrutinizer Challenges that have been submitted so far indicate that headlines can make incomplete or inaccurate claims even when credible sources are provided. This preliminary finding supports the need for epidemiologists to serve as a practical resource in their spheres of influence and communities, so that they can help cut through the hype and share reliable messages.
Learner-Centered Pedagogy: Principles and Practice: (2017), by Kevin Michael Klipfel and Dani Brecher Cook. Chicago, IL: ALA Editions, 208 pp., $60.00, ISBN: 9780838915578.

This book focuses on the consideration of library instruction from the learner’s point of view. The authors base their work on Carl Rogers’ educational psychology of humanistic learning. Specifical...
Can a Sports Sanction Constitute an Illegal Work Restriction? A Review of NCAA V. Coach Todd Mcnair

Can a sport governing body’s sanctions against an individual – coach or player – constitute an illegal restriction on one’s right to work? According to the court in McNair v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, the answer is yes (at least in California). The University of Southern California (USC) Trojan football team dominated college football in 2005, with then Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush leading the Trojans to a National Championship. The glory of the victory waned shortly thereafter upon news that the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the governing regulatory body for collegiate sports in the United States, had issued a “notice of inquiry” into the USC football and the men’s basketball program. After a protracted investigation and Infractions Hearing process, the NCAA Committee on Infractions issued its report declaring that USC had committed major violations of NCAA regulations in the operation of the football and the men’s basketball programs. Among those sanctioned were USC former running-backs Coach, Todd McNair, who was found to have violated recruiting bylaws and rules against unethical conduct. The committee issued a one-year “show-cause” sanction against McNair, and USC declined to renew his contract. Ever since, McNair has been fighting the NCAA in court for “ruining his career,” as he claimed that the sanctions requiring NCAA member schools to disassociate from him prevented him from coaching college football and thereby violated California right to work laws. This article examines the case, looking specifically at: the NCAA’s infractions case against USC; Coach McNair’s action against the NCAA; whether the NCAA “Show-Cause Order” sanction constitutes an illegal work restraint; California’s right-to-work law and its impact on the NCAA’s sanctioning authority; and whether California law could invalidate NCAA sanctions.
Component-based distributed systems framework

We are in the process of developing a component-based Java framework, for distributed systems. In developing distributed systems, novice programmers typically will face much difficulty resulting from the overhead of learning complex distribution techniques. The final outcome of this project aims to provide a lightweight and transparent framework within which the novice programmer will be able to easily deploy a service. The porting of an image-based search engine will serve as an example of the framework's functionality.
Going Beyond the Problem Given: How Human Tutors Use Post-Solution Discussions to Support Transfer

Two studies investigated the role and effectiveness of post-solution, reflective dialogues in physics tutorials. The first study investigated the instructional roles of post-solution discussions, their relationship to problem-solving discussions, and features that predict learning. Seven tutors individually guided 15 students as they worked on problems in the Andes physics tutoring system. Tutors adapted the post-solution discussions to students? ability levels and their performance on the current problem. Qualitative analysis of the transcripts revealed several roles of the post-solution dialogues - most prominently, explaining conceptual knowledge and integrating this knowledge with strategic, problem-solving knowledge. The number of post-solution discussions students had with their tutor, the number of discussions that abstracted from the current problem, and the number of tutor-initiated discussions predicted transfer, as measured by pre-test to post-test gain score on problems similar to those solved in Andes. Several tutorial strategies that are distributed between problem solving and post-solution reflection were identified. A framework for describing distributed plans for reflection is proposed based on these analyses. The second study investigated whether reflection questions such as those asked by the tutors in the first study lead to better conceptual understanding and problem-solving ability, as measured by overall gain scores and gain scores on conceptual and quantitative questions. It also examined whether human tutor-provided feedback on students?responses - with its often multi-exchange, dialectic character - is more effective than a single, canned explanation. Forty-six students solved problems in Andes in one of three conditions: with no reflection questions after problem solving, with reflection questions discussed with human tutors, or with the same reflection questions followed by canned feedback (without a human tutor). Students learned more with reflection questions and feedback than without, but the canned feedback and human tutored conditions did not differ significantly. Hence, overall, these studies support the practice of implementing post-solution reflective activities in intelligent tutoring systems, but call into question the need for natural-language processing techniques to support these activities.
The effects of economic sanctions on targeted countries’ stock markets

Although much previous research has investigated the impact of sanctions on trade and global capital, few academic studies have explored the effect of sanctions on stock markets in targeted countri...
Waste as Weapon: Fecal Bombing in Don DeLillo’s Underworld

“Waste as Weapon” extends a focus on the pollution of communities of color within the United States toward a discussion of scatological imagery as a way to describe national interaction with those beyond our borders. Building on previous chapters, this chapter shows through analysis of Don DeLillo’s Underworld how he plumbs Cold War fears to illustrate how national narratives of war celebrate the wasting of the bodies of enemies and making them own—through death—a connection to the world. DeLillo’s bombs are national “turds” meant to distinguish the United States from others; in his representation of fecal bombs, a denial of the excremental self leads to a revolt against those who might threaten the nation. Thus, the aggression of war for DeLillo is about asserting wholeness—a fantasized ideal masculine (national) body—and forcing others to unite with the world, to fall apart, and to decompose. DeLillo’s Underworld imagines nuclear weapons as the excremental bombardment of national threats, but moves past a discussion of a national body constructed through the denial of excess and toward moving descriptions of communities living in the waste of military industrial complex. With a specific focus on the Semipalatinsk Polygon, now known as National Nuclear Center of Kazakhstan, DeLillo presents a social realist account of the suffering of communities designated as sites for international disposal of the wastes of war; beyond presenting the callous subjectivity of national excretion, he gives readers a view of the human costs of national disposal. In his literary display of the inhabitants of the region, he reveals the causalities of the Cold War struggle, which at its base united the United States and Russia in militaristic attempts to show who had the greater power to leave their mark on the world, to bring decomposition and death to both landscape and human victims. The violent excremental bombs of militaristic national bodies and the nuclear waste of the Cold War are symbols of imagined national communities who deny connectivity to human others and to the world around them. Linking the impact of waste disposal in regions far from the United States to communities in the nation living in the wasted landscapes, DeLillo’s novel ultimately undermines national movements that lay waste to others by providing moving accounts of characters that embrace human connectivity and worldly embodiment.
A quantitative assessment of spatial patterns of socio-demographic change in coastal Maine: one process or many?

Abstract Coastal regions are experiencing socio-demographic shifts that have local, regional, and even wider implications for coastal management and planning. These shifts can arise from different local geographic drivers. This paper considers different change processes and undertakes a quantitative analysis to investigate potential drivers and geographic variations in coastal change processes. We use coastal Maine as the study region and employ multivariate methods using American Community Survey 5-year estimate period data. We first address the question: is there a coastal effect? Secondly, we conduct a cluster analysis to identify spatial variations in processes that may be at work over the extent of the coast. Thirdly, we conduct a change analysis to identify where socio-economic and demographic shifts are occurring most rapidly. Our analysis contributes to the understanding of comparative and quantitative analysis of change processes in a coastal setting that may be variously categorized as amenity migration, counterurbanization, suburbanization, or touristification depending on geographic context. Comparative results show clear separation between coastal and non-coastal communities on several individual indicators. The K-means cluster analysis reveals multivariate differentiation among the group of coastal communities. The ranked change analysis indicates differentiation among the coastal group, pointing toward potential differentiation in processes driving these changes.
Political affiliation and risk taking behaviors among adults with elevated chance of severe complications from COVID-19.

This study determines whether COVID-related risk-taking behavior was different among Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, in adults with elevated chance of severe complications from COVID-19. Using US national survey data collected September 30-October 27, 2020 (N = 6095), behaviors in the prior week examined were: 7 potentially risky activities, mask wearing anywhere, and mask wearing while undertaking each activity. Differences among political affiliations were estimated for adults with 0 and with ≥1 medical risk factors for severe complications, adjusting for sociodemographic factors. Among adults with medical risk factors, the adjusted number of potentially risky activities was higher among Republicans (3.83) but not Independents (3.17) relative to Democrats (2.98). The adjusted percentage of adults with medical risk factors who wore a mask anywhere in the past week was lower for Republicans (87%) and Independents (91%) than for Democrats (97%). While undertaking each specific activity, the adjusted percentage of at-risk adults never wearing a mask was higher for Republicans than Democrats: 24% vs 8% at bar/club; 6% vs 0% at grocery/pharmacy; 63% vs 30% visiting at friend's home; 68% vs 41% hosting visitors; 30% vs 5% at gathering of ≥10 people; 25% vs 11% while within 6 ft of someone they do not live with. Rates of mask wearing among political Independents were between rates among Democrats and Republicans. Efforts to reduce COVID-related risky behavior should recognize that although Republicans take more risks, rates of mask wearing at common activities are low across political affiliations, even for populations vulnerable to severe complications.
A whole-mount immunohistochemistry protocol for detection of mouse corneal nerves.

Summary A cornea is innervated by sensory nerves, which branch into thick trunks, subbasal plexuses, and sensory endings. Appropriate assessment of nerve structure in a tissue provides a more complete understanding of the role of nerves in health and disease. Here, we present a whole-mount immunohistochemistry protocol that facilitates evaluation of nerve architecture throughout the mouse cornea. The fixation step in this protocol allows for reliable detection of nerve structures within the cornea and likely other tissues. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Yun et al, (2020) .
Predicting Cybersecurity Incidents Through Mandatory Disclosure Regulation

Cyber-crime is an increasingly common risk for organizations that collect and maintain vast troves of data. There is extensive literature that explores the causes of cyber-crime, but relatively little work that aims to predict future incidents. In 2011, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) provided guidelines for how publicly traded companies should convey these risks to potential investors. The SEC and other regulatory agencies are exploring how to leverage artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science tools to improve their regulatory efforts. This paper explores the potential to use machine learning and natural language processing techniques to analyze firms’ mandatory risk disclosure statements, and predict which firms are at the greatest risk of suffering cyber-security incidents. More broadly, this study highlights the potential for using legally mandated disclosures to bolster regulatory efforts, particularly in the context of prediction policy problems.
Sociodemographic and clinical features predictive of SARS-CoV-2 test positivity across healthcare visit-types.

Background Despite increased testing efforts and the deployment of vaccines, COVID-19 cases and death toll continue to rise at record rates. Health systems routinely collect clinical and non-clinical information in electronic health records (EHR), yet little is known about how the minimal or intermediate spectra of EHR data can be leveraged to characterize patient SARS-CoV-2 pretest probability in support of interventional strategies. Methods and findings We modeled patient pretest probability for SARS-CoV-2 test positivity and determined which features were contributing to the prediction and relative to patients triaged in inpatient, outpatient, and telehealth/drive-up visit-types. Data from the University of Washington (UW) Medicine Health System, which excluded UW Medicine care providers, included patients predominately residing in the Seattle Puget Sound area, were used to develop a gradient-boosting decision tree (GBDT) model. Patients were included if they had at least one visit prior to initial SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing between January 01, 2020 through August 7, 2020. Model performance assessments used area-under-the-receiver-operating-characteristic (AUROC) and area-under-the-precision-recall (AUPR) curves. Feature performance assessments used SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) values. The generalized pretest probability model using all available features achieved high overall discriminative performance (AUROC, 0.82). Performance among inpatients (AUROC, 0.86) was higher than telehealth/drive-up testing (AUROC, 0.81) or outpatient testing (AUROC, 0.76). The two-week test positivity rate in patient ZIP code was the most informative feature towards test positivity across visit-types. Geographic and sociodemographic factors were more important predictors of SARS-CoV-2 positivity than individual clinical characteristics. Conclusions Recent geographic and sociodemographic factors, routinely collected in EHR though not routinely considered in clinical care, are the strongest predictors of initial SARS-CoV-2 test result. These findings were consistent across visit types, informing our understanding of individual SARS-CoV-2 risk factors with implications for deployment of testing, outreach, and population-level prevention efforts.
The Universe We Inhabit

In preceding chapters we discussed the appearance of stars and stellar systems and we looked in some detail at the immediate surroundings of the Sun, the one star to which we have easy access. Now we want to examine the environment in which the Sun, the stars, and the stellar systems are embedded. We want to learn about the properties of the Universe.
Ultrafast imaging of THz subluminal Cherenkov radiation in ZnTe

Summary form only given. In a dispersive medium, Cherenkov radiation (CR) takes on one of two qualitative forms, depending on whether /spl nu/ > c/sub 0/ (superluminal) or /spl nu/ < c/sub 0/ (subluminal), where /spl nu/ is the velocity of the source and c/sub 0/ = c/n/sub 0/ is the index of refraction in the medium at low frequencies. Optical techniques allow the detailed study of this phenomenon. An ultrafast optical pulse moving through a medium with /spl chi//sup (2)/ # 0 behaves like a relativistic distribution of dipoles by inducing a polarization proportional to the pulse's intensity envelope through optical rectification. When the group velocity /spl nu//sub g/ of the pulse is greater than the phase velocity of any infrared frequency inside the pulse's rectified bandwidth, CR is emitted. The theory for this dipolar source is the same as for conventional CR. Degenerate pump-probe experiments provide a way to directly measure the Cherenkov field. A pump pulse generates the CR field which modulates the intensity of the probe pulse that follows behind through the electro-optic effect. Experiments were performed on [110] oriented ZnTe at room temperature using a Ti:sapphire oscillator producing 1 nJ pulses at a repetition rate of 82 MHz. We show the theoretical and experimental results The data agrees well with theory. The weak beating effect is due to the finite extent of the pump pulse. We have not taken into account absorption in the far IR, which is known to be important in this frequency range for ZnTe at room temperature. This might explain the apparent damping out of the Cherenkov field laterally seen in the experimental plot.
Straintronics: A leap toward ultimate energy efficiency of magnetic random access memories.

Aggressive scaling of complementary metal?oxide?semiconductor (CMOS) technologies in the past decade has left circuit engineers with a plethora of design challenges. As the feature size in CMOS scales below 22 nm, static power dissipation due to multiple sources of leakage (weak inversion current, drain induced barrier lowering, gate induced drain leakage, gate tunneling, etc.) becomes significantly large in digital circuits. The supply voltage, on the other hand, does not scale down equally. Therefore, the shorter channel length along with a high supply voltage leads to a high leakage power dissipation. Integrated systems are facing an increasing leakage to active power ratio [1]. Leakage is more pronounced in low-speed applications, such as biomedical devices, where the performance is limited to a few megahertz [2]. Another obstacle, which is mainly a concern for high-speed applications, is the increasing energy density [3], which requires complicated cooling schemes and packaging. Furthermore, battery technologies are not growing as fast as CMOS technology, leaving large portable systems with a few microwatts of power to live on. The obstacles facing circuit designers call for novel solutions to enable the industry to push the integration density as prophesized by Moore?s law [4]. Alternative technologies need to be combined with CMOS to overcome the shortcomings of CMOS technologies.
Problem-Solving Therapy

Throughout history, psychologists, as well as philosophers, have argued that an essential part of being human is the capacity to solve problems. Perhaps the most important idea emanating from this thesis is the concept that problem-solving ability actually contributes to social competence and overall psychological well-being, as the ability to cope with and resolve everyday stressful problems is strongly related to personal and social functioning (D’Zurilla & Nezu, 1999). For as the American poet, Emily Dickinson, stated “Low is my problem bending, another problem comes.”
Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.

This case allows instructors to explore shareholder value creation and transfer opportunities in merger and acquisition transactions. It also invites an examination of corporate governance issues surrounding CEO compensation. This case is quite brief (a total of four pages), so the balance between thinking time and reading setup time for students is quite attractive.Learning Objective: To permit the calculation of the value of cost synergies in a merger transaction, and then explore how this value is allocated among shareholders of the acquired company, the acquiring company and the management of both the acquiring and the acquired company.
Initial 1000A Aluminum Electrolysis Testing in Potassium Cryolite‐Based Electrolyte

Aluminum electrolysis testing in a 1000A cell at 750°C is described. The cell was fitted with 3 vertically oriented aluminum-bronze anodes and 3 wetted cathodes, maintaining an anode-to-cathode distance of 2.2 cm. The electrodes were immersed in a KF-AlF3 electrolyte with a cryolite ratio of 1.3. Alumina was automatically fed to the cell to maintain a dissolved alumina concentration of 5 wt%, confirmed by analysis. Boron nitride was used as the cell liner material. During electrolysis, the voltage was stable near 4.0 volts at a current density of 0.5 A/cm2. Oxygen gas evolved from the cell was measured with an oxygen sensor. During the 24-hour initial electrolysis test, the anodes were protected by a dense oxide layer.
Политика экономического развития в США: современные тенденции и причины вариаций на уровне штатов

The article looks into the dynamics of the US regional economic development policies in the last decades and tracks the transition from so-called "locational" to "entrepreneurial" strategies. It also documents existing variations in state economic development programs and explains the differences in approaches and current tendencies from both theoretical and practical standpoints.
A commentary on: Tropical forests and the greenhouse effect: A management response

Myers and Goreau argue persuasively that a change in how we as a global society treat tropical forests could make a substantial difference in the rate of accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. They convince us that there are two fundamentally different parts to the problem: (1) that protecting existing tropical forests would decrease the rate at which carbon is being discharged to the atmosphere and (2) that developing additonal areas of tropical forest would sequester carbon and thus offset some of the fossil-fuel-related emissions. Myers and Goreau go on to explore the financial resources (responsibilities) for such forestry measures with the general tenor that the bulk of the carbon dioxide buildup is the developed nations’ responsibility but that developing nations will reap some benefits and should expect to bear some of the costs. They suggest that appropriate tropical areas may be available to accomplish sizeable forest establishment or re-establishment.
Retinal axon divergence in the optic chiasm: growth cone behaviors and signalling cells.

Publisher Summary The chapter describes the behavior of retinal ganglion cell axon growth cones within the chiasm and the resident cells in this region. Subsequently, it also discusses the potential mechanisms by which ventrotemporal or uncrossed axons diverge from crossing axons. In the optic chiasm, the trajectories of retinal axons during divergence to ipsi- and contralateral targets, the tempo of growth and behaviors of retinal axon growth cones during the process of divergence, and the resident cells that might direct divergence have been characterized. The process of divergence is a multi-step progression, most likely involving several classes of molecular directives, including the retardation of growth of all axons in the midline zone, specific and/or differential inhibition and permission to transgress the midline, and refasciculation with axons of different retinal origin. With the culture systems based on the living slices or dissociated cells of the chiasm midline, it should now be possible to investigate and to identify the cellular and molecular mechanisms that direct retinal axon divergence. In addition, an analysis of patterns of gene expression and of the retinal axon patterning in the albino should elucidate the specification of retinal ganglion cells underlying the responses to cues in the optic chiasm.
Practical Neurology, 4th Edition

Practical Neurology, 4th edition, is designed to provide a rapid but comprehensive update on the growing knowledge of neurological diagnosis and therapeutics. It aims to close the divide between evidence-based medicine and the multiplicity of clinical dilemmas where evidence is weak or absent. It is published by Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins and is an update from the third edition, published in 2009. The first edition was published in 1997.
What's going on in dental education?

Dental education has gone through numerous changes since World War II. These changes have had, and continue to have, a major impact on the practice of dentistry in the United States and Texas.
Enhanced Fault-Tolerance through Byzantine Failure Detection

We consider a variant of the Byzantine failure model in which Byzantine processes are eventually detected and silenced, and investigate the fault-tolerance of the classical broadcast and agreement problems. We show that if all Byzantine processes are eventually detected, then it is possible to solve the broadcast problem in the presence of any number of Byzantine processes. If only a fraction of the Byzantine processes can be detected, then we show that it is possible to solve consensus (and broadcast) if the total number of processes is N *** 2f + 3F + 1, where f is the number of Byzantine processes that are eventually detected and F is the number of those that are never detected. We show that 2f + 3F + 1 is a lower bound to solve the consensus and broadcast problems.
Uncertainty in the solution of linear operator equations

In this paper we introduce and explore the concept of uncertainty of an approximate solution of a linear operator equation. This uncertainty is a measure of the difference between a computed solution and other plausible answers. When the operator equation is wellposed, the uncertainty is closely related to the more traditional notion of the accuracy of an approximate solution. However, for illposed equations, the uncertainty concept gives a new way of looking at such problems and helps in assessing the meaning of the computed results.
Minimum reflux behavior of complex distillation columns

A continuum model for multicomponent distillation in the minimum reflux limit, first proposed by Nandakumar and Andres, is refined for the special case of constant relative volatility (CRV) and constant molar overflow (CMO) and is extended to columns with multiple feeds and multiple products. A relaxation algorithm for calculating steady-state conditins in any minimum reflux CRV, CMO column is established. This generalization of Underwood's classic treatment of single-feed columns is used to explore the characteristics of several single-feed and multiple-feed distillation systems. Critical operating points at which the steady-state composition profile in a minimum reflux column is indeterminate are identified and analytical expressions predicting the location of these points are established.
The S1P2 sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor is essential for auditory and vestibular function.

Abstract Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is an endogenous growth factor with potent effects on many different cell types. Most of these effects are produced by activation of one or more of a family of G-protein coupled receptors. The S1P2 receptor can mediate S1P-induced proliferation, differentiation and survival in a wide variety of cells in culture. However, identifying essential in vivo functions for S1P2 has been hampered by its ubiquitous expression and the failure to detect any anatomical abnormalities in initial analyses of S1P2 knockout mice. We report here that all S1P2 knockout mice are profoundly deaf from postnatal day 22 and approximately half display a progressive loss of vestibular function with aging. Anatomically, both the auditory and vestibular systems appear to develop normally but then degrade. Morphological defects associated with hearing are first detected at 3 weeks postnatal as deformations of the organ of Corti/Nuel’s space. By one year of age structures within the scala media are dramatically altered. The S1P2 knockout mice also display a loss of otoconia consistent with the vestibular impairment. The present data are the first to indicate that S1P signaling plays critical roles, in vivo, in auditory and vestibular functions. The data further establish that the S1P signaling occurs through the S1P2 receptor and makes an essential contribution to the structural maintenance of these systems, raising the possibility that properly targeted enhancement of this signaling may prove to be clinically beneficial.
Perioperative Nursing and Education: What the IOM Future of Nursing Report Tells Us

Abstract Changes in the current health care system have rendered the system unprepared to support new demands. Similarly, nursing education both before and after licensure is no longer adequate. Four of the eight recommendations in the Institute of Medicine's Future of Nursing report involve changes to nursing education and pose significant goals to achieve. This makes creating innovative ways to meet the demand for educating RNs a necessity. This article discusses the Institute of Medicine's recommendations, how they relate to perioperative nursing, and ways in which nurses and educators can help promote expectations.
Pediatric Lead Exposure From Imported Indian Spices and Cultural Powders

BACKGROUND: Significant lead poisoning has been associated with imported nonpaint products. OBJECTIVES: To describe cases of pediatric lead intoxication from imported Indian spices and cultural powders, determine lead concentrations in these products, and predict effects of ingestion on pediatric blood lead levels (BLLs). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cases and case-study information were obtained from patients followed by the Pediatric Environmental Health Center (Children9s Hospital Boston). Imported spices (n = 86) and cultural powders (n = 71) were analyzed for lead by using x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. The simple bioaccessibility extraction test was used to estimate oral bioavailability. The integrated exposure uptake biokinetic model for lead in children was used to predict population-wide geometric mean BLLs and the probability of elevated BLLs (>10 μg/dL). RESULTS: Four cases of pediatric lead poisoning from Indian spices or cultural powders are described. Twenty-two of 86 spices and foodstuff products contained >1 μg/g lead (for these 22 samples, mean: 2.6 μg/g [95% confidence interval: 1.9–3.3]; maximum: 7.6 μg/g). Forty-six of 71 cultural products contained >1 μg/g lead (for 43 of these samples, mean: 8.0 μg/g [95% confidence interval: 5.2–10.8]; maximum: 41.4 μg/g). Three sindoor products contained >47% lead. With a fixed ingestion of 5 μg/day and 50% bioavailability, predicted geometric mean BLLs for children aged 0 to 4 years increased from 3.2 to 4.1 μg/dL, and predicted prevalence of children with a BLL of >10 μg/dL increased more than threefold (0.8%–2.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Chronic exposure to spices and cultural powders may cause elevated BLLs. A majority of cultural products contained >1 μg/g lead, and some sindoor contained extremely high bioaccessible lead levels. Clinicians should routinely screen for exposure to these products.
Crop thinning operations analysis

Monte Carlo Programming techniques are used to simulate real-time field operation of a crop thinning system. Analytical expressions which predict average plant spacings in certain modes of operation are also derived. Use of the computer model allows the development and testing of new concepts in thinning machine design without the expense of building equipment and conducting field tests.
Bidding Off the Wall: Why Reserve Prices May Be Kept Secret

Abstract This note shows by means of an example that in a common-value auction a seller with a random reservation value can increase her ex ante expected profits by following a policy of conducting an auction in which her reserve price is kept secret compared to an auction in which the reserve price is announced. By keeping the reserve price secret, the seller is able to encourage greater participation from the bidders and can, therefore, increase the linkage of the price paid to the value of the purchased object. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: D82, D44.
Temperature dependence of heat dissipation during Landauer erasure of nanomagnets

In order to adhere to the well-known kT ln(2) limit, heat dissipation during Landauer erasure of a memory bit must scale linearly with temperature. We demonstrate a technique for measuring the temperature dependent energy dissipation of a nanomagnet during the Landauer erasure operation. A magneto-optical Kerr effect magnetometer configured to measure the in-plane magnetization of arrays of magnetic nanostructures produces hysteresis curves, the areas of which are proportional to heat dissipation. This result experimentally verifies a key aspect of the fundamental thermodynamic limits of computation in an integrated system.
Novel dye-sensitized solar cell architecture using TiO2-coated vertically aligned carbon nanofiber arrays.

A novel dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) architecture based on vertically aligned carbon nanofibers coated with a thin nanoneedle-textured anatase TiO2 film is demonstrated. An encouraging overall conversion efficiency of ∼1.09% and a rather high open-circuit voltage of ∼0.64 V have been achieved. The efficient charge separation at the TiO2−CNF junction and the large outer TiO2 surface of this core−shell architecture provide new methods to tune the materials and interfaces in solar cells.
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: Past, Present, and Future

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), or biventricular pacing, has become a standard therapeutic modality for patients with symptomatic heart failure (HF), depressed left ventricular (LV) function, and electrical dyssynchrony. Despite the overall success of CRT in improving morbidity and mortality in selected patients with HF, a significant minority demonstrates nonresponse. This review describes the electrical and physiologic rationale for biventricular pacing therapy, summarizes landmark clinical trials assessing CRT efficacy, highlights strategies to optimize the response to CRT, and frames future challenges in the use, delivery, and care of patients undergoing CRT.
Fluorescence Depolarization Studies of Phase Transitions and Fluidity in Phospholipid Bilayers. 2. Two-Component Phosphatidylcholine Liposomes

The fluorescence depolarization associated with the hydrophobic fluorescent probe 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene is used to monitor the changes in fluidity accompanying the gel-liquid crystalline phase transition in synthetic phosphatidycholine dispersions. The parameters of the phase transition are determined for both large, multilamellar liposomes and small, single-lamellar vesicles. These parameters are compared with those obtained using other techniques. In addition, the data are interpreted in terms of two limiting molecular models, which in turn offer insight into the structural differences between multilammelar liposomes and small vesicles.
Sampling-based approach for design optimization in the presence of interval variables

This paper proposes a methodology for sampling-based design optimization in the presence of interval variables. Assuming that an accurate surrogate model is available, the proposed method first searches the worst combination of interval variables for constraints when only interval variables are present or for probabilistic constraints when both interval and random variables are present. Due to the fact that the worst combination of interval variables for probability of failure does not always coincide with that for a performance function, the proposed method directly uses the probability of failure to obtain the worst combination of interval variables when both interval and random variables are present. To calculate sensitivities of the constraints and probabilistic constraints with respect to interval variables by the sampling-based method, behavior of interval variables at the worst case is defined by the Dirac delta function. Then, Monte Carlo simulation is applied to calculate the constraints and probabilistic constraints with the worst combination of interval variables, and their sensitivities. A merit of using an MCS-based approach in the X-space is that it does not require gradients of performance functions and transformation from X-space to U-space for reliability analysis, thus there is no approximation or restriction in calculating sensitivities of constraints or probabilistic constraints. Numerical results indicate that the proposed method can search the worst case probability of failure with both efficiency and accuracy and that it can perform design optimization with mixture of random and interval variables by utilizing the worst case probability of failure search.
Fault isolation through test data analysis

The Turbine Research Facility recently experienced a mechanical failure resulting in contact between the eddy current brakepsilas drum and coils. A review was conducted to determine the cause and determine contributing factors that led to the failure. The structural analysis combined with an analysis of the test data identified the failure mechanism and damage progression. There was a high degree of shaft misalignment that led to a higher rotor dynamic and drum structural response. The drums displacement precipitated contact whose friction prevented the motorpsilas torque from accelerating the rotor through the resonant condition. Recommendations for condition monitoring are included in the report.
Gettering of epitaxial gallium phosphide using phosphosilicate glass

Chemically vapour deposited phosphosilicate glass films were used to getter epitaxial gallium-phosphide layers. Significant improvements in the electroluminescent efficiency of yellow light-emitting diodes fabricated from the gettered material were observed. Results suggest that the gettering removes compensating impurities as well defects which influence minority carrier lifetime.
Catfish (Ictalurus catus) fin venom.

Abstract White catfish (Ictalurus catus) fin venom contains at least 2–8 mouse lethal fractions and two dermonecrotic fractions. The molecular weight of the lethal fractions is approximately 10,000 and the pI of two fractions are 3·;8 and 7·;8. The lethal activities of this venom were stable at 4°C and are not affected by trypsin treatment.
Tri-t-butylsilane: synthesis, physical properties, derivatives, and reactivity towards ozonolysis, chlorination, fluorination, and hydrolysis

Abstract Tri-t-butysilane has been synthesized in excellent yield from the condensation-reduction reaction of t-butyllithium on silicon tetrafluoride. The relative reactivity of this sterically crowded silane towards ozone, chlorine, and hydroxylion has been examined, relative to the behavior of less hindered silanes, and rationalized. The mechanistic path of the reaction determined whether its rate was significantly or negligibly affected by the nonbonded interactions of the bulky t-butyl substituents. Derivatives described include chloro-, fluoro-, and hydroxy-tri-t-butylsilanes.
Detection of Pulmonic and Tricuspid Valvular Regurgitation by Means of Indicator Solutions

The presence of pulmonic and tricuspid valvular regurgitation may often be suspected from careful clinical examination. However, the validity of the generally accepted clinical criteria remain to be established by technics that permit the direct demonstration of reverse flow across these valves during life. This has been made possible by the detection of cardiogreen and of radioactive krypton (Kr85) in the right atrium or right ventricle after injection of these substances into a distal chamber.
"The Voice of a Leader; An Examination of Leader Trustworthiness, Voice, and Performance in China"

While research on voice in Western cultures has demonstrated positive effects at both the individual and the organizational level, there has been relatively less research done on the emergence and ...
Impact of avian predators on high intertidal limpet populations

Abstract Black turnstones (Arenaria melanocephala (Vigors)), black oystercatchers (Haematopus bachmani Audubon), and gulls of the western/glaucous-winged complex (L. occidentalis Audubon and Larusglaucescens Naumann) were observed to feed on limpets (Collisella spp.) in the high intertidal zone on the coast of Oregon, U.S.A. Black turnstones were the major predators of small limpets ( 20 mm). Intermediate-sized limpets were eaten by all of these species. Visitation by avian predators to marked plots was infrequent; but, in the case of turnstones, the cumulative time spent foraging by a visiting flock was sometimes substantial. Two bird-exclusion experiments in the high intertidal zone indicated that birds decreased densities of 5–10 mm limpets (Collisella spp.), but not densities of smaller limpets. The effects of avian predation on large limpets (> 10mm in length) could not be tested because the latter were rare on exposed high intertidal mudstone beaches. An experiment in which 6–10 mm limpets were added to caged and uncaged plots demonstrated that avian predators (probably turnstones) were capable of drastically reducing limpet densities in unvegetated high intertidal areas. A second trial, conducted 10 wk later, showed no evidence of avian predation suggesting that avian predation varied temporally.
Composition measurement above 1 EeV with a large array near the high resolution fly's eye

The purpose of this workshop is to design a detector which will shed light on the origin of cosmic rays at the highest known energies. The emphasis has been on detecting cosmic rays with energies above 10EeV with the specific goals of testing the Greisen-Zatsepin hypothesis, searching for anisotropy, and inferring composition of the primaries. These are noble goals, but there is value in concentrating on understanding these properties above E = 1EeV. The previous experimental designs (mainly ground arrays) have focused principally on anisotropy, then spectrum, and most poorly, composition. There are practical reasons for this. For one, anisotropy is generally easier to measure than composition. However, barring the detection of point sources, composition needs to be known if propagation and the acceleration mechanism are to be understood. Further, composition information permits highly discriminating anisotropy and spectral change analyses. It is my opinion that focusing on composition is a prudent next step. The proposed detector consists of a ground array in the vicinity of the High Resolution (HiRes) Fly's Eye. Building and operating an array is not only useful in refining experimental techniques for the grander proposal of lO%m2sr, but in conjunction with the HiRes Fly's Eye, the combination will clarify certain outstanding questions regarding EAS phenomenology and cosmic ray acceleration processes. This proposal necessarily fails to satisfy one of the original requirements of the workshop design criteria; namely a time averaged 104km2sr collection area above 100EeV. Arguments can be made that an interesting energy region begins near 1EeV. It may also be possible that a large array similar to those proposed at the workshop[I],[2] situated near the HiRes Fly's Eye will satisfy the necessary design requirements for a useful composition measurement.
2009 Nicolas Andry Award: Clinical Biomechanics of Third Body Acceleration of Total Hip Wear

Aseptic loosening attributable to wear-related osteolysis historically has been the predominant cause of failure in THA. Advances in low-wear bearing couples show great promise to substantially reduce this long-standing problem. However, there always has been striking variability in wear rate in any given cohort of patients who are similarly implanted, with some individuals typically experiencing near order-of-magnitude elevations above group mean. Third-body wear is likely a major contributor to many of these most osteolysis-prone outliers. For the patients affected, third-body effects may obviate many of the gains otherwise achieved by contemporary bearing surface improvements. Toward heightening visibility in terms of consequences for patients, this review paper summarizes an interrelated series of investigations quantifying construct level manifestations of third-body wear. Long-term followup of a unique group of patients with elevated third-body challenge shows statistically significant and clinically important wear-rate increases. A series of finite element models, validated physically, shows the linkage of location of third-body damage with variability of volumetric wear-rate acceleration and shows the effects of various implant factors, surgeon factors, and patient factors in the presence of third-body challenge. Finally, a mechanism for third-body debris access to wear-critical locations on the bearing surface is identified analytically and corroborated in laboratory experiments and implant retrievals.