cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Outpatient vs Inpatient Total Knee Arthroplasty: An ACS-NSQIP Analysis.

Abstract Background There has been a recent surge of interest in performing primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in the outpatient setting to reduce cost and increase patient satisfaction. Detailed information on the safety of outpatient TKA in large sample sizes is scarce. Methods Patients who underwent primary, elective TKA were identified in the 2005-2014 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Outpatient procedure was defined as having a hospital length of stay of 0 days, whereas inpatient procedure was defined as having a length of stay ≥1 days. To reduce the effect of confounding factors and nonrandom assignment of treatment, propensity score matching was used. Multivariate analyses on the matched samples were used to compare the rates of adverse events that happened any time during the 30-day postoperative period, postdischarge adverse events, and readmissions between the outpatient and inpatient cohorts. Results A total of 112,922 TKA patients met the inclusion criteria. Of these, only 642 (0.57%) were outpatient procedures. Outpatients tended to be men, slightly younger, and have less comorbidity. After propensity matching, multivariate analysis revealed a higher rate of postdischarge blood transfusions ( P Conclusion Based on the perioperative outcome measures studied here, outpatient TKA can be appropriately considered in select patients based on rates of overall perioperative adverse events and readmissions. However, higher surveillance of these patients postdischarge may be warranted.
Metabolic activities of metastatic lesions to the liver as measured by FDG-PET vary considerably depending on the origin of the primary malignancy

636 Objectives: We hypothesized that metabolic activity of metastatic lesions will vary substantially depending on the type of primary tumor elsewhere in the body. Therefore the aim of our study was to determine whether FDG-PET imaging can predict the primary origin of metastatic liver lesions based on their degree of metabolic activity. Methods: Seventy-four patients (42 male, 32 female, age 63 ±16) with proven metastatic liver lesions by histopathology and/or clinical follow up were included in this retrospective analysis. Patients were divided into 4 groups based on the primary origin of the metastasis: 40 with colon cancer, 17 patients with lung cancer, 9 with breast cancer, and 8 with melanoma. All patients underwent FDG-PET imaging. The blood sugar levels, before the FDG-PET scan, were collected for every patient. The maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) of lesions, and its ratio (SUVratio) to the normal liver tissue background were calculated. All lesions were correlated with the available diagnostic CT scans. The results were compared using one way ANOVA analysis and p Results: All metastatic liver lesions had increased FDG uptake. The mean blood glucose level was 94±25 mg/dl. The SUVmax (mean ± SD) in the metastatic lesions was 7.2 ±3.8 (95% confidence interval (CI), 6 to 13.1) for colon cancer, 5.2 ±2.3 (95% (CI), 4.1 to 9.4) for lung cancer, 3.7 ±1.5 (95% (CI), 2.6 to 6.3) for breast cancer, and 10.1 ±3.7 (95% (CI), 7.5 to 17.5) for melanoma (p Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate that different types of metastatic liver lesions express different metabolic activity depending on their tumor of origin. Interestingly, Liver metastatic lesions from melanoma have the highest activity, followed by colon cancer and lung cancers. Breast cancer lesions revealed the lowest activity in this analysis and may be related to overall low metabolic activity of the primary breast tumor. FDG uptake may be helpful in predicting the possible primary origin of liver metastases. This could be useful in improving the management of patients with metastatic liver disease, especially when the primary is unknown.
Hand in Hand: How Institutional Environments Impact Community Support

Regardless of whether social responsibility should be a concern of wealth-oriented firms, firms do not operate in a vacuum, but are embedded within networks and communities. As such, the norms and ...
Measurement Dissemination-Based Distributed Bayesian Filter Using the Latest-In-and-Full-Out Exchange Protocol for Networked Unmanned Vehicles

This paper presents a measurement dissemin-ation-based distributed Bayesian filter (DBF) for a network of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). The DBF utilizes the latest-in-and-full-out (LIFO) exchange protocol to disseminate the sensor measurements within local neighbors. Different from existing statistics dissemination strategies that transmit posterior distributions or likelihood functions, each UGV under LIFO only exchanges latest available measurements, which significantly reduces the transmission burden between each pair of UGVs to scale linearly with the network size. Under the condition of fixed and undirected topology, LIFO can guarantee non-intermittent dissemination of all measurements over the network within a finite time. Two types of LIFO-based DBF algorithms are then derived to estimate individual probability density function (PDF) of the static target and moving target, respectively. For the former, each UGV locally fuses the newly received measurements, while for the latter, a set of measurement history is stored and sequentially fused. The consistency of LIFO-based DBF is proved that the estimated target position converges in probability to the true target position. The effectiveness of this method is experimentally demonstrated by the target localization via multiple mobile robots with sonar sensors in an indoor environment.
Watershed geomorphology interacts with precipitation to influence the magnitude and source of CO2 emissions from Alaskan streams

Boreal ecosystems contain a large fraction of the world's soil carbon and are warming rapidly, prompting efforts to understand the role of freshwaters in carbon export from these regions. We examined geomorphic controls on the magnitude of stream CO2 emissions and sources of stream dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) across a heterogeneous river basin in SW Alaska. We found that watershed slope and precipitation interact to control gaseous carbon fluxes from streams, with the highest flux from low gradient watersheds following rainstorms. Watershed slope influences C loading and stream CO2 fluxes by controlling carbon accumulation in watersheds, and to a lesser extent by determining gas transfer velocity across the stream air-water interface. Low gas transfer velocity in flat streams offsets some of the effects of higher terrestrial C loading at those sites, resulting in lower than expected vertical CO2 fluxes. While the isotopic composition of stream DIC (Δ14C and δ13C) was highly variable across space and time, shifts towards contemporary, terrestrial sources after precipitation were most pronounced in flat watersheds. At base flow DIC was a mixture of modern and aged sources of biogenic and geologic origin (Δ14C, -198.3 ‰ to 27.9 ‰, n=23). Aged (Δ14C–depleted) C sources contributed to food webs via a pathway from DIC to algae to invertebrate grazers. We observed coherent changes in stream carbon chemistry after large rainstorms despite considerable physical heterogeneity among watersheds. These patterns provide a way to extrapolate across boreal landscapes by constraining CO2 concentration and flux estimates by local geomorphic features.
Readability of online patient education materials for velopharyngeal insufficiency

Abstract Objective Evaluate the readability of online and mobile application health information about velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI). Methods Top website and mobile application results for search terms “velopharyngeal insufficiency”, “velopharyngeal dysfunction”, “VPI”, and “VPD” were analyzed. Readability was determined using 10 algorithms with Readability Studio Professional Edition (Oleander Software Ltd; Vandalia, OH). Subgroup analysis was performed based on search term and article source – academic hospital, general online resource, peer-reviewed journal, or professional organization. Results 18 unique articles were identified. Overall mean reading grade level was a 12.89 ± 2.9. The highest reading level among these articles was 15.47–approximately the level of a college senior. Articles from “velopharyngeal dysfunction” had the highest mean reading level (13.73 ± 2.11), above “velopharyngeal insufficiency” (12.30 ± 1.56) and “VPI” (11.66 ± 1.70). Articles from peer-reviewed journals had the highest mean reading level (15.35 ± 2.79), while articles from academic hospitals had the lowest (12.81 ± 1.66). There were statistically significant differences in reading levels between the different search terms (P Conclusion Despite published reading level guidelines, online patient education materials for VPI are disseminated with language too complex for most readers. There is also a lack of VPI-related mobile application data available for patients. Patients will benefit if future updates to websites and disseminated patient information are undertaken with health literacy in mind. Future studies will investigate patient comprehension of these materials.
Climate of Northeast Asia

In addition to latitude, elevation, and the land-sea configuration, the Asian monsoon system is also a major control on climates, generating some of the unique features of the region. Except for polar, alpine, and some high-latitude steppe areas, Northeast Asia consists primarily of forest climates throughout. Northeast Asia, and indeed East Asia in general, show lower mean winter temperatures than in other parts of the world at the sane latitude. Extreme temperatures, however, do not fall far below winter means, either in Siberia (high latitude, long nights) or to the south (protective effect of at least somewhat east-west mountain ranges). Three main regions can be distinguished: boreal ultra-continental eastern Siberia, monsoonal continental China and Korea, and maritime Japan. The prospect of future climate change poses special problems for East Asia, due to the many obstacles to northward migration.
Preoperative Assessment of Failed Fundoplication with Recurrent Hiatal Hernia

Hiatal hernia repair and fundoplication provide excellent long-term results. However, even with the application of the time-tested surgical principles, recurrence rates in postoperatively-unscreened and screened patient groups may be as high as 14% and 25% respectively [1–3]. Also, recurrent hiatal hernia is recognized as the most common cause of the failure of an antireflux procedure with an incidence of approximately 50% of all cases [4, 5]. Failed fundoplication and recurrent hiatal hernia may be associated with a myriad of symptoms that may necessitate urgent surgical care and present a challenging clinical problem that requires in depth understanding of the condition.
A Broad-Band Huygens Surface Source Model for Near-Field to Near-Field Transformations

A broad-band Huygens surface method requiring only the measurement of the magnetic field for near-field to near-field transformations is presented. The proposed method is valid down to near dc and supports arbitrary shaped Huygens surfaces. The method relies on an augmented-integral equation formulation that is used to predict the electric field on the Huygens surface. The proposed formulation is discretized using a high-order locally corrected Nystrom method. The surface magnetic and electric fields can then be used to compute external electric and magnetic fields. The method is validated using electromagnetic fields radiated by a three-phase motor showing excellent results over several Fourier harmonics of the motor fields, including the zeroth harmonic. The method is also validated at high frequency for a dipole antenna array.
High-resolution polarimetric THz imaging for biomedical applications

We present a novel millimeter-wave to terahertz-frequency polarimetric imaging system utilizing diagonal-horn output port of a vector network analyzer and an off-axis parabolic mirror focusing the signal onto the specimen through a low-loss, high-index hyper-hemispherical silicon lens. The proposed system is capable of producing reflection images of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples with 3.4-times improved resolution, compared to commercially available free-space imaging systems. Due to the polarization purity of diagonal horn antennas, the proposed system also exhibits excellent polarization purity. As such, elongated morphological and biochemical features in tissue samples can be resolved for the first time with unprecedented resolution. In particular, the proposed technique is used to study the axon demyelization effects in human brain tissues due to Alzheimer's disease.
Testing the evidence integration triangle for implementation of interventions to manage behavioral and psychological symptoms associated with dementia: Protocol for a pragmatic trial

Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) include aggression, agitation, resistiveness to care, depression, anxiety, apathy, and hallucinations. BPSD are common in nursing home residents and can be ameliorated using person-centered approaches. Despite regulatory requirements, less than 2% of nursing homes consistently implement person-centered behavioral approaches. In a National Institute of Nursing Research-funded research protocol, we are implementing a pragmatic cluster randomized clinical trial designed to enable staff in nursing homes to reduce BPSD using behavioral approaches while optimizing function, preventing adverse events, and improving quality of life of residents. The implementation is based on use of the Evidence Integration Triangle (EIT), a parsimonious, community-engaged participatory framework that is well suited to the complexity and variability in the nursing home environment. A total of 50 nursing home communities will be randomized to EIT-4-BPSD or education only. Primary Aim 1 is to determine if communities exposed to EIT-4-BPSD demonstrate evidence of implementation evaluated by the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) criteria. Primary Aim 2 is to evaluate the feasibility, utility, and cost of the EIT approach in EIT-4-BPSD communities.
“The jolly coverts”: DeLillo’s Libra as espionage fiction

This essay argues that Don DeLillo’s Libra (1988), almost exclusively treated as a piece of historical metafiction, should also be read as a spy novel in dialogue both with popular espionage fictio...
INTACT PARATHYROID HORMONE SUPPRESSION IN PRIMARY HYPERPARATHYROIDISM BY HYPERCALCEMIA OF MALIGNANCY

Objective: Hypercalcemia is a common metabolic disorder, with primary hyperparathyroidism and malignancy accounting for a large majority of the cases. In a few instances, hypercalcemia can have multiple, concomitant etiologies. We hypothesize that elevated intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) due to primary hyperparathyroidism is suppressible in the setting of hypercalcemia of malignancy due to osteolytic lesions. Methods: We present a case of a 44-year-old female with 2 causes of hypercalcemia: primary hyperparathyroidism secondary to parathyroid adenoma and hypercalcemia of malignancy secondary to osteolytic lesions from metastatic invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast. Results: The patient had previously been diagnosed with a parathyroid adenoma with calcium of 11.4 mg/dL (reference range: 8.5 to 10.4 mg/dL) and elevated iPTH of 141.3 pg/mL (reference range: 8.5 to 75.0 pg/mL). She presented to the hospital approximately 6 weeks later with acute back pain. Lab values included elevated calcium at 17.1 mg...
Optimizing Patient Outcomes and Safety With Liposuction

Since its advent in the early 1980s, liposuction has made tremendous advancements, making it the most popular aesthetic surgery performed today. The goal of this Continuing Medical Education (CME) article is to provide a foundation of knowledge of the relevant anatomy, preoperative evaluation, intraoperative technique, and postoperative management for surgeons performing liposuction. Finally, the prevention and management of potential complications will be reviewed along with measures to optimize patient safety and outcomes.
Distributed Architecture for Modeling and Simulation of Autonomous Multi-agent Multi-Physics Systems

The need for Modeling and Simulation (M&S) is seen in many diverse applications such multi-agent systems, robotics, control systems, software engineering, complex adaptive systems, homeland security, and many others. In this paper we introduce an architecture for distributed simulation of multi-agent systems called Virtual Laboratory (V-Lab®), based on discrete event system specification (DEVS). V-Lab® is a test bed for many control algorithms and allows the user to demonstrate the working of several soft-computing methodologies like fuzzy logic, learning automata, neural networks, genetic algorithms, etc. applied to multi-agent systems. DEVS defines a framework for discrete event simulation and V-Lab® defines a framework for distributed simulation for multi-agent autonomous systems.
On How I Got Started in Dynamical Systems

Let me first give a little mathematical background. This is conveniently divided into two parts. The first is the theory of ordinary differential equations having a finite number of periodic solutions; and the second has to do with the case of infinitely many solutions, or, roughly speaking, with “homoclinic behavior.”
Cells of the Peripheral Nervous System; Requirements for Expression of Function in Tissue Culture

Utilizing mixtures of cell types, complex media, and a collagen substratum, it is possible to obtain a remarkable degree of functional expression in nerve tissue in culture, including myelination, synaptogenesis and histotypic organization (for review see Bunge, 1975; Crain, 1976 and Fischbach and Nelson, 1977). In order to gain an understanding of the contribution of individual cell types to specific functions, and to delineate the precise nutritional and environmental requirements for these functions, it is necessary to define media and substratum components and to study pure cell populations. Furthermore, because certain cell functions are only observed when cell types are cocultured, it is necessary to study cell types when separated and after recombination. In this chapter we briefly describe recent experience with this approach to the study of autonomic and sensory neurons, and of Schwann cells, in the peripheral nervous system. The chapter is primarily a review of work from our laboratory; space does not allow a general review.
Study of the Acceleration Modes of a Jumping Robot for Two Cases of Realisation

In this paper we consider two ways of the jumping robot can execute acceleration that differ from each other in terms of the sequence of stages. The robot consists of the body and the acceleration module. In the first case the acceleration module is first positioned as required relative to the surface and then the robot accelerates. In the second case positioning and acceleration occur simultaneously. A mathematical model of robot motion during acceleration is developed, as well as a model of contact interaction with the surface, a classification of acceleration modes is proposed and conditions under which they are observed are formulated.As a result of the numerical simulation, two acceleration modes are established under varying control and geometric parameters of the robot, as well as the properties of the supporting surface. During both modes the robot makes contact with the surface at two supporting points, but in one mode these points are fixed, while in the other they glide over the surface. The diagrams of the acceleration modes are constructed.
Enhanced vibrational electron energy-loss spectroscopy of adsorbate molecules

Plasmonic excitations in metallic nanoparticles are known to depend strongly on nanoparticle size and shape. Here we explore how such excitations can be harnessed to enhance the vibrational signals from molecules adsorbed on nanoparticle surfaces, as detected using electron energy-loss spectroscopy in the scanning transmission electron microscope. We use the Born-Huang formalism in the electrostatic approximation to develop a theoretical model for electron energy-loss from an adsorbed molecule (represented by a point dipole) on the surface of a dielectric nanoparticle. We find that the adsorbate contribution to the energy-loss spectrum is approximately proportional to the square of the electric field at the adsorption site, and hence we find that the enhancement of the molecule's vibrational signal is greatest for molecules adsorbed on small, sharp nanoparticles. When the molecular frequency is near one of the nanoparticle frequencies, we generally find an asymmetric Fano-type spectrum line shape whose asymmetry is attributable to multimodal contributions. Our calculations for a molecule adsorbed on the tip of a prolate spheroidal silver nanoparticle predict that signal enhancements of several hundred times should be readily achievable, and up to several thousand times if the nanoparticle's plasmonic mode is ``tuned'' to the molecular frequency. Such enhancement effects potentially make vibrational STEM-EELS a powerful tool for the characterization of surface-functionalized nanoparticles and nanomaterials used for chemical sensing.
Determinants and consequences of voluntary switches to Chinese auditors in Hong Kong

Abstract Hong Kong market regulators have permitted 12 large Chinese accounting firms to audit the financial statements of Chinese firms that cross list in Hong Kong (i.e., H-share firms) since 2010. This paper examines the characteristics of H-share firms that voluntarily replaced their Hong Kong (HK) auditors with Chinese auditors, and the market reaction to auditor switches following this policy. We find that 38 out of 147 H-share firms voluntarily switched to Chinese auditors during 2011–2013. Switching firms are larger in size and are less likely to use Big4; they also have less need for external financing, a longer cross listing history, and a lower percentage of foreign revenue. We also find that investors negatively react to the auditor switches from HK non-Big4 to China non-Big4, but do not react to the auditor switches from HK Big4 to China Big4. This suggests that investors perceived lower audit quality for China non-Big4.
Hepatitis C Virus: Patients' Risk Factors and Knowledge in an Urban Clinic Providing Wound Care.

Introduction Affecting about 3.2 million people in the United States, hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the primary cause of chronic liver disease and a global health challenge. Hepatitis C virus can affect the functioning of the liver, the health of the person, and thus wound healing. Objective This quality project explores risk factors of HCV; self-reported screening, occurrence, and treatment; and knowledge of HCV in patients seeking wound care in an urban clinic. Materials and methods Demographic risk factors, HCV history, and responses to a 22-item true-false-don't know HCV Knowledge Test were obtained from 58 patients. Risk factors included age (mean, 61.07 years), male sex (n = 41), non-Hispanic black race/ethnicity (n = 51), and history of injection drugs (n = 38). Results Thirty-nine (67.2%) stated they had been screened for HCV; 31 were told they were infected. Only 14 went to a clinic for HCV care and 11 reported they were treated. The mean number of correct answers on the HCV Knowledge Test was 14.4 (standard deviation, 5.7). Conclusions This urban clinic had patients with multiple HCV risk factors; they often lacked HCV screening and/or referral for treatment. Their HCV knowledge was generally low. As a major public health problem that could impact wound healing, wound care practitioners should ask patients about their HCV status, encourage HCV screening and care, and provide HCV information.
Evaluation of green sorption media blanket filters for nitrogen removal in a stormwater retention basin at varying groundwater conditions in a karst environment.

Abstract Removing excess nutrient from stormwater runoffs is necessary to protect the water quality of receiving water bodies such as rivers, lakes, springs, and groundwater aquifers. Silver Springs Springshed, located in the vicinity of Ocala, Florida, has received widespread attention from the local government and residents due to its long-term nutrient impact, which has resulted in eutrophication. Blanket filters containing Bio-sorption Activated Media (BAM) were implemented with different depths of the vadose zone in a stormwater retention basin. The design combined the interaction with groundwater as an innovative Best Management Practice can potentially boost the performance of nutrient removal. Selected storm runoffs were collected at multiple points that cover the runoff timeframe to determine the pollutant load. Infiltrating water samples were collected at various depths within BAM using lysimeters to validate the treatment effectiveness. Significant pollutant load reduction of nutrients was confirmed with highest 99% and 91% removal of nitrate and nitrite (NOx) and total nitrogen (TN) at the deep blanket filter (with more groundwater intrusion impacts) due to more effective denitrification and longer contact time. Yet the highest pollutant load reduction of 93% and 84% removal of NOx and TN was also observed at the shallow blanket filter (with less groundwater intrusion impacts). On the other hand, better pollutant load reduction of ammonia in the BAM layer was found at the shallow blanket filter presumably due to more available oxygen for nitrification.
Correlation between optical and UV variability of a large sample of quasars

The variability of quasars across multiple wavelengths is a useful probe of physical conditions in active galactic nuclei. In particular, variable accretion rates, instabilities, and reverberation effects in the accretion disc of a supermassive black hole are expected to produce correlated flux variations in ultraviolet (UV) and optical bands. Recent work has further argued that binary quasars should exhibit strongly correlated UV and optical periodicities. Strong UV–optical correlations have indeed been established in small samples of (N ≲ 30) quasars with well-sampled light curves, and have extended the ‘bluer-when-brighter’ trend previously found within the optical bands. Here, we further test the nature of quasar variability by examining the observed-frame UV–optical correlations among bright quasars extracted from the Half Million Quasars (HMQ) catalogue. We identified a large sample of 1315 quasars in HMQ with overlapping UV and optical light curves from the Galaxy Evolution Explorer and the Catalina Real-time Transient Survey, respectively. We find that strong correlations exist in this much larger sample, but we rule out, at ∼95 per cent confidence, the simple hypothesis that the intrinsic UV and optical variations of all quasars are fully correlated. Our results therefore imply the existence of physical mechanism(s) that can generate uncorrelated optical and UV flux variations.
Concurrent ophthalmomyiasis externa and aural myiasis: A case report in an urban hospital in the United States.

Abstract Purpose To describe a case of concurrent ophthalmomyiasis externa and aural myiasis in a patient presenting with headache, right eye pain and blurred vision in an urban hospital in Philadelphia, PA. Observations Myiasis is the parasitic infestation of a live mammal with fly larvae that feed and grow on host tissue. Predominantly described in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, it is rarely reported in the United States. We describe a case of concurrent ophthalmomyiasis externa and aural myiasis in a 44-year-old man who presented with headache, right eye pain and blurred vision in an urban hospital in Philadelphia, PA. After complete extraction and examination at bedside and in the operating room, the patient improved without complications after treatment with topical antibiotics and steroids. Conclusions Although rare in urban settings in the United States, in certain demographic populations, it is important to consider myiasis in the setting of eye and ear pain and to perform a complete eye and ear examination.
COVID-19: A Resident's Perspective

My shifts all start the same way these last few weeks with the collection of my allocated face shield and N95. The same shifts where it feels like the only patients I treat are those with COVID-19. Faces sometimes not much older than mine. Patients who are tachycardic, hypoxic, and ill. But these interactions are different; physical exams completed under the supervision of a colleague just outside the room, charged to watch my every movement. Vigilance not just for me but for everyone else I could and would come into contact with over the course of my shift. COVID19 lingers on carboard, steel, plastic, and other surfaces. Even the simplest of acts are dangerous without appropriate precautions.
Weighted linear programming discriminant analysis for high‐dimensional binary classification

Abstract Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) is widely used for various binary classification problems. In contrast to the LDA that estimates the precision matrix Ω and the mean difference vector δ ...
Second Verse, Same as the First: On the Use of Signing Systems in Modern Interventions for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children in the USA.

Signing systems that attempted to represent spoken language via manual signs – some invented, and some borrowed from natural sign languages – have historically been used in classrooms with deaf chi...
Size-Dependent Crystalline and Magnetic Properties of 5–100 nm Fe ₃ O ₄ Nanoparticles: Superparamagnetism, Verwey Transition, and FeO–Fe ₃ O ₄ Core–Shell Formation

Due to their non-toxicity and their ability to be functionalized, magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (NPs) are good candidates for a variety of biomedical applications. To better implement their applications, it is crucial to well understand the basic structural and magnetic properties of the NPs in correlation with their synthesis method. Here, we show interesting properties of Fe3O4 NPs of various sizes ranging from 5 to 100 nm and the dependence of these properties on particle size and preparation method. One synthetic method based on heating Fe(acac)3 with oleic acid consistently gives 5 ± 1 nm NPs. A second method using the thermal decomposition of Fe(oleate)3 in oleic acid led to larger NPs, greater than 8 nm in size. Increasing the amount of oleic acid caused the average NP size to slightly increase from 8 to 10 nm. Increasing both the reaction temperature and the reaction time caused the NP size to drastically increase from 10 to 100 nm. Powder X-ray diffraction and electron-microscopy imaging show a pure single crystalline Fe3O4 phase for all NPs smaller than 50 nm and spherical in shape. When the NPs get larger than 50 nm, they notably tend to form faceted, FeO core–Fe3O4 shell structures. Magnetometry data collected in various field-cooling conditions show a pure superparamagnetic (SPM) behavior for all NPs smaller than 20 nm. The observed blocking temperature, $T_{B}$ , gradually increases with NP size from about 25–150 K. In addition, the Verwey transition is observed with the emergence of a strong narrow peak at 125 K in the magnetization curves when larger NPs are present. Our data confirm the vanishing of the Verwey transition in smaller NPs. Magnetization loops indicate that the saturating field drastically decreases with NP size. While larger NPs show some coercivity ( $H_{c}$ ) up to 30 mT at 400 K, NPs smaller than 20 nm show no coercivity ( $H_{c} = 0$ ), confirming their pure SPM behavior at high temperature. Upon cooling below $T_{B}$ , some of the SPM NPs gradually show some coercivity, with $H_{c}$ reaching 45 mT at 5 K for the 10 nm NPs, indicating emergent interparticle couplings in the blocked state.
Household Inequality, Community Formation, and Land Tenure in Classic Period Lowland Maya Society

Access to social capital and valued resources modulates household decision-making as people seek to occupy the best-quality patches of land available. Prior occupancy, inheritance, and land tenure norms can constrain opportunities resulting in inequality between households. We examined processes of settlement development and structural inequality at two Classic Period (250–900 CE) Maya centers, Ix Kuku’il and Uxbenka, in Southern Belize. From the lens of human behavioral ecology (HBE), we evaluate the predictions of two population density models, the ideal free distribution (IFD) and the ideal despotic distribution (IDD), on household decision-making. To do so, we correlate the initial foundation date of households with nine measurable suitability variables as proxies for social and environmental resources. We conclude that at Uxbenka and Ix Kuku’il, social resources, such as the ability to mobilize labor, cooperation, and access to a transportation corridor, likely influenced where people chose to live. Environmental resources, including good farmland and access to perennial water sources, were widely distributed across the landscape and accessible to everyone. This study highlights the importance of social relationships on household decision-making, which is often difficult to detect in the archaeological record. The development and manifestation of institutionalized inequality are processes relevant to all societies past and present.
Improving HealthySteps Patient Follow-up Process in a Military Setting

Background: HealthySteps (HS), a program of Zero to Three, is a unique evidence based, pediatric primary care-based program that promotes positive parenting and healthy development by interweaving the medical support of the physician’s office with the resources and services of a HealthySteps Specialist (HSS). A HSS is an additional member of the medical team, trained to help families identify, understand, and manage parenting challenges, provide support before, during, and after well-child visits, and coordinate connections to community resources. This best practice program has proven sustained positive effects …
Devils Backbone Brewing: Integrated Independence?

This case presents a scenario wherein Hayes Humphreys, the Chief Operating Officer of Devils Backbone Brewing Company (DBB), has just attended a quarterly summit held by Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI) for all 12 of the North American craft breweries in its High End business unit. It is the summer of 2018, and Humphreys has had over a year and a half to observe DBB's evolution since its acquisition by Belgium-headquartered ABI in 2016. Through interviews with Humphreys and other members of DBB's management team, the case introduces students to ABI's selective approach to integrating the Virginia-based craft brewery into the High End over the first 20 months following the corporate integration, while also asking them to consider the High End's strategic direction and future. Following this introduction to the ABI-DBB integration, the cases asks students to consider the following: Where did DBB feel the most changes due to ABI's ownership? Where did DBB benefit the most from being an ABI brewery, and where did it feel the pain of bureaucracy most acutely? What new strengths and opportunities did DBB most benefit from thanks to ABI, and where would challenges exist in the future? Excerpt UVA-OM-1616 Jan. 22, 2020 Devils Backbone Brewing: Integrated Independence? [The Anheuser-Busch InBev acquisition will give us] strategic knowledge and information and help...to continue to grow our brewery in the direction that we have always wanted to grow...[Devils Backbone Brewing will maintain] a high level of autonomy and continue its own authentic DNA within [ABI's High End unit]. —Steve Crandall, founder, Devils Backbone Brewing Hayes Humphreys, chief operating officer of Devils Backbone Brewing Company (DBB), was traveling home to Charlottesville, Virginia, in June 2018, from the most recent quarterly summit held by Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI) for all 12 of the North American craft breweries in its High End business unit. Humphreys, who had joined DBB in 2011 and witnessed the company's evolution following its acquisition by Belgium-headquartered ABI in 2016, reflected on the progress that had been made in integrating the Virginia-based craft brewery into ABI's High End business unit over the past 20 months. Indeed, during his first year in the ABI universe, the focus of the quarterly summits for ABI's craft breweries seemed to be strictly on integrating the businesses into the ABI ecosystem; but in recent months, with the bulk of integration behind them, the focus had changed to the High End unit's strategic direction and the future. . . .
BPA, Parabens, and Phthalates in Relation to Endometrial Cancer Risk: A Case-Control Study Nested in the Multiethnic Cohort.

Bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, parabens, and triclosan are endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs); that is, they are exogenous substances that alter functions of the endocrine system and may cause adverse health effects. BPA and phthalates are plasticizers, whereas parabens and triclosan are antimicrobial chemicals or preservatives (Giulivo et al. 2016). Nuclear estrogen and progesterone receptors are EDC targets and BPA, selected phthalates, and parabens can bind to the estrogen receptor (ER) (Mallozzi et al. 2017; Nowak et al. 2018; Zacharewski et al. 1998). Because exposure to estrogen unopposed by progesterone is key to endometrial cancer development (Key and Pike 1988), we investigated whether BPA, triclosan, parabens, and phthalate metabolites were associated with endometrial cancer risk among participants in the prospective Multiethnic Cohort (MEC).
Medicaid: a view from the front lines.

Twenty-five years after its enactment, the Federal-State Medicaid program has survived amidst constant, conflicting pressures. Different perspectives on the strengths and weaknesses of the program and on the proper directions for reform have created a Medicaid “identity crisis” that makes it difficult to clearly view the program's real—and potential—value in shaping American health policy. To physicians, hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care providers, Medicaid is the program that pays far too little. Yet for State and Federal legislators, executive officials, and the public, Medicaid is the program that costs way too much. Advocates for the poor, as well as health care providers, complain that the program has an enormous amount of unnecessary paperwork and a blizzard of byzantine rules. Indeed, one group of welfare-rights attorneys likens explaining the Medicaid program to “draining the Serbonian bog.” Yet congressional studies and Federal audits continue to rail at States for being too lax in enforcing a complex set of Federal rules, and particularly for being too lenient in making eligibility determinations and Medicaid payments. Even the services covered by State Medicaid programs have been alternately criticized as being far in excess of private insurance standards (particularly in the area of long-term care), or else discriminating against the poor for having too many limitations (e.g., Stevens and Stevens, 1974). Indeed, amid all the criticisms by elected officials, professional organizations, and the academic community, it sometimes seems amazing that the Medicaid program has lasted 25 years without some fundamental reform or outright abolition. Perhaps it was the thought that national health insurance was always lurking just around the corner that stopped a more fundamental look at the Medicaid program. The time has come to re-evaluate the problems and successes of the Medicaid program in a more realistic light.
Determinants of recent structural change for small asset U.S. credit unions

Credit union numbers in the United States have declined since 1969. Changes in financial performance of U.S. credit unions have contributed to this decline. This paper discusses how small asset credit unions income, deposits, and loans have evolved during the period 1994–2011, with particular emphasis on 2008–2011. The effect of asset growth on credit unions with below $10 million in assets is distinct when compared with average asset sized U.S. credit unions . These credit unions face structural barriers to increase assets and will require unique managerial responses to macroeconomic changes in order to continue to provide member focused financial services profitably.
Recent Continental Philosophy and Comedy: Comic Overflow

Recently, the philosophical significance of comedy has attracted a great deal of attention from Continental philosophers, including this author. After venturing an account for this sudden interest, this paper surveys six contemporary books that take different views of this phenomenon. This fertile field will surely benefit from the contributions and responses of Philosophy Compass’ readers.
Characterization of the DNA-melting function of the Rickettsia prowazekii RNA polymerase.

In vitro specific transcription by the Rickettsia prowazekii RNA polymerase was investigated. The purified rickettsial RNA polymerase, in striking contrast to that of Escherichia coli, could specifically transcribe two R. prowazekii genes (ATP/ADP translocase and citrate synthase genes) and one E. coli gene (RNA-I) on negative supercoiled plasmids but not the same genes on linear plasmids. Following the specific binding of the rickettsial RNA polymerase to the translocase gene promoter on a linear plasmid, there was no detectable open complex formation. Both the E. coli and the R. prowazekii RNA polymerases worked well when poly(dA-dT).poly(dA-dT) or poly(dI-dC).poly-(dI-dC) was used as template for generalized transcription. However, the rickettsial RNA polymerase, in contrast to the E. coli enzyme, had little activity on poly(dG-dC).poly(dG-dC), a template with a larger number of hydrogen bonds. These data indicate that the rickettsial RNA polymerase is weak, at least relative to E. coli, in the function required for the opening of DNA duplex. It appears that this operation in R. prowazekii is aided by the negative supercoiling and the high 72% AT composition of the rickettsial genome.
Protein‐based functional nanomaterial design for bioengineering applications

In this review article, we describe recent progress in the field of protein-based bionanomaterial design with focus on the four well-characterized proteins: mammalian elastin and collagen, and insect-derived silk and resilin. These proteins are important structural components and understanding their physical and biochemical properties has allowed us to not only replicate them but also create novel smart materials. The ‘smart’ properties of a material include its ability to self-assemble, respond to stimuli, and/or promote cell interactions. Such properties can be attributed to unique structural modules from elastin, collagen, silk, and resilin as well as functional modules identified from other proteins directly or using display techniques such as phage display. Thus, the goal of this article is to not only emphasize the types of protein-based peptide modules and their uses but also encourage and inspire the reader to create new toolsets of smart polypeptides to overcome their challenges. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2015, 7:69–97. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1303 This article is categorized under: Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanomaterials and Implants Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology Biology-Inspired Nanomaterials > Protein and Virus-Based Structures
Pluralistic Ignorance and the Perpetuation of Social Norms by Unwitting Actors

Publisher Summary Pluralistic ignorance begins with a discrepancy between public actions and private sentiments, typically produced by widespread behavioral adherence to a social norm. Pluralistic ignorance is a pervasive feature of social life and is found to characterize the dynamics of social situations, social groups, and social movements. Group identification is the root cause for many cases of pluralistic ignorance—that individuals often act out of a desire to be good group members but interpret others' similarly motivated behavior as reflecting personal beliefs and opinions. This chapter presents two cases of pluralistic ignorance: (1) concerning the attitudes of college students toward alcohol use on campus and (2) concerning the gender stereotypes held by elementary school children. Mean responses of students in percentage are graphically represented in the chapter. Pluralistic ignorance describes the case in which virtually every member of a group or society privately rejects a belief, opinion, or practice, yet believes that virtually every other member privately accepts it. The term “pluralistic ignorance” is something of a misnomer, for in these cases, group members are not, in fact, ignorant of one another's private sentiments; rather, they think they know, but are mistaken.
Abstract 2891: Bench-to-bedside development of a novel idiotype vaccine against lymphoma

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Available therapies for lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL) provide no survival advantage if started before symptoms of end organ damage develop. Current recommendations are to follow a program of observation while patients are in the asymptomatic phase of disease. In this clinical study we will use idiotypic determinants of B-cell lymphoma surface immunoglobulins as tumor-specific antigens (idiotype) to develop a patient-specific vaccine against LPL. By activating the host immune system through vaccination to eradicate tumor cells, we postulate that disease control of asymptomatic phase lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma can be maintained. This novel 2nd generation idiotype vaccine was initially developed by genetic fusion of idiotype antigen in single-chain format with a pro-inflammatory chemokine. The central hypothesis is that antitumor immunity can be triggered by targeting antigen delivery to antigen-presenting cells in vivo by chemokine receptor-mediated binding, uptake and processing of idiotype antigens for more efficient presentation to T cells. A large body of preclinical data demonstrated that the immunogenecity of the idiotype antigen was considerably enhanced by such a genetic modification by a mechanism of facilitating antigen presentation. As a consequence, vaccine-induced prophylactic and therapeutic antitumor effects were significantly potentiated. To translate our vaccine therapy from bench to bedside, we established a CLP laboratory for vaccine preparation. Furthermore, we developed reliable technology to differentiate lymphoma idiotype antigens from idiotypic cell-surface immunoglobulins on normal B cells. Using this technology, we successfully cloned the cDNA encoding variable regions of heavy and light chains of LPL idiotype, and generated patient-specific plasmid constructs containing LPL idiotype single chain in fusion with macrophage inflammatory protein 3 alpha (MIP3a). All three engineering rounds of down-stream GMP amplification of clinical-grade plasmid DNA have been accomplished, which eventually paves the way for us to take a lab-grown agent to a first-in-human clinical trial. Citation Format: Hong Qin, Soungchul Cha, Sheetal S. Rao, Kunhwa Kim, Dongho Gwak, Sung-doo Kim, Sapna R. Parshottam, Sheeba K. Thomas, Larry W. Kwak. Bench-to-bedside development of a novel idiotype vaccine against lymphoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2891. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2891
Does Chain-Ganging Cause the Outbreak of War?

Realists have argued that fears over the defection or defeat of an ally can draw states into wars against their broader interests (“chain-ganging”). However, the logic underpinning chain-ganging theory is flawed, and the paradigmatic case—World War I—is not an instance of chain-ganging causing the outbreak of war. The paper draws on recent literatures on alliance restraint and the origins of World War I to provide the first extensive critique of chain-ganging theory, examines the impact on chain-ganging of a number of factors including power and interests, and suggests policy implications for an emerging multipolar system.