cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Community treatment adoption of contingency management: A conceptual profile of U.S. clinics based on innovativeness of executive staff

Abstract Background Community adoption of contingency management (CM) varies considerably, and executive innovativeness may help explain variance due to its presumed influence on clinic decision-making. Methods Sixteen U.S. opioid treatment programs (OTPs) were visited, with ethnographic interviewing used in casual contacts with executives to inform their eventual classification by study investigators into one of Rogers' (2003) five adopter categories. Audio-recorded interviews were also conducted individually with the executive and three staff members ( N =64) wherein they reported reactions to clinic CM implementation during the prior year, from which study investigators later identified salient excerpts during interview transcript reviews. Results The executive sample was progressive, with 56% classified as innovators or early adopters. Implementation reports and corresponding staff reactions were generally consistent with what might be expected according to diffusion theory. Clinics led by innovators had durably implemented multiple CM applications, for which staff voiced support. Clinics led by early adopters reported CM exposure via research trial participation, with mixed reporting of sustained and discontinued applications and similarly mixed staff views. Clinics led by early majority adopters employed CM selectively for administrative purposes, with staff reticence about its expansion to therapeutic uses. Clinics led by late majority adopters had either deferred or discontinued CM adoption, with typically disenchanted staff views. Clinics led by a laggard executive evidenced no CM exposure and strongly dogmatic staff views against its use. Conclusion Study findings are consistent with diffusion theory precepts, and illustrate pervasive influences of executive innovativeness on clinic practices and staff impressions of implementation experiences.
Grain Boundary Phases and Wake Zone Characterization in Monolithic Alumina

The postfracture tensile (PFT) technique has been used to characterize the wake zones of two alumina microstructures over a temperature range of 20° to 1280°C. Differing primarily in purity and grain size distribution, the behaviors of a commercial 99.7% alumina and a nominally pure alumina, Lucalox (General Electric, Cleveland, OH), were evaluated. Previously, the authors have demonstrated the dominant role of thermal expansion anisotropy in control of the toughening processes through 600°C. In this paper we relate microstructural aspects to those toughening mechanisms causing the behavioral change near 800°C, typical of commercial aluminas. This temperature coincides closely with the softening point of a glassy phase reported for some commercial aluminas. Since Lucalox exhibits the same behavior, but contains no added glassy phases, two possibilities remain: (1) trace quantities of a grain boundary phase are sufficient to promote the observed behavior, or (2) changes in toughening mechanisms result from more subtle microstructural transitions. Based upon studies of strain rate and time-dependent behavior, we propose that the topographic changes of the fracture surface near this temperature may explain the increase in toughening behavior at high temperatures.
Review of 'the potential role of arterial stiffness in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease'.

SUMMARY Arterial stiffness is emerging as an important risk marker for poor brain aging and dementia through its associations with cerebral small vessel disease, stroke, β-amyloid deposition, brain atrophy and cognitive impairment. Arterial stiffness directly relates the detrimental effects of hypertension on peripheral organs with dire consequences for the extensive microvasculature structure of the kidneys and brain. In this review, we discuss the evidence linking arterial stiffness, hypertension and brain structural abnormalities in older adults. In particular, we discuss the potential mechanisms linking arterial stiffness to brain β-amyloid deposition and dementia and potential therapeutic strategies to prevent hypertension's adverse effects on the brain.
An Immersive Game for K-5 Math and Science Education

We present SMILEtrade (Science and Math in an Immersive Learning Environment) an immersive game in which deaf and hearing children ages 5-10 learn math and science concepts and ASL (American Sign Language) terminology through interaction with animated 3D characters and objects. The application can be displayed in stationary, four-wall immersive devices (i.e., the FLEX), Fish Tank VR systems, and non-immersive standard computer systems. Users interact with the program choosing from a variety of input devices including a 6DOF wand, a pinch glove, a data glove, a dance platform, or standard mouse and keyboard.
Exploring the Potential of Value-Added Performance Measures to Affect the Quality of the Teacher Workforce:

The past decade has seen a tremendous amount of research on the use of value-added modeling to assess individual teachers, and a significant number of states and districts are now using, or plan to use, value added as a component of a teacher’s summative performance evaluation. In this article, I explore the various mechanisms through which the use of value added might affect teacher quality and describe what we know empirically about the potential of each mechanism. Given that many of these mechanisms work through the behavioral response of teachers to the high-stakes uses of evaluation, I argue that the jury is still out on how the use of value added will affect the quality of the teacher workforce.
The Wigner distribution function—50th birthday

We discuss the profound influence which the Wigner distribution function has had in many areas of physics during its fifty years of existence.
Noninvasive Ventilation for Acute Respiratory Failure

Noninvasive ventilation refers to any form of ventilatory support applied without the use of an endotracheal tube. It offers the potential to provide primary treatment for acute respiratory failure while avoiding complications associated with mechanical ventilation with endotracheal intubation. Noninvasive ventilation has been most commonly studied in hypercapnic respiratory failure. A review of randomized, controlled studies shows mixed results and methodologic limitations affect the interpretation of current evidence. Patient selection is clearly the most important issue in considering noninvasive ventilation for acute respiratory failure. Unfortunately, patients who benefit from noninvasive ventilation represent only a minority of the total group with any one disease, and thus it is difficult to make broad conclusions concerning applicability of this treatment modality. Future studies are needed to focus on determining the specific patient populations who will benefit the most, evaluating the optimal ventilatory mode and mask for providing noninvasive ventilation, and clarifying its impact on clinical outcomes.
The Most Dangerous Profession

This article chronicles the history of the accounting profession and explains how it has consistently failed to preserve transparency in the markets and protect the public good. I argue that the culture of the profession is due in part to the failure of earlier administrative agencies to retain private auditors for public functions such as ratemaking. Drawing on this insight, I suggest that the culture of professions in general is shaped by the work that professionals do and functions that the profession has historically served.
Patterns of Liver Injury

Liver response to injury includes a relatively narrow spectrum of morphologic changes, and accordingly there are only several pathologic patterns that can be recognized microscopically. First of all one must determine if the liver biopsy is from a native liver or from a liver transplant. If it is native liver one must decide if the liver was biopsied for a mass lesion requiring a tumor diagnosis or a diffuse liver disease. Relevant patient data provided by the clinician is always welcome and encouraged to provide appropriate contextual review. First, diffue liver disease should be divided into acute and chronic liver disease. Next, the liver is classified according the predominent pattern of injury. Then, after incorporation of clinical information and laboratory data, a differential diagnosis can be rendered.
Library Technology and User Services: Planning, Integration, and Usability Engineering, by Anthony Chow and Tim Bucknall

One could read many articles published in the past few years advising how administrators and librarians should plan for newer technologies and capitalize on social media to reach out to their patro...
Response Matrix Properties and Convergence Implications for an Interface-Current Nodal Formulation

An analytic study was performed of the properties and the associated convergence implications of the response matrix equations derived via the widely used nodal expansion method. By using the DIF3D nodal formulation in hexagonal-z geometry as a concrete example, an analytic expression for the response matrix is first derived by using the hexagonal prism symmetry transformations. The spectral radius of the local response matrix is shown to be always <1. The l{sub 2}-norm of the response matrix is shown to be <1 in two-dimensional problems but not always <1 in three-dimensional problems. The elements of the response matrix are shown to not always be positive, and the l{sub {infinity}}-norm is not always <1. The spectral radius and the l{sub 2}- and l{sub {infinity}}-norms of the response matrix are found to increase as the removal cross section decreases. On the other hand, for a given removal cross section, each of these matrix norms takes its minimum at a certain diffusion coefficient and increases as the diffusion coefficient deviates from this value. Based on these matrix norms, sufficient conditions for the convergence of the iteration schemes for solving the response matrix equations are discussed. The range of node-height-to-hexagon-pitch ratios that guarantees amore » positive solution is derived as a function of the diffusion coefficient and the removal cross section.« less
Anions Govern Cell Volume: A Case Study of Relative Astrocytic and Neuronal Swelling in Spreading Depolarization.

Cell volume changes are ubiquitous in normal and pathological activity of the brain. Nevertheless, we know little about the dynamics of cell and tissue swelling, and the differential changes in the volumes of neurons and glia during pathological states such as spreading depolarizations (SD) under ischemic and non–ischemic conditions, and epileptic seizures. By combining the Hodgkin–Huxley type spiking dynamics, dynamic ion concentrations, and simultaneous neuronal and astroglial volume changes into a comprehensive model, we elucidate why glial cells swell more than neurons in SD and the special case of anoxic depolarization (AD), and explore the relative contributions of the two cell types to tissue swelling. Our results demonstrate that anion channels, particularly Cl−, are intrinsically connected to cell swelling and blocking these currents prevents changes in cell volume. The model is based on a simple and physiologically realistic description. We introduce model extensions that are either derived purely from first physical principles of electroneutrality, osmosis, and conservation of particles, or by a phenomenological combination of these principles and known physiological facts. This work provides insights into numerous studies related to neuronal and glial volume changes in SD that otherwise seem contradictory, and is broadly applicable to swelling in other cell types and conditions.
A program for the bacteriologic monitoring of indwelling urinary catheters.

A program utilizing the hospital computer is described for the bacteriologic monitoring of all indwelling urinary catheters in a 600-bed community hospital. A urine specimen is obtained for culture upon insertion of the catheter and the urine is cultured daily until it becomes infected with bacteria. Patients whose urine specimens contain over 105 per ml. of bacteria are monitored on a set schedule, with the organism being identified and drug sensitivities determined whenever the infecting organism changes. The computer is used to generate a daily report for each patient’s chart, the daily worksheet, and labels for obtaining the daily cultures. The cultures are automatically made once an indwelling catheter is instituted. All patient charges are made by the computer. The computer program permits retrieval of data for the evaluation of the efficacy of various types of prophylaxis and therapy. The computer also allows us to monitor the frequency, time, and type of infection.
Pollinator specialization: from the individual to the community

1190 I. 1190 II. 1191 III. 1191 IV. 1193 V. 1193 1194 References 1194 SUMMARY: Most spermatophytes need conspecific pollen in order to produce seed. This need for specialization seems to conflict with the generalized nature of most plant-pollinator interactions. Specialization and generalization are dynamic - not fixed - and exist simultaneously in multiple states at different levels of biological hierarchy. Over the short term, specialization ensures conspecific pollen transfer, whereas over the long term, generalization improves system-level robustness. The balance between specialization and generalization at different scales is critical for different kinds of ecological functioning and is an important factor in plant speciation and the evolution of plant mating systems. Community context, including diversity and interaction network structure at different levels of aggregation, is a key driver of specialization dynamics.
Impact of Passive Cooling Strategies on Energy Consumption Reduction of Residential Buildings in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

In this paper, passive cooling strategies have been investigated to evaluate their effectiveness in reducing cooling thermal loads and air conditioning energy consumption for residential buildings in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Specifically, three passive cooling techniques have been evaluated including: natural ventilation, downdraft evaporative cooling, and earth tube cooling. These passive cooling systems are applied to a prototypical KSA residential villa model with an improved building envelope. The analysis has been carried using detailed simulation tool for several cities representing different climate conditions throughout KSA. It is found that both natural ventilation and evaporative cooling provide a significant reduction in cooling energy for the prototypical villa located in Riyadh. Natural ventilation alone has reduced the cooling energy end-use by 22% and the total villa energy consumption by 10%, while the evaporative cooling system has resulted in 64% savings in cooling energy end-use and 32% in the total villa energy consumption. When applying both passive cooling systems together to the villa, the cooling energy end-use is significantly reduced by about 84.2% and the total villa energy savings by 62.3% relative to the un-insulated basecase residential building model. Moreover, natural ventilation is found to have a high potential in all KSA climates, while evaporative cooling can be suitable only in hot and dry climates such as Riyadh and Tabuk.© 2015 ASME
Cold agglutinin-induced haemolysis in association with antinuclear antibody-negative SLE.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic relapsing autoimmune disease associated with several autoantibodies targeted to nuclear and cytoplasmic antigens. Serum antinuclear antibody (ANA) is considered an important diagnostic marker of SLE. However, 2–3% of patients with typical clinical picture of SLE may have persistently negative ANA tests. Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA) in SLE is usually mediated by warm IgG anti-erythrocyte antibodies. Our report describes a female patient who presented with clinical manifestations of SLE including photosensitivity, joint pains and AIHA. Further workup revealed high cold IgM agglutinin titres. A comprehensive workup for infectious aetiologies was negative. Autoimmune studies revealed negative ANA, but positive anti-double-stranded DNA and antiphospholipid antibodies. Lymphoproliferative disorder was excluded by imaging studies. Initial treatment with steroids proved of little benefit; however, rituximab resulted in significant clinical improvement. To the best of our knowledge, this is perhaps the first report of ANA-negative SLE presenting with cold AIHA.
Principles of Organization of an Obstetrical Unit from Scratch

A high-risk obstetrical unit is designed to accomplish the functions of patient care, education, and self-evaluation. Emphasis in specific areas is dictated by community needs, financial resources, numbers and training of personnel, and space limitations.
Ultrasound of the Gruberi Bursa With Cadaveric and MRI Correlation

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to describe the appearance and ultrasound characteristics of the Gruberi bursa using a cadaveric model and retrospective ultrasound imaging review. MATERIALS AND METHODS. For the cadaveric study, ultrasound of the dorsolateral ankle of a foot-ankle specimen was performed and was followed by injection of latex between the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) tendons and the talus and dissection. For the ultrasound imaging review, the radiology database was searched for ultrasound studies performed from September 15, 2000, through April 1, 2015, to identify subjects with a dorsolateral foot or ankle fluid collection detected on ultrasound. Images were retrospectively reviewed to characterize the location and size of the fluid collection, assess for the number of locules, and evaluate the compressibility of the fluid collection. It was determined whether the ultrasound findings were significantly different from chance: CI and p values were obtained from performing a test f...
Characterization of laser-produced carbon plasmas relevant to laboratory astrophysics

Experiments, analytic modeling, and numerical simulations are presented to characterize carbon plasmas produced by high-intensity ( 109−1013 W cm−2) lasers relevant to experimental laboratory astrophysics. In the large-scale limit, the results agree well with a self-similar isentropic, adiabatic fluid model. Laser-target simulations, however, show small-scale structure in the velocity distribution of different ion species, which is also seen in experiments. These distributions indicate that most of the plasma energy resides in moderate charge states (C+3–C+4), most of the mass resides in the lowest charge states, and the highest charge states move fastest.
The Middle Parts of Fortune: Heroism in Evolution, 1915–1916

The campaign of 1914 was a brutal awakening for the BEF. Virtually every pre-war assumption held by even the most dour military savant proved wrong. The manpower needs, material expenditures, and the number of casualties produced by industrial-scale warfare shocked the nation, but at the same time inspired a spirit of national self-righteousness that sent hundreds of thousands to the recruiting stations. The rush of volunteers was gratifying, but it would take more than a year to train, equip, and ship the troops to the front in any appreciable numbers. The campaigns of 1915 were thus fought with the remains of the pre-war standing army, augmented by men of the Territorial Force who had volunteered for service outside the British Isles and bolstered by drafts from all corners of the empire.
Chemical Transport Facilitated by Multiphase Flow Systems1

Relatively immobile chemicals have been observed moving significantly faster than anticipated from hydrophobic theory. A theory is developed considering transport in three mobile fluid phases which can be used to describe this facilitated transport. The convective dispersive transport equation is solved utilizing a transformation of variables which permits utilizing existing solutions covering a wide variety of boundary conditions. The impact of the facilitated transport is demonstrated for one case where the soils organic carbon is 10%. If 2% of the fluid phase is an organic fraction, the theory developed projects that hydrophobic theory may underestimate mobility by more than 100 times. At concentrations of dissolved organic carbon normally observed in nature (5 - 10 mg/l), a measurable increased mobility is anticipated for the very immobile compounds like dioxins.
Reflections on the Deep Connection Between Problems of Evil and Problems of Divine Hiddenness

In the literature on the subject, it is common to understand the problem of divine hiddenness and the problem of evil as distinct problems. Schellenberg (1993, 2010) and van Inwagen (2002) are representative. Such a sharp distinction is not so obvious to me. In this essay, I explore the relationship between the problem(s) of evil and the problem(s) of divine hiddenness.
Distinguishing Failure to Cure From Complication After Penile Prosthesis Implantation

Abstract Background A successful penile prosthesis implantation (PPI) surgery can be defined by outcomes beyond the absence of complications. Aim To introduce the concept of failure to cure (FTC) in the context of PPI to more accurately gauge postoperative outcomes after PPI. Methods Consecutive patients from our sexual function registry who underwent PPI from January 2011 to December 2013 were analyzed. Demographics, previous treatment of erectile dysfunction, comorbidities, social history, postoperative problems (POPs), and surgical outcomes were tabulated. Patients completed the International Index of Erection Function (IIEF) and the Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction questionnaires. We defined a complication, according to the Clavien-Dindo classification, as any deviation from the ideal postoperative course that is not inherent in the procedure and does not constitute an FTC. FTC was defined as a POP that was not a complication. The χ2 tests, t-tests, or Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used. Outcomes Patient-reported and objective outcomes after PPI. Results Our enrollment consisted of 185 patients, and we contacted 124 (67%). Of these, 16 (12.9%) had a POP requiring reoperation. Eight patients developed surgical complications (three infections, four erosions, and one chronic pain). Eight patients had FTC (four malpositions and four malfunctions). Factors that correlated with POPs were previous PPI, body mass index higher than 30 kg/m2, and previous treatment with intracorporal injections (P .05 for all comparisons). Clinical Implications POPs after PPI surgery can be more accurately categorized using the Clavien-Dindo classification of surgical complications to more clearly distinguish surgical complications from FTC. Strengths and Limitations Limitations of our study include its retrospective approach. Our series included a large proportion of patients treated for prostate cancer, which limits the generalizability of our findings. We also had a relatively short median follow-up time of 27 months. Conclusions Patient-reported outcome assessments can vary greatly from what physicians determine to be successful PPI. An assessment of POPs encompasses more than just complication rates; it also reflects FTC. Even when POPs occur, patients can still derive satisfaction if they are correctively managed. Factors that possibly predispose to POPs include previous PPI surgery, body mass index greater than 30 kg/m2, and history of intracorporal injections. Pineda M, Burnett AL. Distinguishing Failure to Cure From Complication After Penile Prosthesis Implantation. J Sex Med 2017;14:731–737.
Fixational saccades are more disconjugate in adults than in children

Purpose Fixational eye movements are of particular interest for three reasons. They are critical for preventing visual fading and enhancing visual perception; their disconjugacy allows scanning in three dimensions, and their neural correlates span through the cortico-striatal, striato-collicular and brainstem networks. Fixational eye movements are altered in various pediatric ophthalmologic and neurologic disorders. The goal of this study was to compare the dynamics of fixational eye movements in normal children and adults. Methods We measured the fixational saccades and inter-saccadic drifts in eye positions using infrared video-oculography in children and adults. We assessed the frequency, amplitude, main-sequence, and disconjugacy of fixational saccades as well as the intra-saccadic drift velocity and variance between these two groups. Results We found a similar frequency but an increase in the amplitude of fixational saccades in children compared to adults. We also found that the fixational saccades were more conjugate in children than in adults. The inter-saccadic drifts were comparable between the two groups. Discussion This study provides normative values of dynamics of fixational eye movement in children and adults. The greater disconjugacy of fixational saccades in adults suggests the existence of neural mechanisms that can independently regulate the movements of two eyes. The differences between adult and pediatric populations could be due to completion of the development of binocularly independent regulation of fixational saccades nearing adulthood. The alternate possibility is that the increased disconjugacy between the two eyes may represent a deficiency in the eye movement performance as a function of increasing age.
Novel Medical Management of Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injuries are well known for causing permanent disability and for not having effective treatments. Many promising studies are going on to formulate new pharmacological agents or to use existing medications that are indicated for entirely different pathological processes. Stem cell therapy and gene therapy have always been at the center of research but have not successfully established as a treatment of choice. Microtubule stabilizing anti- cancer drugs and chondroitinase ABC are other interventions currently under study. Pharmacological agents under investigation should be evaluated in detail to determine correct timing for use. Most recent researches focus on cellular receptor level modulation to promote the healing process. Remyelination agents and axonal regeneration stimulators that function by affecting the molecular biological level functioning of the cells require further studies to enable them to be used commercially. This article reviews various aspects of newer pharmacological agents in the management of spinal cord injury and the factors determining the success of concomitant use of these agents with traditional or non-pharmacological management.
Community-Acquired Pneumonia and Proton Pump Inhibitors

To the Editors:—We read with interest the article by Jena and colleagues regarding the possibility of residual confounding in the association of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).1 Specifically, we appreciated the argument for “falsification analysis,” which Jena has discussed elsewhere.2
Framed frames for data frames

We present a computationally efficient, data-driven procedure for constructing linear isometric embeddings of high-dimensional data (data frames) into spaces of smooth images, and thereby obtain tight frame dictionaries for the data space using tight frame dictionaries for the image space (“framed frames” – wavelets, curvelets, shearlets, etc.). Experiments indicate that data are more compressible in these induced dictionaries when compared to compressibility in terms of principal components.
Belief dependence: How do the numbers count?

This paper is about how to aggregate outside opinion. If two experts are on one side of an issue, while three experts are on the other side, what should a non-expert believe? Certainly, the non-expert should take into account more than just the numbers. But which other factors are relevant, and why? According to the view developed here, one important factor is whether the experts should have been expected, in advance, to reach the same conclusion. When the agreement of two (or of twenty) thinkers can be predicted with certainty in advance, their shared belief is worth only as much as one of their beliefs would be worth alone. This expectational model of belief dependence can be applied whether we think in terms of credences or in terms of all-or-nothing beliefs.
Effect of Polymer Structure on Precursor Diffusion and Particle Formation in Polymer Matrix Nanocomposites

Palladium nanoparticles were synthesized in a semi-crystalline poly[tetrafluoroethylene-co-(perfluoropropyl vinyl ether)] matrix using a chemical infusion technique where a chemical precursor is vaporized and diffused into the polymer matrix. Once in the matrix, the precursor is made to decompose resulting in nanoparticle formation. The effect of polymer structure on precursor diffusion was investigated by comparing the diffusion behavior of the precursor molecules in the as-received polymer as well as in a heat-treated polymer matrix. Results from the diffusivity measurements were interpreted using a free volume model to gain a physical and conceptual understanding of precursor diffusion in fluoropolymers. In addition, transmission electron microscopy analysis was performed on the polymer matrix nanocomposites, and significant differences in particle size and spatial distributions were found between nanocomposites synthesized using as-received and heat-treated polymer matrices. Both precursor diffusivity and particle formation changed as a result of modifications to the polymer matrix suggesting that the particle size and spatial distribution are determined by the structure and morphology of the polymer matrix and are likely linked to the free volume of the polymer.
Kidnap and Terrorism Financing

Concerns about the increased role ransoms play in funding terrorism have led to calls by the G8 and the United Nations Security Council for a universal policy banning ransom payments to terrorists. This chapter examines the efforts towards a universal ransom ban, with the ultimate aim of reaching some conclusions about whether banning will stem the flow of ransoms to terrorist organizations. Drawing on the literature about norm influence, the chapter concludes that the efforts thus far have the potential to impact behaviour in a meaningful way in the future. In fact, this chapter suggests that the only realistic avenue to change the behaviour of states and individuals inclined to pay for the release of innocent hostages is through persuasion, as opposed to force.
Corrosion control in space launch vehicles

Abstract: The John F. Kennedy Space Center on United States is home to NASA’s Launch Operations Center. The natural marine environment at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) is one of the most corrosive in the continental United States. Corrosion control at KSC involves the flight hardware, ground support equipment, and facilities. A description is given of the space launch vehicles’ environment and the process of materials selection for this environment. The corrosion control necessary for the Space Shuttle Orbiter and its ground support equipment is described. There is also a brief history of orbiter corrosion.
Bone Remodeling and Age-Associated Bone Loss in the Past: a Histomorphometric Analysis of the Imperial Roman Skeletal Population of Isola Sacra

Bone loss is a serious consequence of the aging process in humans and is observed in both modern and archaeological populations. A severe manifestation of bone loss, or osteopenia, can cause mechanical incompetence of the skeletal system and lead to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is associated with an increase in morbidity and mortality and a decrease in the enjoyment of life. Age-associated bone loss affects all people, regardless of sex, socioeconomic status, and ethnic background. The manifestation of osteopenia and related fragility fractures, however, is highest in modern populations of European descent (Nordin, 1966; Solomon, 1968, 1979; Chalmers and Ho, 1970; Cohn et al., 1977; DeSimone et al, 1989; Luckey et al., 1989; Schnitzler, 1990; Nelson et al., 1991; Baron et al., 1994; Bell et al., 1995; Stini, 1995). Study of the inherent disparities in the incidence and prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis between past and modern populations, as well as among modern populations, may reveal biocultural and evolutionary factors related to bone loss and osteoporosis.
Understanding and Predicting Pharmaceutical Product Shelf-Life

Pharmaceutical products are assigned a shelf-life which determines the time when a product is considered to be safe and effective under a relevant storage condition. A number of factors are used to assign that shelf-life. Among these factors are the chemical stability of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in its dosage form, and specifically whether any degradation products are potentially hazardous to a patient. In addition, any factors which affect an API’s bioavailability can also limit shelf-life. These factors not only include loss of API potency due to degradation, but also loss of activity due to precipitation (for liquid dosage forms) or slowing of API release in the gastrointestinal tract. Accelerating the aging process allows the development and production of pharmaceutical products without waiting for the entire shelf-life to elapse before assigning a value. Such factors as temperature and relative humidity can be used to accelerate these processes effectively allowing for accurate and precise predictions.
Simulating high dispersion coronagraphy (HDC) observations for large ground-based telescopes (Conference Presentation)

Spectroscopy of exoplanets can potentially detect biomarkers in habitable planets around other stars. The high dispersion coronagraphy (HDC) technique provides a pathway to search for biomarkers in planets around M dwarfs with next-generation ground-based extremely large telescopes (ELTs). The HDC consists of a coronagraph operating behind an extreme adaptive optics (AO) system, a single-mode fiber injection unit, and a high resolution spectrometer (HRS). The coronagraph spatially filters out starlight while the HRS spectrally discriminates starlight from planet light, reaching a starlight suppression level that enables biomarker detection. I will simulating ELT HDC instrument performance as a function of wavelength, spectral resolution, starlight suppression, and planet types, considering realistic noise budget that includes speckle noise, thermal and sky background and exozodical background.
A comparison of the shielding effectiveness of silicone oil vitreous substitutes when used with Palladium-103 and Iodine-125 eye plaques.

Purpose Episcleral eye plaques provide excellent local control of ocular melanoma, but vision sparing remains a significant problem with 30% or more of patients experiencing significant visual acuity degradation. The use of silicone oil shielding with Iodine-125 plaques has previously been reported to improve critical structure sparing. We hypothesized that the use of Palladium-103 would improve the shielding effectiveness of silicone oil due to the strong energy dependence of the photoelectric effect. This Monte Carlo simulation study reports a comparison of the shielding effects of silicone oil when used in conjunction with Pd-103 and with I-125 plaques. Materials and methods GEANT4 was used to simulate eye plaque treatments to an eye with either water-equivalent vitreous humor, or silicone oil in place of the vitreous humor. Two solid gold plaques, 15 and 23 mm, were simulated loaded with I-125 and with Pd-103 source seeds. Seed activity was normalized such that 85 Gy was delivered to the tumor apex in the water-equivalent cases. Tumor apex dose, central axis dose, and inner sclera dose reductions with silicone oil were evaluated. Results Silicone oil resulted in an underdosing to the tumor apex of 6.1% and 7.5% in the 15 mm plaque for I-125 and Pd-103, respectively, and 3.4% and 4.3% in the 23 mm plaque for I-125 and Pd-103, respectively. When renormalized to 85 Gy to the tumor apex in all scenarios, silicone oil reduced the dose to the inner sclera 90° from the plaque by 19-32% for the 15 and 23 mm plaques using I-125, and by 33-65% for the 15 and 23 mm plaques using Pd-103. Conclusions The combination of silicone oil and Pd-103 eye plaques offers the potential for greatly improved sparing to normal structures compared to Pd-103 plaques alone or I-125 plaques with or without silicone oil.
Reverse Micelles as Templates for the Fabrication of Size-Controlled Nanoparticles: A Physical Chemistry Experiment

Synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials yields opportunities for instruction of related topics in solution chemistry and materials science, as well as spectroscopy connecting to band theory, the particle in a box quantum mechanical model, and thermodynamics. In collaboration with an undergraduate research assistant, we have developed a synthesis experiment that investigates the use of reverse micelles as reaction templates for the preparation of size-controlled nanomaterials through simple, controlled precipitation reactions. This experiment is designed for an undergraduate physical or inorganic chemistry laboratory course. The proposed method boasts several advantageous features, including simplicity, functionality both at low temperature and in the presence of oxygen, applicability to a wide variety of compounds including semiconductors and colloidal metals, and precise control of particle size. To demonstrate our method, we chose CdSe as a model system due to its readily observable size-dependent optical effects. The particles produced are well-controlled and show high optical quality. Additionally, the use of reverse micelles allows us to further broaden the scope of this assessment, incorporating other key topics including ligand–metal chelation, nucleation/growth kinetics, thermodynamics, surfactant chemistry, and hydrodynamics.
Racial and Ethnic Differences in Atopic Dermatitis-Related School Absences Among US Children.

This cross-sectional study examines data from the Pediatric Eczema Elective Registry to assess associations of race/ethnicity with school absences attributed to atopic dermatitis in US school-aged children (6 to 17 years).
Low hemoglobin and hematoma expansion after intracerebral hemorrhage

Objective Studies have independently shown associations of lower hemoglobin levels with larger admission intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) volumes and worse outcomes. We investigated whether lower admission hemoglobin levels are associated with more hematoma expansion (HE) after ICH and whether this mediates lower hemoglobin levels9 association with worse outcomes. Methods Consecutive patients enrolled between 2009 and 2016 to a single-center prospective ICH cohort study with admission hemoglobin and neuroimaging data to calculate HE (>33% or >6 mL) were evaluated. The association of admission hemoglobin levels with HE and poor clinical outcomes using modified Rankin Scale (mRS 4–6) were assessed using separate multivariable logistic regression models. Mediation analysis investigated causal associations among hemoglobin, HE, and outcome. Results Of 256 patients with ICH meeting inclusion criteria, 63 (25%) had HE. Lower hemoglobin levels were associated with increased odds of HE (odds ratio [OR] 0.80 per 1.0 g/dL change of hemoglobin; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.67–0.97) after adjusting for previously identified covariates of HE (admission hematoma volume, antithrombotic medication use, symptom onset to admission CT time) and hemoglobin (age, sex). Lower hemoglobin was also associated with worse 3-month outcomes (OR 0.76 per 1.0 g/dL change of hemoglobin; 95% CI 0.62–0.94) after adjusting for ICH score. Mediation analysis revealed that associations of lower hemoglobin with poor outcomes were mediated by HE (p = 0.01). Conclusions Further work is required to replicate the associations of lower admission hemoglobin levels with increased odds of HE mediating worse outcomes after ICH. If confirmed, an investigation into whether hemoglobin levels can be a modifiable target of treatment to improve ICH outcomes may be warranted.
The pyridine nucleotide cycle: Presence of a nicotinamide mononucleotide-specific amidohydrolase in Propionibacteriumshermanii

Abstract A specific nicotinamide mononucleotide amidohydrolase which catalyzes the stoichiometric conversion of NMN to nicotinate mononucleotide and ammonia has been partially purified from an extract of Propionibacterium shermanii . The reaction has optimum activity at pH 5.6, a Km of 70 μM, and an experimental activation energy of 14.5 Kcal/mole. The enzyme appears to be highly specific for NMN. Neither free nicotinamide nor NAD, NADH, NADP, NADPH compete with NMN. Numerous substances such as isonicotinic acid hydrazide and quinolinic acid are also without effect. It can be stored at −15° in 12% glycerol, but is somewhat unstable in the absence of this solvent. The enzyme is composed of a heatstable and a heat-sensitive subunit. This enzyme considerably simplifies the pyridine nucleotide cycle, and may, besides this salvage function for NAD, play a role in B12 biosynthesis and in the bacterial DNA ligase reaction.
RADIATION REACTION IN ELECTRODYNAMICS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the radiation reaction in electrodynamics. In 1943, Eliezer studied the Dirac equation for the one-dimensional motion of a classical point electron under the influence of a stationary point charge. He obtained the paradoxical conclusions that if the two charged particles have opposite signs, they can never collide, but if they have like signs, they may collide. However, even a massive point charge cannot be considered to be stationary when another particle comes close to it. If both particles move, then, because of the finite speed of propagation of electromagnetic effects, a system of delay differential equations with state-dependent delays must be analyzed. The chapter presents a proof of the theorem stating that particles of opposite sign cannot collide in a finite time.
A Better Bound on the Largest Induced Forests in Triangle-Free Planar Graph

It is well-known that there exists a triangle-free planar graph of n vertices that has the largest induced forest of order at most $$\frac{5n}{8}$$ . Salavatipour (Graphs Comb 22(1):113–126, 2006) proved that there is a forest of order at least $$\frac{5n}{9.41}$$ in any triangle-free planar graph of n vertices. Dross et al. (Large induced forests in planar graphs with girth 4 or 5, arXiv:1409.1348 , 2014) improved Salavatipour’s bound to $$\frac{5n}{9.17}$$ . In this work, we further improve the bound to $$\frac{5n}{9}$$ . Our technique is inspired by the recent ideas from Lukot’ka et al. (Electron J Comb 22(1):P1–P11, 2015).
A qualitative assessment of perspectives on getting pregnant: the Social Position and Family Formation study.

Intentions-oriented approaches to measuring pregnancy do not necessarily align with how people view and approach pregnancy. Our objective was to obtain an in-depth understanding of the notions women and men hold regarding pregnancy. We conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with 176 heterosexual women and men ages 18–35, in the United States. Data were analyzed using grounded theory methodology. Participants described notions of getting pregnant in one of three ways. One group of participants used language that solely described pregnancy as a deliberate process, either premeditated or actively avoided. Another described pregnancy as a predetermined phenomenon, due to fate or something that ‘just happens.’ The third group represented a blending of both notions. Our findings underscore the need to shift the current paradigm of deliberate intentions to one that recognizes that pregnancy can also be viewed as predetermined. These findings can be used to improve measurement, health services, and better direct public health resources.
Multiobjective Backstepping Controller for Parallel Buck Converter.

A backstepping controller is designed for a system of parallel buck converters sharing load. Controller objective is to ensure proper current sharing and output voltage regulation. The designed controller is successfully tested for both constant load and sudden change in loading conditions.
Assessing emission and power tradeoffs of biodiesel and n-Butanol in diesel blends for fuel sustainability

Abstract The use of renewable biodiesel and additives diversifies transportation fuel supply. Combustion tests on neat ultra-low sulfur No.2 diesel (D100) and its blends with biodiesel and the n-butanol additive were conducted to investigate environmental impacts and tradeoffs in engine emission and power output. The testing results show measurable changes in power output and engine emission, particularly in diesel particulate matter (DPM) size distribution and black carbon compositions. The binary diesel-biodiesel blend D80B20 (80% D100 and 20%B100 by volume) offers reduced PM and black carbon emission, but higher NOx in engine exhaust. Comparatively the tertiary diesel-biodiesel-butanol blend B15Bu5 (80% D100, 15% B100, and 5% Bu100 by volume) shows superior environmental tradeoff in the black carbon and NOx emission than D80B20. Both fuel blends suffer a 3.0–5.6% increase in brake-specific fuel consumption. At higher combustion temperature, the butanol-oxygenated diesel fuel produces DPMs of smaller size, higher number concentrations, greater OC fractions, and more amorphous black carbon particles. The peak DPM aerodynamic size dpmax for D80B20 and B15Bu5 blends is 0.20–0.32 μm, smaller than >0.40 μm dpmax for D100 and the 0.30 μm cut-off size of regular DPM filters. For an internal combustion engine capable of accommodating biodiesel and water fraction in the fuel mixture, the B15Bu5 blend offers a viable fuel alternative according to the comparative testing results. The use of biodiesel and butanol additive in petroleum diesel can decrease the DPM emission, while the undesired NOx formation in tradeoff can be managed through optimizing the tertiary composition of petroleum diesel, biodiesel, and fuel additives.
A Phenomenological Exploration of Autonomy and Related Psychological Needs Among the Residents of a Memory Care Unit

The population of persons 65 years or older is the fastest growing age demographic in the United States. This rapidly growing population of older adults with dementia will challenge our healthcare system to provide quality long-term residential care while maintaining patients’ dignity, independence, and autonomy. This chapter summarizes a study which examined experiences of autonomy and other related psychological needs from the perspective of older adults who resided in a memory care unit of an assisted living facility. Autonomy is a contributor toward wellness and has been associated with better health outcomes as well as quality of life (Williams et al., Patient Educ Couns 57:39–45, 2005), yet little is known as to how it is experienced by older adults with dementia. Lacking in the literature is the perceptions of individuals with dementia whose autonomy and related psychological needs may be constrained for the purposes of safety and other pragmatics within a residential care setting. Exploring how autonomy and related psychological needs are experienced by those residing in a memory care unit will provide an understanding for the necessary components for best practices in care for this population. The theoretical framework of Self-Determination Theory (SDT), particularly the Basic Psychological Needs mini-theory by Ryan and Deci (Am Psychol 55:68–78, 2000) served as a sensitizing framework for this qualitative descriptive study, which used phenomenological interviewing as an analytical tool. As a result of this study, it is more clearly understood that autonomy and competence needs are powerful psychological needs despite fading memory and that reality is shaped and constructed by these individuals in order to retain these needs. A central finding of this study was the importance of allowing as much autonomy as possible within the scope of ones’ capabilities. By providing valuable insights into this population’s needs as a whole, training and education necessary within healthcare services may become more tailored leading to the implementation of a person-centered care approach in serving those with dementia.