cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Civilian to Soldier: The Transition of Men From Civil Employment to Military Service

The 416,809 Australians who enlisted into the AIF formed roughly 13.43 per cent of the white male population, or about half of the eligible number believed to be available.1 This chapter focuses on the initial experiences of those recruits upon their enlistment. In particular, it considers the typical motivations felt by men to enlist, and explores the difficulties they faced in making the transition from civilian employment into a service contract with the military. Through a focus upon these motivating factors this chapter seeks to bring greater attention to the common expectations of individuals, and establish how the nature of these expectations subsequently shaped attitudes towards work within the military.2
Barriers to Self-Motivated Conceptual Music Learning: Activity Theory as a Framework for Comparing Dissimilar Cases.

ABSTRACTThis paper describes the use of activity theory to compare dissimilar cases in a study of adult online music learners. The purpose of the study was to better understand the barriers that keep self-motivated users of online open education resources from experiencing successful independent learning. Eleven participants were given tutoring-style help in pursuing their goals, which involved conceptual music learning, with the aim of understanding and overcoming the barriers they had encountered. The use of activity theory in the data analysis revealed underlying issues that connected self-motivated learning projects that were markedly dissimilar. Study findings are detailed elsewhere; this paper focuses on the usefulness of activity theory as a lens for understanding and comparing cases of individual learning.
Vasectomy Reversal Surgical Patterns: An Analysis of the American Board of Urology Case Logs

Objective To characterize vasectomy reversal practice patterns among American Board of Urology (ABU) certifying urologists. Materials and Methods We reviewed the ABU case logs for certifying urologists from 2008 to 2014. Vasectomy reversal procedures were identified by 3 current procedure terminology (CPT) codes: 55400 (vasovasostomy), 54900 (epididymovasostomy, unilateral), and 54901 (epididymovasostomy, bilateral). Demographic data were obtained and reviewed. Multivariate analysis determined the factors influencing the performance of surgical approach. Results There were 5167 urologists who submitted case logs for 2008-2014, and 9.4% (486) had performed at least one vasectomy reversal procedure. General urologists accounted for the highest overall volume of vasectomy reversal procedures. Andrology-trained urologists performed a higher volume of vasovasostomy per surgeon, and bilateral epididymovasostomy constituted a greater portion of their E-V practice. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that being in recertification years, being younger in age, practicing in the South Central, Southeast, and Western regions, and practicing in the largest and smallest practice areas were associated with being more likely to perform a vasectomy reversal procedure. Conclusion Microsurgical vasectomy reversals are putatively considered technically challenging and reserved for fellowship-trained urologists, and the majority of vasectomy reversal surgeries were performed by general urologists. Given the known association between microsurgical technique and improved outcomes, greater emphasis should be placed on microsurgical training during urology residency.
Proliferation of latently infected CD4+ T cells carrying replication-competent HIV-1: Potential role in latent reservoir dynamics

A latent reservoir for HIV-1 in resting CD4+ T lymphocytes precludes cure. Mechanisms underlying reservoir stability are unclear. Recent studies suggest an unexpected degree of infected cell proliferation in vivo. T cell activation drives proliferation but also reverses latency, resulting in productive infection that generally leads to cell death. In this study, we show that latently infected cells can proliferate in response to mitogens without producing virus, generating progeny cells that can release infectious virus. Thus, assays relying on one round of activation underestimate reservoir size. Sequencing of independent clonal isolates of replication-competent virus revealed that 57% had env sequences identical to other isolates from the same patient. Identity was confirmed by full-genome sequencing and was not attributable to limited viral diversity. Phylogenetic and statistical analysis suggested that identical sequences arose from in vivo proliferation of infected cells, rather than infection of multiple cells by a dominant viral species. The possibility that much of the reservoir arises by cell proliferation presents challenges to cure.
Social Network Challenges to Reducing Consumption: The Problem of Gift Giving

Social networks are typically associated with recruitment tactics. In this article, I offer an additional perspective on social networks as a constraint to social change and an under-recognized challenge to reducing consumption. I draw on 45 interviews with: voluntary simplifiers, religious environmentalists, and green home owners. Informants, failing to withdraw from gift-giving networks, instead (1) negotiate a reduction in gift giving, (2) green gift giving, and (3) attempt to transform gift giving into a tactic for lifestyle change. Rather than viewing social networks as channels for cultural cohesion, I argue that we need to better conceptualize the way culture and networks are co-constituted by tactics of influence within areas of contention.
Psychosis as a risk factor for suicidal thoughts and behaviors: a meta-analysis of longitudinal studies.

Background Research has long noted higher prevalence rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors among individuals with psychotic symptoms. Major theories have proposed several explanations to account for this association. Given the differences in the literature regarding the operationalization of psychosis and sample characteristics, a quantitative review is needed to determine to what extent and how psychosis confers risk for suicidality. Methods We searched PsycInfo, PubMed, and GoogleScholar for studies published before 1 January 2016. To be included in the analysis, studies must have used at least one psychosis-related factor to longitudinally predict suicide ideation, attempt, or death. The initial search yielded 2541 studies. Fifty studies were retained for analysis, yielding 128 statistical tests. Results Suicide death was the most commonly studied outcome (43.0%), followed by attempt (39.1%) and ideation (18.0%). The median follow-up length was 7.5 years. Overall, psychosis significantly conferred risk across three outcomes, with weighted mean ORs of 1.70 (1.39–2.08) for ideation, 1.36 (1.25–1.48) for attempt, and 1.40 (1.14–1.72) for death. Detailed analyses indicated that positive symptoms consistently conferred risk across outcomes; negative symptoms were not significantly associated with ideation, and were protective against death. Some small moderator effects were detected for sample characteristics. Conclusions Psychosis is a significant risk factor for suicide ideation, attempt, and death. The finding that positive symptoms increased suicide risk and negative symptoms seemed to decrease risk sheds light on the potential mechanisms for the association between psychosis and suicidality. We note several limitations of the literature and offer suggestions for future directions.
The Neural and Hormonal Bases of the Reproductive Cycle of the Rat

The reproductive cycle of the female mammal is one of the most important biological rhythms. Through the coordination of vaginal, ovarian, pituitary, neuroendocrine and behavioral rhythms, reproduction and the propagation of the species is made possible. This reproductive cycle, which in large measure is a manifestation of the regulation of pituitary gonadotropin (GTH) secretion by the central nervous’system (CNS), has several distinctive characteristics: 1) Although related to the daily light cycle, the period of the reproductive cycle is much longer, ranging from four or five days in the rat (which will be the principal species considered in this discussion), to the monthly cycle of the human. 2) Although clearly a manifestation of a neural rhythm, the normal expression of that rhythm is totally dependent on the feedback action of gonadal hormones. 3) Although this biological rhythm is sexually dimorphic, ontogenic studies have demonstrated that it is determined by the hormone environment at a Crotocal Period in development.
Happiness as a Buffer of the Association Between Dependence and Acute Tobacco Abstinence Effects in African American Smokers.

Author(s): Liautaud, Madalyn M; Leventhal, Adam M; Pang, Raina D | Abstract: Introduction:African American (AA) smokers are at disproportionate risk of tobacco dependence, utilizing smoking to regulate stress, and poor cessation outcomes. Positive emotional traits may function as coping factors that buffer the extent to which dependence increases vulnerability to adverse responses to acute tobacco abstinence (ie, tobacco withdrawal). This laboratory study examined subjective happiness (SH; dispositional orientation towards frequent and intense positive affect [PA] and life satisfaction) as a moderator of the relation between tobacco dependence and subjective and behavioral abstinence effects among AA smokers. Methods:AA smokers (N = 420, 39.0% female) completed self-report measures of tobacco dependence and SH followed by two counterbalanced experimental sessions (nonabstinent vs. 16-hour abstinent) involving self-report measures of composite withdrawal, urge to smoke, and mood, and a behavioral smoking task in which participants could: (1) earn money to delay smoking reinstatement, and (2) subsequently purchase cigarettes to smoke. Results:Tobacco dependence was positively associated with increased abstinence effects in composite withdrawal, urge to smoke, PA, and latency to smoking reinstatement (ps l .04). SH significantly moderated the relation between dependence and abstinence-induced increases in composite withdrawal (β = -.17, p l .001), such that the predictive power of dependence on withdrawal severity grew proportionately weaker as levels of SH increased. Conclusions:SH may insulate against adverse effects of dependence on withdrawal during acute smoking abstinence, particularly withdrawal symptom clusters that are craving- and mood-based. Consideration of positive emotional traits as stress-coping factors in the dependence-withdrawal link may be warranted in research and practice with AA smokers. Implications:The current study contributes to a growing body of literature examining the potentially advantageous role of positive emotional traits to smokers. We do so by identifying a relatively understudied psychological construct within tobacco research-subjective happiness-that may suppress the extent to which more severe tobacco dependence increases risk for subjective withdrawal-related distress during acute smoking abstinence in AA smokers. In doing so, the study provides a primer for future targeting of subjective happiness and other positive emotional traits as means to understand and treat acute tobacco abstinence effects among dependent AA smokers.
The ram accelerator: overview and state of the art

A new launcher technology called the ram accelerator has been under development since 1983 for applications as a scalable hypervelocity accelerator capable, in principle, of launching projectiles at velocities of 8 km/s or greater. The device is based on an in-bore ramjet concept in which a subcaliber projectile, shaped like the centerbody of a supersonic ramjet, is propelled down the center of a stationary tube filled with a pressurized mixture of gaseous fuel and oxidizer. This propellant burns near the base of the moving projectile, generating thrust. The highest pressure in the system is always in the vicinity of the projectile base, rather than at the breech as in a gun. The chemical energy density and speed of sound of the propellant can be adjusted (via pressure and composition) to control the Mach number and acceleration history experienced by the projectile. Three different propulsive modes, centered on the Chapman-Jouguet (CJ) detonation speed of the propellant, have been experimentally observed. Projectiles have been accelerated smoothly from velocities below to above the CJ speed within a single propellant. During this process the nature and location of the combustion changes from thermally choked subsonic combustion behind the projectile to shock-induced supersonic combustion in the region between the projectile and the tube wall. The ram accelerator is easily scalable for a variety of interesting applications ranging from hypersonics research to direct launch of acceleration-insensitive payloads to orbit. Growing interest in this technology has motivated the establishment of several ram accelerator research facilities throughout the world. This paper presents an overview of the technology and the current state of the art.
Mitral Valve Anatomic Predictors of Hemodynamic Success With Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair.

BackgroundMitral regurgitation is a heterogeneous disease. Determining which patients derive optimal outcomes from transcatheter edge‐to‐edge mitral valve repair (TMVR) remains challenging. We soug...
Nanoconfinement-Induced Phase Segregation of Binary Benzene–Cyclohexane Solutions within a Chemically Inert Matrix

Binary solutions provide a fertile arena to probe intermolecular and molecular/surface interactions under nanoconfinement. Here, the phase segregation of a solution comprising 0.80 mol fraction benzene and 0.20 mol fraction cyclohexane confined within SiO2 nanopores was evaluated using small-angle neutron scattering with hydrogen–deuterium contrast matching. It is demonstrated that benzene and cyclohexane are fully miscible at 303 K (30 °C), yet they unambiguously phase segregate by 153 K (−120 °C), which is below their respective freezing points and below the cubic-to-monoclinic phase transition of cyclohexane. Specifically, the cyclohexane and benzene separate into a core|shell morphology with cyclohexane concentrated toward the nanopore centers. Additionally, pure benzene is shown to form a frozen core of bulk density with a thin shell of slightly reduced density immediately adjacent to the SiO2 nanopore wall at 153 K. Because the SiO2 matrix is chemically inert to cyclohexane and benzene, the observed...
From exemptions to censorship: religious liberty and victimhood in Obergefell v. Hodges

ABSTRACTThis article analyzes the Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, showing that a subset of the dissent constructed devout religious groups as victims to rearticulate power relations...
Academic Achievement of African American Preadolescents: The Influence of Teacher Perceptions

The purpose of this study was to identify the factors associated with the academic success of predominantly, middle-class African American preadolescent students. This study proposed an ecological model that considered the interaction of family environment, teacher perceptions of social skills, and student characteristics. The estimated model explained 58% of the variance in grade point average. Path analysis revealed three direct effects on grade point average, (a) grade level (negative), (b) teacher perceptions of social skills, and (c) academic ability. Findings revealed that teacher perceptions of social skills was a stronger predictor of grade point average than academic ability. Two indirect effects on grade point average were found. The first indirect effect was negative: gender predicted academic ability, which predicted teacher perceptions of social skills, which predicted grade point average. The second indirect effect was positive and it was from ability to teacher perceptions to grade point average. Implications for policy and practice are made that suggest a collaborative model of school counseling designed to “promote” the social and academic competence of African American students. Interventions that enhance teacher practices are also suggested.
Hot water immersion to eliminate Escherichia coli O157:H7 on the surface of whole apples: thermal effects and efficacy.

The effect of hot water immersion on both the reduction of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on the apple surface and internal temperatures of the apple was assessed in this study. Microbial reductions were measured experimentally, whereas internal temperatures were calculated through a mathematical analysis of experimental heat transfer data obtained from the apples. A method was developed to provide a purely surface-based inoculation of E. coli O157:H7. Rinsing produced no reduction, and treatments at 80 and 95°C produced reductions of more than 5 logs in 15 s or less. The heat transfer analysis based on experimental data was used to calculate surface heat transfer coefficients and predict temperatures throughout the apple. The analysis indicated a low heat transfer rate. Although it reduces thermal degradation, a low heat transfer rate precludes thermal-based reduction of any internalized microorganisms.
The role of body mass index in determining clinical and quality of life outcomes after laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery.

Current literature is conflicted regarding the efficacy of laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery (LARS) among obese patients complaining of pathologic reflux or otherwise symptomatic hiatal hernias. Controlling for other factors, this study examined the influence of preoperative body mass index (BMI) on clinical and subjective quality of life (QOL) outcomes following LARS. Patients who underwent LARS between February 2012 and April 2018 were subdivided into four BMI stratified categories according to CDC definitions: normal (18.5 to < 25), overweight (25.0 to < 30), obese Class 1 (30 to < 35), and a combination of obese Class 2 (35 to < 40) and Class 3 (≥ 40). Patient demography, perioperative data, and QOL data were collected. QOL was assessed utilizing four validated survey instruments: the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI), Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Health-Related Quality of Life (GERD-HRQL), Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Health-Related Quality of Life (LPR-HRQL), and a modified Quality of Life in Swallowing Disorders (mSWAL-QOL) surveys. In this study, 869 patients were identified (213 NL, 323 OW, 219 OC1, 114 OC23). The majority of patients in each subgroup were female (65% NL, 68% OW, 79% OC1, 74% OC23) with similar rates of underlying hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes mellitus. Coronary artery disease rates between groups were statistically significant (p = .021). Operative time, length of hospital stay, and rates of 30-day readmission and reoperation were similar between groups. Among postoperative complications, rates of arrhythmia and UTI were more commonly reported in OC1 and OC23 populations. When assessed utilizing the RSI, GERD-HRQL, LPR-HRQL, and mSWAL-QOL instruments, QOL was similar among all groups (mean follow-up 15 months) irrespective of BMI. These findings suggest LARS in the overweight, obese, and morbidly obese populations—when compared to normal-weight cohorts in short-term follow-up—may have similar value in addressing pathological reflux manifestations and conveying quality of life benefits without added morbidity or mortality.
Hyperlipidemia in patients newly treated with anticonvulsants: A population study

OBJECTIVE To determine the incidence of hyperlipidemia after first anticonvulsant treatment for seizures, using a large US administrative claims database. METHODS We obtained data from the MarketScan Commercial and Medicare databases for 2005-2009 for all adult patients newly treated with an anticonvulsant for seizures who had no previous history of hyperlipidemia or treatment with a lipid-lowering agent. We divided the population based upon whether they were treated with an enzyme-inducing anticonvulsant (phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, primidone) or a noninducing anticonvulsant (all others). The primary outcome measure was a new diagnosis of hyperlipidemia during subsequent follow-up. We accounted for a large number of demographic and clinical covariates. RESULTS Of 11 374 subjects, 8778 (77%) were prescribed noninducers and 2596 (23%) were prescribed inducers. New hyperlipidemia diagnoses were seen in 14.6% of the patients started on inducing anticonvulsants and 10.7% of the patients started on noninducing anticonvulsants (P < .001). Both hyperlipidemia and the use of inducers were significantly associated with older age and male gender. After accounting for covariates, inducer prescription was still associated with 23% higher odds of a subsequent diagnosis of hyperlipidemia (odds ratio = 1.225, 95% confidence interval = 1.066-1.408, P < .001). SIGNIFICANCE The use of enzyme-inducing anticonvulsants in patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy was associated with a significant increase in subsequent diagnoses of hyperlipidemia, suggesting that the lipid-elevating properties of these agents are of genuine clinical importance. This adds to the body of data demonstrating that these agents are likely associated with additional hassle, cost, and morbidity.
A Laboratory Study of the Kinetics and Forcing due to Five Similar Large Waves

During a model study of a large oil production structure, five large long-crested irregular wave transients with similar wave heights and periods were found to exert very different uplift forces on the deck and wave deflectors. This paper reports on a subsequent investigation into the characteristics of these five non-breaking wave transients, including definition of the wave profile in the spatial domain, calculation of wave parameters as a function of location of the wave crest, and measurement and prediction of horizontal fluid velocities below the still water level. The forces exerted by these five waves on a segmented column located at different locations in the test area are also discussed. Considerable variability in the magnitude of forcing was observed between the five wave transients, and also at different locations due to the same wave.
Chapter 4 – Color Vision

Publisher Summary Color vision is the ability to discriminate changes in the wavelength composition of a visual stimulus independently of its effective intensity. It is an ability that humankind shares with many other species, including insects, amphibians, reptiles, fish, and birds as well as other mammals. A complete physical description of the spectral composition of a stimulus requires specifying its location in a space of many dimensions. A human observer with normal color vision can provide a match for every possible test light by approximately combining and adjusting just three variable lights. This trichromatic limitation reflects a huge loss of information in the human visual system. Because color vision is trichromatic, all visible colors can be adequately represented in a three-dimensional space. There are an infinite number of possible spaces, and insofar as color mixing in the visual system is linear, any one space can be linearly transformed to any other. Thus, the characteristics of the space used can be selected for convenience or for their ability to represent more or less directly the processing stages in the neural color system. Several color spaces have been devised over the years.
Exosome-Containing Preparations From Postirradiated Mouse Melanoma Cells Delay Melanoma Growth In Vivo by a Natural Killer Cell-Dependent Mechanism.

Purpose To investigate the ability of radiation to stimulate exosome release from melanoma cells and to characterize the resulting exosome-containing vesicle preparations for their ability to promote a host antitumor immune response. Materials and Methods Cultured B16F10 murine melanoma cells or tumors were irradiated, and secreted extracellular vesicles were isolated and characterized. The exosome-containing vesicle preparations were injected into fresh tumors in syngeneic mice, and tumor growth and infiltrating T cells and natural killer (NK) cells were characterized. Results Irradiation stimulated exosome release from B16F10 murine melanoma cells. Exosome preparations from irradiated cell culture supernatants were biologically active, as demonstrated by uptake into recipient cells and by the ability to induce dendritic cell maturation and activation in vitro. Intratumoral injection significantly delayed tumor growth in vivo, whereas injection of similar preparations from non irradiated cells had no effect. The antitumor effect was correlated to an increase in interferon gamma–producing tumor-infiltrating NK cells. Pretreatment of the host mice with anti-NK cell antibodies abolished the effect, whereas pretreatment with anti-CD8+ T-cell antibodies did not. Conclusion Exosomes from irradiated cells, or synthetic mimics, might provide an effective strategy for potentiation of NK cell–mediated host antitumor immunity.
Nuclear Periphery Takes Center Stage: The Role of Nuclear Pore Complexes in Cell Identity and Aging

In recent years, the nuclear pore complex (NPC) has emerged as a key player in genome regulation and cellular homeostasis. New discoveries have revealed that the NPC has multiple cellular functions besides mediating the molecular exchange between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. In this review, we discuss non-transport aspects of the NPC focusing on the NPC-genome interaction, the extreme longevity of the NPC proteins, and NPC dysfunction in age-related diseases. The examples summarized herein demonstrate that the NPC, which first evolved to enable the biochemical communication between the nucleus and the cytoplasm, now doubles as the gatekeeper of cellular identity and aging.
Clinical Management of Exercise-Induced Anaphylaxis and Cholinergic Urticaria

Exercising is both pleasant and healthy. In some individuals, it can trigger adverse reactions. Examples of these reactions include exercise-induced anaphylaxis (EIA) and cholinergic urticaria (ChoIU). EIA presents as food-associated and non–food-associated conditions. Strenuous exertion may provoke both EIA and ChoIU, but with exercise the passive warming will induce solely ChoIU and not EIA. The morphologic size of the urticarial wheals can help distinguish between these 2 types of conditions. Small punctate wheals are present in ChoIU and large ones in EIA. Wheat is the most common food associated with food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis and gluten is its most important antigen. Omega-5-gliadin is the major epitope of gluten. The most common medicines associated with drug-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis are the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs including aspirin.
In vivo Measurement of Brain Water by MRI

A new method for determining brain tissue water using MRI, developed in the laboratory, has been tested and applied to the clinical setting. To evaluate the accuracy of the technique, samples of human brain tissue were harvested from patients scheduled to undergo surgical removal of tumour and in whom biopsies were required for clinical management. MR determined values from imaging water maps compared favourably with gravimetric measures of samples. From these data, we conclude that accurate non-invasive measures of brain oedema in man are now possible.
Structural and Social Determinants of Health Factors Associated with County-Level Variation in Non-Adherence to Antihypertensive Medication Treatment.

Background: Non-adherence to antihypertensive medication treatment (AHM) is a complex health behavior with determinants that extend beyond the individual patient. The structural and social determinants of health (SDH) that predispose populations to ill health and unhealthy behaviors could be potential barriers to long-term adherence to AHM. However, the role of SDH in AHM non-adherence has been understudied. Therefore, we aimed to define and identify the SDH factors associated with non-adherence to AHM and to quantify the variation in county-level non-adherence to AHM explained by these factors. Methods: Two cross-sectional datasets, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Atlas of Heart Disease and Stroke (2014–2016 cycle) and the 2016 County Health Rankings (CHR), were linked to create an analytic dataset. Contextual SDH variables were extracted from the CDC-CHR linked dataset. County-level prevalence of AHM non-adherence, based on Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries’ claims data, was extracted from the CDC Atlas dataset. The CDC measured AHM non-adherence as the proportion of days covered (PDC) with AHM during a 365 day period for Medicare Part D beneficiaries and aggregated these measures at the county level. We applied confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to identify the constructs of social determinants of AHM non-adherence. AHM non-adherence variation and its social determinants were measured with structural equation models. Results: Among 3000 counties in the U.S., the weighted mean prevalence of AHM non-adherence (PDC < 80%) in 2015 was 25.0%, with a standard deviation (SD) of 18.8%. AHM non-adherence was directly associated with poverty/food insecurity (β = 0.31, P-value < 0.001) and weak social supports (β = 0.27, P-value < 0.001), but inversely with healthy built environment (β = −0.10, P-value = 0.02). These three constructs explained one-third (R2 = 30.0%) of the variation in county-level AHM non-adherence. Conclusion: AHM non-adherence varies by geographical location, one-third of which is explained by contextual SDH factors including poverty/food insecurity, weak social supports and healthy built environments.
The effects of instructors' use of online discussions strategies on student participation and performance in university online introductory mathematics courses

Abstract This study examines instructor strategies for designing and participating in online discussions and how these strategies influence their students' participation and course performance in university introductory online mathematics courses. The study leveraged data and text mining techniques to examine five years of online discussion data automatically collected by a Learning Management System from 72 introductory online mathematics courses involving over 2800 instructors and students who collectively contributed over 22,000 posts. A classification and regression tree (CART) analysis of instructor strategies revealed four instructor participation variables (open-ended discussion, grading, discussion setting, elaborated feedback) that impacted student course performance and nine that did not. Further, students in courses where instructors used open-ended discussion prompts and graded posts had higher average final course grades. An examination of how instructor discussion strategies influenced student participation found that subgroups of students with lower average final course grades tended to engage in less online speaking and listening, while also contributing more posts categorized as social interactions and fewer related to course content. Students in subgroups with higher average final course grades tended to engage in more online listening and contributed more posts coded as higher in knowledge construction.
Transpalpebral Superolateral Orbitotomy for Orbital Cavernous Hemangioma Extirpation: 2-Dimensional Operative Video.

Cavernous hemangiomas of the orbit are low-pressure vascular tumors. Usually benign, they become symptomatic by the local mass effect, pushing the eyeball forward, causing exophthalmia, by oculomotor muscle and nerve compression causing diplopia or by optic nerve compression, leading to visual impairment. Radiotherapy is of limited value in their treatment because of the fragility of the optic nerve and subsequent blindness risk. Surgery remains the gold standard and definitive treatment. We illustrate in this video a transpalpebral superolateral orbitotomy and extirpation of an orbital cavernous hemangioma. A 52-yr-old healthy woman was sent for neurosurgical consultation by her ophthalmologist. She described a history of progressive unilateral right exophthalmia in the last months. A cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a 2.5-cm-large orbital lesion located superiorly and laterally to the eyeball. Surgery was proposed and accepted by the patient. The frontozygomatic component of the orbital rim needed to be removed to safely extirpate the cavernous hemangioma without exerting unnecessary and risky pressure on the eyeball.1,2 We decided to go for a superolateral orbitotomy via a transpalpebral incision.3 Total removal of the lesion was achieved with no complication. Exophthalmia normalized. Written patient consent was obtained for use and publication of their image after complete information. The patient consented to the surgery.
Reductions in vancomycin and meropenem following the implementation of a febrile neutropenia management algorithm in hospitalized adults: An interrupted time series analysis.

Author(s): Trinh, Trang D; Strnad, Luke; Damon, Lloyd; Dzundza, John H; Graff, Larissa R; Griffith, Laura M; Hilts-Horeczko, Alexandra; Olin, Rebecca; Shenoy, Samantha; DeVoe, Catherine; Wang, Lusha; Rodriguez-Monguio, Rosa; Gu, Tina M; Hampton, Scott R; Macapinlac, Brian Allan C; Yang, Katherine; Doernberg, Sarah B | Abstract: ObjectiveTo evaluate broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotic use before and after the implementation of a revised febrile neutropenia management algorithm in a population of adults with hematologic malignancies.DesignQuasi-experimental study.Setting and populationPatients admitted between 2014 and 2018 to the Adult Malignant Hematology service of an acute-care hospital in the United States.MethodsAggregate data for adult malignant hematology service were obtained for population-level antibiotic use: days of therapy (DOT), C. difficile infections, bacterial bloodstream infections, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, and in-hospital mortality. All rates are reported per 1,000 patient days before the implementation of an febrile neutropenia management algorithm (July 2014-May 2016) and after the intervention (June 2016-December 2018). These data were compared using interrupted time series analysis.ResultsIn total, 2,014 patients comprised 6,788 encounters and 89,612 patient days during the study period. Broad-spectrum intravenous (IV) antibiotic use decreased by 5.7% with immediate reductions in meropenem and vancomycin use by 22 (P = .02) and 15 (P = .001) DOT per 1,000 patient days, respectively. Bacterial bloodstream infection rates significantly increased following algorithm implementation. No differences were observed in the use of other antibiotics or safety outcomes including C. difficile infection, ICU length of stay, and in-hospital mortality.ConclusionsReductions in vancomycin and meropenem were observed following the implementation of a more stringent febrile neutropenia management algorithm, without evidence of adverse outcomes. Successful implementation occurred through a collaborative effort and continues to be a core reinforcement strategy at our institution. Future studies evaluating patient-level data may identify further stewardship opportunities in this population.
Improving Lead Screening Rates in a Large Pediatric Primary Care Network.

Exposure to environmental lead continues to be a significant public health concern. Elevated blood lead levels can lead to neurocognitive delays and other adverse health outcomes. Unfortunately, screening rates in most communities remain low. This quality improvement project aimed to improve universal screening at 12 months of age and increase screening rates from 71% to 95%. The project team also aimed to improve risk-based screening at 24 months of age to increase screening rates from 41% to 70%. Methods This project utilized the Model for Improvement. After identifying key drivers, the team designed, tested, and adopted a series of interventions to improve lead screening. Dynamic order sets were developed that pre-checked the lead order, if appropriate, based on the patient's age, previous results, and risk factors. Sites received regular feedback on their screening rates. Results The percentage of patients receiving universal lead screening at their 12-month well visit increased from 71% to 96%. 70% of 2-year-olds were at risk for lead exposure based on ZIP code and insurance provider. Development of dynamic orders for patients at risk increased screening rates from 41% to 74% at the 24-month well visit. Conclusions Utilization of clinical decision support tools within an electronic health record can significantly increase the percentage of children screened for lead toxicity. Similar tools could identify patients due for other screens or interventions, resulting in improved care and patient outcomes.
Brown v. Plata : Renewing the Call to End Mandatory Minimum Sentencing

After more than twenty years of litigation, the United States Supreme Court finally determined whether California’s overcrowded prison system created a constitutional violation in Brown v. Plata. With prisons and jails across the country operating at well over 100% capacity, the Court concluded what advocates had been screaming for over a decade: prison overcrowding cannot be tolerated, and the only remedy is to reduce prison populations. What the Court failed to resolve, however, was what the primary cause of prison overcrowding is and how states and the federal government are supposed to comply with capacity expectations amid concerns for public safety and tough-oncrime politics. This Note explores the most significant cause of prison overcrowding in the United States: mandatory minimum sentencing. Part I examines the evolution of mandatory minimum sentencing schemes and how the United States has arrived at the situation it finds itself in today. Part II discusses the current state of prison overcrowding in the United States and its economic implications. Part III analyzes how the Supreme Court’s ruling in Brown v. Plata relates to mandatory minimum sentences. Finally, Part IV suggests solutions to our mandatory minimum mayhem. Overall, this Note offers the unavoidable conclusion that mandatory minimum sentencing in the United States must end. INTRODUCTION 856 I. INDETERMINATE VS. DETERMINATE SENTENCING: AMERICA’S INCREASING OBSESSION WITH PUNISHMENT ...... 857 A. Indeterminate Inadequacy 857 B. Determinate Sentencing to the Rescue? 863 C. Determinate Disappointment 866 D. Pushing Back Against the Mandatory Minimum Mess ..... 870 II. PRISON OVERCROWDING IN THE UNITED STATES 873 ∗ J.D. expected May 2013, University of Florida Levin College of Law; B.A. 2008, University of Florida. I dedicate this Note to my Mom, Marcia, my Dad, Mark, and to all of my friends and family who have been there for me no matter what. 1 Nauman: Brown v. Plata: Renewing the Call to End Mandatory Minimum Published by UF Law Scholarship Repository, 2013 856 FLORIDA LAW REVIEW [Vol. 65 A. Overcrowding in General 873 B. Economic Implications of Incarceration 875 III. BROWN V. PLATA: AN APPEAL TO HUMAN DIGNITY, OR UPHOLDING THE ABSURD? 878 IV. THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM: HOW TO REDUCE PRISON POPULATIONS 882 A. End Mandatory Minimums and Return to Judicial Discretion 883 B. Prosecutorial Reform and Adherence to Professional Standards of Ethics 884 C. Optimal Fines as Punishment for Certain Crimes ........ 889 CONCLUSION 892
Microkinetic modeling of the autoxidative curing of an alkyd and oil-based paint model system

Elucidating the curing and aging mechanisms of alkyd and other oil-based paints is valuable for the fields of conservation and bio-based coatings. Recent research has demonstrated the limitations of artificial aging in predicting the actual properties of paints that are hundreds of years old. Kinetic modeling offers pathways to develop a realistic and dynamic description of the composition of these oil-based paint coatings and facilitates the exploration of the effects of various environmental conditions on their long-term chemical stability. This work presents the construction of a kinetic Monte Carlo framework from elementary steps for the cobalt-catalyzed autoxidative curing of an ethyl linoleate model system up to the formation of single cross-links. Kinetic correlations for reaction families of similar chemistry are employed to reduce the number of parameters required to calculate rate constants in Arrhenius form. The model, developed from mechanisms proposed in the literature, shows good agreement with experiment for the formation of primary products in the early stages of curing. The model has also revealed that the mechanisms proposed in the literature for the formation of secondary products, such as volatile aldehydes, are still not well established, and alternative routes are under evaluation.
Reduction of a Tetrazolium Salt in Determining Growth Activity of Yeast-Phase Histoplasma capsulatum

A colorimetric method using a tetrazolium compound, 3,4,5-dimethylthiozalil-(1 or 2),2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (TTBr), was developed for studying the growth activity of yeast-phase Histoplasma capsulatum. Materials extracted in phosphate buffer, pH 7.0, from cells at different stages of growth reduced TTBr. Colorimetric changes were correlated with enzymatic activity. Under standardized conditions specified herein, the optical density of the reduced tetrazole was an index of the growth activity of the organism.
Constraint-Related Reinterpretation of Fundamental Physical Equations Can Serve as a Built-In Regularization

Many traditional physical problems are known to be ill-defined: a tiny change in the initial condition can lead to drastic changes in the resulting solutions. To solve this problem, practitioners regularize these problem, i.e., impose explicit constraints on possible solutions (e.g., constraints on the squares of gradients). Applying the Lagrange multiplier techniques to the corresponding constrained optimization problems is equivalent to adding terms proportional to squares of gradients to the corresponding optimized functionals. It turns out that many optimized functionals of fundamental physics already have such squares-of-gradients terms. We therefore propose to re-interpret these equations – by claiming that they come not, as it is usually assumed, from unconstrained optimization, but rather from a constrained optimization, with squares-of-gradients constrains. With this re-interpretation, the physical equations remain the same – but now we have a built-in regularization; we do not need to worry about ill-defined solutions anymore.
The Cognitive and Emotional Phenomenology of Depression and Anxiety: Are Worry and Hopelessness the Cognitive Correlates of NA and PA?

The study attempted to integrate the cognitive content-specificity and tripartite literatures to create a more holistic model of the emotional, physiological, and cognitive phenomenology of depression and anxiety. In addition, the constructs of hopelessness and worry were used to clarify ambiguous findings in the cognitive content-specificity research and to identify possible cognitive correlates of high NA and low PA. The results from 124 clients at a university counseling center supported this attempt at integrating these literatures. Overall, there was good evidence that worry is a cognitive correlate of high NA. Consequently, we view worry and high NA as features of a constellation of correlated indices that are shared with both depressed and anxious mood states. Alternatively, the results also support the position that hopelessness is a cognitive correlate of low PA. These features—low PA and hopelessness—define correlated indices that help discriminate depressed from anxious states. We view this integration of the cognitive and emotional literatures as providing evidence for a comprehensive map of the emotional and cognitive phenomenology in depression and anxiety.
Shamals and climate variability in the Northern Arabian/Persian Gulf from 1973 to 2012

This paper presents key results from analysis of surface meteorological observations collected in the Northern Arabian/Persian Gulf (N Gulf; Kuwait, Bahrain, and NE Saudi Arabia), which spans a 40-years period (1973–2012). The first part of this study analyzes climate variability in the N Gulf, and relates them to teleconnection patterns (North Atlantic Oscillation, El Nino Southern Oscillation, and Indian Ocean Dipole). Results of the analysis indicate that during the study period the climate in the region experienced a general trend of increase in temperature (0.8°C), decrease in barometric pressure (1 mbar), reduction in humidity (6%), and decrease in visibility (9%). Significant correlations were found between the three teleconnection patterns and the meteorological conditions suggesting that seasonal variabilities in air temperature, barometric pressure, and precipitation are closely related to the teleconnection patterns. The second part of this study examines the 40-year variability of Shamal events (strong NW winds that commonly generate significant dust storms). The data suggests that on average Shamal events occur at a rate of 10 events year–1 with 85% of the events occurring during the summer and winter. The number of these events has increased in the past 14 years of the study period. These events resulted in abrupt changes in meteorological conditions: an increase in wind speed of 2.7 m s–1, a decrease in visibility of 1.7 km, and reduction in humidity of 4.3%. Seasonal variations in temperature (an increase in temperature during summer of 0.8°C, and a decrease of 1.5°C during winter) and barometric pressure (a decrease in barometric pressure during summer of 0.6 mbar and an increase of 7.8 mbar during winter) were observed during Shamal events.
Na-HCO3 cotransport and Na-H antiporter in chronic respiratory acidosis and alkalosis

Renal acidification in renal proximal tubule is thought to be mediated by luminal Na-H antiporter and the HCO3- generated by this antiporter is removed from the cell by a basolateral Na-HCO3 cotransporter. To study the effect of respiratory acid-base disorders on these transport systems, we have measured the Na-HCO3 cotransport in basolateral membranes and Na-H antiporter in luminal membranes in control rabbits, rabbits exposed to 10% CO2 (chronic hypercapnia), and rabbits exposed to 10% O2-90% N2 (chronic hypocapnia). The Vmax of HCO3(-)-dependent 22Na uptake was significantly higher in chronic hypercapnia than controls (2.54 +/- 0.03 vs. 1.18 +/- 0.21 nmol.mg protein-1.3 s-1, P less than 0.001). Likewise, the Vmax of the Na-H antiporter was also increased compared with controls (924.9 +/- 42.1 vs. 549.1 +/- 62.8 fluorescence units (FU).300 micrograms protein-1.min-1). In chronic hypocapnia, the Vmax of Na-HCO3 cotransport was lower than controls (0.72 +/- 0.11 vs. 1.18 +/- 0.21 nmol.mg protein-1.3 s-1, P less than 0.05). There was no difference, however, in the Vmax of the Na-H antiporter between hypocapnia and control (524.2 +/- 24.3 vs. 549.1 +/- 62.8, FU.300 micrograms protein-1.min-1). The Vmaxs of the Na-HCO3 cotransport and of the Na-H antiporter in hypocapnic, control, and hypercapnic rabbits were linearly related (r = 0.81), suggesting a simultaneous adaptation of the two systems in respiratory acid-base disorders.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Semi-deterministic urban canyon models of received power for microcells

In this paper, line-of-sight (LOS) and non-line-of-sight (NLOS) models of the small-area average received power are presented for microcellular radio links. These computationally efficient models consider the propagation loss incurred by path loss and shadow fading through urban street canyons. The models are validated with microcellular measurements recorded at 850 and 1900 MHz in San Francisco. Comparisons are also performed with the Cost-231-Walfisch-Ikegami model and show the importance of including urban canyon contributions in microcellular propagation prediction.
Men of Uncertainty: The Social Organization of Day Laborers in Contemporary Japan.

Men of Uncertainty: The Social Organization of Day Laborers in Contemporary Japan. Tom Gill. Albany: State University of New York Press, 2001. 263 pp.