cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Study of the Role of Preparers in Relation to Taxpayer Compliance with Internal Revenue Laws

The use of paid tax return preparers has grown steadily. All paid return preparers, including those who are not regulated by any licensing entity or subject to competency or continuing education requirements, must comply with certain requirements in connection with the preparation of a tax return, including signing the return and providing a copy of the return to taxpayers. Preparers are also subject to civil and even criminal penalties for improper conduct and the Code provides that the United States may bring a civil action to enjoin tax preparers if preparers engage in certain types of impermissible conduct. As discussed in this article, the research to date regarding how paid preparers affect tax compliance is inconclusive. Some research suggests that practitioners can use their expertise to exploit legal ambiguities. Research also suggests that practitioners in effect play a dual role; that is they serve to exploit ambiguity, but also tend to serve as enforcers of the law when the law is relatively clear. Reflecting, in part, this research, policymakers and academics alike have emphasized practitioners' role in noncompliance when there is the opportunity to take advantage of legally ambiguous issues. Much of the compliance literature and a great deal of governmental efforts directed at return preparers are aimed at tempering practitioner's appetites for exploiting ambiguity. Notwithstanding the importance of understanding and reducing the gap that is associated with practitioners' role in exploiting ambiguities, a significant amount of the tax gap relates to items that are not characterized by legal ambiguities. Recent tax gap data suggests that this duality approach is not nuanced enough to capture the true dynamics between taxpayers and practitioners, especially when one views the significant tax gap figures associated with relatively unambiguous areas of the law. This report focuses on the reporting of sole proprietor income and the proper claiming of the EITC, two areas in the individual tax gap characterized by complicated but fairly straightforward rules. This report reviews the literature relating to the practitioners' influence on tax compliance. Rather than identify practitioners as exploiters or enforcers, this report examines from a ground-up perspective the underlying causes of errors associated with two systemic issues that have had widely reported and studied noncompliance problems: the reporting of sole proprietors' income and the claiming of the earned income tax credit. Drawing on a wide range of sources, including existing third-party empirical, behavioral, and theoretical research, IRS studies, and my own experiences as a director of a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC), this report considers in a more nuanced manner a typology of the practitioners' role in sole proprietor and EITC noncompliance.
Phase I study to evaluate toxicity and feasibility of intratumoral injection of alpha-gal glycolipids in patients with advanced melanoma.

3088 Background: Effective uptake of tumor cells by antigen-presenting cells is achieved pre-clinically by labeling them with α-gal glycolipids (α-gal) that bind the natural anti-Gal antibody. We a...
Presentation and comparison of experimental critical heat flux data at conditions prototypical of light water small modular reactors

Abstract The critical heat flux (CHF) is a two-phase flow phenomenon which rapidly decreases the efficiency of the heat transfer performance at a heated surface. This phenomenon is one of the limiting criteria in the design and operation of light water reactors. Deviations of operating parameters greatly alters the CHF condition and must be experimentally determined for any new parameters such as those proposed in small modular reactors (SMR) (e.g. moderate to high pressure and low mass fluxes). Current open literature provides too little data for functional use at the proposed conditions of prototypical SMRs. This paper presents a brief summary of CHF data acquired from an experimental facility at the University of Wisconsin-Madison designed and built to study CHF at high pressure and low mass flux ranges in a 2 × 2 chopped cosine rod bundle prototypical of conceptual SMR designs. The experimental CHF test inlet conditions range from pressures of 8–16 MPa, mass fluxes of 500–1600 kg/m2 s, and inlet water subcooling from 250 to 650 kJ/kg. The experimental data is also compared against several accepted prediction methods whose application ranges are most similar to the test conditions.
Comparison of electronic versus paper rubrics to assess patient counseling experiences in a skills-based lab course.

Abstract Background and purpose To evaluate an electronic counseling rubric to facilitate timely student feedback and explore differences in student performance, student anxiety, and self-perceived preparedness in a high stakes practical exam when using a paper rubric versus an electronic rubric. Educational activity and setting Two cohorts of students in the third professional year were evaluated using the same rubric criteria: cohort 1 (n = 97) used traditional paper rubrics and cohort 2 (n = 104) used electronic rubrics. Cohorts were surveyed to measure anxiety and perceived preparedness in patient counseling skills one week prior to a practical exam, and cohort responses were compared. Student practical exam performance was also compared between the two cohorts. Findings Results showed no significant relationship between electronic rubric use and student anxiety (p = 0.07) or student exam performance [average score 53.42 points (SD 3.65) and 53.93 points (SD 3.78) in Cohort 1 and Cohort 2, respectively]. Perceived exam preparedness was higher among students using electronic rubrics, with timing of feedback being the mediating process in increasing preparedness (p Discussion and summary Electronic rubrics resulted in more timely feedback on patient counseling skills, and students felt more prepared for their practical exam. This did not result in a significant difference in practical exam performance between the two cohorts. Additional methods to incorporate electronic rubrics into the course will be explored.
Searching for Truth in the Transitional Justice Movement

Searching for Truth in the Transitional Justice Movement examines calls for a truth commission to redress the brutal war during the breakup of the former Yugoslavia, the decades-long armed conflict in Colombia, and US detention policies in the War on Terror. In so doing, it argues that transitional justice is an idea around which a loosely structured movement emerged and professionalized, making truth commissions a standard response to mass violence. By exploring how this movement developed, as well as efforts to make truth commissions in the Balkans, Colombia, and the US, this book explains different processes through which political actors translate new legal ideas such as transitional justice into political action. Further, it reveals how the malleability of transitional justice and truth commissions is both an asset and a liability for those hoping to ensure accountability, improve survivor well-being, and prevent future violence.
Occipital Microarteriovenous Malformation Resection, Strategy, and Nuances.

We describe a patient who presented with superior quadrianopsia due to an occipital micro AVM that bled into the optic radiation. Onyx embolization was attempted. However, early follow-up angiogram revealed recanalization and recurrence of the AVM. He was then taken to the hybrid operative room, where a complete resection was achieved confirmed by intraoperative angiogram. He made a complete recovery with no new neurologic deficit and stable visual field deficit. This case demonstrates treatment strategy, surgical planning, and technical nuances in microsurgical resection of micro AVMs located in an eloquent area. Management of a ruptured microarteriovenous malformation (microAVM) localized in an eloquent brain region is challenging. The major difficulties are those related to localizing and defining the micronidus in order to achieve complete resection and definitive cure while preserving function. The best and definitive treatment for AVMs is either surgical resection or radiosurgery. However, in our institute a small subset of microAVMs might be cured by endovascular embolization in a single session. In the case presented here, a single feeder was demonstrated and microcatheter navigation toward a good working position seemed feasible; thus we decided to try first an endovascular approach.
An SOR-Like Method for Fast Model Predictive Control

Abstract In this paper, we propose an iterative first-order gradient method for fast and efficient implementation of Model Predictive Control (MPC). The proposed method utilizes a matrix-splitting scheme common to successive over-relaxation (SOR) iterative methods and may be considered a generalization of many existing fast gradient-based methods for MPC. We comment on parameter choices for global convergence and demonstrate the efficiency of the ensuing algorithms using a simulation example.
The NCAR–NOAA Global Hawk Dropsonde System

AbstractA new remotely controlled Airborne Vertical Atmospheric Profiling System (AVAPS) dropsonde system has been developed for and deployed on the NASA Global Hawk (GH) unmanned aircraft. Design,...
Erectile Function After Robotic Prostatectomy: Anatomical Aspects and Treatment

Prostate cancer has a significant impact on men’s quality of life in the United States. More than 230,000 new cases diagnosed each year and more than 30,000 annual deaths attributed to this malignancy [1]. The maintenance of satisfactory quality of life is the principle concern for more than 45% of men who elect treatment for localized prostate cancer [2].
Trends in Lumbar Fusion Procedure Rates and Associated Hospital Costs for Degenerative Spinal Diseases in the United States, 2004 to 2015

Study Design.Analysis of National Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2004 to 2015.Objective.Describe recent trends in US rates of lumbar fusion procedures and associated costs, by surgical indication.Summary of Background Data.Spinal fusion is appropriate for spinal deformity and instability, but evidence of e
Hydrologic, Mechanical, Thermal, and Chemical Process Coupling Triggered by the Injection of CO2

Abstract Geological carbon storage (GCS) is a promising technology to mitigate carbon dioxide (CO2) emission in the atmosphere. It involves complex thermal-hydrologic-mechanical-chemical (THMC) processes. The significance of THMC interactions is well recognized but not fully understood for the operation of GCS. Geomechanical and geochemical effects may significantly affect aqueous phase composition, porosity and permeability of the formation, which in turn influence flow and transport. All the associated physical and chemical mechanisms overall temporal and spatial scales need to be fully addressed by modeling of long-term GCS, which poses a significant challenge to theoretical modeling and numerical simulation. This chapter summarizes the current state-of-the-art research, which focuses on coupling of THMC processes as subsurface systems reequilibrate during and after the injection of CO2. The mechanisms of coupled THMC processes are described in detail in terms of spatial and temporal variability. The computational methods are categorized in terms of coupling logics. The key challenges and issues of THMC processes simulation are discussed in terms of experimental and numerical practices. This chapter provides a better understanding of dominant mechanisms related to fluid flow, geomechanics and geochemistry over time and spatial scales by means of variable physical and numerical simulation practices.
Learning to Compose Digitally: The Effect of Prior Computer Use and Keyboard Activity on NAEP Writing.

Writing is critical for college and career readiness, yet secondary students in America are not good writers (National Center for Education Statistics, 2012). Unfortunately, researchers know relatively little about secondary students’ writing skills, and even less about their digital writing. In this study, we explored prior computer use, keyboard activity during writing, and their relations to writing achievement using the 8th grade 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress writing assessment, the first national computer-based writing assessment for U.S. secondary students. We found that prior computer use predicted students’ writing skills directly (0.08) and indirectly (e.g., keypresses, 0.14) via keyboard activity during the test. We found differential effects for certain groups including current English learners and disadvantaged students. We also found a small positive interaction effect of prior use and keypresses on writing. That is, the benefits of prior computer use for school writing and the value of students’ additional keypresses on writing achievement were amplified when both were present.
Associations between pretreatment body mass index and presence of post-treatment nutrition impact symptoms in head and neck cancer survivors.

e17547Background: The objective of this study was to determine if pre-treatment body mass index (BMI) is associated with the presence of self-reported, nutrition impact symptoms (NIS) 1-year post-t...
Cochlear Implant Practice Patterns: The U.S. Trends with Pediatric Patients.

Many factors affect an individual’s outcomes with a cochlear implant (CI); however, quality of device programming and consistency of follow-up appointments have been shown to be crucial contributors. As audiologists’ CI caseloads increase, time constraints on appointments also increase, thus fueling the need for efficient and effective programming strategies. Currently, there are no standardized guidelines describing what methods should be used during programming, nor are there standardized schedules that delineate what procedures should be performed at specific appointment intervals. Without standardized programming guidelines, clinical practices may be variable and may not align with best practice research; thus, outcomes with a CI, particularly for pediatrics, may not be reflective of the actual potential available. The purpose of this study was to identify the clinical practice patterns used by U.S. audiologists when programming and providing follow-up care to children who use CIs. This study aimed to determine the following: common programming approaches, provision intervals for these procedures, common validation assessments, typical follow-up care schedules, and source(s) of CI training. In addition, this study sought to evaluate if training and/or follow-up care differed between small and large CI centers. A cross-sectional survey design was used. Target population included practicing audiologists working with pediatric CI users throughout the United States. Participation was voluntary, thus random selection could not be used. A total of 167 participants opened and began the online survey and 113 successfully completed the survey instrument (23.99% return rate). Potential participants were identified using the “find a clinic” function on three CI manufacturers' websites. Potential participants were asked to complete an online survey seeking information about practices they employ in their clinical setting. Survey responses were analyzed for trends. Overall, a common follow-up schedule was determined, which included an average of 6.8 appointments within the first year. Minor differences in training and programming practices between small and large CI centers emerged; however, no statistically significant results were noted. Results did reveal trends in the use of certain clinical practices. This was particularly evident in the limited use of objective measures. Overall, the findings support other recent studies that suggest the development of CI guidelines that may standardize programming and follow-up practices of CI audiologists. This could prove valuable for the continual improvement of CI outcomes, particularly in the pediatric population.
The Good, the Bad, and the Unflinchingly Selfish: Pro-sociality can be Well Predicted Using Payoffs and Three Behavioral Types

The human willingness to pay costs to benefit anonymous others is often explained by social preferences: rather than only valuing their own material payoff, people also include the payoffs of others in their utility function. But how successful is this concept of outcome-based social preferences for actually predicting out-of-sample behavior? We investigate this question by having 1,067 participants each make 20 Dictator Game decisions with randomized parameters (e.g., outcomes for the self, for the other, benefit/cost ratio of pro-sociality). We then use machine learning to try to predict behavior by each participant in each decision. A representative agent model (a small, shared, set of parameters) predicts better than random but still quite poorly (AUC = 0.69). Allowing for full heterogeneity across individuals in the mapping from decision-parameters to outcome yields good predictive performance (AUC = 0.89). However, this heterogeneous model is complicated and unwieldy, thus we also investigate whether a simpler model can yield similar performance. We find that the vast majority of the predictive power (AUC = 0.88) is achieved by a model that allows for three behavioral types. Finally, we show that cannot be well proxied for by other measures in psychology. This final analysis adds further evidence to the literature that human “cooperative phenotypes” are indeed meaningful, relatively orthogonal person-level traits.
Racial Disparities in Diabetes Management Outcomes: Evidence from a Remote Patient Monitoring Program for Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Introduction: Despite growing documentation of the efficacy of telemedicine in diabetes management, racial disparities in telemedicine-facilitated diabetes management remain underexplored. This study examined disparities in diabetes management outcomes between black and white patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in a remote monitoring program. Methods: The analysis sample included 914 white T2D patients and 365 black T2D patients in Nebraska who completed a 3-month remote patient monitoring and coaching after hospital discharge from 2014 to 2017. Ordinary least squares regression was estimated to examine racial differences in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and logistic regression was used to determine the odds of HbA1c > 9% at the end of the program, controlling for demographics, baseline health conditions, and patient activation and engagement with the program. Results: The proportion of white patients with HbA1c > 9% was reduced from 16% at the baseline to 7% at program completion, and the corresponding reduction among black patients was from 30% to 18%. After adjusting for the effects of baseline HbA1c and other covariates, the average HbA1c among black patients at the end of the program was 0.23 points higher than that among white patients (p 9% was 1.68 times that of white patients (95% confidence interval [1.07-2.63]). Discussion: The remote patient monitoring and coaching program reduced the absolute gap between black and white T2D patients. However, substantial racial disparities in HbA1c still remained at the end of the program and warranted further research.
Health insurance status and cancer stage at diagnosis and survival in the United States.

7026Background: While previous studies demonstrated associations between Medicaid coverage or no health insurance with both advanced stage at cancer diagnosis and worse survival, access to health c...
Partial Credit Part II (How to Anchor a Partial Credit Test)

This chapter builds upon the material presented in the preceding chapter, but helps readers think about what is needed if an analyst wishes to link two partial credit tests in which there are some common partial credit items serving as links. We talk readers through the thinking that is needed, and the steps that must be taken, to link two partial credit tests. In a linking of two partial credit tests it is necessary to link using knowledge of both item difficulties as well as the steps of the scale. This chapter ties to Chap. 14 “Linking Surveys and Tests” of Rasch Analysis in the Human Sciences, but this chapter of Advances in Rasch Analysis in the Human Sciences goes into the more complicated task of linking a partial credit test.
Model Error Estimation for the Simplified PN Radiation Transport Equations

The Simplified P N ( S P N ) approximation is often used to model radiation transport phenomena, but it converges to the true solution of the transport equation only in one-dimensional slab geometr...
Functional analysis of microRNA activity in Brugia malayi.

The complement of the Brugia malayi microRNA-71 was inserted into the 3′ untranslated region of a reporter plasmid, resulting in a decrease in reporter activity. Mutation of the seed sequence restored activity. Insertion of the 3′ untranslated regions from two algorithm-predicted putative target genes into the reporter resulted in a similar decrease in activity; mutation of the predicted target sequences restored activity. These experiments demonstrate that B. malayi microRNA targets may be predicted using current algorithms and describe a functional assay to confirm predicted targets.
Modified PHY Layer for High Performance V2X Communication using 5G NR

People are increasingly relying on vehicular communities for a more safe and comfortable day-to-day car journey. So, expectation from vehicular technology is increasing more from time to time. As a result, vehicular technology is expected to support infotainment services to the traveler. Hence, the requirements for entertainment services need extra capacity along with safety services. One of the important pieces in the channel capacity is throughput. The existing IEEE 802.11p standard with the support of Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC) might not fulfill the required capacity in the coming days. To achieve that required throughput DSRC protocol needs to evolve. However, Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) and 5G NR has the potential to improve throughput while maintaining the existing PHY layer specifications defined in the Wireless Access for Vehicular Environments (WAVE) standard. We propose a modified PHY layer of the DSRC protocol to integrate MIMO and 5G NR to enhance the existing data rate. Our experimental results show that the combination of MIMO and 5G NR can boost the throughput to 6.5 times better compared to MIMO enabled existing framework while keeping the BER (Bit Error Rate) as the same or in some cases below the combination of MIMO and DSRC.
Omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid and sleep: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and longitudinal studies.

CONTEXT Omega-3, a long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA), may help promote healthy sleep outcomes. However, evidence from randomized controlled trials are inconclusive. OBJECTIVE The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to explore the impact of omega-3 LC-PUFA supplementation and related dietary intervention in clinical trials as well as omega-3 LC-PUFA exposure in longitudinal studies on human's sleep-related outcome. DATA SOURCES The PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and AMED databases were searched from inception to November 2019. Randomized controlled trials, clinical trials that included a control group, and longitudinal studies that reported the intake of omega-3 LC-PUFA and sleep-related outcomes were included. STUDY SELECTION A total of 20 studies with 12 clinical trials and 8 longitudinal studies were identified for inclusion. DATA EXTRACTION Participant characteristics, study location, intervention information, and sleep-related outcome measurements were reported. Included studies were appraised with Cochrane risk-of-bias tools and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95%CIs were pooled with fixed or random effect models. RESULTS Omega-3 LC-PUFA may improve infants' sleep organization and maturity. It reduced the percentage of infants' active sleep (WMD = -8.40%; 95%CI, -14.50 to -2.29), sleep-wake transition (WMD = -1.15%; 95%CI, -2.09 to -0.20), and enhanced the percentage of wakefulness (WMD = 9.06%; 95%CI, 1.53-16.59) but had no effect on quiet sleep. Omega-3 reduced children's total sleep disturbance score for those with clinical-level sleep problems (WMD = -1.81; 95%CI, -3.38 to -0.23) but had no effect on healthy children's total sleep duration, sleep latency, or sleep efficiency. No effectiveness was found in adults' total sleep duration, sleep latency, sleep efficiency, sleep quality, or insomnia severity. CONCLUSION Omega-3 LC-PUFA may improve certain aspects of sleep health throughout childhood. Additional robust studies are warranted to confirm the relationship between omega-3 LC-PUFA and sleep.
Liquidity constraints and housing prices: Theory and evidence from the VA Mortgage Program

Abstract This paper employs a simple intertemporal model to show that presence of liquidity constraints can depress the price of a durable good below its net present rental value, regardless of the overall supply elasticity. The existence of price effects implies that the relaxation of liquidity constraints is not Pareto improving, and may in fact be regressive. Historical evidence, which exploits the fact that a clearly identifiable group, war veterans, enjoyed the most favored access to mortgage credit after World War II, supports the model. The results suggest that more recent mortgage market innovations have served primarily to increase prices rather than home ownership rates, and that such innovations have the potential to exacerbate socioeconomic disparities in ownership rates.
Endotypes of chronic rhinosinusitis: Relationships to disease phenotypes, pathogenesis, clinical findings, and treatment approaches

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common clinical syndrome that produces significant morbidity and costs to our health system. The study of CRS has progressed from an era focused on phenotype to include endotype-based information. Phenotypic classification has identified clinical heterogeneity in CRS based on endoscopically observed features such as presence of nasal polyps, presence of comorbid or systemic diseases, and timing of disease onset. More recently, laboratory-based findings have established CRS endotype based upon specific mechanisms or molecular biomarkers. Understanding the basis of widespread heterogeneity in the manifestations of CRS is advanced by findings that the three main endotypes, Type 1, 2, and 3, orchestrate the expression of three distinct large sets of genes. The development and use of improved methods of endotyping disease in the clinic are ushering in an expansion of the use of biological therapies targeting Type 2 inflammation now and perhaps other inflammatory endotypes in the near future. The purpose of this review is to discuss the phenotypic and endotypic heterogeneity of CRS from the perspective of advancing the understanding of the pathogenesis and improvement of treatment approaches and outcomes.
Ir56d-dependent fatty acid responses in Drosophila uncover taste discrimination between different classes of fatty acids

Chemosensory systems are critical for evaluating the caloric value and potential toxicity of food prior to ingestion. While animals can discriminate between 1000's of odors, much less is known about the discriminative capabilities of taste systems. Fats and sugars represent calorically potent and innately attractive food sources that contribute to hedonic feeding. Despite the differences in nutritional value between fats and sugars, the ability of the taste system to discriminate between different rewarding tastants is thought to be limited. In Drosophila, sweet taste neurons expressing the Ionotropic Receptor 56d (IR56d) are required for reflexive behavioral responses to the medium-chain fatty acid, hexanoic acid. Further, we have found that flies can discriminate between a fatty acid and a sugar in aversive memory assays, establishing a foundation to investigate the capacity of the Drosophila gustatory system to differentiate between various appetitive tastants. Here, we tested whether flies can discriminate between different classes of fatty acids using an aversive memory assay. Our results indicate that flies are able to discriminate medium-chain fatty acids from both short- and long-chain fatty acids, but not from other medium-chain fatty acids. While IR56d neurons are broadly responsive to short-, medium-, and long-chain fatty acids, genetic deletion of IR56d selectively disrupts response to medium-chain fatty acids. Further, IR56d+GR64f+ neurons are necessary for proboscis extension response (PER) to medium-chain fatty acids, but both IR56d and GR64f neurons are dispensable for PER to short- and long-chain fatty acids, indicating the involvement of one or more other classes of neurons. Together, these findings reveal that IR56d is selectively required for medium-chain fatty acid taste, and discrimination of fatty acids occurs through differential receptor activation in shared populations of neurons. Our study uncovers a capacity for the taste system to encode tastant identity within a taste category.
Development of a Peripheral–Central Vision System for Small Unmanned Aircraft Tracking

Two image-based sensing methods are merged to mimic human vision in support of airborne detect-and-avoid and counter–unmanned aircraft systems applications. In the proposed sensing system architect...
On the transmission of data packets through fiber-optic cables of uniform index

The treatment of Maxwell equations show that propagating wave of packets in fiber-optic cables is dispersive, propagating in groups, such that group velocity along certain curves in the frequency-phase velocity diagrams vanishes. It is suggested that stalling of wave groups is responsible, for bursting propagation observed in experimental measurements, causing some delay in transmission. The dispersion equations developed here,are different from those given in texts that are based on“weakly guiding approximation”. The queue of such data packets arriving at a router station is found to have a“raised tail”distribution unlike that of Poisson arrivals. For accounting the property, a Mittag-Leffler function distribution (MLFD) of probability is used following a modification of that for a Poisson process, the tail raising is shown to cause delay in transmission, and its estimate is analysed based on the theory.
Rapid Recovery Is Feasible for Aseptic Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty at an Academic Medical Center.

Abstract Background We reviewed the results of a primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) rapid recovery care pathway applied to patients undergoing aseptic revision TKA. We sought to determine (1) the frequency of postoperative day (POD) 1 discharge, (2) the risk of adverse events, and (3) patient characteristics or surgical factors associated with failure to discharge on POD 1. Methods The source population was revision TKAs performed by a single surgeon at an academic medical center from 2016 to 2019 (n = 94). A primary TKA rapid recovery care pathway was applied to all patients who underwent aseptic revision TKA involving both femoral and tibial components (n = 33). Patients discharged on POD 1 (n = 21) were compared with those discharged on POD 2 or later (n = 12). Results The study cohort was 70% women, 12% under-represented minorities, and 70% government insured. Patients each had an average of 5 comorbidities. The average length of stay was 1.7 days, with 64% of patients discharged on POD 1. Ninety-seven percent of patients were discharged home. Although 18% of patients presented to the emergency room (ER) after discharge, there was no increased risk of readmission (P = .9336) or return to the ER (P = .9849) with POD 1 discharge. The LOS was unaffected by patient characteristics or complexity of surgical reconstruction. Conclusions Using a rapid recovery care pathway for aseptic revision TKA is feasible at an academic medical center. All patients may be considered for this pathway. Close postoperative monitoring is essential to minimizing ER visits, which are not uncommon.
Variability in the practice of fertility preservation for patients with cancer

Fertility is important to women and men with cancer. While options for fertility preservation (FP) are available, knowledge regarding the medical application of FP is lacking. Therefore we examined FP practices for cancer patients among reproductive endocrinologists (REs). A 36 item survey was sent to board-certified REs. 98% of respondents reported counseling women with cancer about FP options. Oocyte and embryo cryopreservation were universally offered by these providers, but variability was noted in reported management of these cases—particularly for women with breast cancer. 86% of the respondents reported using letrozole during controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) in patients with estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer to minimize patient exposure to estrogen. 49% of respondents who reported using letrozole in COS for patients with ER+ breast cancer reported that they would also use letrozole in COS for women with ER negative breast cancer. Variability was also noted in the management of FP for men with cancer. 83% of participants reported counseling men about sperm banking with 22% recommending against banking for men previously exposed to chemotherapy. Overall, 79% of respondents reported knowledge of American Society for Clinical Oncology FP guidelines—knowledge that was associated with providers offering gonadal tissue cryopreservation (RR 1.82, 95% CI 1.14–2.90). These findings demonstrate that RE management of FP in cancer patients varies. Although some variability may be dictated by local resources, standardization of FP practices and communication with treating oncologists may help ensure consistent recommendations and outcomes for patients seeking FP.
A comparative evaluation of principal components-based and information theory methods of precipitation regionalization

Precipitation regionalization techniques alternatively advocated by Johnston [15] and Willmott [30] are reviewed and compared. An implementation by Johnston [15] of the information theory or entropy method was determined to have limited applicability —principally owing to its inability (1) to describe periodicies that are inherent in the seasonal cycle and (2) to account for differences between time-series of precipitation with respect to their means. The entropy method, however, has a practical appeal because the spatial distribution of stations has a relatively minor, deleterious impact on the regionalization [15]. On the other hand, the principal components-based procedure described by Willmott [30] includes more information about precipitation in the evaluation of regional patterns, e.g., station means, and it is well-able to characterize periodicities in the variance. With the appropriate experimental design, the combination of principal components analysis and grouping is regarded as superior to the entropy method in identifying and characterizing precipitation regimes and regions.
The preterm small-for-gestational age infant: a two-year follow-up study.

Abstract Previous investigators have reported unfavorable neurologic and developmental outcome of small-for-gestational age (SGA) infants (birth weight
Coexistence: Contemporary Cultural Production in South Africa

Coexistence: Contemporary Cultural Production in South Africa. The Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA. January 22-June 29, 2003.
The Bridge Between Documentary Theatre and Drama Therapy: Our Asian American Theatre Experiment

This paper explores how documentary theatre and drama therapy use theatre to address issues of diversity, raise multicultural awareness, give silenced voices a chance to be heard, challenge social injustice, and inspire change in anti-oppression work. The paper is based on the author’s experience as the creator and director of Our Asian American Theatre Experiment , the featured production of UCSD’s 2nd Annual Asian American Theatre Festival in the spring of 2007. This was the same time period as the Virginia Tech shooting (April 16, 2007) and the fifteen-year commemoration of the Los Angeles riots (April 29, 1992). Inspired by the many works of documentary theatre dramatists, including Anna Deavere Smith, the author and a cast of fourteen undergraduate Asian American student actors worked with an extensive list of topics usually considered taboo within Asian American culture and communities, using the approach and methods of documentary theatre. The author describes the developmental process, challenges, and experiences during the preproduction, performance, and postproduction phases, including responses from the cast, audience, and community. The author examines the psychologically therapeutic qualities of documentary theatre and the capability of drama therapy to be socially influential by observing how use of the dramatic medium to deal with unspeakable issues and events has healing effects on both personal and societal levels. As supplemental information, the author cites relevant documentary theatre dramatists and drama therapists who link the psychological and social therapeutic characteristics that the two fields share.
Suicidal thoughts and their relationship to family stress and personal problems among high school seniors and college undergraduates.

This study investigated the incidence of serious suicidal thoughts (ST's) among 207 high school seniors and 901 college students, and the relationship between ST's and family stress, drinking and drug-abuse problems, and delinquency in these groups. Over 10% of the high school and over 6% of the college students reported ST's. Those considering suicide attempts in both groups were more likely than their classmates to view their parents as having many conflicts with each other, to think of their relationship with their father as poor, to see at least one of their parents as either angry or depressed much of the time, and to perceive themselves as having a drinking or drug-abuse problem. These findings support the call for comprehensive counseling programs at both the high school and college levels. Language: en
Algebraic decompositions of DP problems with linear dynamics

Abstract We consider Dynamic Programming (DP) problems in which the dynamics are linear, the cost is a function of the state, and the state-space is finite dimensional but defined over an arbitrary field. Starting from the natural decomposition of the state-space into a direct sum of invariant subspaces consistent with the rational canonical form, and assuming the cost functions exhibit an additive structure compatible with this decomposition, we extract from the original problem two distinct families of smaller DP problems associated with the invariant subspaces. Each family constitutes a decomposition of the original problem when the optimal policy and value function can be reconstructed from the optimal policies and value functions of the smaller problems. We derive necessary and sufficient conditions for these decompositions to exist, propose a readily verifiable sufficient condition for the first decomposition, and establish a hierarchy relating the two notions of decomposition.
The representation of the body surface in S-I of cats

In both cats and monkeys, the traditional region of the first somatosensory area of cortex, S-I, has been described as containing four strip-like architectonic fields, areas 3a, 3b, 1, and 2. In monkeys, a number of recent studies have provided evidence that each of these architectonic fields constitutes a separate representation of the body. Because of the observations in monkeys, we decided to re-examine the S-I region of cats to determine whether the evidence supported the traditional concept of a single representation, or the existence of several representations related to the described architectonic fields. Microelectrode multiunit mapping techniques were used to determine the somatotopic organization of the S-I region of 10 cats. The results indicate that a single representation of the body surface occupies most or all of the traditional S-I region including cortex defined as area “3b,” area “1,” and much of area “2,” but excluding area “3a.” Neurons throughout this single representation were activated by cutaneous stimuli, indicating that all parts of S-I receive input from cutaneous receptors. Neurons in area 3a were activated by inputs from deep receptors, as reported by others. Neurons caudal to S-I were activated by cutaneous stimuli and appeared to constitute the additional body surface representations of S-II and possibly S-III. Thus, the significance of the architectonic fields “3b,” “1,” and “2” is quite different in cats than in monkeys. We propose that most or all of these three fields, as described in cats, constitute the homologue of area 3b in monkeys.
Fish traps and rabbit snares: Zhuangzi on judgement, truth and knowledge

Abstract We argue that the common attribution to Zhuangzi of both perspectivalism or relativism on the one hand, and scepticism on the other is fundamentally mistaken. While granting that it is reasonable to construe Zhuangzi as offering a perspectiva! position on judgement, we argue that Zhuangzi's perspectivalism does not commit him to a relativist position on truth or to scepticism about human knowledge. Rather, we maintain that Zhuangzi's attacks on the concepts of truth and knowledge are better seen as his articulation of a species of epistemological nihilism which rejects, as ultimately meaningless, the concepts of truth, reality, and knowledge.
Local smoothing for the Schrödinger equation with a prescribed loss

We consider a family of surfaces of revolution, each with a single periodic geodesic which is degenerately unstable. We prove a local smoothing estimate for solutions to the linear Schrodinger equation with a loss that depends on the degeneracy, and we construct explicit examples to show our estimate is saturated on a weak semiclassical time scale. As a byproduct of our proof, we obtain a cutoff resolvent estimate with a sharp polynomial loss.
Photodetachment from laser-desorbed C−2☆

Abstract We report on C − 2 desorption from graphite by pulsed laser light at 532 nm wavelength. The threshold fluence for laser desorption of C − 2 is 10 μJ/mm 2 . For the first time, rotational analysis of a laser-desorbed negative molecular ion is performed. A rotational temperature of 1500 K is obtained by using two-photon resonance-enhanced detachment via the Herzberg-Lagerqvist band of C − 2 . This is in good agreement with our theoretical calculations for the surface heating during laser irradiation of graphite. Thermal desorption is identified as the responsible mechanism for particle removal at the low laser fluences probed in this study.
Serum parathyroid hormone levels and serum calcium levels from birth to senescence

Abstract 1. 1. Calcium and immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels were measured in sera of 1334 normal subjects ranging from newborn to over 80 years of age. Albumin was measured in samples from the population of adults, which was 80% white, 15% black and 5% oriental. 2. 2. Serum calcium and iPTH levels in children tended to be higher in the first three years of age; no sex differences were noted. Values for serum calcium and iPTH were higher in children than in adults. 3. 3. Serum calcium, iPTH and albumin showed more variation in groups of white, black and oriental women than in similar groups of men. In white females the mean serum calcium remained fairly constant until age 60, whereas in black women it rose steadily from age 20–29 until age 50–59. Serum iPTH levels were lower in black women than in white women and usually were not measurable in oriental women. 4. 4. In men (white, black and oriental) there was a steady decrease in mean serum calcium with age, and iPTH levels were not different from those observed in white women. 5. 5. Although the number of samples from oriental women was small, the serum calcium was consistently lower and serum albumin was constantly higher than in white or black women, and iPTH levels usually were unmeasurable.
Animal-plant defense associations: Effects on the distribution and abundance of tropical reef macrophytes

Abstract This study, conducted at Carrie Bow Cay, Belize during 2–24 April 1985, documents a refuge from predation afforded a group of marine algae by the purple sea fan, Gorgonia ventalina Linnaeus, and the fire coral, Millepora alcicornis Lamarck. There was a highly significant ( P Galaxaura cylindrica (Ell. & Sol.) Lamour., Dictyota spp., Laurencia poitei (Lamour.) Howe, Lobophora variegata (Lamour.) Womersley, Chondria sp., and Amphiroa rigida Lamour. within 2 cm of the base of Gorgonia ventalina . Species positively associated (within 2 cm) with Millepora alcicornis were Galaxaura cylindrica , Dictyota spp., Laurencia poitei , and Amphiroa fragilissima (L.) Lamour. Only the diminutive turf-form of Digenia simplex (Wulf.) C. Ag. was negatively associated with the sessile animals within the 5-cm zones ( P D. simplex , on the average, was restricted to within 6.0 cm of either Gorgonia ventalina or Millepora alcicornis . Almost twice as many taxa occurred within 9 cm of Gorgonia ventalina and Millepora alcicornis as within 9 cm of an equal number of random points lacking Gorgonia and Millepora alcicornis , and seven species were found in samples only near (within 10 cm) the two invertebrates. The association of 11 macroalgal taxa with either Gorgonia ventalina or Millepora alcicornis resulted in considerably greater survivorship over 66 h in the presence of grazing activity by fishes (mainly Acanthuridae and Scaridae). Also, only half as much of the palatable alga Acanthophora spicifera (Vahl) Boerg. was eaten when experimentally placed near (5 cm) either Gorgonia ventalina or Millepora alcicornis than when located 30 cm away. About half of the losses occurred within the first 1.5 h and were entirely due to herbivorous fishes, as evidenced by direct observations and grazing scars. The interrelationships studied here, where abundant sessile animals provide a significant refuge from predation for at least 11 relatively edible macroalgae, clearly augment the abundances of certain taxa in microhabitats throughout the reef system. These findings document a type of interaction among sessile organisms that may be important in the development and organization of communities in predation-mediated systems.
Theory of ohmic loss in d.c. polarography

Summary A theoretical analysis is presented of the effect of ohmic potential loss on results obtained with reversible electrode reactions in d.c. polarography. Simple correction of observed half-wave potentials by subtracting iR is reasonably accurate but not exact for small corrections (up to 5–10 mV). More accurate corrections for small values can be obtained by multiplying iR by a potential-dependent coefficient. For large ohmic losses higher order corrective terms are required.
A fast method for computing 1-D wakefields due to coherent synchrotron radiation

Abstract A method for computing the free-space longitudinal wakefield due to coherent synchrotron radiation (CSR) in a one-dimensional model is developed using a fast integrated Green function approach. This approach accurately captures the short-range behavior of the CSR interaction and does not require the numerical differentiation of a noisy longitudinal charge density. The transient wakefields that occur near bend entry and exit are included. This method can also be generalized to include the effect of upstream radiation that propagates through multiple lattice elements before interacting with the bunch.