cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Third-Order Elastic Constants of Calcite

The third-order elastic constants of calcite at 0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C have been determined by measuring the stress and temperature dependence of sound velocities in it by means of an improved pulse-superposition method (average sensitivity of 2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}$). Within the small temperature range considered (about 2\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C), a nonlinear temperature dependence which varies with pressure has been clearly observed. Out of 14 independent third-order moduli, ${C}_{114}$ and ${C}_{134}$ are definitely positive, and all the others are negative, with ambiguities for ${C}_{124}$ and ${C}_{444}$. The approximate magnitude is equally large for ${C}_{111}$, ${C}_{222}$, and ${C}_{333}$, intermediate for ${C}_{112}$, ${C}_{113}$, ${C}_{114}$, ${C}_{133}$, ${C}_{155}$, ${C}_{344}$, and very small for ${C}_{123}$, ${C}_{124}$, ${C}_{134}$, ${C}_{144}$, ${C}_{444}$. The pressure derivative of the bulk modulus calculated using these constants is in reasonable agreement with Bridgman's data for the change in compressibility with pressure. The contribution of the ion-core, short-range repulsive interaction ${{C}_{\mathrm{ijk}}}^{R}$ to the third-order elastic constants has been evaluated for the carbonate and nitrate crystals of the calcite type using an inverse-power potential. The repulsive contributions were found to be predominant over the other contributions to almost all the third-order constants. Under the assumption that the remaining contribution is the electrostatic interaction alone, and using the experimental data for calcite, complete sets of the third-order constants have been estimated for other carbonate crystals.
Interprofessional global service learning: A pharmacy and nursing practice experience in Botswana

Abstract Objectives To develop, implement, and assess an interprofessional global service-learning experience in rural government-run clinics and a community hospital for pharmacy and nursing students. Design An interprofessional educational experience was developed for volunteer pharmacy students to collaborate with nursing students in an established study-abroad elective course. Students participated in interprofessional activities for 27 days in Kanye, Botswana, where they engaged in clinical practice in community clinics and hospital units for 15 days between June 18 and July 15. Assessment Five pharmacy students and 11 nursing students participated in the program. A qualitative survey assessed student perceptions of the interprofessional clinical experience while reflection papers assessed service learning. Conclusions Global service learning is a valuable opportunity to prepare collaborative teamwork among pharmacy and nursing students. In addition, partnerships with other health care programs’ established educational experiences can facilitate pharmacy program expansion into global interprofessional practice experiences. Though validated assessments of global service learning impact on cultural competency and compassion were not performed here, preliminary evidence from reflective papers and student debriefing sessions suggest an interprofessional global service-learning experience develops both. More research is needed to measure the degree to which interprofessional global service learning can impact cultural competency and the expression of compassion.
Radioenzymatic determination of subpicomole quantities of folic acid and dihydrofolate based on differential reduction by dihydrofolate reductase

Abstract A sensitive method for the determination of folic acid in the presence of dihydrofolate has been described. The analysis is based on the difference in reactivity of dihydrofolate reductase toward folic acid and dihydrofolate. The tetrahydrofolate formed was measured by stoichiometric entrapment into a covalent, ternary complex with thymidylate synthase and [3H]fluorodeoxyuridylate. Differentiation between folic acid and dihydrofolate was accomplished by the use of two levels of dihydrofolate reductase. Recovery of both folic acid and dihydrofolate was quantitative in the range of 0.1 to 2.0 pmol.
Characterizing the Potential Predictability of Seasonal, Station-Based Heavy Precipitation Accumulations and Extreme Dry Spell Durations

AbstractThe release of seasonal (and longer) predictions of various climatological quantities is now routine. While undoubtedly devastating to lives and livelihoods, it is unclear whether seasonal extremes in precipitation—for example, extreme dry spells leading to droughts or heavy precipitation events leading to flooding—represent a feasible target for these predictions, that is, whether they are potentially predictable or are instead inherently unpredictable more than a few days to weeks in advance. This paper assesses the potential for predicting seasonal extremes in observed precipitation as a function of region and time of year by decomposing the station-based variance into that attributable to short-memory behavior of typical meteorological events—as generated from station-specific, seasonally varying, daily time-scale stationary stochastic weather models (SSWMs)—and that attributable to longer-time-scale, potentially predictable changes in precipitation-producing processes. Findings suggest the po...
Improved stability at the polymeric membrane/solid-contact interface of solid-state potentiometric ion sensors

Solid-state ion sensors have been developed in which permselective polymeric membranes are cast on solid electrode surfaces with no internal electrolyte solution. While solid electrode contacts lead to simple, flexible fabrication processes, sensors of this type have had the serious drawback of drifting over time. In the present study, it was found that adding silicon tetrachloride adhesion promoter to polyurethane-based ion-selective membranes cast over silver epoxy solid electrode contacts significantly improved the potentiometric stability of the resulting solid-state potassium-selective sensors. The increased stability is thought to be the result of a better-defined interfacial potential between the sensing membrane and the solid electrode contact. This is attributed to better membrane adhesion to the electrode and to the formation of a silver chloride layer on the surface of the solid contact. >
The Role of Parental History of Hypertension in Predicting Hypertension Risk Factors in Black Americans

Purpose: Black Americans have the highest prevalence of hypertension (HTN) in the United States. HTN has multiple contributors including hereditary, social, psychological, and lifestyle factors. The purpose of this study was to compare HTN risk factors in Black Americans with and without parental history of HTN. Design: Using a descriptive-correlational design, a secondary analysis was conducted with data from 211 participants (64 men and 147 women) between 25 and 79 years of age. Findings: Parental history of HTN, body mass index (BMI), age, gender, and income explained almost 25% (R2 = .249) of the variance in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and 15% (R2= .152) of the variance in diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Neither SBP ( t = 1.921, p = .056) nor DBP (t = .993, p = .332) differed significantly based on parental history of HTN, although those with parental history of HTN (n = 102) were significantly younger (t = 3.955, p = .001). BMI was significantly related to blood pressure (BP) (b = 1.323, p <. 001)....
Using Soft-Line Recursive Response to Improve Query Aggregation in Wireless Sensor Networks

In large wireless sensor networks (WSNs), each hop might incur varying delays due to medium access contention, transmission and computation delays. Fast and efficient query responses are essential to network performance and maintenance. To save energy in battery-powered sensors, it is desirable that data be aggregated or compressed along the way toward the base-station (BS). The common method to aggregate data from network edge to the BS uses a hard-line precomputed timer that requires sensors near the network edge to respond to a query earlier than sensors in the vicinity of the BS [1], [2]. Such rigid scheduling ignores the WSNs's topology and stability. Aggregation opportunities are wasted if the query response timer is set incorrectly. Estimating and allocating precise per- hop communication timers for each node in a large WSN is difficult because timing depends on the network dynamics. We develop a novel, generic and scalable method, which we call soft-line recursive response (SRR), that bases response-wait on actual response times to previous queries using a history buffer, and therefore, is tolerant of network faults or temporal delays. Our simulations show that SRR can improve aggregation opportunities up to 120% over the hard-line approach, while increasing delay less than 5%. SRR reduces query response traffic and data redundancy in both homogeneous and heterogeneous static and mobile WSNs with a maximum O(N) transmission overhead in large WSNs of N nodes and O(logb) update cost where b is the history buffer size.
Characteristics of Homeless Youth Attending Two Different Youth Drop-In Centers

Services for homeless youth traditionally provided shelter and nourishment but do little to break the cycle of homelessness. A more comprehensive app­ roach to serve homeless youth is the drop­in center model that provides safe and easy­to­fi nd facilities within communities to bridge the gap between the streets and transitional/permanent housing. Research describing homeless youth who utilize drop­in centers is lacking. This study examines characteristics/ preferences of 96 homeless adolescents attending one of two drop­in centers in Southern California. Homeless youth reported high prevalence of risk behaviors regardless of the center of attendance. Furthermore, our analyses revealed significant differences related to demographics, sexual risk behaviors, and substance use between homeless youth at the two drop­in centers. These findings illuminate the specific characteristics and preferences of homeless youth who attend drop­in centers and can be used to inform providers, adv­ ocates, and policy makers.
Synthesis of a Bulky Bis(carbene)borate Ligand – Contrasting Structures of Homoleptic Nickel(II) Bis(pyrazolyl)borate and Bis(carbene)borate Complexes

Twofold deprotonation of the “boronium” cation H2B(tBuImH)2+ I– provides access to the bulky bis(carbene)borate ligand H2B(tBuIm)2–. Transfer of the ligand to NiII sources affords the square-planar, diamagnetic complex Ni[H2B(tBuIm)2]2. The properties of this complex are contrasted with the related bis(pyrazolyl)borate complex Ni[H2B(tBupyr)2]2, which is octahedral and paramagnetic. Density functional theory has been used to evaluate the reasons for the structural differences. Stabilization of the square-planar geometry by the bis(carbene)borate ligand can be ascribed to its greater donor ability.(© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
Optimal t-interleaving on tori

The number of integers needed to t-interleave a 2-dimensional torus has a sphere-packing lower bound. We present the necessary and sufficient conditions for tori to meet that lower bound. We prove that for tori sufficiently large in both dimensions, their t-interleaving numbers exceed the lower bound by at most 1. We then show upper bounds on t-interleaving numbers for other cases, completing a general picture for the problem of t-interleaving on 2-dimensional tori. Efficient t-interleaving algorithms are also presented.
3D Hand gesture recognition using a ZCam and an SVM-SMO classifier

The increasing number of new and complex computer-based applications has generated a need for a more natural interface between human users and computer-based applications. This problem can be solved by using hand gestures, one of the most natural means of communication between human beings. The difficulty in deploying a computer vision-based gesture application in a non-controlled environment can be solved by using new hardware which can capture 3D information. However, researchers and others still need complete solutions to perform reliable gesture recognition in such an environment. This paper presents a complete solution for the one-hand 3D gesture recognition problem, implements a solution, and proves its reliability. The solution is complete because it focuses both on the 3D gesture recognition and on understanding the scene being presented (so the user does not need to inform the system that he or she is about to initiate a new gesture). The selected approach models the gestures as a sequence of hand poses. This reduces the problem to one of recognizing the series of hand poses and building the gestures from this information. Additionally, the need to perform the gesture recognition in real time resulted in using a simple feature set that makes the required processing as streamlined as possible. Finally, the hand gesture recognition system proposed here was successfully implemented in two applications, one developed by a completely independent team and one developed as part of this research. The latter effort resulted in a device driver that adds 3D gestures to an open-source, platform-independent multi-touch framework called Sparsh-UI.
Volunteer Faculty: What Rewards or Incentives Do They Prefer?

Background: Clerkship directors and college administrators have concerns about recruitment and retention of practicing physicians for volunteer teaching. There is a paucity of data regarding the rewards and incentives offered to, or desired by, the nonsalaried community-based practicing physicians who volunteer their time to teach. Purpose: This study was designed to gain information about rewards and incentives from volunteer teachers in pediatric, family practice, and internal medicine clerkships. Methods: We surveyed nonsalaried physician teachers of internal medicine, family medicine, and pediatrics across the United States. The survey focused on teachers' evaluation of the rewards or incentives offered by the programs in the following categories: educational opportunities, services or gifts, recognition bestowed by the school, academic appointments, and monetary payments. Respondents rated each item from 1 (not appreciated) to 5 (very much appreciated). They also were asked to rank order the rewards ...
Flattening the World: Natural Theology and the Ecology of Darwin's Orchids

What do plants want? What do they think? What do they mean to do? Such questions raise problems of intent, of affect, of sentience, that seem inappropriate to vegetal life. Charles Darwin felt diff...
Another reader comments on the same article

I commend Christenson et al. (1) for performing analysis of both cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and I (cTnI) in a large population of patients with acute coronary syndromes to compare the abilities of these cardiac markers to stratify risk. I’d like to comment on three points regarding findings from this paper. First, one issue that should be addressed more rigorously by the authors involves the 1.5 μg/L cTnI (Stratus) cutoff concentration used for predicting clinical outcomes. Although it is true that the Dade Stratus® package insert states an upper reference limit for acute myocardial infarction as …
Motion-robust intensity-modulated proton therapy for distal esophageal cancer.

Purpose: To develop methods for evaluation and mitigation of dosimetric impact due to respiratory and diaphragmatic motion during free breathing in treatment of distal esophageal cancers using intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT). Methods: This was a retrospective study on 11 patients with distal esophageal cancer. For each patient, four-dimensional computed tomography (4D CT) data were acquired, and a nominal dose was calculated on the average phase of the 4D CT. The changes of water equivalent thickness (ΔWET) to cover the treatment volume from the peak of inspiration to the valley of expiration were calculated for a full range of beam angle rotation. Two IMPT plans were calculated: one at beam angles corresponding to small ΔWET and one at beam angles corresponding to large ΔWET. Four patients were selected for the calculation of 4D-robustness-optimized IMPT plans due to large motion-induced dose errors generated in conventional IMPT. To quantitatively evaluate motion-induced dose deviation, the authors calculated the lowest dose received by 95% (D95) of the internal clinical target volume for the nominal dose, the D95 calculated on the maximum inhale and exhale phases of 4D CT D CT 0 and D CT 50 , the 4D composite dose, and the 4D dynamic dose for a single fraction. Results: The dose deviation increased with the average ΔWET of the implemented beams, ΔWETave. When ΔWETave was less than 5 mm, the dose error was less than 1 cobalt gray equivalent based on DCT0 and DCT50. The dose deviation determined on the basis of DCT0 and DCT50 was proportionally larger than that determined on the basis of the 4D composite dose. The 4D-robustness-optimized IMPT plans notably reduced the overall dose deviation of multiple fractions and the dose deviation caused by the interplay effect in a single fraction. Conclusions: In IMPT for distal esophageal cancer, ΔWET analysis can be used to select the beam angles that are least affected by respiratory and diaphragmatic motion. To further reduce dose deviation, the 4D-robustness optimization can be implemented for IMPT planning. Calculation of DCT0 and DCT50 is a conservative method to estimate the motion-induced dose errors.
Climate Change Impacts on Missouri River Basin Water Yields: The Influence of Temporal Scales

Global climate change will likely modify the availability of surface and ground water. It is necessary to evaluate the potential impacts of climate change on water resources to assist in policy decisions. Water resources impact assessments are often completed with hydrologic models. This draws into question the temporal and spatial scales over which these models are developed and evaluated. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the impacts of climate change on Missouri River Basin water yields at multiple temporal scales. This was accomplished by developing a hydrologic model of the basin. The model was conducted for baseline and changed climate conditions. The climate change data was provided by a Global Circulation Model and downscaled with a Regional Climate Model. Water yield increased significantly under the changed climate simulation for all temporal scales. The insensitivity of results to temporal scale was likely due to the large sample size and the strong effects of climate change on water yield. Future research will expand this work to include assessment of spatial model scales.
Embedding IP unique shortest path topology on a wavelength-routed network: normal and survivable design

In this paper, we address the network virtualization problem of embedding a unique shortest path-based IP topology using lightpaths in a wavelength-routed network. We present an integer linear programming formulation and propose a 2-phase heuristic approach to solve this problem. We extend the model and the heuristic by addressing survivability in an integrated cross-layer framework, where the objective is to allocate a light-path topology that remains connected in the event of any single physical link failure while providing the IP network with unique shortest paths for all node-pairs. We consider a number of measures to show effectiveness of our approach and to discuss the impact on normal and survivable topology design, in terms of the number of transreceivers deployed.
Study on Rechargeable Battery Management System for Electric Energy Terminals

This paper studies the failures of multiple rechargeable batteries in electric energy terminals, and proposes an innovative general management system to prolong the lifetime of rechargeable battery. The system is able to charge, discharge, maintain the batteryand test battery capacity in an electric terminal. The system commits to solvingthe frequent charging and capacity decreasing problem. The management strategy is studied and the working principle is shown. Two experiments are conducted to validate the performance of the management system, which improves the reliability of backup power for electric energy terminals
Investigation on animal natural infection of Orientia tsutsugamushi in some areas of Changji area in Xinjiang

Objective To investigate the state of natural infection of Orientia tsutsugamushi(Ot) in Changji area of Xinjiang,china.Methods DNAs were extracted from spleens of the captured mice and bloods of the sheep,and nested-polymerase chain reaction(nPCR) technique was used to detect the Ot-Sta 56 gene.Selected positive samples were sequenced and analyzed by NCBI and analyzed in BLAST.Results A total of 432 rodents and 53 birds were captured in Changji area.Positive samples were found in the rodents and birds which were captured in Mulei area.The prevalence of Ot in rodents and birds were 5.3% and 11.1%,respective.Infection was not found in animals living in the other areas.The Sta56 gene nucleotide sequence homology to Karp strain was 98.5%.Conclusion Our findings of indicated that infections of Ot did exist in rodents and birds in Mulei area.It provides evidence for further investigation on the scrub typhus fuci in this area.
The Study of Evaluation Indicator System of Modernized Big Agriculture in Heilongjiang Province

According to the situation in Heilongjiang province,the development strategy of modern agriculture was proposed,evaluation index system aims to reflect the development process of agricultural modernization in Heilongjiang province.Based on analyzing the connotation of modern agriculture,the modern agriculture has the following four characteristics:high production efficiency,modern production condition,modernization of operating management,sustainable development,respectively from the four aspects to set 19evaluation indexes.Using the analytic hierarchy process(AHP),absorption of expert opinion,to calculate the weight of evaluation index.Based on national averages for reference,the national modern agricultural development level is 1,estimates that Heilongjiang's modern agriculture development level is 1.730 2,compared with the national agricultural modernization,Heilongjiang province showed higher levels.
Renal ammoniagenic response to chronic acid loading: role of glucocorticoids

Adrenalectomized (ADX) animals exhibit a blunted renal response to chronic acid loading. To determine whether this response truly reflects impaired renal ammoniagenesis from glutamine, urinary ammo...
From Standards to Rubrics: Comparing Full-Range to At-Level Applications of an Item-Level Scoring Rubric on an Oral Proficiency Assessment

Standards-based proficiency frameworks have become an integral part of the educational assessment landscape. These frameworks take complex, multidimensional competencies and attempt to represent them as a numerical value on a vertical scale that can be used by students, teachers, testing organizations, school admissions officers, employers, and others that want some certification of the proficiency of examinees.
The Individual as Courageous Resister to Social Injustice

In this chapter, we look at individuals who took a courageous stand when they confronted danger and injustice in their workplaces, communities, and wartime situations. We examine several cases of ordinary people called upon to confront authority when harm was being inflicted on others. We begin by exploring the cases of three individuals who clearly fit our definition of courageous resister. The first case involves a whistleblower in the U.S Customs Service whose situation began in the 1990s when she defied her supervisors after she saw fellow agents abusing travelers. The second case examines the role of a young American soldier who exposed injustices in an Iraqi prison. The third case centers on an American foreign service officer’s efforts against the direct orders of superiors to help Jews escape from Europe in the period leading up to World War II. The focus of the chapter then shifts to consider two cases that show some characteristics of courageous resistance but do not fully meet the definitional requirements. We explore the actions of a woman who testified at the post-Rwandan genocide war crimes tribunal in Arusha and the German officer who provided covert assistance to the Chambonais in their efforts to protect Jews from the Nazis. In each of these latter two cases, ordinary people clearly show courage in the face of injustice; yet their actions do not rise to the level of courageous resistance. We conclude this chapter by considering the commonalities and differences among all five cases and the social functions of courageous resistance.
Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) Regulates Osteoblastic Jagged1 and Expands Primitive Hematopoietic Cells In Vivo.

Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) targets osteoblastic cells (OBs) in the bone marrow microenvironment and expands hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) through Notch activation. Since PTH stimulates the Notch ligand Jagged1 (J1) in OBs, we have focused on the signaling pathways involved in this PTH effect in order to identify novel activators of the HSC niche. Osteoblastic Protein Kinase A (PKA) activation is required for the PTH-dependent J1 increase in OBs. Therefore, we hypothesized that alternative PKA activators could also regulate osteoblastic J1, alter the HSC niche, and provide additional pharmacologic tools to expand HSC in vivo. Consistent with this hypothesis, direct PKA agonists 8-bromo-cAMP and dibutyryl-cAMP stimulated J1 in osteoblastic UMR106 cells. In addition, PGE2, a member of the prostaglandin family known to stimulate PKA in OBs, was studied in vivo and in vitro. By real-time RT-PCR analysis, J1 mRNA was increased up to 5 fold at 2 hours in UMR106 cells when treated with PGE2 (10−7 M) compared to vehicle. J1 protein was also increased after treatment with PGE2. The PGE2-dependent J1 increase was blocked in the presence of the specific PKA inhibitors H89 and myristoylated PKA Inhibitory Peptide (14–22)(PKI) (200ug/ml), demonstrating that PKA is necessary for osteoblastic J1 stimulation by PGE2. Since systemic PGE2 is known to have bone anabolic effects in both humans and animal models, adult wild-type FVB/N male mice were treated with PGE2 (6mg/kg/day i.p.) for 12 days. This regimen has previously been shown to have bone anabolic effects in rats. At day 12, histologic analysis demonstrated an anabolic effect mainly on cortical bone, as was evident in the femurs and tibiae of PGE2-treated mice compared to control. This histologic finding was confirmed by histomorphometry (trabecular bone area means 41% vs 12%,p=0.0916, n=3 in both groups; cortical thickness means 138 vs 85 μm, p=0.0071, n=3 in both groups). Frequency of hematopoietic stem cells (c-Kit+, Sca1+, lin−) was increased in bone marrow from PGE2-treated vs control mice by over 20% (p=0.0018, n=8 in both groups). In summary, PGE2 stimulates J1 in osteoblastic cells through PKA activation and increases mainly cortical bone in vivo. Ongoing studies will confirm whether in vivo PGE2 treatment expands HSC, and whether osteoblastic J1 regulates this process. This study identifies PGE2 as a novel regulator of osteoblastic J1, and as a potential new microenvironmental modulator of HSC, which could be used for in vivo therapeutic HSC niche manipulation.
Staphylococcal Coagglutination Methods for Rapid Microbial Detection and Identification

Category A-l continuing education credit is available to anyone who studies a CIE Update series and completes a written exam. Exams can be ordered fromthe ASCP and will be sent to participants following the appearance of the final article of each series in ABORATORY MEDICINE. After receipt of a completed answer sheet at ASCP, a certificate of credit will be awarded to each participant. An exam order form appears on page 410 in this issue.
Thinking outside the lungs: ‘other’ risk factors for pneumonia hospitalisation

The symptoms of pneumonic infection can be traced back through history; first being described during early Greek civilisation. But it wasn't until the 19th century the disorder was described in its own right, once causative bacteria were observed. Although mortality rates then rapidly declined, with the mass production of antibiotics, today it still remains a serious global problem.1 At the bedside, several determinants are now well recognised as severity markers for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), such as age >65 years, COPD, smoking and dementia.2 In addition, we all look out for immunosuppressive treatments, and appreciate infection is often more severe in people who are immunocompromised, but other factors, such as androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) may not usually be considered. Respiratory clinicians are highly likely to treat patients with prostate cancer, the second most common cancer in the UK with a rapidly growing incidence (147/10 000 in 2014, predicted to be 233/100 000 in 2035).3 As prostate …
Non- Helicobacter pylori Gastritis, Ulceration, and Drug-Related Gastropathies

The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in children from developed and emerging countries has been steadily declining over the last decade. Also due to modern endoscopic techniques and easier access to healthcare, it has led to increase in number of upper GI endoscopies. Due to this changing epidemiology, we may be faced with varying patterns of mucosal injury, non-Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis/ulceration or Helicobacter pylori-negative gastritis with other causes of gastritis that may mimic H. pylori infection including drug-related gastropathies.
Assessment of knowledge level on osteoporosis among a private university students in Malaysia

Osteoporosis is one of the major public health problem with a high prevalence and incidence of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Evidence suggesting that osteoporosis knowledge is a contributor to osteoporosis preventive behavior. Low literacy rates, lack of understanding regarding disease risk, effects and consequences leads to increase the incidence of this combatable disease. So, Osteoporosis can be avoided via educational interventions. The objective of this study was to evaluate osteoporosis knowledge among university students in a private university in Malaysia. Information was collected through a cross sectional survey. The data gathered from seventy three university students using convenience sampling method during the period from August to October, 2016. Respondents had been requested to sign a written informed consent, then self-administered, validated questionnaire consisted of 20 items assessing knowledge regarding osteoporosis was administered. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data by Microsoft Excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Out of the seventy three participants, 38 % were males and 61% were female. There were 24 students in foundation and 49 students in bachelor course. The mean age of the respondents were 22.91 ± 1.74 years. Among the participants 53% were Malaysian. Total 79.4% students had poor knowledge and only 6.8% of the respondents had good knowledge on risk, cause, signs and symptoms, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis. Female respondents had poor knowledge (1.60+0.52) than male (1.61+0.49). Bachelor students had poor knowledge (1.29+0.46) than foundation college students (1.92+0.26).The study finding revealed an inadequate knowledge of osteoporosis among university students, so intervention program need to be adopt to increase the knowledge regarding osteoporosis for prevention.
Images of the creative brain.

Neuroimaging has started to identify locations in the brain where processes related to divergent thinking and other creative acts occur. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
An Alternative Approach to Identification

Different aspects of the identification problem for the linear model (16.5) of a compartmental system have been discussed in Sections 16–19. These have been based primarily on the transfer function. In this section we introduce another technique based on the modal matrix and the related component matrices of A. The method is fundamentally a blending of the “normal-mode” identifiability.analysis using the modal matrix and its inverse [172], and certain concepts pointed out in [236] connecting component matrices to the identifiability problem. Also see Del forge [81], [80].
Casta, Costumbrismo, Kahlo

Much has been written about how Frida Kahlo’s artistic production revealed the intense emotional and physical pain that she endured throughout her life. Subjects such as the tragic bus accident that she survived as a teenager, or her troubled relationship with famed Mexican muralist Diego Rivera, have informed numerous biographical readings of her work. And though her indebtedness to the colonial traditions of ex-voto and retablo paintings has been noted, little has been said of her relationship to other aspects of Mexican visual culture. This article contextualizes Kahlo’s oeuvre within the genres of eighteenth-century casta painting and nineteenth-century costumbrismo, genres that were preoccupied with depicting socio-racial and socio-familial relationships and with representing Mexico’s miscegenation, or racial mixing.
Tactile enrichment drives emergence of functional columns and improves sensory coding in L2/3 of mouse S1

Sensory maps in layer (L) 2/3 of rodent cortex lack precise functional column boundaries, and instead exhibit locally heterogeneous tuning superimposed on smooth global topography. Could this organization be a byproduct of impoverished experience in laboratory housing? We compared whisker map somatotopy in L2/3 and L4 excitatory cells of somatosensory (S1) cortex in normally housed vs. tactile-enriched mice, using GCaMP6s imaging. Normally housed mice had a dispersed, salt-and-pepper whisker map in L2/3, but L4 was more topographically precise. Enrichment (P21 to P46-71) sharpened whisker tuning and decreased, but did not abolish, local tuning heterogeneity. In L2/3, enrichment strengthened and sharpened whisker point representations, and created functional boundaries of tuning similarity and noise correlations at column edges. Thus, tactile experience drives emergence of functional columnar topography in S1, and reduces salt-and-pepper tuning heterogeneity. These changes predict improved single-trial population coding of whisker deflections within each column.
Water footprint of beef production on Texas High Plains pasture.

Depletion of the Ogallala aquifer in the U.S. Great Plains demands information on water usage in forage-fed beef production. We compared a summer grazing system for beef steers consisting of warm-s...
Today's challenges shape tomorrow's technology, part 2.

In part 2 of this series, examine technologies critical to nursing's viability, now and in the near future.
Pharmaceutical opioid marketing and physician prescribing behavior

Physicians' relationships with the pharmaceutical industry have recently come under public scrutiny, particularly in the context of opioid drug prescribing. This study examines the effect of doctor-industry marketing interactions on subsequent prescribing patterns of opioids using linked Medicare Part D and Open Payments data for the years 2014-2017. Results indicate that both the number and the dollar-value of marketing visits increase physicians' patented opioid claims. Furthermore, direct-to-physician marketing of safer abuse-deterrent formulations of opioids is the primary driver of positive and persistent spillovers on the prescribing of less safe generic opioids - a result that we show appears to be driven by insurance coverage policies. These findings suggest that pharmaceutical marketing efforts may have unintended public health implications.
Local Creative Culture and Dividend Policy

This paper examines the role of local risk-taking propensity on dividend demand and corporate payout by using a novel measure. We empirically investigate geographically varying dividend demand and corporate dividend policies by using local creative culture as a measure of local risk-taking tendency. We find that firms located in areas with a strong creative culture are less likely to pay and initiate dividends. These firms also have lower levels of dividend yield. The empirical findings also remain robust after addressing endogeneity and a series of robustness checks.. In addition, our paper highlights the local component of corporate dividend policies and supports the notion that firms cater to investors’ dividend preferences determined by investors’ risk-taking characteristics through dividend policies. Our results underscore the importance of cultural determinants of investors’ risk-taking for the financial industry participants.
Robust spin coating deposition process for paraffin phase-change films

Abstract In this work, for the first time, a cost-effective and resource-light spin coating process for the fabrication of the paraffin films on silicon and glass substrates is reported. Paraffin or alkane is a mechanical phase-change material (PCM) that undergoes approximately 15% reversible volumetric change through its solid-liquid transition. In addition, it is a low-loss dielectric with a loss tangent of 6 × 10−4 at 100 GHz which is a critical feature for certain radio frequency (RF) tunable devices. Traditionally physical vapor deposition techniques are used for paraffin PCM films. Here, an innovative and alternative process using spin coating is developed that overcomes the challenges imposed by the phase-change properties of the material. Spin coating of two types of paraffin—eicosane and hexatriacontane—on silicon, Pyrex and gold-coated substrates are studied. P-xylene is chosen as the solvent due to the solubility of eicosane and hexatriacontane at temperatures lower than its melting point. Effect of spin speed, spin time, substrate temperature, solution concentration, and substrate type on roughness and thickness of paraffin films are reported. Developed process offers a fast, repeatable, and resource-light deposition technique for hexatriacontane which can be utilized in developing several classes of new devices including low-loss RF architectures.
The Influence of Hip Structure on Functional Valgus Collapse During a Single-Leg Forward Landing in Females.

Clinical femoral anteversion (Craig test) and hip range of motion (ROM) have been associated with valgus collapse, but their clinical usefulness in predicting biomechanics is unknown. Our purpose was to determine the individual and combined predictive power of femoral anteversion and passive hip ROM on 3-dimensional valgus collapse (hip internal rotation and adduction, knee rotation, and abduction) during a single-leg forward landing in females. Femoral anteversion and passive hip ROM were measured on 20 females (24.9 [4.1] y, 168.7 [8.0] cm, 63.8 [11.6] kg). Three-dimensional kinematics and kinetics were collected over 5 trials of the task. Each variable was averaged across trials. Backward, stepwise regressions determined the extent to which our independent variables were associated with valgus collapse. The combination of greater hip internal and external rotation ROM (partial r = .52 and .56) predicted greater peak knee internal rotation moment (R2 = .38, P = .02). Less hip internal rotation ROM (partial r = -.44) predicted greater peak knee abduction moments (R2 = .20, P = .05). Greater total hip ROM (internal and external rotation ROM) was not consistently associated with combined motions of valgus collapse but was indicative of isolated knee moments. Passive hip ROM is more associated with knee moments than is femoral anteversion as measured with Craig test.
What does it mean to be American? Perceptions of national identity amongst adults and children

Abstract Across two studies we examined whether conformity (vs. not) to primordial, assimilationist, and civic constructions impacted adults’ and preschoolers’ conceptions of national identity. Adults (N = 151) and preschoolers (N = 42) in the U.S. viewed photos of White faces accompanied by descriptive information, including whether or not the individual was born in the U.S. (i.e., primordial construction), spoke English (i.e., assimilationist construction), and loved the U.S. (i.e., civic construction). Participants rated each target’s “American-ness.” Adults considered targets born in the U.S. as most American, followed by targets loving the U.S. However, interactions with assimilationist constructions qualified these effects. Speaking English bolstered the effects of being born in the U.S. or loving the U.S. Preschool aged children solely drew upon civic constructions of identity, evaluating targets loving the U.S. as more American than targets not loving the U.S. Discussion focuses on the implications of these divergent conceptualizations of national identity.
Machine Learning for Predicting Complications in Head and Neck Microvascular Free Tissue Transfer

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS Machine learning (ML) is a type of artificial intelligence wherein a computer learns patterns and associations between variables to correctly predict outcomes. The objectives of this study were to 1) use a ML platform to identify factors important in predicting surgical complications in patients undergoing head and neck free tissue transfer, and 2) compare ML outputs to traditionally employed logistic regression models. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. METHODS Using a dataset of 364 consecutive patients who underwent head and neck microvascular free tissue transfer at a single institution, 14 clinicopathologic characteristics were analyzed using a supervised ML algorithm of ensemble decision trees to predict surgical complications. The relative importance values of each variable in the ML analysis were then compared to logistic regression models. RESULTS There were 166 surgical complications, which included bleeding or hematoma in 30 patients (8.2%), fistulae in 25 patients (6.9%), and infection or dehiscence in 52 patients (14.4%). There were 59 take-backs (16.2%), and six total (1.6%) and five partial (1.4%) flap failures. ML models were able to correctly classify outcomes with an accuracy of 65% to 75%. Factors that were identified in ML analyses as most important for predicting complications included institutional experience, flap ischemia time, age, and smoking pack-years. In contrast, the significant factors most frequently identified in traditional logistic regression analyses were patient age (P = .03), flap type (P = .03), and primary site of reconstruction (P = .06). CONCLUSIONS In this single-institution dataset, ML algorithms identified factors for predicting complications after free tissue transfer that were distinct from traditional regression models. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 2c Laryngoscope, 2020.
Transtemporal Suprajugular Approach with Neck Dissection for Jugular Foramen Tumor Resection: Operative Video.

This video demonstrates the transmastoid suprajugular approach with neck dissection to a solitary fibrous tumor involving the jugular foramen and upper cervical region. This patient was a 39-year-old man who presented with dysphagia and cranial nerve (CN) XI and CN XII palsies. Imaging revealed a large homogenously enhancing lesion involving the jugular foramen and extending into the retropharyngeal space ( Fig. 1 ). Radiographic findings supported a diagnosis of jugular foramen schwannoma. After an initial period of observation, the tumor demonstrated significant growth, and the patient agreed to proceed with surgery. The suprajugular approach allowed for exposure and resection of the tumor without mobilization of the facial nerve. The patient had an excellent clinical outcome with House–Brackmann grade-1 facial function, safely tolerated a regular diet, had intact CN XI function, and had a stable CN XII palsy ( Fig. 2 ). Pathology findings identified the tumor as a hemangiopericytoma World Health Organization grade 1 (solitary fibrous tumor). The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/C4sPyHcLMA0 .
‘New Combinations’ in Schumpeter’s Economics: The Lineage of a Concept

The notion of a new combination has long been a leitmotiv in theories of economic evolution and innovation. This article examines the origin of the term ‘new combination’ in Schumpeter’s work. Afte...
Erosional signatures and reorganization in ridge-and-swale sequences

Abstract Tsunami and other extreme-wave deposits are often searched for along sandy, wave-dominated coastlines that are characterized by ridge-and-swale topography. Understanding the morphodynamics of beach-ridge formation and the evolution of ridge-and-swale topographies on short and long timescales is essential to identify sites where tsunami and storm deposits are most likely preserved. In addition, the geomorphic expression of individual ridges and beach-ridge sets provides an important proxy for overwash events, related modifications to sediment supply, and seismically induced land-level changes. Using a combination of remote-sensing techniques, field surveys, and sediment analysis, large-scale impacts on coastal morphologies can be detected and chronologies of extreme-wave events developed. This chapter introduces the characteristics of beach-ridge plains, summarizes the signature of tsunami- and storm-induced erosion and reorganization of such coastal settings, and describes approaches on how to best detect these imprints.
The caudate nucleus controls coordinated patterns of adaptive, context-dependent adjustments to complex decisions

Abstract Our decisions often need to balance what we observe and what we desire. However, our understanding of how and where in the brain such decisions are made remains limited. A prime candidate for integrating sensory observations and desired rewards, and a focus of many modeling studies, is the basal ganglia pathway, which is known to make separate contributions to perceptual decisions that require the interpretation of uncertain sensory evidence and value-based decisions that select among outcome options 1-16. Here we report direct evidence for a causal role for a major input station of the basal ganglia, the caudate nucleus, in incorporating reward context and uncertain visual evidence to guide adaptive decision-making. In monkeys making saccadic decisions based on visual motion evidence and asymmetric reward-choice associations 17, single caudate neurons encoded information about both the visual evidence and the asymmetric rewards. Electrical microstimulation at caudate sites with task-modulated activity during motion viewing affected how the visual and reward information was used to form the decision. The microstimulation effects included coordinated changes in multiple computational components of the decision process, mimicking the monkeys’ voluntary adjustments in response to the asymmetric reward contexts. These results imply that the caudate nucleus plays key roles in coordinating the deliberative decision process that balances external evidence and internal preferences to guide adaptive behavior.
Increasing Digital Media and Learning in Classrooms through School-University Partnerships.

AbstractThis article describes findings from a faculty-in-residence program at a Southern middle school in the United States. The goal of the school-university partnership was to increase digital media and learning (DML) integration in classrooms and provide the university with contextualized experiences to strengthen its teacher education programs. Mixed-method research is used to describe the process and understand teachers' perceptions of the experience. Eleven of 20 participating teachers developed an ongoing relationship with the faculty resident, finding the partnership valuable toward increasing technology use with their students and believing it led to enacting new DML pedagogical approaches and integrating new digital tools. Results also demonstrate significantly larger positive impacts on senior teachers than on junior teachers toward changing perceptions regarding the usefulness of digital media to assist them in efficiently delivering instruction. This study informs teacher educators and sugge...
Durable Inequality in Aztec Society

Charles Tilly proposed a model of durable social inequality that is potentially applicable to a wide range of societies. I demonstrate this potential by examining his causal mechanisms of inequalit...