cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Acaridae incognito: the case of the mighty mite.

Mites, arthropods of 0.1 to 1.0 mm in length, are common ectoparasites of animals and humans. Sarcoptes scabiei is the most familiar of the bloodsucking parasitic mites infesting humans. A mite found in skin samples scraped from a patient's pruritic rash is commonly assumed to be S. scabiei with no further identification of species deemed necessary. Several parasitic mites from animal hosts and many species of free-living mites, however, can also infest households and cause symptoms in household members. Our report deals mainly with less familiar household mite infestations, particularly those due to the ubiquitous free-living mites. Because therapy varies greatly depending on which mite species is causing the infestation, the physician should make every effort to identify the mite accurately, which, as this case report shows, can be exceedingly difficult.
Methods of Computing Consumptive Use of Water

More generally used methods for computing consumptive water requirements of crops summarized; data and charts that may simplify application of methods are given.
Studies of the Effect of Atropine on Gastric Secretion

Conclusions1. Gastric secretion obtained by histamine stimulation (0.01 mg. per kilo) under standard conditions, seems to be quite constant for the same individual, both as to volume and height of free acidity. 2. Histamine tests repeated in succession and on succeeding days give practically identical results. 3. Atropine, in doses of 1 mg., decreases the volume of gastric secretion obtained by histamine stimulation in man, approximately SO%, but does not affect the free acid content appreciably.
Ultrasound Measurement Of Inferior Vena Cava Collapse Predicts Propofol Induced Hypotension.

Abstract Study Objectives Hypotension is a common side effect of propofol, but there are no reliable methods to determine which patients are at risk for significant propofol-induced hypotension (PIH). Ultrasound has been used to estimate volume status by visualization of inferior vena cava (IVC) collapse. This study explores whether IVC assessment by ultrasound can assist in predicting which patients may experience significant hypotension. Methods This was a prospective observational study conducted in the operating suite of an urban community hospital. A convenience sample of consenting adults planned to receive propofol for induction of anesthesia during scheduled surgical procedures were enrolled. Bedside ultrasound was used to measure maximum (IVCmax) and minimum (IVCmin) IVC diameters. IVC-CI was calculated as [(IVCmax-IVCmin)/IVCmax × 100%]. The primary outcome was significant hypotension defined as systolic blood pressure (BP) below 90 mmHg and/or administration of a vasopressor to increase BP during surgery. Results The study sample comprised 40 patients who met inclusion criteria. Mean age was 55 years, (95%CI, 49–60) with 53% female. 55% of patients had significant hypotension after propofol administration. 76% of patients with IVC-CI ≥ 50% had significant hypotension compared to 39% with IVC-CI Conclusion Patients with IVC-CI ≥ 50% were more likely to develop significant hypotension from propofol. IVC ultrasound may be a useful tool to predict which patients are at increased risk for PIH.
Display of needle tip contact forces for steering guidance

An MR-compatible biopsy needle stylet is instrumented with optical fibers that provide information about contact conditions between the needle tip and organs or hard tissues such as bone or tumors. This information is rendered via a haptic display that uses ultrasonic motors to convey directional cues to users. Lateral haptic cues at the fingertips improve the targeting accuracy and success rate in penetrating a prostate phantom. Although the original intent was for haptic cues to match the direction of contact forces and needle bending, more consistent results were obtained by using the cues as steering guidance (opposite to contact forces); accordingly this convention was adopted for the user experiments reported.
Mass-number and excitation-energy dependence of the spin cutoff parameter

The spin cutoff parameter determining the nuclear level density spin distribution $\ensuremath{\rho}(J)$ is defined through the spin projection as ${\ensuremath{\langle}{J}_{z}^{2}\ensuremath{\rangle}}^{1/2}$ or equivalently for spherical nuclei, ${(\frac{\ensuremath{\langle}J(J+1)\ensuremath{\rangle}}{3})}^{1/2}$. It is needed to divide the total level density into levels as a function of $J$. To obtain the total level density at the neutron binding energy from the $s$-wave resonance count, the spin cutoff parameter is also needed. The spin cutoff parameter has been calculated as a function of excitation energy and mass with a super-conducting Hamiltonian. Calculations have been compared with two commonly used semiempirical formulas. A need for further measurements is also observed. Some complications for deformed nuclei are discussed. The quality of spin cut off parameter data derived from isomeric ratio measurement is examined.
A new Meriania from serra Aracá

Meriania aracaensis wurdack is described from collections on Serra Araca, Amazonas, Brazil.
Meiosis, Chromosomes, and Genes

Mitosis is not the only type of division that can occur in plant and animal cells. A second type is found in specialized cells of both plants and animals. In this second type of nuclear division, termed meiosis, the chromosomes are not divided so that each daughter nucleus has the same number of chromosomes as the original cell, as in mitosis. Instead they are reduced in number so that each daughter nucleus receives precisely one-half of the original number of chromosomes.
Jurisprudence and Arbitrage

The previous chapter highlighted the irony in reports that “Islam forbids interest” or “the Qurʾan forbids interest,” followed by a statement of the interest rate paid by Islamic instruments (e.g., sukuk ). Some practitioners may be more cognizant of this problem and choose to report that the “profit rate” or “return” paid on their interest-free bond is a fixed 4 percent, or floating LIBOR plus 50 basis points. Indeed, many Islamic finance practitioners would be genuinely offended if someone asked them about the interest rate they charge, say, on Islamic mortgages. They may be slightly less offended if asked about “the implied interest rate,” computed from the deferred price they charge in a credit sale, or the rent they charge in a lease-to-purchase or declining-partnership agreement. Such discrepancies between rhetoric and practice are not only problematic from an intellectual standpoint. They also lead to disillusionment with the industry for many educated Muslims, who may otherwise be its primary customers. Similarly, this rhetoric drives away many conventional financial providers, who could otherwise be the primary providers of Islamic financial services. To those practitioners, it is clear that there is no such thing as finance without interest. They find endless “research” on whether or not discounting is allowed in Islam to be silly and decide to ignore the industry altogether.
Facilitating creative participation and collaboration in online spaces: the impact of social and technological factors in enabling sustainable engagement

ABSTRACTThis article investigates the role of social and technological factors in enabling sustainable creative participation in online environments. To facilitate a deeper understanding of these dynamics, I describe and analyse the implementation of a creative participatory project across three online platforms: as a series of tasks on Mechanical Turk, as a public collaboration on hitRECord, and as a participatory online course on Peer 2 Peer University. In discussing the three implementations, particular attention is paid to the norms and hierarchies of participation on each platform, the motivations driving participants to engage in online creative projects, and the significance of technological features in supporting the aims and ethos of participation in each case. This comparative analysis allows for a better understanding of the factors that facilitate or, conversely, hinder participatory creativity online, contributing to contemporary discussions aiming to explicate the parameters of creative part...
Situational Variables in Adaptation to Isolation-Induced Stress

The research was designed to determine the effect of group versus individual participation, and success versus failure experience, on adaptation to isolation-induced stress. A sample of 42 volunteer male college students was divided into three groups of 14 Ss each. One group was given a maximum of six hours of perceptual isolation on an individual basis. The other two groups were given a maximum of six hours of isolation on a team basis. Immediately before isolation, half of the Ss in each group had a failure experience, and the other half had a success experience. Four measures of adaptation were obtained: length of isolation time, frequency of positive and negative verbalizations during isolation, amount of restlessness, and responses to a post-isolation questionnaire. Neither the group-individual variable nor the success-failure variable had a significant effect on any of the response measures.
Consumer Responses to Small Business Coupon Sales Promotions

This paper focuses on the practice of sales promotion in the context of small business food service establishments. First a conceptual framework for evaluating the profit, dollar sales volume, and store traffic implications of two coupon promotion alternatives (adapted from real world small business coupon promotion) is presented. Next, the results of an empirical sales promotion study conducted in cooperation with a small business food service establishment are presented. Limitations and directions for future research are also discussed.
The Relation Between the Academic Achievement of Students With Emotional and Behavioral Disorders and Teacher Characteristics

Teachers of students with emotional and/or behavioral disorders (EBD) are less experienced and more likely to have emergency certification than teachers of students with other disabilities. Yet, to date, research has not examined the relation between the academic achievement of students with EBD and characteristics associated with highly qualified teachers (teachers’ education level, certification status, and years of experience). Using a nationally representative longitudinal data set of students with disabilities, this study examined the relation between teacher characteristics and the academic achievement of students with EBD. Using hierarchical linear modeling, the study found low academic achievement for students with EBD, null effects for change in achievement across time, and null effects for the relation between (a) teachers’ educational level, certification status, and years of experience and (b) student academic achievement. Results indicate further research is needed to examine whether and how ...
Why Faces are Special to Infants — on Connecting the Attraction of Faces and Infants’ Ability for Imitation and Cross-Modal Processing

There is more to faces than meets the eye. Infants can see the faces of others, but can also feel their own faces move. We propose a cross-modal hypothesis about why faces are attractive and meaningful to infants. According to this view, faces are attention-getting in part because they look like infants’ own felt experiences. This cross-modal correspondence drives not only visual attention but also action. Infants produce facial acts they see others perform. We here report an experiment on the efficacy of mothers versus strangers in eliciting facial imitation. The development of imitation is also investigated. The results show that there is no disappearance or “drop out” of imitation in early infancy; however, infants develop social expectations about face-to-face interaction that sometimes supersede imitation. Special procedures are required to motivate imitative responding in the 2- to 3-month age range. A theory is proposed about the motivation and functional significance of early facial imitation. According to this theory early imitation subserves a social identity function. Infants treat the facial behaviors of people as identifiers of who they are and use imitative reenactments as a means of verifying the identity of people. Facial imitation and the neural bases of the multimodal representation of faces provide interesting problems in developmental cognitive neuroscience.
Temperature of Ingested Fluids: Preference and Satiation Effects (Pease Porridge Warm, Pease Porridge Cool)

In the laboratory, the air, food, and water all typically stay at one stable temperature, and when that temperature is experimentally manipulated, as by cold stress, the air, food, and water all tend to change together. As a result of this confounding, several reports have appeared to demonstrate that water intake varies with changes in the temperature of the air to which an animal is exposed.
Pressure Control of Reactions in Supercritical Fluids: Thermodynamics and Kinetics

Abstract In a supercritical fluid (SCF) solvent, large variations in solvent properties (diffusivity, density, viscosity, dielectric, etc.) may be caused by small changes in pressure or temperature, especially in the region near the critical point. This variability makes SCF's attractive as solvents for reactions (enzymatic or otherwise), because we can hope to “tune” the solvent properties by appropriately adjusting pressure and temperature in order to optimize our process. Several enzymatic reactions using SCF solvents have been reported in the literature; however, the effects of pressure, temperature, and cosolvent concentrations on enzyme-catalyzed reactions and enzyme stability in SCF's are complicated and are still poorly understood. Some insight may be gained, however, by examining the physical chemistry and thermodynamics of SCF's in greater detail. Changes in temperature or pressure affect maximum achievable reaction rates by affecting both the bulk concentration of reactants (through changing solubilities) and by changing the reaction rate constants themselves. Large changes in rate constants can result from small pressure or temperature changes. These changes, expressed as activation volumes and activation energies, can be very large compared to those typically seen in liquids. Both positive and negative activation volumes have been reported in the literature; we will report positive activation volumes as large as 7 liters/mole for reactions in supercritical ethane. A pressure and temperature dependent effect of particular interest in reactive systems is local density augmentation, or clustering, of solvents and solutes. Effective local concentrations in supercritical fluids may be several times higher than those in the bulk, and the resulting effect on reaction rates may be substantial.
Andō Shōeki’s Agrarian Utopianism: An East Asian Philosophical Contextualization

This essay explores the thought of Andō Shōeki vis-a-vis interpretive fields broader than those of Japanese intellectual traditions by contextualizing Shōeki’s ideas in relation to several ancient Chinese works pertinent to in-depth understandings of the theoretical foundations of his thought. These texts help illuminate why Shōeki’s writings achieved such cultural broadcast as they did in his day and thereafter. These works reveal that many of the more memorable themes in Shōeki’s writings resonated with larger East Asian patterns of thought, making Shōeki not simply an important Japanese thinker but one of considerable standing in East Asian philosophical history.
Update on the ECG component of the CiPA initiative

Abstract The Comprehensive in vitro Proarrhythmia Assay (CiPA) initiative is validating a new paradigm for assessing proarrhythmic potential of drugs that goes beyond hERG block and QT prolongation. Based on in vitro data of the drug's effects on multiple cardiac ion channel currents, CiPA's in silico model of the human cardiomyocyte will classify drugs as low, intermediate or high risk for torsade de pointes. Under CiPA, early phase 1 ECG data will be used to determine if there are unexpected ion channel effects in humans compared to the in vitro ion channel data. CiPA's ECG biomarker working group identified the heart rate corrected J-Tpeak interval (J-Tpeakc, from the end of the QRS to the peak of the T-wave) as the best of 12 ECG biomarkers to detect late sodium current block in presence of hERG block. While predominant hERG blockers prolonged QTc and J-Tpeakc, “balanced” ion channel blocking drugs (hERG + late sodium and/or calcium block) prolonged QTc without prolonging J-Tpeakc. This manuscript reviews the ECG component of CiPA and provides a description of the ECG methods used in the CiPA ECG validation clinical study.
Comparing gun-owning vs non-owning households in terms of firearm and non-firearm suicide and suicide attempts.

Abstract The goal of this study is to provide, for the United States, estimates for gun-owning and non-owning households in terms of firearm and non-firearm suicides and suicide attempts. To make these ballpark estimates I combine a half-dozen known “facts” about suicide (e.g., households with firearms are at approximately 3× the risk of suicide as households without firearms). Among the six major conclusions are that about 90% of firearm suicides occur among members of gun-owning households, that 75% of suicides among gun-owning families are firearm suicides, but only 20% of suicide attempts among these families are with firearms. This study not only provides estimates of suicides and suicide attempts by gun-owning and non-owning households, but the reasonableness of the estimates provides support for the reasonableness of the half-dozen known “facts” about firearms and suicide.
Variable time preference

We re-examine behavioral patterns of intertemporal choice with recognition that time preferences may be inherently variable, focusing in particular on the explanatory power of an exponential discounting model with variable discount factors - the variable exponential model. We provide analytical results showing that this model can generate systematically different choice patterns from an exponential discounting model with a fixed discount factor. The variable exponential model accounts for the common behavioral pattern of decreasing impatience, which is typically attributed to hyperbolic discounting. The variable exponential model also generates violations of strong stochastic transitivity in choices involving intertemporal dominance. We present the results of two experiments designed to evaluate the variable exponential model in terms of quantitative fit to individual-level choice data. Data from these experiments reveal that allowing for a variable discount factor significantly improves the fit of the exponential model, and that a variable exponential model provides a better account of individual-level choice probabilities than hyperbolic discounting models. In a third experiment we find evidence of strong stochastic transitivity violations when intertemporal dominance is involved, in accordance with the variable exponential model. Overall, our analytical and experimental results indicate that exponential discounting can explain intertemporal choice behavior that was supposed to be beyond its descriptive scope if the discount factor is permitted to vary at random. Our results also highlight the importance of allowing for different sources of randomness in choice modeling.
Noncollinear spin structure in F e 3 + x C o 3 − x T i 2 ( x = 0 , 2 , 3 ) from neutron diffraction

Neutron powder diffraction has been used to investigate the spin structure of the hard-magnetic alloy $\mathrm{F}{\mathrm{e}}_{3+x}\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{o}}_{3\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{T}{\mathrm{i}}_{2}$ ($x=0,2,3$). The materials are produced by rapid quenching from the melt, they possess a hexagonal crystal structure, and they are nanocrystalline with crystallite sizes $D$ of the order of 40 nm. Projections of the magnetic moment onto both the crystalline $c$ axis and the basal plane were observed. The corresponding misalignment angle exhibits a nonlinear decrease with $x$, which we explain as a micromagnetic effect caused by Fe-Co site disorder. The underlying physics is a special kind of random-anisotropy magnetism that leads to the prediction of $1/{D}^{1/4}$ power-law dependence of the misalignment angle on the crystallite size.
Feasibility study of silicone stereolithography with an optically created dead zone

Abstract Vat photopolymerization (VP) of silicone can produce better finish and higher resolution than the conventional extrusion-based method. One challenge in the current bottom-up VP processes is the separation that forms between the cured part and vat at each layer. Oxygen-inhibition is commonly adopted as a solution (i.e. “dead zone”), but it is limited by the size, material, and environment. Herein, a method to optically create the dead zone by low one photon polymerization (LOPP) is investigated. LOPP is achieved by a low-absorbance wavelength and a gradient light beam. In this study, two sets of the experiments, stationary exposure and moving exposure, were conducted with two low-absorbance wavelengths (375 nm and 385 nm) for a formulated UV-curable silicone. The first experiment measured the effect of beam power; the second experiment measured the effect of scanning speed. The results show that the lower-absorbance wavelength (385 nm) generates a larger, more stable dead zone and a smaller curing spot in both experiments, while the 375 nm wavelength produces a rapidly changed dead zone in the stationary condition and nearly no dead zone in the moving condition. The curing speed of 385 nm at the same power level was 10 times slower than 375 nm, but could be scaled up non-linearly by the beam power. A tripled light power of 385 nm can accelerate the process by a factor of 7 and be comparable to that of 375 nm. Thus, this study confirms the feasibility of an optically created dead zone and also uncovers the necessity of high-power light source for this application.
Exploring new links between crystal plasticity models and high-energy X-ray diffraction microscopy

Abstract The advancement and transition of computational materials models requires corresponding developments in experimental methods to provide new phenomenological insights as well as quantification of model performance. In this article, we explore the natural links between crystal plasticity modeling and a suite of high-energy X-ray diffraction experimental techniques referred to as high-energy diffraction microscopy (HEDM). HEDM methods provide information such as the elastic strain state of individual grains and the distribution of crystallographic orientations. As a non-destructive characterization method, pairing HEDM with in situ mechanical testing enables tracking of material state evolution through quantitative measurements that may be directly compared to a simulation. We highlight some recent successes in this area and provide suggestions for future research.
Development of an Inline Dry Powder Inhaler for Oral or Trans-Nasal Aerosol Administration to Children

Background: Dry powder inhalers (DPIs) offer a number of advantages, such as rapid delivery of high-dose inhaled medications; however, DPI use in children is often avoided due to low lung delivery efficiency and difficulty in operating the device. The objective of this study was to develop a high-efficiency inline DPI for administering aerosol therapy to children with the option of using either an oral or trans-nasal approach. Methods: An inline DPI was developed that consisted of hollow inlet and outlet capillaries, a powder chamber, and a nasal or oral interface. A ventilation bag or compressed air was used to actuate the device and simultaneously provide a full deep inspiration consistent with a 5-year-old child. The powder chamber was partially filled with a model spray-dried excipient enhanced growth powder formulation with a mass of 10 mg. Device aerosolization was characterized with cascade impaction, and aerosol transmissions through oral and nasal in vitro models were assessed. Results: Best device performance was achieved when all actuation air passed through the powder chamber (no bypass flow) resulting in an aerosol mean mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) <1.75 μm and a fine particle fraction (<5 μm) ≥90% based on emitted dose. Actuation with the ventilation bag enabled lung delivery efficiency through the nasal and oral interfaces to a tracheal filter of 60% or greater, based on loaded dose. In both oral and nose-to-lung (N2L) administrations, extrathoracic depositional losses were <10%. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study has proposed and initially developed an efficient inline DPI for delivering spray-dried formulations to children using positive pressure operation. Actuation of the device with positive pressure enabled effective N2L aerosol administration with a DPI, which may be beneficial for subjects who are too young to use a mouthpiece or to simultaneously treat the nasal and lung airways of older children.
Mechanistic Modeling of the Hepatic Disposition of Estradiol-17β-Glucuronide in Sandwich-Cultured Human Hepatocytes

Estradiol-17β-glucuronide (E217G) is an estrogen metabolite that has cholestatic properties. In humans, circulating E217G is transported into hepatocytes by organic anion transporting polypeptides (OATPs) and is excreted into bile by multidrug-resistance associated protein 2 (MRP2). E217G is also a substrate of the basolateral efflux transporters MRP3 and MRP4, which translocate E217G from hepatocytes to blood. However, the contribution of basolateral efflux to hepatocyte disposition of E217G has not been evaluated previously. To address this question, E217G disposition was studied in sandwich-cultured human hepatocytes and mechanistic modeling was applied to calculate clearance values (mean ± S.D.) for uptake, intrinsic biliary excretion (CLint,bile) and intrinsic basolateral efflux (CLint,BL). The biliary excretion index of E217G was 45% ± 6%. The CLint,BL of E217G [0.18 ± 0.03 (ml/min)/g liver) was 1.6-fold higher than CLint,bile [0.11 ± 0.06 (ml/min)/g liver]. Simulations were performed to study the effects of increased CLint,BL and a concomitant decrease in CLint,bile on hepatic E217G exposure. Results demonstrated that increased CLint,BL can effectively reduce hepatocellular and biliary exposure to this potent cholestatic agent. Simulations also revealed that basolateral efflux can compensate for impaired biliary excretion and, vice versa, to avoid accumulation of E217G in hepatocytes. However, when both clearance processes are impaired by 90%, hepatocyte E217G exposure increases up to 10-fold. These data highlight the contribution of basolateral efflux transport, in addition to MRP2-mediated biliary excretion, to E217G disposition in human hepatocytes. This elimination route could be important, especially in cases where basolateral efflux is induced, such as cholestasis. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The disposition of the cholestatic estrogen metabolite estradiol-17β-glucuronide (E217G) was characterized in sandwich-cultured human hepatocytes. The intrinsic basolateral efflux clearance was estimated to be 1.6-fold higher than the intrinsic biliary excretion clearance, emphasizing the contribution of basolateral elimination in addition to biliary excretion. Simulations highlight how hepatocytes can effectively cope with increased E217G through the regulation of both basolateral and biliary transporters.
Health for Hearts United Longitudinal Trial: Improving Dietary Behaviors in Older African Americans.

Introduction Church-based interventions have been shown to improve the dietary health of underserved populations, yet few studies have examined sustainability of health behavior change over time. This paper examines dietary outcomes over a 24-month period (baseline and 6, 18, and 24 months) for fruit and vegetable and fat consumption behaviors of African-American participants in the Health for Hearts United church-based intervention in North Florida. Study design This quasi-experimental, longitudinal trial was conducted from 2009 to 2012. Data were analyzed in 2018. Setting/participants Six churches in a 2-county area (3 treatment, 3 comparison) were selected for the study using community-based participatory research approaches. Participants were African-American adults (aged ≥45 years; n=211 at baseline) randomly selected from the churches, stratified by age and sex. Intervention Health for Hearts United intervention was developed by the 3 treatment churches. The 18-month intervention was implemented in 3 6-month phases, framed around 3 conceptual components, which included 4 types of programs and 4 key messages. Main outcome measures Fruit and vegetable consumption was assessed using a single item (fruit and vegetable intake) and the National Cancer Institute Fruit and Vegetable Screener. Fat consumption was determined using a single item (fat intake) and the National Cancer Institute Fat Screener. Background characteristics included age, sex, educational level, and marital status. Results Significant time effects only were found for daily fruit and vegetable intake (p Conclusions Dietary behaviors of mid-life and older African Americans can be improved and sustained over 24 months using a church-based heart health intervention, with similar improvements noted for both comparison and treatment participants. Trial registration This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT03339050 .
Cannabis Use as Determined by Biologic Testing in Maternal and Newborn Urines during a Period of Drug Liberalization

Introduction: Cannabis use is common in pregnancy and prevalence of reported past month use have been increasing despite recommendations of abstinence. Our study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of cannabis use in pregnancy using urine drug screens obtained at the time of admission to Labor and Delivery. Methods: De-identified laboratory data from three birthing hospitals located in Maryland were used to determine the percentage of cannabis positive urine toxicology tests among women admitted to Labor and Delivery. Data were collected at each site starting the year that universal urine cannabis testing was instituted. One hospital also performed universal testing of newborns which was contrasted with maternal data there. Results: Overall, 5.7% of the 22,435 maternal and 3.4% of the 8,346 newborn urine toxicology tests and were positive for cannabis. Trends varied between institutions. When all three institutions were combined, the percent of positive urine toxicology tests was unchanged between 2016 and 2018. At Site 1 between 2014 and 2018, the percentage of cannabis positive urine toxicology tests increased from 5.7% to 9.9% and newborn tests increased from 1.7% to 3.4%. Only 27.7% of the neonates born to women with positive screens also had a positive screen at the time of birth. Conclusions: Prevalence of cannabis use until the time of delivery vary by location but were largely unchanged over a period of drug liberalization.
Individualized Web-Based Attention Training With Evidence-Based Counseling to Address HIV Treatment Adherence and Psychological Distress: Exploratory Cohort Study.

Background: The prevalence of mood, trauma, and stressor-related disorders is disproportionately higher among people living with HIV than among individuals without the virus. Poor adherence to HIV treatment and heightened psychological distress have been linked to symptoms associated with these disorders. Objective: The objective of this exploratory pilot study was to develop and implement an intervention that combined individualized web-based attention training with evidence-based counseling to promote HIV treatment adherence and reduce psychological distress among people living with HIV. The study targeted African American and Latino young men who have sex with men, two population groups in the US that continue to experience disparities in HIV treatment outcomes. Methods: Study participants with elevated symptoms of depression and suboptimal adherence to antiretroviral therapy were recruited primarily through referrals from Los Angeles health and social service providers as well as postings on social media. Participants enrolled in the 4-week intervention received weekly counseling for adherence and daily access to web-based attention training via their personal mobile devices or computers. Results: Of the 14 participants who began the intervention, 12 (86%) completed all sessions and study procedures. Using a pretest-posttest design, findings indicate significant improvements in adherence, depressive symptoms, and attention processing. Overall, the proportion of participants reporting low adherence to antiretroviral therapy declined from 42% at baseline to 25% at intervention completion (P=.02, phi=0.68). Mean depressive symptoms measured by the 9 item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) showed a substantial reduction of 36% (P=.002, Cohen d=1.2). In addition, participants’ attentional processing speeds for all types of stimuli pairings presented during attention training improved significantly (P=.01 and P=.02) and were accompanied by large effect sizes ranging from 0.78 to 1.0. Conclusions: Our findings support the feasibility of web-based attention training combined with counseling to improve antiretroviral therapy adherence among patients with psychological distress. Future research should include a larger sample, a control group, and longer-term follow-up.
Chapter VI – Inverse Transformation

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses inverse transformation. The z transform provides a completely general and extremely flexible procedure for the solution of linear difference equations with constant coefficients. As such, it has proven useful to designers of discrete, linear, time-invariant systems. For simple systems with known forcing functions that allow the use of the method of undetermined coefficients, the classical procedures are usually simpler and quicker than the z transform alternative. However, as the complexity of the system becomes greater both in regard to the order of the equation and the nature of the forcing function, the relative usefulness of the z transform increases. The z transform has a distinct advantage over the variation-of-parameters method when generalized forcing functions are confronted. However, the use of the z transform does not alleviate the necessity of finding the roots of characteristic equations to solve system difference equations. This difficulty is partially eased by the use of numerical methods to extract such roots when necessary, but it is never an easy task.
Mapping of QTLs for lycopene and other fruit traits in a Lycopersicon esculentum × L. pimpinellifolium cross and comparison of QTLs across tomato species

Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for several fruit traits in tomato were mapped and characterized in a backcross population of an interspecific cross between Lycopersicon esculentum fresh-marker breeding line NC84173 and L. pimpinellifolium accession LA722. A molecular linkage map of this cross that was previously constructed based on 119 BC1 individuals and 151 RFLP markers was used for the QTL mapping. The parental lines and 119 BC1S1 families (self-pollinated progeny of BC1 individuals) were grown under field conditions at two locations, Rock Spring, PA, and Davis, CA, and fruits were scored for weight (FW), polar (PD) and equatorial diameters (ED), shape (FS), total soluble solids content (SSC), pH and lycopene content (LYC). For each trait, between 4 and 10 QTLs were identified with individual effects ranging between 4.4% and 32.9% and multilocus QTL effects ranging between 39% and 75% of the total phenotypic variation. Most QTL effects were predictable from the parental phenotypes, and several QTLs were identified that affected more than one trait. A few pairwise epistatic interactions were detected between QTL-linked and QTL-unlinked markers. Despite great differences between PA and CA growing conditions, the majority of FW QTLs (78%) and SSC QTLs (75%) in the two locations shared similar genomic positions. Almost all of the QTLs that were identified in the present study for FW and SSC were previously identified in six other studies that used different interspecific crosses of tomato; this indicates conservation of QTLs for fruit traits across tomato species. Altogether, the seven studies identified at least 28 QTLs for FW and 32 QTLs for SSC on the 12 tomato chromosomes. However, for each trait a few major QTLs were commonly identified in 4 or more studies; such ‘popular’ QTLs should be of considerable interest for breeding purposes as well as basic research towards cloning of QTLs. Notably, a majority of QTLs for increased SSC also contributed to decreased fruit size. Therefore, to significantly increase SSC of the cultivated tomato, some compromise in fruit size may be unavoidable.
On Almost Disjunct Matrices for Group Testing

In a group testing scheme, a set of tests is designed to identify a small number t of defective items among a large set (of size N) of items. In the non-adaptive scenario the set of tests has to be designed in one-shot. In this setting, designing a testing scheme is equivalent to the construction of a disjunct matrix, an M ×N matrix where the union of supports of any t columns does not contain the support of any other column. In principle, one wants to have such a matrix with minimum possible number M of rows (tests). One of the main ways of constructing disjunct matrices relies on constant weight error-correcting codes and their minimum distance. In this paper, we consider a relaxed definition of a disjunct matrix known as almost disjunct matrix. This concept is also studied under the name of weakly separated design in the literature. The relaxed definition allows one to come up with group testing schemes where a close-to-one fraction of all possible sets of defective items are identifiable. Our main contribution is twofold. First, we go beyond the minimum distance analysis and connect the average distance of a constant weight code to the parameters of an almost disjunct matrix constructed from it. Next we show as a consequence an explicit construction of almost disjunct matrices based on our average distance analysis. The parameters of our construction can be varied to cover a large range of relations for t and N. As an example of parameters, consider any absolute constant e > 0 and t proportional to N δ , δ > 0. With our method it is possible to explicitly construct a group testing scheme that identifies (1 − e) proportion of all possible defective sets of size t using only \(O\Big(t^{3/2}\sqrt{ \log(N/\epsilon)}\Big)\) tests (as opposed to O(t 2logN) required to identify all defective sets).
Family-Centered Practices in Early Intervention

This chapter will guide early interventionists in the creation of individualized treatment plans that are family-centered. This chapter will present a framework for meeting the diverse needs of families from different socioeconomic, religious, and cultural backgrounds. Supporting child development and ensuring family participation is the goal of early intervention.
TEMPEST-D Radiometer: Instrument Description and Prelaunch Calibration

The Temporal Experiment for Storms and Tropical Systems Technology Demonstration (TEMPEST-D) instrument is a five-frequency millimeter-wave radiometer operating from 87 to 181 GHz. The cross-track scanning radiometer has been operating on a 6U CubeSat in low Earth orbit since September 5, 2018. The direct-detection architecture of the radiometer reduces its mass and power consumption by eliminating the need for a local oscillator and mixer, also reducing system complexity. The instrument includes a scanning reflector and ambient calibration target. The reflector rotates continuously to scan the antenna beams in the cross-track direction, first across the blackbody calibration target, then toward the Earth over the full range of incidence angles, and finally to cosmic microwave background radiation at 2.73 K. This enables precision end-to-end calibration of the millimeter-wave receivers during every 2-s scan period. The TEMPEST-D millimeter-wave radiometers are based on 35-nm indium phosphide (InP) high-electron-mobility transistor (HEMT) low-noise amplifiers. This article describes the instrument and its characterization prior to launch.
Medical School Accreditation Factors Associated With Certification by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG): A 10-Year International Study.

PURPOSE In 2024, international medical graduates seeking Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certification will be required to graduate from an accredited medical school. This study's goal was to examine relationships between medical school accreditation variables and ECFMG certification for a global sample. METHOD Using ECFMG databases, the authors created a 10-year cohort (January 1, 2007-December 31, 2016) of certification applicants, defined as individuals who had attempted at least 2 examinations required for certification. The authors aggregated applicant data at the school level, excluding schools with < 80 applicants. School accreditation statuses were based on agency websites. School region, age, and time of first accreditation were included. Analyses included descriptive and bivariate statistics and multiple linear regressions adjusting for school start year and year of first accreditation. RESULTS The cohort included 128,046 applicants from 1,973 medical schools across 162 countries. After excluding low-volume schools, 318 schools across 81 countries remained. These provided 99,598 applicants and 77,919 certificate holders, three-quarters of whom came from the Caribbean, South-Central Asia, and West Asia regions. Two hundred and fifty (78.6%) schools were accredited; 68 (21.4%) were not. Most ECFMG applicants (n = 84,776, 85.1%) and certificate holders (n = 68,444, 87.8%) attended accredited medical schools. Accredited schools had higher rates of ECFMG certification among graduates than nonaccredited schools in comparisons that included all schools (75.0% [standard deviation (SD) = 10.6%] vs 68.3% (SD = 15.9%), P < .001), and for countries that had both accredited and nonaccredited schools (73.9% [SD = 11.4%] vs 67.3% [SD = 16.8%], P = .023). After adjusting for age of school, longer duration of accreditation was associated with higher certification rates (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Accreditation had a positive association with ECFMG certification rates. Future studies should investigate how accreditation processes might account for higher certification rates.
Quantitative validation of MRI mapping of cerebral venous oxygenation with direct blood sampling: A graded-O2 study in piglets.

PURPOSE To validate two neonatal cerebral venous oxygenation (Yv ) MRI techniques, T2 relaxation under phase contrast (TRUPC) and accelerated TRUPC (aTRUPC) MRI, with oxygenation measured with direct blood sampling. METHODS In vivo experiments were performed on seven healthy newborn piglets. For each piglet, a catheter was placed in the superior sagittal sinus to obtain venous blood samples for blood gas oximetry measurement as a gold standard. During the MRI experiment, three to five venous oxygenation levels were achieved in each piglet by varying inhaled O2 content and breathing rate. Under each condition, Yv values of the superior sagittal sinus measured by TRUPC, aTRUPC, and blood gas oximetry were obtained. The Yv quantification in TRUPC and aTRUPC used a standard bovine blood calibration model. The aTRUPC scan was repeated twice to assess its reproducibility. Agreements among TRUPC Yv , aTRUPC Yv , and blood gas oximetry were evaluated by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and paired Student's t-test. RESULTS The mean hematocrit was 23.6 ± 6.5% among the piglets. Across all measurements, Yv values were 51.9 ± 21.3%, 54.1 ± 18.8%, and 53.7 ± 19.2% for blood gas oximetry, TRUPC and aTRUPC, respectively, showing no significant difference between any two methods (P > .3). There were good correlations between TRUPC and blood gas Yv (ICC = 0.801; P < .0001), between aTRUPC and blood gas Yv (ICC = 0.809; P < .0001), and between aTRUPC and TRUPC Yv (ICC = 0.887; P < .0001). The coefficient of variation of aTRUPC Yv was 8.1 ± 9.9%. CONCLUSION The values of Yv measured by TRUPC and aTRUPC were in good agreement with blood gas oximetry. These findings suggest that TRUPC and aTRUPC can provide accurate quantifications of Yv in major cerebral veins.
Fundamentals of microscopy

Microscopy is the study of the fine structure and morphology of objects with the use of a microscope. Microscopes range from optical microscopes, which resolve details on the micrometer level, to transmission electron microscopes that can resolve details less than one nanometer across. The size and visibility of the polymer structure to be characterized generally determines which instrument is to be used. For example, the size and distribution of spherulites can be observed by optical techniques, but a study of their internal structure requires electron microscopy. Combinations of the various microscopy techniques generally provide the best insight into the morphology of polymer materials [1]. Table 2.1 shows the basic properties of the different microscopes, for the purpose of comparison.
Mathematical Aspects of Superconductivity

Yang-Mills theory represents an attempt to understand subtle quantum phenomena via certain nonlinear partial differential equations arising as Euler-Lagrange equations of certain real-valued functionals that are invariant under a given gauge group G. Thus it seems natural to inquire whether there are known physical problems that can be successfully and quantitatively treated by such an approach and to explore (as fully as possible) the associated mathematical structures involved. In the linear case, the electrodynamics predicted by Maxwell's equations goes far beyond the goals just stated. Indeed, these linear partial differential equations served to form an unexpected unification in the dynamics of classical electricity, magnetism and optics. Correct predictions based on these linear equations have become a landmark in scientific history. Thus for nonlinear science, the topic discussed in this chapter is of the utmost importance.
Checking under the hood : Evaluating Google Scholar for reference use

Abstract Since the unveiling of Google Scholar (GS), academic libraries have struggled with the question of how and where (and in some cases, whether) to integrate GS into the suite of research resources they present to their users. This paper presents a critical evaluation of GS, examining its arrangement, authority, content, comparability with traditional indexing services, creation and currency, and usability, and offers tentative conclusions about its “fit.“