cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Accurate Spectrally Resolved Infrared Radiance Observation from Space: Implications for the Detection of Decade-to-Century–Scale Climatic Change

The character of data required to measure decade-to-century‐scale climatic change is distinctly different from that required for weather prediction or for studies of meteorological processes. The data ought to possess the accuracy to detect the small secular climate changes of interest. To be useful to future investigators, the data must include convincing proof that a given level of accuracy was in fact attained. Spectrally resolved infrared radiance is one of the most important quantities to measure accurately from space—it contains much of the fingerprint of climate response and of the forcing that causes it. The authors describe the physics of infrared radiance measurements, and demonstrate that trade-offs exist between instrument accuracy (required for climate data) and sensitivity (required for weather prediction). No such simple trade-off exists between spectral resolution and accuracy; in fact, spectral resolution can improve accuracy. The authors analyze the implications of these trade-offs for the design of climate-observing systems based on observation of infrared radiance. It is argued that convincing demonstrations of sensor accuracy requires a measurement approach founded on the overdetermination of instrument calibration, an approach that aims to reveal rather than conceal instrumental error. It is argued that the required accuracy can by achieved in simple instruments that provide spectral resolution if high sensitivity is not simultaneously demanded. Laboratory data are presented to illustrate the means by which radiometric calibration with the accuracy required for climate observation— about 0.1 K in the midinfrared—might be achieved in a practical instrument.
Do Ethnic Enclaves Impede or Facilitate Assimilation and Education? A Comparison Across Ethnicities and Geographies

Ethnic enclaves are locations in which a particular ethnic group resides in high concentrations. What effect does living in an enclave have on an immigrant's earnings and education? The existing literature has most often examined this question by looking at enclaves defined at the state, county, or metropolitan area level of geographic disaggregation. I improve upon this by looking at a finer level of geographic disaggregation, looking at specific neighborhoods within cities to define enclaves. Doing so allows for a clearer identification of the effects of ethnic enclaves on earnings and education. On average, living in an ethnic enclave leads to lower immigrant earnings, though Chinese, Iranian, Korean, and South Asian enclaves appear to increase earnings. This fine level of geographic disaggregation in my study also generates a large sample of ethnic enclaves across thirteen different source countries. I use this sample to evaluate how various characteristics of ethnic enclaves affect the earnings and education of immigrants who live in those enclaves. Immigrants who live in high skill enclaves tend to earn more than those in lower skill enclaves, even after controlling for an immigrants education. Immigrant earnings and education tend to be highest in enclaves in which the native population is younger and less likely to be married. There is some evidence that immigrants compete with natives in enclave labor markets, as immigrant earnings rise with native unemployment and fall with native labor force participation. Immigrant earnings tend to be higher in enclaves in which immigrants hold more managerial positions. The effects of other enclave characteristics such as immigrant assimilation, tenure in the United States, and English language ability vary across source countries, underscoring the need to not treat all immigrants as a homogenous group.
Standards for Hepatic and Hematologic Tests in Monkeys Observations During Experiments with Hepatitis and Mononucleosis.

Summary1. The inoculation of materials from patients with viral hepatitis or infectious mononucleosis into monkeys either alone or in conjunction with adrenocorticotropic hormone, cortisone, or urethane failed to result in evidence of successful transmission of these diseases. 2. Normal values for liver function tests, leucocyte counts, and differential blood counts in monkeys are recorded.
Phosphattidyl cholines of aorta from rabbits fed cholesterol.

SummaryMale and female New Zealand white rabbits were fed ground Purina rabbit pellets containing 1% cholesterol for 14 weeks. A significant increase in the total phosphatidyl choline-P, percentage of total lipid-P, total sphingomyelin-P, and percentage of lipid-P occurred in the aorta of the animals fed cholesterol. The total phosphatidyl cholines of the aorta were fractionated into four fractions by thin-layer chromatography on silica gel H impregnated with silver nitrate. A significant increase occurred in all the phosphatidyl choline fractions of the aorta from the animals fed cholesterol. A greater increase occurred in fractions 1-2 and 3.
A Comparative Evaluation of the Experiential Approach as a Business Policy Learning Environment

In a test of two teaching methods, the experiential group showed no improvement in overall knowledge or in fact or principle mastery. The traditional group increased its level of overall knowledge ...
Discrepancies between Student Perception and Achievement of Learning Outcomes in a Flipped Classroom.

In a college algebra course that used flipped/inverted pedagogy, students achieved learning outcomes at a significantly higher rate, as evidenced by results on the final exam. At the same time, student perception on a number of measures decreased significantly, including how interested students were in the course and whether the instructor effectively facilitated learning. This article will draw on a variety of research to suggest reasons for these discrepancies and possible solutions to help improve student perception in learner-centered instruction.
Modal analysis of patch slot designs in microstrip patch antennas

The Theory of Characteristic Modes is proposed as a systematic approach to antenna design to achieve the goal of finding the antenna structure with optimum broadband behavior. This theory provides a physical insight to the radiating nature of microstrip patch antennas and reduces the design optimization time. In this paper, the resonant behavior of different patch slot designs are analyzed using this theory. The modal analysis concludes that the U-slot patch design is the highest radiating structure and hence is a good candidate to achieve the highest impedance bandwidth.
Control of higher alcohol formation during cider fermentation

The influences of inoculum,(NH4)2HPO4,fermentation temperature,pH value and sugar content of apple juice on the higher alcohol formation during cider fermentation were studied by signal-factor experiment and Box-Behnken experiment.The results showed that inoculum,(NH4)2HPO4 and pH value were the significant factors.The optimum conditions were as followed: inoculum 9.3%,(NH4)2HPO4 155mg/L,pH value of apple juice 3.0,sugar 16g/100mL and fermentation temperature 18℃.
Effects of Mainuokang on electrocardiogram,serum lipid and endothelial function in latent coronary heart disease

AIM To observe the effects of Mainuokang on electrocardiogram(ECG),serum lipid and endothelial function in latent coronary heart disease.METHODS Fifty eight patients with latent coronary heart disease were treated with Mainuokang.Serum lipid,endothelin-1 expression(ET-1)and nitric oxide expression(NO)were examined and compared and ECG was monitored before and after treatment.RESULTS The total effective rate shown by ECG was 91% and ECG-ST depress value of most leads markedly decreased(P0.01)after treatment.Compared with those pre-therapy,a significant decrease was observed in total cholesterol [(5.6±0.8)mmol/L vs(5.0±0.8)mmol/L,P0.05],triglyceride [(3.0±0.7)mmol/L vs(1.8±0.6)mmol/L,P0.01],low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol [(2.8±0.5)mmol/L vs(2.3±0.5)mmol/L,P0.05] and a significant increase was observed in high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol [(1.09±0.36)mmol/L vs(1.20±0.27)mmol/L,P0.05].ET-1 decreased significantly [(103±29)ng/L vs(82±11)ng/L,P0.01] and NO increased significantly [(22±9)μmol/L vs(39±11)μmol/L,P0.01] after treatment.CONCLUSION Mainuokang improves serum lipid,vascular endothelial function and ischemia of latent coronary heart disease.
Abstract LB-A24: Molecular alteration of SMAD4 in hindgut-derived colorectal tumors identifies a distinct subset of patients and is associated with worse recurrence-free survival

This abstract has been withheld from publication due to its inclusion in the AACR-NCI-EORTC Molecular Targets Conference 2015 Official Press Program. It will be posted online at the time of its presentation in a press conference or in a session: 10:00 AM ET Friday, November 6. Citation Format: Jesse Joshua Smith, Lik Hang Lee, Xi Chen, Chao Wu, Raphael Pelossof, Garrett M. Nash, Larissa R. Temple, Jose G. Guillem, Martin R. Weiser, Philip B. Paty, Jinru Shia, Julio Garcia-Aguilar, Charles L. Sawyers. Molecular alteration of SMAD4 in hindgut-derived colorectal tumors identifies a distinct subset of patients and is associated with worse recurrence-free survival. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2015 Nov 5-9; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2015;14(12 Suppl 2):Abstract nr LB-A24.
Partial pattern fulfillment and its application in event processing: poster

Within the last few years, event processing has been gaining a lot of attention as it represents a powerful possibility to establish a real-time monitoring and situation detection. The real-time detection of situations allows a timely reaction and helps to reduce the damage made by harmful situations or increase the benefit of opportunities. The so called situation of interest (SOI) is described as a pattern, which represents a combination of events describing their temporal causality. Instead of just detecting SOIs, we search for possibilities to predict them. As patterns are the basis for reactive event processing, we also want to exploit them for proactive event processing. Therefore, we immerse into the world of pattern management to gain a better understanding of patterns, their structure and expressiveness.
AUC-Guided Vancomycin Dosing in Adolescent Patients With Suspected Sepsis

Vancomycin is a first-line treatment for β-lactam-resistant Gram-positive bacterial infections. Understanding the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) characteristics of vancomycin in an adolescent population is of clinical importance in this often overlooked pediatric population. This retrospective study investigated vancomycin PK-PD in an adolescent cohort (12 to 18 years of age) of 463 patients (57% male, 81% white) admitted to the Intermountain Healthcare System between January 2006 and December 2013. Population PK modeling was performed in NONMEM 7.3. Vancomycin PK was well described with a 1-compartment model that identified both body weight (WT) and creatinine clearance (CRCL) as covariates significantly impacting vancomycin disposition. The model was then utilized to determine dosing strategies that achieved the targeted area under the 24-hour time curve vs minimum inhibitory concentration (AUC0-24 /MIC) ratio of ≥400. Additionally, these data were correlated with minimum steady-state concentrations (Css,min ) to find an acceptable target trough concentration range in adolescents. This analysis demonstrated that Css,min ranging from 10 to 12.5 mg/L were highly predictive of achieving an AUC0-24 /MIC ≥400 when the MIC was ≤1 mg/L. These results suggest that the target trough concentration for adolescents may be lower than that for adults.
Channel-facilitated molecular transport: The role of strength and spatial distribution of interactions

Abstract Molecular transport across channels and pores is critically important for multiple natural and industrial processes. Recent advances in single-molecule techniques have allowed researchers to probe translocation through nanopores with unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution. However, our understanding of the mechanisms of channel-facilitated molecular transport is still not complete. We present a theoretical approach that investigates the role of molecular interactions in the transport through channels. It is based on the discrete-state stochastic analysis that provides a fully analytical description of this complex process. It is found that a spatial distribution of the interactions strongly influences the translocation dynamics. We predict that there is the optimal distribution that leads to the maximal flux through the channel. It is also argued that the channel transport depends on the strength of the molecule-pore interactions, on the shape of interaction potentials and on the relative contributions of entrance and diffusion processes in the system. These observations are discussed using simple physical-chemical arguments.
A workshop on leadership for senior MD-PhD students

Leadership skills are essential for a successful career as a physician-scientist, yet many MD–PhD training programs do not offer formal training in leadership. The Vanderbilt Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) previously established a 2-day leadership workshop that has been held biennially since 2006 for students in the first and second years of the graduate school portion of combined MD and PhD training (G1/G2 students). Workshop attendees have consistently rated this workshop as a highly effective experience. However, opportunities for structured training in leadership competencies during the subsequent 3–5 years of MD–PhD training are limited. Given the success of the G1/G2 leadership workshop and the need for continuity in this model of leadership training, we developed a half-day workshop for MSTP students in the clinical years of medical school (M3/M4 students) to foster continued training in leadership. Our workshop curriculum, based in part on original cases drafted by Vanderbilt MSTP students, provides concrete strategies to manage conflict and navigate leadership transitions in the physician-scientist career path. The curriculum emphasizes both short-term competencies, such as effective participation as a member of a clinical team, and long-term competencies, such as leadership of a research team, division, or department. Our inaugural senior leadership workshop, held in August, 2015, was judged by student participants to be well organized and highly relevant to leadership concepts and skills. It will be offered biennially in our training curriculum for M3 and M4 MSTP students. Keywords: MD–PhD curriculum; leadership; conflict management; student-led program design; case-based instruction; MSTP (Published: 5 August 2016) Citation: Med Educ Online 2016, 21: 31534 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/meo.v21.31534
A method for evaluation of edge capacitance of a two-layer dielectric capacitor, with materials of widely different and variable dielectric constants

In a recent study on the change of dielectric constant as a determination of the progress of crystallization of an inorganic compound, a great deal of difficulty had been experienced. The cause lay in the high and continually changing dielectric constant of the specimen and in the necessity of involving the use of a series capacitor and a container both of which had different dielectric constants from each other and from the specimen.
Microstructured monofilament via thermal drawing of additively manufactured preforms

Abstract A process is presented for the rapid production of microstructured monofilaments via thermal drawing of additively manufactured polymer preforms. Preforms are produced wholly, or in part, via fused filament fabrication of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and polycarbonate materials. The preforms are heated and drawn under tension to convert the preforms into lengths of monofilament that closely reproduce the geometric structure of the parent preform. Example monofilaments include “microprinted” monofilaments that contain an arbitrary image embedded in the monofilament cross section; microfluidic monofilaments in which flow channels are formed by combining optically transparent and opaque materials; dual-material monofilaments that combine ABS and polycarbonate into a regular spoked geometry with five-fold symmetry; and a microfluidic preform co-fed with glass optical fiber, allowing both fluid and light transmission through the monofilament. The primary advantages of this monofilament fabrication technique include short lead times; minimal investment in materials and equipment; a means of directly combining multiple materials into a single monofilament, even if the material components have different thermorheological properties; and the ability to create arbitrary and complex geometries.
A Latent Variable Framework for Power Estimation Within Intervention Contexts

This paper presents a latent growth SEM approach for the estimation of treatment effects, and power to detect such effects, within a true experimental design setting in which subjects are randomly assigned to treatment and control conditions. Power estimation is a critical component of intervention experiment design and the testing of their results. Although researchers have become increasingly sophisticated in applying tests for statistical significance in intervention contexts, few are aware of the power of these tests. The issues raised in this paper are not new; however, reminding researchers to consider these points is important. Exactly how the researcher handles these issues will depend on the questions asked and the resources available, as well as other considerations. Discussion underscores the relationship between the reliability of a study's measures and concomitant increases in power obtained within the SEM framework.
Synthesized Mammography: The New Standard of Care When Screening for Breast Cancer with Digital Breast Tomosynthesis?

Rationale and Objectives This study aims to evaluate the screening performance of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) combined with synthesized mammography (SM) vs combined with full-field digital mammography (FFDM). Materials and Methods We retrospectively reviewed all screening studies utilizing FFDM + DBT (n = 7845) and SM + DBT (n = 14,776) between April 1, 2013, and February 15, 2016. Recall rate, biopsy rate, positive predictive value 1 (PPV1), positive predictive value 3 (PPV3), and cancer detection rate (CDR) were compared between the two groups. A generalized linear mixed model specifying the reading radiologist as the random effect and controlling for age was used to compare clinical outcomes between the two groups. Results The overall recall rate was significantly lower in the SM + DBT cohort compared to the FFDM + DBT cohort (7.06% vs 7.63%, P = .04). There was no difference in biopsy rate, PPV1, PPV3, or CDR between the two groups. Conclusions When DBT is performed for screening, the use of SM rather than acquiring an additional FFDM has no significant effect on biopsy rate, PPV1, PPV3, or CDR. We found a decrease in recall rate in the SM + DBT group, which may be related to the learning curve of interpreting DBT. These findings support the use of SM for patients undergoing screening with DBT.
Methods for Evaluation of Imperfect Captioning Tools by Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing Users at Different Reading Literacy Levels

As Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) improves in accuracy, it may become useful for transcribing spoken text in real-time for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (DHH) individuals. To quantify users' comprehension and opinion of automatic captions, which inevitably contain some errors, we must identify appropriate methodologies for evaluation studies with DHH users, including quantitative measurement instruments suitable to the various literacy levels among the DHH population. A literature review guided our selection of several probes (e.g. multiple-choice comprehension-question accuracy or response time, scalar-questions about user estimation of ASR errors or their impact, users' numerical estimation of accuracy), which we evaluated in a lab study with DHH users, wherein their literacy levels and the actual accuracy of each caption stimulus were factors. For some probes, participants with lower literacy had more positive subjective responses overall, and, for participants with particular literacy score ranges, some probes were insufficiently sensitive to distinguish between caption accuracy levels.
Breaking the Waves: Innovating at the Intersections of Economic Development:

State and local economic development is often conceptualized as a series of successive waves, with each wave representing distinct policy priorities. In this study, we rework the standard wave meta...
Muscle Strength, Assessment of

This article provides an overview of muscle strength assessment, including manual muscle testing, isokinetic fixed and hand-held dynamometry, functional scales, and functional tests. There are drawbacks to all current methods of assessing weakness. Accuracy, reproducibility, and sensitivity remain the ‘holy grail’ of muscle strength testing.
Thin Cylindrical Shells

Thin cylindrical shells of various constructions have been extensively used as structures or primary components in complex structural configurations. These systems are subjected to destabilizing loads in service, and since these loads are often dynamic in nature, it is not surprising that a great deal of interest was generated in the dynamic stability of cylindrical shells. Most of the analyses make use of monocoque metallic construction, but in this chapter applications to stiffened metallic and laminated composite configurations will also be presented.
Pelvic Floor Prolapse: Cause and Effect

Pelvic floor prolapse or pelvic organ prolapse (POP) ( Fig. 5.1 ) is a common but poorly understood condition affecting millions of women worldwide. In the United States, the lifetime risk of undergoing surgery for POP or urinary incontinence is estimated to be 11%, and nearly 30% of these patients require another operation for recurrence [1] . The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) data revealed that approximately 40% of women had some form of POP [2] . This difference in rates of prolapse between surgical patients and patients being seen for routine gynecologic examinations reflects the often asymptomatic presentation of prolapse [3] . Understanding the progression of this disease may allow clinicians to apply more appropriate treatment to patients depending on the etiology of their prolapse and their symptoms. Despite the prevalence of POP, little is known regarding the mechanism for development and natural history of the disease. Much of this stems from the lack of a clear and standardized definition for POP, which limits our ability to study its etiologies. A conference on terminology assembled by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently focused on developing clear definitions for POP to foster more epidemiological research into the disease [4] . These studies are forthcoming, but with a 45% increase over 30 years in demand for services related to pelvic floor dysfunction, our understanding of its development will become important in meeting the treatment needs of the future [5] . Successful treatment will require the identification and management of risk factors that could potentially be involved in the development of POP. In order to recognize risk factors for POP, a thorough understanding of pelvic anatomy is needed. As the female pelvis evolved from quadruped ambulation to bipedalism, supportive structures adapted to support pelvic viscera and enable parturition (see Chapter 4, Three-Dimensional surgical anatomy). Activities and events that are shaped by a bipedal lifestyle can contribute to failures in the supportive structure of the pelvis that can lead to POP. Maintaining or rehabilitating levator muscle bulk and strength may be the key to preventing many cases of pelvic organ prolapse [6] . Just as humans evolve, so too do the signs and symptoms of POP. Research into the evolution of POP should focus on the anatomical disruptions predisposed to by specific risk factors and physical insults to the female pelvis. It is not uncommon for urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, and POP to coexist because of their anatomical relationships and common risk factors ( Fig. 5.2 ) . In this chapter we will focus specifically on the cause and effect of pelvic organ prolapse.
DNA turnover and strand breaks in Escherichia coli.

The extent of DNA turnover has been measured in a dnaB mutant of Escherichia coli, temperature sensitive for semiconservative DNA replication. At the nonpermissive temperature about 0.02% of the deoxynucleotides in DNA are exchanged per generation period. This turnover rate is markedly depressed in the presence of rifampicin. During thymine starvation strand breaks accumulate in the DNA of E. coli strains that are susceptible to thymineless death. Rifampicin suppresses the appearance of these breaks, consistent with our hypothesis that transcription may be accompanied by repairable single-strand breaks in DNA.
A Reproduction and Teratology Study with Gossypol

Following the initial report from China in 1978 of the antifertility effect of gossypol in human males [1], antifertility studies have been conducted in various species: rats [2, 3, 4, 5], mice [6], hamsters [7, 8, 9], rabbits [10, 11], and monkeys [12]. Differential susceptibility among species exist: hamsters appear to be the most susceptible and mice and rabbits the least susceptible to the antifertility effects of gossypol [13, 14, 15]. The physiological and medical aspects of gossypol have been reviewed [16].
Integration of multiple knowledge sources in ALADIN, an alloy design system

ALADIN* is a knowledge-based system that aids metallurgists in the design of new aluminum alloys. Alloy design is characterized by creativity, intuition and conceptual reasoning. The application of artificial intelligence to this domain poses a number of challenges, including: how to focus the search, how to deal with subproblem interactions, how to integrate multiple, incomplete design models and how to represent complex, metallurgical structure knowledge. In this paper, our approach to dealing with these problems is described.
What is an inclusive design process

Our argument is that inclusive design is not simply about access to guidelines and information about people with functional loss. We are all, at various times, rendered disabled by the world we inhabit and that we designed. The problem is much broader and more diverse, and the process that deals with design inclusion has to be the same process that deals with mainstream products and services. It needs to be open to, and encouraging of, input that challenges and is uncomfortable. The design process needs to accept and effectively deal with complexity, accommodate lots of different and conflicting points of view. Moreover, simply knowing about the issues is useful, but pointless if you do nothing about them. We describe how engaging emotionally with the issues leads to a greater acceptance of the need for inclusivity, whilst at the same time improving the design.
When and How Are Men Represented in Fashion Illustration Textbooks? A Critical Analysis of Race and the Body

Using intersectionality theory as a lens, we ask how often men are represented, and then critically analyze their representation in relation to race and the body. As the menswear market is growing, is our academic discipline creating enough tools to teach these techniques and are the tools diverse? This paper sought to answer those questions in order to offer implications to those creating future textbooks. We used the content analysis method, and analyzed 30 fashion illustration textbooks with five categories: gender, race, body size, body position, and skin color. Results reveal that men are significantly underrepresented within the fashion illustration textbooks. Analysis of race reveals that the men of color have the least representation and are even further marginalized in that they are represented in more closed off positions as compared to White men. Publishers and authors can consider findings for future books in order to promote diversity and inclusion.
Stabilizer Circuits, Quadratic Forms, and Computing Matrix Rank

We show that a form of strong simulation for $n$-qubit quantum stabilizer circuits $C$ is computable in $O(s + n^\omega)$ time, where $\omega$ is the exponent of matrix multiplication. Solution counting for quadratic forms over $\mathbb{F}_2$ is also placed into $O(n^\omega)$ time. This improves previous $O(n^3)$ bounds. Our methods in fact show an $O(n^2)$-time reduction from matrix rank over $\mathbb{F}_2$ to computing $p = |\langle \; 0^n \;|\; C \;|\; 0^n \;\rangle|^2$ (hence also to solution counting) and a converse reduction that is $O(s + n^2)$ except for matrix multiplications used to decide whether $p > 0$. The current best-known worst-case time for matrix rank is $O(n^{\omega})$ over $\mathbb{F}_2$, indeed over any field, while $\omega$ is currently upper-bounded by $2.3728\dots$ Our methods draw on properties of classical quadratic forms over $\mathbb{Z}_4$. We study possible distributions of Feynman paths in the circuits and prove that the differences in $+1$ vs. $-1$ counts and $+i$ vs. $-i$ counts are always $0$ or a power of $2$. Further properties of quantum graph states and connections to graph theory are discussed.
Anti-Xa activity by weight in critically ill patients receiving unfractionated heparin for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis.

Abstract Purpose This study compared anti-Xa activity in critically ill patients receiving UFH for VTE prophylaxis between two weight groups ( Methods This prospective, observational study included critically ill patients on UFH 5000 or 7500 units every 8 h. A peak and trough anti-Xa activity assay was ordered for each patient at steady state. Goal peak anti-Xa activity was 0.1–0.3 units/mL. Results From March 2017 to June 2018, 75 patients were enrolled with 44 in the Conclusions Though only one-third of patients ≥100 kg had peak anti-Xa activity within goal range, no significant difference was found between the weight groups. Additional prospective studies with adequate sample sizes are warranted to further investigate appropriate weight-based dosing of UFH in critically ill patients.
Use of a Collaborative Educational Model to Raise Awareness of Infection Risks Associated With Injection Drug Diversion in Healthcare

BACKGROUND Diversion of injectable medications in healthcare is a challenging issue in infection prevention that can result in transmission of infections, especially bloodborne pathogens. In the midst of the opioid epidemic, drug diversion is increasing, yet infection prevention's (IP) role remains ambiguous. We describe a collaborative educational approach to promote drug diversion awareness. METHODS The State Health Department (SHD) and local Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) chapter formed a committee to plan a one-day conference on injection drug diversion. From August-October 2018, the committee met bi-weekly via webinar to prepare for the November 13th conference. The overall conference objective was to help attendees understand healthcare/public health's role in diversion investigations. The didactic conference included educational presentations and a discussion-based exercise. To assess diversion awareness, eight questions (6 multiple choice, 2 free text) were incorporated into the discussion-exercise using an interactive audience polling tool. Evaluation forms included 40 questions to rank presentation/conference quality on a scale of 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent). RESULTS There were 141 conference attendees. The majority represented IP (28%), public health (25%), and pharmacy (13%). The average number of attendees that responded to polling questions was 25.3 (range 20, 31). Respondents reported 52% (13/25) had been involved in a diversion investigation. Five (23%) reported that staff at their facility receive diversion training. Nearly half [48% (15/31)] did not know if their facility had an internal mechanism to report diversion. Evaluations were completed by 75 (53%) attendees with an average score of 4.5 (range 3.6, 5). CONCLUSIONS It was beneficial to team resources of SHD and local APIC to host a conference. The discussion-based exercise revealed gaps in diversion prevention, detection, and response. It is imperative that healthcare and public health gain clarity in each other's roles in drug diversion and have tools to manage these detrimental events.
A Predictive Model for Identification of Children at Risk of Subsequent High-Frequency Utilization of the Emergency Department for Asthma

Background Asthma is the most common chronic condition among children with high-frequency emergency department (ED) utilization. Previous research has shown in outpatients seen for asthma that acute care visits predict subsequent health care utilization. Among ED patients, however, the optimal method of predicting subsequent ED utilization remains to be described. The goal of this study was to create a predictive model to identify children in the ED who are at risk of subsequent high-frequency utilization of the ED for asthma. Methods We used 3 years of data, 2013-2015, drawn from the electronic health records at a tertiary care, urban, children's hospital that is a high-volume center for asthma care. Data were split into a derivation (50%) and validation/test (50%) set, and 3 models were created for testing: (1) all index patients; (2) removing patients with complex chronic conditions; and (3) subset of patients with in-network care on whom more clinical data were available. Each multivariable model was then tested in the validation set, and its performance evaluated by predicting error rate, calculation of a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and identification of the optimal cutpoint to maximize sensitivity and specificity. Results There were 5535 patients with index ED visits, of whom 2767 were in the derivation set and 2768 in the validation set. Of the 5535 patients, 125 patients (2.3%) had 4 or more visits for asthma in the outcome year. Significant predictors in models 1 and 2 were age and number of prior ED visits for asthma. For model 3 (additional clinical information available), the predictors were number of prior ED visits for asthma, number of primary care visits, and not having a controller medication. Areas under the ROC curve were 0.77 for model 1, 0.80 for model 2, and 0.77 for model 3. Conclusions Administrative data available at the time of ED triage can predict subsequent high utilization of the ED, with areas under the ROC curve of 0.77 to 0.80. The addition of clinical variables did not improve the model performance. These models provide useful tools for researchers interested in examining intervention efficacy by predicted risk group.
Computational Analysis of Rotor-Blown-Wing for Electric Rotorcraft Applications

This Paper examines the performance of a rotor-blown-wing in hover and forward flight conditions. Flow solutions were generated using Helios, with a delayed detached eddy simulation model. The conf...
The Development of a BMI-Guided Shape Morphing Technique and the Effects of an Individualized Figure Rating Scale on Self-Perception of Body Size

The creation of personalized avatars that may be morphed to simulate realistic changes in body size is useful when studying self-perception of body size. One drawback is that these methods are resource intensive compared to rating scales that rely upon generalized drawings. Little is known about how body perception ratings compare across different methods, particularly across differing levels of personalized detail in visualizations. This knowledge is essential to inform future decisions about the appropriate tradeoff between personalized realism and resource availability. The current study aimed to determine the impact of varying degrees of personalized realism on self-perception of body size. We explored this topic in young adult women, using a generalized line drawing scale, as well as several types of personalized avatars, including 3D textured images presented in immersive virtual reality (VR). Body perception ratings using generalized line drawings were often higher than responses using individualized visualization methods. While the personalized details seemed to help with identification, there were few differences among the three conditions containing different amounts of individualized realism (e.g., photo-realistic texture). These results suggest that using scales based on personalized texture and limb dimensions are beneficial, although presentation in immersive VR may not be essential.
Barriers to timely tympanostomy tube placement in trisomy 21.

Abstract Objectives Trisomy 21 is the most common chromosomal abnormality in the United States with an incidence of 1 in 700 in live-born children. Children with trisomy 21 are at increased risk for chronic ear disease, as well as other medical issues that may complicate healthcare access. In this study, we investigate whether children with trisomy 21 experience delays in tympanostomy tube insertion, and if there are any factors that contribute to a delay in care. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis on patients with trisomy 21 undergoing tympanostomy tube insertion at Boston Medical Center between 2005 and 2019 by analyzing the electronic medical record. This cohort was matched to patients without trisomy 21 by age, gender, surgery date and surgeon. The primary outcome was time elapsed between surgery decision date and date of tympanostomy tube insertion. Results A total of 20 patients with trisomy 21 underwent tympanostomy tube insertion at Boston Medical Center between 2005 and 2019. The trisomy 21 cohort was matched to 39 patients in the general population. The average time elapsed from decision to undergo surgery to tympanostomy tube insertion was 43.1 days in the general population and 119.0 days in the trisomy 21 cohort (p Conclusion Patients with trisomy 21 experience greater delays in tympanostomy tube insertion than the general population, which may be due to the increased burden of comorbid conditions in people with trisomy 21.
The information literacy framework: case studies of successful implementation: Heidi Julien, Melissa Gross, and Don Latham (Eds.). Rowman & Littlefield, 2020, xvii + 277 pp., $47.50, ISBN 978-1-5381-2145-0

In her forward, Trudi Jacobson calls this collection a “great service for librarians and educators” trying to more fully engage with the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education...
Impact of Differential Privacy and Census Tract Data Source (Decennial Census Versus American Community Survey) for Monitoring Health Inequities

Objectives. To investigate how census tract (CT) estimates of mortality rates and inequities are affected by (1) differential privacy (DP), whereby the public decennial census (DC) data are injecte...
Workforce Composition, Productivity, and Labour Regulations in a Compensating Differentials Theory of Informality

We develop a search model of informal labor markets with worker and firm heterogeneity, intra-firm bargaining with imperfect substitutability across types of workers, and a comprehensive set of labor regulations, including minimum wage. Stylized facts associated with the informal sector, such as smaller firms and lower wages, emerge endogenously as firms and workers decide whether to comply with regulations. Imperfect substitutability across types of workers and decreasing returns to scale enable the model to reproduce empirical patterns incompatible with existing frameworks in the literature: the presence of skilled and unskilled workers in the formal and informal sectors, the rising share of skilled workers by firm size, and the declining formal wage premium by skill level. These features also allow us to analyze the equilibrium responses to changes in the demand and supply of different types of labor. We estimate the model using Brazilian data and show that it closely reproduces the decline in informality observed between 2003 and 2012. The change in the composition of the labor force appears as the main driving force behind this phenomenon. We illustrate the use of the model for policy analysis by assessing the effectiveness of a progressive payroll tax in reducing informality.
Teaching computational thinking to exceptional learners: lessons from two inclusive classrooms

Background and Context: Computational Thinking (CT) is a skill all students should learn. This requires using inclusive approaches to teach CT to a wide spectrum of students. However, strategies fo...
Supplemental thiamine as a practical, potential way to prevent Alzheimer's disease from commencing

It is better to attempt stopping Alzheimer's disease (AD) before it starts than trying to cure it after it has developed. A cerebral scan showing deposition of either amyloid or tau identifies those elderly persons whose cognition is currently normal but who are at risk of subsequent cognitive loss that may develop into AD. Synaptic hypometabolism is usually present in such at-risk persons. Although inadequate adenosine triphosphate (ATP) may cause synaptic hypometabolism, that may not be the entire cause because, in fact, measurements in some of the at-risk persons have shown normal ATP levels. Thiamine deficiency is often seen in elderly, ambulatory persons in whom thiamine levels correlate with Mini-Mental State Examination scores. Thiamine deficiency has many consequences including hypometabolism, mitochondrial depression, oxidative stress, lactic acidosis and cerebral acidosis, amyloid deposition, tau deposition, synaptic dysfunction and abnormal neuro-transmission, astrocyte function, and blood brain barrier integrity, all of which are features of AD. Although the clinical benefits of administering supplementary thiamine to patients with AD or mild cognitive impairment have been mixed, it is more likely to succeed at preventing the onset of cognitive loss if administered at an earlier time, when the number of aberrant biochemical pathways is far fewer. Providing a thiamine supplement to elderly persons who still have normal cognition but who have deposition of either amyloid or tau, may prevent subsequent cognitive loss and eventual dementia. A clinical trial is needed to validate that possibility.
1-Cyclohexylpiperidine as a thermolytic draw solute for osmotically driven membrane processes

Abstract The switchable polarity solvent (SPS) 1-cyclohexylpiperidine (CHP) was demonstrated as a viable draw solute for osmotically driven membrane processes. The SPS draw solution was formed from a heterogeneous mixture of water and water immiscible CHP was exposed to carbon dioxide to form concentrated aqueous ammonium bicarbonate solution with high osmotic pressure (> 500 atm). The free amine and ammonium bicarbonate solution has been demonstrated to be compatible with a polyamide thin film composite membrane through a variety of transport experiments. The reverse solute flux, J s , of CHP appears to occur by a different mechanism than the water flux J w . This difference suggests that J s could be minimized in future membranes without impacting J w . To demonstrate product water recovery, the solution was “degassed” removing carbon dioxide and converting the aqueous ammonium bicarbonate solute to a water immiscible CHP which can be decanted from water. Effective degassing ammonium bicarbonate solutions at low concentrations occurs at the lowest temperature of any SPS yet studied as a draw solute (70 °C) and possibly at the lowest temperature of any thermolytic amine studied as a draw solute.
An Intelligent Tutoring System to Teach Debugging

Although several Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS) have been built to teach students how to write programs, few focus on teaching students the skills required to debug faulty code. Indeed, outside of general debugging advice, it is also a skill seldom outright taught in the classroom. This paper discusses a web-based ITS to teach introductory level Computer Science students debugging skills, using and teaching case-based reasoning.
The Kinematics of Hyper-Redundant Robots

Hyper-Redundant robots have a large or infinite degree of kinematic redundancy. This paper reviews some simple hyper-redundant robot modeling and task planning techniques. These methods are based on a ‘backbone curve’ that captures the robot’s macroscopic geometric features. The inverse kinematic, or ‘hyper-redundancy resolution,’ problem reduces to determining the time varying backbone curve behavior. ‘Modal’ and ‘optimal’ hyper-redundancy resolution methods are reviewed. In addition to end-effector placement, we also consider how the backbone curve model can be used to implement locomotion and tentacle-like grasping. These ideas have been implemented on a 30 degree-of-freedom robot prototype.
Experiments in Distributed Control for Modular Robots

Effective algorithms for modular self-reconfiguring robots should be distributed and parallel. In previous work, we explored general algorithms for locomotion and self-replication and explained their instantiations to systems in which modules move over the surface of the robot. In this work, we present several algorithms and implementations applied to the Crystal robot: distributed locomotion algorithms designed specifically for unit-compressible actuation, as well as adaptation of a generic division algorithm to the Crystal robot. We also present the integration of a locomotion algorithm with a distributed goal recognition algorithm developed previously.
Insulin Regulation of Lipoprotein Lipase Activity in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes is Mediated at Posttranscriptional and Posttranslational Levels

Insulin is a major regulator of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity. The molecular events associated with LPL regulation by insulin in 3T3-L1 adipocytes were studied by determining LPL enzyme activity, mRNA levels, protein synthetic rate, and transcription run-off activity. Adipocytes treated with insulin (10(-6) M for 48 h) had substantially higher LPL activity (mean difference compared to carrier-treated cells 146%) with little difference in LPL mRNA levels (mean level 109% of control). Insulin regulation of LPL activity was dose-dependent but changes in LPL mRNA were not. Within 2 h of hormone addition, LPL activity was higher in insulin-treated versus carrier-treated adipocytes although their LPL mRNA levels were similar. In [35S]methionine pulse-labeled adipocytes, insulin decreased LPL protein synthetic rate measured by immunoprecipitation 42-48%, although increases (75-340%) in heparin-releasable LPL activity were detected in the same cells. In contrast, during differentiation of 3T3-L1 fibroblasts to the adipocyte state, 5-80-fold increases of heparin-releasable LPL activity were closely associated with similar (8-60-fold) increases in LPL mRNA levels. LPL synthetic rate was 16-fold greater, and LPL gene transcription initiation measured by transcriptional run-off was 10-fold higher in adipocytes than in undifferentiated cells. Differentiation of 3T3-L1 fibroblasts increases transcription of the LPL gene leading to increased LPL mRNA, protein synthetic rate, and enzyme activity. Insulin regulation of LPL activity in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, however, is mediated entirely at posttranscriptional and posttranslational levels.
Development of highly magnetostrictive composites for applications in magnetomechanical torque sensors

The objective of this work was to investigate and develop a magnetomechanical material with high magnetomechanical response and low hysteresis. This material will be used in electronic torque sensors for advanced steering systems in automobiles which will replace the costly and fuel inefficient hydraulic steering systems currently in use. Magnetostruction and the magnetomechanical effect under torsional stress of magnetostrictive composites have been investigated in the present study.