cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal associations among asthma control, sleep problems, and health-related quality of life in children with asthma: a report from the PROMIS(®) Pediatric Asthma Study.

Abstract Objectives Few studies have investigated the complex relationship among asthma control, sleep problems, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among children with asthma. This study aimed to test the longitudinal effect of asthma control status on asthma-specific HRQOL through the mechanism of nighttime sleep quality and daytime sleepiness. Methods The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS ® ) Pediatric Asthma Study included 229 dyads of asthmatic children and their parents with two years of follow-up for assessing the change in asthma control, sleep problems, and asthma-specific HRQOL. The Asthma Control and Communication Instrument was used to measure asthma control status. Nighttime sleep quality assessment was based on difficulty falling asleep and getting up, and sleep disturbance. The Iowa Pediatric Daytime Sleeping Scale was used to assess daytime sleepiness. The PROMIS Asthma Impact Scale was used to measure asthma-specific HRQOL. Multilevel structural equation modeling was performed to quantify the direct and indirect effects of asthma control status on asthma-specific HRQOL through nighttime sleep quality and daytime sleepiness. Results Poorer asthma control status was directly associated with lower asthma-specific HRQOL at within-subject and between-subject levels ( p 0.05); however, effects of asthma control on asthma-specific HRQOL were indirectly influenced through daytime sleepiness at the within-subject level ( p 0.05), and through nighttime sleep quality and daytime sleepiness at the between-subject level ( p 0.05). Conclusions Asthma control status is associated with asthma-specific HRQOL, and this association is mediated by nighttime sleep quality and daytime sleepiness. Clinicians should address sleep problems related to asthma control to improve HRQOL for asthmatic children.
Which Workers Plan to Retire Late or Never

Little previous research on planned retirement ages has analyzed factors related to whether workers say they will never retire. This issue is important both in financial planning and in assessments of retirement adequacy. Using the 1995, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007 Survey of Consumer Finances datasets, we present descriptive analyses, a logistic regression on the head’s plan to never retire, and a multinominal logistic regression comparing the head’s plan to never retire to each of three categories of planned retirement age. For the 1995 to 2007 SCF datasets, 14% to 16% of workers stated they would never retire, and the percentage of respondents who say never retire is even higher than the percentage of respondents who plan to retire after 70. Thus, we should not ignore “never retire” as a possible retirement plan. Based on the logistic regression results for never retire versus any specific planned retirement age, the likelihood of planning to never retire decreases with current age, with education, and with net worth, and did not vary substantially between 1995 and 2007. The multinominal logit results are similar but more complex because of multiple comparisons, but the main difference between never retire and specific retirement age over 70 workers are on life expectancy and current age, with both results indicating higher levels related to being more likely to state specific age over 70 than to state never retire. For comparisons between the never retire response and specific ages 70 and younger (before 62 and 62 to 70), higher net worth, especially at a younger current age, was related to being less likely to state never retire, and a more positive assessment of retirement adequacy was related to being less likely to state never retire. These results have implications for retirement planning and for assessments of retirement adequacy, as the usual assumption is that planned retirement age is exogenous.
Aeroelasticity and Dynamic Analysis of Cracked Composite Wings Using Spectral Finite Element Method

In this paper, a spectral finite element model (SFEM) is developed to conduct aeroelastic and dynamic analyses of composite wings. The governing equations are derived based on the extension-bending-torsion beam dynamic model, in which warping effects are included. The unsteady aerodynamic model is employed in order to conduct aeroelasticity predictions. The SFEM is formulated in the frequency domain based on the exact solutions of the governing equations. In order to investigate the effect an edge surface crack has on a composite wing’s performance, a local flexibility matrix is introduced to model the open crack, which is in terms of crack depth and crack location on the wing. The local flexibility matrix is based on Castigliano's theorem and the laws of fracture mechanics. By applying force compatibility conditions at each crack location, we can assemble the spectral finite elements and conduct aeroelastic and dynamic predictions on the composite wings. Flutter and bending-torsion beam frequency results available from various sources are used to validate our predictions. In summary, an accurate and efficient approach is developed to predict the flutter speed and natural frequency of composite wings both with and without edge surface cracks. Physical insights can be collected from our simulation results to advance design analysis and health monitoring for composite wings.
Religion and Education in Post-Communist Russia: Russia's Evolving Church-State Relations

It is well known that liberal democracies do not take a uniform approach to matters of religion and education and reject the communist approach of inculcating one comprehensive secular ideology and outlawing religious visions. However, democratic states diverge on the questions of how to deal with religion in public schools and how to address funding and regulation of religious schools. Stephen Monsma and J. Christopher Soper attempt to make sense of these differences by identifying three general types of churchstate relationships in liberal democracies. These include “partial establishments,” “strict separationism,” and “pluralist or structural pluralist” models. Partial establishments include England, Greece or other countries where one religious group receives government favoritism and serves as part of the state establishment fit into this category. “Strict separationism” includes
Oblique Evaporating Sprays in Gas-Solid Suspensions

Evaporating sprays in gas-solid flows are constantly encountered in many industry processes, such as Fluid Catalytic Cracking in petroleum industry and condensed mode operation of polyethylene polymerization in polymer industry. The rapid evaporation of droplets in a gas-solid suspension flow can have significant effects on the gas-solid mixing near the spray nozzle regions. Typical effects of evaporating jets on gas-solid dynamics include the change of velocity of gas and solids phases, dilution effect on solids concentration, temperature reduction of all phases. On the other hand, the particle loading in the gas-solid flow can also significantly change the spray structures such as spray evaporation region, evaporation rate, and collision frequency among droplets and solids. In this paper, experimental as well as theoretical studies on evaporating liquid nitrogen spray into an air-particulate suspension flow are performed. Using laser enhanced visualization system and thermocouple profile probes, we obtain the spray trajectory and temperature distribution in the test section. A comprehensive analytic model has been developed to study the parametric effects of phase interactions with phase changes in all three phases. The study shows that the particle loading can considerably affect the spray structure. Inversely, the sprays also significantly change the velocity, concentration and temperature fields of the gas-solid flow. Both qualitative and quantitative comparisons give a good agreement between experimental results and modeling simulations.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Using Estimation Techniques in Multidisciplinary Design

lter in a manner similar to linear covariance analysis to the multidisciplinary design problem to obtain robustness characteristics. In addition to robustness characteristics, the estimation theory is shown to be applicable to design decomposition. Following theoretical development, two example problems demonstrate the applicability of applying dynamical system theory. For a linear, two contributing analysis problem showed the mean was able to be estimated with an error less than 0.08% and a matrix norm bounded the variance to less than 37.8% relative to analytic propagation. This error is shown to be a function of the geometry of the matrix two-norm and reduces as the problem dimensionality increases. The use of estimation theory is also shown to be applicable for nonlinear designs through a two-bar truss problem through successive linearization.
Impact of Industrial Effluent Diversion on Bayou Trepagnier, Louisiana

Industrial effluent from the Norco Manufacturing Complex (NMC), a major refinery located 22 mi west of New Orleans, was diverted from Bayou Trepagnier to the Mississippi River in February 1995. The possibility that effluent diversion might liberate contaminants from bottom sediments and generally degrade water quality generated concern among environmentalists and regulatory agencies. Hydrologic studies completed to address these concerns indicate that the effluent was generally a minor component of the water budget, comprising about 10 percent of tidal flow into the drainage basin. However, during intermittent, low-water conditions when the bayou was confined to its banks, effluent volume on average probably exceeded tidal flow. Although the effluent generally constituted only a small proportion of total discharge, it often had a profound effect on water quality because low flow velocities and shallow depths limited mixing of water masses. Comparison of water quality data before and after diversion shows that median temperature, salinity, and pH have decreased at stations in the headwaters near the NMC outfall, whereas the dissolved oxygen content of the water column has increased or remained the same. Monthly monitoring data also indicate that, in general, Pb remains bound in bottom sediments despite significant changes in water chemistry after diversion. Hardness, total dissolved solids, and chlorinity have increased along the bayou, reflecting a greater influence of Lake Pontchartrain on water chemistry after diversion. Overall, water quality has improved in Bayou Trepagnier, which should benefit the biota, particularly in the headwaters where harsh conditions existed prior to diversion.
Analysis on variety of the cockroach population in Huangpu district

Objective To stud y the data of distribution and variety of the cockroach population in Huangpu district.Methods Observation,drug stimulation and com paring the investigation results of 1980～1 985.Results The population density of Periplaneta fulginosa was 8 7 47% in 1980～1985 but 75 06% in 2001.The p op ulation density of blattella germanica was 3 51% in 1980～1985 but 24 94% in 2001.The population dens ity of periplaneta americana w as 9 02% in 1980～1985 but 0 in 2001.C o nclusionThere were remarkable changes bet ween the population density of co ckroaches in 1980～1985 and 2001.
Surgical considerations of certain hip lesions.

Advances in orthopedic surgery have made it possible to deal successfully with many disturbing hip lesions. The tolerance of the body to the inert metals has made many of these advances possible.
Completion of advanced care directives is associated with willingness to donate

Objectives A useful framework for initiating organ donation discussions in the primary care setting may help increase willingness to donate and thereby increase the frequency of organ transplantation. Given the lower willingness to donate among African Americans and that a higher proportion of African Americans die while waiting for an organ transplant, this is an important group to consider in such an approach. We examined the association among completion of a living will and willingness to donate and the influence of race in this relationship. Methods A nationwide telephone interview survey using random digit dialing of households in high- and low-density African-American census blocks. Results One hundred-eighty-eight adults participated (41% cooperation rate). In a multivariate model, factors associated with willingness to donate included having signed a living will (OR=2.43, 95% CI=1.13-5.23), talking with a physician about organ donation (OR=3.04, 95% CI=1.07-8.67) and white race (OR=2.5, 95% CI=1.23-5). Conclusion The public is generally supportive of organ donation although African Americans remain less willing to donate after controlling for confounding variables. Physicians interested in increasing donation rates should consider incorporating organ donation into discussions of advance care planning and end-of-life care.
Dual-resolution Raman spectroscopy for measurements of temperature and twelve species in hydrocarbon–air flames

Abstract This paper introduces dual-resolution Raman spectroscopy as a novel diagnostics approach for measurements of temperature and species in flames where multiple hydrocarbons are present. Simultaneous measurement of multiple hydrocarbons is challenging because their vibrational Raman spectra in the C–H stretch region are closely overlapped and are not well known over the range of temperature encountered in flames. Overlap between the hydrocarbon spectra is mitigated by adding a second spectrometer, with a higher dispersion grating, to collect the Raman spectra in the C–H stretch region. A dual-resolution Raman spectroscopy instrument has been developed and optimized for measurements of major species (N2, O2, H2O, CO2, CO, H2, DME) and major combustion intermediates (CH4, CH2O, C2H2, C2H4 and C2H6) in DME–air flames. The temperature dependences of the hydrocarbon Raman spectra over fixed spectral regions have been determined through a series of measurements in laminar Bunsen-burner flames, and have been used to extend a library of previously acquired Raman spectra up to flame temperature. The paper presents the first Raman measurements of up to twelve species in hydrocarbon flames, and the first quantitative Raman measurements of formaldehyde in flames. The accuracy and precision of the instrument are determined from measurements in laminar flames and the applicability of the instrument to turbulent DME–air flames is discussed.
A Verbal and Gestural Corpus of Story Retellings to an Expressive Embodied Virtual Character

We present a corpus of 44 human-agent verbal and gestural story retellings designed to explore whether humans would gesturally entrain to an embodied intelligent virtual agent. We used a novel data collection method where an agent presented story components in installments, which the human would then retell to the agent. At the end of the installments, the human would then retell the embodied animated agent the story as a whole. This method was designed to allow us to observe whether changes in the agent’s gestural behavior would result in human gestural changes. The agent modified its gestures over the course of the story, by starting out the first installment with gestural behaviors designed to manifest extraversion, and slowly modifying gestures to express introversion over time, or the reverse. The corpus contains the verbal and gestural transcripts of the human story retellings. The gestures were coded for type, handedness, temporal structure, spatial extent, and the degree to which the participants’ gestures match those produced by the agent. The corpus illustrates the variation in expressive behaviors produced by users interacting with embodied virtual characters, and the degree to which their gestures were influenced by the agent’s dynamic changes in personality-based expressive style.
Bridged HPSi and Linear HSiP as Probes of the SiP Radical in Astrophysical/Interstellar Media

The SiP radical has a ground state and a low-lying state with a transition wavelength of greater than 20 μm. However, this transition has a near-zero oscillator strength making it all but unobservable. Addition of a hydrogen atom to the system creates the strangely bent HPSi molecule and also the linear HSiP isomer, lying 0.50 eV above the bent. The electron-deficient P–Si π cloud in SiP is stabilized by the addition of the hydrogen atom, making this isomer the preferred form of HPSi. The HSiP linear isomer can be formed from SiP. As a result, the [HPSi]/[HSiP] ratio could serve as tracer of the otherwise unobservable but low-lying electronic transition of SiP. The high-level quantum chemical computations employed here imply that the rotational lines of HPSi and HSiP will overlap extensively, but the vibrational frequencies, especially the hydride stretch, are significantly separated. The hydride stretches are in the 5 μm range, making them excellent candidates for mid-IR observations with the Stratsopheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy or with the James Webb Space Telescope. Furthermore, the rotational constants and vibrational frequencies of SiP, SiP, and SiP− are also provided in addition to the relative energies of all five species.
CCS5, A New Locus Required for Chloroplast C-Type Cytochrome Synthesis

Chloroplasts contain at least two c-type cytochromes, cytochrome f (cyt f) and cytochrome c6 (cyt c6). Previously, a class of mutants (named CCS for c-type cytochrome synthesis) have been identified that are deficient in both chloroplast c-type cytochromes and all appear to blocked at the common post-translational step of haem attachment to the apocytochrome (reviewed in 1). These mutants defined five loci, one chloroplast locus (ccsA) and four nuclear loci (CCS1-4) required for cyt f and cyt c6 synthesis (2); two of which, ccsA and Ccs1 have been cloned and determined to encode thylakoid membrane proteins (3, 4). To facilitate the cloning of the remaining CCS2-CCS4 loci, and to identify new loci required for cytochrome biosynthesis, insertional mutagenesis was undertaken in order to tag the CCS loci. A mutant strain, T78, was identified that is pleiotropically deficient in both cyt f and cyt c6. Genetic analysis shows that the strain is tagged and represents a sixth CCS locus, called CCS5.
Emergency Neurological Life Support: Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes substantial morbidity and mortality, and is a leading cause of death in both the developed and developing world. The need for a systematic evidence-based approach to the care of severe TBI patients within the emergency setting has led to its inclusion as an Emergency Neurological Life Support topic. This protocol was designed to enumerate the practice steps that should be considered within the first critical hours of neurological injury from severe TBI.
Percutaneous Tracheostomy Indications and Surgical Technique

Throughout this chapter, please confirm the hierarchy of the text section heading levels, or amend them if necessary.
Reckless’ passage to India: assessing the cross-national influence of American criminology

The contributions of American criminologist, Walter C. Reckless, to the development of the field of criminology and criminal justice in India are described. These are assessed in the light of recen...
Acute retinal arterial ischemia

Acute retinal arterial ischemia, which includes transient monocular vision loss (TMVL), branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO), central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) and ophthalmic artery occlusion (OAO), is most commonly the consequence of an embolic phenomenon from the ipsilateral carotid artery, heart or aortic arch, leading to partial or complete occlusion of the central retinal artery (CRA) or its branches. Acute retinal arterial ischemia is the ocular equivalent of acute cerebral ischemia and is an ophthalmic and medical emergency. Patients with acute retinal arterial ischemia are at a high risk of having further vascular events, such as subsequent strokes and myocardial infarctions (MIs). Therefore, prompt diagnosis and urgent referral to appropriate specialists and centers is necessary for further work-up (such as brain magnetic resonance imaging with diffusion weighted imaging, vascular imaging, and cardiac monitoring and imaging) and potential treatment of an urgent etiology (e.g., carotid dissection or critical carotid artery stenosis). Since there are no proven, effective treatments to improve visual outcome following permanent retinal arterial ischemia (central or branch retinal artery occlusion), treatment must focus on secondary prevention measures to decrease the likelihood of subsequent ischemic events.
Relationship of Joint Hypermobility with Ankle and Foot Radiographic Osteoarthritis and Symptoms in a Community‐Based Cohort

Objective To explore associations of joint hypermobility (a condition where range of motion is greater than normal) with ankle and foot radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) and symptoms in a large community-based cohort of African American and white adults ages 55-94 years old. Methods Ankle and foot radiographs and joint hypermobility data (Beighton score for joint hypermobility criteria) were available for 848 participants (from 2003 to 2010) in this cross-sectional study. General joint hypermobility was defined as a Beighton score ≥4 (range 0-9); knee hypermobility was defined as hyperextension of at least 1 knee. Standing anteroposterior and lateral foot radiographs were read with standard atlases for Kellgren-Lawrence grade, osteophytes, and joint space narrowing (JSN) at the tibiotalar joint, and for osteophytes and JSN to define OA at 5 foot joints. Ankle or foot symptoms were self-reported. Separate person-based logistic regression models were used to estimate associations of ankle and foot OA and symptom outcomes with hypermobility measures, adjusting for age, sex, race, body mass index, and history of ankle/foot injury. Results This sample cohort included 577 women (68%) and 280 African Americans (33%). The mean age of the participants was 71 years, with a mean body mass index of 31 kg/m2 . The general joint hypermobility of the participants was 7% and knee hypermobility was 4%. Having a history of ankle injury was 11.5%, and foot injury was 3.8%. Although general joint hypermobility was not associated with ankle and foot outcomes, knee hypermobility was associated with ankle symptoms, foot symptoms, and talonavicular OA (adjusted odds ratios of 4.4, 2.4, and 3.0, respectively). Conclusion Knee joint hypermobility may be related to talonavicular OA and to ankle and foot symptoms.
STD Prevention Communication: Using Social Marketing Techniques with an Eye on Behavioral Change

142 Behavior change is an effective strategy in curbing the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). As a first step, we must communicate healthful behaviors to the public. Unfortunately, research has repeatedly shown that knowledge alone is not always enough (1–3): Being aware of a healthful behavior does not necessarily translate into engaging in it. Sexual behavior, in particular, has strong social components that involve a web of social relations, expectations, issues regarding confidence in one’s abilities, beliefs about risk, and the perceived severity of STIs and their sequelae. Therefore, a successful prevention campaign must not only be educational, but also persuasive. The goal of changing sexual behaviors is to ultimately decrease the rate of disease transmission. Transmissibility can be decreased by correct and consistent condom use, delaying the initiation of sexual activity, mutual monogamy, decreasing numbers of sex partners, no concurrency, and promoting use of available vaccines against STIs (e.g., hepatitis B) (4). Duration of infectiousness can be reduced by promoting rapid health evaluations for symptoms of STI and by screening high-risk asymptomatic populations. Therefore, to decrease the rate of spread, we have to target social behaviors explicitly by using persuasive communication to instill behavior change. This approach is at the core of disease prevention—halting the spread of communicable diseases (whether curable, incurable, or chronic) by changing behaviors as a primary prevention strategy, or changing behaviors after infection to prevent further spread. In both instances, social marketing, concretely based on researched theories of behavior change, is a necessary step in order to maximize effectiveness of prevention campaigns. This chapter is not meant to be a systematic or exhaustive review of the literature on mass media campaigns, as those already exist (5). The primary purpose of this chapter is to identify factors, other than knowledge, that influence the adoption of healthful behaviors and to develop social marketing frameworks to help public health officials optimize public health campaigns aimed at preventing STIs, including HIV. We will use social marketing examples and
Field-Induced Transfer of an Electropositive Atom between Two Closely Spaced Electrodes

The transfer of an adsorbed atom from one electrode to another in close proximity, with a potential difference between the electrodes, is analyzed theoretically. We focus particularly on the case of a sodium atom.
“Just report the science”: How scientists frame their engagement in contested debates over fracking in the Barnett Shale

Abstract Unconventional natural gas exploration using hydraulic fracturing has spread rapidly from its “birthplace” in the Barnett Shale to shale plays across the globe, spurring polarized discussions about its environmental and social risks. These debates have engaged many stakeholders, including some individuals with natural and physical science backgrounds. This study presents results from semi-structured, in-depth interviews I conducted with these individuals, which demonstrate how they framed their engagement in these debates. I argue that the process of interacting in politicized debates over hydraulic fracturing impacted how these individuals constructed what it means to provide objective information to the public. In order to demonstrate objectivity, a number of these participants emphasized their role as problem solvers for, rather than opponents of, the oil and gas industry. Also, to provide balance against their critical evaluation of the environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing, several participants emphasized the (assumed) social benefits of energy exploration. Through exploring the “problems of method” faced by natural and physical scientists engaged in research on controversial energy topics, and their impacts for my own engagement as a qualitative social science researcher, I seek to contribute to our understanding of the challenges scientists face as they engage in energy research.
River linking in India: Downstream impacts on water discharge and suspended sediment transport to deltas

To expand agricultural production and address water scarcity, India is moving forward with the National River Linking Project (NRLP), which will connect 44 rivers via 9,600 km of canals. Here, we compile the first complete database of proposed NRLP dams, reservoirs and canals, including operating schedules for Himalayan infrastructure. We evaluate potential NRLP-derived changes to mean annual water discharge for 29 rivers and mean monthly water and sediment discharge for six rivers flowing to five major deltas. Sediment rating curves are used to quantify the impacts of changing water discharge within the rivers, and basin-wide trapping efficiency is established for new reservoirs. Given full implementation of the NRLP, we forecast reductions in annual suspended sediment transport to deltas of 40–85% (Mahanadi), 71–99% (Godavari) and 60–97% (Krishna) due to profound reservoir trapping and peak streamflow reductions. The Ganga before its confluence with the Brahmaputra is projected to experience a 39–75% reduction in annual suspended load. The Brahmaputra before its confluence with the Ganga is projected to experience a 9–25% reduction in suspended load, despite losing only 6% of its annual water flow. We calculate a projected corresponding aggradation decrease for the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta from 3.6 to 2.5 mm y–1, which is a large enough change to drive relative sea-level rise at the delta front. At the remaining four deltas, the NRLP will exacerbate current sediment starvation. We reconstruct the annual water transfer volume proposed for the NRLP to be 245 km3 y–1, higher than previous estimates due to the inclusion of along-canal usage. If completed, the NRLP will transform watershed boundaries, with more than half of the land in India contributing a portion of its runoff to a new mouth. These impacts may have profound environmental and public health implications, particularly in the context of future climate change.
The Prospects for Enlightened Corporate Leadership

In his recent book, The Enlightened Capitalists, James O’Toole explores the challenges faced by two centuries of business pioneers who tried to do well by doing good. While many of their firms were...
Temperature-tunable time-dependent snapping of viscoelastic metastructures with snap-through instabilities

Abstract 3D-printed metastructures and metamaterials with snap-through instabilities have been extensively investigated in recent years. However, most of the previous research has been limited to the analysis of their elastic response. This paper focuses on the time-dependent mechanics of 3D-printed viscoelastic metastructures with snap-through instabilities. Due to viscoelastic relaxation, a regime called pseudo-bistability can be observed: a previously deformed 3D-printed metastructure can appear to be temporarily bistable before snapping back to its undeformed configuration after a critical time. Experiments with 3D-printed samples and finite element simulations demonstrate that the critical time can be tuned by adjusting the temperature. While the time-dependent snapping causes a change in the overall height in the case of single layer metastructure, experimental and finite element results show that the same type of time-dependent snapping can also be used to obtain an internal reconfiguration when the overall height of a multilayer metastructure is constrained to remain constant. Because of the possibility of tuning the critical time for a given sample by varying the external temperature, harnessing the pseudo-bistable mechanics of these viscoelastic metastructures gives new opportunities towards the development of novel reconfigurable metastructures with programmable response and properties for applications in soft robotics or impact protection.
Hydrogen gas formation from the photolysis of rhenium hydrides - mechanistic and computational studies.

The photolysis of 4,4′-disubstituted, 2,2′-bipyridine fac-Re(bpy)(CO)3H derivatives produces stoichiometric H2 gas. The rate of production varies greatly depending on the electronic nature of the disubstituted bipyridine (bpy) with halogenated substituents increasing the rate. Isotope labeling studies along with B3LYP geometry optimization DFT modeling studies indicate a mechanism involving a Re–H–Re bridging complex that leads to a dimeric Re–Re(η2-H2) state prior to dissociating H2 gas.
Corrigendum: Graded Cerebellar Lobular Volume Deficits in Adolescents and Young Adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).

The extensive prenatal developmental growth period of the cerebellum renders it vulnerable to unhealthy environmental agents, especially alcohol. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) is marked by neurodysmorphology including cerebral and cerebellar volume deficits, but the cerebellar lobular deficit profile has not been delineated. Legacy MRI data of 115 affected and 59 unaffected adolescents and young adults were analyzed for lobular gray matter volume and revealed graded deficits supporting a spectrum of severity. Graded deficits were salient in intracranial volume (ICV), where the fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) group was smaller than the fetal alcohol effects (FAE) group, which was smaller than the controls. Adjusting for ICV, volume deficits were present in VIIB and VIIIA of the FAE group and were more widespread in FAS and included lobules I, II, IV, V, VI, Crus II, VIIB, and VIIIA. Graded deficits (FAS < FAE) were consistently present in lobules VI; neither group showed volume deficits in Crus I or IX. Neuroradiological readings blind to diagnosis identified 20 anomalies, 8 involving the cerebellum, 5 of which were in the FAS group. We speculate that the regional cerebellar FASD-related volume deficits may contribute to diagnostically characteristic functional impairment involving emotional control, visuomotor coordination, and postural stability.
Exons deletion of CNKSR2 gene identified in X-linked syndromic intellectual disability

The Houge type of X-linked syndromic mental retardation is an X-linked intellectual disability (XLID) recently recorded in the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) and only 8 cases have been reported in literature thus far. We present two brothers with intractable seizures and syndromic intellectual disability with symptoms consisting of delayed development, intellectual disability, and speech and language delay. The mother was a symptomatic carrier with milder clinical phenotype. Whole exome sequencing identified a small fragment deletion spanning four exons, about 9.5 kilobases (kb) in length in the CNKSR2 gene in the patients. The mutation co-segregation revealed that exon deletions occurred de novo in the proband’s mother. Although large deletions have been reported, no small deletions have yet been identified. In this case report, we identified a small deletion in the CNKSR2 gene. This study enhances our knowledge of the CNKSR2 gene mutation spectrum and provides further information about the phenotypic characteristics of X-linked syndromic intellectual disability.
A Survey on Consensus Methods in Blockchain for Resource-constrained IoT Networks

Abstract The success of blockchain as the underlying technology for cryptocurrencies has opened up possibilities for its use in other application domains as well. The main advantages of blockchain for its potential use in other areas are its inherent security mechanisms and immunity to data manipulation attacks. A blockchain relies on a consensus method for agreeing on any new data. Most of the consensus methods which are currently used for the blockchain of different cryptocurrencies require high computational power and thus are not suitable for resource-constrained systems. In this article, we survey the various blockchain-based consensus methods that are applicable to resource-constrained IoT devices and networks. In a typical IoT network, there exist several devices with limited computational and communication capabilities. Most often, these devices cannot perform intensive computations and are starved for bandwidth. Therefore, we discuss the possible measures that can be taken to reduce the computational power and convergence time for the underlying consensus methods. We also talk about some of the alternatives to the public blockchain, such as private blockchain and tangle, along with their potential adoption for IoT networks. Furthermore, we review the existing consensus methods that have been implemented and explore the possibility of utilizing them to realize a blockchain-based IoT network. Some of the open research challenges including AI-enabled blockchains are also put forward.
Transpiration Mechanism in Confined Nanopores

In this work, molecular dynamics simulations show that liquid in a nanopore can be at thermodynamically stable high pressure even when connected to conventional bulk liquid. Such high pressure is a...
Serum IL-1RA levels increase from follicular to luteal phase of the ovarian cycle: A pilot study on human female immune responses

The immune responses exhibited by females are distinct from those of males. Females are known to generate, among others, higher levels of antibodies, greater interferon responses, and increased levels of inflammatory mediators in response to pathogens. Mounting evidence suggests that gonadal hormones play a key role in these differences. To better understand the effect of cycling hormones on the immune response, we sought to investigate the relationship between gonadal hormone fluctuations during the ovarian cycle and the levels of interleukin 1β and IL-1RA, both in circulation and in PBMCs in response to TLR4 stimulation, in healthy premenopausal females. To do this we measured the gonadal hormones 17β-estradiol, progesterone, and luteinizing hormone, and the cytokines IL-1β and IL-1RA in nine cycling females at several time points throughout one complete cycle. We evaluated 35 follicular, 17 ovulatory, and 44 luteal time points in our cohort and found a clear increase in serum levels of anti-inflammatory IL-1RA in the luteal phase, as compared to the follicular phase, and a positive correlation between both 17β-estradiol and progesterone and IL-RA. There was no difference in the serum levels of IL-1β and no difference in IL-1 β or IL-1RA produced in response to LPS by PBMCs isolated from different phases. Division of the cycle into sub-phases revealed an increase in the level of IL-1RA by ovulation that persisted through the luteal phase. These data suggest that significant changes in the immune response occur throughout the ovarian cycle in healthy females.
Effects of social vulnerability and heat index on emergency medical service incidents in San Antonio, Texas, in 2018.

Background Excessive heat is a leading weather-related cause of fatalities in the USA. Vulnerable populations can face greater exposure to health risks during extreme heat events. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of excessive heat and community-level social vulnerability on morbidity in San Antonio, Texas, in 2018. Methods Heat Index (HI) data are from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Social vulnerability is measured using the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s Social Vulnerability Index (SVI). Morbidity is measured as the number of emergency medical service (EMS) incidents. Sixty-one zip codes were analysed for the 153 constrained calendar days from 1 May to 30 September 2018. Negative binomial regression analysis with the time-stratified case-crossover design was conducted to predict the effects of HI and SVI on the rate of EMS incidents. Results HI is significantly and positively associated with the rate of EMS incidents. Social vulnerability has a statistically significant association with EMS incidents, with higher levels of community-level social vulnerability associated with higher rates of EMS incidents. The effect of the HI on the rate of EMS incidents is significantly and positively moderated by the SVI. Conclusions Social vulnerability and excessive heat increase the rate of EMS incidents. As the number of excessive heat days increases and San Antonio continues to have extreme disparities by location, there will be an effect on health systems, including EMSs.
Deep Convolutional Neural Networks for Road Extraction

In recent years, the advances in high-resolution satellite imagery have led to the popularity of automatic road extraction. However, most existing methods suffer from high computational cost and low efficiency. In this paper, we propose two novel encoder-decoder deep networks to tackle the automatic road extraction problem. The proposed methods integrate Atrous Spatial Pyramid Pooling (ASPP) and Dense Convolutional Network (DenseNet) on Unet. We implement our proposed models on DeepGlobe dataset and Massachusetts road extraction dataset. The experimental results show that our model is computationally efficient and able to effectively extract multi-scale global features and to preserve spatial information from deeper networks.
The Role of D&O Insurance in Securities Fraud Class Action Settlements

Due to previous data unavailability, it is unclear how important directors’ and officers’ (D&O) insurance is in securities fraud class action settlements. Using a unique dataset of U.S. D&O policies, we find that D&O coverage is a less significant determinant of settlement amounts than estimated damages and proxies for case merits. D&O limits are related to settlements in only the weakest cases (those without accounting allegations or institutional lead plaintiffs) where proxies for case merits play a minimal role. Our findings suggest that most securities fraud class action settlements are meritorious and accounting-related cases are a reasonable proxy for fraud.
Magneto: Joint Angle Analysis Using an Electromagnet-Based Sensing Method

Joint angle analysis facilitates research into injury prevention, rehabilitation, and activity monitoring. Sensors used in such analysis must be unobtrusive, accurate, and if used for motion, capable of monitoring fast-paced, dynamic motions. To effectively contribute to these applications, we created a body-mounted electromagnet-based sensing system for joint angle analysis called Magneto. Our system is wireless, features a high sampling rate, is not subject to drift, and is unaffected by outside magnetic noise. Magnetic field readings are influenced by noise due to magnetic interference from the Earth's magnetic field, the environment, and nearby ferrous objects. Magneto uses the combination of an electromagnet and magnetometer to remove environmental interference from a magnetic field reading. We evaluated this sensing method to show its performance when removing the interference in three-movement dimensions, in six environments, and with six different cycling rates. Then, we localized the electromagnet with respect to the magnetic field reader in any direction within a 13.8 cm range with a relative error of 2.3% for the distance and an average error of 3.43° for the orientation angle. We applied Magneto in a pilot study: calculating elbow flexion angles. In this study, we calculated elbow flexion angles to the nearest 15° with 93.8% accuracy.
A quantum prediction as a collection of epistemically restricted classical predictions

Spekkens has introduced an epistemically restricted classical theory of discrete systems, based on discrete phase space. The theory manifests a number of quantum-like properties but cannot fully imitate quantum theory because it is noncontextual. In this paper we show how, for a certain class of quantum systems, the quantum description of an experiment can be decomposed into classical descriptions that follow Spekkens-like rules. For each aspect of the experiment -- the preparation, the transformations, and the measurement -- there is an epistemic restriction limiting the form of the probability distribution an imagined classical observer may use. There are also global constraints that the whole collection of classical descriptions must satisfy. Each classical description generates its own prediction regarding the outcome of the experiment, typically weaker than the quantum prediction. One recovers the quantum prediction via a simple but highly nonclassical rule: the "nonrandom part" of the quantum prediction is obtained by summing the "nonrandom parts" of the classical predictions.
A polyhedral study of production ramping

We give strong formulations of ramping constraints--used to model the maximum change in production level for a generator or machine from one time period to the next--and production limits. For the two-period case, we give a complete description of the convex hull of the feasible solutions. The two-period inequalities can be readily used to strengthen ramping formulations without the need for separation. For the general case, we define exponential classes of multi-period variable upper bound and multi-period ramping inequalities, and give conditions under which these inequalities define facets of ramping polyhedra. Finally, we present exact polynomial separation algorithms for the inequalities and report computational experiments on using them in a branch-and-cut algorithm to solve unit commitment problems in power generation.
Crossing Boundaries: Building a Model to Effectively Address Difference in Community Practice

CROSSING BOUNDRIES: BUILDING A MODEL TO ADDRESS DIFFERENCE IN COMMUINTY PRACTICE By: Jason M. Sawyer, MSW This dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the School of Social Work at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2014. Major Director: Dr. Sarah Kye Price Associate Professor of Social Work Community organizing has a rich tradition within the field of social work. Prevailing community practice models, approaches, and frameworks remain primarily based on practice wisdom, experience, and intuition. Difference, pervasive in various contemporary contexts of practice, largely mediates interactions at the community level. Although difference is addressed at various levels of the practice continuum and within the IFSW and NASW codes of ethics, few methodologically driven tools exist within the literature to guide practitioners. This grounded theory study initiates early development of a community practice model based on forging alliances across boundaries of difference. The Critical Difference Engagement model is based on local community leaders’ and organizers’ experiences working across dimensions of power, race, gender, age, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status, it provides practitioners with a framework for social change and building solidarity across difference in multiple contexts.
Vapour equilibria in the B2O3H2O system at elevated temperatures

The equilibrium pressures of H/sub 3/BO/sub 3(/>i,HBO/sub 2(/>i,and (HBO/ sub 23(/>i were determined by a transpiration method in the temperature region 1000 to 1273 deg K. From these data the calculated heats of formation are DELTA H/sub fo i/sub K/ STAHBO/sub 2(/>i!=134.9 plus or minus 1 kcal/mole and DELTA H/sub fo i/sub K/ STA(HBO/sub 2/)/sub 3(/>i!=-537.5 plus or minus 3 kcal/mole.
Nationalizing the Work Force: Ethnic Restratification in the Newly Independent States

Whenever indigenous elites gain greater decision-making authority in their own homelands, they seek to use this newly acquired power to enhance the standing of their own nation relative to members of other nations living there. This “nationalization” or indigenization process typically includes attempts to raise the status of the indigenous nation's ethno-cultural characteristics (e.g., language, religion), to increase the competitive position of indigenes over non-indigenes in the socio-cultural and political sectors (e.g., less restrictive university entrance requirements for indigenous students, and ethnic favoritism in access to government jobs and benefits), to improve the relative legal standing of indigenes as “first among equals,” and to reorient hiring criteria so that an individual's membership in the indigenous nation becomes an important, even overriding factor. This paper examines the last dimension of this “nationalization” process, assessing the degree to which work force indigenization had...