This population-based cohort study examines the appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing in South Carolina via aggregated pharmacy claims data matched with diagnosis codes from medical claims. Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing decreased from 30.2% in 2012 to 22.6% in 2017 (P < 0.001) and was more common in adults >40 years old.

We present the first experimental observations of the dust acoustic wave where the wave was observed to propagate in the directions of gravity and magnetic field when these directions were not aligned. The experiments were conducted in the Magnetized Dusty Plasma eXperiment facility using a novel electrode system that allows for the angle between gravity and the magnetic field to be varied in a controlled way. This letter reports on measurements in an rf glow discharge argon plasma environment where the angle between direction of gravity and the magnetic field is 45$^{\circ }$. When there was no applied magnetic field, the wave was observed to propagate in the direction of gravity. However, as the magnetic field increased and the ions transitioned from flowing in the direction of gravity to the direction of the magnetic field, a second wave emerged and two distinct waves were observed to simultaneously propagate, one in the direction of gravity and one in the direction of the magnetic field. As the magnetic field was further increased, the wave that propagated in the direction of gravity was suppressed and the wave was only observed to propagate in the direction of the applied magnetic field. We also observe that the speed and the kinetic temperature of the dust for the mode that propagated in the direction of gravity decreased with increasing magnetic field while the speed and the kinetic temperature of the dust for the mode that propagated in the direction of the magnetic field increased with increasing magnetic field. These measurements suggest that an ion-dust streaming instability is at least partially responsible for the high temperatures that have previously been observed in dusty plasmas when the dust acoustic wave is present.

A method for computing the biserial correlation coefficients with the aid of punch card equipment is oultined. A numerical example and a work sheet layout is included in the presentation.

We introduce the concept of ‘irrational paths’ for a given subshift and useit to characterize all minimal left ideals in the associated unital subshift algebra. Consequently, we characterize the socle as the sum of the ideals generated by irrational paths. Proceeding, we construct a graph such that the Leavitt path algebra of this graph is graded isomorphic to the socle. This realization allows us to show that the graded structure of the socle serves as an invariant for the conjugacy of Ott–Tomforde–Willis subshifts and for the isometric conjugacy of subshifts constructed with the product topology. Additionally, we establish that the socle of the unital subshift algebra is contained in the socle of the corresponding unital subshift C*-algebra.

Dense suspensions of solid particles in viscous liquid are ubiquitous in both industry and nature, and there is a clear need for efficient numerical routines to simulate their rheology and microstructure. Particles of micron size present a particular challenge: at low shear rates, colloidal interactions control their dynamics while at high rates, granular-like contacts dominate. While there are established particle-based simulation schemes for large-scale non-Brownian suspensions using only pairwise lubrication and contact forces, common schemes for colloidal suspensions generally are more computationally costly and thus restricted to relatively small system sizes. Here, we present a minimal particle-based numerical model for dense colloidal suspensions that incorporates Brownian forces in pairwise form alongside contact and lubrication forces. We show that this scheme reproduces key features of dense suspension rheology near the colloidal-to-granular transition, including both shear thinning due to entropic forces at low rates and shear thickening at high rates due to contact formation. This scheme is implemented in LAMMPS, a widely used open source code for parallelised particle-based simulations, with a runtime that scales linearly with the number of particles, making it amenable for large-scale simulations.

Quantifier spreading (Q-spreading), children’s incorrect falsification of a universally-quantified sentence based on an ‘extra-object’ picture, may persist beyond childhood, and children adhere to Q-spreading without changing responses throughout testing. We examined the error patterns across wider age groups (aged 4-79) with a picture-sentence verification eye-tracking task. We also examined whether prosodic emphasis affects their comprehension and processing of universally-quantified sentences. Whereas adults’ comprehension was ceiling, children/adolescents (aged 4-17) showed various comprehension patterns, splitting into: ‘Adult-like responders’ (consistently adult-like), ‘Q-spreaders’ (consistently showing Q-spreading), and ‘Switchers’ (shifted from Q-spreading to adult-like). While adults rarely looked at the extra-object, ‘Q-spreaders’ showed frequent looks throughout testing, and both ‘Switchers’ and ‘Adult-like responders’ exhibited reduced looks to the extra-object, suggesting that avoidance and correction of Q-spreading requires inhibition of the visual attention to the extra-object. The effect of prosodic emphasis on eye movement emerged later for children/adolescents than adults.

We consider the Dirichlet Laplacian with uniform magnetic field on a curved strip in two dimensions. We give a sufficient condition on the width and the curvature of the strip ensuring the existence of the discrete spectrum in the strong magnetic field limit, answering (negatively) a conjecture made by Duclos and Exner.

This article explores the realization of definiteness in Chuj, an underdocumented Mayan language. I show that Chuj provides support for recent theories that distinguish between weak and strong definite descriptions (e.g., Schwarz 2009, 2013; Arkoh and Matthewson 2013; Hanink 2018; Jenks 2018). A set of morphemes called “noun classifiers” contribute a uniqueness presupposition, composing directly with nominals to form weak definites. To form strong definites, I show that two pieces are required: (i) the noun classifier, which again contributes a uniqueness presupposition, and (ii) extra morphology that contributes an anaphoricity presupposition. Chuj strong definites thus provide explicit evidence for a decompositional account of weak and strong definites, as also advocated in Hanink 2018. I then extend this analysis to third person pronouns, which are realized in Chuj with bare classifiers, and which I propose come in two guises depending on their use. On the one hand, based on previous work (Postal 1966, Cooper 1979, Heim 1990), I argue that classifier pronouns can sometimes be E-type pronouns: weak definite determiners which combine with a covert index-introducing predicate. In such cases, classifier pronouns represent a strong definite description. On the other hand, I argue, based on diagnostics established in Bi and Jenks 2019, that Chuj classifier pronouns sometimes arise as a result of NP ellipsis (Elbourne 2001, 2005). In such cases, classifier pronouns reflect a weak definite description.

The ESA/KU Leuven CubeSpec mission is specifically designed to provide low-cost space-based high-resolution optical spectroscopy. Here we highlight the science requirements and capabilities of CubeSpec. The primary science goal is to perform pulsation mode identification from spectroscopic line profile variability and empower asteroseismology of massive stars.

In this cross-sectional population-based study, women had significantly higher crude incidence rates of both community-associated Clostridioides difficile infection (CA-CDI) and ambulatory antibiotic prescriptions compared to men in South Carolina in 2015. After adjustments for antibiotic prescription rates, there was no difference in the incidence rates of CA-CDI between the genders.

Introduction: Gastroenteritis (GE) is one of the most common causes of emergency room visits, especially in pediatrics. The Canadian Paediatric Society and Choosing Wisely have issued high-grade recommendations to physicians working in the Emergency Department. It suggests, trying oral ondansetron followed by oral rehydration before installing venous rehydration in children with GE with adequate hydration or mild to moderate dehydration. This quality of medical care evaluation aims to determine if these recommendations were being applied for children aged 6 months to 12 years, with adequate hydration status or mild to moderate dehydration, who presented to the Chicoutimi emergency room between November 2016 and November 2018. Methods: Practice conformity was assessed according to two explicit criteria: prescription of oral ondansetron and appropriate mean of rehydration. A data collection tool was created and files were reviewed by investigators after standardization. Several secondary outcomes were assessed, including, among others, duration of symptoms, the number of vomiting and diarrhea. The hydration status was measured according to the capillary refill, feeling of skin to the touch, condition of buccal mucosa, tears, heart rate and mental status. These variables were analyzed to understand their impact on practice conformity. We excluded cases in which there was infections needing antibiotics, hypoglycemia, hemodynamic instability, no vomiting in the last 24 hours, convulsions and history of diabetes. Results: A total of 270 patient files were analyzed, 181 of which were included. Oral ondansetron was tried in 49 % of children. Rehydration was adequate in 55% of cases. The hydration level was written in 18% of files and the hydration status noted by the emergency room physician overestimated the dehydration score in 16% of cases. When hydration status was well assessed, adequate rehydration was observed in 63% of cases, while ondansetron was attempted in only 44% of cases. Conclusion: Use of oral ondansetron and adequate mean of rehydration to treat children aged 6 months to 12 years with GE in Chicoutimi emergency department is suboptimal. The difficulty of adequate dehydration assessment may be one of the causes. Concerted dehydration assessment grid and a group prescription for the administration of ondansetron during the nurse triage may constitute potential solutions.

Brominated flame retardants (BFR) are primarily used as flame retardant additives in insulating materials. These lipophilic compounds can bioaccumulate in animal tissues, leading to human exposure via food ingestion. Although their concentration in food is not yet regulated, several of these products are recognised as persistent organic pollutants; they are thought to act as endocrine disruptors. The present study aimed to characterise the occurrence of two families of BFRs (hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)) in hen eggs and broiler or pig meat in relation to their rearing environments. Epidemiological studies were carried out on 60 hen egg farms (34 without an open-air range, 26 free-range), 57 broiler farms (27 without an open-air range, 30 free-range) and 42 pig farms without an open-air range in France from 2013 to 2015. For each farm, composite samples from either 12 eggs, five broiler pectoral muscles or three pig tenderloins were obtained. Eight PBDE congeners and three HBCDD stereoisomers were quantified in product fat using gas chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry, or high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry, respectively. The frequencies of PBDE detection were 28% for eggs (median concentration 0.278 ng/g fat), 72% for broiler muscle (0.392 ng/g fat) and 49% for pig muscle (0.403 ng/g fat). At least one HBCDD stereoisomer was detected in 17% of eggs (0.526 ng/g fat), 46% of broiler muscle (0.799 ng/g fat) and 36% of pig muscle (0.616 ng/g fat). Results were similar in concentration to those obtained in French surveillance surveys from 2012 to 2016. Nevertheless, the contamination of free-range eggs and broilers was found to be more frequent than that of conventional ones, suggesting that access to an open-air range could be an additional source of exposure to BFRs for animals. However, the concentration of BFRs in all products remained generally very low. No direct relationship could be established between the occurrence of BFRs in eggs and meat and the characteristics of farm buildings (age, building materials). The potential presence of BFRs in insulating materials is not likely to constitute a significant source of animal exposure as long as the animals do not have direct access to these materials.

We realize Leavitt ultragraph path algebras as partial skew group rings. Using this realization we characterize artinian ultragraph path algebras and give simplicity criteria for these algebras.