cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Childhood Cardiac Function After Prenatal Diagnosis of Intracardiac Echogenic Foci

Objective. To determine whether prenatally diagnosed intracardiac echogenic foci are associated with childhood cardiac dysfunction and persistence. Methods. Children in whom intracardiac echogenic foci were shown on prenatal sonography at 1 perinatal center underwent echocardiography at ages 2 to 7 years. A single pediatric cardiologist, blinded to the prenatal sonographic intracardiac echogenic focus locations, assessed cardiac function by measuring the left ventricular shortening fraction and myocardial performance index. The presence of tricuspid and mitral valve regurgitation was also sought. The secondary outcome was intracardiac echogenic focus persistence. Results. Twenty-five children, 14 (56%) male and 11 (44%) female, were examined at a mean age ± SD of 3.0 ± 1.0 years. Prenatally, 18 children (72%) had left ventricular intracardiac echogenic foci, and 7 (28%) had right ventricular intracardiac echogenic foci. The left ventricular shortening fraction was normal in all children. The overall mean left ventricular myocardial performance index (reference value, 0.36 ± 0.06), was normal for both children with left ventricular intracardiac echogenic foci (0.36 ± 0.06) and those with right ventricular intracardiac echogenic foci (0.36 ± 0.04). Two children with left ventricular intracardiac echogenic foci had an isolated left ventricular myocardial performance index of greater than 2.5 SD above the mean. Trace tricuspid valve regurgitation and mitral valve regurgitation were noted in 13 (52%) and 2 (8%) of the children, respectively, similar to the general population. Left ventricular intracardiac echogenic foci persisted in 16 children (89%), whereas right ventricular intracardiac echogenic foci persisted in 2 (29%)
A new beam intensity monitoring system with wide dynamic range for the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility

A new beam intensity monitoring system with a wide dynamic range has been designed, fabricated and tested for use at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility (HRIBF). Radioactive ion beams produced with this first generation facility will have intensities much lower than those of stable ions previously injected into the 25 URC tandem accelerator and the existing beam current monitoring systems, which have a lower limit of approximately 100 pA, will not be adequate to tune the injection line or accelerator. This paper describes a new system which combines a Faraday cup and a continuous dynode electron multiplier (CDEM) to yield a dynamic range from a few particles per second to greater than a microampere. The CDEM can be biased to count either secondary electrons or Rutherford backscattered ions.
She won't be Dancing Much Anyway: A Study of Surgeons, Surgical Nurses, and Elderly Patients:

This research examined how the interpersonal dynamics between surgeons and surgical nurses in the operating room and their attitudes toward elderly patients affected the quality of care delivered. Qualitative data were gathered through in-depth interviews with surgeons and surgical nurses and from 5 months of participant observation in an operating room. The findings indicate that surgeons strongly influence how surgical personnel treat patients during surgery. The surgeon's ultimate control and unquestioned authority in surgery, when combined with depersonalization of patients, created situations in which the quality of care was compromised. The recommendations discussed include establishing the surgeon as a positive role model, specialized training for those working with elderly patients, and shared governance of the operating room.
Two notes on ideal-transforms

The first note gives two new characterization of the ideal-transform T ( I ) of a finitely generated regular ideal I in a large class of rings. Specifically, if b is a regular element in I , then there exists a regular element c ∈ I and a multiplicatively closed set S of regular elements in R such that T ( I ) = T (( b, c ) R ) = R b ∩ R c = R b ∩ R s , so T ( I ) is the ideal-transform of an ideal generated by two elements, and every ring of the form R b ∩ R s is an ideal-transform. The second theorem shows that if T ( I ) is integrally closed, then it is a Krull ring. As an application of these results we strengthen some known results concerning when certain ideal-transforms of the Rees ring R ( R, I ) are finite or integral extension rings of R ( R, I ).
Remarks on numerical ranges of operators in spaces with an indefinite metric

The numerical range of an operator on an indefinite inner product space (possibly infinite dimensional) is studied. In particular, operators having bounded numerical ranges are characterized, and the angle points of the numerical range and their connections with eigenvalues are described.
Development of a pulsed quantum cascade laser based CO sensor using advanced signal processing techniques

A pulsed, thermoelectrically cooled 4.6 /spl mu/m DFB-QCL CO sensor, incorporating a 100 m multipass cell and HgCdTe detector, is used to evaluate various processing schemes and their effects on temporal resolution, sensitivity, and selectivity of the spectrometer.
Improving rates of influenza vaccination among healthcare workers: educate; motivate; mandate?

From the Departments of Medicine and Preventive Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Received November 30, 2007; accepted December 9, 2007; electronically published December 31, 2007. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2008;29:107-11
Novel Control Strategy Design for Multiple Hybrid Electric Vehicle Energy Storage Systems

In this paper, two novel control strategies are designed and evaluated for a bidirectional DC/DC converter and a 3-stage parallel-interleaved bidirectional converter, for hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) energy storage applications. The energy storage system (ESS) combines 2 parallel ultra-capacitor (UC) modules with a bidirectional DC/DC converter, a Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) battery module, and a load module (which includes the inverter and traction motor). The main focus of the proposed control strategy design is to integrate the 2 UCs into the ESS of the HEV, to find a better compromise between the dimensions of the devices, the energy efficiency sharing, the dynamics of the supply, as well as to improve the overall energy storage capability of the system.
Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Production by Alveolar Macrophages During the Early Development of Phosgene-Induced Lung Injury

AbstractSeveral lines of circumstantial evidence suggest that an elevated production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) by lung macrophages may play a role in the development of phosgene-induced pulmonary edema. The present study was undertaken to investigate this possibility. Fischer 344 rats were exposed to 23.2 ppm phosgene or air for 10 min, and bronchoalveolar lavage was performed during the early development of the pulmonary edematous response to phosgene, that is, 1 and 3 h after exposure. Lavage fluids were analyzed for the presence of TNF-α, and the constitutive and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated productions of TNF-α by lavaged alveolar macrophages (AM) were assessed in vitro. No increases in TNF-α in the lavage fluids were observed at either of the two time points after phosgene exposure. The numbers and viabilities of AM lavaged 1 h after exposure to phosgene and air were closely similar. By 3 h after exposure to phosgene, fewer AM were harvested by lavage and their viabilities were reduce...
Rising economic impact of clostridium difficile-associated disease in adult hospitalized patient population.

BACKGROUND. Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD) is responsible for increased morbidity and a substantial economic burden. Incidences of CDAD, including those with a severe course of illness, have been increasing rapidly. OBJECTIVE. To evaluate the excess mortality, increased length of stay (LOS) in the hospital, and additional costs associated with CDAD. DESIGN. A retrospective matched cohort study. PATIENTS. Adult patients admitted to a large tertiary care hospital between January 2000 and October 2005. METHODS. Adult patients were tested with a C. difficile laboratory assay at admission or 72 hours after admission. Infected patients had 1 or more positive assay results and were individually matched to 1 uninfected patient who had negative assay results, by exposure time, age, ward, and at least 2 measurements for comorbidity and severity of illness. RESULTS. The incidence rate of CDAD among adult patients increased from 0.57 cases per 1,000 patient-days at risk before 2004 to 0.88 cases per 1,000 patient-days at risk after 2004 (P <.001). The 630 infected patients had a mortality rate of 11.9%; the 630 uninfected patients had a mortality rate of 15.1% (P =.02). After adjustment in the multivariate analysis, we found that the LOS for infected patients was 4 days longer than that for uninfected patients (P <.001). If CDAD occurred after 2004, the additional LOS increased to 5.5 days. The direct cost associated with CDAD was $306 per case; after year 2004, it increased to $6,326 per case. CONCLUSIONS. There may be no excess mortality among patients with CDAD, compared with patients without it, but the economic burden of CDAD is increasing. By 2004, CDAD-associated medical expenditures approached $1,000,000 per year at our institution alone.
Relationships among concentrations of steroids, insulin-like growth factor-I, and insulin-like growth factor binding proteins in ovarian follicular fluid of beef cattle.

The relationship between ovarian follicular steroidogenesis and insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP) activity was evaluated during the follicular phase of the bovine estrous cycle. In experiment 1, follicles were collected from cyclic cows (n = 11) slaughtered at 48 h after administration of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF; 35 mg i.m.). In experiment 2, cows were injected twice daily with saline (control) or FSH (FSH cows; total dosage = 42 mg) from Day 2 to Day 6 (estrus = Day 0) and with PGF (35 mg i.m.) on Day 7; follicles were collected from control cows (n = 20) slaughtered at 0, 24, 48, or 72 h and from FSH cows (n = 8) at 0 and 48 h after PGF. Follicular fluid was assayed for estradiol (E2), androstenedione (A4), progesterone (P4), and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) by RIA and for IGFBP activity by ligand blotting and densitometry. Intensities of the 34-kDa (IGFBP-2), 29-27-kDa, and 22-kDa IGFBP bands in follicular fluid were nondetectable or were lower (p or = 8 mm) E-active (E-A; E2 > 50 ng/ml and > P4) follicles than in large E-inactive (E-I), medium (5-7 mm), or small (< 5 mm) follicles. IGFBP-3 (44-40-kDa doublet) was unaffected by follicle stage in experiment 1, but IGFBP-3 was lower (p < 0.01) in follicular fluid of E-A vs. E-I large follicles in experiment 2. Profiles of IGFBP activity were similar in follicular fluid of small, medium, and E-I large follicles. In experiment 2, E2 concentrations in large E-A follicles increased (p < 0.01) from 0 to 48 h after the PGF injection for control cows but decreased (p < 0.01) for FSH cows, whereas follicular fluid IGFBP-2 binding activity decreased from 0 to 48 h after PGF in controls and increased in FSH cows (treatment x time, p < 0.05). IGFBP-3 binding was unaffected by FSH treatment or time after administration of PGF. Profiles of IGFBP activity in homogenates of granulosa or theca cells were similar to follicular fluid profiles except for the absence of IGFBP-3 binding activity. The disappearance of binding activities for IGFBP-2 and smaller-molecular-mass IGFBPs in E-A follicles suggests a possible regulatory role for IGFBPs in follicular maturation and on aromatase activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Evaluating a Short-Term, First-Year Study Abroad Program for Business and Engineering Undergraduates: Understanding the Student Learning Experience

The authors describe a short-term study abroad program for business and engineering students at the end of their freshman year, and then present the results of a later survey of the participants as upperclassmen that was conducted to determine whether the program met its objectives. The primary objectives of this first-year program were to influence participants to pursue additional study abroad opportunities later in their college career, inspire them to further study foreign language and culture, and encourage them to become involved in additional international activities. Improvement in teamwork and cross-cultural skills were also goals.
The role of la familia on Mexican American men's college persistence intentions.

Mexican American men lag behind academically. To that end, this study examined the mediating role of parental encouragement in the relation between familismo and college persistence intentions among 186 Mexican American college men. The mediation analysis suggested that parental encouragement fully, positively, and significantly mediated the relation between familismo and college persistence intentions for this sample of Mexican American college men. Furthermore, parental encouragement explained 53% of the variance in the indirect relation between familismo and college persistence intentions. We also asked two open-ended questions about participants’ college persistence and potential barriers to college persistence. Three dimensions of academic supports (i.e., attitudinal, instrumental, and social support factors) and four dimensions of potential barriers (i.e., struggles, unexpected events, family, and nothing) emerged. Research and practice implications of the study’s findings are delineated.
TCP-Friendly CBR-Like Rate Control

While the current definition of TCP friendliness has enabled a wide variety of traffic control protocols other than TCP, it still considerably restricts the design space of TCP-friendly traffic control protocols. For example, some multimedia streaming applications prefer a smooth sending rate on a time scale of minutes, however, a UDP flow maintaining a smooth sending rate on such a long time scale is naturally not TCP friendly by the current definition. In this paper, we first give a new class of TCP friendliness definitions, called stochastic TCP friendliness, which greatly expands the design space of TCP-friendly traffic control protocols, while still effectively maintaining the desired stability and fairness of the Internet. In particular, we propose stochastic TCP friendliness in usual stochastic order as a more appropriate design guideline for traffic control protocols, which intuitively ensures that a UDP flow is friendly to all competing TCP flows with any increasing utility function. Second, we develop a congestion control protocol, called TCP-friendly CBR-like rate control, which achieves a smooth sending rate on a time scale of minutes, and at the same time is stochastically TCP friendly in usual stochastic order in most network environments.
The Z-DNA motif d(TG)30 promotes reception of information during gene conversion events while stimulating homologous recombination in human cells in culture.

Tracts of the alternating dinucleotide polydeoxythymidylic-guanylic [d(TG)].polydeoxyadenylic-cytidylic acid [d(AC)], present throughout the human genome, are capable of readily forming left-handed Z-DNA in vitro. We have analyzed the effects of the Z-DNA motif d(TG)30 upon homologous recombination between two nonreplicating plasmid substrates cotransfected into human cells in culture. In this study, the sequence d(TG)30 is shown to stimulate homologous recombination up to 20-fold. Enhancement is specific to the Z-DNA motif; a control DNA fragment of similar size does not alter the recombination frequency. The stimulation of recombination is observed at a distance (237 to 1,269 base pairs away from the Z-DNA motif) and involves both gene conversion and reciprocal exchange events. Maximum stimulation is observed when the sequence is present in both substrates, but it is capable of stimulating when present in only one substrate. Analysis of recombination products indicates that the Z-DNA motif increases the frequency and alters the distribution of multiple, unselected recombination events. Specifically designed crosses indicate that the substrate containing the Z-DNA motif preferentially acts as the recipient of genetic information during gene conversion events. Models describing how left-handed Z-DNA sequences might promote the initiation of homologous recombination are presented.
Victory by Duress: Civilian Infrastructure as a Target in Air Campaigns

Recent trends in the use of air power by the United States have given rise to a striking paradox. Although better technology allows air campaigns to be more discriminating, and norms against directly targeting civilians remain strong, some Air Force thinking—including the ascendancy of “effects-based” targeting—evince a growing willingness to target civilian infrastructure in an attempt to undermine popular support for the war effort. In this article, I trace the development of this trend, discuss its effects in recent conflicts, and examine its legal and ethical implications. I conclude that such “duress bombing” is neither consistent with the requirements of international law nor ethically defensible along the lines proposed by its advocates. Moreover, it is almost certain to incur political costs that would prove self-defeating for the nation that embraces it.
Attitudes And Assets: An Investigation Of The Causes Of Personal Bankruptcy

This descriptive study focuses on Chapter 13 bankruptcy filers in South Texas. Our survey asked respondents to identify the main reasons for the financial problems that lead to declaring bankruptcy. We also asked questions about certain attitudinal factors that may have contributed to their financial difficulties: what income they believed they needed to live comfortably, their opinions about credit card debt, and the relationship between money and happiness. Our study identifies issues that should be considered by creditors, legislators, professional advisors, and educators to help persons avoid bankruptcy.
Absence of Lipoprotein in Pulmonary Surfactants

The “alveolar-capillary barrier”, which separates the air of the pulmonary alveoli from the blood of the pulmonary capillaries, has been rather well defined by electron microscopy as consisting of the capillary endothelial cell, interstices, alveolar epithelial cell, and acellular lining layer. The latter covers the plasma membrane of the epithelial cell and is the external limiting surface that makes contact with alveolar air (1,2) (Fig. 1). The chemical components of the alveolar lining layer, which have been termed “the surfactant system of the lung” (3), probably include proteins, carbohydrates, phospholipids and other lipids (2,3,4).
Physicians' role in protecting patients' financial well-being.

The physicians of tomorrow will be increasingly compelled to consider costs and recognize their role in protecting patients' wallets. It is time we give them the skills, training, and support they need to do so.
Resolving Libel Cases Out of Court

The article begins with a brief discussion of the assumptions and goals underlying media libel law. Then the findings of an empirical study are discussed, showing that the libel litigation system neither accomplishes its goals nor meets the needs of the parties. The study also suggested that an alternative process that offers a more efficient and straightforward resolution of the dispute would be consistent with the interests of a majority of parties. Research findings concerning various alternative dispute resolution processes are discussed. An experimental, voluntary, nonlitigation alternative program created to resolve libel disputes outside the courts is described, along with a case that illustrates the potential benefits of such an alternative process.
Isolated displaced fracture of the posterior facet of the talus.

Isolated displaced fractures of the posterior facet of the talus do occur, and they can be diagnosed if one is alert to this possibility when studying the roentgenograms of the ankle. It is possible that it is this injury undiagnosed that causes some of the chronically painful so-called sprained ankles that are such problems at times. Certainly, in every case of ankle sprain resistant to the usual conservative treatment, the roentgenograms should be reviewed and repeated with this fracture in mind. Early diagnosis appears to be of paramount importance. Early open reduction and fixation may avoid prolonged disability and pain.
Measurements and analysis of the /sup 208/Pb(/sup 12/C, /sup 13/C), (/sup 12/C, /sup 11/B), and (/sup 12/C, /sup 14/C) reactions. [97. 9 MeV; full-recoil, DWBA analysis of differential cross sections]

A $^{208}\mathrm{Pb}$ target was bombarded with 97.9-MeV $^{12}\mathrm{C}$ ions accelerated in the Oak Ridge isochronous cyclotron and the reaction products detected with a 60-cm long position-sensitive proportional counter placed at the focal plane of an Elbek spectrograph. Differential cross sections were measured for the $^{208}\mathrm{Pb}$($^{12}\mathrm{C}$, $^{11}\mathrm{B}$), $^{208}\mathrm{Pb}$($^{12}\mathrm{C}$, $^{13}\mathrm{C}$), and $^{208}\mathrm{Pb}$($^{12}\mathrm{C}$, $^{14}\mathrm{C}$) reactions. The single-nucleon transfer data, together with previous measurements taken for the same two reactions at 77.4 and 116.4 MeV, were analyzed using exact finite-range, full-recoil, distorted-wave Born-approximation calculations. Elastic scattering for $^{11}\mathrm{B}$ + $^{209}\mathrm{Bi}$ at 74.6 MeV and $^{13}\mathrm{C}$ + $^{207}\mathrm{Pb}$ at 86.1 MeV was also measured and optical optical potential fits obtained to provide potentials for use in the distorted-wave Born-approximation calculations. Both Woods-Saxon and folded potentials were used in fitting the elastic data. The importance of the various interaction terms in the distorted-wave Born approximation was studied. Good agreement was found between theory and experiment for the ($^{12}\mathrm{C}$, $^{13}\mathrm{C}$) reactions, and the spectroscopic factors deduced were satisfactory. The data for the ($^{12}\mathrm{C}$, $^{11}\mathrm{B}$) reactions, although also yielding satisfactory spectroscopic factors, tend to peak at smaller angles than the predicted curves. This discrepancy increases as the $Q$ value becomes more negative or the bombarding energy is reduced; that is, as the mismatch increases between the grazing angular momenta in the entrance and exit channels.NUCLEAR REACTIONS $^{208}\mathrm{Pb}$($^{12}\mathrm{C}$, $^{13}\mathrm{C}$), $^{208}\mathrm{Pb}$($^{12}\mathrm{C}$, $^{11}\mathrm{B}$), ${E}_{\mathrm{lab}}=77.4, 97.9, 116.4$ MeV; $^{208}\mathrm{Pb}$($^{12}\mathrm{C}$, $^{14}\mathrm{C}$), ${E}_{\mathrm{lab}}=97.9$ MeV; $^{207}\mathrm{Pb}$($^{13}\mathrm{C}$, $^{13}\mathrm{C}$), ${E}_{\mathrm{lab}}=86.1$ MeV; $^{209}\mathrm{Bi}$($^{11}\mathrm{B}$, $^{11}\mathrm{B}$), ${E}_{\mathrm{lab}}=74.6$ MeV; measured $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\theta})$; optical model and DWBA analyses; deduced spectroscopic factors.
Epistemic Communities, Constructivism, and International Environmental Politics

Preface 1. Introduction "ReConstructing Epistemic Communities" Part I: Ontology & Historical Background 2. Transnational Flows and the Transformation of International Relations 3. The Capacity of International Institutions to Manage Bhopal-like Problems 4. Introduction: Epistemic Communities and International Policy Coordination 5. Constructing Environmental Security from Resource Scarcity Part II: Regimes and Governance Patterns 6. Social Constructivism and the Evolution of Multilateral Environmental Governance 7. Prospects for Effective Marine Governance in the NW Pacific Region and "Letter to the Editor" 8. Epistemic Communities and International Environmental Law Part III: Institutions and Learning 9. UN Conferences and Constructivist Governance of the Environment 10. International Institutions and Social Learning in the Management of Global Environmental Risk 11. Addressing the Global Governance Deficit 12. Learning to Learn Part IV: Effectiveness 13. Choosing to Comply 14. Evaluating the Effectiveness of Marine Governance V: Science Policy 15. When Does Power Listen to Truth? A Constructivist Approach to the Policy Process 16. Organized Science, Usable Knowledge, and Multilateral Environmental Governance Part VI: Conclusion 17. Promoting Knowledge Based International Governance for Sustainable Development 18. The Global Spreading of Ideas
Religious Deregulation: Origins and Consequences

In 1791 the First Amendment forbade the United States Congress from making any "law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Though reli gious establishments and their remnants would persist on into the nineteenth century, this amendment symbolized the dra matic shift from religious establishments to religious freedom. The close ties between church and state in the United States
Chiggers of Guatemala (Acarina: Trombiculidae)

The 19 forms listed include seven new species, one new subspecies, and a new genus. The new forms and their hosts are: Leeuwenhoekia vercammeni off spiny pocket mouse, Ileteromys d. desmarestianus; Odontacarus mastigophorus off cottontail, Sylvilagus floridanus chiapensis; Whartonia womersleyi off pouch-winged bat, Balantiopteryx io ; PERATES insessus off leaf-lipped bat, Chilonycteris r. rubiginosa; Trombicula (L.) panamensis hamaxiaia off cottontail, Sylvilagus floridanus chiapensis; Euschongastia desmodus off vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus; Euschongastia libertatis off wood rat (no further identification); Euschongastia precaria off vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus . A key is provided to the species listed. An error in the original description of Neoschongastia dalmati Brennan is corrected, and additional description and illustration for Whartonia nudosetosa (Wharton) are given.
Apothecial Production, Compatibility and Sex in Botryotinia Squamosa

Apothecia of Botryotinia squamosa were produced in compatible matings on a wheat macerate medium or on sand culture under programmed changes of temperature and light. Sclerotial development, dorman...
Research on the Sintering Processing of the Yttria Stabilized Zirconia Nano Powders

The sintering process of 8%(mole fraction,the same below) yttria stabilized zirconia(8YSZ) nano powders was investigated.The density of 8YSZ ceramics was measured according to Archimedes' principle.The line shrinkage was obtained by measuring the size of 8YSZ ceramics before and after sintering.The microstructure of 8YSZ ceramics was observed by SEM.The densification process of the 8YSZ ceramics during sintering was discussed.The influence of the sintering process on the density and grain size was analyzed.The optimum sintering process of 8YSZ nano powders is adopting two steps sintering which is first heated at 1500℃ and then holding at 1450℃ for 4h.By this process the 8YSZ electrolyte with high relative density(98%) and small grain size(3μm) was obtained.In addition to,the influence of the grain size of powder on sintering performance was investigated.The result shows that the start sintering temperature of nano powder is lower than micron powder and adopting powder with bimodal particle sizes is helpful to improve the sintering performance.
Technical Standards for Nursing Education Programs in the 21st Century.

PURPOSE The Institute of Medicine (2000, 2002) exposed serious safety problems in the health system and called for total qualitative system change. The Institute of Medicine (2011, 2015) also calls for improving the education of nurses to provide leadership for a redesigned health system. Intertwined with improving education is the need to recruit and retain diverse highly qualified students. Disability is part of diversity inclusion, but current technical standards (nonacademic requirements) for admission to many nursing programs are a barrier to the entry of persons with disabilities. Rehabilitation nurse leaders are in a unique position to improve disability diversity in nursing. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the importance of disability diversity in nursing. DESIGN The history of existing technical standards used in many nursing programs is reviewed along with examples. METHODS On the basis of the concept that disability inclusion is a part of diversity inclusion, we propose a new model of technical standards for nursing education. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Rehabilitation nurse leaders can lead in eliminating barriers to persons with disabilities entering nursing.
Migration and the Environment

Motivated by growing public and policy concerns with the social implications of climate change, this chapter reviews theory and research on the environmental dimensions of human migration. Recent research on migration-environment connections employs a variety of methods including time series analysis to capture the dynamic nature of migrant flows, multilevel modeling to account for nested data structures, agent-based modeling to incorporate feedback mechanisms, and qualitative ethnographic approaches to investigate causal pathways between environmental triggers and migration responses. Historical analogs and research in disaster settings have also provided useful insight. Findings reveal that the natural environment can act as a ‘push’ factor when livelihoods are challenged by chronic long-term, or rapid onset, environmental change. Scholarly work also stresses the reciprocal impacts of migration on the environment, with negative and positive ecosystem effects in both origin and destination communities. Finally, recent research has employed empirical simulation of migration as related to projected environmental scenarios, suggesting future increases in environmentally-influenced migration flows. However, the study of the migration-environment connection is still nascent and a number of areas deserve additional research attention. These include investigation of migration form and distance (domestic vs. international), rural-urban linkages, health aspects, and social inequalities as both amplifier and implication of environmental migration. In closing, we draw attention to the disconnect between scientific studies and policy debates and call for an increase in interdisciplinary collaborations, bridging the natural – social science divide and fostering interactions with advocacy groups and policymakers.
Humor or Dying Voice—Hamlet between Walter Benjamin and Carl Schmitt

In spite of the indeterminacy of Shakespeare's religiosity, Benjamin and Schmitt respectively identify his most famous protagonist Hamlet as Christian and as non-Christian. By virtue of this contradistinction, readers may gain a clear perspective of the difference between Benjamin's historico-philosophical project and Schmitt's theologico-political thinking. It is the play within the play in/of Hamlet from which Benjamin and Schmitt both take cues that reveal Hamlet's true color. For Benjamin, Hamlet is a plotter of contingency who yearns to suffer martyrdom by accident, whereas Schmitt sees Hamlet as a sovereign on the basis of the fact that Hamlet gives his “dying voice.” It is as if Benjamin made a retort to Schmitt when Benjamin speaks of the despot as the ideal subject of humor that is supposed to deactivate sovereignty. Through Hamlet, readers can observe that a confrontation between Benjamin and Schmitt emerged that may shed light on the issue of sovereignty.
Psychosocial Pathways to STEM Engagement among Graduate Students in the Life Sciences

Despite growing diversity among life sciences professionals, members of historically underrepresented groups (e.g., women) continue to encounter barriers to academic and career advancement, such as subtle messages and stereotypes that signal low value for women, and fewer opportunities for quality mentoring relationships. These barriers reinforce the stereotype that women's gender is incompatible with their science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) field, and can interfere with their sense of belonging and self-efficacy within STEM. The present work expands this literature in two ways, by 1) focusing on a distinct period in women's careers that has been relatively understudied, but represents a critical period when career decisions are made, that is, graduate school; and 2) highlighting the buffering effect of one critical mechanism against barriers to STEM persistence, that is, perceived support from advisors. Results of the present study show that perceived support from one's advisor may promote STEM engagement among women by predicting greater gender-STEM identity compatibility, which in turn predicts greater STEM importance among women (but not men). STEM importance further predicts higher sense of belonging in STEM for both men and women and increased STEM self-efficacy for women. Finally, we describe the implications of this work for educational policy.
Probing nonstandard neutrino cosmology with terrestrial neutrino experiments

Neutrino masses and the number of light neutrino species can be tested in a variety of laboratory experiments and also can be constrained by particle astrophysics and precision cosmology. A conflict between these various results could be an indication of new physics in the neutrino sector. In this paper, we explore the possibility for reconciliation of otherwise discrepant results in a simple model containing a light scalar field which produces mass-varying neutrinos. We extend previous work on mass-varying neutrinos to consider issues of neutrino clumping, the effects of additional contributions to neutrino mass, and reconciliation of eV mass sterile neutrinos with cosmology.
Role of Optical Coherence Tomography in Endothelial Keratoplasty

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) technology has become nearly ubiquitous in ophthalmology. The technology uses interference patterns in projected light to provide anatomic details. While most commonly used to image the retina, OCT technology is also useful for imaging the anterior segment.
Application of rock failure simulation in design optimization of the hydraulic fracturing

Energy production from unconventional geothermal and petroleum resources relies on reservoir stimulation by hydraulic fracturing. Unconventional reservoir stimulation involves multiple fractures possibly propagating in both tensile and shear mode or propagation. Therefore, application of rock fracture mechanics and advanced modeling are necessary for improved understanding of the process and its optimization. This paper presents an overview of hydraulic fracturing conceptual models and rock failure mechanisms followed by a series of numerical simulations and analyses to provide some insight into various phenomena observed in hydraulic fracturing of unconventional reservoirs. In particular, two-dimensional and three-dimensional examples are used to illustrate the impact of hydraulic fracture interactions with each other and with discontinuities and highlight the role of rock anisotropy and heterogeneity and mixed-mode stimulation in relation to permeability change.
How Xlib is implemented (and what we're doing about it)

The X Window System is the de facto standard graphical environment for Linux and Unix hosts, and is usable on nearly any class of computer one could find today. Its success is partially due to its flexible, extensible design. Unfortunately, as research proceeds on cutting-edge window system functionality, the brittleness of the underlying software is a critical impediment to progress. Xlib, the client-side implementation of the network protocol that underlies X, is one source of these issues. Many developers working on new features in the X protocol are discovering that Xlib requires changes to support these features, but Xlib makes those changes difficult. For more than 15 years, new features have been added to Xlib by accretion, rather than with careful design. We discuss the implementation of Xlib and analyze some specific difficulties in it that cause problems in understanding and maintaining this code base. We also present our current work on migrating the X Window System to a more maintainable, carefully designed architecture.
Inflexible neurobiological signatures precede atypical development in infants at high risk for autism.

Variability in neurobiological signatures is ubiquitous in early life but the link to adverse developmental milestones in humans is unknown. We examined how levels of signal and noise in movement signatures during the 1st year of life constrain early development in 71 healthy typically developing infants, either at High or Low familial Risk (HR or LR, respectively) for developing Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Delays in early learning developmental trajectories in HR infants (validated in an analysis of 1,445 infants from representative inf﻿ant-sibling studies) were predicted by worse stochastic patterns in their spontaneous head movements as early as 1–2 months after birth, relative to HR infants who showed more rapid developmental progress, as well as relative to all LR infants. While LR 1–2 mo-old infants’ movements were significantly different during a language listening task compared to during sleep, HR infants’ movements were more similar during both conditions, a striking lack of diversity that reveals context-inflexible experience of ambient information. Contrary to expectation, it is not the level of variability per se that is particularly detrimental in early life. Rather, inflexible sensorimotor systems and/or atypical transition between behavioral states may interfere with the establishment of capacity to extract structure and important cues from sensory input at birth, preceding and contributing to an atypical brain developmental trajectory in toddlerhood.
Control-Relevant Input Signal Design for Multivariable System Identification: Application to High-Purity Distillation

Abstract Input signal design issues associated with a discrete-time MIMO control-relevant identification methodology are the focus of this paper. Using a priori information such as the open-loop dominant time constants and desired closed loop speed-of-response, guidelines are presented for the design variables in two periodic, deterministic inputs: the PRBS and Schroeder-phased signals. The guidelines are illustrated on the Weischedel-McAvoy high purity distillation column, which represents an ill-conditioned, highly interactive system. The case study clearly demonstrates that the sensible use of open-loop experimental design and nonparametric estimation, followed by control-relevant parameter estimation, naturally results in a low-order model description capturing the directionality information important for control.
Complement Receptor C5aR1 Plays an Evolutionarily Conserved Role in Successful Cardiac Regeneration

Background: Defining conserved molecular pathways in animal models of successful cardiac regeneration could yield insight into why adult mammals have inadequate cardiac regeneration after injury. Insight into the transcriptomic landscape of early cardiac regeneration from model organisms will shed light on evolutionarily conserved pathways in successful cardiac regeneration. Methods: Here we describe a cross-species transcriptomic screen in 3 model organisms for cardiac regeneration: axolotl, neonatal mice, and zebrafish. Apical resection to remove ≈10% to 20% of ventricular mass was carried out in these model organisms. RNA-sequencing analysis was performed on the hearts harvested at 3 time points: 12, 24, and 48 hours after resection. Sham surgery was used as internal control. Results: Genes associated with inflammatory processes were found to be upregulated in a conserved manner. Complement receptors (activated by complement components, part of the innate immune system) were found to be highly upregulated in all 3 species. This approach revealed induction of gene expression for complement 5a receptor 1 in the regenerating hearts of zebrafish, axolotls, and mice. Inhibition of complement 5a receptor 1 significantly attenuated the cardiomyocyte proliferative response to heart injury in all 3 species. Furthermore, after left ventricular apical resection, the cardiomyocyte proliferative response was diminished in mice with genetic deletion of complement 5a receptor 1. Conclusions: These data reveal that activation of complement 5a receptor 1 mediates an evolutionarily conserved response that promotes cardiomyocyte proliferation after cardiac injury and identify complement pathway activation as a common pathway of successful heart regeneration.
Adverb placement among heritage speakers of Spanish

This study examines verb-adverb word order among heritage speakers of Spanish using an acceptability judgment task and a selection task in affirmative and negative sentences. Heritage speakers of Spanish show reaction patterns to stimuli fundamentally similar to those of the monolingual comparison group, but with several subtle differences. In affirmative sentences, they show a slightly higher preference for the options that are consistent with both the Spanish and the English grammars (in affirmative sentences, adverb-verb-object), and their judgments span a smaller range vis-a-vis native speakers. In negative sentences, heritage speakers of Spanish also generally coincide with monolingual speakers, but their acceptability of the negation-adverb-verb-object option (ungrammatical in monolingual Spanish) is higher than in the monolingual comparison group. We hypothesize that, first, heritage speakers of Spanish maximize bilingual compatibility: they prefer options that are compatible with the structural analysis of both languages. This hypothesis is consistent with previous findings showing that both languages are activated in parallel. Second, we explain the results in negation sentences as lexical indeterminacy: negation can have its lexically specified selectional properties as in English or as in monolingual Spanish, allowing for two alternative analyses. Hence, feature values in the lexicon may be transferred, whereas full functional categories are not. Transfer can be indirect in the form of smaller rating spans, a by-product of being a proficient bilingual: by maximizing compatibility with both languages, speakers extend the range of grammatical options in the language, but at the same time, their less certain judgments reflect this parallel activation.
Leaf stable isotopes suggest shared ancestry is an important driver of functional diversity

Plant physiological strategies of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) uptake and metabolism are often regarded as outcomes of environmental selection. This is likely true, but the role of evolutionary history may also be important in shaping patterns of functional diversity. Here, we used leaf C and N stable isotope ratios (δ13C, δ15N) as integrators of physiological processes to assess the relative roles of phylogenetic history and environment in a diverse group of Ericaceae species native to North America. We found strong phylogenetic signal in both leaf δ13C and δ15N, suggesting that close relatives have similar physiological strategies. The signal of phylogeny was generally stronger than that of the local environment. However, within some specialized environments (e.g., wetlands, sandy soils), we found environmental effects and/or niche conservatism. Phylogenetic signal in δ13C appears to be most closely related to the constraints on metabolic demand and supply of C, and δ15N appears to be most strongly related to mycorrhizal associations within the family.
Learning to Be Labor

In the case of the Graduate Employees’ Organization, IFT-AFT/AFL-CIO, at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (GEO2), such a laborite understanding needed to evolve from within. Even as the organization would ultimately educate new members and nascent journalists, they first needed to educate themselves—to organize not the more than five thousand grad employees they hoped to represent, but the one percent of that total who would become the core organizers. That process occurred over a period of two years, starting from the earliest discussions within the English Department during the fall of 1993 and culminating in the agreement to affiliate with the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) in the spring of 1995.
Study of Primate Social Behavior

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the general behavioral concepts as they relate to primates. It also discusses research methodology and experimental design concepts related to behavioral analysis, and the potential contribution that behavioral science can make to captive primate housing and breeding. The section on research design reviews experimental methodology from a behavioral perspective, including a discussion of two common pitfalls in behavioral research: the use of antidotes and the use of initial observations to confirm a hypothesis. The differences among the social organizations of species within the same genus, such as hymadryas baboons and olive baboons, may be just as great as the differences seen between macaques and capuchin monkeys, members of different suborders of primates. The use of behavior is important to the general management of primates in a captive environment. Daily observations of the animals by specific people are important. The animals become individuals and it is possible to develop profiles of animals that will make clinical and experimental decisions easier. Timid or asocial animals may not be appropriate for introductions to new social groups, whether it is for breeding or experimental use. These techniques will prove to be of significant value to the husbandry personnel, and they are important when choosing animals for experimental use.
A Locally Adaptive Multimode Photodetector Circuit

Photodetection circuits form the first stage of the artificial image acquisition process. The image acquisition circuits discussed in this paper pertain to circuits fabricated in a standard CMOS process. Such circuits offers advantages such as random access to a pixel, faster readout, integration of processing circuitry on the same die, low voltage and low power dissipation, and lower cost over the conventional Charge Coupled Device (CCD) process. We describe a new locally adaptive multimode photodetector circuit. The advantages of the circuit are local adaptation, wide dynamic range, excellent sensitivity, and large output voltage swing. The circuit was fabricated in the 2μ CMOS process through MOSIS. Simulation and experimental results of the circuit are given.
Stress Granules and Processing Bodies in Translational Control

Stress granules (SGs) and processing bodies (PBs) are non-membrane-enclosed RNA granules that dynamically sequester translationally inactive messenger ribonucleoprotein particles (mRNPs) into compartments that are distinct from the surrounding cytoplasm. mRNP remodeling, silencing, and/or storage involves the dynamic partitioning of closed-loop polyadenylated mRNPs into SGs, or the sequestration of deadenylated, linear mRNPs into PBs. SGs form when stress-activated pathways stall translation initiation but allow elongation and termination to occur normally, resulting in a sudden excess of mRNPs that are spatially condensed into discrete foci by protein:protein, protein:RNA, and RNA:RNA interactions. In contrast, PBs can exist in the absence of stress, when specific factors promote mRNA deadenylation, condensation, and sequestration from the translational machinery. The formation and dissolution of SGs and PBs reflect changes in messenger RNA (mRNA) metabolism and allow cells to modulate the proteome and/or mediate life or death decisions during changing environmental conditions.