cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Growth, survival and behaviour of larval long‐toed salamanders (Ambystoma macrodactylum) exposed to ambient levels of UV‐B radiation

Mortality is the most extreme effect of ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B; 280–315 nm) on living organisms, but sublethal effects of UV-B may also be important. Moreover, there may be population differences in response to UV-B, but this aspect has not been well explored for animal populations. Amphibians have been a model system for studying the detrimental effects of UV-B. However, previous research on the effects of UV-B on amphibians has mainly focused on embryos. Few studies have investigated how UV-B affects larvae. We examined potential sublethal effects of UV-B on the long-toed salamander Ambystoma macrodactylum from two different populations. Observational data from field transects indicated that larvae are potentially exposed to UV-B in their natural habitat. Choice tests indicated that larvae select shaded regions more often than those in the sun, but do not directly distinguish between regions with high and low UV-B. Laboratory experiments indicated a survivorship difference between individuals from low- and high-elevation sites. When exposed to relatively low levels of UV-B individuals from low-elevation sites experienced higher mortality than controls (no UV-B). There were no differences in mortality between UV-exposed and non-exposed larvae from the high-elevation population. Although mortality of UV-B exposed larvae was not significantly different from controls in the high-elevation population, sublethal effects on growth were observed. Individuals from the high-elevation site grew significantly less when exposed to UV-B than individuals shielded from UV-B. Our study demonstrates that larval A. macrodactylum are exposed to UV-B in nature, that UV-B exposure can cause mortality as well as having sublethal effects on growth and that there are potential population differences in sensitivity to UV-B radiation.
Measuring happiness of US cities by mining user-generated text in Flickr.com: a pilot analysis

This poster describes a methodology to numerically represent the happiness of a city by mining user generated terms in Flickr.com. As a pilot analysis, we collected 15,000 text records consisting of titles, tags, descriptions, and comments for the thirty most populous cities in the United States. Parsed text was utilized to calculate happiness scores (H-Score) by matching text extracted from Flickr.com with a happiness index dictionary. In addition, we examined the relationships between the calculated H-scores and real world phenomena including population, crime rate, and climate. Based on this pilot analysis, a future study is planed that involves a large dataset with prediction analysis.
Scientific inference and experiment in Ecosystem Based Fishery Management, with application to Steller sea lions in the Bering Sea and Western Gulf of Alaska

Abstract Learning about ecosystem processes and patterns is an essential component of Ecosystem Based Fishery Management and the sustainable use of natural resources. Currently, such learning is usually done through adaptive management (passive or active) or Management Strategy Evaluation, which are explained. An example of adaptive management in northwestern Australia shows the strengths and limitations of management experiments and raises the question of how to learn if an experiment is not practicable. Both adaptive management and Management Strategy Evaluation are examples of scientific inference, an idea introduced by Sir Harold Jeffreys nearly 80 years ago. With sufficient variation, even if it is not through controlled experiments, scientific inference is possible by combining mechanistic models with statistical methods; the recently proposed paradigm of ‘adaptive monitoring’ is another case of scientific inference. The decline of Steller sea lions in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands is reviewed, including the only work in which 10 hypotheses concerning the decline were simultaneously compared. It is concluded that scientific inference using mechanistic models and fine scale data at the level of the rookery can provide useful information about the interactions of fisheries, fish populations, and Steller sea lions.
On the separation number of a graph

We consider the following graph labeling problem, introduced by Leung et al. (J. Y-T. Leung, O. Vornberger, and J. D. Witthoff, On some variants of the bandwidth minimization problem. SIAM J. Comput. 13 (1984) 650–667). Let G be a graph of order n, and f a bijection from V(G) to the integers 1 through n. Let |f|, and define s(G), the separation number of G, to be the maximum of |f| among all such bijections f. We first derive some basic relations between s(G) and other graph parameters. Using a general strategy for analyzing separation number in bipartite graphs, we obtain exact values for certain classes of forests and asymptotically optimal lower bounds for grids and hypercubes.
Compensation of unstructured uncertainty in manipulators using neural networks

A neurocompensator-augmented computed torque control scheme for the compensation of unmodeled frictional effects in manipulators is proposed. The proposed compensator is implemented by a three-layer network structure. A weight adaptation methodology based on the extended Kalman filter algorithm is used. Computer simulations are performed to verify and study the stability, convergence, and trajectory tracking performance of the proposed control architecture. The simulations also verified the stability of the computed torque control law augmented by the neurocompensator approximating unmodeled frictional effects. >
2.5-dimensional VLSI system integration

The excessive interconnection delay and fast increasing development cost, as well as complexity of the single-chip integration of different technologies, are likely to become the major stumbling blocks for the success of monolithic system-on-chips. To address the above problems, this paper investigates a new VLSI integration paradigm, the so-called 2.5-dimensional (2.5-D) integration scheme. Using this scheme, a VLSI system is implemented as a three-dimensional stacking of monolithic chips. A cost analysis framework was developed to justify the 2.5-D integration scheme from an economic point of view. Enabling technologies for the new integration scheme are also reviewed.
Genetic structure of the invasive tree Ailanthus altissima in eastern United States cities.

Ailanthus altissima is an invasive tree from Asia. It now occurs in most US states, and although primarily an urban weed, it has become a problem in forested areas especially in the eastern states. Little is known about its genetic structure. We explore its naturalized gene pool from 28 populations, mostly of the eastern US where infestations are especially severe. Five microsatellite markers were used to examine presumed neutral genetic variation. Results show a gene pool that is moderately diverse and sexually active and has significant but small genetic differences among populations and little correspondence between geographic and genetic distance. These findings are consistent with a model of multiple introductions followed by high rates of gene exchange between cities and regions. We propose movement along road and railway systems as the chief mode of range expansion.
Compiler driven architecture design space exploration for DSP workloads: A study in software programmability versus hardware acceleration

Wireless communications and video kernels contain vast instruction and data level parallelism that can far outstrip programmable high performance DSPs. Hardware acceleration of these bottlenecks is commonly done at the cost of software flexibility. Many vendors, however, view software as intellectual property and prefer a software solution that is a proprietary implementation. The paper uses a research compiler for architectural design space exploration to present comparisons between compiler generated scalable software programmable DSP architectures versus hardware acceleration implementations. It shows that scaled up compiler generated software programmable DSP architectures can be attractive alternatives to non-programmable hardware acceleration.
The production of pure oxygen for a mobile emergency response vehicle

Hackensack university medical center requires a mobile oxygen generation system for their emergency response vehicle. 100% pure oxygen is desirable and obtained with a system that uses electrolysis. At peak performance, the system produced 92.4 liters of oxygen per minute. The system is compact, self-sustaining and easily manageable.
Detection of body posture with low-cost CMOS camera systems for applications in medical care

This paper describes an ongoing research program aimed to develop a network of low-cost, low-power consumption CMOS cameras whose main function is to determine, within a typical house or office room, the posture of a human body, i.e. standing, sitting, or laying down. Fast, low-complexity algorithms have been developed which can be implemented on the limited CPU and RAM resources that are available in the microprocessor chip that comes integrated with this type of cameras. When equipped with wireless communication capabilities, e.g. IEEE 802.15.4, the cameras can perform data fusion and collaborative decision functions that can further increase the probability of correct detection and classification. It is envisioned that systems such as the one described in this paper will work in conjunction with a wireless body area network (WBAN) that measures vital signs. The final goal is to have an accurate and cost effective system capable of providing relevant and timely information to the medical personnel that is responsible for the care of the patients.
Zizek’s Sublimicist Aesthetic of Enchanted Fantasy

The remarkably rich contemporary burst of interest in theorizing the sublime received an important new impetus in 1989 when the Slovenian intellectual Slavoj Zizek published his study The Sublime Object of Ideology.1 Unlike other major paradigms for the sublime, Zizek’s pivotal principle is the operation of a fantasy of enchantment. It is reasonable to speak of lower and higher enchantments, with the lower mode seen in something like Disney movies, and the higher mode seen in our more spiritual and intellectual enchantment with excellent poetry or music or art.
Therapeutic Effects of Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone

The existence of hypothalamic-hypophyseal releasing factors was suggested by the pioneering work of Sir Geoffrey Harris (1); Reichlin and co-workers postulated that a specific releasing factor for growth hormone (GH) was present in the hypothalamus (2). Its isolation, purification, and synthesis followed more than three decades of intensive investigation and awaited many refinements in the fields of bioassay, analytic biochemistry and, most importantly, a rich source of the peptide free from “contamination” with somatostatin (SRIH).
Inactivation of dry ribonuclease by ionizing radiation. I. Search for the breakage of sulfur bridges.

Abstract The destruction of S-S bonds by ionizing radiations has been looked for in the enzyme ribonuclease irradiated in the dry state. Two different methods show negligible loss at doses such that more than 60% of the enzymic activity is destroyed. It is concluded that under the conditions of these experiments, loss of enzymic activity is not caused by opening of the sulfur bridges.
Chapter 1b Metallic Biomaterials: Cobalt-Chromium Alloys

Cobalt-chromium (CoCr) alloys have been extensively used for making various orthopedic, dental, and cardiovascular implants and devices. These alloys possess superior mechanical properties with high resistance to corrosion, wear, and fatigue. The biocompatibility and blood compatibility of these alloys have also been well demonstrated. In this chapter, the four types of CoCr alloys (ASTM F75 alloy, ASTM F799 alloy, ASTM F90 alloy, and ASTM F562 alloy) that are currently used for biomedical implants and devices are discussed. Also, the other types of CoCr alloy (ASTM F563, ASTM F1058, and Havar) that have been considered and investigated for biomedical implants and devices are discussed in this chapter. The chapter is divided into subsections based on these individual alloys.
Tactics and Targets: Explaining Shifts in Grassroots Environmental Resistance:

Corporate misconduct is often associated with environmental, political, and social problems, and the effects are often felt at the local level where disenfranchised residents may have less access t...
Embryonically inspired scaffolds regulate tenogenically differentiating cells

Tendon injuries heal as scar tissue with significant dysfunction and propensity to re-injure, motivating efforts to develop stem cell-based therapies for tendon regeneration. For these therapies to succeed, effective cues to guide tenogenesis are needed. Our aim is to identify these cues within the embryonic tendon microenvironment. We recently demonstrated embryonic tendon elastic modulus increases during development and is substantially lower than in adult. Here, we examined how these embryonic mechanical properties influence tenogenically differentiating cells, by culturing embryonic tendon progenitor cells (TPCs) within alginate gel scaffolds fabricated with embryonic tendon mechanical properties. We showed that nano- and microscale moduli of RGD-functionalized alginate gels can be tailored to that of embryonic tendons by adjusting polymer concentration and crosslink density. These gels differentially regulated morphology of encapsulated TPCs as a function of initial elastic modulus. Additionally, higher initial elastic moduli elicited higher mRNA levels of scleraxis and collagen type XII but lower levels of collagen type I, whereas late tendon markers tenomodulin and collagen type III were unaffected. Our results demonstrate the potential to engineer scaffolds with embryonic mechanical properties and to use these scaffolds to regulate the behavior of tenogenically differentiating cells.
Utilizing virtual and augmented reality for educational and clinical enhancements in neurosurgery

Neurosurgery has undergone a technological revolution over the past several decades, from trephination to image-guided navigation. Advancements in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) represent some of the newest modalities being integrated into neurosurgical practice and resident education. In this review, we present a historical perspective of the development of VR and AR technologies, analyze its current uses, and discuss its emerging applications in the field of neurosurgery.
Metalloproteinase inhibition as a mechanism for the inhibition of angiogenesis

Metalloproteinases are a multigene family of metal-dependent enzymes (usually CA+2 or Zn+2) whose activity is considered to be the key rate-limiting step in extracellular matrix degradation. Of the enzyme systems whose activity and control could have significant physiological ramifications, the metalloproteinase family has, in recent years, been shown to play a prominent role in the regulation of such phenomena as neovascularization, tumor growth and metastasis. An accumulating body of evidence has suggested that the control of metalloproteinases, specifically by their endogenous inhibitors, might provide an important strategy for the control of such phenomenon.
From Aspiration to Participation: Confusions and Struggles in a Time of Transition

While state schooling strives to construct an educated identity for enrolled Muslim Hui students and discipline them to follow appropriate, civilized behaviors, it also creates a generational gap between Muslim Hui students and their parents. Comparing to their children attending school at age seven, the majority of Muslim Hui parents have not gone to school or only received a few years of state schooling. As Muslim Hui students are being acculturated to learning activities and what is believed to be good quality education, their parents find it difficult to comprehend. “We are just farmers, and we don’t know anything about schooling” is a commonly heard expression from these parents who exhibit helplessness and frustration when being asked by the school to participate collaboratively in educating their children. Since farming and raising livestock have kept many of them busy in the field, they hardly have time to pay attention to their children’s education. The only time they encounter the school is when they deliver bedding and daily supplies to their children at the beginning of the semester, when they pick children up to go home on weekends at the gate, when they are phoned by teachers to settle issues of their children being in trouble or involved in violent incidents, and when they are asked to attend parents meeting once per semester. Few of them have ever talked to a teacher about their children, and the majority have no knowledge of what subjects are being taught at school.
Making Sense of College Readiness in a Low-Performing Urban High School: Perspectives of High-Achieving First Generation Youth:

Policy efforts to enhance postsecondary access and completion often emphasize the construct of college readiness (CR). While most research has focused on defining and measuring CR, less has examine...
A systematic review of care management interventions targeting multimorbidity and high care utilization

Evidence supporting the effectiveness of care management programs for complex patients has been inconclusive. However, past reviews have not focused on complexity primarily defined by multimorbidity and healthcare utilization. We conducted a systematic review of care management interventions targeting the following three patient groups: adults with two or more chronic medical conditions, adults with at least one chronic medical condition and concurrent depression, and adults identified based solely on high past or predicted healthcare utilization. Eligible studies were identified from PubMed, published between 06/01/2005 and 05/31/2015, and reported findings from a randomized intervention that tested a comprehensive, care management intervention. Identified interventions were grouped based on the three “complex” categories of interest (described above). Two investigators extracted data using a structured abstraction form and assessed RCT quality. We screened 989 article titles for eligibility from which 847 were excluded. After reviewing the remaining 142 abstracts, 83 articles were excluded. We reviewed the full-text of 59 full-text articles and identified 15 unique RCTs for the final analysis. Of these 15 studies, two focused on patients with two or more chronic medical conditions, seven on patients with at least one chronic medical condition and depression, and six on patients with high past or predicted healthcare utilization. Measured outcomes included utilization, chronic disease measures, and patient-reported outcomes. The seven studies targeting patients with at least one chronic medical condition and depression demonstrated significant improvement in depression symptoms (ranging from 9.2 to 48.7% improvement). Of the six studies that focused on high utilizers, two showed small reductions in utilization. The quality of the research methodology in most of the studies (12/15) was rated fair or poor. Interventions were more likely to be successful when patients were selected based on having at least one chronic medical condition and concurrent depression, and when patient-reported outcomes were assessed. Future research should focus on the role of mental health in complex care management, finding better methods for identifying patients who would benefit most from care management, and determining which intervention components are needed for which patients.
Acute effects of functional dry needling on skeletal muscle function

Abstract Introduction Functional dry needling (FDN) is commonly used to treat soft tissue pain-related conditions. Previous research has demonstrated benefits to chronic resistance training; however, objective physiological measures sensitive to acute exercise have not been found. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the acute effects of FDN on muscle strength and endurance. Methods Ten subjects (height 168 ± 9 cm, mass 68.2 ± 11.3 kg) were tested bilaterally (pre and post) for vastus lateralis (VL) isometric strength, isokinetic fatigue index, muscle electrical activity, and muscle oxygenation. FDN was administered to one leg, while the other served as a control. Results Limited acute effects of functional dry needling were observed (p Discussion FDN does not appear to acutely improve muscle function in healthy young adults. Although there were no improvements in muscle function, there were no adverse effects either, contributing to the safety of FDN healthy populations. Conclusion Acute FDN does not appear to enhance muscle performance in a healthy, non-clinical population. Thus, clinicians should consider the population and desired outcome when applying FDN.
Use of the Zenith Fenestrated platform to rescue failing endovascular and open aortic reconstructions is safe and technically feasible.

Abstract Objective Proximal neck dilation is a serious long-term complication directly causing the failure of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) and open surgical repair (OSR) of abdominal aortic aneurysms. However, the implantation of a fenestrated device presents the opportunity for proximal extension of the aortic reconstruction into a healthy segment while maintaining patency of the visceral vessels. The objective of this investigation was to report perioperative and follow-up outcomes using the Zenith Fenestrated (ZFEN; Cook Medical, Bloomington, Ind) aortic stent system in salvaging previous aortic repairs undergoing type IA endoleak or aneurysmal degeneration of the proximal neck. Methods We performed a retrospective review of a prospectively maintained institutional database capturing all fenestrated EVAR (FEVAR) cases with the ZFEN platform. Fenestrated cases were classified as primary FEVAR or reoperative FEVAR (rFEVAR) after previous EVAR or OSR. Cohort comparisons were performed using Fisher exact tests and Student t-tests for categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Results Between October 2012 and March 2017, a total of 103 patients diagnosed with abdominal aortic aneurysm with an inadequate proximal seal zone for traditional EVAR were treated with ZFEN. In 12 patients, FEVAR was performed as a reoperation after previous EVAR (n = 6) or OSR (n = 6). The indications for rFEVAR were proximal neck dilation (>55 mm) after OSR (n = 6), type IA endoleak after EVAR (n = 5), and proximal neck dilation after EVAR without endoleak (n = 1). No difference in ability to achieve technical success was observed between primary FEVAR and rFEVAR (97.8% vs 100%; P = 1.00). In addition, there were no differences in estimated blood loss (363 vs 500 mL; P = .25) and intraoperative use of contrast material (97.3 vs 104.0 mL; P = .55). However, a significant increase in fluoroscopy time (61.1 vs 79.8 minutes; P = .04), radiation exposure (415.9 vs 606.3 rad; P = .02), and operative time (228.4 vs 287.6 minutes; P = .03) in the rFEVAR cohort was observed. In the 30-day perioperative period, there were no significant differences with regard to mortality (2.2% vs 0%; P = 1.0), major adverse cardiovascular events (5.5% vs 0%, P = 1.0), and stent-related adverse events (2.2% vs 0%; P = 1.0). There were no differences in rates of perioperative (5.5% vs 0%; P = 1.0) or follow-up reintervention after a mean follow-up duration of 20.8 months (18.6% vs 25.0%; P = .70). Conclusions FEVAR with the ZFEN platform of failed and failing aortic reconstructions due to disease progression is safe and feasible without increased morbidity and mortality in select patients. These preliminary results support the inclusion of ZFEN as a treatment option for aortic reintervention.
Receiving, Recording, and Responding to Customer Complaints: The Effects of Formalizing Customer Complaint Handling Policies in Retail Firms

Given the critical need for retail firms to provide high quality customer service and satisfaction, this article investigates the importance of formalizing customer complaint handling policies and ...
Improving Techniques to Study Equine Cervical Mucociliary Clearance.

Abstract Postbreeding bacterial uterine infections inflict major losses on the equine industry. Microcurrents propelled by ciliated cells between the folds of the uterus and cervix have been proposed as a means by which contaminants are expelled. Previous data have shown possible ciliary microcurrents propelling carbon particles, occasionally rotating, through cervical folds. However, adherence to the epithelium may have interfered with movement of carbon in these studies. Therefore, we tested potentially nonadherent substances to reveal ciliary microcurrents on the equine cervix under high magnification videoendoscopy. We hypothesized that polyethylene green microspheres 1–5 and 70 μm in diameter, would be superior to carbon in revealing microcurrents on the cervical epithelium and that 50 μm hemispherically coated bichromal microspheres would display rotation. A suspension containing these microspheres and carbon was deposited onto the cervix of five estrous mares, and movement of each type of particle was recorded under high-magnification videoendoscopy for 10–20 minutes. Particles were subjectively assessed for movement between folds, past stationary points, in opposing directions and at different speeds. Visibility, aggregation, motion, and rotation were scored numerically and analyzed by the Kruskal–Wallis test. Backward rotation of bichromal spheres was interpreted as evidence of ciliary activity. Overall, carbon scored equal to or higher than the microspheres, leading to rejection of the hypothesis. Subjective assessment concluded that cervical movement was closely related to respiratory movements of the mare, and that the constantly moving cervical folds helped clear the deposited particles.
Piezoelectric field in strained GaAs.

This report describes an investigation of the piezoelectric field in strained bulk GaAs. The bound charge distribution is calculated and suitable electrode configurations are proposed for (1) uniaxial and (2) biaxial strain. The screening of the piezoelectric field is studied for different impurity concentrations and sample lengths. Electric current due to the piezoelectric field is calculated for the cases of (1) fixed strain and (2) strain varying in time at a constant rate.
Estrogen Receptor Determination Predicts Response to Tamoxifen Therapy

Tamoxifen (TAM, ICI 46,474) is a nonsteroidal antiestrogen of the triphenylethylene family. The clinical use of TAM was first reported in 1971 (Cole et al., 1971), and early clinical trials suggested that TAM was useful in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (Cole et al., 1971; Ward, 1973; Cole et al., 1972). These studies yielded response rates ranging between 15% and 60% with minimal toxicity.
Ribosomal Protein P0 from Aedes albopictus Mosquito Cells: cDNA Cloning and Analysis of Expression

Ribosomal protein P0 is one of the highly conserved phosphorylated proteins in the large subunit of eukaryotic ribosomes. P0 has been shown in Drosophila to be a multifunctional protein that associates with elongation factor eEF2 to facilitate translation and also plays a role in DNA repair. In this paper we describe the cloning and characterization of the full-length cDNA encoding P0 from the mosquito, Aedes albopictus. In vitro translation showed that the cDNA encoded a 34 kDa protein that corresponded in size to a phosphorylated protein from the large ribosomal subunit after in vivo labeling with [32P]orthophosphate. When cells were exposed to various stresses, expression of P0 appeared to differ from that of rpL34. Preliminary RNAi experiments suggested that downregulation of P0 is correlated with apoptosis in C7-10 mosquito cells.
Vehicle Control Issues in Intelligent Vehicle Highway Systems

Abstract This paper gives an overview of vehicle control issues associated with Intelligent Vehicle Highway Systems (IVHS), in particular it treats the technology required for autonomous control of vehicles in an Automated Highway System (AHS). This is not a true survey paper in that research results of the California PATH program are presented, whereas ongoing work in Europe (Prometheus) and Asia is not treated. The primary issues dealt with in this paper concern the longitudinal and lateral control of autonomous vehicles.
The Significance of Johnson-Sirleaf's Victory

Today, at last, postcolonial Africa has got its first democratically elected female president, Ms. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. She was inaugurated at a colorful and moving open-air ceremony to the pounding of drums instead of the traditional twenty one gun salute in the war-torn capital of Monrovia vigorously spruced up for the historic occasion that was attended by several African leaders and foreign dignitaries and thousands of women from across the continent. This is an extraordinary moment for the troubled beacon of liberty, Liberia, Africa's oldest modern republic founded by African Americans in 1847, and for Africa at large, long ruled and ruined by men, as well as for women everywhere who are still largely invisible in the corridors and councils of power. Ms. Johnson-Sirleaf triumphed in a fraught election that pitted her against twenty-one other candidates in the initial round of voting, then against a popular international soccer star in the final round, a race in which gender, generational, class, and rural-urban cleavages and interests jostled for primacy. She joins an exclusive masculine club of global political leaders as one of only six female presidents (the others are in Finland, Ireland, Latvia, the Philippines, and Chile whose first female president was elected yesterday). Thus her inauguration is an occasion for celebration but also censure, reflection and reproach: it is milestone memorable for its rarity, a testimony to the limited advances women have made in rising to the highest levels of national and international politics.
Am I my brother's (or customer's or tenant's) keeper? Economic and ethical aspects to the California Supreme Court's struggle with the issue of landowner's standard of care.

The Supreme Court of California has ruled on several cases involving the question of to what extent a possessor of land is liable for the harm to customers or tenants occurring when a third party commits a criminal act against the customers or tenants present on the land. This paper reviews the historical development of this aspect of negligence law and analyzes the ethical and economic efficiency implications of ascribing legal responsibility for such crimes to: a) local government, b) the possessor of land, c) the customer, and d) the criminal. For example, is there an effort by the judicial system to substitute deterrence from criminal acts provided by possessors of land (i.e., specific deterrence) for the general deterrence traditionally provided through the use of police powers by local government? Analysis indicates that specific deterrence may be more effective in changing the location of criminal acts than in reducing the level of criminal activities. Also, the expense of complying with the legal responsibilities of protecting customers and clients may be especially high in high-crime, low-income areas, thus forcing commercial establishments to move or go out of business. Thus, we have a troubling tradeoff: compensating individual crime victims in a high-crime area could ultimately deprive the residents of basic economic opportunities.
A Cornucopia of Lattices

Viewed from a sufficiently broad perspective, the present state of computational QCD is rather pleasing. After a few years and a few teraflops of numerical experiments we are resolving a spectrum which mimics reasonably well the spectrum obtained by real experiments at considerably more expense and effort over a few decades. Even for those who find quark chemistry for its own sake uninteresting, this should be exciting news. We can now have some measure of confidence when we try to recoup the investment in the lattice, and extract information which is not yet available in the wallet cards. Just as the calculation (ge — 2) is more than a confirmation of QED, the computation of various matrix elements of 3 and 4 quark operators will provide a unique window to short distance physics. Soon we will be able to see, for example, whether or not the standard model gives an adequate account of CP violation, and whether certain extensions of the standard model can be made consistent with low energy phenomenology. Of course, to have complete confidence we will probably have to spend a few more teraflops making contact with the continuum (possibly taking a short cut via improved actions), even before introducing dynamical fermions on realistic lattices.
Bat-board: An integrated electronic system for a robotic bat

The biosonar of horseshoe bats combines the standard elements of any sonar system, i.e., pulse generation and echo processing, with a peripheral dynamics provided by deforming baffle shapes for ultrasonic emission ("noseleaves") and reception (ears). Realizing a “bat robot” to reproduce this biological system requires the implementation of three main electronic functionalities: power distribution, analog signal conditioning, and robot control. To meet the size constraints of the bat robot, the work presented here has designed/implemented a “Bat Board” that integrates all three of these functionalities within a single circuit board. The power distribution component of the Bat Board supplies the high voltage amplifier, the air compressors/valves for the pneumatic actuators in the noseleaf/the ears of the sonar head, and the data acquisition systems. The high voltage signal amplification component was designed to power the electrostatic transducers that were selected for their broad-band output. To combat interferences originating from the power distribution and the digital control signals, different PCB layout paradigms were implemented in the design process such as separating ground planes and the extensive use of bypass capacitors. The result of this efforts has been a single PCB implementation with a very compact footprint and the potential for further miniaturization.
Pre-Service Teachers’ Reactions to Education Teacher Performance Assessment: Challenges and Constraints of Implementation

The purpose of study was to explore the experiences of teacher candidates about being assessed by the Education Teacher Preparation Assessment (edTPA) requirements during their student teaching practicum. Fifty-six elementary and adolescent majors working for a Master of Science Degree in Education participated in the study by responding to open-ended survey questions. The study aimed at answering two research questions: (1) What are the challenges/concerns that the student teachers report about their experiences of edTPA during their student teaching placements? (2) Do teacher candidates suggest edTPA remains as part of the teacher education program requirement? The findings of the study indicate that the teacher candidates are adamant about their unfavorable experiences of edTPA implementation. They expressed that they found edTPA requirements to be an additional burden, not beneficial, a distraction, and they suggest that edTPA should be discarded from current teacher education programing. While such findings call for considerations to revisit aspects of edTPA for improvement, further studies are suggested to add insight into the nature of edTPA implementation.
Christianity + the new spirit of capitalism: by Kathryn Tanner, New Haven, CT, Yale University Press, January 8, 2019, 256 pp., $35.00 (hardcover), ISBN-13: 978-0300219036, DOI: 10.2307/j.ctv8jnzj6

Kathryn Tanner’s Christianity + the new spirit of capitalism is an intriguing and challenging analysis of how Christianity has responded (and has not responded) to the economic environment a decade...
Learning transfer and transition of certified nursing assistants’ to baccalaureate nursing programs

Background Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) provide vital care to patients in a variety of care settings, yet little is known about their transition and transfer of learning to baccalaureate nursing education. Faculty play a key role in helping them successfully progress through their educational journey. Procedure Using a qualitative descriptive design, semi-structured interviews of eight CNAs enrolled in U.S. schools in the south-central region of Pennsylvania were conducted. Data were analyzed using content and thematic analysis. Results The influence of prior health care experience afforded participants confidence in their transition to BSN education, as well as accelerated learning. Three themes emerged from participant data related to transfer of learning: jumping in and demonstrating confidence from the beginning, learning from a foundation to transform my thinking from tasks to process, and merging new learning into practice. Results support that even if CNAs face varying challenges entering nursing education, most possess some clinical reasoning and critical thinking skills, as well as experience working with patients and within teams. Conclusions All of which can influence the learning experience. Findings can help faculty identify CNAs' strengths, which may facilitate learning transfer, foster leadership potential, and engage them in peer teaching and mentoring; ultimately positively influencing the transition to practice.
First Report of Resistance to Pyraclostrobin, Boscalid, and Thiophanate-methyl in Colletotrichum gloeosporioides from Blueberry in Georgia

Colletotrichum gloeosporioides causes anthracnose fruit rot and leaf spot on blueberries. For controlling anthracnose, blueberry growers mostly rely on pre- and postharvest fungicide applications i...
Predictors of disparities in retention in care among African Americans living with HIV.

ABSTRACTLimited health literacy may contribute to racial disparities in retention in HIV care. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of health literacy and patient and social-level ...
Investigation of the Effects of Forming Gas Annealing on Al 2 O 3 /GaN Interface

In this work, the effects of post-deposition annealing in forming gas ambient on the structure of the Al2O3/GaN interface are investigated. Using capacitance–voltage (C–V) and conductance–frequency (G–f) measurements, the quality of Al2O3/GaN metal–insulator–semiconductor (MIS) devices subjected to different annealing conditions was assessed. Annealing at 350°C for 10 and 20 min resulted in the lowest density of trap states (< 1011 cm−2eV−1), while higher-temperature annealing resulted in increased density of interface traps. Scanning transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (STEM/EDS), and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to determine the impact of the anneal on the structure of the oxide and interface. It was found that after annealing at 600°C for 20 min, the oxide structure was not significantly changed, though the density of interface states was found to increase by nearly an order of magnitude. These results suggest that the post-deposition annealing of Al2O3/GaN in forming gas passivates defects at the interface but does not cause significant structural change away from the interface.
Morbidity associated with the use of Foley balloon for cervical ripening in women with prior cesarean delivery.

We evaluated the morbidity of Foley balloon for cervical ripening in comparison to oxytocin alone in women with a prior cesarean delivery. A four-hospital retrospective review of all women with via...
Genetic drivers of m6A methylation in human brain, lung, heart and muscle.

The most prevalent post-transcriptional mRNA modification, N6-methyladenosine (m6A), plays diverse RNA-regulatory roles, but its genetic control in human tissues remains uncharted. Here we report 129 transcriptome-wide m6A profiles, covering 91 individuals and 4 tissues (brain, lung, muscle and heart) from GTEx/eGTEx. We integrate these with interindividual genetic and expression variation, revealing 8,843 tissue-specific and 469 tissue-shared m6A quantitative trait loci (QTLs), which are modestly enriched in, but mostly orthogonal to, expression QTLs. We integrate m6A QTLs with disease genetics, identifying 184 GWAS-colocalized m6A QTL, including brain m6A QTLs underlying neuroticism, depression, schizophrenia and anxiety; lung m6A QTLs underlying expiratory flow and asthma; and muscle/heart m6A QTLs underlying coronary artery disease. Last, we predict novel m6A regulators that show preferential binding in m6A QTLs, protein interactions with known m6A regulators and expression correlation with the m6A levels of their targets. Our results provide important insights and resources for understanding both cis and trans regulation of epitranscriptomic modifications, their interindividual variation and their roles in human disease. Analysis of 129 N6-methyladenosine (m6A) profiles across 4 tissues (brain, lung, muscle and heart) identifies 8,843 tissue-specific and 469 tissue-shared m6A quantitative trait loci (QTLs). Of these, 184 m6A QTLs colocalize with GWAS signals.
National Security and Repression

This chapter examines the means of repression that each side applied during the Cold War. The Eastern Bloc created an elaborate system of secret policing, concentration camps, and executions. Most Western nations did not resort to such means, but some nations allied to the Western Bloc did, including Greece, Spain, and Turkey. Western powers were also extremely repressive in colonial and Global South settings. The anti-Communist policies within Western nations are sometimes collectively known as a “Red Scare” or even witch hunts, but these labels are misleading to the extent that they ignore the actual threat of Communist activism during successive crises.
General relativitys energy and positivity: a brief history

I give a brief review of the search for a proper definition of energy in General Relativity (GR), a far from trivial quest, which was only completed after four and a half decades. The equally (or p...
Case 44: Surgical Emphysema After a Motor Vehicle Accident

A 16-year-old boy (65 kg) is admitted to the hospital after a motor vehicle accident in which he was a passenger in the front seat. The boy was thrown toward the dashboard because he was not wearing a seatbelt. His only medical complaint is that he is partially deaf and wore a hearing aid that was lost on arrival to the hospital. He can therefore neither hear nor understand what is being said to him. His mother is there to comfort him. His ability to use sign language is poor. The patient has no history of drug allergy. On examination, the boy is found to be otherwise healthy with stable vital signs, except for a fractured right clavicle and surgical emphysema over his anterior neck and right supraclavicular fossa. There are many abrasions. Hematocrit (Hct) is 38 %, and the electrocardiogram (ECG) is normal. The chest X-ray shows a fractured right clavicle and mediastinal emphysema. The right lower lobe is collapsed. A computed tomography (CT) scan of his cervical spine and abdomen is normal. The thoracic CT scan reveals, again, air in the anterior chest wall and superior and anterior mediastinum. The thoracic surgeon diagnoses a bronchial tear that now has hopefully sealed and elects to observe him in the intensive care unit (ICU). Initially he does well, but on the third day after admission he becomes febrile and develops a productive cough. You take him to the operating room and induce general anesthesia. Through an endotracheal tube (ETT), the thoracic surgeon performs a fiber-optic bronchoscopy and sees no bronchial tear. The surgeon aspirates thick secretions and old blood from the right lower lobe. After this procedure, the patient improves sufficiently to be discharged 5 days later. Four days after his discharge, he arrives back in your emergency room with inspiratory stridor. He is transferred to the ICU where you meet him again. Arterial blood gas on room air is pH 7.38, PO2 is 52 mm Hg, PCO2 is 46 mm Hg, and base excess is −3 mmol/l. A chest X-ray reveals a small left pneumothorax and persistent mediastinal emphysema. He still does not have a hearing aid.
Tropheryma whipplei Endocarditis: A Two-patient Case Series

Abstract Background Whipple endocarditis is caused by Tropheryma whipplei and is a well-described complication of Whipple's disease. Limited and small case series have been published regarding the presentation, diagnosis, and clinical course of this disease. Methods/Results We describe 2 cases of patients with T. whipplei endocarditis, one of which underwent a successful heart transplant. Conclusion In both cases of Whipple's endocarditis, there was a subacute prodromal phase followed by an acute rapid decompensation with severe destruction of the aortic valve, heart failure, and embolism. Because the diagnosis of T. whipplei endocarditis is typically not made until pathological examination of tissue, clinicians must have a high suspicion for it in the absence of other offending organisms, especially among middle-aged white males with sub-acute symptoms and embolic complications.
Determinants affecting farmers' willingness to cooperate to control pests

Abstract Natural pest control is an important ecosystem service that is rapidly declining in the United States. Farmers may be able to increase the provision of natural pest control by working together. However, little is known about US farmers' willingness to cooperate to control pests. In this study, we survey 229 Missouri crop farmers to explore farmers' willingness to cooperate. We find that 91% say they are willing to cooperate to control pests, and that simple, local cooperative efforts may be more popular than formal, county-wide efforts. In addition, the determinants that affect willingness to cooperate follow those predicted by the collective action, agricultural adoption, and ecosystem management literatures. Specifically, farmers who believe that they will receive a net benefit, have farms similar to their neighbors', are active members of a community organization, have positive contact with agricultural extension agents, and are concerned about the effect that pesticides may have on the environment are more willing to cooperate than farmers who do not share these characteristics. This study provides valuable insights into the conditions that may foster cooperation between farmers in the provision of an ecosystem service. Plus, it may help facilitate the formation of pest control cooperatives in the United States.
Longitudinal Control and a New Spacing Policy for Automated Transit Vehicles

Vehicle operating policies are developed and a longitudinal controller is designed to satisfy the stringent performance criteria of an Automated Guideway Transit (AGT) System operating under model-reference control. The complete control system is comprised of two parts, a model generator and a vehicle controller. The generation of a model velocity, based on ideal vehicle kinematics which include jerk and acceleration limiting, is examined with respect to the performance criteria required for safe operation. Using the phase-plane follower spacing policy, a vehicle controller is designed, evaluated, and implemented on an 8-bit microprocessor to control the vehicle through various maneuvers as simulated on an analog computer.
Paul : crisis in Galatia : a study in early Christian theology

Preface to the first edition Preface to the second edition Introduction to the second edition Abbreviations 1. Paul's opponents in Galatia 2. Paul the apostle to the Gentiles 3. Justification by faith 4. Paul's view of the law Notes Bibliography Index of subjects and names Index of passages quoted.
Autoepistemic logic and introspective circumscription

We investigate the relationship between two epistemic nonmonotonic formalisms: autoepistemic logic and introspective circumscription. Finitely axiomatized autoepistemic theories are shown to be equivalent to the propositional case of introspective circumscription. This theorem is applied to the problem of relating the usual "minimizing" circumscription to autoepistemic logic.