cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Changes in Self-Esteem across the First Year in College: The Role of Achievement Goals.

This longitudinal study examined the effects of achievement goals on the growth trajectories of self-esteem during the first-year at a comprehensive public university. College freshmen (N = 311) were followed for one academic year with three time points. Between-individual differences and within-individual change in achievement goals were distinguished and used as predictors for the growth trajectories of self-esteem. A growth curve analysis revealed that initially high mastery goals and subsequent increases in mastery goals were related to high self-esteem while initially high performance-avoidance goals were related to low self-esteem. The initial levels of performance-approach goals were not related to self-esteem but subsequent increases in performance-approach goals were associated with low self-esteem. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
QoS Support over IEEE 802.11e in Multirate Networks

This paper addresses the QoS support issue of IEEE 802.11e in multirate networks. Prior researches focused on the "performance anomaly" problem without QoS consideration. We show the QoS support is insufficient in the current 802.11e standard and related methods make it worse by using NS-2 simulation tests. We propose a hybrid method that maintains the quality of highest priority traffic and enhance the system performance concurrently. We also compare its performance with other proposed methods. Our results demonstrate that our proposed hybrid method can efficiently support the time constraints of voice flows in various network conditions. Moreover, the system throughput is improved by the hybrid method when compared to the IEEE 802.11e standard.
ASYMPTOTIC INFERENCE FOR NON-INVERTIBLE MOVING-AVERAGE TIME SERIES

. This paper is concerned with statistical inference of nonstationary and non-invertible autoregressive moving-average (ARMA) processes. It makes use of the fact that a derived process of an ARMA(p, q) model follows an AR(q) model with an autoregressive (AR) operator equivalent to the moving-average (MA) part of the original ARMA model. Asymptotic distributions of least squares estimates of MA parameters based on a constructed derived process are obtained as corresponding analogs of a nonstationary AR process. Extensions to the nearly non-invertible models are considered and the limiting distributions are obtained as functionals of stochastic integrals of Brownian motions and Ornstein-Uhlenbeck processes. For application, a two-stage procedure is proposed for testing unit roots in the MA polynomial. Examples are given to illustrate the application.
Stabilizing reconfiguration in wireless sensor networks

A commonly desired feature of large-scale, multi-hop, wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is the ability to reconfigure them after deployment. This reconfiguration could be as simple as changing a single parameter or as complex as replacing the entire application. Several protocols have been proposed to enable reconfiguration in WSNs, most of which use version numbers to distinguish new configurations from old ones. Due to constraints on memory and message sizes, version numbers are bounded and use wraparound arithmetic to handle rollover. While this simple scheme works well in the common case, we identify in this paper, a serious version management problem in existing protocols due to which a reconfiguration operation may never stabilize. We analyze potential causes of this problem and its effects on the quality and lifetime of the network. Through extensive simulations and experiments, we demonstrate the significant likelihood of this problem occurring in real deployments. Finally, we provide a solution to this problem using a novel approach which we call human-in-the-loop stabilization. Our stabilizing reconfiguration protocol uses local detectors and correctors that can detect version inconsistencies and prevent their propagation in a timely and efficient manner, while ultimately allowing the human operator to restore the network to the correct configuration. Our simulations and experiments also demonstrate the performance benefits of our solution over previous, non-stabilizing protocols.
A NEW ABUNDANCE ESTIMATE FOR VAQUITAS: FIRST STEP FOR RECOVERY

A line-transect survey specifically designed to estimate vaquita (Phocoena sinus) abundance over its entire range was carried out by three boats in the summer of 1997. There was a total of 125 sightings of vaquita groups, mainly due to the use of large 25 ± 150 binoculars, which were seven times more effective in detecting vaquitas than hand-held 7 ± binoculars. Results confirmed that the range of the vaquita is restricted to the northwestern corner of the Gulf of California, Mexico, but that the boundaries of the Upper Gulf of California and Colorado River Delta Biosphere Reserve do not correspond well with the distribution of vaquitas. The shallow water north of the town of San Felipe was found to have a higher density of animals than had been indicated by previous surveys. The total population size was estimated to be 567 animals, with a 95% confidence interval from 177 to 1,073. This estimate is an improvement over previous estimates, which had low numbers of sightings, relied on parameters taken from other species, and/or did not cover all areas where vaquitas could potentially be found. The 1997 estimate was more than twice the 1993 estimate, but there are several reasons why the numbers cannot be directly compared, and it should not be concluded the population is increasing. This first complete estimate of vaquita abundance can be a beginning for the recovery of this highly endangered species.
The Effect of Hard Limiters on Signal Detection in Harmonic Noise Using Adaptive Noise Cancellation

Adaptive digital f ilters have been shown to be useful in reducing the power of harmonic noise in distribution line communication systems. Many DLC systems currently in use employ hard limiters to reduce this type of noise prior to detection of the signal. This research shows that the adaptive noise cancellation filter can be used effectively in tandem with hard limiters. The optimal, limit of the limiter is determined in the cases of the presence and absence of the adaptive noise canceller.
Biomedical image segmentation

Segmentation of biomedical images separates scenes into their components based on recognition of locally similar patterns of intensity, color, texture or other features, with or without use of a priori knowledge regarding the objects or "camera" used to acquire the images. Segmented images are required for most types of object models, labeling, morphometry and geometrical investigations on imaged structures. Segmentation encompasses many methods-manual, semi-automatic and fully automatic-which are practical and useful in certain applications, as no general solution has emerged. The performance of segmentation methods is judged by comparison to manual methods, independent knowledge of truth, reproducibility and subjective criteria. Many of the methods used for segmentation can be interpreted as special cases of Grenander's (1993, 1997) global pattern analysis, a theoretical framework for the representation of biological shape and its variability.
The Link Between Vascular Features and Thrombosis

The mechanisms of vascular control of thrombotic events remain unclear. The vasculature possesses essential anticoagulant factors that regulate coagulation. Because the endothelium-to-blood ratios are much higher in the microcirculation, it is likely that stasis contributes to thrombotic risk, due in large part to failure to rapidly access the microcirculation and to gain access to this highly anticoagulant environment. Inflammation can potentiate thrombosis in part through downregulation of the vascular anticoagulants, a process that appears to be exacerbated in aging, a well-known risk factor for thrombosis. Surgery and trauma, two major risk factors for thrombosis, result in the release of a variety of cellular components that trigger coagulation through separate mechanisms.
Pemphigus vulgaris in distant relatives of two families: association with major histocompatibility complex class II genes

We describe major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II gene haplotypes in two extended families, each of which has two members with pemphigus vulgaris (PV). One family is of Ashkenazi Jewish descent and the other family of English-Scottish descent. In one family the patients are distant relatives; in the other, both share the same mother but have different fathers. The affected relatives in the two families have never shared a common environment and live in distant states. All four PV patients, regardless of whether they were of Ashkenazi Jewish or of English-Scottish descent, had the same haplotype, namely HLA-DRB1 0402, DQA1 0301, DQB1 0302. Thus the PV patients, even though distantly related within a family, had the same MHC class II haplotype previously documented in Jewish patients. This observation further supports the concept that PV may result from an enhanced genetic susceptibility or predisposition to the disease.
On the past and present of carbon nanostructures

A personal review is presented on 50 years of my research experiences in working on research on carbon science and carbon-based nanostructures. The text is based on a talk given in Warsaw, Poland, on this topic, presented at a meeting of the European Materials Research Society in September 2010.
Keratin diversity in the reptilian epidermis

The ϕ keratins extracted from individual turtles and snakes were compared. The extent and nature of the molecular differentiation associated with the production of structurally distinct epidermal tissues was determined. The electrophoretic comparisons, molecular weight, and chemical fractionation indicate that these tissues contain unique proportions of the constituent keratin monomers specific to each species. This pattern of differentiation is similar to that previously observed for avian scale, claw, and beak, and for mammalian horn and hoof. This suggests that several “scale-like” structures with distinctive chemical properties may be produced by a single individual without the synthesis of wholly unique proteins. The implications of these observations for the evolution of mammalian hair and avian feathers are discussed.
Thyrotropin, follitropin, and chorionic gonadotropin expressed as a single multifunctional unit reveal remarkable permissiveness in receptor-ligand interactions.

The glycoprotein hormones [chorionic gonadotropin (CG), FSH, LH, and TSH] are composed of a common α-subunit and a hormone-specific β-subunit. Subunit assembly is vital to the in vivo function of these hormones. However, recent in vitro studies using double domain (β-α) and triple domain (β-β-α) single chains have shown that gonadotropin receptor recognition can accommodate conformationally modified ligands. To investigate the extent of flexibility of ligand-receptor interactions, we constructed a single chain tetramer containing three different β-subunits (TSHβ, FSHβ, and CGβ) and a single α-subunit. This analog was inefficiently secreted from transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells, but surprisingly, the protein exhibited all activities comparable to the corresponding heterodimers. Because the α-subunit presumably cannot form the entire array of heterodimeric contacts with all β-subunits simultaneously in the tetra-domain analog, the data show that the complete quaternary subunit-subunit interactions ar...
Co-ordinated brain and craniofacial development depend upon Patched1/XIAP regulation of cell survival

Congenital brain and craniofacial defects often occur together as a consequence of their developmental dependency on common progenitor tissue interactions and signaling pathways during embryogenesis. A classic example of this is perturbation of midline embryo development, and disruption of Hedgehog (Hh) signaling in the pathogenesis of holoprosencephaly. However, our understanding of how Hh signaling governs cell and tissue survival remains incomplete. Patched1 (Ptch1) is a well-known receptor for Hh ligands and Ptch1 overexpression is associated with cell and tissue-specific apoptosis. Here, we demonstrate that the X-linked inhibitory apoptosis protein (XIAP) associates with the C terminus of Ptch1 (Ptch1-C) in primary cilia to inhibit Ptch1-mediated cell death. Consistent with this observation, inhibition of XIAP suppresses cell proliferation, resulting in cell death and pathogenesis of an Hh loss-of-function phenotype. Thus, co-ordinated development of the brain and face is dependent in part upon XIAP mediation of Hh/Ptch1-regulated cell survival and apoptosis during embryogenesis.
Regulation of respiration in myocardium in the transient and steady state

1H/31P NMR has followed the metabolic response to increased work in the glucose- and pyruvate-perfused rat myocardium during a heart cycle and at the steady state. With electrical pacing and dobuta...
Evaluating College-Ready Writing and College Knowledge in a Summer Bridge Program

AbstractSummerBridge is a 4-week summer bridge program for approximately 100 graduating high school seniors from underrepresented backgrounds who will be attending a 4-year university in the fall. Students take a writing course and college knowledge workshops at a private California university. This article reports on the findings from a recent program evaluation of SummerBridge. Results from a college-ready writing and college knowledge pre- and posttest suggest some associations between program participation and test scores.
Social Networks, Funding, and Regional Advantages in Technology Entrepreneurship

Economic advancement, funding opportunities and social networks influence entrepreneurs when choosing locations for startups. In this study, we extend the literature on regional advantage by empirically analyzing factors that influence an entrepreneur’s startup location choice. Using economic indicators made publicly available by the U.S. government, investment information from CrunchBase, and LinkedIn professional histories and network data, we study regional and personal factors influencing location choice. Entrepreneurs have choices to establish a startup in their current location, a new location, or move to a new location, work as an employee for a short time then create the startup there. From our analysis, we find that funding rounds per year, employment, unemployment rate and GDP play a significant role in influencing location selection. Also, regional social network density and tenure in location significantly influence entrepreneurs when choosing a startup location. Finally, implications for policy development and further research are discussed.
The PCSK9 Inhibitors: A Novel Therapeutic Target Enters Clinical Practice

There is a critical need for alternative, potent agents that can reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in patients with heterozygous familial hyperlipidemia and statin intolerance and those not reaching lipid-lowering treatment goals who are at high risk for cardiovascular (CV) events. The first proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor was approved in July 2015 by the US Food and Drug Administration as an adjunct to diet and maximally tolerated statin therapy for treatment of adults with heterozygous familial hyperlipidemia or clinical atherosclerotic CV disease, who require additional lowering of LDL-C levels. In clinical trials, PCSK9 inhibitors have been shown to reduce LDL-C levels by as much as 60% to 70% when administered as monotherapy or as an add-on treatment to statins and other lipid-lowering therapies. In studies of PCSK9 genetic mutations, loss of function in the PCSK9 allele was associated with a relative decrease of 88% in the risk for atherosclerotic CV events during 15 years of patient follow-up. The use of PCSK9 inhibitors may eventually support the LDL-C hypothesis that the lower the LDL-C level, the lower the CV risk. Although some recent clinical practice guidelines have deemphasized the importance of numeric LDL-C targets, many clinicians are reluctant to discard them, and this position is supported by recent clinical evidence. We eagerly await the results of the ODYSSEY, FOURIER, and SPIRE clinical outcome trials, which we anticipate will provide further validation that "lower is better" with respect to reducing LDL-C levels and improving clinical outcomes.
A heat-labile factor promotes premature 3' end formation in exon 1 of the murine adenosine deaminase gene in a cell-free transcription system

Abstract An elongation block to RNA polymerase II transcription in exon 1 is a major regulatory step in expression of the murine adenosine deaminase (ADA) gene. Previous work in the laboratory identified abundant short transcripts with 3' termini in exon 1 in steady-state RNA from injected oocytes. Using a cell-free system to investigate the mechanism of premature 3' end formation, we found that polymerase II generates prominent ADA transcripts approximately 96 to 100 nucleotides in length which are similar to the major short transcripts found in steady-state RNA from oocytes injected with ADA templates. We have determined that these transcripts are the processed products of 108- to 112-nucleotide precursors. Precursor formation is (i) favored in reactions using circular templates, (ii) not the result of a posttranscriptional processing event, (iii) sensitive to low concentrations of Sarkosyl, and (iv) dependent on a factor(s) which is inactivated in crude extracts at 47 degrees C for 15 min. The cell-free system will allow further characterization of the template and factor requirements involved in the control of premature 3' end formation by RNA polymerase II.
Testing the interaction between inter-sexual competition and phosphorus availability in a dioecious grass

Spatial segregation of the sexes (SSS) occurs in many dioecious plants, usually along an environmental gradient. However, little data is available on how male and female plants of species with SSS ...
Communicating Organizational Trust An Exploration of the Link Between Discourse and Action

Communication has frequently received attention in studies on trust. One question that has remained unanswered is, How is organizational trust communicated? Consistent with the view of organizations as discursive entities, research presented here examines discursive qualities of trust and attempts to provide an understanding of the manner in which organizational trust is communicated. Research presented in this article includes the results of two studies conducted in two different parts of the country: a large metropolitan area in the southeastern United States and a regional center in the south. Findings reveal that against the background of a continuous discursive and interactional flow, trust is communicated as a speech act characterized by the world-to-words direction of fit. Findings have implications for both theory and practice.
The Effects of Incentive Cue Properties on Children's Acquisitions of Simultaneous Discriminations

Abstract The manipulation of flavor as a reinforcement predicting cue (rpc) was used to separate motivational and cue properties of incentives. Eighty-two normal 5–6 year old boys and girls were divided into six experimental groups and one control group. The design compared equal and unequal incentive preference value rewards in combination with different reward presentation conditions. The reinforcement predicting cue preceded the presentation of the choice stimuli. The distinct reward presentation correlated a particular reward with a particular position (e.g., correct stimulus on the left, reward an M & M; on the right, reward a candy corn). The random reward presentation did not correlate rewards with position. The predicting cue was correlated with the available reward for all but one condition. The control group received one kind of reward and no predicting cue. The Random Reward-Unequal preference group performed more poorly than all other groups. The presence of the predicting cue resulted in inte...
Seat Capacity Selection for an Advanced Short-Haul Aircraft Design

A study was performed to determine the target seat capacity for a proposed advanced short-haul aircraft concept projected to enter the fleet by 2030. This analysis projected the potential demand in the U.S. for a short-haul aircraft using a transportation theory approach, rather than selecting a target seat capacity based on recent industry trends or current market demand. A transportation systems model was used to create a point-to-point network of short-haul trips and then predict the number of annual origin-destination trips on this network. Aircraft of varying seat capacities were used to meet the demand on this network, assuming a single aircraft type for the entire short-haul fleet. For each aircraft size, the ticket revenue and operational costs were used to calculate a total market profitability metric for all feasible flights. The different aircraft sizes were compared, based on this market profitability metric and also the total number of annual round trips and markets served. Sensitivity studies were also performed to determine the effect of changing the aircraft cruise speed and maximum trip length. Using this analysis, the advanced short-haul aircraft design team was able to select a target seat capacity for their design.
Precision Frequency Metrology with Parametric Micro-resonator Combs

We describe 10+ GHz parametric frequency combs at 1550nm using high-Q silica micro-resonators. We realize a microcomb optical clock that divides terahertz frequencies to the microwave domain and demonstrate coherent octave-spanning spectra for self-referencing. Article not available.
"Means, Motive, and Opportunity: Exploring Board Volunteering"

Board member recruitment stands as a pressing human resource challenge for nonprofit organizations. This study examines means, motives, and opportunities in order to investigate the factors that di...
Analysis on the epidemiological characteristics of the over 50 years old HIV /AIDS people in Liuzhou city from 1999 to 2010

Objective The study described in this paper was designed to have a better understanding of the epidemic characteristics of the over 50 years old HIV /AIDS people in Liuzhou city so as to provide scientific evidence for the government to establish the prevention and care measures.Method The data including the reports on over 50 years old HIV /AIDS cases in Liuzhou from 1999 to 2010,surveillance,and special surveys were collected and analyzed.Results The cumulative number of HIV /AIDS positive cases reported was 1 788,incuding 977 AIDS patients and 608 deaths.Of all,1 367 cases were male,421 cases were female,the ratio of gender was 3.25:1,the average age was(61.61±8.01),50.78% was peasants,and 73.43% was lower than junior high school level.The infection route was 75.84% heterosexual transmission.The trend through heterosexual transmission went up from 1999 to 2010,and the HIV prevalence had climbed to 96.94%.With the in crease in ART treatment the survival time for the 50 years old HIV /AIDS people was prolonged,but only 3.34% was longer than 3 years,still shorter than the average of the general population(12.29%).This phenomenon might due to the fact that they were not promptly diagnosed when they were infected,thus caused the delay of treatment.Conclusions HIV /AIDS spread rapidly among the over 50 years old people,and the prevention and control of AIDS was very difficult.Therefore effective prevention and control measure should be implemented as soon as possible.
Research on Fault Recognition of Aero-engine base on Discrete Hidden Markov Model

Faults caused by engine vibration account for a large proportion in various faults of aero-engine.The mixed vibration signals of aero-engine contain abundant running information,it is necessary to seek for an efficient way for feature extraction and fault diagnosis.In this paper, a fault diagnosis approach ICA-DHMM is proposed.Independent component analysis(ICA) is used first for extracting feature and then discrete hidden Markov model(DHMM) is used as pattern recognition.Comparing with other fault diagnosis methods,experimental results show that the proposed method has higher recognized accuracy.
Capturing behavior coordination in goal-oriented requirement engineering

Goal-Oriented Requirement Engineering (GORE) methodologies use goals to facilitate elicitation, elaboration, analysis, and specification of the required behaviors for software. Traditional GORE approaches focus on the goal refinement and requirement derivation. They do not adequately facilitate the elicitation, elaboration, and modeling of the coordination among the tasks required for achieving the inter-related goals. In this paper, we propose an enhancement to GORE to address this problem. In the enhanced GORE (EGORE), we explicitly elicit, analyze and refine relations among various tasks derived from these goals as first-class model elements. When the identified tasks are specified with use cases, the coordinate relations among the tasks will also be specified with appropriate use case relations. As demonstrated by our case study, using EGORE can produce more complete requirements.
Creative Applications of Digital Photography, the Scan-O-Gram

Many teachers, artists, and practitioners of imaging technologies are fascinated by the multitude of possibilities for creative expression made possible by the digital revolution. Today's technologies can unlock the magic of imaging in ways that could never have been considered just a few short years ago with conventional photography.
No Doubt About it – You've Got to Have Hart: Simulation Video Games May Redefine the Balance between and Among the Right of Publicity, the First Amendment, and Copyright Law

A few recent cases involving simulation video games have highlighted the difficulty of balancing the right of publicity with First Amendment rights. Courts have struggled to develop a definitive test because, among other things, there is significant variation in state right of publicity laws. Courts have experimented with different tests to try to balance the often-competing rights and interests. One of the most popular tests is the “transformative test,” which, fittingly, originates in the copyright doctrine of fair use—a doctrine that itself has a long history of conflict and coexistence with the First Amendment. I examine the history of the right of publicity, and I attempt to apply the various balancing tests in the context of simulation video games. I argue that courts must use a test that, first and foremost, places great weight on First Amendment expression. I also look at the future of efforts to balance competing interests between not only the right of publicity and the First Amendment, but also with copyright law.
Effect of spectral-hole burning on multi-channel EDFA gain profile

We show that a spectral gain profile of a multichannel erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) changes associated with the change in multichannel location, which is well described by a summation of hole burning caused by each signal.
E-Racing Identity? Black Bodies On and Off the Technological (Chopping) Block

Sybrina Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin, boldly articulated the ongoing pain of her son’s absence to a packed audience at Lehigh University in fall of 2014 during a Rap Session panel entitled “America’s Most Wanted: Hip-hop, the Media & the Criminalization of Black and Brown Youth.” Among other things, Fulton notes the dizzying reality of reliving the death of her son through recursive virtualized depictions of misrecognition—she palpably noted that she had “seen more than 50 different pictures that were supposed to be Trayvon Martin that wasn’t actually him, um, I just heard so many different things that I really didn’t know who they were talking about at one time ‘cause I’m like … It’s just so degrading.” What’s more—such visual replays of posthumous identity theft not only left Fulton vulnerable to witnessing the continued dehumanization of a child that had died at the hands of the state, the technological chopping block chipping away at her dead son’s reputation, as well as hers. To this compounded reality, she noted, “it’s as if, I had done something wrong, as if … I was a victim of a crime … and now they blamed me. So, a lot of times people like to justify what happened, they like to justify by [sic] the murder by making the person seem like they were so bad, nothing my son did should have caused his death.” For many, Trayvon has become an icon for social change; many others, in the wake of intense efforts to justify what happened to him, villianized him and a technological character assassination took place after his actual murder. For Fulton, each of these efforts to situate Trayvon as somehow deserving of what happened to him causes the grieving mother to relive the news of his murder. Fulton continues to relive her son’s murder by way of daily and purposeful virtually mediated misrecognition that is, above all, racialized in nature.
A wearable carotid ultrasound assembly for early detection of cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular disease is currently responsible for a major portion of all global deaths. Fortunately, early detection of its symptoms can greatly contribute to effective prevention. Hence, clinicians recommend routine cardiovascular check-ups. Even though various methods for cardiac diagnosis exist, most of them are clinic-based, and therefore time-consuming and costly. Therefore, it is not always possible for patients to go through these procedures on a regular basis. In this paper, we propose a novel wearable ultrasonic imaging assembly for routine, easy-to-use, and economical monitoring of the carotid arteries. The device monitors intima-media thickness (IMT), which is a proven clinically useful marker for diagnosis of cardiovascular disease and prediction of imminent cardiovascular events. It uses standard B-mode ultrasound, which is suitable for implementation within area- and power-constrained wearable form factors. We present design parameters and power requirements for all the essential hardware components of the proposed wearable imaging system. We also present an efficient algorithm for predicting IMT anomalies from ultrasound images.
Mindfulness-Based Therapies for Sexual Dysfunction: a Review of Potential Theory-Based Mechanisms of Change

A number of recent clinical trials have suggested that mindfulness-based therapy may be an efficacious treatment for sexual dysfunction. However, little is known regarding the mechanisms of action for these treatments or whether these mechanisms are unique to mindfulness-based therapies. Such knowledge would aid in maximizing the impact and dissemination of these interventions. This article provides a review of potential mechanisms utilizing empirically supported theoretical models of sexual dysfunction and mindfulness meditation. These mechanisms include (a) shifting locus/quality of attention during sex, (b) decreasing negative sexual schemas, (c) altering negative expectancies/goals for sex, (d) reducing behavioral/experiential avoidance, (e) lessening engagement with negative sex-related cognitions, and (f) improving the relational context. Current evidence for the importance of each potential mechanism is summarized and recommendations regarding future directions of research are provided.
Improving the impact strength of Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) in fused layer modeling (FLM)

Abstract Polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the most popular thermoplastics for fused deposition modeling (FDM). Attributed to its semi-crystalline nature, the relation between printing parameters and properties are more complicated than amorphous thermoplastics like acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS). This study was designed to investigate two printing parameters, layer height (0.2 and 0.4 mm) and plate temperature (30 and 160 °C) on the Izod impact strength of printed PLA. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the existence of α crystals in parts printed from 160 °C-plate temperature and α′ crystals in those printed at 30 °C-plate temperature. Parts printed with a 160 °C (plate temperature) had higher crystallinity. Polarized optical microscope (POM) observations illustrated that the plate temperature of 160 °C and layer height of 0.2 mm induced higher crystallinity, smaller crystals and interfacial crystal bands. The Izod impact strength of printed PLA at higher plate temperature was up to 114% higher than injection molded PLA made using conventional molding parameters.
The shrinking national collection: A study of the effects of the diversion of funds from monographs to serials on the monograph collections of research libraries

A precipitous rise in the price of library materials, especially serials; an increase in worldwide publication output; and a decline in the funding base of research libraries have resulted in a drastic erosion of the purchasing power of research libraries. This erosion of purchasing power has in turn directly resulted in a reduction of the number of nonserial printed materials acquired by academic research libraries in the United States in the latter half of the 1980s. This study is a comparison of the number of nonserial imprints acquired by the 72 Association of Research Libraries members whose bibliographic records for the imprint years 1985 to 1989 are included in the 1991 edition of the OCLC/AMIGOS Collection Analysis CD-ROM database. The results of the study confirm that there was a decline in the holdings of the 72 libraries from 1985 to 1989 by language and subject groupings. This led to a greater concentration on a core of materials by the 72 libraries.
Concurrent validity of pain scales in individuals with myofascial pain and fibromyalgia.

Abstract Objective Clinicians and researchers often use the numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) and visual analog scale (VAS) to measure and track pain in individuals with myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) and fibromyalgia (FM). The VAS is often used as a reference standard in chronic pain research. To date, no studies have specifically measured the concurrent validity of the NPRS and VAS in these individuals. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the concurrent validity of the NPRS when compared to the reference standard VAS in patients with MPS and FM. Methods This investigation explored the concurrent validity of the NPRS and VAS in sixty participants with MPS (N = 30) and FM (N = 30). All participants underwent one day of testing using the American College of Rheumatology criteria for classifying FM. For each tender point (18-total), participants graded tenderness using the NPRS and VAS. Results An excellent relationship was found between the NPRS and VAS for the MPS group (rho≥0.81, 95% CI 0.79-0.85, p Conclusion The results of this study suggest that the NPRS has good concurrent validity with the referenced standard VAS among individuals with MPS and FM.
Comparison of 1, 2, and 6-Month Readmission Rates in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction Directly Admitted to Hospital Versus Transferred From Another Hospital to an Academic Medical Center.

Patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who are transferred are less likely than directly admitted patients to receive outpatient follow-up within 30 days and are more likely to be readmitted. In 2015, we launched a clinic where post-AMI patients (direct admits and transfers) are seen within 1 week of hospital discharge. We compared short- and long-term clinical outcomes of patients who were transferred to patients who were directly admitted to our institution to determine the impact of transfer status on early outpatient follow-up and clinical outcomes. A total of 280 post-AMI patients, 193 direct admissions (69%), and 87 transfers (31%) were referred to the clinic. Clinic attendance was similar between the transferred and the directly admitted patients (91% vs 92%, p = 0.688, respectively). Transferred patients had similar rates of confusion regarding their medical regimen as the directly admitted patients (11% vs 8%, p = 0.393). Compared with directly admitted patients, transferred patients lived farther from the hospital (median distance of 30 vs 48 miles, p <0.0001), were predominately white (77% vs 91%, p = 0.005), and had higher rates of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (9% vs 17%, p = 0.014). There was no difference in 30- (16% vs 13%, p = 0.562) or 60-day readmission rates (6% vs 8%, p = 0.543) between transferred patients and directly admitted patients. At 6 months, mortality rates were similar (6% vs 4%, p = 0.556). In conclusion, transferred patients who were evaluated early after hospital discharge for acute MI had similar clinical outcomes (including rates of unplanned readmissions) to their directly admitted counterparts.
Ethical and Legal Considerations in the Management of an Unbefriended Patient in a Vegetative State.

Patients without surrogates are referred to as “unbefriended.” Because these patients do not have representatives to assist with medical decision-making, patient autonomy and self-determination, fundamental concepts of American healthcare, are jeopardized. We present a case of an unbefriended patient in a vegetative state and discuss the ethical and legal complications associated with management of unbefriended patients. An unbefriended patient was admitted to our hospital with a cardiac arrest in the setting of an intracerebral hemorrhage. Despite aggressive medical and surgical management, he suffered significant brain injury and was in a vegetative state. In our state, unless an unbefriended patient will imminently die despite medical therapy, all measures must be taken to prolong the patient’s life, so a tracheostomy and feeding tube were placed and he was transferred to a long-term care facility. The process for making decisions on behalf of unbefriended patients is complicated and varies throughout the country. Some potential ways to avoid these complex situations include: early conversations about treatment wishes while patients have capacity, mandatory advance directives, and increased training and reimbursement for physicians to proactively have end-of-life discussions. The unbefriended are one of the most high-risk patient groups. Because our patient had no surrogate with whom we could have a goals-of-care discussion, we were obligated to continue aggressive management despite knowing it would prolong, but not improve, his life. Proactive preventative measures to identify and document end-of-life wishes may make management of these patients less ethically and legally complicated.
Influence of diabetes on plasma pharmacokinetics and brain bioavailability of grape polyphenols and their phase II metabolites in the Zucker diabetic fatty rat.

cope The effect of diabetes on the pharmacokinetics, bioavailability and brain distribution of grape polyphenols and select metabolites was studied in the Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rat model. Methods and results (ZDF) rats and their lean controls (LN) were dosed with a Standardized Grape Polyphenol (SGP) Mixture consisting of grape seed extract, Concord grape juice and resveratrol (RES) by oral gavage for 10 days. An 8 hour pharmacokinetic study was performed. After 24 hours a second dose of SGP was administered and one hour later animals were sacrificed and brain tissue harvested. Plasma, urine and brain tissue were analyzed for grape polyphenols. ZDF rats exhibited significantly diminished Cmax for all catechin, epicatechin, quercetin and resveratrol conjugated metabolites. Bioavailability was significantly lower in ZDF rats for methylated flavan-3-ol, RES and quercetin metabolites. Significantly lower levels of metabolites of RES, quercetin, and flavan-3-ols were found in brains of ZDF rats. There was no significant difference between ZDF and LN in anthocyanins in plasma and no anthocyanins were detectable in brain extracts. ZDF rats showed significantly higher urinary excretion for all polyphenols. Conclusions Diabetes may alter the overall bioavailability of some polyphenols in plasma and brain in part due to higher urinary clearance. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Structure Theory of Complex Semisimple Lie Algebras

This chapter is on the structure theory of complex, semisimple Lie algebras. We give complete details for \( \mathfrak{s}{{\mathfrak{l}}_{n}} \)(ℂ) and give a brief account for other semisimple Lie algebras. For details, see [26].
Risk assessment in solitary fibrous tumors: validation and refinement of a risk stratification model

Solitary fibrous tumors are an uncommon sarcoma type characterized by NAB2-STAT6 gene fusion. While solitary fibrous tumors metastasize in 5-25% of cases, it has historically been challenging to determine which specific tumor and patient characteristics predict aggressive behavior. We previously reported on a novel risk stratification scheme for solitary fibrous tumors incorporating patient age, tumor size, and mitotic activity to predict risk of metastasis. Herein we validate this risk stratification scheme in an independent, lower-risk population of 79 patients with primary non-meningeal solitary fibrous tumors, and propose incorporating tumor necrosis as a fourth variable to further improve the risk score. Fifty-seven percent of cases were considered low risk, 29% intermediate risk, and 14% high risk for metastasis. Of 50 patients with sufficient clinical follow-up data, no metastases developed in the low-risk patients (n=23), while there was a 7% 10-year metastatic risk in the intermediate risk group (n=17), and a 49% 5-year metastatic risk for the high-risk patients (n=10). When tumor necrosis was added as a fourth variable to the model, predictive power was enhanced. Under the revised stratification, the proportion of tumors identified as low risk increased to 66%, with no metastasis at 10 years, intermediate risk cases comprised 24% with 10% risk of metastasis at 10 years, and high risk comprised 10% of cases with 73% risk of metastasis at 5 years. In Kaplan-Meier analysis, this fourth-variable stratification provided significant discrimination between the risk groups (P=0.0005). These findings confirmed the clinical utility of our previously published risk stratification model and support the inclusion of necrosis as a fourth variable in the model.
Impacting persistence in computing with a programming boot camp

While recruitment efforts have helped improve the enrollment numbers in computing in recent years, retention efforts are still needed to ensure the persistence of computing majors, especially the underrepresented groups. Since performance in the first computing course has been shown to impact students' persistence in computing, the authors hosted a 5-day programming boot camp (PBC) designed to provide a well-rounded experience for participants. The boot camp focused on improving content knowledge, confidence, persistence, and engagement and on promoting community building. This paper provides a brief overview of PBC and its impact on the participants, women majors and minors in an Information Technology program.
Telehealth Alerts and Nurse Response.

Abstract Background: Health monitoring within a telehealth program is a strategy to efficiently care for older adults with heart failure (HF). Limited description is identified in the literature for the extent participant submissions trigger an alert or monitoring nurses transfer telehealth alert-range data to the medical record. Introduction: The aim was to describe the initial 90 days of participant submissions measuring within alert range and nurse response to alerts with documentation to the medical record. Materials and Methods: Review of telehealth and medical records of 187 older veterans with HF participating at one Veterans Administration Care Coordination Home Telehealth program led to reporting the proportion of participant telehealth submissions measuring within alert range and nurse response to alert-range data. Results: Less than 2.5% of self-rated health status and nearly one-quarter of physiologic submissions measured within alert range. Timely nurse response averaged 28.7% and increased w...
Teaching philosophies and practices in social work education: do the core competencies influence our consciousness?

Assessing the mechanisms by which EPAS core competencies are embodied in classroom teaching is important for comprehensively examining EPAS’ success. This case study of one program presents emergen...
Genomic Solutions to Hospital-Acquired Bacterial Infection Identification

Hospital acquired infections (HAIs) are notorious for their likelihood of fatal outcomes in infected patients due to rapid bacterial mutation rates, consequent resistance to antibiotic treatments and stubbornness to treatment, let alone eradication, to the point they have become a challenge to medical science. A fast and accurate method to identify HAI will assist in the diagnosis and identification of appropriate patient treatment and in controlling future outbreaks. Based on recently developed new methods for genomic data extraction, representation and analysis in bioinformatics, we propose an entirely new method for species identification. The accuracy of the new methods is very competitive and in several cases outperforms the standard spectroscopic protein-based MALDI-TOF MS commonly used in clinical microbiology laboratories and public healthcare settings, at least prior to translation to a clinical setting. The proposed method relies on a model of hybridization that is robust to frameshifts and thus is likely to provide resilience to length variability in the sonication of the samples, probably one of the major challenges in a translation to clinical settings.
ELECTRONIC COMMERCE: EMERGING PATTERNS AND STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS

Advances in information technologies enable firms to expand electroniccommerce - the exchange of valuable information, goods and services acrosselectronic media. This paper looks at how businesses are adopting and usingtechnologies like the Internet and World Wide Web for electronic commerce.I propose that electronic commerce will dramatically reduce transactions costsrequiring managers to re-develop their firm's strategy to focus on morefundamental sources of competitive advantage. I identify responses requiredto compete in a low transactions cost environment and provide illustrativeexamples of firms executing such a strategy.
Chapter 7 - Primate Learning in Comparative Perspective1

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews some experimental data regarding learning by primate and non-primate species. It presents some problems on which both primates and representatives of some other vertebrate taxon have been tested. It presents the ways in which learning in primates does not differ from learning in other taxa. The qualitative differences in learning between mammals and nonmammals are much greater and more significant than what learning theorists have recognized. The substantial qualitative similarities in learning by mammals indicate that the differences in learning between primates and other mammals are not so great as they seemed to many primatologists a few years ago.
Linking Hydrologic Connectivity in Salt Marsh Ponds to Fish Assemblages across a Heterogenous Coastal Habitat

ABSTRACT Ragan, A.N. and Wozniak, J.R., 2019. Linking hydrologic connectivity in salt marsh ponds to fish assemblages across a heterogenous coastal habitat. Journal of Coastal Research, 35(3), 545–...
Open Techniques: Mesh and Non-mesh Anatomical Repairs

Open inguinal herniorrhaphy remains the most commonly performed repair for inguinal hernias in the world. The surgical management of hernias has undergone extensive evolution over the past century, always with the goal of definitive repair with minimal morbidity for the patient. The choice of repair should be tailored to the patient and the clinical circumstances. Both tissue repairs and tension-free repairs have merit in experienced hands and in the correct setting.