cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Denning Ecology of Florida Black Bears in North-Central Florida

Abstract We studied the denning chronology, den type, and den-site characteristics of Ursus americanus floridanus (Florida Black Bear) in Ocala National Forest (ONF) and the adjacent residential area of Lynne, FL. We monitored 35 radio-collared females for 62 den years from 1999 through 2003. Den entry dates did not differ between parturient females (females that gave birth to cubs during the winter) and nonparturient (solitary females or females with yearlings) (P = 0.139). Females with cubs exited dens later (P < 0.001), and denned longer (mean =113 ± 3.3 days) than females without cubs (mean = 54 ± 6.0 days; P < 0.001). Among females with cubs, primiparous females entered dens on average 28 days later than multiparous females (P = 0.003); however, exit date and duration of denning did not differ between the two groups. Female bears denned in ground nests most frequently (n = 45), followed by excavated dens (n = 7); one female used a tree den. Compositional analysis revealed that denning habitat selecti...
Tracing genealogical data with TimeNets

We present TimeNets, a new visualization technique for genealogical data. Most genealogical diagrams prioritize the display of generational relations. To enable analysis of families over time, TimeNets prioritize temporal relationships in addition to family structure. Individuals are represented using timelines that converge and diverge to indicate marriage and divorce; directional edges connect parents and children. This representation both facilitates perception of temporal trends and provides a substrate for communicating non-hierarchical patterns such as divorce, remarriage, and plural marriage. We also apply degree-of-interest techniques to enable scalable, interactive exploration. We present our design decisions, layout algorithm, and a study finding that TimeNets accelerate analysis tasks involving temporal data.
Childhood adversity and the maternal psychological-inflammatory profile during pregnancy

Increased proinflammatory cytokines during pregnancy are linked to maternal depressive risk and poor birth outcomes. Maternal exposure to childhood adversity and poverty may intensify depressive and inflammatory risk and contribute to disparity in birth outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship among maternal childhood adversity and prenatal levels of stress, depression, and proinflammatory cytokines within the context of neonatal birth outcomes. During the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, women provided blood to measure circulating TNF-alpha, and completed assessments of childhood adversity, perceived stress, depression, and social support. Existing poverty, per federal guidelines, was calculated. Correlations among variables were evaluated and moderation analysis explored interaction effects. Findings revealed that women with greater exposure to childhood adversity reported greater perceived stress and depressive symptoms. Also, women reporting greater depressive symptoms had higher plasma TNF-alpha levels. Moderation analysis for interaction effects revealed that women exposed to both childhood adversity and poverty had higher circulating TNF-alpha levels. Both greater childhood adversity exposure and higher circulating TNF-alpha levels associated with lower infant birth weight. Further, exposure to childhood adversity was associated with premature delivery; this association was moderated (attenuated) by higher levels of social support. Results suggest that maternal childhood adversity is associated with greater psychological morbidity during pregnancy and poorer neonatal outcomes, emphasizing the need to assess maternal childhood adversity in prenatal psychosocial screening.
Consideration of fine-scale coastal oceanography and 3-D acoustics effects for the ESME sound exposure model

Results and recommendations for evaluating the effects of fine-scale oceanographic scattering and three-dimensional (3-D) acoustic propagation variability on the Effects of Sound on the Marine Environment (ESME) acoustic exposure model are presented. Pertinent acoustic scattering theory is briefly reviewed and ocean sound-speed fluctuation models are discussed. Particular attention is given to the nonlinear and linear components of the ocean internal wave field as a source of sound-speed inhomogeneities. Sound scattering through the mainly isotropic linear internal wave field is presented and new results relating to acoustic scattering by the nonlinear internal wave field in both along and across internal wave wavefront orientations are examined. In many cases, there are noteworthy fine-scale induced intensity biases and fluctuations of order 5-20 dB
Effects of nanoscale surface roughness on the resistivity of ultrathin epitaxial copper films.

The knowledge on the influence of surface roughness and the electron–phonon (el–ph) interaction on electrical transport properties of nanoscale metal films is important from both fundamental and technological points of view. Here we report a study of the temperature dependent electron transport properties of nanoscale copper films by measuring temperature dependent electrical resistivity with thickness ranging from 4 to 500 nm. We show that the residual resistivity, which is temperature independent, can be described quantitatively using both measured vertical surface root-mean-square roughness and lateral correlation length in the nanoscale, with no adjustable parameter, by a recent quasi-classical model developed by Chatterjee and Meyerovich (2010 Phys. Rev. B 81 245409–10). We also demonstrate that the temperature dependent component of the resistivity can be described using the Bloch–Gruneisen equation with a thickness dependent el–ph coupling constant and a thickness dependent Debye temperature. We show that the increase of the el–ph coupling constant with the decrease of film thickness gives rise to an enhancement of the temperature dependent component of the resistivity.
Overview of solar power installation project for Lee County's TK Davis Justice Center

This paper will discuss the installation of photovoltaic panels to Lee County's TK Davis Justice Center (LCJC) in Lee County, Alabama in the city of Opelika. This project will establish a message that local governments need to take an active role in increasing energy-efficiency and environmental sensitive building designs while reducing operational costs for its citizens over the long-term. This project consists of installing a 16.6 kW grid-connected solar-powered system that will be used to offset the energy costs of electricity used by the LCJC. The project will monitor the performance of the system along with weather and environmental factors. Information gathered through the system's design, installation, and monitoring will provide valuable information concerning photovoltaic alternative energy systems on public facilities. Performance projections and lifetime financial analysis will be presented using PV-DesignPro v6.0. With this project's unique location and ease of expansion, this project has the potential to be the prototype for other similar undertakings.
Telling the Code of the Street: An Ethnomethodological Ethnography

In traditional ethnographies, codes explain conduct. A code of conduct is implied by research participants, explicated by researchers, and used by both to explain interactions. The Code of the Street by Elijah Anderson epitomizes this orthodox ethnographic analysis of codes. In ethnomethodology, conduct explains codes. Researchers analyze how research participants refer to codes of conduct in their interactions. "Telling the Code" by D. L. Wieder exemplifies this ethnomethodological analysis of codes. In this ethnomethodological ethnography, we analyze how the code of the street influences the conduct of black male basketball players and how those players explain their conduct by telling the code. This article clarifies how ethnographers can use ethnomethodology to analyze codes as causes and consequences (doing so will produce more skeptical texts).
CONTEMPORARY NATIONAL IDENTITIES COMPARED: THE CASES OF LATIN AMERICA AND EUROPE

Cuando cayo Roma, su imperio se segmento en muchos sentidos, incluido el linguistico. En las regiones romanizadas el latin vulgar evoluciono de manera diferente en cada poblado. En las regiones menos romanizadas renacieron las lenguas indigenas. Esto cambio con la introduccion de la imprenta de caracteres moviles. Comenzo entonces un proceso inverso de amalgama de dialectos, que hizo posible el surgimiento de proto-nacionalidades linguisticas. En cambio, cuando cayeron los imperios ibericos la imprenta ya estaba establecida, de modo que en Iberoamerica no se genero una segmentacion linguistica. Esta diferencia engendro una importante distancia cultural entre ambas regiones. Palabras clave: Identidad nacional, America latina, Europa, Argentina, Inmigracion. _________________________ When Rome fell, its empire was segmented in many ways. In the Romanized regions, Vulgar Latin evolved differently in every town. In less Romanized regions, indigenous tongues were reborn. This process was reverted with the introduction of the printing press, which paved the way to an amalgam of dialects, leading to the emergence of linguistic proto nationalities. Contrariwise, when the Iberian empires fell, the printing press was already established. Consequently, in Iberian America there was no linguistic segmentation. This fundamental difference engendered a crucial civilizational distance. Keywords: National identity, Latin America, Europe, Argentina, Immigration.
Casework with kidney transplant patients

Fred himself had not yet entered adoles cence. He had a small pale face, buck teeth, and heavy eyeglasses. His slight frame emphasized his vulnerability, while his thick-lensed glasses symbolized his diffi culty in viewing what was going on in his life. His mother had always kept him in a protective cocoon. During his early years at school, he seemed fearful of school life and was absent excessively, long before his illness was manifest. He was a lonely child with no playmates and few hobbies,
Tight convex underestimators for $${\mathcal{C}^2}$$ -continuous problems: II. multivariate functions

In Part I (Gounaris, C.E., Floudas, C.A.: Tight convex understimators for $${\mathcal {C}^{2}}$$ -continuous functions: I: Univariate functions. J. Global Optim. (2008). doi: 10.007/s10898-008-9287-9 ), we introduced a novel approach for the underestimation of univariate functions which was based on a piecewise application of the well-known ?BB underestimator. The resulting underestimators were shown to be very tight and, in fact, can be driven to coincide with the convex envelopes themselves. An approximation by valid linear supports, resulting in piecewise linear underestimators was also presented. In this paper, we demonstrate how one can make use of the high quality results of the approach in the univariate case so as to extend its applicability to functions with a higher number of variables. This is achieved by proper projections of the multivariate ?BB underestimators into select two-dimensional planes. Furthermore, since our method utilizes projections into lower-dimensional spaces, we explore ways to recover some of the information lost in this process. In particular, we apply our method after having transformed the original problem in an orthonormal fashion. This leads to the construction of even tighter underestimators, through the accumulation of additional valid linear cuts in the relaxation.
Current Challenges in the Control of Haptic Interfaces and Bilateral Teleoperation Systems

This paper presents a survey of current research focused on the control of haptic interfaces and bilateral teleoperation sys tems. Time delay is a significant control issue, along with the closely related topic of control via the Internet. Ok key concern is the assurance of stability in the presence of constant or vari able time delay. The transparency of bilateral systems, or the extent to which they accurately represent the feel of the envi ronment to operator, is another important control concern. The stability and transparency of haptic interface systems is also a significant research area. This paper presents a survey of the current state-of-the-art with regard to control in haptics and bilateral teleoperation.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
TIME-INTERVAL PHOTOGRAPHY OF LITTORAL PHENOMENA

The collection of most data on littoral phenomena usually is based on the requirement of personnel and equipment actually being on-site for specific periods of time. An approach to minimize this requirement involves the use of a photographic technique, using time-interval cinematography. Two such systems have been used at sites in California; Point Mugu and Newport Beach. This method incorporates commercially available 16 mm motion picture cameras with automatic lenses, remotely programmed to shoot selected lengths of film at predetermined periods during a day, everyday. At Point Mugu the camera, housed in a weatherproof enclosure mounted atop an existing 100-foot tower, records shoreline conditions, wave characteristics and existing weather twice a day for a period of 20 seconds per exposure. The cameras are normally serviced on a weekly basis but are capable of longer unattended operation. To date this method has provided data which on preliminary anaylsis has revealed it to be of significant value for the purposes intended.
Stable controller design for deployable precision structures using perturbation theory

Perturbation methods for linear operators are commonly used in the analysis of systems that tend to deviate linearly from a given reference model. Tbe construction of an operator with a first order perturbation is investigated and the resulting eipnvalue series is constructed. It is shown that a simplified perturbation series can be obtained for matrix operators with special structure. The given theory is applied to a reduced order model (ROM) control scenario and an algorithm for computing an O(k3) eigenvalue approximation is described.
Generalizations of the Theorems of Pappus

(1969). Generalizations of the Theorems of Pappus. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 76, No. 4, pp. 355-366.
Colloidal Drop Deposition on Porous Substrates: Competition among Particle Motion, Evaporation, and Infiltration.

Recent interest in printable electronics and in particular paper- and textile-based electronics has fueled research in inkjet printing of colloidal drops on porous substrates. On nonporous substrates, the interplay of particle motion and solvent evaporation determines the final deposition morphology of the evaporating colloidal drop. For porous substrates, solvent infiltration into the pores adds a layer of complexity to the deposition patterns that have not been fully elucidated in the literature. In this study, the deposition of picoliter-sized aqueous colloidal droplets containing nanometer- and micrometer-sized particles onto nanoporous anodic aluminum oxide substrates is examined for different drop and particle sizes and relative humidities as well as pore diameters, porosities, and wettabilities of the porous substrates. For the cases considered, solvent infiltration is found to be much faster than both evaporation and particle motion near the contact line, and thus when the substrate fully imbibes ...
Test case prioritization of build acceptance tests for an enterprise cloud application

A novel process for prioritizing Build Acceptance Tests using historical failures.A set of black box prioritization heuristics for SaaS Build Acceptance Testing.An industrial case study on a large enterprise cloud production application.Data showing the complexity of service combinations leading to field failures.Empirical evidence that the order of running Build Acceptance tests in SaaS matters. The use of cloud computing brings many new opportunities for companies to deliver software in a highly-customizable and dynamic way. One such paradigm, Software as a Service (SaaS), allows users to subscribe and unsubscribe to services as needed. While beneficial to both subscribers and SaaS service providers, failures escaping to the field in these systems can potentially impact an entire customer base. Build Acceptance Testing (BAT) is a black box technique performed to validate the quality of a SaaS system every time a build is generated. In BAT, the same set of test cases is executed simultaneously across many different servers, making this a time consuming test process. Since BAT contains the most critical use cases, it may not be obvious which tests to perform first, given that the time to complete all test cases across different servers in any given day may be insufficient. While all tests must be eventually run, it is critical to run those tests first which are likely to find failures. In this work, we ask if it is possible to prioritize BAT tests for improved time to fault detection and present several different approaches, each based on the services executed when running each BAT. In an empirical study on a production enterprise system, we first analyze the historical data from several months in the field, and then use that data to derive the prioritization order for the current development BATs. We then examine if the orders change significantly when we consider fault severity using a cost-based prioritization metric. We find that the prioritization order in which we run the tests does matter, and that the use of historical information is a good heuristic for this order. Prioritized tests have an increase in the rate of fault detection, with the average percent of faults detected (APFD) increasing from less than 0.30 to as high as 0.77 on a scale of zero to one. Although severity slightly changes which order performs best, we see that there are clusters of orderings, ones which improve time to early fault detection ones which don't.
Web-Based Intervention for Transitioning Smokers From Inpatient to Outpatient Care: An RCT

Introduction Smoking-cessation follow-up care after hospitalization is known to be effective. Cost-effective and disseminable interventions adoptable by hospitals are needed. Design RCT. Setting/participants Fourteen hundred eighty-eight current smokers recruited during a tertiary care hospital stay were randomly assigned to Usual Care (UC) or Usual Care plus Web-Based Intervention (WI). Data were collected in 2011–2013 and analyzed in 2014–2015. Intervention UC provided brief bedside advice to quit, a quit plan template, and quitline contact information. WI included access to a website with asynchronous e-message communication with a tobacco counselor, use of interactive self-assessments, helpful cessation information, and access to additional web resources, as well as automated e-mail messages tailored for health concern and readiness to quit. Main outcome measures Self-reported 30-day abstinence at 6 months was the primary outcome; a subset was verified by saliva cotinine. Results Six-month follow-up was completed by 83% of participants. No difference was found between study arms for self-reported abstinence rates in intent-to-treat (25.4% WI vs 26.8% UC) and complete case (31.3% WI vs 31.4% UC) analyses. Reduced smoking was reported by 45.5% (WI, n =276) and 47% (UC, n =296) of non-abstinent responders ( p =0.59). Using a 10-ng/mL cotinine cut off, abstinence was verified in 52.1% of WI and 62.5% of UC ( p =0.11). Significant covariates associated with abstinence at 6 months were being male, not smoking during hospitalization, being very confident in quitting, planning to quit/stay quit, smoking fewer days in the past 30 days, fewer years of smoking, and having cerebrovascular or connective tissue rheumatic disease as primary hospital diagnosis. Conclusions Lack of difference between treatment arms suggests a strong effect for UC, WI was not effective, or both. Low intervention engagement may be partially responsible. Self-reported abstinence rates were relatively high in both arms, although the biochemically verified rates indicate over-reporting of abstinence. These findings suggest brief bedside counseling for all hospitalized smokers is beneficial. Trial Registration This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT01277250.
Rhodium rewrites the rules of magnetism

Magnetism in matter is a quantum-mechanical phenomenon. It is common at the atomic or subatomic scale but rare in macroscopic bodies. The majority of atoms in the periodic table, notably the transition metals and rare-earth elements, exhibit a magnetic moment. In contrast, most molecules do not – the oxygen molecule is the best known exception. Only a few solids are magnetic: examples include the transition metals (iron, cobalt and nickel), the rare earths (gadolinium, terbium and dysprosium), and some compounds (the transition-metal and rare-earth oxides in particular).
The use of selective electroless metal deposition for micron size contact fill

A novel method of filling micron-size contact holes using the selective electroless metal deposition (SEMD) technique has been developed and demonstrated on advanced device technology. The selective process is based on the electroless deposition of palladium or nickel only in CoSi/sub 2/ or TiSi/sub 2/ based contact holes but not on dielectric films such as BPSG. Excellent planarization of contact holes and good electrical properties such as junction integrity, good transistor characteristics, and good contact resistance have been obtained. To improve the temperature stability of the contact material, selective W is deposited in TiSi/sub 2/-based contacts; good junction integrity and low contact resistance were obtained up to 450 degrees C. >
Osimertinib, a Third-Generation Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Targeting Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer With EGFR T790M Mutations

Oncogenic driver mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene have provided a focus for effective targeted therapy. Unfortunately, all patients eventually develop resistance to frontline therapy with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). The majority of patients develop a large subclonal population of tumor cells with a T790M mutation that renders these cells resistant to first-generation TKIs. Osimertinib is a third-generation EGFR TKI that was designed to overcome resistance from T790M mutations. This agent has demonstrated strong preclinical activity, and in the clinic it has demonstrated a high objective response rate and progression-free survival in patients with EGFR double mutations (L858R/T790M and exon 19 deletion/T790M). It is now approved by the FDA for patients who have a documented T790M mutation and who have progressed on a prior TKI. Osimertinib is also approved in the E.U. and Japan.
Holistic Education through Athletics: Health and Health-Literacy of Intercollegiate Athletes and Active Undergraduate Students

Abstract: The purpose of this research was to examine select psychological (body awareness), educational (health, nutrition, and injury recovery knowledge) and physiological (height, weight, BMI, and body fat percentage) variables within a sample of university students ( n = 914) and varsity athletes ( n = 435) at three “Power 5” NCAA Division I institutions in an effort to explore the legitimacy of competitive athletics as a holistic educational endeavor worthy of fulfilling the mission of higher education. Data analysis revealed some support for Kolb’s experiential learning theory, with athletes demonstrating significantly greater nutrition, health, injury knowledge, and body awareness than non-athletes ( p < 0.01), though mean scores for both groups revealed limited knowledge. Athletes demonstrated overall superior health and lower susceptibility to future metabolic risk factors than their active non-athlete classmates as demonstrated by a significantly lower body fat percentage despite having higher BMI values. Despite a lack of structured traditional education, it appears that athletes are gaining knowledge and engaging in practices critical to holistic development. Practitioners must determine how to further cultivate these benefits through structured education for athletes and non-athletes.
Regional Water Transfers and Drought Management Strategies

Drought constitutes a rather severe hazard to all human activities, and especially to water supply. There are numerous efforts for planning and management actions against droughts, nevertheless, deficiencies still pertain in such attempts. The resulting major challenge concentrates on the development of comprehensive and effective drought management schemes. In this context, the primary problem of this research is composed of the following two key elements: 1. The overall difficulty in understanding the complex environment of drought. The phenomenon per se is an extreme event, a widespread and elusive natural hazard, having a multiplicity of impacts and interactions with the whole human system. 2. The additional dimension of managing drought under extreme and adverse conditions. Such conditions include the physical, structural, socio-economic and institutional environment. The metropolitan Athens area, where the water supply is accomplished by a series of reservoirs and conveyance structures approximately 190 km to the west of the region, reflects such a case.
Brownian motion as a new probe of wettability

Understanding wettability is crucial for optimizing oil recovery, semiconductor manufacturing, pharmaceutical industry, and electrowetting. In this letter, we study the effects of wettability on Brownian motion. We consider the cases of a sphere in an unbounded fluid medium, as well as a sphere placed in the vicinity of a plane wall. For the first case, we show the effects of wettability on the statistical properties of the particles’ motion, such as velocity autocorrelation, velocity, and thermal force power spectra over a large range of time scales. We also propose a new method to measure wettability based on the particles’ Brownian motion. In addition, we compare the boundary effects on Brownian motion imposed by both no-slip and perfect-slip flat walls. We emphasize the surprising boundary effects on Brownian motion imposed by a perfect-slip wall in the parallel direction, such as a higher particle mobility parallel to a perfect flat wall compared to that in the absence of the wall, as well as compare...
Distributed Auctions for Task Assignment and Scheduling in Mobile Crowdsensing Systems

With the emergence of Mobile Crowdsensing Systems (MCSs), many auction schemes have been proposed to incentivize mobile users to participate in sensing activities. However, in most of the existing work, the heterogeneity of MCSs has not been fully exploited. To tackle this issue, in this paper, we study the joint problem of sensing task assignment and scheduling while considering partial fulfillment, attribute diversity, and price diversity. We first elaborately model the problem as a reverse auction and design a distributed auction framework. Then, based on this framework, we propose two distributed auction schemes, cost-preferred auction scheme (CPAS) and time schedule-preferred auction scheme (TPAS), which differ on the methods of task scheduling, winner determination, and payment computation. We further rigorously prove that both CPAS and TPAS can achieve computational-efficiency, individual-rationality, budget-balance, and truthfulness. Finally, the simulation results validate the effectiveness of both CPAS and TPAS in terms of sensing task's allocation efficiency, mobile user's working time utilization and utility, and truthfulness.
Facts and Figures: Stones by the Numbers!

When it comes to kidney stones numbers play an important role. We are often faced with difficult questions like, “will my stone pass”? When will my stone pass? What happens if I do nothing? Am I a time bomb waiting for my stone to pass? Why am I making stones? What surgery is best for me?
Silence Surrounding Hepatitis C Status in Risk Relationships Among Rural People Who Use Drugs

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has reached epidemic proportions in rural Central Appalachia in recent years. We sought to identify demographic, behavioral, and interpersonal characteristics associated with HCV serostatus disclosure among high risk people who use drugs (PWUD) in Appalachian Kentucky. HCV antibody-positive participants (n = 243), drawn from the fifth follow-up assessment of a longitudinal study of rural PWUD, completed interviewer-administered questionnaires eliciting demographic and interpersonal characteristics, risk behaviors, and information about HCV disclosure. We assessed correlates of HCV disclosure using gender-stratified multivariate logistic regression. Participants reported having disclosed their HCV-positive status to a current sex partner (44.0%), family member (35.8%), close friend (9.5%), or past sex partner (6.6%). Of those reporting current (n = 72) or past (n = 215) injection drug use (IDU), only 2.8% disclosed to current and 0.9% disclosed to past IDU partners, respectively. Female participants were more likely than male participants to disclose to current sex partners and family member(s). In multivariate analyses, adjusting for time since testing HCV positive, older age and lifetime history of drug treatment were associated with decreased odds of HCV disclosure among females, while only lifetime history of drug treatment was associated with decreased odds of HCV disclosure among males. In summary, the almost complete absence of disclosure to current or former injection drug use partners was concerning. However, most participants (69.1%) reported disclosing their HCV status to at least one of their social referents, suggesting that family members, partners, and friends of people living with HCV could play a critical role in encouraging uptake of treatment. Although further research is warranted, it is clear that interventions are needed to encourage HCV disclosure among those most at risk of transmitting HCV.
Organismal engineering: Toward a robotic taxonomic key for devices using organic materials

Can we create robots with the behavioral flexibility and robustness of animals? Engineers often use bio-inspiration to mimic animals. Recent advances in tissue engineering now allow the use of components from animals. By integrating organic and synthetic components, researchers are moving towards the development of engineered organisms whose structural framework, actuation, sensing, and control are partially or completely organic. This review discusses recent exciting work demonstrating how organic components can be used for all facets of robot development. Based on this analysis, we propose a Robotic Taxonomic Key to guide the field towards a unified lexicon for device description.
Nationalism, patriotism, and group loyalty: A social psychological perspective

The purpose of this essay is to introduce the reader to a social psychological perspective on the roots of nationalism. At its heart is the description of how individuals develop feelings about and attachments to groups-how they build loyalty to groups. The review explores how such loyalty can lead to hostile reactions to other groups, can become translated into stereotypes that are shared by individuals, can shape the collective behavior of groups, and can help differentiate the multiple groups that define any political environment. At a time when ethnic nationalism seems insurgent and capable of pushing much of the world into chaos and war, there is increased need both to understand and to learn how to cope with the conditions that promote such extreme group loyalty. While each of the social sciences has something to say about nationalism, social psychologists have, over the years, contributed, in often neglected ways, to our knowledge about the roots of nationalism. Specifically, they have explored the factors that arouse feelings of group loyalty when such group loyalty promotes hostility toward other groups; how cross-cutting or multiple loyalties can change the face of nationalism; and how individual group loyalties influence and shape collective behavior. It is the purpose of this article to discuss this literature and show its relevance to what is happening in the postCold War world. Focusing their attention primarily on individuals and small interacting groups, social psychologists have sought basic knowledge about the ways in which people relate to groups and nations. Central to this focus is the role played by feelings of loyalty to groups and the conditions that arouse or reduce attachments. While relying largely on data from laboratory experiments and surveys of college students, the results are relevant to a wide variety of situations and populations. Whether or not the findings have such broad implications depends on the conditions under which we can reasonably draw conclusions from them about the behavior of national aggregates. It may be that the phenomena do, in fact, aggregate directly from the individual to the collective much as votes can be aggregated. Or, we may be able to make a strong analogy between the behavior of individuals and small groups, on the one hand, and that of leaders, social movements, and whole national populations on the other. We will use both approaches and consider some of the implications of such issues as we review the research.
General application of Tolman’s concept of activation energy

We present a generalization of Tolman's concept of activation energy applicable to thermal and non-thermal reactions in molecular dynamics simulations of reactions in bulk gases. To illustrate the applicability of the method, molecular dynamics calculations were carried out for the NVT ensemble to determine the activation energies of O2 + H2 → H + HO2 and 2O2 + H2 → 2HO2 from MD simulation results for [H2]/[O2] = 1 at 3000 K using the reactive force field, ReaxFF. Assuming local thermodynamic equilibrium, we define the reaction cluster local energy, the energy of the atoms participating in an individual reaction, which is conserved. The generalized Tolman activation energy (GTEa) approach is applicable to reactions of any molecularity. Although we have applied GTEa for thermal conditions, it is applicable to chemistry occurring under non-thermal conditions because it rests upon local rather than global equilibrium. We have defined the transition configurations, unique points that define a seam separating reactants and products at which the local energies of the reactants and products become equal.
Obesity and the Endocrine System, Part I: Pathogenesis of Weight Gain in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders

Certain endocrine and metabolic disorders cause mild to moderate weight gain and fat deposition. Excess fat storage in turn can have profound effects on intermediary metabolism and endocrine function. In this chapter, I present a brief discussion of the pathogenesis of adiposity and weight gain in various disorders of endocrine and metabolic function. In the companion chapter (“Obesity and the Endocrine System Part II”), I review the effects of obesity on linear growth and bone maturation, thyroid function, sexual development, adrenal function, calcium homeostasis, and bone mineralization. Subsequent chapters in this volume discuss the implications of obesity for insulin production and action and the regulation of glucose tolerance, blood pressure, lipid metabolism, atherogenesis, sleep hygiene, and hepatic, renal, and neurologic function.
The test of time: A meta-analytic review of the relation between school climate and problem behavior

Abstract School climate is conceptualized as a pattern of experiences within the school, which reflect the culture and norms of the school community. School climate is correlated with student outcomes. This review focuses on longitudinal literature investigating the relation between school climate and problem behavior to determine if the two are correlated over time. Six electronic databases were searched using keywords, and two recent reviews were hand-searched for references. Thirteen articles were included in this meta-analysis. Effect sizes were calculated using correlational data provided from individual studies and weighted by sample size. Results supported a small but significant relation between school climate and problem behavior over time. Research continues to support the importance of school environment as we seek to reduce problem behaviors and improve student experiences in school. This study illustrates the longitudinal impact of school environmental factors, and describes implications for theory, research, and practice.
Butyricicoccus porcorum sp. nov., a butyrate-producing bacterium from swine intestinal tract.

A Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, butyrate-producing coccus was cultured from the distal ileum of swine. This organism was isolated on rumen-fluid medium, consumes acetate, and produces butyrate as its major end product when grown on mono- and di-saccharides. A phylogenetic analysis based on near full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences as well as whole-genome phylogenies suggests that this isolate is most closely related to species in the genus Butyricicoccus , with Butyricicoccus pullicaecorum being the closest named relative (93.5 % 16S similarity). The G+C content of this isolate is 54 mol%, and the major cellular fatty acids are C18 : 0 DMA, C14 : 0, C18 : 1ω9c and C16 : 0. These data indicate that this isolate represents a novel species within the genus Butyricicoccus , for which the name Butyricicoccus porcorum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Butyricicoccus porcorum is BB10T (ATCC TSD-102T, DSM 104997T).
Assessing the incidence of acidosis in patients receiving metformin with and without risk factors for lactic acidosis

Background Despite strong recommendations to use metformin as first-line therapy for type 2 diabetes (T2DM), its use has been suboptimal, likely due to concerns of lactic acidosis. This study compared the association of acidosis in patients with T2DM prescribed metformin with those prescribed other antihyperglycemic medications or no medications. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with newly diagnosed T2DM utilizing an administrative database, which includes medical and prescription claims. Eligible patients had a diagnosis of T2DM, had continuous health plan enrollment 3 months prior to study enrollment and during the study period, and were at least 18 years of age. Mutually exclusive exposure groups were metformin only, other antihyperglycemic medications, and no medication. Acidosis cases were stratified by exposure group and risk factors for lactic acidosis (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hepatic dysfunction, alcohol abuse, heart failure, renal insufficiency, age of 80 years or older, and a history of acidosis). Degree of renal insufficiency was not available. Associations between exposure and acidosis were estimated, and risk factors evaluated. Results A total of 132,780 patients met inclusion criteria: 24,936 (20%) metformin only group, 15,059 (11%) other antihyperglycemic medication group, and 92,785 (70%) no medication group. Acidosis was observed in 1.45 per 10,000 patient months (0.78 metformin, 1.59 other antihyperglycemic medication, 1.51 no medication). The unadjusted relative risk of acidosis was 0.5 for patients prescribed metformin only compared with the other exposure groups (95% confidence interval = 0.2-1.2). There was no significant difference in risk of acidosis between exposure groups, irrespective of risk factors for lactic acidosis. Conclusions Risk of acidosis was similar with metformin only compared with those prescribed other antihyperglycemic medications or no medication. These results support expanded use of metformin for T2DM. Additional studies are needed to understand the impact of risk factor severity on risk of lactic acidosis.
Postauricular Melanocytic Neuroectodermal Tumor of Infancy: A Rare Site of a Rare Tumor—MNTI as a Postauricular Mass with Literature Review

Melanocytic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy (MNTI) is a rare osteolytic neoplasm of neural crest cell origin. There are less than 500 documented cases, most frequently affecting the maxilla of infants less than 1 year old. We present a unique case of a two-month-old male with a progressive postauricular mass since birth, confirmed to be a MNTI. The lesion required three resections over the course of five months, with rapid recurrence ultimately requiring a craniectomy, highlighting the difficulty in treating these tumors. Histological and radiographic features were reviewed; an updated literature review for identifying and treating these lesions is presented.
Global Satellite Retrievals of the Near-Surface Atmospheric Vapor Pressure Deficit from AMSR-E and AMSR2

Near-surface atmospheric Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD) is a key environmental variable affecting vegetation water stress, evapotranspiration, and atmospheric moisture demand. Although VPD is readily derived from in situ standard weather station measurements, more spatially continuous global observations for regional monitoring of VPD are lacking. Here, we document a new method to estimate daily (both a.m. and p.m.) global land surface VPD at a 25-km resolution using a satellite passive microwave remotely sensed Land Parameter Data Record (LPDR) derived from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR) sensors. The AMSR-derived VPD record shows strong correspondence (correlation coefficient ≥ 0.80, p-value < 0.001) and overall good performance (0.48 kPa ≤ Root Mean Square Error ≤ 0.69 kPa) against independent VPD observations from the Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2 (MERRA-2) data. The estimated AMSR VPD retrieval uncertainties vary with land cover type, satellite observation time, and underlying LPDR data quality. These results provide new satellite capabilities for global mapping and monitoring of land surface VPD dynamics from ongoing AMSR2 operations. Overall good accuracy and similar observations from both AMSR2 and AMSR-E allow for the development of climate data records documenting recent (from 2002) VPD trends and potential impacts on vegetation, land surface evaporation, and energy budgets.
Evaluation of hydrogen sorption and permeation parameters in liquid metal membranes via Sieverts' apparatus

Abstract We have recently proposed sandwiched liquid metal membranes (SLiMM) for hydrogen separation. To evaluate SLiMM, thermodynamic and kinetic parameters such as the solubility, diffusion coefficient, and absorption kinetics of hydrogen in the liquid metal are needed. While there are some theoretical approaches to estimate these parameters, including our own published recently, it is important to obtain experimental corroboration. This study utilizes the classical Sieverts' apparatus in an effort to estimate these parameters by monitoring the change in pressure with time of hydrogen introduced over a pool of liquid metal within a container. The solubility was calculated from the change in pressure over the entire duration of the experiment as it attained equilibrium, while typically the diffusion coefficient could be determined from the short-time response. The theory behind the Sieverts' apparatus is extended here to provide full-time solution by linearizing Sieverts' law, along with early (very short) time solutions to determine the sorption kinetics in addition to the diffusion coefficient. In this manner, new theoretical and experimental results are obtained for hydrogen sorption and diffusion in liquid gallium and indium at different temperatures. The results corroborate the hydrogen permeability in a gallium SLiMM.
Defining flipped learning for English learners in an urban secondary school

Flipped learning has gained traction in diverse classroom settings over the past decade as a student-centered form of blended learning that allows teachers to focus class time on interaction while ...
A multi-microcomputer intercommunication structure and multi-tasking algorithm

A recursive interconnection structure for multiple microcomputer systems is described. The average path length through such structures was computed, and the results were used as a measure of performance. Other characteristics such as flexibility, locality and complexity were also considered. An experimental dual-processor configuration was constructed and programmed to execute a producer-consumer multi-tasking algorithm, using a semaphore-protected queuing system in shared memory. The execution time was recorded, and was compared to the execution time of an optimized uniprocessor program. The results indicated that multiple microcomputer systems in general, and recursive structures in particular, are very promising, provided that sufficient attention is paid to task partitioning and interprocessor communications.
Genetic Basis of Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes in Africans: Impact on Precision Medicine.

Recent advances in genomics provide opportunities for novel understanding of the biology of human traits with the goal of improving human health. Here, we review recent obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D)–related genomic studies in African populations and discuss the implications of limited genomics studies on health disparity and precision medicine. Genome-wide association studies in Africans have yielded genetic discovery that would otherwise not be possible; these include identification of novel loci associated with obesity (SEMA-4D, PRKCA, WARS2), metabolic syndrome (CA-10, CTNNA3), and T2D (AGMO, ZRANB3). ZRANB3 was recently demonstrated to influence beta cell mass and insulin response. Despite these promising results, genomic studies in African populations are still limited and thus genomics tools and approaches such as polygenic risk scores and precision medicine are likely to have limited utility in Africans with the unacceptable possibility of exacerbating prevailing health disparities. African populations provide unique opportunities for increasing our understanding of the genetic basis of cardiometabolic disorders. We highlight the need for more coordinated and sustained efforts to increase the representation of Africans in genomic studies both as participants and scientists.
A Systematic Review of Loneliness Interventions Among Non-elderly Adults

Loneliness—the subjective experience of social isolation—is an important indicator of quality of life for adults and a major determinant of health. While much research has focused on interventions to alleviate loneliness in elderly populations, there has been no systematic investigation of loneliness interventions targeting the non-elderly adult population. The aim of this systematic review is to summarize current understanding on the effectiveness of interventions for alleviating loneliness among non-elderly adults. Littell et al.’s (Systematic reviews and meta-analysis, Oxford University Press, New York, 2008) systematic review process was used to organize, synthesize, and critique findings. An electronic search was conducted using relevant databases (CINAHL, Pubmed, PsycINFO, Social Work Abstracts) and keywords and index terms for three concepts: age, loneliness outcome, and intervention study. Study selection was limited to studies conducted in English, assessed a primary outcome measure of loneliness, and included a population of non-elderly adults ages 18 to 64. Out of 5813 studies identified for initial screening, 264 studies underwent full-text review, and 68 studies met inclusion criteria. Pairs of reviewers extracted and synthesized data including research design, sampling techniques, and outcomes. Results are grouped by primary sub-populations in which interventions were conducted including people with mental illnesses; disabilities; chronic illnesses; military members; parents and caregivers; immigrants and refugees; and other marginalized groups. Several interventions, particularly those involving technology and support groups, significantly reduced loneliness. This review informs clinical social work practice around programs that reduce loneliness and its consequences among specific sub-populations of non-elderly adults.