cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Behavioral Correlates and Welfare Implications of Informal Interactions With Staff in Zoo-Housed Chimpanzees and Gorillas

In facilities that house nonhuman animals in captivity, humans not only provide care and management but are also a relevant part of the animals' social environment. This study investigated the rela...
perceptions of protest: defining the dangerous in colonial Sumatra

Historical analysis of how the Dutch administrative and plantation elite perceived protest in colonial Sumatra reveals a striking shift in focus. Whereas in the 1870s labor violence was personalized and downplayed, by the 1920s it was construed as a politically motivated prelude to communist revolt. This paper looks at the written rhetoric surrounding these issues not as a reflection or legitimation of colonial power, but as a site of negotiation over the nature of it, between the European planters and the colonial state. It is argued that this rhetoric shaped how danger was defined and how protection of corporate capital's private interests became synonymous with the maintenance of a public rust en orde (peace and order). [Indonesia, labor protest, colonial state, rhetoric, plantations]
BIRBAL a computer-based devil's advocate

A computational framework that can form the basis for devil's advocate role playing is developed. The framework consists of a comprehensive set of strategies for stimulating and challenging a decision maker. The strategies are at the operational level and cover the various aspects of devil's advocate behavior such as raising pointed questions and generating challenges, arguments and criticism. It is shown how these ideas can be implemented by presenting the design and implementation details of the working prototype BIRBAL. The author identifies areas for fruitful future research and emphasizes the use of exploratory systems development as a research paradigm for DSS (decision support systems) research. >
Effects of Racism on Perceptions and Punishment of Intra- and Interracial Crimes

The majority of hate crimes in the United States are driven by racial bias. However, extra-legal factors such as the perpetrators’ motivations, the races of the victims and perpetrators, and the presence or absence of hate symbols or slurs often result in ambiguity in the classification of crimes as hate crimes. This uncertainty evokes consideration of how such crimes are characterized and of how violent intra- and interracial crimes are perceived and responded to. The current study used violent crime vignettes to explore the effects of participants’ levels of racism, perpetrator and victim race, and assault severity on perceptions of crimes as “hate crimes,” victim blame, and sentence recommendations. These results contribute to the understanding of how intra- and interracial crimes are perceived and how individuals’ levels of racism affect these perceptions.
Modeling and optimizing differential signaling for reducing crosstalk noise

Minimizing crosstalk is a major concern in high-speed differential buses design. The power/ground pins are distributed uniformly and the performance of a bus is usually gated by the performance of the worst differential signal in the bus. In this paper, we propose a fast algorithm to generate nearly uniform power/ground distributions by applying force-directed optimization. With each power/ground distribution, our linear perturbation algorithm enumerates the differential signal pairing combinations. The algorithm is further sped up significantly by our branch-and-bound scheme and max information gain signal selection. These differential signal assignments are then assessed by applying a benchmark parameter that describes the relative performance of each assignment. Experimental results demonstrate the high efficiency and significant electrical benefit of our algorithm.
Interaction of Progesterone and Aldosterone with Red Blood Cells of The Rat

Abstract : The interaction of progesterone and aldosterone with red blood cells was studied in an in vitro system by equilibrium dialysis technique. The uptake of progesterone by the erythrocytes is of the order of 70-85 percent of the total steroid in contact with the red blood cell, whereas the uptake of aldosterone is insignificant. Consideration of molar ratios of hemoglobin and steroid and calculations of binding affinity of steroid to hemoglobin suggest that the steroid does not enter into the red blood cells, but could be absorbed at the cells' surface. Studies on the metabolism of progesterone and aldosterone by the red blood cells in vitro show that no metabolites of the two steroids occur. (Author)
Carbonized Eggshell Membrane as a Natural Polysulfide Reservoir for Highly Reversible Li‐S Batteries

Carbonized sucrose-coated eggshell membranes (CSEMs) consisting of natural micropores function well as a polysulfide reservoir in Li/dissolved polysulfide cells. The bottom CSEM current collector encapsulates the active material, while the upper CSEM inhibitor intercepts the migrating polysulfides. This design with CSEM allows the dissolved polysulfides to be localized and the electrochemical reactions within the cathode region to be stabilized, resulting in high discharge capacity, long-term cycle stability, and high sulfur loading.
The rat blood-brain barrier transcriptome

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is the cellular interface between the circulating blood and neural environment, and is created by apposed endothelial cells and their intercellular tight junctions. Many aspects of how the BBB functions at the molecular level remain unresolved; therefore, we report for the first time a comprehensive gene expression profile of rat brain microvessels using serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE). We assembled a full and quantitative SAGE catalog containing 101,364 tags, of which 33% of the tags matched known genes, 51% matched expressed sequence tags (ESTs) in the Unigene database, and 16% of the tags were unassigned. The transcriptome catalog contains many new and novel transcripts among known BBB genes. A large compliment of junctional proteins and an extensive assortment of facilitated carrier and ATP-dependent transporters are included. To identify microvessel-enriched transcripts, we compared the microvessel SAGE catalog to cortex and hippocampus SAGE catalogs. This resulted in identification of 864 genes, including several known for their abundant expression at the BBB, such as the transferrin receptor (TrnR). Sorting enriched genes based on function revealed groups that encode transporters (11%), receptors (5%), proteins involved in vesicle trafficking (4%), structural proteins (10%), and components of signal transduction pathways (17%). This genomic repertoire emphasizes the unique cellular phenotype existing within the brain and further implicates the BBB as a mediator between the brain and periphery. These results may provide a useful resource and reference point from which to determine the effects of different physiological, developmental, and disease processes on BBB gene expression.
Enhancing Sedimentation and Trapping Sediment with a Bottom Grid Structure

One of the great challenges of gravity settling is the difficulty of effectively removing suspended solids from thewater column and retaining the settled particles in the settling basin under high inflow rates and short resident times. To address these issues, a new concept of using a bottom grid structure (BGS) for enhancing suspended solids removal by introducing a downward vertical vortex force and reducing disturbances of the bottom settled sediment was proposed and tested in the laboratory. A series of comparative laboratory experiments, without and with BGS, were carried out in a 2.47 ðLÞ × 1.46 ðWÞ × 0.39-m (D) tank. The experimental results revealed that for the tested flow rates ranging from 4 to 8 L=s, the removals of test particles with the BGS in the tank were about 10 to 30% higher than those obtained for the same conditions, but with a smooth tank bottom. Thus, the newly proposed BGS acts as a structure trapping and storing solids. In general, the improvement of particle removal rates was proportional to the inflow rate (or flow speed along the BGS top surface), before reaching a maximum value. This indicated that particles settled in the BGS cell on the tank bottom were effectively protected from disturbances by the fast bottom flows or external forces. To further examine the retention of deposited sediment by the proposed BGS, comparative experiments were conducted by placing particles on the tank bottom before activating inflow, with and without the BGS present. The results showed that for an inflow rate of 6 L=s, 67% of the placed particles were retained in the settling tank with the BGS; without it, the corresponding percentage was just 26%. Thus, the BGS retained 41% more of the particles settled in the bottom. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was also used to describe the hydraulic conditions in the settling tank under various inflow rates and such results were helpful for establishing the relationships between the improved removal of suspended solids and the bottom flow speed and flow patterns in general. BGS offers a great promise of improving the performance of engineering facilities (e.g., stormwater detention ponds) serving to remove suspended solids from environmental flows. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0000774. © 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers. Author keywords: Enhance sedimentation; Bottom grid structure; Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) hydrodynamic modeling; Retain sediment.
Complete testing of receiver jitter tolerance

Devices incorporating high-speed digital receivers must tolerate timing instability. The ability of the receiver to correctly place a receive strobe within the data valid region of a bit fundamentally determines the bit error rate performance for a design or a particular device. The device must meet its performance requirements in the presence of non-ideal timing. Timing irregularities can be introduced from additive non-deterministic noise sources injecting random jitter (Rj); deterministic distortion such as a limited channel bandwidth injecting data dependent jitter (DDj) or circuit oscillations and coupled clocks injecting periodic jitter (Pj).
The Relationship of Reported Neighborhood Conditions With Child Mental Health

Abstract Objective Although in many studies authors have documented the relationship between neighborhood socioeconomic status and child mental health, few have examined the association between neighborhood conditions and mental health disorders. The objective of this study was to determine whether parent-reported neighborhood conditions are associated with common child mental health disorders. Methods We analyzed data on children ages 6 to 17 (N = 64,076) collected through the 2007 National Survey of Children's Health. Primary outcome variables were a child being reported to have a diagnosis of (1) anxiety and/or depression and (2) attention-deficit−hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and/or disruptive behavior. Main independent variables were parent-reported neighborhood amenities (eg, recreation center), poor physical characteristics (eg, dilapidated housing), social support/trust, neighborhood safety, and school safety. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between neighborhood conditions and (1) anxiety/depression and (2) ADHD/disruptive behavior. Results Children living in a neighborhood with 3 poor physical characteristics had greater odds of anxiety/depression (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.58, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.01–2.46) and ADHD/disruptive behavior (AOR 1.44, 95% CI 1.04–1.99) compared with children living in a neighborhood with no poor physical characteristics. Children of parents who reported living in a neighborhood with low social support/trust had greater odds of depression/anxiety (AOR 1.71, 95% CI 1.28–2.30) and ADHD/disruptive behavior (AOR 1.47, 95% CI 1.19–1.81) than children living in a neighborhood with greater social support/trust. Conclusions Parent perception of neighborhood social support/trust and physical characteristics may be important to assess in clinical settings and should be examined in future study of child mental health burden.
Mutant analysis of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase in Escherichia coli.

NAD+-specific glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.12) from Escherichia coli was purified to homogeneity by a relatively simple procedure involving affinity chromatography on agarose–hexane–NAD+ and repeated crystallization. Rabbit antiserum directed against this protein produced one precipitin line in double-diffusion studies against the pure enzyme, and two lines against crude extracts of wild-type E. coli strains. Both precipitin lines represent the interaction of antibody with determinants specific for glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Nine independent mutants of E. coli lacking glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity all possessed some antigenic cross-reacting material to the wild-type enzyme. The mutants could be divided into three groups on the basis of the types and amounts of precipitin lines observed in double-diffusion experiments; one group formed little cross-reacting material. The cross-reacting material in crude cell-free extracts of several of the mutant strains were also tested for alterations in their affinity for NAD+ and their phosphorylative activity. The cumulative data indicate that the protein in several of the mutant strains is severely altered, and thus that glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase is unlikely to have an essential, non-catalytic function such as buffering nicotinamide nucleotide or glycolytic-intermediate concentrations. Others of the mutants tested have cross-reacting material which behaved like the wild-type enzyme for the several parameters studied; the proteins from these strains, once purified, might serve as useful analogues of the wild-type enzyme.
Post-Traumatic Periprosthetic Tibial and Fibular Fracture After Total Ankle Arthroplasty: A Case Report

Periprosthetic fractures after total ankle arthroplasty are uncommon, with most cases occurring intraoperatively. We describe a post-traumatic periprosthetic fracture of the distal tibia and fibula after total ankle arthroplasty that was treated with minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis. It is important for orthopedic surgeons not only to recognize the risk factors for postoperative periprosthetic total ankle arthroplasty fractures, but also to be familiar with the treatment options available to maximize function and minimize complications. The design of the tibial prosthesis and surgical techniques required to prepare the ankle joint for implantation are important areas of future research to limit the risk of periprosthetic fractures.
Observations on the Blood Vessels of the Vascular Membrane of Chicken Embryos

It was the object of these experiments to attempt to discover first, whether there was a difference in innervation between the blood vessels of the vascular membrane of chicken embryos and innervated blood vessels; and second, what changes occurred in the blood vessels of the embryos' vascular membrane during the course of its development. The experiments were carried out in a constant temperature room with eggs at all ages but especially at the 3rd and 4th days of incubation. The eggs were opened at the end of the air-chamber. In connection with innervation both physiological and anatomical investigations were made. In the physiological experiments stimuli of mechanical, electrical and chemical varieties were applied. In the manner of Rickert it was found possible to grade the strength of the stimuli into weak, medium and strong, and doses were found of each variety of stimulus so that comparable effects in the vessels could be observed: constriction or dilatation, but more often dilatation with the weak...
Dietary broccoli protects against fatty liver development but not against progression of liver cancer in mice pretreated with diethylnitrosamine.

Western-style high fat, high sugar diets are associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and increased liver cancer risk. Sulforaphane from broccoli may protect against these. Previously we initiated broccoli feeding to mice prior to exposure to the hepatocarcinogen diethylnitrosamine (DEN), and saw protection against NAFLD and liver cancer. Here we administered DEN to unweaned mice, initiating broccoli feeding two weeks later, to determine if broccoli protects against cancer progression. Specifically, male 15-day-old C57BL/6J mice were given DEN and placed on a Western or Western + 10%Broccoli diet from the age of 4 weeks through 7 months. Dietary broccoli decreased hepatic triacylglycerols, NAFLD, liver damage and tumour necrosis factor by month 5 without changing body weight or relative liver weight, but did not slow carcinogenesis, seen in 100% of mice. We conclude that broccoli, a good source of sulforaphane, slows progression of hepatic lipidosis, but not tumourigenesis in this robust model.
Effects of Various Batrachia and Their Densities on Rice Traits and Main Insect Pests in Paddy

The effects of three various batrachia( Rana nigromaculata,Rana catesbeiana and Rana limnocharis) and their densities on the main traits of early rice and late rice as well as the occurrence of main insect pests in paddy were studied. The results showed that rearing batrachia in paddy had no significant effects on the agronomic traits,number of effective spikes per unit area,and 1000-grain weight of rice,but had significant influences on the number of grains per spike,seed setting rate,and grain yield;in comparison with the blank control,rearing higher density of frog or bullfrog could significantly enhance the number of grains per spike,seed setting rate,and grain yield of rice; the three batrachia all had a certain control effect on rice planthopper and rice leaf roller,but frog and bullfrog had better control effect,and the higher their density was,the better their control effect was,but the control effect of batrachia was lower than that of applying common insecticides.
Transcriptomic network analyses of leaf dehydration responses identify highly connected ABA and ethylene signaling hubs in three grapevine species differing in drought tolerance

Grapevine is a major food crop that is affected by global climate change. Consistent with field studies, dehydration assays of grapevine leaves can reveal valuable information of the plant’s response at physiological, transcript, and protein levels. There are well-known differences in grapevine rootstocks responses to dehydration. We used time-series transcriptomic approaches combined with network analyses to elucidate and identify important physiological processes and network hubs that responded to dehydration in three different grapevine species differing in their drought tolerance. Transcriptomic analyses of the leaves of Cabernet Sauvignon, Riparia Gloire, and Ramsey were evaluated at different times during a 24-h controlled dehydration. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that approximately 11,000 transcripts changed significantly with respect to the genotype x treatment interaction term and approximately 6000 transcripts changed significantly according to the genotype x treatment x time interaction term indicating massive differential changes in gene expression over time. Standard analyses determined substantial effects on the transcript abundance of genes involved in the metabolism and signaling of two known plant stress hormones, abscisic acid (ABA) and ethylene. ABA and ethylene signaling maps were constructed and revealed specific changes in transcript abundance that were associated with the known drought tolerance of the genotypes including genes such as VviABI5, VviABF2, VviACS2, and VviWRKY22. Weighted-gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) confirmed these results. In particular, WGCNA identified 30 different modules, some of which had highly enriched gene ontology (GO) categories for photosynthesis, phenylpropanoid metabolism, ABA and ethylene signaling. The ABA signaling transcription factors, VviABI5 and VviABF2, were highly connected hubs in two modules, one being enriched in gaseous transport and the other in ethylene signaling. VviABI5 was distinctly correlated with an early response and high expression for the drought tolerant Ramsey and with little response from the drought sensitive Riparia Gloire. These ABA signaling transcription factors were highly connected to VviSnRK1 and other gene hubs associated with sugar, ethylene and ABA signaling. A leaf dehydration assay provided transcriptomic evidence for differential leaf responses to dehydration between genotypes differing in their drought tolerance. WGCNA proved to be a powerful network analysis approach; it identified 30 distinct modules (networks) with highly enriched GO categories and enabled the identification of gene hubs in these modules. Some of these genes were highly connected hubs in both the ABA and ethylene signaling pathways, supporting the hypothesis that there is substantial crosstalk between the two hormone pathways. This study identifies solid gene candidates for future investigations of drought tolerance in grapevine.
Brain Transplants: A New Approach to the Therapy of Neurodegenerative Disease

Research involving tissue transplantation to the brain has proceeded rapidly over the past 10 years. This research has recently culminated in the first clinical trials of adrenal medullary transplantation for Parkinson’s disease. Although preliminary reports regarding these trials are encouraging, there remain many impediments to successful brain grafting for human neurodegenerative disease.
Responses of yearling steers to different stocking rates on a subtropical grass-legume pasture

Despite potential benefits, limitations of individual tropical legumes have restricted development of sustainable grass-legume pastures in tropical and subtropical regions. Sowing mixtures of complementary legumes may overcome limitations of individual species. Responses of yearling steers grazing a mixture of three tropical legumes with bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge) were evaluated at three stocking rates under continuous grazing. Carpon desmodium (Desmodium heterocarpon [L.] DC.), which is persistent under grazing but often difficult to establish, was combined with the short-lived legumes aeschynomene (Aeschynomene americana L.) and phasey bean (Macroptilium lathyroides [L.] Urb.). Diet composition, as determined by microhistological analysis of fecal samples, and animal performance were evaluated in three grazing periods: summer 1987 and spring 1988 (2.0, 3.5, and 5.0 steers/ha) and summer 1988 (3.0, 5.3, and 7.5 steers/ha). Stocking rate did not affect percentage of the selectively grazed legumes, aeschynomene and phasey bean, in the diet. Average daily gain decreased linearly (P less than .05) with increased stocking rate, as is typical for grass pastures. Aeschynomene and phasey bean contributed to diets during the first summer, and carpon desmodium contribution was greater in the second summer. These results indicate that this pasture mixture can provide legume herbage from aeschynomene and phasey bean in the year of sowing and from carpon desmodium thereafter. Over the range of grazing pressures obtained, legume responses were generally consistent; thus, optimizing stocking rate for gain per hectare or for economic returns can be targeted without additional constraints to maintain the contribution of these legumes to grazing livestock.
How to actualize potential: a bioecological approach to talent development

Bioecological theory posits three interacting principles to explain developmental outcomes such as fluctuating achievement levels and changing heritability coefficients. Here, we apply the theory to the domain of talent development, by reviewing short-term and long-term cognitive interventions. We argue that macro-level analyses of cultural practices (e.g., matrilineal inheritance and property ownership) and national systems of education are consistent with the bioecological theory; when the findings from these analyses are unpacked, the engines that drive them are so-called proximal processes. This finding has implications for the design and delivery of instruction and the development of talent. We argue that talent is fostered by the same three bioecological mechanisms that explain the actualization of genetic potential. We conclude by discussing several self-descriptions and personal narratives by gifted students in which they spontaneously refer to these bioecological mechanisms in their own talent-development processes. Similar testimonials have been documented by historic talent researchers such as Benjamin Bloom, noting the importance of continual adjustments in feedback.
Refree: A Refresh-Free Hybrid DRAM/PCM Main Memory System

As the number of concurrently running applications on chip multiprocessors and the size of each application's working set increase, so does the demand for larger capacity memories. DRAM-based memories can no longer satisfy this growing demand due to their scalability limit. Hybrid main memories, such as DRAM plus PCM, have been proposed as a solution to this issue. However, using a very small DRAM is not effective in a hybrid memory system as well. On the other hand, the larger the DRAM size, the higher the refresh operation cost. In this paper, we introduce Refree, a scheme to eliminate DRAM refresh operations in a hybrid DRAM/PCM main memory system. When it is time to refresh a row, Refree evicts the row from DRAM instead. This can be done since a recently accessed row has already been "refreshed" by the access, while a row that hasn't been accessed for a long time is very likely to hold obsolete data and does not need to be refreshed and kept in the DRAM. If an evicted row is dirty, it will be written back to the PCM. To alleviate the potential performance loss due to the long PCM write latency, we propose a scheme that distributes writebacks of a dirty DRAM row over an epoch time (i.e., 128ms) to prevent the long-time obstruction of other requests to the PCM devices. Our simulation results reveal that Refree achieves an average of 11.7% reduction in memory power consumption and 4.2% performance improvement on a quad-core system running NAS and PARSEC applications with 4GB DRAM and 32GB PCM, compared to the standard auto-refresh scheme. Compared with a recently proposed refresh-reduction scheme, Refree can also save memory power by 3.1% on average with a negligible 0.2% performance loss.
Small Molecule Agonists and Antagonists of TRPV4

Abstract Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4), a member of the transient receptor potential superfamily of ion channels, has been a focus of research since its identification in 2000. For instance, studies have revealed a role for TRPV4 in conditions ranging from sunburn to Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2C. Consequently, modulation of TRPV4 function with small molecules is of interest to those working in the biomedical and drug discovery communities. Herein, we review the main chemotypes that have been disclosed as either TRPV4 agonists or antagonists. Where applicable, we also highlight the therapeutic potential of such compounds by describing activity in animal models of human disease.
In Smoldering/Indolent (SMM/IMM) Myeloma Patients Treated with Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist (IL-1Ra), Responders Demonstrate a Significantly Increased Time to Progression (TTP) and a Decreased C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Compared with Nonresponders.

Background: Patients with SMM/IMM are at high risk for progression to active MM and are appropriate candidates for chemoprevention trials. High IL-1beta levels are a useful surrogate marker for progression from SMM/IMM to active myeloma. Methods: We carried out a Phase II clinical trial of IL-1Ra (Anakinra) in patients with SMM/IMM to determine the biologic activity, progression-free rate, and toxicity of IL-1Ra. Since IL-1beta induces paracrine IL-6, we hypothesized that IL-1Ra would inhibit IL-6 production and myeloma cell growth. Patients that had ≥ 10% bone marrow plasma cells and/or an IgG or IgA M-spike ≥ 3 g/dL and did not require immediate chemotherapy were eligible. Patients received 100 mg of Anakinra (IL-1Ra) SQ qd for a total duration of 6 months. Non-progressors were allowed to continue on therapy with IL-1Ra until they converted to active myeloma. IL-1beta levels were measured in a bioassay with a read out of IL-1 inducible IL-6 production. CRP levels served as a surrogate for IL-6 production. Results: Thirty-six patients are included for analysis based on intent to treat at diagnosis. At baseline, twenty-nine patients had elevated functional IL-1beta levels consistent with progressive disease and 12 patients had radiologic evidence of disease on bone survey. The median TTP for the entire group was 1 year and 2 patients exhibited a minor response based on M-protein reduction. A proportional hazards analysis was performed and the variables examined were: % bone marrow plasma cells, plasma cell labeling index (PCLI), circulating plasma cells, albumin, M-protein level, IgA subtype, CRP, CRP % reduction ≥ one-third, beta-2 microglobulin, creatinine, calcium, hemoglobin, urine total protein, presence of lytic bone disease, and IL-1 level. Univariate Cox model results showed that % BMPC, PCLI, circulating plasma cells, CRP % reduction, presence of lytic disease, and IL-1 level were all statistically significant (p 2 years, respectively (p 0 also demonstrated a parallel decrease in the PCLI. Several of the patients with progressive disease on IL-1Ra alone could later be rescued with the addition of low dose dexamethasone (20 mg once a week) suggesting that the endogenous IL-1beta levels were too high to inhibit with IL-1Ra alone. Conclusion: In summary, IL-1Ra can prolong the TTP to active myeloma in responsive SMM/IMM patients through inhibition of IL-6 production (decrease in CRP) and myeloma cell growth.
Process as reality: Kierkegaard’s aesthetic approach to the ethical

This paper makes the point that Kierkegaard’s ideas concerning individuality cannot be understood clearly without placing them in the context of what I am calling ontological isolation. This means the radical deprivation by selfhood of every aspect of reality, to the point where not even the possibility or illusion of reality is available to the self. In this context the self is required to become itself, forming itself in and out of its own absolute nothingness, ontological destitution, or wrongness. With this form of isolation as our investigative key, we unlock what Kierkegaard means by his command to become a self, where becoming itself, in absence of prior possibility, constitutes the reality of self, and why Kierkegaard places crucial emphasis, contrary to the tradition, on the priority of negativity. By having the self originate itself in “absolute difficulty,” or that wherein the act itself, or pure doing without result, is primary, Kierkegaard now replaces metaphysics with ethics in order of priority, and places the self inseparably in a world that responds directly to that act. I show here a parallel between Kierkegaard’s approach to ethical action with that of artistic creation of a kind of world, the work of art. In doing so I reveal the inadequacy of interpretations that would impose traditional forms of isolation, social and cosmic, on Kierkegaard, as some of his critics do, or that would place Kierkegaard’s ethics within traditional developmental models, as many of his sympathizers do.
Productive Aporias and Inten(t/s)ionalities of Paradigming: Spacetimematterings in an Introductory Qualitative Research Course:

We seek to illustrate the inten(t/s)ional ways we tried to create spaces for thinking about paradigms as polyphonic and proliferating. We also share the joyful tensions of this work (hence, inten(t...
Study of the ion kinetic effects in ICF run-away burn using a quasi-1D hybrid model

The loss of fuel ions in the Gamow peak and other kinetic effects related to the α particles during ignition, run-away burn, and disassembly stages of an inertial confinement fusion D-T capsule are investigated with a quasi-1D hybrid volume ignition model that includes kinetic ions, fluid electrons, Planckian radiation photons, and a metallic pusher. The fuel ion loss due to the Knudsen effect at the fuel-pusher interface is accounted for by a local-loss model by Molvig et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 095001 (2012)] with an albedo model for ions returning from the pusher wall. The tail refilling and relaxation of the fuel ion distribution are captured with a nonlinear Fokker-Planck solver. Alpha heating of the fuel ions is modeled kinetically while simple models for finite alpha range and electron heating are used. This dynamical model is benchmarked with a 3 T hydrodynamic burn model employing similar assumptions. For an energetic pusher (∼40 kJ) that compresses the fuel to an areal density of ∼1.07g/cm2 at ignition, the simulation shows that the Knudsen effect can substantially limit ion temperature rise in runaway burn. While the final yield decreases modestly from kinetic effects of the α particles, large reduction of the fuel reactivity during ignition and runaway burn may require a higher Knudsen loss rate compared to the rise time of the temperatures above ∼25 keV when the broad D-T Gamow peak merges into the bulk Maxwellian distribution.
The effects of social influence pressure source and reporting consequence on financial statement preparers' fair value estimate choices

This paper investigates whether the source of social influence pressure interacts with reporting consequence to influence financial statement preparers' judgements of fair value estimates. Results from an experiment suggest that accounting professionals recognise that fair value estimates based on Level 3 inputs are subjective and unreliable and are hesitant to choose a Level 3 estimate for financial reporting. However, superior pressure (one type of social influence pressure) and a positive reporting consequence increase preparers' likelihood of choosing a questionable estimate. In addition, social influence pressure source interacts with reporting consequence to influence preparers' intention to choose a questionable estimate. Specifically, superior pressure has a greater impact on the likelihood of choosing a questionable estimate if the estimate allows the company to report positive earnings than if the estimate results in zero earnings. More interestingly, mediation analysis shows that preparers' perceptions about the fair value estimate partially mediate the effect of source of social influence pressure on preparers' decisions. This suggests that superiors exert influence through their position power, resulting in compliant behaviour from preparers, and through personal power, leading to changes in preparers' attitudes towards the Level 3 estimates.
Approaches for Ensuring Security and Privacy in Unplanned Ubiquitous Computing Interactions

Modern technology and omnipresent computing and communication facilities are leading us closer to the ubiquitous computing vision. However, the very nature of ubicomp infrastructure, the openness of the environments and the characteristics of the interactions pose unique security and privacy challenges. We anticipate that the vast number of interactions will be unplanned and will occur among mutually unknown and untrusted systems. Mobile components will often find themselves in unfamiliar surroundings, forced to work with infrastructure whose trustworthiness cannot be determined. We must identify and address the security issues inherent in these types of interactions before a large-scale deployment of vulnerable infrastructure begins to pose a serious threat. Current security solutions for mobile computing and wireless communication are not sufficiently scalable or flexible to protect the heterogeneous and highly dynamic systems of the future; they do not even satisfactorily solve current mobile computing security issues. In this paper we address the problems inherent in the infrastructure and in the interacting devices themselves. We also identify device theft as a problem exacerbated by mobile and ubiquitous computing. We emphasize device-based approaches towards handling security and privacy, broadly classifying them into three categories which, when taken collectively, form a three-layer defense for devices. These categories are: 1) resource and content protection mechanisms, 2) secure protocols for service discovery and assignment of resource access, and 3) trust frameworks. These categories are neither mutually exclusive nor exhaustive, yet they collectively address challenges inherent in a wide range of ubicomp scenarios. We emphasize protocol-based solutions and, to a lesser extent, trust frameworks. These aproaches are being investigated in the context of the QED and policy-guided negotiation work currently underway as part of our Panoply ubiquitous computing project.
Preparing Students to Make a Difference: Community Asset Mapping as a Vehicle for Involving Students in Community Action

This article describes the development of a new graduate course entitled Recreation and Community that was created for the purpose of 1) providing students with an understanding of the role of recr...
Barriers to routine HIV testing among Massachusetts community health center personnel.

Objectives.We assessed the extent to which Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations have influenced routine HIV testing among Massachusetts community health center (CHC) per...
Cultural Contradictions Impeding Global Competitiveness of American High-Technology Firms

Several authors have examined the factors that have led to one of the U.S.’s most critical issues of the past two decades — the steady erosion of high-tech competitiveness as measured by the loss of global market share and diminishing productivity growth. High technology firms are those that rely on state-of-the-art research and development (R&D) to maintain or capture market share in traditional or emerging fields. the loss of high-tech prowess has been a major factor in reducing the comparative standard of living with high-value jobs being increasingly captured by foreign-based international competitors. Productivity growth is considered the method with which to reverse these trends.
Oral S-adenosyl methionine (SAM) mediates disruptions in methyl group metabolism due to retinoic acid therapy and alters neurotransmitter metabolism: Implications for major depressive disorder

Disruptions in methyl group metabolism have been associated with a number of disease states, including birth defects, cardiovascular disease, and neurological disorders. Therefore, characterization of the factors that regulate folate and methyl group supply is essential for the development of disease treatments and prevention. Glycine N-methyltransferase (GNMT), an enzyme essential to methyl group balance, is markedly increased by retinoic acid treatment. Furthermore, retinoid therapy has been shown to impact neurotransmitter metabolism, thereby contributing to the development of major depressive disorder. Recently, it has been shown that depressed patients have low levels of folate, other B-vitamins, and S-adenosyl methionine (SAM), all compounds essential for maintaining effective methyl group metabolism. The following studies were conducted to further characterize the impact of oral retinoic acid administration, and to investigate the potential prevention of any detrimental effects by administering oral SAM. In the preliminary study (Chapter 2), as expected, GNMT activity was significantly increased in rats receiving all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). Additionally, whole brain serotonin levels were decreased by 46% in rats receiving ATRA, an effect that was partially attenuated by oral
Is Sacubitril/Valsartan Under-Prescribed in The United States? A Real-World Insight from The Explorys Registry

Background Angiotensin receptor/neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) (Sacubitril/Valsartan) was approved to decrease mortality and morbidity in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Its use, however, has been limited partly due to high cost. The objective of this study is to investigate the variation in the use of ARNI in HFrEF in the US. Methods We included adult patients (>= 18 years) with HFrEF between 9/2016 and 9/2017 in Explorys registry (aggregated data electronic health records). ᵡ2 test and logistic regression models were used to compare between patients who were prescribed vs those who were not prescribed ARNI. Results Out of 153,910 patients with HFrEF, 3100 (2.01%) patients were prescribed ARNI. Compared to patients who had private insurance, patients with Medicare (Odds Ratio (OR): 0.54 [0.49–0.60], P Conclusion Only 2% of patients with HFrEF in the US receive Sacubitril/Valsartan as part of their heart failure therapy regimen. Our study showed that there are significant disparities in ARNI prescription in HFrEF. Further investigations are needed to address barriers to prescribing ARNI in clinical practice.
Psychology in the social imaginary of neoliberalism: Critique and beyond

This is an introduction to the special issue on the impact of neoliberalism on the sociality, politics, and governmentality of contemporary psychological life. The articles suggest that Euro-Americ...
The treatment of the density discontinuity in the split-step Fourier algorithm using the hybrid approach

Various numerical models generate the solution for the modelling of underwater acoustic wave propagation treat the density discontinuity due to the density change at the interface by different approaches. In the split-step Fourier parabolic equation model, the smoothing function can be applied for the treatment of the density discontinuity, but the phase error is also accumulated with range in the solution. Yevick and Thomson developed the hybrid split-step/finite difference method in which density dependent terms are introduced in the additional operator to be applied by Pade approximation in the algorithm and the phase accuracy is significantly improved using the method. In this work, instead of Pade approximation, various approximations is examined for the density related operator in the split-step Fourier algorithm.Various numerical models generate the solution for the modelling of underwater acoustic wave propagation treat the density discontinuity due to the density change at the interface by different approaches. In the split-step Fourier parabolic equation model, the smoothing function can be applied for the treatment of the density discontinuity, but the phase error is also accumulated with range in the solution. Yevick and Thomson developed the hybrid split-step/finite difference method in which density dependent terms are introduced in the additional operator to be applied by Pade approximation in the algorithm and the phase accuracy is significantly improved using the method. In this work, instead of Pade approximation, various approximations is examined for the density related operator in the split-step Fourier algorithm.
Southern Sierra Critical Zone Observatory and Kings River Experimental Watersheds: A Synthesis of Measurements, New Insights, and Future Directions

Author(s): O’Geen, AT; Safeeq, M; Wagenbrenner, J; Stacy, E; Hartsough, P; Devine, S; Tian, Z; Ferrell, R; Goulden, M; Hopmans, JW; Bales, R | Abstract: Sensor networks within the Southern Sierra Critical Zone Observatory (SSCZO) and Kings River Experimental Watersheds (KREW) document changes in the water cycle spanning the west slope of the southern Sierra Nevada in California. The networks were established to document water dynamics throughout the critical zone spanning profile, hillslope, catchment, and watershed scales at key locations that reflect systematic differences in bioclimatic conditions imposed by a strong elevation gradient. The critical zone observatory attempts to constrain the hydrologic budget via representative measurements of streamflow, eddy flux covariance, snow depth, meteorological conditions, and water content and water potential in soil and deep regolith. These measurements reveal the complexity of interactions among all aspects of the water balance (runoff, storage, evapotranspiration [ET], and precipitation) through daily, seasonal, and annual timescales. Multiyear drought, catastrophic wildfires, insect outbreaks, and disease have caused widespread tree mortality in the Sierra Nevada. These disturbances offer a window into the future for this region, which is expected to undergo significant change in response to global warming. This hydrological observatory provides valuable hydrometric attributes and fluxes across the stream–groundwater– vadose zone–soil–vegetation–atmosphere continuum.
Potential effects of the invasive bivalve Corbicula fluminea on methane cycling processes in an urban stream

Lotic methane production, consumption, and flux depends on biogeochemical conditions that vary at fine scales within streams. The invasive bivalve, Corbicula fluminea, is known to affect stream biogeochemistry and may influence methane cycling via bioturbation and respiration. Response of methanogenesis rate, potential rate of methanotrophy, and net methane flux to Corbicula density was tested using intact sediment core incubations. Potential methanotrophy decreased and net methane flux increased with Corbicula density in sediment cores. However, the magnitude of this effect decreased at the highest Corbicula densities tested here. Response of sediment pore water methane concentration to Corbicula density was tested using in situ cage enclosures in a randomized block design over a 50 m stream reach. Block effect was the most significant predictor of in situ pore water methane concentration, and Corbicula density had a positive, marginally significant, interaction with the block effect, indicating that Corbicula’s effect on methane concentration varies with in situ conditions. Our study shows that Corbicula influences methane cycling processes in the laboratory, apparently via their impact on dissolved oxygen, but this effect depends on stream conditions in the field. Further study is needed to evaluate mechanisms of this relationship more fully.
Reliability Reporting of Consumables in a Consumer-Maintained Durable Product

Durable products often have a replaceable element, that has a life significantly shorter than the system into which it is installed. The type of replaceable component treated in this paper is purchased and installed by the customer. These components may be a filter, a lamp, an ink cartridge etc. In recent years, these components contain electronics that interact with the main system. When they fail they need to be diagnosed and repaired or replaced which affects warranty costs. Inherently, the customer performing the installation and replacement do not track or submit the date of installation or purchase. Many times, the customer will purchase multiple replacements to be used in future years. Because sales of replacement parts are much greater than sales of the main units, there are compelling financial reasons to track, and improve the reliability of the consumable product as well as understand any unreliability. Unfortunately, without knowing when the product was installed it is difficult to calculate the ‘time to failure’ which is necessary for any analysis of reliability.