cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Building Global Social Capital through Social Science and Liberal Arts Education in the New Media Age: A Comprehensive Approach to Mitigate World Disasters

Liberal Arts education has a strong emphasis on the utilization of human and social capital in addressing people's needs and identifying credible solutions both locally and globally. Similarly, social science education provides applied learning through community organization approach. For example, a case study of Bangladesh mentioned in the world press is an extremely successful community based model for disaster prone regions of the world. This article explores disaster preparedness by incorporating social capital theory in higher education combined with new media for applied practice experience in times of disasters. Throughout history, the coastal people of Bangladesh have contended with natural disasters of epic scale. The results have ranged from heavy losses of human lives and cattle, to property damage worth billions of dollars. In 1966, the International Federation of Red Cross and the Swedish Red Cross Society helped by implementing a pilot scheme for Cyclone Preparedness Program (CPP) in the disaster prone areas of Bangladesh to strengthen the capacity of the coastal people through sustained training activities. This article is based on CPP to understand the context and process that helps to reduce damages as a result of natural disasters in coastal Bangladesh. The article highlights how CPP of Bangladesh Red Cross society developed its social capital to respond effectively saving lives and properties before, during, and after natural disaster. This article educates the reader about how to integrate disaster perspectives in developing courses for their social science and liberal arts curricula, and link it with social networking websites through new media to build social capital, exploring further opportunities to strengthen disaster mitigation and preparedness.
Current and Promising Pharmacotherapies for Substance Use Disorders among Justice-Involved Populations

Growing recognition of the biological underpinnings of substance use disorders (SUDs) has led to increased acceptance of pharmacotherapy-based treatments for general populations and, more recently, for individuals under criminal justice supervision, including those in correctional settings. This paper focuses on pharmacotherapies that have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder. For alcohol use disorder, these medications are disulfiram, naltrexone, and acamprosate; for opioid use disorder, these are methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. Promising pharmacotherapies for stimulant use disorder are also briefly summarized. The paper concludes with three “lessons learned,” specifically: (1) treatment and policy should reflect the fact that substance misuse and addiction is a medical disorder, (2) interventions for SUDs should be integrated into primary care, and (3) reductions in substance use among pharmacotherapy-treated patients do not necessarily lead to concomitant reductions in crime (nor should this be the primary rationale for providing such treatment).
An RSS-based triangulation method for robot tracking in robotic swarms

Robotic swarm designers aim to increase the functionality of their swarms while maintaining the lowest possible cost of the individual robots. This usually results in robots with very limited sensing and computing capabilities. These limited capabilities make it necessary to develop algorithms and methodologies to enable the robots to perform tasks such as tracking, following, and navigation functions. This paper addresses the particular problem of a robot tracking another robot in the swarm. We suggest a method that combines the radio signal strength between the two robots with trigonometry to achieve an effective tracking methodology. The results show that, compared to the commonly used traditional method, our suggested one can, on average, perform the same follow job by traveling almost half the distance while taking only on average 20% of the navigation time needed in the traditional methods.
Pivotal Response Treatment: Empirically Supported Strategies to Target Social Competencies and Motivation in Individuals with ASD

Pivotal response treatment (PRT) is a comprehensive intervention package for treating the core social communication vulnerabilities associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). PRT is recognized as an empirically validated treatment. These treatment strategies target a number of pivotal developmental areas—key domains that, when targeted, also yield improvements in a broad array of skills. PRT was originally conceptualized as the Natural Language Paradigm, as the origin of many of its component parts was rooted in research aimed at facilitating communicative speech. Using motivational principles, researchers determined that the use of specific therapeutic strategies had a profound effect on behavioral learning paradigms. The communication impairments present in ASD are often perceived to be the most challenging and are generally prioritized by intervention programs. Tremendous strides have been made in the areas of early detection and early language intervention, bringing the state of the science to a place in which the majority of children who are diagnosed with ASD are expected to develop some level of communicative phrase speech. This change represents a paradigm shift in the understanding of the disorder—children with ASD are no longer perceived as uneducable, and expectations for long-term outcomes have increased significantly. As shifts in expectations occurred, so have priorities for intervention efforts. Now that effective intervention strategies exist that enable most children to acquire spoken language, efforts have begun to address other seemingly insurmountable targets—the acquisition of social motivation, play skills, social skills, and interpersonal competence to function effectively within natural environments and contexts.
The Queen’s Deathbed Wish in Early Modern Fairy Tales: Securing the Dynasty

In the early modern fairy tale canon, an unusual trope begins many tales: the queen’s deathbed wish. Before she dies, the ailing queen asks that if the king marries again, it must be to someone whose finger perfectly fits her wedding ring, or else someone who resembles her. This curious request sets the king on a quest to replicate his queen, but the only woman who satisfies the queen’s mandate is their daughter. This essay argues that the fictional deathbed wish should be viewed not as an incest tale but as a manifestation of the queen’s concern over dynasty. Through her deathbed wish, the queen proposes her daughter as a surrogate queen, thus keeping a place for her in the succession.
Stress Outcomes of Four Types of Perceived Interruptions

Objective We sought to define and measure four types of perceived interruptions and to examine their relationships with stress outcomes. Background Interruptions have been defined and measured in a variety of inconsistent ways. No study has simultaneously examined the subjective experience of all types of interruptions. Method First, we provide a synthesized definition and model of interruptions that aligns interruptions along two qualities: origin and degree of multitasking. Second, we create and validate a self-report measure of these four types of perceived interruptions within two samples (working undergraduate students and working engineers). Last, we correlate this measure with self-reported psychological and physical stress outcomes. Results Our results support the four-factor model of interruptions. Results further support the link between each of the four types of interruptions (intrusions, breaks, distractions, and a specific type of ruminations, discrepancies) and stress outcomes. Specifically, results suggest that distractions explain a unique portion of variance in stress outcomes above and beyond the shared variance explained by intrusions, breaks, and discrepancies. Conclusion The synthesized four-factor model of interruptions is an adequate representation of the overall construct of interruptions. Further, perceived interruptions can be measured and are significantly related to stress outcomes. Application Measuring interruptions by observation can be intrusive and resource intensive. Additionally, some types of interruptions may be internal and therefore unobservable. Our survey measure offers a practical alternative method for practitioners and researchers interested in the outcomes of interruptions, especially stress outcomes.
Drugs Used in Tuberculosis and Leprosy

Abstract Pharmacotherapies for tuberculosis (TB) are of particular concern for their adverse effects due to the need for multiple drugs and the extensive treatment period in TB regimens. The use of multiple drugs in TB therapeutics makes it challenging to accurately attribute adverse effects with the individual drugs. This chapter covers adverse effects of mainstream anti-TB therapeutics reported during 2013 to 2014 and the content complements the earlier compilations of the Side Effects of Drugs Annual. Drugs covered under this review include rifamycins, bedaquiline, linezolid, isoniazid, ethambutol, fluoroquinolones, pyrazinamide, clofazimine, cycloserine, delamanid, dapsone, and streptomycin. While drug-specific side effects and case reports concerning rare side effects of the drugs are covered in this chapter, emerging concerns such as genetic susceptibility to specific drug-related adverse effects, mechanisms of adverse effects and drug–drug interactions are emphasized. Primary literatures including clinical studies, case reports, reviews, and meta-analyses published during 2013–2014 are covered in this review.
A simple toy model for coupled retreat and detachment of subducting slabs

Abstract Subducting slabs are the primary drivers of plate tectonics and mantle circulation, but can also undergo various instabilities that cause dramatic adjustments in tectonic evolution and motion. Slab rollback or trench retreat is possibly a dominant form of time dependence in the plate-mantle system, causing plates to shrink and the mantle to undergo complex flow patterns. Likewise, slab detachment can induce abrupt adjustments in both plate motions and vertical displacement of continents. The arrival or accumulation of continental crust over a subduction zone induces high stresses on the plate and slab that can trigger either rollback or detachment or both. However, these processes necessarily interact because of how stress is relieved and plate motions altered. Here we present a simple boundary-layer like model of coupled trench retreat and slab detachment, induced by continent accumulation, and with slab necking augmented by grain-damage self-weakening (to allow for abrupt necking). With this model we find that, with continental accumulation, initial rollback is at first modest. However, as the stress from continental accumulation peaks, it triggers abrupt slab detachment. The subsequent slab loss causes the plate to lose its primary motive force and to thus undergo a more dramatic and rapid rollback event. After the larger rollback episode, the contracted continental mass re-expands partially. Plausible grain-damage parameters and 40 km thick crust cause abrupt detachment and major rollback to occur after a few hundred million years, which means the plates remain stable for that long, in agreement with the typical age for most large plates. While the complexity of some field areas with a well documented history of detachment and rollback, such as the Mediterranean, taxes the sophistication of our toy model, other simpler geological examples, such as on the western North American plate, show that episodes of rollback can follow detachment.
Superior Labral Anterior to Posterior Tear Management in Athletes

Background The diagnosis and treatment of Superior Labrum Anterior to Posterior (SLAP) tears have been evolving and controversial. The lack of clear diagnostic criteria on physical examination, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and arthroscopic evaluation clouds the issue. The high rate of MRI diagnosed SLAP lesions in the asymptomatic population of athletes and non-athletes warrants consideration when planning treatment for those with shoulder pain. Objective To provide information on the evaluation, diagnosis and management of SLAP tears in athletes. Methods The results of a structured non-operative rehabilitation program are discussed and compared to traditional surgical techniques. The evolution of the author's treatment algorithm is presented. Results: The successful return to overhand throwing is more common with non-operative treatment than with surgical. Conclusion A rehabilitation program focused on stretching the posterior capsule and correcting scapular posture is more successful than surgery for most throwers with SLAP lesions.
The global significance of China's cancer burden and control effort

The relationship between growing economic development and increasing cancer burden has been well recognized (1). Following three decades of economic development with unprecedented speed, the overall cancer mortality in China was estimated to have increased 83%, lung cancer mortality in particular rose 465% (2). With nearly 1.4 billion population, China plays a significant role in the global cancer burden and cancer control effort. However, accurate assessment of China’s cancer burden was difficult, due to lack of a population-based cancer registry system in China, until recent years.
How should efficacy be evaluated in randomized clinical trials of treatments for depression

The present system of conducting studies of promising antidepressant therapies has evolved through the collaborative efforts of government, industry, and academicians and is costly and inefficient. At least one third of the published clinical trials of approved antidepressants are negative for efficacy, which can be partly explained by the clinical and neurobiological heterogeneity of the depressive disorder and partly because of methodological inadequacies. Unfortunately, too little attention is given to ensuring the reliability of diagnoses and dependent measures, sample sizes are seldom large enough to detect modest yet honestly significant differences, and too many trials are pursued before dose-response characteristics are fully understood. At present, the only data beyond 1 year of treatment--and the only evidence about protection against recurrent depression--come during postmarketing or phase 4 of the drug development process. Moreover, efficacy data for depressed children and adolescents, bipolar depression, psychotic depression, dysthymia, and frail or medically ill elderly patients are rarely available at the time a drug is introduced. Thus, it is remarkable how little clinicians know about a new antidepressant at the time it is first approved for general use. Within a research strategy, tactics that ensure reliability, encourage attention to adherence, and lessen attrition at the outset of a study will increase the power and design sensitivity of a particular trial. Additionally, the issues of research funding-including division of the research pie-and the relationship of the Food and Drug Administration and investigators to the pharmaceutical industry and the National Institute of Mental Health need to be revisited. Finally, extension of a compound's patent life might be considered to expand the necessary postmarketing research. This article describes the process of conducting the clinical trials that support a New Drug Application, discusses issues in evaluating efficacy, and offers suggestions for modifying and improving the drug development process so that clinicians can better judge new drugs.
Probing Structural Dynamics by Interaction Between Chromophores

This chapter deals with the experimental results published in Ref. IV in which structural dynamics in the radical cation of 1,3-dibromopropane (DBP) was probed by exploiting the interaction between the bromine atoms. As such, this experiment illustrates a simpler, although not as general, way of probing conformational changes by interaction between chromophores than more involved techniques as for example 2D-IR. The experimental technique employed is time-resolved ion photofragmentation (TRPF) spectroscopy. Strictly speaking, this technique does not fall within the field of time-resolved photoionization and therefore the first section is devoted to a review of the pump probe scheme of TRPF. This is followed by a motivation of the experiment on DBP and a discussion of the obtained results. The experiments were performed using the Copenhagen setup (Sect. 6.1, page 65).
Examining the Relationship Between Self-Perceptions of Person, Role, and Social Identity Change and Self-Concept Clarity:

Past research in the literature on the self has addressed how self-concept clarity changes over time. In this study, we use a cross-sectional research design to examine the relationship between sel...
Young and unafraid: queer criminology’s unbounded potential

Queer criminology, a fairly young subfield, deals with matters of import for sexual and gender minorities, particularly LGBTQ+ populations. Areas of interest include reducing invisibility and inequity, though these pursuits can sometimes be accompanied with potential pitfalls or unintended consequences. This article provides an overview of the goals and considerations of queer criminology, while focusing on how to cultivate queer criminology’s unbounded potential to help address pressing social problems. Several global issues of immediate concern for LGBTQ+ people are identified, such as criminalization and devaluation of their lives, which has resulted in their detainment and torture, persecution when they organize for their rights, overrepresentation in criminal justice settings, and even fatal violence. Included alongside these issues are strategies to produce meaningful work during what seems to be a time of imminent crisis. The author provides strong encouragement to fiercely pursue projects that can improve our understanding, and, ultimately, the lives of LGBTQ+ people.
Countering the Norm, (Re)authoring Our Lives: The Promise Counterstorytelling Holds as a Research Methodology With LGBTQ Youth and Beyond

Counterstorytelling, a methodology that is rooted in critical race theory, is undergirded by principles that are beneficial to understanding the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, ...
A longitudinal study of Olympic Games’ impact on the image of a host country

This study tracked the change in Brazil’s image due to hosting a mega event. The authors measured perceptions of Brazil before and at three points in time after the 2016 Summer Olympics. The findin...
The Causal Structure of Suppressor Variables.

Suppression effects in multiple linear regression are one of the most elusive phenomena in the educational and psychological measurement literature. The question is, How can including a variable, w...
Surgical Approaches in Heart Failure

Heart failure is a progressive condition that continues to increase in both incidence and prevalence despite pharmacologic treatment. The high rate of morbidity and mortality associated with advanced heart failure has led to exploration of additional treatments, which include surgical interventions to improve outcomes. Heart transplant remains the gold standard but, because of the persistent donor shortage and increasing number of patients with advanced heart failure, mechanical circulatory support is gaining acceptance and can be used as a bridge to heart transplant for those eligible or as destination therapy.
Food and alcohol disturbance by athlete status: the roles of drive for thinness, drive for muscularity, and sex.

Objective: This study investigated the association between self-identified athlete status and Food and Alcohol Disturbance (FAD) behaviors, and whether this association was moderated by drives for ...
Abstract P297: Sex Differences in Cardiovascular Risk Factors Before and After Ascertainment of Diabetes and Risk for Incident Cardiovascular Disease; The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study

Introduction: Prevalent diabetes mellitus (DM) in mid-life is a stronger risk factor (RF) for cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in women than men. However, it is unclear whether (1) changes in...
Tricuspid Surgery and Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy in Patients with Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension

Purpose Pulmonary Thormboendarterectomy (PTE) has been shown to reduce tricuspid regurgitation. Tricuspid valve repair or replacement (TVR) in addition to the PTE has been used primarily in patients with more severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR), but the effects have not been evaluated. Methods In a review of medical records we have identified 48 patients who underwent PTE with TVR and compared them to 96 control patients who underwent PTE only between January 2009 and August 2017. Echocardiographic and hemodynamic outcomes pre- and post-PTE were compared in these two groups using one-way ANOVA and operating times and hospital stay were examined using independent samples t-test. Multivariate linear regression was used to identify predictors of hospital length of stay. Results At baseline, PTE+TVR patients had a significantly higher mean TR severity (moderate-severe) than the PTE control patients (mild) (p Conclusion Both arms had a significant improvement in echocardiographic and hemodynamic measures post-operatively. TVR patients had more severe tricuspid regurgitation (and higher CVP) at baseline. Post-operatively, the hemodynamic profiles in both arms were similar. In conclusion, although TVR patients had more abnormal hemodynamics at baseline, the addition of TVR to PTE for CTEPH patients appears to produce nearly identical hemodynamic outcomes compared to those undergoing PTE alone, except for significantly more dramatic drop in the CVP.
Reliability Optimization Under Severe Uncertainty for NoC Based Architectures Using an Info-Gap Decision Approach

Increased uncertainties in design parameters undermine the accuracy of the mapping of embedded applications to Network-on-Chip (NoC) based manycore architectures. In this paper, we attempt for the first time to apply the info-gap theory to uncertainty modeling in the context of embedded systems design. We first propose a novel info-gap based uncertainty-aware reliability model for NoC based manycore platforms. We then develop an uncertainty-aware solution to the problem of mapping in embedded systems. The solution is implemented as a computer program that can generate robust Pareto frontiers. Simulation results indicate that the proposed info-gap based uncertainty-aware mapping generates Pareto frontiers that have significant differences from the ones obtained with a traditional deterministic approach. Identifying and quantifying these differences is an important first step towards the development of better mapping optimization processes in order to arrive to optimal rather than suboptimal solutions.
Discovery of seven T Tauri stars and a brown dwarf candidate in the nearby TW Hydrae Association

We report the discovery of five T Tauri star systems, two of which are resolved binaries, in the vicinity of the nearest known region of recent star formation, the TW Hydrae Association. The newly discovered systems display the same signatures of youth (namely high X-ray flux, large Li abundance and strong chromospheric activity) and the same proper motion as the original five members. These similarities firmly establish the group as a bona fide T Tauri association, unique in its proximity to Earth and its complete isolation from any known molecular clouds. At an age of ~10 Myr and a distance of ~50 pc, the association members are excellent candidates for future studies of circumstellar disk dissipation and the formation of brown dwarfs and planets. Indeed, as an example, our speckle imaging revealed a faint, very likely companion 2" north of CoD-33 7795 (TWA 5). Its color and brightness suggest a spectral type ~M8.5 which, at an age of ~10^7 years, implies a mass ~20 M(Jupiter).
Workflow Integration Alleviates Identity and Access Management in Serverless Computing

As serverless computing continues to revolutionize the design and deployment of web services, it has become an increasingly attractive target to attackers. These adversaries are developing novel tactics for circumventing the ephemeral nature of serverless functions, exploiting container reuse optimizations and achieving lateral movement by “living off the land” provided by legitimate serverless workflows. Unfortunately, the traditional security controls currently offered by cloud providers are inadequate to counter these new threats. In this work, we propose will.iam,1 a workflow-aware access control model and reference monitor that satisfies the functional requirements of the serverless computing paradigm. will.iam encodes the protection state of a serverless application as a permissions graph that describes the permissible transitions of its workflows, associating web requests with a permissions set at the point of ingress according to a graph-based labeling state. By proactively enforcing the permissions requirements of downstream workflow components, will.iam is able to avoid the costs of partially processing unauthorized requests and reduce the attack surface of the application. We implement the will.iam framework in Go and evaluate its performance as compared to recent related work against the well-established Nordstrom “Hello, Retail!” application. We demonstrate that will.iam imposes minimal burden to requests, averaging 0.51% overhead across representative workflows, but dramatically improves performance when handling unauthorized requests (e.g., DDoS attacks) as compared to past solutions. will.iam thus demonstrates an effective and practical alternative for authorization in the serverless paradigm.
The effects of caffeine and sertraline on spatial learning in goldfish, Carassius auratus (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae)

An increase in pharmaceutical dumping and water treatment plants' inability to filter all contaminants negatively impact fish populations. Goldfish, Carassius auratus, exhibit spatial learning, but the effects of caffeine and sertraline on spatial learning have not been explored in this species. The objective was to determine whether the levels of caffeine and sertraline found in nature affect spatial learning in goldfish. Research was conducted with a control group of 15 goldfish under no drug influence, an experimental group of 15 goldfish under the influence of 8.5 µg/L of caffeine, and an experimental group of 15 goldfish under the influence of 164 ng/L of sertraline. Each goldfish was tested in an X-shaped maze with the correct choice (arm) colored green as a visual cue. The time and number of incorrect choices were recorded for 10 separate trials per fish. A Repeated Measures Anova was used to analyze the time required to choose the correct arm and number of incorrect choices. A Paired Samples t-test was used to determine whether the initial versus final times and the initial versus final number of incorrect choices were different. A Repeated Measures Anova was used to determine whether the direction the goldfish was assigned affected its time and incorrect choices. The control group exhibited spatial learning, the caffeine group did not exhibit spatial learning, and the sertraline group exhibited only signs of spatial learning (decrease in time to choose the correct arm, but not a decrease in number of correct choices). Inadequate screening of water through treatment plants that empty into streams could negatively impact learning in fish.
Perspectives of Inpatients With Cirrhosis and Caregivers on Using Health Information Technology: Cross-sectional Multicenter Study.

Background: Health information technology (IT) interventions to decrease readmissions for cirrhosis may be limited by patient-associated factors. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine perspectives regarding adoption versus refusal of health IT interventions among patient-caregiver dyads. Methods: Inpatients with cirrhosis and their caregivers were approached to participate in a randomized health IT intervention trial requiring daily contact with research teams via the Patient Buddy app. This app focuses on ascites, medications, and hepatic encephalopathy over 30 days. Regression analyses for characteristics associated with acceptance were performed. For those who declined, a semistructured interview was performed with themes focused on caregivers, protocol, transport/logistics, technology demands, and privacy. Results: A total of 349 patient-caregiver dyads were approached (191 from Virginia Commonwealth University, 56 from Richmond Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and 102 from Mayo Clinic), 87 of which (25%) agreed to participate. On regression, dyads agreeing included a male patient (odds ratio [OR] 2.08, P=.01), gastrointestinal bleeding (OR 2.3, P=.006), or hepatic encephalopathy admission (OR 2.0, P=.01), whereas opioid use (OR 0.46, P=.03) and alcohol-related etiology (OR 0.54, P=.02) were associated with refusal. Race, study site, and other admission reasons did not contribute to refusing participation. Among the 262 dyads who declined randomization, caregiver reluctance (43%), perceived burden (31%), technology-related issues (14%), transportation/logistics (10%), and others (4%), but not privacy, were highlighted as major concerns. Conclusions: Patients with cirrhosis admitted with hepatic encephalopathy and gastrointestinal bleeding without opioid use or alcohol-related etiologies were more likely to participate in a health IT intervention focused on preventing readmissions. Caregiver and study burden but not privacy were major reasons to decline participation. Reducing perceived patient-caregiver burden and improving communication may improve participation. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03564626; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03564626
Misreporting Weight and Height Among Mexican and Puerto Rican Men

Most obesity prevalence data rely on self-report, which typically differs when compared to objectively measured height, weight, and body mass index (BMI). Given that Latino men have high rates of obesity in the United States and demonstrate greater misreporting compared to Caucasian men, examining the factors that contribute to misreporting among Latino men is warranted. This study examined BMI, Latino ethnic background (Mexican or Puerto Rican), and social desirability in relation to misreporting of BMI, as defined as the discrepancy between self-reported and measured height and weight, in Latino men. Participants were 203 adult Mexican and Puerto Rican men, average age 39.41 years, who participated in a larger study. Participants self-reported their weight and height, had their weight and height objectively measured, and completed a measure of social desirability. Measured BMI was the strongest predictor of misreporting BMI, such that the greater the participants' BMI, the greater the discrepancy in BMI (p < .001). Misreporting of BMI did not vary based on ethnic background, and measured BMI did not moderate the relationship between social desirability and misreporting of BMI. When normative error was distinguished from misreporting in post-hoc analyses, results showed that only 34.5% of participants demonstrated misreporting. Findings highlight the importance of identifying normative error when examining misreporting in order to improve the accuracy of self-reported BMI data. Future research on misreporting for Latino men should include weight awareness, acculturation, and length of U.S. residency as these variables may be related to self-reported weight and height.
Testable Hypotheses Relating Complement Pathways to Elevated Risk for Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia (SZ) is a common, potentially debilitating disorder. Over 70% of risk for SZ at the population level is attributable to genetic factors. Large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have revealed risk attributable to over 170 genomic loci, with varied effect sizes. Statistically, the most significant risk locus maps to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region on chromosome 6 (odds ratio ~1.28). One of the associated MHC loci involved the complement C4 gene. There is population-wide variation in C4 gene copy number, and SZ risk rises with the number of C4 genes that an individual’s genome encodes. C4 is a component of an immunologic defense mechanism that predates antibody-based adaptive immunity. In mammals, complement proteins also participate in neurodevelopment. Based on rodent model studies, it has been proposed that the C4-related risk for SZ could be explained by aberrant synaptic pruning—a developmental process also implicated in SZ risk. We review the synaptic pruning hypothesis and propose additional mechanisms to explain the C4-SZ link, including disruption in classical immunologic processes and changes in human endogenous retroviral sequences associated with C4. The evidence supporting these hypotheses is discussed, and empirical investigations are proposed.
Automated Uas Measurements of Reflectance and Solar Induced Florescence (SIF) for Assessment Of the Dinamics in Photosynthetic Function, Application for Maze (Zea Mays L.) in Greenbelt, Maryland, Us

For accurate assessment of vegetation function there is a strong need for advancement in the remote sensing methods and instruments, to enable monitoring of the parameters governing photosynthesis at the temporal frequency relevant to their dynamics and at a spatial scale that allows practical assessment and management. Currently, no single sensor can provide data at the desired high temporal, spectral and spatial resolutions. Our field measurements obtained using the integrated UAS Piccolo system during the summers of2017 and 2018 demonstrate that science quality reflectance and solar induced fluorescence (SIF) data can be retrieved with high temporal frequency using small Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). The implemented approach facilitates data comparisons through space and time, and the integration with other spectral satellite and airborne data. This investigation contributes for bridging the gap in Earth observation between field and airborne measurements by implementing autonomous methods for obtaining high temporal frequency spectroscopy measurements from an Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) at various illumination conditions. An advancement in the Intelligent Payload Module (IPM) facilitated the implementation of an optimization workflow to collect spectral data for characterizing vegetation reflectance and solar induced fluorescence (SIF).
Management of Nutrition

Cancer can be a wasting disease of multiple causation. If it progresses unchecked, malnutrition is an inevitable consequence. Malnourishment may arise because loss of appetite reduces calorie and protein intake with resultant weight loss. The anorexia of cancer may be due to either specific metabolic effects of the tumor or altered cell metabolism wherein there is nutrient waste. Antineoplastic therapy with its side effects of anorexia, malabsorption, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea is often a potent cause of cancer cachexia.
An Investigation of Branch and Bound Methods for Solving the Segregated Storage Problem

Abstract The segregated storage problem consists of determining a minimum cost distribution of products among compartments such that only one product may be stored in a given compartment. This paper explores the computational aspects of using branch and bound methods to solve this problem. Such methods were first suggested for this problem by White and Francis. A variety of approaches are tested, utilizing heuristic node selection and branching decision rules. Three heuristics are also presented which generate solutions for use as initial upper bounds for improving efficiency of the branch and bound procedure or as solutions for very large problems.
CD 24 expression in cancer of the pancreas.

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 14-18, 2007; Los Angeles, CA 4387 Background : CD 24 is a glycosyl phosphatidyl inositol (GPI )-anchored membrane protein that enhances the metastatic potential of malignant cells. It was identified as a ligand of p-selectin, an adhesion receptor on activated endothelial cells and platelets and was associated with poor prognosis and survival in various solid tumors. However, data regarding the role of CD 24 in pancreatic adenocarcinoma is lacking. Our study evaluated CD 24 expression in pancreatic adenocarcinoma and correlated the same to clinicopathological data and survival. Methods : Between 1993 and 2002, 37 consecutive pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients, surgically treated at Roswell Park Cancer Institute were included. Demographic data, clinical stage, pathology, treatment administered and survival were obtained from medical records in accordance with IRB approval protocol. Immunohistochemical staining was performed on paraffin-embedded sections. CD 24 clone ML5 was provided by BD Pharmingen.. All slides were reviewed by surgical pathologist (TK); histoscores were read as percentage cells positive x staining intensity. Kendall's tau and Pearson correlation tests were employed to investigate the association between the biomarkers and prognostic data. Survival figures of cases with low (= median) and high scores (> median) for each biomarker were compared using the log rank test and the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: There were 19 males and 18 females. The median age was 65 years (range 38-84). Grade was well differentiated in 2, moderately differentiated in 19 and poorly differentiated in 16. CD 24 was commonly expressed in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (81% of cases). Median survival for patients with low CD 24 was 18 months (95% CI:13 -24) and those with high CD 24 was 11 months (95% CI: 6 - not-estimated) (p=0.7204). Stage was 1 in 9 and 3 in 28. Twenty had Whipple resection, 4 had total pancreatectomy, others (n=13) underwent partial pancreatectomy. Nine had positive margins. Histology: all cases had adenocarcinoma. Conclusion : CD 24 expression in pancreatic adenocarcinoma is common. Further studies are needed to explain its role in prognosis and use as a therapeutic target.
Effects of temperature and moisture on flow electrification in transformer pressboard/oil insulation

A novel Couette charger facility has been built to simulate flow electrification processes in transformers, where transformer oil fills the annulus between coaxial cylindrical electrodes that can be bare metal or transformer pressboard covered. Flow electrification charge density measurements as a function of inner cylinder speed have been performed using a newly developed absolute charge sensor (ACS) which brings a sample of fluid from the turbulent core into a Faraday cage and measures the total charge with no extraneous contributions from charge separated within the ACS itself. Transient measurements with a step change in temperature have shown the charge density to change from an initial to a new steady-state value. These charge density values depend on equilibrium moisture levels which in turn depend on the temperature. For all oils tested thus far with bare metal and T4 pressboard, the oil charge density is positive, but with HiVal pressboard there are some moisture and temperature regimes where the charge polarity reverses. The effects of transformer energization were also simulated by applying low-frequency (1 to 4 Hz) high voltages (field strength up to 1.8 kV/cm peak) across the cylinder of the Couette charger. >
The origin of boninites on Mercury: An experimental study of the northern volcanic plains lavas

Abstract Phase equilibrium experiments were conducted on a synthetic rock composition matching that of the northern volcanic plains of Mercury as measured by the MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging spacecraft (MESSENGER). The northern volcanic plains are smooth plains of suspected volcanic origin that cover more than 6% of the surface area of Mercury. The northern volcanic plains are less cratered than their surroundings and reported to be the product of flood volcanism, making them a prime candidate for experimental study. The bulk composition of the northern volcanic plains is that of an alkali-rich boninite and represents the first silica-enriched crustal terrane identified on an extraterrestrial planet from orbital data. Phase equilibrium experiments were conducted over the pressure range of the mercurian mantle (0.5–5 GPa) at very low oxygen fugacity (∼ΔIW0 to −7) using a piston-cylinder apparatus (P 0.5–1.7 GPa) and a Walker-style multi-anvil device (P ⩾ 2.5 GPa). Our results indicate the origin of the northern volcanic plains lavas (boninites) are best explained by high degrees of partial melting of an olivine-dominant, pyroxene- and plagioclase-bearing mantle source at low pressure (⩽1.4 GPa) and does not require hydrous melting to achieve the silica-enriched melt composition. The formation mechanism for boninites on Mercury contrasts substantially with terrestrial boninites, which typically occur in oxidized and hydrous arc environments associated with subduction zones. Instead, mercurian boninites form at exceptionally low oxygen fugacity and do not require melting of hydrated source materials. The NVP lavas represent a novel mechanism by which planetary bodies can form silica-enriched secondary crusts without the aid of water.
High performance three-phase unity power factor rectifier using interleaved buck-derived topology for high power battery charging applications

This paper proposes a high performance three-phase rectifier for battery charging applications. It is a buck-derived circuit with one control variable and three bi-directional switches. To minimize filter ratings and improve the dynamic response, interleaving of PFC stages is simulated and proof of concept is being built.
Characterization of the promoter elements required for hepatic and intestinal transcription of the human apoB gene: definition of the DNA-binding site of a tissue-specific transcriptional factor.

Abstract The promoter elements important for intestinal and hepatic transcription of the human apoB gene have been localized downstream of nucleotide -150. Footprinting analysis using hepatic nuclear extracts identified four protected regions, -124 to -100, -97 to -93, -86 to -33, and +33 to +52. Gel electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that multiple factors interact with the apoB sequence -86 to -33, while the region -88 to -61 binds a single nuclear factor. Methylation interference analysis and nucleotide substitution mutagenesis identified the binding site of the factor between residues -78 and -68. Binding competition experiments indicate that this factor recognizes the regulatory elements of other liver-specific genes.
Epistemology Without Knowledge and Without Belief

Epistemology seems to enjoy an unexpectedly glamorous reputation in these days. A few years ago, William Safire wrote a popular novel called The Sleeper Spy. It depicts a distinctly post-Cold War world in which it is no longer easy to tell the good guys—including the good spies—from the bad ones. To emphasize this sea change, Safire tells us that his Russian protagonist has not been trained in the military or in the police, as he would have been in the old days, but as an epistemologist.
Diversity and Personality Assessment: A Country Boy Goes City

Born and raised in a country community in Northern Indiana, I mainly learn about the greater world through school, especially graduate school. Diversity and its companion, bigotry, have played major roles in my life along with many individuals—mostly women. I have been lucky to have learned from some of the major individuals in the field of personality assessment, particularly Sid Blatt and John Exner. On the verge of retirement, I look back on a career with affection and some trepidation.
Acidification of lime‐stabilized biosolids in formulation of synthetic topsoil

Abstract Uses of lime‐stabilized biosolids in container media or topsoil formulations may be limited by alkalinity imparted by lime added for reductions in vector attraction and pathogens and for suppression of odors. This experiment was conducted to assess the suitability of quicklime‐stabilized biosolids mixed with calcareous or noncalcareous sand and with sulfur or aluminum sulfate as acidifying agents for development of synthetic topsoil for turfgrass (Lolium perenne L.) production. Grass emergence and growth were inhibited in media that were not amended with an acidifying agent. Additions of aluminum sulfate were more effective in acidification than sulfur, causing an immediate drop in pH, whereas additions of sulfur required about 2 months for a depression in media pH. With time, electrical conductivities were higher in media with additions of sulfur than in media with additions of aluminum sulfate. Calcareous sand mixed with biosolids (2 sand: 1 biosolid, v: v) gave a better medium for growth of tu...
Self-reported dieting: how should we ask? What does it mean? Associations between dieting and reported energy intake

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether self-reports of dieting to control weight are associated with reported energy intake, how this association varies with the phrasing of questions on dieting behaviors, and whether this association differs by educational level and weight status among adult male and female respondents. METHODS: The study population included 996 women and 227 men, aged 20-45, who volunteered to participate in a weight gain prevention trial. Participants completed surveys at baseline regarding their dieting behaviors and nutritional intake. RESULTS: The association between self-reported dieting and energy intake varied according to the phrasing of the questions assessing dieting behaviors. Multi-item scales and nonambiguous single-item questions (e.g., "current dieting") were more strongly associated with reported energy intake than more general single-item questions (e.g., "doing anything to lose weight"). Overweight dieters reported lower energy intake than overweight nondieters. Among nonoverweight persons, associations between dieting and energy intake were not significant. The association between dieting and energy intake did not differ by educational level among women. Among men, dieting predicted lower energy intake in those with low educational levels, although the number of men with low educational levels who were dieting was small. Reported dieting was not associated with energy intake among men with higher educational levels. DISCUSSION: Associations between self-reports of dieting and reported energy intake vary according to the phrasing of specific questions about dieting, gender, education, and weight status. These factors should be taken into account in the design of instruments for measuring these behaviors and in the interpretation of results, especially across studies using different methodologies.
Think aloud statements and solutions of dysphoric persons on a social Problem-Solving task

The purpose of the present study was to examine the self-statements of dysphoric (n=13) and nondysphoric subjects (n=15) during an interpersonal problem-solving task. After completing the Problem Solving Inventory (PSI; Heppner & Petersen, 1982), subjects were individually shown a brief videotape depicting an interpersonal problem and asked to solve the problem while thinking aloud. Frequencies of five self-statement categories were recorded: task-facilitating, task-inhibiting, emotion-focused, problem-focused, and periods of silence. Although the dysphoric subjects rated themselves more negatively on the PSI with regard to their problem-solving abilities, they were actually able to generate as many, and as effective, solutions as the nondysphoric subjects. During problem solving, however, the dysphoric subjects used fewer problem-focused statements and more emotion-focused statements. The frequencies of task-inhibiting and emotion-focused self-statements correlated negatively with the socially validated score of solution effectiveness.