cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Where is Community Among Online Learners?: Identity, Efficacy and Personal Ties

Research questions about community among online learners are gaining importance as enrollments in online programs explode. However, what community means for this context has not been studied in a comprehensive way. We contribute a quantitative study of learners' feelings and behavior expectations about online community, adapting scales for sense of community (SOC) and developing an instrument to assess community collective efficacy (CCE). Our analysis of students' responses to these scales revealed two factors underlying SOC (shared identity and interpersonal friendship) and three factors underlying CCE (identity regulation, coordination and social support). We used these factors to discuss contrasting definitions of community (shared identity versus ego networks). Exploratory data analyses also revealed relationships to other student variables that begin to articulate roles and mechanisms for online students' felt community, and raise design implications about what we might do with and for the community structure.
Self-Help Approaches for Addictions

This chapter aims to provide a broad overview of self-help approaches for addictions, with specific examples for specific substances. There are several reasons why an individual may choose self-help methods as an alternative to professional treatment, including but not limited to geographic barriers, cost, stigma, and shame associated with substance use. This chapter focuses on relevant literature related to self-help in substance use disorders, including reviews of natural recovery, maturation effects, and the Transtheoretical Model of Change. Techniques such as substance substitution, bibliotherapy, helplines, spirituality and meditation, and Internet resources are discussed as they relate to specific self-help approaches, applicability to various addictive substances, availability to self-administrators, and efficacy of different techniques. The existing literature on self-help strategies is relatively promising, suggesting that in addition to being of lower cost and widely available, self-help is also relatively effective. However, compared with the treatment literature, the literature concerning specific self-help strategies is considerably smaller and composed of fewer controlled studies. Thus, caveats regarding the appropriateness of self-help strategies exist and are reviewed.
Early Appointment Adherence Among Persons Living with HIV

Medical care for HIV disease may be most effective when medical surveillance and services are initiated early and consistently maintained over time. To benefit from continually improving HIV care regimens, persons living with HIV/AIDS must first adhere to their outpatient medical appointments. The purpose of this study was to examine psychosocial, illness, and demographic factors associated with appointment adherence problems early in HIV treatment. Results indicated that nonadherence to outpatient medical appointments was a significant problem. One hundred forty-four patients were followed for 6 months after their initial appointment at a public HIV clinic. One in five dropped out of treatment before completing their intake assessment (separate nurse and physician appointments). Men and individuals with lower levels of social support were most likely to drop out before seeing a physician. Emotional distress was not associated with early dropout, but elevated levels of anxiety and depression were found across the sample. Those still attending the clinic (n = 114) were then followed for 12 months after clinic enrollment. Overall, 35% of scheduled medical appointments were missed during this period. Higher baseline CD4 counts and injection drug use history were predictive of poor appointment adherence, but other demographic and psychosocial indices were not. These findings suggest increased research and early intervention efforts are needed to improve appointment adherence among persons living with HIV/AIDS.
A Procedure for Testing the Radiometric Accuracy of Fourier-transform Infrared Spectrometers

We present a simple procedure for evaluation of FT-IR radiometric accuracy, which incorporates the use of calibrated standard reference materials. It starts with the standard practice for testing the FT-IR performance recommended by ASTM, as well as using a wavelength/wavenumber standard reference material developed at the National Institute and Standards and Technology. Further steps are proposed to test the noise level, linearity, and radiometric accuracy. A set of neutral-density filters is being developed for testing the radiometric accuracy. The effects of instrumental resolution and apodization function on the radiometric accuracy for absorption band measurements are also addressed.
Virtual Video Server

This paper presents the design and implementation of a Virtual Video Server. The goal of this research is to provide an interactive software product that allows multi-users who are connected to local or wide area networks to take advantage of a variety of “on-demand” services, enabling them to access and enjoy the information and services at their convenience. Our server is based on the Object Management Group (OMG) Trading Object Service. Video service providers use the virtual server to advertise their services and provide a mean for clients to find the appropriate services. Clients are then able to retrieve video files directly from the video service providers using the Java Media Framework (JMF). We tested our system using several movie files.
Real-Time Cognitive-State Neuroimaging in Applied Education:

The combination of advances in cognitive neuroscience & the development of powerful, yet portable, devices are enabling real-time assessments in education. Electroencephalography (EEG) & functional...
Teaching toward a reflective citizenry: Is John Dewey the “hero” social studies educators forgot?

John Dewey’s pedagogical concepts are timeless. By articulating a new lens for interpreting Dewey’s work in today’s world, Daniel W. Stuckart has delivered the preeminent writing on Dewey for the s...
Predictors of early vocabulary growth in children born preterm and full term: A study of processing speed and medical complications.

Delays in expressive vocabulary may be harbingers of long-term language difficulties. In toddlers born full term (FT), individual differences in language processing speed are associated with variat...
The Parathyroid Hormone Receptor-Adenylate Cyclase System in Chicken Kidney

There is a wealth of evidence that the renal actions of parathyroid hormone (PTH) result, at least in part, from receptor- mediated stimulation of adenylate cyclase and a consequent increase in renal cell cyclic AMP. Thus, infusions of cyclic AMP (or its dibutyryl derivative) have been shown to reproduce the physiological effects of PTH on the kidney including inhibition of PO4 reabsorption (1–4), stimulation of distal calcium reabsorption (1, 4) and increased production of 1,25(OH)2D3 (5). Numerous studies have demonstrated PTH-stimulation of adenylate cyclase in renal tissue in vitro, and under certain circumstances nephrogenous cyclic AMP excretion can be used as a valid index of parathyroid function (6).
A prospective cohort study comparing expulsion after postplacental insertion: the levonorgestrel versus the copper intrauterine device.

Abstract Objectives To compare the expulsion rate at 6 months after postplacental insertion by intrauterine device (IUD) type. Study design This prospective cohort included participants with a postplacental IUD inserted after vaginal or cesarean delivery, aged 18–45 and ≥24 weeks’ gestation. Study enrollment took place after IUD selection and insertion. Participants returned for a postpartum visit and received a short message service survey regarding IUD expulsion, removal, vaginal bleeding and breastfeeding weekly from weeks 0 to 5 and on weeks 12 and 24 postpartum. Multivariable logistic regression examined 6-month expulsion rate by IUD type adjusting for variables that differed between the groups at baseline and in the bivariate analyses. Results Of 114 participants, 75 (65.8%) chose a levonorgestrel 52-mg IUD and 39 (34.2%) chose a copper IUD; 58 (50.9%) had a vaginal delivery, and 56 (49.1%) had a cesarean delivery. Groups were similar except that copper IUD users had a higher median parity (3 vs. 2, p=.03) and a higher proportion of senior residents compared to junior residents had performed insertion (46.2% vs. 22.7%, p=.02). The expulsion rate at 6 months was similar between the levonorgestrel and copper groups (26.7% and 20.5%, respectively; p=.38). Multivariable logistic regression also demonstrated that the odds of expulsion did not differ by IUD type (adjusted odds ratio 0.98, 95% confidence interval 0.22–4.48). Conclusion The expulsion rate at 6 months after postplacental insertion did not differ between the levonorgestrel and copper IUD type. Implications Prior studies demonstrate a wide range of expulsion after postplacental insertion, and recent data suggest a higher expulsion rate for the levonorgestrel compared to the copper intrauterine device. However, many studies did not control for patient-level factors or delivery route. We found that when controlling for these confounding variables, the expulsion rate at 6 months postpartum did not differ by intrauterine device type.
Learning Descriptive Movement Terms

(1976). Learning Descriptive Movement Terms. Journal of Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 47, No. 4, pp. 52-55.
A Robust Algorithm for Online Switched System Identification

Abstract In this paper, we consider the problem of online identification of Switched Au-toRegressive eXogenous (SARX) systems, where the goal is to estimate the parameters of each subsystem and identify the switching sequence as data are obtained in a streaming fashion. We propose a two-step algorithm: (i) every time we receive new data, we first assign this data to one candidate subsystem based on a novel robust criterion that incorporates both the residual error and an upper bound of subsystem estimation error, and (ii) we use a randomized algorithm to update the parameter estimate of chosen candidate. We provide a theoretical guarantee on the local convergence of our algorithm. Though our theory only guarantees convergence with a good initialization, simulation results show that even with random initialization, our algorithm still has excellent performance. Finally, we show, through simulations, that our algorithm outperforms existing methods and exhibits robust performance.
Cardiac electrical instability in newly diagnosed/chronic epilepsy tracked by Holter and ECG patch.

Objective We hypothesized that cardiac electrical instability and abnormal autonomic tone result from cumulative cardiac injury sustained in recurrent seizures. We tested this hypothesis by comparing T-wave alternans (TWA) and heart rate variability (HRV), both established markers of sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk, in patients with chronic as compared to newly diagnosed epilepsy. Methods In this prospective, observational cohort study, patients (newly diagnosed epilepsy, n = 6, age 41.8 ± 6.8 years; chronic epilepsy, n = 6, age 40.2 ± 5.6 years [p = 0.85]) were monitored either with Holter recorder alone or simultaneously with 14-day Zio XT extended continuous ECG patch monitor. TWA was assessed by Food and Drug Administration–cleared Modified Moving Average analysis; HRV was calculated by rMSSD. Results TWA levels in chronic epilepsy were significantly higher than in newly diagnosed epilepsy (62 ± 5.4 vs 35 ± 1.3 μV, p Conclusion Based on the limited number of patients studied, it appears that chronic epilepsy, the common use of sodium channel antagonists, or other factors are associated with higher TWA levels and simultaneously with lower rMSSD HRV, which is suggestive of autonomic dysfunction or higher sympathetic tone. The ECG patch monitor used has equivalent accuracy to Holter monitoring for TWA and HRV and permits longer-term ECG sampling.
Maternal experiences of caring for a child with a ventricular assist device.

The purpose of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of maternal experiences of caring for their child with a VAD at home as a bridge to transplant. A descriptive, qualitative study was conducted via telephone-recorded guided interviews. Participants were caring for or had a child with a VAD between 4 and 16 years old. Data collection occurred over a 12-month period. Using the snowball sampling technique, a purposeful sample of mothers (n = 6) was consented and completed the interview. The data were analyzed using an iterative process of thematic analysis. Five themes emerged: physical modifications, the loss of independence, the emotional rollercoaster, support from others, and transitions on and off the device. We introduced new evidence about sleep, contraception, and heart transplantation, and how VAD therapy impacts childhood development. The mean duration of VAD support was 263 ± 170 days. Five children had heart transplants by the time of interview. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first qualitative study in the US that explores maternal experiences of caring for a child who is living at home with a VAD. VAD therapy is a novel approach to managing advanced heart failure among children and presents unique challenges when caring for them at home. Results provide insight into the education, physical environment, and support needed by parents.
Tumors presenting in both pediatric and adult patients: a case-based review of pathology and imaging features for the radiologist

Various pathologic neoplasms present in both childhood and adulthood. Multiple environmental and genetic factors with different targets at different ages have been implicated in prior literature. These tumors include Multi-Locular Cystic Renal Tumors (MCRT), Adrenocortical Carcinomas, Paragangliomas, Hepatic Hemangiomas, and Medullary Renal Cell Carcinomas. The pertinent imaging, pathological, and clinical features of these select entities are discussed to assist the General and Pediatric Radiologist in accurate interpretation and treatment planning.
Sleep in hospitalized patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: an observational study.

Study Objectives:The aim of this study was to compare the risk of undiagnosed sleep disorders among medical patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) compared with those without CO...
Comparative analysis of temperature dependent properties of commercial nuclear fuel pellet and surrogates undergoing cracking: A review

Abstract A variety of normal and accident scenarios can generate thermal stresses enough to cause cracking in light water reactor (LWR) fuel. To better understand this behavior, cracking experiments have been carried out to induce thermal gradients in fuel pellets via induction heating and direct resistance heating. In this study, Ceria (CeO2) and yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) pellets were chosen as a surrogate fuel material for uranium dioxide (UO2). Induction heating was done using copper coils and molybdenum susceptors which heated the surrogates to a threshold temperature that is sufficiently high for the fuel material to conduct current. Thereafter, direct resistance heating was achieved by passing current through the specimen using a DC power supply to introduce volumetric heating to replicate reactor operating conditions. Simultaneous real-time dual imaging of the ceria pellet surface has been designed using optical and infra-red camera system to capture images of cracks and full-field temperature gradients on pellet. It was observed that YSZ pellets need a much higher voltage-current for volumetric heating and do not exhibit the cracking pattern as ceria and UO2, hence YSZ was ruled out for further consideration. Ceria was found to be an appropriate surrogate for UO2. The experimental set up and test conditions demand the need to primarily understand the thermo-physical, mechanical and optical properties of UO2 and the surrogates. Thus, it is essential to have an in-depth knowledge about the various temperature dependent properties of UO2 and CeO2 for establishing a comparative analysis between the surrogate and UO2 for conducting experiments.
Organized immune cell interactions within tumors sustain a productive T-cell response.

Tumor-infiltrating CD8 T cells are associated with improved patient survival and response to immunotherapy in various cancers. Persistent antigen leads to CD8 T cell exhaustion, where proliferation/self-renewal and killing are divided within distinct subsets of CD8 T cells in the tumor. CD8 T cell responses in chronic antigen settings must be maintained for long periods of time, suggesting that mechanisms that regulate chronic CD8 T cell responses may differ from those in acute settings. Currently, factors that regulate the maintenance of stem-like CD8 T cells in the tumor or their differentiation into terminally differentiated cells are unknown. In this review, we discuss the role of dendritic cells in the activation and differentiation of CD8 T cell subsets within secondary lymphoid tissue and tumors. In addition, we examine changes in CD4 T cell differentiation in response to chronic antigens and consider how subset-specific mechanisms could assist the stem-like and terminally differentiated CD8 T cell subsets. Finally, we highlight how tumor-infiltrating CD4 T cells and dendritic cells interact with CD8 T cells within organized lymphoid-like areas in the tumor and propose a CD8 T cell differentiation model that requires the collaboration of CD4 T cells and dendritic cells. These organized interactions coordinate the anti-tumor response and control disease progression by mechanisms that regulate CD8 T cell differentiation, which permit the maintenance of an effective balance of stem-like and terminally differentiated CD8 T cells.
Reply to Hausfather and Peters: RCP8.5 is neither problematic nor misleading.

Historical and anticipated future total CO2 emissions to 2050 show more agreement with Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 (RCP8.5) than other Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 5 (CMIP5)-era RCPs (1). Hausfather and Peters (2) attempt to argue against this by emphasizing 1) RCP4.5 or RCP6.0 better match fossil fuel emissions (FF) relative to International Energy Agency scenarios; and 2) our future emissions from land-use change (ELUC) diverge from RCPs and the new Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs). What matters for the purpose of providing input to climate models, however, is total atmospheric CO2 content, not how much of that CO2 came from FF vs. ELUC. Assumed errors … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence may be addressed. Email: cschwalm{at}whrc.org. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Re-membering comfort women: From on-screen storytelling and rhetoric of materiality to re-thinking history and belonging

This essay aims to contribute to the development of invitational rhetorical theory, using the tragic and sobering story of “comfort women” as an illustrative case study. By focusing on the relative...
Electric field control of magnetism at the γ-FeSi2/Si(001) interface

Interfaces often exhibit unique electronic and magnetic properties that are not present in their bulk constituents. Understanding the atomic-level structure and properties of the interface is crucial for their technological applications. In this article, we report a first-principles study of the γ-FeSi2/Si(001) interface to unravel the atomic-level structure property relationship. An external electric field is included in our model to tune the properties of the interface. Based on our calculations, we found a modest application of an electric field (> 0.15 eV/A) could stabilize a sixfold and sevenfold coordinated, spin-active interface over a nonmagnetic (eightfold coordinated) interface-providing direct evidence of electric field control of magnetism at the interface. The sixfold as well as sevenfold coordinated structures are shown to favor antiferromagnetic spin ordering arising from the Fe(d)-Si(p)-Fe(d) super-exchange interaction. The distinct non-linear response of the interface structure to the applied electric field can be attributed to the different electronic and magnetic structures at the interface; the sixfold exhibits the highest polarizability over the other coordinated structures.
Abstract PS19-13: Palmitate exacerbates breast tumorigenesis in vitro via induction of a senescent-like phenotype in fibroblasts

Background: Obesity is associated with a worse breast cancer prognosis, conferring an increased risk of recurrence and mortality. At the same time, recent evidence suggests that obesity is also correlated with development of cellular senescence, an inflammatory state associated with exacerbation of breast tumorigenesis in preclinical models. As obese individuals present greater levels of inflammation at baseline, research efforts are warranted to examine the means by which obesity promotes the development of a senescent phenotype, which may further exacerbate inflammation. Additionally, studies have yet to determine whether obesity-induced senescence modulates the tumorigenic process in the context of breast cancer specifically. Methods: To this end, we exposed fibroblasts to the obesity-associated circulating factor palmitate and used qPCR and western immunoblotting to assess the expression of genes and proteins involved in the senescent state, including interleukin (IL)-1a, IL-6, IL-8, senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-beta-gal), and matrixmetalloproteinase (MMP)-9. As a mechanistic investigation, we next assessed the impact of palmitate on activation of NF-kB signaling using western immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, and NF-kB luciferase reporter assays. Finally, we utilized cell counting, MTT, wound healing, and colony formation assays to examine the impact of these palmitate-exposed fibroblasts on breast cancer cell proliferation, viability, motility, and survival, respectively. Results: We found that palmitate induced fibroblast gene expression of IL-1a, IL-6, and IL-8, major components of the senescent secretome, as well as expression of the senescent markers SA-beta-gal and MMP-9. The mechanism at least partially involved activation of NF-kB, responsible for production of about 75% of senescent secretome components. More importantly, these palmitate-exposed fibroblasts were of pathological impact, exacerbating in vitro measures of breast cancer cell aggressiveness. Conclusions: These findings contribute to our understanding of the impact of obesity-associated factors on breast tumorigenesis, demonstrating a mechanistic link between palmitate and the pro-tumorigenic effects of senescent cells. Our studies will ultimately aid in the identification of a therapeutic target that can be used to improve the comparably worse outcomes of the obese breast cancer patient. Citation Format: Brittany Susanne Harlow, Albert Davalos, Andrew Brenner, Christopher Jolly, Stefano Tiziani, Steve Hursting, Linda deGraffenried. Palmitate exacerbates breast tumorigenesis in vitro via induction of a senescent-like phenotype in fibroblasts [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Virtual Symposium; 2020 Dec 8-11; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PS19-13.
“I Hate It Here”: Mental Health Changes of College Students Living With Parents During the COVID-19 Quarantine

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and college campus closure in early 2020, students returned to live at home in unprecedented circumstances. A sample of 336 college students reported about their experi...
Modeling the Disc Refining of Lignocellulosic Biomass toward Reduced Biofuel Production Cost and Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Energy Consumption Prediction and Validation

Disc refining is a critical step in the deacetylation and mechanical refining (DMR) pretreatment process for the conversion of herbaceous biomass to biofuels. It is very effective in breaking down ...
Prevalence of umbilical artery Doppler waveform abnormality during the early second trimester and the subsequent variation of waveforms in monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies: A prospective cohort study.

AIM To investigate the prevalence of qualitative abnormal umbilical artery Doppler waveforms (Abnormal UA) during the early second trimester and the subsequent variation of waveforms in monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twin pregnancies. METHODS This prospective cohort study included 153 MCDA twin pregnancies. Pulsed Doppler examinations for UA were performed at four points, including the free-loop (FL) and near the placental cord insertion site (CI) of each UA, between 16 and 17 weeks' gestation. Cases were classified into positive diastolic waveforms (Type I), persistent Abnormal UA (Type II), and intermittent Abnormal UA (Type III). When the diastolic velocity in UA Doppler was positive twice after different sequential recordings, the cases were determined to have achieved normalization. Follow-up Doppler examinations of the UA were performed at 24, 28, and 32 weeks' gestation. RESULTS Of all 153 cases, 38 (25%; 19 Type II and 19 Type III cases) showed Abnormal UA at the first examination. Abnormal UA was detectable at FL in all selective intrauterine growth restriction (sIUGR) cases, whereas it was noted only at CI site in some non-sIUGR cases. Abnormal UA normalized in 12 (63%) Type II and 15 (79%) Type III cases. CONCLUSIONS A quarter of MCDA twin pregnancies in the early second trimester demonstrated Abnormal UA. In MCDA twins with Abnormal UA between 16 and 17 weeks' gestation, it is preferable to follow them up to consider the possibility of normalization of Abnormal UA as well as features of UA waveforms specific to FL and CI.
Black Youth and African-Centered Interventions: A Systematic Review:

Purpose:This review discusses the effectiveness of African-centered interventions (ACIs) with Black youth.Methods:The authors conducted a comprehensive search of ACIs using electronic bibliographic...
Improving target price calculations in Medicare bundled payment programs.

OBJECTIVE To compare the predictive accuracy of two approaches to target price calculations under Bundled Payments for Care Improvement-Advanced (BPCI-A): the traditional Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) methodology and an empirical Bayes approach designed to mitigate the effects of regression to the mean. DATA SOURCES Medicare fee-for-service claims for beneficiaries discharged from acute care hospitals between 2010 and 2016. STUDY DESIGN We used data from a baseline period (discharges between January 1, 2010 and September 30, 2013) to predict spending in a performance period (discharges between October 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016). For 23 clinical episode types in BPCI-A, we compared the average prediction error across hospitals associated with each statistical approach. We also calculated an average across all clinical episode types and explored differences by hospital size. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS We used a 20% sample of Medicare claims, excluding hospitals and episode types with small numbers of observations. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The empirical Bayes approach resulted in significantly more accurate episode spending predictions for 19 of 23 clinical episode types. Across all episode types, prediction error averaged $8456 for the CMS approach versus $7521 for the empirical Bayes approach. Greater improvements in accuracy were observed with increasing hospital size. CONCLUSIONS CMS should consider using empirical Bayes methods to calculate target prices for BPCI-A.
Exhibition and Catalog Review: The American Pre-Raphaelites – Radical Realists

This review covers the National Gallery of Art exhibition "The American Pre-Raphaelites - Radical Realists" and the accompanying catalog edited by Linda S. Ferber and Nancy K. Anderson. The 2019 exhibition included more than ninety works by the group that styled itself the "American Pre-Raphaelites". It is the first such exhibition since the Brooklyn Museum’s “The New Path: Ruskin and the American Pre-Raphaelites” in 1985. The group's English-born leader, Thomas Charles Farrer (1839-1891) had studied drawing with John Ruskin and Dante Gabriel Rossetti at the Working Men’s College in London before emigrating to the United States in 1858, and was thus imbued with the ethos and spirit of Pre-Raphaelitism from the outset. But despite their outward similarities, the American group and its members differed significantly from the earlier English Pre-Rapahelite Brotherhood, both in their political and social aspirations, as well as their artistic production. In fact, the most lasting legacy of the American Pre-Raphaelites may be their embrace of the architectural American Gothic Revival style, which is still in evidence in public buildings and university campuses across the country. At a minimum, the American Pre-Raphaelite movement demonstrates the extensive influence of Ruskin’s writing across the Atlantic, as well as the universal appeal to young artists of breaking with the traditions of prior generations.
Optimal Strategy in International Relations

The aim of this article is to explore the impact of power distribution and international trade on world stability by an agent-based simulation modeling approach. The superiority of using ABM is not only to discover non-linear patterns dynamically, but also to capture uncertainties in order to prevent imperceptible risks, such as global wars. There is a large body of studies attempting to address the cause of wars. Theories in international relations portray the disparate mechanisms of war from various perspectives. In this article, however, I primarily consider two power-based theories, balance of power and power transition theory, and the interconnections among power, trade, and war. Proponents of both sides assert seemingly controversial arguments on the cause of wars. According to balance of power theory, the polarity distribution in power enhances peaceful dyadic relationship between two powerful countries because the superpower states will prefer the status quo and cooperation with their allies. In contrast, the supporters of power transition theory claim that parity and the challenger’s dissatisfaction with the status quo are essential conditions for war. The simulated result, however, indicates that the two theories are comparable as power parity is positively associated with trade. Alternatively, trade is positively associated with interdependence, and interdependence increases both the costs of war and opportunities of waging war. This endogeneity, integrated with the third dimension, time, results in powerful states most likely and ironically avoiding wars with other powerful states. The result of sensitivity analysis unfolds a negative exponential distribution pattern of war occurrence over time, meanwhile, the overall global economy is thriving. The convergence behavior emerges following the substantial cooperative behaviors between states. Based on the results from both deduction and induction approaches, the possibility of initiating war is not the preferred option for most interconnected super states.
Cardiac Metastasis in a Living Patient With Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Metastatic cardiac tumors are mainly diagnosed postmortem, while cardiac metastases of laryngeal cancer are exceedingly rare. We report a case of laryngeal carcinoma with subsequent metastatic disease to the heart diagnosed nine months after surgical resection of laryngeal cancer. Additionally, we attempted to summarize published case reports of laryngeal cancer with cardiac metastasis. Retrospective chart review and literature search via PubMed and Google Scholar were performed. Twenty cases of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with cardiac metastatic tumors were identified. We described demographics, typical features seen on diagnostic studies, and analyzed current literature on incidence, diagnostic studies, treatment options, and prognosis of secondary cardiac tumors. More data are needed to decide on the optimal treatment strategy for metastatic cardiac disease.
Síndrome do Túnel Cárpico: Revisão da Literatura

A sindrome do tunel carpico (STC) afeta 3% da populacao e deve-se a compressao do nervo mediano no tunel carpi­co. Este artigo pretende rever a evidencia cientifica sobre a STC.Realizou-se uma revisao narrativa. Identificaram-se 161 artigos na pesquisa e incluiram-se na revisao dados referen­tes a 26 referencias bibliograficas. A STC afeta mais as mulheres. O diagnostico e clinico, sendo os sintomas classicos dor, disestesias e/ou parestesias na regiao palmar, desde o polegar ate a face radial do anelar. Quando positivas, as manobras provocatorias aumentam a suspeita diagnostica. Os testes eletrodiagnosticos sao importantes para confirmacao diagnostica, estratificacao da gravidade e definicao do tratamento. Perante doenca ligeira/moderada, inicialmente recomenda-se tratamento conservador. Perante quadros moderados/graves, recomenda-se cirurgia.A STC e incapacitante. Perante sintomas sugestivos, deve-se equacionar este diagnostico e realizar provas provoca­torias. Os testes eletrodiagnosticos sao importantes para diagnostico e definicao da terapeutica.
Symbiosis in Digital Evolution: Past, Present, and Future

Symbiosis, the living together of unlike organisms as symbionts, is ubiquitous in the natural world. Symbioses occur within and across all scales of life, from microbial to macro-faunal systems. Further, the interactions between symbionts are multimodal in both strength and type, can span from parasitic to mutualistic within one partnership, and persist over generations. Studying the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of symbiosis in natural or laboratory systems poses a wide range of challenges, including the long time scales at which symbioses evolve de novo, the limited capacity to experimentally control symbiotic interactions, the weak resolution at which we can quantify interactions, and the idiosyncrasies of current model systems. These issues are especially challenging when seeking to understand the ecological effects and evolutionary pressures on and of a symbiosis, such as how a symbiosis may shift between parasitic and mutualistic modes and how that shift impacts the dynamics of the partner population. In digital evolution, populations of computational organisms compete, mutate, and evolve in a virtual environment. Digital evolution features perfect data tracking and allows for experimental manipulations that are impractical or impossible in natural systems. Furthermore, modern computational power allows experimenters to observe thousands of generations of evolution in minutes (as opposed to several months or years), which greatly expands the range of possible studies. As such, digital evolution is poised to become a keystone technique in our methodological repertoire for studying the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of symbioses. Here, we review how digital evolution has been used to study symbiosis, and we propose a series of open questions that digital evolution is well-positioned to answer.
cAMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Mediates Activity-Regulated Synaptic Targeting of NMDA Receptors

Chronic activity blockade increases synaptic levels of NMDA receptor immunoreactivity in hippocampal neurons. We show here that blockade-induced synaptic NMDA receptors are functional and mediate enhanced excitotoxicity in response to synaptically released glutamate. Activity blockade increased the cell surface association of NMDA receptors. Blockade-induced synaptic targeting of NMDA receptors did not require protein synthesis but required phosphorylation and specifically cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). Furthermore, activation of PKA was sufficient to induce synaptic targeting of NMDA receptors regardless of receptor activity status. These results implicate PKA activity downstream of receptor blockade as a mediator of enhanced synaptic transport or stabilization of NMDA receptors. Synaptic clustering of NR1-green fluorescent protein was observed in living neurons in response to NMDA receptor and cAMP phosphodiesterase antagonists and occurred gradually over the course of a day. This pathway represents a cellular mechanism for synaptic homeostasis and is likely to function in metaplasticity, long-term regulation of the ability of a synapse to undergo potentiation or depression.
Anti-Fascism, Anticolonialism and Anti-Self

This essay illuminates the transformation of Giovanni Pirelli from convinced fascist to partisan and anticolonial activist. It explores the significance and fruits of Pirelli's friendship with Frantz Fanon, specifically the Centro Documentazione Frantz Fanon that Pirelli founded in Milan in 1962. Raised as the heir to an industrial dynasty, Pirelli's letters and diaries as a fascist officer on the Eastern European front reveal his growing doubts about both fascism and his personal privilege. After the war, he refused his inheritance of the company helm and dedicated himself to writing, editing and organizing on behalf of leftist causes. This commitment – rooted in a fascination with the testimony of the oppressed – soon extended beyond Italy's borders to countries fighting for liberation from colonialism. In 1959 Pirelli made his first contact with the Algerian liberation movement and began work on a volume of letters from Algerian partisans. He also became interested in the work of Fanon, whom he sought ...
Chemical markers for bitterness in wheat bread

The manufacture of high-quality whole-grain products is challenged by poor flavour attributes, such as excessive bitterness. In a recent study our group characterized eight compounds that contributed to the bitterness of a whole-wheat bread sample. The goal of this study was to investigate the chemical profile of these bitter compounds in relation to the perceived bitterness of four commercial whole wheat breads and one refined wheat bread. Highly significant correlations (α = 0.01) were observed between the perceived bitterness in the crust and the quantity of 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (r2 = 0.93) and 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4(H)-pyran-4-one (r2 = 0.95). In the crumb, the bitterness was correlated with the amount of l-tryptophan (r2 = 0.91). In summary, both Maillard- and fermentation-derived compounds were identified as potential chemical markers to predict bitterness of whole-wheat bread. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Cyclic Voltammetric Study of Pd‐Sn Colloidal Catalysts for Electroless Deposition

A cyclic voltammetric method is described that allows the evaluation of catalysts for electroless deposition. Information about the chemical state and activity of the catalytic layers can be inferred from the measurements. Differences are illustrated between Pd deposited on Cu through electrochemical exchange, a two‐step procedure using and , and a one‐step activation with a Pd‐Sn colloid. The method is sensitive to small differences between colloids of similar structure. It has been used to investigate the effect of varying solution composition during synthesis of Pd‐Sn colloids. XPS and electron microprobe analysis have supported the conclusions of the electrochemical measurements.
Differential water resource use by herbaceous and woody plant life-forms in a shortgrass steppe community.

We conducted a study to test the predictions of Walter's two-layer model in the shortgrass steppe of northeastern Colorado. The model suggests that grasses and woody plants use water resources from different layers of the soil profile. Four plant removal treatments were applied in the spring of 1996 within a plant community codominated by Atriplex canescens (a C4 shrub) and Bouteloua gracilis (a C4 grass). During the subsequent growing season, soil water content was monitored to a depth of 180 cm. In addition, stem and leaf tissue of Atriplex, Bouteloua and the streamside tree Populus sargentii were collected monthly during the growing seasons of 1995 and 1996 for analysis of the δ18O value of plant stem water (for comparison with potential water sources) and the δ13C value of leaves (as an indicator of plant water status). Selective removal of shrubs did not significantly increase water storage at any depth in the measured soil profile. Selective removal of the herbaceous understory (mainly grasses) increased water storage in the top 60 cm of the soil. Some of this water gradually percolated to lower layers, where it was utilized by the shrubs. Based on stem water δ18O values, grasses were exclusively using spring and summer rain extracted from the uppermost soil layers. In contrast, trees were exclusively using groundwater, and the consistent δ13C values of tree leaves over the course of the summer indicated no seasonal changes in gas exchange and therefore minimal water stress in this life-form. Based on anecdotal rooting-depth information and initial measurements of stem water δ18O, shrubs may have also had access to groundwater. However, their overall δ18O values indicated that they mainly used water from spring and summer precipitation events, extracted from subsurface soil layers. These findings indicate that the diversity of life-forms found in this shortgrass steppe community may be a function of the spatial partitioning of soil water resources, and their differential use by grasses, shrubs, and trees. Consequently, our findings support the two-layer model in a broad sense, but indicate a relatively flexible strategy of water acquisition by shrubs.
Latent inhibition: A trace conditioning phenomenon?

Abstract An informal model of latent inhibition (LI), the trace hypothesis, is described. This hypothesis holds that preexposure (PE) to the to-be-conditioned stimulus alters the salience (associability) of the CS such that only the onset and initial segments, but not the later segments, are capable of supporting conditioning when paired with a US. Thus, LI is effectively a trace conditioning phenomenon. Four experiments used rats and a one-trial fear-conditioning task to test predictions which stem from this hypothesis. Experiment 1 showed conditioning performance decreased as trace intervals increased between 0 and 12 s, thus demonstrating the sensitivity of this task to trace intervals proposed by the trace hypothesis to produce LI. Consistent with the trace hypothesis, LI was found to be an increasing function of the CS duration (Experiment 2), the number of PE trials (Experiment 3), and the US onset during a 15-s CS (Experiment 4). These data are somewhat problematic for several explanations of LI, but, in general, the trace hypothesis extends extant explanations by focusing on changes in salience within a given presentation of the CS.
Investigation of non-isocyanate urethane dimethacrylate reactive diluents for UV-curable polyurethane coatings

Abstract Three non-isocyanate urethane dimethacrylate reactive diluents 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethylcarbamate (EOAED), 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl 3-(methacryloyloxy)propylcarbamate (POAED), and 1-(methacryloyloxy)propan-2-yl 3-(methacryloyloxy)propylcarbamate (POAPD) were synthesized by the reaction of a cyclic carbonate with an amino alcohol followed by a second reaction with the methacrylic anhydride. These reactive diluents were formulated with an acrylated polyester (APE) oligomer and free radical photoinitiator to prepare UV-curable polyurethane coatings. For comparison with urethane dimethacrylate reactive diluents, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) was also used. The effect of reactive diluent type and content on the viscosity of the APE oligomer was measured. After UV curing, the viscoelastic, tensile, and thermal properties of the cured films were evaluated as a function of the reactive diluent using dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), tensile, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). In addition, coating properties such as pencil hardness, chemical resistance, impact resistance, and gloss were also investigated. It was found that crosslink density, storage and tensile modulus, pencil hardness, chemical resistance, gel content, total water absorption, and glass transition temperature ( T g ) were directly proportional to the amount of the reactive diluent. The urethane dimethacrylate reactive diluents show significant improvements in impact resistance and elongation-at-break properties compared to the EGDMA. It was found that the optimum level of the urethane dimethacrylate reactive diluents concentration is between 10 and 20 wt%.
MEMS-based RF channel selection for true software-defined cognitive radio and low-power sensor communications

An evaluation of the potential for MEMS technologies to realize the RF front-end frequency gating spectrum analyzer function needed by true software-defined cognitive radios and ultra-low-power autonomous sensor network radios is presented. Here, RF channel selection, as opposed to band selection that removes all interferers, even those in band, and passes only the desired channel, is key to substantial potential increases in call volume with simultaneous reductions in power consumption. The relevant MEMS technologies most conducive to RF channel- selecting front-ends include vibrating micromechanical resonators that exhibit record on-chip Qs at gigahertz frequencies; resonant switches that provide extremely efficient switched-mode power gain for both transmit and receive paths; medium-scale integrated micromechanical circuits that implement on/off switchable filter-amplifier banks; and fabrication technologies that integrate MEMS together with foundry CMOS transistors in a fully monolithic low-capacitance single-chip process. The many issues that make realization of RF channel selection a truly challenging proposition include resonator drift stability, mechanical circuit complexity, repeatability and fabrication tolerances, and the need for resonators at gigahertz frequencies with simultaneous high Ω (>30,000) and low impedance (e.g., 50 W for conventional systems). Some perspective on which resonator technologies might best achieve these simultaneous attributes is provided.
An overview of compiling, critically evaluating, and delivering reliable physical property data from AIChE DIPPR® Projects 911 and 912

Abstract The goal of AIChE DIPPR® Projects 911 and 912 is to develop a comprehensive, consolidated database of physical properties for those chemical species which are regulated by various agencies of the US government, and are important to the chemical process industry. Environmental, safety and health (ESH) properties are the prime focus of the data collection and validation efforts of the two projects. Project 911, a database compilation effort, collects data for 700 chemicals and 55 physical properties. These properties include aqueous solubility, viscosity, vapor pressure, flash point, octanol–water partition coefficient, and bioconcentration factor. Project 912 is a complementary effort which focuses on the review of existing physical property prediction techniques and developing new estimation algorithms where none exist. Limited mixture data (e.g., infinite dilution vapor/liquid equilibrium measurements) are also being researched. Work is continuing on the critical assessment of the quality of data within the Project 911 database. Available literature data are compiled and categorized according to quality. Recommended data values and correlation statistics are provided as part of the Project 911 software product. To automate the data evaluation effort, a computerized Statistical Process Control (SPC) data review system has been designed. The Project 911 database is being developed to support engineering and regulatory calculations and to work in tandem with the estimation protocols established by Project 912 to predict properties for chemicals not readily available through literature sources.
Airglow fluctuations at 2.2 μ

Abstract The OH airglow has been observed in the infrared, from high altitude sites, with a bandpass filter from 2.0 to 2.5 μ. An average spatial fluctuation of ± 4 per cent and an average time fluctuation of ± 3 per cent is found about the mean nightly level. The evening fluctuations are more pronounced than the morning ones. The brightness and fluctuations are such as to preclude ground-based observation of the zodiacal light with wide-band photometry at this wavelength.