cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of a premix of atrazine, bicyclopyrone, mesotrione, and S-metolachlor with other preemergence herbicides for weed control and corn yield in no-tillage and reduced-tillage production systems in Nebraska, USA.

Abstract A premix of atrazine, bicyclopyrone, mesotrione, and S-metolachlor (ABMS) has recently been registered for broad-spectrum weed control in corn (Zea mays L.) in the USA. The objectives of this study were to compare the efficacy of ABMS applied preemergence (PRE) with other commonly used PRE herbicides for weed control, corn injury, and yield in no-tillage (no-till) and reduced-tillage (reduced-till) corn production systems, and to determine the biologically effective doses of ABMS for controlling Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Wats.) in field conditions. Field experiments were conducted in 2015 and 2016 at South Central Agricultural Laboratory, Clay Center, Nebraska, USA. ABMS applied at the labeled dose (2.89 kg ai ha−1) resulted in 92–99% Palmer amaranth control in both tillage systems. A similar level of Palmer amaranth control (86–99%) was observed with mesotrione plus rimsulfuron in the no-till system; however, the control was higher with ABMS than with other premixes in the reduced-till system at 42 days after treatment (DAT) and at harvest. Applications of ABMS at 2.89 kg ai ha−1 provided 99 and 81% control of velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medik.) and foxtail (Setaria spp.), respectively, in the no-till system at 28 DAT, whereas control was ≥93% in the reduced-till system. ABMS applied at 2.89 kg ai ha−1 resulted in 3% corn injury at 14 DAT regardless of the tillage system, whereas 15% corn injury was observed with acetochlor plus clopyralid plus flumetsulam, and dimethenamid-P plus saflufenacil in the reduced-till. ABMS or mesotrione plus rimsulfuron at labeled doses resulted in 16.0–16.3 t ha−1 corn yield, comparable to the weed-free control (16.4 t ha−1). The biologically effective doses of ABMS to provide 90% control (ED90) of Palmer amaranth at 42 DAT were 2.44 and 2.81 kg ai ha−1 in no-till and reduced-till systems, respectively. The efficacy of ABMS for broadleaf weed control and early-season grass weed control, and corn yield was the same or sometimes better than most of the PRE herbicides tested in this study; therefore, ABMS can be considered as an additional option for management of problem weeds, including Palmer amaranth in corn in the USA.
Molecular dynamics simulation of sodium aluminosilicate glass structures and glass surface-water reactions using the reactive force field (ReaxFF)

Abstract Reactive potentials are increasingly used to study the properties of glasses and glass water reactions in a reactive molecular dynamics (MD) framework. In this study, we have simulated a ternary sodium aluminosilicate glass and investigated the initial stages of the glass surface-water reactions at 300 K using reactive force field (ReaxFF). On comparison of the simulated glass structures generated using ReaxFF and classical Buckingham potentials, our results show that the atomic density profiles calculated for the surface glass structures indicate a bond-angle distribution dependency. The atomic density profiles also show higher concentrations of non-bridging oxygens (NBOs) and sodium ions at the glass surface. Additionally, we present our results of formation of silanol species and the diffusion of water molecules at the glass surface using ReaxFF.
Soil textures of nest partitions made by the mason bees Osmia lignaria and O. cornifrons (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)

Osmia lignaria and O. cornifrons require mineral soil to build partitions between cells in their nests. We examined the textures of soil collected by these bees, using laser particle size analysis. For both species, soil in the nest was generally loam or sandy loam in texture, although individual partitions had wide variation in particle size. Partitions in O. cornifrons nests had 5.8% higher clay content than those in O. lignaria nests. Textural trends were similar when data from individual partitions were analyzed. For both species, we found no significant effect of nearby soil texture or the position of the partition in the nest, on the texture of individual partitions. Observations of partitions indicate that some females collect soil material from different locations to build one single partition. These results shed new light on the ecology of soil used by cavity nesting mason bees, with implications for their management as alternative pollinators.
Global Security and Sustainable Development – the Essential Global Connection –

Abstract This is a time of growing uncertainty and doubts in the world's understanding of itself and its future. The global economic system is showing signs of severe strain, giving rise to serious concern in all quarters as to its future resiliency in the face of repeated shocks. The world economy is, in fact, undergoing dramatic changes — changes that are vast and sweeping in their scope and, very possibly, irreversible in their consequences. As the old economic order gives way to an, as yet, uncertain new pattern, an inescapable fact is emerging. And, that is, the world's economy is now truly global. Interdependence and linkage characterize its configuration and processes. The central driving force, the engine that powers the world economy is economic development — a panoply of activities and endeavors fashioned to satisfy the culturally derived needs of the world's society and now, of necessity, increasingly focused on the survival of hundreds of millions of poor peoples caught up in the agony of pervasive and persistent poverty. Economic development rests upon the underpinnings of the environment, underpinnings that, like the world's economic system they support, are showing signs of severe strain, and whose resiliency is the object of growing concern. If the environmental and resource underpinnings of the global economic system cannot be secured, if they cannot furnish evidence of being able to sustain present and future development, then economic dislocation and breakdowns will occur. The emergence of global environmental insecurity as a threat to global economic security, and, hence, international peace is yet to be widely percieved and understood. Several requirements and recommendations are advanced as providing a basis for planning and action.
Learning theory in Computer Science 1: an experiment supporting the use of multiple languages

A great deal of time and effort have been focused on answering the question of what approach is "best" for teaching Computer Science 1 (CS1). Clearly, the question has significance due to the consequences of teaching the course poorly-losing talented students, lowered levels of learning, less diversity among CS majors, even the possibility of losing faculty who dislike teaching a poorly designed course. This paper presents an innovative approach based in human learning theory which uses multiple languages (Java and Python) to teach fundamental concepts of writing algorithms to novices. An experiment was designed and conducted to judge the effectiveness of the approach, and the results are discussed.
An Introduction to Cooperative Learning Research

Why have we humans been so successful as a species? We are not strong like tigers, big like elephants, protectively colored like lizards, or swift like gazelles. We are intelligent, but an intelligent human alone in the forest would not survive for long. What has really made us such successful animals is our ability to apply our intelligence to cooperating with others to accomplish group goals. From the primitive hunting group to the corporate boardroom, it is those of us who can solve problems while working with others who succeed. In fact, in modern society, cooperation in face-to-face groups is increasingly important. A successful scientist must be able to cooperate effectively with other scientists, with technicians, and with students. An executive must cooperate with other executives, salespersons, suppliers, and superiors. Of course, each of those relationships also has competitive elements, but in all of them, if the participants cannot cooperate to achieve a common goal, all lose out. It is difficult to think of very many adult activities in which the ability to cooperate with others is not important. Human society is composed of overlapping cooperative groups: families, neighborhoods, work groups, political parties, clubs, teams.
Dynamics of neural representations when searching for exemplars and categories of human and non-human faces

Face perception abilities in humans exhibit a marked expertise in distinguishing individual human faces at the expense of individual faces from other species (the other-species effect). In particular, one behavioural effect of such specialization is that human adults search for and find categories of non-human faces faster and more accurately than a specific non-human face, and vice versa for human faces. However, a recent visual search study showed that neural responses (event-related potentials, ERPs) were identical when finding either a non-human or human face. We used time-resolved multivariate pattern analysis of the EEG data from that study to investigate the dynamics of neural representations during a visual search for own-species (human) or other-species (non-human ape) faces, with greater sensitivity than traditional ERP analyses. The location of each target (i.e., right or left) could be decoded from the EEG, with similar accuracy for human and non-human faces. However, the neural patterns associated with searching for an exemplar versus a category target differed for human faces compared to non-human faces: Exemplar representations could be more reliably distinguished from category representations for human than non-human faces. These findings suggest that the other-species effect modulates the nature of representations, but preserves the attentional selection of target items based on these representations.
Impact of Communication Latency on the Bus Voltage of Centrally Controlled DC Microgrids During Islanding

Maintaining a sustainable and reliable source of energy to supply critical loads within a renewable energy-based microgrid (MG) during blackouts is directly related to its bus voltage variations. For example, voltage variation might trigger protection devices and disconnect DERs within the MG. Centrally controlled MGs (CCMGs) type is dependent on communication. Therefore, it is very important to analyze the impact of communication networks performance degradation, such as latency, on the bus voltage of CCMGs. This paper investigates the effect of wireless communication technologies latency on the bus voltage and performance of DC CCMGs and how to mitigate it. Two mathematical models were developed to describe and predict the behavior of MGs during latency. As a case study, a renewable energy-based DC MG with its centralized control scheme was simulated to validate and compare the developed mathematical models. Results verify the accuracy of the developed models and show that the impact may be severe depending on the design, and the operational condition of the MG before latency occurs.
Ecological interactions between Gulf of Mexico snappers (Teleostei: Lutjanidae) and invasive red lionfish (Pterois volitans)

Indo-Pacific red lionfish (Pterois volitans) have invaded the western Atlantic, and most recently the northern Gulf of Mexico (nGOM), at a rapid pace. Given their generalist habitat affinities and diet, and strong ecological overlap with members of the commercially valuable snapper-grouper complex, increased density and abundance of lionfish could result in significant competitive interactions with nGOM commercially important species. We experimentally investigated the intensity of behavioral interactions between lionfish and indigenous, abundant and economically important juvenile nGOM red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus), and other increasingly abundant juvenile tropical snapper species (gray snapper-L. griseus and lane snapper-L. synagris) in large outdoor mesocosms to examine snapper vulnerabilities to lionfish competition. When paired with lionfish, red snapper swimming activity (i.e., time swimming and roving around experimental tank or at structure habitat during experiments) was significantly lower than in intraspecific control trials, but gray and lane snapper swimming activities in the presence of lionfish did not significantly differ from their intraspecific controls. Additionally in paired trials, red and lane snapper swimming activities were significantly lower than those of lionfish, while no significant difference in swimming activities was observed between lionfish and gray snapper. We found that red snapper prey consumption rates in the presence of lionfish were significantly lower than in their intraspecific 3-individual control trials, but when paired together no significant differences in prey consumption rates between red snapper and lionfish were observed. When paired with lane or gray snapper, lionfish were observed having comparatively higher prey consumption than snappers, or as observed in lionfish intraspecific 1-individual controls. However, lane and gray snapper consumption rates in the presence of lionfish did not significantly differ from those in intraspecific controls. These findings suggest that competition between juvenile snappers and invasive lionfish may be variable, with lionfish exhibiting differing degrees of competitive dominance and snappers exhibiting partial competitive vulnerability and resistance to lionfish. While the degree of intensity at which these interactions may occur in nGOM reefs may differ from those observed in our findings, this study enables greater understanding of the potential ecological effects of red lionfish on native reef fishes.
Economic valuation of groundwater in Texas

Groundwater is a strategic economic asset, and recent Texas Supreme Court decisions have strengthened private ownership rights in groundwater. Despite the economic and political stakes, debate on how to actually value groundwater has been sparse. In response, this article sets forth seven methods of economically valuing groundwater in Texas and uses case studies and hypotheticals informed by real data to assess the valuation techniques’ strengths and weaknesses under a range of conditions. In addition, the analysis shows how in practice, multiple valuation methods can be combined to render the most credible valuation range for a particular groundwater asset. Readers will also see how to marshal a wide range of publicly available data resources—including actual water sale and lease contracts—and analytically mesh them to arrive at a defensible valuation range for water assets under various conditions. These methods can help value water more accurately, create opportunities for unlocking additional economic value, and help manage groundwater resources more effectively for the benefit of future generations. Citation: Collins GB. 2018. Economic valuation of groundwater in Texas. Texas Water Journal. 9(1):50-68. Available from: https://doi.org/10.21423/twj.v9i1.7068.
A Fundamental Economic Model of Interacting Electricity Prosumers

Distributed energy resources (DERs) and automation systems enable traditional electricity consumers to also produce and to store energy. These energy prosumers can become much more active in energy management. They can provide benefits to the grid by exchanging energy and energy-related services. This paper presents the fundamental economics of energy prosumers. It shows that the energy prosumer can act simultaneously as producer and consumer, and designs a strategy to maximize its revenue. Based on a linear bid/offer model, we show how prosumers operating in a market arrive at a stable equilibrium and present results for the case when prosumers bid strategically.
Antecedents and Outcome of Deficient Self-Regulation in Unknown Wireless Networks Use Context: An Exploratory Study

Wireless networks are becoming the norm in the society, where hotspots afford users access to the internet through mobile devices. Unknown wireless networks, open public networks with unknown identity, pose threats as hackers can gain unauthorized access to users’ private information stored in their mobile devices. Despite the imminent dangers, individuals continue to use these networks. This study explicates a self-regulation theory model to investigate the antecedents of deficient self-regulation (DSR). We posit that both habit cues and information security experiential factors influence DSR, leading to habitual use of unknown wireless networks. The results show that perceived attachment, perceptions on privacy risk, and information security self-efficacy significantly influence DSR, which subsequently influences habitual use of unknown wireless networks. This study contributes to the literature on self-regulatory theory and privacy, and also provides implications for managers in dealing with vulnerabilities posed by employees using private or corporate mobile devices on unknown wireless network.
PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING AND CHANGE OF COGNITIVE FUNCTION OVER 4 YEARS

This study aims to examine the relationship between psychological-wellbeing (including depressive symptoms, loneliness, anxiety, hopelessness, and stress) and cognitive function during a 4-year period among U.S. Chinese older adults. Data were from 2,300 PINE participants who completed in-home interviews at baseline, 2-year and 4-year follow-up. Cognitive function was assessed by five individual cognition tests at baseline and follow-up interviews. Mixed-effects regression models were conducted. A trend of decline in global cognition and multiple cognitive domains was observed. The study findings showed that depressive symptoms (Estimate= -0.03, p<0.001), anxiety (Estimate = -0.02, p<0.001), hopelessness (Estimate = -0.01, p<0.01), and stress (Estimate = -0.01, p<0.001) were associated with poorer global cognitive function at baseline. Baseline psychological well-being was not associated with changes in cognitive function during a 4-year period. Significant predictors of rate of change in cognitive function will be discussed. Potential explanations and implications of these findings will be presented.
Building Bridges and Crossing Boundaries: Dialogues in Professional Helping

Where are the boundaries between things located? When we meet another person or when we meet the tree in the forest or the sand by the shore each is changed by the other. We all know that at one level of reality we are different and yet we also know that the apparent rigidity between me and other dissolves in a constant and mutual exchange of cells, conversations and consciousness. In nature, the bridge between two points of apparent difference is a dynamic, interactive field of reciprocal engagement. Indeed, in nature, complex, reciprocal relationships are the sine qua non of ecosystems. Everything touches and is touched by everything else. It is in meeting, touching, listening and communicating with another that we discover most completely what we are and are able to express most eloquently who we are. The helping professions are increasingly seeking ways to bridge the epistemological gap between the atomistic and the ecological and cross those professional boundaries that have for too long kept helpers of every stripe separated and isolated from one another. Ironically, it is a new rediscovery of an ancient wisdom that is creating a catalyst for hope and change. Recently, those hopes to discover new linkages and a new era of collaborative professional partnerships to address pressing social and environmental problems took a small step forward. Professional helpers from a variety of disciplines including social work, psychology, nursing, education and environmental studies gathered in Calgary, Canada in May, 2009 for a first of its kind multi-disciplinary conference entitled: Building Bridges, Crossing Boundaries: Interdisciplinary Dialogues on Person, Planet and Professional Helping. The conference was suffused with both urgency and anticipation as professional helpers worked to better understand each other and those many ways they might cooperate across professional borders to build bridges to a more balanced and interdisciplinary view of the helping enterprise. This brief introduction provides a short sketch of the historical realities which created the ideological boundaries that the conference sought to bridge and how that has begun to change. It also provides a brief overview of each contributor’s work.
Rare anaplastic sarcoma of the kidney: A case report

BACKGROUND Anaplastic sarcoma of the kidney (ASK) is a rare and newly recognized renal neoplasm. The tumor usually is extensive and cystic, characterized by pleomorphic spindle cells with marked atypia and associated with multinucleated cells. To date, only 27 cases have been reported in the literature. The authors present an additional case and summarize the relevant knowledge in the literature. CASE SUMMARY A 27-year-old previously healthy woman presented with a palpable mass over the abdomen and right flank soreness for one year. After the computed tomography study, the patient underwent right radical nephrectomy obtaining a 1680-g tumor with a size of 18.4 cm × 14.5 cm × 11 cm. The tumor is chiefly composed of anaplastic spindle cells with marked nuclear atypia admixed with multinucleated cells. Immunohistochemical evaluation of tumor cells exhibited diffuse positivity for CD56, p53, and vimentin, and focally positive for desmin. The diagnosis of ASK was established. Unfortunately, a local tumor recurrence followed by a distant metastasis developed within months. The patient died 26 months after the initial surgery. Comparing to the previously 27 cases of ASK, the current case had a relatively worse prognosis, which might be potentially associated with older patient age, larger tumor size, and the lack of en-bloc resection of adjacent organs during the initial radical nephrectomy. CONCLUSION This case points out the featured pathological findings for diagnosing ASK and suggests more aggressive management for patients with ASK.
Machine Learning Based Solutions for Real-Time Stress Monitoring

Stress may be defined as the reaction of the body to regulate itself to changes within the environment through mental, physical, or emotional responses. Recurrent episodes of acute stress can disturb the physical and mental stability of a person. This subsequently can have a negative effect on work performance and in the long term can increase the risk of physiological disorders like hypertension and psychological illness such as anxiety disorder. Psychological stress is a growing concern for the worldwide population across all age groups. A reliable, cost-efficient, acute stress detection system could enable its users to better monitor and manage their stress to mitigate its long-term negative effects. In this article, we will review and discuss the literature that has used machine learning based approaches for stress detection. We will also review the existing solutions in the literature that have leveraged the concept of edge computing in providing a potential solution in real-time monitoring of stress.
"How Scripted Is This Going to Be?" Raters' Views of Authenticity in Speaking-Performance Tests.

An assumption underlying speaking tests is that scores reflect the ability to produce online, non-rehearsed speech. Speech produced in testing situations may, however, be less spontaneous if extens...
Evaluating the Relationship Between Olfactory Function and Loneliness in Community-Dwelling Individuals: A Cross-sectional Study

BackgroundOlfactory dysfunction (OD) has been reported to impact social interactions. However, the relationship between OD and loneliness has received little attention. The purpose of this study wa...
Digital Journalism, Social Media Platforms, and Audience Engagement: The Case of AJ+

In 2014, Al Jazeera Network launched AJ+, a digital initiative intended to put it at the forefront of a changing journalistic field. Targeting an expanding mobile-centric generation of avid social ...
PLASTID STATUS INFLUENCES CELL FATE DECISIONS AT THE PLANT SHOOT APEX

The balance between proliferation and differentiation in the plant shoot apical meristem is controlled by regulatory loops involving the phytohormone cytokinin and stem cell identity genes. Concurrently, cellular differentiation in the developing shoot is coordinated with the environmental and developmental status of plastids within those cells. Here we employ an Arabidopsis thaliana mutant exhibiting constitutive plastid osmotic stress to investigate the molecular and genetic pathways connecting plastid status with cell fate decisions at the shoot apex. msl2 msl3 mutants exhibit dramatically enlarged and deformed plastids in the shoot apical meristem, and develop a mass of callus tissue at the shoot apex. Callus production in this mutant is characterized by increased cytokinin levels, the down-regulation of cytokinin signaling inhibitors ARR7 and ARR15, and induction of the stem cell identity gene WUSCHEL and is reduced in the absence of the cytokinin receptor AHK2. Furthermore, plastid stress-induced apical callus requires elevated plastidic ROS, ABA biosynthesis, and retrograde signaling proteins GUN1 and ABI4. These results establish a functional link between the cytokinin/WUS pathway and retrograde signaling in controlling cell fate at the shoot apex.
Synthesis and antibacterial activity of polymer–antibiotic conjugates incorporated into a resin-based dental adhesive

This work reports on polymer-antibiotic conjugates (PACs) as additives to resin-based restorative dental materials as a new strategy to convey sustained antibacterial character to these materials. Such antibacterial performance is expected to improve their longevity in the oral cavity. Using the previously reported ciprofloxacin (Cip)-based PAC as a control, a penicillin V (PV)-based PAC was investigated. The monomer-antibiotic conjugate (MAC) containing a methacrylate monomer group and a PV moiety was prepared via nucleophilic substitution between 2-chloroethyl methacrylate (CEMA) and penicillin V potassium (PVK). The PV-based PAC was synthesized by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of the MAC with hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), and further characterized by 1H NMR and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analysis. Antibiotic resistance was investigated by passaging bacteria in low concentrations of the antibiotic for 19 days, followed by a 48 h challenge at higher concentrations. Our results suggest that the development of antibiotic resistance is unlikely. Zone of inhibition (ZOI) assays revealed no clearing zones around PV-containing resins indicating minimal antibiotic leakage from the material. Similarly, MTT assay demonstrated that the antibiotic-containing specimens did not release cytotoxic byproducts that may inhibit human gingival fibroblast growth. Counting of colony-forming units in an S. mutans biofilm model was used to assess bacterial survival at baseline and after subjecting the antibiotic-containing resin specimens to an enzymatic challenge for 30 days. Significantly reduced bacterial counts were observed as the biofilm aged from 24 to 72 h, and salivary enzymatic exposure did not reduce the antibacterial efficacy of the discs, suggesting that PV-resin will be effective in reducing the re-incidence of dental caries.
Bayesian regression models for ecological count data in PyMC3

Abstract Ecological inferences need structurally flexible statistical models to accommodate complex ecological phenomena. PyMC3 is a Probabilistic Programming Language (PPL) and allows for custom statistical distributions to build complex statistical models. This study used PyMC3 to implement Bayesian generalized Poisson (GP), zero-inflated GP, and hurdle GP regression models for over- and under-dispersed counts. The Bayesian GP regression models were fitted to simulated counts and real-world counts of over- and under-dispersion, respectively. Coefficient estimates of the Bayesian regression models were consistent with the known values used in the simulations and those of published work or models. Simulations demonstrated that Bayesian GP regression models with the NUTS sampler worked correctly for under-dispersed counts if the number of non-zero frequency classes was five or more. PyMC3 is not only flexible for building complex statistical models using custom likelihood functions, but also syntactically concise. The programming flexibility of PyMC3 can provide ecologists and environmental scientists with flexible, robust Bayesian computational platforms.
The feasibility of modified HIV and antiretroviral drug testing using self-collected dried blood spots from men who have sex with men

In the US, one in six men who have sex with men (MSM) with HIV are unaware of their HIV infection. In certain circumstances, access to HIV testing and viral load (VL) monitoring is challenging. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of conducting laboratory-based HIV and antiretroviral (ARV) drug testing, and VL monitoring as part of two studies on self-collected dried blood spots (DBS). Participants were instructed to collect DBS by self-fingerstick in studies that enrolled MSM online. DBS from the first study (N = 1444) were tested with HIV serological assays approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A subset was further tested with laboratory-modified serological and VL assays, and ARV levels were measured by mass spectrometry. DBS from the second study (N = 74) were only tested to assess VL monitoring. In the first study, the mail back rate of self-collected DBS cards was 62.9%. Ninety percent of DBS cards were received at the laboratory within 2 weeks from the day of collection, and 98% of the cards had sufficient spots for one assay. Concordance between FDA-approved and laboratory-modified protocols was high. The samples with undetectable ARV had higher VL than samples with at least one ARV drug. In the second study, 70.3% participants returned self-collected DBS cards, and all had sufficient spots for VL assay. High VL was observed in samples from participants who reported low ARV adherence. In these studies, MSM were able to collect and provide adequate DBS for HIV testing. The FDA-approved and laboratory-modified testing algorithms performed similarly. DBS collected at home may be feasible for HIV testing, ARV measurement, and monitoring viral suppression.
Evidence-Based Competency Training Program for Blood Product Administration.

Background Health care in deployed military environments requires robust clinical nursing skills to care for patients with traumatic injuries. Blood product administration is a critical skill in which nurses should be competent. However, in non-deployed environments, blood transfusions are performed less frequently, resulting in skill competency loss. Aims Our clinical inquiry focused on maintaining competency for infrequently performed nursing skills, specifically blood product administration. Methods A literature review and critical appraisal were executed, followed by an evidence-based practice change. A knowledge test, objective and subjective assessment, and training satisfaction evaluation were performed to measure the practice change outcomes. Both inpatient and outpatient nurses were included. Results Sixteen articles were identified and appraised. The evidence recommended a blended education approach, that is, lecture plus hands-on practice. Thus, a classroom lecture and simulation scenario were put into practice with an existing computer-based training for blood administration. The nurses met knowledge test standards (≥ 90%) before and after implementation, while skill performance improved by 13% and improved self-competence scores by 7%. Nurses in outpatient settings improved performance scores by 18.4% compared to inpatient nurses, whose scores improved by 9.4%. The simulation scenario completion time decreased by 8.3 minutes post-implementation, and the training program earned a 90% satisfactory rating. Linking Evidence to Action A blended education program improves clinical skill performance and enhances confidence in performing critical interventions. Blended education provides a safe learning environment for nurses to be prepared for the management of low-volume patient care emergencies.
The Economic Standing of Animals

Should nonhuman animals possess cost-benefit analysis (CBA) standing, and if so, to what extent? A lack of standing for animals does not mean that their interests are ignored; rather, it implies that their interests are only accounted for to the extent that those with standing – humans – feel some regard for animal welfare. This paper addresses farm animal policy in the United States and looks at how CBAs are altered as animal interests range from “no standing” to “human-equivalent” standing. Even with no standing for animals, the degree of animal welfare offered by current animal agricultural practices is inefficiently low: human preferences for animal welfare are less than fully reflected in the economic and political marketplaces. Policies that counter existing shortcomings in the markets for animal welfare could be paired with transparency measures that would help ensure that consumers and voters are better informed about the conditions under which farmed animals are raised. Uncertainty concerning the appropriate degree of animal standing counsels for the avoidance of policies that would be highly undesirable if the proper extent of standing turns out to be significantly smaller or larger than expected.
Using K12 Foundations to Teach Scientific Literacy in College Research Methods

In this chapter, I provide a framework for teaching research methodology in a way that connects an undergraduate political science methods course with the K-12 science that students learned before college as well as to the skills they will need in the job market afterward. I outline the tenets of K12 science standards to help faculty understand the scientific background that many of their students arrive with, and I provide a roadmap for helping students transfer that knowledge into a broader understanding of how scientific literacy helps them both in their careers and in their lives as informed and active citizen participants in the world around them.
Trade Agreements, Ethics of

The World Trade Organization (WTO) (which grew out of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)) administers most trade agreements. The WTO and its activities on behalf of trade have proven controversial. Critics charge that the powerful WTO, operating with free trade ideology, enables multinational corporations to maximize their profits at the expense of local economies, especially those of the developing world. The key question is whether trade agreements genuinely promote fair trade or whether they enable powerful corporations to exploit those with less power. Keywords: World Trade Organization (WTO); General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT); trade agreements; free trade; fairness
Solgel route to erbium-doped microlasers and Raman microlasers on-a-chip

Ultra-high-Q microresonators are fabricated on silicon chips by the solgel technique. Using wafer-based processing and selective reflow, we create toroid-shaped Er-doped microlasers directly from Er-doped solgel layers and Raman microlasers from undoped silica solgel layers.
What to discover before migrating to the cloud

The adoption of the cloud computing model continues to be dominated by startups seeking to build new applications that can take advantage of the cloud's pay-as-you-go pricing and resource elasticity. In contrast, large enterprises have been slow to adopt the cloud model, partly because migrating legacy applications to the cloud is technically non-trivial and economically prohibitive. Both challenges arise, in part, from the difficulty in discovering the complex dependencies that these legacy applications have on the underlying IT environment. In this paper, we introduce a novel Kullback-Leibler (KL) divergence based method that can systematically discover the complex server-to-server and application-to-server relationships. We evaluate our method using live real datasets from large enterprise migration efforts. Our results demonstrate that our new method is capable of finding critical application correlations; it performs better than traditional approaches, such as Bayesian or mutual information models. Additionally, by cleverly subdividing the sample space, we are able to uncover intriguing phenomena in different subspaces. These analyses aid migration engineers in a variety of tasks ranging from migration planning to failure mitigation, and can potentially lead to significant cost reduction in migration to cloud.
Effects of a month-long napping regimen in older individuals.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effects of a month-long nap regimen using one of two durations (45 minutes or 2 hours) on nighttime sleep and waking function in a group of healthy older participants and to assess the degree to which healthy older individuals are willing and able to adhere to such napping regimens. DESIGN: Three laboratory sessions, with 2-week at-home recording interspersed, using a between-participants approach. SETTING: Laboratory of Human Chronobiology at Weill Cornell Medical College and participants' homes. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-two healthy men and women aged 50 to 88 (mean 70). MEASUREMENTS: Polysomnography (sleep electroencephalography), actigraphy, sleep diaries, neurobehavioral performance, sleep latency tests. RESULTS: With the exception of adherence to the protocol, there were few differences between short and long nap conditions. Napping had no negative effect on subsequent nighttime sleep quality or duration, resulting in a significant increase in 24-hour sleep amounts. Such increased sleep was associated with enhanced cognitive performance but had no effect on simple reaction time. Participants were generally able to adhere better to the 45-minute than the 2-hour nap regimen. CONCLUSION: A month-long, daily nap regimen may enhance waking function without negatively affecting nighttime sleep. Using 2-hour naps in such a regimen is unlikely to meet with acceptable adherence; a regimen of daily 1-hour naps may be more desirable for effectiveness and adherence.
Purification and characterization of phosphomannomutase/phosphoglucomutase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa involved in biosynthesis of both alginate and lipopolysaccharide.

The algC gene from Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been shown to encode phosphomannomutase (PMM), an essential enzyme for biosynthesis of alginate and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). This gene was overexpressed under control of the tac promoter, and the enzyme was purified and its substrate specificity and metal ion effects were characterized. The enzyme was determined to be a monomer with a molecular mass of 50 kDa. The enzyme catalyzed the interconversion of mannose 1-phosphate (M1P) and mannose 6-phosphate, as well as that of glucose 1-phosphate (G1P) and glucose 6-phosphate. The apparent Km values for M1P and G1P were 17 and 22 microM, respectively. On the basis of Kcat/Km ratio, the catalytic efficiency for G1P was about twofold higher than that for M1P. PMM also catalyzed the conversion of ribose 1-phosphate and 2-deoxyglucose 6-phosphate to their corresponding isomers, although activities were much lower. Purified PMM/phosphoglucomutase (PGM) required Mg2+ for maximum activity; Mn2+ was the only other divalent metal that showed some activation. The presence of other divalent metals in addition to Mg2+ in the reaction inhibited the enzymatic activity. PMM and PGM activities could not be detected in nonmucoid algC mutant strain 8858 and in LPS-rough algC mutant strain AK1012, while they were present in the wild-type strains as well as in algC-complemented mutant strains. This evidence suggests that AlgC functions as PMM and PGM in vivo, converting phosphomannose and phosphoglucose in the biosynthesis of both alginate and LPS. Images
Second sound shock waves and critical velocities in liquid helium II

Large amplitude second-sound shock waves were generated and the experimental results compared to the theory of nonlinear second-sound. The structure and thickness of second-sound shock fronts are calculated and compared to experimental data. Theoretically it is shown that at T = 1.88 K, where the nonlinear wave steepening vanishes, the thickness of a very weak shock must diverge. In a region near this temperature, a finite-amplitude shock pulse evolves into an unusual double-shock configuration consisting of a front steepened, temperature raising shock followed by a temperature lowering shock. Double-shocks are experimentally verified. It is experimentally shown that very large second-sound shock waves initiate a breakdown in the superfluidity of helium 2, which is dramatically displayed as a limit to the maximum attainable shock strength. The value of the maximum shock-induced relative velocity represents a significant lower bound to the intrinsic critical velocity of helium 2.
Parenting in the Wake of Abuse: Exploring the Mediating Role of PTSD Symptoms on the Relationship Between Parenting and Child Functioning.

BACKGROUND: Children whose mothers report partner violence and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are at risk for behavior dysfunctions. AIM: To examine the mediating effects of maternal PTSD symptoms on the relationship of parenting behaviors to child internalizing and externalizing behavior dysfunctions. FINDINGS: Maternal PTSD symptoms have a partial mediating effect on the relationship between inconsistent discipline and child internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Maternal PTSD symptoms have a fully mediating effect on the relationship between poor supervision and child internalizing behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to identify women who report partner violence and are at high risk for PTSD and intervene early to prevent problematic parenting and resulting child behavior problems. Language: en
Prostaglandins and cyclic AMP in epidermis. Evidence for the independent action of prostaglandins and adrenaline on the adenyl cyclase system of pig and human epidermis, normal and psoriatic.

SUMMARY Prostaglandins E1 and E2 stimulate cyclic AMP accumulation in pig epidermis and in human epidermis from patients with psoriasis. Prostaglandins A1, A2 and F2α are relatively ineffective. The fact that this stimulation is not inhibited by a β-blocker (propranolol) and that the stimulation by prostaglandin E2 and adrenaline is additive indicates that each drug acts independently on the epidermal adenyl cyclase system. In other words, prostaglandins E1 and E2 act on a site other than the β-receptor of adenyl cyclase in epidermis. The stimulation by prostaglandins E1 and E2 is not additive; hence they probably act on the same site. Concentrations of prostaglandin E above 3 × 10−7 M are effective in causing stimulation. This concentration may be within the physiological range and the contribution of endogenous prostaglandin levels in the control of intracellular cyclic AMP levels cannot be disregarded.
Dynamics and dislodgment from pore constrictions of a trapped nonwetting droplet stimulated by seismic waves

[1] Seismic waves affect fluid flow and transport processes in porous media. Therefore, quantitative understanding of the role of seismic waves in subsurface hydrodynamics is important for the development of practical applications and prediction of natural phenomena. We present a theoretical fluid dynamics model to describe how low-frequency elastic waves mobilize isolated droplets trapped in pores by capillary resistance. The ability of the theoretical model to predict the critical mobilization amplitudes (Ac) and the displacement dynamics of the nonwetting droplet are validated against computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. Our theory has the advantage of rapid calculation of Ac for various scenarios. Both theory and CFD simulations show that the Ac increases with increasing wave frequency. The theoretical and computational models agree well in the low-frequency range both in terms of predicting the displacement history of the droplet and its eventual dislodgment, but their results begin to diverge with increasing wave frequency since the Hagen-Poiseuille flow approximation in the model becomes invalid. Relative to a previous “viscous seismic model,” our model compares more favorably to experimental observations. The model is thus appropriate for predicting trapped nonwetting droplet dynamics in and dislodgement from pore constrictions by low-frequency elastic waves.
Relationship of phenotypic variation and genetic admixture in the Saltmarsh–Nelson's sparrow hybrid zone

ABSTRACT Hybridization is influential in shaping species' dynamics and has many evolutionary and conservation implications. Identification of hybrid individuals typically relies on morphological data, but the assumption that hybrids express intermediate traits is not always valid, because of complex patterns of introgression and selection. We characterized phenotypic and genotypic variation across a hybrid zone between 2 tidal-marsh birds, the Saltmarsh Sparrow (Ammodramus caudacutus) and Nelson's Sparrow (A. nelsoni) (n = 290), and we sought to identify morphological traits that could be used to classify admixed individuals. Sparrows were sampled from a total of 34 marshes, including 23 sympatric and 11 putatively allopatric marshes. Each individual was scored at 13 plumage traits, and standard morphometric data were collected. We used genotyping analysis at 24 microsatellite loci to categorize individuals into genotypic classes of pure, F1–F2, or backcrossed. Genetic data revealed that 52% of individual...
FPGA Acceleration of RankBoost in Web Search Engines

Search relevance is a key measurement for the usefulness of search engines. Shift of search relevance among search engines can easily change a search company's market cap by tens of billions of dollars. With the ever-increasing scale of the Web, machine learning technologies have become important tools to improve search relevance ranking. RankBoost is a promising algorithm in this area, but it is not widely used due to its long training time. To reduce the computation time for RankBoost, we designed a FPGA-based accelerator system and its upgraded version. The accelerator, plugged into a commodity PC, increased the training speed on MSN search engine data up to 1800x compared to the original software implementation on a server. The proposed accelerator has been successfully used by researchers in the search relevance ranking.
On the efficacy of board game strategy development as a first-year CS project

We report on a study comparing an open-ended freshman-level CS2 project with a fully specified project of similar difficulty. We employed a randomized, controlled trial methodology. The students needed to use similar data structures and algorithms, presented during lectures, for both projects. The first half of the milestones were almost identical for both groups, but the open-ended project asked students to develop a player strategy for a specific board game, while in the other project the students executed the game by communicating with the player modules and verifying the moves against the rules of the game. In the final stages of the project while one group of students worked on honing their own strategy, the other students implemented a pre-specified tie breaking mechanism used when two player strategies tie in a match. At the end of the term, both groups had a friendly tournament: the player strategies faced each other for the ultimate winner while the other group's submissions were ranked by a team of judges based on the implementation's correctness and style. The tournament was just for fun - it did not contribute to the final grade. We hypothesized that the player group would enjoy the project more, would score higher, and would be better motivated and equipped to study computer science. Our study confirmed higher enjoyment and interest of the study group participants. We did not observe statistically significant differences among other measured quantities, or example grade distribution, of the respective groups.