cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Kinetic patterns of treadmill walking in preadolescents with and without Down syndrome

This study investigated the effect of both walking speed and external ankle load on the kinetic patterns of treadmill walking in preadolescents with and without Down syndrome (DS). Ten preadolescents with DS and ten age- and gender-matched children with typical development (TD) participated in this study. We manipulated two treadmill speeds and two external ankle loads. Treadmill speeds were equal to 75% and 100% of the preferred overground walking speed. Two load conditions were with and without external ankle load which was equal to 2% of body weight on each side. We used an instrumented treadmill to collect vertical ground reaction force (GRF). Both timing and magnitude of peak GRFs, the loading and unloading rates, and various impulses were calculated from the GRF data. The results show that the DS group produced a shorter duration of propulsion, a lower FZ2 (second peak GRF) and vertical propulsive impulse, a higher loading rate and a lower unloading rate than the TD group. At a faster treadmill speed the DS group increased the duration of propulsion, the unloading rate and the vertical propulsive impulse, but reduced the magnitude of FZ2. External ankle load helped the DS group increase FZ2 and vertical propulsive impulse and might facilitate the push off and the initiation of leg swing during treadmill walking. External ankle load may therefore be included in the future physical intervention and exercise programs for the DS group to strengthen leg muscles and develop more efficient push off during locomotion.
The relationship between noise correlation and the Green's function in the presence of degeneracy and the absence of equipartition

SUMMARY Recent derivations have shown that when noise in a physical system has its energy equipartitioned into the modes of the system, there is a convenient relationship between the cross correlation of time-series recorded at two points and the Green’s function of the system. Here, we show that even when energy is not fully equipartitioned and modes are allowed to be degenerate, a similar (though less general) property holds for equations with wave equation structure. This property can be used to understand why certain seismic noise correlation measurements are successful despite known degeneracy and lack of equipartition on the Earth.
Survival of Rhizobium phaseoli in Coal-Based Legume Inoculants

Abstract The long-term survival of Rhizobium phaseoli strains 127K17, 127K26, and 127K35 in legume inoculants prepared with eight different coals (one strain and one coal per inoculant) was studied. The coals used were Pennsylvania anthracite, bituminous coals from Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Utah, lignite from North Dakota and Texas, and subbituminous coals from New Mexico and Wyoming; they ranged in pH from 4.7 to 7.5 All coals, with the exceptions of Illinois bituminous coal and Texas lignite (pH's of 5.0 and 4.7, respectively), supported the growth and survival of all R. phaseoli strains. All coal-based inoculants in which rhizobial viability was maintained had more than 106 rhizobia per g for at least 7 months, and most contained more than 107 rhizobia per g after 12 months. It appears that most coals, regardless of grade or source, may be acceptable carriers for R. phaseoli inoculants.
Mergers and Possibilities: The Intersection of Missiology and Youth Ministry:

This article develops an intersection for reflecting on the current state of two disciplines, youth ministry and missiology, noting points of convergence and opportunities for future work. After a brief history of each discipline, three themes that youth ministry and missiology both share are explored, followed by examples of their current work and a summary of the state of each discipline today. Both disciplines have frameworks and resources that extend beyond their areas of study. The question is, will they exercise their voice?
Two-dimensional echocardiographic appearance of pseudo-dehiscence of Hancock aortic prosthesis.

1. Dessertenne F: La tachycardie ventriculaire a deux foyers opposis variables. Arch Ma1 Coeur 59:263, 1966. 2. Dessertenne F, Gourgon R, Coumel P, Fabiato A: Tachycardie ventriculaire et torsades de pointes. Ann Cardiol Angeiol 20:243, 1971. 3. Krikler DM, Curry PVL: Torsades de pointes, an atypical ventricular tachycardia. Br Heart J 38:117, 1976. 4. Horowitz L, Greenspan AM, Spielmann SR, Josephson ME: Torsade de pointes: Electrophysiologic studies in patients without transient pharmacologic or metabolic abnormalities. Circulation 63:1120, 1981. 5. Smith WM, Gallagher JJ: Les torsades de pointes. Ann Intern Med 931578, 1980. 6. Griffin J, Most AS: Torsade de pointes complicating acute myocardial infarction. AM HEART J 107:169, 1984. 7. Bashour T, Jokhadar M, Cheng TO: Effective management of the long QT syndrome with amiodarone. Chest 79:704, 1981.
Channel Codes and Modulation

This chapter reviews fundamental results of coding and modulation theory that are essential to a full understanding of spread-spectrum systems. Channel codes, which are also called error-correction or error-control codes, are vital in fully exploiting the potential capabilities of spread-spectrum communication systems. Although direct-sequence systems greatly suppress interference, practical systems require channel codes to deal with the residual interference and channel impairments such as fading. Frequency-hopping systems are designed to avoid interference, but the possibility of hopping into an unfavorable spectral region usually requires a channel code to maintain adequate performance. In this chapter, coding and modulation theory [1–5] are used to derive the required receiver computations and the error probabilities of the decoded information bits. The emphasis is on the types of codes and modulation that have proved most useful in spread-spectrum systems.
Composite adaptive control for systems with additive disturbances

A novel control design is presented for the adaptive control of a general MIMO system with a gradient-based composite adaptive update law. The composite update law is driven by tracking and prediction errors with a fixed adaptation gain. An innovative scheme is developed in a swapping procedure that makes use of the recently developed Robust Integral of the Sign of the Error (RISE) technique to generate the prediction error even in the presence of nonlinear-in-the-parameter uncertainties. A Lyapunov-based stability analysis is used to derive sufficient gain conditions under which the proposed controller yields semi-global asymptotic stability for the tracking errors.
Observations of Vertical Motions and Particle Sizes in a Thunderstorm

Abstract By means of a vertically pointing pulsed-doppler radar, observations were made of a growing thunderstorm moving overhead. An updraft having a maximum speed exceeding 19 m sec−1 was observed in the upper part of the cloud. The character of the vertical velocity distribution supports earlier speculations about the pattern of vertical velocity near the top of an updraft. Inferences are made of the characteristics of precipitation in this cloud. The analyses lead to the conclusion that there were hail particles in the cloud. Although maximum echo intensity occurred in regions where hail particles with diameters of about 1 cm were present, maximum backscatter of radar power came from particles about half this size.
A steep slope and small scatter for the high-mass end of the L–σ relation at z ∼ 0.55

We measure the intrinsic relation between velocity dispersion ($\sigma$) and luminosity ($L$) for massive, luminous red galaxies (LRGs) at redshift $z \sim 0.55$. We achieve unprecedented precision by using a sample of 600,000 galaxies with spectra from the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) of the third Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-III), covering a range of stellar masses $M_* \gtrsim 10^{11} M_{\odot}$. We deconvolve the effects of photometric errors, limited spectroscopic signal-to-noise ratio, and red--blue galaxy confusion using a novel hierarchical Bayesian formalism that is generally applicable to any combination of photometric and spectroscopic observables. For an L-$\sigma$ relation of the form $L \propto \sigma^{\beta}$, we find $\beta = 7.8 \pm 1.1$ for $\sigma$ corrected to the effective radius, and a very small intrinsic scatter of $s = 0.047 \pm 0.004$ in $\log_{10} \sigma$ at fixed $L$. No significant redshift evolution is found for these parameters. The evolution of the zero-point within the redshift range considered is consistent with the passive evolution of a galaxy population that formed at redshift $z=2-3$, assuming single stellar populations. An analysis of previously reported results seems to indicate that the passively-evolved high-mass L-$\sigma$ relation at $z\sim0.55$ is consistent with the one measured at $z=0.1$. Our results, in combination with those presented in Montero-Dorta et al. (2014), provide a detailed description of the high-mass end of the red sequence (RS) at $z\sim0.55$. This characterization, in the light of previous literature, suggest that the high-mass RS distribution corresponds to the "core" elliptical population.
Science Fictions and Racial Fables: Navigating the Final Frontier of Genetic Interpretation

The meaning of "race" has been vigorously contested throughout history. Early theories of race assigned social, intellectual, moral and physical values to perceived physical differences among groups of people. The perception that race should be defined in terms of genetic and biological difference fueled the "race science" of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, during which time geneticists, physiognomists, eugenicists, anthropologists and others purported to find scientific justification for denying equal treatment to non-white persons. Nazi Germany applied these understandings of race in a manner which shocked the world, and following World War II the concept of race increasingly came to be understood as a socio-political construction with no biological meaning. Modern theories thus understand race as a special grouping of persons necessary to preserve unbalanced relationships of power.Nonetheless, there has been an increased willingness of late to understand race in terms of biological difference. In particular, federal and state courts in the United States have largely embraced the use of distinct racial DNA databases to form expert opinions on racial genomic probability. Race, however, remains a purely social construct. Scientific evidence that claims the ability to biologically discern race should therefore be rejected by courts as irrelevant, unreliable and unfairly prejudicial. This Article argues that the prevailing socio-political understanding of race is being threatened by an ascendance of modern "race science," and advocates a conception of race that accounts for the teachings of modern genetics, while avoiding a biologically reductionist view of race.
GazeTube: Gaze-Based Adaptive Video Playback for Bandwidth and Power Optimizations

With the popularity of mobile devices for personal entertainment, video streaming over mobile networks has seen a dramatic increase. We observe that users are often interested in just the supporting audio within the videos rather than the visual content, for example, when users play videos to listen to music. New mobile device capabilities such as gaze tracking enable easy detection of such use-cases. We propose to exploit such capabilities to selectively stream audio/video content based on user gaze. This eliminates unnecessary streaming, with twofold advantages: first, it saves precious network bandwidth for ISPs, and second, reduction in video processing decreases device power. Using an android-based gaze-aware media application, we evaluate three strategies: a maximal saving scheme that cuts off video stream at source when user gaze is directed away from the screen; a conservative scheme that reduces video resolution aimed at maintaining user experience, and a third, intermediate scheme that streams the videos at a reduced frame rate. Our evaluation shows that gaze awareness during video streaming can lead to high bandwidth savings that are linearly proportional to Gaze- OFF ratios, and up to 46% power savings on device (up to 28% power savings considering gaze tracking overheads).
“Like Hunted Animals”. The November 1938 Pogroms in Rotenburg an der Fulda: Henny Rothschild’s Letter from 18 October 1939

10 6497, Box 1, Folder 4, Leo Baeck Institute Archives) I came across a lengthy letter written by Henny Rothschild (ne¤ e Lo« wenstein), formerly of Rotenburg an der Fulda, northeastern Hesse, on 18 October 1939 (Figure 3). It was sent to the family of Albert Rothschild (brother of her husband, Meinhold Rothschild), who had been able to emigrate to the United States inJuly 1938, and subsequently resided in
Potential of loblolly pine: switchgrass alley cropping for provision of biofuel feedstock

Integrating bioenergy feedstock production with existing agricultural production systems and available land, resources, economic systems, and communities is critical for long-term sustainability of production systems. The ability of an agroforestry system of loblolly pine and switchgrass to produce biomass feedstock in flood prone sites are strategies to advance towards. The specific objective of this study is to assess and compare the performance of agroforestry against monoculture systems based on land use and production yield, by measuring various efficiency indices. Results across plots indicated biomass yield of switchgrass and loblolly pine grown in monoculture system were consistently higher in comparison to those grown in agroforestry system, where an average of 2.27 Mg/ha year−1 and 2.50 Mg/ha year−1 were seen respectively. The combined analysis of land equivalent ratio (LER) for loblolly pine and switchgrass intercrops, however, was a ratio ranging 1.25–1.74, which shows that pure strand or monoculture system would require 25–74 % more land to produce the same amount of yield relative to intercropping (agroforestry) system. An Agroforestry system has great potential for producing biomass feedstock for bioenergy. Using agroforestry intercropping of woody and perennial herbaceous bioenergy crops enhances combined biomass yield, decreases the need for input, and therefore reduces the cost of biomass production.
A kinetic analysis of the transformation from akaganeite to hematite: An in situ time-resolved X-ray diffraction study

Abstract The nucleation and growth of akaganeite and its transformation to hematite under hydrothermal conditions were monitored over a temperature range of 80 to 200 °C using time-resolved synchrotron X-ray diffraction. In each experiment, akaganeite was the first phase to form and hematite was the final phase. No intermediate phases were identified. The induction time to akaganeite nucleation was ~ 5525 s and 537 s at 80 °C and 100 °C, respectively, yielding an activation energy of 129 ± 15 kJ/mol. However, akaganeite nucleated at a constant temperature of 123 ± 5 °C when the heater set point was 150 °C or higher, suggesting an activation energy for akaganeite nucleation of 0 kJ/mol between 150 and 200 °C. Hematite nucleation induction times decreased with increasing temperature from 1723 s to 110 s between 150 and 200 °C. Based on a JMAK analysis, the activation energies for the crystal growth and dissolution of akaganeite were 74 ± 8 kJ/mol and 125 ± 7 kJ/mol, respectively. Our calculated activation energies for hematite nucleation and crystal growth were 80 ± 13 kJ/mol and 110 ± 21 kJ/mol, respectively.
Distribution of high-volume shoulder arthroplasty surgeons in the United States: Data from the 2014 medicare provider utilization and payment data release

Background: Access to total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) may become a concern in the United States because of an aging and active population resulting in increased demand. As high-volume TSA surgeons have demonstrated superior outcomes, access to these surgeons is a matter of patient and public health policy interest. The release of the 2012 Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data Public Use File (MPUPD-PUF) in 2014 provided volume and reimbursement data for procedures performed by individual physicians participating in Medicare. This study analyzed surgeon prevalence, surgeon distribution, and factors associated with higher or lower surgeon prevalence in metropolitan areas. Methods: The MPUPD-PUF was reviewed for the 2012 calendar year, and data were extracted for all physicians who performed a minimum of 11 TSA procedures for Medicare beneficiaries. Physicians in each major metropolitan area (population of >1 million) were grouped together. Average reimbursement, number of high-volume TSA surgeons, and number of total procedures were calculated per major metropolitan area. The presence of an American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) fellowship program and mean geographic reimbursement were analyzed for association with the number of high-volume TSA surgeons. Results: The MPUPD-PUF included 774 surgeons across the United States who performed an annual minimum of 11 TSA procedures covered by Medicare, with a combined total of 19,505 TSA procedures. Of these surgeons, 45% practiced within major metropolitan areas with a population of >1 million. Surgeons who had completed an ASES fellowship had a higher volume of procedural claims (median, 26; range, 11 to 120) compared with other surgeons (median, 17; range, 11 to 163; p < 0.001). The distribution among major metropolitan areas was highly unequal, and more surgeons were present in cities with an ASES fellowship program. Conclusions: Access to high-volume shoulder arthroplasty surgeons by the Medicare population is lacking in multiple major metropolitan areas in the United States because of the uneven distribution of these surgeons. The method of analysis in this study allows for opportunities to target training programs as well as placement of physicians to ensure access to high-volume shoulder arthroplasty surgeons.
Measuring affiliation in group therapy for substance use disorders in the Women's Recovery Group study: Does it matter whether the group is all-women or mixed-gender?

Background and Objectives A Stage II, two-site randomized clinical trial compared the manualized, single-gender Women's Recovery Group (WRG) to mixed-gender group therapy (Group Drug Counseling; GDC) and demonstrated efficacy. Enhanced affiliation and support in the WRG is a hypothesized mechanism of efficacy. This study sought to extend results of the previous small Stage I trial that showed the rate of supportive affiliative statements occurred more frequently in WRG than GDC. Methods Participants (N = 158; 100 women, 58 men) were 18 years or older, substance dependent, and had used substances within the past 60 days. Women were randomized to WRG (n = 52) or GDC (n = 48). Group therapy videos were coded by two independent raters; Rater 1 coded 20% of videos (n = 74); Rater 2 coded 25% of videos coded by Rater 1 (n = 19). Results The number of affiliative statements made in WRG was 66% higher than in GDC. Three of eight affiliative statement categories occurred more frequently in WRG than GDC: supportive, shared experience, and strategy statements. Discussion and Conclusions This larger Stage II trial provided a greater number of group therapy tapes available for analysis. Results extended our previous findings, demonstrating both greater frequency of all affiliative statements, as well as specific categories of statements, made in single-gender WRG than mixed-gender GDC. Scientific Significance Greater frequency of affiliative statements among group members may be one mechanism of enhanced support and efficacy in women-only WRG compared with standard mixed-gender group therapy for substance use disorders. (Am J Addict 2016;25:573–580)
Interactions between Melanin Enzymes and Their Atypical Recruitment to the Secretory Pathway by Palmitoylation

ABSTRACT Melanins are biopolymers that confer coloration and protection to the host organism against biotic or abiotic insults. The level of protection offered by melanin depends on its biosynthesis and its subcellular localization. Previously, we discovered that Aspergillus fumigatus compartmentalizes melanization in endosomes by recruiting all melanin enzymes to the secretory pathway. Surprisingly, although two laccases involved in the late steps of melanization are conventional secretory proteins, the four enzymes involved in the early steps of melanization lack a signal peptide or a transmembrane domain and are thus considered “atypical” secretory proteins. In this work, we found interactions among melanin enzymes and all melanin enzymes formed protein complexes. Surprisingly, the formation of protein complexes by melanin enzymes was not critical for their trafficking to the endosomal system. By palmitoylation profiling and biochemical analyses, we discovered that all four early melanin enzymes were strongly palmitoylated during conidiation. However, only the polyketide synthase (PKS) Alb1 was strongly palmitoylated during both vegetative hyphal growth and conidiation when constitutively expressed alone. This posttranslational lipid modification correlates the endosomal localization of all early melanin enzymes. Intriguingly, bioinformatic analyses predict that palmitoylation is a common mechanism for potential membrane association of polyketide synthases (PKSs) and nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) in A. fumigatus. Our findings indicate that protein-protein interactions facilitate melanization by metabolic channeling, while posttranslational lipid modifications help recruit the atypical enzymes to the secretory pathway, which is critical for compartmentalization of secondary metabolism. IMPORTANCE Subcellular compartmentalization is increasingly recognized as an important aspect of fungal secondary metabolism. It facilitates sequential enzymatic reactions, provides mobility for enzymes and metabolites, and offers protection against self-toxification. However, how compartmentalization is achieved remains unclear given that the majority of enzymes encoded by secondary metabolism gene clusters are predicted to be cytosolic proteins. Through studying melanization in Aspergillus, we previously found that all enzymes involved in the early steps of melanization are atypical secretory proteins. Here, we discovered physical interactions among melanin enzymes. However, it was the posttranslational palmitoylation rather than the physical interaction that was responsible for their recruitment to the secretory pathway. Intriguingly, palmitoylation is likely a common mechanism for potential membrane association of polyketide synthases (PKSs) and nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) in A. fumigatus. Collectively, our findings suggest that posttranslational lipid modification helps direct secondary metabolism to defined organelles for biosynthesis and trafficking.
Breath-hold PET/CT-guided tumour ablation under general anaesthesia: accuracy of tumour image registration and projected ablation zone overlap

Aim To assess single-breath-hold combined positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for accuracy of tumour image registration and projected ablation volume overlap in patients undergoing percutaneous PET/CT-guided tumour-ablation procedures under general anaesthesia. Materials and methods Eight patients underwent 12 PET/CT-guided tumour-ablation procedures to treat 20 tumours in the lung, liver, or adrenal gland. Using breath-hold PET/CT, the centre of the tumour was marked on each PET and CT acquisition by four readers to assess two- (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) spatial misregistration. Overlap of PET and CT projected ablation volumes were compared using the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC). Interobserver differences were assessed with repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA). Technical success and local progression rates were noted. Results Mean tumour 2D PET/CT misregistrations were 1.02 mm (range 0.01–5.02), 1.89 (0.03–7.85), and 3.05 (0–10) in the x , y , and z planes. Mean 3D misregistration was 4.4 mm (0.36–10.74). Mean projected PET/CT ablation volume DSC was 0.72 (±0.19). No significant interobserver differences in 3D misregistration ( p =0.73) or DSC ( p =0.54) were observed. Technical success of ablations was 100%; one (5.3%) of 19 tumours progressed. Conclusion Accurate spatial registration of tumours and substantial overlap of projected ablation volumes are achievable when comparing PET and CT acquisitions from single-breath-hold PET/CT. The results suggest that tumours visible only at PET could be accurately targeted and ablated using this technique.
A CAMEL DRIVER IN THE ACHAEMENID PERSIAN EMPIRE: SOCIAL NETWORK ANALYSIS OF A NON‐ELITE PROFESSIONAL AND THE PERSEPOLIS FORTIFICATION ARCHIVE

This paper applies social network analysis in a study of the Persepolis Fortification archive to gain a more holistic picture of life in Achaemenid Persepolis. In particular, the paper focuses on translating the data from the archive into a series of network relations and visualizations and then identifying and examining a group of influential non-elites. These data allow for a particularly thorough examination of non-elite social, economic, and cultural choices. One particular non-elite individual, Dakizidda the camel driver, is used as a case study to elucidate the non-elite experience at Persepolis from a social network perspective
Violent Subjects and Rhetorical Cartography in the Age of the Terror Wars, by Heather Ashley Hayes.

The rhetoric surrounding 9/11 and the consequent War on Terror was rooted in fear of violent subjects capable of performing violent actions. In her book, Violent Subjects and Rhetorical Cartography...
Food and beverage consumption and food addiction among women in the Nurses' Health Studies

Abstract Background and aims Previous studies have not addressed a fundamental component of a food addiction disorder: the compulsive relationship between eating and potentially positively reinforcing foods. We aimed to evaluate the association between food consumption and food addiction. Methods We conducted cross-sectional analyses merging data from the Nurses' Health Study (n = 58,625) and Nurses' Health Study II (n = 65,063), two prospective cohort studies of female nurses in the United States. Diet was assessed in 2006–2007 using a food frequency questionnaire, and food addiction was assessed in 2008–2009 using the Modified Yale Food Addiction Scale. Results The prevalence of food addiction was 5.4%. The odds of food addiction were strongest among nurses consuming 5+ servings/week (compared with Conclusions This epidemiologic study was the largest to examine food consumption and food addiction. Food addiction was positively associated with consumption of many hypothesized positively reinforcing foods that include a combination of carbohydrates and fats such as snacks, “fast foods,” and candy bars. However, it was inversely or not associated with certain sweet foods, refined grains, and sugar-sweetened beverages, which is consistent with literature suggesting that carbohydrates (without other ingredients) are less associated with food addiction. Longitudinal analyses will help untangle the temporal order between food consumption and food addiction, as some relationships in our analyses were difficult to interpret due to the cross-sectional design.
Product Stewardship in the United States: The Changing Policy Landscape and the Role of Business

Since I came to the United States almost twelve years ago, I have been astonished by the rate of consumption and the enormous amount of waste generated by people and organizations. Could Americans ...
Tuning the redox profiles of polyoxovanadate-alkoxide clusters via heterometal installation: toward designer redox Reagents

Herein, we describe a rational synthetic approach for tuning the electrochemical profiles of a series of Lindqvist polyoxovanadate-alkoxide clusters through heterometal functionalization. Synthetic procedures for group(IV) functionalization of the mixed-valent POV-alkoxide cluster, [V6O7(OCH3)12], are established, resulting in the heterometallic species, [NBu4][V5O6(OCH3)12MOCH3] (M = Ti, Zr, Hf). We demonstrate that these d0, heterometallic dopants anodically shift the potential of the electrochemical processes associated with the cluster, making the molecule more resistant to oxidation. Conversely, incorporation of electron rich heterometals yields a more readily oxidized molecule, with redox processes shifted cathodically. The predictable tuning and remarkable electrochemical profiles of this family of heterometal-functionalized polyoxometalates highlights their potential use as designer redox agents.
Who Posts Online Customer Reviews? the Role of Sociodemographics and Personality Traits

Online customer reviews (OCRs) are becoming increasing popular among consumers who read them to make informed decisions about products and services. However, little attention has been given to factors that influence those who generate OCRs. This study aims to fill this gap by exploring the sociodemographic characteristics and personality traits associated with positive and negative OCR creation. Logistic regression analysis shows that age has a quadratic (inverse U-shaped) effect on the likelihood of posting an OCR. Moreover, openness to new experiences, agreeableness, and conscientiousness are significant predictors of OCR creation. These findings may help marketers develop OCR platforms that encourage positive reviews
Computational communities: African-American cultural capital in computer science education

AbstractEnrolling the cultural capital of underrepresented communities in PK-12 technology and curriculum design has been a primary strategy for broadening the participation of students of color in U.S. computer science (CS) fields. This article examines two ways that African-American cultural capital and computing can be bridged in CS education. The first is community representation, using cultural capital to highlight students’ social identities and networks through computational thinking. The second, computational integration, locates computation in cultural capital itself. I survey two risks – the appearance of shallow computing and the reproduction of assimilationist logics – that may arise when constructing one bridge without the other. To avoid these risks, I introduce the concept of computational communities by exploring areas in CS education that employ both strategies. This concept is then grounded in qualitative data from an after school program that connected CS to African-American cosmetology.
Estimating the magnitude of benefits from adjuvant therapy.

The physician at the bedside considering the appropriateness of a treatment for a particular patient should ask at least five questions: 1 Does the therapy have any benefit? 2 What is the nature of the benefit? Does it improve patient survival? Quality of life? 3 What is the magnitude of the benefit? 4 Does the benefit outweigh the cost? 5 Are the available data applicable to this particular patient? Were the patients included in the clinical trial enough like this patient to conclude that benefits observed in the trial apply in this clinical situation as well?
Modeling Health Outcomes for Economic Analysis

Measuring health outcomes is critical for individual and societal decision making. This chapter briefly reviews the field of health outcomes modeling in general and provides detailed theoretical background for one specific class of such models, the Quality-Adjusted Life Years model, which is primarily grounded in operations research and utility theory. The chapter describes methodological issues and concludes with a discussion of promising areas for further research.
Identification of Alternatively Spliced mRNAs and Localization of 5' Ends by Polymerase Chain Reaction Amplification

Messenger RNAs of higher eucaryotes are usually modified posttran-scriptionally to contain 5' caps and nucleotide methylation, 3' polyadenylation, and one or more internal splices to remove introns and join exon segments into the mature protein-coding sequences. With the abilities of retroviral reverse transcriptases to create complementary DNA (cDNA) copies of RNA and of thermostable DNA polymerases to amplify specific DNA segments by repeated cycles of denaturation of duplex templates, annealing of complementary oligonucleotide primers, and strand elongation, it is becoming increasingly popular to use this highly sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to isolate partial cDNA sequences for the purpose of identifying RNA splice sites and inferring the coding capacity. The splice junction information from the partial cDNAs, together with additional biophysical or biochemical information, can then be employed to map the 5' ends of the mRNAs and assign the AUG protein initiation codon and open reading frame to the message.
Estimates of Acid Deposition Control Benefits: A Bayesian Perspective

Most conceptions of rationality require that intelligent choices be grounded in beliefs about consequences for personal or collective values. As March (1978) argues, actual human behavior often follows other logics having their own claims to intelligence; nevertheless, the choices that persons, institutions, and societies make are frequently guided by calculations of the benefits and the costs that alternative actions are expected to bring. These calculations involve two kinds of conjectures about the future, conditional on current actions. The first conjecture is a statement of belief about probable future world states; the second is an estimate of probable future expressions of preferences. Those who make the calculations combine the conjectures to produce weighted averages of the values of the identified alternatives, where each weight is a degree of belief that a particular set of consequences will be realized. The expected values that result are supposed to inform the decisionmaker’s choice, though not to absolve him from accountability.
Does the Coexistence of Multiple Segmental Rib Fractures in Polytrauma Patients Presenting With "Major" Vertebral Fracture Affect Care and Acute Outcomes?

Objective To determine whether operating on "major" vertebral fractures leads to premature abortion of surgery and/or other acute cardiopulmonary complications. Design Retrospective review. Clinical setting Level 1 trauma center. Patients/participants and intervention We retrospectively queried our institutional Trauma Rregistry for all cases presenting with concomitant rib fractures and surgically managed vertebral fractures. Main outcome measurements The main outcomes included the surgical outcome (aborted vs. successfully performed), total and Intensive Care Unit length of stay (LOS), adverse discharge, mortality, and functional outcomes. Results We found 57 cases with concomitant segmental rib fractures and surgically managed vertebral fractures. Seven patients (12%) received a rib fixation, of which 1 received before vertebral fixation and 6 after. Importantly, 4 vertebral fixation cases (7.02%) had to be aborted intraoperatively because of the inability to tolerate prone positioning for surgery. For case-control analysis, we performed propensity score matching to obtain matched controls, that is, cases of vertebral fixation but no rib fractures. On matched case-control analysis, patients with concomitant segmental rib fractures and vertebral fractures were found to have higher Intensive Care Unit LOS [median = 3 days (Inter-Quartile Range = 0-9) versus. 8.4 days, P = 0.003], whereas total LOS, frequency of complete, incomplete or functional spinal cord injury, discharge to rehab, and discharge to nursing home were found to be similar between the 2 groups. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that segmental rib fractures with concomitant vertebral fractures undergoing surgical treatment represent a subset of patients that may be at increased risk of intraoperative cardio-pulmonary complications and rib fixation before prone spine surgery for cases in which the neurological status is stable is reasonable. Level of evidence Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Decorated fibrous silica epoxy coating exhibiting anti-corrosion properties

Abstract In this paper we report a simple approach of preparation of fibrous superhydrophobic silica employing a low cost and scalable methodology. The prepared superhydrophobic fibrous silica was characterized using thermal gravimetric analysis, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR) and 13C solid-state NMR spectroscopy. The findings revealed that the hydrophobic alkyl chains were introduced into silica particles via modification and the fibrous silica particles were modified from a hydrophilic to hydrophobic nature. TEM analysis revealed that the unique morphology of the fibrous silica remained intact after its modification with alkoxysilane reagents. The particles were spatially stuck on the surface of the epoxy resin coating with the purpose to create a rough surface with random micro/nano structures. The prepared superhydrophobic surface exhibited robust water-repellent surface, excellent durability and corrosion resistance. It not only introduces a cost-effective process for superhydrophobic modification of epoxy coating, but also provides a promising strategy to protect metals by simultaneously combining the protective functions of both superhydrophobic surface and organic protective coating, which could be employed for large-scale industrial fabrication of superhydrophobic epoxy coating onto steel materials.
A Study of Public Park and Recreation Professionals’ Career Bridge Employment Intentions

The number of professionals retiring from public parks and recreation agencies is increasing. This growing number of retirees raises significant challenges (and potential opportunities) for these agencies as they manage this loss of institutional capital. Anecdotal evidence suggests that while some professionals elect to pursue a traditional retirement route by transitioning from full-time employment to full-time retirement, a growing number are choosing to return to the workforce after they retire from their career jobs. Referred to as “bridge” employment experiences, these post-retirement jobs act as transitions between long-term career positions and total retirement. These bridge employment experiences have been found to range from part-time work, self-employment, and temporary employment to full-time employment. Despite these trends, little work has been done to explore the bridge employment phenomenon within the recreation profession. The purpose of this study was to explore possible predictors of public park and recreation professionals’ career bridge employment intentions. Social Cognitive Theory was selected as the theoretical framework for the study to determine the impact of three individual factors (financial preparedness, job satisfaction, physical health) and three environmental factors (social retirement anxiety, career attachment, and professional development opportunities) on career bridge employment intentions. Two hundred and twenty-seven public park and recreation professionals who anticipated retiring within the next 10 years and were currently employed on a full-time basis completed an online survey that was used to measure the variables of interest. Analyses indicated career bridge employment intentions were influenced by professionals’ financial preparedness, social retirement anxiety, career attachment, and professional development opportunities. Interestingly, job satisfaction and physical health perceptions were not found to significantly impact career bridge employment intentions. Overall, the findings suggest that there is a career transition and socialization process that arises as professionals near the retirement phase of their career. The study’s findings identified a few areas of concern and/or opportunities for professionals and their agencies. First, professionals who perceived to be less financially prepared for retirement or who had anxieties about disrupting long-standing friendships and support networks within the workplace were more likely to pursue bridge employment. Secondly, the findings suggest that professionals with stronger career attachment and who were more pleased with the quality and quantity of professional development opportunities were more interested in bridge employment. Subscribe to JPRA
Controlling shape memory effects in NiTi thin films grown on Ru seed layer

Abstract NiTi thin films with robust shape memory effects and low deposition temperatures are greatly desired for microelectronic devices. However, sub-micron films deposited below 425 °C usually have amorphous structure and must be post-annealed to achieve full crystallization. In this article, using Ru as a seed layer, we demonstrate growth of NiTi films as thin as 120 nm with in-situ crystallization at 325 °C. NiTi thin films with a wide range of growth parameters including deposition temperature and film thickness were investigated. Shape memory effects were characterized using stress bow and resistivity studies. Structural information across the R-phase to austenite transformation was obtained using X-ray diffraction. NiTi thin films exhibited a narrow hysteresis during R-phase to austenite phase transition near 60 °C while possessing good shape memory properties.
Jubilee in the Bible

The concept of the Jubilee, or the collective forgiveness of all debts and debtor/slaves, had its origins in the Ancient Near East where it was a secular practice of kings. It came into the Bible o...
Religious Giving as a Guide to the Principles of Good Taxation

The principles of good taxation are a set of guiding values necessary for any responsible state to consider in constructing their tax policy. The principles are derived from various philosophical and economic discussions including but not limited to the role of the state, ownership of natural resources, the optimal size of the state, the emphasis on individual versus community rights, and what is reasonable. Adam Smith (1776) initiated the discussion on the principles of good taxation including equality, certainty, convenience and economy. Others have expanded and articulated the principles to include reasonable and neutral. Curran (2001), Hamill (2006), and others have considered the principles of good taxation from a religious viewpoint. Along different lines, Croteau (2005) develops the principles of giving for a religious institution. As religious institutions rely on giving in a similar manner that states rely on taxes, it is useful to review the principles of good taxation in comparison to the principles of giving. This research finds strong consistency between the principles of good taxation and the principles of giving. Additionally, the principles of giving make a strong argument for elevating the importance of effective allocation of tax revenues as a principle of tax collections.
Structural determinants of macrocyclization in substrate-controlled lanthipeptide biosynthetic pathways

Lanthipeptides are characterized by thioether crosslinks formed by post-translational modifications. The cyclization process that favors a single ring pattern over many other possible ring patterns has been the topic of much speculation. Recent studies suggest that for some systems the cyclization pattern and stereochemistry is determined not by the enzyme, but by the sequence of the precursor peptide. However, the factors that govern the outcome of the cyclization process are not understood. This study presents the three-dimensional structures of seven lanthipeptides determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, including five prochlorosins and the two peptides that make up cytolysin, a virulence factor produced by Enterococcus faecalis that is directly linked to human disease. These peptides were chosen because their substrate sequence determines either the ring pattern (prochlorosins) or the stereochemistry of cyclization (cytolysins). We present the structures of prochlorosins 1.1, 2.1, 2.8, 2.10 and 2.11, the first three-dimensional structures of prochlorosins. Our findings provide insights into the molecular determinants of cyclization as well as why some prochlorosins may be better starting points for library generation than others. The structures of the large and small subunits of the enterococcal cytolysin show that these peptides have long helical stretches, a rare observation for lanthipeptides characterized to date. These helices may explain their pore forming activity and suggest that the small subunit may recognize a molecular target followed by recruitment of the large subunit to span the membrane.
Application of Genetic Algorithm in Tri-band U-slot Microstrip Antenna Design

In this research, a genetic algorithm combined with a method of moments (MoM) software were utilized to optimize a microstrip patch antenna with a complicated structure to achieve tri-band characteristic. The design consisted of a probe-fed air-substrate single-layer patch antenna loaded with three asymmetrical U-slots. When the three U-slots with appropriate dimensions were suitably placed on the patch, three desired bands formed. The optimal solution to the design problem was obtained by using the genetic algorithm. The optimization strategy and procedure used in this work are discussed. The simulation of the antenna operations was performed to verify the reliability of this optimization method. The proposed antenna provided three bands at 1.935 − 2.027 GHz, 2.59 − 2.705 GHz and 3.106 − 3.289 GHz with the maximum gains of 8.34, 8.75 and 7.56 dBi respectively, at the center frequencies of each band. The proposed antenna is applicable for WCDMA and WiMAX applications.
Novel Application of Iterative Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Unresectable Peritoneal Metastases from High-Grade Appendiceal Ex-Goblet Adenocarcinoma

Peritoneal metastases (PMs) from appendiceal ex-goblet adenocarcinoma (AEGA) are associated with a poor prognosis. While cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has been shown to prolong survival, the majority of patients are ineligible for complete cytoreduction. We describe a novel approach to the management of such patients with iterative HIPEC (IHIPEC). Patients with signet ring/poorly differentiated AEGA with high Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI) and extensive bowel involvement underwent IHIPEC with mitomycin C at 6-week intervals for a total of three cycles. Survival outcomes for these patients were compared with patients with high-grade appendiceal tumors matched for tumor burden who were treated with other conventional approaches, i.e. systemic chemotherapy only (SCO) or complete CRS + HIPEC. Between 2016 and 2019, seven AEGA patients with high PCI (median 32.5 [range 21–36]) underwent 18 IHIPEC cycles (median cycles per patient 3 [2–3]) in combination with systemic chemotherapy (median 2 lines [1–3], 12 cycles [10–28]). IHIPEC was delivered laparoscopically in 14/18 cases. Postoperatively, the median length of stay was 1 day (1–8 days), no procedure-related complications were reported, and five (28%) 90-day readmissions for bowel obstruction were documented. Median overall survival after IHIPEC was better compared with a matched group of patients (n = 16) receiving SCO (24.6 vs. 7.9 months; p = 0.005), and similar to those (n = 7) who underwent CRS + HIPEC (24.6 vs. 16.5 months; p = 0.62). IHIPEC in combination with systemic chemotherapy is tolerable, safe, and may be associated with encouraging survival outcomes compared with SCO in selected patients with high-grade, high-burden AEGA PM.
Circumcision and Disorders of the Penis

Circumcision is one of the most common procedures performed on newborns and children. Substantial controversy exists surrounding indications to perform a circumcision. Providers should be aware of the normal penile anatomy as well as the potential disorders or abnormalities of the penis commonly seen in pediatric patients.