cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
APOE is associated with age-of-onset, but not cognitive functioning, in late-life depression.

Objective There is a recognized but poorly understood relationship between late-life depression (LLD) and progressive dementia. Both cognitive impairment co-occurring with LLD and a late age-of-onset of first lifetime depressive episode appear to be associated with subsequent progressive dementia. A history of major depression, especially when the first onset occurs in late-life, has been identified as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). The major genetic risk factor for sporadic AD is carrying one or more apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) alleles. We hypothesized that the association between LLD and dementia risk would be mediated by APOE4, specifically that APOE4 allele frequency would be associated with cognitive impairment and later age-of-depression-onset. We also predicted that APOE4 allele frequency would be increased among subjects with LLD. Methods We compared the distribution of APOE2, APOE3, and APOE4 alleles in groups of LLD (n=160), AD (n=568) and elderly control (EC; n=156) subjects. Results The allele distribution of the cognitively impaired LLD subgroup was not different from either the cognitively normal subgroup or the EC group but was different from the AD group. However, mean age-of-onset of depression in APOE4 carriers (51.4±20.7) was significantly lower than non-carriers (58.8±16.8). The allele distribution in LLD overall was significantly different from the AD but not the EC group. Conclusions The finding that neither LLD, accompanying cognitive impairment, nor late age-of-onset was associated with an increased APOE4 allele frequency suggests that LLD acts as a risk factor for developing AD as well as non-AD dementia through mechanisms independent of APOE4. The unexpected finding that age-of-onset of LLD was significantly reduced in APOE4 carriers is similar to the association between APOE4 and age-of-onset in AD. Replication of the association of APOE4 with earlier age-of-depression-onset is indicated. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Sponsors of Sex Offender Bills Speak Up Policy Makers’ Perceptions of Sex Offenders, Sex Crimes, and Sex Offender Legislation

In the first investigation of its kind, a national U.S. sample of state-level policy makers (N = 61) were interviewed about their perceptions of the sexual offenders in their state, their state’s s...
β-Cells Step Up in Controlling the Autoimmune Response

During the autoimmune response, when autoantigens are presented in addition to signals induced upon T-cell receptor engagement, T-cell activation requires the engagement of their costimulatory receptors by ligands on antigen-presenting cells (APCs) (1–3). The number of known costimulatory receptor/ligand pairs has grown significantly over the last decade (2,3), and it is now clear that costimulatory receptors can deliver signals either enhancing or inhibiting T-cell activation, thus determining the fate of the immune response (4). Classically, costimulatory molecule ligands were found on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II–expressing cells (so-called “professional APCs”), yet new data have demonstrated parenchymal expression of costimulatory ligands (e.g., in pancreatic islets) (5), thus providing a second level of immune response regulation in situ (6). Many players appear to have a role in the interaction between the immune system and β-cells: the classical costimulatory molecule B7.1 (or CD80), a receptor expressed by APCs and parenchymal cells that engages the T-cell ligand CD28 and thus activates the immune system (9); programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1), an inhibitory receptor induced on activated T-, B-, and myeloid cells; and finally, the ligand for PD-1 (PD-L1 or B7-H1), which is constitutively expressed in parenchymal organs (10–12). Triggering negative signals through the interaction of PD-1 and PD-L1 could inhibit T-cell activation as well as the migration of T-cells into peripheral tissues (10–13). In NOD mice, islet PD-L1 expression has been shown to protect …
Commercial Association in Thirteenth-Century Lucca

Professor Blomquist describes and analyzes various forms of business association in an important northern Italian city during the period of economic growth in the thirteenth century. These included two basic forms of partnerships, as well as an early version of limited liability association.
The kinetics of Brønsted acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of hemicellulose dissolved in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride

The conversion of plant biomass provides a sustainable pathway towards the production of renewable fuels. Hemicellulose, a readily available form of biomass, can be catalytically converted to provide a range of fuel molecules, from furans and sugar alcohols to alkanes and aromatics. Using ionic liquids as solvent and Bronsted acid catalysts for biomass deconstruction, we investigated the kinetics of hemicellulose (xylan) hydrolysis and the subsequent dehydration/degradation reactions. These findings were compared to those found for similar reactions involving cellulose. In 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Emim][Cl]) at 80 °C, we report that hemicellulose can be hydrolyzed to xylose in 90% yield, with 5 wt % dehydration products and 4 wt % humins, when water is added stepwise. This chemical process presents a viable pathway for producing sugars capable of being chemically (via dehydration/hydrogenation) or biologically (via fermentation) upgraded to potential fuel molecules.
Essay: The Transition from the Inquisitorial to the Accusatorial System of Trial Procedure: Why Some Latin American Lawyers Hesitate

The article is born of my experience teaching American-style trial advocacy to over 15 groups of Latin American lawyers coming from countries in transition from the inquisitorial to the accusatorial model. The first part of the article reviews the principal differences in the two systems as it affects trial procedure. The article then reviews those aspects of accusatorial trial proceedings that caused the greatest degree of discomfort to the foreign lawyers. Finally, the article attempts to posit a few recommendations that should help not only to ease the transition process but also to anticipate the next level of procedural and substantive obstacles.
Relating ground, aircraft and satellite radiance measurements: spectral and spatial considerations

Abstract This communication identifies factors that should be accounted for when using ground radiance measurements to calibrate aircraft or satellite sensors. They include both spatial and spectral instrument characteristics which interact with the heterogeneity, spectral characteristics, and optical anisotropy of ground cover. Unfortunately, since instrument calibration data are not readily available, meaningful intercomparisons are not easily possible.
A Pattern Generation Technique for Maximizing Power Supply Currents

Max-current analysis is essential in power rail design and power supply switching noise analysis. Traditionally, maximum current from all CMOS gates are added together to compute maximum current level. This approach ignores all Boolean relationships. The problem of finding the input vector pair that will cause worst case current draw from the power rails when Boolean relationships are considered is an NP-hard problem. In this paper, we propose a Current Maximizing Pattern Generation (CMPG) algorithm which greatly reduces the computational complexity by using a parameterized branch-and-bound heuristic that prunes the search space by looking for a lower as well as an upper bound for maximum switching currents. When allowed to proceed indefinitely, the CMPG algorithm converges on an exact solution instead of finding upper and lower bounds. When coupled with a switch level SAT solver, CMPG can generate patterns for cell library characterization.
Early wealth effects of regional ADRs: A comparison of Latin American and European issues listed on the NYSE

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine what types of short-term wealth effects accrued to European and Latin American American Depository Receipt (ADR) investors and whether these were affected by the type of issue (initial public offerings (IPO) vs seasoned equity offerings (SEO)) or the date of issue (1990s vs 2000s). Design/methodology/approach – Standard ADR and IPO excess return methodology is utilized to compute and test excess returns against a US investment benchmark. This methodology is used in many ADR and IPO studies. Findings – European SEOs listed in the 2000s did better than those listed in the 1990s. The results for European IPOs were the opposite. Latin American SEOs did better relative to the US market index for issues listed in the 1990s as compared to those listed in the 2000s. Once again the results for Latin American IPOs were the opposite. Originality/value – This study differs from previous studies by emphasizing differences in short-term return behaviour for Latin Amer...
Neural ensemble activity from multiple brain regions predicts kinematic and dynamic variables in a multiple force field reaching task

In everyday life, we reach, grasp, and manipulate a variety of different objects all with their own dynamic properties. This degree of adaptability is essential for a brain-controlled prosthetic arm to work in the real world. In this study, rats were trained to make reaching movements while holding a torque manipulandum working against two distinct loads. Neural recordings obtained from arrays of 32 microelectrodes spanning the motor cortex were used to predict several movement related variables. In this paper, we demonstrate that a simple linear regression model can translate neural activity into endpoint position of a robotic manipulandum even while the animal controlling it works against different loads. A second regression model can predict, with 100% accuracy, which of the two loads is being manipulated by the animal. Finally, a third model predicts the work needed to move the manipulandum endpoint. This prediction is significantly better than that for position. In each case, the regression model uses a single set of weights. Thus, the neural ensemble is capable of providing the information necessary to compensate for at least two distinct load conditions.
Conformal method to eliminate the ADI-FDTD staircasing errors

The alternating-direction-implicit finite-difference time-domain (ADI-FDTD) method is an unconditionally stable method and allows the time step to be increased beyond the Courant-Friedrich-Levy (CFL) stability condition. This method is potentially very useful for modeling electrically small but complex features often encountered in applications. As the regular FDTD method, however, the spatial discretization in the ADI-FDTD method is only first-order accurate for discontinuous media; several researchers have shown that the errors can be very high when the regular ADI-FDTD method is applied to such discontinuous media. On the other hand, the conformal FDTD method has recently emerged as an efficient FDTD method with higher order accuracy. In this work, a second-order accurate ADI-FDTD method using the conformal approximation of spatial derivatives is proposed. This new scheme, called the ADI-CFDTD method, retains the second-order accuracy in both temporal and spatial discretizations even for discontinuous media with metallic structures, and is unconditionally stable. 2D and 3D examples demonstrate the efficacy of this method and its application in EMC problems.
A Technique for Isolated Arthrodesis for Inflammatory Arthritis of the Talonavicular Joint

There are few reports in the literature documenting the efficacy of isolated arthrodesis for inflammatory arthritis of the talonavicular joint. Accordingly, we reviewed a single surgeon's experience with this procedure in twenty consecutive cases from this patient population. A technique using indirect joint distraction and the combined use of screw and staple fixation was employed. Solid arthrodesis was noted radiographically in 19 of 20 feet (95%) at an average of 11 weeks. Complications included one non-union, one deep venous thrombosis, and one superficial wound infection. Objective results were graded as excellent in 16 cases, good in 3 cases, and poor in one case. Subjectively, 18 patients were satisfied and one patient dissatisfied with the results of the procedure. It is concluded that isolated arthrodesis is an effective procedure for the treatment of inflammatory arthritis of the talonavicular joint, offering significant pain relief and improved function. Additionally, the use of indirect joint distraction and fixation with screws and staples is a reliable technique associated with an excellent fusion rate.
Self-Concepts of Gifted Children in Enrichment Programs

Sixty children in grades 3 to 8 served as subjects in a study of self-concept changes after participation in a creative enrichment, pullout program for the gifted. Results showed positive gains on ...
Climate change: When did the icehouse cometh?

The concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide decreased between 45 million and 25 million years ago, a trend accompanied by glaciation at the poles. Modelling results suggest when and where the ice closed in.
Landscapes of Postmodernity: Changes in the Built Fabric of Belgrade and Sofia Since the End of Socialism

In this article, I discuss recent physical changes in the built fabric of the Serbian capital of Belgrade and the Bulgarian capital of Sofia. I apply two bodies of literature, involving postsocialist urban transitions and postmodern urban transitions. I present empirical observations on changes in building functions, scales, and styles in both cities. I show that certain general common traits prevail in the evolution of urban forms in both Belgrade and Sofia, but I also argue that the contrasting social and cultural experiences of Serbia and Bulgaria during socialism and postsocialism produced some locally specific results. I further suggest that post-socialist cities represent textbook examples of urban postmodernization, much as socialist cities epitomized the essential legacy of modernist urbanity.
Unpacking Pat Parker: Intersections and Revolutions in "Movement in Black".

This article explores Pat Parker's poem “Movement in Black.” It examines the ways in which she emblematizes intersectionality and simultaneity as forms of revolution in struggles of self and society. It begins with a theoretical and historical apparatus to contextualize Parker as an artist and activist. Then it offers a literary analysis of the poem, focusing on themes of time and space, marginalization and movement, difference and power, visibility and invisibility, and history and memory. It argues that Parker uses autobiographical writing to fuse personal and political sites of resistance.
“You kill the dam, you are killing a part of me”: Dam removal and the environmental politics of river restoration

Abstract River restoration through dam removal provides an opportunity to investigate the changing nature of environmental conflicts and politics in long-humanized landscapes. In New England, where over 14,000 dams fragment the region’s rivers, dam removals are often highly contested. This is due, in part, to how the intertwined roles of history, identity, and aesthetics coalesce to create attachment to place and inspire the defense of dammed landscapes. Dam removal provides a useful lens to consider the following: How do the historical and geographical contingencies of this region shape and alter conflicts over dam removal in specific ways? In instances where conflicts emerge, what do the conflicts reveal about the politics of ecological restoration in highly altered landscapes? We use a political ecology approach to reveal how complex cultural dynamics, competing interpretations of science and the environment, micropolitics, and the role of multiple actors generate and shape conflicts over dam removal. We show that the historical geography of New England influence conflicts over removal in important ways, particularly with regard to the roles of aesthetics and identity in landscapes that are characterized largely by consumptive as opposed to productive uses. Our findings also suggest that restoration in long-humanized landscapes will embroil new constellations of human and nonhuman actors, requiring attention to the political and cultural, as well as the ecological, dimensions of restoration. This paper contributes to research on the political and social dimensions of dam removal, as well as to research at the nexus of ecological restoration and environmental politics.
Improved Uniformity of Reacted GaAs Contacts by Interface Mixing

Ion beam mixing is used to produce more uniform Au. Au-Ge and Au-Ge-Ni reacted contacts to GaAs.
Natural Control of Caterpillar Populations on Cole Crops

In the region of Ithaca, N. Y., both Pieris rapae (L.), the imported eabbageworm, and Plutella maculipennis (Curtis), the diamondback moth, were more abundant on cole plants than Trichoplusia in (HUbner), the cabbage looper. By weight the order of abundance was P. rapae, P. macuHpennis , and T. ni. All three caterpillars were heavily parasitized by their respective parasite complexes, and this aided greatly in controlling the pests. The species of parasite most important one season was not necessarily the most abundant one the following season. Weather and density of caterpillars probably played an important role in determining the abundance of the parasites the year following. Predators contributed to the control of the caterpillars, but their quantitative effect could not be determined in the present design. Many factors determined when during the season the three caterpillars were abundant, and because of this it is difficult without many years of study to predict when the eaterpillars will be abundant during anyone season.
βSn grain boundary structure and self-diffusivity via molecular dynamics simulation

The self-diffusion properties of several βSn symmetric tilt grain boundaries are examined using molecular dynamics simulations. The boundary types examined---(101), (201), (401), (310)-Σ5, and (410)---are chosen from those observed in experiment and from arbitrary Miller planes, giving a variety of tilt angles and interface properties. Planar structure factor and diffusivity profiles for each boundary are computed and a grain boundary width, δGB, is measured from these profiles. Larger diffusive widths (δGB) are exhibited by higher excess potential energy grain boundaries. Diffusivities (DGB) in the directions parallel to the interface plane are computed and activation energies are found with the Arrhenius relation. DGB (as δGBDGB normalized by δGB) is shown to agree well with experiment. We also investigate the anisotropic diffusive behavior of the (401) grain boundary and find that the low energy grain boundary exhibits very low activation energy diffusion, due to the development of diffusive channels.
Sequence Permutation of Positive Charges in a Model Peptide Antibiotic Produces Differing Enthalpic and Entropic Contributions to the Lipid-Peptide Binding Affinity

With rising disease rates and decreasing effectiveness of conventional antibiotics, there is an immediate need for new antibiotics. One promising solution is through cationic antimicrobial peptides, which act by perturbing bacterial membranes. The interaction of model peptides with membranes can provide valuable information about the role of helical structure and peptide charge distribution on peptide-membrane interactions. We are investigating model peptide antibiotics composed primarily of the hydrophobic dialkylated amino acid Aib (α-aminoisobutyric acid), which imparts a strong 310-helical bias due to steric hindrance at the α-carbon. Cationic lysine residues are placed in adjacent locations in the center of the helix (KK45) or one full turn apart (KK36). Large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) composed of DMPC or DMPG were used as zwitterionic or anionic membrane models, respectively. NMR data indicates that in a membrane mimicing solvent (DMSO), KK45 adopts a kinked helical stucture, while KK36 adopts a canonical helical structure. We have previously seen that KK45 binding to anionic micells is more favorable than binding of KK36 to anionic micelles. However, unlike binding to micelles, NMR data suggests that binding of peptides to DMPG vesicles is more favorable for KK36 than for KK45. Here we present thermodynamic data characterizing the peptide-LUV interactions using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Preliminary data suggests that binding to DMPG vesicles is exothermic, while binding to DMPC vesicles is endothermic. Complete characterization of the enthalpy of binding, entropy of binding, and thermodynamic binding constant will allow us to elucidate the relationship between peptide structure and the favorability of membrane binding.
Size-dependent physiological responses of the branching coral Pocillopora verrucosa to elevated temperature and PCO2.

Body size has large effects on organism physiology, but these effects remain poorly understood in modular animals with complex morphologies. Using two trials of a ∼24 day experiment conducted in 2014 and 2015, we tested the hypothesis that colony size of the coral Pocillopora verrucosa affects the response of calcification, aerobic respiration and gross photosynthesis to temperature (∼26.5 and ∼29.7°C) and P CO2 (∼40 and ∼1000 µatm). Large corals calcified more than small corals, but at a slower size-specific rate; area-normalized calcification declined with size. Whole-colony and area-normalized calcification were unaffected by temperature, P CO2, or the interaction between the two. Whole-colony respiration increased with colony size, but the slopes of these relationships differed between treatments. Area-normalized gross photosynthesis declined with colony size, but whole-colony photosynthesis was unaffected by P CO2, and showed a weak response to temperature. When scaled up to predict the response of large corals, area-normalized metrics of physiological performance measured using small corals provide inaccurate estimates of the physiological performance of large colonies. Together, these results demonstrate the importance of colony size in modulating the response of branching corals to elevated temperature and high P CO2.
Charter Members of the MAA and the Material Culture of American Mathematics

In the early twentieth century, growing use of numbers, combined with burgeoning high school enrollments and expanding technical education, encouraged the expansion of college mathematics teaching in the United States. It was an era when like-minded educators banded together in professional associations. In 1915, mathematicians met to establish the Mathematical Association of America. Physical objects associated with several charter members of the MAA survive in the collections of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. They well represent the diverse concerns of the early membership. These ranged from research on prime numbers to creating geometric models for the classroom to encouraging recreational mathematics to exploring aspects of the history of mathematics.
Post-Transcriptional Defects and Erythroid Pathobiology

A great body of work has focused on understanding the role that gene regulation at the transcriptional level plays in blood cell production and diseases that disrupt this process. However, until recently there has been limited insight on the role that post-transcriptional gene regulation has in both normal and pathological disorders of human hematopoiesis. Specifically, the regulation of messenger RNA translation can have a significant impact upon gene expression, and how this process affects hematopoiesis has only been explored in limited studies. In this talk, the role of ribosomal protein gene mutations in the specific disorder of red blood cell production, Diamond-Blackfan anemia, will be discussed. Recent findings from our laboratory show that mutations in the key hematopoietic transcription factor gene, GATA1 , can result in Diamond-Blackfan anemia in rare cases. We have gone on to show that more common mutations in ribosomal protein genes can disrupt translation of GATA1 and thereby suggest a common underlying mechanism for the impaired erythropoiesis observed in Diamond-Blackfan anemia. We discuss both the mechanistic underpinnings of our observations and how these findings have important therapeutic implications. Other recent examples of how disordered translation can impair human hematopoiesis will also be examined. This talk will provide a cohesive framework to understand the implications of these recent findings for both normal and disordered human hematopoiesis. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
The Construct Validity of the Hooper Visual Organization Test

Although the Hooper Visual Organization Test (VOT) is commonly described as a measure of "visual-spatial integration," face validity suggests it measures global visual-spatial intelligence similar to the revised edition of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-R) performance IQ (PIQ) subtests. The present study investigated the construct validity of the VOT by comparing it to conceptually similar and dissimilar cognitive abilities in a principal components factor analysis of 240 participants with cognitive impairment. Results indicated that the VOT falls within a global visual-spatial factor and shares the following variance with the other tests that loaded on this factor: WAIS-R PIQ subtests, 12% to 23%; Category Test, 11%; the revised edition of the Wechsler Memory Scale Visual Reproduction I subtest, 10%; and the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure, 9%. Previous studies, current results, and face validity suggest the VOT is best considered a measure of global visual-spatial intelligence. Clinical implications are discussed.
Detailed Investigation and Comparison of the XCMS and MZmine 2 Chromatogram Construction and Chromatographic Peak Detection Methods for Preprocessing Mass Spectrometry Metabolomics Data.

XCMS and MZmine 2 are two widely used software packages for preprocessing untargeted LC/MS metabolomics data. Both construct extracted ion chromatograms (EICs) and detect peaks from the EICs, the first two steps in the data preprocessing workflow. While both packages have performed admirably in peak picking, they also detect a problematic number of false positive EIC peaks and can also fail to detect real EIC peaks. The former and latter translate downstream into spurious and missing compounds and present significant limitations with most existing software packages that preprocess untargeted mass spectrometry metabolomics data. We seek to understand the specific reasons why XCMS and MZmine 2 find the false positive EIC peaks that they do and in what ways they fail to detect real compounds. We investigate differences of EIC construction methods in XCMS and MZmine 2 and find several problems in the XCMS centWave peak detection algorithm which we show are partly responsible for the false positive and false n...
Wrongs and Rites: Rituals of Humiliation and Rites of Moral Responsibility

This chapter begins by acknowledging how rituals of humiliation have been entangled with political and theological ideas. In laying bare such entanglements, the role of religion in constituting power relations is better understood. In this way, the chapter methodologically performs a kind of grieving over such wrongs. If religions have been complicit in perpetuating rituals of humiliation, a liberative political theological imagination lifts up religions (imbued with ritual practices) as part of the solution. The lens of ritual enables an understanding of human persons as homo ritualis, thus emphasizing the significance of everyday habits and dispositions. Rites are explored as possible solutions to wrongs. Rites of moral responsibility ultimately aim to create conditions for enacting agency for engendering a more hospitable world.
A global MINLP approach to symbolic regression

Symbolic regression methods generate expression trees that simultaneously define the functional form of a regression model and the regression parameter values. As a result, the regression problem can search many nonlinear functional forms using only the specification of simple mathematical operators such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, among others. Currently, state-of-the-art symbolic regression methods leverage genetic algorithms and adaptive programming techniques. Genetic algorithms lack optimality certifications and are typically stochastic in nature. In contrast, we propose an optimization formulation for the rigorous deterministic optimization of the symbolic regression problem. We present a mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) formulation to solve the symbolic regression problem as well as several alternative models to eliminate redundancies and symmetries. We demonstrate this symbolic regression technique using an array of experiments based upon literature instances. We then use a set of 24 MINLPs from symbolic regression to compare the performance of five local and five global MINLP solvers. Finally, we use larger instances to demonstrate that a portfolio of models provides an effective solution mechanism for problems of the size typically addressed in the symbolic regression literature.
Rabies in Alaska, from the past to an uncertain future.

ABSTRACTRabies is a serious zoonotic disease with significant public health consequences in the circumpolar North. Recent studies have advanced our understanding of the disease ecology in Alaska. I...
Ponderosa Pine Forest

Ponderosa Pine Forest is the lowest-elevation, most extensive forest in the American Southwest. It occurs in an elevational band below Mixed Conifer Forest and above Pinyon-Juniper vegetation, Gambel Oak Shrubland, and Interior Chaparral Shrubland. Stands are dominated by ponderosa pine, and are divided into moist, mesic, and dry stand types with decreasing elevation and moisture availability. A historical fire regime of frequent, low-severity surface fires is widely documented, but there is growing evidence of historical mixed-severity and high-severity fires, especially for steep slopes in areas of heterogeneous topography. Other important natural disturbances include insect outbreaks and drought. Late nineteenth century livestock grazing initiated fire exclusion, which was continued by fire management through most of the twentieth century. Other anthropogenic drivers are modern climate change, invasive species, recreation, and nearby land use. Vegetation dynamics are dominated by tree regeneration, thinning, and succession. Historical conditions ranged from open-canopied stands with a well-developed, often grass-­dominated understory – more woodland than forest – to denser stands. Stand densities increased during the twentieth century because of the exclusion of surface fires. Vegetation dynamics are illustrated in a nested, three-tiered set of conceptual models. Key conclusions and challenges for researchers and land managers are summarized.
The User “InterActs” with the Web: Integrating Active Study Tools in a Web-Based Instruction System

Some important features required for an effective use of the Internet in education are still missing from the Web. The main limits concern the lack of efficient support to navigation, the basic state-less http protocol, the author-centered approach to information content and structure. As a consequence, the Web does not support effective user interaction with information, which plays a key-role in learning process. However, it is still possible to develop Web-based architectures that can overcome these limits, thus increasing effective user interaction with the information. In this paper, the author reports on a specific web-based instruction system that provides for effective interaction mechanisms.
Skepticism against Reason in Pierre Bayle’s Theory of Toleration

Jonathan Israel, Gianluca Mori, Rainer Forst, and others have interpreted Pierre Bayle as a full-blooded rationalist. This study brings out the other side of Bayle: his skeptical emphasis on the importance of education, taste, and custom on our judgments. A close reading of Bayle’s Philosophical Commentary reveals that after criticizing persecution on rationalist grounds, he explains the persecutors’ actions on the basis of their education, which cannot be easily overridden. His doctrine of the importance of the conscience leads to his paradoxical justification of the erring conscience. Bayle’s arguments both for and against rationalism place him in the skeptical tradition of writers such as Sextus Empiricus and Montaigne. Such a skeptical defense of toleration may succeed in defending toleration, but perhaps only by indirection.
Hybrid long-range hyperbolic phonon polariton waveguide using hexagonal boron nitride for mid-infrared subwavelength confinement.

Long propagation waveguides are critical for any photonic-on-chip applications. There has been an extensive investigation in using plasmon polaritons for near-infrared and optical networks, however, for mid- to long-wave IR applications phonon polaritons are required given that plasmonic polaritonic effects are negligible. In recent years, extensive research has been conducted on hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), which has shown h-BN to have naturally occurring subwavelength, volumetrically confined hyperbolic phonon polaritons (HPhPs). This work presents numerical results for both long- and short-range phononic volumetric polariton modes in a slab of h-BN. A hybrid long-range phononic waveguide consisting of two identical dielectric cylinder wires symmetrically placed on each side of the h-BN slab is coupled to the long-range HPhP mode. Based on analytical coupled-mode theory and computational finite element analysis, we have investigated the modal characteristics of the hybrid long-range phonon polaritonic waveguide. Due to the strong coupling between the high index cylindrical-waveguide mode and the HPhPs in the h-BN thin film, subwavelength confinement can be achieved (modal area ranging from 10−2λo2 to 10−1λo2) while enabling long propagation distances (7λ0-370λ0).
2018 Computers in Libraries Conference Report: Library Services Platforms & Automation Perceptions Presentation by Marshall Breeding

On day two of the 2018 Computers in Libraries conference, this year in Arlington, VA, the Systems/Operations track included a morning session given by Marshall Breeding on “Library Services Platfor...
Model counting using the inclusion-exclusion principle

The inclusion-exclusion principle is a well-known mathematical principle used to count the number of elements in the union of a collection of sets in terms of intersections of sub-collections.We present an algorithm for counting the number of solutions of a given k-SAT formula using the inclusion-exclusion principle. The key contribution of our work consists of a novel subsumption pruning technique. Subsumption pruning exploits the alternating structure of the terms involved in the inclusion-exclusion principle to discover term cancellations that can account for the individual contributions of a large number of terms in a single step.
The Genesis and Proliferation of Civil Society in Democracy and Monarchy: A Historical Comparison of America and Prussia in the Nineteenth Century

The notion that civil society and democracy go hand in hand has been a cornerstone of modernization theory. The formation of civil society, so the argument went, contributed to the democratization of society and provided the backbone of democracy. If one follows such an interpretation of modernization and of modern society, monarchic systems should be void of civil society. And yet, the case of Germany shows that civil society developed and even flourished within a monarchic society. The Kingdom of Prussia in 1865 was the home to an extensive network of civil society organizations that included associations, endowments, and foundations. These organizations provided services in the fields of education, social welfare, and supported all kinds of cultural institutions. These organizations were essential for the functioning of Prussia’s public institutions. Donors who created these institutions had a voice in the shaping of monarchic society, and the visions of donors often coincided with the visions put forward by monarchical rulers. The number of Prussians involved in giving, the number of organizations created, and the amount of money given were truly astonishing. Between 2 and 3% of Prussia’s population was involved in civil society organizations. The funds provided by these organizations accounted for 20–30% of public-school funding. And the number of organizations created a tight network that spanned across the entire country. Nineteenth-century monarchic Prussia was not void of civil society as it should have been if American social scientists are correct. Instead, Prussia provided the home to a vibrant civil society. Civil society emerges when societies move from an agrarian and organized system of social hierarchies to an industrial, and traditional social hierarchies destroying system. The destruction of established social hierarchies, the creation and accumulation of wealth, and the emergence of social inequality provided powerful incentives for the formation of civil society. Since this economic modernization and transformation occurred not only within democratic societies such as the USA but also within monarchic societies such as Prussia, civil society developed in both types of political system
Etiology and Management of Hernia-Related Chronic Pain: Implications of Robotics

Chronic pain following ventral or inguinal hernia repair is a prevalent and clinically impactful complication resulting from all options of open, laparoscopic, and robotic surgery. Nociceptive, somatic, and visceral pain can result from recurrence, infection, tissue inflammation, adhesions, and prosthetic reaction or failure. Development of neuropathic pain is caused by nerve injury, typically by dissection, scarring, exposure to mesh, development of neuroma, or entrapment by suture or fixation devices. Prevention is the most important and effective strategy to address chronic pain due to hernia repair with careful attention to neuroanatomy, proper hernia repair technique, and utilization of prosthetic and fixation materials. Surgical remediation may achieve symptomatic relief in carefully selected patients. In the case of ventral hernia repair or chronic neuropathic pain following hernia repair above the groin, surgical management focuses on repair of recurrence, treatment of infection, and removal of entrapping suture, mesh, or fixation material. For pain after inguinal hernia repair, the most common mechanisms include recurrence, infection, orchialgia, and neuropathic pain. Neurectomy is the preferred surgical treatment for neuropathic pain, and consists of resecting a portion of the ilioinguinal nerve, iliohypogastric nerve, and/or the genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve depending on likely involvement. This may be achieved by open, laparoscopic preperitoneal or retroperitoneal, robotic-assisted, or hybrid approaches. With the development and increasing adoption of robotic-assisted options for inguinal and ventral hernia repair, the implications of pain caused by adoption of these robotic techniques and the use of the robotic platform to assist in the treatment of chronic pain are important novel topics in hernia repair.
Neurocognitive Correlates of Adolescent Cannabis Use: an Overview of Neural Activation Patterns in Task-Based Functional MRI Studies

Adolescence is dynamic and comprises physiological, psychological, and neurocognitive changes. Notably, many developmentally associated neurobiological changes (e.g., synaptic pruning, myelination) coincide with peak substances use prevalence rates, particularly for cannabis use. Cannabis remains the most commonly used illicit drug among adolescents with 23.9% reporting cannabis use in the last year (Johnston et al., 2019). Adolescents who engage in cannabis use often show poorer neurocognitive performance and alterations in structural and functional brain development as compared to their non-using peers (Jacobus & Tapert, 2014). Over the past several decades, the cognitive domains most consistently associated with cannabis use among adolescents are learning and memory and several facets of executive functioning (e.g., inhibitory control, decision-making). Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a non-invasive method for probing the neural substrates underlying possible cannabis-related changes in cognition. This brief review aims to synthesize recent findings on the relationship between adolescent (≤25 years old) cannabis use and neural response during task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Findings thus far suggest aberrant, often hyperactive, response to task-based stimuli in youth cannabis users. When considering the future directions of fMRI research with cannabis-using youth, review of existing studies also highlights the need for more prospective research with diverse samples.
Patient perceptions on mesh use in hernia repair: A prospective, questionnaire-based study.

Abstract Background There has been increasing media coverage regarding the controversy of using mesh in various operations. At this time, there are no published studies evaluating the potential influence of this controversy on patients’ perceptions. Therefore, our study aimed to assess patient perceptions of hernia repair surgery with mesh as well as factors that may influence patient opinions. Methods A 16-item questionnaire evaluated each patient’s perceptions of the use of mesh in their upcoming hernia repair. The primary outcomes of interest were their level of comfort regarding the possibility of hernia repair surgery with mesh, aversion to hernia surgery with mesh, and positive belief that mesh is a safe product in hernia repair surgery. Results We included 100 patients presenting for a hernia repair and 100 patients presenting for other operations. Both groups identified the media as their most common influence (37% and 40%, respectively). Factors leading to a high level of comfort regarding the possibility of mesh repair included believing mesh was a safe product (P Conclusion Despite the high penetration of non-medical information in the population before presentation for medical care, most patients overall do not seem to be opposed to the concept of the use of mesh in a hernia repair, but there are certain factors associated with aversion to the use of mesh that physicians should acknowledge and should address this potential issue.
A plasmonic nanoledge array sensor for detection of anti-insulin antibodies of type 1 diabetes biomarker

Here we present a plasmonic nanoledge device with high sensitivity and selectivity used to detect protein biomarkers simply by functionalizing the device, which specifically binds to particular biomolecule or biomarkers. We employ this plasmonic nanoledge device for the detection of anti-insulin antibodies of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in buffer and human serum at the range of pg ml-1 to 100 ng ml-1. The signal transduction is based on the extraordinary optical transmission (EOT) through the nanoledge array and the optical spectral changes with the biological binding reaction between the surface functionalized insulin with anti-insulin antibody. Control experiments indicate little interferences from the human serum background and addition of other proteins such as bovine serum albumin (BSA) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) at 20 ng ml-1. The high sensitivity, specificity and easy adaptability of the plasmonic device offer new opportunities in biosensing and diagnostic applications for T1D.
Beyond Science Fiction: Genre in Kindred and Butler’s Short Stories

Focusing on Butler’s Kindred and short stories, Humann asks us to think of Butler as more than a science fiction writer. While Butler’s accolades for her contributions to the genre of science fiction are well deserved, Humann contends that Butler’s tendency to hybridize genres, and hybridize differently in different texts is what sets Butler’s fiction apart from traditional science fiction. As Humann sees it, Butler builds upon and subverts the science fiction genre by borrowing from other literary traditions as part of her storytelling.
Fabrication of high-density and translucent Al-containing garnet, Li7−xLa3Zr2−xTaxO12 (LLZTO) solid-state electrolyte by pressure filtration and sintering

Abstract Garnet type LLZTO ceramic oxide is a promising solid-state electrolyte for use in Li-ion batteries because it has good chemical stability, adequate mechanical strength. However, lithium dendrite growth still needs to be addressed. The opacity of the solid electrolyte hinders in-situ investigation of dendrite growth. Therefore, semi-transparent LLZTO with high-density is needed. The traditional fabrication process for the garnet type LLZTO is cumbersome, and dense LLZTO disks with high transparency are difficult to fabricate. In this work, Al-LLZTO powder was made by solid-state reaction. A wet ceramic processing method, pressure filtration followed by sintering, was developed to make dense LLZTO with high ionic conductivity (1.47 × 10−4 S/cm) and adequate transmittance (17–23%) to visible light from 500 to 800 nm to observe and monitor dendrite growth.
The intersection between youth who identify as LGBTQ+ and emergency care for suicidality: an integrative review.

Abstract Problem Suicide is a leading cause of death in children. Sexual minority youth are greater than three times more likely to attempt suicide than their cisgender heterosexual peers. Eligibility criteria Empirical and theoretical literature were evaluated through the integrative review process using the Whittemore-Knafl integrative review model (2005). Studies were included when they addressed LGBTQ+ youth seeking emergency care for suicidality. Sample The final sample included a mix of 13 qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods studies published in peer-review journals between 2011 and 2020. These articles were located in journals found through a database search, including Medline EBSCO, Health Source/Nursing Academic Education, SportDiscus, ERIC EBSCO, Academic Search Elite, Social Services Abstracts, Sociological Abstracts, APA Psych Info, Embase, and CINAHL. Results Thirteen studies included individuals 5 to 26 years of age; ten studies included individuals > 11 years old. The analysis and synthesis of coded and grouped data resulted in four themes: 1) affirmation/acceptance, 2) strength, 3) approach/intervention, and 4) safety/psychological distress. Conclusions Research study methods, design, setting, and quality varied. This integrative review has established that youth who identify as LGBTQ+ and are seeking emergency care for suicidality, value: acceptance, safety, strength, and approach/intervention. Implications There are strong implications for research, healthcare policy, and pediatric nursing practice. Future research is needed to explore the unique values, beliefs, and experiences of youth who identify as LGBTQ+ seeking emergency/crisis care for suicidality.
The partisan dynamics of contention: Demobilization of the antiwar movement in the United States, 2007-2009

Changes in threats perceived by activists, partisan identification, and coalition brokerage are three mechanisms that help to explain the demobilization of the antiwar movement in the United States from 2007 to 2009. Drawing upon 5,398 surveys of demonstrators at antiwar protests, interviews with movement leaders, and ethnographic observation, this article argues that the antiwar movement demobilized as Democrats, who had been motivated to participate by anti-Republican sentiments, withdrew from antiwar protests when the Democratic Party achieved electoral success, if not policy success in ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The withdrawal of Democratic activists changed the character of the antiwar movement by undermining broad coalitions in the movement and encouraging the formation of smaller, more radical coalitions. While the election of Barack Obama had been heralded as a victory for the antiwar movement, Obama's election, in fact, thwarted the ability of the movement to achieve critical mass.