cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Infrared and Electronic Spectroscopy of the Jet-Cooled 5-Methyl-2-furanylmethyl Radical Derived from the Biofuel 2,5-Dimethylfuran.

The electronic and infrared spectra of the 5-methyl-2-furanylmethyl (MFM) radical have been characterized under jet-cooled conditions in the gas phase. This resonance-stabilized radical is formed by H atom loss from one of the methyl groups of 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF), a promising second-generation biofuel. As a resonance-stabilized radical, it plays an important role in the flame chemistry of DMF. The D0–D1 transition was studied using two-color resonant two-photon ionization (2C-R2PI) spectroscopy. The electronic origin is in the middle of the visible spectrum (21934 cm–1 = 455.9 nm) and is accompanied by Franck–Condon activity involving the hindered methyl rotor. The frequencies and intensities are fit to a one-dimensional methyl rotor potential, using the calculated form of the ground state potential. The methyl rotor reports sensitively on the local electronic environment and how it changes with electronic excitation, shifting from a preferred ground state orientation with one CH in-plane and anti to ...
Assessment with late-life families: Issues and instruments.

Publisher Summary Families play a key role in the lives of older adults, and formal assessment can help identify resources and vulnerabilities in the late-life family system. This chapter highlights the range of issues that can influence the focus, implementation, and interpretation of an assessment with late-life families. Although there are few instruments that are designed specifically for late-life families, or adapted for them with sufficient validation, this chapter reviews only assessment models and instruments that may be useful. With current instruments, assessment with late-life families is like cooking in someone else's kitchen: they have all the basic implements and ingredients a kitchen should have but perhaps not exactly what one needs. Many of the instruments described are not been used with late-life families, and most have not been validated with ethnic/racial minority groups or diverse family structures. Still, it is striking that again and again, across different models of family functioning and different assessment instruments, similar constructs appear useful for differentiating healthy from unhealthy families. Some consensus appears to be emerging about what makes for optimal family functioning, despite the diversity of families, and despite the different methods that are currently available for measuring it. Much work needs to be done, particularly with late-life families.
Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: Surgical Technique and Perioperative Care

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is a bariatric surgical procedure created for long-term weight loss and improvement of metabolic syndrome abnormalities in morbidly obese patients. It has been shown to demonstrate durable results compared with other bariatric procedures. This article aims to describe the surgical technique and perioperative care for patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy based on current scientific literature and best standard practices.
A Pathfinder for Comic Books and Graphic Novels

Alternative media are becoming more widely accepted as forms of literature. Comic books and graphic novels are now mainstream, with characters and storylines appearing in movies, cartoons, video games, television shows, and more. Comics and graphic novels are a billion dollar industry that can often go overlooked in the minds of readers. The resources in this pathfinder will open readers’ eyes to the universe of stories and characters that are contained in comic books. It will also give readers an idea of the rich history of the industry and the powerful impact that comic books and graphic novels have had on popular culture. In addition, it will also provide teachers with a multitude of literary resources that they may otherwise overlook.
Gay Marriage Tends to be More Popular than Same-Sex Marriage

Gay marriage and same-sex marriage are often used synonymously in society. However, not all individuals may react identically to these synonyms when making policy choices. The choice between “gay marriage” and “same-sex marriage” is a methodological decision with potentially significant implications for social scientists. In this short study, we present results of nine experiments over a three year period (2013-2016) in which we randomly rotated “gay marriage” and “same sex marriage” in a telephone survey question. We find that “gay marriage” tends to be slightly, but significantly, more popular than “same-sex marriage.”
Observed and Simulated Fingerprints of Multidecadal Climate Variability and Their Contributions to Periods of Global SST Stagnation

AbstractThis study investigates spatiotemporal features of multidecadal climate variability using observations and climate model simulation. Aside from a long-term warming trend, observational SST and atmospheric circulation records are dominated by an almost 65-yr variability component. Although its center of action is over the North Atlantic, it manifests also over the Pacific and Indian Oceans, suggesting a tropical interbasin teleconnection maintained through an atmospheric bridge. An analysis shows that simulated internal climate variability in a coupled climate model (CSIRO Mk3.6.0) reproduces the main spatiotemporal features of the observed component. Model-based multidecadal variability includes a coupled ocean–atmosphere teleconnection, established through a zonally oriented atmospheric overturning circulation between the tropical North Atlantic and eastern tropical Pacific. During the warm SST phase in the North Atlantic, increasing SSTs over the tropical North Atlantic strengthen locally ascend...
Multilayered Approach for TiO2 Hollow-Shell-Protected SnO2 Nanorod Arrays for Superior Lithium Storage

The ability to control the growth of materials with nanosized precision as well as a complex hollow morphology provides rationale for the study of systems comprising both characteristics. This study explores the design of TiO2 hollow nanotube shells deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD) on vertically aligned SnO2 nanorods grown using the vapor–liquid–solid technique. The sacrificial template approach in combination with highly conformal coating advantages of ALD resulted in a highly reproducible method to create a large surface area covered by TiO2-protected SnO2 nanorods, which are about 60–100 nm in diameter and approximately 1 μm in length. ZnO was used as a sacrificial layer to create a 30 nm gap between SnO2 nanorods and 10 nm of TiO2 shells. Chemical etching of the sacrificial layer was used to create the desired hollow nanocomposite. A coin half-cell battery has been assembled using the TiO2-protected SnO2 nanorods as an anode electrode and lithium foil as a counter electrode and tested for li...
An Automated Multidetector System for Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis of Geological and Environmental Materials

An automated multidetector system for instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) of geological and environmental materials was constructed. The system was evaluated using NBS SRM’s 1632a Coal and 1633a Coal Fly Ash. Data are presented to show the precision, accuracy, and stability of the system over a 3-month period. As a result of the evaluation, elemental concentrations for Dy, La, Eu, Tb, Yb, Lu, and Ta, which have not been reported in the literature, were determined.
High power ultrafast laser sources based on multimode fiber (Conference Presentation)

Multimode fibers provide a means of scaling the peak power of ultrafast fiber lasers by orders of magnitude. While large mode area (LMA) fibers have been widely utilized in fiber amplifiers, these fibers often sacrifice practical benefits of fiber, such as flexibility, and increase system cost and complexity. In addition, the mode-field area of effectively single-mode LMA fibers is smaller than what can be achieved in multimode fibers. Recent work has shown that nonlinear interactions in multimode graded-index fiber can cause a highly multimode field to self-organize into the fundamental mode in a condensation-like process that is robust even with fiber perturbations or disorder. Building on this, we developed a series of Yb:fiber, mode-locked lasers utilizing normal-dispersion, multimode graded-index fiber. In experiments, we observe that the transition from continuous wave lasing to mode-locking is characterized by a beam cleaning process, whereby the highly multimode (speckled) beam of the continuous wave field transforms into a low-order mode beam. Remarkably, experiments and numerical simulations show that the pulses can consist not just the fundamental mode, but can even comprise multiple transverse modes. Our theoretical analysis shows this to be a consequence of a surprising kind of mode-locking – spatiotemporal mode-locking - which relies on strong intermode interactions and spatial filtering. Our initial experiments yield MW-power pulses after external compression, rivaling the best results with flexible LMA fibers. Meanwhile, simulations show that nearly GW peak powers should be possible, making spatiotemporal mode-locking extremely attractive for high-power ultrafast laser development.
Surgical Outcomes, Complications, and Management Strategies for Foramen Magnum Meningiomas.

Objectives Foramen magnum meningiomas (FMM) are complex lesions because of their proximity to the brain stem and posterior cerebrovasculature. The objective of this study is to report surgical outcomes and complications after resection of FMM. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted on patients with FMM from 1998 to 2015. Univariate logistic regression and recursive partitioning analysis were used to identify risk factors associated with complications and extent of resection (EOR). Results We identified 28 patients with FMM. Median follow-up was 5.9 years. Tumors were World Health Organization grade I (92.9%) or grade II (7.1%). The vertebral artery was completely encased (25%), partially encased (11%), or not encased (64%). Median size was 11.9 cm3. EOR was gross total (39%) and subtotal (61%). The observed recurrence rate was 4% (n = 1). There were 38 complications in 12 patients (43%), and 6 patients (21%) had complications requiring additional surgery. Complications included cerebrospinal fluid leak/hydrocephalus (n = 7, 25%), weakness (n = 4, 14%), numbness (n = 4, 14%), and cranial nerve deficits: IX, X (n = 4, 14%), XI (n = 2, 7%), XII (n = 5, 18%). Medical complications included pneumonia (n = 1, 4%) and meningitis (n = 1, 4%). Tumor volume greater than 14 cm3 (odds ratio [OR] = 21.7, p = 0.0010), any vertebral artery encasement (OR 6.1, p = 0.0386), and subtotal resection (OR 6.4, p = 0.0398) were significantly associated with complications. Tumor volume greater than 14 cm3 was also significantly associated with subtotal resection (OR 8.3, p = 0.0201). Conclusions Resection of FMM carries perioperative morbidity that increases with larger tumor size. Despite the morbidity, long-term recurrence-free survival is achievable with maximal safe resection and adjuvant radiation.
Dynamic-temperature operation of metal-supported solid oxide fuel cells

Abstract A dynamic-temperature operation strategy is proposed for SOFC systems, in which the cell temperature varies rapidly to match the SOFC stack power output to a dynamic load requirement. It is anticipated that this operation strategy may have benefits for system efficiency, size, and cost for applications with dynamic power load. Metal-supported SOFCs (MS-SOFCs) are operated continuously at 0.7 V while the temperature is varied rapidly between 675 and 800 °C or 670 and 720 °C. During the initial thermal excursion, the current density increases from 0.82 to 1.95 A cm−2 in 6.6 min for 675–800 °C, and from 1.0 to 1.63 A cm−2 in 5.4 min for 670–720 °C. Cells are subjected to continuous dynamic temperature operation for more than 100 cycles.
CtBP Proteins in Vertebrate Development

The fundamental question facing developmental biology is how the diversity of cell and tissue types that comprise a vertebrate organism can be generated from a single fertilized egg. A critical aspect of the developmental process is setting up and maintaining the differential gene expression that is required to establish the variety of cell lineages present in the adult organism. Thus, an important aspect of understanding development is understanding how early asymmetries in the transcriptome of various cell types are established and, once established, how they are maintained or modified through subsequent generations and differentiation events. This process is carried out by the combined activities of both sequence specific DNA binding factors and their associated coactivators and compressors that act on either the general transcriptional machinery or the histone component of chromatin. CtBP proteins comprise one branch of corepressors that get recruited to DNA via sequence-specific DNA binding proteins and regulate gene expression. In mice, the CtBP family proteins are encoded by two loci, Ctbp1 and Ctbp2. The transcripts encoding the CtBP1 and CtBP2 proteins are widely expressed and exhibit both unique and shared expression domains in the developing embryo. Genetic analysis of mice harboring mutations in Ctbp1 and Ctbp2 indicate that the proteins they encode likely have redundant functions during embryogenesis but are differentially required for specific developmental processes. This analysis shows that CtBP proteins are important in the formation of the placenta and tissues derived from all three germ layers, including muscles, skin, neural ectoderm, and intestinal epithelium. This chapter focuses on the roles of CtBPl and CtBP2 proteins in vertebrate development, with an emphasis on the genetics of Ctbp1 and Ctbp2, the possible pathways that utilize CtBP proteins during embryogenesis, and the evidence that CtBP proteins could be implicated in multiple developmental processes linked to human diseases.
Integrative Systems Approaches to Study Innate Immunity

Integrative Systems Biology has emerged as an exciting research approach in molecular biology and functional genomics that involves a systematic use of genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic technologies for the construction of network based models of biological processes. These endeavors, collectively referred to as systems biology establish a paradigm by which to systematically interrogate, model, and iteratively refine our knowledge of the regulatory events within a cell. Here we discuss the latest experimental and computational advances in Integrative Systems Biology, with particular emphasis in approaches specifically designed to identify transcriptional networks governing the macrophage immune response to Lipopolysaccaride (LPS). We show examples where using this approach we are not only able to infer a global macrophage transcriptional network, but also time-specific sub-networks that are dynamically active across the LPS response. Another exiting aspect of this new approach to molecular sciences is that can be applied virtually to any mammalian systems.
Integrating Substance Abuse and Mental Health Treatment: A Meta-Analytic Review

Co-occurring alcohol and drug use disorders in persons with mental illness are referred to as dual diagnoses or dual disorders. These terms are frequently misnomers, as persons with dual disorders often have three or four diagnoses including serious medical conditions. The prevalence of co-occurring substance use disorders (abuse or dependence) is especially high among persons with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, panic disorder, and affective disorders (Bennett, this volume).
Organic Matter Associated with Mineralized Reduction Spots in Red Beds

Reduction spots in marine and continental red beds were investigated for the presence of organic matter. The samples are from a wide variety of localities and from host rocks ranging in age from Precambrian to Cretaceous. It was found that organic carbon is present in a minor number of samples only, where it is a major component. Organic carbon in reduction spot cores is always associated with uranium minerals. Rock-Eval pyrolysis shows that this organic matter is depleted in H and enriched in O relative to possible precursor materials. Pyrolysis-GC-MS indicates that this insoluble, high-molecular weight organic material primarily consists of aromatic structures, similar to other occurrences of organic matter associated with uranium mineralization. The stable isotopic composition of the organic matter is highly variable (−23.1 to −49.8% relative to PDB) but consistent with a derivation from oil, gas, or bacterial biomass. In reduction spots devoid of organic carbon, stable isotopes (C, O) of carbonates are not significantly different in cores and in host rocks and therefore do not provide evidence for the former presence of organic carbon. Several possibilities for the origin of organic carbon in reduction spots are discussed but no conclusive evidence can be presented yet. Mineralogically, reduction spots with organic matter are generally similar to those without. A significant difference is the abundance of roscoelite in organic-poor reduction spots, while this mineral is absent in organic-rich ones.
Documentary Intertext: André Singer’s and J. Stephen Lansing’s The Goddess and the Computer 1988

The two faces of Janus emerge in this chapter to invoke the perspectives of the arts and the sciences, C. P. Snow’s two cultures, reconnected in a renewed hybrid persona. The “Goddess” is the mythological narrative of Bali that is wedded here to the “Computer” inscribed in the cybernetic analysis of the human-ecological system. In the present film, they come to a meeting of the minds, embodied in “priests and programmers,” as Stephen Lansing describes their union, working together to create sustainable agriculture. The wider perspective that their meeting implies is mirrored in Roy Rappaport’s landmark work in the functional human ecology of the Maring people of New Guinea. Here, he found and demonstrated functionally, as Bateson surmised about Balinese and Iatmul, the ritual system was coupled with ecological and social systems to produce a form of adaptation in dynamic equilibrium, a relative steady state, with its biotic and social environments. The escalating curves of symmetrical schismogenesis that have so haunted Euro-American civilization and now threaten it with collapse are curtailed by religious ritual in traditional Bali and New Guinea. That the Western escalations of conflict are augmented by modern technology, which to date is still not being effectively tempered by information techniques or the humane ministrations of the arts and humanities, makes the fruitful meeting of the goddess and computer here significant and timely. It depicts a peaceable hybrid identity not unlike the Buddhist persona of Dōgen in dialogue with the self-thinking thought of Aristotle and Hegel, or the logos of Heraclitus: a conversation of distinctive value for audiences in the Anthropocene.
A Framework for Mentoring Students Attending Their First Professional Conference

Scientific conferences build professional skills and identity in undergraduate students and provide opportunities for developing professional social skills, a sense of belonging to their field, and an understanding of potential career options. However, undergraduate student attendance at professional conferences is low. When undergraduate students do attend, they often express anxiety associated with speaking with professionals, networking, or with the conference environment. To address these concerns, instructors from several institutions collaborated to develop an undergraduate course with the objective of training students to attend their first professional conference and then traveled with them to experience a conference. The course framework involved meetings with students and course assignments before, during, and after the conference. Assessment results indicated that student outcomes included a greater sense of belonging to their profession, social benefits, gains in confidence, career confirmation, and an improved understanding of the pathways to pursuing a career in this field (i.e., importance of undergraduate research, gaining experience during college, etc.). Our results suggest that formal preparation for attendance at a national scientific meeting maximizes the potential for students to benefit from their experience and reduces the anxiety many students express about attending a professional conference.
Structure of nanoparticle aggregate films built using pulsed-mode electrospray atomization

Thin continuous films with tailored micro- and nano-structure were built from nanoparticle aggregates using pulsed-mode electrospray atomization. The aggregates were assembled in-flight and delivered to a target substrate in a dry state. We report on the processing–structure relationship for an individual aggregate and reveal how their assembly determines the structure of the film. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (P25, ~ 21 nm) were used as a model system given their importance in a wide range of applications. We describe how properties such as nanoparticle concentration, Taylor cone pulsation frequency, solvent volatility, suspension conductivity, and substrate electrical properties govern the size distribution and morphology of the aggregates. We then further report how the aggregate characteristics govern the structure of the film. Aggregates formed using electrospray possess an excess electric charge that can be maintained after they are deposited on the target substrate. This charge accumulation and its dissipation rate play a significant role in film formation. Films are thicker and exhibit a more significant periodic island structure if the dissipation rate of the accumulated charge is enhanced using a conductive substrate or by periodically deactivating the electrospray. Decreasing the separation distance increases the film thickness and island size by limiting the plume dispersion.
Monsoon depression amplification by moist barotropic instability in a vertically sheared environment

Author(s): Diaz, M; Boos, WR | Abstract: This study makes the case that monsoon depressions over South Asia can form from a variant of moist barotropic instability. Using an idealized numerical framework in which the atmosphere is partitioned into a basic state and a perturbation, we simulate vortices resembling monsoon depressions that draw energy from the meridional shear of the monsoon trough and amplify when they interact with precipitating ascent. The influence of the basic state vertical shear on the vortex induces upward velocity, which couples precipitation with a Rossby-wave-like mode arising from dry barotropic growth, allowing the vortex to intensify. Sensitivity experiments reveal that both the sheared basic state and latent heating are necessary to achieve positive growth rates and that this process requires a sufficiently large initial perturbation. Trajectory analyses suggest that the combined flow of the vortex and the large-scale monsoon transport diabatically generated potential vorticity from southwest of the vortex into the vortex center, thus enabling growth. In contrast with tropical cyclones, this mechanism does not require a feedback between surface wind speed and surface heat and moisture fluxes, though this feedback does ultimately result in a slightly stronger vortex.
Design and Optimization of Bidirectional Tunable MEMS All-Silicon Evanescent-Mode Cavity Filter

This article presents a bidirectional electrostatic MEMS tuner that enables active voltage compensation of integrated evanescent-mode cavity-based tunable filters. Unlike conventional tunable resonators tuned by unidirectional electrostatic diaphragms, the bidirectional design can compensate for residual displacement errors. This corrective tuning can successfully counterbalance long-term viscoelastic relaxation commonly found in large-displacement MEMS diaphragms. Consequently, it can significantly improve stability and reliability without introducing fabrication complexity. A detailed RF-MEMS codesign and a specific optimization design flow are also discussed. A proof-of-concept, two-pole filter is fabricated, which demonstrates a measured bidirectional tuning range of 18.9–39.6 GHz. The forward (main) actuation tunes the filter from 21.3 to 39.6 GHz with 120 V, whereas the reverse (corrective) actuation tunes it from 21.3 down to 18.9 GHz with 2 V. The measured filter insertion loss varies from 3.14 to 0.78 dB. The extracted unloaded quality factor is 265–510, which is comparable with the state-of-the-art unidirectional filters of this type.
The University, Ideology, and Tax Exemption

In this article, Brunson and Aprill argue that the tax law and other considerations undermine President Trump’s position that academic institutions can lose their tax-exempt status as a consequence of indoctrinating their students with liberal values.
Conclusion to Part II

This chapter offers a brief 12-point summary of the major claims of Part II of this book. Here I stress enchantment, the human need for magic and transcendence of the mundane world, as well as the fear of death and destruction that the mundane gives rise to in humans.
Appreciating Dreams: A Group Approach

Foreword - John P Briggs Introduction A Dream The Dreamer and the Dream An Overview Stage 1 A Dream Is Shared Stage 2 The Group Takes Over Stage 3A Back to the Dreamer Stage 3B.1 The Dialogue Begins: The Search for Context Stage 3B.2 Playback: The Dream Itself Stage 3B.3 and Stage 4 Orchestration - Harmonizing Image and Reality - and Follow-Up The Leader A Manual for Leaders Leading a New Group The Dreamer The Group Forming a Group On One's Own or with Another A Note on Repetitive Dreams Dreams and Healing Dream Appreciation and Therapy The Future of Dream Appreciation
Ambrose, Augustine, and the Pursuit of Greatness

Since Aristotle, the concept of the magnanimous or great-souled man was employed by philosophers of antiquity to describe individuals who attained the highest degree of virtue. Greatness of soul (magnitudo animi or magnanimitas) was part of the language of Classical and Hellenistic virtue theory central to the education of Ambrose and Augustine. Yet as bishops they were conscious of fundamental differences between Christian and pagan visions of virtue. Greatness of soul could not be appropriated whole cloth. Instead, the great-souled man had to be baptized to conform with Christian understandings of righteousness, compassion, and humility. In this book, J. Warren Smith traces the development of the ideal of the great-souled man from Plato and Aristotle to latter adaptions by Cicero, Seneca, and Plutarch. He then examines how Ambrose's and Augustine's theological commitments influenced their different critiques, appropriations, and modifications of the language of magnanimity.
NATIONAL SURVEY OF ENDOCRINOLOGISTS AND SURGEONS REGARDING ACTIVE SURVEILLANCE FOR LOW-RISK PAPILLARY THYROID CANCER.

Abstract Objective Active surveillance for low-risk papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) was endorsed by the American Thyroid Association guidelines in 2015. The attitudes and beliefs of physicians treating thyroid cancer regarding the active surveillance approach are not known. Methods A national survey of endocrinologists and surgeons treating thyroid cancer was conducted from August to September 2017 via professional society emails. This mixed-methods analysis reported attitudes toward potential factors impacting decision-making regarding active surveillance, beliefs about barriers and facilitators of its use, and reasons why physicians would pick a given management strategy for themselves if they were diagnosed with a low-risk PTC. Survey items about attitudes and beliefs were derived from the Cabana model of barriers to guideline adherence and theoretical domains framework of behavior change. Results Among 345 respondents, 324 (94%) agreed that active surveillance was appropriate for at least some patients, 81% agreed that active surveillance was at least somewhat underused, and 76% said that they would choose surgery for themselves if diagnosed with a PTC of ≤1 cm. Majority of the respondents believed that the guidelines supporting active surveillance were too vague and that the current supporting evidence was too weak. Malpractice and financial concerns were identified as additional barriers to offering active surveillance. The respondents endorsed improved information resources and evidence as possible facilitators to offering active surveillance. Conclusion Although there is general support among physicians who treat low-risk PTC for the active surveillance approach, there is reluctance to offer it because of the lack of robust evidence, guidelines, and protocols.
Energy-efficient task-resource co-allocation and heterogeneous multi-core NoC design in dark silicon era

Abstract To address power limitation issues in dark silicon era for multi-core systems-on-chip and chip multiprocessors, run time task-resource and voltage co-allocation with reconfigurable network-on-chip (NoC) framework for energy efficiency (higher performance/watt) is proposed in this work. Distributed resource managers strategy dynamically reconfigures the voltage/frequency-levels of the NoC links and routers and dynamically power-gates the resources depending on the traffic demands and utilization of the resources. A mapping heuristic, namely MinEnergy, has been proposed to minimize overall chip power and energy hotspots in large-scale NoC. We have formulated the mapping and configuration problem into a linear optimization model for the optimal solution and implemented a state-of-the-art Minimum-Path contiguous mapping for comparisons. Simulations are carried out under real-world benchmarks and platforms to demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed schemes and results show that the energy, power, and performance of the proposed dynamic mapping and configuration solution are significantly better (more than 50%) than those of minimum-path mapping solution, while the energy and power consumption of the proposed solution are more than 90% close to the optimal solution.
Addressing Suicide Among Black Youths: A Call to Action Within and Outside Clinical Practice.

Historically, epidemiological research has found the rate of suicide to be lower among Black populations compared with White populations in the US. This finding, however, has been used among research, funding, and clinical communities to justify the lack of knowledge about and targeted interventions for suicidality among Black individuals. The suicide rate among Black children younger than 12 years is double that of White children, and the gap between suicide rates among White and Black adolescents has been narrowing.1 While recent funding bodies (eg, the National Institute of Mental Health) have called for research in understanding suicidality among Black individuals, especially among youths, the anticipated research will likely be slow and ultimately insufficient to address the urgency of suicide in Black youths. Identify all potential conflicts of interest that might be relevant to your comment. Conflicts of interest comprise financial interests, activities, and relationships within the past 3 years including but not limited to employment, affiliation, grants or funding, consultancies, honoraria or payment, speaker's bureaus, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, royalties, donation of medical equipment, or patents planned, pending, or issued. Err on the side of full disclosure. If you have no conflicts of interest, check "No potential conflicts of interest" in the box below. The information will be posted with your response. Not all submitted comments are published. Please see our commenting policy for details.
WORKSHOP: Strategies and Tips for Incorporating Peer Interactions into Online Courses (90 mins)

The number of students who take online courses continues to grow at Mason and nationally. Research indicates that student-to-student interaction has a positive impact on performance, engagement and learning satisfaction in online courses. Peer interactions allow students to feel like they are part of a learning community and give them the opportunity to develop important career-readiness skills such as collaboration and communication. However, it can be a challenge to create and assess meaningful peer interactions in fully online, asynchronous courses. In this workshop, instructors who have developed courses for the Online BS in Psychology will share their experiences in designing and implementing assignments that involve extensive peer interaction and/or feedback. The session attendees will first engage in a discussion of possible avenues for peer interaction, using different types of courses (lectures, labs, and seminars) as “case studies”. Presenters will then share their experiences incorporating peer interactions into their own courses. Assignment design, tools/technology, frequency of interaction, and assessment are among the topics that will be discussed. Finally, attendees will work in small groups to come up with plans for introducing or refining peer interaction and/or review in their own online, hybrid or even face-to-face courses. The presenters and session attendees will work together to create “one-pagers” for the various peer interaction strategies that can be shared and used for reference after the session.
Performance of a fully parallel sparse solver

The performance of a fully parallel direct solver for large sparse symmetric positive definite systems of linear equations is demonstrated. The solver is designed for distributed-memory message-passing parallel computer systems, particularly massively parallel machines. All phases of the computation, including symbolic processing as well as numeric factorization and triangular solution, are performed in parallel. A parallel Cartesian nested dissection algorithm is used to compute a fill-reducing ordering for the matrix and an appropriate partitioning of the problem across the processors. The separator tree resulting from nested dissection is used to identify and exploit large-grain parallelism in the remaining steps of the computation. The parallel performance of the solver is reported for a series of test problems on the Thinking Machines CM-5. The parallel efficiency and scalability of the solver, as well as the relative importance of the various phases of the computation, are investigated empirically. >
Investigation of Academic Self-Concept of Undergraduates in STEM Courses

Academic self-concept is an important component of undergraduate student success. Academic self-concept refers to an individual’s perception about their academic aptitude in a particular academic field. The purpose of this science education research study was to examine the effects of online and traditional (face-to-face) courses on academic self-concept. Undergraduate students enrolled in online and traditional science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses were administered the academic self-concept scale (ASCS). The ASCS measures students’ perceptions of their capacity to attain academic success. Research findings indicate that online students were more likely to report a higher academic self-concept than traditional students enrolled in STEM courses. Future research studies will reveal the factors that underpin academic self-concept for students enrolled in STEM courses. Additional research on the mediators that influence positive academic self-concept are necessary to further inform online and traditional pedagogical strategies.
Design sensitivity analysis of dynamic systems

Methods for calculation of first and second design derivatives of performance measures for nonlinear dynamic systems are presented. Design sensitivity analysis formulations for dynamic systems are presented in two alternate forms; (1) equations of motion are written in terms of independent generalized coordinates and are reduced to first order form and (2) equations of motion of constrained systems are written in terms of a mixed system of second order differential and algebraic equations. Both first and second order design sensitivity analysis methods are developed, using a theoretically simple direct differentiation approach and a somewhat more subtle, but numerically efficient, adjoint variable method. Detailed derivations are presented and computational algorithms are discussed. Examples of first and second order design sensitivity analysis of mechanisms and machines are presented and analyzed.
The Origins of Electoral Authoritarianism and Democracy

Autocracies with multiparty elections have spread across the globe, but we know little about what predicts transitions to electoral authoritarianism (EA). To fill this gap, I use multinomial logit models to simultaneously predict transitions to EA and democracy from non-electoral autocracy between 1946 and 2007. Because autocrats usually retain power under EA, I argue that EA transitions follow from a strategic calculus that balances domestic and international incentives to hold elections against the costs of controlling them. As a result, socioeconomic factors that make voters easier to buy off, such as low average income and high inequality, predict EA adoption. In contrast, autocrats lack significant power under democracy, so democratization is mainly predicted by regime weakness and not socioeconomic conditions. Lastly, I find parallel regional diffusion effects: Democratic neighbors predict democratization and EA neighbors predict EA transition.
The Effects of the Economic Crisis on Archaeology in Greece

The economic crisis in Europe has reverberated through all facets of society, even archaeology and heritage. The following forum takes into account some of the economic effects on the archaeological industry along with its impact on people, places, and material culture. Considering the contribution of archaeology to the economy of Greece, as well as its influence on culture and society, there is an argument that a greater investment should be made in the protection and preservation of heritage. Proponents also suggest that archaeology should work to garner wider public support and seek alternative financial opportunities for funding. While heritage may not be the solution for this crisis, it could play a part in unifying people during this period.
Plugging the School-to-Prison Pipeline by Improving Behavior and Protecting Core Judicial Functions

The consolidation of the Texas Youth Commission (TYC) and the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission (TJPC) into the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) in 2011, produced a unified state juvenile justice agency to promote public safety first and to produce positive outcomes for youth, families, and communities second. As Professor Metze’s second paper discussing ways to effect a change in the School-to-Prison Pipeline, he first highlights the progress of TJJD’s use of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) in the Texas juvenile correctional context as continued evidence that such techniques, if effective in the correctional setting, will certainly work in the public schools. PBIS continues to show itself as an effective behavioral modification technique that should be mandated by the Legislature to be used in all Texas Public Schools on a local level. The creation of the TJJD though has created a constitutional intrusion into a core judicial function of the courts that have jurisdiction over juveniles on a local level. This paper will address these seemingly unrelated topics that both relate to efforts to plug the school-to-prison pipeline: (1) by increasing the ability of local public schools to deal with behavioral problems with the concomitant benefit of educating more of our youth who otherwise would be excluded from a public education and (2) by preserving the constitutional authority of local courts in the supervision and rehabilitation of those under its jurisdiction by removing even a threat to the local court’s power to divert juveniles from the pipeline by meaningful community-based rehabilitation.
Modeling supersonic missile fin-body interference for preliminary design

Aerodynamic interference between adjacent surfaces plays an important role in the performance of missiles. Fin-body interference factors are used in the Missile Datcom method to predict missile aerodynamic characteristics using the equivalent angle-of-attack method. This investigation presents a simple, accurate, and rapid method to determine fin-body interference factors for preliminary design. Linearized potential theory is used to evaluate the effect of body upwash on the local velocity along the fin leading edge as a function of fin span. A panel method is applied to determine the change in equivalent angle of attack due to body upwash. Planar fin configurations are considered with the fins located symmetrically on the missile body; however, the results also apply to cruciform configurations. The fin-body interference factors are presented as a function of Mach number and changes in missile geometry, such as fin leading and trailing edge sweep, fin vertical position on the fuselage, and fuselage cross-sectional shape. Circular and elliptic fuselage cross sections are considered. The method is shown to be quite accurate.
Improving Reality-Based Models for Vibration Feedback

Reality-based modeling of vibrations can be used to enhance the haptic display of hard surfaces in virtual environments. In this work, we propose modifying reality-based vibrations through psychophysical experiments. Virtual vibration models were developed from empirical vibration waveforms measured by tapping on real surfaces with the instrumented stylus of a three degree-of-freedom haptic display. The haptic display was then evaluated on its ability to display the desired waveforms. Psychophysical experiments utilizing the display were performed to evaluate the realism of various vibration parameter values used in the vibration model. From these experiments, it was discovered that the best parameters differed from those of the original reality-based model. Additional experiments verified the effectiveness of vibration feedback by showing that subjects could differentiate between materials in a virtual environment.
Excess of extracolonic non-endometrial multiple primary cancers in MSH2 germline mutation carriers over MLH1.

Background The lynch syndrome (LS) tumor spectrum involves colorectal cancer (CRC), endometrial cancer (EC), and less frequently various extracolonic non-endometrial cancers (non-EC). The organ-specific survival rates of these patients are well defined, however, the collective survival of all-cancers combined (CRC + EC + non-EC) are unclear. Methods Fifty-two MSH2 patients and 68 MLH1 patients were followed for a median of 6.3 years after diagnosis of first cancer, regardless of type. The proportions of CRC only, EC, non-EC, and multiple primary cancers were compared between the two genotypes. Kaplan–Meier curves were developed for survival comparisons. Results MSH2 patients present less frequently with only CRC (37% MSH2, 62% MLH1, P = 0.0096), manifest more multiple primary cancers (38% MSH2, 18% MLH1, P = 0.013), develop more extracolonic cancers (62% MSH2, 38% MLH1, P = 0.003), non-EC only cancers (46% MSH2, 24% MLH1, P = 0.028) and carry a greater risk for urinary tract cancer (UTC) (13.4% MSH2, 1.5% MLH1, P = 0.024). There was no difference in 10-year survival between the two groups (P = 0.4). Conclusion The additional propensity for UTC in MSH2 carriers argues in favor of UTC screening in MSH2 individuals. Other types of cancer screening should be tailored to the expression history of the specific LS mutation. J. Surg. Oncol. 2013; 108:433–437. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Degree Graphs of Simple Linear and Unitary Groups

Let G be a finite group and let cd (G) be the set of irreducible character degrees of G. The degree graph Δ(G) is the graph whose set of vertices is the set of primes that divide degrees in cd (G), with an edge between p and q if pq divides a for some degree a ∊ cd (G). We determine the graph Δ(G) for the finite simple groups of types A l(q) and 2 A l (q 2), that is, for the simple linear and unitary groups.
Feasibility analysis of Poly-β-Hydroxybutyrate (PHB) extraction from hybrid poplar leaves

Abstract Poly-s-Hydroxybutyrate (PHB) is a biopolymer that shows great promise to replace olefin based polymers. PHB is naturally produced by several species of bacteria and has demonstrated biodegradability unlike polymers derived from petrochemicals. Higher plants such as sugarcane and alfalfa have been engineered to express bacterial PHB genes, thus adding the additional benefit of carbon sequestration to the PHB production process. Hybrid poplar trees provide one example of a renewable plant source of this polymer. Recently, PHB producing genes have been expressed in hybrid poplar trees and PHB accumulation in leaves has been demonstrated. However, the use of plants adds new technical challenges related to the extraction and consolidation of the PHB product contained within the resilient plant cells. A modified chloroform extraction was developed to quantify and extract PHB from poplar leaves. PHB content of hybrid of poplars was determined to be 0.763±0.076 % (w/w). Composition analysis indicated that total ash, nitrogen and carbon contents were 8.43±0.13, 2.68±0.15 and 42.9±3.04 respectively. Cost of PHB production was dependent on PHB content of leaves and varied from $33.56/Kg to $2.96/Kg for PHB content of 1.0 to 12.5% (W/W). Economic viability of PHB production in poplars is possible for PHB content of >12.5 % (w/w) using chloroform extraction processes. Reducing the overhead costs and increasing the PHB content of poplar leaves to >12.5% (w/w) could make PHB economically competitive against petroleum based polymers such as polypropylene.
When Will Annoying Phone Calls Be Listened to?: Effects of Sex, Tone of Voice, and Time of Day

Summary.-This experiment studied the effects of sex, tone of voice, and time of day on the length of time to which an annoying phone call was listened. A man and a woman made 90 phone calls each in an angry or an apologetic tone of voice during the morning, afternoon, or night hours. It was predicted that the female caller making calls, in the afternoon with an apologetic tone of voice, would be listened to the longest. The predictions about sex and tone of voice were confirmed; however, phone calls made in the morning were listened for the shortest time. The findings are similar to those found for altruistic behavior. It is hypothesized that there is a continuum of helping behavior ranging from the passive helping received in this experiment to the active helping studied in rhe research on altruism. The theorized continuum of altruism should be further elaborated and researched. This experiment extended previous research on altruism from this Laboratory (Chierco, Rosa, & Kayson, 1982; Colaiui, Williams, & Kayson, 1984; Gentile, Naughcon, & Kayson, 1986) to include annoying telephone calls. The purpose of this study was to assess whether similar variables affect responses to t;oth annoying phone calls and altruism in the same or different ways. The wrong-number technique was first introduced by Gaertner and Bickman (1971) and recently used to study altruism in this laboratory by Gentile, et al. (1986). In the present experiment the wrong-number technique was used to study how long someone would listen to an annoying phone call. The call was made either by a man or by a woman either in the morning, afternoon, or night and was spoken in either an angry or apologetic tone of voice. Eagly and Gowley (1986) summarized the vast literature on altruism by
MisteReagan's Neighborhood: Rhetoric and National Unity.

This essay examines the rhetorical themes through which President Ronald Reagan has, relative to his recent predecessors, unified the nation behind his leadership. Drawing upon familiar myths, symbols, values, and beliefs Mr. Reagan adroitly depicts a community of extraordinarily ordinary Americans who can accomplish anything because of their faith in a proud heritage of self‐evident morality. The interweaving of these themes is so skillful that any criticism of the President or his policies is initially construed as an attack upon the very meaning of America.