cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Development of the American Farm Economic Association

So far as I know the first meeting in the United States relating to agricultural economics was held in connection with the 9th annual meeting of the American Economic Association, at Johns Hopkins University, in 1897, the report of which was published by the American Economic Association.1 This meeting consisted of the discussion of seven economic questions propounded by L. H. Bailey of Cornell University; W. A. Scott, University of Wisconsin; C. S. Walker, Lester F. Ward, John F. Crowell, R. E. A. Seligman, M. W. Folwell, Walter F. Wilcox, E. R. Johnson, Thomas G. Sherman, and E. D. Peters. The general title was put in the form of " Is there a distinct agricultural question? ", but most of the discussion centered about problems of land tenure, mortgage indebtedness and credit, and the movement of population from country to city. While the questions stated by Professor Bailey, if followed out in detail, would have brought up questions of farm management, the interest of those participating in the discussion did not lead them to give any particular attention either to the economics of farm management or to the economics of marketing. It is interesting to find the phrase, "maladjustment of agriculture to other industries," which is the one we have heard so much of in recent months, and to find Professor Johnson saying: "It is not national but international in its scope and it is to be settled only with reference to other nations." It appears that the next important public meeting relating to economics and farm management was at St. Louis, December, 1903This was a joint session between Section I of the Association for the Advancement of Science and the Society for the Promotion of Agricultural Science. The papers relating to agricultural economics were as follows: "Fundamentals of Forestry of the New Agriculture " by 1 Economic Studies, American Economic Association, vol. 2, No. I, pp. 5267. 92
Four New Species of Plocopsylla (Siphonaptera: Stephanocircidae) from South America

Four new species belonging to the genus Plocopsylla , from Chile, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia, are described and illustrated. They are P. viracocha, P. nungui, P. athena , and P. kilya .
Do We Need Grounding

AbstractMany have been tempted to invoke a primitive notion of grounding to describe the way in which some features of reality give rise to others. Jessica Wilson argues that such a notion is unnecessary to describe the structure of the world: that we can make do with specific dependence relations such as the part–whole relation or the determinate–determinable relation, together with a notion of absolute fundamentality. In this paper I argue that such resources are inadequate to describe the particular ways in which some parts of reality give rise to others, and thus that we do in fact need grounding.
Development of Synchronized Phasor Measurement Units for Smart Substations

Synchronized phasor measurement units(PMUs) have become the important monitoring devices in power networks for high precision and accurate time tag of measurement data,but the applications of PMUs in smart substation are relatively seldom and tentative.The PMUs suitable for smart substation are presented,which adopt embedded software-hardware platform,not only demonstrate the functions of common PMUs,i.e.phasor calculating,fault recording,real-time record analyzing and real-time communication,but also have the capabilities up to IEC 61850 standard of modeling equipment,receiving and processing of sampling data message,sharing data with supervisory devices and other intelligent electronic devices in smart substation.
To frack or not to frack: Perceptions of the risks and opportunities of high-volume hydraulic fracturing in the United States

Abstract Although proponents praise natural gas as a clean and abundant energy source, the varying impacts and uncertainties surrounding the process of extracting natural gas from unconventional sources, known as horizontal high-volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF) or “fracking,” have raised important concerns. This project explores public perceptions of the risks and beneficial opportunities associated with HVHF as recognized by the residents of two counties in Michigan, USA, one that currently produces natural gas by HVHF and one that does not. Through an analysis of media content related to HVHF in each case study site and interviews with stakeholders in both counties, this comparative study contributes to understanding the similarities in differences in perceptions of risks and opportunities in communities differently impacted by unconventional natural gas development, offering theoretical insight into the shared concerns and divergent perspectives among publics that have different experiences with HVHF, insight that provides new understandings of factors shaping community perceptions and means of improving environmental policy and water governance.
AAAI-13 Preface

Welcome to the Twenty-Seventh AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence, AAAI-13! As can be seen in these proceedings, AI’s scope and influence continue to grow. This year, we received 827 submissions across a variety of tracks, allowing us to put together a diverse and exciting technical program featuring the field’s top research.
Mitoxantrone and Melphalan as Conditioning Regimen for Autologous Stem Cell Transplant for Multiple Myeloma.

High dose Melphalan (Mel) has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM). Mitoxantrone (Mit), in combination with vincristine and prednisone, also has demonstrated activity in MM with the benefit of less cardiac toxicity than other standard regimens. In this trial Mel and Mit were combined as a transplant preparative regimen. Mit was given as a prolonged 6 hour infusion on 2 separate days to increase intracellular drug levels and decrease cardiac toxicity (Kaminer et al. Cancer 1990; 65, 2619–2623; Koc et al. Hematol Oncol 2004;22:43–53). PATIENTS: 35 patients with a diagnosis of MM were enrolled between 9/98–6/02. Median age was 59 (range, 38–69); 60% had received ≥ 2 previous regimens (range, 1–6). The median time from diagnosis to transplant was 9 months (95% CI, 8–12 months). 57% had stage III disease and 26% stage II at diagnosis; median Beta-2 microglobulin was 3.6 mg/L (available in only 13 patients). All patients completed therapy with Mit 30mg/m2/day infused over 6 hours on days -6 and -5 and Mel 180mg/m2 on day -1. RESULTS: The median follow-up for survivors was approximately 45 months (range, 3–84 months). The median times to granulocyte and platelet engraftment were 11 days and 14 days respectively. 2 patients failed to engraft; 1 proceeded to allogeneic transplant, the other died on day 28 secondary to sepsis. The 100-day TRM was 2.9%. The median progression free survival (PFS) was 20 months (95% CI, 13–31) (Figure 1) with a median overall survival (OS) of 57 months (Figure 2). 4 patients are alive and progression free more than 48 months out from transplant. 8/35 (23%) of patients achieved a complete response (CR). Of the 8 patients who had a CR, 7 (20% of total patients) are still alive and progression free with a median follow-up of 39 months after transplant (range, 12 to 80 months). The achievement of a CR was significantly associated with longer PFS but not with OS. The mean CD34 count of infused cells was 4.92 ×106/kg and did not appear to be significantly associated with CR rate, OS, or time to engraftment of platelets or granulocytes. Overall, therapy was well tolerated with a median of 8 days (range, 0–15) of any grade of mucositis and a median of 3 days of fever. The mean LVEF on MUGA was 64% pre-transplant and decreased to 58% post-transplant. 1 patient with diabetes and hypertension developed congestive heart failure after discharge from the hospital but with therapy the LVEF returned to normal. CONCLUSION: The combination of Mel and infusional Mit is an effective regimen with 23% CR rate despite multiple previous therapies. The median OS of 57 months compares well to other transplant trials and patients who achieved a CR demonstrated better long-term PFS. ![Figure][1] Figure ![Figure][1] Figure [1]: pending:yes
Increased postural sway in persons with multiple sclerosis during short-term exposure to warm ambient temperatures

Abstract Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease marked by demyelination and axonal loss. Individuals with MS experience increases in clinical signs and symptoms during heat exposure. Objective To test the hypothesis that moderate heat exposure adversely affects postural sway in individuals with MS. Methods Ten individuals with relapsing-remitting MS (50 ± 8y) and nine controls (47 ± 10y) were examined under a Thermal and a Time Control trial. Following a 30 min thermoneutral baseline (25 °C, 30% relative humidity (RH)), stand tests randomized with eyes open and closed, were performed. For Thermal, subjects were first exposed to 60 min of heating (40 °C, 30%RH) followed by 60 min of cooling (20 °C, 30%RH). For Time Control, subjects remained in a thermoneutral environment throughout. Stand tests were repeated at consistent times in both trials. Results No difference in skin and core temperatures between groups were observed for any trial (P > 0.05). During heating, postural sway was higher in MS relative to control subjects (eyes open, P = 0.03; eyes closed, P = 0.011). No differences in postural sway, regardless of eye status, were observed during the Time Control trial for either group (P > 0.05). Conclusion These data demonstrate that exposure to a moderate heating environment increases postural sway in patients with MS.
Commentary: A Candid Look at Teacher Research and Teacher Education Today

In this interview, Ken Zeichner describes the current changes and trends in teacher education and examines the university’s role in providing teachers with the necessary skills and knowledge. He advocates a model where the university, community, and school work together as partners to give teachers a more diversified set of knowledge and skills. This type of teacher education can be situated in the university, but it may be more effective if it takes place "outside of the bureaucracy and budget of both the university and the school system." Dr. Zeichner sees teacher research as a critical part of teacher development and firmly believes that each teacher should adopt an inquiry stance, where research is part of the practice rather than a separate activity. In conclusion, he states that, "…the old traditional forms of university-based teacher education…are not going to survive."
Virtually Standing Up or Standing By? Correlates of Enacting Social Control Online

Research has consistently established the robustness of the bystander effect, or the tendency of individuals to not intervene on behalf of others in emergency situations. This study examines the bystander effect in an online setting, focusing on factors that lead individuals to intervene, and therefore enact informal social control, on behalf of others who are being targeted by hate material. To address this question, we use an online survey (N=647) of youth and young adults recruited from a demographically balanced sample of Americans. Results demonstrate that the enactment of social control is positively affected by the existence of strong offline and online social bonds, collective efficacy, prior victimization, self-esteem, and an aversion for the hate material in question. Additionally, the amount of time that individuals spend online affects their likelihood of intervention. These findings provide important insights into the processes that underlie informal social control and begin to bridge the gap in knowledge between social control in the physical and virtual realms.
Doping-driven structural distortion in the bilayer iridate ( Sr 1 − x La x ) 3 Ir 2 O 7

Neutron single-crystal diffraction and rotational anisotropy optical second harmonic generation data are presented resolving the nature of the structural distortion realized in electron-doped (Sr_(1−x)La_x)_3Ir_2O_7 with x = 0.035 and x = 0.071. Once electrons are introduced into the bilayer spin-orbit assisted Mott insulator Sr_2Ir_2O_7, previous studies have identified the appearance of a low-temperature structural distortion and have suggested the presence of a competing electronic instability in the phase diagram of this material. Our measurements resolve a lowering of the structural symmetry from monoclinic C2/c to monoclinic P2_1/c and the creation of two unique Ir sites within the chemical unit cell as the lattice distorts below a critical temperature T_S. Details regarding the modifications to oxygen octahedral rotations and tilting through the transition are discussed as well as the evolution of the low-temperature distorted lattice as a function of carrier substitution.
Video Review: Law-Givers, Story-Tellers, and Dubin's Legal Heroes : The Emerging Dichotomy in Legal Ethics

Two camps have begun to emerge from the rich ferment in legal ethics teaching and scholarship over the last twenty years. The first group, whose members might be termed “law-givers,” consists of those who view legal ethics as chiefly concerned with the identification, transmission, and enforcement of uniform standards governing the conduct of lawyers. The second group — considerably smaller, but increasingly well-defined — might be called the “story-tellers.” The story-tellers place a higher value on persons and context than on principles and procedures, and on the cultivation of a deeper, less mechanical sense of professionalism than detailed rules can provide. Larry Dubin’s most recent educational videotape, Legal Heroes, brings him more firmly into the ranks of the legal ethics master story-tellers. Reasonably short and fast-moving, the videotape is exceptionally well-planned, and it refreshes the spirit and nourishes the soul in the best tradition of story-telling. The film focuses on three lawyers who elected to chart altruistic courses, and in the process secured not only important results but the admiration of their peers. Often, attempting to reinforce positive professional images is not an easy sell; idealism is passe. Nevertheless, Professor Dubin produces an effective and useful product. Legal Heroes is a very positive film, designed to make lawyers and, more importantly, law students feel comfortable, even proud, of their choice of career, and reminds them that there can be much more to law practice than the law alone.
Tritium Management and Control Using Carbon in a Fluoride-Salt-Cooled High-Temperature Reactor

AbstractResearch characterizing hydrogen behavior on carbon has been primarily focused on collecting data at near-ambient temperatures and pressures for storage or for high volume applications such as fusion. Transport models of a pre-conceptual 236 MWt pebble-bed fluoride-salt-cooled, high-temperature reactor (PB-FHR) estimate that the production of tritium is relatively low resulting in partial pressures ranging between 0 and 20 Pa. Operating temperatures in an FHR range from 600 to 700°C. Under these operating conditions, the interaction between hydrogen and carbon is currently undefined. Since an FHR contains large quantities of carbon (reflectors, fuel, structures), the tritium behavior in carbon must be investigated in order to develop methods to control tritium release rates to the environment and material corrosion. Preliminary modeling and experiments demonstrate high performance is achieved in a carbon adsorption tower, which can reduce system release rates by greater than 99%. This research aim...
1012-LBP: A comparison of physical and enzymatic fragmentation methods in library preparation for HLA sequencing on the illumina MISEQ

Aim To evaluate two different methods of library preparation for next generation sequencing of HLA-A, B and C on the Illumina MiSeq. Methods We initially performed long-range PCR for HLA-A, B and C on six IHWG samples using a combination of in-house and published primers. The amplified products ranged from 3900-4500 bp in length and encompassed all exons, introns and UTRs. After quantitation by the Qubit Fluorimeter (Life Technologies), samples were normalized and each sample was pooled for HLA-A, B and C. Samples were physically fragmented using sonication via the Covaris S220 instrument or enzymatically fragmented using Illumina’s Nextera XT Sample Preparation Kit. Following sonication, TruSeq adaptors were ligated and the library amplified. The Nextera kit protocol was followed as directed for the enzymatically fragmented samples. For both groups, HLA-A, B and C amplicons for each sample were pooled and indexed by sample. Fragment size was determined by either the Caliper LabChip GX or the Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer instruments. After analysis, samples were pooled at an 8pM concentration and ran on the Illumina MiSeq using Reagent kit v2 (500 cycle). All samples were analyzed using Omixon’s HLA typing module. Results The two fragmentation methods yielded two very different average fragment sizes. The sonicated samples had an average fragment size of 488 bp while the Nextera kit samples had an average fragment size of 823 bp. Overall the shorter (sonicated) samples yielded more accurate HLA typings. However, there was one sample where a phasing issue was resolved because of the coverage provided by the longer-sized fragments. The shorter-sized sonicated samples had a greater read depth than the longer-sized Nextera kit samples. Conclusions Shorter-sized fragments appear to produce more accurate HLA typings, although, this may increase the number of phase ambiguities to be resolved. More work remains to be done to determine the most ideal fragment length size.
EXISTENCE AND COMPARISON RESULTS FOR DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses existence and comparison results for differential equations. The study of the Cauchy problem for differential equations in a Banach space has taken two different directions. One direction is to find compactness type conditions that guarantee only existence of solutions, and the corresponding results are extensions of the classical Peano's theorem. The other approach is to employ monotonicity-type conditions that assure existence and uniqueness of solutions. An important technique in the theory of differential equations is concerned with estimating a function satisfying a differential inequality by means of the extremal solutions of the corresponding differential equation.
Abstract 16369: Nrf2 Deficiency Exacerbates Pathological Cardiac Remodeling in Response to Resistance Exercise

Introduction: Myocardial remodeling resulting in ventricular hypertrophy and dysfunction are either strongly correlated or causally linked to chronic redox imbalance. Nuclear erythroid-2 like factor-2 (Nrf2), a master transcriptional regulator plays a major role in cellular redox homeostasis. Here we investigated whether age-associated decline in Nrf2 is causal to stress induced cardiac remodeling and heart failure. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that genetic ablation or age-dependent decline of Nrf2 impairs myocardial redox state and induces pathological ventricular hypertrophy upon resistance exercise (RE). Methods and results: Age and sex matched WT and Nrf2-null mice (>22 months; n=6/gp.) were subjected to RE stress for 6 Weeks (25 meter/min, 12% grade) and cardiac functions were assessed by echocardiography and electrocardiogram. Biochemical, cellular and molecular indices related to redox and myocardial structural and functional remodeling were also analyzed. Results: Pre- and post- echocardiography analyses in response to RE indicated progressive cardiac hypertrophy in both WT and Nrf2-null mice on aging. Interestingly, the degree of cardiac remodeling was significantly higher in Nrf2-null when compared to WT mice. Dramatic increase in ejection fraction, cardiac output and R amplitude (V) suggesting that Nrf2 deficiency cause pathological remodeling. Transcriptional signatures of hypertrophy (Anf, Bnf and β-Mhc) were significantly (p Nqo1, Ho1, Gclm, Cat and Gst-α ). After RE, the transcript levels of Gclc, Nqo1, Gsr and Gst-α were profoundly diminished in Nrf2-null versus WT mice. Further, significant increase in DMPO-adduct coupled with the decreased myocardial glutathione levels illustrates oxidative stress in Nrf2-null mouse after RE. Further, increased accumulation of HNE-protein adducts and ubiquitinated proteins, known markers of proteasome inhibition were noted in Nrf2-null mice after RE. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that loss of Nrf2 could induce pathological ventricular remodeling and cardiac dysfunction over aging.
Usefulness of Integrating Heart Failure Risk Factors Into Impairment of Global Longitudinal Strain to Predict Anthracycline-Related Cardiac Dysfunction.

The prediction of cancer therapeutics-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) is an essential aspect of care for individuals who receive potentially cardiotoxic oncologic treatments. Certain clinical risk factors have been described for incident CTRCD, and measurement of left ventricular (LV) longitudinal strain by speckle tracking 2-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) is the best-validated myocardial mechanical imaging assessment to detect subtle changes in LV function during cancer treatment. However, the direct integration of clinical and imaging risk factors to predict CTRCD has not yet been extensively examined. This was a retrospective study of 183 women with breast cancer aged 50.9 ± 10.8 years who received treatment with anthracyclines (doxorubicin dose of 422 ± 69 mg/m2, with 41.2% of subjects also receiving trastuzumab) and underwent 2DE at clinically determined intervals. CTRCD was diagnosed when LV ejection fraction dropped ≥10% to a subnormal (
Numerical and experimental validation for the thermal transmittance of windows with cellular shades

Abstract Some highly energy efficient window attachment products are available today, but more rapid market adoption would be facilitated by fair performance metrics. It is important to have validated simulation tools to provide a basis for this analysis. This paper outlines a review and validation of the ISO 15099 center-of-glass zero-solar-load heat transfer correlations for windows with cellular shades. Thermal transmittance was measured experimentally, simulated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis, and simulated utilizing correlations from ISO 15099 as implemented in Berkeley Lab WINDOW and THERM software. CFD analysis showed ISO 15099 underestimates heat flux of rectangular cavities by up to 60% when aspect ratio (AR) = 1 and overestimates heat flux up to 20% when AR = 0.5. CFD analysis also showed that wave-type surfaces of cellular shades have less than 2% impact on heat flux through the cavities and less than 5% for natural convection of room-side surface. WINDOW was shown to accurately represent heat flux of the measured configurations to a mean relative error of 0.5% and standard deviation of 3.8%. Several shade parameters showed significant influence on correlation accuracy, including distance between shade and glass, inconsistency in cell stretch, size of perimeter gaps, and the mounting hardware.
Reclaiming Everyday Peace: Local Voices in Measurement and Evaluation After War

Bringing armed conflicts to an end is difficult; restoring a lasting peace can be considerably harder. Reclaiming Everyday Peace addresses the effectiveness and impact of local level interventions on communities affected by war. Using an innovative methodology to generate participatory numbers, Pamina Firchow finds that communities saturated with external interventions after war do not have substantive higher levels of peacefulness according to community-defined indicators of peace than those with lower levels of interventions. These findings suggest that current international peacebuilding efforts are not very effective at achieving peace by local standards because disproportionate attention is paid to reconstruction, governance and development assistance with little attention paid to community ties and healing. Firchow argues that a more bottom up approach to measuring the effectiveness of peacebuilding is required. By finding ways to effectively communicate local community needs and priorities to the international community, efforts to create an atmosphere for an enduring peace are possible.
A Mean-Field Optimal Control Formulation for Global Optimization

This paper is concerned with variational optimal control constructions whose solution yields a sampling algorithm. The particular form of the sampling algorithm considered here is a particle filter, designed to numerically approximate the solution to the global optimization problem. The theoretical significance of this study comes from its variational aspects. Specifically, the control input represents the solution of a mean-field-type optimal control problem. Its parametric counterpart, obtained when a parametric form of density is known a priori , is shown to be equivalent to the natural gradient algorithm. Explicit formulae for the filter are derived when the objective function is quadratic and the density is Gaussian. The optimal control construction of the particle filter is a significant departure from the classical importance sampling–resampling-based approaches.
Pareto and Generalized Pareto Distributions

More than one hundred years after its introduction, Pareto’s proposed model for fitting income distributions continues to be heavily used. A variety of generalizations of this model have been proposed including discrete versions, together with natural multivariate extensions. Several stochastic scenarios can be used to justify the prevalence of income distributions exhibiting approximate Paretian behavior. This chapter will provide a survey of results related to these Pareto-like models including discussion of related distributional and inferential questions. Topics will include the classical Pareto models and its generalizations, stochastic income models leading to Paretian income distributions, distributional properties of generalized Pareto distributions, related discrete distributions, inequality measures for Paretian models, inferential issues and multivariate extensions.
Effects of zinc sulfate concentration and feeding frequency on ruminal protozoal numbers, fermentation patterns and amino acid passage in steers

Effects of zinc sulfate (0 vs 1,142 ppm supplemental zinc from zinc sulfate) and feeding frequency (1 x vs 12x daily) on ruminal protozoa numbers, fermentation patterns and amino acid passage were investigated using four ruminally and abomasally cannulated mature Jersey steers in a 4 x 4 Latin square experiment. Steers (530 kg) were fed a 50:50 roughage:concentrate diet at 1.5 times their NEm requirement. Experimental periods were 14 d in duration; ruminal, abomasal and fecal samples were collected at 6-h intervals during the last 3 d of each period. Protozoa numbers tended to be lowest (1.82 x 10(6)/ml) in steers fed zinc 1 x and tended to be highest (3.83 x 10(6)/ml) in steers fed zinc 12 x daily (P less than .10). Frequent feeding decreased ruminal pH .24 units and increased total VFA 20.7%, ammonia 22.7% and ruminal digestion of dietary amino acids (AA) 61.6% (P less than .05). Zinc supplementation decreased ruminal digestion of dietary AA 35.8% (P less than .05) and the abomasal passage of bacterial OM and AA 21.2% (P less than .05) and increased ruminal output of amino acids as a percentage of intake 15.1% (P less than .05). Although it increased escape of dietary AA, zinc sulfate decreased postruminal passage of bacterial AA and resulted in a net negative effect on total postruminal AA passage as a percentage of intake. The effects of zinc on ruminal AA digestion may be more closely related to an interaction of zinc with dietary CP rather than to an effect of Zn on ruminal microbial populations.
THE CHEMISTRY OF SOME MYCOTOXINS

The toxicity and carcinogenicity of the aflatoxins, metabolites of Aspergillus flavus, a common and widely distributed food spoilage fungus, contradicts the suspicions of many extremists that all environmental contaminants are produced by chemists. The biological properties of these toxins are summarized and their metabolic fate in experimental animals is discussed. Syntheses of the known metabolites, aflatoxins M 1 and P 1 , are outlined and their toxicities compared with those of the parent aflatoxin B 1 .
Submerged paleoshorelines in the southern and western Black Sea–Implications for inundated prehistoric archaeological sites

During the course of six field seasons, from 1998 to 2003, groups from the Institute for Exploration (IFE) and, recently, the Institute for Archaeological Oceanography (IAO) at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography (URI-GSO) have conducted expeditions to the Black Sea for marine geological and archaeological research. These expeditions were conducted in partnership with groups from other institutions, including the University of Pennsylvania, Florida State University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Institute for Nautical Archaeology at Texas A&M University, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Oceanographically, the Black Sea is a distinctive body of water with highly preservative anoxic bottom water and a submerged coastal plain that was exposed and possibly habitable for periods of time in the recent geologic past. Archaeologically, the Black Sea basin has a rich maritime-oriented history with a number of coastal and near-coastal sites around the present-day perimeter that contain important information about human history from Pale o ithic times to the present. Using a suite of deep submergence technologies, a deep-towed side-scan sonar and subbottom profiling system, an optical imaging towsled, and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) systems, we have discovered, surveyed, imaged, and sampled several interesting geological and archaeological sites that shed more light on the ancient natural and human history of the region. These include several well-preserved prehistoric shorelines presently submerged about 150 m below present-day sea level, a very well preserved wooden ship dating to Byzantine times about 1500 years ago, an amphora-laden trading vessel dating to the Hellenistic period about 2400 years ago, and a possible site of human habitation along one of the ancient shorelines that was inundated during the Neolithic period more than 8000 years ago.
Moral self-regulation, moral identity, and religiosity.

The association between religiosity and morality identified in self-reports has received limited support from studies of actual behavior. We propose that religiosity variables are likely to contribute to moral behavior in the context of moral self-regulation. Five studies examined the prediction that people who strongly endorse the items “I try hard to live all my life according to my religious beliefs” and “My whole approach to life is based on my religion” and people who report strong God belief would exhibit heightened moral emotions and prosocial behaviors after moral self-image (MSI) threats. Study 1 (N = 169) demonstrated that considering a recent moral transgression (the manipulation used in Studies 2–5) resulted in lower MSI, regardless of participants’ levels of endorsement of religion-related items. Study 2 (N = 207) showed that following a threat to MSI, religiosity variables predicted heightened negative affect and self-conscious moral emotions. Studies 3 through 5 (combined N = 616) showed that following MSI threats, individuals endorsing intrinsic religiosity and God belief items showed increased prosocial task completion (Studies 3 and 5) and decreased cheating on a word-solving task (Study 4). Study 5 demonstrated that moral identity accounted for the role of religiosity variables in promoting moral self-regulation following MSI threat. Noting that these findings are limited to people representative of the participants in these samples (Mechanical Turk workers; University of Missouri undergraduate students), and to the precise measures and manipulations used, implications of these findings and constraints on their generalizability are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved)
Measuring natural enemy dispersal from cover crops in a California vineyard

Abstract Dispersal of natural enemies from buckwheat cover crop plots embedded within a southern California vineyard during spring and summer was investigated by using an arthropod mark-capture technique. Specifically, arthropods were marked in flowering buckwheat plots by spraying plants with a “triple mark” solution containing yellow dye, casein protein, and albumin protein. In turn, we recorded the abundance of marked and unmarked natural enemies at a gradient of distances from the treated buckwheat plots into the vineyard. Natural enemies marked with yellow dye were identified visually, while the presence of casein and albumin protein marks were detected using anti-casein and anti-albumin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The percentage of natural enemies marked with yellow dye indicated that spiders, predatory thrips (Aeolothripidae), and minute pirate bugs (Anthocoridae) dispersed 9 m (i.e., 3 rows) from marked buckwheat refuges over a six day period. The percentage of leafhopper parasitoids (Anagrus erythroneurae S. Trjapitzin and Chiappini) marked with yellow dye indicated that 22% of marked parasitoids were captured up to 18 m (i.e., six rows) to 30 m (i.e., 10 rows) from buckwheat plots up to six days after marks were applied to cover crops. Up to 17% of natural enemies marked with yellow dye, albumin, or casein were captured in non-treated control plots, suggesting that parasitoids, spiders, minute pirate bugs and predatory thrips were able to cross the 36 m buffer zones used to separate marked buckwheat plots and unmarked control plots. Results comparing the percentage of parasitoids and ‘other beneficials’ marked with a double mark (where any two of the three marks were detected) between distances in buckwheat plots indicated that double marked parasitoids were found up to 30 m (i.e., 10 rows) from buckwheat refuges, while no double marked parasitoids were captured in control plots. No triple marked arthropods were captured. To exploit the dispersal capabilities of natural enemies, these results suggest that buckwheat refuges planted in California vineyards could be planted every 6th (i.e., 18 m) or 10th (30 m) row to gain potential benefits from providing natural enemies with flowering buckwheat refuges.
Communication through simulation: Developing a curriculum to teach interpersonal skills.

Abstract Background Nontechnical issues are linked to up to 60% of adverse events in surgery and have become one of the core competencies of surgical education. Simulation-based training allows development of these skills. We hypothesized that we could both assess and improve the communication skills of interdisciplinary teams through a simulated crisis situation. Methods We designed a simulated crisis involving the intraoperative development of a tension pneumothorax. Audiovisual analysis was used to evaluate team interaction, and a combination of proctored assessment and self-assessment was used to evaluate individual learners. Time to communication and event intervention was measured. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests and 1-way analysis of variance in SPSS. Results Time from development of hypotension to communication of deterioration was 57 ± 60 seconds; time to intervention was 93 ± 30 seconds. Nontechnical skills in surgery II scores were greatest for surgery senior residents and least for surgery junior residents. Insight was least in surgery junior residents. Correctability was not different between groups but tended to be greater in surgery junior residents. Conclusions Poor communication delayed timing of intervention, indicating a need for enhanced communication in the operating room. Junior surgery residents scored lowest both on nontechnical skills and insight and should be taught nontechnical skills through simulation. Our curriculum is a suitable and reproducible model to educate surgery residents in communication skills.
Anisotropic contraction of fiber-reinforced hydrogels

Hydrogels reinforced by fibers can undergo remarkable anisotropic contraction triggered by external stimuli, which has a broad appeal for various applications. However, little is known about how to optimize the contraction anisotropy by tuning the microstructures of fiber-reinforced hydrogels. Here, we investigate the underlying mechanisms controlling the anisotropic contraction of fiber-reinforced hydrogels. Using a simplified model incorporating the directional constraint of the fibers, we show that the contraction anisotropy can be substantially enhanced if the hydrogel is prestretched along the fiber direction. We further explicitly model fibers as periodically distributed cylindrical rods in the finite element simulations, and find that the contraction anisotropy can be maximized by varying the transverse fiber–fiber distance; this maximum anisotropy can be improved by reducing the longitudinal fiber–fiber distance and increasing the fiber length. Our study provides insights into designing novel fiber-reinforced hydrogels, suggesting possible applications in soft robotics, tissue engineering and beyond.
Factors during training which predict future use of minimally invasive thoracic surgery

Abstract Background While minimally invasive thoracic surgery (MIS) has increased nationwide over the years, most patients undergoing lung and esophageal resections still undergo an open approach. We performed a national survey to analyze factors associated with a propensity to perform MIS after completing a cardiothoracic training program. Materials and methods Cardiothoracic surgery trainees in 2 or 3-year programs from 2010 to 2016 were sent an online survey regarding the numbers and types of cases performed during training and current practice patterns as attending surgeons. Comfort level with MIS was also assessed. Responses were recorded and analyzed using SPSS. Results One hundred thirty-six trainees responded, with a mean of 121 lobectomies (30-250) and 40 esophagectomies (8-110) performed during training. Mean minimally invasive lobectomy and esophagectomy rates during training were 53% and 30% respectively. A greater ratio of MIS procedures performed during training correlated with a higher rate performed as an attending (lobectomies, p = 0.04; esophagectomies, p = 0.01) and a greater comfort level with performing these procedures (lobectomies, p = 0.01 and esophagectomies, p Conclusions Based on these results, performing a greater ratio of minimally invasive lobectomies and esophagectomies during fellowship training increases the likelihood of performing them as an attending.
Beyond Social Media: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Other Internet and Mobile Phone Applications in a Community Psychiatry Population.

Objective:Popular media applications have been shown to benefit people with severe mental illness by facilitating communication and social support, helping patients cope with or manage symptoms, and providing a way to monitor or predict mental health states. Although many studies of technology use b
The Hypertensive Adolescent.

Increases in the prevalence of childhood hypertension and a growing realization that childhood BP has long-term implications for the development of adult cardiovascular disease have increased the attention paid to hypertension in children and adolescents ([1][1],[2][2]). This review will present a
Investigation of parallel-connected MEMS electrostatic energy harvesters for enhancing output power over a wide frequency range

Microelectromechanical-Systems (MEMS) electrostatic energy harvesters, converting vibration energy into electricity, is an active area of research and is envisioned to supply power to the myriad of sensors for Internet of Things applications. However, although a variety of approaches have been investigated to improve either power output or frequency range, a solution able to simultaneously address both is yet to emerge. This paper explores an energy harvesting system comprised of two parallel connected devices of different resonant frequencies, which is demonstrated to exhibit a broadened operating frequency range and enhanced power output as compared with an individual device. While it is straightforward that the frequency operating band is to be broadened due to the difference in natural frequencies, an increase in system's power output is not guaranteed due to intrinsic phase shift exhibited by the two dissimilar devices undergoing oscillation. However, it is shown that the power output by the two parallel connected devices may be significantly enhanced above that of a single device, an effect referred to as power-combining or constructive interference, which appears under operating conditions that enable partial synchronization of the oscillatory motion of each device. Such an approach is especially promising since it is possible to employ multiple parallel connected devices to increase the output power to levels matching those seen in applications. However, this technic is not yet explored theoretically or experimentally, a task undertaken here, where a case study consisting of a system with two parallel coupled devices is presented. System's dynamics is investigated theoretically and experimentally to understand conditions enabling power-combining. A modular theoretical model, which can be readily extended to any number of devices connected in parallel, is developed with co-dependent, simultaneous mechanical and electrical simulations carried out in VerilogA and Cadence Spectra.
Exploring an Innovative Course Delivery Method for Accelerated BSN Students.

Background The purpose of the pilot study was to develop and implement an innovative hybrid-delivered professional development course and explore accelerated BSN student satisfaction and perceived learning. Methods The convenience sample consisted of 16 accelerated BSN students at one Midwestern university. The Student Evaluation of Learning and Feedback to Instructors online survey instrument used consisted of 21 five-point Likert-scale items. Results Students reported that the course was organized (M = 3.96) and promoted student learning (M = 4.53) and engagement (M = 3.97). Graded material was adequate (M = 4.31). The course created a supportive adult learning environment (M = 3.84) and instructor rapport (M = 4.47). Knowledge was applied during clinical experiences. Conclusions Hybrid courses can facilitate student learning and satisfaction. Further research is warranted to explore innovative hybrid course delivery methods with accelerated BSN students. It is critical to ensure quality education for this special nursing population.
Show Them What They Need to Know (It’s For Their Own Good!): Our Adventure in Creating a Library Open House for Graduate Students

Where are the graduate students? A few reference librarians were again discussing the graduate students at our campus. The students did not sign up for graduate workshops held during the spring and fall semesters (literature review, annotated bibliographies, advanced research techniques, etc.), they did not drop by during office hours; yet when they called or stopped by the reference desk they were often amazed and thrilled at the resources and information the librarians provided them. How do we get graduate students into the library, or attend office hours, or sign up for workshops? We decided upon a library open house for graduate students on our campus. How did we create the event? What mistakes did we make? What would we change?
Arabic Poetics : Aesthetic Experience in Classical Arabic Literature

What makes language beautiful? Arabic Poetics offers an answer to what this pertinent question looked like at the height of the Islamic civilization. In this novel argument, Lara Harb suggests that literary quality depended on the ability of linguistic expression to produce an experience of discovery and wonder in the listener. Analyzing theories of how rhetorical figures, simile, metaphor, and sentence construction are able to achieve this effect of wonder, Harb shows how this aesthetic theory, first articulated at the turn of the eleventh century CE, represented a major paradigm shift from earlier Arabic criticism which based its judgement on criteria of truthfulness and naturalness. In doing so, this study poses a major challenge to the misconception in modern scholarship that Arabic criticism was 'traditionalist' or 'static', exposing an elegant widespread conceptual framework of literary beauty in the post-eleventh-century Islamicate world which is central to poetic criticism, the interpretation of Aristotle's Poetics in Arabic philosophy and the rationale underlying discussions about the inimitability of the Quran.
SITE goes virtual: A digital revolution in an age of disruption

It is not surprising that the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education (SITE) conference was able to move from a bricks-and-mortar conference to an online conference in a matter of ...
On the frontlines of slave trade abolition: British consuls combat state capture in Cuba and Mozambique

This essay explores the careers of two British consuls on different sides of the globe, David Turnbull in Cuba and Lyons McLeod in Mozambique, both engaged in a long-running battle against the ille...
Comorbidities Predict Inferior Survival in Patients Receiving Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy for Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma: A Multicenter Analysis

ABSTRACT Chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy is approved for treatment of relapsed/refractory (R/R) diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Here we evaluate whether comorbidities, calculated using the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS), predict survival for these patients. A retrospective chart review was performed at 4 academic institutions. All patients who underwent leukapheresis for commercial CAR-T therapy for R/R DLBCL were included. CIRS scores were calculated at the time of leukapheresis. High comorbidity was defined as either CIRS ≥7 or the presence of severe impairment (CIRS 3/4 in ≥1 system; CIRS-3+). Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and differences in curves were detected by the log-rank test. A total of 130 patients were analyzed, 56.9% with CIRS ≥7 and 56.2% with CIRS-3+. After a median follow-up of 13 months, the median PFS was 6.7 months, and the median OS was not reached. On univariable analysis, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) was associated with inferior PFS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-2.05; P = .03) and OS (HR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.17-2.64; P = .007). Higher CIRS (CIRS ≥7 or CIRS-3+) was associated with inferior OS (HR, 2.12; 95%, CI, 1.06-4.22; P = .03) and a nonsignificant trend in worse PFS (HR, 1.45; 95% CI, .87-2.44; P = .16). In multivariable analyses, CIRS ≥7 or CIRS-3+ and ECOG PS maintained independent prognostic significance. Comorbidities as determined by CIRS and ECOG PS predict inferior survival in patients receiving CAR-T therapy for R/R DLBCL.
Binder-free pseudocapacitive nickel cobalt sulfide/MWCNTs hybrid electrode directly grown on nickel foam for high rate supercapacitors

Abstract In this study, in-situ decoration of a binder-free pseudocapacitive NiCo2S4 and NiCo2S4/MWCNTs hybrid electrode has been synthesized via a wet chemical synthesis route on Ni foam. The hybrid electrodes of bimetallic metal sulfides were investigated using the X-ray diffraction technique and scanning electron microscopy. The electrochemical technique was used to investigate the electrochemical properties of the synthesized bimetallic metal sulfide materials. The good galvanostatic discharge time of 1077 s, the areal capacitance of 5.38 F/cm2, and specific capacitance of 2210 F/g were observed for NiCo2S4/MWCNTs hybrid electrode materials, respectively at 3 mA/cm2. The results show that the addition of highly conductive, MWCNTs, and the synergic effects of bimetallic sulfides (Ni, Co) greatly contribute to the excellent electrochemical properties, making the NiCo2S4/MWCNTs hybrid electrode as a potential material for supercapacitor applications.