cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An experimental, pluggable infrastructure for modular configuration management policy composition

Building a configuration management (CM) system is a difficult endeavor that regularly requires tens of thousands of lines of code to be written. To reduce this effort, several experimental infrastructures have been developed that provide reusable repositories upon which to build a CM system. In this paper, we push the idea of reusability even further. Whereas existing infrastructures only reuse a generic CM model (i.e., the data structures used to capture the evolution of artifacts), we have developed an experimental infrastructure, called MCCM, that additionally allows reuse of CM policies (i.e., the rules by which a user evolves artifacts stored in a CM system). The key contribution underlying MCCM is that a CM policy is not a monolithic entity; instead, it can be composed from small modules that each addresses a unique dimension of concern. Using the pluggable architecture and base set of modules of MCCM, then, the core of a desired new CM system can be rapidly composed by choosing appropriate existing modules and implementing any remaining modules only as needed. We demonstrate our approach by showing how the use of MCCM significantly reduces the effort involved in creating several representative CM systems.
Novel association between serum pentraxin-2 levels and advanced fibrosis in well-characterised patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

SummaryBackground Pentraxin-2 (PTX-2), a serum protein, inhibits inflammation and fibrosis, and recombinant PTX-2 is being tested as an anti-fibrotic agent. Aim To evaluate the association between serum PTX-2 levels and fibrosis stage in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods Serum pentraxin-2 levels were compared between four groups of well-characterised patients including NAFLD with no fibrosis, NAFLD with mild-moderate fibrosis (stage 1–2), NAFLD with advanced fibrosis (stage 3–4), and age-sex matched non-NAFLD controls. Results Sixty subjects were included in the study. The mean age was 58.9 years, 68% were male and 58% were Caucasian. In univariate analysis, serum PTX-2 levels significantly decreased from non-NAFLD controls to mild NAFLD with no fibrosis, to NAFLD with mild-moderate fibrosis and were lowest in patients with NAFLD and advanced fibrosis, in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.0001). In multivariable-adjusted analyses controlling for age, sex, albumin, and CRP, the results remained consistent and statistically significant. Serum PTX-2 level had an AUROC of 0.84 (95% CI: 0.71–0.97) for the diagnosis of NAFLD, and an AUROC of 0.77 (95% CI: 0.65–0.90) for the diagnosis of advanced fibrosis in NAFLD. Serum PTX-2 levels also decreased with increasing liver stiffness as estimated by magnetic resonance elastography (r = −0.31, P = 0.02). Conclusions PTX-2 levels are significantly lower in patients with NAFLD compared to non-NAFLD controls, and decline further in patients with advanced fibrosis. PTX-2 may therefore be both a biomarker of disease and a potential target for anti-fibrotic therapy with the recombinant pentraxin-2.
Theoretical issues on LTI systems that preserve signal richness

In this paper, theoretical issues about linear time invariant (LTI) systems that preserve signal richness are explored. This paper considers two particular definitions of signal richness and finds the necessary and sufficient conditions under which an LTI system preserves the richness property. Several examples are presented to clarify the issues involved in the problem. Paraunitary (PU) and unimodular matrices can be shown not to preserve richness unless they are constant matrices (or a delayed version in the PU case). Some richness preserving properties of cascaded systems are also investigated. A structured proof of the necessary and sufficient conditions is presented. The relationship between persistent excitation (PE) and the proposed definitions of richness is also described.
Glutamate-, glutaminase-, and taurine-immunoreactive neurons develop neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer's disease

Although formation of neurofibrillary tangles is a major pathological feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD), the neurotransmitter content of neurofibrillary tangle-bearing neurons has not been well characterized. We studied the hippocampus of 6 patients with pathologically verified AD and 6 control subjects using a monoclonal antibody to glutamyl-glutamate and polyclonal antisera against glutaminase and taurine. In normal hippocampus, gluamate and glutaminase stained pyramidal neurons in the cornu ammonis (CA) fields and the subiculum, as well as the dentate granule cells. Fiber staining was better seen with glutamate antisera, which in AD specimens showed reduced numbers of glutamate-immunoreactive fibers in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus. In AD specimens, glutamate- and glutaminase-immunoreactive pyramidal neurons in the hippocampal CA fields were decreased in number and remaining neurons showed irregular shortened and disorganized dendritic fields. Taurine immunoreactivity was localized to a subset of hippocampal pyramidal neurons, which showed similar degenerative changes in AD specimens. Glutamate-, glutaminase-, and taurine-stained neurons were found to contain neurofibrillary tangles using either double immunofluorescence with tau antisera, double immunoperoxidase stains, or silver and thioflavine S counterstains. These studies show that two distinct neurochemically defined populations of pyramidal neurons in allocortex frequently show degenerative changes and develop neurofibrillary tangles in AD.
What Is Remedial Secondary Infrastructure? Implications for Infrastructure Design, Policy for Sustainability, and Resilience

The phenomenon of remedial secondary infrastructure (RSI) is omnipresent in cities of developing nations where the municipality has provided basic primary infrastructure (often in a largerscaled central network design), but these services are viewed as inconsistent and unreliable. Consequently, in response, individual households privately purchase additional infrastructure services to correct, or remediate, the already provided for primary infrastructure—hence the name remedial secondary infrastructure. RSI affects all socioeconomic levels, and has profound implications for the day-to-day quality of life for citizens, as well as economic and environmental impacts and the resilience of cities. Yet, RSI has not been defined, or specifically discussed, in the context of infrastructure policy and design. The existence of RSI represents a failed primary delivery of basic services in terms of quality and/or reliability to the household, and also indicates that residents have developed a long-standing mistrust that an infrastructure system could be maintained without RSI. This communication presents (1) a definition of RSI; (2) clarifying RSI unique characteristics; and (3) implications for future infrastructure design and policy.
Stressful Life Events Associated with Adolescent Suicide Attempts

This study was designed to examine the types of stressful events that are related to adolescent suicidal behaviour. Adolescent inpatients who attempted suicide and a control group of high school students were compared on various types of stressors. The stressors were categorized according to their type (for example, discrete events versus chronic strains) and source (for example, family or friends). Compared to high school controls, adolescents who attempted suicide reported elevated levels of major negative events and exit events. Both chronic strains and discrete stressors were related to an increased severity of depression and suicidal ideation. The results support the notion that increased stress is related to adolescent suicidal behaviour. Different approaches to categorizing stress may improve the understanding of the relationship between stressful life events and suicide. Also, sex differences may influence the relationship between life stress and suicidal feelings.
THYROIDAL COUPLING OF TYROSINE IN VITRO.

SummaryAttempts were made to demonstrate the presence of thyronine within thyroid tissue slices as well as its formation using as accepted precursor UL-C14-tyrosine. Not only was thyronine not isolated but no evidence was found for the incorporation of tyrosine into any of the thyronine iodinated analogs.
Estimation of bromide on fingertip blood in bromide intoxication.

SummaryA procedure is described for bromide analysis in serum of patients with bromide intoxication which uses the ultraviolet absorption peak for good bromide to increase sensitivity. This permits the analysis of serum or plasma, from fingertip blood, for bromide analysis.
The Brain, the Mind and the Self: A psychoanalytic road map

Psychoanalysis enjoyed an enormous popularity at one time, but has recently fallen out of favor as new psychiatric medications have dominated the treatment of mental illness and a new interest in the brain and neuroscience begins to dominate the theory as to the cause and cure of mental illness. How do we distinguish between the brain, the mind and the self? In his new book, Arnold Goldberg approaches this question from a psychoanalytic perspective, and examines how recent research findings can shed light on it. He repositions psychoanalysis as an interpretive science that is a different activity to most other sciences that are considered empirical. Giving clear coverage of the various psychoanalytic models of the mind and the self, Goldberg examines how these theories fare against neuroscientific evidence, and what implications these have for psychoanalytic clinical practice. The Brain, the Mind and the Self: A psychoanalytic road map sets up evidence-based, robust psychoanalytic theory and practice that will give psychoanalysts, social workers and practicing psychologists a valuable insight into the future of psychoanalysis. Arnold Goldberg, M.D. was born and raised in Chicago and trained at the University of Illinois, Michael Reese Hospital and the Institute for Psychoanalysis in Chicago. He is recently retired from the Cynthia Oudejans Harris MD chair, and Professor of Psychiatry at Rush Medical Center.
Light microscopic localization of actomyosin and tropomyosin in tissues by immunoperoxidase technique following fixation in dimethylsuberimidate and embedding in polyethylene glycol.

In experiments previously reported from this laboratory, it was observed that actomyosin extracted from human uterine smooth muscle and actomyosin (thrombosthenins) extracted from human platelets were functionally, structurally and immunologically similar (1). Antisera prepared in rabbits to either of these proteins were, by direct or indirect immunofluorescent technique, observed to stain specifically endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells of systemic arteries and veins, endothelial cells of liver sinusoids and certain capillaries, mesangial cells of renal glomeruli (2), endothelial cells cultured from umbilical veins, blood platelets and mature megakaryocytes (1,3). These antisera also stained specifically, myoepithelial cells, perineurial cells of peripheral nerves (4) and “fibroblastic” cells of granulation tissue. In corollary experiments, essentially similar observations were made using rabbit antisera to human uterine tropomyosin (5). All of these experiments employed acetone “fixed” frozen sections of human tissues or acetone “fixed” smears of human peripheral blood and direct or indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. Frozen sections and acetone “fixation” were used because the antigenicity of actomyosin and of tropomyosin were destroyed by other fixatives such as formaldehyde, paraformaldehyde, and glutaraldehyde.
Protein Nitrogen Determination by Kjeldahl Digestion and Ion Chromatography

We report development and validation of a simple, rapid, and accurate method for the quantitation of protein nitrogen, which combines Kjeldahl digestion and ion chromatography with suppressed conductivity detection and requires nanomolar amount of nitrogen in samples (≥10 μg protein). The mechanism of suppressed conductivity detection does not permit analysis of samples containing copper (present in Kjeldahl digestion solution) and aluminum (present in many vaccines as adjuvants) due to precipitation of their hydroxides within the suppressor. We overcame this problem by including 10 μM oxalic acid in Kjeldahl digests and in the eluent (30 mM methanesulfonic acid). The chromatography is performed using an IonPac CS-16 cation exchange column by isocratic elution. The method reduces the digestion time to less than 1 h and eliminates the distillation and titration steps of the Kjeldahl method, thereby reducing the analysis time significantly and improving precision and accuracy. To determine protein nitrogen in samples containing non-protein nitrogen, proteins are precipitated by a mixture of deoxycholate and trichloroacetic acid and the precipitates are analyzed after dissolving in KOH. The method is particularly useful for biological samples that are limited and can also be applied to food, environmental, and other materials.
A Novel Method to Assess Incompleteness of Mammography Reports

Mammography has been shown to improve outcomes of women with breast cancer, but it is subject to inter-reader variability. One well-documented source of such variability is in the content of mammography reports. The mammography report is of crucial importance, since it documents the radiologist’s imaging observations, interpretation of those observations in terms of likelihood of malignancy, and suggested patient management. In this paper, we define an incompleteness score to measure how incomplete the information content is in the mammography report and provide an algorithm to calculate this metric. We then show that the incompleteness score can be used to predict errors in interpretation. This method has 82.6% accuracy at predicting errors in interpretation and can possibly reduce total diagnostic errors by up to 21.7%. Such a method can easily be modified to suit other domains that depend on quality reporting.
Random Allocation Methods in an Epidemic Model

A random allocation model is developed for the numbers of susceptibles in a group of n IVDU’s who become infected by i HIV-infectives sharing needles. A comparison of this model and the classical Reed-Frost model is outlined.
The influence of achievement goals on collaborative interactions and knowledge convergence

Abstract Although there is evidence of the influence of achievement goals on individuals’ learning, less is known about their influence on collaborative groups. In this study, 45 pairs of college students engaged in a building task. Twenty-three of the pairs were assigned to a learning goal condition and 22 to a performance goal condition. Pre- and post-test measures were used to quantify differences in outcomes, knowledge convergence and knowledge convergence mechanisms between conditions; qualitative coding was conducted to understand differences in interactions. Results indicated no difference in overall measures of learning and performance outcomes between conditions. However, groups with a learning goal showed more knowledge convergence than groups with a performance goal. Groups with a learning goal engaged in more reflection and more explanations during the task than groups with a performance goal. These results suggest that achievement goals influence interaction behaviors when students are engaged in collaborative activities.
Cambodia: Language Situation

Ninety-five per cent of Cambodia's current population of around 12 million speaks Khmer or Cambodian. While the majority of the population is ethnic Khmer, there are substantial numbers of ethnic Vietnamese and Chinese who maintain their respective language and customs in addition to Khmer. Throughout Cambodian history, contact with foreign languages and cultures has had a significant influence on Khmer vocabulary and usage.
Abrasion resistance of muscovite in aeolian and subaqueous transport experiments

Abstract Complementary aeolian and subaqueous transport experiments showed a trend in muscovite abrasion that may be useful for identifying ancient sandstones as aeolian or subaqueous in origin. We found that our experimental aeolian processes pulverized the micas quickly, while our subaqueous processes did not. In a pair of abrasion resistance experiments conducted with micaceous quartz sand, it was found that large muscovite grains were (1) reduced by aeolian processes to less than 500 μm in just 4 days, and (2) preserved by subaqueous processes to 610 ± 90 μm even after 356 days. At 20 days of aeolian transport no loose micas could be found even under the microscope, but after a year of subaqueous transport loose muscovite grains could still be seen with the naked eye. Thus, the occurrence and character of micas in a sandstone, particularly muscovite, may be helpful in determining the ancient depositional process.
Oil-Impregnated Nanoporous Oxide Layer for Corrosion Protection with Self-Healing

The major drawback of current passivation techniques for preventing corrosion is the lack of ability to withstand any external damages or local defects. In this study, oil-impregnated nanoporous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) layers are investigated to overcome such limitations and thus advance corrosion protection. By completely filling hydrophobized nanopores with oil via a solvent exchange method, a highly water-repellent surface that prevents the penetration of corrosive media into the AAO layer and hence the corrosion of aluminum is achieved. The impregnation of oil into the hydrophobic nanoporous AAO layer enhances the corrosion resistance of an AAO layer by two and four orders of magnitude compared to that of a hydrophobic (i.e., air-entrained) and a bare (hydrophilic) AAO, respectively. In the presence of local defects, the oil impregnated within the hydrophobic nanoporous AAO layer naturally permeates into the defects and ultimately inhibits the exposure of the aluminum surface to corrosive media. Whereas the corrosion current density of the air-entrained hydrophobic AAO layer increases by more than 30 times after cracks, that of the oil-impregnated AAO layer increases by no more than 4 times, showing superior anticorrosion property even after there are cracks, owing to the effective self-healing capability.
Preventing Industrial Disasters in a Time of Climate Change: A Call for Financial Assurance Mandates

In the current era of accelerating climate change, rising sea levels, and increasingly extreme weather, coastal industrial disasters pose a large and growing risk to society. The private sector and public officials are both failing to adequately respond to this risk, and the familiar regulatory tools in this context, such as design mandates and adaptation subsidies, have significant drawbacks. This paper proposes a novel policy framework to prevent coastal industrial disasters. I argue that financial assurance requirements (FAMs), such as insurance mandates, can induce coastal industry to adapt to the coastal impacts of climate change and can ensure that the public will be fully compensated for any disasters that nonetheless occur. FAMs can mobilize the considerable expertise of third-party financial assurance providers and provide efficient incentives for private adaptation. Moreover, they are relatively simple to implement, making them especially suitable for state, regional, and municipal policymakers facing locally concentrated climate impacts, tight resources, and federal gridlock. FAMs are a promising remedy for a significant and increasingly urgent danger.
Understanding How Low-Level Clouds and Fog Modify the Diurnal Cycle of Orographic Precipitation Using In Situ and Satellite Observations

Satellite orographic precipitation estimates exhibit large errors with space-time structure tied to landform. Observations in the Southern Appalachian Mountains (SAM) suggest that low-level clouds and fog (LLCF) amplify mid-day rainfall via seeder-feeder interactions (SFI) at both high and low elevations. Here, a rainfall microphysics model constrained by fog observations was used first to reveal that fast SFI (2–5 min time-scales) modify the rain drop size distributions by increasing coalescence efficiency among small drops (<0.7 mm diameter), whereas competition between coalescence and filament-only breakup dominates for larger drops (3–5 mm diameter). The net result is a large increase in the number concentrations of intermediate size raindrops in the 0.7–3 mm range and up to a ten-fold increase in rainfall intensity. Next, a 10-year climatology of satellite observations was developed to map LLCF. Combined estimates from CALIPSO (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations) and CloudSat products reveal persistent shallower cloud base heights at high elevations enveloping the terrain. The regional cloud top height climatology derived from the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) shows high-frequency daytime LLCF over mountain ridges in the warm season shifting to river valleys at nighttime. In fall and winter, LLCF patterns define a cloud-shadow region east of the continental divide, consistent with downwind rain-shadow effects. Optical and microphysical properties from collocated MODIS and ground ceilometers indicate small values of vertically integrated cloud water path (CWP < 100 g/m2), optical thickness (COT < 15), and particle effective radius (CER) < 15 μm near cloud top whereas surface observed CER ~25 μm changes to ~150 μm and higher prior to the mid-day rainfall. The vertical stratification of LLCF microphysics and SFI at low levels pose a significant challenge to satellite-based remote sensing in complex topography.
Two Siblings with Genetically Proven HNPP and Autonomic Neuropathy (P2.037)

OBJECTIVE: To describe two siblings with genetically proven hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsy (HNPP) and autonomic neuropathy. BACKGROUND: HNPP Hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsy (HNPP) is a relatively common peripheral neuropathy characterized by recurrent entrapment and compression neuropathies. In the majority of patients, the causal mutation is a heterozygous deletion of the peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22) gene on chromosome 17p11.2. Commonly reported symptoms are focal numbness, weakness, atrophy, and pain. However, an association with autonomic neuropathy has not been previously described. We report a case of brother and sister who have both the deletion of PMP22 and symptomatic autonomic dysfunction confirmed by autonomic testing. DESIGN/METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of two adult full siblings from the neurology departments of the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle and the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona. Information was compiled from genetic, autonomic, and electrodiagnostic testing and clinical examinations. RESULTS: Targeted array CGH analysis with exon-level resolution confirmed the presence of a deletion including all five exons of PMP22 and electrodiagnostic testing the presence of a mild sensory and motor demyelinating polyneuropathy with superimposed nerve entrapments. Autonomic testing, performed due to autonomic symptoms including positional dizziness, confirmed the presence of autonomic dysfunction. The brother had neurocardiogenic syncope and adrenergic dysfunction but a normal QSART. The sister showed distal reduction of QSART response, mild symptomatic orthostatic intolerance with mild adrenergic dysfunction and intact cardiovagal and sudomotor function. CONCLUSIONS: HNPP can uncommonly be associated with an autonomic neuropathy. It is important for clinicians to be aware of the potential presence of autonomic symptoms, which may contribute to poor quality of life for these patients. Further research is warranted to better understand the pathogenesis of autonomic neuropathy in this patient population. Study Supported by: University of Washington Medical Center Disclosure: Dr. Ruhoy has nothing to disclose. Dr. Oakley has received personal compensation for activities with Neurovista as a consultant. Dr. Jayadev has received personal compensation for activities with About.com and the New York Times. Dr. Weiss has received personal compensation for activities with Walgreens, Grifols, and Nufactor. Dr. Weiss has received research support from Clinical Trials Research Unit/Northeast ALS Consortium and the ALS Therapy Alliance.
Principles of Fracture Mechanics

When a solid is subjected to a certain system of external loads under a given set of environmental conditions, in most cases the response is simply one of deformation in the sense that topologically the medium remains unchanged. In this case, at least conceptually, the solution of the problem presents no difficulty, that is, after the appropriate material characterization it can be formulated as an initial-boundary value problem and all the desired field quantities may be obtained upon solving the related field equations. On the other hand, in addition to deformations taking place in the body, if new surfaces are created within the medium as a result of excessive applied loads, the body is said to undergo fracture. From the viewpoint of physical applications and mathematical modeling, in this case one generally distinguishes two types of problems, namely fracture initiation and fracture propagation. For a given solid with a given defect geometry, in the former one needs to evaluate the critical level of the applied loads corresponding to the inception of the fracture process. Since no new surfaces have as yet been created, here the related mechanics problem is again a deformation type of problem complemented by an appropriate fracture criterion which relates the inherent fracture resistance of the solid to the applied loads and geometry of the medium.
Standing out from the crowd: Spotting your targets in a mixed plankton sample.

The diversity of marine organisms is staggering, and this fact is readily appreciated by microscopic examination of the contents of a plankton net after a short tow across the ocean surface. Although this diversity is beautiful, it can present a significant problem for those seeking to extract information about a single species of interest. Enumeration of the eggs and larvae of a specific target species can provide a quantitative window into reproductive dynamics that are of great use for fisheries stock assessment and management. But how do you efficiently sort through the mass of plankton and identify target species' eggs and larvae that may be morphologically indistinguishable from those of a number of other local species? In this issue of Molecular Ecology Resources, Oxley et al. () describe an innovative in situ hybridization (ISH) approach that successfully solves this important problem and opens an exciting new avenue to ichthyoplankton analysis that may be widely adopted by both fish ecologists and fisheries managers.
A High-Frequency Multiple-Signal-Conductor Transmission Line

The application of a multiple-signal-conductor transmission line for use in modern high-speed miniaturized computers is discussed. Electrical and mechanical requirements are outlined. Design aspects showing analytical and experimental results with analog techniques on round and flat wire configurations are reviewed. Noise coupling, characteristic impedance, loss and propagation delays versus frequency, and termination aspects are considered.
Expression of TorsinA in a heterologous yeast system reveals interactions with conserved lumenal domains of LINC and nuclear pore complexes

DYT1 dystonia is caused by an in-frame deletion of a glutamic acid codon in the gene encoding the AAA+ ATPase TorsinA. TorsinA localizes within the lumen of the nuclear envelope/ER and binds to a membrane-spanning co-factor, LAP1 or LULL1, to form an ATPase; the substrate(s) of TorsinA remain ill defined. Here we use budding yeast, which lack Torsins, to interrogate TorsinA function. We show that TorsinA accumulates at nuclear envelope embedded spindle pole bodies (SPBs) in a way that requires its oligomerization and the conserved SUN-domain protein, Mps3. TorsinA is released from SPBs upon expression of LAP1 and stabilized by LAP1 mutants incapable of stimulating TorsinA ATPase activity, suggesting the recapitulation of a TorsinA-substrate cycle. While the expression of TorsinA or TorsinA-ΔE impacts the fitness of strains expressing mps3 alleles, a genetic interaction with a conserved component of the nuclear pore complex, Pom152, is specific for TorsinA. This specificity is mirrored by a physical interaction between Pom152 and TorsinA, but not TorsinA-ΔE. These data suggest that TorsinA-nucleoporin interactions would be abrogated by TorsinA-ΔE, providing new experimental avenues to interrogate the molecular basis behind nuclear envelope herniations seen in cells lacking TorsinA function.
Fostering medical students' lifelong learning skills with a dashboard, coaching and learning planning.

To develop lifelong learning skills, students need feedback, access to performance data, and coaching. A new medical curriculum incorporated infrastructural supports based on self-regulated learning theory and the Master Adaptive Learner framework to engage students in reflection and learning planning. This study examines students’ experience with a performance dashboard, longitudinal coaching, and structured time for goal-setting. Focus groups with first-year medical students explored performance dashboard usage, coaching and learning planning. We analyzed findings using thematic analysis. Results informed development of a 29-item survey rated strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (5) to investigate experience with the dashboard, coaching and learning goals program. The survey was distributed to one first-year medical student class. We performed descriptive statistics and factor analysis. In three focus groups with 21 participants, students endorsed using the dashboard to access performance information but had trouble interpreting and integrating information. They valued coaches as sources of advice but varied in their perceptions of the value of discussing learning planning. Of 152 students, 114 (75%) completed the survey. Exploratory factor analysis yielded 5 factors explaining 57% of the variance: learning goals development (α = 0.88; mean 3.25 (standard deviation 0.91)), dashboard usage (α = 0.82; 3.36 (0.64)), coaching (α = 0.71; 3.72 (0.64)), employment of learning strategies (α = 0.81; 3.67 (0.79)), and reflection (α = 0.63; 3.68 (0.64)). The student performance dashboard provides efficient feedback access, yet students’ use of this information to guide learning is variable. These results can inform other programs seeking to foster lifelong learning skills.
Consumer Behavior in Islamic Perspective: An Empirical Analysis

Pakistan is an Islamic country and the current paper is an attempt to investigate empirically whether Islamic consumer theory is being applied in this country or not. This study has used a set of questionnaires distributed to all general consumers working in different walks of life in the city of Lahore. Cronbach Alpha test is used to check the reliability and internal consistency of all variables in the questionnaire. In order to draw conclusions, percentage of respondents’ method has been used in SPSS. Results indicated that consumers in Pakistan follow Sharia rules moderately during consumption of goods and services, embrace Halal goods and services, and prefer to live a simple life, to some extent believe in wealth accumulation and believe that excessive accumulation of wealth induces them to lead an unnecessary luxurious life. Moreover, they frequently give donations to the needy, and somewhat consider the problems being faced by other consumers. They usually do not support a luxurious life when their siblings or neighbors are poor. They sometimes consider the life hereafter and control their wants during consumption of goods and services. Most of the people consider ethics in their consumption pattern and believe that absence of ethics is the major reason of defect of modern economics. Besides, most of the respondents are of the opinion that modern economics should include religious tools to get better outcomes. It is also concluded that they believe that social, moral and religious mechanisms are important with other economic programs and instruments in order to alleviate poverty. This study is important for the national and international producers, marketers and sellers who would like to sell their goods and services in Pakistan. Producers can produce goods and services by considering widespread Islamic consumption behavior in Pakistan in their production process. Marketers and sellers can attract mainstream consumers by depicting Islamic consumption pattern while marketing their products and services. To the best of my knowledge, no research in the past has been done to find out empirically Islamic consumer behavior for Pakistan.
When Neighbors Become Killers: From Murahaleen to Janjaweed in Darfur

The arming of local militias and using them as counter-insurgency in Darfur crisis by President Omar al-Bashir administration was not a new strategy. In the 1980s, Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi used the same old strategy to fight the South Sudan Liberation Army. The chapter explores the Murahaleen militia—the precursors to the Janjaweed—of the 1980s and early 1990s. It draws attention to the link between the government and the militia, the recruitment strategy, and reasons why people joined it. A combination of factors necessitated the organization of militia forces. As indigenous dispute solving mechanism broke down, local conflicts between the Arabs and Fur escalated. The easy availability of weapons and the lure to loot and restock lost animals boosted militia recruitments. Raiding could be a lucrative business especially when there is a limited availability of food resources and weak government control.
Addressing the social determinants of health through public health policy: a case study of US-based advocacy efforts for health justice in occupied Palestinian territory

Abstract Background Policy development, one of the core functions of public health, is often achieved through professional associations leveraging disciplinary expertise and values via their official policy statements. The 140-year-old American Public Health Association (APHA) has adopted hundreds of policy statements, including several focused on the health implications of war and armed conflict, both in general, and in Iran, Iraq, the Persian Gulf, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Vietnam. Yet, despite four attempts, the APHA has failed to pass a resolution addressing the health consequences of the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Here, we document the need for solidarity between health professionals in the USA and occupied Palestinian territory, and identify mechanisms predicting success of professional advocacy based on a commitment to international health justice. Methods We conducted a case study, drawing on extensive literature review, historical analysis, examination of APHA procedures and documents, and interviews with organisations that have been successful in professional advocacy in addressing US policy as it relates to occupied Palestinian territory. Findings Findings point to four factors within US academic institutions that underlie the advancement of policies relating to occupied Palestinian territory: (1) the moment in history and the political environment; (2) the organisation's history of taking controversial policy stands; (3) the rhetorical strategies deployed; (4) the organisation's structure and process of decision making. We applied these factors to our case study. Interpretation Findings reveal profound differences in understanding among US public health professionals regarding the effects of the occupation of Palestinian territory on public health in the region. Results suggest that fear of controversy interferes with what should otherwise be an obvious response for US public health professionals. For public health resolutions that are deemed politically controversial, advocates need to adjust the language to respond to the historical moment, and history and culture of the organisation, to effectively counter deflective rhetorical strategies, and to acknowledge the formal and informal power of stakeholders within governing structures. Funding None.
Prophetic Imagination: Confronting The New Jim Crow & Income Inequality in America

Part of the Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching Commons, Civic and Community Engagement Commons, Community-based Learning Commons, Community-based Research Commons, Curriculum and Social Inquiry Commons, Educational Administration and Supervision Commons, Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons, Educational Leadership Commons, Educational Methods Commons, Higher Education Commons, Higher Education and Teaching Commons, Leadership Studies Commons, Liberal Studies Commons, Service Learning Commons, Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education Commons, and the Student Counseling and Personnel Services Commons
Glycoproteins of the Brain of the Training Pigeon

Recent interest in the molecular events which are associated with various brain dysfunctions has drawn attention to our fundamental ignorance of normal neurochemistry. (35) In much the same way, recent interest in the biochemistry of learning and memory has pointed up our ignorance of the biochemical differences between quite different states of activity of the nervous system, all occurring for varying periods of time in each day for each normal animal.
“Aliens” vs. Catalogers: Bias in the Library of Congress Subject Heading

Aliens: It is the subject of conspiracy theories and nightmares, the name of a blockbuster science fiction/horror movie franchise, and also how the de facto national library of the United States re...
Demand Forecasting using Machine Learning

This project is based on exploring and understanding the data using analytical tools and machine learning models to forecast the demand for a specific attribute of the educational organization. The database used is a sample de-identified aggregate course data to understand the demand for courses and predict the number of sections each course will require in future semesters. Exploratory data analysis is done to determine the most relevant factors that affects the number of sections for a course. Time series forecasting models are used to make initial predictions for number of course sections needed to meet the prospective demand of the course.
Differences in soil water changes and canopy temperature under varying water × nitrogen sufficiency for maize

Crop nitrogen (N) status is known to affect crop water status and crop water use. To investigate further the N effects on soil water changes and on canopy temperature, three water levels × four N levels were imposed on two growing seasons of maize in west central Nebraska, USA. Soil water changes were measured using a neutron probe, whereas canopy temperature was measured using infrared thermometers on a ground-based mobile platform. At all water levels, soil water losses over month-long intervals were generally greater as N levels increased. Given equal water levels, early afternoon canopy temperatures were usually lower with higher N levels, but no trend or even the opposite trend was occasionally observed. Jointly considering canopy reflectance and soil water depletion shows potential to explain much of the variation in estimated instantaneous water use among plots. However, determining the relative contributions of the canopy and soil factors on a particular day may require season-to-date knowledge of the crop. Further research on assimilating such sensor data for a combined stress coefficient would improve crop modeling and irrigation scheduling when variable water sufficiency and variable N sufficiency are simultaneously significant.
Unbiased Measure of General Quality of Life in Chronic Rhinosinusitis Reveals Disease Modifiers

INTRODUCTION Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is associated with a significant decrease in general health-related quality of life (QOL). The EuroQol 5-dimensional questionnaire measures general health-related quality of life through a health utility value (EQ-5D HUV)-based on five domains reflecting mobility, self-care, activities of daily life, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression-and an unbiased visual analog scale (EQ-5D VAS). We sought to identify characteristics of CRS patients with a high EQ-5D HUV but low EQ-5D VAS score. MATERIALS AND METHODS Retrospective cross-sectional study of 300 CRS patients with EQ-5D HUV equal to 1.0 (reflecting perfect health). All patients completed a 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22)-from which nasal, sleep, ear/facial discomfort, and emotional subdomain scores were calculated, as well as the EQ-5D. Low EQ-5D VAS was defined as a score less than 80. RESULTS On multivariate analysis, low EQ-5D VAS was associated with only the SNOT-22 sleep subdomain score (odds ratio [OR] = 1.07, 95%CI: 1.02-1.12, P = .003). Comorbid asthma was also associated with lower EQ-5D VAS (OR = 2.16, 95%CI: 1.02-4.59, P = .045). In contrast, polyps were negatively associated with having a lower EQ-5D VAS (OR = 0.34, 95%CI: 0.17-0.69, P = .003). CONCLUSION There are patients with perfect general health-related QOL according to a health utility value-based methodology (like the EQ-5D HUV) who report low general health-related QOL on an unbiased measure like the EQ-5D VAS. In CRS patients with perfect EQ-5D HUV, poor sleep and asthma were associated with low QOL on the EQ-5D VAS, while polyps were negatively associated with low QOL. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3 Laryngoscope, 131:1206-1211, 2021.
Stick-slip nonuniform rotation distortion correction in distal scanning optical coherence tomography catheters

We present a robust and fiducial-marker-free algorithm that can identify and correct stick-slip distortion caused by nonuniform rotation (or beam scanning) in distally scanned catheters for endosco...
Director Overlap: Groupthink versus Teamwork

We address two aspects of board dynamics — group-think and teamwork — that both arise from increased director overlap. Overlap captures the extent of common service by board directors. Greater overlap can lead to excessive cohesiveness of the group and thus group-think, where the desire for consensus overrides critical thinking. Alternatively, greater overlap can promote better teamwork through lower coordination and communication costs. We find that director overlap negatively affects firm value in dynamic firms, which stand to lose more from group-think, and positively affects firm value in complex firms, which have higher coordination costs and hence benefit from better teamwork.
121 The Southern Arizona Equine Health Symposium: Impacts on extension program reach and the change to a virtual event

The Southern Arizona Equine Health Symposium is a regional educational event focusing on equine health care and management. This one-day event is a collaboration between UArizona Cooperative Extension and industry partners. Equine experts and veterinarians presented 20+ in-person lectures and demonstrations ranging from introductory to advanced topics to over 200 participants annually (2017–2020). COVID-19 restrictions resulted in a virtual event in 2021, with 8 webinars over 2 d. Evaluations gathered attendee's view on degree of usefulness for horse care decisions, intended changes in behavior, instructor effectiveness, and knowledge gained in each presentation (Likert scale from 1-very little to 5-very much). Additionally, attendee demographics (e.g., age, gender), horses and/or acres of land owned, previous participation in UArizona equine extension programs, and UArizona website visitation were collected. Comparing the 2021 virtual event to the most recent in-person events (2019–2020), all have been consistently well received, but the effectiveness, quality of presentations, or knowledge gained were not able to be analyzed because the set of presentations was different each year. An interesting pattern emerged in 2021 presentations, with a lower change in knowledge reported in common/familiar topics (colic 1.1, farrier 1.2) as compared with less common/more scientific topics (eye problems 2, melanoma 2.1) (t(71) = 5.5, P
Iter8: Online Experimentation in the Cloud

Online experimentation is an agile software development practice that plays an essential role in enabling rapid innovation. Existing solutions for online experimentation in Web and mobile applications are unsuitable for cloud applications. There is a need for rethinking online experimentation in the cloud to advance the state-of-the-art by considering the unique challenges posed by cloud environments. In this paper, we introduce Iter8, an open-source system that enables practitioners to deliver code changes to cloud applications in an agile manner while minimizing risk. Iter8 embodies our novel mathematical formulation built on online Bayesian learning and multi-armed bandit algorithms to enable online experimentation tailored for the cloud, considering both SLOs and business concerns, unlike existing solutions. Using Iter8, practitioners can safely and rapidly orchestrate various types of online experiments, gain key insights into the behavior of cloud applications, and roll out the optimal versions in an automated and statistically rigorous manner.
Constrained Near-Optimal Control Using a Numerical Kinetic Solver

Optimal control problems are challenging to solve even on simple systems. Few problems afford analytical solutions because of the boundary valued differential equations. Kinetic systems, such as robotic linkages, can be complicated to solve because of nonlinearities and degrees-of-freedom. A numeric control optimization software, DIDO, is coupled to a numeric kinetic solver, SimMechanics, within MATLAB. The kinetic model is created directly from a solid model assembly eliminating human errors. A pendulum with control saturation is tested to validate satisfaction of theoretical conditions (< 10% optimality residuals, typically < 5%). The numeric method is contrasted to a linear-quadratic-regulator (LQR) and the optimal linear state transfer. A four degree-of-freedom, arm robot pickand-place command is also optimized and realizes a 50% decrease in energy used over a ramp to constant velocity maneuver. This coupling obtains near optimal solutions without intense, model specific analysis.
No Exit from Pakistan: America's Tortured Relationship with Islamabad

This book tells the story of the tragic and often tormented relationship between the United States and Pakistan. Pakistan's internal troubles have already threatened US security and international peace, and Pakistan's rapidly growing population, nuclear arsenal, and relationships with China and India will continue to force it upon America's geostrategic map in new and important ways over the coming decades. This book explores the main trends in Pakistani society that will help determine its future; traces the wellsprings of Pakistani anti-American sentiment through the history of US-Pakistan relations from 1947 to 2001; assesses how Washington made and implemented policies regarding Pakistan since the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001; and analyzes how regional dynamics, especially the rise of China, will likely shape US-Pakistan relations. It concludes with three options for future US strategy, described as defensive insulation, military-first cooperation, and comprehensive cooperation.
Distance Education at the Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Center

Abstract The nation's first distance learning Graduate Certificate and Master's degree program as well as undergraduate courses in gerontology were developed at the Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Center at the University of Southern California. This article describes the beginning of the distance education program with the formation of our interactive multimedia division called Ageworks, faculty concerns about online education, faculty and student benefits, and changes in technology and costs over the first three years of program development.