cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hispanics at The High Arts: In Search of a Culturally Relevant Attendance Experience

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a “culturally relevant” attendance experience could be detected among Hispanic theatre-goers. Two research questions were addressed: (1) do Hispanic theatre-goers who identify strongly with the Hispanic culture describe a different attendance experience than do those with more Anglo orientations? and (2) how does the experience of the two groups of theatre-goers differ? These questions were explored by surveying the audience at six performances of an Hispanic theatre festival in Southeast Florida. In this setting, attenders would likely be persons of Spanish extraction who were both educated in, and socialized to, theatre attendance. Education and socialization would be implicitly controlled, yet “traces” of any ethnic experience might be retained.
Designing for "a" user: Stephen Hawking's UI

We present the Assistive Context Aware Toolkit (ACAT), a software platform that was designed for Professor Stephen Hawking to enable him to control his PC and communicate with others. While typical design practices focus on the needs of a large number of users, designing ACAT was an exploration targeted for a single user. We focused on understanding the needs of Professor Hawking, his assistants, and care-givers; explored his existing system, and its shortcomings; and iteratively designed and implemented a solution to address these needs and gaps. To support this iterative design and implementation, we designed and developed a configurable system that allowed us to explore different designs with minimal implementation effort. As a result, while ACAT was meant to address a single user, it turned into a tool that can easily be configured to support a wider range of disabilities and constraints. We will walk through our design journey, explain how ACAT evolved over time to serve Stephen's needs, and how it can be extended to support many others.
Effects of Joining and Testing Parameters on the Adhesive Strength of Epoxy-Bonded Aluminum and Beryllium

Hollow spherical targets are frequently fabricated by the joining of two adhesively bonded hemispheres. Other materials used for Intertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) experiments, including aluminum, stainless steel, sapphire, and various plastics, are also bonded using adhesives. This paper presents the mechanical testing results of Dexter-Hysol EA9330. The base metals were either an aluminum 6061-T6 or beryllium S200D. The uniaxial tensile (from room to liquid helium temperatures), lap shear, and creep properties of the adhesive under consideration were evaluated. We found that the highest lap shear strength was obtained when the test panel was assembled with fresh adhesive (time = 0 min.) and degraded to about 77% of that value in 120 minutes. Butt tensile strength increased from about 8 ksi (1 ksi = 1000 lbs/in 2 = 6.90 MPa) at room temperature to about 19 ksi at -269°C for both the aluminum and beryllium base metals. The lap shear strength decreased from about 5 ksi at room temperature to about 3 ksi at cryogenic temperatures. Creep tests in both butt tensile and lap shear configurations demonstrated a very narrow stress level for which the time to failure decreased from over 720 hours to less than 20. Finally, we found that the surface treatment is critical to achieving the highest strength adhesive bonds. Some inconclusive but interesting test data is presented opening the way for further investigation.
Characterization of quantum workloads on SIMD architectures

There is a growing research interest in quantum computing because of its promise to provide significant performance speedups over classical computers at specialized tasks. While there have been many advances in building more capable, robust, and useful quantum algorithms and software, it is not clear how a scalable, high-performance, and area-efficient quantum architecture should be designed for efficient execution of various quantum workloads. This paper attempts to fill this gap by performing a detailed characterization of many real-world quantum algorithms on SIMDstyle quantum architectures. Specifically, we characterize the effect of size and the number of SIMD regions of a quantum SIMD architecture on various metrics such as performance, utilization, qubit (data) movement etc. We hope that the presented insights on the trade-offs and relationships between aforementioned evaluation metrics will be useful towards designing an efficient and scalable quantum architecture.
The Neighborhood Impact of Airbnb on New Orleans

Rental prices have been increasing throughout the country for the last several years. While New Orleans is no exception to this trend, rental rates have decreased in most area zip codes in the last six months. In the meantime, vacancy rates have been fairly constant at their average rates. In this study, we investigate whether any increases in New Orleans’ rental rates are correlated to Airbnb activity, or whether they are part of overall trends in prices. For each zip code in New Orleans, we investigated whether changes in rental prices are correlated with changes in Airbnb activity, after controlling for regional rental rate changes (outside New Orleans). We were unable to find any scientifically valid evidence that rental rates and Airbnb presence are correlated, and conclude that Airbnb has no discernible impact on rents in any of New Orleans’ zip codes.
Zinc binding with l-dopa peptides

Abstract The combination of zinc dyshomoeostasis and oxidative damage has been linked to a number of human disease pathologies. A common pathway of oxidative damage centers on tyrosine with the generation of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine ( l -dopa). Once formed this catecholic moiety can be involved in metal binding. Herein, an l -dopa residue is incorporated into a peptide designed to adopt a β-hairpin configuration. Variation of the cross strand partner to l -dopa introduces an aromatic pair to enhance structure. Mass spectrometry indicates successful zinc binding, consistent with a 1:1 peptide:zinc complex. NMR and spectrophotometric investigations reveal the l -dopa as the binding locus with association energies ranging between 4.3 and 5.2 kcalmol −1 .
Aqueous Effluent Concentration for Application to Biotest Systems

Potential chemical mutagens in industrial effluents may be present at concentrations below the detection limits of biotests such as the Ames mutagenicity test. These chemicals may accumulate in biological food chains. Many insecticides and other chemicals are known to accumulate in living organisms where tissues act as effective storage depots for toxic compounds (Loomis, 1978). This effect is especially significant for human health when dilute toxicants enter the human food chain, such as through seafoods. Mollusks such as the oyster tend to accumulate toxicants, because they filter-feed, which concentrates and magnifies the effects of toxic materials. Because of this potential for bioaccumulation, methods are needed to determine the bioactivity of low concentrations of potential toxicants in industrial effluents.
Interpersonal early-life trauma alters amygdala connectivity and sustained attention performance

Introduction Interpersonal early life trauma (I-ELT) is associated with a myriad of functional impairments in adulthood, increased risk of drug addiction, and neuropsychiatric disorders. While deficits in emotional regulation and amygdala functioning are well characterized, deficits in general cognitive functioning have also been documented. However, the neural underpinnings of cognitive dysfunction in adults with a history of I-ELT and the potential relationship between amygdala-based functional connectivity and behavioral performance are currently poorly understood. This study examined how I-ELT affects the cognitive and neural mechanisms supporting sustained attention. Methods A total of 66 Veterans (18 with and 48 without a history of I-ELT) completed a nonemotional sustained attention task during functional MRI. Results The individuals with I-ELT showed significant impairments in sustained attention (i.e., higher error rates, greater response variability). This cohort exhibited increased amygdala functional connectivity with the prefrontal cortex and decreased functional connectivity with the parahippocampal gyrus when compared to those without I-ELT. These connections were significantly correlated with individual differences in sustained attention performance. Notably, classification analyses revealed that the pattern of amygdala connectivity across the whole brain was able to classify I-ELT status with 70% accuracy. Conclusion These results provide evidence of a lasting negative impact for those with a history of I-ELT on sustained attention ability. They also highlight a critical role for amygdala functioning in cognitive control and sustained attention for those with a history of I-ELT, which may underlie the observed attention deficits in clinical assessments and cognitive tests involving both emotional and nonemotional stimuli.
Simultaneous radar and communication emissions from a common aperture, Part II: Experimentation

In the companion paper the Far-Field Radiated Emission Design (FFRED) formulation was theoretically derived for the application of simultaneous generation of multi-function radar and communication emissions in the same spectrum from the same antenna array via a physically realizable MIMO transmit arrangement. Here the practical consequences of such a transmission scheme are considered by way of experimental measurements. The multi-function waveforms were implemented on an Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) software-defined radar testbed comprised of four independent transmit channels. Experimental results from a compact range include beampattern measurements, radar waveform validation, and bit error rate analysis of the communication beam.
Teachers' Experiences With and Perceptions of Students With Attention Deficit/hyperactivity Disorder.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this research was to examine teacher experiences with and perceptions of students with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Teachers are integral in helping these children learn effectively and foster healthy relationships, yet little is known about their interactions with these children. Design and Method Semi structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of fourteen currently practicing or retired elementary and middle schools teachers in North Carolina and South Carolina. All interviews were audio-recorded then analyzed for common themes. Results Participants obtained ADHD information from in-services or peer interaction, rather than formal education. Culture and gender influenced teacher perceptions, and ADHD classroom strategies were based on anecdotal experience. Teachers experienced guilt and worry while negotiating student needs, school system constraints, and family issues. Conclusions While teachers have developed effective coping mechanisms through informal means, formal education and support will help teachers better serve students with ADHD. Practice Implications Pediatric nurses in many settings can benefit from better understanding how teachers perceive and interact with students who have attentional issues.
THE EFFECT OF PHOSPHORUS ON THE CORROSION RESISTANCE OF AMORPHOUS COPPER-ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS

ABSTRACT Cu-40Zr and Cu-42Zr-2P amorphous metal alloys were prepared by melt-spinning The corrosion properties of the two alloys were compared, and it has been determined that phosphorus has a beneficial effect on improving the corrosion resistance of the alloy. In comparing Cu-42Zr-2P with Cu-40Zr, the results show that the kinetics of corrosion of the Cu-42Zr-2P are slower in 1N sulfuric acid, in 3.5% NaCl, and also in 1N HCl. The presumably zirconia film on the Cu-42Zr-2P alloy contains phosphorus in the +5 valence state and does not increase in thickness with time. In anodization, the Cu-42Zr-2P is not photosensitive while the Cu-40Zr does oxidize faster in the light than in the dark. It is hypothesized that the phosphorus alters the zirconia film, possibly limiting the oxygen diffusion or the electrical conductivity, and also changing the space charge distribution of the zirconia interfaces.
Pool boiling heat transfer enhancement with electrowetting

Abstract Electrowetting (EW) has drawn significant research interests in droplet-based microfluidics, and most applications focus on electronic displays, lab-on-a-chip devices and electro-optical switches, etc. This paper presents a new application of EW in enhancing pool boiling heat transfer. The working approach capitalizes on the complimentary roles of hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity played in boiling and takes advantage of the ability of EW to alter the surface wettability dynamically and reversely. In this work, the effects of alternating current EW (ACEW) on the heat transfer characteristics of various boiling regimes, including the onset of nucleate boiling (ONB), fully developed nucleate boiling, and film boiling at critical heat flux (CHF) conditions, are investigated. A synchronized high-speed optical imaging and infrared (IR) thermography approach is taken to obtain simultaneous measurements of the bubble dynamics and the wall temperature and heat flux distributions on the boiling surface. Based on the experimental data, boiling curves are constructed and the boiling heat transfer coefficients (BHTCs) are computed. Comparisons with the boiling characteristics of the baseline surface without ACEW demonstrate the efficacy of ACEW in enhancing the performance of pool boiling heat transfer. Some insights are also offered to understand the physics of the ACEW-enhanced boiling behaviors.
The Use of Technology in Collegiate Aviation Programs

With introduction of Technically Advanced Aircraft (TAA) and advanced Global Positioning Systems (GPS), a blind survey was designed to measure the extent of technology utilized in collegiate aviation programs. University Aviation Association (UAA) member institutions completed an online Likert Scale survey focusing on the perception of technology utilization within each aviation program. The survey questioned respondents regarding technology support, aircraft cockpit design, classroom accessories, internet resources, training facilities, and other miscellaneous areas regarding technology. The study was designed to aid university administrators when planning future technology implementation.
Risk Factors for Abnormal Cervical Cytology in Women Undergoing Kidney Transplant Evaluation.

Objectives Cervical cytology screening has been successful in reducing deaths from cervical cancer. We sought to determine risk factors for abnormal Pap test results in women undergoing kidney transplant evaluation. Materilas and methods We retrospectively examined women undergoing kidney transplant evaluations from 2008 to 2011. Patients were stratified based on normal cytology and atypical/malignant cytology. Results Of 404 patients, 293 patients (72.5%) had normal cytologic findings, whereas 111 (27.5%) had abnormal findings. On univariate logistic regression analyses, patients who had chronic kidney disease with an autoimmune cause (odds ratio = 2.71 [95% confidence interval, 1.41-5.19]; P = .003), previous renal transplants (odds ratio = 2.64 [95% confidence interval, 1.20-5.82], P = .016), or age ≤ 50 years (odds ratio = 1.68 [95% confidence interval, 1.08-2.61], P = .022) were more likely to have abnormal findings. Patients with normal and abnormal findings had similar rates of dialysis use. On multivariate logistic regression, patients who had chronic kidney disease with autoimmune causes (odds ratio = 2.48 [95% confidence interval, 1.26-4.88]; P = .008) and who had previous renal transplants (odds ratio = 2.67 [95% confidence interval, 1.20-5.95]; P = .017) were more likely to have abnormal findings. Conclusions Previous kidney transplant, autoimmune disease, and age ≤ 50 years were associated with abnormalities on cervical cancer screening in our female group of patients. Patients with these characteristics may benefit more from routine cervical cancer screening than other patients evaluated for kidney transplant.
Approaches to Corruption: a Synthesis of the Scholarship

The scholarly literature on corruption has developed in separate disciplines, each of which has produced important insights, but each of which also has some crucial limitations. We bring these existing approaches together, and then we confront them against an ethnographic literature on corruption that over the last two decades has become extensive, but has never before been synthesized into an overarching framework. We argue that any corruption reform must meet three challenges. First, corruption persists because people need to engage in corruption to meet their needs. This is the resource challenge. Second, corruption persists because there is uncertainty over what constitutes a gift and what constitutes a bribe, as well as confusion over what is private and what is public. This is the definitional challenge. And third, corruption persists because of pressure to behave in ways that are considered moral according to alternative criteria, such as taking care of one’s kin, or standing up to legacies of racism and oppression. This is the alternative moralities challenge. We examine the strengths and weaknesses of existing approaches to corruption in meeting these three challenges.
Methionine Sulfoxide Reductase-B3 Risk Allele Implicated in Alzheimer’s Disease Associates with Increased Odds for Brain Infarcts

Genome-wide association studies identified a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the MSRB3 gene encoding Methionine Sulfoxide Reductase-B3 (MsrB3) to be associated with the risk for low hippocampal volume and late onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Subsequently, we identified AD-associated abnormal patterns of neuronal and vascular MsrB3 expression in postmortem hippocampi. The present study investigated the relationship between the MSRB3 SNP rs61921502, G (minor/risk allele) and MRI measures of brain injury including total brain volume, hippocampal volume, and white matter hyperintensities using linear regression models; the presence of brain infarcts using logistic regression models; and the incidence of stroke, dementia, and AD using Cox proportional hazards models in 2,038 Framingham Heart Study Offspring participants with MRI administered close to examination cycle 7 (1998–2001). Participants with neurological conditions that impede evaluation of vascular pathology by MRI, i.e., brain tumors, multiple sclerosis, and major head trauma, were excluded from the study. When adjusted for age and age squared at MRI exam, sex, and presence of Apolipoprotein ɛ4 allele (APOE4), individuals with MSRB3 rs61921502 minor allele had increased odds for brain infarcts on MRI compared to those with no minor allele. However, in stratified analyses, MSRB3 rs61921502 minor allele was significantly associated with increased odds for MRI brain infarcts only in the absence of APOE4.
Male collegiate student-athletes’ experiences and perceptions of female head coaches

Eleven current and former male college student-athletes were interviewed about their experiences with female head coaches. Three themes emerged from the data: (a) Give Her a Chance, (b) A Coach is ...
Protective Effects of Facilitated Removal of Blood Alcohol and Acetaldehyde Against Liver Injury in Animal Models Fed Alcohol and Anti-HIV Drugs.

Background We previously developed enzyme nanoparticles (ENP) of alcohol metabolism. This study was to evaluate protective effects of facilitated removal of blood alcohol and/or acetaldehyde on anti-HIV drugs and alcohol-induced liver injuries. Methods ENP were prepared for degrading alcohol completely (ENP1) or partially into acetaldehyde (ENP2), which were applied to mice of acute binge or chronic-binge alcohol feeding in the presence of antivirals (ritonavir and lopinavir). Liver pathologies were examined to assess the protective effects of ENP. Results In the acute model, ENP1 and ENP2 reduced the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) by 41 and 32%, respectively, within 4 hr, whereas in control without ENP, BAC was reduced only by 15%. Blood acetaldehyde concentration (BADC) was increased by 39% in alcohol-fed mice treated with ENP2 comparing to control. No significant effects of the anti-HIV drugs on BAC or BADC were observed. Plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and expression of liver TNF-α were both significantly increased in the alcohol-fed mice, which were normalized by ENP1. In the presence of the antivirals, ALT was partially reduced by ENP1 or ENP2. In the chronic model, inflammation, fatty liver, and ALT were increased, which were deteriorated by the antivirals. ENP1 partially reduced BAC, BADC, ALT, and expression of inflammation markers of TNF-α, F4/80, and IL-6 and lipogenic factors of ACC, LXRα, and SREBP1. ENP2 reduced BAC without significant effects on ALT, inflammation, or lipogenesis. Antivirals and alcohol synergistically increased expression of organelle stress markers of CHOP, sXBP-1, ATF6, and GCP60. ENP1 reduced BAC, CHOP, and sXbp-1. However, no effects of ENP1 were found on ATF6 or GCP60. Conclusions Removal of blood alcohol and acetaldehyde by the ENP protects the liver against alcoholic injuries, and the protection is less effective in chronic alcohol and antiviral feeding due to additional drug-induced organelle stresses.
High-Performance Algorithm Adaptations and Hardware Architecture for HEVC Intra Encoders

High computational complexity and heavy data/timing dependency in high efficiency video coding (HEVC) hinder the throughput of video encoding. In order to address both design challenges, we present high-performance algorithm adaptations and high-throughput hardware architecture for the HEVC intra encoders. Particularly, the chroma intra prediction includes the derived luma mode, which greatly improves the worst-case video compression performance. Compared with the HM-15.0 reference software, the proposed algorithms reduce the computational workload by 22%, while the average BD-Rate and BD-PSNR for classes A-F and 4K are 2.79% and −0.13 dB, respectively. This BD-Rate is lower than existing designs in the literature with the same video resolution. The field-programmable gate array (FPGA) implementation of proposed design shows it operates at 120 MHz and supports 45 f/s of 1080P video sequences using 196K logic elements and 127-KB on-chip SRAM. The application-specified integrated circuit (ASIC) implementation of the proposed design in TSMC 90 nm technology shows that its clock frequency reaches 320 MHz with a hardware gate count of 2186K and power consumption of 290 mW, and it supports real-time encoding of 4K videos at 30 f/s.
A Time-Embedding Network Models the Ontogeny of 23 Hepatic Drug Metabolizing Enzymes

Pediatric patients are at elevated risk of adverse drug reactions, and there is insufficient information on drug safety in children. Complicating risk assessment in children, there are numerous age-dependent changes in the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination of drugs. A key contributor to age-dependent drug toxicity risk is the ontogeny of drug metabolism enzymes, the changes in both abundance and type throughout development from the fetal period through adulthood. Critically, these changes affect not only the overall clearance of drugs but also exposure to individual metabolites. In this study, we introduce time-embedding neural networks in order to model population-level variation in metabolism enzyme expression as a function of age. We use a time-embedding network to model the ontogeny of 23 drug metabolism enzymes. The time-embedding network recapitulates known demographic factors impacting 3A5 expression. The time-embedding network also effectively models the nonlinear dynamics of 2D6 expression, enabling a better fit to clinical data than prior work. In contrast, a standard neural network fails to model these features of 3A5 and 2D6 expression. Finally, we combine the time-embedding model of ontogeny with additional information to estimate age-dependent changes in reactive metabolite exposure. This simple approach identifies age-dependent changes in exposure to valproic acid and dextromethorphan metabolites and suggests potential mechanisms of valproic acid toxicity. This approach may help researchers evaluate the risk of drug toxicity in pediatric populations.
Molecular underpinnings of integrin binding to collagen-mimetic peptides containing vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome-associated substitutions.

Collagens carry out critical extracellular matrix (ECM) functions by interacting with numerous cell receptors and ECM components. Single glycine substitutions in collagen III, which predominates in vascular walls, result in vascular Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (vEDS), leading to arterial, uterine, and intestinal rupture and an average life expectancy of
Evidence of Private Label Umbrella Branding

Private labels command a growing share of food retailers’ shelf space. I explain this phenomenon as resulting from “umbrella branding,” or the ability of a single brand to reach across categories. Conceptually, I define umbrella branding as a behavioral attribute that describes a shopper’s tendency to ascribe a performance bond to a brand, or to associate certain performance characteristics to a private label brand, across multiple categories. I test this theory using scanner data in this paper. The results suggest that umbrella branding is an important behavioral mechanism, and one that can be further exploited by retailers across any consumer good category with strong credence attributes.
Light as an ambient material in transformative urban “night” spaces

This study explores the subject of design and community engagement with regard to light as a transformative material in urban “night” spaces. Four unique case studies, each of which originated under the auspices of meeting specific site purposes or needs, nevertheless all represent the successful coming together of design, local suitability and ultimately, community support and participation.
Heterologous glycosyl hydrolase expression and cellular reprogramming resembling sucrose-induction enable Zymomonas mobilis growth on cellobiose

Plant derived fuels and chemicals from renewable biomass have significant potential to replace reliance on petroleum and improve global carbon balance. However, plant biomass contains significant fractions of oligosaccharides that are not usable natively by many industrial microorganisms, including Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Zymomonas mobilis. Even after chemical or enzymatic hydrolysis, some carbohydrate remains as non-metabolizable oligosaccharides (e.g., cellobiose or longer cellulose-derived oligomers), thus reducing the efficiency of conversion to useful products. To begin to address this problem for Z. mobilis, we engineered a strain (Z. mobilis GH3) that expresses a glycosyl hydrolase (GH) with β-glucosidase activity from Caulobacter crescentus and subjected it to an adaptation in cellobiose medium. Growth on cellobiose was achieved after a prolonged lag phase in cellobiose medium that induced changes in gene expression and cell composition, including increased expression and secretion of GH. These changes were reversible upon growth in glucose-containing medium, meaning they did not result from genetic mutation but could be retained upon transfer of cells to fresh cellobiose medium. After adaptation to cellobiose, our GH-expressing strain was able to convert about 50% of cellobiose to glucose within 24 hours and use it for growth and ethanol production. Alternatively, pre-growth of Z. mobilis GH3 in sucrose medium enabled immediate growth on cellobiose. Proteomic analysis of cellobiose- and sucrose-adapted strains revealed upregulation of secretion-, transport-, and outer membrane-related proteins, which may aid secretion or surface display of GHs, entry of cellobiose into the periplasm, or both. Our two key findings are that Z. mobilis can be reprogrammed to grow on cellobiose as a sole carbon source and that this reprogramming is related to a natural response of Z. mobilis to sucrose that enables sucrose secretion.
Quantifying student engagement in learning about climate change using galvanic hand sensors in a controlled educational setting

Teaching climate change is complex because it requires a system-level understanding of many science disciplines and also because students may have preconceptions about climate change. Previous work shows students learn and retain science content better when they are engaged in the learning process. Active learning strategies engage students in learning science, but the engagement impact of active learning has not yet been assessed in a controlled environment using both biometric and self-reporting tools. Here, we analyze 52 university students’ engagement during several common active learning strategies in a controlled research setting. We collected biometric data from all participants with hand sensors that measured changes in skin conductance as a proxy for engagement. Participants self-reported their engagement as a control. The combined biometric and self-reported data show that skin conductance data matched self-reported engagement, confirming that skin conductance is a robust proxy for engagement. Overall, dialog was the most engaging activity, with engagement levels about 165% above baseline. Non-science majors had higher average engagement than science majors (137% vs. 53% above baseline, respectively). Notably, skin conductance data showed no statistically significant differences based on participants’ political or religious affiliations. In summary, our results demonstrate biometric sensors’ potential to measure and monitor engagement in a learning environment. Relevant for climate education, in-class dialog increases student engagement in learning climate science and is especially effective for non-science majors.
Effects of Patient Care Assistant Embodiment and Computer Mediation on User Experience

Providers of patient care environments are facing an increasing demand for technological solutions that can facilitate increased patient satisfaction while being cost effective and practically feasible. Recent developments with respect to smart hospital room setups and smart home care environments have an immense potential to leverage advances in technologies such as Intelligent Virtual Agents, Internet of Things devices, and Augmented Reality to enable novel forms of patient interaction with caregivers and their environment. In this paper, we present a human-subjects study in which we compared four types of simulated patient care environments for a range of typical tasks. In particular, we tested two forms of caregiver mediation with a real person or a virtual agent, and we compared two forms of caregiver embodiment with disembodied verbal or embodied interaction. Our results show that, as expected, a real caregiver provides the optimal user experience but an embodied virtual assistant is also a viable option for patient care environments, providing significantly higher social presence and engagement than voice-only interaction. We discuss the implications in the field of patient care and digital assistant.
Nonparametric estimation of variable productivity Hawkes processes

An extension of the Hawkes model where the productivity is variable is considered. In particular, the case is considered where each point may have its own productivity and a simple analytic formula is derived for the maximum likelihood estimators of these productivities. This estimator is compared with an empirical estimator and ways are explored of stabilizing both estimators by lower truncating, smoothing, and rescaling the estimates. Properties of the estimators are explored in simulations, and the methods are applied to seismological and epidemic datasets to show and quantify substantial variation in productivity.
Not all transcendence is created equal: Distinguishing ontological, phenomenological, and subjective beliefs about transcendence

Psychologists have generated numerous measures designed to capture the “spiritual,” “religious,” and “transcendent” structures of human cognition, emotion, and behavior. Researchers often identify ...
Measuring Food Insecurity Using the Food Abundance Index: Implications for Economic, Health and Social Well-Being

High levels of food insecurity signal the presence of disparities and inequities in local food access, which have been shown to negatively impact the health and well-being of individuals and communities. However, the approaches used to define and measure high food insecurity, also known as a "food desert", vary widely across research study and intervention methodology. This paper describes the development and validation of a measurement tool called the "Food Abundance Index" (FAI) which is a scorecard for assessing levels of food insecurity across five key dimensions: access, diversity, quality, density, and affordability. A pilot study was conducted to examine levels of food insecurity in order to test the extent to which the FAI can detect food deserts. Nine neighborhoods were selected based on the demographic characteristics of communities shown to be related to food insecurity. Our findings provide evidence that the Food Abundance Index provides a robust measurement tool to assess the extent of food insecurity within a community or neighborhood. Thus, this multidimensional scorecard can be used in future research to detect levels of food insecurity within urban areas and help to bridge the gap between academics, policymakers and practitioners in this important area.
Adverse Childhood Expereinces: Family Map-ACEs and Child Health in Preschool

Purpose Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are typically assessed as a retrospective report of the adult’s childhood and are predictive of poor health in adulthood.1,2 ACE assessment includes childhood maltreatment, household dysfunction, and parental factors. Recent studies have linked a preschool ACE screen with childhood development.3-5 Assessing ACEs in preschool allows providers, childcare professionals, and other early childhood professionals to support families to protect children. This study examined the The Family Map Inventories (FMIs) as a preschool assessment. The FMIs engage providers and families in goal directed partnerships. The FMI are …
Preresonance Raman studies of metal-to-ligand charge transfer in (NH3)4Ru(2,2'-bpy)2+. In situ bond length changes, force constants, and reorganization energies

As a prototype for charge-transfer reactions in general, the intense metal-to-ligand charge-transfer transition occurring in Ru(NH{sub 3}){sub 4}(bpy){sup 2+} (bpy = 2,2{prime}-bipyridine) has been examined experimentally by resonance and preresonance Raman spectroscopy and analytically by time-dependent scattering theory. To their knowledge, the present example represents the first application of the theory to charge-transfer problems. From the experiments and corresponding theory, the normal-coordinate changes accompanying the transition have been calculated. Both metal-ligand and intraligand bonds are found to distort significantly. When the distortion data are combined with the observed vibrational frequencies, a mode-by-mode assessment of the inner-shell reorganization energy is possible. Further experiments, in which the nature of the solvent is systematically varied, show that selected force constants (and therefore selected components of the internal reorganization energy) are modulated significantly (ca. 6-11 %) by ligand-solvent hydrogen bonding. Finally, variations in the nature of the solvent are found to shift ground- and/or excited-state energies in such a way as to either enhance or attenuate the occurrence of net photochemistry.
Explorations of nonperturbative Jackiw-Teitelboim gravity and supergravity

The author studies a family of two-dimensional Jackiw--Teitelboim (JT) supergravites, and, by using string theory techniques, he gives them a complete definition to all orders in the topological expansion. This construction provides a non--perturbative formulation for the JT supergravity that is well--defined and stable. Furthermore, by using a combination of analytical and numerical methods, the author shows explicitly how non--perturbative physics can be extracted for JT gravity within this framework.
A simple approach for reversed phase column comparisons via the Tanaka test

Abstract The Tanaka test is a classical characterization scheme designed in 1989 for highlighting the main reversed phase attributes of C18 columns: hydrophobicity, shape/steric selectivity, hydrogen bonding, ion exchange (pH 7 environments). In this short communication, we present it in a simplified manner that requires basic HPLC and spreadsheet operations; encouraging analysts of all levels of expertise to begin capturing an in-house library of column comparison knowledge based on their laboratory’s unique set of phases and previously developed separations. This approach does not compete, nor replace existing techniques such as quantitative structure-retention relationship (QSSR) models to aid column selection. It is simply an alternative or additional aid to support column selection decisions that is easily accessible and implementable.
ELECTRON SPIN RESONANCE OF Nd$sup 3+$ PAIRS IN LaCl$sub 3$ AND LaBr$sub 3$

We have examined the electron-spin-resonance spectra due to ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{3+}$ pairs in La${\mathrm{Cl}}_{3}$ and La${\mathrm{Br}}_{3}$. These measurements were made at 4.2\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K and 9 kMc/sec using 0.1-2.0 at.% doping of enriched even-even isotopes of neodymium. A general anisotropic exchange interaction between two real spins is transformed into an effective-spin Hamiltonian formalism containing a Zeeman term and a traceless coupling tensor ${A}_{\mathrm{ij}}$ between two effective spins each of magnitude \textonehalf{}. This latter term represents an anisotropic effective spin interaction within the triplet levels of the system. About 5000 resonances due to allowed and forbidden transitions within these triplet levels were observed and fitted to this Hamiltonian for various angles $\ensuremath{\theta}$, between the magnetic field H and the crystal axis, and $\ensuremath{\varphi}$, between H and the plane containing a second-neighbor pair. Some resonances due to first-neighbor pairs were shifted by 2500 Oe from the unpaired-ion resonance and require analysis techniques other than perturbation theory. The observed symmetry of the second-neighbor interaction tensors in these two salts suggests that the halide ions play an important role. By removing the dipolar contributions to ${A}_{\mathrm{ij}}$, quantitative results regarding the nature of the nondipolar spin-spin interaction are obtained. No resonances attributable to pairs were detected in La${\mathrm{Cl}}_{3}$ doped with either ${\mathrm{Ce}}^{3+}$ or ${\mathrm{Er}}^{3+}$.
Martens' Clause: Irony and Codification at the Birth of Modern Humanitarian Law

The Martens Clause, eponymously named for Russian lawyer and diplomat Feodor Martens, was first introduced in the Preamble to the 1899 Hague Convention on the Laws and Customs of War on Land, and has taken an outsized importance for international humanitarian law since. As one of international law’s foundational “myths,” it has come to represent the first expression that humanitarian concerns should be given consideration during armed conflict; that is, the laws of war must be tempered by the “principles of humanity” and the “dictates of the public conscience.” It has been restated in international agreements, cited by international tribunals and domestic courts, and has been invoked by scholars and judges alike as expanding on, or creating entirely new, sources of international law. However, Martens’ intent in drafting the Clause had little to do with humanitarian concerns. Rather, it was a contest of wills between European powers over the rights and obligations of occupying armies and the qualification of lawful belligerents that necessitated Martens’ language. The “particularly ambiguous” and “very loosely worded” text was a compromise proposal that did little more than retrench the great powers’ position and provide a face-saving opportunity for the small powers to capitulate. Moreover, during the era of high legal positivism, the delegates at The Hague would have understood the Clause as imposing no obligations of a legal character. Thus, the objective of this essay is to recover the events surrounding the drafting of the Martens Clause to expose its shaky foundation as a source of normative legal doctrine. Examining the webs of significance and contexts in which Martens made his declaration exposes the contradiction at the heart of humanitarian law, and the irony imbued in the meanings that is has been vested with over the past century.
Fatty degeneration of the rotator cuff: pathogenesis, clinical implications, and future treatment

Chronic rotator cuff pathology is often complicated by fatty degeneration of the rotator cuff (FDRC) muscles, an insidious process associated with poor prognosis with or without surgical intervention. Currently there is no treatment for FDRC, and many studies have described a natural course for this disease almost always resulting in further degeneration and morbidity. Recapitulating FDRC using animal injury models, and using imaging-based studies of human FDRC, the pathophysiology of this disease continues to be further characterized. Researchers studying mesenchymal stem cell–derived progenitor cells and known fibrogenic and adipogenic signaling pathways implicated in FDRC seek to clarify the underlying processes driving these changes. While new cell- and molecular-based therapies are being developed, currently the strongest available avenue for improved management of FDRC is the use of novel imaging techniques which allow for more accurate and personalized staging of fatty degeneration. This narrative review summarizes the evidence on the molecular and pathophysiologic mechanisms of FDRC and provides a clinical update on the diagnosis and management of this condition based on the existing knowledge. We also sought to examine the role of newer biologic therapies in the management of RC fatty degeneration and to identify areas of future research.
Labour after caesarean counselling documentation: a quality improvement intervention on labour and delivery.

Background Most women who have had previous caesareans are eligible to have labour after caesarean (LAC), but only 11.9% do so. Studies show the majority of women have already decided about future mode of birth (FMOB) before a subsequent pregnancy. Hence, providing women with LAC counselling soon after birth may help women plan for future pregnancies. Prior to our intervention, our hospital had no method of ensuring that women received LAC counselling after caesarean section. The purpose of this QI initiative was to assess whether formal LAC documentation on labour and delivery (L&D) improves rates of LAC counselling post partum. Methods Our three-part intervention included: (1) surgeon's assessment of LAC feasibility in the operative note, (2) written LAC education for women in discharge paperwork and (3) documentation of LAC counselling in the discharge summary. We implemented these changes on L&D in January 2019. We conducted phone surveys of 40 women after caesarean preintervention and postintervention. Surveys included questions regarding three primary outcomes: whether or not they had received LAC counselling either in the hospital or at a postpartum visit, and whether or not they would pursue LAC as FMOB. Surveys also assessed two secondary outcomes: (1) women's understanding of the indications for surgery and (2) their involvement in the decision process. We used a χ2 analysis to assess primary outcomes and a Fisher's exact test to assess secondary outcomes. We also surveyed providers about the culture of LAC counselling at our hospital. Results After our intervention, there was a significant difference between the number of women reporting LAC postpartum counselling (30.77% vs 53.8%, p=0.04). There was also a significant difference in the number of women feeling involved in the decision-making process (68% vs 95%, p=0.03). Providers reported improved knowledge/confidence around LAC counselling (58%-100%). Providers universally stated that LAC counselling has become more ingrained in the culture on L&D. Conclusions Documentation of LAC counselling improved the consistency with which providers incorporated LAC counselling into postpartum care. Addressing FMOB at the time of pLTCS and documenting that counselling may be an effective first step in empowering women to pursue LAC in future pregnancies.
Automated mechanism design: a new application area for search algorithms

Mechanism design is the art of designing the rules of the game (aka. mechanism) so that a desirable outcome (according to a given objective) is reached despite the fact that each agent acts in his own self-interest. Examples include the design of auctions, voting protocols, and divorce settlement procedures. Mechanisms have traditionally been designed manually for classes of problems. In 2002, Conitzer and Sandholm introduced the automated mechanism design approach, where the mechanism is computationally created for the specific problem instance at hand. This approach has several advantages: 1) it can yield better mechanisms than the ones known to date, 2) it applies beyond the problem classes studied manually to date, 3) it can circumvent seminal economic impossibility results, and 4) it shifts the burden of design from man to machine. In this write-up I overview the approach, focusing on problem representations, computational complexity, and initial applications. I also lay out an agenda for future research in this area. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under CAREER Award IRI-9703122, Grant IIS-9800994, ITR IIS-0081246, and ITR IIS-0121678.
Logic and Thought

Rips, in The Psychology of Proof, argues that, through the processes of evolution, logic (e.g., modus ponens) has become established in the human mind as the basis for thinking, and that production systems rest on this foundation. In this paper we defend the converse argument that, through evolution, a production system architecture has become the basis for human thinking, and that formal logics rest on this production system and the accompanying mechanisms for recognition and search. It is through the ’’automaticity‘‘ of the execution of productions that we experience the compellingness of deductive arguments.
IκBβ, but Not IκBα, Functions as a Classical Cytoplasmic Inhibitor of NF-κB Dimers by Masking Both NF-κB Nuclear Localization Sequences in Resting Cells

NF-κB dimers, inhibitor IκB proteins, and NF-κB·IκB complexes exhibit distinct patterns in partitioning between nuclear and cytoplasmic cellular compartments. IκB-dependent modulation of NF-κB subcellular localization represents one of the more poorly understood processes in the NF-κB signaling pathway. In this study, we have combined in vitro biochemical and cell-based methods to elucidate differences in NF-κB regulation exhibited by the inhibitors IκBβ and IκBα. We show that although both IκBα and IκBβ bind to NF-κB with similar global architecture and stability, significant differences exist that contribute to their unique functional roles. IκBβ derives its high affinity toward NF-κB dimers by binding to both NF-κB subunit nuclear localization signals. In contrast, IκBα contacts only one NF-κB NLS and employs its carboxyl-terminal proline, glutamic acid, serine, and threonine-rich region for high affinity NF-κB binding. We show that the presence of one free NLS in the NF-κB·IκBα complex renders it a dynamic nucleocytoplasmic complex, whereas NF-κB·IκBβ complexes are localized to the cytoplasm of resting cells.