cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Co-Teaching … Not Just a Textbook Term: Implications for Practice

The author investigated the construction of a co-teaching collaboration between a general education and special education teacher in 2 8th-grade United States history classes. The teachers' roles, the spaces they shared and divided, as well as the affordances and constraints inherent in this service delivery option are discussed. The results of this investigation both support and extend previous findings and demonstrate that conversations between co-teaching partners are beneficial to addressing issues of roles, providing instruction, and handling classroom management and discipline, as well as issues such as loss of professional autonomy. Finally, the results suggest that researchers should next explore how co-taught classrooms affect student outcomes.
jsPsych: a JavaScript library for creating behavioral experiments in a Web browser.

Online experiments are growing in popularity, and the increasing sophistication of Web technology has made it possible to run complex behavioral experiments online using only a Web browser. Unlike with offline laboratory experiments, however, few tools exist to aid in the development of browser-based experiments. This makes the process of creating an experiment slow and challenging, particularly for researchers who lack a Web development background. This article introduces jsPsych, a JavaScript library for the development of Web-based experiments. jsPsych formalizes a way of describing experiments that is much simpler than writing the entire experiment from scratch. jsPsych then executes these descriptions automatically, handling the flow from one task to another. The jsPsych library is open-source and designed to be expanded by the research community. The project is available online at www.jspsych.org .
A Distributed Connectionist Production System

DCPS is a connectionist production system interpreter that uses distributed representations. As a connectionist model it consists of many simple, richly interconnected neuron-like computing units that cooperate to solve problems in parallel. One motivation for constructing DCPS was to demonstrate that connectionist models are capable of representing and using explicit rules. A second motivation was to show how “coarse coding” or “distributed representations” can be used to construct a working memory that requires far fewer units than the number of different facts that can potentially be stored. The simulation we present is intended as a detailed demonstration of the feasibility of certain ideas and should not be viewed as a full implementation of production systems. Our current model only has a few of the many interesting emergent properties that we eventually hope to demonstrate: It is damage-resistant, it performs matching and variable binding by massively parallel constraint satisfaction, and the capacity of its working memory is dependent on the similarity of the items being stored.
Predicting Random Effects in Community Intervention

The main objective in a group randomized trial is a comparison between treatments. Often, interest exists in the expected response for a particular group receiving a treatment. As a random sample of groups is included in the trial, the parameter for such a group is represented as a random effect. In this context, predicting the expected response for a group requires predicting a random effect. Proposed solutions to this problem are reviewed focusing on differences in the model assumptions in a simple setting. The author concludes that although popular computing solutions exist, fundamental open questions remain that impact interpretation. Keywords: mixed models; random effects; variance components; super-population models; model based; design based; Bayesian estimation; empirical Bayes
Engineering Ph.D. students' career preferences: Levels, changes, and the role of advisors

The Survey of Earned Doctorates indicates that almost three fourths of all doctoral degree recipients in engineering fields found employment in industry or business, and less than one eighth of them found employment in academia. Although these observations provide insight into the employment patterns, job opportunities, and realized career transitions of recent doctorate recipients, very few systematic studies have been conducted concerning potential mismatches between the career preferences and actual employment pathways among doctoral students in engineering. This issue is of particular importance given growing concern that these career patterns reflect fundamental imbalances between the supply of doctoral students seeking academic positions and the availability of such positions. Differences in job expectations and availability can also generate considerable dissatisfaction among students and may negatively impact relationships between students and advisors. In this preliminary study, the authors are investigating career preferences among doctoral students in engineering. The more specific focus of this paper centers on level and changes in preferred career choices during Ph.D. studies, as well as the role faculty advisors play in engineering doctoral students' career decision-making processes. For the purpose of this study, the research participants will be Ph.D. students in a specific level of their graduate study. The method for collecting and analyzing data will be quantitative survey method. The findings from this study have implications for higher education policymakers, faculty advisors, and other stakeholders (e.g., representatives of industry) related to better understanding engineering doctoral students' preferred career choices and changes in those choices during the course of their Ph.D. studies. More specifically, it is expected that the results will help policymakers, administrative staff, and faculty advisors encourage doctoral students to explore multiple career paths so these students can explore and be trained for the full range of likely job opportunities they will face upon graduation. In this work-in-progress paper, the authors will be discussing the relevant literature review and the research design of this preliminary study.
‘Playing Doctor’ with the Patient’s Spouse: Alternative Conceptions of Health Professional Liability

The purpose of this Article is to provide the in-depth analysis lacking in the case law and scholarly literature on the question of whether a physician's sexual affair with a patient's spouse constitutes malpractice. Regardless of the legal theory pursued by the patient, with one minor exception, physician-affair claims have been decided uniformly and summarily against the patient. The issue may superficially seem to be a narrow one, but its thorough analysis illuminates the logic behind, and limits to, tort law theories as diverse as fraud, infliction of emotional distress, breach of fiduciary duty, and medical malpractice. Even theories of contractual and criminal liability are implicated. To the extent that the judicial reasoning that undergirds the physician-affair jurisprudence can be discerned, it will be evaluated. More importantly, a substantial body of unconsidered scientific literature, professional standards, and case law that bear on this issue will be discussed. With insights derived from these sources, the potential viability of the traditional legal theories espoused in physician affair cases will be reassessed; in addition, two new equitable theories of recovery will be proposed.
Cholera among the Plains Indians: Perceptions, Causes, Consequences

Asiatic cholera, unlike smallpox, offered no genetic advantage to whites yet still struck nineteenth-century Plains tribes exceptionally hard. Contact with whites, malnutrition, and poor sanitation habits combined to aid cholera's spread through Indian communities. Tribal depopulation due to epidemic diseases shifted power to more aggressive tribal factions and encouraged resistance to foreign encroachment.
The effect of interferon on focus formation and yield of murine sarcoma virus in vitro.

SummaryInterferon-treated cells yielded less murine sarcoma virus and were less susceptible to focus formation than were untreated cells or cells treated with control mouse serum. The protective effect of interferon appeared to be lost or at least significantly reduced 24 hr after treatment.
Towards an Optimized Superposition Lens

An investigation of the relationships between initial selection of first-order Gabor Superlens parameters and the consequences they have on system performance, followed by advanced designs that improve composite image quality through individual lens group correction.
"Managerial skills, mindsets, and roles: advancing taxonomy to relevancy and practicality"

Management research has been challenged by the quickly shifting realities of organization life, job roles, and individual motivations that have long guided traditional theoretical thinking. Consequ...
Construction of Candidate Satellite Notes Set in 3D Convex Domain

The node-based local mesh generation(NLMG) is a key issue of the seamless finite element parallel computing,however,an inappropriate local mesh generation algorithm will produce inconsistent mesh.With the uniqueness of Delaunay triangulation,this paper points out the probable inconsistencies during Delaunay mesh locally generated in three-dimensional convex domain and analysed their causes.The optimization exploring ball algorithm for searching a candidate satellite-node set is proposed as a key to avoid the inconsistency in nonsingular nodes set.Then the node-by-node parallel mesh generation is only able to start.The fact ensures the correctness of the algorithm that for any central node itsoptimization exploring ball includes all satellite-node of itself in theory.At the same time,through several examples,both the correctness and local character of the algorithm are validated.
Research of PBGA Voids in Lead-Free Reflow Process

With the widely using of fine pitch BGA and CSP,the question of voids in these components was regarded more and more.The lead-free process makes people think this question.Classify the void phenomena,study how to occur the voids,what will effect the voids,and how to restrain the voids.All of these are based on the dissection,analyzing and experiment of many local cases.
Diagnostic Discrepancies in Retinopathy of Prematurity Classification.

Purpose To identify the most common areas for discrepancy in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) classification between experts. Design Prospective cohort study. Participants A total of 281 infants were identified as part of a multicenter, prospective, ROP cohort study from 7 participating centers. Each site had participating ophthalmologists who provided the clinical classification after routine examination using binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy (BIO) and obtained wide-angle retinal images, which were independently classified by 2 study experts. Methods Wide-angle retinal images (RetCam; Clarity Medical Systems, Pleasanton, CA) were obtained from study subjects, and 2 experts evaluated each image using a secure web-based module. Image-based classifications for zone, stage, plus disease, and overall disease category (no ROP, mild ROP, type II or pre-plus, and type I) were compared between the 2 experts and with the clinical classification obtained by BIO. Main Outcome Measures Inter-expert image-based agreement and image-based versus ophthalmoscopic diagnostic agreement using absolute agreement and weighted kappa statistic. Results A total of 1553 study eye examinations from 281 infants were included in the study. Experts disagreed on the stage classification in 620 of 1553 comparisons (40%), plus disease classification (including pre-plus) in 287 of 1553 comparisons (18%), zone in 117 of 1553 comparisons (8%), and overall ROP category in 618 of 1553 comparisons (40%). However, agreement for presence versus absence of type 1 disease was >95%. There were no differences between image-based and clinical classification except for zone III disease. Conclusions The most common area of discrepancy in ROP classification is stage, although inter-expert agreement for clinically significant disease, such as presence versus absence of type 1 and type 2 disease, is high. There were no differences between image-based grading and clinical examination in the ability to detect clinically significant disease. This study provides additional evidence that image-based classification of ROP reliably detects clinically significant levels of ROP with high accuracy compared with the clinical examination.
Sparsity based multi-target tracking using mobile sensors

Sensor mobility and sparse sensor data correlations are exploited in this work for the problem of tracking multiple targets. Sparse matrix decomposition is integrated with the design of proper kinematic rules to identify informative sensors, associate them with the targets and enable them to follow closely the moving targets. The modified barrier method is employed to minimize proper error covariance matrices obtained by extended Kalman filtering recursions. Distributed updating recursive rules are obtained enabling only the informative sensors to update their location, and follow closely the corresponding targets while staying connected. This is to be contrasted with existing alternatives where all sensors need to move constantly. Numerical tests corroborate that the proposed scheme outperforms existing alternatives while accurately tracks multiple targets by imposing mobility only on target-informative sensors.
Reproductive traits, lactation and foal growth in mares fed altrenogest

Lactating mares were assigned as controls or fed altrenogest (.044 mg.kg body wt-1.d-1) for 15 d after foaling. Mares (n = 6) fed altrenogest were inseminated during the first estrus after treatment and mares (n = 6) in the control group were inseminated during the second postpartum estrus. Ovulation during the estrus in which mares were inseminated occurred 26 +/- 1 d postpartum for treated mares and 36 +/- 1 d postpartum for control mares. The percentage of mares conceiving was not different for control (67%) and alternogest-treated (100%) mares. No differences were observed in tone and size of the uterus or size of the ovulatory follicle between treated and control groups. Uterine cultures and biopsies collected on d 7 and 15 postpartum were similar between treatment and control groups in bacterial populations or endometrial epithelial cell height. Blood was collected on d 7, 11, 15, 19 and 23 postpartum, and concentrations of estradiol-17 beta in serum were determined by radioimmunoassay. Mean concentrations of estradiol-17 beta across days were 10 +/- .8 and 12 +/- .6 pg/ml for control and treated mares, respectively. Concentrations of serum estradiol-17 beta were higher (P less than .05) in treated mares on d 23 postpartum. Daily milk yields, determined by the weigh-suckle-weigh method, and milk composition were similar between treatment groups on each collection day. Altrenogest can be used to predictably delay estrus in the postpartum mare without altering fertility, yield and composition of milk, or foal growth.
Evaluation of boron nitride particles on the tribological performance of avocado and canola oil for energy conservation and sustainability

In the present investigation, experiments were conducted using a pin-on-disk apparatus to study the tribological performance of environmentally friendly multi-phase lubricants consisting of natural plant-based liquid lubricants and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) solid additives. Among the natural plant-based liquid lubricants, a high oleic acid lubricant, such as avocado oil, showed the best tribological performance when compared to other natural plant-based lubricants, which further demonstrated the importance of appropriate natural oil selection for tribological applications. In order to develop an optimal multi-phase lubricant, hBN particles with varying sizes were incorporated as additives in the avocado oil. Experiments revealed that particle additive size with regards to initial surface roughness affects the tribological performance of the multi-phase lubricant. It was found that this multi-phase lubricant with nano-sized additives showed the best performance when compared to multi-phase lubricants with micron-sized and submicron-sized additives. More specifically, the lubricant mixtures had friction reductions from 8 to 64 % for particles ranging from micron-sized to nano-sized, respectively. The wear also decreased in the lubricant mixtures with reductions from 13 to 70 % for particles ranging from micron-sized to nano-sized, respectively. These mechanisms for enhanced tribological performance are discussed in this investigation.
Enhancing the learning experience in intermediate accounting

Abstract This paper provides an example of how an accounting educator can build upon an intermediate accounting assignment of using practical real-world examples of earnings management by introducing to students the academic research that explains earnings management behavior. Students improve their critical thinking skills because of the connection to the real-world example. Accounting educators can provide this opportunity to students at a minimal cost of resources and time. In addition, a seed is planted for the development of the next generation of accounting academics because of this exposure to research at the undergraduate level.
Improving Bitmap Execution Performance Using Column-Based Metadata

Many data-intensive business and research applications rely on advanced database indexing techniques to ensure efficiency. A popular approach for read-only data sets is bitmap indices. They use fast machine bitwise operations when querying and are highly compressible. A commonly used compression technique used for bitmaps is Word-Aligned Hybrid (WAH). WAH is a run-length encoding scheme that greatly compresses sparse bitmaps and can directly query data without explicit decompression. In this paper, we present an algorithm that uses metadata, gathered at compression-time, to enable logical short-circuiting in WAH's query algorithm, thus reducing the number of required memory accesses. We also present a heuristic that identifies queries where the processing overhead of our algorithm will not likely be off-set by the number of eliminated memory accesses. In these cases, it is advantageous to process the query using the standard WAH algorithm. The results of our empirical study over both real and synthetic data sets show that our approach can realize average query speedups of 1.3× to +84× when compared to WAH. They also showed that the use of our heuristic reduced the number of times our approach underperformed WAH.
Membrane permeabilization by conjugated oligoelectrolytes accelerates whole-cell catalysis

Conjugated oligoelectrolytes (COEs) boost the electrical performance of a wide range of bioelectrochemical systems, yet their mechanism of action remains incompletely understood. One possible mode of action is that COEs permeabilize the cell envelope. We thus examined the effect of tetracationic COE, DSSN+, on the permeability of the inner and outer membrane of Escherichia coli by detecting extracellular activity of normally periplasmic and cytoplasmic enzymes. DSSN+ increases the release of the periplasmic enzyme alkaline phosphatase (ALP) up to 20-fold, but does not significantly change the release of the cytoplasmic enzyme β-galactosidase. Additionally, DSSN+ caused a 2-fold increase in the turnover of a cytoplasmic substrate. These studies present a more complete understanding of the mechanism of action in bioelectrochemical systems and pivot future applications of COEs towards a method for improving whole-cell catalysis.
Everyday unfair treatment and multisystem biological dysregulation in African American adults.

Objective Increasing evidence suggests that chronic exposure to unfair treatment or day-to-day discrimination increases risk for poor health, but data on biological stress mechanisms are limited. This study examined chronic experiences of unfair treatment in relation to allostatic load (AL), a multisystem index of biological dysregulation. Method Data are from a sample of 233 African-American adults (37-85 years; 64% women). Perceptions of everyday unfair treatment were measured by questionnaire. An AL index was computed as the sum of 7 separate physiological system risk indices (cardiovascular regulation, lipid, glucose, inflammation, sympathetic nervous system, parasympathetic nervous system, hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis). Results Adjusting for sociodemographics, medication use, smoking status, alcohol consumption, depressive symptoms, lifetime discrimination, and global perceived stress, everyday mistreatment was associated with higher AL. Conclusions The results add to a growing literature on the effects of chronic bias and discrimination by demonstrating how such experiences are instantiated in downstream physiological systems. (PsycINFO Database Record
Pancreatic Paraganglioma: A Case Report

Abstract Background: Paraganglionic neoplasms that originate in the adrenal medullas are referred to as pheochromocytomas, but if they arise from other paraganglia scattered throughout the body, they are referred to as paragangliomas. Pancreatic paragangliomas are an extremely rare entity as only 20 cases have been reported in the literature. They tend to be nonfunctional and typically occur in the fourth to fifth decade of life without a gender predilection. We describe in this study a case of a pancreatic paraganglioma and its CT appearance. Case Presentation: A 62-year-old woman undergoing presurgical evaluation for an olfactory groove meningioma resection was incidentally found to have a pancreatic mass. Multiple fine needle aspirations of the mass through endoscopic ultrasound yielded only atypical epithelial cells. The mass demonstrated avid enhancement on serial CTs with mild interval growth over a period of 5 years. No lymphadenopathy was ever found. The patient's complete blood count, complete me...
Comprehensive clinical genetics care for patients with inherited colorectal cancer associated with Lynch syndrome: Western and Asian perspectives

Lynch syndrome (LS) arises from germline mutations that lead to defective functioning of the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) system. It is the most common cause of inherited colorectal cancer (CRC), and predisposes individuals to significantly elevated risks for extracolonic cancers. A sensitive and accurate diagnostic approach will enable proactive management of the proband and at-risk relatives in order to minimize their cancer burden. Comprehensive clinical genetics care should include personalized and tailored multidisciplinary oncologic care, with consideration for the extent of surgical resection, the choice of systemic agents, and the use of radiation. Preventive strategies including lifelong multi-organ surveillance, testing of family members, prophylactic-intent surgery and chemoprevention should be considered. In this review, we aim to provide an update on the diagnostic approach to LS, and to summarize key components of comprehensive clinical genetics care, through an examination of existing data and guidelines from Asian and from Western perspectives.
Fluorescein Angiographic Characteristics of Macular Edema During Infancy.

Importance Macular edema during infancy, a subclinical feature identified in premature infants by handheld spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), has been associated with poorer visual acuity and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Features of macular edema on fluorescein angiography (FA) are needed to understand its pathophysiology, but to date have not been reported previously. Objective To investigate the FA features of macular edema during infancy. Design, Setting, and Participants A retrospective review was conducted of 8 infants at Duke Eye Center who received simultaneous SD-OCT and FA imaging from July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2017. Research and clinical care images were obtained during examination of the infants under anesthesia or at the bedside in the neonatal intensive care unit. Main Outcomes and Measures Side-to-side comparison of research handheld SD-OCT images and clinically indicated FA. Results Imaging was conducted at a mean (SD) of 42.8 (4.2) weeks’ postmenstruation age in the 8 infants (1 [13%] female; 2 [25%] African American; 6 [75%] white). Examination of the FA and SD-OCT images found (1) no macular fluorescein leakage in 3 eyes of 2 infants with retinopathy of prematurity without macular edema and 1 eye with a single cyst, (2) equivocal fluorescein leakage in 2 eyes of 1 infant with mild macular edema, (3) late macular fluorescein leakage in 4 eyes of 2 infants with moderate to severe macular edema, and (4) macular fluorescein leakage from posterior preretinal neovascularization in the macula in 4 eyes of 3 infants with retinopathy of prematurity without macular edema. Conclusions and Relevance This observation of fluorescein leakage in 4 infant eyes with macular edema provides new insights into the possible mechanisms of this subclinical finding. Macular fluorescein leakage could indicate a breakdown or delayed maturation of the blood-retinal barrier or dysfunction of the retinal pigment epithelium. Furthermore, the cross-sectional OCT view aids in identifying preretinal neovascularization, which can also cause focal macular leakage in these infants. This new perspective may improve our understanding and potentially guide future treatments of premature infants with subnormal vision.
Simulation Experiments for Meteorological Observing Systems for GARP

The future observing system of the global atmosphere which has been contemplated for the Global Atmospheric Research Program (GARP) is a combination of various observing subsystems including satellites, constant-level balloons, automatic ocean buoys, etc., as well as conventional upper-air and surface networks. All observing subsystems are neither perfect nor ideal. Numerical experiments (with global circulation models) are needed to evaluate the subsystems in terms of the accuracy, density, and frequency of observations. They are called Observing Systems Simulation Experiments (OSSE). The purpose of this report is to describe the present activities in OSSE. Most useful up-to-date information was obtained from the oral presentation of papers at the International Symposium on Four-Dimensional Data Assimilation, Princeton, N. J., 19–22 April 1971. Since a global circulation model is used as an integrator and analyzer of observed data in three-dimensional space and time taken from various observing subsystem...
The Architect, the Writer, and the Detective: Gianni Biondillo's Milan from the Margins, or the Education of the Gaze

ABSTRACTScholars are actively reflecting on how the narrative viewpoint found in city fiction endorses alternative ways of seeing, describing, and constructing urban space. Their assumption is that fiction writers can better scope out and explain to us metamorphoses in the contemporary urban environment. Gianni Biondillo, the Milanese architect and author of crime fiction and essays on the city, breaks with the tradition of Milanese noir by redeeming the urban periphery from stereotypes that exile marginal neighborhoods and their residents. By setting his fiction in Quarto Oggiaro, Bovisa, and other peripheral neighborhoods of Milan, he draws readers into a dialogue about urban identity, community, and citizenship. This study analyzes several narrative and epistemological features of his detective fiction through which Biondillo intervenes in ongoing debates about the future of the city. His topographical and architectural descriptions compel us to rethink urban residents' psychological and physical relat...
Post-Stroke Psychiatric Problems

Depression is the most common psychiatric disorder occurring as a consequence of stroke. Approximately 40 to 50% of patients will present with depression in the first month after an acute cerebrovascular accident (CVA). Post-stroke depression may have a significant effect on the recovery of activities of daily living and cognitive function of stroke patients. Antidepressant drugs have been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of post-stroke depression. Stimulant drugs and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) have also been found to be effective in uncontrolled studies. Mania is a rare complication of stroke. Its mechanism is still unknown, and treatment is based on those drugs that are effective in the treatment of primary mania. The treatment of post-stroke bipolar disorder also follows the guidelines for the treatment of primary bipolar disorder. Lithium is the mainstay of treatment, which may be combined with antipsychotics or other mood stabilisers, such as valproic acid (sodium valproate) or carbamazepine. Other psychiatric problems associated with stroke include post-stroke anxiety, post-stroke psychosis and pathological laughing and crying. Anxiety responds to anti-anxiety drugs such as benzodiazepines. There are 2 basic therapeutic approaches to the treatment of post-stroke psychosis. One approach utilises anti-convulsant therapy and the other antipsychotics. Nortriptyline and citalopram have been shown to be effective in double-blind, controlled studies for the treatment of pathological laughing and crying following stroke.
Unified geometry and topology correction for cortical surface reconstruction with intrinsic reeb analysis

A key challenge in the accurate reconstruction of cortical surfaces is the automated correction of geometric and topological outliers in tissue boundaries. Conventionally these two types of errors are handled separately. In this work, we propose a unified analysis framework for the joint correction of geometric and topological outliers in cortical reconstruction. Using the Reeb graph of intrinsically defined Laplace-Beltrami eigenfunctions, our method automatically locates spurious branches, handles and holes on tissue boundaries and corrects them with image information and geometric regularity derived from paired boundary evolutions. In our experiments, we demonstrate on 200 MR images from two datasets that our method is much faster and achieves better performance than FreeSurfer in population studies.
Macromolecular Structure of Coals: Status and Opportunities

The cross-linked macromolecular structure of bituminous coals is described. Methods for its investigation and some of its properties are discussed.
Ethical Adventures in 21st Century Dermatopathology

Several ethical challenges are either unique to or particularly significant for the practice of dermatopathology. These challenges include: conflicts of interest when clinicians read their own biopsy slides, the appropriate role for clinical recommendations within a pathology report, ethical behavior by expert witnesses in malpractice trials, and the role of managed care in controlling access to dermatopathology. Relevant ethical codes and a commitment to patients’ best interests can help guide physicians through these contemporary ethical challenges in dermatopathology.
Evaluation of a Cartesian Parallel Manipulator

This paper describes a new 3-DOF translational parallel manipulator named a Cartesian Parallel Manipulator (CPM). The machine behaves like a conventional X-Y-Z Cartesian machine due to the orthogonal arrangement of the three supporting limbs. It is shown that there exists a one-to-one correspondence between the input and output of the manipulator. Three possible arrangements of the Z actuator are evaluated by stiffness mapping. A method for compensating actuator misalignment is described.
Social Flow and Learning in Digital Games:A Conceptual Model and Research Agenda

Flow theory has had a major influence on game scholars’ and designers’ understanding of the psychology of enjoyment of digital games and how that enjoyment might contribute to learning. However, a fuller understanding of how flow is experienced in social play is needed because digital games are increasingly played in groups, because theories of game-based education increasingly prioritize cooperative learning methods and goals, and because there has been surprisingly little study of whether flow contributes to learning. This chapter synthesizes the relevant literature to conceptualize how games might foster flow and cooperative learning through social play. It also proposes a theoretical model and lays out a research agenda that can help guide future studies of social gameflow and learning, and inform the design of educational games and learning contexts.
Plio-Pleistocene decline of African megaherbivores: No evidence for ancient hominin impacts.

It has long been proposed that pre-modern hominin impacts drove extinctions and shaped the evolutionary history of Africa’s exceptionally diverse large mammal communities, but this hypothesis has yet to be rigorously tested. We analyzed eastern African herbivore communities spanning the past 7 million years—encompassing the entirety of hominin evolutionary history—to test the hypothesis that top-down impacts of tool-bearing, meat-eating hominins contributed to the demise of megaherbivores prior to the emergence of Homo sapiens . We document a steady, long-term decline of megaherbivores beginning ~4.6 million years ago, long before the appearance of hominin species capable of exerting top-down control of large mammal communities and predating evidence for hominin interactions with megaherbivore prey. Expansion of C 4 grasslands can account for the loss of megaherbivore diversity.
The effects of a university/secondary school partnership on the communication skills of STEM graduate students

ABSTRACTA postsecondary institution partnered with several high schools in a large, urban and highly diverse school district in the southeast U.S. through a GK-12 program funded by the National Sci...
Forecasting airborne pollen concentrations: Development of local models

People’s sensitivity to allergies may represent one of the most important health factors of the next century to which attention must be paid in order to reduce the incidence of social costs and improve the quality of life. Taking into consideration the earnest requests of the medical-scientific community Emilia-Romagna ARPA (Regional Agency for the Prevention of the Environment) moved the attention from the monitoring to a short and medium term prediction of the concentration of allergenic pollens in the air in order to achieve a more effective therapeutic action. Our main objectives are to improve seasonal forecasts and to interpret anomalous years. A neural network model for grass pollen forecasting has been implemented. Input variables were meteorological situations, i.e., daily temperature (max., min. and average) and rainfall, in addition to combinations of individual variables and their thresholds. The output was daily pollen concentration. The model was able to understand and predict anomalous years. We demonstrate that the relationships between pollen concentrations and meteorological situations are independent from site. This means that such models can understand the differences in different areas.
Ethnoracial Representation and the Politics of Public-Sector Responsiveness

Representation in service-providing organizations is vital to the inclusion of ethnoracial minorities in a democratic society. The political contexts that encompass these organizations can influenc...
Discovery of an inhibitor of Z-alpha1 antitrypsin polymerization.

Polymerization of the Z variant alpha-1-antitrypsin (Z-α1AT) results in the most common and severe form of α1AT deficiency (α1ATD), a debilitating genetic disorder whose clinical manifestations range from asymptomatic to fatal liver and/or lung disease. As the altered conformation of Z-α1AT and its attendant aggregation are responsible for pathogenesis, the polymerization process per se has become a major target for the development of therapeutics. Based on the ability of Z-α1AT to aggregate by recruiting the reactive center loop (RCL) of another Z-α1AT into its s4A cavity, we developed a high-throughput screening assay that uses a modified 6-mer peptide mimicking the RCL to screen for inhibitors of Z-α1AT polymer growth. A subset of compounds from the Library of Pharmacologically Active Compounds (LOPAC) with molecular weights ranging from 300 to 700 Da, was used to evaluate the assay’s capabilities. The inhibitor S-(4-nitrobenzyl)-6-thioguanosine was identified as a lead compound and its ability to prevent Z-α1AT polymerization confirmed by secondary assays. To further investigate the binding location of S-(4-nitrobenzyl)-6-thioguanosine, an in silico strategy was pursued and the intermediate α1AT M* state modeled to allow molecular docking simulations and explore various potential binding sites. Docking results predict that S-(4-nitrobenzyl)-6-thioguanosine can bind at the s4A cavity and at the edge of β-sheet A. The former binding site would directly block RCL insertion whereas the latter site would prevent β-sheet A from expanding between s3A/s5A, and thus indirectly impede RCL insertion. Altogether, our investigations have revealed a novel compound that inhibits the formation of Z-α1AT polymers, as well as in vitro and in silico strategies for identifying and characterizing additional blocking molecules of Z-α1AT polymerization.
Associations Between a Healthy Start Program Prenatal Risk Screening Tool and Adverse Birth Outcomes: A Study Using the Mother/Infant Dyad Screening Cohort.

Background: Florida's Healthy Start Program is a statewide prenatal screening program that aims to identify pregnant women at risk of adverse birth outcomes. However, the effectiveness of this legi...
Reflex Atrioventricular Block.

Reflex atrioventricular block is well recorded although it is considered rare. Recent data suggests that it is less rare than has been supposed. It has been shown to occur in both vasovagal and carotid sinus reflexes. It has to be distinguished from paroxysmal atrioventricular block due to ventricular conduction tissue disease. Low chronic adenosine levels combined with adenosine release may mimic reflex atrioventricular block. Explanations of the mechanism of these phenomena have been lacking until the recent past. The relevance of reflex atrioventricular block to clinical decision-making is as a possible indication for pacing the heart with consideration given to the vasodepressor component of the reflex.
Development of Computable Phenotype to Identify and Characterize Transitions in Acuity Status in Intensive Care Unit

Background: In the United States, 5.7 million patients are admitted annually to intensive care units (ICU), with costs exceeding $82 billion. Although close monitoring and dynamic assessment of patient acuity are key aspects of ICU care, both are limited by the time constraints imposed on healthcare providers. Methods: Using the University of Florida Health (UFH) Integrated Data Repository as Honest Broker, we created a database with electronic health records data from a retrospective study cohort of 38,749 adult patients admitted to ICU at UF Health between 06/01/2014 and 08/22/2019. This repository includes demographic information, comorbidities, vital signs, laboratory values, medications with date and timestamps, and diagnoses and procedure codes for all index admission encounters as well as encounters within 12 months prior to index admission and 12 months follow-up. We developed algorithms to identify acuity status of the patient every four hours during each ICU stay. Results: We had 383,193 encounters (121,800 unique patients) admitted to the hospital, and 51,073 encounters (38,749 unique patients) with at least one ICU stay that lasted more than four hours. These patients requiring ICU admission had longer median hospital stay (7 days vs. 1 day) and higher in-hospital mortality (9.6% vs. 0.4%) compared with those not admitted to the ICU. Among patients who were admitted to the ICU and expired during hospital admission, more deaths occurred in the ICU than on general hospital wards (7.4% vs. 0.8%, respectively). Conclusions: We developed phenotyping algorithms that determined patient acuity status every four hours while admitted to the ICU. This approach may be useful in developing prognostic and clinical decision-support tools to aid patients, caregivers, and providers in shared decision-making processes regarding resource use and escalation of care.
Coccidioidomycosis in Patients Treated With Ruxolitinib

We report 8 cases of coccidioidomycosis associated with ruxolitinib treatment. Among 135 patients living in the coccidioidal-endemic region receiving ruxolitinib, 5 cases were diagnosed after starting and 4 had extrathoracic dissemination. Periodic serological screening while on ruxolitinib is warranted for patients residing in the coccidioidal-endemic region.
Risk Factors for Severe Illness and Death in COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract Objectives This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized the evidence on the impact of demographics and comorbidities with clinical outcomes of COVID-19, including severe illness, admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), and death. Methods The PRISMA guidelines were followed to conduct and report this meta-analysis. The protocol is registered in PROSPERO International prospective register of systematic reviews (ID=CRD42020184440). Two authors independently searched literature from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library and CINHAL on May 6, 2020; removed duplicates; screened titles, abstracts and full text using criteria; and extracted data from eligible articles. A random-effects model was used to estimate the summary odds ratio (OR). Variations among studies were examined using Cochrane Q and I2. Results Out of 4,275 articles obtained from the databases and screened, 71 studies that involved 216,843 patients were abstracted and then, where appropriate, analyzed by meta-analysis. The COVID-19 related outcomes reported were death in 26 studies, severe illness in 41 studies, and admission to ICU in 11 studies. Death was significantly correlated with hypertension (OR 2.60, 95% CI 1.95–3.25, I2 = 52.6%, n= 13 studies), cardiovascular disease (5.16, 4.10–6.22, 0.0%, 6), diabetes (2.11, 1.35–2.87, 67.4%, 12), chronic respiratory disease (2.83, 2.14–3.51, 0.0%, 9), cerebrovascular diseases (5.14, 1.08–9.19, 0.0%, 2), male sex (1.34, 1.18 1.50, 38.7%, 16), age older than 60 (6.09, 3.53 8.66, 95.5%, 6) or 65 years (3.56, 1.21 5.90, 18.2%, 6). Severe illness was also significantly associated with hypertension (1.70, 1.30 –2.10, 47.8%, 21), cardiovascular diseases (2.04, 1.01–3.08, 30.6%, 10), diabetes (1.65, 1.23–2.08, 24.9%, 18), male sex (1.35, 1.23 1.47, 0.0%, 32) and age at least 60 (4.91, 1.35 8.47, 0.0%, 4) or 65 (2.55,1.94 3.17, 24.5%, 9) years. Among hospitalized patients, the odds of admission to ICU was greater in individuals who had cardiovascular diseases (1.36,1.04–1.69, 0.0%, 4), diabetes (1.55, 1.20–1.90, 0.0%, 5) and chronic respiratory disease (1.52, 1.09–1.94, 0.0%, 5) than those who were not having these comorbidities. Conclusions Older age and chronic diseases increase the risk of developing severe illness, admission to ICU and death among COVID-19 patients. Special strategies are warranted to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection and manage COVID-19 cases in those with vulnerabilities.
Racist Algebra of Abjection: A Template of Racial Violence

The US Academy has a racism problem. Such racism leads to both devaluation and racial violence aimed at Faculty of Color, and particularly women in multiple disciplines. This chapter suggests everyday systemic racism is a normalized feature that continues to privilege white, hegemonic and Eurocentric structures and forms of knowledge-production while devaluing others. Further, attempts to challenge such supremacies are immediately countered by calls and charges of incivility and non-collegiality; making those who identify the sites of institutional racism as the problem. This chapter examines the costs of unmasking institutional racism as it bears on constructions of both Whiteness, and status quo power imbalances.
Electromechanical Systems, Electric Machines, And Applied Mechatronics

Introduction Mechatronics and Emerging Trends in Engineering Basic Foundations Engineering Computations Using MATLAB Analysis and Modeling of Dynamic Systems Using MATLAB: An Introduction Electromechanical System Dynamics, Energy Conversion, and Electromechanical Analogies Mathematical Models and System Dynamics Energy Conversion Electromechanical Analogies Introduction to Feedback Control of Electromechanical Systems Continuous-Time Electromechanical Systems and Analog PID Controllers Analog Control of Permanent-Magnet Direct Current Motors Electromechanical Systems with Digital PID Controllers Control of Permanent-Magnet Direct Current Motor using Digital Controller Introduction to Microelectronic Circuits, Power Electronic Devices, and Power Converters Operational Amplifiers Circuit Elements Power Amplifiers and Power Converters Direct-Current Machines Introduction Doubly Exited Transducer and Introduction to Fundamental of Alternating-Current and Direct-Current Electric Machines Separately Exited Direct-Current Machines Shunt-Connected Direct-Current Machines Series-Connected Direct-Current Machines Compound-Connected Direct-Current Electric Machines Permanent-Magnet Direct-Current Machines Modeling and Analysis of Permanent Magnet DC Generators Model Development and Analysis of Ward-Leonard Systems with DC Electric Machines Induction Machines Introduction Voltage, Flux Linkages, and Torque Equations for Two-Phase Induction Machines: Dynamics in the Machine Variables Mathematical Models of Two-Phase Induction Machines in the Arbitrary, Stationary, Rotor, and Synchronous Reference Frames Voltage, Flux Linkages, and Torque Equations for Three-Phase Induction Machines: Dynamics in the Machine Variables Mathematical Models of Three-Phase Induction Machnies in the Arbitrary, Stationary, Rotor, and Synchronous Reference Frames Power Converters and Control of Induction Machines Synchronous Machines Introduction Synchronous Reluctance Motors Permanent-Magnet Synchronous Machines Conventional Three-Phase Synchronous Machines: Dynamics in the Machine Variables and in the Rotor and Synchronous Reference Frames Stepper Motors Sensors Mechatronic Systems Introduction Mechatronic Systems with Permanent-Magnet DC Motors Analysis and Design of an Electric Drive with Experimental Verification Mechatronic Systems with DC Motors Mechatronic Systems with Induction Motors Mechatronic Systems with Permanent-Magnet Synchronous Motors Digital Control of Mechatronic Systems
Controlled cellular energy conversion in brown adipose tissue thermogenesis

Brown adipose tissue serves as a model system for nonshivering thermogenesis (NST) since a) it has as a primary physiological function the conversion of chemical energy to heat; and b) preliminary data from other tissues involved in NST (e.g., muscle) indicate that parallel mechanisms may be involved. Now that biochemical pathways have been proposed for brown fat thermogenesis, cellular models consistent with a thermodynamic representation can be formulated. Stated concisely, the thermogenic mechanism in a brown fat cell can be considered as an energy converter involving a sequence of cellular events controlled by signals over the autonomic nervous system. A thermodynamic description for NST is developed in terms of a nonisothermal system under steady-state conditions using network thermodynamics. Pathways simulated include mitochondrial ATP synthesis, a Na+/K+ membrane pump, and ionic diffusion through the adipocyte membrane.