cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enabling Energy Efficient Electronics Through Thermally Conductive Plastic Composites: Novel Surface Modification Techniques For Boron Nitride in Epoxy

Thermal management is an ongoing concern in electronics largely because of the challenging specifications of the substrate materials. Substrates must be electrically insulating so as to not interfere with devices or circuits, and so historically have had very poor thermal conductivity. These low thermal conductivity substrates cause heat to build up around devices, raising the local operating temperature and decreasing energy efficiency and device lifetime.
Access control using automated face recognition: Based on the PCA & LDA algorithms

The human face is one of the easiest characteristic, which can be used in biometric security system to identify a user. Face recognition technology, is very popular and it is used more widely because it does not require any kind of physical contact between the users and the device. Camera scans the user face and match it to a database for verification. Furthermore, it is easy to install and does not require any expensive hardware. Facial recognition technology is used widely in a variety of security systems such as physical access control or computer user accounts. In this paper, we present an access control vehicle system to the park based on camera installed at the parking entry. First, we use the non-adaptive method to detect the moving object, and we propose an algorithm to detect and recognize the face of the driver who want to enter to the parking and verify if he is allowed. We use Viola-Jones method for face detection and we propose a new technique based on PCA, and LDA algorithm for face recognition.
Pediatric Intraventricular Brain Tumors: Endoscopic Neurosurgical Techniques

Endoscopic neurosurgical techniques are increasingly being utilized in the management of intraventricular brain tumors in children. Because intraventricular tumors are deep-seated within the brain, traditional surgical approaches require a large incision and craniotomy. Modern endoscopic techniques are employed by pediatric neurosurgeons to treat many intraventricular brain tumors in a minimally invasive manner. When a histological diagnosis is required in order to determine how a particular tumor should be managed, endoscopic biopsy is often the least invasive means of obtaining a specimen. The majority of children with intraventricular brain tumors present with hydrocephalus, and endoscopic techniques enable simultaneous treatment of hydrocephalus along with tumor biopsy. While the majority of intraventricular brain tumors cannot be completely resected with current technology, selected cases are amenable to complete surgical resection. This chapter reviews indications, techniques, and outcomes associated with endoscopic management of pediatric intraventricular brain tumors.
Ibn Taymiyya as Exegete: Moses' Father-in-Law and the Messengers in Sūrat Yā Sīn

This article contends that Ibn Taymiyya was not only a theologian and jurist, but also a Qur'anic exegete (mufassir). As a mufassir, Ibn Taymiyya began an important exegetical shift away from the Ashʿarī philological tradition to one that was more ḥadīth-based and relied on the traditions of the early community (salaf). However, by examining exegetical writings composed after his Muqaddima fī uṣūl al-tafsīr (‘Introduction to the Principles of tafsīr’), this article demonstrates that Ibn Taymiyya employs philology and Biblical material as hermeneutic tools. He draws on the Bible to argue that Moses’ father-in-law could not have been the Arab prophet Shuʿayb, as many exegetes had claimed, but rather the Biblical Jethro (Yathrā). The Bible clearly states that Moses’ father-in-law was Jethro which is in accordance with the authentic sayings of the companions and successors. Moreover, drawing on Biblical history, Ibn Taymiyya contends that the messengers of Sūrat Yā Sīn could not have been the Disciples of Jes...
Endometrial Ablation: A Tale of Two Women:

Endometrial ablation procedures are growing in popularity for the treatment of menorrhagia and dysmenorrhea. Sonography is the modality of choice in the evaluation of patients prior to ablation and...
The Projection-Slice Theorem

When a function has circular symmetry, its two-dimensional Fourier transform can be expressed as a Hankel transform in terms of the single radial variable \( q = \sqrt {u^2 + v^2 } \) in the transform plane, as noted earlier.
Commentary: Targeting Underlying Biologic Mechanisms in Selecting Adjunctive Therapies to Improve Periodontal Treatment in Smokers: A Commentary

Despite well-established evidence that cigarette smoking is the largest modifiable risk factor for periodontal disease and has many deleterious health effects, treatment of periodontal disease in smokers remains a challenge of periodontal therapy. A recent meta-analysis revealed that adjunctive use of local delivery of antimicrobials, but not systemic antibiotic usage, with non-surgical periodontal therapy resulted in improvement in clinical periodontal parameters. Further evaluation of the current literature reveals that host modulation therapy may also result in clinical benefit in smokers. These findings may be tied to the underlying pathophysiology of periodontal disease progression in smokers and suggest that focused therapies that target known mechanisms of action are critical to the success of proposed treatments.
Abstract P208: N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline Prevents Renal Fibrosis in Dahl Salt-sensitive Rats by an Early Upregulation of miR Let-7b

We recently showed that N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP), a natural tetrapeptide with antifibrotic properties prevented high salt-induced albuminuria and renal damage including fibrosis in Dahl Salt-Sensitive (SS) rats and their consomic SS13BN controls. However, the mechanism of this antifibrotic effect is unknown. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to be important endogenous regulators of several physiological and pathophysiological conditions. The miRNA let-7 family has been suggested as a negative regulator of profibrotic processes in many diseases and its downregulation has been associated with renal fibrosis. Here, we hypothesized that in SS rats, the antifibrotic effect of Ac-SDKP on high salt-induced renal fibrosis is due to an upregulation of miRNA let-7b expression. Dahl SS and consomic SS13BN rats were fed either 0.23% NaCl (low salt, LS) or 4% NaCl (high salt, HS) diet and infused with vehicle (Veh) or Ac-SDKP (1.6 mg/kg/day) subcutaneously via osmotic minipump for 1 week. Animals were divided into the following groups: LS + Veh, HS + Veh and HS + Ac-SDKP. HS increased the systolic blood pressure (SBP) in SS rats, but not in SS13BN rats. Ac-SDKP did not affect SBP. In both strains, one week of HS diet increased albuminuria. Ac-SDKP prevented HS-induced albuminuria. In SS rats, HS-induced a significant downregulation of the renal cortex miR-let 7b expression measured by quantitative RT-PCR (HS + Veh 0.27±0.16 vs. LS + Veh 1.00±0.09; P=0.005), whereas a treatment with Ac-SDKP significantly upregulated the miR-let 7b expression (HS + Ac-SDKP 2.80±0.11; P=0.002). No miR-let 7b expression difference was observed in SS13BN rats. The overexpression of miR-let 7b by Ac-SDKP is associated with a significant decrease in collagen1 mRNA expression (HS + Veh 3.89±0.74 vs. HS + Ac-SDKP 1.25±0.13; P=0.005). One week on HS diet was not sufficient to cause measurable changes in renal collagen protein. In summary, Ac-SDKP prevented albuminuria and renal cortex collagen1 mRNA expression in SS rats fed HS diet for 1 week, and this was associated with an upregulation of miRNA let-7b expression. The antifibrotic effect of Ac-SDKP on HS-induced renal fibrosis in SS rats may be in part due to preceded upregulation of miRNA let-7b expression.
The Effects of the Great Recession on the School Mobility of Youth

Residential stability matters to a young person’s educational success, and the housing crisis spurred by the Great Recession (2007-2009) has disrupted the residential stability of many families. Us...
Impact of growth phases on photochemically produced reactive species in the extracellular matrix of algal cultivation systems

There is growing interest in microalgal biotechnologies for biofuel production and nutrient recovery in wastewater treatment. Often overlooked is the exudation of extracellular organic matter (EOM) in algal reactors and its influence on dissolved organic carbon (DOC) characteristics and photochemical processes. This study reports photosensitized production of excited triplet state dissolved organic matter (3DOM*), hydroxyl radicals (HO˙), and singlet oxygen (1O2) under simulated sunlight in photobioreactor extracellular matrices. Reactive species were measured in irradiated supernatant from batch cultures of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii throughout lag (1.2–1.9 mg-C L−1 as DOCEOM), exponential (1.9–8.1 mg-C L−1), early stationary (carbon accumulation; 8.1–21.4 mg-C L−1), and late stationary (21.4–108 mg-C L−1) growth phases, and in solutions amended with Suwannee river natural organic matter (SRNOM) as a benchmark. DOCEOM represented 1.0–8.6% of fixed carbon (cellular organic carbon + EOM) across algal phases of growth. EOM solutions exhibited lower light absorption and reactive species production than SRNOM solutions per mg-C L−1. However, photosensitized 3DOM* quantum yield coefficients in EOM solutions during all growth phases and HO˙ apparent quantum yields observed during exponential and early stationary phases were greater than in SRNOM solutions. Additionally, 1O2 apparent quantum yields in EOM solutions during exponential and late stationary phases were similar to SRNOM solutions. EOM solutions also photoproduced reactive species at levels comparable to natural waters. These results suggest sensitized photochemical processes involving EOM and growth medium constituents may contribute to DOM bleaching and mineralization, nutrient cycling, pathogen inactivation, and fate of trace organic contaminants in engineered algal systems.
Only some questions of cause and effect can be evaluated in highly selected populations.

The incorporation of sophisticated and sometimes esoteric epidemiologic methods into our research repertoire is often challenging. While the rigorous, mathematical assessment provides an essential first step in examining methodologic issues, the benefits of such assessments are often lost in the failure to translate that knowledge into practice by non-methodologists. In fact, despite the considerable advances in causal inference in the statistical and epidemiologic literature, the impact on the design, analysis, and interpretation of research has been less than would be desired. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Population/Community Displacement

Population displacement, including protracted and chronic patterns of repeated displacement is a global phenomenon that is growing in scale, frequency and complexity. This chapter discusses root causes of displacement including pre- and post-disaster socioeconomic vulnerabilities, push-pull migration factors, and systemic political and governance fragilities. Also discussed are the implications of terminology used for displaced persons, and policy and planning solutions to address dilemmas that arise in both disaster-impacted and host communities and countries. A case study on Haiti is used ﻿to illustrate in more detail the transboundary impacts of the Haiti earthquake, the causes, consequences, and outcomes of displacement, and the responses by government, non-governmental, and diaspora organizations. Positive recovery trajectories of displaced persons in home and host communities will require sustained and coordinated policy initiatives by multiple actors and stakeholders, along with inclusive and participatory practices that involve displaced populations in decision-making.
Statistical analysis of wind data using Weibull distribution for natural ventilation estimation

Incorporating natural ventilation in buildings can have significant benefits. Nevertheless, realistic wind conditions continually change. Airflow rate estimation methods that assume wind speed and ...
Trends in undergraduate economics degrees, 1991–2017

Undergraduate degrees awarded in economics by U.S. colleges and universities were stagnant from 2009–10 through 2012–13, increased rapidly (almost 15 percent) over the two years from 2012–13 through 2014–15, but have again leveled off in 2015–16 and 2016–17.
Pediatric Catatonia: A Case Series-Based Review of Presentation, Evaluation, and Management.

Background Pediatric catatonia is believed to be a rare condition, but challenges in recognition and variability in presentation may lead to underdiagnosis. Early identification and effective treatment of pediatric catatonia is critical given the significant morbidity and mortality associated with the condition. Given the widespread shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists, at times consultation–liaison (C-L) psychiatrists without child training may be the frontline specialty providers asked to guide treatment of these pediatric patients. Objective To review the literature on pediatric catatonia using clinical cases to illustrate unique aspects of its presentation, evaluation, and management. Methods We describe the presentation and management of 6 adolescents with catatonia on an inpatient pediatric service at a general hospital and use these cases as a focal point for a review of the literature. Conclusion Pediatric catatonia is a potentially lethal disease entity that can be effectively treated if accurately identified early in its course. Psychiatrists working in a C-L setting may encounter this syndrome and should be aware of its presentation, evaluation, and management.
Magnesium Activates Microsecond Dynamics to Regulate Integrin-Collagen Recognition.

Summary Integrin receptors bind collagen via metal-mediated interactions that are modulated by magnesium (Mg 2+ ) levels in the extracellular matrix. Nuclear magnetic resonance-based relaxation experiments, isothermal titration calorimetry, and adhesion assays reveal that Mg 2+ functions as both a structural anchor and dynamic switch of the α 1 β 1 integrin I domain (α 1 I). Specifically, Mg 2+ binding activates micro- to millisecond timescale motions of residues distal to the binding site, particularly those surrounding the salt bridge at helix 7 and near the metal ion-dependent adhesion site. Mutagenesis of these residues impacts α 1 I functional activity, thereby suggesting that Mg-bound α 1 I dynamics are important for collagen binding and consequent allosteric rearrangement of the low-affinity closed to high-affinity open conformation. We propose a multistep recognition mechanism for α 1 I-Mg-collagen interactions involving both conformational selection and induced-fit processes. Our findings unravel the multifaceted role of Mg 2+ in integrin-collagen recognition and assist in elucidating the molecular mechanisms by which metals regulate protein-protein interactions.
A comparative study of IR-820 and indocyanine green (ICG)

225 Objectives Indocyanine green (ICG) is a clinically used near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging agent. Major disadvantages of ICG include limited stability in aqueous solution and short plasma residence time. Our study aim was to explore potential imaging applications of IR-820, another NIR dye, by comparing it to ICG in vivo and in vitro. Methods (1) Spectrofluorometer measurements of aqueous solutions of ICG and IR820 over 4 days under different light and temperature conditions (light, dark, foil, room temperature, 4 °C and 42 °C); (2) Fluorescent microscope images of human ovarian cancer cells (SKOV-3) and human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVEC) exposed to IR820 or ICG; (3) Dye distribution in vivo after an equimolar rat tail vein injection of either dye, imaged with a CCD camera. Results The in vitro fluorescent yield ratio for IR-820 vs. ICG is 1:10. Unlike ICG, the peak emission wavelength of IR820 is not concentration-dependent. The degradation of both dyes in aqueous solution follows pseudo-first order kinetics, and the half-time for IR820 is approximately double that of ICG under all experimental conditions. In cellular studies, we observed evenly distributed cytoplasmic and perinuclear localization for both dyes. For in vivo rat experiments, both dyes accumulated primarily in the liver, with some lung uptake for IR820. The image intensity of IR820 in the abdomen was initially lower than for ICG, but in 24-hour images the IR-820 intensity became higher. Conclusions IR-820 is a better alternative than ICG when stability of the dye solution over time is a concern, or when a consistent peak emission wavelength is desired. The increased stability of IR-820 that we observed in vitro translates into increased stability in vivo as well. In practical applications, the enhanced stability of IR-820 should result in longer plasma resident time compared to ICG, and thus allow for longer image collection times. Research Support A.F.F. supported by NIH/NIGMS R25 GM06134
Acute toxicities of therapy: Pulmonary complications

Surveillance data indicate that adverse drug reactions result in between 3.5% and 32.9% of hospitalizations. 1–3 Of the more than 350 medications known or suspected of causing pulmonary complications, a substantial number are chemotherapeutic agents.
Some Challenging Mathematical Problems in Evolution of Dispersal and Population Dynamics

We discuss the effects of dispersal (either random or biased) and spatial heterogeneity on population dynamics via reactionadvection-diffusion models. We address the question of determining optimal spatial arrangement of resources and study how advection along resource gradients affects the extinction of species. The effects of dispersal and spatial heterogeneity on the total population size of single species are carefully investigated, along with some other properties of species. These properties have important applications to invasions of rare species. Some interesting connection between the evolution of unconditional dispersal and diffusion-driven extinction is revealed. We also investigate the outcome of competition for two similar species, and show how invasion and coexistence are affected by resource utilization, inter-specific competition, and dynamics of habitat edges. In particular, interesting effects of intermediate values of dispersal rates are found. The evolution of conditional dispersal is also addressed, and we illustrate that the geometry of a habitat can play an important role in the evolution of conditional dispersal and that strong directed movement of species can induce the coexistence of competing species. If both species disperse by random diffusion and advection along environmental gradients and one species has much stronger biased movement than the other one, then at least two scenarios can occur: either both species can coexist or the “smarter” species is always the loser. These results seem to suggest that selection is against large advection along resource gradient and that an intermediate biased movement rate may
The Legal Liability Regime: How Well Is It Doing in Assuring Quality, Accounting for Costs, and Coping with an Evolving Reality in the Healthcare Marketplace?

This brief Essay will focus, in somewhat truncated fashion, on the following broad set of questions: How well does the legal liability regime deal with selected current issues? The Essay will raise some issues regarding the current state of liability law and relate those issues to current health policy concerns such as quality assurance and cost containment. I will conclude that some premises of liability law have been called into question and are in need of rethinking.
Transcriptional Regulatory Elements Within the First Intron of Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase

Defects in the gene for Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) result in the disorder X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA). Whereas XLA is characterized by a profound defect in B-cell development, Btk is expressed in both the B lymphocyte and myeloid cell lineages. We evaluated a patient with XLA who had reduced amounts of Btk transcript but no abnormalities in his coding sequence. A single base-pair substitution in the first intron of Btk was identified in this patient, suggesting that this region may contain regulatory elements. Using reporter constructs we identified two transcriptional control elements in the first 500 bp of intron 1. A strong positive regulator, active in both pre-B cells and B cells, was identified within the first 43 bp of the intron. Gel-shift assays identified two Sp1 binding sites within this element. The patient's mutation results in an altered binding specificity of the proximal Sp1 binding site. A negative regulator, active in pre-B cells only, was located between base pairs 281 and 491 of the intron. These findings indicate that regulation of Btk transcription is complex and may involve several transcriptional regulatory factors at the different stages of B-cell differentiation.
Estimating the demand and supply of conservation banking markets in the United States.

Abstract This paper presents an econometric analysis of factors influencing the demand and supply of habitat conservation credit markets in the United States. Two-stage least squares is used. The results suggest that both the demand and supply for habitat conservation credits are inelastic. The results also suggest that the availability of habitat conservation credits (and new habitat bank formation) is likely to decrease with increases in land value. These results are only suggestive as the dataset used has some significant limitations. Data challenges point to the need for greater public availability of transaction-level data. The availability of such data can help improve the modelling efficiency of habitat conservation banking markets.
Ring Based Wearable Bioelectrical Impedance Analyzer for Body Fat Estimation

In today’s world obesity is one of the most serious public health challenges as it is linked to an increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other chronic conditions. The key point to study obesity epidemic is to measure the amount of fat in the human body. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a noninvasive method widely used for estimating fat mass. In a typical BIA, a small amount of alternating electrical current is applied to the human body and the body impedance is measured. Commercial systems used for BIA nowadays are typically large, bulky, and can be very expensive. In this paper, we present a novel wearable bioelectrical impedance analyzer for body fat estimation. The designed analyzer consists of a ring based wearable sensing system and a microcontroller module which also provides wireless connectivity via Bluetooth. An android based application was also developed to provide a smartphone interface for the users to track and manage their health data. The fat mass estimation using the designed analyzer was compared with the commercially available OMRON body fat monitor for 40 healthy human subjects. A linear regression demonstrates a strong correlation between the designed device and the reference monitor with a correlation coefficient r = 0.9. Furthermore, 38 out of 40 subjects lie within 95% limit of the agreement which shows that the designed body fat analyzer has comparable performance with the reference monitor.
DSIC: Deep Learning Based Self-Interference Cancellation for In-Band Full Duplex Wireless

In-band full duplex (IBFD) wireless is of utmost interest to future wireless communication and networking due to great potentials of spectrum efficiency. IBFD wireless, how- ever, is throttled by its key challenge, namely self-interference. Therefore, effective self- interference cancellation is the key to enable IBFD wireless. This paper proposes a real-time non- linear self-interference cancellation solution: Deep learning based Self-Interference Cancellation (DSIC) to enable IBFD wireless. In this solution, a self-interference channel is modeled by a deep neural network (DNN). Synchronized self- interference channel data is first collected to train the DNN of the self-interference channel. Afterwards, the trained DNN is used to cancel the self-interference at a wireless node. This solution has been implemented on a USRP SDR testbed and evaluated in real world in multiple scenarios with various modulations in transmitting information including numbers, texts as well as images. It results in the performance of 17dB in digital cancellation, which is very close to the self-interference power and nearly cancels the self- interference at a SDR node in the testbed. The solution yields an average of 8.5% bit error rate (BER) over many scenarios and different modulation schemes.
Molecular beam epitaxy and characterization of wurtzite ScxAl1−xN

We demonstrate the growth of pure wurtzite phase ScxAl1−xN with a Sc composition as high as x = 0.34 on GaN and AlN templates using plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. The wurtzite structure is well maintained even at high growth temperatures up to 900 °C for Sc0.2Al0.8N. Smooth surface morphology (root mean square roughness less than 1 nm) and excellent crystal quality [(002) plane rocking curve full-width at half maximum below 450 arc sec] are achieved over the range of x ≤ 0.34. Optical absorption studies indicate a decreasing bandgap with increasing Sc with a linear relationship of Eg(x) = 6.1 − 3.39x, which is in good agreement with the theoretical prediction. A monotonically tunable refractive index between AlN and GaN is further measured for ScxAl1−xN with various Sc compositions. This work provides a viable path for the epitaxy of wurtzite ScxAl1−xN with high Sc compositions. The distinct effect of substitutional Sc on bandgap and refractive index could be used in designing high-performance optoelectronic, electronic, and piezoelectric devices, and III-nitride integrated photonics and optical cavities.
Droughts, governance, disasters, and response systems

Abstract This chapter places droughts in historic context. Since the beginning of history, periodic droughts have had large impacts on many societies. These impacts have been especially severe in agricultural civilizations that depend heavily on precipitation for bountiful harvests. Historically, these harvests provided the critical resources that enabled the advancement of ancient humanity, allowing our ancestors to build cities, pursue trades, and develop sophisticated religious and cultural systems. Droughts have long played a major disruptive role in history, threatening the stability of human society. Here, we briefly review the relationship between civilizations and drought, stressing the link between agriculture and drought impacts. We then introduce the topic of modern drought prediction, highlighting the seminal contributions of Sir Gilbert Walker, and describing climate mechanisms associated with the Southern Oscillation and the Indo-Pacific Warm Pool. To conclude, we will provide a summary description of the phases of early warning.
A dual mechanism of enhancer activation by FOXA pioneer factors induces endodermal organ fates

FOXA pioneer transcription factors (TFs) displace nucleosomes and prime chromatin across enhancers of different endodermal organs in multipotent precursors before lineage induction. Here, we examined patterns and mechanisms of FOXA target site engagement using human pluripotent stem cell models of endodermal organ development. Unexpectedly, we find that only a subset of pancreatic, hepatic, and alveolar enhancers are FOXA-primed, whereas the majority are unprimed and engage FOXA only upon lineage induction. Analysis of sequence architecture revealed more abundant and stronger FOXA motifs at primed than unprimed enhancers and enrichment for lineage-specific TF motifs at unprimed enhancers. We show that FOXA recruitment to unprimed enhancers specifically depends on lineage-specific TFs, suggesting that regulatory DNA sequence logic governs temporal FOXA recruitment. Our findings suggest that FOXA-mediated enhancer priming broadly facilitates initiation of organ lineage programs, while secondary FOXA recruitment by lineage-specific TFs to the majority of enhancers confers organ specificity to gene expression.
Evaluation of a Snake Jaw Robot to Teach Integrated Biology, Mathematics, and Engineering

Due to the popularity of biomimicry, the integration of biology and applied sciences is becoming increasingly visible in curricula, especially in museums where animal-related behaviors are popular. Recognizing the need for interactive tools that can make the integrated education fun and effective, a biologically accurate model of a snake jaw was developed to teach an integrated lesson on biology, mathematics, and engineering. The goal of this work was to evaluate the effect of using the snake jaw robot on students’ interest in engineering, biology, mathematics, perception of the robot’s effectiveness, and ability to make connections between nature and engineering. Data was collected by administering a survey with 71 sophomore mechanical engineering students at Villanova University. The group of students was given a short lesson on the python jaw, focusing on the quadrate bone’s function, followed by a demonstration. The group was split into two cohorts. The first cohort’s demonstration used the robot while the second cohort’s demonstration used an existing educational video. The survey was administered after the session. The results showed promise for both educational tools, the video, and the robot, compared to traditional lectures or problems commonly found in classes. The use of the robot showed significant benefit compared to the video when it came to students’ interest in engineering and integration as well as students’ ability to make connections between different disciplines. A complete understanding of the effectiveness of the robot can help (a) enhance educational programs by making them more integrated and hands-on, and (b) develop useful educational robots that can be used to instill an integrative mindset in students from a young age.
Somalia’s disassembled state: clan unit formation and the political marketplace

This paper frames Somalia’s modern history as a trajectory from aspiring high modernist nation-state formation to ‘disassembled’ state, examining how this has been accompanied by – and in part driv...
Where caciques and mapmakers met. Border making in eighteenth-century South America: by Jeffrey Alan Erbig Jr., Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2020, 280 pp. (ISBN 978146965504)

The dispossession of Native lands is one the central plots in the story of colonialism; it may even be the central plot, complemented and interrupted by the related strands of demographic collapse,...
Controlling magnon interaction at nanoscale

We develop an approach for toggling magnon processes at nanoscale. We demonstrate an experimental proof-of-concept in magnetic tunnel junction nanodevices, consisting of a free layer and a synthetic antiferromagnet. By triggering the spin-flop transition in the synthetic antiferromagnet and utilizing its nonuniform dipole field, we controllably modify magnon interaction in the free layer. We achieve its tunability by at least one order of magnitude and realize two distinct dissipative states. The results open up an avenue for controlling magnon processes by external stimuli at nanoscale and show prospects for a variety of spin-torque applications, magnetic neural networks, and hybrid quantum information technologies. An immediate consequence of modified magnon interaction is nanomagnet's response to spin-torques. In particular, we show that degenerate resonant three-magnon process inverts an antidamping spin-torque into a torque that enhances dissipation. Supported by NSF-ECCS-1810541.
The association between patient-provider racial/ethnic concordance, working alliance, and length of treatment in behavioral health settings.

Racial/ethnic concordance between patients and providers concerning the quality of care has received interest over past decades yielding mixed results. Patients seem to prefer clinicians of their own race/ethnicity, but empirical studies have found small or inconsistent effects on the quality of care. Research on the impact of racial/ethnic concordance and treatment duration appears to suggest that racial/ethnic concordance is associated with retention and completion; however, exactly why racial/ethnic concordance improves treatment length remains unexplored. On the other side, the quality of working alliance is a well-established common factor underlying effective treatments. In this study, we examined the interaction between patient-provider racial/ethnic concordance, length of treatment in the therapeutic dyad, and working alliance as evaluated by both patients themselves and objective raters. The study included 312 patients and 74 providers from 13 community and hospital-based outpatient mental health clinics in Massachusetts. Results indicated that among racial/ethnic concordant therapeutic dyads, longer length of treatment was associated with better quality of working alliance as evaluated by objective raters. Implications for clinical practice and future research on racial/ethnic concordance studies linked to the length of treatment are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Factors That Influence Cannabis Vaping Habits of College Students

Background: Electronic cigarettes, also referred to as e-cigarettes or electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), are devices that heat a liquid substance into an aerosol which the user inhales. Typically, the liquid includes nicotine, flavoring, and a carrier fluid such as propylene glycol or vegetable glycerin. When electronic cigarettes became widely available in the US market in 2007, they were intended for nicotine consumption, and briefly marketed as tobacco cessation tools. Within certain subcultures of young adults, vaping quickly became popular. A growing number of studies indicate that people are using these devices to inhale substances other than nicotine, referred to as ‘other substance use in e-cigarettes’ (OSUE) by Kenne and colleagues. Some of these other substances include synthetic cannabinoids, methamphetamine, 3-4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and other amphetamines, cocaine, and heroin. While national prevalence data are lacking, cannabis appears to be the most prevalent OSUE, as Jones et al report that 29% of college students vaped cannabis in their lifetime. College students appear to vape cannabis at higher rates than young adults in general, only 19% of whom have engaged in this activity within their lifetime. The purpose of this study is to examine the attitudes and perceptions of college undergraduates regarding cannabis vaping. Methods: Twenty-one, predominantly male (71.4%; mean age 22, SD 2.09), undergraduate college students who reported vaping cannabis in the past 30 d were interviewed via telephone to determine their attitudes and perceptions regarding cannabis vaping. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim, then coded for common themes. Results: Inductive analysis uncovered six primary themes and eighteen subthemes. Main themes included 1) Convenience, 2) Discreetness, 3) Euphoric Experience, 4) Social Acceptability, 5) Health and Safety, and 6) COVID-19 Pandemic Impact. Conclusions: College students who use cannabis tend to both vape and use combustible methods, depending upon social and physical environment. Typically, they underestimate the risks associated with cannabis use and vaping. Additional research is needed to further examine the behaviors and attitudes surrounding cannabis vaping among college undergraduates, as well as the development of interventions specific to this demographic.
Geomechanical characterization of shale samples after pore plugging with nanomaterials

Abstract Chemical agents capable of sealing pores and micro-fractures can be used to solve wellbore instability in shales. Nanomaterials, as sealing agents, have been applied to test fluids, and their wellbore strengthening effects were evaluated by triaxial tests. A recommended workflow is given to first conduct pore pressure transmission tests, and then perform triaxial tests to evaluate the influence of drilling fluids (sealing agents) on the strength of shales. Due to the low permeability of shales, the small sample (0.25 in. height and one in. diameter) is used in pore pressure transmission tests. This research gives special loading to handle small samples in triaxial testing and innovative calculation procedure to produce stress-strain curves for the shales. After Pore Pressure Transmission (PPT) tests with nanoparticles of various sizes (10, 40 nm), concentrations (3%, 10%), and types (aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide), triaxial tests were performed on Mancos Shale and Eagle Ford Shale. The best combinations for increasing UCS values (Uniaxial Compressive Strengths) are 10% 40-nm Al2O3 for Eagle Ford Shale and 3% 40-nm MgO for Mancos Shale, according to our test matrix. As shown by the experiments, the application of the appropriate nanoparticles on shales will improve their strength and reduce the risk of wellbore collapse. The methodology developed in this research can be extended to triaxial testing on cuttings-size samples, which provides useful rock characterization information for samples that do not meet standard testing conditions.
Abating Global Warming for Fun and Profit

Abating global warming is generally profitable, without counting the avoided cost of adapting, or failing to adapt, to possible climatic change.
The environmental movement and labor in global capitalism: Lessons from the case of the Headwaters Forest

Employing the case of theredwood Headwaters forest in rural NorthernCalifornia, this paper investigates the extentto which an anti-corporate progressive alliancebetween labor and the environmental movement ispossible in contemporary global capitalism.Progressive alliances between labor and theenvironmental movement have been historicallydifficult. This has been particularly the casein the timber industry, where companies havebeen able to mobilize workers againstenvironmentalists' designs. The caseillustrates the events that led to the purchaseof the Headwaters Forest by the state ofCalifornia and the Federal Government fromPacific Lumber. This is a subsidiary of Maxxam,a corporation with interests in a variety ofeconomic sectors. The objective was to haltMaxxam's rampant deforestation of old growthredwood. Though conflict between labor andenvironmentalists existed, the casedemonstrates that the labor and theenvironmental movement were united againstMaxxam. They, however, were not completelysuccessful in their struggle as Maxxam greatlybenefited from the state-sponsored landpurchase. Maxxam gained economically, was ableto shape the ideological framework throughwhich the purchasing agreement was achieved,and extended its hegemony over the state. Thisoutcome cast doubts on the possibility thatcurrent forms of environmental protection couldtranscend commodified and reductionistpostures. Simultaneously, the existence of acommon anti-corporate consciousness among largesegments of labor and the environmentalmovement makes the environment a contestedterrain and allows for some optimism about thefuture of the struggle for ecologically soundsocial arrangements.
Selective use of low frequency stimulation in Parkinson's disease based on absence of tremor

BACKGROUND: High frequency stimulation (HFS) of the subthalamic nucleus is one of the most effective treatments for advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). HFS has provided beneficial improvements in the cardinal features of PD, but has not been proven as effective for addressing the axial predominant levodopa resistant symptoms, such as speech disturbances, gait disturbances, and postural instability. Recent studies have suggested that changes in stimulation parameters may influence differing PD symptoms. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of low frequency stimulation (LFS) versus HFS on the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), gait, balance, and verbal fluency. METHODS: Eight tremor dominant and nine non-tremor dominant participants with bilateral deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus were tested off stimulation, during LFS, and during HFS. RESULTS: Results revealed that HFS significantly reduced UPDRS tremor score in the tremor dominant group; however no differences emerged within the non-tremor dominant group. No differences between groups or stimulation conditions were found for gait, balance, and verbal fluency measures. CONCLUSION: These results may suggest that HFS is better than LFS for reducing tremor in tremor dominant patients. However, patients with mild or no tremor show no acute differences in benefit from LFS as compared to HFS.
Characterization of total chip leakage using inverse (reciprocal) gamma distribution

Leakage is an important performance bottleneck in current digital integrated circuit technology. Many techniques were proposed to analyze, control and avoid leakage of a circuit, but all efforts need accurate characterizations of total leakage variations of a chip under real-life manufacturing and environmental parameter fluctuations. In this paper, we are proposing to apply a new statistical technique to model the overall distribution of total chip leakage under such variations. With our proposed model, chip designers and design automation tools can better assess and manage leakage power.
Aging, Neural Changes in

Dementia is not an obligatory consequence of aging. Normal aging does, however, result in changes in cognition, caused by a combination of neurotransmitter abnormalities and alterations in the structure and function of the brain. Keywords: normal aging; memory systems; neuroanatomy; neurophysiology; neurochemistry
Testing Star Formation Theory

The importance of magnetic fields for the formation of stars, such as the Sun, is supported by measurements of polarized radio waves from dust particles near a newly forming star.
Major histocompatibility complex-conferred resistance to Theiler's virus-induced demyelinating disease is inherited as a dominant trait in B10 congenic mice.

Intracerebral inoculation of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus into susceptible strains of mice produces chronic demyelinating disease in the central nervous system characterized by persistent viral infection. Immunogenetic data suggest that genes from both major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and non-MHC loci are important in determining susceptibility or resistance to demyelination. The role of the MHC in determining resistance or susceptibility to disease can be interpreted either as the presence of antigen-presenting molecules that confer resistance to viral infection or as the ability of MHC products to contribute to pathogenesis by acting as viral receptors or by mediating immune attack against virally infected cells. These alternatives can be distinguished by determining whether the contribution of the MHC to resistance is inherited as a recessive or dominant trait. Congenic mice with different MHC haplotypes on identical B10 backgrounds were crossed and quantitatively analyzed for demyelination, infectious virus, and local virus antigen production. F1 hybrid progeny derived from resistant B10 (H-2b), B10.D2 (H-2d), or B10.K (H-2k) and susceptible B10.R111 (H-2r), B10.M (H-2f), or B10.BR (H-2k) parental mice exhibited no or minimal demyelination, indicating that on a B10 background, resistance is inherited as a dominant trait. Although infectious virus, as measured by viral plaque assay, was cleared inefficiently from the central nervous systems of resistant F1 hybrid progeny mice, we found a direct correlation between local viral antigen production and demyelination. These data are consistent with our hypothesis that the immunological basis for resistance is determined by efficient presentation of the viral antigen to the immune system, resulting in local virus clearance and absence of subsequent demyelination.
Cellular and humoral immune status in women with chronic Candida vaginitis.

Abstract The cellular and humoral immune responses of nine women with chronic Candida vaginitis and 29 control subjects were evaluated. Agglutinating and precipitating antibodies were studied and tests of lymphocyte transformation, lymphokine production, and cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity were performed. The results suggest a lack of cellular immune response to Candida antigens in women with chronic Candida vaginitis.
Berkane ou le déracinement dans l’hybridité identitaire

This essay examines Berkane’s inability to get rooted in France and Algeria. What prevents Berkane, Assia Djebar’s main protagonist in La Disparition de la Langue Francaise, from finding home? Berkane has a problematic identity. Just like Kristeva, Berkane’s hybridity is a source of suffering; it’s the monster of all the crossroads. Far from being a harmonious blend, it creates chaos within. Imprisoned in the colonial past, Berkane is unable to comprehend the postcolonial present. Torn between France and Algeria, he can’t find ‘home’, a notion that seems fluid and impossible to define. Berkane embodies the dichotomous absent present, a ghost that floats between countries with no point of reference or spatio-temporal anchor. Drawing on a wide range of postcolonial theories, this essay studies Berkane’s problematic hybrid identity as it manifests itself on two different levels: the personal and the relational. His unaccepted hybridity turns him into an eternal wanderer.
Thin film cracking in plastic packages-analysis, model and improvements

Describes the physical characteristics of the thin-film cracking (TFC) phenomenon and a model which explains the interactions among the key variables such as die corner layout style, package materials, die size, die thickness, and passivation topology. Data were tabulated on several plastic products to determine if there was any commonality. Comparison was also made between layouts for different products using optical microscopy and SEM/EDX where necessary. It was determined that four main factors (layout style, materials, die thickness, and passivation type) impact thin-film cracking to different degrees. A stress factor versus cycles plot from several configurations were developed which can help predict potential jeopardy as a function of variables identified above. This plot resembles the Coffin-Manson law and depicts safe and unsafe regions for factors that modulate temperature cycling stress. It appears that two possible mechanisms help improve TFC performance. On one hand tiny sacrificial structures help interlock the molding compound and contain the damage, whereas significant decoupling between molding compound and the passivation seems to reduce the overall damaging stress. >
Welded Sleeve Connection Design of Cantilevered Steel Sign Structures

Cantilevered steel sign structures are widely used for on-premises freestanding signs. A welded sleeve connection detail is commonly used to splice pipes of different diameters. This type of structure can be flexible and the connections are vulnerable to fatigue cracking attributable to wind-induced vibration. Fatigue has not been considered in design, although the connection has an inherently low fatigue resistance. To investigate the cause of failure at the sleeve connection and to mitigate the problem, a study of 10 sample failure cases and a series of finite-element analyses were performed. The finite-element analyses showed that the actual load-transfer mechanism in the sleeve connection was not very consistent with that assumed in design. In addition, very high-stress concentration caused the weld-toe crack to propagate into the pipe section. The common practice of strengthening the connection by welded gusset plates did not alleviate the problem. A frequency analysis indicated that the second-mode resonance because of wind-induced vortex shedding may cause a large number of damage cycles. Two alternative connection details were proposed to mitigate weld cracking.