cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PATIENTS' OPINIONS OF THE THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIP IN RATIONAL BEHAVIOR PSYCHOTHERAPY

Very few psychotherapists can give a simple objective description of therapeutic relationship. Yet there are few concepts in traditional psychotherapy that are as widely accepted as being important and as actively pursued as the therapeutic relationship. Like many behavior therapists, however, rational behavior therapists neither actively pursue nor even hypothesize a therapeutic relationship. For that reason, many traditional psychotherapists look at behaviorists with suspicion and are reluctant to use behavioral techniques. This study tried to resolve this difference in professional opinions by consulting patients, the only legitimate experts on the issue. The two main implications are: first, if a therapeutic relationship is a distinct entity, it's probably an incidental result of effective psychotherapy. Secondly, friendly concern is probably all any therapists need to achieve therapeutic success.
Progress and Problems in U. S. Army Communications

A review is given of communication progress under the cognizance of the U. S. Army Signal Research and Development Laboratory since World War II. The strong dependence on and close cooperation maintained with non-Government institutions is emphasized. Operational and technical areas are discussed and equipment shown to illustrate the present state-of-the-art in meeting conmunication requirements for U. S. Army preparedness.
Effects of Hyaluronic Acid on Mitochondrial Function and Mitochondria-driven Apoptosis following Oxidative Stress in Human Chondrocytes

Hyaluronic acid is widely used in the treatment of osteoarthritis and exerts significant chondroprotective effects. The exact mechanisms of its chondroprotective action are not yet fully elucidated. Human articular chondrocytes actively produce reactive oxygen and nitrogen species capable of causing cellular dysfunction and death. A growing body of evidence indicates that mitochondrial dysfunction and mitochondrial DNA damage play a causal role in disorders linked to excessive generation of oxygen free radicals. We hypothesized that the chondroprotective effects of hyaluronic acid on oxidatively stressed chondrocytes are due to preservation of mitochondrial function and amelioration of mitochondria-driven apoptosis. When primary human chondrocyte cultures were exposed to reactive oxygen or nitrogen species generators, mitochondrial DNA damage along with mitochondrial dysfunction and mitochondria-driven apoptosis accumulated as a consequence. In addition, cytokine-treated primary human chondrocytes showed increased levels of mitochondrial DNA damage. Pretreatment of chondrocytes with hyaluronic acid caused a decrease of mitochondrial DNA damage, enhanced mitochondrial DNA repair capacity and cell viability, preservation of ATP levels, and amelioration of apoptosis. The results of these studies demonstrate that enhanced chondrocyte survival and improved mitochondrial function under conditions of oxidative injury are probably important therapeutic mechanisms for the actions of hyaluronic acid in osteoarthritis.
A walk on the wild side: mining wild wheat and barley collections for rust resistance genes

Leaf rust, stem rust, and stripe rust are among the most important diseases of wheat and barley worldwide and are best controlled using genetic resistance. To increase the diversity of rust resistance in wheat and barley, a project was initiated to identify and characterise rust resistance genes from the wild species of Aegilops sharonensis (Sharon goatgrass) and Hordeum vulgare ssp. spontaneum (wild barley), respectively. One hundred and two accessions of Sharon goatgrass from Israel and 318 Wild Barley Diversity Collection (WBDC) accessions from the Fertile Crescent, Central Asia, North Africa, and the Caucasus region were evaluated for resistance to leaf rust, stem rust, and/or stripe rust. Sharon goatgrass exhibited a wide range of infection types (ITs) in response to leaf rust, stem rust, and stripe rust. The percentage of resistant accessions in Sharon goatgrass was 58.8–78.4% for leaf rust, 11.8–69.6% for stem rust, and 46.1% for stripe rust, depending on the race used and the plant growth stage. Genetic studies with Sharon goatgrass revealed oligogenic resistance to leaf rust and stem rust. Wild barley also exhibited a wide range of ITs to leaf rust and stem rust; however, the overall frequency of resistance was lower than for Sharon goatgrass. The percentage of resistant accessions in wild barley was 25.8% for leaf rust and 5.7–20.1% for stem rust, depending on the race used. Resistance to the new virulent stem rust race TTKS (i.e. Ug99), present in eastern Africa, was found in both Sharon goatgrass (70% of accessions) and wild barley (25% of 20 accessions tested). Association mapping for stem rust resistance was applied in the WBDC using Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT) markers. Using the highly conservative P value threshold of 0.001, 14 and 15 significant marker associations were detected when the number of subpopulations (K value) was set for 10 and 8, respectively. These significant associations were in 9 and 8 unique chromosome bins, respectively. Two significant marker associations were detected for resistance to the wheat stem rust race MCCF in the same bin as the rpg4/Rpg5 complex on chromosome 7(5H). The presence of a major stem rust resistance gene in this bin on chromosome 7(5H) was validated in a bi-parental mapping population (WBDC accession Damon × cv. Harrington) constructed with DArT markers. The results from this study indicate that Sharon goatgrass and wild barley are rich sources of rust resistance genes for cultivated wheat and barley improvement, respectively, and that association mapping may be useful for positioning disease resistance genes in wild barley.
Appropriateness measurement with polychotomous item response models and standardized indices

Abstract : The test scores of some examinees on a multiple-choice test may not provide satisfactory measures of their abilities. The goal of appropriateness measurement is to identify such individuals. Earlier theoretical and experimental work considered examinees answering all, or almost all, test items. This article reports research that extends appropriateness measurement methods to examinees with moderately high nonresponse rates. These methods treat non-response as if it were a deliberate option choice and then attempt to measure the 'appropriateness' of the pattern of option choices. Earlier studies used only the dichotomous pattern of right and 'not right' answers. A general polychotomous model is introduced along with a technique called 'standardization' designed to reduce the observed confounding between measured appropriateness and ability. A standardized appropriateness index based on a polychotomous model yielded higher rates of detection of simulated spuriously low examinees than the analogous index based on a dichotomous model. However, the converse was true for simulated spuriously high examinees. Standardization was found to reduce greatly the interaction between ability and measured appropriateness.
Lagrangian coherent structures in low Reynolds number swimming.

This work explores the utility of the finite-time Lyapunov exponent (FTLE) field for revealing flow structures in low Reynolds number biological locomotion. Previous studies of high Reynolds number unsteady flows have demonstrated that ridges of the FTLE field coincide with transport barriers within the flow, which are not shown by a more classical quantity such as vorticity. In low Reynolds number locomotion (O(1)–O(100)), in which viscous diffusion rapidly smears the vorticity in the wake, the FTLE field has the potential to add new insight to locomotion mechanics. The target of study is an articulated two-dimensional model for jellyfish-like locomotion, with swimming Reynolds number of order 1. The self-propulsion of the model is numerically simulated with a viscous vortex particle method, using kinematics adapted from previous experimental measurements on a live medusan swimmer. The roles of the ridges of the computed forward- and backward-time FTLE fields are clarified by tracking clusters of particles both backward and forward in time. It is shown that a series of ridges in front of the jellyfish in the forward-time FTLE field transport slender fingers of fluid toward the lip of the bell orifice, which are pulled once per contraction cycle into the wake of the jellyfish, where the fluid remains partitioned. A strong ridge in the backward-time FTLE field reveals a persistent barrier between fluid inside and outside the subumbrellar cavity. The system is also analyzed in a body-fixed frame subject to a steady free stream, and the FTLE field is used to highlight differences in these frames of reference.
Cellular imaging of inflammation in atherosclerosis using magnetofluorescent nanomaterials

Objective: Magnetofluorescent nanoparticles (MFNPs) offer the ability to image cellular inflammation in vivo. To better understand their cellular targeting and imaging capabilities in atherosclerosis, we investigated prototypical dextran-coated near-infrared fluorescent MFNPs in the apolipoprotein Edeficient (apo E� /� ) mouse model. Methods and Results: In vitro MFNP uptake was highest in activated murine macrophages ( p < .001). Apo E� /� mice (n = 11) were next injected with the MFNP (15 mg/kg iron) or saline. In vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated strong plaque enhancement by the MFNPs ( p < .001 vs. saline), which was confirmed by multimodality ex vivo MRI and fluorescence reflectance imaging. On fluorescence microscopy, MFNPs were found in cellular-rich areas of atheroma and colocalized with immunofluorescent macrophages over endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells ( p < .001). Conclusions: Here we show that (1) the in vitro and in vivo cellular distribution of atherosclerosis-targeted MFNPs can be quantified by using fluorescence imaging methods; (2) in atherosclerosis, dextranated MFNPs preferentially target macrophages; and (3) MFNP deposition in murine atheroma can be noninvasively detected by in vivo MRI. This study thus provides a foundation for using MFNPs to image genetic and/ or pharmacological perturbations of cellular inflammation in experimental atherosclerosis and for the future development of novel targeted nanomaterials for atherosclerosis. Mol Imaging (2006) 5, 85 – 92.
Observations of runup and energy flux on a low‐slope beach with high‐energy, long‐period ocean swell

The transformation of surface gravity waves from 11 m depth to runup was observed on the low-sloped (1/80) Agate Beach, Oregon, with a cross-shore transect of current meters, pressure sensors, and a scanning lidar. Offshore wave heights H0 ranged from calm (0.5 m) to energetic (>7 m). Runup, measured with pressure sensors and a scanning lidar, increases linearly with (H0L0)1/2, with L0 the deep-water wavelength of the spectral peak. Runup saturation, in which runup oscillations plateau despite further increases in (H0L0)1/2, is not observed. Infragravity wave shoaling and nonlinear energy exchanges with short waves are included in an infragravity wave energy balance. This balance closes for high-infragravity frequencies (0.025–0.04 Hz) but not lower frequencies (0.003–0.025 Hz), possibly owing to unmodeled infragravity energy losses of wave breaking and/or bottom friction. Dissipative processes limit, but do not entirely damp, increases in runup excursions in response to increased incident wave forcing.
Microgravity and drug effects on bone.

Microgravity changes the metabolic environment of bone leading to site-specific alterations in bone remodeling: bone formation is decreased and bone resorption is increased resulting in significant bone loss with an attendant increase in fracture risk. The pelvis and lower extremities show the greatest loss of bone that may amount to as much as 5% in the lumbar spine and 10% in the proximal femur after spaceflight of 6 months duration 1 . Multiple drugs have been employed during manned spaceflight to combat a variety of flight-related medical disorders such as space motion sickness, sleeplessness, nasal congestion, headache, back pain and constipation. The list includes antibiotics, sleep medications, drugs for nasal congestion, antiarrythmics, and muscle relaxants 2 . However, to date, only exercise has been employed to counter bone loss: the effects of different regimens have not proven protective of bone. It is appreciated that the response of bone to drugs will be different in extended spaceflight as compared to responses on the ground 3 . Extended bed rest studies on earth have not focused on pharmacodynamics of bone active drugs. The few reported observations that involving drugs such as acetaminophen and promethazine indicate that microgravity has potentially profound effects on drug actions when compared to earth 4 . Furthermore, drug action in microgravity may be affected by factors such as gender, which is not considered a primary fact when assessing drug actions on earth, but which may assume greater importance in microgravity 5 .
Multicultural comics: from zap to blue beetle, edited by Frederick Luis Aldama

In his introduction to Multicultural Comics: From Zap to Blue Beetle, editor Frederick Luis Aldama establishes a catalogue of themes and ideas that reflect the concerns of multicultural comics, fro...
Site-Specific Initiation of Transcription by RNA Polymerase II

RNA polymerase II initiates transcription at specific DNA sequences. Studies using sequence analysis and molecular genetics suggest a simple and universal model of start-site selection by RNA polymerase II. Two consensus sequences occur at fixed positions in promoters from higher eukaryotes and their viruses: the TATA box around -30 and the initiator at the start site of transcription. Both consensus sequences function as positioning elements that control site-specific initiation. As a first step during initiation, the basal transcription factor TFIID binds to the TATA box; regulatory transcription factors can tether TFIID bind to the TATA box; regulatory transcription factors can tether TFIID to promoters without a consensus TATA box. TFIID then directs the assembly of other basal transcription factors and RNA polymerase II into a preinitiation complex. Finally, RNA polymerase II searches for the best match to the initiator consensus about 30 base pairs downstream of the TATA box to select the exact start site. The transcriptional activity of a start-site sequence generally correlates with its similarity to the initiator consensus, suggesting that there is only one type of initiator.
Differential Sharing of Chemical Cues by Social Parasites Versus Social Mutualists in a Three-Species Symbiosis

Chemical recognition systems are crucial for maintaining the unity of social insect colonies. It has been proposed that colonies form a common chemical signature, called the gestalt odor, which is used to distinguish colony members and non-members. This chemical integration is achieved actively through social interactions such as trophallaxis and allogrooming, or passively such as through exposure to common nest material. When colonies are infiltrated by social parasites, the intruders often use some form of chemical mimicry. However, it is not always clear how this chemical mimicry is accomplished. Here, we used a three-species nesting symbiosis to test the differences in chemical integration of mutualistic (parabiotic) and parasitic ant species. We found that the parasite (Solenopsis picea) obtains chemical cues from both of the two parabiotic host ant species. However, the two parabiotic species (Crematogaster levior and Camponotus femoratus) maintain species-specific cues, and do not acquire compounds from the other species. Our findings suggest that there is a fundamental difference in how social mutualists and social parasites use chemicals to integrate themselves into colonies.
Active safety and Passive safety in Baojun Automobile Application

In order to protect the drivers and passengers safety,vehicle has many security design.This text expounds the Baojun automobile in order to protect the safety of drivers and passengers,adopt the most active safety,passive safety measures,as well as many aspects of safety design idea..
Evaluation on the effectiveness for Self-management among the Hypertensive Patients in Rural Community

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of 5-months hypertension self-management among hypertension patients in rural community.Methods A self-controlled trial was conducted among 160 patients with hypertension recruited by voluntary registration,all of them would take a course on hypertension self-management once a week for 6 weeks.After 5 months,changes of participants on blood pressure,knowledge,attitude,and behavior compared before and after the intervention.Results After 5 months' intervention,160 participants had improved their ability on blood pressure management.Some measures related hypertension management had been obviously increased(such as the frequency of blood pressure testing,body weight control,frequency of communication with the doctor,and blood pressure control),and the difference were statistically significant(P0.05).After the course of hypertension self-management,the behavior of over drinking and physical exercise presented significantly changes(P0.05).The level of systolic blood pressure and the diastolic blood pressure decreased by 6.79mmHg(P0.05)and by 3.76mmHg(P0.05) respectively.Conclusion The community-based hypertension self-management model was effective to enhance the ability of patients with hypertension to manage blood pressure,improve health behavior,and control the blood pressure level.
Locating LARC Within the Context of Sexual and Reproductive Justice

A letter to the editor in response to the article "Realizing reproductive health equity needs more than long-acting reversible contraception (LARC)" by A.C. Gubrium, E.S. Mann, S. Borrero, et al. which was published in the 2016 issue, 106 (1), is presented.
The Portrait Refined: Six Miniatures

After publication of ‘The Figure in the Carpet’ in 1896, James wrote seven slighter fictions that are also important to his complete portrait of the writer-critic. All preceded closely or were contemporaneous with his completion of The Sacred Fount in late 1900. All but one, ‘John Delavoy’ (1898), he included in the New York Edition. Two others he included in Volumes XVII and XVIII, respectively, rather than in the group of stories about writers and critics that appeared in Volumes XV and XVI of the Edition. These are: ‘The Real Right Thing’ (1899) and ‘The Story In It’. (The first publication date of ‘The Story In It’ is uncertain, but is probably about 1900). Four of the seven fictions, all published in 1900, comprise the concluding portraits in this series as James arranged these fictions for the New York Edition. They are ‘Broken Wings’, ‘The Tree of Knowledge’, ‘The Abasement of the Northmores’, and ‘The Great Good Place’. Because of its unique conception as an allegorical fantasy, we shall reserve ‘The Great Good Place’ for separate discussion. In these modernist fictions James not only moves toward the complex conception of themes and forms in The Sacred Fount, but he frequently exhibits the technical virtuosity we have come to anticipate in his experiments with consciousness and perspective by the conclusion of the so-called experimental or middle period of his career.
Economism and the Challenge of Earthism

Economism is the belief that primary devotion should be directed to the expansion of the economy. According to the dominant economistic theory, large markets allow for greater specialization and economies of scale along with adequate competition to establish optimum prices. The ideal is a global market. This can be attained only as national boundaries cease to inhibit the flow of goods and capital. That means the control over this flow by nation states should be reduced and even eliminated. It also means that within each state, government’s role is to encourage competition among the economic actors, local and international, and to provide the infrastructure that enables business to prosper.
Micro-radar wearable respiration monitor

Respiration is a vital activity for proper body functioning. Monitoring respiration not only aids in assessing our health but also helps in anticipating obstructive disorders such as sleep apnea and asthma. Typical systems for monitoring respiration such as nasal masks and chest band are cramped on a user's body. These are wired and require a user to be stationary when measurements are taken. Wireless wearable devices for breathing rate estimation are straps around the chest that hinder chest wall movement due to tensile limitations. To mitigate these challenges, in this paper we present a wireless system for continuous monitoring of breathing using a wearable micro radar. The radar measures the movement of the chest wall. We design a signal processing algorithm for noise cancellation and breathing rate determination. Using an evaluation on ten human subjects, we show that our system can measure breathing rate continuously with an accuracy of 95%.
Impact of X-Ray Tomography on the Reliability of Integrated Circuits

X-ray tomography provides 3-D information of an integrated circuit (IC) and has been utilized for counterfeit detection. Although it is a nondestructive process, electrical functionalities of IC under long time radiation has yet to be fully investigated. This paper analyzes the impact of X-ray tomography on the reliability of ICs with different fabrication technologies. We perform a 3-D imaging on Intel flash memories, Macronix flash memories, Xilinx Spartan 3, and Spartan 6 FPGAs and test the electrical functionalities after each round of tomography. We examine the impact of tomography on erase time, read margin, and program operation in flash memories. The change of ring oscillators frequency mapped in FPGAs is also investigated. A major finding is that tomography increases the erase time of flash memory of older technology nodes, eventually resulting in failure. In contrast, the flash and Xilinx FPGAs of newer technologies seem much less sensitive to tomography, as only minor degradations are observed. Degradation of IC performance is explained by considering total ionization dose effect due to tomography. Counterfeit detection requires approximately 2 h of tomography and no IC failed permanently during this time period.
Race-Ethnic Disparities in Hospital Arrival Time after Ischemic Stroke.

Objective: Conflicting reports exist about hospital arrival time after stroke onset in Hispanics compared with African Americans and Caucasians. Our current study inves­tigates race-ethnic disparities in hospital arrival times after stroke onset. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of hospital arrival times in Hispanic, African American, and Caucasian acute ischemic stroke patients (N=1790) present­ing to a tertiary-care hospital in the Bronx, New York. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify the association between race-ethnicity and hospital arrival time adjusting for age, sex, socioeconomic status (SES), NIH stroke scale (NIHSS), history of stroke, preferred language and transportation mode to the hospital. Results: There were 338 Caucasians, 662 Hispanics, and 790 African Americans in the cohort. Compared with Caucasians, African Americans and Hispanics were younger (P<.0001 respectively), had lower SES (P<.001 respectively) and were less likely to use EMS (P=.003 and P=.001, respec­tively). A greater proportion of Hispanic and African American women had delayed hos­pital arrival times (≥3 hours) after onset of stroke symptoms compared with Caucasian women (74% of Hispanic, 72% of African American, and 59% of Caucasian women), but this difference between race-ethnicities is no longer present after adjusting for socioeconomic status. Compared with Cau­casian men, hospital arrival ≥3 hours after symptom onset was more likely for African American men (OR 1.72, 95% CI:1.05- 2.79) but not Hispanic men (OR .80, 95% CI .49-1.30). Conclusions: African American men and socially disadvantaged women delay in presenting to the hospital after stroke onset. Future research should focus on identify­ing the factors contributing to pre-hospital delay among race-ethnic minorities. Ethn Dis. 2017;27(2):125-132; doi:10.18865/ed.27.2.125.
Noisy neuromorphic circuit modeling Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

The CORTICO-STRIATAL-THALAMO-CORTICAL (CSTC) circuit in the brain has an important role in controlling movement and thought. As a consequence, any dysfunction in this circuit may cause movement and psychological disorders. For example, one hypothesis to explain Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is that alteration in this circuit causes a positive feedback loop (direct pathway) to become strengthened and a negative feedback loop (indirect pathway) to become weakened, which causes hyperactivity in the cerebral cortex resulting in OCD symptoms. We have designed and simulated a biomimetic electronic circuit with a Carbon Nanotube synaptic layer and CMOS neurons that mimics the CSTC loop in healthy and OCD conditions. This circuit simulation demonstrates the utility of neuromorphic circuits in brain modeling, since varied behavior can be demonstrated via modification of synaptic strengths. We further demonstrate the role noise (variability) plays in the CSTC circuit function and dysfunction and describe a noise-generating circuit implementation to inject noise into neuromorphic circuits based on photons emitted by an LED.
Practical Considerations for Computing Dimensional Spectra from Gridded Data

AbstractSpectra are often computed from gridded data to determine the horizontal-scale dependence of quantities such as kinetic energy, vertical velocity, or perturbation potential temperature. This paper discusses several important considerations for the practical computation of such spectra. To ensure that the sum of the spectral energy densities in wavenumber space matches the sum of the energies in the physical domain (the discrete Parseval relation), the constant coefficient multiplying the spectral energy density must properly account for the way the discrete Fourier transform pair is normalized. The normalization factor appropriate of many older FORTRAN-based fast Fourier transforms (FFTs) differs from that in Matlab and Python’s numpy.fft, and as a consequence, the correct scaling factor for the kinetic energy (KE) spectral density differs between one-dimensional FFTs computed using these two approaches by a factor equal to the square of the number of physical grid points. A common algorithm used ...
Numerical Simulation of Hybrid Sliding-Rocking Columns Subjected to Earthquake Excitation

AbstractThis paper introduces a novel element formulation for the dynamic analysis of bridges incorporating posttensioned segmental columns with hybrid sliding-rocking (HSR) joints distributed over...
The Effect of Therapy Dogs on Exam Stress and Memory

Therapy dogs have been shown in many different situations to reduce stress and improve outcomes, but their effects on academic performance are unknown. I hypothesized that interaction with therapy ...
Low-temperature vibrational dynamics of fused silica and binary silicate glasses

Inelastic neutron scattering was used to study the vibrational dynamics of fused silica and its mixed binary glasses that were doped with either ${\text{TiO}}_{2}$ or ${\text{K}}_{2}\text{O}$. The energy transfer was measured from zero to $180\mathrm{meV}$ where the so-called Boson peaks (BP) at low energy and molecular vibrations at high energy are included. Although most of the vibrational spectra at the high energy resemble those reported in earlier literature, a defect-mode-like peak is observed for the doped binary systems near $120\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{meV}$. At very low temperature, the BP intensity increases rapidly with temperature and then, at higher temperature, the peak intensity decreases. As a result, a maximum is observed in the temperature dependence of the BP intensity. This maximum was shown in all four samples, but the pure ${\text{SiO}}_{2}$ sample shows the highest intensity peak and the lowest temperature for peak position. Broadband energy spectra reveal a shift of intensity from BP to the more localized modes at higher energy. Temperature evolution of BP and its relationship with heat conduction and thermal expansion are discussed.
Teach scheme, reach Java: introducing object - oriented programming without drowning in syntax: tutorial presentation

A first programming course should be about not this week's "hot" language, but fundamental programming concepts and practices. Yet beginning students often mistake language as the subject. How can we teach students to develop real programs without overemphasizing language? We start in a simple, consistent language: a pedagogical subset of Scheme. The IDE enforces this subset and gives level-appropriate error messages, but allows students to outgrow each successive subset. Students learn fundamental programming concepts in this sheltered environment before encountering them in the more bewildering world of Java or C++. Students learn a step-by-step design recipe for software development: a series of concrete questions, with concrete products at each stage. Test cases are developed early, as part of requirements specification. This design recipe provides not only a framework for Socratic teaching, but also a grading rubric showing that that every step matters, not only code. We emphasize data types as both concept and tool: to every data type we develop correspond a coding pattern and a testing pattern. For example, when we introduce self-referential data types, the already-learned patterns for polymorphism and fields automatically yield a safe form of recursion. For non-majors, we stop with Scheme. For CS majors, the second course is in Java; it builds on the programming concepts and methodology learned in Scheme, explicitly discussing how to apply the same concepts and design recipe. The resulting student, after a year, can approach programming problems with care (not "hack until it works"). This tutorial will demonstrate the design recipe on classroom problems, and how to teach the same concepts in Scheme and Java. You're all invited to a week-long summer workshop, covering in more depth the technical, classroom, and curriculum issues.
Neck Circumference Positively Relates to Cardiovascular Risk Factors in College Students

The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between neck circumference (NC) and other anthropometric measures and examine cut-off points for males and females according to existing waist circumference cut-off levels in this age group. Across 8 universities, 1562 students underwent a physical assessment. Spearman rho correlations (ρ) were calculated to determine associations between NC and other continuous variables of health. Receiving operating characteristic curves were constructed to assess the optimal cut-off levels of NC of males and females with central obesity. Participants were predominantly Caucasian (67%), female (70%), and outside of Appalachia (82%). Forty-one percent of males and 34% of females had a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m². In both sexes, significant positive correlations were seen between NC and body weight, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, and systolic blood pressure (all p-values < 0.0001). NC ≥ 38 cm for males and ≥33.5 cm for females were the optimal cut-off values to determine subjects with central obesity. NC has been identified to closely correlate with other anthropometric measurements related to disease and could be used as a convenient, low-cost, and noninvasive measurement in large-scale studies.
Role of alternative splicing in hematopoietic stem cells during development.

With the advent and increasing resolution of genome-wide sequencing modalities, alternative splicing (AS) has become an emerging area of interest in normal development and disease (1). Splicing of mRNA transcripts results in the production of a multitude of alternative isoforms from a single genomic locus, dramatically enhancing the diversity of the transcriptome and proteome (2). AS may affect RNA nuclear export and transcript stability, thereby regulating transcript levels. Distinct splicing isoforms may produce functionally equivalent, divergent, or inactive mature proteins (3).
Risk factors for the development of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: A review.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an invariably progressive disease. Current treatment options simply slow disease progression, and better therapeutic options are needed. We aimed to review an emerging literature on risk factors associated with the development of IPF. There is increasing data to support the role of intrinsic risk factors (e.g., genetics, aging, sex, lung microbiome), comorbidities (e.g., gastroesophageal reflux, obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, herpes virus infection), and extrinsic risk factors (e.g., cigarette smoking, environmental exposures, air pollution) in IPF development. These risk factors may independently increase susceptibility for IPF or act in a synergistic fashion to contribute to increased risk for disease development. Various risk factors have been identified in IPF development that fit within the current paradigm of disease pathogenesis. Further investigation of these risk factors may help us better understand the pathophysiology of IPF and may guide future therapeutic interventions.
The Partisan Value of Seniority

This paper examines the partisan value of seniority by leveraging term limits as a source of exogenous change in the distribution of seniority across parties. Term limits have disproportionately removed senior Democrats. Difference-in-difference estimation shows that term limits have caused a substantial change in interest group campaign donations (a proxy for institutional power), hurting Democrats and helping Republicans. Because term limits have not observably advantaged either party in the electoral arena, it appears that this causal effect is institutional in nature, stemming from the negative shock to the Democratic seniority distribution. Simultaneously, term limits have caused more Democratic money to flow to gubernatorial races, providing further evidence of the diminished stature of Democrats in the state legislature. The paper thus presents comprehensive statistical evidence for the value of seniority to the party who possesses it.
Contribution of non-native plants to the phylogenetic homogenization of U.S. yard floras

Cultivation and spread of non‐native plant species may result in either phylogenetic homogenization (increasing similarity) or differentiation (decreasing similarity) of urban floras. However, it is unknown how non‐native species influence homogenization of cultivated versus spontaneously occurring species in cities, and which traits are associated with species that promote homogenization versus differentiation. In this study, we compared homogenization effects of cultivated and spontaneous non‐native species in yard floras across and within seven widely distributed U.S. cities. Additionally, we explored which traits explained their particular contribution to homogenization. We recorded plant presence/absence in 178 private yards distributed among seven metropolitan statistical areas in the United States. We compared phylogenetic homogenization effects of non‐native species within both the cultivated and spontaneous species pools using phylogenetic dissimilarities and the homogenization index. Then, we expressed contributions of non‐native species to the homogenization of each pool as a function of two different sets of plant functional traits using phylogenetic generalized least square (PGLS) models across and within cities. Across cities, spontaneous non‐native species homogenized, and cultivated non‐native species differentiated, yard floras. Within the spontaneous pool, short, small‐seeded non‐native plants and non‐native grasses significantly homogenized yard floras. Within the cultivated pool, species contribution to homogenization was best predicted by plant height, presence of showy flowers, and growth form, with non‐native grasses significantly homogenizing cultivated yard floras. Within cities, non‐native species—whether they were cultivated or spontaneous—consistently homogenized yard floras of the three northern cities and differentiated yard floras of three of the four southern cities, suggesting that homogenization processes are context‐ and scale‐dependent. Likewise, traits explaining homogenization differed substantially among cities. The inconsistent patterns among cities in the plant traits that promoted homogenization of both cultivated and spontaneous species suggest that local environmental and anthropogenic conditions of individual cities imposed strong constraints on trait selection. Linking plant functional traits that promote homogenization with residents’ preferences for vegetation may further enhance understanding of how yard plant communities assemble at regional and local scales.
Teaching the art of pulling truths from economic data: Comment on “Is precise econometrics an illusion?”

Prior to 1440, a classroom was a place where the lecturer read the lecture and the students scribbled down notes. This was a critical part of the educational process because there were no books to ...
On the Need for Prospective Disaster Survey Panels.

Disasters are typically unforeseen, causing most social and behavioral studies about disasters to be reactive. Occasionally, predisaster data are available, for example, when disasters happen while a study is already in progress or where data collected for other purposes already exist, but planned pre-post designs are all but nonexistent. This gap fundamentally limits the quantification of disasters’ human toll. Anticipating, responding to, and managing public reactions require a means of tracking and understanding those reactions, collected using rigorous scientific methods. Oftentimes, self-reports from the public are the best or only source of information, such as perceived risk, behavioral intentions, and social learning. Significant advancement in disaster research, to best inform practice and policy, requires well-designed surveys with large probability-based samples and longitudinal assessment of individuals across the life-cycle of a disaster and across multiple disasters.
Microbiome and Immunity: A Critical Link for Long-Duration Space Exploration Missions

The human microbiome is the collection of trillions of microorganisms that live in and on the human body. It is mostly composed of bacteria, viruses, archaea, and unicellular eukaryotes that have coevolved with us over millions of years. The microbiome is essential to human health, being involved in the processing and absorption of complex nutrients, the synthesis of vitamins and antioxidants, the maturation and modulation of the immune system and the prevention of infections by pathogenic organisms. Therefore, qualitative or quantitative shifts in the gut microbiota, commonly known as dysbiosis, as a consequence of host pathobiology, alterations of diet, medications, and other environmental triggers, can perturb critical inter-microbe as well as host–microbe relationships to initiate pathophysiological processes leading to human disease. To maintain health, the immune system plays an essential role in maintaining a delicate balance between eliminating invading pathogens and keeping the homeostatic relationship with beneficial resident microorganisms of the gastrointestinal tract. At the same time, resident bacteria have a significant immunomodulatory activity that profoundly shape mammalian immunity. During a mission to space, astronauts are exposed to a number of stressors (microgravity, sleep deprivation, radiation, dietary changes, etc.) that are likely to affect the composition and dynamic of the astronauts’ microbiome. Several studies on specific culturable commensal and opportunistic pathogenic bacteria performed under real or simulated microgravity conditions suggest that space travel can affect the composition and function of the microbiome, including bacterial virulence, antibiotic resistance, and growth. This chapter will focus on what is currently known about the interaction between the human intestinal microbiota and the immune response and how conditions found in space might alter this interaction and pose a risk to astronauts’ health.
Mortality prediction and long-term outcomes for civilian cerebral gunshot wounds: A decision-tree algorithm based on a single trauma center.

Abstract Gunshot wounds (GSW) are one of the most lethal forms of head trauma. The lack of clear guidelines for civilian GSW complicates surgical management. We aimed to develop a decision-tree algorithm for mortality prediction and report long-term outcomes on survivors based on 15-year data from our level 1 trauma center. We retrospectively reviewed 96 consecutive patients who presented with cerebral GSWs between 2003 and 2018. Clinical information from our trauma database, EMR, and relevant imaging scans was reviewed. A decision-tree model was constructed based on variables showing significant differences between survivors and non-survivors. After excluding patients who died at arrival, 54 patients with radiologically confirmed intracranial injury were included. Compared to survivors (51.9%), non-survivors (48.1%) were significantly more likely to have perforating (entry and exit wound), as opposed to penetrating (entry wound only), injuries. Bi-hemispheric and posterior fossa involvement, cerebral herniation, and intraventricular hemorrhage were more commonly present in non-survivors. Based on the decision-tree, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) > 8 and penetrating, uni-hemispheric injury predicted survival. Among patients with GCS ≤ 8 and normal pupillary response, lack of 1) posterior fossa involvement, 2) cerebral herniation, 3) bi-hemispheric injury, and 4) intraventricular hemorrhage, were associated with survival. Favorable long-term outcomes (mean follow-up 34.4 months) were possible for survivors who required neurosurgery and stable patients who were conservatively managed. We applied clinical and radiological characteristics that predicted survival to construct a decision-tree to facilitate surgical decision-making for GSW. Further validation of the algorithm in a large patient setting is recommended.
Trade, Growth, and Conflict

Processes of war, trade, and systemic leadership are often examined in isolation from one another. Sometimes, two of the three are studied together. Does war interrupt trade? Does systemic leadership reduce the level of warfare? Does systemic leadership lead to freer trade? While these are familiar questions, our contention is that all three processes are interrelated at the systemic level. War and trade are dependent upon systemic leadership. Trade expands in the presence of systemic leadership, and war expands as systemic leadership declines. Yet the expansion of war is also critical to the emergence of systemic leadership. At the same time, these relationships have not remained constant over time but have evolved. The scope of systemic leadership and the intensity of war have increased while the frequency of war among the most powerful actors has contracted. Trade, on the other hand, has expanded dramatically. A vector autoregression analysis of the three processes provides substantial empirical support for the argument that leadership leads to more trade and less war, while also promoting increasingly more pacific relations among elite states in the world system.
In situ functionalization of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) polyester with a multi-functional macromolecular additive

Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) has been functionalized with Pluronic F127 as a secondary diol monomer by melt polycondensation. The variation of Pluronic content to max 12.2 wt% in the copolymer is investigated on microstructure analysis, molecular weight distribution, thermal properties, crystallinity, and thermo-responsive behavior. The microstructure in the Pluronic F127-functionalized PBAT (PPBAT) copolymer indicates that the amount of Pluronic unit which is attached to the PPBAT copolymers found to be increased from 5.9 to 9.1 to 12.2% (wt) with the feeding amount of 1.0 to 2.0 to 3.0 mmol, respectively. The weight average molecular weight has also found to increase from 23,555 to 43,841 g/mol in the PPBAT copolymers. The lowering of glass transition temperature has been also observed in the thermal analysis that indicates the improvement of the plasticization effect in the PPBAT copolymers with the increase of Pluronic from 0 to 12.2% (wt). Moreover, the crystallization behavior also indicates the disappearance of crystallization temperature and the appearance of cold crystallization temperature before melting with the increase of Pluronic content. The X-ray diffraction analysis further signifies the decrease in degree of crystallinity with an increase of Pluronic in PPBAT copolymers. The PPBAT copolymers display thermo-responsive behavior under physiological conditions due to the attachment of Pluronic comonomer onto the structural backbone.
Shrinking the Bench: Should United States' Federal Courts Have Exclusive or Any Jurisdiction to Adjudicate ICARA Cases?

This article discusses whether the United States should follow the international trend and concentrate jurisdiction in a limited number of judges who would resolve disputes under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. At present, both federal and state courts in the United States, and thousands of judges, are authorized to adjudicate Hague Abduction Convention disputes. The article discusses why concurrent jurisdiction exists and explores the debate that occurred about the jurisdictional options at the time Congress enacted the Convention’s implementing legislation, the International Child Abduction Remedies Act (ICARA). The article then examines the potential advantages of changing ICARA’s jurisdictional regime. In particular, the article delves into topics of judicial expertise, speed and efficiency, uniformity, party access to services such as interpreters and pro bono counsel, and the effectiveness of the Central Authority and liaison judges. It also explores some potential disadvantages of concentrating jurisdiction, including risking harmful amendments to ICARA, inconveniencing litigants, increasing the workload of the courts, and diluting the domestic relations exception to diversity jurisdiction. The examination suggests that while certain advantages might result from the consolidation of jurisdiction, many of them are overstated and would be offset by the advantages litigants gain from a choice of forum. Overall, this article concludes that the United States should maintain the status quo, that is, both the federal and state jurisdictional options. It also concludes that Congress is unlikely to eliminate federal court jurisdiction; consequently, opponents of substantive amendments to ICARA should not use the possibility of jurisdictional consolidation as an excuse to oppose needed substantive reform.
A Regression Modeling Approach to Structured Shrinkage Estimation

Problems involving the simultaneous estimation of multiple parameters arise in many areas of theoretical and applied statistics. A canonical example is the estimation of a vector of normal means. F...