cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A quantitative study of the effects of informal mathematics activities on the beliefs of preservice elementary school teachers

This study sought to determine the relationship between participation in informal mathematics activities and the formal-to-informal beliefs of university teacher candidates in elementary education. Three classes of preservice teachers participated in the study through their enrollment in a content mathematics course for elementary education majors. Four informal mathematics activities were employed as part of the course requirements. Before and after formal-to-informal beliefs about mathematics and mathematics instruction were measured using a Likert-scale beliefs assessment instrument used by Collier (J Res Math Educ 3(3):155–163, 1972) and Seaman et al. (School Sci Math 105(4):197–210, 2005). Changes in beliefs about mathematics and mathematics instruction were compared to a control group. Student reflection upon personal experience derived from participation in the activities was analyzed for formal and informal belief statements.
Coyotes Demonstrate How Habitat Specialization by Individuals of a Generalist Species Can Diversify Populations in a Heterogeneous Ecoregion

The tendency for individuals to disperse into habitat similar to their natal habitat has been observed in a wide range of species, although its population genetic consequences have received little study. Such behavior could lead to discrete habitat-specific population subdivisions even in the absence of physical dispersal barriers or habitat gaps. Previous studies of coyotes have supported this hypothesis in a small region of California, but its evolutionary significance ultimately depends on the extent and magnitude of habitat-specific subdivision. Here, we investigated these questions using autosomal, Y chromosome, and mitochondrial markers and >2,000 coyotes from a broad region, including 2 adjacent ecoregions with contrasting levels of habitat heterogeneity--the California Floristic Province (CFP) (heterogeneous landscape) and the Desert-Prairie ecoregion (DPE) (homogeneous landscape). Consistent with predictions, we found a close correspondence between population genetic structure and habitat subdivisions throughout the CFP and virtual panmixia over the larger DPE. Conversely, although genetic diversity was similar in these 2 ecoregions overall, it was lower within sites of the CFP, as would be the expected consequence of greater genetic drift within subregions. The magnitude of habitat-specific genetic subdivisions (i.e., genetic distance) in the CFP varied considerably, indicating complexity (e.g., asymmetric gene flow or extinction/recolonization), but, in general, was higher than that due to geographic distance or recent human-related barriers. Because habitat-specific structure can enhance a species' adaptive potential and resilience to changing environments, these findings suggest the CFP may constitute an evolutionarily important portion of the range for coyotes and sympatric species exhibiting habitat-specific population structure.
Influences for selecting engineering: Insights on access to Social Capital from two case studies

This paper employs the theory of social capital to explore the educational experiences and academic career decisions of engineering undergraduates. Two case studies are presented from a larger mixed-methods project which investigated the experiences of ethnically and socio-economically diverse female engineering students at an urban research university. Participants completed an online survey, which included items about reasons for selecting engineering and information sources utilized in doing so. Additionally, semi-structured interviews explored participantspsila perceived supports and barriers for college and career plans. Triangulation of survey and interview data yielded insights regarding the relations between social capital and studentspsila academic and career decision making processes. While both participants first became interested in engineering during middle school, their reasons for entering the field and access to information about engineering were very different. The social capital inequity apparent in these cases can be attributed in part to parental educational attainment and occupation.
Appropriate Programming for the Gifted: An Analysis of Gifted Elementary Students' Perceptions.

The results of a study to determine whether sixth-grade students in three different gifted programs could depict models of their ideal gifted program in ways that were not limited by their experiences in these programs are described. The 57 subjects performed two Q-sorts using a set of 40 statements taken from the list of recommended practices generated by the Knowledge Production and Utilization Task Force of CEC-TAG. Eight factors emerged using the Pearson product moment correlation, four from each condition of instruction. All were different, with no significant correlations among them. In describing their ideal programs in ways that closely matched the program models which have been available since 1957, these gifted students appear to endorse those practices. The emergence of multiple ideal models, though, speaks to the importance of offering more than one type of gifted program, since none is ideal for all students.
Stem Cell-Derived in Vitro Models for Investigating the Effects of Endocrine Disruptors on Developing Neurons and Neuroendocrine Cells

Neuroendocrine cells are a set of specialized hormone-releasing neurons that control most vital functions in humans and wildlife, such as growth, reproduction, metabolism, and stress responses. Increasing evidence points to neuroendocrine cells as the primary neuronal target of endocrine disruptors. Endocrine disruption appears to be most significant during prenatal and early postnatal development. However, limitations with traditional cell culture models of neuronal development led to a lack of understanding regarding the mechanisms by which endocrine disruptors affect neurodevelopment. In recent years, Stem Cell-derived neuronal models have become available and may offer distinct advantages over other in vitro model systems for investigating the effects of endocrine disruptors on the developing brain. Further, recently new models of Stem Cell-derived neuroendocrine cells that may provide more effective ways for studying the effects of endocrine disruptors directly on developing neuroendocrine cells in vitro were developed. This constitutes a review of currently available cell models of developing neurons that have been used to investigate in vitro effects of endocrine disruptors on developing brain. The review also presents recently developed models of Stem Cell-derived neuroendocrine cells that might be used to investigate in vitro effects of endocrine disruptors and their mechanisms of action directly on the developing neuroendocrine cells.
The tracking of boundaries in 3D medical images

Computer graphic tools are presented which will enable a clinical physician to visualize, manipulate, and quantitate the three-dimensional internal structures of patients. Objects and their surfaces in digitized three-dimensional space are defined and the state of the art in three-dimensional boundary tracking is described. Generalizations, conjectures, and open problems are discussed. >
Child Maltreatment, Non-Suicidal Self-Injury, and the Mediating Role of Self-Criticism

We examined the relation between child maltreatment and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Participants were 86 adolescents who completed measures of child maltreatment, self-criticism, perceived criticism, depression, and NSSI. Analyses revealed significant, small-to-medium associations between specific forms of child maltreatment (physical neglect, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse) and the presence of a recent history of NSSI. Emotional and sexual abuse had the strongest relations with NSSI, and the data supported a theoretical model in which self-criticism mediates the relation between emotional abuse and engagement in NSSI. Specificity for the mediating role of self-criticism was demonstrated by ruling out alternative mediation models. Taken together, these results indicate that several different forms of childhood maltreatment are associated with NSSI and illuminate one mechanism through which maltreatment may be associated with NSSI. Future research is needed to test the temporal relation between maltreatment and NSSI and should aim to identify additional pathways to engagement in NSSI.
Noninvasive Estimation of Diastolic Pulmonary Artery Pressure by Doppler Analysis of Tricuspid Regurgitation Velocity in Pediatric Patients

Purpose. Diastolic pulmonary artery pressure (dPAP) is equal to right ventricular pressure at the time of pulmonary valve opening. We studied the accuracy of dPAP estimated from Doppler profile of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) jet in pediatric patients. Methods. Echocardiograms were prospectively performed on consecutive pediatric heart transplant recipients undergoing right-heart catheterization and endomyocardial biopsy. An estimate of dPAP was obtained by superimposing the pulmonary valve opening time, indexed to the electrocardiogram, onto the TR Doppler tracing. Echocardiographic estimates of dPAP from end-diastolic pulmonary regurgitation (PR) were obtained for comparison. Catheter-derived right atrial pressure was added to the Doppler gradient in both groups. Doppler estimates and catheter-derived measurements of dPAP were compared using Lin correlation and Bland–Altman analysis. Results. Sixty-five catheterization studies were performed on 35 patients (20 males): median age at enrollment: 12.1 years (4 months to 18 years); median time: since transplant of 1.2 years (21 days to 16.1 years). Adequate TR signal was obtained in a significantly higher proportion of patients than an adequate PR signal (65% vs. 43%, respectively, P= .007). Median catheter-derived dPAP was 12 mm Hg (6–30 mm Hg) and right atrial pressure was 6 mm Hg (1–17 mm Hg). Median estimated dPAP from TR was 15 mm Hg (range: 7–29 mm Hg), with the Lin correlation coefficient of 0.74 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.6–0.87). Median estimate for dPAP from PR was 10 mm Hg (range: 2–25 mm Hg), with the Lin correlation coefficient of 0.74 (95% CI: 0.58–0.9). There was excellent interobserver agreement for dPAP from TR with the Lin correlation coefficient of 0.946 (95% CI: 0.803–0.986). Conclusion. Doppler estimation of dPAP from TR is a novel, reliable, noninvasive method and compares favorably with estimation from PR. Adequate TR signal for estimation of dPAP can be obtained more frequently in children than adequate PR signal, thereby increasing the proportion of patients in whom dPAP can be estimated noninvasively.
Reactions and reversible hydrogenation of single-walled carbon nanotube anions

Single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) radical anions will react with tetrahydrofuran and generate ethylene, enolates, and a partially hydrogenated nanotube backbone. The experimental evidence suggests that there are sp3 C-H binding interactions. The total gravimetric content of hydrogen on a sample averages from 3.5% to 3.9% w/w, about four times the total amount observed for nanotubes hydrogenated via traditional Birch reduction reactions. Furthermore, the hydrogen desorbs at temperatures up to 400 °C less than those observed for the hydrogenated SWNTs formed after the Birch reduction. Finally, the first room temperature electron spin resonance spectrum of a nanotube radical ion is also reported.
Survival Comparison of Allograft and Autograft Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction at the United States Military Academy

Background: There is recent evidence that use of allograft tendons for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in young patients may result in increased failure rates compared with autologous grafts.Hypothesis: Allograft ACL reconstruction will result in higher failure rates in young athletes compared with autograft reconstruction.Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.Methods: A prospective cohort study of cadets at the United States Military Academy (USMA) was performed to assess performance of ACL reconstructions performed before entrance to service. Members of the classes of 2007 through 2013 who had undergone prior ACL reconstruction were identified through the Department of Defense Medical Evaluation Review Board reporting and waiver process and evaluated on the first day of matriculation. These participants were followed during their tenure at the academy with revision ACL reconstruction as the primary outcome measure of interest. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed for a...
Calibration of an amorphous-silicon flat panel portal imager for exit-beam dosimetry.

Amorphous-silicon flat panel detectors are currently used to acquire digital portal images with excellent image quality for patient alignment before external beam radiation therapy. As a first step towards interpreting portal images acquired during treatment in terms of the actual dose delivered to the patient, a calibration method is developed to convert flat panel portal images to the equivalent water dose deposited in the detector plane and at a depth of 1.5 cm. The method is based on empirical convolution models of dose deposition in the flat panel detector and in water. A series of calibration experiments comparing the response of the flat panel imager and ion chamber measurements of dose in water determines the model parameters. Kernels derived from field size measurements account for the differences in the production and detection of scattered radiation in the two systems. The dissimilar response as a function of beam energy spectrum is characterized from measurements performed at various off-axis positions and for increasing attenuator thickness in the beam. The flat panel pixel inhomogeneity is corrected by comparing a large open field image with profiles measured in water. To verify the accuracy of the calibration method, calibrated flat panel profiles were compared withmore » measured dose profiles for fields delivered through solid water slabs, a solid water phantom containing an air cavity, and an anthropomorphic head phantom. Open rectangular fields of various sizes and locations as well as a multileaf collimator-shaped field were delivered. For all but the smallest field centered about the central axis, the calibrated flat panel profiles matched the measured dose profiles with little or no systematic deviation and approximately 3% (two standard deviations) accuracy for the in-field region. The calibrated flat panel profiles for fields located off the central axis showed a small -1.7% systematic deviation from the measured profiles for the in-field region. Out of the field, the differences between the calibrated flat panel and measured profiles continued to be small, approximately 0%-2% of the mean in-field dose. Further refinement of the calibration model should increase the accuracy of the procedure. This calibration method for flat panel portal imagers may be used as part of a validation scheme to verify the dose delivered to the patient during treatment.« less
Utilization of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold Test in a Two-Step Process with the Tuberculin Skin Test To Evaluate Health Care Workers for Latent Tuberculosis

A cost analysis of combining a tuberculin skin test (TST) and the QuantiFERON-TB Gold test (QFT-GT) to detect latent tuberculosis in newly hired health care workers was performed. An approximately 50% reduction in the cost of additional care was realized when workers with positive TST results were subsequently screened using the QFT-GT.
Foreword: Special Issue on Repeatability and Sharing of Experimental Artifacts

Welcome to this special issue of Operating Systems Review dedicated to the topics of repeatability and sharing of experimental artifacts in systems research. The twelve papers in this issue present na snapshot of activities, results, and viewpoints on this theme. As the guest editor of this issue, I hope that you find these papers to be both inspiring and useful. I hope that by reading them, you will be motivated to carefully think about repeatability and artifact sharing as you pursue your own systems experiments. Several of the papers in this special issue present tools or testbeds that support repeatability and sharing, so I expect that you will discover one or more "new tricks" that will make it easier for you to create and share high-quality, sound, and repeatable experiments.
Thiol‐terminated polyisobutylene: Synthesis, characterization, and derivatization

Thiol-terminated polyisobutylene (α,ω-PIB-SH) was synthesized from thiourea and α,ω-bromine-terminated PIB in a three-step, one-pot procedure, using a cosolvent system of 1:1 (v:v) heptane:dimethylformamide. The initial alkylisothiouronium salt was produced at 90 °C. Aqueous base hydrolysis at 110 °C resulted in thiolate chain ends, which were re-acidified to form telechelic PIB-SH. 1H and 13C NMR confirmed thiol functionality and complete terminal halogen conversion. Thiol-based “click” reactions were used to demonstrate PIB-SH utility. Alkyne-terminated PIB was synthesized by a phosphine-catalyzed thiol-ene Michael addition with propargyl acrylate. Reaction of this product with 6-mercaptohexanol produced tetrahydroxy-functional PIB by a sequential thiol-ene/thiol-yne procedure. 1H NMR confirmed the structures of both products. PIB-SH was reacted with isocyanates in the presence of base to produce polythiourethanes. A model reaction used phenyl isocyanate in THF with catalytic triethylamine. Similar conditions were used to produce PIB-based thiourethanes with and without a small-molecule chain extender. Increased molecular weights and thiol group conversion were observed with GPC and 1H NMR, respectively. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010
Measuring Second- through Fourth-Order Moments in Noisy Data

Abstract The authors derive expressions for correcting second- through fourth-order moments of measured variables that are contaminated by random uncorrelated noise. These expressions are then tested by applying them to an artificially produced time series as well as measurements from two upward-pointing ground-based lidar systems:a differential absorption lidar that measures water vapor density and a high-resolution Doppler lidar that measures vertical wind velocity. Both sets of measurements were obtained in a convective boundary layer, and contain sufficient noise to significantly affect measurements of second- and fourth-order moments (as well as integral scale and skewness) throughout the boundary layer. It is shown that the corrections derived here can be used to obtain useful measurements of these moments from instruments such as lidars, which are inherently noisy. The authors also obtain information on higher-order moments of the noise as well as the correlation between noise and atmospheric measu...
Human vs. lightning ignition of presettlement surface fires in coastal pine forests of the upper Great Lakes.

Abstract To recover direct evidence of surface fires before European settlement, we sectioned fire-scarred logging-era stumps and trees in 39 small, physically isolated sand patches along the Great Lakes coast of northern Michigan and northern Wisconsin. While much information was lost to postharvest fire and stump deterioration, 147 fire-free intervals revealed in cross-sections from 29 coastal sand patches document numerous close interval surface fires before 1910; only one post-1910 fire was documented. Cross-sections from the 10 patches with records spanning >150 yr suggest local fire occurrence rates before 1910 ca. 10 times the present rate of lightning-caused fire. Since fire spread between or into coastal sand patches is rare, and seasonal use of the patches by Native people before 1910 is well documented, both historically and ethnographically, ignition by humans probably accounts for more than half of the pre-1910 fires recorded in cross-sections.
Incentives for Global Public Health: TRIPS and essential medicines: must one size fit all? Making the WTO responsive to the global health crisis

This paper was written as the introductory chapter to Incentives for Global Health: Patent Law and Access to Essential Medicines, edited by Thomas Pogge, Matthew Rimmer, and Kim Rubenstein (Cambridge University Press). It challenges the critique of the TRIPS Agreement as a one-size-fits-all regime. To be sure, there are WTO members who prefer to think of the Agreement that way. However, the paper demonstrates how the flexibilities built into the TRIPS Agreement allow a state to fashion local law to deal with its population’s health needs. TRIPS accommodations are not perfect: the second part of the paper considers the roles that other international organizations, such as WHO, and other international obligations, such as human rights agreements, can be used to influence the development and interpretation of international intellectual property law.
Patient-Reported Measures of Physical Function in Knee Osteoarthritis

Knee osteoarthritis is a common cause of an array of functional limitations in older adults, and the accurate assessment of such limitations is critical for practicing clinicians and scientists. Patient-reported measures are a valuable resource to track the type and severity of limitation, although the psychometric performance of each instrument should be thoroughly evaluated before adoption. This article reviews the validity, reliability, sensitivity to change, and responsiveness of 3 patient-reported measures of physical function: the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, and the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Function scale.
Branching of the radial expansion history during inflation of a non-linear incompressible isotropic time-dependent thick-walled sphere

The spherically symmetric expansion of an incompressible isotropic spherical shell from pressure on its inner surface is considered. For any such material, the pressure-radius relation is given by an integral over the shell that depends on its constitutive response in equal biaxial stretch and the stretch distribution in terms of the radius of the inner surface. In this work, a general non-linear single-integral constitutive relation describes the equal biaxial stretch response. This relation includes two models of non-linear viscoelasticity and one model for scission and crosslinking of elastomers as specific cases. It results in a non-linear Volterra integral equation for the radius of the inner surface when the pressure is specified. The possibility is considered that the solution to the integral equation develops another branch at some time. A condition is derived that determines if and when branching will occur. It is shown that when the material is elastic, the branching condition reduces to the condition derived by Carroll for a non-monotonic pressure-radius relation. Some results are provided for the case of time-dependent materials, when the branching condition depends on the response to equal biaxial stretch histories.
Infectivity and antigenicity of live avian-human influenza A reassortant virus: comparison of intranasal and aerosol routes in squirrel monkeys.

4. DeFabritus AM, Riggio RR, David DS, Senterfit LB, Cheigh JS, Stenzel KH. Parainfluenza type 3 in a transplant unit. JAMA 1979;241:384-6 5. Dawson C, Darrell R. Infections due to adenovirus type 8 in the United States. I. An outbreak of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis originating in a physicians's office. N Egl J Med 1963;268:1031-4 6. Hierholzer JC, Guyer B, O'Day D, Schaffner W. Adenovirus type 19 keratoconjunctivitis. N Engl J Med 1974;290:1436 7. Laibson PR, Ortolan G, Dupre-Strachan S. Community and hospital outbreak of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis. Arch Ophthalmol 1968;80:467-73 8. Faden H, Gallagher M, Ogra P, McLaughlin S. Nosocomial outbreak of pharyngoconjunctival fever due to adenovirus type 4-New York. MMWR 1978;27:49 9. Levandowski RA, Rubenis M. Nosocomial conjunctivitis caused by adenovirus type 4. J Infect Dis 1981;143:28-31 10. Hierholzer JC, Torrence AE, Wright PF. Generalized viral illness caused by an intermediate strain of adenovirus (21/H21 + 35). J Infect Dis 1980;141:281-8 11. Pavan-Langston D. Ocular viral infections. Med Clin North Am 1983;973-90 12. Dixon RE, Brachman PS, Bennett JV, eds. Isolation techniques for use in hospitals. 2nd ed. Publication no. CDC76-834. Washington, DC: US Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, 1975
Toxicological Study of Formaldehyde,Toluene and Dimethylbenzene on Rat Limb Bud Cells

Objective To study the combined cytotoxicity of volatile organic compounds formaldehyde,toluene and dimethylbenzene on rat limb bud cells. Method Rat limb bud cells were exposed to various concentrations of formaldehyde,toluene,dimethylbenzene and their mixture for 5 days. 50 % inhibition concentration (IC50) was determined using methylthiazoletrazolium reduction assay (MTT). Result The IC50 of formaldehyde,toluene,dimethylbenzene and their mixture was 10.41,45.58,37.12 and 26.51 mg/L,respectively. The Q value was 1.07. Conclusion Formaldehyde,toluene and dimethylbenzene have an obvious cytotoxicity on the limb bud cells. The mixture containing formaldehyde,toluene and dimethylbenzene was only found to exert an additive effect.
Design of process for the treatment of acid waste water from pyrite mines

The paper mainly introduces the mechanism of production of acid waste water from pyrite mines and its treatment process,analyses and compares the difference and advantage of HDS(high density sludge treatment technology)and other methods as well as gives out flowsheet of the HDS treatment process.Waste water after being treated can meet the requirements made in Grade I emission standard of Standard for Overall Emission of Sewage GB 8978-1996.
Establishment of a Model for Predicting the Growth of Staphylococcus aureus in Raw Milk

Objective To establish a model for predicting the growth of Staphylococcus aureus in raw milk. Method The growth curve of Staphylococcus aureus in raw milk under different temperatures was developed by the method of GB /T 4789. 37—2008. On fitting growth curves with Gompertz equation, Logistic equation, Richards equation, Weibull equation,Baranyi equation and Monod equation,the primary model was established by Levenberg-Marquardt and Universal Global Optimization,and the secondary predictive growth model was established by a response surface model. Results Gompertz model was the optimal model for predicting the growth of Staphylococcus aureus in raw milk. Conclusion A model for predicting the growth of Staphylococcus aureus in raw milk was built by comparing multiple models. The predictive model can provide theory basis for the risk assessment of Staphylococcus aureus in raw milk,and also can provide a scientific basis for safety production and circulation of dairy products.
Discussion of “Analyzing Behavioral Big Data: Methodological, practical, ethical and moral issues”

Galit Shmueli has raised a large number of issues related to the use of Behavioral Big Data (BBD); I thank her for bringing these issues more to the forefront of our thinking as a profession. As sh...
Surface Modification of Microgels with N -Alkyl Fatty Acid Layers: Ion Gradient Properties

Layers of saturated n-alkyl fatty acids (n = 2–16 carbons, evenly numbered) were covalently attached to the exterior of pH-sensitive hydrogel objects (µgels) within microfluidic systems. The stability of the ion barrier formed by each fatty acid, evidenced by the ability of the µgel to remain contracted while exposed to a buffer solution that triggers expansion in unmodified µgels, was investigated by measuring the half-life of µgel expansion values. The two shortest fatty acids formed the least stable ion barriers. However for layers composed from n-alkyl fatty acids with more than four carbons, an increase in the stability of the ion barrier as the chain length increased was not observed as it is for self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on solid surfaces. Instead, the ion barrier properties were more strongly influenced by defects in the fatty acid layer, possibly arising from layer formation on the dynamic hydrogel surface.
Kinship Care Providers: Designing an Array of Supportive Services

Kinship care, the placement of children with their relatives, has become an integral part of the child welfare system in the United States. It is also becoming a more established way of meeting the needs of children in care in other western countries (Greeff, 1999). However, kinship care did not emerge as a child welfare issue until the late 1980s, and only recently has it become a part of the formalized system for out-of-home care (Hegar & Scannapieco, 1995). Since that time, many states have come to rely more heavily on placements with relatives to meet the needs of children removed from parental custody. For example, California has placed approximately 51% of the foster care population in kinship care, while Illinois has placed 55% (GAO, 1999).
Die Mathematik der Bildverarbeitung

Mit dem Boom der digitalen Fotografie wurde auch die digitale Bildbearbeitung mit Programmen wie Photoshop, Gimp, Paintshop u. a. eine Massenaktivitat. Smartphones haben die Flut der Bilder weiter vergrosert und Plattformen wie Instagram bieten Bildverarbeitungseffekt gewissermasen kostenlos an. Mit der Mathematik hinter den digitalen Bildern versteht man also einen Teil unserer technisierten Welt, und mit ein paar Programmzeilen kann man auch Dinge ausprobieren, die in den fertigen Programmen unmoglich sind. In diesem Sinne werden in diesem Aufsatz die mathematischen Grundlagen der Bildbearbeitung dargestellt und gezeigt, wie sie zur Grundlage eigener Handlungen werden konnen.
The genus of space curves

LetC be a curve contained in ℙk3 (k of any characteristic), which is locally Cohen-Macaulay, not contained in a plane and of degreed. We prove thatpa(C)≤≤((d−2)(d−3))/2. Moreover we show existence of curves with anyd, pa satisfying this inequality and we characterize those curves for which equality holds.
Fano bundles of rank 2 on surfaces

We say that a vector bundle ℰ on X is Fano if ℙ(ℰ) is a Fano manifold. In [12], we classified rank-2 Fano vector bundles over the complex projective space ℙ3 and over a smooth quadric ℚ3 ⊂ ℙ4. This paper is thus complementary to [12].
The Creation and Establishment of Moral Vocabularies

The moral vocabularies approach offers a way of examining and organizing the essential moral claims disseminated by a group of claimsmakers. Moral claims and understandings are organized internally (in claims and the actions of moral entrepreneurs) and externally (how internal moral vocabularies intersect with the larger societal dynamics). This framework seeks to strike a theoretical balance between recognizing the essential agency of morally-relevant activity and the structured nature of moral systems. The moral vocabularies approach is compared to the memetic account of culture and to Lakoff’s metaphor-based framework and is shown to possess more explanatory potential due to its greater analytical flexibility. The study of moral vocabularies is compatible with both micro-level or macro-level empirical research and has particular relevance for understanding how discourses become attached to specific social controversies.
Cohomology on Surfaces

On any C∞ surface X, just as on an open set in the plane, we have a notion of C∞ functions, 1-forms, and 2-forms ω, and we have linear maps d. that take a function f to a 1 -form df, and a 1-form ω to a 2-form dω. (See Appendix D3 for definitions and basic properties.) Therefore we have a notion of a 1-form ω being closed (dω = 0) or exact (ω = df for some f). All exact forms are closed, so we can define the first De Rham cohomology group as before: $$ {{H}^{1}}X = \{ closed{\mkern 1mu} 1 - forms{\mkern 1mu} on{\mkern 1mu} X\} /\{ exact{\mkern 1mu} 1 - forms{\mkern 1mu} on{\mkern 1mu} X\} . $$
Synthesis of Highly Functionalized 2-Pyranone from Silyl Ketene

We report a highly functionalized 2-pyranone small molecule prepared from tert-butyl diphenyl silyl ketene using an alkoxide catalyst and thermally induced rearrangement. Treatment of the silyl ketene with a substoichiometric amount of alkoxide led to the formation of a trimer which was isolated and fully characterized; heating this trimer in a 1,4-dioxane solution induced a thermal rearrangement, yielding the product 2-pyranone. The isolated intermediate and product are characterized by 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies, mass spectrometry, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. A mechanism for the thermally induced rearrangement is proposed based on 1H NMR studies, and a rate law is derived from the proposed mechanism with steady-state approximation. This work illustrates a route for the formation of highly functionalized and modifiable 2-pyranone motifs with potential biological activity. The formation of the trimer, and thus the functionalized 2-pyranone, is highly dependent on the silyl substituents and alkoxide counterion and thus indicates the intriguing reactivity of highly functionalized small molecules.
Drug Dealing and Gun Carrying Go Hand in Hand: Examining How Juvenile Offenders’ Gun Carrying Changes Before and After Drug Dealing Spells Across 84 Months

This study aims to examine whether periods of marijuana and other illicit drug dealing (“spells” of dealing) are associated with changes in young male offenders’ gun carrying behavior. This paper uses 84 months of data from a sample of 479 serious juvenile male offenders who were assessed every 6 months for 3 years and then annually for 4 years. At each assessment, participants reported on engagement in illicit behaviors, including drug dealing and gun carrying, in each month since the prior interview. We used fixed effects models to assess within-individual changes in participants’ gun carrying immediately before, during, and right after a dealing spell, while controlling for relevant time varying confounds (e.g., gang involvement, exposure to violence). Additionally, we tested moderation by type of drug sold. There was a slight increase in gun carrying right before a drug dealing spell (OR = 1.3–1.4), then a more pronounced increase in gun carrying during the months of a drug dealing spell (OR = 8.0–12.8). Right after a dealing spell ends, youths’ gun carrying dropped dramatically, but remained significantly elevated relative to their baseline levels (OR = 2.6–2.8). The association between drug dealing spells and increases in gun carrying was stronger when participants dealt hard drugs (e.g., cocaine, heroin) relative to marijuana. These results suggest that designing and implementing programs to prevent the initiation of drug dealing and decrease involvement in drug dealing may help to substantially reduce illegal gun carrying and firearm violence among delinquent males.
Multi-Objective Design Optimization of Synchronous Reluctance Machines Based on the Analytical Model and the Evolutionary Algorithms

This paper proposes a fast and generalized multiobjective design optimization method for the synchronous reluctance machines (SynRMs). The novel analytical model, based on the Maxwell's equations and assisted by a magnetic equivalent circuit (MEC), is adopted in order to calculate the essential performance indices (PIs) including the average torque, torque density and efficiency. The proposed model prevails over the prevalent finite element analysis (FEA) in terms of calculation speed, while maintains the accuracy of the calculation results. The multi-objective particle swarm optimization (PSO) and the differential evolution (DE) algorithms are both applied to find the Pareto front. Influences on the Pareto front caused by the parameters in the algorithms are also discussed. Two optimal designs are chosen from the Pareto front for further validation through FEA simulation. The proposed optimal design method is capable of finding the optimized SynRM designs subject to various design requirements and is able to accelerate the entire optimization process.
Early Experience in Teaching the Basics of Functional Language Design with a Language Type Checker

In this paper we set forth the thesis that a language type checker can be an effective tool in teaching language design principles of functional languages. We have used \(TypeSoundnessCertifier \), a tool for type checking languages and certifying their soundness, in the context of a graduate course in programming languages. In this paper we offer details on how the course took place, and we report on some data gathered during evaluations. Although the work reported in this paper is not statistically significant, we share our experience to show the type of studies that we are conducting, and to inspire similar and larger studies towards gathering evidence for, or against, our thesis.
Warm, dry conditions inhibit aspen growth, but tree growth and size predict mortality risk in the southwestern United States

Widespread, rapid aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) mortality since the beginning of the 21st century, sometimes called sudden aspen decline (SAD), has been documented in many locations across Nor...
Hiding in Plain Sight: Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Infections

Topic This article presents an overview of the burden of peripheral intravenous catheter infections and current evidence-based recommendations for prevention. Clinical relevance Peripheral intravenous catheters are ubiquitous in most health care settings, fostering an acceptance of the peripheral intravenous catheter as benign and inevitable. This device, however, is far from benign, with reported failure rates as high as 90% from complications such as infection and phlebitis. Although reported rates of bloodstream infection related to peripheral intravenous catheters are much lower than those attributed to central venous catheters, the exponentially higher use of peripheral intravenous catheters indicates that the absolute number of peripheral venous catheter-related bloodstream infections is likely as high as and may surpass the number of central venous catheter-related bloodstream infections, with significant associated morbidity and mortality. Purpose of paper Sustained improvements in outcomes related to peripheral intravenous catheters will depend on recognition of the root causes of failure and increased commitment to practice patterns consistent with infusion therapy standards of practice, effective education about peripheral intravenous catheters, accurate documentation of all aspects of peripheral intravenous catheter management, and consistent surveillance of patient outcomes related to peripheral intravenous catheters. Content covered This article reviews the significant burden of peripheral intravenous catheter infections, barriers to effective peripheral intravenous catheter management, and current evidence-based recommendations to prevent this source of patient harm.
Perceptions of Futility in Interventional Radiology: A Multipractice Systematic Qualitative Analysis

To characterize perceptions of palliative versus futile care in interventional radiology (IR) as a roadmap for quality improvement. Interventional radiologists (IRs) and referring physicians were recruited for anonymous interviews and/or focus groups to discuss their perceptions and experiences related to palliative verse futile care in IR. Sessions were recorded, transcribed, and systematically analyzed using dedicated software, content analysis, and grounded theory. Data collection and analysis continued simultaneously until additional interviews stopped revealing new themes: 24 IRs (21 males, 3 females, 1–39 years of experience) and 7 referring physicians (3 males, 4 females, 6–14 years of experience) were analyzed. Many IRs (75%) perceived futility as an important issue. Years of experience (r = 0.60, p = 0.03) and being in academics (r = 0.62, p = 0.04) correlated with greater perceived importance. Perceptions of futility and whether a potentially inappropriate procedure was performed involved a balance between four sets of factors (patient, clinician, procedural, and cultural). These assessments tended to be qualitative in nature and are challenged by a lack of data, education, and consistent workflows. Referring clinicians were unaware of this issue and assumed IR had guidelines for differentiating between palliation and futility. This study characterized the complexity and qualitative nature of assessments of palliative verses futile care in IR while highlighting potential means of improving current practices. This is important given the number of critically ill patients referred to IR and costs of potentially inappropriate interventions.
The Role of Socialization in Shaping Black Girls' Mathematics Identity: An Analysis of the High School Longitudinal Study 2009.

Background/ContextPrevious literature has focused on mathematics socialization as it relates to the construction of mathematics identity, yet much of that research has been qualitative and lacking ...
Research on wireless distributed financial risk data stream mining based on dual privacy protection

With the advancement of network technology and large-scale computing, distributed data streams have been widely used in the application of financial risk analysis. However, while data mining reveals financial models, it also increasingly poses a threat to privacy. Therefore, how to prevent privacy leakage during the efficient mining process poses new challenges to the data mining technology. This article is mainly aimed at the current privacy data leakage in financial data mining, combined with existing data mining technology to study data mining and privacy protection. First, a data mining model for dual privacy protection is defined, which can better meet the characteristics of distributed data streams while achieving privacy protection effects. Secondly, a privacy-oriented data stream mining algorithm is proposed, which uses random interference technology to effectively protect the original sensitive data. Finally, the analysis and discussion of the algorithm in this paper through simulation experiments show that the algorithm is feasible and effective, and can better adapt to the distributed data flow distribution and dynamic characteristics, while achieving better privacy protection effects, effectively reduced communication load.
Trends in Discharge Prescription of Digoxin After Norwood Operation: An Analysis of Data from the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) Database

Quality improvement efforts have focused on reducing interstage mortality for infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). In 1/2016, two publications reported that use of digoxin was associated with reduced interstage mortality. The degree to which these findings have affected real world practice has not been evaluated. The discharge medications of neonates with HLHS undergoing Norwood operation between 1/2007 and 12/2018 at Pediatric Health Information Systems Database hospitals were studied. Mixed effects models were calculated to evaluate the hypothesis that the likelihood of digoxin prescription increased after 1/2016, adjusting for measurable confounders with furosemide and aspirin prescription measured as falsification tests. Interhospital practice variation was measured using the median odds ratio. Over the study period, 6091 subjects from 45 hospitals were included. After adjusting for measurable covariates, discharge after 1/2016 was associated with increased odds of receiving digoxin (OR 3.9, p < 0.001). No association was seen between date of discharge and furosemide (p = 0.26) or aspirin (p = 0.12). Prior to 1/2016, the likelihood of receiving digoxin was decreasing (OR 0.9 per year, p < 0.001), while after 1/2016 the rate has increased (OR 1.4 per year, p < 0.001). However, there remains significant interhospital variation in the likelihood of receiving digoxin even after adjusting for known confounders (median odds ratio = 3.5, p < 0.0001). Following publication of studies describing an association between digoxin and improved interstage survival, the likelihood of receiving digoxin at discharge increased without similar changes for furosemide or aspirin. Despite concerted efforts to standardize interstage care, interhospital variation in pharmacotherapy in this vulnerable population persists.
Postoperative outcomes of autologous rib graft for microtia repair in children: A NSQIP study.

Abstract Objective To compare the effect of surgical specialty and patient factors on 30-day postoperative outcomes and complications for children undergoing autologous costochondral grafting for microtia reconstruction. Methods The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Pediatric (NSQIP-P) database was searched from 2012 through 2017 for patients who underwent autologous rib grafting (CPT 21230). The group was further filtered for coexisting ICD 9 or 10 code for microtia (744.23, Q17.2) as an indication for surgery. Outcomes analyzed included patient demographics, medical comorbidities, admission type (inpatient vs. outpatient), operative time, surgeon specialty, length of hospital stay (LOS), complications, and readmission. Results A total of 375 pediatric patients were identified of which 157 were female and 218 were male. Mean age at time of surgery was 9.6 years. Postoperative complications and readmission occurred in 5.6% and 3.5% of patients, respectively. Surgical site infection was the most common complication. Average operative time was 246.9 min. When comparing Otolaryngology to Plastic Surgery with multivariate analysis, there was no difference in admission type (OR 1.00, p = 0.993), complication rate (OR 0.91, p = 0.744), readmission (OR 0.68, p = 0.576), operative time (p = 0.471) or total LOS (p = 0.266). Conclusion The present study demonstrated postoperative complications and readmission rates following microtia repair as reported by the NSQIP-P database. Overall complication and readmission rates were low. No significant risk factors were identified on multivariate analysis. There were no differences between surgical specialty for complication rate, operative time, hospital stay or readmission when accounting for demographic data and comorbidities.
Mechanism of Triphosphate Hydrolysis by Human MAT2A at 1.07 Å Resolution.

Human methionine adenosyltransferase MAT2A provides S-adenosyl-l-methionine (AdoMet) for methyl-transfer reactions. Epigenetic methylations influence expression patterns in development and in cancer. Transition-state analysis and kinetic studies have described the mechanism of AdoMet and triphosphate formation at the catalytic site. Hydrolysis of triphosphate to pyrophosphate and phosphate by MAT2A is required for product release and proceeds through a second chemical transition state. Crystal structures of MAT2A with analogues of AdoMet and pyrophosphate were obtained in the presence of Mg2+, Al3+, and F-. MgF3- is trapped as a PO3- mimic in a structure with malonate filling the pyrophosphate site. NMR demonstrates that MgF3- and AlF30 are bound by MAT2A as mimics of the departing phosphoryl group. Crystallographic analysis reveals a planar MgF3- acting to mimic a phosphoryl (PO3-) leaving group. The modeled transition state with PO3- has the phosphorus atom sandwiched symmetrically and equidistant (approximately 2 A) between a pyrophosphate oxygen and the water nucleophile. A catalytic site arginine directs the nucleophilic water to the phosphoryl leaving group. The catalytic geometry of the transition-state reconstruction predicts a loose transition state with characteristics of symmetric nucleophilic displacement.