cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanism of alternating inter‐intramolecular propagation. I. Methacrylic anhydride

The solution polymerization of methacrylic anhydride, a monomer which undergoes predominantly inter-intramolecular propagation, shows kinetics similar to vinyl polymerization. The overall rate of polymerization is proportional to the square root of the initiator concentration and to the 3/2 power of the monomer concentration. The apparent, overall energy of activation was found to be 23.0 kcal./mole when azobisisobutyronitrile was used as the initiator. The value of Ep − Et/2 obtained is 8.0 kcal./mole. This compares with the value of Ep − Et/2 found for methacrylic acid in the same solvent (DMF) of 9.8 kcal./mole. Both values are in the range of values for other vinyl monomers. The polymer obtained from reactions carried out at monomer concentrations of 17% and lower were completely soluble, showed low amounts of residual unsaturation, and did not appear to be branching to a measureable extent. At higher monomer concentrations, gel was formed, and the polymers showed higher residual unsaturation levels. Poly(methacrylic anhydride) hydrolyzed to the polyacid did not show any enhancement in crystallinity over the polyacid prepared directly from methacrylic acid. Both show only low orders of crystalline content.
Modulation of radiation induced transformation by combinations of a phorbol diester and a lymphotoxin.

The susceptibility of normal Syrian hamster embryo cells to transformation by environmental carcinogens has made possible the determination of a variety of responses as cells proceed to the neoplastic state. Expression of the initiated and promoted stages of irradiation carcinogenesis, for example, can be modified by cell surface alterations. Phytohemagglutin (PHA) or its isolectins decrease 12-0-tetradecanolphorbal-13-acetate (TPA) promoted transformation whereas PHA does not affect carcinogen only induced transformation. In contrast, both initiated and promoted transformation are sensitive to hamster lymphotoxin, a hormone-like, non-antibody lymphocyte glycoprotein. A 48 hr lymphotoxin treatment before or immediately after X-irradiation, or during TPA exposure causes a persistent inhibition independent of when carcinogen was added. A 6 hr lymphotoxin pulse before irradiation and TPA causes a persistent but nonpermanent effect unless followed by the carcinogen treatment; lymphotoxin becomes more potent as the interval between the lymphotoxin pulse and carcinogen insult or TPA addition is reduced. PHA and lymphotoxin affect the biological activity of TPA by diverse mechanisms. PHA may alter either the binding of TPA to a critical cellular receptor for promotion or alter a later step in promotion. Lymphotoxin can prevent the initiation of transformation and modulate carcinogenesis as well at both initiated and promoted stages in the transition to the neoplastic state.
Physics to go: Web-based tutorials for CoLoS physics simulations

Software that simulates physical processes can greatly enhance the learning process in physics; however, meaningful simulations are dependent upon choosing interesting parameters, and students rarely choose interesting parameters because the material is new to them. To make simulation software effective there must be tutorials that build the skill to interpret the simulations and provide models that guide the student in choosing the parameters for the simulation. Using HTML, JAVA, and animation files, tutorials can be constructed that are cross platform and can be used by any JAVA aware World Wide Web (WWW) browser. It also allows the tutorials to be freely distributed on the WWW. All of these are significant issues, but more importantly, the students can use a browser with which they are familiar. This greatly reduces the time spent learning to use the computer and operating system; thus leaving more time to concentrate on the physics. In this paper some examples from electricity and magnetism will be presented, and techniques to produce the tutorials will be discussed.
A fast high utility itemsets mining algorithm

Association rule mining (ARM) identifies frequent itemsets from databases and generates association rules by considering each item in equal value. However, items are actually different in many aspects in a number of real applications, such as retail marketing, network log, etc. The difference between items makes a strong impact on the decision making in these applications. Therefore, traditional ARM cannot meet the demands arising from these applications. By considering the different values of individual items as utilities, utility mining focuses on identifying the itemsets with high utilities. As "downward closure property" doesn't apply to utility mining, the generation of candidate itemsets is the most costly in terms of time and memory space. In this paper, we present a Two-Phase algorithm to efficiently prune down the number of candidates and can precisely obtain the complete set of high utility itemsets. In the first phase, we propose a model that applies the "transaction-weighted downward closure property" on the search space to expedite the identification of candidates. In the second phase, one extra database scan is performed to identify the high utility itemsets. We also parallelize our algorithm on shared memory multi-process architecture using Common Count Partitioned Database (CCPD) strategy. We verify our algorithm by applying it to both synthetic and real databases. It performs very efficiently in terms of speed and memory cost, and shows good scalability on multiple processors, even on large databases that are difficult for existing algorithms to handle.
Sweeper: a lightweight end-to-end system for defending against fast worms

The vulnerabilities that plague computers cause endless grief to users. Slammer compromised millions of hosts in minutes; a hit-list worm would take under a second. Recently proposed techniques respond better than manual approaches, but require expensive instrumentation, which limits deployment. Although spreading "antibodies" (e.g. signatures) ameliorates this limitation, hosts depending on antibodies are defenseless until inoculation; to the fastest hit-list worms this delay is crucial. Additionally, most recently proposed techniques cannot provide recovery to provide continuous service after an attack.We propose a novel solution called Sweeper that provides both fast and accurate post-attack analysis and efficient recovery with low normal execution overhead. Sweeper in-novatively combines several techniques: (1) Sweeper uses lightweight monitoring techniques to detect a wide array of suspicious requests, providing a first level of defense. (2) By cleverly leveraging lightweight checkpointing, Sweeper postpones heavyweight monitoring until absolutely necessary --- after an attack is detected. Sweeper rolls back and re-executes multiple times to dynamically apply heavyweight analysis techniques via dynamic binary instrumentation. Since only the execution involved in the attack is analyzed, the analysis is efficient, yet thorough. (3) Based on the analysis results, Sweeper automatically generates low-overhead antibodies to prevent future attacks of the same vulnerability. (4) Finally, Sweeper again re-executes to perform fast recovery for continuous service.We implement Sweeper in a real system. Our experimental results with three real-world servers and four real security vulnerabilities show that Sweeper can detect an attack and generate antibodies in under 60 milliseconds. Our results also show that Sweeper imposes under 1% overhead during normal execution, clearly suitable for widespread production deployment (especially since Sweeper also allows partial deployment). Finally, we analytically show that, for a fast hit-list worm otherwise capable of infecting all vulnerable hosts in under a second, Sweeper contains the extent of infection to under 5%.
Aberrant expression of tumor suppressor proteins in the Ewing family of tumors.

Abstract Background.—Deregulation of tumor suppressor gene function and abrogation of cell cycle control are common features of malignant neoplasms, but corresponding data on Ewing sarcomas and primitive neuroectodermal tumors are relatively scarce. We studied the expression of 4 tumor suppressor proteins in the Ewing family of tumors (EFTs). Design.—We examined a series of 20 pediatric EFTs for abnormal expression of p16INK4a, p14ARF, p21WAF1, and pRB by immunohistochemical analysis of pretreatment, nondecalcified archival specimens. Clinical follow up was available in all cases (median, 21 months; range, 5–103 months). Five patients presented with metastatic disease, 8 had no evidence of disease at last follow up, and 12 had an adverse outcome (death or progressive tumor posttherapy). Results.—Twelve cases (60%) demonstrated abnormal expression of at least one tumor suppressor protein. There were 11 cases (55%) with loss of p21WAF1 expression, 4 (20%) with down-regulation of p16INK4a, 2 (10%) with absen...
Complex Stiffness Gradient Estimation of Field-Aged Asphalt Concrete Layers Using the Direct Tension Test

The characterization of viscoelastic properties of the aged field asphalt mixtures has been a challenge for pavement engineers. Instead of characterizing full mixtures from the field cores, only the binder was extracted from the mixture and was evaluated for its aging properties. Because the binder is only one component of the mixture, the properties of the aged binder may not clearly indicate the properties of the aged field mixtures. This study presents a novel method to calculate the complex stiffness gradient of a field-aged specimen using a direct tension test. Because the field asphalt mixtures are not aged uniformly with the pavement depth, there is a modulus gradient through the thickness of the asphalt layer. The asphalt mixture is stiffer at the surface. As a result, rectangular specimens cut from field cores when tested in a direct tension test in electrohydraulic servo machines with feedback frequency tend to oscillate. An analytical method has been developed to analyze the oscillating behavior of the specimen and to produce the stiffness gradient function as it varies with loading frequency and position relative to the pavement surface. Furthermore, a finite-element simulation of the test is conducted to verify the validity and robustness of the proposed method. This method was successfully used to characterize aged viscoelastic properties of field cores obtained from different roads in Texas.
Adaptation of the Zak-Epstein Automated Micromethod for Serum Iron to Determine Iron-Binding Capacity and Urinary Iron

An automated method has been developed for determining serum iron-binding capacity and urinary iron as well as serum iron. After preliminary preparation, the sample is treated with ascorbic acid in hydrochloric acid to release and reduce protein-bound iron, then singly dialyzed into an acetate buffer and reacted with 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (bathophenanthroline) to form a pink color proportionate to the amount of iron present. The sample passes through a 15-mm flow cuvet and is read at 537.5 nm, with the range expander set at either 2x or 4x.
Reclamation and reuse of ionic liquids from silica-based ionogels using spontaneous water-driven separation

Ionic liquids (ILs) are widely regarded as “green” materials, partially because they are assumed to be recyclable in most applications. Here, the effectiveness of a water-based IL reclamation process with low energy requirements is demonstrated using two types of silica-supported ionic liquid-based gel electrolytes (ionogels) incorporating a variety of common ionic liquids. More than 90% of the IL can be separated from the ionogel silica scaffold simply by submerging the ionogel in water, with no additional energy input. It is posited that water is able to compete with the hydrophobic IL for access to the hydrophilic silica scaffold surface, liberating the IL from the ionogel structure. Spontaneous water-based separation leads to the recovery of at least 70% of the original IL mass; transfer losses experienced at the laboratory scale are expected to decrease with process scale-up. Recovered ILs exhibit similar electrical performance to the virgin materials in a double layer capacitor structure.
Red and green algal origin of diatom membrane transporters: Insights into environmental adaptation and cell evolution

Membrane transporters (MTs) facilitate the movement of molecules between cellular compartments. The evolutionary history of these key components of eukaryote genomes remains unclear. Many photosynthetic microbial eukaryotes (e.g., diatoms, haptophytes, and dinoflagellates) appear to have undergone serial endosymbiosis and thereby recruited foreign genes through endosymbiotic/horizontal gene transfer (E/HGT). Here we used the diatoms Thalassiosira pseudonana and Phaeodactylum tricornutum as models to examine the evolutionary origin of MTs in this important group of marine primary producers. Using phylogenomics, we used 1,014 diatom MTs as query against a broadly sampled protein sequence database that includes novel genome data from the mesophilic red algae Porphyridium cruentum and Calliarthron tuberculosum, and the stramenopile Ectocarpus siliculosus. Our conservative approach resulted in 879 maximum likelihood trees of which 399 genes show a non-lineal history between diatoms and other eukaryotes and prokaryotes (at the bootstrap value ≥70%). Of the eukaryote-derived MTs, 172 (ca. 25% of 697 examined phylogenies) have members of both red/green algae as sister groups, with 103 putatively arising from green algae, 19 from red algae, and 50 have an unresolved affiliation to red and/or green algae. We used topology tests to analyze the most convincing cases of non-lineal gene history in which red and/or green algae were nested within stramenopiles. This analysis showed that ca. 6% of all trees (our most conservative estimate) support an algal origin of MTs in stramenopiles with the majority derived from green algae. Our findings demonstrate the complex evolutionary history of photosynthetic eukaryotes and indicate a reticulate origin of MT genes in diatoms. We postulate that the algal-derived MTs acquired via E/HGT provided diatoms and other related microbial eukaryotes the ability to persist under conditions of fluctuating ocean chemistry, likely contributing to their great success in marine environments.
Application of confocal laser endomicroscopy in the diagnosis and management of Barrett's esophagus.

Confocal laser endomicroscopy is an advanced endoscopic imaging modality that can be used for the diagnosis of early mucosal dysplasia in various gastrointestinal conditions. It provides histology-like images at 1000-fold magnification. The technology offers potential advantages in the diagnosis of Barrett’s esophagus and early esophageal cancer due to the low yield of the current practice of surveillance endoscopy with biopsies. Confocal laser endomicroscopy has the potential to eliminate the need for biopsy, establish diagnosis and facilitate application of endoscopic therapy during the time of actual endoscopy. There are several studies that have demonstrated reasonable diagnostic accuracy in patients undergoing surveillance for Barrett’s esophagus from tertiary academic medical centers. However, the application of confocal laser endomicroscopy in routine clinical endoscopy is still in the process of refinement. Its role in the diagnosis and treatment of Barrett’s-associated dysplasia will continue to evolve with improvement in technology, criteria for diagnosis and experience among endoscopists in interpreting confocal imaging.
Chapter 1: Investor Behavior: An Overview

“Investor Behavior: An Overview” is the introduction chapter for the book Investor Behavior: The Psychology of Financial Planning and Investing edited by H. Kent Baker and Victor Ricciardi that presents a historical perspective of investor psychology and theory. The field of investor behavior attempts to understand and explain investor decisions by combining the topics of psychology and investing on a micro level (i.e., the decision process of individuals and groups) and a macro perspective (i.e., the role of financial markets). The decision-making process of investors incorporates both a quantitative (objective) and qualitative (subjective) aspect that is based on the specific features of the investment product or financial service. Investor Behavior examines the cognitive factors (mental processes) and affective (emotional) issues that individuals, financial experts, and traders reveal during the financial planning and investment management process. In practice, individuals make judgments and decisions that are based on past events, personal beliefs, and preferences. The chapter also provides an overview of the emerging research topics covered in Investor Behavior and the abstract descriptions for the remaining 29 chapters of the book.
The Operational Codes of Fidel Castro and Kim Il Sung: The Last Cold Warriors?

Although the end of the Cold War brought the transformation of the communist bloc, some states have resisted the ensuing wave of democratization. This study assumes that important mechanisms of continuity and change in communist states are situated in the belief systems of their leaders and that the years between 1985 and 1991 were a catalytic period. What did Fidel Castro of Cuba and Kim II Sung of North Korea learn from the end of the Cold War? Their belief systems are examined prior to 1985 and after 1991, i.e., before and after the collapse of other communist regimes. If learning has occurred, it should be reflected in a comparison of their beliefs for these time periods. Our results from ANOVA analyses indicate that Fidel Castro engaged in some learning but Kim II Sung did not. This finding is complemented by the results ofa MANOVA analysis, which indicate that the end of the Cold War had only a modest impact on Fidel Castro and Kim II Sung, independent of their specific personalities. We conclude by drawing attention to the ensuing debate between structural- and agent-level theorizing and by giving some suggestions for future research.
Multiple Factors Underlying Haptic Perception of Length and Orientation

Information about the shape and spatial orientation of an object can be gathered during exploratory hand and arm movements, and then must be synthesized into a unified percept. During the robotically guided exploration of virtual polygons or triangles, the perception of the lengths of two adjoining segments is not always geometrically consistent with the perception of the internal angles between these segments. The present study further characterized this established inconsistency, and also found that subjects' internal angle judgments were influenced by the spatial orientations of the segments, especially the segment that was explored last in the sequence. Internal angle judgments were also biased by the subjects' own active forces, applied in the direction perpendicular to the programmed handle motion. For the last segment, but not for the earlier segments, subjects produced more outward force when they reported larger angles and more inward force when they reported smaller angles. Thus, the haptic synthesis of object shape is influenced by multiple geometric, spatial, and self-produced factors.
Using region trajectories to construct an accurate and efficient polyaffine transform model

In this paper we propose a novel way to construct a diffeomorphic polyaffine model. Each affine transform is defined on a local region and the resulting diffeomorphism encapsulates all the local transforms by a smooth and invertible displacement field. Compared with traditional weighting schemes used in combining local transforms, our new scheme guarantees that the resulting transform precisely preserves the value of each local affine transform. By introducing the trajectory of local regions instead of using regions themselves, the new approach encodes precisely each local affine transform using a diffeomorphism with one or more stationary velocity fields. Experiments show that our new polyaffine model is both accurate and efficient.
Going all-in: gender and campaign commitment

Recent evidence suggests that women overcome the potential negative impact of gender stereotypes by emerging when they are stronger candidates than men. I leverage an original survey of state legislative candidates to determine whether women devote more time to their campaigns. I find that women on the whole, and those who had previously been elected to a political office in particular, invested more of their personal time into the campaign than men. This difference is driven by the fact that women are more likely to forgo employment during the election. These findings suggest that women are more likely than men to arrange their personal obligations in such a fashion that they can run stronger campaigns.
Knee osteoarthritis pain in the elderly can be reduced by massage therapy, yoga and tai chi: A review

Abstract Background and methods This is a review of recently published research, both empirical studies and meta-analyses, on the effects of complementary therapies including massage therapy, yoga and tai chi on pain associated with knee osteoarthritis in the elderly. Results The massage therapy protocols have been effective in not only reducing pain but also in increasing range of motion, specifically when moderate pressure massage was used and when both the quadriceps and hamstrings were massaged. The yoga studies typically measured pain by the WOMAC. Most of those studies showed a clinically significant reduction in pain, especially the research that focused on poses (e.g. the Iyengar studies) as opposed to those that had integrated protocols (poses, breathing and meditation exercises). The tai chi studies also assessed pain by self-report on the WOMAC and showed significant reductions in pain. The tai chi studies were difficult to compare because of their highly variable protocols in terms of the frequency and duration of treatment. Discussion Larger, randomized control trials are needed on each of these therapies using more standardized protocols and more objective variables in addition to the self-reported WOMAC pain scale, for example, range-of-motion and observed range-of-motion pain. In addition, treatment comparison studies should be conducted so, for example, if the lower-cost yoga and tai chi were as effective as massage therapy, they might be used in combination with or as supplemental to massage therapy. Nonetheless, these therapies are at least reducing pain in knee osteoarthritis and they do not seem to have side effects.
Specification and function of hemogenic endothelium during embryogenesis

Hemogenic endothelium is a specialized subset of developing vascular endothelium that acquires hematopoietic potential and can give rise to multilineage hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells during a narrow developmental window in tissues such as the extraembryonic yolk sac and embryonic aorta-gonad-mesonephros. Herein, we review current knowledge about the historical and developmental origins of hemogenic endothelium, the molecular events that govern hemogenic specification of vascular endothelial cells, the generation of multilineage hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells from hemogenic endothelium, and the potential for translational applications of knowledge gained from further study of these processes.
Educational program emergency planning.

BACKGROUND Tragic university shootings have prompted administrators of higher education institutions to re-evaluate their emergency preparedness plans and take appropriate measures for preventing and responding to emergencies. OBJECTIVE To review the literature and identify key components needed to prevent shootings at higher education institutions in the United States, and in particular, institutions housing radiologic science programs. METHODS Twenty-eight emergency preparedness plans were retrieved electronically and reviewed from a convenience sample of accredited radiologic science programs provided by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology Web site. RESULTS The review of the 28 emergency preparedness plans confirmed that most colleges are prepared for basic emergencies, but lack the key components needed to successfully address mass-casualty events. Only 5 (18%) of the 28 institutions addressed policies concerning school shootings.
Allozyme Markers in the Study of Sperm Precedence in the Plum Curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar,

Allozymes (genetically polymorphic enzymes) assayed by horizontal starch gel electrophoresis were used as genetic markers in a study of sperm precedence in the plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst). Two strains having greatly different frequencies of an isocitrate dehydrogenase allele were crossed. Three other allozyme loci were also assayed in both parents and progeny. Sperm precedence of the type in which sperm from the 2nd mating replace those of the 1st for fertilization was found: 17 of 23 crosses (73.9%) showed sperm precedence. Sperm from 1st matings were used to fertilize eggs after the 2nd matings in 31.2% of the crosses. The mean percentage of progeny produced after the 2nd mating by sperm from the 1st mating was 14.23% . A minimum mean refractory period of 2.2 wk was found in the female before remating would occur.
Platinum Nanoparticles Supported on N-Functionalized Mesoporous Carbon

A modified polyol process was used to deposit platinum nanoparticles on nitrogen functionalized ordered mesoporous carbon. The pH was adjusted to control the platinum size and loading. Several physical characterization tools were used to determine the size, dispersion and structure of the catalyst and support including X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction, and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The electrochemically active area for the oxygen reduction reaction was computed by cyclic voltammetry. Platinum deposited on nitrogen functionalized ordered mesoporous carbon was found to have higher dispersion and utilization than platinum deposited on Vulcan XC-72R.
Current status of suicidal behavior among teenagers in Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps

Objective To investigate the current situation of suicidal behavior among secondary school and university students in Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps so as to provide references for developing intervention measures. Methods Based on the data selected from survey of health- risk behaviors among adolescents in Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps in 2008 by stratified random sampling method,we descriptively analyzed the incidence of suicidal behavior and emotional indicators( including study stress and insomnia) among 19,120 adolescents. Results The reporting rates of suicidal ideation,suicidal plan and uncommitted suicide were 11. 32%,6. 78%,and 2. 49%,respectively. And the rates in girls were all higher than those in boys,with statistically significant differences( P 0. 01). The reporting rates of suicidal ideation in different types of schools were as follows: the key junior high school( 13. 46%) the key senior high school( 13. 15%) the ordinary junior high school( 11. 85%) vocational high school( 9. 22%) the ordinary senior high school( 8. 28%) junior college( 7. 30%) university( 6. 59%),and the differences were statistically significant( P 0. 01). Conclusions The reporting rate of uncommitted suicide of the adolescents in Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps is higher than the national level,and study stress peaks during the ninth grade and the twelfth grade. Secondary school students are the targeted intervention population for suicidal behavior prevention.
Memories of unethical actions become obfuscated over time.

Despite our optimistic belief that we would behave honestly when facing the temptation to act unethically, we often cross ethical boundaries. This paper explores one possibility of why people engage in unethical behavior over time by suggesting that their memory for their past unethical actions is impaired. We propose that, after engaging in unethical behavior, individuals’ memories of their actions become more obfuscated over time because of the psychological distress and discomfort such misdeeds cause. In nine studies (n = 2,109), we show that engaging in unethical behavior produces changes in memory so that memories of unethical actions gradually become less clear and vivid than memories of ethical actions or other types of actions that are either positive or negative in valence. We term this memory obfuscation of one’s unethical acts over time “unethical amnesia.” Because of unethical amnesia, people are more likely to act dishonestly repeatedly over time.
The Future of Urban Science

Urban Science is a scholarly international journal which provides a platform for the exchange of theories, ideas, methods, analysis, and comparative studies of urban and regional development.[...]
Gladstonian Liberalism, Home Rule, and American Politics and Society, 1886–1892

Thus wrote John Morley about the turbulent period in British politics from June 1886 to April 1892. The Liberal party lay split asunder; its members earnestly searched for Irish solutions, new programs, or any plan that would draw back the Liberal Unionists into the party fold. The answers were neither easy nor apparent. Meanwhile, the Conservative government under Salisbury clearly directed the country’s progress. It tackled a whole range of domestic, foreign, and imperial problems with considerable success. The Chief Secretary of Ireland, A. J. Balfour, held the Irish in check with a dual policy of strong coercion and remedial land purchase legislation. Conservatives also were responsible for a stream of domestic measures: the Local Government Act, the Technical Instruction Act, the Housing of the Working Classes Act, and a Factory Act, among others. Moreover, Salisbury demonstrated an expertise in foreign affairs. Britain consolidated a number of alliances with European nations and established closer imperial connections in Africa, the Far East, and elsewhere. The period of Salisbury’s second ministry was particularly active in the area of foreign affairs. Relations with the United States were no exception.2 American–Canadian–British fishery disputes, the Sackville incident, the Bering Sea seal controversy, and questions of Canadian autonomy all exasperated Anglo-American relations. For the most part, Salisbury handled these all with consummate skill. When, following the election of 1892, the Liberals turned to form the last Gladstonian ministry, there were no outstanding Anglo-American difficulties of any magnitude.
Associations of Teen Dating Violence Victimization With School Violence and Bullying Among US High School Students.

BACKGROUND: Teen dating violence (TDV) negatively impacts health, mental and physical well-being, and school performance. METHODS: Data from a nationally representative sample of high school students participating in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) are used to demonstrate associations of physical and sexual TDV with school violence-related experiences and behaviors, including bullying victimization. Bivariate and adjusted sex-stratified regressions assessed relationships between TDV and school violence-related experiences and behaviors. RESULTS: Compared to students not reporting TDV, those experiencing both physical and sexual TDV were more likely to report carrying a weapon at school, missing school because they felt unsafe, being threatened or injured with a weapon on school property, having a physical fight at school, and being bullied on school property. CONCLUSIONS: School-based prevention efforts should target multiple forms of violence.Published 2016. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Language: en
Outsiders in a Promised Land: Religious Activists in Pacific Northwest History. By Dale E. Soden

Outsiders in a Promised Land: Religious Activists in Pacific Northwest History . By Dale E. Soden. (Corvallis: Oregon State University Press, 2015. xiii + 306 pp. Illustrations, notes, bibliography, index. $24.95, paper.) In a well-researched account of religious activism in the Oregon Territory from the late nineteenth century to the present, Soden draws several meaningful conclusions. He shows that despite the fact that the region has always had a reputation for secularists, atheists, and “nones” (people who elect no religious affiliation), religious activists have had a continuous and important presence within the region. He thoroughly chronicles these religious influences from the Victorians who planted colleges and hospitals to the ecumenical activists of the twenty-first century. In casting such a long-term history, … janine.giordanodrake{at}ugf.edu
The Pig-a Endogenous Gene Mutation Assay

The Pig-a assay is a relatively new tool for studying genetic toxicity. As an endogenous gene mutation assay, it appears to be a useful complement to the assessment of chromosomal damage via the in vivo micronucleus test. This endpoint has been shown to report accumulated damage over time, making it especially well suited to integration into standard repeat-dose rodent toxicology studies. Although the method has been studied primarily in rat and mouse models, data are accumulating that demonstrate the utility of the Pig-a endpoint in other mammalian species including humans. Application of the Pig-a assay to routine testing could provide wider coverage of important types of in vivo DNA damage; it represents a useful follow-up test for evaluating the relevance of in vitro findings and/or for elucidating the primary mode of action of carcinogens. This chapter describes a protocol for sample processing and flow cytometric analysis of rodent blood for the enumeration of Pig-a mutant phenotype red blood cells. Included in this procedure are: (i) the use of 96-well plates for improved handling of multiple samples; (ii) application of immunomagnetic separation to increase the number of reticulocytes and red blood cells analyzed; and (iii) spreadsheet templates to facilitate the calculation of mutant frequency for the desired populations. Advice on other aspects that may affect assay performance, including experimental design, blood collection, and shipping techniques are also provided.
The Effects of a Family Literacy Project on Home Literacy Experiences

This article describes how one South Texas school district successfully implemented a family literacy project, which positively impacted the home literacy experiences of children in pre-kindergarten through grade three. A total of eight parent workshops were offered to parents over a two year period. Workshops presented parents with information about reading aloud to their children, effective read aloud strategies, and the reading process. Three hundred two (302) parents and other primary caregivers participated in this project. Survey data collected at the beginning and end of the project indicated that the project resulted in a substantial increase in the quantity and quality of read aloud experiences in the home. Furthermore, teachers reported that the project helped strengthen a positive relationship between home and school. Therefore, this study supports the viability of schools implementing parent/child reading projects that can play an important role in enhancing the literacy environment of the home.
Seasonality of auricular amputations in rabbits

This retrospective observational analysis hypothesizes that an increase occurs in online reports and images of auricular amputations of confectionary rabbits during the spring. Using the online search engine Google, online content and visual portrayals of confectionary rabbit auricular amputations from 2012 to 2017 were identified and trended against seasonal variations. To determine incidence, commercial availability of chocolate rabbits in retail facilities were assayed. A statistically significant increase in mention of rabbit auricular amputations occurred during the spring. Mapping techniques showed the annual peak incidence for 2012 to 2017 to be near Easter for each year studied. Human adults and children appear to be wholly responsible for the reports of rabbit auricular amputations. Reconstructive techniques are dependent on the percentage of auricular defect. Laryngoscope, 127:773-775, 2017.
SYMMETRICAL KINETIC STRATEGIES IN PATIENTS WITH UNILATERAL POSTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT DEFICIENCY DURING OBSTACLE-CROSSING

Posterior cruciate ligament deficiency (PCLD) leads to structural and proprioceptive impairments of the knee, affecting the performance of daily activities including obstacle-crossing. Therefore, identifying the biomechanical deficits and/or strategies during this motor task would be helpful for rehabilitative and clinical management of such patients. A safe and successful obstacle-crossing requires stability of the body and sufficient foot clearance of the swing limb. Patients with PCLD may face demands different from normal when negotiating obstacles of different heights. The objective of this study was thus to identify the biomechanical deviations/strategies of the lower limbs in unilateral PCLD during obstacle-crossing using motion analysis techniques. Twelve patients with unilateral PCLD and twelve healthy controls participated in the current study with informed written consent. They were asked to walk and cross obstacles of heights of 10%, 20% and 30% of their leg lengths at self-selected speeds. The PCLD group was asked to cross the obstacles with each of the affected and unaffected limb as the leading limb, denoted as PCLD-A and PCLD-U, respectively. The kinematic and kinetic data were measured with a 7-camera motion analysis system (Vicon, Oxford Metrics, U.K.) and two force plates (AMTI, U.S.A.). The angles of the stance and swing limbs (crossing angles) and the moments of the stance limbs (crossing moments) for each joint in the sagittal plane when the leading limb was above the obstacle were calculated for statistical analysis. A 3 by 2, 2-way mixed-model analysis of variance with one between-subject factor (PCLD-A vs. Control, and PCLD-U vs. Control) and one within-subject factor (obstacle height) was performed (α=0.05). Paired t-test was used to compare the variables between PCLD-A and PCLD-U (α=0.05). SAS version 9.2 was used for all statistical analysis. When the leading toe was above the obstacle, the PCLD group showed significantly greater hip flexion in the swing limb but decreased dorsiflexion in the stance limb, both in PCLD-A and PCLD-U (P 0.05). When crossing the obstacle, patients with PCLD reduced ankle plantarflexor moments that were mainly produced by the gastrocnemius. This may help reduce the posterior instability of the affected knee. Greater knee extensor crossing moments may also help reduce the posterior instability of the standing knee when the leading toe was above the obstacle. The changed joint kinetics as a result of PCLD were not only seen on the affected side but also on the unaffected side during obstacle-crossing. This symmetrical pattern may be necessary in performing functional activities that may require either the affected side or the unaffected side leading. These results suggest that rehabilitative intervention, including muscular strengthening, on both affected and unaffected sides are necessary in patients with unilateral PCLD.
Character Formulas for q -Rook Monoid Algebras

The q-rook monoid Rn(q) is a semisimple \Bbb C(q)-algebra that specializes when q → 1 to \Bbb C[Rn], where Rn is the monoid of n × n matrices with entries from l0, 1r and at most one nonzero entry in each row and column. We use a Schur-Weyl duality between Rn(q) and the quantum general linear group Uq\euf gl(r) to compute a Frobenius formula, in the ring of symmetric functions, for the irreducible characters of Rn(q). We then derive a recursive Murnaghan-Nakayama rule for these characters, and we use Robinson-Schensted-Knuth insertion to derive a Roichman rule for these characters. We also define a class of standard elements on which it is sufficient to compute characters. The results for Rn(q) specialize when q e 1 to analogous results for Rn.
Auditing sterile compounding competency with video observation.

The competency assessment of personnel involved in sterile compounding is of the utmost importance in reducing the potential for contaminated products.[1][1] Didactic training, written tests, media-fill tests, and observational audits are recommended or required, depending on each state’s
Evaluation of patient satisfaction in pediatric dermatology.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES There remains a lack of investigation into which factors patients and families value the most in their experience at pediatric dermatology clinics. Most of the current literature on quality improvement in dermatology does not encompass the pediatric population. To determine the drivers that are most predictive of a positive patient experience, we observed the indirect relationship between several factors of the patient experience and their role in patient satisfaction. METHODS Patient satisfaction surveys were distributed after their visits to patients at four pediatric dermatology clinics in one children's academic health system. Data were collected and organized into the top 30 survey variables with which patients expressed satisfaction on a 5-point Likert scale. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients (r) for each variable with regard to "likelihood of your recommending our practice to others" were calculated. RESULTS A total of 516 families completed patient satisfaction surveys. Analyses of top box scores showed that the strongest predictors of patient satisfaction were the likelihood of recommending care provider (r = .77, P = <.001), cheerfulness of practice (r = .76, P = <.001), care provider spoke using clear language (r = .73, P = <.001), patient confidence in care provider (r = .70, P = <.001), and our sensitivity to patient needs (r = .70, P = <.001). CONCLUSION The patient-physician relationship, along with the environment of the practice and its sensitivity to patients' personal needs, contributes most to the patient experience in pediatric dermatology. Identifying such variables that shape patients' assessments of their experience can guide future quality improvement plans in the specialty.
Latin America in Theories of Territorial Rights

“Who owns it?” is a surprisingly confusing question when applied to territory. Each word opens up puzzles: who can “own” territory? What is “ownership” in this context? How can it be justified in a way that could convince an outsider? These questions are particularly salient in the Latin American context, where multiple distinct kinds of land disputes converge. This paper canvasses two familiar approaches to these questions: the Kantian autochthony view, and the Lockean efficiency view. Neither view answers the question as to “who owns it” in all its complexity. The paper then defends an alternative approach grounded in recognition of diverse conceptions of land and the ways that distinct groups achieve plenitude in particular places.
Sexual Orientation and Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: Sexual orientation disparities in adolescent depressive symptoms are well established, but reasons for these disparities are less well understood. We modeled sexual orientation disparities in depressive symptoms from late adolescence into young adulthood and evaluated family satisfaction, peer support, cyberbullying victimization, and unmet medical needs as potential mediators. METHODS: Data were from waves 2 to 6 of the NEXT Generation Health Study ( n = 2396), a population-based cohort of US adolescents. We used latent growth models to examine sexual orientation disparities in depressive symptoms in participants aged 17 to 21 years, conduct mediation analyses, and examine sex differences. RESULTS: Relative to heterosexual adolescents, sexual minority adolescents (those who are attracted to the same or both sexes or are questioning; 6.3% of the weighted sample) consistently reported higher depressive symptoms from 11th grade to 3 years after high school. Mediation analyses indicated that sexual minority adolescents reported lower family satisfaction, greater cyberbullying victimization, and increased likelihood of unmet medical needs, all of which were associated with higher depressive symptoms. The mediating role of cyberbullying victimization was more pronounced among male than female participants. CONCLUSIONS: Sexual minority adolescents reported higher depressive symptoms than heterosexual adolescents from late adolescence into young adulthood. Collectively, low family satisfaction, cyberbullying victimization, and unmet medical needs accounted for >45% of differences by sexual orientation. Future clinical research is needed to determine if interventions targeting these psychosocial and health care–related factors would reduce sexual orientation disparities in depressive symptoms and the optimal timing of such interventions.
Poor mental health among low-income women in the U.S.: The roles of adverse childhood and adult experiences

Abstract Rationale It is well established that exposure to a greater number of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) increases the risk of poor physical and mental health outcomes. Given the predictive validity of ACE scores and other cumulative risk metrics, a similar measurement approach may advance the study of risk in adulthood. Objective We examined the prevalence and interrelations of 10 adverse adult experiences, including household events such as intimate partner violence and extrafamilial events such as crime victimization. We also tested the relation between cumulative adult adversity and later mental health problems, and we examined whether adult adversity mediates the link between childhood adversity and mental health. Methods Data were collected from 501 women in the Families and Children Thriving Study, a longitudinal investigation of low-income families that received home visiting services in Wisconsin. We conducted correlation analyses to assess interrelations among study measures along with multivariate analyses to test the effects of childhood and adult adversity on three outcomes: depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We then fit a structural equation model to test whether the effects of childhood adversity on mental health are mediated by adult adversity. Results Over 80% of participants endorsed at least one adverse adult experience. Adult adversities correlated with each other and with the mental health outcomes. Controlling for ACEs and model covariates, adult adversity scores were positively associated with depression, anxiety, and PTSD scores. Path analyses revealed that the ACE-mental health connection was mediated by adult adversity. Conclusion Our findings indicate that mental health problems may be better understood by accounting for processes through which early adversity leads to later adversity. Pending replication, this line of research has the potential to improve the identification of populations that are at risk of poor health outcomes.
Food Safety: Other Contaminants

There are a number of chemical contaminants of the food supply that have recently attracted consumer and regulatory interest due to their potential toxicological implications. This article discusses four contaminants – dioxins, acrylamide, perchlorate, and bisphenol A (BPA) and provides information concerning their presence in foods, regulatory efforts, toxicological effects, and potential risks to consumers.