cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Toxic Ties: Networks of Friendship, Dating, and Cyber Victimization

We examine instances of youth cyber aggression, arguing that the close relationships of friendship and romance substantially influence the chances of being targeted. We investigate networks of friendship, dating, and aggression among a sample of 788 eighth- to twelfth-grade students in a longitudinal study of a New York school. Approximately 17 percent reported some involvement in cyber aggression within the past week. LGBTQ youth were targeted at a rate over four times that of their heterosexual peers, and females were more frequent victims than males. Rates of cyber aggression were 4.3 times higher between friends than between friends of friends. According to both an exponential random graph model and a lagged, network MRQAP regression, electronic attacks emerged far more frequently between current or former friends and dating partners, presumably due to competition, revenge, or attempts to fend off romantic rivals. Language: en
A Novel Inosine Monophosphate Dehydrogenase Inhibitor VX-944 Overcomes Conventional Drug-Resistance in Multiple Mueloma Cells in the Bone Marrow Microenvironment.

Abstract Inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) is a rate-limiting enzyme required for the de novo synthesis of guanine nucleotides from IMP. VX-944 (Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA) is a small molecule, selective, uncompetitive novel inhibitor directed against human IMPDH enzyme. IMPDH inhibitors have been demonstrated to induce growth arrest, and extensively investigated as immunosuppressants. Here we show that VX-944 inhibits growth of human multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines, including those resistant to conventional agents, via induction of apoptosis and S phase arrest in vitro. Interleukin-6, insulin-like growth factor-1, or co-culture with bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs), do not protect against VX-944-induced MM cell growth inhibition. We next delineated the molecular mechanism of VX-944-induced MM cell death in the MM.1S human MM cell line. VX-944 induced apoptosis in MM.1S cells, confirmed by PARP cleavage as well as flow cytometric detection of the mitochondrial membrane protein 7A6 and TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) positive cells, without significant cleavage of caspases 3, 8 and 9. While the pan-caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk did not inhibit the VX-944-induced apoptosis and cell death suggesting that VX-944 triggers apoptosis in MM1.S cells primarily via caspase-independent pathway. Importantly, VX-944 augments the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin, melphalan and bortezomib, all of which activate caspases in MM cells and induce apoptosis, even in the presence of BMSCs. Taken together, our data demonstrate non-caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway triggered by VX-944 thereby providing a rationale to enhance MM cell cytotoxicity by combining this agent with conventional and/or novel agents which trigger caspase activation. Our ongoing studies are delineating the mechanisms whereby VX-944 induces MM cell apoptosis.
AVANÇOS E PERSPECTIVAS NA UTILIZAÇÃO DAS FONTES ORAIS EM HISTORIOGRAFIA RECENTE

As fontes orais, recusadas por muito tempo pela historiografia tradicional, tomaram, pouco a pouco, espaco privilegiado na nova historiografia. O presente trabalho busca esclarecer se a ampliacao do numero de pesquisadores que se envolveram com as fontes orais e utilizaram os resultados obtidos em suas pesquisas foi acompanhada, no mesmo nivel, pelo aprofundamento metodologico, implicando em avancos reais na discussao historiografica. Palavras-chave: historiografia, fontes orais, metodologia.
The Use of Literacy Routines as a Bridge to STEM Lessons

Elementary teachers are familiar with using literature and questioning techniques in teaching literacy. The good news is they can apply the same skills to teach STEM lessons. STEM instruction, particularly engineering, in elementary schools is virtually non-existent. However, using design challenges based off of children’s literature can open up a new avenue to teach higher-order thinking. The use of literature with STEM foci, and “queries,” questions that get at in-depth answers, can bridge teachers’ comfort levels with STEM lessons, building students’ creativity, curiosity, and perseverance.
Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) auditory brainstem responses recorded using conventional and randomized stimulation and averaging.

Auditory brainstem response (ABR) measurements using conventional averaging (i.e., constant interstimulus interval, ISI) are limited to stimulus rates low enough to prevent overlapping of the ABRs to successive stimuli. To overcome this limitation, stimuli may be presented at high rates using pseudorandom sequences (e.g., maximum length sequences) or quasi-periodic sequences; however, these methods restrict the available stimulus sequences and require deconvolution to recover the ABR from the overlapping responses. Randomized stimulation and averaging (RSA) is an alternate method where evoked responses at high rates are obtained by averaging responses to stimuli with ISIs drawn from a random distribution. The RSA method enables precise control over stimulus jitter, is flexible with respect to stimulus sequence parameters, and does not require deconvolution to extract the ABR waveform. In this study, ABRs were measured in three normal-hearing dolphins using conventional averaging and RSA. Results show the RSA method to be effective in dolphins if the ISI jitter ≥ ∼1.5 ms and that the influence of stimulus artifacts in the averaged ABR can be substantially reduced by alternating stimulus polarity on successive presentations rather than employing digital blanking or iterative processes.
Folic Acid in Pregnancy and Childhood Asthma: A US Cohort

Prenatal folic acid exposure has been linked to higher risk of childhood asthma in countries that do not fortify the food supply with folic acid. This study seeks to examine this association in the United States, where the food supply is generally fortified with folic acid. Participants were 1279 mother-child pairs from Project Viva, an ongoing prospective birth cohort, with folic acid intake in pregnancy assessed through validated food frequency questionnaires. The primary outcome was physician-diagnosed asthma at mid-childhood. In an unadjusted logistic regression model, higher folic acid intake was associated with lower odds of asthma in mid-childhood (odds ratio [OR] 0.48; 95% CI 0.31-0.76). However, in the adjusted analysis this association was attenuated (adjusted OR [aOR] 0.80; 95% CI 0.49-1.33). Our results suggest that in the United States, where there is generalized folic acid fortification of food, maternal folic acid intake during pregnancy is not associated with asthma development in offspring.
Mathematical calculation of lifespan of transfused RBCs in sickle cell disease patients.

Abstract Background Transfusion of donor red blood cells (RBCs) remains an important part of management of sickle cell disease (SCD). However, the survival characteristics of transfused donor RBCs in SCD patients have not been well studied. We sought to calculate survival kinetics of transfused RBCs in SCD patients since it is unclear whether transfused RBCs get destroyed at faster rate as innocent bystander or persist longer due to decreased destruction capacity such as functional splenectomy. Study design and methods Forty-one SCD patients who had undergone at least 3 RBC exchange procedures were inlcuded. Interval between the procedures, both pre-procedure and post procedure hematocrits, HbA% and HbS% were collected. We developed a mathematical model to calculate RBC lifespan for donor RBCs. Results Donor RBCs exhibited average lifespan of about 120 days (121.1 ± 13.9 days), which was similar to reported survival of RBCs in normal recipients. However, significant variation between patients were observed with lifespan ranging from 75.6-148.5 days. Intrapersonal variations were small in most cases. Conclusion The calculated survival of donor RBCs in SCD recipient, based on certain laboratory values, appears to be similar to that of normal recipient. However, inter-personal variations were large, suggesting different RBC kinetics in a subset of patients, which calls for further research to better understand underlying pathophysiology. This knowledge of RBC survival would be very helpful in individualized management of patients on chronic RBCx.
Octagon-Based Quasicrystalline Formations in Islamic Architecture

The unexpected discovery of ancient Islamic ornaments with quasicrystalline symmetries has triggered significant discussion and a number of debates on the mathematical sophistication of Islamic geometry and its generating principles. Astonishingly, eight centuries before its description in Modern Science, ancient artists had constructed patterns with perfect quasicrystalline formations. Recent studies have provided enough evidence to suggest that ancient designers, by using the most primitive tools (a compass and a straight edge), were able to resolve the complicated long-range principles of quasicrystalline formations. Derived from these principles, a global multi-level structural model is presented that is able to describe the global long-range order of octagon-based quasicrystalline formations in Islamic Architecture. This new method can be used as a general guiding principle for constructing infinite patches of octagon-based quasicrystalline formations, including Ammann–Beenker tiling, without the need for local strategies (matching, scaling, etc.) or complicated mathematics.
Feasible preparation and improved properties of Ag-graphite composite coating for switch contact by cyanide-free electrodeposition

A cyanide‐free electrodeposition system was employed to prepare Ag‐graphite composite coatings on Cu substrate for switch contact. The effects of graphite concentration, current density, stirring speed, and plating temperature on the thickness and quality of the composite coating were investigated. The feasibility of cyanide‐free electrodeposition for Ag‐graphite composite was confirmed and the optimized conditions were determined.
Effects of Thermal and Auxiliary Dynamics on a Fuel Cell Based Range Extender

Batteries are useful in Fuel Cell Hybrid Electric Vehicles (FCHEV) to fulfill transient demands and for regenerative braking. Efficient energy management strategies paired with optimal powertrain d ...
InfoSec Process Action Model (IPAM): Systematically Addressing Individual Security Behavior

While much of the extant InfoSec research relies on single assessment models that predict intent to act, this article proposes a multi-stage InfoSec Process Action Model (IPAM) that can positively change individual InfoSec behavior. We believe that this model will allow InfoSec researchers to focus more directly on the process that leads to action and develop better interventions that address problematic security behaviors. Building on successful healthcare efforts that resulted in smoking cessation, regular exercise, and a healthier diet, among others, IPAM is a hybrid predictive process approach to behavioral InfoSec improvement. IPAM formulates the motivational antecedents of intent as separate from the volitional drivers of behavior. Singular fear appeals often seen in InfoSec research are replaced by more nuanced treatments appropriately differentiated to support behavioral change as part of a process; phase-appropriate measures of self-efficacy are employed to more precisely assess the likelihood that a participant will act on good intentions; and decisional balance assessment of pro and con perceptions is monitored over time. These notions better align InfoSec research with both leading security practice and successful comparators in healthcare. We believe IPAM can both help InfoSec research models better explain actual behavior and better inform practical security behavior improvement initiatives.
Churchland on Arguments Against Physicalism

In “Consciousness and the Introspection of ‘Qualitative Simples’” Paul Churchland criticizes a familiar family of anti-physicalist arguments, including Thomas Nagel’s (1974) “What is it like to be a bat?” argument, Frank Jackson’s (1982, 1986, 1995) knowledge argument, and related arguments developed by David Chalmers (1996, 2010) and others. In Churchland’s view, those arguments lead to the pessimistic view that science can shed no light on the qualitative features of conscious experience. He provides good reasons to reject that pessimistic view. However, I will argue, he is wrong to associate it with at least two of the anti-physicalist arguments he considers: the knowledge and conceivability arguments. Proponents of those arguments can share Churchland’s more optimistic view about the science of consciousness. Indeed, at least some proponents, including Chalmers, advocate a similar view. Churchland also attacks the anti-physicalist arguments more directly, identifying and criticizing assumptions that he sees as underlying them. But, I will argue, those attacks are at best inconclusive, at least with respect to the knowledge and conceivability arguments.
Bis(η5-penta­methyl­cyclo­penta­dien­yl)aluminium tetra­bromido­aluminate

The title compound, [Al(C10H15)2][AlBr4], was formed during the reduction of a mixture of Cp*AlBr2 and AlBr3. The AlIII atoms of the two crystallographically independent cations each lie on an inversion center, and the [AlBr4]− anions are on general positions. At 123 K, the structure exhibits disorder in two of the Br atoms of the [AlBr4]− ion, with a ratio occupancy of 0.733 (6): 0.267 (3). In the crystal, there is possible weak hydrogen bonding between some methyl groups and Br atoms. The interactions link the moieties in a three-dimensional array.
Real-Time Distributed Computing at Network Edges for Large Scale Industrial IoT Networks

Low-cost, real-time digital signal processors (DSPs) embedded in generic Internet of Things (IoT) edge devices can make significant contributions to distributed edge computing for industrial IoT (IIoT) networks. The DSP considered in this paper is the Texas Instruments (TI) TMS320C28x DSP (C28x). At the edge of the network, the C28x is programmed using low-level Embedded C programming language to construct the Morlet wavelet. Our implementation at this layer is the first known construction of the Morlet wavelet for C28x DSP using Embedded C. At the fog layer, near the edge of the IoT network, where more computing resources exist, the wavelet is then convolved with healthcare (electrocardiogram) and electrical network signals, using Matlab to reduce signal noise, and to identify important parts of examined signals. Convolution results indicates that the distributed computing approach for low-cost generic devices considered in this paper is suitable for use in large IIoT networks
Immune Regulatory Cell Biology and Clinical Applications to Prevent or Treat Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease

Abstract The most common approaches to prevent and treat graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) are intended to deplete or suppress the T cells capable of mediating or supporting alloresponses; however, this renders the recipients functionally T cell deficient and hence highly susceptible to infections and tumor recurrence. Depletion is often accomplished through the use of broadly reactive antibodies, while functional impairment is typically achieved by pharmacological agents that require long-term administration (usually six months or more), have significant side effects, and may not result in tolerance (i.e., non-responsiveness) of donor T cells to conditioning regimen-resistant host alloantigen-bearing cells. As our knowledge of immune system homeostasis has increased, cell populations with immune regulatory function have been identified and characterized. Although such cell populations are typically present in low frequencies, methods to isolate and expand these cells have permitted their supplementation to the donor graft or infusion late post-transplant in order to stifle GVHD. This review discusses the biology and preclinical proof of concept of GVHD models, along with GVHD outcomes that focus exclusively on immune regulatory cell therapies that have progressed to clinical testing.
Nomenclature, Classification, and Risk Score Assessment of the Adult with Congenital Heart Disease

More adults than children are alive with congenital heart disease, and many of these require cardiac surgery. Notwithstanding this fact, data about the outcomes of adults undergoing congenital heart surgery are limited. Multi-institutional databases are used for outcomes analysis, quality assessment, and quality improvement. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Congenital Heart Surgery Database (CHSD) is the largest database of pediatric and congenital cardiac operations in the world. STS CHSD contains preoperative, operative, and outcomes data for all patients undergoing congenital and pediatric cardiovascular operations at participating hospitals. The nomenclature, classification, and risk score assessment provided by this platform is standardized across all participants. These tools facilitate multi-institutional initiatives to analyze outcomes and assess and ultimately improve the quality of care provided to adults with congenial heart disease who undergo cardiac surgery. The purpose of this chapter is to review nomenclature, classification, and risk scores for adults with congenital heart disease.
Is There a Need for a 6-Month Postradiosurgery Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Treatment of Vestibular Schwannoma?

BACKGROUND Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a common treatment modality for vestibular schwannoma (VS), with a role in primary and recurrent/progressive algorithms. At our institution, routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is obtained at 6 and 12 mo following SRS for VS. OBJECTIVE To analyze the safety and financial impact of eliminating the 6-mo post-SRS MRI in asymptomatic VS patients. METHODS A prospectively maintained SRS database was retrospectively reviewed for VS patients with 1 yr of post-treatment follow-up, 2005 to 2015. Decisions at 6-mo MRI were binarily categorized as routine follow-up vs clinical action-defined as a clinical visit, additional imaging, or an operation as a direct result of the 6-mo study. RESULTS A total of 296 patients met screening criteria, of whom 53 were excluded for incomplete follow-up and 8 for NF-2. Nine were reimaged prior to 6 mo due to clinical symptoms. Routine 6-mo post-SRS MRI was completed by 226 patients (76% of screened cohort), following from which zero instances of clinical action occurred. When scaled using national insurance database-derived financials-which estimated the mean per-study charge for MRI of the brain with and without contrast at $1767-the potential annualized national charge reduction was approximated as $1 611 504. CONCLUSION For clinically stable VS, 6-mo post-SRS MRI does not contribute significantly to management. We recommend omitting routine MRI before 12 mo, in patients without new or progressive neurological symptoms. If extrapolated nationally to the more than 100 active SRS centers, thousands of patients would be spared an inconvenient, nonindicated study, and national savings in health care dollars would be on the order of millions annually.
Knowledge-Based Sequential Decision-Making Under Uncertainty

Deep reinforcement learning (DRL) algorithms have achieved great success on sequential decision-making problems, yet is criticized for the lack of data-efficiency and explainability. Especially, explainability of subtasks is critical in hierarchical decision-making since it enhances the transparency of black-box-style DRL methods and helps the RL practitioners to understand the high-level behavior of the system better. To improve the data-efficiency and explainability of DRL, declarative knowledge is introduced in this work and a novel algorithm is proposed by integrating DRL with symbolic planning. Experimental analysis on publicly available benchmarks validates the explainability of the subtasks and shows that our method can outperform the state-of-the-art approach in terms of data-efficiency.
Immunotherapy in urothelial cancer, part 1: T-cell checkpoint inhibition in advanced or metastatic disease.

Cancer of the urothelium is the sixth most common cancer in the United States and is seen predominantly in men. Most cases of this disease present as non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), with cancer recurrence or progression to muscle-invasive cancer in more than 50% of patients after initial therapy. NMIBC is an immune-responsive disease, as indicated by the use of intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin as treatment for more than 3 decades. More recently, immunotherapy has seen much progress in a variety of cancers, including advanced and metastatic bladder cancer, in which historical 5-year survival rates are approximately 15%. The advent of T-cell checkpoint inhibitors, especially those directed at programmed death 1 (PD-1) and its ligand (PD-L1), has had a significant effect on the therapy of advanced urothelial cancer. This had led to accelerated approval by the US Food and Drug Administration for atezolizumab and nivolumab in advanced urothelial cancer previously treated with platinum-based chemotherapy. In addition, level 1 evidence supports the use of pembrolizumab over single-agent tubulin-directed chemotherapy in the same setting. Several other treatments with immune-mediating mechanisms of action are in development and hold great promise, including monoclonal antibodies directed at other checkpoint molecules, oncolytic virus therapy, adoptive T-cell therapy, combination immunotherapy, and antibody-drug conjugates. This review focuses on the recent development of T-cell checkpoint inhibitors in advanced and metastatic urothelial cancer and addresses their potential use in combination. It also discusses a spectrum of novel immunotherapies with potential use in urothelial cancer.
The Stickiness of Quality Work: Exploring Relationships Between the Quality of Employment and the Intent to Leave/Intent to Retire

Just after the turn of the century, when the “leading edge” of the baby boomers approached the age of 65, there was an increase in the public attention devoted to the work and retirement intentions of older adults. Some experts voiced worries about the economic fragility of older Americans who might struggle to support their households with the conventional “three-legged stool” set of strategies (i.e., savings/investments, Social Security, and private pensions). In response, researchers began to take a serious look at the options and benefits associated with voluntary extension of the labor force participation of older adults. While the arguments for working longer are multi-faceted, there is wide recognition that older adults who are able to work past the normative retirement age (62–65 years) can benefit from the financial benefits offered by employment (both income and possible access to continued employer-sponsored benefits). In this chapter, we present an argument with supporting evidence that job quality affects older adults’ intentions with regard to their transitions into retirement. We found that, compared to employees who report that they intend to stay with their current employer “until they retire,” there are negative relationships between satisfaction with meaningful work as well as with compensation and the intent to leave before they retire (in the next 5 years).
Predicted and remembered emotion: tomorrow's vividness trumps yesterday's accuracy.

People rely on predicted and remembered emotion to guide important decisions. But how much can they trust their mental representations of emotion to be accurate, and how much do they trust them? In this investigation, participants (N = 957) reported their predicted, experienced, and remembered emotional response to the outcome of the 2016 U.S. presidential election. They also reported how accurate and vivid they perceived their predictions and memories to be, and the importance of the election. Participants remembered their emotional responses more accurately than they predicted them. But, strikingly, they perceived their predictions to be more accurate than their memories. This perception was explained by the greater importance and vividness of anticipated versus remembered experience. We also assessed whether individuals with Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory for personal and public events (N = 33) showed superior ability to predict or remember their emotional responses to events. They did not and, even for this group, predicting emotion was a more intense experience than remembering emotion. These findings reveal asymmetries in the phenomenological experience of predicting and remembering emotion. The vividness of predicted emotion serves as a powerful subjective signal of accuracy even when predictions turn out to be wrong.
Provenance–aware workflow for data quality management and improvement for large continuous scientific data streams

Data quality assessment, management and improvement is an integral part of any big data intensive scientific research to ensure accurate, reliable, and reproducible scientific discoveries. The task of maintaining the quality of data, however, is non-trivial and poses a challenge for a program like the Department of Energy’s Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) that collects data from hundreds of instruments across the world, and distributes thousands of streaming data products that are continuously produced in near-real-time for an archive 1.7 Petabyte in size and growing. In this paper, we present a computational data processing workflow to address the data quality issues via an easy and intuitive web-based portal that allows reporting of any quality issues for any site, facility or instruments at a granularity down to individual variables in the data files. This portal allows instrument specialists and scientists to provide corrective actions in the form of symbolic equations. A parallel processing framework applies the data improvement to a large volume of data in an efficient, parallel environment, while optimizing data transfer and file I/O operations; corrected files are then systematically versioned and archived. A provenance tracking module tracks and records any change made to the data during its entire life cycle which are communicated transparently to the scientific users. Developed in Python using open source technologies, this software architecture enables fast and efficient management and improvement of data in an operational data center environment.
9 – Diagnostic Evaluation

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the diagnostic tests like—the direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) test for rabies. It reviews the confirmatory methods, and the advantages and disadvantages of other primary tests. The rabies diagnostic procedures are performed mostly for the postmortem examination of animals that have bitten a person or have potentially caused human exposure to the disease. These examinations comprise the most important diagnostic contributions to the control and prevention of rabies. Demonstration of the rabies infection initiates proper management of the exposed domestic animals, including booster vaccination of the previously immunized animals, and euthanasia or quarantine of the unvaccinated animals. Prompt and reliable negative results can be used to prevent the initiation of the unnecessary postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) in humans. The tests used to detect the evidence of rabies infection are also applied to the ante- and postmortem diagnosis of rabies in humans afflicted by encephalitis of unknown etiology. The rabies diagnostic methods support studies of rabies pathobiology, the production of vaccines and vaccine potency testing, and the surveillance programs for evaluation of the success of wildlife vaccination campaigns.
Pipkin type IV femoral head fractures: a case series and review of literature.

Femoral head fractures with associated acetabular fractures are uncommon injuries usually resulting from high-energy mechanisms such as motor vehicle collisions. Outcomes of Pipkin type IV fractures have been historically poor, with high rates of osteonecrosis, post-traumatic arthritis, and heterotopic ossification. The objective of this study was to define the outcomes of operatively treated Pipkin type IV fractures In addition, we reviewed the available literature of this uncommon injury pattern. A retrospective chart review at a single level 1 trauma center from 2007 to 2016 identified 10 patients with Pipkin IV femoral head fractures. Demographic information, fracture type, associated injuries, operative details, and complications were evaluated. Clinical and radiological outcomes were assessed at latest follow-up including conversion to total hip arthroplasty. Six of the seven patients were treated with open reduction and internal fixation of the femoral head fracture and acetabular fracture through a Kocher–Langenbeck approach aided by a trochanteric flip and one had fragment excision. Six patients (87.5%) developed post-traumatic arthritis. Four (57.1%) later underwent conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA) a mean of 20.5 months after index procedure. Our study shows a rate of osteonecrosis and osteoarthritis that is even higher than the previously reported studies. The former may relate to longer-term follow-up and the latter possibly due to associated comminuted posterior wall fracture.
Hybrid Model for Multidisciplinary Collaborations for Technical Communication Education in Engineering

Introduction: Engineering programs must take creative approaches to ensure that their students receive needed communication instruction in curricula constantly experiencing pressures of accreditation, state, and industry requirements: expectations for students’ knowledge and skills increase although curricula are compressed. Situating the case: Technical communication and engineering education scholarship describe multiple models for integrating writing instruction into engineering curricula: 1. writing across the curriculum, 2. partnership models, 3. embedded models, and 4. support models. About the case: Technical and professional writing and engineering faculty collaborated to develop a hybrid model, which borrows from multiple existing models for integrating technical writing education throughout the engineering curriculum, both in and outside of courses, including collaborative workshops, specialized writing center support, and other interventions. Methods/approach: Survey research was conducted with students on the effectiveness of multiple writing interventions. Results/discussion: The hybrid model enables students to experience a variety of writing interventions; students perceived them as beneficial. Students found most effective writing interventions occurred in the context of their engineering coursework. Faculty and administrators found the approach beneficial because of its collaborative nature and because it balanced instructional time with external support methods. Conclusions: Local solutions to universal problems must take many variables into consideration: people and programmatic cultures, disciplinary and institutional contexts, and curricular, regulatory, and funding constraints. The authors’ hybrid model for integrating technical writing into the engineering curriculum represents a flexible, sustainable approach adaptable to meet specific needs in specific environments at different institutions.
Public Library Events: Who, What, Where, When, and Why?

An explorative survey pertaining to organization and execution of programs and events offered in public libraries across Connecticut revealed that library programs have been steadily increasing in ...
Using Psychedelics With Therapeutic Intent Is Associated With Lower Shame and Complex Trauma Symptoms in Adults With Histories of Child Maltreatment.

BackgroundChild maltreatment negatively affects the formation of internal schemata of self and other during development, leading to negative adaptations in self-concept and social cognition. Clinic...
Periphery No More: The Jazira Between Local, Regional and International Dynamics

Despite being divided by the Syrian-Iraqi border, the Jazira, the region lying between the mid-upper courses of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, has significant internal coherence based on extensive cultural and blood linkages, a distinct local identity and a cross-border economy built on licit commerce and illicit trafficking. The emergence of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (al-Dawla al-Islāmiyya) over large swaths of the Syrian and Iraqi territories brought back to the fore the importance of the area, transforming it into the ‘launching pad’ of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s (ʾAbū Bakr al-Baghdādi) project aimed at overcoming the ‘Sykes-Picot legacy’ and at redefining the whole international order.
A SURVEY OF QUANDLE IDEAS

This article surveys many aspects of the theory of quandles which algebraically encode the Reidemeister moves. In addition to knot theory, quandles have found applications in other areas which are only mentioned in passing here. The main purpose is to give a short introduction to the subject and a guide to the applications that have been found thus far for quandle cocycle invariants.
Thermal performance characteristic comparison between flip-chip wirebond ceramic multichip modules

Multichip module (MCM) thermal performance for flip chip and wirebond (WE) die attach packages are evaluated using four chip, uniform size ceramic substrates. Thermal characteristics of each module are evaluated by conduction parametric analyser of individual module element properties and dimensions. Thermal performance is evaluated for conditions ranging from low air now and no heat sink to high air flow with high profile heat sinks. Flip chip modules are shown to be thermally superior to WB packages in both cavity up and cavity down configurations.
Merging R-Trees: Efficient Strategies for Local Bulk Insertion

A lot of recent work has focussed on bulk loading of data into multidimensional index structures in order to efficiently construct such structures for large datasets. In this paper, we address this problem with particular focus on R-trees—which are an important class of index structures used widely in commercial database systems. We propose a new technique, which as opposed to the current technique of inserting data one by one, bulk inserts entire new datasets into an active R-tree. This technique, called STLT (for small-tree-large-tree), considers the new dataset as an R-tree itself (small tree), identifies and prepares a suitable location in the original R-tree (large tree) for insertion, and lastly performs the insert of the small tree into the large tree. Besides an analytical cost model of STLT, extensive experimental studies both on synthetic and real GIS data sets are also reported. These experiments not only compare STLT against the conventional technique, but also evaluate the suitability and limitations of STLT under different conditions, such as varying buffer sizes, ratio between existing and new data sizes, and skewness of new data with respect to the whole spatial region. We find that STLT does much better (in average, about 65%) than the existing technique for skewed datasets as well for large sizes of both the large tree and the small tree in terms of insertion time, while keeping comparable query tree quality. STLT consistently outperforms the alternate technique in all other circumstances in terms of bulk insertion time, especially, even up to 2,000% for the cases when the area of new data sets covers up to 4% of the global region covered by the existing index tree; however, at the cost of a deteriorating resulting tree quality.
The effects of government disability benefits, accessibility laws and rehabilitation on employment choices by individuals with spinal cord injuries

OF THE DISSERTATION THE EFFECTS OF GOVERNMENT DISABILITY BENEFITS, ACCESSIBILITY LAWS AND REHABILITATION ON EMPLOYMENT CHOICES BY INDIVIDUALS WITH SPINAL CORD INJURIES by Susan M. Bell Florida International University, 2002 Miami, Florida Professor Maria J. Willumsen, Major Professor Greater inclusion of individuals with disabilities into mainstream society is an important goal for society. One of the best ways to include individuals is to actively promote and encourage their participation in the labor force. Of all disabilities, it is feasible to assume that individual with spinal cord injuries can be among the most easily mainstreamed into the labor force. However, less that fifty percent of individuals with spinal cord injuries work. This study focuses on how disability benefit programs, such as Social Security Disability Insurance, and Worker's Compensation, the Americans with Disabilities Act and rehabilitation programs affect employment decisions. The questions were modeled using utility theory with an augmented expenditure function and indifference theory. Statically, Probit, Logit, predicted probability, and linear regressions were used to analyze these questions. Statistical analysis was done on the probability of working, ever attempting to work after injury, and on the number of years after injury that work was first attempted and the number of hours worked per week. The data utilized were from the National Spinal Cord Injury Database and the Spinal Cord Injuries and Labor Database. The Spinal Cord Injuries and Labor Database was created specifically for this study by the author.
Are Interest Group Ads More Effective

Political ads from outside groups were at an all-time high in the 2012 presidential and congressional elections. In the aftermath of the election, numerous reports questioned the effectiveness of these ads. This contrasts with a small but growing scholarly literature that argues interest group ads are more effective in persuading voters. This paper contributes to that scholarship with an explicit focus on the format of donor disclosure and the type of interest-group sponsor. The paper uses results from a survey experiment that varies respondents‘ exposure to an ad in a fictional state senate race. Treatment conditions varied the ad‘s sponsor (candidate vs. group) and the group‘s donor base (small donor vs. large donors). It also varied the format of the donor disclosure (news reports vs. disclaimers in the ads). The results demonstrate that interest group ads (across conditions) can be very effective, but disclosure of donors reduces their influence such that they are not substantively more effective than candidate ads.
Tumor control after surgery and radiotherapy for pineocytoma.

Object Pineocytoma is a rare tumor, and the current literature on these tumors is primarily composed of case reports and small case series. Thus, recommendations on appropriate treatment of these tumors are highly varied. Therefore, the authors performed a systematic review of the literature on tumor control after surgery for pineocytoma to determine the relative benefits of aggressive resection and postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy. Methods A comprehensive search of the published English-language literature was performed to identify studies citing outcome data of patients undergoing surgery for pineocytoma. Determination of rates of progression-free survival (PFS) was performed using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results Sixty-four articles met the criteria of the established search protocol, which combined for a total of 166 patients. Twenty-one percent of these patients had undergone a biopsy procedure, 38% had undergone subtotal resection (STR), 42% had undergone gross-total resection, and 28% were treated...
Positivist beliefs among policy professionals: An empirical investigation

A group of scholars argue that mainstream policy analysis ispositivistic in its theory and practice. This paper reports the resultsof an e-mail survey that was conducted to investigate the extent,dimensions, and determinants of positivist beliefs among policyprofessionals. The survey results show that policy professionals aremore positivistic in their abstract beliefs and less so in their beliefsabout the role of politics and analysis in the policy process.Educational background is the most important factor determining beliefs:The economists and mathematicians/scientists are most positivistic intheir beliefs, while political scientists are least positivistic. Also,practitioners take more positivistic positions than academics. Overall,the largest percentage of the respondents see the postpositivist‘facilitator’ role as the proper role for policy analysts,but there is also a significant percentage of those who prefer thepositivist ‘problem solver’ role.
Wind-compressed disks

We discuss the wind-compressed disk (WCD) model and its ability to produce disks in the outflows from rapidly rotating stars. In particular, we discuss the recently discovered non-radial force components that may inhibit the formation of the disk and present preliminary investigations of the ionization distribution and associated line profiles in the WCD model.
Dual independent cell generation

A two-stage linear-time optimization algorithm is presented for dual independent layout styles. The first stage is based on a new tree representation of the complex gate. This tree representation allows complete flexibility in transistor order and takes complete advantage of the concept of delayed binding. The optimization algorithm is applicable to many VLSI layout styles. The algorithm is applied to the M/sup 3/ layout style, and examples of generated layouts are shown. Starting from a switching expression, the algorithm always produces an optimal solution, which includes an optimal transistor representation for the switching expression (first stage), and an optimal gate sequence such that the layout contains a minimum number of diffusion gaps (second stage). >
Assessment strategies: feedback is too late!

The newly started Electrical and Computer Engineering program at Rowan University, USA, was visited by ABET's EAC for the first time in October 2000. As the authors prepared for their program evaluation under EC 2000, they explored novel mechanisms for assessing their curricular outcomes and "closing the loop" in an effort to develop ongoing methods for continuous program improvement. They were motivated by a strong desire to make the assessment process minimally intrusive, yet maximally effective. They have developed an assessment instrument called an X-File and a unique course called "Clinic Consultant"-both these mechanisms are closely related to each other. This paper describes their implementation efforts.
Hemopexin and haptoglobin: allies against heme toxicity from hemoglobin not contenders.

The goal here is to describe our current understanding of heme metabolism and the deleterious effects of “free” heme on immunological processes, endothelial function, systemic inflammation, and various end-organ tissues (e.g. kidney, lung, liver, etc.), with particular attention paid to the role of hemopexin (HPX). Because heme toxicity is the impetus for much of the pathology in sepsis, sickle cell disease, and other hemolytic conditions, the biological importance and clinical relevance of HPX, the predominant heme binding protein, is reinforced. A perspective on the function of HPX and haptoglobin (Hp) is presented, updating how these two proteins and their respective receptors act simultaneously to protect the body in clinical conditions that entail hemolysis and/or systemic intravascular inflammation. Evidence from longitudinal studies in patients supports that HPX plays a Hp-independent role in genetic and non-genetic hemolytic diseases without the need for global Hp depletion. Evidence also supports that HPX has an important role in the prognosis of complex illnesses characterized predominantly by the presence of hemolysis, such as sickle cell disease, sepsis, hemolytic-uremic syndrome, and conditions involving intravascular and extravascular hemolysis, such as that generated by extracorporeal circulation during cardiopulmonary bypass and from blood transfusions. We propose that quantitating the amounts of plasma heme, HPX, Hb-Hp, heme-HPX and heme-albumin levels in various disease states may aid in the diagnosis and treatment of the above-mentioned conditions, which is crucial to developing targeted plasma protein supplementation (i.e. “replenishment”) therapies for patients with heme toxicity due to HPX depletion.
A behavioral evaluation of pest control workers with short‐term, low‐level exposure to the organophosphate diazinon

Neurobehavioral effects of short-term, low-level exposure to diazinon were investigated among 99 pest control workers tested before and after their work shift with a computer-assisted neurobehavioral test battery. Each subject completed a brief neurological screening examination, a symptom questionnaire, and tests of concentration, eye-hand coordination, pattern recognition, visual memory, and finger tapping. The diazinon metabolite diethylthiophosphate (DETP) was measured in pre- and post-shift urine samples collected from 46 diazinon applicators applying granulated diazinon onto residential properties with lawn spreaders, and 56 non-applicators. Post-shift median DETP for applicators and non-applicators was 24 and 3 ppb, respectively. Full shift, whole body exposure to diazinon was quantitated for 19 subjects using personal air monitoring and passive badges. Median diazinon exposure for applicators and non-applicators was 2.1 and 0.03 mg, respectively. Mean duration of pesticide application was 39 days (SD = 12 days) before testing. No adverse DETP-related changes in pre- or post-shift neurobehavioral function were found with multiple linear regression models after adjusting for age, sex, education, and ethanol intake, although Symbol-Digit pairing speed was slower among the applicators as a group. The prevalence of 18 symptoms possibly related to diazinon exposure was not elevated among applicators. The study failed to demonstrate diverse behavioral effects of short-term, low-level diazinon exposure in a pest control program which emphasized personal protective equipment and direct supervision. Language: en
Generation of a pH gradient in an immobilized enzyme system.

Several examples of two-step sequential reactions exist where, because of the poor equilibrium conversion by the first reaction, it is desirable to conduct the two reactions simultaneously. In such a scheme, the product of the first reaction is continuously removed by the second reaction, thus not allowing the first reaction to approach chemical equilibrium. Therefore, the first reaction is allowed to proceed in the desired direction at an appreciable rate. However, in many biochemical applications where enzyme catalysts are involved, the enzyme's activities are strong functions of pH. Where the pH optima of the first and second reaction differ by three to four units, the above reaction scheme would be difficult to implement. In these cases, the two reactions can be separated by a thin permeable membrane across which the desired pH gradient is maintained. In this article, it was shown, both by theory and experiment, that a thin, flat membrane of immobilized urease can accomplish this goal when one face of the membrane is exposed to the acidic bulk solution (pH(b) = 4.5) containing a small quantity of urea (0.01 M). In this particular case, the ammonia that was produced in the membrane consumed the incoming hydrogen ions and thus maintained the desired pH gradient. Experimental results indicate that with sufficient urease loading, the face of the membrane opposite to the bulk solution could be maintained at a pH that would allow many enzymes to realize their maximum activities ( approximately 7.5). It was also found that this pH gradient could be maintained even in the presence of a buffer, which greatly enhances the transport of protons into the membrane.
End-Pumped 895 nm Cs Laser

A scientific demonstration of a Cs laser is described in which the measured slope efficiency is as high as 0.59 W/W using a Ti:Sapphire laser as a surrogate diode-pump. In addition to presenting experimental data, a laser energetics model that accurately predicts laser performance is described and used to model a power-scaled, diode-pumped system.