cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dehydration of butanol to butene over solid acid catalysts in high water environments

Abstract The effects were studied of high water concentrations on the kinetics of alcohol dehydration, as encountered in aqueous-phase processing of biomass-derived oxygenated hydrocarbons. These studies were carried out for dehydration of an aqueous solution of 10 wt% 2-butanol at 513 K, and at a total pressure of 52 bar to maintain the water in the liquid state. Under these high pressures of water, silica-alumina, niobium phosphate and niobic acid are found to be stable and active for the dehydration of butanol. These three catalysts showed an increase in rate after contact with liquid water, caused by an increase in the concentration of Bronsted acid sites. Zeolite catalysts (Beta, USY, H-ZSM-5) and zirconia based catalysts (WOx/ZrO2, MoOx/ZrO2, and MgO/ZrO2) were ineffective due to deactivation or low catalytic activity. The flow rate of inert gas at constant aqueous flow rate had a significant effect on the rate of butene production, due to vaporization of butanol and water. At low flow rates of gas, increasing the gas flow rate causes the preferential vaporization of butanol, leading to a decrease in the butanol pressure in the reactor and a corresponding decrease in the rate of dehydration. Above a critical gas flow rate, the liquid feed becomes completely vaporized in the reactor, and increasing the gas flow rate further leads to a decrease in the pressure of water and a corresponding increase in the rate of dehydration. In the vapor–liquid equilibrium regime, kinetic models predict that most of the catalyst is covered with multiple layers of water, and dehydration takes place by reaction of hydrated–adsorbed butanol with a hydrated surface site. In the vapor-only regime, kinetic models suggest that the fraction of vacant active sites increases with increasing gas flow rate, and dehydration takes place by reaction of adsorbed butanol with a vacant surface site.
A simple active damping control for compliant base manipulators

When a robotic manipulator is mounted to a crane, boom or mobile platform, it loses its accuracy and speed due to the compliance of the base. This paper presents a simple robust control strategy that will reduce mechanical vibrations and enable better tip positioning. The control algorithm uses the sensory feedback of the base oscillation to modulate the manipulator actuator input to induce the inertial damping forces. The authors' previous work (1999) demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed concept using linear analysis. This work extends the concept to a more general case of a nonlinear multiple link manipulator using acceleration feedback and one sample delayed torque. A simulation and an experimental study show very promising results for a test bed consisting of a two-link manipulator and a compliant base.
Accounting for uncertainty in confounder and effect modifier selection when estimating average causal effects in generalized linear models

Confounder selection and adjustment are essential elements of assessing the causal effect of an exposure or treatment in observational studies. Building upon work by Wang et al. (2012, Biometrics 68, 661-671) and Lefebvre et al. (2014, Statistics in Medicine 33, 2797-2813), we propose and evaluate a Bayesian method to estimate average causal effects in studies with a large number of potential confounders, relatively few observations, likely interactions between confounders and the exposure of interest, and uncertainty on which confounders and interaction terms should be included. Our method is applicable across all exposures and outcomes that can be handled through generalized linear models. In this general setting, estimation of the average causal effect is different from estimation of the exposure coefficient in the outcome model due to noncollapsibility. We implement a Bayesian bootstrap procedure to integrate over the distribution of potential confounders and to estimate the causal effect. Our method permits estimation of both the overall population causal effect and effects in specified subpopulations, providing clear characterization of heterogeneous exposure effects that may vary considerably across different covariate profiles. Simulation studies demonstrate that the proposed method performs well in small sample size situations with 100-150 observations and 50 covariates. The method is applied to data on 15,060 US Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor between 2000 and 2009 to evaluate whether surgery reduces hospital readmissions within 30 days of diagnosis.
Strategic leveraging of e-learning initiatives in an information-rich environment

In this world of fast-paced corporate changes, development of employee skills through training is more crucial than ever to maintain sustainable competitive corporate success in the e-marketplace. The powers of the internet, intranets and extranets need to be leveraged and their appropriate software to teach the most innovative skills available need to be distributed swiftly and efficiently to enhance corporate advantage. The time and cost of implementing an e-learning management system need to be determined by companies in evolving industries as well as by companies striving to improve process and operational efficiency. This paper will outline general business conceptual models for companies to use when determining how to implement and strategically leverage e-learning processes.
Sexual abuse of children and adolescents

Increasingly, clinicians are being asked to help determine whether a child or adolescent has been a victim of sexual abuse. Since the late 1970s numerous articles about sexual abuse have appeared in the literature. This review article will acquaint the clinician with the definition and incidence of sexual abuse and the characteristics of the abused and the abuser. Practical guidelines are included for interviewing the victim, performing the physical examination, appropriate laboratory testing, treatment, reporting to appropriate authorities, and court testimony.
Contrast Ultrasound Imaging Does Not Affect Heat Shock Protein 70 Expression in Cholesterol-Fed Rabbit Aorta

Objectives Diagnostic ultrasound imaging is enhanced by the use of circulating microbubble contrast agents (UCAs), but the interactions between ultrasound, UCAs, and vascular tissue are not fully understood. We hypothesized that ultrasound with a UCA would stress the vascular tissue and increase levels of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), a cellular stress protein.
The Mass Media: A Role in Injury Causation and Prevention.

Researchers in recent years have begun to examine the role of the mass media both in contributing to adolescent violent behavior and as a valuable means of intervention. This chapter examines the role of the mass media in contributing to violent behavior, suicide, and alcohol consumption and abuse. For each area of discussion, the authors review the literature on the media's contribution to these health problems as well as suggestions for prevention strategies that involve the mass media as a tool for education. Language: en
LONG DURATION PROTEIN CRYSTAL GROWTH EXPERIMENTS USING THE EGN DEWAR APPARATUS

The Enhanced Gaseous Nitrogen Dewar (EGN) apparatus resulted from a desire to maximize the number of protein crystal growth samples by greatly simplifying the hardware. Previously flown hardware required bulky and expensive growth cells, mechanical and electrical activation systems and crew time to perform these duties. The EGN is based upon a liquid nitrogen Dewar already in the NASA inventory. Growth cells are simply Tygon tubing sealed with the same tubing sealer commonly used in blood banks. Protein and precipitating agents are kept separate in free-interface diffusion experiments merely by stepwise freezing. Activation occurs automatically upon thawing once the charge of liquid nitrogen is exhausted. Beta cloth sample bags an aluminum pressure vessel for containment, temperature sensors and data logging electronics complete the configuration. The simple nature of the growth cells allows great flexibility in experimental design for the investigator. Different sample volumes and equilibration rates are easily accommodated by the selection of tubing diameter. Samples can be prepared months in advance and launch scrubs are easily accommodated by refreshing the charge of liquid nitrogen. The relative ease of sample preparation and low cost have allowed an educational outreach program to be developed based on this hardware.
Make Your Own History: Documenting Feminist & Queer Activism in the 21st Century. Eds. Lyz Bly and Kelly Wooten. Los Angeles: Litwin Books, 2012. xi, 180p. $30 (ISBN978-1-936117-13-0).

Make Your Own History: Documenting Feminist & Queer Activism in the 21st Century, edited by Lyz Bly and Kelly Wooten, features essays by archivists, librarians, and activists that explore collecting, preserving, and providing access to materials produced by contemporary feminist and queer activist movements. Thought provoking and informative, this collection will be useful to archivists, librarians, activists, and scholars interested in women’s and LGBT history; and, despite the book’s particular focus, the best essays in this anthology will be useful to archivists and librarians throughout the field. Several of the essays in the book focus on collecting zines of the . . .
A Brief Review of Overseas Economic Researches on Urban Rail Transit

In the context of rapid urban rail development in China,this paper emphasizes the importance of empiri-cal research on the market characteristics and economics of urban rail transport.The paper starts with a brief overview of the rise and fall of urban rail transport in developed countries,especially in the U.S.This is followed by a dis-cussion of the key findings of"Urban Transportation Prob-lem"―a classic study in transport economics,the applica-tion of discrete choice models in urban rail planning,and the economic implications of key model parameters.The paper also reviews the financial problems of urban rail de-velopment in developing cities and their experiences in pri-vate sector participation.
Influence on Foam Quality by proteins in Beer Fermentation

The author probed into the influencing factors on foam quality in beer fermentation, and pointed out that the hydrolysis function of protein was essential.
A new tick cell line derived from Boophilus microplus.

The Boophilus microplus IX tick cell line was developed from a primary embryonic cell culture derived from eggs six to nine days old. The cell line has been in culture since March 1979 and is currently maintained at 32°C in medium consisting of equal parts of minimum essential medium and Leibovitz 15 medium supplemented with 20 per cent fetal bovine serum, 10 per cent tryptosc phosphate broth and 0·1 per cent plasma albumin. A split ratio of 1:2 has been used for all subcultures and the cell line is now in its 26th passage. The cells are predominantly epithelial-like and of the male diploid chromosome number 21.
Neopolyploidy in Spartina pectinata Link: 1. Morphological analysis of tetraploid and hexaploid plants in a mixed natural population

Prairie cordgrass has been reported as a multi-polyploidy species having three cytotypes: tetra- (2n = 4x = 40), hexa- (2n = 6x = 60), and octoploid (2n = 8x = 80). A mixed-ploidy population comprising tetraploids and hexaploids was recently found at a single location in Illinois. However, adaptation and morphological differences between tetra- and hexaploids occurring in natural conditions as well as the contact zones of these cytotypes have yet to be determined. In this study, the cytotypes of 147 individuals of prairie cordgrass collected across the contact zone (4x + 6x) were determined by flow cytometry using somatic G1 nuclei, and the results were confirmed by chromosome counts. Nineteen morphological characteristics were compared between the cytotypes. Tetra- and hexaploid plants have 2C genome sizes of 1.57 and 2.36 pg with chromosome counts of 40 and 60, respectively. This increase in polyploidy resulted in a greater variability of morphological expression in Illinois prairie cordgrass. Substantial differences in the flowering time, stomatal size, and plant morphological characteristics were observed between tetra- and hexaploids. The results indicate that the increasing of ploidy level in prairie cordgrass resulted in increased plant size in ploidy mixtures. The recent event of ploidy mixtures in prairie cordgrass natural populations offers unique opportunities for studying the formation and establishment of neopolyploidy.
Legal, Regulatory, and Ethical Issues in Telehealth Technology

Abstract The use of communication devices and other assistive technology to deliver professional health services to clients in remote locations is frequently referred to as telehealth. Pioneered by the medical field, telehealth is becoming increasingly more prevalent in other human service fields, such as professional psychology, and appears to be an effective, efficient, and acceptable service delivery platform. The digital delivery of psychological services introduces a host of ethical, legal, and regulatory issues that practitioners must be familiar with if they intend to use telehealth technology to provide services remotely. The purpose of this chapter is to familiarize readers with professional guidelines that have been established by state laws, regulatory boards, and professional organizations to govern the use of telehealth; to discuss specific ethical concerns related to privacy, confidentiality, and informed consent in telehealth; and to address issues regarding third-party reimbursement for telehealth services.
Non-Invasive Respiratory Impedance Enhances Cerebral Perfusion in Healthy Adults.

Optimization of cerebral blood flow is the cornerstone of clinical management in a number of neurologic diseases, most notably ischemic stroke. Intra-thoracic pressure influences cardiac output and has the potential to impact cerebral blood flow. Here we aim to quantify cerebral hemodynamic changes in response to increased respiratory impedance using a non-invasive respiratory device. We measured cerebral perfusion under varying levels of respiratory impedance (6cm H20, 9cm H20, and 12 cm H20) in 20 healthy volunteers. Simultaneous measurements of microvascular cerebral blood flow and middle cerebral artery mean flow velocity, respectively, were performed with optical diffuse correlation spectroscopy and transcranial Doppler ultrasound. At a high level of respiratory impedance, mean flow velocity increased by 6.4% compared to baseline (p=0.004), but changes in cortical cerebral blood flow were non-significant. In a multivariable linear regression model accounting for end tidal CO2, respiratory impedance was associated with increases in both mean flow velocity (coefficient: 0.49, p<0.001) and cortical cerebral blood flow (coefficient: 0.13, p<0.001), although the magnitude of the effect was small. Manipulating intrathoracic pressure via non-invasive respiratory impedance was well tolerated and produced a small but measurable increase in cerebral perfusion in healthy individuals. Future studies in acute ischemic stroke patients with impaired cerebral autoregulation is warranted in order to assess whether respiratory impedance is feasible as a novel non-invasive therapy for stroke.
Time Domain Parameter Estimation and Applied Discrete Nonlinear Control for Small-Scale Unmanned Helicopters

This Chapter deals with the dual problem of parameter estimation and nonlinear discrete control of helicopters. The objective is to develop a practical identification and control solution for direct application to an autonomous helicopter flight system. Although most controller designs are in continuous time, this Chapter considers the discrete time dynamics of the helicopter. The shift of the helicopter control problem to discrete time is twofold: Control algorithms are executed by microprocessors. The discretization effect of the helicopter dynamics should be incorporated into the controller design. In addition, time domain parametric identification is much simpler and computationally more efficient when the system equations are discretized.
Scalar Input or Scalar Output Systems

Let us suppose, for ease of exposition, that our field is simply the complex numbers ℂ in this section (although all that we do is valid for any algebraically closed field k). We recall that there were four basic representations of a scalar input-scalar output linear system introduced in Part I. These representations were: (1) a proper rational meromorphic function f(z); (2) a pair of relatively prime (coprime) polynomials (p(z), q(z)); (3) a Hankel matrix H of finite rank; and, (4) a triple (A, b, c) in A n 2 +2n.
Nonoperative Management of Low Back Pain and Lumbar Disc Degeneration

The approach to the management of low back pain has undergone substantial change in recent decades. Low back pain can often present as a difficult problem to solve. It is a loosely defined diagnosis that may refer to multiple patterns of pain with complex issues surrounding its pathoanatomical diagnosis and treatment. There is a paucity of evidence from the health professional literature regarding its cause, management, and prognosis. The difficulty of managing patients with low back pain stems from the fact that there often is very little association between any pathological physical findings and the patient's pain and disability. The professional must then find ways of clinically treating a syndrome that betrays the principles of basic science. In recent years, the advancement in diagnostic modalities and therapies has led to the belief that there are precise and treatable organic causes of low back pain. The quickly evolving worlds of radiology, electrodiagnostics, and injection techniques have yielded advances in diagnostic reliability and more directed treatment plans. Many who routinely treat axial low back pain favor the idea that identification of a particular pain generator should be aggressively pursued and identified. Only after a thorough attempt has been made to provide a focused pathoanatomical diagnosis should the diagnosis of a nonspecific low back disorder be accepted by the patient or physician. With the understanding that there are still many difficulties in the management of low back syndromes, this lecture will review some of the available nonoperative modes of low back pain treatment, which can be applied regardless of whether a particular pain mediator has been identified. Currently, low back pain is epidemic in the United States. Its annual incidence has been projected to be 5% per year, with an associated prevalence of 60% to 90%1. The one-month prevalence of low …
Can Religion and Spirituality Find a Place in Higher Education

Do institutions of higher learning have a part to play in supporting students’ religion and spirituality? If so, how can campuses nourish these aspects of students’ lives without undermining such c...
Electronic and magnetic properties of Fe2Sin (1 ≤ n ≤ 12)+/0/− clusters

Abstract First principles studies on the geometry, electronic structure and magnetic properties of neutral, cationic, and anionic Fe 2 Si n (1 ≤ n ≤ 12) have been performed to better understand magnetic dopants in silicon. The doubly-Fe doped clusters in the size range 1 ≤ n ≤ 12 are marked by finite spin moments at the Fe sites, and Fe 2 Si 3 , Fe 2 Si 4 , and Fe 2 Si 7 are found to exhibit antiferromagnetic coupling. Fe 2 Si 3 and Fe 2 Si 12 are relatively stable. We find that short Fe Fe bond distances correlate with ferromagnetic coupling due to the destabilization of antibonding orbitals between the iron sites, while longer Fe Fe bond distances lead to nonbonding atomic orbitals that favor antiferromagnetic coupling.
Assessing Free Student Answers in Tutorial Dialogues Using LSTM Models

In this paper, we present an LSTM approach to assess free short answers in tutorial dialogue contexts. A major advantage of the proposed method is that it does not require any sort of feature engineering. The method performs on par and even slightly better than existing state-of-the-art methods that rely on expert-engineered features.
Detecting and reducing post-traumatic stress among children exposed to domestic violence: A multi-agency early intervention program

Abstract Exposure to domestic violence (DV) has serious implications for youth, increasing risk for a range of problems, including post-traumatic stress. The Child Trauma Response Team is a multi-agency collaboration aimed at providing coordinated, immediate, trauma-informed, and interdisciplinary response to children and their impacted family members who are exposed to domestic violence. This mixed-methods study analyzed CTRT administrative data along with qualitative stakeholder interview data to describe the children and families served by CTRT, examine the reach of CTRT services, and articulate the lessons learned in the early stages of CTRT program implementation. Results show the majority of children accessing CTRT services were young and came from racial and/or ethnic minority backgrounds. The vast majority of families engaging with CTRT received safety assessment and planning and child trauma education, with many families receiving at least one other service. Stakeholders identified challenges to implementation as: identification of eligible families; initiating and ensuring program engagement; and collaboration and communication across multiple agencies. Several strategies to overcome these challenges were identified. Findings from this study indicate that, through inter-agency collaboration, reaching and serving children exposed to DV in the days and weeks immediately following a violent event is feasible—even in a large city with complex inter-agency relationships.
TDCIPP exposure affects Artemia franciscana growth and osmoregulation

Abstract Environmental monitoring has demonstrated widespread occurrence of the flame-retardant tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP), raising concerns about the impact on aquatic life. Using 1H NMR and GC–MS metabolomics and 20-day body length experiments, we have determined that exposure to TDCIPP affects Artemia franciscana. The LC50 for a 48 h TDCIPP exposure was determined to be 37.1 ± 1.3 μM. Acute exposure (48 h) to 20.0 μM did not affect A. franciscana body length but did elicit a metabolic change. Chronic exposure to 0.50 μM TDCIPP caused decreased body length in A. franciscana exposed for 20 days and elicited a metabolic response. Principal component analysis revealed variance between acute and chronic exposure along PC1 (36.4%) and between control and TDCIPP along PC2 (17.4%). One-way ANOVA indicated that 19 metabolites were significantly affected by TDCIPP exposure; namely metabolites of the osmolyte class, including betaine, phosphocholine, gadusol, taurine, glycerol and trehalose – metabolites that are essential osmoprotectants in extremophile species. Other pathways that may be perturbed by TDCIPP exposure include one carbon, glycine, serine, threonine, and glycerophospholipid metabolism.
Using Data Science to Predict Readmissions in Heart Failure

This review describes the current literature on the use of data science to predict readmissions of patients with heart failure. We examine the chronology of heart failure management from the emergency department, inpatient unit, transition of care, and home care. We examine the software and hardware which may improve readmission rates of this common and complex disease process. There are multiple novel applications of data science which have been used to predict readmissions of heart failure patients. In the emergency department, efforts are focused on identifying patients who can be safely discharged after a brief period of stabilization; while inpatient endeavors have attempted to predict those patients at risk for decline after discharge. Overall, prediction rules have had mixed results. Outpatient telemonitoring with invasive devices seems to hold promise. New technologies may be the key to future improvements in readmission rates. Heart failure holds a high morbidity and mortality, and hospitalizations are common. A number of technological interventions have been developed to prevent readmissions in this complex population. Improvements in technology may lead to reductions in heart failure admissions, reduced mortality, and improved quality of care.
Common Disputes in Eminent Domain Cases

AbstractEminent domain is the mechanism that allows for the legal acquisition of private land for public use by the government or its agent with proper compensation. In the past, this type of acqui...
Using geotagged tweets to track population movements to and from Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria

After a disaster, there is an urgent need for information on population mobility. Our analysis examines the suitability of Twitter data for measuring post-disaster population mobility using the case of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Among Twitter users living in Puerto Rico, we show how many were displaced, the timing and destination of their displacement, and whether they returned. Among Twitter users arriving in Puerto Rico after the disaster, we show the timing and destination of their trips. We find that 8.3% of resident sample relocated during the months after Hurricane Maria and nearly 4% of were still displaced 9 months later. Visitors to Puerto Rico fell significantly in the year after Hurricane Maria, especially in tourist areas. While our Twitter data is not representative of the Puerto Rican population, it provides broad evidence of the effect of this disaster on population mobility and suggests further potential use.
Approximating Boolean Functions with Disjunctive Normal Form.

The theorem states that: Every Boolean function can be $\epsilon -approximated$ by a Disjunctive Normal Form (DNF) of size $O_{\epsilon}(2^{n}/\log{n})$. This paper will demonstrate this theorem in detail by showing how this theorem is generated and proving its correctness. We will also dive into some specific Boolean functions and explore how these Boolean functions can be approximated by a DNF whose size is within the universal bound $O_{\epsilon}(2^{n}/\log{n})$. The Boolean functions we interested in are: Parity Function: the parity function can be $\epsilon-approximated$ by a DNF of width $(1 - 2\epsilon)n$ and size $2^{(1 - 2\epsilon)n}$. Furthermore, we will explore the lower bounds on the DNF's size and width. Majority Function: for every constant $1/2 < \epsilon < 1$, there is a DNF of size $2^{O(\sqrt{n})}$ that can $\epsilon-approximated$ the Majority Function on n bits. Monotone Functions: every monotone function f can be $\epsilon-approximated$ by a DNF g of size $2^{n - \Omega\epsilon(n)}$ satisfying $g(x) \le f(x)$ for all x.
Characterization of substrate binding and catalytic mechanisms of an endoxylanase, amylosucrase, and porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase

6 INTRODUCTION 7 LITERATURE REVIEW 9 EXPERIMENTAL 11 Materials 11 Enzyme 11 Carbohydrates 11 Methods 11 Determination of action pattern 11 Measurement of bond cleavage frequencies 12 Calculation of subsite map 12 RESULTS 14 Kinetics 14 Action pattern 14 Kinetic parameters 14 Subsite Mapping 14 Bond cleavage frequencies 14 Calculation of the subsite map 17 DISCUSSION 19 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 22 REFERENCES 23
Groundwater contamination from a municipal landfill: Effect of age, landfill closure, and season on groundwater chemistry

Abstract Groundwater reservoirs continue to be threatened globally, mainly from anthropogenic activities. There is need to understand how remediation of groundwater can be influenced by site-specific factors. There are few studies, if any, that incorporate at least three site-specific factors in a single investigation of groundwater contamination from landfills. We report a study where waste age, landfill closure, and season were compared with changes in water quality, using a twenty-four-year groundwater chemistry dataset. Groundwater samples were extracted from monitoring wells and analysed for twenty-eight physicochemical parameters. Results showed discharge of both legacy pollutants and elevated inorganic pollutants into the groundwater. Among the site-specific factors, waste age was the most influential. At the landfill age of 21 years, concentrations of pollutants became close to the reference value. The result also indicated that closing the landfill caused significant decrease in concentrations of contaminants in the groundwater (P
CRTC3 is a coincidence detector for cAMP and growth factor signals in melanocytes and melanoma

Abstract Triggering of cAMP and mitogen-activated (MAPK) pathways in response to hormonal and growth factor cues promotes melanocyte pigmentation and survival in part through induction of the master regulator MITF by the cAMP-responsive factor CREB. We examined the role of CREB coactivators (CRTC1-3) in transduction of cAMP and MAPK signals in melanocytes. We found that knockout of the CRTC3 gene in mice and B16F1 melanoma cells decreases pigmentation by directly regulating the expression of the melanosomal transporter OCA2. In addition to effects of cAMP, CRTC3 activation was also promoted by ERK1/2-mediated phosphorylation at Ser391; amounts of phosphorylated CRTC3-S391 were constitutively elevated in human melanoma cells expressing mutated BRAF or NF1. Knockout of CRTC3 in A375 melanoma cells impaired their anchorage-independent growth, migration and invasiveness, whereas CRTC3 over-expression increased survival in response to BRAF inhibition by vemurafenib. Analysis of spontaneous CRTC3 mutations in melanomas reveals that increased activity of this co-activator is associated with reduced patient survival. Our results highlight the importance of CRTC3 in pigmentation and melanoma progression.
Predictors of Depressive Symptoms in Rural Farm Women Aged 50 and Over

Purpose: Aspects of farming and farm life can contribute to higher levels of depressive symptoms resulting in an increased risk for injury and development of chronic disease and a decrease in overall quality of life. Rural farm women can be subjected to stressors from farming as an occupation, their role within the agrarian culture, and life in a rural area. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of demographic characteristics, agricultural occupational factors, and health indicators with depressive symptoms among farm women aged 50 years and older. Methods: Secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the Sustained Work Indicators of Older Farmers Study (2002-2006) was used to examine the influence of factors on depressive symptoms of older (> 50 years) female farmers (N= 358) from North Carolina and Kentucky. The study was framed by a modified version of the Biopsychosocial Model. Logistic regression was conducted to examine the relationships between demographics, perceived health status, active coping score, perceived stress, and factors specific to farm work and depressive symptoms. Findings: Participants’ depressive symptoms status (high vs. low) was predicted by their race/ethnicity, years of education, adequacy of income for vacation, perceived health status, perceived stress, and active coping. Conclusion: This study increases our understanding of the factors associated with depressive symptoms in farm women, but also identifies significant gaps in our knowledge of depressive symptoms among this population. The multifaceted dimensions of depressive symptoms revealed indicate a crucial need to more fully explore the interrelationship among the dimensions of the conceptual model and the physical and mental health of farm women. Additional knowledge gained from these studies will assist in the development of assessment instruments, skills, and plan of care specific to the needs of farm women; thus optimizing the health care of farm women. Key words: rural women, farm women, depressive symptoms, farm life
World Peace and Gender Equality: Addressing U.N. Security Council Resolution 1325's Weaknesses

The year 2020 marks the twentieth anniversary of the passage of United Nations Security Council Resolution (“UNSCR”) 1325, the most important moment in the United Nations’ efforts to achieve world peace through gender equality. Over the past several decades, the international community has strengthened its focus on gender, including the relationship between gender and international peace and security. National governments and the United Nations have taken historic steps to elevate the role of women in governance and peacebuilding. The passage of UNSCR 1325 in 2000 foreshadowed what many hoped would be a transformational shift in international law and politics. However, the promise of gender equality has gone largely unrealized, despite the uncontroverted connection between treatment of women and the peacefulness of a nation. This Article argues for the first time that to achieve international peace and security through gender equality, the United Nations Security Council should transition its approach from making recommendations and suggestions to issuing mandatory requirements under Chapter VII of the U.N. Charter. If the Security Council and the international community believe gender equality is the best indicator of sustainable peace, then the Security Council could make a finding under Article 39 with respect to ‘a threat to the peace’—States who continue to mistreat women and girls pose a threat to international peace and security.
Primary care oncology model (PCOM): Implementation of a model integrating primary and oncology care for patients taking oral anticancer agents.

TPS1587Background: Non-adherence to oral anticancer agents (OAA) has been reported among 30% of individuals. Often, individuals with cancer are not just managing their new OAA but also medications ...
Long-Term Patient-Reported Quality of Life and Functional Outcomes After Chemoradiation Using Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy for Anal Cancer.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S) Few studies have long-term follow-up assessing patient-reported outcomes (PROs) after intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)-based chemoradiation (CRT) for squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA). There is poor agreement between physician-graded toxicity and PROs regarding quality of life (QOL) in patients with SCCA. Therefore, we surveyed SCCA survivors ≥ 2 years out from CRT with validated PRO instruments assessing bowel, bladder, and sexual function. MATERIALS/METHODS We identified 248 patients with SCCA treated with definitive IMRT-based CRT at a large tertiary cancer center from 2010-2018, who were alive and without recurrence. Patients were asked to complete five PRO instruments: Fecal Incontinence QOL Scale (FIQOL), Low Anterior Resection Syndrome Score (LARS), International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ), male and female lower urinary tract symptoms (MLUTS and FLUTS, respectively), International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). FIQOL, LARS, IIEF, and FSFI scores were dichotomized and logistic regression used to identify predictors of QOL scores. RESULTS One hundred eight (44%) patients completed the PROs. Respondents' median [interquartile range, (IQR)] age was 66 [59-72] years, 80% were female, and 95% were white. Median [IQR] gross tumor volume (GTV) was 45 [27-71] cc; dose to GTV was 50 Gray (Gy), 54 Gy and 58 Gy in 25%, 53%, and 22%, respectively. Median [IQR] time from CRT was 51 [37-84] months. Median [IQR] FIQOL score was 14.3/20 [11.2-16.1]; higher is better. Larger GTV size (OR 0.99; P = 0.03) was associated with lower FIQOL score. Sixty-one (56%) patients met major LARS criteria. There was a trend towards a higher incidence of major LARS with GTV dose ≥ 54 Gy (OR 2.39; P = 0.08). Men had median [IQR] ICIQ MLUTS voiding and incontinence scores of 5/20 [2-6] and 1/24 [1-3], respectively. Women had median [IQR] ICIQ FLUTS voiding and incontinence scores of 1/12 [1-3] and 5/20 [3-8], respectively; higher is worse. Fifty-nine (55%) patients reported being sexually active in the last month. Men had a median [IQR] IIEF score of 14/25 [6-19]; higher is better. Only age (OR 1.17; P = 0.04) was significantly associated with IIEF ≤ 11 (moderate or severe ED). Women had a median [IQR] FSFI score of 20.2/26 [13.6-24.9]; higher is better. Age < 65 was associated with sexual dysfunction, defined as FSFI < 26.55 (OR, 5.5; P = 0.04). Forty (37%) patients disagreed or strongly disagreed that they were prepared for long-term side effects. Seventy (65%) patients agreed or strongly agreed that educational materials would have been helpful. CONCLUSION SCCA survivors experience significant long-term bowel and sexual toxicities from modern CRT. Larger tumors and higher RT doses may be associated with worse function. Interventions to reduce toxicities and improve patient education are needed.
The Effect of Intravenous Procainamide on the HV Interval at Electrophysiologic Study

The His bundle electrogram recorded at electrophysiologic study clearly differentiates atrioventricular (AV) node disease from distal conduction system disease. The distal conduction system may be tested further by infusing procainamide (10-15 mg/kg) intravenously. High-grade distal AV block or prolongation of the HV interval <80 ms was defined as an abnormal response to this test. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 79 patients who underwent electrophysiologic study with intravenous procainamide. An abnormal response to procainamide was observed in only 3% of 37 patients with a normal baseline HV (</= ms), in 48% of 27 patients with mild HV prolongation (56 to 70 ms), and in all 15 patients with moderate HV prolongation (<70 ms) (P <0.0001 for the trend). Procainamide induced high-grade AV block in 4 of 28 patients (14%) studied for syncope and in 1 of 51 patients (2%) studied for ventricular tachycardia. Syncope as the indication for electrophysiologic study (P = 0.05) and left bundle branch block morphology (P = 0.03) were predictors of high-grade AV block; baseline HV and QTc intervals were significantly prolonged in patients who developed AV block with procainamide. We identified a strong linear correlation (R = 0.85) between post-drug and baseline HV intervals, with a regression slope of 1.17 +/- 0.09 and an intercept (+/- standard error) of 5.8 +/- 5.0 ms. This linear response to procainamide and published prospective studies support pacing syncope patients with baseline HV <70 ms. Therefore, procainamide infusion during the electrophysiologic study of patients with undifferentiated syncope should be reserved for those with mild HV prolongation from approximately 55 to 70 ms.
Teaching International Crises Through Online Simulations

In courses related to international security, we find that students often to class bearing some prior biases, which they continue to retain through a selective learning process. This paper discusses a simulation of an India-Pakistan crisis that tackles some of these biases. The simulation was developed with support for the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) at the University of Maryland (UMD) and in cooperation with the ICONS project at UMD. This paper outlines the content of the simulation and discusses some of responses of students to participation in the exercise.
The time-modulated barrier approach to traversal times from the Bohm trajectory point of view

Abstract Buttiker and Landauer introduced the time-modulated barrier method for determining the average traversal time τ T for an electron incident on a static barrier. This approach was motivated by the expectation that with the addition to the barrier of a small oscillatory component, V 1 cosωt, the tunneling behaviour would exhibit distinct low (ω⪡τ T −1 ) and high (ω⪢τ T −1 ) frequency regimes. Recently De Raedt, Garcia and Huyghebaert studied the scattering of gaussian wave packets by time-modulated rectangular barriers. They were unable to extract τ T from the frequency dependence of the calculated transmission probability |T(ω)| 2 . In the present paper, possible reasons are suggested. In particular, it is argued that, at least within the Bohm trajectory interpretation of quantum mechanics, a very small increase in the transmission probability actually involves atypically long reflection times rather than the average transmission time of the unperturbed barrier. Hence, there is no reason to expect a signature of τ T in |T(ω)| 2 . The Bohm trajectory approach is then used to investigated the ω dependence of the average traversal time and the distribution of traversal times both of which are found to exhibit interesting resonant behavior.
Reverse tri-iodothyronine to tri-iodothyronine ratio and gestational age

The biologic significance of reverse tri-iodothyronine is not yet identified. Cord blood values reflect the fetal thyroid state, with rT 3 excess and tri-iodothyronine deficiency. In an attempt to correlate thyroid function and gestational age, T 3 and rT 3 concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay on 64 cord blood samples. Infant gestational ages ranged from 29 to 42 weeks; birth weights from 650 to 3,870 gm. The results show a significant positive correlation between gestational age and T 3 and a significant negative correlation between gestational age and rT 3 . The rT 3 /T 3 offers the best correlation.
Comparative expression of T9, T10, and Ia antigens on activated human T cell subsets.

Abstract In the present study, the expression of three surface molecules T9, T10, and Ia, which are found on activated T lymphocytes, was examined utilizing monoclonal antibodies and indirect immunofluorescence. These antigens were shown to appear on T lymphocytes in a defined temporal sequence which was dependent on the specific triggering stimulus. Moreover, when T cells were fractionated into individual subsets of T4+ inducer and T8+ cytotoxiclsuppressor lymphocytes. the expression of all three molecules was restricted to the T4+ subset following soluble antigen stimulation. By contrast, both subsets expressed these surface determinants following mitogen or alloantigen stimulation. The above results suggest that there may be successive stages in the T cell activation process associated with the appearance of unique cell surface antigens and further support the view that various triggering stimuli activate T cell population differently.
Density-dependent effect on oral vaccination of channel catfish against Edwardsiella ictaluri

Abstract Replicates of four 0.1-acre (0.04 ha) earthen ponds were stocked with either 6000, 12 000, or 24 000, 13 to 15 day post-hatch channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) per pond. At 6 weeks of age fish in two ponds per density treatment were fed a diet containing 1% of a dehydrated, coated Edwardsiella ictaluri vaccine for 5 consecutive days, then 10 days with normal feed followed by the vaccine feed for an additional 5 days. Four months after stocking, survival in vaccinated fish with 6000 and 12 000 fish per 0.04 ha was 100.6% and 77% compared to 80% and 55.5% for non-vaccinated treatments of the respective stocking densities. Survival of the vaccinates and non-vaccinates stocked at 24 000 0.04 ha was 43.5% and 39.4% respectively. The survivals of vaccinates vs. non-vaccinates within a stocking density were not significantly (P>0.05) different. Survival in lower stocking densities within a vaccination or non-vaccination regime were significantly (P 24 000 0.04 ha . Fish in the lower stocking densities grew better than those in the higher densities in both the vaccinated and non-vaccinated treatments. Other parameters measured were E. ictaluri-specific antibody titers, feed conversion and condition factor.
Pure object-based domain model for enterprise systems

There are different patterns for organizing domain logic in enterprise applications. Good design patterns give recurring solutions to software design problems in real-world application development [1]. This presentation will describe the domain model for an enterprise system, net-centric performance improvement (Net-PI), which assists organizations in the analysis, support and evaluation of human performance [2]. The system has gone through a number of iterations and is based on Microsoft .NET and SQL Server 2000. The current architecture of Net-PI is based on the domain model created by Neo (.NET Entity Objects) which produces an object-relational mapping layer with extensible base-classes to access data on relational databases. The architecture incorporates the object data and its behavior (business logic and events) into classes which contain transparent database interaction. It is excellent in dealing with complexity and maintainability.
Introducing a Quadristable Auditory Spatial Illusion: Imagining objects moving through space

Object perception is a multimodal task, involving both sight as well as sound to localize objects. Several visual illusions have made use of multi-stable percepts of object direction and location (Necker, 1832; Kayahara, 2003). Here, we created an auditory correlate of such visual illusions that causes differential interpretations of object direction and location, yet with a constant visual input. This quadristable auditory illusion makes use of back-front confusions to give varying perceptions of an object approaching and retracting from the listener. Observers can perceive the sound as traveling: 1) front to back, 2) back to front, 3) coming from and returning to the front, and 4) coming from and returning to the back. To test this illusion, participants sat in a symmetrical, customized chamber with four speakers positioned on the cardinal axes around them and performed several psychophysics experiments where participants were asked to discriminate between 1) sounds really moving between the speakers and 2) the illusion (which is played equally in the front and back speakers and does not move). When asked to discriminate between real and illusory sounds, observers performed at chance. They localized the illusory sound as all different directional possibilities. When asked to rate their confidence in perceiving a sound cued by directional instructions, they gave equal confidence for the real and illusory sounds (despite the illusion having no direction). When rotated 90 degrees, so that the sounds now traveled between the left and right speakers, observers performed at ceiling. These results show the illusion along the front-back axis is not differentiable from truly moving sounds, and is successful in producing directional percepts. Such quadristable auditory illusions open new opportunities in multimodal science, for studying the perceptual, cognitive and neural representation of objects and space, as well as exploring multi-dimensional perceptual awareness.
Systematic copper concentration variations along grain boundaries in bulk-scale YBa2Cu307−δ bicrystals

Abstract Local variations in the cation composition along grain boundaries in bulk-scale YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7−δ bicrystals grown by the flux method were investigated by high-spatial-resolution energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) in a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM). Composition profiles along 7° [001] and 31° [001] tilt boundaries reveal regularly-spaced regions that are rich in copper relative to both the grain interior and the neighboring sections of the grain boundary. The average spacing and range of spacings between adjacent copper maxima are 75 nm and 60–100 nm, respectively, for the seven maxima observed in the 7° bicrystal. Three maxima with a spacing of ∼ 100 nm were detected in a shorter segment of the 31° boundary. In both bicrystals, the spacing of the maxima equaled the wavelength of an approximately periodic strain field with dislocation array like character that was observed in the boundary. Long-wavelength strain fields of this type previously have been associated with saw-tooth-shaped facet structures in flux-grown YBa 2 Cu 3 0 7−δ bicrystal. A saw-tooth facet structure was observed directly only in the 7° bicrystal, however. Less extensive investigations of additional bicrystals suggest that oscillatory cation nonstoichiometry is general to [001] tilt boundaries in flux-grown YBa 2 Cu 3 0 7−δ bicrystals and possibly to more general boundaries. Regular variations in boundary nonstoichiometry are a possible origin for one scale of boundary subdivision and may contribute to the heterogeneity of the electromagnetic properties that is believed to occur on a range of different length scales in YBa 2 Cu 3 0 7−δ .