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Assessing Flipped Versus Traditional Classrooms: Is Flipping Really Better?
No full textUsing a quasi-experiment, this research looks at grades and student satisfaction over the course of six semesters in a college-level writing class. Three of the classes were taught traditionally, and the other three classes utilized the flipped classroom concept. All classes were taught by the same instructor. Using independent samples t tests, results indicate that students received higher grades and had more satisfaction in the traditional classroom
Expansion of a single transposable element family is associated with genome-size increase and radiation in the genus Hydra
No full textTransposable elements are one of the major contributors to genome-size differences in metazoans. Despite this, relatively little is known about the evolutionary patterns of element expansions and the element families involved. Here we report a broad genomic sampling within the genus Hydra, a freshwater cnidarian at the focal point of diverse research in regeneration, symbiosis, biogeography, and aging. We find that the genome of Hydra is the result of an expansion event involving long interspersed nuclear elements and in particular a single family of the chicken repeat 1 (CR1) class. This expansion is unique to a subgroup of the genus Hydra, the brown hydras, and is absent in the green hydra, which has a repeat landscape similar to that of other cnidarians. These features of the genome make Hydra attractive for studies of transposon-driven genome expansions and speciation
On the q-bentness of Boolean functions
No full textFor each non-constant q in the set of n-variable Boolean functions, the q-transform of a Boolean function f is related to the Hamming distances from f to the functions obtainable from q by nonsingular linear change of basis. Klapper conjectured that no Boolean function exists with its q-transform coefficients equal to ±2n/2 (such function is called q-bent) when q is non-affine balanced. In our early work, we only gave partial results to confirm this conjecture for small n. Here we prove thoroughly that the conjecture is true for all n by investigating the nonexistence of the partial difference sets in abelian groups with special parameters. We also introduce a new family of functions called (δ, q) -bent functions, which give a measurement of q-bentness
Introduction
No full textThis introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book examines why the smooth flow of liberalization under Joao Figueiredo was hindered and its future course made questionable by a number of contradictions or dilemmas, political predicaments caused by the piling up of unaddressed issues for the next government to solve. It focuses on the role of the Congress as a major force in pushing for widening liberalization and as a key arena for expansion of representation, including growth in strength and determination of the opposition parties and the break-up of the official party. The book examines the early to intermediate stages of liberalization through a model of the six basic contradictions every political system must manage. It describes some major trends and issues in the changing analysis, reasons behind and implications of the shift in central tendencies, and factors that support and oppose continuation of the trends
Opioid distribution trends (2006–2017) in the US territories
No full textBackground. The US mainland is experiencing an epidemic of opioid overdoses. Unfortunately, the US Territories (Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands) have often been overlooked in opioid pharmacoepidemiology research. This study examined common prescription opioids over the last decade. Methods. The United States Drug Enforcement Administration’s Automation of Reports and Consolidated Orders System (ARCOS) was used to report on ten medical opioids: buprenorphine, codeine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, meperidine, methadone, morphine, oxycodone, and oxymorphone, by weight from 2006 to 2017. Florida and Hawaii were selected as comparison areas. Results. Puerto Rico had the greatest Territorial oral morphine mg equivalent (MME) per capita (421.5) which was significantly higher (p \u3c .005) than the Virgin Islands (139.2) and Guam (118.9) but significantly lower than that of Hawaii (794.6) or Florida (1,509.8). Methadone was the largest opioid by MMEs in 2017 in most municipalities, accounting for 41.1% of the total in the Virgin Islands, 37.9% in Florida, 36.6% in Hawaii but 80.8% in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico and Florida showed pronounced differences in the distribution patterns by pharmacies, hospitals, and narcotic treatment programs for opioids. Conclusions. Continued monitoring of the US Territories is needed to provide a balance between appropriate access to these important agents for cancer related and acute pain while also minimizing diversion and avoiding the opioid epidemic which has adversely impacted the US mainland
Histone H2A Repression Domain Regulates Cell-Cycle Progression in Saccaromyces Cerevisea
Get PDFThis study researched the histone H2A\u27s N-terminal tail amino acid sequence, focusing on amino acids 16-20 known as the histone H2A repression, HAR, domain. This study found a sensitivity within the deletion of the HAR domain to hydroxyurea, a genotoxin known to show defects in DNA replication. A spotting assay concluded that the HAR domain has an important regulator of the DNA replication process. The RNR1-4 genes were studied through reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reactions in order to see the difference in wild type gene expression compared to the deletion of the HAR domain. The deletion of the HAR domain showed a repression of the RNR2 gene which could be a reason why the DNA replication machinery does not work within the mutant strains. This study shows that the HAR domain has an important regulation of the process DNA replication possibly due to the RNR2 gene and the RNR protein complex
Applying Machine Learning to Encrypted Network Traffic for Malware Detection
Get PDFThe landscape of network analysis is ever-evolving as the fields of technology and business progress. While the landscape of the analysis may change, at the core of network analysis is the detection of malicious activity. In real-time traffic flow, it is non-trivial to determine whether a particular flow is malicious in nature. Most malicious software (malware) analysis is done after the flow has already reached its end target, and is analyzed in the form of network traffic captures. For any network analysis system, it is important that the privacy of the data being transmitted it not compromised in the process. Using network contextual flow data, it is possible to analyze and classify network traffic without compromising the encrypted data being transported.
In this project, we analyzed the impact of using the Intel Data Analytics Acceleration Library (DAAL) to expedite the analysis and inference of encrypted network traffic for the presence of malware. The DAAL package enables the acceleration of analytics through its design to target Intel hardware, being developed in a combination of C and assembly language for their architecture. With its streamlined design, using the library allows for analysis to take place many times faster than using the typical python framework and data analysis libraries, such as scikit-learn. Using these tools developed by Intel, our team designed an inference system that is capable of performing real-time analysis of network flows to detect malicious activity
Correctional Officers: Attitudes and Training
Get PDFPast literature on correctional officers is relatively sparse leaving many gaps in information important to supporting officers in their careers. Correctional officers have many experiences throughout their careers which affect their job satisfaction, levels of burnout, and turnover. Training in regard to mental health of the prisoners these officers are responsible for is one aspect of the career that requires more study. Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training is making strides in improving the skills of police officers when handling detainees with mental illnesses. CIT training focuses on knowledge about mental health, verbal de-escalation tactics, and increasing the officer’s confidence in interactions with those suffering from mental illness. This training could potentially be a positive tool for correctional officers to obtain, but there is little knowledge on its effectiveness in the correctional setting. Studies looking at the effectiveness of this program in police officers show positive changes in the behavior of the officers who receive the training and look at variables such as voluntary participation, feelings of self-efficacy, and knowledge of mental illness as well as other demographic factors which may be of influence. Finally, the concept of social distance has been briefly studied to date, but needs to be further studied so as to gain a deeper understanding of its effects on correctional officers, their relationships with the inmates, and even their views on solitary confinement
Detection of Heavy Metals by Colorimetric Nanoparticles
Get PDFIn the United States there are 6.1 million lead water service lines. This fact leaves many Americans in a precarious situation, as slight changes in the properties of their water supply (ex. pH), could result in the leaching of lead into their drinking water. Unfortunately, the average person does not have the ability to test for lead in water. This problem exists because current technologies for lead detection are expensive and require trained personnel. To address this issue, we propose a simple and inexpensive paper test for lead(II) in drinking water. This test will utilize polymer nanoparticles, which encapsulate a molecular probe that has a colorimetric response to lead(II), to produce a signal that can be visually observed by the user. In this work, a phenanthroline-based probe is synthesized and its colorimetric response to lead(II) assessed by UV-Vis spectroscopy. The probe is then incorporated into a polymer nanoparticle for increased stability in aqueous environments. Additionally, to ensure the test is reliable, a control is incorporated to confirm the test is working properly. To this end, polymer nanoparticles that encapsulate bromocresol green, a pH responsive dye, are also synthesized. These nanoparticles will produce a colorimetric signal when exposed to the pH of drinking water. Future work will look to incorporate these two nanoparticle systems into a paper lateral flow assay for simple and sensitive detection of lead(II)