Towards Improved Support for Conflict-Free Replicated Data Types

Conflict-free Replicated Data Types (CRDTs) are distributed data types which ensure Strong Eventual Consistency (SEL), and also has properties such as commutativity and idempotence. There are many variations of CRDTs, and the ones we will study are state-based delta CRDTs. State-based CRDTs is a variation where the CRDT instances synchronize by sending their state to each other. An improvement to this is delta CRDTs which is yet another variation where only the difference of mutations is disseminated. We will explore some of the existing CRDTs, but also present some new CRDT designs and their implementations. One of the new CRDTs presented is Causal Length Set (CLSet), which is a simple, yet effective state-based delta CRDT. It does not use dots as causal context as many other CRDTs; it merely uses a single integer. With this minimalist CRDT design, we can achieve both great performance and a small memory footprint. Another CRDT presented is Multiple Value Map (MVMap), a CRDT which focuses on convenience as opposed to performance

Examining the effectiveness of the circle of security parenting DVD program

Child maltreatment continues to occur at alarming rates, and while several interventions currently exist for use with parents to minimize the incidence of child maltreatment (Daro & McCurdy, 2007), many can be time consuming for service providers and consumers. One program, the Circle of Security (COS), lasts 20 weeks with weekly sessions lasting approximately 2 hours each (Marvin, Cooper, Hoffman, & Powell, 2002). To make the program more accessible, the program’s originators modified it into a DVD protocol comprising only 8- weeks (Cooper, Hoffman, & Powell, 2009). The current study evaluated the effectiveness of the COS DVD program in improving parent-child relationships. Most participants were randomly assigned to either a Treatment-Control (n = 24) or Control-Treatment group (n = 13); the Treatment-Control group participated immediately in treatment, while the Control-Treatment group waited to begin until after the Treatment-Control group had finished. Groups were compared on several outcome measures, including reflective functioning—the target of intervention. Repeated measures ANOVAs detected few significant differences between groups across time on most variables, although some trends emerged. Results indicate the need for further study and suggest that the DVD version may require necessary components removed from the original program

The Influence of Dad: An Investigation of Adolescent Females\u27 Perceived Closeness with Fathers and Risky Behaviors

Substance use and sexual behaviors are prominent college campus activities, often co-occurring. An evolutionary perspective illuminates the unique impact of father-daughter relationships on substance use and sexual risk-taking. Female adolescents who experience early physical separation from their fathers or lack relational closeness with him exhibit higher rates of substance use and accelerated reproductive development. This study examines whether female adolescents’ models of father psychological presence (a component of the attachment working model) also predict risky college behavior. Eighteen to 22 year old college females were administered several scales assessing father psychological presence, sexual risk taking, substance use, impulsivity, and depression. Results revealed that father psychological presence did predict sexual risk-taking and illicit drug use (but not alcohol use) after controlling for impulsivity, other risky behavior, and mood. Consistent with evolutionary and attachment theories, psychological presence of fathers may function as protection against risky behavior

Pegmatites in Southwestern Montana

Little has been written on pegmatites in Montana except in conjunction with reports on mining districts. This subject was chosen as a senior thesis to see what facts could be ascertained re­garding pegmatites alone, and an attempt has been made by the writer to assemble all written material on pegmatites in southwestern Montana, and to study specimens from those that could be reached or from which specimens were available

Acid soils in west-central Saskatchewan

Non-Peer Reviewe

Innovative Radio Delivery Systems? The Pony Express Still Works

This study concerned how radio station managers\u27 attitude toward change relates to their willingness to adopt technologies

Seasonal variation of wind erodibility of Saskatchewan soils

Non-Peer Reviewe

Expanding the Practice of Caring in the Peri-anesthesia Unit

Caring is a central theme of the nursing profession; the essence of nursing. The preoperative and postoperative surgical settings at a large Midwestern Hospital are extremely busy and very demanding, which can affect patient care. It is essential for Patient Care Assistants (PCAs) to identify caring actions and to provide authentic caring for patients and families. Themes of witnessed uncaring behavior include: rough handling, loud and inappropriate conversations, ignoring the patient or family, abrupt answers to questions, and negative non-verbal body language. Conversations with several patient care assistants (PCAs) revealed they feel \u27too busy\u27 during their work day or are not comfortable with holding a hand, answering a question, or giving support to patients or families. It was imperative for the PCAs to develop skills to function in a caring manner. An innovative PCA caring practice model based on Watson\u27s (2008) Caritas Processes provided a theoretical framework to enhance the care given to patients. By defining caring and caring attributes, and identifying ways for the PCAs to promote caring with patients, a caring environment evolved in the preoperative and postoperative areas. The projected model and START Campaign shaped the PCA practice to provide a caring environment and ensure a positive outcome with each patient interaction