Amalgamated products and properly 3-realizable groups

In this paper, we show that the class of all properly 3-realizable groups is closed under amalgamated free products (and HNN-extensions) over finite groups. We recall that $G$ is said to be properly 3-realizable if there exists a compact 2-polyhedron $K$ with $\pi_1(K) \cong G$ and whose universal cover $\tilde{K}$ has the proper homotopy type of a 3-manifold (with boundary).Comment: J. Pure Appl. Alg., to appea

Impact of Hurricane Harvey on Healthcare Utilization and Emergency Department Operations

Introduction: Hurricanes have increased in severity over the past 35 years, and climate change has led to an increased frequency of catastrophic flooding. The impact of floods on emergency department (ED) operations and patient health has not been well studied. We sought to detail challenges and lessons learned from the severe weather event caused by Hurricane Harvey in Houston, Texas, in August 2017.Methods: This report combines narrative data from interviews with retrospective data on patient volumes, mode of arrival, and ED lengths of stay (LOS). We compared the five-week peri-storm period for the 2017 hurricane to similar periods in 2015 and 2016.Results: For five days, flooding limited access to the hospital, with a consequent negative impact on provider staffing availability, disposition and transfer processes, and resource consumption. Interruption of patient transfer capabilities threatened patient safety, but flexibility of operations prevented poor outcomes. The total ED patient census for the study period decreased in 2017 (7062 patients) compared to 2015 (7665 patients) and 2016 (7770) patients). Over the five-week study period, the arrival-by-ambulance rate was 12.45% in 2017 compared to 10.1% in 2016 (p < 0.0001) and 13.7% in 2015 (p < 0.0001). The median ED length of stay (LOS) in minutes for admitted patients was 976 minutes in 2015 (p < 0.0001) compared to 723 minutes in 2016 and 591 in 2017 (p < 0.0001). For discharged patients, median ED LOS was 336 minutes in 2016 compared to 356 in 2015 (p < 0.0001) and 261 in 2017 (p < 0.0001). Median boarding time for admitted ED patients was 284 minutes in 2016 compared to 470 in 2015 (p < 0.0001) and 234.5 in 2017 (p < 0.001). Water damage resulted in a loss of 133 of 179 inpatient beds (74%). Rapid and dynamic ED process changes were made to share ED beds with admitted patients and to maximize transfers post-flooding to decrease ED boarding times.Conclusion: A number of pre-storm preparations could have allowed for smoother and safer ride-out functioning for both hospital personnel and patients. These measures include surplus provisioning of staff and supplies to account for limited facility access. During a disaster, innovative flexibility of both ED and hospital operations may be critical when disposition and transfer capibilities or bedding capacity are compromised

Analysis of infrared optical polishing effluents and reduction of COD and TSS levels by ultrafiltration and coagulation/flocculation

Samples of polishing effluent produced during infrared optics manufacture were analyzed. Their particle size, composition, Zeta potential, chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), and settleable solids were determined. Feasibility of treatment methods such as ultrafiltration (UF) and coagulation/flocculation was investigated to reduce both COD and TSS. It was found that effluents consisted of a suspension of micro- and nanoparticles. Effluent particle size distribution reflected the removal rate of the originating polishing process. Their composition was primarily germanium and other polished substrates as well as polishing abrasives. The effluent Zeta potential was highly negative and prevented particle settling. COD of all specimens was very high, which prevented sewage discharge. Laboratory-scale trials using UF showed substantial COD abatement of up to 74.1%. TSS was reduced to zero after UF. Comparable coagulation/flocculation COD abatement was demonstrated for the highest COD sample

The SAVE Act of 2015: Congress\u27 Attempt to Reprioritize Online Child Sex Trafficking

(Excerpt) This Note argues that the SAVE Act will not achieve Congress’ goal of prosecuting website operators and stopping the influx of online child sex trafficking advertisements. However, the potential pitfalls of this legislation does not mean the Act should be thrown out in its entirety. Instead, the Act should be rewritten to include well-crafted, yet informative definitions of online child sex trafficking, while also lowering the mens rea requirement and requiring website operators to engage in more due diligence. Part I outlines the background of Internet sex trafficking in general. Section A discusses the parties involved in online child sex trafficking advertisements, the transition of the crime from the street and onto the Internet, and the benefits the Internet has provided this criminal industry. Section B details how law enforcement and anti-human trafficking interest groups pressure online classified websites to stop these illegal advertisements from being posted. Next, Part II provides an overview of statutes enacted before the SAVE Act that relate to the Internet and online child sex trafficking advertisements. Section A summarizes the CDA and the First Amendment. Section B discusses the unconstitutionality of the state statutes enacted in New Jersey, Tennessee, and Washington to combat online child sex trafficking advertisements. Section C outlines the current debate on abolishing child sex trafficking from the Internet. Furthermore, Part III discusses the SAVE Act’s history and language as well as its advantages and disadvantages. This part argues that the SAVE Act will be ineffective because of (1) judicial hesitation, (2) inadequate wording, and (3) irresponsible deference. Finally, Part IV provides solutions to the SAVE Act’s deficiencies. Section A proposes new definitions of the terms used in the statute to avoid vagueness and overbreadth and suggests lowering the mens rea standard for website operators. Section B proposes the use of facial recognition programs to find unlawful posts

An Identity Approach to Understanding Diversity, Inclusion and the Work-Family Interface

The salience of one\u27s ethnic identity, the subjective importance of that identity in one\u27s life, was hypothesized to impact the extent to which inclusion predicts work-related outcomes (i.e., strain-based work-family conflict, work-family enrichment, job satisfaction and job stress) among 225 working women. Women who felt included at work (i.e., those who can participate, have influence and can be themselves ) were predicted to experience positive work-related outcomes. Further, belongingness at work was predicted to interact with ethnic identity salience to impact work-related outcomes for working women. Hierarchical linear regression analyses indicated that inclusion was significantly associated with positive work-related outcomes; yet, there was no support (with one exception) for ethnic identity salience as a predictor of these outcomes, neither as a main effect nor as a moderator. After controlling for belongingness at work, ethnic identity salience did significantly predict ethnic identity nonacceptance (a facet of job stress) among minority women. Possible limitations of this research, suggestions for future research, and implications for employers are discussed. Contributions made by this research include (a) introduction of an identity theory framework for exploring work-family issues, (b) illustration of the importance of linking internal identities and their subjective importance or salience to external roles, (c) utilization of a broader definition and measurement tool for ethnic and gender stressors at work, and (d) demonstration of new links between workplace inclusion and work-family outcomes (i.e., strain-based work-family conflict and work-family enrichment) among working women

Globalización, creencias, sanaciones y milagros

La globalización y las nuevas formas de consumo influyen en la vida cotidiana, el serhumano posmoderno vive una angustia existencial, la conciencia de vivir el aquí y ahora, en unmundo violento y hostil, la lucha por la sobrevivencia, en pos de las necesidades básicas. Ante ellose presentan opciones o alternativas como modo de vida. Los cambios sociológicos de laglobalización abarcan a las religiones podemos mencionar el fenómeno de las redestransnacionales y transcontinentales.En Argentina, en particular el caso observado Bs. As, considerada una megalópolis religiosadonde conviven distintas ofertas: el circuito católico de sanación con San Cayetano, San Pantaleón yla Virgen Desatanudos; San Expedito, sanadores carismáticos, pastores electrónicos, rabinos,islámicos, hinduistas, budistas, escuelas de espiritualidad, new age, curanderos indígenas,manosantas, terapias holística, el tarot, la parapsicología, etc.”El mapeo de grupos religiosos en la ciudad de Bs. As, muestra el relieve de áreas como Almagro enel centro geográfico de la ciudad y Liniers en el borde oeste con la iglesia de San Cayetano y lapujante comunidad boliviana.El presente trabajo aborda el estudio de caso de los barrios mencionados y la opinión deespecialistas en la temática sociológica