The Empowerment of Hate

CAIR provides legal and advocacy services to people who have been targeted by bias.The organization employs 35 staff attorneys and has a presence in 22 states. These attorneys are tasked to assist every client in obtaining a just and fair resolution to their case, free of charge.While CAIR's focus is to win justice for each client, processing these cases provides the organization with a wealth of data. During the 2014-2016 period, CAIR staff processed a total of 11,427 incidents of potential bias.This report assembles this data to offer a larger and more comprehensive reflection of the civil rights implications of Islamophobic bias in the United States.CAIR is committed to protecting the civil rights of all Americans, regardless of faith. We do so with gratitude for the protections already established through the long, and often ugly, struggles of other targeted communities. As we work to help our clients, our broader goal is to set legal precedent, pass laws, and shape a social environment in which every American enjoys the basic right to be free from unequal treatment

What is a pilot or feasibility study? A review of current practice and editorial policy

Background: In 2004, a review of pilot studies published in seven major medical journals during 2000-01 recommended that the statistical analysis of such studies should be either mainly descriptive or focus on sample size estimation, while results from hypothesis testing must be interpreted with caution. We revisited these journals to see whether the subsequent recommendations have changed the practice of reporting pilot studies. We also conducted a survey to identify the methodological components in registered research studies which are described as 'pilot' or 'feasibility' studies. We extended this survey to grant-awarding bodies and editors of medical journals to discover their policies regarding the function and reporting of pilot studies. Methods: Papers from 2007-08 in seven medical journals were screened to retrieve published pilot studies. Reports of registered and completed studies on the UK Clinical Research Network (UKCRN) Portfolio database were retrieved and scrutinized. Guidance on the conduct and reporting of pilot studies was retrieved from the websites of three grant giving bodies and seven journal editors were canvassed. Results: 54 pilot or feasibility studies published in 2007-8 were found, of which 26 (48%) were pilot studies of interventions and the remainder feasibility studies. The majority incorporated hypothesis-testing (81%), a control arm (69%) and a randomization procedure (62%). Most (81%) pointed towards the need for further research. Only 8 out of 90 pilot studies identified by the earlier review led to subsequent main studies. Twelve studies which were interventional pilot/feasibility studies and which included testing of some component of the research process were identified through the UKCRN Portfolio database. There was no clear distinction in use of the terms 'pilot' and 'feasibility'. Five journal editors replied to our entreaty. In general they were loathe to publish studies described as 'pilot'. Conclusion: Pilot studies are still poorly reported, with inappropriate emphasis on hypothesis-testing. Authors should be aware of the different requirements of pilot studies, feasibility studies and main studies and report them appropriately. Authors should be explicit as to the purpose of a pilot study. The definitions of feasibility and pilot studies vary and we make proposals here to clarify terminology

A Global Pandemic\u27s Effect on the Retail Industry

It is commonly known that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted many industries, including healthcare, transportation, and leisure to name a few. One particular industry that seems to have been greatly affected is retail. With many individuals deciding to stay safe at home rather than go out shopping, this poses a question regarding how retail companies are changing their selling and promotional strategies. It is apparent that online shopping has become more popular. However, what may be less apparent is how retail stores are adapting. With fewer customers entering the stores, it is important to look into what companies are doing in an attempt to encourage more foot traffic. This project takes an in-depth look into how COVID-19 has affected the retail industry in terms of visual displays, shopping patterns, and marketing tactics. The main focus will be on how companies have changed these components of their strategy during the 2020 holiday season as compared to the 2019 holiday season. The fourth quarter of the year is oftentimes the most important period for retailers, for it is when they have the largest opportunity to make sales. From analyzing how visual displays, shopping patterns, and marketing tactics have been altered as a result of the pandemic, this project will conclude with inferences of what the future of the retail industry may look like, along with whether or not some changes in retail strategies and consumption patterns may be permanent or long-lasting

Rats\u27 (Rattus norvegicus) retrieval of information from their non-spatial and spatial working memory in object recognition tasks

Spatial memory is important for animals to achieve successful foraging in structurally complex habitats. Animals use consistent patch location as a reference to locate food. To use objects as navigational landmarks, animals must encode the specific spatial location and non-spatial features of the location of hidden food within their working memory. How animals use both the spatial and non-spatial aspects of landmarks and beacons is a major theoretical question in the study of their cognitive processes. The two objectives of this thesis were to determine whether spatial encoding is absolute or relative and how much of the spatial and non-spatial information is encoded. Also, we expanded Brodbeck\u27s (1994) method for investigating multi-dimensional cue preferences. Results showed the flexibility of rat\u27s visuo-spatial working memory. The baseline results obtained from my study will be helpful in conducting comparative studies on working memory across species and to study various disease models affecting working memory

Interferometry-based Free Space Communication And Information Processing

This dissertation studies, analyzes, and experimentally demonstrates the innovative use of interference phenomenon in the field of opto-electronic information processing and optical communications. A number of optical systems using interferometric techniques both in the optical and the electronic domains has been demonstrated in the filed of signal transmission and processing, optical metrology, defense, and physical sensors. Specifically it has been shown that the interference of waves in the form of holography can be exploited to realize a novel optical scanner called Code Multiplexed Optical Scanner (C-MOS). The C-MOS features large aperture, wide scan angles, 3-D beam control, no moving parts, and high beam scanning resolution. A C-MOS based free space optical transceiver for bi-directional communication has also been experimentally demonstrated. For high speed, large bandwidth, and high frequency operation, an optically implemented reconfigurable RF transversal filter design is presented that implements wide range of filtering algorithms. A number of techniques using heterodyne interferometry via acousto-optic device for optical path length measurements have been described. Finally, a whole new class of interferometric sensors for optical metrology and sensing applications is presented. A non-traditional interferometric output signal processing scheme has been developed. Applications include, for example, temperature sensors for harsh environments for a wide temperature range from room temperature to 1000 degree C

Preliminary report--near total laryngectomy for SCC larynx

A retrospective analysis was performed on patients subjected to near-total laryngectomy at Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi from September 2006 and May 2010, to evaluate the functional outcome of Near Total Laryngectomy and its effect on disease control. In all of these advanced stage laryngeal-hypopharyngeal squamous cancer patients, the disease was limited to one side of the larynx-hypopharynx. Four patients were staged as T3 and rest were T4; near total laryngectomy was done in all 07 patients. Post operative adjuvant radiotherapy was given to 06 patients. All of these patients are on regular oral diet and maintaining their body weight. Six patients are using their preserved hemi larynx effectively. Mean follow up of these patients was 15 months. Three patients developed regional recurrence whereas the remaining four patients were well till their last follow-up. Near total laryngectomy is a safe surgical option even for advanced laryngeal-hypopharyngeal cancer without compromising oncological clearance. It gives patients their own physiological voice that does not require maintenance but at the expense of permanent tracheostomy

Interactions of sodium pentobarbital with d-glucose and l-sorbose transport in human red cells

AbstractPentobarbital acts as a mixed inhibitor of net d-glucose exit, as monitored photometrically from human red cells. At 30°C the Ki of pentobarbital for inhibition of Vmax of zero-trans net glucose exit is 2.16±0.14 mM; the affinity of the external site of the transporter for d-glucose is also reduced to 50% of control by 1.66±0.06 mM pentobarbital. Pentobarbital reduces the temperature coefficient of d-glucose binding to the external site. Pentobarbital (4 mM) reduces the enthalpy of d-glucose interaction from 49.3±9.6 to 16.24±5.50 kJ/mol (P<0.05). Pentobarbital (8 mM) increases the activation energy of glucose exit from control 54.7±2.5 kJ/mol to 114±13 kJ/mol (P<0.01). Pentobarbital reduces the rate of l-sorbose exit from human red cells, in the temperature range 45°C–30°C (P<0.001). On cooling from 45°C to 30°C, in the presence of pentobarbital (4 mM), the Ki (sorbose, glucose) decreases from 30.6±7.8 mM to 14±1.9 mM; whereas in control cells, Ki (sorbose, glucose) increases from 6.8±1.3 mM at 45°C to 23.4±4.5 mM at 30°C (P<0.002). Thus, the glucose inhibition of sorbose exit is changed from an endothermic process (enthalpy change=+60.6±14.7 kJ/mol) to an exothermic process (enthalpy change=−43±6.2 7 kJ/mol) by pentobarbital (4 mM) (P<0.005). These findings indicate that pentobarbital acts by preventing glucose-induced conformational changes in glucose transporters by binding to ‘non-catalytic’ sites in the transporter

Hierarchical Use of Cues in the Missing Object Recognition Task by Rats (Rattus norvegicus)

This study investigated rats’ preferences for using non-spatial and spatial cues in a missing-object recognition task. Rats were trained to find a sunflower seed under any one of four previously missing adjacent objects, the test array of a trial, after having found seeds under three of them in the ‘study’ array of that trial. On some trials the study and test arrays consisted of a different object at each baited food site and on other trials, of identical objects. A previously missing object\u27s position and orientation within its array and its global position within the large foraging chamber varied over trials but not within trials. Following training, rats received interspersed non- or partially rewarded probe trials with transformed test arrays of dissociated non-spatial (object-specific) and spatial cues on test array feeders. Results from these probe trials revealed that rats preferred to search for a missing object based first on its specific non-spatial features before searching for it based on its local spatial features; that is, its local position followed by its orientation, and finally based on its global position. This hierarchical sequence for using spatial cues was preserved under the identical-objects cueing condition. Rats reversed their preferences between object-specific and local position cues, however, when novel objects replaced the same four different objects in a supplementary experiment. We discussed the implications of these findings in terms of the influence of ecological- and context-dependent factors on information use or retrieval from animals’ visuo-spatial working memory

Ibn Kathir some aspects

The study purposes to review and analyse the subject. Its object is: (a) to examine Ibn Kathir's role in scholastic theology and his position among the theologians, (b) to provide the reader with the information extant in the 14th century about an essential branch of Muslim scholarship, (c) to stimulate further interest in scholastic theology and Qur'anic exegesis. The first chapter contains the history of the development of tafsir and scholastic theology. Chapter two includes the salient features of the biographical details of Ibn Kathir's life and a list of his works. Chapter three is concerned with the doctrine of God, the starting point in Muslim theology. God has two aspects: His essence and His attributes. God's essence is interpreted as light which signifies His close relation to man's spiritual and physical needs. God is Transcendental, Unique, Eternal, Omnipresent Omniscient and Omnipotent. He is everlastingly Unique in His essence and His attributes. God is Living, Powerful, Wilier, Speaker, Hearer, and Seer. But. all His attributes are different from man's. God's attributes of action embrace and encompass mercy. God's creation, Guidance, and provision of food are the manifestations of His mercy. Chapter four deals with the existence of angels who play the significant role of mediator between God and man, for the betterment of mankind. Chapter five examines belief in the Prophets. They are chose: men of God. They are endowed with extra-ordinary qualities. By virtue of their endowed qualities they receive revelation and perform miracles. They possess infallible character. Chapter six involves the study of the Scriptures. These were revealed to the Prophets. The last scripture is the Qur'an revealed to the last Prophet, Muhammad. In chapter seven we find that Predestination is of two kinds: (a) Mubram (settled or confirmed) (b) Mua llaq (suspended). The former is for all creatures whereas the latter is especially meant for man. It provides some freedom to man if he works according to God's laws. The limit of this freedom has not been explored. Chapter eight deals with the Hereafter. It is found that there is a resemblance in the present life, the barzakh, and life after resurrection with regard to pleasures and pains of body and soul. But the methods of reward and retribution are slightly different. Last of all comes life in Paradise and Hell which is described in metaphors. Paradise is assumed to be perfect life, having no signs of worldly sensual pleasure