cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Institutions, the Illegal Drug Trade, and Participant Strategies: What Corrupt or Pariah States Have In Common with Liberal Democracy and the Rule of Law

Institutions generate incentives that guide behavior, but many analysts and policymakers underestimate the power of institutions to affect behavior by ignoring how distinct strategies work to generate similar outcomes in different institutional contexts. This article uses the illegal trade in psychoactive substances to illustrate how outcomes (the size of the illegal drug market) across very distinct political institutions can be the same because individuals adopt different strategies in their pursuit of the same behavior: to participate in the illegal drug trade. The illegal trade in psychoactive substances represents an understudied and poorly studied issue in international relations. Arguments that focus on the deviant characteristics of governments in the developing world and organized crime to explain the trade are misleading for empirical and methodological reasons. I propose a general argument about the proliferation of the illegal drug trade that accounts for its success in countries struggling wi...
The Impact of Auditory Spectral Resolution on Listening Effort Revealed by Pupil Dilation

Objectives: This study measured the impact of auditory spectral resolution on listening effort. Systematic degradation in spectral resolution was hypothesized to elicit corresponding systematic increases in pupil dilation, consistent with the notion of pupil dilation as a marker of cognitive load. Design: Spectral resolution of sentences was varied with two different vocoders: (1) a noise-channel vocoder with a variable number of spectral channels; and (2) a vocoder designed to simulate front-end processing of a cochlear implant, including peak-picking channel selection with variable synthesis filter slopes to simulate spread of neural excitation. Pupil dilation was measured after subject-specific luminance adjustment and trial-specific baseline measures. Mixed-effects growth curve analysis was used to model pupillary responses over time. Results: For both types of vocoder, pupil dilation grew with each successive degradation in spectral resolution. Within each condition, pupillary responses were not related to intelligibility scores, and the effect of spectral resolution on pupil dilation persisted even when only analyzing trials in which responses were 100% correct. Conclusions: Intelligibility scores alone were not sufficient to quantify the effort required to understand speech with poor resolution. Degraded spectral resolution results in increased effort required to understand speech, even when intelligibility is at 100%. Pupillary responses were a sensitive and highly granular measurement to reveal changes in listening effort. Pupillary responses might potentially reveal the benefits of aural prostheses that are not captured by speech intelligibility performance alone as well as the disadvantages that are overcome by increased listening effort.
Active Citizen E-Participation in Local Governance: Do Individual Social Capital and E-Participation Management Matter?

While a growing body of literature has touted e-participation as a means of facilitating greater citizen participation in policy decision-making processes, little is known about the driving forces behind active citizen e-participation. Based on a literature review of social capital and citizen participation, the study develops a model of active e-participation. In this model, this study argues that three dimensions of social capital and citizen participation management are positively associated with active e-participation. To test several hypotheses, the study uses the 2009 E-Participation Survey data collected from 1,076 participants of the Cheon Man Sang Sang Oasis, an e-participation program administered by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in South Korea. Using ordered logistic regression analysis, the study finds that active e-participation is positively affected by citizens' trust in government, their volunteer experiences, weak offline social ties, and perceived quality responsiveness during the e-participation process.
Finite volume solution of the relativistic Boltzmann equation for electron avalanche studies

The Boltzmann equation for a population of relativistic electrons in a constant external electric field in air is solved numerically in order to determine parameters of the resulting runaway electron beam. The numerical solution takes advantage of algorithms from computational fluid dynamics. The work revises the results from the original work where the numerical solution was found to be unstable.
Teacher Effectiveness: An Analysis of Licensure Screens

Historically, the government has sought to improve the quality of the teacher workforce by requiring certification. Teachers are among the most licensed public personnel employees in the United Sta...
Nonvolatile Amorphous-Silicon Thin-Film-Transistor Memory Structure for Drain-Voltage Independent Saturation Current

Transistors with floating gate, used for nonvolatile memory, have a saturation current that increases with drain voltage. This is the result of undesirable capacitive coupling between the floating gate and the drain electrode, which can occur in devices made on crystalline silicon or amorphous silicon (a-Si) technologies. In this paper, we report on a new a-Si thin-film transistor memory structure that uses a high-defect-density interface in the gate insulator, instead of a floating gate, to trap charges. By reducing the ability of the trapped charge to laterally move in the device, this structure eliminates the drain-voltage dependence of the saturation current and the threshold voltage. The room-temperature data retention time is greater than ten years.
Societal Mechanisms to Cope with the New Genetics

Ought society to end prenatal life for any cause? Ought scientists to develop and apply cloning techniques to human reproduction? Ought society to sterilize or otherwise prohibit the reproduction of those who are genetically at high risk? The essential questions facing society concerning the application of new genetic knowledge and technology are not scientific but moral.
Accurate adjoint design sensitivities for nano metal optics.

We present a method for obtaining accurate numerical design sensitivities for metal-optical nanostructures. Adjoint design sensitivity analysis, long used in fluid mechanics and mechanical engineering for both optimization and structural analysis, is beginning to be used for nano-optics design, but it fails for sharp-cornered metal structures because the numerical error in electromagnetic simulations of metal structures is highest at sharp corners. These locations feature strong field enhancement and contribute strongly to design sensitivities. By using high-accuracy FEM calculations and rounding sharp features to a finite radius of curvature we obtain highly-accurate design sensitivities for 3D metal devices. To provide a bridge to the existing literature on adjoint methods in other fields, we derive the sensitivity equations for Maxwell’s equations in the PDE framework widely used in fluid mechanics.
Linguistic Chimpanzees and Symbolic Interaction

A large number of studies on language acquisition by nonhuman primates have been reported in recent years. These studies have supported and extended findings related to the acquisition of first lan...
Optimum Shewhart tests for Markovian data

We consider the sequential change detection problem for Markovian processes. Adopting a Lorden-like criterion where expected delays are replaced with detection probabilities we end up with a well defined constrained optimization problem which is possible to solve, exactly, in the Markovian case. The optimum scheme turns out to be a modified version of the Shewhart test (known to be optimum in the i.i.d. case) that involves two unknown functions. These functions can be identified by solving a system of two equation which is the result of applying optimal stopping theory and the need for the optimum scheme to be an equalizer rule.
STUDY ON SIMPLIFIED THERMOPIEZOELASTIC MODEL FOR PIEZOELECTRIC COMPOSITE LAMINATES

Based on the Variational Asymptotic Method(VAM),a simplified thermopiezoelastic model for piezoelectric composite laminates under mechanical,thermal and electronic loads is presented in order to effectively formulate the originally one-way coupled thermopiezoelasticity problem.The total potential functional is deduced based on the principle of virtual work.Based on the VAM,the total potential functional is asymptotically expanded to a series of 2-D functional by taking advantage of the inherent small parameter.The approximate functional after dimensionality reduction is converted to a form of the Reissner model.Finally,the recovery relations for 3-D fields are provided to accurately predict the distribution of 3-D fields along the thickness direction.The results show that the 3-D field recovered by this model agrees better with the exact results than that by the First-Order Shear Deformation Theory(FOSDT) and Classic Laminated Theory(CLT),indicating the validity of this piezoelectric composite laminates model.
Long term follow up of coiled intracranial aneurysms by MR angiography

Objective:To evaluate the feasibility and usefulness of 3D time of flight MR angiography (TOF-MRA) for the follow-up of intracranial aneurysms treated with guglielmi detachable coils. Methods:Total of 38 patients with 38 aneurysms treated with guglielmi detachable coils over 36 months were examed by 3D TOF-MRA and DSA simultaneously. DSA was the reference for the detection of a residual neck or residual aneurysm. Recurrence of aneurysms and patency of parent arteries were determined by comparing MRA with DSA. Results:In 38 aneurysms,DSA found that 33 cases were stable,and 5 were recurrent. Meanwhile,36 parent arteries were patent, and the others were occluded by DSA. MRA found that 32 were stable,and 6 were recurrent,and 34 parent arteries were patent,and 4 were occluded. The sensitive and specificity to diagnose residual flow by MRA were 84.6% and 92.0%,respectively;the sensitive and specificity of MRA to diagnose recurrence were 80.0% and 93.0%,respectively;the sensitive and specificity of MRA to diagnose that whether parent arteries is patent or not were 94.4% and 100%,respectively. Conclusions:3D TOF-MRA is efficient and reliable for the long term follow-up of intracranial aneurysms. Moreover,further experimental evidence of MRA is needed.
A Pragmatist's Progress?: Richard Rorty and American Intellectual History. Ed. by John Pettegrew. (Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2000. viii, 222 pp. Cloth, $60.00, isbn 0-8476-9061-X. Paper, $24.95, isbn 0-8476-9062-8.)

Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Pragmatism: An Old Name for Some New Ways of Thinking? Chapter 3 Rorty, Radicalism, and Romanticism: The Politics of Gaze Chapter 4 Private Life and Public Commitment: From Walter Rauschenbusch to Richard Rorty Chapter 5 Lives of Irony: Randolph Bourne, Richard Rorty, and a New Genealogy of Critical Pragmatism Chapter 6 Is It Pragmatism? Rorty and the American Tradition Chapter 7 Is the Revival of Pragmatism Practical? Chapter 8 Narrative Politics: Richard Rorty at the "End of Reform" Chapter 9 Afterword: Intellectual Historians and Pragmatist Philosophy
Chapter 2 – Modeling Cost–Benefit Decision Making in Aged Rodents

Aging can impact choices between alternatives that differ with respect to relative benefits and “costs” (e.g., time delays or risk); however, much remains to be learned about the specific cognitive, affective, and neural factors that govern choice behavior across the life span. Relative to primates, rodents offer both comparatively short life spans that facilitate longitudinal evaluation of cognition, and enhanced tractability of genetic, cellular, and biochemical approaches important for identifying the neurobiological mechanisms that mediate decision making. This chapter will describe approaches for modeling cost–benefit decision making in aged rodents, with a focus on intertemporal and risky choice. In addition, examples will be provided of how these approaches have yielded convergent findings in animal and human subjects, as well as novel data regarding neurobehavioral mechanisms of age-related alterations in decision making and potential directions for future research.
Does non-employment based health insurance promote entrepreneurship? Evidence from a policy experiment in China

Abstract Previous researchers have shown that employment-based health insurance lowers job mobility and deters entrepreneurship. The Urban Resident Basic Medical Insurance (URBMI) program, piloted in 2007 in China and fully established in 2009, offers health insurance to about 271 million urban residents without formal employment. Before the implementation of URBMI, most urban residents obtained health insurance through their employers, and therefore a large number of unemployed and self-employed individuals were uninsured. Thus, URBMI creates a new insurance option that does not depend on formal employment and may promote entrepreneurship. We take advantage of this policy change to evaluate the effect of URBMI on self-employment. Using 2000–2011 data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey and a difference-in-differences approach with propensity score weighting, we found that URBMI increased self-employment rate by at least 8.73% for the overall population. The result was mainly driven by the URBMI’s impact on unhealthy workers, individuals with 12 years of schooling or less, and workers above 30 years old.
The Hidden Costs of Strategic Heterogeneity in Human Resource Management System Use

The strategic use of different human resource management (HRM) systems for different employee groups within the same organization, such as use of a high investment HRM system toward core employees ...
Jaw function: Part I. Hinge rotation

HE IDEA OF HINGE rotational control as related to functional jaw patterns has become a bitterly contested tenet in dental literature. Indeed, the validity of rotational axes is still being attacked in some recently published articles.lM4 It seems particularly inappropriate that the concept of hinge rotation should be SO hotly contested ; it means, in effect, that we ridicule the very supposition which can give dentistry a sound guide to precise articulatory procedures. Axis rotation is invested in mechanics and refers specifically to kinematics-the science pertaining to the control of bodies in motion. Since the jaw must engage in motion during function, its rotational component is thereby subject to the same kinematic laws as apply universally to rotating objects. It is axiomatic in mechanics that any object capable of rotation must do SO around a theoretical or imaginary axis. That axis will pierce the exact center of the gross mass of the rotating object. It may be either a point center, as in perfect spheres, or a line center, as in irregular objects. But the axis remains a mathematical certainty and can be utilized as a control center for rotational movement. In dentistry this is imperative, for here we are trying to fabricate mechanical equivalents (articulators) which will duplicate natural functional jaw movements. Without recording and using the various axes, which control rotation, plus the constant linear hinge radii, which are related to any one point on the mandible, articulation is an impossibility. The axes have always been there ; we have simply not known how to utilize them correctly. In 1921, McCollum and Stuart5 became convinced that there was a recordable transverse axis in the condylar region about which sagittal plane rotational movements could occur with constancy. Interest in this phenomenon had preceded McCollum, as manifest by the efforts of men such as Hayes (1887), Snow (1889), and Wadsworth, all of whom devised face-bows and methods for their use. McCollum and his associates fashioned a freely adjustable hinge-bow which was demonstrated in 1926, and subsequently the Gnathological Society of California used hinge readings as a routine part of its clinical procedures. An entire conceptual philosophy and practical technique of articulation was based primarily on the idea of hinge rotation. That there might be two transverse axes did not occur to the group, and so the articulator (Gnathoscope) which evolved possessed a single intercondylar hinge shaft of fixed linear dimension. Nonetheless, the general
Noise-induced hearing loss induces loudness intolerance in a rat Active Sound Avoidance Paradigm (ASAP).

Abstract Hyperacusis is a loudness hypersensitivity disorder in which moderate-intensity sounds are perceived as extremely loud, aversive and/or painful. To assess the aversive nature of sounds, we developed an Active Sound Avoidance Paradigm (ASAP) in which rats altered their place preference in a Light/Dark shuttle box in response to sound. When no sound (NS) was present, rats spent more than 95% of the time in the Dark Box versus the transparent Light Box. However, when a 60 or 90 dB SPL noise (2–20 kHz, 2–8 kHz, or 16–20 kHz bandwidth) was presented in the Dark Box, the rats’’ preference for the Dark Box significantly decreased. Percent time in the dark decreased as sound intensity in the Dark Box increased from 60 dB to 90 dB SPL. Interestingly, the magnitude of the decrease was not a monotonic function of intensity for the 16–20 kHz noise and not related to the bandwidth of the 2–20 kHz and 2–8 kHz noise bands, suggesting that sound avoidance is not solely dependent on loudness but the aversive quality of the noise as well. Afterwards, we exposed the rats for 28 days to a 16–20 kHz noise at 102 dB SPL; this exposure produced a 30–40 dB permanent threshold shift at 16 and 32 kHz. Following the noise exposure, the rats were then retested on the ASAP paradigm. High-frequency hearing loss did not alter Dark Box preference in the no-sound condition. However, when the 2–20 kHz or 2–8 kHz noise was presented at 60 or 90 dB SPL, the rats avoided the Dark Box significantly more than they did before the exposure, indicating these two noise bands with energy below the region of hearing loss were perceived as more aversive. In contrast, when the 16–20 kHz noise was presented at 60 or 90 dB SPL, the rats remained in the Dark Box presumably because the high-frequency hearing loss made 16–20 kHz noise less audible and less aversive. These results indicate that when rats develop a high-frequency hearing loss, they become less tolerant of low frequency noise, i.e., high intensity sounds are perceived as more aversive and should be avoided.
Critique [of a.k.a. Pablo: Mexican American Images for Television by Norman L. Friedman]

There is no question that the television show a.k.a. Pablo was an important media event for the Mexican American community. All such prime time shows which deal with ethnic groups highlight minority problems and give visibility to peoples otherwise not dealt with in the mass media. Whether or not such shows create as many stereotypes as they dispel is another matter altogether.
Primary and secondary nonresponse to infliximab: mechanisms and countermeasures.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Primary and secondary non-response to infliximab are common in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and remain a management challenge in clinical practice.Areas covered: This article describes the epidemiology, mechanisms and risk factors for primary and secondary nonresponse to infliximab in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Data on proactive and reactive therapeutic drug monitoring are examined in this review. An algorithm for evaluation and management of non-response to infliximab is provided. Preventative measures are also discussed. Relevant articles were identified after a literature search using PubMed. Search terms included ‘infliximab’, ‘loss of response’, ‘immunogenicity’, and ‘drug monitoring’. References of identified articles were also reviewed to identify additional references.Expert opinion: A common cause for primary and secondary non-response include inadequate dosing of infliximab; inadequate dosing can be identified through assessment of drug and anti-d...
Regulation of Actomyosin ATPase

Muscle cells have an extremely efficient regulation system which reduces actomyosin ATPase activity by more than one thousand fold in relaxed versus active muscle. A surprising fact is that two quite different regulation systems are used in striated and smooth muscles. The actomyosin ATPase of smooth muscles as well as non muscle cells is activated by a calmodulin dependent protein kinase which specifically phosphorylates a myosin light chain (LC-2), Actomyosin is inhibited by dephosphorylation by a specific phosphatase.1 Activation of enzymes by phosphorylation is a very common control mechanism and its use in muscle regulation is not surprising. The second mechanism apparently evolved to meet the need for faster switching on and off in striated muscles. Although a phosphorylatable light chain has been retained by striated muscle myosin and the level of phosphorylation can be altered by stimulation, phosphorylation no longer activates the actomyosin ATPase. Regulation is obtained by a structural change of the thin filament. The thin filaments in striated muscle contain troponin which is not present in smooth muscle or non-muscle cells.
Lost Circulation Models

The ability to model fracture growth during lost circulation is critical for loss prevention and wellbore strengthening design. Such a model can provide useful information for the optimization of drilling fluid rheology, well configuration, pump schedule, and LCM particle size distribution. In this chapter, a lost circulation simulation model is developed, based on the finite-element method. The model successfully couples mud circulation in the wellbore, fracture propagation, fracture fluid flow, and the surrounding reservoir behavior during a lost circulation event. It can predict time-dependent fluid loss rate, wellbore pressure, and fracture geometry. Borehole ballooning is a phenomenon closely related to lost circulation and is often regarded as an omen of a lost circulation event during drilling. Using a similar numerical approach, a model for wellbore ballooning in naturally fractured formations is also proposed in this chapter. The model is able to capture dynamic fracture growth during mud circulation when downhole circulation pressure is higher than fracture reopening pressure of the natural fractures, as well as fracture closure during the pump-off period when downhole pressure is lower. Time-dependent wellbore pressure, fluid loss/gain rate, and fracture profile in borehole ballooning can be obtained. The model aids in understanding the mechanisms involved in wellbore ballooning in naturally fractured formations.
Structural and kinetic basis for the selectivity of aducanumab for aggregated forms of amyloid-β

Aducanumab, a human-derived antibody targeting amyloid-β (Aβ), is in Phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Biochemical and structural analyses show that aducanumab binds a linear epitope formed by amino acids 3–7 of the Aβ peptide. Aducanumab discriminates between monomers and oligomeric or fibrillar aggregates based on weak monovalent affinity, fast binding kinetics and strong avidity for epitope-rich aggregates. Direct comparative studies with analogs of gantenerumab, bapineuzumab and solanezumab demonstrate clear differentiation in the binding properties of these antibodies. The crystal structure of the Fab fragment of aducanumab bound to its epitope peptide reveals that aducanumab binds to the N terminus of Aβ in an extended conformation, distinct from those seen in structures with other antibodies that target this immunodominant epitope. Aducanumab recognizes a compact epitope that sits in a shallow pocket on the antibody surface. In silico analyses suggest that aducanumab interacts weakly with the Aβ monomer and may accommodate a variety of peptide conformations, further supporting its selectivity for Aβ aggregates. Our studies provide a structural rationale for the low affinity of aducanumab for non-pathogenic monomers and its greater selectivity for aggregated forms than is seen for other Aβ-targeting antibodies.
Soundstone: a 3-d wireless music controller

Soundstone is a small wireless music controller that tracks movement and gestures, and maps these signals to characteristics of various synthesized and sampled sounds. It is intended to become a general-purpose platform for exploring the sonification of movement, with an emphasis on tactile (haptic) feedback.
How many donuts is a "binge"? Women with BED eat more but do not have more restrictive standards than weight-matched non-BED women.

Abstract Theories of disordered eating suggest that binge eating may occur as a response to violations of unrealistically restrictive dietary standards, but there are few direct comparisons of the dietary standards of binge eaters and nonbinge eaters. In this study, we asked obese women with Binge Eating Disorder (BED) and weight- and age-matched women without BED to report the minimum amount of each of eight foods they considered a “binge” and “out of control” to determine whether binge eaters had stricter dietary standards than women without BED. Women with BED did not consider smaller amounts of food a “binge” or “out of control” than did women without BED; however, binge eaters did report that their “typical” and “largest-ever” servings of each of the eight foods were larger than those reported by nonbinge eaters. This suggests that for this group of eating- disordered women, eating behaviors may be a more important intervention target than overly restrictive dietary standards.
Nitrogen, Nitrogen Cycle

Human activity has greatly increased the rate of creation of biologically available nitrogen. Before the advent of the industrial revolution and the green revolution, only the natural process of bacterial nitrogen fixation created significant quantities of biologically available nitrogen, and this was balanced at the global scale by loss of this nitrogen through denitrification. Now, the purposeful creation of fixed nitrogen for use as fertilizer in agriculture, and to some extent the inadvertent creation of fixed nitrogen as fossil fuels are burned, creates more biologically available nitrogen than the global natural supply. Excess nitrogen has many deleterious effects on human health and on ecological function, including a reduction in biotic diversity in both aquatic and terrestrial systems.
CHALLENGES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PRESUMED FUNGAL ENDOPHTHALMITIS IN PREGNANCY.

PURPOSE To report a rare case of endogenous endophthalmitis in pregnancy and the challenges of managing culture-negative fungal infection. METHODS Retrospective case report. A 30-year-old woman presented with a subfoveal chorioretinal lesion with vitritis and anterior chamber inflammation in the context of intravenous drug use. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography and fluorescein angiography were used for documentation and monitoring. RESULTS After 2 months of systemic and intravitreal injections of amphotericin, the patient had clinical improvement in visual acuity, degree of inflammation, and in the size and activity of the chorioretinal lesion, which was presumed to be fungal in origin. CONCLUSION Among limited cases of endophthalmitis in pregnancy, we report a challenging case of presumed fungal endogenous endophthalmitis. The patient responded favorably to intravitreal and systemic antifungal medications.
Triggering visually-guided behavior by holographic activation of pattern completion neurons in cortical ensembles

Neuronal ensembles are building blocks of cortical activity yet it is unclear if they have any causal role in behavior. Here we tested if the precise activation of neuronal ensembles with two-photon holographic optogenetics in mouse primary visual cortex alters behavioral performance in a visual task. Disruption of behaviorally relevant cortical ensembles by activation of non-selective neurons decreased behavioral performance whereas optogenetic targeting of as few as two neurons with pattern completion capability from behaviorally relevant ensembles improved task performance by reliably recalling the whole ensemble. Moreover, in some cases, activation of two pattern completion neurons, in the absence of visual stimulus, triggered correct behavioral responses. Our results demonstrate a causal role of neuronal ensembles in a visually guided behavior and suggest that ensembles could represent perceptual states.
Under the Radar: Diagnosing Binge Eating Disorder in a Pediatric Obesity Clinic

Background: Binge Eating Disorder (BED) became a formal diagnosis in the DSM-5 in 2013. Obesity is one condition associated with BED, and onset of binge eating before age 18 is related to earlier onset of obesity and of comorbid mental disorders. Currently available measures to assess BED in the pediatric population screen for some BED symptoms but do not gather sufficient information to determine a diagnosis. Thus, prevalence rates in the pediatric population have not yet been established. Purpose: The primary aim of …
Ethics in Laboratory Research

Ethics in laboratory research has become a formalized training course, and the reasons for this are multiple. Given the multiple unique pressures experienced by surgeons, the concepts taught in these ethic courses are particularly relevant. Here the concepts will be discussed in a case-based format including issues highly relevant to surgeons.
Differentially expressed microRNAs in the early and late transformed cells and their parental BEP2D cells

Objective To identify the differentially expressed microRNAs in the early transformed cells,the late transformed cells and their parental BEP2D cells.Methods The differentially expressed microRNAs in the above cells were identified by microRNAs microarray assay.Results There were 38differentially expressed microRNAs in R15H20 cells versus BEP2D cells,with 18 upregulated and 20downregulated microRNAs.R15H20 and RHT35 cells shared 25 differentially expressed microRNAs compared with BEP2D cells,with 15 down-regulated and 10 up-regulated microRNAs.There were 87differentially expressed microRNAs in RHT35 cells versus BEP2D cells,with 47 upregulated and 40 downregulated microRNAs.There were 38 differentially expressed microRNAs in RHT35 cells versus R15H20 cells with 20 upregulated and 18 downregulated microRNAs.Conclusions microRNAs are differentially expressed in the different stages of carcinogenesis of BEP2D cells induced by α particles,which suggests that microRNAs may play an important role in α particle-induced malignant transformation of BEP2D cells. Key words: α-particles; Human bronchial epithelial cells; microRNAs
Digestibility of amino acids, but not fiber, fat, or energy, is greater in cold-fermented, low-oil distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) compared with conventional DDGS fed to growing pigs

Two experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that the digestibility of gross energy (GE) and nutrients, and concentrations of digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) in two sources of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) are not different despite different concentrations of fat in the two sources. Cold-fermented DDGS (6.82% fat) and a conventional DDGS (9.54% fat) were used. In experiment 1, 12 growing barrows (initial body weight = 55.2 ± 3.6 kg) that had a T-cannula installed in the distal ileum were allotted to one of three diets and two periods. Two diets contained either cold-fermented or conventional DDGS as the sole source of crude protein (CP) and amino acids (AA). The third diet was an N-free diet that was used to determine the basal endogenous losses of AA from the pigs. Each experimental period lasted 7 d and ileal digesta were collected on days 6 and 7 of each period. Results demonstrated that values for the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of CP and most AA were greater (P < 0.05) or tended to be greater (P < 0.10) in cold-fermented than in conventional DDGS. In experiment 2, 24 barrows (initial body weight = 17.3 ± 1.3 kg) were randomly allotted to three diets with 8 replicate pigs per diet. A corn-based basal diet and two diets containing corn and either cold-fermented DDGS or conventional DDGS were formulated. Pigs were housed individually in metabolism crates and feces and urine were collected separately for 5 d after 7 d of adaptation. The apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and acid-hydrolyzed ether extract (AEE) was greater (P < 0.01) in conventional DDGS than in cold-fermented DDGS, but there was no difference in ATTD of GE between the two sources of DDGS. However, conventional DDGS contained more (P < 0.001) DE and ME than cold-fermented DDGS because of greater GE. In conclusion, the SID of AA was greater in cold-fermented DDGS than in the conventional DDGS that was evaluated in this experiment, but the ATTD of NDF, ADF, and AEE, and ME were greater in conventional DDGS than in cold-fermented DDGS.
Topical capsaicin for the treatment of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract Introduction Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a condition that is being recognized and treated more frequently in emergency departments (EDs) across the United States. Currently, ED providers rely on antiemetics, antipsychotics and benzodiazepines to alleviate the symptoms. Topical capsaicin, a transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) agonist, has been proposed in recent years as a low-cost and effective alternative to the traditional antiemetic regimen when treating CHS. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to demonstrate the reliability and the gaps of what is known about this treatment modality. Methods Articles were extracted from PubMed, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar databases. Publication dates ranged from the inception of the databases to October 2020. Initial searches found 328 studies. After careful review and screening by two investigators, 7 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included for our meta-analysis. Variables that were evaluated included the prevalence of hospital admissions for patients treated with capsaicin, time to relief of symptoms after capsaicin administration, and ED length of stay (LOS). I-square and Q-statistic values were used to assess heterogeneity. Results Among the 7 studies, there was a total of 106 patients. Two studies reported time to resolution of symptoms following capsaicin administration and ED LOS. Means for these outcomes were 325 (95% CI 234–787) and 379 (95% CI 10–747) minutes respectively. I-square was 44%, and Q-statistic was 11 with 6 degrees of freedom, with a p-value of 0.1. Discussion With acceptable time to resolution of symptoms after topical administration and ED LOS, capsaicin appears to be an effective treatment option for symptomatic relief of CHS. Further randomized controlled trials should be conducted to examine if it is the more efficacious and efficient treatment for CHS across various care settings.
Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Mutations Over Time Reveals Increasing Prevalence of Variants in the Spike Protein and RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase

Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it has become increasingly important to monitor the mutations that arise in the SARS-CoV-2 virus, to prepare public health strategies and guide the further development of vaccines and therapeutics. The spike (S) protein and the proteins comprising the RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase (RdRP) are key vaccine and drug targets, respectively, making mutation surveillance of these proteins of great importance. Full protein sequences for the spike proteins and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase proteins were downloaded from the GISAID database, aligned, and the variants identified. Polymorphisms in the protein sequence were investigated at the protein structural level and examined longitudinally in order to identify sequence and strain variants that are emerging over time. Our analysis revealed a group of variants in the spike protein and the polymerase complex that appeared in August, and account for around five percent of the genomes analyzed up to the last week of October. A structural analysis also facilitated investigation of several unique variants in the receptor binding domain and the N-terminal domain of the spike protein, with high-frequency mutations occurring more commonly in these regions. The identification of new variants emphasizes the need for further study on the effects of these mutations and the implications of their increased prevalence, particularly as these mutations may impact vaccine or therapeutic efficacy.
Acute Delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol administration differentially alters the hippocampal opioid system in adult female and male rats.

Our prior studies demonstrated that the rat hippocampal opioid system can undergo sex-specific adaptations to external stimuli that can influence opioid-associated learning processes. This opioid system extensively overlaps with the cannabinoid system. Moreover, acute administration of Δ9 Tetrahydrocannabinoid (THC), the primary psychoactive constituent of cannabis, can alter cognitive behaviors that involve the hippocampus. Here we use light and electron microscopic immunocytochemical methods to examine the effects of acute THC (5 mg/kg, i.p. 1 hour) on mossy fiber Leu-Enkephalin (LEnk) levels and the distribution and phosphorylation levels of delta and mu opioid receptors (DORs and MORs, respectively) in CA3 pyramidal cells and parvalbumin dentate hilar interneurons of adult female and male Sprague-Dawley rats. In females with elevated estrogen states (proestrus/estrus stage), acute THC altered the opioid system so that it resembled that seen in vehicle-injected females with low estrogen states (diestrus) and males: 1) mossy fiber LEnk levels in CA2/3a decreased; 2) phosphorylated-DOR levels in CA2/3a pyramidal cells increased; and 3) phosphorylated-MOR levels increased in most CA3b laminae. In males, acute THC resulted in the internalization of MORs in parvalbumin-containing interneuron dendrites which would decrease disinhibition of granule cells. In both sexes, acute THC redistributed DORs to the near plasma membrane of CA3 pyramidal cell dendrites, however, the dendritic region varied with sex. Additionally, acute THC also resulted in a sex-specific redistribution of DORs within CA3 pyramidal cell dendrites which could differentially promote synaptic plasticity and/or opioid-associated learning processes in both females and males. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Sequencing, Assembly, and Annotation of the Alfalfa Genome

While the alfalfa community originally relied on Medicago truncatula (especially the reference assembly, A17) for genomic resources, recent changes in sequencing and scaffolding technologies and algorithms have enabled the sequencing and assembly of five different alfalfa accessions, to date. These assemblies include two diploid assemblies, CADL and PI464715, as well as three tetraploid assemblies, NECS-141, Zhongmu No. 1, and XinJiangDaYe. Technological changes within the approximately half a decade over which these assemblies were produced, have allowed for increasingly contiguous assemblies and improved scaffolding resulting in chromosome level assemblies that allow for the detection of large-scale structural rearrangements. They have also made possible the assembly of all four subgenomes of the tetraploid in the XinJiangDaYe assembly. While subgenome haplotypes were very similar and sometimes indistinguishable, nevertheless, structural differences between haplotypes were uncovered. These included local differential gene content between subgenome haplotypes as well as larger structural variants such as inversions. Compared to the M. truncatula assembly and annotation, the approximately 75% increase in genome size in alfalfa is mainly due to the expansion of repeats. The availability of five different annotated alfalfa genome assemblies, including those of both diploid and tetraploid accessions, will be a significant asset to the alfalfa community.
Modeling and optimization of galvanometric point-scanning temporal dynamics

Galvanometers are ubiquitous in point-scanning applications in optical imaging, display, ranging, manufacturing, and therapeutic technologies. However, galvanometer performance is constrained by finite response times related to mirror size and material properties. We present a model-driven approach for optimizing galvanometer response characteristics by tuning the parameters of the closed-loop galvanometer controller and demonstrate settling time reduction by over 50%. As an imaging proof-of-concept, we implement scan waveforms that take advantage of the optimized galvanometer frequency response to increase linear field-of-view, signal-to-noise ratio, contrast-to-noise ratio, and speed. The hardware methods presented may be directly implemented on galvanometer controllers without the need for specialized equipment and used in conjunction with customized scan waveforms to further optimize scanning performance.
Physiological variation among native and exotic winter annual plants associated with microbiotic crusts in the Mojave Desert

Microbiotic crusts are important components of many aridland soils. Research on crusts typically focuses on the increase in soil fertility due to N-fixing micro-organisms, the stabilization of soils against water and wind erosion and the impact of disturbance on N-cycling. The effect of microbiotic crusts on the associated plant community has received little attention. We quantified the influence of crusts on the production, species diversity, nutrient content and water relations of winter annual plant species associated with microbiotic soil crusts in the northeast Mojave Desert. Shoot biomass of winter annuals was 37% greater and plant density was 77% greater on crusts than were biomass and density on soils lacking crust cover (=bare soils). This greater production of annuals on crusts was likely due to enhanced soil conditions including an almost two-fold increase in soil organic matter and inorganic N compared to bare soils. Crusted soils also had 53% greater volumetric water content than bare soils during November and December, the time when winter annuals become established. As plant development progressed into spring, however, soil water availability decreased: More negative plant xylem water potentials were associated with greater plant biomass on crusted soils. Plants associated with microbiotic soil crusts had lower concentrations of N in shoots (mg N g−1 dry mass). However, total shoot N (mg N m−2) was the same in plants growing on the different soil types when biomass production peaked in April. Shoots had similar patterns in their concentration and content of P. Species diversity of annuals was not statistically different between the two soil types. Yet, while native annuals comprised the greatest proportion of shoot biomass on bare soils, exotic forbs and grasses produced more biomass on crusts. Total shoot nutrient content (biomass×concentration) of the two exotic annual species examined was dramatically greater on crusts than bare soils; only one native species had greater shoot content of N and P when growing on crusts than bare soils. Microbiotic crusts appear to increase site fertility in the northeast Mojave Desert, but nutrients and water distributed within a greater biomass of annual plants growing on microbiotic crusts likely resulted in lower concentrations of nutrients in plant tissue and lower xylem pressure potentials than plants growing on bare soils. Exotic annuals growing on crusts appear to respond to the higher N availability by growing faster, potentially outcompeting native annual species.
Piezoelectrically-acutated opto-acoustic oscillator

This paper describes the implementation of an opto-acoustic oscillator with the use of an integrated piezoelectrically-driven acousto-optic intensity modulator in aluminum nitride. Optical output collected from on-chip grating couplers is converted into the electrical domain via an avalanche photodiode, and used to drive the modulator by providing an input to its RF probing pads. Oscillation is observed at 35.2 MHz and 652.8 MHz, corresponding to peaks in the forward transmission of the modulator. An initial phase noise of −72 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz offset from the 652.8 MHz carrier is recorded, with a large contribution from thermal noise in the amplifier chain. Some proposals for future improvements in phase noise performance are provided.
Toward Young Children as Active Researchers: A Critical Review of the Methodologies and Methods in Early Childhood Environmental Education

This review critically examined the theories, methodologies, and methods that have been used in early childhood environmental education research over the past 10 years (2004–2014). Of the 36 studies identified, one-third were informed by research on children approaches, positioning children as objects of research. Trends revealed that EE researchers are moving toward research with children frameworks, embracing methods that honor children's perspectives. Yet a lack of congruency was also identified between participatory methodologies and the methods employed. Although researchers advocated for children's agency, adults were still positioned in the primary role of data collectors, analyzers, and interpreters. Findings are useful for EE scholars pursuing research with the very young, providing insight regarding ethical practices, child positioning, and participatory methods.
A New Twist for Mercury

In some light-driven reactions, mercury's reactivity depends on its isotopic mass in unexpected ways, possibly allowing this element to be tracked in the environment.
The Use of Symptom Validity Testing in the Diagnosis of Functional Sensory and Memory Deficits: A Review

This paper reviews the use of a modern psychophysical technique known as symptom validity testing. The technique employs a forced choice procedure providing an objective method for distinguishing between functional and organic aetiology in cases with sensory or memory deficit. The determination of functionality is by the objective demonstration that behaviour is controlled by stimuli in the sense modality in which the deficit is claimed. The data can be evaluated using conventional statistical techniques. The method is an advance on classical psychophysical methods as it does not depend upon the patient reporting whether he can or cannot perceive a single stimulus.
Performance Improvement of Uncertain Macroeconomic Systems

Two issues dominate the macroeconomic literature on stabilization: (1) Stabilizability: Can the economic system be steered toward a specific target and kept closely on course? (2) Optimizability: Can the stabilization program be designed according to some optimality criterion?
Asynchronous Parallel Computing Algorithm implemented in 1D Heat Equation with CUDA

In this note, we present the stability as well as performance analysis of asynchronous parallel computing algorithm implemented in 1D heat equation with CUDA. The primary objective of this note lies in dissemination of asynchronous parallel computing algorithm by providing CUDA code for fast and easy implementation. We show that the simulations carried out on nVIDIA GPU device with asynchronous scheme outperforms synchronous parallel computing algorithm. In addition, we also discuss some drawbacks of asynchronous parallel computing algorithms.
Global Ethnography: Forces, Connections, and Imaginations in a Postmodern World

Global Ethnography: Forces. Connections, and Imaginations in. Postmodern World. Michael Burawoy. Joseph A. Blum. Sheba George. Zsuzsa Gille. Teresa Gowan. Lynn Haney. Maren Klawiter. Steve H. Lopez. Sean O Riain. and Millie Thayer. Berkeley, CA. and London, UK: University of California Press, 2000. xv. 393 pp. (Paper US$17.95)