cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Language Testing, "Integration" and Subtractive Multilingualism in Italy: Challenges for Adult Immigrant Second Language and Literacy Education.

Since Italy's unification in 1861, the establishment and diffusion of the standard Italian language at the expense of all other linguistic varieties has dominated language and education policy discourses. Today, as Italy has transformed from a country of mass emigration to a country of mass immigration, the language learning of immigrants and refugees has become highly politicized. This politicization was exemplified in 2009 and 2010 when Italian law mandated the passing of a mostly written A2 Italian language test for the renewal of legal immigration documents. As a result, formal language learning has become another potentially prohibitory challenge for the already complicated legal status of many immigrants. This paper explores the historical macro-level discourses and policies concerning multilingualism, education and national identity in Italy from unification to the present context of immigration. Then, it discusses the local-level challenges of providing adult immigrant language and literacy educat...
Reported Residential Pesticide Use and Breast Cancer Risk on Long Island, New York

Pesticides, common environmental exposures, have been examined in relation to breast cancer primarily in occupational studies or exposure biomarker studies. No known studies have focused on self-reported residential pesticide use. The authors investigated the association between reported lifetime residential pesticide use and breast cancer risk among women living on Long Island, New York. They conducted a population-based casecontrol study of 1,508 women newly diagnosed with breast cancer between August 1996 and July 1997 and 1,556 randomly selected, age-frequency-matched controls. Comprehensive residential pesticide use and other risk factors were assessed by using an in-person, interviewer-administered questionnaire. Unconditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Breast cancer risk was associated with ever lifetime residential pesticide use (odds ratio ¼ 1.39, 95% confidence interval: 1.15, 1.68). However, there was no evidence of increasing risk with increasing lifetime applications. Lawn and garden pesticide use was associated with breast cancer risk, but there was no dose response. Little or no association was found for nuisance-pest pesticides, insect repellants, or products to control lice or fleas and ticks on pets. This study is the first known to suggest that self-reported use of residential pesticides may increase breast cancer risk. Further investigation in other populations is necessary to confirm these findings.
Outcomes of osteopathic manual treatment for chronic low back pain according to baseline pain severity: results from the OSTEOPATHIC Trial.

Purpose: To assess response to osteopathic manual treatment (OMT) according to baseline severity of chronic low back pain (LBP). Methods: The OSTEOPATHIC Trial used a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled, 2 � 2 factorial design to study OMT for chronic LBP. A total of 269 (59%) patients reported low baseline pain severity (LBPS) (<50 mm/100 mm), whereas 186 (41%) patients reported high baseline pain severity (HBPS) (� 50 mm/100 mm). Six OMT sessions were provided over eight weeks and outcomes were assessed at week 12. The primary outcome was substantial LBP improvement (� 50% pain reduction). The Roland eMorris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) and eight other secondary outcomes were also studied. Response ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used in conjunction with Cochrane Back Review Group criteria to determine OMT effects. Results: There was a large effect size for OMT in providing substantial LBP improvement in patients with HBPS (RR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.36e3.05; P<0.001). This was accompanied by clinically important improvement in back-specific functioning on the RMDQ (RR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.08e3.01; P ¼0.02). Both RRs were significantly greater than those observed in patients with LBPS. Osteopathic manual treatment was consistently associated with benefits in all other secondary outcomes in patients with HBPS, although the statistical significance and clinical relevance of results varied. Conclusions: The large effect size for OMT in providing substantial pain reduction in patients with chronic LBP of high severity was associated with clinically important improvement in back-specific functioning. Thus, OMT may be an attractive option in such patients before proceeding to more invasive and costly treatments.
Addison's disease masking a potentially life-threatening condition

Addison's disease (AD) is a metabolic disorder that affects the metabolism of potassium. The hyperkalemia that results from this condition can be reflected in the electrocardiogram, which could confound the diagnosis of other cardiac conditions. Such a challenging situation was encountered when a 73-year-old male with history of AD presented to the emergency department with chest pain.
Muscle stem cells in development, regeneration, and disease

Somatic stem cell populations participate in the development and regeneration of their host tissues. Skeletal muscle is capable of complete regeneration due to stem cells that reside in skeletal muscle and nonmuscle stem cell populations. However, in severe myopathic diseases such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, this regenerative capacity is exhausted. In the present review, studies will be examined that focus on the origin, gene expression, and coordinated regulation of stem cell populations to highlight the regenerative capacity of skeletal muscle and emphasize the challenges for this field. Intense interest has focused on cell-based therapies for chronic, debilitating myopathic diseases. Future studies that enhance our understanding of stem cell biology and repair mechanisms will provide a platform for therapeutic applications directed toward these chronic, life-threatening diseases.
Nickel Hydroxo Complexes as Intermediates in Nickel-Catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura Cross-Coupling

The synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of intermediates formed in the Ni-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling (SMC) of an aryl chloride are described. Oxidative addition of 1-chloro-4-trifluoromethylbenzene (1) to a mixture of Ni(cod)2 and PCy3 afforded NiCl(4-CF3Ph)(PCy3)2 (2), which then cleanly provided dimeric [Ni(4-CF3Ph)(μ–OH)(PCy3)]2 (3) by reaction with aqueous KOH. Reactivity studies of 2 and 3 with phenylboronic acid (4) revealed that, while 2 affords only traces of the biphenyl coupling product after 24 h, the same reaction with 3 is complete within minutes at room temperature. In contrast, the reaction of 3 with potassium phenyltrihydroxyborate (6) is much slower than that with boronic acid 4, and significantly lower yields of the cross-coupling product are obtained. We show that formation of the hydroxo species 3 is the rate-determining step in the present SMC.
New Technology, Bureaucracy, and the Social Construction of Medical Prices

This article presents an analysis of the social roots of medical service price inflation. The author argues that a struggle between hospital managers and physicians to control medical services has inflationary consequences. The author also contends that new technology acts as a strategic resource for managers in this struggle. Because the technology is new, few data exist for evaluating the demand for it and its medical and financial effects. Managers thus play a "hypothetical game" and set prices through bureaucratic means that reflect their preferences for technology and help pay for the equipment. An empirical case study involving the purchase of nuclear magnetic resonance equipment in Omaha, Nebraska, supports and illustrates the argument.
Design and evaluation of a cockpit display for hovering flight

A simulator evaluation of a cockpit display format for hovering flight is described. The display format is based on the position-velocity-acceleration representation (PVA) similar to that used in the Pilot Night Vision System in the Army AH-64 helicopter. By only varying the nature of the display law driving the primary indicator in the PVA format, i.e., the acceleration symbol, three candidate displays are created and evaluated. These range from a Status display in which the primary indicator provides true acceleration information to a Command display, in which the primary indicator provides flight director information. Simulation results indicate that two of the three displays offer performance and handling qualities which make them excellent candidates for future helicopter cockpit display systems.
Complications of the Barium Enema

Summary 1.The hazards of the barium enema examination have been reviewed and our experience with 13 patients has been presented. 2.The probable etiological factors were overinflation of a balloon catheter (six cases), enema tip trauma (four), elevation of intraluminal pressure (two), and proctoscopic biopsy (one). 3.Intraperitoneal perforation is a serious complication and was followed by death in four of six inf ants and one of five adults. 4.Extraperitoneal perforation is a relatively benign complication. 5.In three patients perforation occurred in colons that were not diseased. 6.Balloon catheters should not be used in infants, and only with caution in adults, particularly in a colostomy or in the presence of colonic disease. 7.Awareness of the hazards and prompt recognition of complications will minimize the associated morbidity and mortality.
An inter-application and inter-client priority-based QoS proxy architecture for heterogeneous networks

Most QoS (quality of service) adaptation systems in a heterogeneous network environment require source-code modifications in order to implement adaptation mechanisms, and network QoS parameters (e.g. bandwidth, latency, and jitter) are major sources for adaptation. This paper proposes a three-tier QoS proxy architecture where legacy applications can be transparently integrated without source-code modifications. The other salient feature of the architecture is its comprehensive coverage of QoS parameters for adaptation, including network QoS parameters such as bandwidth, latency and jitter, system QoS parameters such as CPU load and battery power status, and user profiles and QoS preferences. An end-user may assign different priorities to different applications through graphical user interfaces to best fit their QoS requirements. Packets from a client application are differentiated at the proxy, which integrates the inter-application and inter-client priority policies using priority fair queues.
Cloning and Characterization of the Myelin Basic Protein Gene from Mouse: One Gene Can Encode Both 14 kd and 18,5 kd MBPs by Alternate Use of Exons

A mouse cosmid library was screened with a cDNA clone for rat small (M, 14,000) myelin basic protein (MBP). The entire MBP gene was isolated. Five exons were detected with the cDNA clone, which encode the Mr 14,000 MBP. A sixth exon, detected using a synthetic oligonucleotide, encodes the 41 amino acids specific to the Mr 18,500 form of MBP. Splicing together all six exons would give rise to Mr 18,500 MBP, while an mRNA omitting exon V would be translated to produce Mr 14,000 MBP. Further experiments indicate that there is probably a single MBP gene in the mouse genome, and that there is a single major 5' end for mouse MBP transcripts, 47 bp 5' of the initiator methionine codon.
Duration of the Antifertility Effect of Glycerol in the Chicken Vagina

Abstract To determine the duration of the antifertility effect of glycerol in the chicken’s vagina, groups of 15 Leghorn-type hens were each given 0.1 ml. of a 2.076 M glycerol solution at time intervals from 0 to 10 minutes before and after insemination with 0.1 ml. of pooled semen. Eggs were set weekly and candled at 7 days of incubation to determine fertility. Fertility of eggs collected during days 5–7 was significantly (P
Numerical analyses of a directed graph formulation of the multistage distribution expansion problem

In this paper, the numerical analysis of a multistage formulation of the distribution expansion problem developed is presented. The approximate objective function is employed without sacrificing optimality. A complete nonlinear mathematical programming optimization is employed to identify the global optimum. The algorithm is applied here to two practical test cases. Details of the input data and configuration of test systems as well as the solutions are listed and discussed. Computational considerations are addressed.
Creating HW/SW co-designed MPSoPC's from high level programming models

FPGA densities have continued to follow Moore's law and can now support a complete multiprocessor system on programmable chip. The benefits of the FPGA include the ability to build a customized MPSoC system consisting of heterogeneous processing resources, interconnects and memory hierarchies that best match the requirements of each application. In this paper we outline a new approach that allows users to drive the generation of a complete hardware/software co-designed multiprocessor system on programmable chip from an unaltered standard high level programming model. We use OpenCL as our specification framework and show how key API's are extracted and used to automatically create a distributed shared memory multiprocessor system on chip architecture for Xilinx FPGA's. We show how OpenCL API's are easily translated to hthreads, a hardware-based microkernel operating system to provide pthreads compliant run time services within the MPSoPC architecture.
A three-channel microfluidic device for generating static linear gradients and its application to the quantitative analysis of bacterial chemotaxis

We have developed a prototype three-channel microfluidic chip that is capable of generating a linear concentration gradient within a microfluidic channel and is useful in the study of bacterial chemotaxis. The linear chemical gradient is established by diffusing a chemical through a porous membrane located in the side wall of the channel and can be established without through-flow in the channel where cells reside. As a result, movement of the cells in the center channel is caused solely by the cells chemotactic response and not by variations in fluid flow. The advantages of this microfluidic chemical linear gradient generator are (i) its ability to produce a static chemical gradient, (ii) its rapid implementation, and (iii) its potential for highly parallel sample processing. Using this device, wildtype Escherichia coli strain RP437 was observed to move towards an attractant (e.g., L-asparate) and away from a repellent (e.g., glycerol) while derivatives of RP437 that were incapable of motility or chemotaxis showed no bias of the bacteria's distribution. Additionally, the degree of chemotaxis could be easily quantified using this assay in conjunction with fluorescence imaging techniques, allowing for estimation of the chemotactic partition coefficient (CPC) and the chemotactic migration coefficient (CMC). Finally, using this approach we demonstrate that E. coli deficient in autoinducer-2-mediated quorum sensing respond to the chemoattractant L-aspartate in a manner that is indistinguishable from wildtype cells suggesting that chemotaxis is insulated from this mode of cell–cell communication.
Alcohol and cytokine networks.

Experimental and clinical data pertaining to alcohol (ethanol, EtOH) interference with cytokine networks are analyzed from the viewpoint of their importance for understanding the deleterious effects of EtOH on various functions. The data are grouped and analysed according to several major directions that have emerged in the last decade since the research on EtOH interference with cytokine networks started. These are: cytokine secretion, including the effects of the drug on in vivo cytokine levels and on in vitro cytokine secretion by various cells; cytokine-receptor interaction; intracellular fate of cytokines; and cellular responses to cytokines. Correspondingly, the data are presented in four tables. Attention is paid to the fact that the effects of EtOH on various aspects of cytokine biology (e.g., secretion by various cells) are diversified. Contradictory data have been reported but the cause for discrepancy is poorly understood. EtOH effects vary with the cytokine studied, the method of EtOH administration (i.e., acute or chronic), the species used, or with other experimental conditions. It is important to note, however, that the vast majority of experimental and clinical data show that EtOH interferes with cytokine networks and that research on such interference may lead to important steps in understanding the mechanisms of action of EtOH. An attempt is made herein to select aspects of cytokine biology, as affected by EtOH, that have been studied to a lesser extent, thus calling for more research efforts in those areas.
An efficient residue to weighted converter for a new residue number system

The Residue Number System (RNS) is an integer system appropriate far implementing fast digital signal processors since it can support parallel, carry-free, highspeed arithmetic. In this paper a new RNS system and an efficient implementation of its residue-to-weighted converter are presented. The new RNS is a balanced 5-moduli system appropriate for large dynamic ranges. The new residue-to-binary converter is very fast and hardware-efficient and is based on a 1's complement multioperand adder adding operands of size only 80% of the size of the system's dynamic range.
Lymphocyte Death in a Mouse Model of Ebola Virus Infection

Background. A striking feature of Zaire Ebola virus (ZEBOV) infection in nonhuman primates is the rapid depletion of T and NK lymphocytes by apoptosis. In a mouse model of ZEBOV infection, lymphocyte death is a prominent finding; however, the mechanism of death and the lymphocyte subsets that are targeted remain unknown. Methods. We extended the characterization of lymphocyte death in a mouse model of ZEBOV infection by evaluating lymphocytes during the course of disease, using flow cytometry, electron microscopy, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL). Results. B cell, CD4 + and CD8 + T cell, and NK cell counts all dropped dramatically in the blood of infected BALB/c mice, and lymphocyte death was observed in the spleen by means of TUNEL staining and in the blood by means of electron microscopy. Morphologically, lymphocyte death occurred by both classic apoptosis and apoptosis-like programmed cell death. Conclusions. The early and severe loss of peripheral blood NK and CD8 + lymphocytes in ZEBOV-infected mice is similar to that seen in macaques. The morphological basis of lymphocyte death in ZEBOV-infected mice appears to be both classic apoptosis and apoptosis-like programmed cell death, although lymphocyte apoptosis in ZEBOV-infected nonhuman primates seems to occur primarily via classic apoptosis. The mouse model of ZEBOV infection may be useful for the screening of therapeutics directed against limiting lymphocyte death.
Improvements in synchronization of the pbfa-II accelerator with laser-triggered gas switches

PBFA II is a 36-module ion accelerator built by Sandia National Laboratories for inertial confinement fusion studies./sup 1/ In the water-filled, pulse-forming section of the accelerator, each module is fitted with a 5.0-MV, SF/sub 6/-filled gas switch located between an intermediate storage capacitor and the first pulse forming line (Line 1). The intermediate storage capacitor is charged to 4.8-5.0 MV in approximately 950 ns by a Marx generator located in the oil section of the machine. The gas switch is required to close on command and transfer the stored capacitor energy to Line 1, a coaxial transmission line of 100 ns two-way electrical length. The switches are triggered by a single 3.0-J KrF laser located under the accelerator; a complex beam-splitting/distribution system is used to deliver 20-40 mJ, 35 ns FWHM beamlets to the individual switches. In order to properly drive the experimental load on PBFA II, equal-amplitude pulses must be produced by each pulse-forming line with a module-to-module first-to-last timing difference (spread) of less than 20 ns. The gas switch, the last command-triggered point in the module, is the major determinant of total machine synchrony. To compensate for the additional (<3 ns) rms jitter of three sets of self-breaking water switches downstream of the gas switches, first-to-last timing spread of the 36 gas switches must be less than 15 ns. At the last Pulsed Power Conference, we reported on prototype experiments in which four Rimfire switches were modified and tested, side-by-side, with four of the original PBFA II switches./sup 2/ In these tests, the, modified switches exhibited an rms jitter of less than 2 ns, and low prefire rate. The data taken on the modified switches were used in predicting a total 36-switch spread of less than 15 ns, and were the basis for proceeding with a complete retrofit of the PBFA II switch set. This retrofit was completed in the Fall of 1987. Since the retrofit, several hundred machine shots have been taken at voltages ranging from 3.5 MV to 5.0 Mv. Over this range of voltage, the rms jitter of each switch has been measured as less than 2 ns. The average firing times of the switches, however, is not identical; analysis of individual switch data reveals that each switch has an offset (either early or late) that is consistent shot-to-shot. These offsets range from 5.5 ns early to 4.0 ns late. The mechanical design of the laser optical system allows these offsets to be "tuned out" by adjusting the laser pathlengths of individual switches. Such "tuning" now results in 36-module switch spreads of less than 10 ns, and module spreads downstream of the water switches of less than 15 ns.
Individuation, Cosmogenesis and Technology: Sri Aurobindo And Gilbert Simondon

The turn of the nineteenth/twentieth century saw a number of philosophers of conscious evolution emerging from different cultural backgrounds. This paper argues that this phenomenon, which has sometimes been seen as a philosophical consequence of Darwin’s evolutionary theory in the life sciences, is more importantly related to the enhanced scope of human subjectivity made possible by technology at this time. Yet technology remains the ‘unthought within the thought’ of its times, an ambiguous presence, derided for its alienating effects and praised for its enhancement of human capacities and comforts. A later generation of thinkers, belonging to the post-World War II era, renews the thought of conscious evolution, now in engagement with new technologies of a planet spanning scope. This essay considers the ideas of these two generations of thinkers, focusing on Sri Aurobindo (1872–1950) from the earlier generation and Gilbert Simondon (1924–1989) from the more recent era, questioning the consequences of contemporary technology in their thoughts, goals and practices. In developing the historical continuity of ideas, it tracks the question of technology from the earlier to the later generation, highlighting the understanding of both its promise and its ills and engaging with it the possibilities of conscious evolution.
Treatment of Neurological Complications in AIDS: The AIDS Clinical Trials Group in the 1990s

An epidemic of a new infectious disease challenges mankind to respond at multiple levels. Working in medicine in the 1990s leads us to confront the complex challenge of human immunodeficiency virus. By in vitro and animal experimental models, we must explore the biology of this infection. Our scientific training recognizes that the most precise way to advance our knowledge is to gain control over as much of the experiment as possible. This can be accomplished in laboratory experiments and is an essential task. By such investigation, more has been learned about HIV than any other virus discovered. Expanding knowledge about the molecular and pathophysiolgic aspects of virology provide increasing hope for new ways to stem this epidemic. However, the name of our opponent in this battle is the human immunodeficiency virus, and it certain that in the end, the only test that will truly matter is whether the knowledge we rough out in simpler systems also can be applied to help infected patients.
A Statistical Analysis of Particle Swarm Optimization With and Without Digital Pheromones

*† Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is a population based heuristic search method for finding global optimal values in multi-disciplinary design optimization problems. PSO is based on simple social behavior exhibited by birds and insects. Due to its simplicity in implementation, PSO has been increasingly gaining popularity in the optimization community. Previous work by the authors demonstrated superior design space search capabilities of particle swarm through implementing digital pheromones in a regular PSO. Although preliminary results showed substantial performance gains, a quantitative assessment has not yet been made to prove the claim. Through a formal statistical hypothesis testing, this paper attempts to evaluate the performance characteristics of PSO with digital pheromones. Specifically, the authors’ claim that the use of digital pheromones improves the solution quality and solution times are tested using various multi-dimensional unconstrained optimization test problems. Conclusions are drawn based on the results from statistical analysis of these test problems and presented in the paper.
Magnetic properties of blends of LaBa2Cu3O7 and YBa2Cu3O7 superconducting ceramic

We report the effects of incorporating various mole percentages of isomorphous LaBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 into the 90 K superconductor YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 . It has been shown that the occurrence of Curie-Weiss behaviour above T c in the compound YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 suggests the existence of an antiferromagnetic interaction. Ferro- and antiferromagnetic interactions can be greatly minimized by physically dispersing the magnetic spin in a non-magnetic medium
High-spectral-resolution Two-photon Pump Polarization Spectroscopy Probe Technique for H-atom Detection

We report the development of a two-photon pump polarization spectroscopy probe technique for detection of atomic Hydrogen using two single-mode laser sources. Significant effect of laser parameters on atomic transitions has been observed.
Three-level en bloc spondylectomy for chordoma.

BACKGROUND: En bloc resection of spinal and sacral chordomas may convey a survival benefit. However, these procedures often are complex and require the surgeon to plan a procedure that results in negative tumor margins, protects vital neurovascular structures, and concludes with a viable biomechanical reconstruction. OBJECTIVE: We present a case of a 3-level en bloc lumbar spondylectomy and reconstruction. METHODS: A case of a 45-year-old woman with biopsy-proven exophytic L4 chordoma is presented. The patient underwent successful L3-L5 en bloc spondylectomy and reconstruction over 3 stages. RESULTS: The patient did well following the procedure, and was neurologically intact at 6-week follow-up. CONCLUSION: Three-level en bloc spondylectomy with lumbopelvic reconstruction is a challenging yet feasible procedure.
Chinese Poetry and Painting: Some Observations on their Interrelationship

(1979). Chinese Poetry and Painting: Some Observations on their Interrelationship. Monumenta Serica: Vol. 34, No. 1, pp. 403-413.
Understanding Substrate Specificity of Related Plant Methylesterases( MESs) from Computational Investigations

One of enzyme's hallmarks is the high specificity to their natural substrates. But our understanding is still lacking concerning how enzymes could achieve high specificity and substrate discrimination. This is the case for a group of related methylesterases( MESs) identified in plants that catalyze reactions of different substrates,including methyl salicylate( Me SA),methyl jasmonate( Me JA) and methyl indole-3-acetate( Me IAA). In this work,a homologymodel was built for At MES10( a Me JA esterase),and this model along with the X-ray structure of SABP2( a Me SA esterase) was used to understand their substrate specificity. It is shown that the specificity may be explained based on the simple Lock-and-Key Model( that is,the active site being complementary in shape to the substrate) along with the requirement that the —COO moiety involved in the reaction occupies a position allowing the nucleophilic attack by the catalytic serine( that is,in a reactive configuration). The active site of SABP2 appears not to be complementary in shape to Me JA,and this may lead to a low activity on Me JA. For At MES10,certain bulky residues in SABP2 are replaced by relatively small residues,allowing the substrate to bind to the active site and to be catalyzed by the enzyme.The results are consistent with the substrate specificity of these two enzymes observed experimentally. Explanations are also provided for the lack of the activities of At MES10 and SABP2 on Me IAA and the lack of the activity of At MES10 on Me SA.
Schmidtea mediterranea: a model system for analysis of motile cilia.

Cilia are cellular organelles that appeared early in the evolution of eukaryotes. These structures and the pool of about 600 genes involved in their assembly and function are highly conserved in organisms as distant as single-cell protists, like Chlamydomonas reinhardtti, and humans (Silflow and Lefebvre, 2001). A significant body of work on the biology of cilia has been produced over the years, with the help of powerful model organisms including C. reinhardtti, Caenorhabditis elegans, sea urchins, and mice. However, specific limitations of these systems, especially regarding the ability to efficiently study gene loss-of-function, warrant the search for a new model organism to study cilia and cilia-based motility. Schmidtea mediterranea is a species of planarian (Class: Tubellaria) with a well-defined monostratified ciliated epithelium, which contributes to the motility of the organism, in addition to other more specialized ciliary structures. The use of S. mediterranea as an experimental system to study stem cell biology and regeneration has led to a recently sequenced genome and to the development of a wide array of powerful tools including the ability to inhibit gene expression via RNA interference. In addition, we have developed and describe here a number of methods for analyzing motile cilia in S. mediterranea. Overall, S. mediterranea is a highly versatile, easy to maintain, and genetically tractable organism that provides a powerful alternative model system for the study of motile cilia.
Comments on Robert Adams, A theory of virtue: excellence in being for the good

Recent decades have seen a revival of interest in virtue as providing a new alternative for debates in normative ethics about the criterion of right action, as well as for debates in meta-ethics about the foundational ethical notion (act, principle or character?) and the best language of ethical evaluation (the purely evaluative 'right' and 'wrong', or the richly descriptive language of virtue and vice, e.g. 'kind' and 'cruel'?). Refreshingly, in A Theory of Virtue Professor Adams is interested in virtue for reasons that can be shared even by those who care little about these academic debates. For Adams (2006), virtue is important because good motives and good character, and not only right action, matter to living an ethical life. Adams' guiding thought is that virtue is best understood in relation to the good, or to goods, rather than in relation to the right, for there are many ways of being for the good (p. 11). So he defines virtue as 'persisting excellence in being for the good' (p. 14). To begin, a little dilation on 'excellence in being for the good': 'being for X' is an intentional, will-involving, attitude towards X expressed not only in actively pursuing X, but also in promoting X, appreciating X, thinking X good, etc. (pp. 1517), for its good-making features (p. 23). Further, 'the goods' that virtue is for really are good, not merely believed to be good (p. 22), whether for oneself or for others, and they are not only states of or rights of persons, but include things of aesthetic value, the well-being of non-human creatures, and so on (pp. 20-21). Finally, 'excellence' is 'the objective and non-instrumental goodness of that which is worthy to be honored, loved, admired, or... worshiped, for its own sake.' (p. 24). So virtue, excellence in being for the good, consists in certain feature(s) of a pro-attitude towards real goods, which feature(s) is/are worthy of honor, love, etc.
Revisiting the curvature-mediated interactions between proteins in biological membranes.

Proteins embedded in soft biological membranes experience a long-range force mediated by elastic curvature deformations. The classical linearized Helfrich–Canham Hamiltonian based derivations reveal the nature of the force between a pair of proteins to be repulsive in the zero-temperature limit and the interaction potential is inversely proportional to the fourth power of the distance separating the inclusions. Such a result is the starting point to understand many-body interactions between proteins in biological membranes and the study of their clustering or, more broadly, self-organization. A key observation regarding this widely quoted result is that any two (mechanically rigid) proteins will experience an identical force. In other words, there is no specificity in the currently employed continuum models that purport to explain protein interactions. In this work we argue that each protein has a unique mechanical signature based on its interaction with the surrounding lipid bilayer membrane and cannot be treated as a non-specific rigid object. We modify the classical Helfrich–Canham theory of curvature elasticity to incorporate protein–membrane specificity, discuss the estimation of the new model parameters via atomistic simulations and re-evaluate the curvature-mediated force between proteins. We find that the incorporation of protein-specificity can reduce the interaction force by several orders of magnitude. Our result may provide at least one plausible reason behind why in some computational and experimental studies, a net attractive force between proteins is in evidence.
Counting results: performance-based financing and HIV testing among MSM in China

AbstractIn this paper, I examine the use of performance-based financing to scale-up HIV testing in men who have sex with men, or MSM, by global health initiatives in China. This mechanism, which ties financing directly to the achievement of targets and indicators, assures that measurable results are produced from health interventions and accounts for financial spending. On the one hand, its adoption into HIV programming in China articulates with broader shifts in global health that place currency on particular forms of evidence. At the same time, performance-based financing reshapes how HIV interventions are carried out and what counts in these programmes. The suturing of financing to outputs directs what gets counted and how, and as a consequence leads to the production of measurable results as an end in and of themselves. Based on 22 months of ethnographic research carried out in China, I explore the effects of this mechanism and, in doing so, ask what gets left out in the pursuit of evidence. In partic...
Plasmonic resonances of nanoparticles from large-scale quantum mechanical simulations

Plasmonic resonance of metallic nanoparticles results from coherent motion of its conduction electrons, driven by incident light. For the nanoparticles less than 10 nm in diameter, localized surface plasmonic resonances become sensitive to the quantum nature of the conduction electrons. Unfortunately, quantum mechanical simulations based on time-dependent Kohn–Sham density functional theory are computationally too expensive to tackle metal particles larger than 2 nm. Herein, we introduce the recently developed time-dependent orbital-free density functional theory (TD-OFDFT) approach which enables large-scale quantum mechanical simulations of plasmonic responses of metallic nanostructures. Using TD-OFDFT, we have performed quantum mechanical simulations to understand size-dependent plasmonic response of Na nanoparticles and plasmonic responses in Na nanoparticle dimers and trimers. An outlook of future development of the TD-OFDFT method is also presented.
From a University Employee to a Petit Bourgeois Intellectual

In our role as entrepreneurial intellectuals, the entire university bureaucracy was arrayed against us, so it was inevitable that the cold icy darkness of the iron cage would one day descend upon us and close the bureaucratic door on our entrepreneurial activity. Consequently, we established a limited liability company in 2006. The book concludes by arguing that the strategy of the entrepreneurial intellectual creates multiple centers of decentralized power that generate alternative institutions and forms of behavior, alternative norms of intellectualism, and competing modes of legitimation that erode the boundaries of the corporate university at its edges, while carving out entrepreneurial spaces within its interior. It organizes intellectuals in small guerilla bands, rather than as a class or collectivity, and for the foreseeable future, this may be all that is possible—but at least it is possible—and it does not require a massive social movement to initiate this strategy at a particular university or at universities everywhere.
More about Collins–Roscoe property in function spaces

Abstract A space X is a Collins–Roscoe space if it has a countable point network satisfying the Collins–Roscoe structuring mechanism. In this article, we introduce a new property on the subspaces of product spaces called the minimal continuous factorization (MCF) property. We prove that if a subspace Y of the topological product of a family of cosmic spaces has the countable MCF property, then C p ( Y ) has the Collins–Roscoe property, hence it is meta-Lindelof. We also prove that, if X is a σ-compact metric space, then C p ( X ) satisfies σ-finite (F).
A User-Centered Approach: Understanding Client and Caregiver Needs and Preferences in the Development of mHealth Apps for Self-Management

Background: Many adolescents and young adults with chronic illness or disability often fail to develop the self-management skills necessary to independently handle medical and self-management routines. In light of these needs, we are developing iMHere 2.0 (Interactive Mobile Health and Rehabilitation), a mobile health (mHealth) system to support a self-management program. Objective: Our objective was to gather data from persons with brain and spinal cord anomalies (BSA) and their caregivers to better understand how mHealth would be most helpful in supporting them to proactively manage daily self-care routines and to access medical care as needed. The specific purpose was not only to gather feedback and to gain increased insight into the design of the new version of iMHere, but also to gather perspectives of new groups, namely adolescents as young as 12 years and their parents and/or caregivers. Methods: Our project employed focus group sessions and surveys to collect data from participants with BSA, as well as their caregivers. A total of six focus group sessions were conducted on four separate occasions until the data gathered reached saturation. The objectives of our focus group sessions were to better understand ways to develop mHealth systems to support self-management, to promote independence, to motivate long-term system use, and to prevent medical problems that lead to hospitalizations and emergency room visits for youth and young adults with BSA. Results: A total of 16 youth and young adults with BSA and 11 caregivers participated in the sessions. Within and among our groups, the following five overarching themes emerged from the data: (1) make it easy, (2) engage, (3) educate and prepare, (4) motivate and support, and (5) personalize. Participants shared their perspectives and detailed information about mHealth apps that would be important for independence in self-care and self-management. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that most individuals keep their mobile phones with them at all times and typically use a mobile phone for social media, music, photos, and texting. Our qualitative analysis indicates that youth and young adults with BSA, as well as their caregivers, acknowledge the importance of being actively engaged in developing and using mHealth apps that monitor and manage their health care needs. Information gleaned from these focus group sessions and surveys have provided data to refine the iMHere 2.0 mHealth prototype platform that we have developed. [JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2017;5(9):e141]
Changes in state tax structures: true comprehensive reform or artifacts of incrementalism?

Using data obtained from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), we investigate modifications in state tax codes to determine their characteristics, the apparent trends of state tax reform, and whether changes constituted comprehensive reform or mere incremental adjustments to existing tax structures. Based on the data, we find that few states achieved comprehensive tax reform in the 1990s despite the fiscal surplus that provided an environment conducive to widespread change. Moreover, we find that a significant number of changes that were enacted in the 1990s involved increases or decreases in state tax revenue that were ultimately tied to economic cycles. We suggest that adequacy in state tax collections may be the most common tax principle adhered to with regard to changes in tax structure. We also conclude that reform efforts in the 1990s were most successful when approached in an incremental fashion in the absence of a significant precipitating reform driver.
EvergreenLP: Using a social network as a learning platform

We are living more of our lives situated within online networks and communities where digital artifacts can be collected and processed to showcase individual and group behavior representations. Growing data bandwidth coupled with amplified computational resources are aligning to allow for analysis of human behaviors at unprecedented scales. The proper data generation, collection, storage and analysis techniques are mostly untaught in the undergraduate experience. Pedagogical research shows that project based learning encourages and supports design thinking and collaborative work; skills that are important to practitioners in data science centric industries. To address these academic needs, we develop the Evergreen Learning Platform (EvergreenLP). EvergreenLP is an interdisciplinary project based learning framework that leverages pedagogy rooted in Critical Media Literacy. Students take advantage of design-learning principles on the front-end and computational discipline standards on the back end. Students are engaged in the design, development and use of this platform while simultaneously contributing data content on the chosen social media platform. Our data analysis and visualization environment allows the student coders and non-coders to explore data science principles in context of a current event or topic trending on twitter. In this paper, we experimentally assess and present the benefits of introducing culturally relevant data techniques to African-American female students in an interdisciplinary seminar on #BlackGirlMagic (#BGM).
Proof of an Asymptotic Symmetry of the Rapidly Forced Pendulum

This paper concerns with the split of a separatrix of a nonlinear pendulum by a small but rapid sinsusoidal forcing. A partial answer is given, with main result, road map and proof of δ-asymptotic expansion.
New biologic markers in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

Many of the tumor markers mentioned in this article may seem to be of only research or theoretic interest. However, many of those mentioned are likely to be of great clinical utility in the future. In particular, the strength of these immunohistochemical findings have been compared with standard clinical prognostic features (e.g., stage, age, B symptoms) and have been modeled to show independent prognostic relevance in both intermediate-grade and low-grade lymphomas. Beyond their predictive value, these markers have identified phenotypes that may serve as new therapeutic targets: (1) restoration of HLA loss with alpha and gamma interferons; and (2) restoration of tumor-infiltrating T-cell lymphocytes with interleukin-2. New phenotype-directed cytokine therapies seem compelling with this new knowledge. We await future prospective trials of phenotyping to further refine this new exciting prospect.
Children and Youth with Serious Emotional Disturbance: A National Agenda for Success

This issue of the Journal of Child and Family Studies contains a collection of articles that discuss the National Agenda for Achieving Better Results for Children and Youth with Serious Emotional Disturbance. Finalized in 1994, the Agenda has provided people who care about children and youth with emotional disorders with a common goal—to improve results for children and youth with and at risk of developing emotional disturbance (ED). Since its release, the Agenda has had a phenomenal impact on students, family members, educators, policy makers, and agencies. Here, we give a brief overview of the development and impact of the Agenda.
Growth and recruitment dynamics of young‐of‐year northern pike: Implications for habitat conservation and management

Maximising growth during the months after hatching is critical for fishes to surpass predator gape limits, make ontogenetic shifts in diet and increase overwinter survival. Constraints on growth during early life stages can have population and community‐level implications, yet are rarely addressed by habitat restoration or fishery management efforts. To assess environmental controls on larval growth rates, we sampled adult and young‐of‐year (YOY) northern pike (Esox lucius) emigrating from spawning grounds in six tributaries of Lake Michigan. We found that YOY growth rates differed significantly among natal streams, in parallel with variation in hatch date and water temperatures. Within each stream, individual growth rates were positively associated with trophic position, as measured by nitrogen isotope enrichment and gut contents. Earlier hatching individuals also grew faster, but the strength of this relationship varied with warming water temperatures (i.e., 21–27°C). Ageing of adult spawners indicated no differences among streams in average growth rates later in life. Our findings suggest that restoration efforts should replicate ecological conditions found in habitats producing large numbers of fast‐growing YOY. Key habitat attributes include adequate water level throughout the spring spawning season, and stable, warm water temperature conditions. Providing these environments during early life history could enhance the robustness of northern pike populations by boosting fitness from hatching to emigration to adult habitats.
Teacher adaptation of document-based history curricula: results of the Reading Like a Historian curriculum-use survey

Although most teachers adapt curriculum, we know little about teachers’ rationales for modifying materials, how these rationales align with actual modifications, nor whether any patterns exist in t...
Fishing to live or living to fish: Job satisfaction and identity of west coast fishermen

Fishing is a dangerous and financially risky way to make a living, but it attracts many participants that prefer it to higher paying and safer jobs. Based on a survey of over 1400 U.S. West Coast fishing vessel owners we use factor analysis and structural equation modeling to quantify distinct latent variables representing job satisfaction related to non-monetary versus monetary aspects of fishing and measures of identity and social capital associated with being a fisher. We show that these latent variables have distinct effects on (stated) fishery participation behavior and that higher non-monetary job satisfaction, social capital, and identity, are associated with a willingness to forgo higher income to be a fisher. Understanding how these factors affect and are affected by participation in fisheries could be important to increase benefits from fisheries and to ensure sustainability of management regimes that rely on indirect controls on effort to limit catch.