cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analyzing taxonomic classification using extensible Markov models

Motivation: As next generation sequencing is rapidly adding new genomes, their correct placement in the taxonomy needs verification. However, the current methods for confirming classification of a taxon or suggesting revision for a potential misplacement relies on computationally intense multi-sequence alignment followed by an iterative adjustment of the distance matrix. Due to intra-heterogeneity issues with the 16S rRNA marker, no classifier is available for sub-genus level, which could readily suggest a classification for a novel 16S rRNA sequence. Metagenomics further complicates the issue by generating fragmented 16S rRNA sequences. This article proposes a novel alignment-free method for representing the microbial profiles using extensible Markov models (EMMs) with an extended Karlin–Altschul statistical framework similar to the classic alignment paradigm. We propose a log odds (LODs) score classifier based on Gumbel difference distribution that confirms correct classifications with statistical significance qualifications and suggests revisions where necessary. Results: We tested our method by generating a sub-genus level classifier with which we re-evaluated classifications of 676 microbial organisms using the NCBI FTP database for the 16S rRNA. The results confirm current classification for all genera while ascertaining significance at 95%. Furthermore, this novel classifier isolates heterogeneity issues to a mere 12 strains while confirming classifications with significance qualification for the remaining 98%. The models require less memory than that needed by multi-sequence alignments and have better time complexity than the current methods. The classifier operates at sub-genus level, and thus outperforms the naive Bayes classifier of the RNA Database Project where much of the taxonomic analysis is available online. Finally, using information redundancy in model building, we show that the method applies to metagenomic fragment classification of 19 Escherichia coli strains. Availability and implementation: Source code and binaries freely available for download at http://lyle.smu.edu/IDA/EMMSA/, implemented in JAVA and supported on MS Windows. Contact:mallik@kotamarti.com; mhd@lyle.smu.edu Supplementary information:Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Role of Gene Regulation during Vestibular Compensation

: Identification of the role of gene regulation in vestibular compensation is one aspect of a larger issue: the identification of molecular bases for plasticity in multiple vestibulo-ocular, vestibulo-spinal, vestibulo-collic, and vestibulo-autonomic responses. To achieve this goal, it is incumbent on investigators to examine molecular events within the contexts of the single neuron, the location of the neuron in pathways, and the timing of the molecular events relative to behavioral compensation. Hence, the goal of identifying molecular bases for a particular compensatory response (e.g., the disappearance of spontaneous nystagmus in the light or the disappearance of static head tilt) requires careful attention to the time course of physiologic compensation and the location of the effects within central pathways that have the potential to affect the responses. The effects of impeding these site-specific and time-specific changes can then be tested to determine their role in the compensatory process. A consideration of the recent literature on molecular events related to the resolution of spontaneous nystagmus in the light indicates that a meaningful approach to these issues requires a broadening of our conceptual approach. Specifically, one must consider the roles of transcriptional, translational, and posttranslational events on the turnover of critical signaling substrates for vestibular compensation.
"RATs" to technology! Conflict, power and the crisis of industrial siting:

The location of dangerous industrial installations is now regularly attended by intense local opposition. The roots of such conflict lie in the unequal power relationships inherent in modern techno-planning. As a result, conventional reformist solutions, such as administrative centralization or compensation, are unlikely to reduce the tendency toward local outbreaks of anti-industrialism. The paper proposes instead the establishment of Regional Academies of Tech nology ( RATs ) as a useful resource for a political movement aimed at demo cratic planning of industrial development.
Role of Charge Transfer States of the Special Pair in Primary Photosynthetic Charge Separation

We propose a model for primary charge separation in the reaction centers of photosynthetic bacteria based upon an internal charge transfer state of the special pair dimer. In our model, this state serves as a trigger for primary electron transfer, linking the excited state of the special pair (with which it is nearly in resonance) to a superexchange pathway coupled to the initial bacteriopheophytin acceptor. The recombination reaction is not similarly facilitated because the charge transfer state is not close in energy to the ground state; this could be a key factor in explaining the high quantum yield of the primary electron transfer event. The model provides a qualitative explanation for three important experimental measurements (Stark effect, photochemical holeburning, singlet-triplet splitting of the charge separated species) on the reaction center. In addition, its predictions are in excellent accord with recent studies of a genetically modified reaction center in which one bacteriochlorophyll molecule of the special pair is changed to a pheophytin. For this system, one can directly observe the proposed charge transfer state participating in the electron transfer kinetics, located at an energy compatible with our model calculations.
Substance Use Disorders: Realizing the Promise of Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine

Current pharmacological and psychosocial approaches to the treatment of alcohol dependence may best be described as modestly effective, and it is unlikely that a magic bullet for the treatment of any substance use disorder will ever be developed. Rather, it seems more likely that there will be a number of treatment options, each of which will target different mechanisms. Thus, future treatment gains are likely to depend on the ability to match individuals with the treatment most likely to benefit them, which in turn is contingent on our ability to understand the mechanisms that drive the maintenance of substance use disorders on an individual level. On a more global scale, this type of effort has been described as “personalized medicine” and has focused largely on the human genome as a source of information that can be used to match individuals to treatments. This review enumerates barriers to realizing the potential of personalized medicine for substance use disorders and identifies opportunities to overcome those barriers, which involve the development of translational approaches that focus on the development of brain-based phenotypes that serve as the target of both treatment development and of genetic research.
Three-dimensional Green’s functions for a steady point heat source in a functionally graded half-space and some related problems

Abstract Three-dimensional Green’s functions are derived for a steady point heat source in a functionally graded half-space where the thermal conductivity varies exponentially along an arbitrary direction. We first introduce an auxiliary function which satisfies an inhomogeneous Helmholtz equation. Then by virtue of the image method which was first proposed by Sommerfeld for the homogeneous half-space Green’s function of a steady point heat source, we arrive at an explicit expression for this function. Finally with this auxiliary function, we derive the three-dimensional Green’s functions due to a steady point heat source in a functionally graded half-space. Also investigated in this paper are the temperature field induced by a point heat source moving at a constant speed in a functionally graded full-space; the electric potential due to a static point electric charge in a dielectric full-space with electric field gradient effects; and the two-dimensional time-harmonic dynamic Green’s function for homogeneous and functionally graded materials with strain gradient effects.
Compiler-Directed Region-Based Security for Low-Overhead Software Protection

Software security has become a prominent area of research in recent years, with research efforts spanning a wide range of topics. Among these are techniques such as those in this paper that are in the general area of languages, compilers and architecture aimed at increasing the security of computing systems. This paper describes a compiler technique that performs risk-analysis on source code and generates an encrypted executable that both provides security but yet reduces overhead by selectively encrypting low-risk portions with less overhead. Regions of the code that are more vulnerable receive a higher degree of encryption. Experimental results for this technique, which we call Region-Based Security, using a collection of benchmarks show that execution overhead is reduced considerably by using this approach.
Elite Polarization and Political Engagement in California

Many observers of politics see the ugly business of governing and lament the rise of polarized politics at the national and state level. Scholars have looked deeply into the causes and existence of polarization, but have not given enough scholarly attention to the consequences. How does polarization influence the way that citizens engage politics? Using data from the California Field Poll we show that increased polarization stimulates political engagement in the form of bolstered voter registration and identification with the major political parties. These results lend support to the view in the literature that elite polarization spurs engagement rather than disengagement.
Adaptive Deadlock-Free Routing in Multicomputers Using Only One Extra Virtual Channel

We present three protocols defin ing the relationship between messages and the chan nel resources requested: request-then-hold, requestthen wait, and request-then-relinquish. Based on the three protocols, we develop an adaptive deadlockfree routing algorithm called the SP routing. The SP routing uses shortest paths and is fully-adaptive, so messages can be routed via any of the shortest paths from the source to the destination. Since it is a minimal or shortest routing, the SP routing guar antees the freedom of livelocks. The SP routing is not limited to a specific network topology. The main requirement for an applicable network topology is that there exists a deterministic, minimal, deadlock-free routing algorithm. Most ex isting network topologies are equipped with such an algorithm. In this paper, we present an adaptive deadlock-free routing agorithm for n-dimensional meshes by using the SP routing. The hardware re quired by the SP routing uses only one extra virtual channel as compared to the deterministic routing.
Age is associated with patient and provider misperceptions of frailty among potential surgical candidates

CONCLUSIONS: An intervention for elderly surgical patients may accelerate return to baseline functional status. Preoperative VES scores can risk-stratify patients who may benefit from targeted postoperative treatments. Assessing functional status soon after discharge can identify patients at risk for long-term functional impairment, providing an opportunity for further intervention (home physical therapy and rehabilitation).
A human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection-enhancing factor in seropositive sera.

Abstract While testing sera for Human Immunodeficiency Virus neutralizing antibody titers, three sera were identified which had the ability to enhance infectivity of the virus. The sera were from three different individuals residing in Nashville, TN. The enhancing factor was not removed by either filtration through 0.05 μm filters or by incubation for one hour with a stoichiometric amount of protein A sepharose. Two of the sera were able to enhance infection by two divergent isolates (HTLV-IIIB and HTLV-IIIRF) while one was only capable of enhancing infection of target cells by HTLV-IIIB. None of the sera induced syncytium formation in chronic HIV-infected cells. The findings suggest that the substance is neither a virus nor an IgG class 1 or 2.
Comparison of Three Commercial Amphetamine Immunoassays for Detection of Methamphetamine, Methylenedioxyamphetamine, Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, and Methylenedioxyethylamphetamine

Three commercial immunoassays for detection of amphetamines in urine, Abuscreen radioimmunoassay (RIA), enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT), and the TDx fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA), have been investigated for detection of methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDE). Blank urine was spiked with 0.1 to 3000 micrograms/mL amphetamine analog and used as sample in the assays. With the RIA and FPIA, MDA displayed a higher cross-reactivity to amphetamine than other analogs, but with EMIT, methamphetamine was relatively similar to amphetamine while MDA, MDMA, and MDE were less reactive. The high specificity RIA and the EMIT confirmation reagents for urine amphetamines produced significant, but relatively minor, reduction in the detectability of these analogs. The variation in cross-reactivity seen between the different assays suggests that RIA, EMIT, and FPIA antibodies have different recognition sites; however, all three immunoassays do detect the illicit amphetamine analogs to varying degrees.
Analysis of Intense, Subnanosecond Electrical Pulse-Induced Transmembrane Voltage in Spheroidal Cells With Arbitrary Orientation

Self-consistent evaluations of the transmembrane potential (TMP) and possible membrane electroporation in spheroidal cells arising from an ultrashort, high-intensity pulse are reported. The present study couples the Laplace equation with Smoluchowski theory of pore formation, and uses double-shell models. It is shown that the response of prolate spheroids is faster than that of the sphere, with the outer membrane reaching its steady-state value in about 2 mus. The simulation result also shows that the TMP across an inner organelle could exceed the value across the plasma membrane at least over the first 0.4 mus or so, indicating a possibility of intracellular, electromanipulation of cells. The TMP induced by pulsed external voltages is predicted to be higher in oblate spheroids in comparison to both spherical and prolate spheroidal cells. This occurs due to flattening of the surface area.
C-Hint: An Effective and Reliable Cache Management for RDMA-Accelerated Key-Value Stores

Recently, many in-memory key-value stores have started using a High-Performance network protocol, Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA), to provision ultra-low latency access services. Among various solutions, previous studies have recognized that leveraging RDMA Read to optimize GET operations and continuing using message passing for other requests can offer tremendous performance improvement while avoiding read-write races. However, although such a design can utilize the power of RDMA when there is sufficient memory space, it has also raised new challenges on the cache management that do not exist in traditional key-value stores. First, RDMA Read deprives servers of the awareness of the read operations. Therefore, how to track popular items and make replacement decisions at the server side becomes a critical issue. Second, without the access knowledge from the clients, new approaches are needed for servers to efficiently and reliably reclaim the resources. Lastly, the remote pointers hold by clients to conduct RDMA are highly susceptible to the evictions made by remote servers. Thus, any replacement algorithm that solely considers the server-side hit ratio is insufficient and can cause severe underutilization of RDMA.In this work, we present C-Hint, an efficient and reliable cache management system that is designed to address the above three challenges. Its basic mechanism relies on a holistic design of the servers and the clients to orchestrate the access history information. Specifically, it consists of several techniques, including lease-based key-value management, popularity differentiated lease assignment, as well as several optimizations to achieve efficient and reliable cache management. We have implemented and integrated C-Hint into an in-house memory-resident key-value store, named HydraDB, and systematically evaluated its performance on an InfiniBand cluster with different workloads. Our experiment results demonstrate that C-Hint can efficiently outperform several other alternate solutions and deliver both high hit rate and low latency performance.
The homotopy type of the matroid Grassmannian

Stiefel [26] and Whitney [28] and with integral coefficients by Pontrjagin [24], make up the primary source of first-order invariants of smooth manifolds. When their utility was first recognized, it became an obvious goal to study the ways in which they admitted extensions to other categories, such as the categories of topological or PL manifolds; perhaps a clean description of characteristic classes for simplicial complexes could even give useful computational techniques. Modulo 2, this hope was realized rather quickly: it is not hard to see that the Stiefel-Whitney classes are PL invariants. Moreover, Whitney was able to produce a simple explicit formula for the class in codimension i in terms of the i-skeleton of the barycentric subdivision of a triangulated manifold (for a proof of this result, see [13]). One would like to find an analogue of these results for the Pontrjagin classes. However, such a naive goal is entirely out of reach; indeed, Milnor's use of the Pontrjagin classes to construct an invariant which distinguishes between nondiffeomorphic manifolds which are homeomorphic and PL isomorphic
Hollow sapphire fibers for the delivery of CO(2) laser energy.

Hollow sapphire tubing has been used to deliver nearly single-mode CO2 laser energy. The hollow single-crystal Al2O3 fiber has an n < 1 cladding at 10.6 μm. Measured losses at 10.6 μm are as low as 0.49 dB/m, and the minimum bend radius of the 580 μm × 380 μm fiber is 14 cm. Bending losses are shown to vary as 1/R, and essentially only the HE11 mode propagates in the bent guide.
Purification and Enzymatic Characterization of Recombinant Prohormone Convertase 2: Stabilization of Activity by 21 kDa 7B2

Although previous efforts to produce significant quantities of purified prohormone convertase 2 from either recombinant or natural sources have been unsuccessful, our recent finding that the neuroendocrine polypeptide 7B2 is necessary for the biosynthesis of enzymatically active prohormone convertase 2 (PC2) has enabled us to obtain active recombinant enzyme from the conditioned medium of PC2-producing CHO cells supertransfected with cDNA coding for 21 kDa 7B2. The recombinant enzyme was purified to apparent homogeneity, with a 40% recovery, in milligram quantities. Two protein bands of Mrs 71 and 75 kDa were observed after SDS-PAGE followed by either Coomassie staining or Western blotting with PC2 antiserum. Spontaneous conversion of the 71- and 75-kDa species to the 66-kDa form occurred during incubation at pH 5.0; the degree of conversion correlated with a dramatic increase in activity. Kms of 124 and 131 microM and Kcats of 0.49 and 0.81 s(-1) were obtained for the substrates Cbz-Arg-Ser-Lys-Arg-AMC and Pyr-Arg-Thr-Lys-Arg-AMC, respectively. The pH optimum was 5.0, and the enzyme was inhibited by h7B2(155-185') p-CMS, and EDTA but not by other inhibitors tested. Interestingly, 21 kDa 7B2 was observed to copurify with the enzyme in a molar ratio of about 1:100 (7B2:PC2). Prior addition of recombinant 21 kDa 7B2 to activated 66 kDa PC2 provided significant protection against thermal denaturation. When coassociated 7B2 was mostly removed from activated PC2 through gel filtration, subsequent addition of recombinant 7B2 exerted a significant stabilizing effect on enzyme activity. Millimolar Ca2+ and pHs between 5 and 6 were required to observe this effect. Since these conditions resemble those thought to occur within secretory granules, and since 21 kDa 7B2 represents a stored secretory granule protein, our data suggest a physiological role for 21 kDa 7B2 in the stabilization of PC2 activity.
The effect of targeting scheme on tidal volume delivery during volume control mechanical ventilation.

BACKGROUND: Technological advances have increased ventilator mode complexity and risk of operator error. OBJECTIVE: To compare differences in volume control (VC) ventilation with set-point and dual targeting. Two hypotheses were tested: tidal volume (VT) delivery is different with VC using set-point versus dual targeting during active versus passive breathing; VC with dual targeting delivers VT similar to pressure support ventilation (PS) with active breathing. METHODS: The Ingmar Medical ASL 5000 lung model simulated pulmonary mechanics of an adult patient with ARDS during active and passive ventilation. Resistance was standardized at 10 cm H2O/L/s and compliance at 32 mL/cm H2O. Active breathing was simulated by setting the frequency (f) = 26 breaths/min, and adjusting the muscle pressure (Pmus) to produce a VT of 384 mL. VC was initiated with the Puritan Bennett 840 (set-point targeting) and the Servo-i (dual targeting) at VT = 430 mL, mandatory f = 15 breaths/min, and PEEP = 10 cm H2O. During PS, cycle threshold was set to 30% and peak inspiratory pressure adjusted to produce a VT similar to that delivered during VC. Expiratory VT was collected on 10 consecutive breaths during active and passive breathing with VC and PS. Mean VT differences (active vs passive model) were compared using analysis of variance. Statistical significance was established at P RESULTS: The mean ± SD VT difference varied with targeting schemes: VC set-point = 37.3 ± 3.5 mL, VC-dual = 77.1 ± 3.3 mL, and PS = 406.1 ± 1.5 mL (P CONCLUSIONS: Dual targeting during VC allows increased VT, compared to set-point, but not as much as PS.
The Implications of Creep-Related Tilt Observations on the San Andreas Fault in Central California

Transient tilts associated with numerous fault creep observations have been recorded at several selected locations along the San Andreas fault. At these locations episodic fault displacements of 1 to 5 mm typically occur over a period of an hour or so. Maximum tilt amplitudes are less than 0.5 yrad at observation points < 0.5 km from the fault. Clear tilt transients have not been observed at distances of 1 to 2 km from the fault. An array of four tiltmeters was installed at one location around five creepmeters. Simple dislocation models of creep events observed on these instruments indicate shallow and sometimes complex regions of fault failure apparently resulting from, and triggered by, slower and more uniform slip at depth. Components of dip-slip displacement, evident also in the surface topography at this location, are sometimes necessary to explain the near-surface tilt observations. Longer term tilts perhaps related to slower fault slip at depth are sometimes evident at distances of 1 km from the fault, but the form of the signals is not what would be expected from simple models, nor is it consistent for different events.
Inhibition of cleavage and development of the sea-urchin egg by 2-desoxy-D-glucose.

Summary2DG inhibits cleavage and oxygen consumption of sea-urchin eggs. High concentrations inhibit cleavage and oxygen uptake at early stages and low concentrations inhibit at later stages of development. The effect of 2DG was counteracted by excess glucose which suggests that 2DG affects cleavage by competitively inhibiting glucose metabolism.
Development and Validation of a Laparoscopic Simulation Model for Suturing the Vaginal Cuff.

OBJECTIVE:To create a novel surgical simulation model for training laparoscopic suturing of the vaginal cuff and to present evidence regarding its validity as a training and assessment tool.METHODS:The three phases of this study included model construction, validity and reliability testing, and eval
INTERACTIVE VIDEODISC TRAINING ' IN AEROSPACE APPLICATIONS

In both government and industry today, there is a thrust toward more comprehensive training through the increased use of technology. Canan (1985) stated that the military services now think of training in terms of fullup training systems embodying the latest technologies. They are giving industry wider latitude in devising the hardware, the curricula, and the instructional programs for such systems. The military services are looking to new technologies to do for simulators what they want simulators to do for the operational weapon system: to provide superb, but not superfluous performance, and to keep the design and maintenance of the systems as simple as possible.
Vaginal birth after cesarean delivery: comparison of ACOG practice bulletin with other national guidelines.

Abstract Evidence-based guidelines regarding vaginal birth after cesarean from 3 countries (United States, Canada, and United Kingdom) were reviewed. The similarities in the 3 national guidelines (trial of labor after 1 previous cesarean, informed consent, delivery facility and available resources, epidural analgesia, continuous fetal monitoring, and induction and augmentation of labor) are understandable. Differences in recommendations (uterine rupture risk, success rate, intrauterine pressure catheter, and mechanical cervical ripening) are not explained. The likelihood of recommendations being categorized as level A differed: United States, 27% (3/11); Canada, 32% (6/19); and United Kingdom, 0% (0/17). Only 6 publications were cited by all 3 guidelines.
Tropical Coordinates on the Space of Persistence Barcodes

The aim of applied topology is to use and develop topological methods for applied mathematics, science and engineering. One of the main tools is persistent homology, an adaptation of classical homology, which assigns a barcode, i.e. a collection of intervals, to a finite metric space. Because of the nature of the invariant, barcodes are not well-adapted for use by practitioners in machine learning tasks. We can circumvent this problem by assigning numerical quantities to barcodes and these outputs can then be used as input to standard algorithms. It is the purpose of this paper to identify tropical coordinates on the space of barcodes and prove that they are stable with respect to the bottleneck distance and Wasserstein distances.
[Negative pressure pulmonary edema with upper airway obstruction: analysis of 3 patients].

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and treatment of negative pressure pulmonary edema (NPPE) with upper airway obstruction (UAO) in children. Method Data of 3 cases with NPPE and UAO in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) from Mar, 2007 to May, 2013 were analyzed. Result (1) Two cases were male and 1 was female with age respectively 6, 16 and 30 months. One had airway foreign body , 1 laryngitis , and 1 retropharyngeal abscess. The onset of NPPE varied from 5 to 40 minutes following relief of obstruction.(2) NPPE presented with acute respiratory distress with signs of tachypnea, tachycardia, 2 of the 3 with pink frothy pulmonary secretions, progressively decreased oxygen saturation, rales on chest auscultation and wheezing.(3) NPPE chest radiograph showed diffuse interstitial and alveolar infiltrates, images confirmed pulmonary edema.(4) All these patients received these therapeutic measures including mechanical ventilation, retaining high PEEP, diuretics, limiting the fluid input volume to 80-90 ml/(kg·d) on the basis of circulation stability. The rales on chest auscultation disappeared after 10, 6, 12 hours. The ventilators of 2 patients were removed within 24 hours, in another case it was removed 50 hours later because of secondary infection. All patients were cured and discharged without complication. Conclusion NPPE progresses very fast, characterized by rapid onset of symptoms of respiratory distress after UAO, with pulmonary edema on chest radiograph. The symptoms resolve rapidly if early support of breath and diuretics are applied properly. Key words: Upper airway obstruction; Airway foreign body; Laryngospasm; Negative pressure pulmonary edema
Redox-Modulated Molecular Recognition: From Solution to the Solid State

A Summary Report to The Electrochemical Society for the 2004 Joseph W. Richards Summer Research Fellowship.
Self-Study in Pre-service Science Teacher Education

This chapter provides an overview of the use of self-study research in preservice science teacher education by looking at how others have written about the field, and how that relates to the self-study of preservice science teacher education. It begins by acknowledging the differences among those who engage in the practice of and research on science teacher education from those who engage in research on science education. While the former focus on the nature and practice of teaching, the latter are more likely to focus on aspects of learning the discipline. The chapter then explores the nature of self-study as a methodology and its methods. The resulting framework is used to examine 22 publications that explicitly stated that they are self-studies of preservice science teacher education to uncover the ways that they exhibit collaboration, the types of data sources and analysis methods used, and the styles of their products. For the most part the researchers used qualitative methods that were narrative or traditional and ethnographic in nature. The chapter closes with a look at the validity of self-study research and how that relates to its role in the project to both improve the preparation of science teachers and to add to our knowledge of how people learn to teach.
Are Faster-Than-Light Influences Necessary?

The question of whether influences act instantaneously over finite distances is as old as modern science itself. Newton, when he proposed his universal law of gravitation, was asked how the postulated force was transmitted. He declined to frame a hypothesis regarding the mechanism, but declared that anyone who believed that the force could act over a finite distance without an intervening medium had a mind not fit for the contemplation of such matters. But in spite of Newton’s conviction, no significant progress was made on the question of action-at-a-distance for two centuries. Then Maxwell propounded his theory for the analogous problem of electric and magnetic forces. This theory entailed the existence of light, and correctly predicted its velocity. It also entailed that no electric or magnetic influence of a sufficiently tangible kind could be transmitted faster than light. During the present century Einstein, generalizing this result, formulated the principle that no “signal” could propagate faster than light.
Infantile wheeze: rethinking dogma

Wheeze is a common symptom in young children and is usually associated with viral illnesses. It is a major source of morbidity and is responsible for a high consumption of healthcare and economic resources worldwide. A few children have a condition resembling classical asthma. Rarer specific conditions may have a wheezy component and should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Over the last half century, there have been many circular discussions about the best way of managing preschool wheeze. In general, intermittent wheezing should be treated with intermittent bronchodilator therapy, and a controller therapy should be prescribed for a young child with recurrent wheezing only if positively indicated, and only then if carefully monitored for efficacy. Good multidisciplinary support, attention to environmental exposition and education are essential in managing this common condition. This article analyses the pathophysiological basis of wheezing in infancy and critically discusses the evolution of the scientific progress over time in this unique field of respiratory medicine.
Hey, That's Cheating! The Misuse of the Irreparable Injury Rule as a Shortcut to Preclude Unjust-Enrichment Claims

In a recent case, the Eighth Circuit, following the lead of other courts interpreting Minnesota law, hinted that a plaintiff may not be able to pursue an unjust-enrichment claim if a statutory cause of action is available. It did so by calling unjust enrichment an equitable remedy and invoking the "irreparable injury rule," which states that a plaintiff may not have an equitable remedy if an adequate legal remedy — in this situation, a statute — is available. Numerous other courts have followed similar logic. This Note explores the foundations of unjust enrichment and the Minnesota case law to show that this reasoning is flawed. It then touches on how other states handle similar claims, suggests that courts invoking the irreparable injury rule in this manner may have other motivations, and posits that statutory language and policy should determine whether an unjust-enrichment claim is crowded out by a statute.
Stability of synthetic cathinones in oral fluid samples.

Abstract Synthetic cathinones are new stimulant drugs derived from cathinone that have been sold as “legal highs” worldwide. These compounds can elicit powerful effects such as delusions, hallucinations as well as other potentially dangerous behavior. New analogs with varying effects and potencies are constantly introduced in the market to evade legislation, and they are not detected by routine screening and confirmation methods. Oral fluid is an alternative matrix of increasing interest in forensic toxicology. Its collection is non-invasive and easily supervised, and positive drug findings typically reflect recent drug exposure. The focus of this research was to develop a method for the determination of 10 synthetic cathinones (cathinone, methcathinone, buphedrone, mephedrone, 4-methylethcathinone, 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), methylone, naphyrone, alpha-pyrrolidinovalerophenone (PVP) and N-ethylcathinone) in preserved oral fluid (Quantisal™), as well as evaluate their stability in preserved (Quantisal and Oral-Eze™) and neat oral fluid samples stored under different conditions, using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MSMS). Four-hundred microliters oral fluid-Quantisal buffer mixture (100 μL oral fluid and 300 μL buffer) were subjected to cation exchange solid phase extraction. The chromatographic reverse-phase separation was achieved with a gradient mobile phase of 0.1% formic acid in water and in acetonitrile in 5 min. We used a Shimadzu triple quadrupole mass spectrometer in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The assay was linear from 1 to 250 ng/mL, with the limits of detection of 0.75–1 ng/mL. Imprecision (n = 15) was
Theory-Based Instrumentation to Measure the Intention to Use Electronic Commerce in Small and Medium Sized Businesses

The adoption of information technology (IT) has been widely studied in the industrialized world. Particularly, the adoption of electronic commerce (ecommerce) has been a hot topic among researchers in the MIS community in recent years. However, only a tiny fraction of these studies have been devoted to developing countries and an even smaller portion of them have focused on small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Due to the potential benefits that ecommerce may provide to SMEs and the fact that a small number of SMEs are currently using ecommerce, the objective of this study is the development of an instrument to study the initial adoption of ecommerce in SMEs in Chile. This instrument could also help other developing countries to determine the ecommerce adoption intention. The instrument is developed using Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behavior that suggests the steps to elicit important constructs from a target population. A detailed explanation of the elicitation process is offered and the final instrum...
Book reviewGlobalization and Environmental Reform: The Ecological Modernization of the Global Economy, P.J. Mol, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA (2003), 285 pages

Both popular and scholarly texts focus on either the deleterious or the contributive effects of globalization on the environment. The scholars who are in favor of globalization argue for a neo-libe...
Paternal Incarceration and Teachers’ Expectations of Students

In the past 40 years, paternal imprisonment has been transformed from an event affecting only the most unfortunate children to one that one in four African American children experience. Although research speculates that the stigma, strain, and separation resulting from paternal incarceration cause the poor outcomes of children of incarcerated fathers, evidence regarding these mechanisms is lacking. In this article, we use an experimental vignette design to provide causal evidence regarding how the stigma of paternal incarceration affects third- to fifth-grade teachers’ expectations of students in a large southwestern school district (N = 107). We then replicate this experiment using an online Qualtrics panel of third- to fifth-grade teachers (N = 314). The results indicate that the stigma of paternal incarceration shapes teachers’ expectations of students, leading to a 10 percent to 40 percent increase in teachers’ expectations of children’s behavioral problems.
Applications of Optobiology in Intact Cells and Multicellular Organisms.

Abstract Temporal kinetics and spatial coordination of signal transduction in cells are vital for cell fate determination. Tools that allow for precise modulation of spatiotemporal regulation of intracellular signaling in intact cells and multicellular organisms remain limited. The emerging optobiological approaches use light to control protein–protein interaction in live cells and multicellular organisms. Optobiology empowers light-mediated control of diverse cellular and organismal functions such as neuronal activity, intracellular signaling, gene expression, cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, and apoptosis. In this review, we highlight recent developments in optobiology, focusing on new features of second-generation optobiological tools. We cover applications of optobiological approaches in the study of cellular and organismal functions, discuss current challenges, and present our outlook. Taking advantage of the high spatial and temporal resolution of light control, optobiology promises to provide new insights into the coordination of signaling circuits in intact cells and multicellular organisms.
DARK Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Cocaine

In this Review, we consider the story of cocaine from its humble origins in South America to its status as one of the most abused substances in 21st century society. The synthesis and biosynthesis of cocaine are discussed, as well as its pharmacokinetics, metabolism, pharmacology, and importance in modern neuroscience and molecular imaging.
Measuring Life Participation, Communicative Confidence, Language, and Cognition in People With Aphasia

This study investigated change in life participation in people with aphasia (PWA) before and after a stroke from their perspectives. Language, cognitive, and communicative confidence factors that m...
Modulating Macrophage Polarization through CCR2 Inhibition and Multivalent Engagement.

Excessive or prolonged recruitment of inflammatory monocytes to damaged tissue can significantly worsen patient outcomes. Monocytes migrate to sites of tissue inflammation in response to high local concentrations of CCL2, a chemokine that binds to and signals through the CCR2 receptor. While the role of CCR2 in cellular migration is well studied, it is unclear how CCR2 inhibition affects macrophage polarization and if multivalency can increase downstream signaling effects. Using affinity selection with a phage library, we identified a novel single-chain variable fragment (scFv) (58C) that binds specifically and with high affinity to the N-terminal domain of CCR2 (KD = 59.8 nM). The newly identified 58C-scFv bound to native CCR2 expressed on macrophages and MDA-MB-231 cells, inhibited migration, and induced a pro-inflammatory M1-phenotype in macrophages. The M1/M2 macrophage phenotype ratio for monomeric 58C-scFv was significantly increased over the negative control by 1.0 × 104-fold (iNOS/Arg-1), 5.1 × 10...
Thinking about the Thinking about Self-Study: An Analysis of Eight Chapters

This chapter has specifically been written to Offer the perspective of critical friends on the issues raised in the first section of this Handbook. As a crucial aspect of self-study, there is an ongoing need to mOffe beyond oneself and to grasp alternative viewpoints on situations. Attending to alternative perspectives is important in self-study so that the development of ideas and actions and, the resultant learning, might be informed by careful consideration of perspectives beyond the self in line with the ideas of framing and reframing described by Schon (1983, 1987). However, framing and refram-ing is itself problematic and this chapter explores how, through a careful analysis of the first eight chapters of the Handbook, critical friends are able to question and critique the work of others in meaningful ways. This chapter is illustrative of the underlying approach to self-study whereby honest and professional critique is sought to enhance learning and to better inform the subsequent claims derived from such learning.
Kinetics and Diffusion in Graphite Intercalation Compounds

Serious and systematic studies of the kinetics of intercalation of graphite intercalation compounds (GIC’s) were first carried out by Hooley [1,2] who investigated the bromination of various forms of graphite in the early 1960’s. He found that the rate of intercalation was dependant on not only the intercalating species, but also on the microstructural morphology and macroscopic form of the graphitic host material. In addition, Hooley related the intercalation rate to the partial pressure of the vapor of the intercalating species and found a threshold pressure below which no intercalation occurred [1,2]. He also discovered that for pressures above the threshold pressure, there existed a dwell time which retarded the onset of intercalation.
Using Block Norms in Bicriteria Optimization

We propose to use block norms to generate nondominated solutions of multiple criteria programs and introduce the new concept of the oblique norm that is specially tailored to handle general problems. We show the applicability of oblique norms to deal with discrete or convex bicriteria programs and also discuss implications of using block norms in multiple criteria decision making.
Design, Construction, and Operation of a Two Cylinder Reciprocating Cold Compressor

In an effort to operate Fermilab’s Tevatron synchrotron at higher beam energies, plans exist to reduce the working temperature of the superconducting components. A proposed upgrade will utilize cold compressors as an addition to each satellite refrigerator, lowering the pressure of the 2-phase helium returning to the refrigerator system from the magnets. Coil temperatures as low as 3.9K are anticipated.
Gross Primary Production of Terrestrial Vegetation

Gross primary production (GPP) of vegetation is the first and important flux of the terrestrial carbon cycle, and there is no direct measurement technique for GPP at ecosystem and landscape scales. A number of satellite-based Light Use Efficiency (LUE) models or Production Efficiency Models (PEM) have been developed to estimate GPP in the past few decades, and they are driven by satellite images with or without climate data. This chapter provides a brief review on some of these LUE models, and illustrates the Vegetation Photosynthesis Model (VPM) through its simulations of C3 crop (soybean) and C4 crop (maize) at the CO2 eddy flux tower site in Nebraska, USA.
Cs2NaBiCl6:Mn2+—A New Orange-Red Halide Double Perovskite Phosphor

In this work, we report on the promising photoluminescent behavior of the cubic double perovskite Cs2NaBiCl6 doped with Mn2+ ions. Localized excitations centered on Bi3+ ions in the host lattice strongly absorb near-UV light. In the undoped host compound, only very weak photoluminescence is observed, but in manganese-doped samples, energy transfer from Bi3+ to Mn2+ leads to intense orange-red photoluminescence. A broad emission peak centered at 590 nm is assigned to the 4T1 → 6A1 transition of octahedrally coordinated Mn2+. The excitation spectrum contains peaks at 294 and 354 nm that arise from 6s2 → 6s16p1 excitations of Bi3+ ions. If the chloride ions are partially replaced by bromide ions, the strongest excitation peak red-shifts to 375 nm. The lack of expensive reagents and toxic elements and the ability to tune the excitation and emission spectra through chemical substitution make Cs2NaBiCl6–xBrx:Mn2+ a promising phosphor system.
Learning Efficiency of Video-based Learning

What role should video play in online learning? That is the question that learning designers and teaching faculty face more and more when designing online instruction. In this paper we will share what we learned about students' learning experience in a video-based online course. We will propose a new perspective for looking at video as an instructional tool, based on our findings using a qualitative research method.
A helical-based ultrasonic imaging algorithm for structural health monitoring of cylindrical structures

Condition assessment of pipeline networks is critical to ensure operation safety considering that the network around the US is aging. This work aims at combining guided ultrasonic waves and advanced tomographic algorithms to locate corrosion-induced defects in both inner and outer surfaces of steel pipes. Particularly, it employs guided ultrasonic waves that propagate on helical paths around pipes. The novelty of this work is in using high orders of the so-called helical guided ultrasonic waves (HGUW), which can significantly increase the inspection area with a minimum number of sensors. Algebraic reconstruction technique (ART) is then implemented in order to gather information from the wave propagation through the pipe and asses possible locations where defects might exist. To validate the proposed imaging algorithm, numerical simulation and experiments were carried out. The final results suggest that the proposed imaging algorithm can be effectively used for continuous monitoring of corrosion damage in pipelines.
Water, dust, and agro-pastoralism: Modeling socio-ecological co-evolution of landscapes, farming, and human society in southeast Kazakhstan during the mid to late Holocene

Abstract How can archaeologists contribute to tracing the evolutionary dynamics of the coupled human-natural systems that characterize the Anthropocene? We present a Socio-Ecological Systems (SES) framework to integrate models of human and natural landscape formation processes in the mid to late Holocene on the Talgar alluvial fan on the north slope of the Tian Shan Mountains in the area known as “Semirech’ye” (“Seven Rivers”). We compare our model to the physical evidence from sediment profiles and the archaeological record of subsistence and settlement over the Holocene. The resulting coupled model situates “niche construction theory” and the idea of “transported landscapes” within the SES perspective to focus on how couplings and feedbacks between humans and biophysical processes create or limit opportunities for different modes of subsistence over time, especially during periods of expansion and colonization of new territories. In the Talgar region, we hypothesize that initial, low-level human manipulations of surface water flow across an alluvial fan coupled with aeolian and fluvial sediment dynamics in a series of positive feedbacks to increase the possibilities for agricultural production over time. The human niche in Talgar therefore became increasingly sedentary and agricultural in emphasis compared to niches constructed in other parts of Central Eurasia.
Trial by documentary: the Harlans, between Jud Süss (1940) and Notre Nazi (1984)

This essay analyzes the documentary Notre Nazi (1984), a German-French film produced by Thomas Harlan, the son of the notorious Nazi filmmaker Veit Harlan, who was best known for directing the prop...