cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Virtue ethics and church planting: A critical assessment and reevaluation of church planting utilizing Alasdair MacIntyre’s After Virtue

This article proposes a critical reevaluation of church planting utilizing the philosophical area of virtue ethics. The article begins first with a critique of modern church planting based primarily upon Alasdair MacIntyre’s assessment of the social sciences in After Virtue. MacIntyre’s critique of the social sciences as having the potential to be both manipulative and overconfident bears striking parallels to the current moral issues surrounding church planting. Such a critique paves the way for a rehabilitation of the practice of church planting. The second part of this article begins a process of rebuilding an understanding of church planting from the ground up. Utilizing a Thomistic understanding of virtue, I will demonstrate how the individual missional actions that compromise church planting are in accordance with our natural and supernatural ends, and thus promote human flourishing. Following this, I will begin to build a definition of church planting coherent with Alasdair MacIntyre’s notion of a ...
Persistent Currents in Mesoscopic Rings

The status of the field is excellent, much is in flux. For the first time we have experimental evidence [1] for persistent currents in small normal metal rings threaded by a magnetic flux. And there are new theoretical developments that indicate that in addition to the single-electron (or quasi-particle) contribution [2, 3] to the persistent current there are also collective ones [4].
Adaptive Control of Induction Motors

Controller design techniques for induction motors were presented in Chap. 12 assuming knowledge of all motor parameters. However, this is often not a valid assumption in practice. The parameters that are particularly prone to uncertainty and dependence on operating conditions are load torque and rotor resistance. The rotor resistance may vary up to 100% during operation due to rotor heating. Furthermore, output feedback designs that do not utilize flux measurements are desirable since flux sensors are expensive and are typically not available.
Early-Life Origins of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

The conventional thinking about COPD is that exposures in adult life, such as smoking, lead to a low FEV1:FVC ratio, the physiological hallmark of COPD. In this review, the effect of early-life exposures on the lung that could lead to expiratory airflow limitation is reviewed.
Silicon photomultiplier-based detector array for TOF PET

Time-of-Flight (ToF) information in PET can contribute to a significant improvement in the reconstructed image signal to noise ratio, enabling image contrast improvement, a reduction in patient radiation dose, and/or shorter scan times.
Robust feature selection for block covariance Bayesian models

Recent work proposes new algorithms for feature selection based on a Bayesian hierarchical model that places priors on both the identity of all features, and the identity-conditioned feature-label distribution. Given training data, Bayesian inference can be used to predict the feature identities. While algorithms developed in prior work rely on certain independence assumptions, in this work we present a new algorithm, with low computational complexity, designed for a family of Bayesian models that each assume different block covariance structures. We show the new algorithm, and the previous algorithm assuming independent features, have robust performance across the family of models under synthetic data, and provide results from real colon cancer microarray data.
A survey of honor-related practices among US obstetricians and gynecologists.

Objective To assess patterns of honor-related practices—including virginity testing, virginity restoration, and female genital mutilation (FGM)—among US obstetrician–gynecologists (OBGYNs). Methods Between June 1 and August 31, 2016, 1000 members of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists were invited by email to complete an anonymous online survey. The survey comprised 42 questions evaluating the demographic and practice characteristics of the respondents. Results Overall, 288 of the 909 practicing US OBGYNs with functioning email addresses completed the survey (31.7% response rate). In the 12 months before the survey, 168 (58.3%) respondents had provided care to one or more patients who had previously undergone FGM. Care was also provided for patients who requested virginity testing or virginity restoration by 29 (10.1%) and 16 (5.6%) respondents, respectively. Ten (3.5%) respondents performed virginity testing on request, whereas 3 (1.0%) performed virginity restoration. Conclusion Some respondents performed honor-related practices, which indicated a need to educate all practicing US OBGYNs about their ethical and legal obligations in the care of such patients. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Vitamin D status of gastrostomy-fed children with special needs: a cross-sectional pilot study.

Aim To assess the vitamin D status of gastrostomy-fed children. Methods Vitamin D status was measured in 32 children aged five to 16 years recruited from special schools in Manchester, UK (53° 48′ N). All children were receiving a nutritionally complete, commercially prepared enteral feed via gastrostomy, and had been established on this regimen for over 12 months. Serum concentrations of 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) were measured at the end of winter. Children with serum concentrations of 25OHD >50nmol/L were considered to be sufficient, and those with concentrations <25nmol/L were considered to be deficient. Results 83% of subjects had sufficient concentrations of serum 25OHD (>50nmol/L). One subject was vitamin D deficient (serum 25OHD 25nmol/L - <50nmol/L). The median vitamin D derived from enteral feeds was 9.45μg/day; range 3.5-30; 13 children (41%) received less than 10μg of vitamin D per day from their enteral feed. Conclusion Nutritionally complete gastrostomy feeds may be protective against vitamin D deficiency in the majority of children with special needs. We recommend that all children over one year of age receive 10μg (400 IU) of vitamin D, as recommended by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN). This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
A novel model order reduction framework via staggered reduced basis space-time finite elements in linear first order transient systems

Abstract A novel model order reduction framework for space and time domain discretizations is proposed. Iterative convergence of a Galerkin approximation in space and a Least Squares Petrov Galerkin approximation in time is obtained through a staggered reduced basis method in space-time. In every iteration, one of the two domains (space or time) is refined; and the other is reduced and a posteriori error indicators in space and time are used to drive the convergence iterations. Numerical results for 2D heat transfer and convection-diffusion problems demonstrate the significant computational efficiency of the proposed methodology. Comparisons of wall-clock times and solution accuracy with traditional time integration algorithms has been presented to validate the efficacy of the proposed framework and demonstrate computational savings of an order of magnitude.
Sitting Judges as Arbitrators: The Delaware Experiment

In April 2009, the Delaware legislature enacted a statute that allows sitting Chancery Court judges to hear and resolve confidential arbitrations. The law, entitled Arbitration Proceedings for Business Disputes, provides that the "Court of Chancery shall have the power to arbitrate business disputes when the parties request a member of the Court of Chancery, or such other person as may be authorized under rules of the Court, to arbitrate the dispute." 10 Del. C. §349. This paper examines an ongoing lawsuit, filed in October 2011, by the nonprofit watchdog organization Delaware Coalition for Open Government Inc. ("DelCOG"). DelCOG sued the five judges on the state's Chancery Court to open these confidential arbitration hearings to the public.
Unidades de actuación urbanística o gestión: casos de aplicación en tres planes parciales de Bogotá D.C.

The results of the comparison of three partial plans formulated for the development and urban renewal of different areas of the city of Bogota are presented. Emphasis is placed on the two forms of application of management instruments: urban action units and management units. The specific circumstances that explain the implementation of each of these tools in the comparative plans are analyzed. It also describes how the first figure operates when there are reluctant owners, and how the second works if there is full consensus for the allocation of charges and benefits among these.
Adding Multimedia Cues to Medical Providers’ Online Biographies: Do Pictures, Video, and B-Roll Matter?

Developing engaging online healthcare provider biographies for prospective patients to consult is becoming a big business. Health-care systems are beginning to add more multichannel components—like videos—to these provider search tools at increasingly higher costs. Prior research finds that prospective patients desire videos offering additional footage (i.e., b-roll) displaying how a provider might interact with a patient during a consultation. Shooting and editing b-roll footage to add to providers’ videos takes additional time and resources. Using predictions and questions generated from uncertainty reduction and cue summation theories, this study sought to determine whether the addition of multichannel media (e.g., a video with added b-roll) offers any greater effects in the form of reduced uncertainty, provider likability, patient satisfaction, or trust than biographies providing fewer multichannel cues. A between-subjects online experiment randomly exposed participants (n = 523) to one of four biogra...
USDA Announcement Effects in Real-Time

In 2012, the Chicago Board of Trade eliminated a morning trading halt that coincided with the normal publication time for important USDA commodity reports. Previously, market participants had hours of halted trading time to review the information in the reports and adjust their strategies in advance of market re-opening. We use 2009–2014 intraday grain futures market price and volume data to show that, without a trading halt, ensuing real-time trading on USDA crop announcements exhibits noticeable volatility spikes in agricultural futures markets, but that this heightened volatility dissipates within the space of a few trading minutes. In addition, continuously-traded markets appear to have a more difficult time distinguishing between the newsworthiness of government reports. Nevertheless, continuously traded crop markets take nearly the same time to fully absorb these shocks, following a very similar time path. Re-imposing a timeout would necessarily lengthen the price discovery process.
Effect of Knots on Horizontal Shear Strength in Southern Yellow Pine

Knots are inevitable components found in wood that can adversely affect the mechanical properties of the lumber. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of knots on the horizontal shear strength of southern yellow pine. Knot condition (sound/unsound) and shear plane (radial/tangential face) were studied as the factors of shear strength. The standard ASTM D143-94 (2014) was used to compare 120 pairs of clear shear blocks and shear blocks containing knots. Paired t-test results showed that regardless of the direction of the grain compared with the shear plane (perpendicular or parallel), sound knots increased the shear strength and the unsound knots decreased shear strength. Based on this study, the unsound knot volume was found to be a significant factor in decreasing the shear strength in the radial or tangential face direction. Furthermore, no significant relationship between the knot angle and shear strength was found. Shear failure occurred in the wood when an encased knot sample was tested and shear failure occurred in the knot when an intergrown knot sample was tested.
Basal Ganglia ‘Loops’ with the Cerebral Cortex

In this chapter, we present some recent results on the organization of basal ganglia ‘loops’ with cortical areas in the frontal lobe. Our findings suggest that the primary motor cortex (M1), the supplementary motor area (SMA) and the ventral premotor area (PMv) each project most densely to a topographically distinct region of the caudate/putamen. This anatomical arrangement creates multiple “input channels” in the striatum. Similarly, each of these cortical areas appears to be influenced by projections from a topographically distinct region of the internal segment of the globus pallidus (GPi). This arrangement creates multiple “output channels” in GPi. GPi also contains a separate output channel that projects to area 46 in prefrontal cortex. Thus, the output of the basal ganglia is not limited to a single motor area, but innervates multiple motor and non-motor regions in the frontal lobe. Our physiological results suggest that individual output channels are concerned with different aspects of behavior. Some channels, such as the one projecting to M1, may be involved in the control of specific movement parameters. Other output channels, such as the one that innervates the SMA, may be concerned with higher order aspects of motor behavior like the generation of movement based on internal cues. Connections within the basal ganglia tend to link the input channel related to a particular cortical area with the output channel that innervates the same cortical area. These observations lead us to propose that the underlying structural framework for basal ganglia interactions with the skeletomotor areas of the cerebral cortex is multiple “closed loops”.
"Shields": A Model for Hazard-Oriented Analysis and Implementation of IoT Applications

We introduce a generic model for the articulation of hazard-centric enterprise IoT applications around the key concept of a "Shield". This model is the basis for the family of IoT solutions we are developing and refining for real-life client engagements in areas such as occupational safety, personal wellness, and home insurance. The new "Shields" model provides the key concepts needed to design and develop hazard-oriented IoT applications. The basic functionality of each such application is driven by identifying hazards in the relevant application environment. This paper includes a detailed description of the "Shields" model as a result of the development of several IoT applications, while adhering to a hazard-oriented perspective. We also describe the current support tool developed, concluding with lessons learned and future aims to further establish model robustness and effectiveness.
Trust and the teleology of technology.

Hancock does an admirable job of painting a picture of how human factors and ergonomics can guide automated vehicle (AV) development. He paints a broad landscape of AV development and not a detaile...
Teachers' Experience and Perspectives of Traditional Breakfast and Breakfast in the Classroom.

Abstract Objective To understand teachers’ perceptions about Breakfast in the Classroom and traditional breakfast. Design An electronic survey was sent to teachers across the state of Utah. Teachers responded to an open-ended question exploring what they liked and/or disliked about Breakfast in the Classroom and traditional breakfast. Setting Schools across the state of Utah. Participants Kindergarten through grade 12 teachers who were members of the Utah Education Association. Phenomenon of Interest Teachers’ opinions regarding Breakfast in the Classroom and traditional school breakfast Analysis Researchers independently coded all responses and then grouped codes into themes. Themes were reviewed recursively over time. Results The 3 overarching themes were food and nutrition, administration of school breakfast, and student outcomes. Aspects most commonly disliked were the nutrition or quality of food, the mess created, the time required, coordination and logistical issues, behavioral issues, and waste. Aspects most commonly liked were breakfast being available to all students, students being fed or not hungry, coordination and logistics, and student learning and academics. Conclusions and Implications Teachers liked and disliked aspects of Breakfast in the Classroom and traditional breakfast. Schools could potentially increase efforts to garner support and feedback from teachers to create buy-in and identify best practices. Future research could focus on identifying the effect that the School Breakfast Program model has on teachers’ perceptions as well as confirming results with a larger and more diverse population.
Relationship between the Kramers-Kronig relations and negative index of refraction

The condition for a negative index of refraction with respect to the vacuum index is established in terms of permittivity and permeability susceptibilities. It is found that the imposition of analyticity to satisfy the Kramers-Kronig relations is a sufficiently general criterion for a physical negative index. The satisfaction of the Kramers-Kronig relations is a manifestation of the principle of causality and the predicted frequency region of negative index agrees with the Depine-Lakhtakia condition for the phase velocity being antidirected to the Poynting vector, although the conditions presented here do not assume a priori a negative solution branch for $n$.
Ecoregion—Rather Than Sympatric Legumes—Influences Symbiotic Bradyrhizobium Associations in Invasive Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius) in the Pacific Northwest

Plant-microbe mutualisms can determine the success of invasive plants. Legumes (Fabaceae) are particularly successful invaders in a variety of habitats. This is partly due to their ability to access atmospheric nitrogen through microbial mutualists (rhizobia) in their root systems, which allow them to colonize a wide variety of disturbed or nutrient-poor habitats. While many plant-rhizobia mutualisms are highly species-specific, plant promiscuity with different species of rhizobia can significantly enhance the success of invasive legumes, since the availability of suitable rhizobial mutualists in a new geographic area may serve as a limiting factor. Scotch broom (Fabaceae: Cytisus scoparius) is one of the most problematic invasive legumes in the Pacific Northwest (PNW), yet very little is known about the Scotch broom-rhizobia system. We explored the rhizobial communities of root nodules of Scotch broom and sympatrically occurring legumes across three major ecoregions (coast, valley, and mountain) in the western PNW (Washington, Oregon, and California) to better understand the Scotch broom-rhizobia system in nature. We found that bradyrhizobia are the exclusive rhizobial mutualists of Scotch broom but that there is promiscuity at the species level. While there was very little overlap with rhizobial communities of sympatric native and naturalized legumes, ecoregion did influence the species composition of Scotch broom-associated rhizobial communities. Our findings suggest that Scotch broom is not reliant on sympatric legumes to provide a source of suitable rhizobial mutualists, but instead forms spatially variable associations with a range of other bradyrhizobia.
Abstract P170: Cytochrome P450 1b1-Dependent Sex Differences in Norepinephrine-Induced Hypertension

Females exhibit a lower pressor response to norepinephrine (NE) than the males. Previously we reported that cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1B1 contributes to the sex difference in angiotensin II-induced hyp...
Sepsis in Older Adults in Long-Term Care Facilities: Challenges in Diagnosis and Management

Despite the current understanding of the pathophysiology of sepsis and advances in its treatment, the rate of sepsis is increasing globally. Sepsis is a common cause of hospitalization in older adults, and infections are among the most common diagnoses among residents transferred to the hospital from long-term care facilities (LTCFs). LTCFs and hospitals are facing financial and regulatory requirements to reduce potentially preventable emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and hospital readmissions due to infections and other causes. In addition, the human and financial costs of these events are substantial. Current criteria for early identification of sepsis have low sensitivity and specificity among LTCF residents. Early diagnosis must focus on changes in clinical, mental, and functional status, and vital signs including pulse oximetry. Laboratory data can increase the suspicion of sepsis, but the availability of testing and timing of results limits its usefulness in most LTCFs.While new diagnostic criteria for sepsis are being developed and validated in the LTCF setting, clinical practice and decision support tools are available to guide management. Most LTFCs do not have the capabilities to manage sepsis based on current guidelines despite availability of qualified nursing staff and clinicians. Thus excluding circumstances in which a resident's desire is palliative or hospice care without transfer to a hospital, most LTCFs will continue to transfer residents with severe infections at risk for evolving into sepsis to an acute hospital setting. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:2234-2239, 2019.
Transabdominal Repair of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (Open and MIS Approaches)

This chapter describes the endoscopic/surgical procedure for repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernia” as performed by the following approaches: transabdominal open and laparoscopic. The text includes an introduction that outlines the indications, risks, alternatives, essential steps, needed equipment, and variations in technique for the procedure in question. This is followed by a template operative dictation, which provides the reader with an operative report, such as is found in a patient chart or electronic medical record, abdominal access, identification and dissection of the diaphragmatic defect, reduction of the herniated viscera, closure of defect, with or without a prosthetic patch, and chest closure.
Evaluating GNSS Navigation Availability in 3-D Mapped Urban Environments

This research project aims to achieve a future urban environment where people and self-driving cars coexist together while guaranteeing safety. To modify the environment, our first approach is to understand the limitations of GPS/GNSS positioning in an urban area where signal blockages and reflections make positioning difficult. For the evaluation process, we assume reasonable integrity requirements and calculate navigation availability along a sample Chicago urban corridor (State Street). We reject all non-line-of-sight (NLOS) that are blocked and reflected using a 3-D map. The availability of GPS-only positioning is determined to be less than 10% at most locations. Using four full GNSS constellations, availability improves significantly but is still lower than 80 % at certain points. The results establish the need for integration with other navigation sensors, such as inertial navigation systems (INS) and Lidar, to ensure integrity. The analysis methods introduced will form the basis to determine performance requirements for these additional sensors.
Commercialization challenges for drug eluting contact lenses.

Eye drops are commonly used for delivering ophthalmic drugs despite many deficiencies including low bioavailability and poor compliance. Contact lenses can deliver drugs with high bioavailability b...
The brains of aged mice are characterized by altered tissue diffusion properties and cerebral microbleeds.

Brain aging is a major risk factor in the progression of cognitive diseases including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and vascular dementia. We investigated a mouse model of brain aging up to 24 months old (mo). A high field (11.7T) MRI protocol was developed to characterize specific features of brain aging including the presence of cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), morphology of grey and white matter, and tissue diffusion properties. Mice were selected from age categories of either young (3 mo), middle-aged (18 mo), or old (24 mo) and fed normal chow over the duration of the study. Mice were imaged in vivo with multimodal MRI, including conventional T2-weighted (T2W) and T2*-weighted (T2*W) imaging, followed by ex vivo diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and T2*W MR-microscopy to enhance the detection of microstructural features. Structural changes observed in the mouse brain with aging included reduced cortical grey matter volume and enlargement of the brain ventricles. A remarkable age-related change in the brains was the development of CMBs found starting at 18 mo and increasing in total volume at 24 mo, primarily in the thalamus. CMBs presence was confirmed with high resolution ex vivo MRI and histology. DWI detected further brain tissue changes in the aged mice including reduced fractional anisotropy, increased radial diffusion, increased mean diffusion, and changes in the white matter fibers visualized by color-coded tractography, including around a large cortical CMB. The mouse is a valuable model of age-related vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID). In composite, these methods and results reveal brain aging in older mice as a multifactorial process including CMBs and tissue diffusion alterations that can be well characterized by high field MRI.
Comparative evaluation of lateral flow immunoassays, LAMP, and quantitative PCR for diagnosis of fire blight in apple orchards

Fire blight remains a serious threat to commercial apple production in the USA and worldwide. Other diseases and spray damage can result in fire blight-like symptoms that can lead to misdiagnosis and affect disease management strategies. Accurate and timely detection of the fire blight pathogen, Erwinia amylovora, is extremely important to deploy appropriate and timely measures to reduce fire blight epidemics in commercial apple orchards. We tested two commercial lateral flow immunoassays (AgriStrip®, and Pocket Diagnostics kit), Loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), and quantitative PCR (qPCR) to diagnose E. amylovora infected samples in lab and field settings. The AgriStrip® and Pocket Diagnostics kits were able to detect actively growing bacteria up to ×106 cfu/ml bacterial concentration. Pocket Diagnostics kit had less specificity and showed positive tests for E. pyrifolia in addition to E. amylovora. The LAMP assay showed high specificity for E. amylovora and was able to detect up to ×103 cfu/ml bacterial concentrations. The qPCR assay was also able to detect bacterial cells up to ×10-3 cfu/ml bacterial concentration with highly specific E. amylovora detection. Grower surveys and comparative cost-benefit analysis indicated that immunoassay kits are less expensive, easier to use, and require less technical expertise for on-site fire blight diagnosis than LAMP and qPCR. However, the choice of a specific diagnostic assay depends on the time, sensitivity, and specificity required for the detection of fire blight and its management.
Recurring Facial Rash after Eating in a 12-month-old Girl.

1. Farhan Ullah, MD* 2. Matthew Tien, MD*,† 1. *MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 2. †Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 1. Address correspondence to Matthew Tien, MD, Department of Pediatrics, MetroHealth Medical Center, 2500 MetroHealth Drive, Cleveland, OH 44109. E-mail: mtien{at}metrohealth.org A previously healthy 12-month-old girl presents to the office for a well-child visit. Her mother mentions a recurring red blotchy facial rash that appears during or right after mealtimes. This was initially noticed around 6 months of age, shortly after introducing solid foods. At first, the blotchy rash seemed to come on several times when trying applesauce, and her mother wondered whether this might be an allergic reaction. As a result, the mother had avoided applesauce for a while. Since then, the mother has noticed the rash at mealtimes with other foods also, and it has been happening on a more frequent, daily basis. The rash is nonraised, red and blotchy—on further probing, the mother reported that it …
Managing the micro-self: the governmentality of real name registration policy in Chinese microblogosphere

This paper investigates the real name registration (RNR) policy introduced by Chinese authorities in 2011 to regulate its vibrant microblogosphere by encouraging users to manage their ‘micro-self'. Foucault's concept of governmentality is adopted to understand how the Chinese state ‘governs at a distance' its colossal microblog population through technologies of the state and technologies of the self. We provide a critical case study of the governmentality of the RNR policy in Chinese microblogosphere by detailing the broad range of user experiences based on 22 in-depth interviews conducted in 2012 and 2013 with users and weibo editors. Shedding a new light on the practices of Chinese Internet regulation through the perspective of governmentality, we challenge the notion of the Chinese state as an omnipotent agent, contest popular media's portrayal of the Chinese microblog subject as either obedient or resistant, and foreground the importance of Internet firms in mediating the negotiation between the stat...
Spurious Mode Free Broadband Green’s Function Technique for Periodic Scatterers Using The Combined Field Integral Equation Formulation

The recently developed broadband Green’s function technique provides an effective and novel approach to characterize the bands of periodic scatterers. It converts an electric field integral equation (EFIE) or a magnetic field integral equation (MFIE) into a linear eigenvalue problem of moderate size through representing the lattice Green’s function in a hybrid form that includes an exponentially convergent spatial series and a fast convergent spectral series. The linear eigenvalue problem then yields all the bands of interest simultaneously. However, the bands derived from the linear eigenvalue problem is reported to include both physical modes and spurious modes. Thus, it takes extra efforts to reject the spurious modes through checking the extinction theorem. And numerically checking the extinction theorem requires intelligent supervision and decreases the overall efficiency of the algorithm. In this paper, a new strategy is devised to formulate an easy-to-handle linear eigenvalue problem from the combined field integral equation (CFIE) with the hybrid representation of the Green’s function. The CFIE is a linear combination of the EFIE and MFIE with judiciously chosen combination coefficients. The Nystrom method is utilized to discretize the CFIE into matrix equations to ensure high accuracy and reach agreement between EFIE and MFIE. This new linear eigenvalue problem is shown to have only physical modes as its eigenvalues on the real axis. This work represents a huge leap in making the broadband Green’s function a practical technique.
Anthelmintic resistance and homeostatic plasticity (Brugia malayi).

Homeostatic plasticity refers to the capacity of excitable cells to regulate their activity to make compensatory adjustments to long-lasting stimulation. It is found across the spectrum of vertebrate and invertebrate species and is driven by changes in cytosolic calcium; it has not been explored in parasitic nematodes when treated with therapeutic drugs. Here we have studied the adaptation of Brugia malayi to exposure to the anthelmintic, levamisole that activates muscle AChR ion-channels. We found three phases of the Brugia malayi motility responses as they adapted to levamisole: an initial spastic paralysis; a flaccid paralysis that follows; and finally, a recovery of motility with loss of sensitivity to levamisole at 4 h. Motility, calcium-imaging, patch-clamp and molecular experiments showed the muscle AChRs are dynamic with mechanisms that adjust their subtype composition and sensitivity to levamisole. This homeostatic plasticity allows the parasite to adapt resisting the anthelmintic.
Online Learning in Decentralized Multiuser Resource Sharing Problems

In this paper, we consider the general scenario of resource sharing in a decentralized system when the resource rewards/qualities are time-varying and unknown to the users, and using the same resource by multiple users leads to reduced quality due to resource sharing. Firstly, we consider a user-independent reward model with no communication between the users, where a user gets feedback about the congestion level in the resource it uses. Secondly, we consider user-specific rewards and allow costly communication between the users. The users have a cooperative goal of achieving the highest system utility. There are multiple obstacles in achieving this goal such as the decentralized nature of the system, unknown resource qualities, communication, computation and switching costs. We propose distributed learning algorithms with logarithmic regret with respect to the optimal allocation. Our logarithmic regret result holds under both i.i.d. and Markovian reward models, as well as under communication, computation and switching costs.
Oxic, suboxic, and anoxic conditions in the Black Sea

The Black Sea is the classic marine anoxic basin. It has an oxygenated surface layer overlying a sulfide containing (anoxic) deep layer. This condition has evolved because of the strong density stratification on the water column. The density stratification is strong because water with high salinity enters from the Bosporus Strait and mixes with overlying cold intermediate layer (CIL) water that forms in the winter on the northwest shelf and in the western gyre. The rate of CIL formation is variable in response to changing climate. This mixture of Bosporus outflow and CIL forms the Bosporus Plume which ventilates the deep layers of the Black Sea. New data about the biogeochemical distributions (oxygen, sulfide, nitrate and ammonium) were obtained during R/V Knorr research cruises in 2001 and 2003. The distributions in the upper layers reflect a classic example of the connection between climate forcing, physical regime, chemical fluxes and biological response.
Ten Years after Cancún – Bringing the Singapore Issues Back to the Table

Ten years after Cancun, a lot of things have happened; the Doha round of multilateral negotiation is still ongoing, directors-general have come and gone, more than ten countries have joined the WTO, including Russia; China has become stronger and more opened to the regulation of foreign direct investments; African countries are, like never before, determined to attract more investments and the United States and Europe are weakened by the 2008 financial crisis and have become more interdependent and flexible. This article suggests that after ten years, WTO members should reconsider bringing the Singapore issues back to the negotiation table. It highlights the mistakes made in Cancun and shows how those mistakes can be avoided going forward.
Relationships Between Assets and Perceived Economic Strain

Abstract Income and wealth disparity continue to widen among U.S. households. Efforts to combat poverty generally consist of income-based policies while wealth creation involves asset-based policies. Asset theory suggests that an asset-based approach to poverty reduction will help increase the personal, social, and economic well-being of low-income households. As a result, Individual Development Accounts (IDAs), or dedicated savings accounts, were designed to help propel low- and moderate-income individuals out of poverty by building assets in the form of home ownership, small business development, and post-secondary education. One way in which IDAs are hypothesized to increase well-being is by improving household economic stability. This longitudinal study examined the relationships between asset building and perceived economic strain. Findings support the notion that IDAs are positively associated with perceptions of economic stability among households. In other words, it may be that assets help increas...
Power line noise effects and new radio noise models

The EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) Technical Center (ECTC) conducted a three-year radio noise measurement study at 30 HF communication sites operated by the US Navy, US Army, and US Air Force. Two new models that describe the median noise observed at these sites are presented. The models closely describe the characteristics of noise at sites with noisy power lines and at sites with quiet power lines. Compared to the CCIR 258 noise models, the new models more accurately predict the impact of power line noise at HF communication sites. The models for sites with noisy power lines and and quiet power lines have been validated from 500 kHz to 30 MHz. The new models can also be used to show the overall benefit of mitigating power line noise around HF communication sites. >
On test generation for interconnected finite-state machines-the input sequence propagation problem

Test generation for synchronous sequential circuits can be facilitated by decomposing the circuit into a cycle free interconnection of submachines such that all feedback loops are included within the submachines. We consider a test generation procedure that takes advantage of such a decomposition. The paper focuses on one of the subproblems of the test generation problem, the input sequence propagation problem. The problem occurs when a test sequence T is applied to an embedded machine M'. The fault effects of the target faults of M' appear on the outputs of M' and must be propagated through a machine M driven by M'. We propose a solution to the problem of propagating the fault effects of a machine M' through another machine M. The solution maximizes the number of faults whose fault effects are propagated simultaneously. In this way, the overall test generation time and the test application time are minimized.
To the point: Reviews in medical education teaching techniques

Medical educators are faced with the difficult dilemma of decreased time available for teaching as a result of increased demands for clinical time. Yet few physicians have formal training in teaching methods. Educational research is reviewed to assist educators to select the best teaching technique to meet the learning objectives.
Cyclic fatty esters: Stereochemistry of monounsaturated products from the hydrogenation and reduction of 9-(6-propyl-3-cyclohenxenyl)-8-nonenoic acid or its ester

Abstract Diunsaturated, C-18 cyclic fatty acid methyl esters (CFAME) were previously synthesized as model derivatives for characterization and biological evaluation of cyclic fatty acids (CFA) formed in heat-abused vegetable oils. The propyl substituted, diunsaturated CFMAE (I) was selectively reduced to prepare two monounsaturated, positional isomers with the double bond located either in the ester substituent (alkene isomer II) or in the ring (cyclohexene isomer III). The stereochemistry of these monounsaturated products was investigated by capillary GLC and NMR. Capillary GLC showed that each positional isomer was a mixture of two ‘ring’ isomers (i.e. a mixture of two isomers with side chains either cis or trans). The ring double bond in diene I was readily hydrogenated with various metal catalysts, and no cyclohexene isomer III was detected in the product. Platinum oxide poisoned with Ph3P was the most selective catalyst examined to convert diene I to monoene II. Diimide reduction was the only method foud to reduce selectively the double bond in the ester side chain of diene I. This diimide reduction was facilitated when the Z-double bond in the side chain was isomerized to E-double bond with p-toluenesulfinic acid. Cyclohexene isomer III and alkene isomer II were separated by argentation HPLC. These two isomeric monoenes were characterized by GC-MS, capillary GLC, micro-ozonolysis, IR and NMR. Catalytic hydrogenation with Ph3P-poisoned PtO2 and diimide reduction of the diunsaturated cyclic ester may provide useful methods to synthesize and label monounsaturated cyclic fatty esters.
The effects of stimulus numerosity, retinal location, and rod contrast on perceived duration of brief visual stimuli.

The effects of manipulating three stimulus parameters were determined on a standard perceived duration task using 40- and 70-msec visual stimuli. In Experiment 1, it was found that perceived duration increased with increasing number of target dots but decreased as the area that contained the dots also increased. Experiment 2 examined the effect of varying the retinal location (0, 2, or 4 deg from fovea) of the target dot and found perceived target duration to increase with increasing eccentricity. In Experiment 3, the background luminance for a constant red target was varied so as to alter the scotopic contrast of the target. Perceived duration was minimal for the scotopically matched target and background conditions. The results of all three experiments were discussed in terms of important retinal—and even rod—contributions to tasks of perceived duration.
In Defense of American Liberties: A History of the ACLU

Throughout the 1988 Presidential campaign, George Bush drew cheers from supporters by attacking Michael Dukakis's membership in the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), an organization that he charged was out of the "mainstream" of American life. Indeed, throughout its history, the organization has championed some decidedly unpopular causes, including free speech rights for racist groups and due process for even the most vicious criminals. But as Samuel Walker argues in his provocative new book--the first comprehensive history of the ACLU--the organization has played a leading role in shaping principles of individual freedom that are now a cornerstone of American law and the way all of us conceive of personal liberty. It has been involved in most of the Supreme Court's landmark cases expanding individual rights, and today argues more cases before the Court than anyone but the federal government. In fact, as American Liberties makes clear, the organization has played a central role in creating that mythical American "mainstream" that its opponents so often invoke. In fascinating detail, Walker recounts the ACLU's stormy history since its founding in 1920 to fight for free speech. He explores its involvement in some of the most famous causes in American history, including the Scopes "Monkey Trial," the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II, the Cold War anti-Communist witch hunts, and the civil rights movement. And he examines its most famous personalities, such as its puritan and autocratic founder Roger Baldwin; Felix Frankfurter, a long-time member who later voted against many ACLU cases while a Supreme Court justice; and Morris Ernst, who won the landmark case involving James Joyce's Ulysses and led the ACLU to take up the cause of free expression for sexually-frank publications. Walker deals candidly with the ACLU's less praiseworthy episodes--such as the expulsion of Elizabeth Gurley Flynn from the Board during the ACLU's anti-Communist phase, and he dissects the organization's constant struggle within itself to define the proper scope of civil liberties, revealing facts that will surprise even members of the ACLU. As Walker's engrossing story demonstrates, the history of the ACLU embodies some of the most important changes in American society in the twentieth century. The principles for which the organization has fought--such as free speech, fair play, equality, and privacy--are now accepted and cherished by Americans from all walks of life.
Simultaneous Na lidar and HF radar observations of vertical velocities in the mesosphere above Urbana, Illinois

The first simultaneous Na lidar and Medium Frequency (2.66 MHz) Doppler radar observations of vertical winds in the mesosphere (79.5–100 km) above Urbana, Illinois are reported. The lidar and radar systems were operated simultaneously for a 24-h period during January, 1989. The lidar measured Na density profiles and the radar measured the vertical component of velocity. The Na density data was used to derive the vertical velocity using the continuity equation. This data set provides a unique opportunity to check the consistency of parameters measured by the two very different experimental techniques. Excellent agreement is found between the radar velocities and the velocities inferred from the Na density on the bottomside of the Na layer. Significant differences are found between the velocities obtained with the two techniques on the top side of the Na layer. Possible reasons for this discrepancy are discussed.
The Role of Smears, Cultures, and Antibiotic Sensitivity Testing in the Management of Suspected Infectious Keratitis

Purpose: To examine the role of routine smears, cultures, and antibiotic sensitivity testing in the treatment of suspected infectious keratitis. Methods: A retrospective chart and laboratory data review was performed for 81 consecutive patients seen in the Los Angeles County/University of Southern California Department of Ophthalmology between June 1991 and December 1993 with a primary diagnosis of community-acquired infectious keratitis. No patients were treated with antibiotics before evaluation in the authors' department, and all underwent corneal scrapings for gram-stain and bacterial, fungal, and mycobacterium cultures. Ulcers were classified as moderate or severe. All initially were treated as inpatients with a regimen including fortified cefazolin and a fortified aminoglycoside. Results: Of 81 patients, 74 ulcers were either culture- negative (n = 18) or grew bacteria (n = 56). Fungal infection was suggested in seven patients. Of the nonfungal ulcers, 33 were classified as moderate, and 41 as severe; all moderate ulcers improved without requiring a modification in antibiotic treatment, whereas 3 severe ulcers required a change in treatment. Conclusion: Most community-acquired bacterial ulcers resolve with broad spectrum empiric therapy. Alternatives to universal culture and sensitivity testing that might be considered include selectively performing cultures for more severe or suspected non-bacterial ulcers or routinely obtaining cultures in all cases, but pursuing identification and sensitivity studies only when those data are required for therapy modification.
A Comparison of the Photospheric and Interplanetary Magnetic Fields during the Flight of Mariner IV

The polarity of the interplanetary magnetic field observed by the Mariner IV spacecraft is compared to the polarity of the photospheric magnetic field observed with the solar magnetograph at Mt. Wilson Observatory. Unlike the results obtained from observations during the flight of IMP-I, these polarities are not well correlated when the photospheric polarity is determined from data along a narrow latitudinal strip. It is suggested that the structure of the interplanetary field is often related to major features in the photospheric field that are observed over a broad range of solar latitudes.
Chemomechanical effects of self-assembled monolayers on gold films

Abstract Chemomechanical effects are technologically of great importance, but they have been highly controversial due to issues with reproducibility, environmental sensitivity and the fact that they only become dominant in the near-surface region. Using nanoindentation and the careful control of surface chemistry, we have isolated specific chemomechanical effects in nanoscale gold films. The Au was tested with and without alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and the environmental conditions were carefully monitored throughout. For shallow nanoindentations, a well-formed SAM lowered the load–depth curves substantially and pile-up at the indent sides was slightly reduced. This can be attributed to the so-called “Rehbinder effect”, where changes in surface energy, in this case due to the SAM, affect plastic deformation. Interestingly, even at greater depths the SAM was still found to lower the load–depth curves, though it greatly increased the pile-up volume (+300%). This is likely due to a different effect where the presence of the SAM allows greater ductile flow and, hence, extrusion of the Au during the indentation. In all cases the plastic work of indentation was lowered by the SAM, indicating that it made plastic deformation easier than for uncoated Au films.