cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Animal Models of Virus-Induced Neurobehavioral Sequelae: Recent Advances, Methodological Issues, and Future Prospects

Converging lines of clinical and epidemiological evidence suggest that viral infections in early developmental stages may be a causal factor in neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and autism-spectrum disorders. This etiological link, however, remains controversial in view of the lack of consistent and reproducible associations between viruses and mental illness. Animal models of virus-induced neurobehavioral disturbances afford powerful tools to test etiological hypotheses and explore pathophysiological mechanisms. Prenatal or neonatal inoculations of neurotropic agents (such as herpes-, influenza-, and retroviruses) in rodents result in a broad spectrum of long-term alterations reminiscent of psychiatric abnormalities. Nevertheless, the complexity of these sequelae often poses methodological and interpretational challenges and thwarts their characterization. The recent conceptual advancements in psychiatric nosology and behavioral science may help determine new heuristic criteria to enhance the translational value of these models. A particularly critical issue is the identification of intermediate phenotypes, defined as quantifiable factors representing single neurochemical, neuropsychological, or neuroanatomical aspects of a diagnostic category. In this paper, we examine how the employment of these novel concepts may lead to new methodological refinements in the study of virus-induced neurobehavioral sequelae through animal models.
Mode of action of chlorothiazide in the reduction of blood pressure in hypertension

Abstract The possibility that chlorothiazide affects the hypertensive process is a very real one since the effect on the blood pressure of long term treatment is to reduce peripheral resistance. The means by which this is achieved is unknown. It cannot be shown to be due to loss of sodium since the level of exchangeable sodium returns to normal on long term treatment. The only change we have been able to observe is a fall in total body water which is believed to be due to a loss of cellular water.
SuiteSpecks and SuiteSpots: A methodology for the automatic conversion of benchmarking programs into intrinsically checkpointed assembly code

This paper introduces a methodology to reduce the overall simulation time of large benchmarking suites. Previous work shows that it is possible to simulate only small sections of a benchmark's dynamic instruction stream in detail without sacrificing accuracy in simulation results with respect to overall behavior. As benchmarking suites increase in size, many such techniques still require a great deal of simulation time to complete. The methods presented in this paper build on this previous work by converting representative sections of a benchmark's execution into intrinsically checkpointed assembly (ITCY) code that can serve as a replacement for the original benchmark. In addition, a methodology is proposed that creates new benchmark binaries that no longer need input files or system calls in order to execute properly. Simulations of the new benchmarks are much faster, require less overhead, and still properly represent the original benchmark's execution profile. Results show that benchmarks created using these techniques can be very portable and accurately predict the performance of the original benchmark. An average error rate of less than 5% is achieved when compared to the original representative sections. In addition, a speedup of approximately 60x per benchmark is achieved over a standard set of SimPoints when the new benchmarks are executed serially and 1000x when executed in parallel. This translates into a reduction in simulation time from months to minutes and greatly decreases the amount of time necessary to test a new design.
Robotic solid phase extraction and high performance liquid chromatographic analysis of ranitidine in serum or plasma.

A fully automated assay for the analysis of ranitidine in serum and plasma, with and without an internal standard, was validated. It utilizes robotic solid phase extraction with on-line high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis. The ruggedness of the assay was demonstrated over a three-year period. A Zymark Py Technology II® robotic system was used for serial processing from initial aspiration of samples from original collection containers, to final direct injection onto the on-line HPLC system. Automated serial processing with on-line analysis provided uniform sample history and increased productivity by freeing the chemist to analyse data and perform other tasks. The solid phase extraction efficiency was 94% throughout the assay range of 10–250 ng/mL. The coefficients of variation for within- and between-day quality control samples ranged from 1 to 6% and 1 to 5%, respectively. Mean accuracy for between-day standards and quality control results ranged from 97 to 102% of the respective theoretical concentrations.
The Process is the Punishment: Juror Demographics and Case Administration in State Courts

Between 1976 and 1999, twelve states passed laws requiring that lists of eligible jurors for state trials be created by selecting at random from publicly available sources, limiting the discretion of jury commissioners to exclude African Americans from jury service. A difference-in-difference analysis suggests these reforms led to a 5–6 percentage point drop in the share of new admissions to prison accounted for by African Americans and other minorities, and lower rates of exercise of the death penalty overall.
PV-induced low voltage and mitigation options

With increasingly high penetrations of PV on distribution systems, there can be many benefits and impacts to the standard operation of the grid. This paper focuses on voltages below the allowable range caused by the installation of PV on distribution systems with line-drop compensation enabled voltage regulation controls. This paper demonstrates how this type of under-voltage issue has the potential to limit the hosting capacity of PV on a feeder and have possible consequences to other feeders served off a common regulated bus. Some examples of mitigation strategies are presented, along with the shortcomings of each. An example of advanced inverter functionality to mitigate overvoltage is shown, while also illustrating the ineffectiveness of inverter voltage control as a mitigation of under-voltage.
Making the most of the imaging we have: using head MRI to estimate body composition.

Aim To investigate the use of clinical head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in determining body composition and to evaluate how well it correlates with established measures based on abdominal computed tomography (CT). Materials and methods Ninety-nine consecutive patients were identified who had undergone both brain MRI and abdominal CT within a 2-week span. Volumes of fat and muscle in the extracranial head were measured utilising several techniques by both abdominal CT and head MRI. Results MRI-based total fat volumes in the head correlated with CT-based measurements of fat in the abdomen using both single-section ( r =0.64, p r =0.60, p Conclusion Based on the present results, head MRI-based measures may provide a useful surrogate for CT measurements of abdominal fat, particularly in patients with neurological cancers, as head MRI (and not abdominal CT) is routinely and repeatedly obtained for the purpose of clinical care for these patients.
Accretion to Earth and Moon ∼3.85 Ga

The lunar record provides a means of estimating post-accretionary impact influences on the early Earth and a comparison with what we can more directly infer from the Earth’s own rocks. In the period from about 3.9 to about 3.8 Ga there was considerable impacting on the Moon with evidence for concurrent marine sedimentation on Earth. This was a time interval in which the impactor flux to the lunar surface was orders of magnitude greater than the present rate; massive impacts as well as an enhanced background flux of extraterrestrial matter should have likewise affected the surface of early Earth. As yet, no unequivocal evidence for a “Late Heavy Bombard- ment of the Earth” has been established from direct measurement of terrestrial crustal rocks. The lack of a signal of the bombardment on Earth may be due to the fact that: (i) the oldest sediments do not overlap with the bombardment era, (ii) the bombard- ment was less intense than previously thought, (iii) sedimentation was extremely rapid so as to dilute any extraterrestrial signal, (iv) sample volumes yet analyzed under- sample extra-terrestrial input, or (v) windows for sampling elevated fluxes of extrater- restrial bodies were very short between long periods of relative calm. Further exten- sive studies of the oldest known sediments will be needed to resolve the issues raised in this paper.
C3′‐Deoxygenation of Paromamine Catalyzed by a Radical S‐Adenosylmethionine Enzyme: Characterization of the Enzyme AprD4 and Its Reductase Partner AprD3

C3′-deoxygenation of aminoglycosides results in their decreased susceptibility to phosphorylation thereby increasing their efficacy as antibiotics. However, the biosynthetic mechanism of C3′-deoxygenation is unknown. To address this issue, aprD4 and aprD3 genes from the apramycin gene cluster in Streptomyces tenebrarius were expressed in E. coli and the resulting gene products were characterized in vitro. AprD4 is shown to be a radical S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) enzyme, catalyzing homolysis of SAM to 5′-deoxyadenosine (5′-dAdo) in the presence of paromamine. [4′-2H]-Paromamine was prepared and used to show that its C4′-H is transferred to 5′-dAdo by AprD4, during which the substrate is dehydrated to a product consistent with 4′-oxolividamine. In contrast, paromamine is reduced to a deoxy product when incubated with AprD4/AprD3/NADPH. These results show that AprD4 is the first radical SAM diol-dehydratase and, along with AprD3, is responsible for 3′-deoxygenation in aminoglycoside biosynthesis.
A megawatt solid-state modulator for high repetition rate pulse generation

A novel solid-state modulator capable of generating rapid consecutive power pulses is constructed to facilitate experiments on plasma interaction with high power microwave pulses. The modulator is designed to output a 100 kHz tone burst, which consists of up to 10 pulses, each with 1 μs duration and 1 MW peak power. The pulses are formed by discharging a total of 480 μF capacitors through 24 synchronized MOSFETs and 6 step-up transformers. The highly modular design, as a replacement of an old single-pulse version used in earlier experiments which employs a pulse forming network, brings great flexibility and wide potential to its application. A systematic cost-effectiveness analysis is also presented.
Common Skin Rashes in Children

Because childhood rashes may be difficult to differentiate by appearance alone, it is important to consider the entire clinical presentation to help make the appropriate diagnosis. Considerations include the appearance and location of the rash; the clinical course; and associated symptoms, such as pruritus or fever. A fever is likely to occur with roseola, erythema infectiosum (fifth disease), and scarlet fever. Pruritus sometimes occurs with atopic dermatitis, pityriasis rosea, erythema infectiosum, molluscum contagiosum, and tinea infection. The key feature of roseola is a rash presenting after resolution of a high fever, whereas the distinguishing features in pityriasis rosea are a herald patch and a bilateral and symmetric rash in a Christmas tree pattern. The rash associated with scarlet fever usually develops on the upper trunk, then spreads throughout the body, sparing the palms and soles. Impetigo is a superficial bacterial infection that most commonly affects the face and extremities of children. Erythema infectiosum is characterized by a viral prodrome followed by the "slapped cheek" facial rash. Flesh-colored or pearly white papules with central umbilication occur with molluscum contagiosum, a highly contagious viral infection that usually resolves without intervention. Tinea is a common fungal skin infection in children that affects the scalp, body, groin, feet, hands, or nails. Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin condition that may present with a variety of skin changes.
Understanding and Mitigating Covert Channels Through Branch Predictors

Covert channels through shared processor resources provide secret communication between two malicious processes: the trojan and the spy. In this article, we classify, analyze, and compare covert channels through dynamic branch prediction units in modern processors. Through experiments on a real hardware platform, we compare contention-based channel and the channel that is based on exploiting the branch predictor’s residual state. We analyze these channels in SMT and single-threaded environments under both clean and noisy conditions. Our results show that the residual state-based channel provides a cleaner signal and is effective even in noisy execution environments with another application sharing the same physical core with the trojan and the spy. We also estimate the capacity of the branch predictor covert channels and describe a software-only mitigation technique that is based on randomizing the state of the predictor tables on context switches. We show that this protection eliminates all covert channels through the branch prediction unit with minimal impact on performance.
Studies on Arthropod Cuticle. IX. Quantitative Effects of Diet, Age, Temperature and Humidity on the Cuticles of Five Representative Species of Insects,

The published quantitative determinations of percentages of cuticle and of cuticular components have recently been tabulated by Richards (1951). Large differences are found between different species and even between different stages of the same species. However, these published data do not show whether the percentages vary significantly between different individuals of a species at any one particular age. And, further, the published data do not show whether percentage differences exist between large and small individuals, or whether variations can result from environmental differences. The present paper is a contribution towards answering the above questions.
Ionic sizes and born repulsive parameters in the NaCl-type alkali halides—I: The Huggins-Mayer and Pauling forms

Abstract The Born model of ionic solids is shown to permit the complete determination from solid-state data of crystal radii for the alkali and halogen ions in the individual alkali halides with the NaCl structure, which are directly comparable with the experimental crystal radii deducible from the X-ray maps for the electron distribution in the crystal. The determination is based on the direct relationships which are established, by a physical interpretation of the observed approximate additivity of the interionic distance, between the crystal radii and the parameters entering plausible expressions for the first and second neighbor contributions to the Born repulsive energy. Two different forms of the repulsive energy are considered : the Huggins-Mayer form, having an exponential dependence on the ionic distance with a hardness parameter common to the family of salts, and the Pauling form, having an inverse-power dependence on the ionic distance, again with a common hardness parameter. The parameters for these forms are determined from solid-state data by a Huggins-type procedure. The crystal radii of the alkali and halogen ions in the NaCl structure obtained with the Huggins-Mayer form are, respectively, larger and smaller than the traditional crystal radii by about two-tenths of an angstrom. Their uncertainty is estimated to be about 0.05 A by comparison with the crystal radii obtained with the Pauling form. The crystal radii of the ions in NaCl and LiF agree rather closely with those deduced from the X-ray maps of the electron distribution available for these crystals. The value of the determination of electron maps for other alkali halide crystals is emphasized, to test in particular the significance of the small regular variations of the crystal radius of an ion from crystal to crystal suggested by the calculations. The applicability of the Born model procedure for the determination of crystal radii to other families of ionic solids is pointed out.
Triplettlöschung durch Chrom(III)-Komplexe

Die Loschung der Triplett-Triplett-Absorption von aromatischen Kohlenwasserstoffen und von Eosin wurde blitzlichtspektroskopisch untersucht. Fur die Loschkonstanten von Chromkomplexen wurden Werte von 5,7·106 bis 1,3·109 lMol−1 sec−1 gefunden. Sie hangen von der Ionenladung des Chromkomplexes ab. Die Triplett-Triplett-Absorption von Naphthazen wird von K3[Cr(CN)6] nicht beeinflust. Als Loschmechanismus wird Dipol-Quadrupol-Resonanz-Energieubertragung angenommen.
Cancer has nothing on Islam: a study of discourses by group elite and supporters of the English defence league

ABSTRACTThis paper uses methods from corpus linguistics and discourse analysis to analyse discourses produced by a populist far-right movement, the English Defence League (EDL), an organisation which the group elite claim is opposed to the spread of Islamism, Sharia law and Islamic extremism in the UK. Two corpora are analysed using the online Corpus Query System, Sketch Engine [Kilgarriff, A., Rychly, P., Smrz, P., & Tugwell, D. (2004). The sketch engine. Proceedings of Euralex (pp. 105–116). Lorient, France]; one corpus is compiled of texts published by the group leaders on their official website and the second of texts written by group supporters on the organisation’s Facebook page. Furthermore, a thread from the group’s Facebook page is studied. While the group’s mission statement declares that their aim is to oppose radical Islam, an investigation of the data demonstrates that they are an organisation opposed to all forms of Islam and immigration of Muslims to the UK. The study of group members’ text...
Deposition of Ultrathin Polythiourea Films by Molecular Layer Deposition

Molecular layer deposition (MLD) is a film growth technique which utilizes self-saturating surface chemistry to deposit organic films layer-by-layer. In this study we report a new MLD coupling chemistry to grow oxygen-free films with polythiourea groups. 1,4-Phenylene diisothiocyanate and ethylenediamine are reacted to form thiourea moieties. The films exhibit a constant growth rate and show saturation behavior in dosing each of the precursor molecules. The chemical composition of the films is probed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and density functional theory, which confirm that the expected polythiourea films are formed by the MLD process. Transmission electron micrographs demonstrate conformal coating of SiO2 nanoparticles. Thermal stability studies reveal that the thiourea films are stable to 200 °C, and indicate that desorption likely occurs at the SiO2/organic interface.
Effect of ATP on Cysteine and Other Thiol-Induced Labilization of Rat Liver Lysosomes

SummaryEvidence is presented indicating that lysosomal release sites for acid phosphatase and β-glucuronidase differ. ATP stabilized the release of both acid hydrolases. However, ATP in the presence of cysteine stabilized the release of acid phosphatase but not β-glucuronidase. Some of the data obtained suggest the possible involvement of a lysosomal membrane bound ATPase in controlling acid hydrolase release.
Who Participates in Building Disaster Resilient Communities: A Cluster-Analytic Approach.

Context The Los Angeles County Community Disaster Resilience project is a community-based program to improve disaster resilience. We collected baseline measures of resilience-related attitudes and practices among targeted communities prior to the implementation of the intervention. Objectives This study identified community disaster resilience behavior patterns and assessed their associations with sociodemographic and social cognitive characteristics. Design Telephone surveys during summer 2013. Setting Sixteen communities in Los Angeles County (2 per service planning area). Participants The address-based sample of adults (≥18) was selected to be representative of 2010 census tracts in each of the communitiesMAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:: We examined relationships between sociodemographic characteristics, social cognitive factors, and participation in community disaster resilience activities. Results Three clusters of community resilience behavior patterns emerged. Cluster distribution significantly differed across several sociodemographic and social cognitive factors. Participants who were African American, Hispanic, had higher education, income, self-efficacy, trust in the public health department, civic engagement, and social capital were significantly associated with being in the cluster most active in resilience-building activities. Conclusions The results confirm that there are distinct community resilience behavior patterns. These patterns vary according to population characteristics, which supports audience segmentation approaches and developing a range of emergency preparedness programs targeted to the strengths and weaknesses of the different audience segments.
Correction of Parallel Algorithms of Orthogonal Polynomials and It's Stability Analysis

By correcting Clenshaw and Forsyth algorithms for deriving Chebyshev polynomials. 2 parallel algorithms for deriving common orthogonal polynomials, through discussing rounding-off errors of the 2 algorithm matrixes, their stabilities are analyzed.
An Analysis of the Expression of the Editor's Conceit in the Segmental Teaching——About the rehearsal of "Juebie" in Cao Yu's "Fmily"

The rehearsal of a segment is the beginning of the realization of the editor's conceit.It is also an important period to carry on performance and creation with the actors and actresses.In an editor's teaching activity,the meaning of a segmental rehearsal is very important.It gains a complete understanding of the creative process of the editor through small creative ones.
Developing a Checklist: Consensus Via a Modified Delphi Technique.

Objective To create a universal checklist of key preparatory steps to aid anesthesiologists in patient separation from cardiopulmonary bypass. Design Multistep, iterative survey with statistically guided refinement of survey items using a modified Delphi technique. Setting Internet-based surveys. Participants Ninety active members of the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists volunteered to participate, including geographically distributed private practice and academic physicians. Interventions A series of checklist items was created and distributed to 90 anesthesiologists, who assessed each item’s importance in preparing for patient separation from cardiopulmonary bypass and added, deleted, or modified any items as they saw fit. Items meeting a threshold of greater than 90% group acceptance were carried forward to a second survey. These items then were evaluated using a 5-point Likert scale to grade relative importance and then compared with the group’s responses, creating a third survey with refined checklist items. The results then were used to generate a final survey based on each item achieving certain predefined statistical criteria, which then were scored again by the participants, generating a final checklist via statistically guided consensus. Measurements and Main Results An initial checklist containing 28 possible items was proposed to the participants. After the iterative process was completed, a final checklist of 10 items deemed essential to prepare for bypass separation was created. Conclusions A checklist to aid in bypass separation was created with key steps derived from a statistically driven Delphi process. This technique of iterative consensus building may be useful in developing additional safety checklists.
"Degreaser's flush".

To elicit the “degreaser’s flush,” ethanol was administered to seven male volunteers who were repeatedly exposed to trichloroethylene (TCE) vapor. In six exposed subjects transient vasodilatation o...
Tightening Polyelectrolyte Multilayers with Oligo Pendant Ions

A series of polycations bearing one, two, and three pendant quaternary ammonium groups per repeat unit has been synthesized and combined with poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) to produce hyperthin polyelectrolyte multilayers. Incremental addition of quaternary ammonium groups per repeat unit leads to decreased permeances for H2, CO2, and N2 and increased H2/CO2 and CO2/N2 permeation selectivities. These results, together with analysis of the composition from X-ray photoelectron spectra and values of Young’s modulus from nanoindentation analysis, show that oligo pendant ions provide a means for increasing volume charge density and tightening polyelectrolyte multilayers.
Teachers’ Beliefs About Grading Practices and a Constructivist Approach to Teaching

ABSTRACTWe examined novice teachers’ beliefs about grading and constructivist teaching approaches. Adapting an existing instrument designed to assess preservice teachers’ grading beliefs that deviate from recommended practices, we administered the Survey of Grading Beliefs to 203 inservice teachers. Exploratory factor analysis resulted in a 3-factor model with a structure similar to that found in prior research; differences between the 2 samples were noted. Teachers who endorsed grading beliefs characterized as “academic enabling” tended to endorse constructivist teaching approaches. To better understand the underlying reasoning of the academic enabling factor, we conducted qualitative research with 6 additional teachers. Results revealed that teachers’ reasons for grading judgments were strategic, analytical, and thoughtful, not haphazard. This study provides empirical evidence about the nature of novice teachers’ beliefs about grading, how they relate to constructivist teaching beliefs, and how they may...
Smartphones and Cognition: A Review of Research Exploring the Links between Mobile Technology Habits and Cognitive Functioning.

While smartphones and related mobile technologies are recognized as flexible and powerful tools that, when used prudently, can augment human cognition, there is also a growing perception that habitual involvement with these devices may have a negative and lasting impact on users’ ability to think, remember, pay attention, and regulate emotion. The present review considers an intensifying, though still limited, area of research exploring the potential cognitive impacts of smartphone-related habits, and seeks to determine in which domains of functioning there is accruing evidence of a significant relationship between smartphone technology and cognitive performance, and in which domains the scientific literature is not yet mature enough to endorse any firm conclusions. We focus our review primarily on three facets of cognition that are clearly implicated in public discourse regarding the impacts of mobile technology – attention, memory, and delay of gratification – and then consider evidence regarding the broader relationships between smartphone habits and everyday cognitive functioning. Along the way, we highlight compelling findings, discuss limitations with respect to empirical methodology and interpretation, and offer suggestions for how the field might progress toward a more coherent and robust area of scientific inquiry.​
Quantitation of Fentanyl Analogs in Dried Blood Spots by Flow-Through Desorption Coupled to Online Solid Phase Extraction Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

An automated dried blood spot (DBS) elution coupled with solid phase extraction and tandem mass spectrometric analysis for multiple fentanyl analogs was developed and assessed. This method confirms human exposures to fentanyl, sufentanil, carfentanil, alfentanil, lofentanil, α-methyl fentanyl, and 3-methyl fentanyl in blood with minimal sample volume and reduced shipping and storage costs. Seven fentanyl analogs were detected and quantitated from DBS made from venous blood. The calibration curve in matrix was linear in the concentration range of 1.0 ng mL−1 to 100 ng mL−1 with a correlation coefficient greater than 0.98 for all compounds. The limit of detection varied from 0.15 ng mL−1 to 0.66 ng mL−1 depending on target analyte. Analysis of the entire DBS minimized the effects of hematocrit on quantitation. All quality control materials evaluated resulted in <15% error; analytes with isotopically labeled internal standards had <15% RSD, while analytes without matching standards had 15–24% RSD. This method provides an automated means to detect seven fentanyl analogs, and quantitate four fentanyl analogs with the benefits of DBS at levels anticipated from an overdose of these potent opioids.
Understanding eating disorders within internalizing psychopathology: A novel transdiagnostic, hierarchical-dimensional model.

Abstract Background Several problems with the classification and diagnosis of eating disorders (EDs) have been identified, including proliferation of ‘other specified’ diagnoses, within-disorder heterogeneity, and frequent diagnostic migration over time. Beyond problems within EDs, past research suggested that EDs fit better in a spectrum of internalizing psychopathology (characterized by mood and anxiety disorders) than in a separate diagnostic class. Purpose To develop a transdiagnostic, hierarchical-dimensional model relevant to ED psychopathology that: 1) reduces diagnostic heterogeneity, 2) includes important dimensions of internalizing psychopathology that are often excluded from ED diagnostic models, and 3) predicts clinical impairment. Procedures Goldberg's (2006) method and exploratory structural equation modeling were used to identify a hierarchical model of internalizing in community-recruited adults with EDs ( N = 207). Findings The lowest level of the hierarchy was characterized by 15 factors that defined specific aspects of eating, mood, and anxiety disorders. At the two-factor level, Internalizing bifurcated into Distress (low well-being, body dissatisfaction, suicidality, dysphoria, ill temper, traumatic intrusions) and Fear-Avoidance (claustrophobia, social avoidance, panic symptoms, dietary restricting, excessive exercise, and compulsions). Results showed that the lowest level of the hierarchy predicted 67.7% of the variance in clinical impairment. In contrast, DSM eating, mood, and anxiety disorders combined predicted 10.6% of the variance in impairment secondary to an ED. Conclusions The current classification model represents an improvement over traditional nosologies for predicting clinically relevant outcomes for EDs.
Mathematics as a Critical Enterprise

How does mathematics grow? According to tradition, mathematics grows as truths accumulate. Imre Lakatos criticized this traditional answer in a bold and revolutionary way. He said that mathematics grows as conjectures are made and criticized. In Lakatos’ picture of mathematics, truths never get a chance to accumulate because they are always in danger of being refuted by newly discovered counterexamples. In fact, those parts of mathematics which under the traditional view were regarded as truths, that is, theorems, proofs, and so on, are under Lakatos’ view seen as completely conjectural. In fact, according to Lakatos, all mathematics is conjectural. None of it is truth accumulated.
Simultaneously Monitoring Immune Response and Microbial Infections during Pregnancy through Plasma cfRNA Sequencing.

Background: Plasma cell-free RNA (cfRNA) encompasses a broad spectrum of RNA species that can be derived from both human cells and microbes. Because cfRNA is fragmented and of low concentration, it has been challenging to profile its transcriptome using standard RNA-seq methods. Methods: We assessed several recently developed RNA-seq methods on cfRNA samples. We then analyzed the dynamic changes of both the human transcriptome and the microbiome of plasma during pregnancy from 60 women. Results: cfRNA reflects a well-orchestrated immune modulation during pregnancy: an up-regulation of antiinflammatory genes and an increased abundance of antimicrobial genes. We observed that the plasma microbiome remained relatively stable during pregnancy. The bacteria Ureaplasma shows an increased prevalence and increased abundance at postpartum, which is likely to be associated with postpartum infection. We demonstrated that cfRNA-seq can be used to monitor viral infections. We detected a number of human pathogens in our patients, including an undiagnosed patient with a high load of human parvovirus B19 virus (B19V), which is known to be a potential cause of complications in pregnancy. Conclusions: Plasma cfRNA-seq demonstrates the potential to simultaneously monitor immune response and microbial infections during pregnancy.
Parallel Computation of Variational Inequalities and Projected Dynamical Systems with Applications

This chapter presents parallel algorithms, along with numerical results, for the computation of solutions to finite-dimensional variational inequality problems and for projected dynamical systems. The variational inequality problem has been used to formulate a plethora of equilibrium problems in diverse applications, whereas the theory of projected dynamical systems has been introduced only recently to allow for the study of dynamic phenomena, subject to constraints. The connection between these two problems is notable in that the set of solutions to a variational inequality problem coincides with the set of solutions to a projected dynamical system. Hence, problems that have, heretofore, been studied principally in the static setting of equilibrium states can now be addressed through their disequilibrium behavior. Applications that can be studied using these companion methodologies range from congested urban transportation systems and spatial price equilibrium problems to general financial equilibrium problems. Such problems are naturally complex and large-scale and, hence, parallel computation can play a pivotal role in their analysis and solution. In this chapter we address precisely these questions.
Consumer Attribute and Profile Preferences for Affinity Credit Cards

Banks and financial institutions are interested in lasting relationships with profitable, reliable customers. Many financial services firms have found some success by developing affinity or cobranded credit cards. This two part study was undertaken to gain insight into consumer attribute preferences of university-sponsored affinity cards.
Spectral Zeta Function of Symmetric Fractals

This is an expository paper which includes several topics related to the spectral analysis on fractals. Such analysis on certain symmetric fractals can be completely described in terms of complex dynamics of a polynomial. The examples of such fractals include the Sierpinski gasket and an interval with a fractal measure. We discuss the spectral type of the Laplacian, complex spectral dimensions and spectral zeta function. The spectral zeta function has a product structure that involves a certain new zeta function of a polynomial and a “geometric” part. A similar product structure in the case of fractal strings was discovered by M. L. Lapidus. We give examples were the spectrum is singularly continuous on one dimensional fractals but is pure point on the infinite Sierpinski gasket, with a complete set of compactly supported eigenfunctions. We describe the spectrum of the Laplacian (in terms of the complex dynamics of a polynomial) and all the eigenfunctions with compact support.
Real-Time Density Control of a Plasma Source Used for Simulating Low-Earth-Orbit Plasma Environment

We developed a variable-output-aperture, laboratory plasma source to enable real-time plasma density control with minimal effect on other plasma properties. The source is capable of producing a low-Earth-orbit-type plasma with electron energies of approximately 0.1–0.7 eV and streaming ion energies of approximately 2–4 eV. The plasma density can be adjusted over two orders of magnitude, thus representing some of the natural variability of the ionosphere. In a given aperture range, the electron and ion density decreased by 73% while the average percent difference in electron and ion density was 0.3% with a standard deviation of 1.4%. The average percent difference in ion energy was 6.3% with a standard deviation of 4.3%. The variable aperture was achieved by a rotating dual-grid system.
Driving factors in amiloride recognition of HIV RNA targets

Noncoding RNAs are increasingly promising drug targets yet ligand design is hindered by a paucity of methods that reveal driving factors in selective small molecule : RNA interactions, particularly given the difficulties of high-resolution structural characterization. HIV RNAs are excellent model systems for method development given their targeting history, known structure–function relationships, and the unmet need for more effective treatments. Herein we report a strategy combining synthetic diversification, profiling against multiple RNA targets, and predictive cheminformatic analysis to identify driving factors for selectivity and affinity of small molecules for distinct HIV RNA targets. Using this strategy, we discovered improved ligands for multiple targets and the first ligands for ESSV, an exonic splicing silencer critical to replication. Computational analysis revealed guiding principles for future designs and a predictive cheminformatics model of small molecule : RNA binding. These methods are expected to facilitate progress toward selective targeting of disease-causing RNAs.
Chapter 3 – Osteoclast Biology

Publisher Summary The osteoclast is a multinucleated cell whose capacity to degrade hard tissues depends on cell/matrix contact. Thus, when viewed in histological sections, osteoclasts appear as polykaryons generally juxtaposed to bony surfaces and often in resorption pits. Study to isolate mature osteoclasts is illustrated in this discussion which is essential to understanding the mechanisms by which they degrade bone, the use of differentiated resorptive polykaryons precludes the identification of osteoclast precursors and the biochemical signals regulating osteoclastogenesis. The functional role of the osteoclast is to resorb bone, a composite matrix consisting of both inorganic and organic elements. The inorganic component is largely substituted hydroxyapatite, whereas the organic phase contains 20 or more proteins, with type 1 collagen being the single major species. The initial step in bone resorption is attachment of the cell to the matrix, followed by the creation of an isolated, extracellular, resorptive microenvironment bordered by the ruffled membrane. This chapter discusses the events leading to attachment and formation of the resorptive space. It has been found that four molecules; macrophage colony-stimulating factor, receptor for activation of nuclear factor-kB (RANK), RANK-ligand, and osteoprotegerin; acting in concert, are major regulators of osteoclast formation and function.
The Kongo Kingdom: The Origins, Dynamics and Cosmopolitan Culture of an African Polity

Thousands of miles away from any major route connecting the Old World, the Kingdom of Kongo has fascinated people the world over since Portuguese navigators first touched its shores in 1483. There ...
The academic boycott movement: A reflection on cross-border solidarity and lockdown:

The essay explores how the academic boycott of Israel advocates for the right to education and right to freedom of movement of Palestinians by reflecting on the politics of space, mobility, and bor...
Clinical photoacoustic computed tomography of breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy

At present, there is no reliable non-invasive imaging modality accepted as the routine method to assess response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Using photoacoustic computed tomography (PACT), we imaged breast cancer patients at three time points: before, during, and after NAC. We measured the tumor size, blood vascular density, and irregularity in the distribution and morphology of the blood vessels on PACT. We used these measurements to accurately identify response to NAC as confirmed by the histopathological diagnosis. We demonstrate PACT’s near-term potential as a diagnostic tool for assessing breast cancer response to systemic treatment by non-invasively measuring the changes in cancer-associated angiogenesis.
Leveraging Collaborative Networks in Infrequent Emergency Situations

Public services are delivered less and less through single hierarchical organizations, and more and more through networks of multiple organizations that can come from any level of government, as well as from the private and nonprofit sectors. Networks provide governments with the flexibility to tackle problems that are beyond the scope of any single organization, and they have management characteristics and challenges that are distinct from hierarchies.
Diagnostic Challenge and Clinical Dilemma: The Long Reach of Clonal Hematopoiesis.

BACKGROUND Widespread application of massively parallel sequencing has resulted in recognition of clonal hematopoiesis in various clinical settings and on a relatively frequent basis. Somatic mutations occur in individuals with normal blood counts, and increase in frequency with age. The genes affected are the same genes that are commonly mutated in overt myeloid malignancies such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). This phenomenon is referred to as clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP). CONTENT In this review, we explore the diagnostic and clinical implications of clonal hematopoiesis. In addition to CHIP, clonal hematopoiesis may be seen in patients with cytopenia who do not otherwise meet criteria for hematologic malignancy, a condition referred to as clonal cytopenia of undetermined significance (CCUS). Distinguishing CHIP and CCUS from overt myeloid neoplasm is a challenge to diagnosticians due to the overlapping mutational landscape observed in these conditions. We describe helpful laboratory and clinical features in making this distinction. CHIP confers a risk of progression to overt hematologic malignancy similar to other premalignant states. CHIP is also associated with a proinflammatory state with multisystem implications and increased mortality risk due to cardiovascular events. The current approach to follow up and management of patients with clonal hematopoiesis is described. SUMMARY Nuanced understanding of clonal hematopoiesis is essential for diagnosis and clinical management of patients with hematologic conditions. Further data are needed to more accurately predict the natural history and guide management of these patients with respect to both malignant progression as well as nonhematologic sequelae.
Are economists more selfish than other `social' scientists?

There is considerable professional disagreement among economists about whether economists are less cooperative than non-economists. It has been argued that once an individual has been schooled in the self-interest model of individual human behavior (s)he exhibits more selfish behavior than other, ostensibly similar individuals who have not been taught to fully appreciate Homo economicus. Heretofore, the empirical debate has centered around classroom experiments designed to compare the “honesty” of undergraduate economics majors versus non economics majors. However, methodological problems have plagued these studies, leaving both sides at an impasse. We offer unique and compelling real-world evidence that suggests economists are no less cooperative than non-economists. Indeed, after comparing the incidence of “cheating” on their Association dues, we find that professional economists are significantly more honest/cooperative than professional political scientists, and especially, professional sociologists.
Note on Upper Density of Quasi-Random Hypergraphs

In 1964, Erd ő s proved that for any $\alpha > 0$, an $l$-uniform hypergraph $G$ with $n \geq n_0(\alpha, l)$ vertices and $\alpha \binom{n}{l}$ edges contains a large complete $l$-equipartite subgraph. This implies that any sufficiently large $G$ with density $\alpha > 0$ contains a large subgraph with density at least $l!/l^l$. In this note we study a similar problem for $l$-uniform hypergraphs $Q$ with a weak quasi-random property (i.e. with edges uniformly distributed over the sufficiently large subsets of vertices). We prove that any sufficiently large quasi-random $l$-uniform hypergraph $Q$ with density $\alpha > 0$ contains a large subgraph with density at least $\frac{(l-1)!}{l^{l-1}-1}$. In particular, for $l=3$, any sufficiently large such $Q$ contains a large subgraph with density at least $\frac{1}{4}$ which is the best possible lower bound. We define jumps for quasi-random sequences of $l$-graphs and our result implies that every number between 0 and $\frac{(l-1)!}{l^{l-1}-1}$ is a jump for quasi-random $l$-graphs. For $l=3$ this interval can be improved based on a recent result of Glebov, Kr a l' and Volec. We prove that every number between [0, 0.3192) is a jump for quasi-random $3$-graphs.
Partisan Voters, Partisan States: How the Rising Strength of Party and Ideology in the American Public Affects Aggregate Electoral Results

There is a great deal of scholarly and popular attention to trends of growing party-line and ideological voting among individual voters, as well as a widely perceived increase in the depth and stability of partisan alignments among states. We aim to bridge the gap between individual and aggregate change by investigating the relationship between these trends over the period 1988-2008, analyzing data from exit polls and the ANES. Among other results, we find (1) that partisan and ideological voting is indeed on the rise, (2) that moderate and independent voters are increasingly likely to support candidates of the dominant party within their state, (3) that states are becoming more dissimilar over time in their partisan but not ideological balance, (4) that election results at the state level are becoming more stable between consecutive elections and that presidential and Senate elections are converging over time within states, (5) that the state-level correlations among partisan balance, ideological balance, and electoral outcomes have strengthened dramatically over this period, and (7) that voters within states that differ in their partisan, ideological, or electoral alignments disagree more over cultural issues than economic issues. We argue that these trends work together to shape the now-familiar “red versus blue” electoral map.
Development and Evolution of the Vertebrate Ear's Neurosensory System

Ear development transforms an area of head ectoderm into a complex three-dimensional structure carrying three types of sensory systems for gravistatic and angular acceleration sensation as well as hearing. Transformation of the otic ectoderm starts with the specification of neurosensory cells that differentiate into the essential components for the sensory processes, the hair cells, supporting cells and neurons. The role of proneural bHLH genes in this process is presented and put into the context of ear evolution to appreciate how cellular diversity is embedded into the diversification of the ear as whole as well as the evolution of novel sensory capacities in the ear. Ear neurosensory development is characterised by extensive cross-regulation of multiple factors for cell type specification and fate fixation. Data suggesting that sensory epithelia may directly regulate the formation of their associated structures to guide specific stimuli to the sensory epithelia are presented. Key Concepts: Numerous coexpressed factors regulate transformation of general epidermis to prosensory otic ectoderm. Proneural basic-Helix–Loop–Helix proteins define cell fate through cross-regulative interaction. Sensory epithelia regulate formation of accessory structures including aspects of ear morphogenesis. Ear development can best be understood in the context of ear evolution. Keywords: ear development; neurosensory development; auditory system development