cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Math Snacks: Using Animations and Games to Fill the Gaps in Mathematics

Math Snacks animations and support materials were developed for use on the web and mobile technologies to teachratio, proportion, scale factor, and number line concepts using a multi-modal approach. Included in Math Snacks are:Animations which promote the visualization of a concept image; written lessons which provide cognitive complexityfor understanding; and active, situated learning activities to facilitate memorable experiences to deepencomprehension. This pilot study compared pre-post test gains for 460 sixth and seventh grade students enrolled innine different classrooms. In five of the nine classrooms, teachers utilized the Teacher Guide that corresponded withthe five Math Snacks animations and one game and in four classrooms teachers used the same Math Snacksanimations and one game, but were free to develop their own lessons using available online resources. Resultsshowed moderate and significant pre-post test gains for all six grade students. However, significant gains for seventhgrade students were shown only for classrooms where the teacher Guide was used. While it appears that the use ofTeacher Guide is useful only for seventh grade, such a conclusion is premature given the small number of classroomsand the exploratory nature of this investigation. Further analyses of moderator variables (e.g., instructional fidelity,learner characteristics) are certainly necessary.
SOCIAL-PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL COMPLIANCE AS A PREDICTOR OF FUTURE TEAM PERFORMANCE

Social psychophysiological compliance (SPC) was tested as a predictor of future team performance of two-person teams performing a self-paced projective tracking task under laboratory conditions. Undergraduate students (N=16 teams, aged 17 to 23 yrs) worked in parallel using separate X-Y joysticks to guide a virtual object through a complex path. One team member controlled the horizontal position of the object while the other controlled vertical. Unexpected changes in task control dynamics occurred at a randomly-selected point in the path: either horizontal and vertical (HV) control were swapped between team members, directional control was reversed, or both HV swap plus directional reversal occurred. Higher cardiac SPC (cross correlation, lag=0) scores predicted lower tracking error from path centerline (p<.01) but did not predict collision severity between object and path wall. The results indicate that SPC has some potential for assessing a team’s readiness to handle unexpected task demands in the immediate future.
Patient- and cyst-related factors for improved prediction of malignancy within cystic lesions of the pancreas.

Background and Aims: Early diagnosis of cancer in pancreatic cysts is important for timely referral to surgery. The aim of this study was to develop a predictive model for pancreatic cyst malignancy to improve patient selection for surgical resection. Methods: We performed retrospective analyses of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and pathology databases identifying pancreatic cysts with available final pathological diagnoses. Main-duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) were excluded due to the clear indication for surgery. Patient demographics and symptoms, cyst morphology, and cyst fluid characteristics were studied as candidate risk factors for malignancy. Results: 270 patients with pancreatic cysts were identified and analyzed (41% men, mean age 61.8 years). Final pathological diagnoses were branch-duct IPMN (n = 118, 50% malignant), serous cystadenoma (n = 71), pseudocyst (n = 37), mucinous cyst adenoma/adenocarcinoma (n = 36), islet cell tumor (n = 4), simple cyst (n = 3), and ductal adenocarcinoma with cystic degeneration (n = 1). Optimal cut-off points for surgical resection were cyst fluid carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) ≥3,594 ng/ml, age >50, and cyst size >1.5 cm. Cyst malignancy was independently associated with white race (OR = 4.1, p = 0.002), weight loss (OR = 3.9, p = 0.001), cyst size >1.5 cm (OR = 2.4, p = 0.012), and high CEA ≥3,594 (OR = 5.3, p = 0.04). In white patients >50 years old presenting with weight loss and cyst size >1.5 cm, the likelihood of malignancy was nearly sixfold greater than in those patients who had none of these factors (OR = 5.8, 95% CI = 2.1–16.1, p = 0.004). Conclusions: Risk factors other than cyst size are important for determination of malignancy in pancreatic cysts. Exceptionally high cyst fluid CEA levels and certain patient-related factors may help to better predict cyst malignancy and the need for surgical treatment.
Prognostic Value of AIMS65 Score in Cirrhotic Patients with Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Introduction. Unlike Rockall scoring system, AIMS65 is based only on clinical and laboratory features. In this study we investigated the correlation between the AIMS65 score and Endoscopic Rockall score, in cirrhotic and noncirrhotic patients. Methods. This is a retrospective study of patients admitted with overt UGIB and undergoing esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). AIMS65 and Rockall scores were calculated at the time of admission. We investigated the correlation between both scores along with stigmata of bleed seen on endoscopy. Results. A total of 1255 patients were studied. 152 patients were cirrhotic while 1103 patients were noncirrhotic. There was significant correlation between AIMS65 and Total Rockall scores in patients of both groups. There was significant correlation between AIMS65 score and Endoscopic Rockall score in noncirrhotics but not cirrhotics. AIMS65 scores in both cirrhotic and noncirrhotic groups were significantly higher in patients who died from UGIB than in patients who did not. Conclusion. We observed statistically significant correlation between AIMS65 score and length of hospitalization and mortality in noncirrhotic patients. We found that AIMS65 score paralleled the endoscopic grading of lesion causing UGIB in noncirrhotics. AIMS65 score correlated only with mortality but not the length of hospitalization or endoscopic stigmata of bleed in cirrhotics.
Rates and indications for surgical breast biopsies in a community-based health system

Abstract Background High rates of surgical breast biopsies in community hospitals have been reported but may misrepresent actual practice. Methods Patient-level data from 5,757 women who underwent breast biopsies in a large integrated health system were evaluated to determine biopsy types, rates, indications, and diagnoses. Results Between 2008 and 2010, 6,047 breast biopsies were performed on 5,757 women. Surgical biopsy was the initial diagnostic procedure in 16% (n = 942) of women overall and in 6% (72 of 1,236) of women with newly diagnosed invasive breast cancer. Invasive breast cancer was diagnosed in 72 women (8%) undergoing surgical biopsy compared with 1,164 (24%) undergoing core needle biopsy ( P Conclusions Surgical biopsy was the initial diagnostic procedure in 16% of women with breast abnormalities, comparable with rates at academic centers. Rates could be improved by more careful consideration of indications.
Eclipsing Binaries as Astrophysical Laboratories and the Strange Case of Epsilon Aurigae

Eclipsing binaries are well known for providing the bulk of accurate data on stellar masses and radii. However, important as these quantities are to stellar physics and evolution, there are several classes of eclipsing binaries whose orbital and physical properties are well suited for them to serve as astrophysical laboratories for the study of a wide range of problems. These binaries provide fundamental information about stellar interiors, atmospheres and evolution that can be obtained in no other way. Also, accurate determinations of helium abundances can be obtained from some well suited eclipsing systems. Moreover, in some cases, eclipsing binaries with eccentric orbits and well defined physical properties can even provide tests of current theories of gravity.
High field effects of GaN HEMTs.

This report represents the completion of a Laboratory-Directed Research and Development (LDRD) program to develop and fabricate geometric test structures for the measurement of transport properties in bulk GaN and AlGaN/GaN heterostructures. A large part of this study was spent examining fabrication issues related to the test structures used in these measurements, due to the fact that GaN processing is still in its infancy. One such issue had to do with surface passivation. Test samples without a surface passivation, often failed at electric fields below 50 kV/cm, due to surface breakdown. A silicon nitride passivation layer of approximately 200 nm was used to reduce the effects of surface states and premature surface breakdown. Another issue was finding quality contacts for the material, especially in the case of the AlGaN/GaN heterostructure samples. Poor contact performance in the heterostructures plagued the test structures with lower than expected velocities due to carrier injection from the contacts themselves. Using a titanium-rich ohmic contact reduced the contact resistance and stopped the carrier injection. The final test structures had an etch constriction with varying lengths and widths (8x2, 10x3, 12x3, 12x4, 15x5, and 16x4 {micro}m) and massive contacts. A pulsed voltage input and a four-point measurementmore » in a 50 {Omega} environment was used to determine the current through and the voltage dropped across the constriction. From these measurements, the drift velocity as a function of the applied electric field was calculated and thus, the velocity-field characteristics in n-type bulk GaN and AlGaN/GaN test structures were determined. These measurements show an apparent saturation velocity near to 2.5x10{sup 7} cm/s at 180 kV/cm and 3.1x10{sup 7} cm/s, at a field of 140 kV/cm, for the bulk GaN and AlGaN heterostructure samples, respectively. These experimental drift velocities mark the highest velocities measured in these materials to date and confirm the predictions of previous theoretical models using ensemble Monte Carlo simulations.« less
Rhabdomyolysis with Concurrent Atorvastatin and Diltiazem

OBJECTIVE:To report a case of rhabdomyolysis and acute hepatitis associated with the coadministration of atorvastatin and diltiazem.CASE SUMMARY:A 60-year-old African American man with a significant past medical history presented to the emergency department with acute renal failure secondary to rhabdomyolysis. In addition, liver enzymes were elevated to greater than 3 × normal. The only change in medication was the initiation of diltiazem 3 weeks earlier for atrial fibrillation to a complicated medication regimen that included atorvastatin.DISCUSSION:Rhabdomyolysis has been reported in patients receiving hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors when coadministered with agents that may inhibit their metabolism. Atorvastatin is the most potent of this class of agents currently available and is commonly used in the treatment of hyperlipidemia. Rhabdomyolysis resulting from the drug interaction between diltiazem and other HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors has been described in the literature...
Species discrimination of male song in gibbons.

Acoustic analyses and field playback experiments were conducted to investigate interspecific song differences and discrimination in male gibbons. Songs were recorded and analyzed from males of three populations: agile gibbons (Hylobates agilis) in West Kalimantan and South Sumatra and Muller's gibbons (Hylobates muelleri) in East Kalimantan. Male songs from each of the three populations were played back to West Kalimantan agile gibbons. Acoustic analyses indicated that the songs of the two species differed in spectral features and in the temporal patterning of syllables. Agile gibbon songs from the West Kalimantan and South Sumatran populations varied in song durations and in the maximum frequencies of one song element. Field playbacks showed that West Kalimantan agile gibbons respond in a similar manner to local songs and to conspecific songs from South Sumatra. In contrast, the animals responded differentially to conspecific and heterospecific Muller's gibbon songs. These results indicate that gibbons discriminate specific differences in songs, and support the division of agile and Muller's gibbons into distinct species.
Marked olfactory impairment in idiopathic intracranial hypertension

Objective Many long-duration astronauts develop signs of elevated intracranial pressure and have neuro-ophthalmological findings similar to idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) patients. Some also present with nasal congestion and subjective olfactory impairment. We prospectively evaluated olfactory function in IIH patients and the effect of 6° head-down tilt, which simulates the headward fluid shifting in microgravity, as spaceflight analogues. Design Olfaction was tested for all subjects in upright and 6° head-down tilt positions using two different measures: University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test and Olfactory Threshold Sniffin’ Sticks with phenylethyl alcohol. Results IIH patients (n=19) had significant impairment on both olfactory measures compared with matched controls (n=19). The olfactory threshold dilution levels were 9.07 (95% CI 1.85 to 5.81) and 3.83 (95% CI 7.04 to 11.10), p=0.001, and smell identification scores were 35.61 (95% CI 34.03 to 37.18) and 32.47 (95% CI 30.85 to 34.09), p=0.008, for control and IIH subjects, respectively. The threshold detection was mildly impaired in head-down tilt compared with upright position in the combined subjects (6.05 (95% CI 4.58 to 7.51) vs 6.85 (95% CI 5.43 to 8.27), p=0.004). Conclusions We demonstrated that IIH patients have marked impairment in olfactory threshold levels, out of proportion to smell identification impairment. There was also impairment in olfactory threshold in head-down tilt compared with upright positioning, but not for smell identification. The underlying mechanisms for olfactory threshold dysfunction in IIH patients need further exploration.
Belief, Legitimacy And The Kpojito: An Institutional History Of The 'Queen Mother' In Precolonial Dahomey

This article traces chronologically the rise and fall of the office of the kpojito, the female reign-mate to the kings of Dahomey. The women who became kpojito in the eighteenth century were central to the efforts of the kings to establish legitimacy and assert control over the kingdom's expanding territory. The office reached its zenith in mid-century when Kpojito Hwanjile and King Tegbesu gained office and effectively ruled in tandem, thereby solidifying an ideological model that persisted to the end of the kingdom. The model posited a balance of power between male and female, royal and commoner. Subsequently, powerful women of the king's household worked with ambitious princes to build coalitions to seize power at times of royal succession. When their efforts succeeded, the prince was installed as king and the woman as kpojito. By the nineteenth century, princes began to find alternative sources of support in their struggles for the kingship and alternative sources of guidance once enthroned. The royal family became more central in the state as princes and princesses replaced commoners in high offices. Even though alliances between princes and their fathers' wives continued, non-royal women within the palace were more constrained in their ability to wield power and the influence of the kpojito fell into steep decline.The institutional history of the kpojito is discerned through an analysis of religious change in Dahomey. Because the hierarchy of the gods was manipulated by the monarchy to reflect its changing conceptions of the nature of power, the history of religion represents an intellectual history of the ruling class. Central among the religious changes and cultural influences that had a probable impact on the office of the kpojito, and more broadly on the ability of women to exercise power in the state, were contacts with Europe and with Yoruba-speaking peoples. Those influences were associated with cultural and religious visions that promoted the individual, the male, and the royal.
Controlled Introduction of Anelasticity in Plasma-Sprayed Ceramics

Recent studies on the mechanical compliance measurements of plasma-sprayed ceramic coatings have revealed anelastic response, i.e. the stress–strain relations are nonlinear and hysteretic, collectively. The anelasticity stems from the “brick” layered assemblage of spray-deposited droplets along with the presence of porosity and other geometric discontinuities. This anelastic response is reproducible and can provide a quantitative description on the mechanical properties of the sprayed ceramic coating. In this paper, we have examined strategies to manipulate and control these anelastic characteristics through plasma spray processing parameters as well as through extrinsic modifications of the defect interfaces. Plasma-sprayed ceramic coatings are fabricated under various conditions and their unique anelastic parameters are computed. These results reveal that the novel properties are tunable via process and material manipulation, opening up opportunities for microstructural design and optimization of mechanical compliance in industrially relevant coating systems.
The placental cholinergic system: localization to the cytotrophoblast and modulation of nitric oxide.

Background The human placenta, a non-neuronal tissue, contains an active cholinergic system comprised of acetylcholine (ACh), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and high affinity muscarinic receptors. The cell(s) of origin of placental ACh and its role in trophoblast function has not been defined. These studies were performed to define the cellular location of ACh synthesis (ChAT) in the human placenta and to begin studying its functional role.
TCR-independent CD30 signaling selectively induces IL-13 production via a TNF receptor-associated factor/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent mechanism.

Initiation of T lymphocyte responses to most Ags requires concurrent stimulation through the TCR and costimulatory receptors such as CD28. Following initial activation, secondary receptors are up-regulated that can costimulate T cells in concert with TCR engagement. One such receptor is the TNFR family member CD30. In this study, we report that unlike CD28, ligation of CD30 on normal effector T cells induces IL-13 production in the absence of concurrent TCR engagement. TCR-independent CD30-mediated IL-13 release correlated with activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and NF-κB, and was completely inhibited by the expression of a TNFR-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) dominant-negative transgene (TRAF2.DN-Tg), but not by that of an I-κBα dominant-negative transgene. In parallel, expression of the TRAF2.DN-Tg selectively prevented the induction of c-Jun N-terminal kinase and p38 MAPK, but not that of NF-κB. Furthermore, IL-13 production was reduced in a dose-dependent manner by the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580. Together, these results suggest that TCR-independent CD30-mediated production of IL-13 is triggered by association of CD30 with TRAF family members and subsequent activation of p38 MAPK. Inasmuch as IL-13 can promote airway inflammation and cancer progression, production of IL-13 in a TCR-independent manner has important pathological implications in vivo.
Advances in immune-modulating therapies to treat atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases

In addition to hypercholesterolemia, innate and adaptive immune mechanisms play a critical role in atherogenesis, thus making immune-modulation therapy a potentially attractive way of managing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. These immune-modulation strategies include both active and passive immunization and confer beneficial reduction in atherosclerosis. Preclinical studies have demonstrated promising results and we review current knowledge on the complex role of the immune system and the potential for immunization as an immune-modulation therapy for atherosclerosis.
Belief Logic Programming

Various forms of quantitative logic programming have been widely used for dealing with uncertainty and inconsistency in knowledge representation. A less explored issue in quantitative logic programming is combining correlated pieces of information. Most works disregard correlation or assume that all sources are independent. Others make an effort to take some forms of correlation into account, but in an ad hoc manner.
Dairy Diet Impacts on Fecal Chemical Properties and Nitrogen Cycling in Soils

Availability of manure nitrogen (N) to crops is mitigated by many factors including manure type and composition. Whereas relationships between dairy diets, milk production, manure N excretion, and urine N losses as ammonia have been documented, very little information exists on how diets impact fecal carbon (C), N content, and partitioning, and how these factors impact fecal N mineralization and plant N uptake after application to soil. Feces from 24 to 63 dairy cows (Bos taurus) fed 14 typical diets were incubated aerobically in a sandy loam and two silt loam soils, and soil inorganic N (IN) was determined periodically during a 365-d period. Feces from 12 of the 14 diets were applied to the same soils and oat (Avena sativa L.), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench), and sorghum ratoon dry matter (DM) and N uptake were determined over a 155-d period. Feces from cows fed alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) silage (AS)-based diets generally lead to higher soil IN levels than soils amended with feces from corn (Zea mays L.) silage (CS)-based diets, especially in soils amended with feces from CS-low crude protein (LCP) diets; feces from AS-based diets increased plant DM and N uptake; after application to a silt loam, feces from high crude protein (HCP) diets resulted in greater soil IN levels than feces from LCP diets; and feces from LCP diets did not impact soil IN but decreased plant DM and N uptake. Carbon to N (C/N) ratios of applied feces were found to be significant predictors of plant DM and N uptake. There appears to be a range of dietary options that satisfy nutritional requirements of high-producing dairy cows and produce feces having differential effects on soil N mineralization and plant N uptake after application to soil.
Effects of Serving High-Sugar Cereals on Children's Breakfast-Eating Behavior

OBJECTIVES: To test (1) whether children will consume low-sugar ready-to-eat (RTE) cereals and (2) the effects of serving high- versus low-sugar cereals on the consumption of cereal, refined sugar, fresh fruit, and milk. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: Using an experimental design, we randomly assigned children ( n = 91) who were attending summer day camp to receive a breakfast that included either the choice of 1 of 3 high-sugar cereals (high-sugar condition) or low-sugar cereals (low-sugar condition), as well as low-fat milk, orange juice, bananas, strawberries, and sugar packets. Participants served themselves and completed a background questionnaire after eating. Researchers measured the amount and calories consumed of each food. RESULTS: In both conditions, children reported “liking” or “loving” the cereal they chose. Children in the low-sugar cereal condition consumed, on average, slightly more than 1 serving of cereal (35 g), whereas children in the high-sugar condition consumed significantly more (61 g) and almost twice the amount of refined sugar in total (24.4 vs 12.5 g). Milk and total calories consumed did not differ significantly between conditions, but children in the low-sugar condition were more likely to put fruit on their cereal (54% vs 8%) and consumed a greater portion of total calories from fresh fruit (20% vs 13%). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with serving low-sugar cereals, high-sugar cereals increase children9s total sugar consumption and reduce the overall nutritional quality of their breakfast. Children will consume low-sugar cereals when offered, and they provide a superior breakfast option.
Preliminary observations on the urinary behaviour of female Jack Russell Terriers in relation to stage of the oestrous cycle, location, and age

Abstract In female canids, including domestic dogs (Canis familiaris), scent-marking with urine is thought to convey information on reproductive state, yet little is known about how urinary behaviour changes across specific stages of the oestrous cycle. We measured urinary behaviour (proportion of directed urinations) of 10 intact Jack Russell Terriers across anoestrus, proestrus, and oestrus during walks in familiar and novel environments. Females ranged in age from 1.3 to 8.7 years. We assessed stage of oestrus using vaginal cytology, behaviour, and physical signs. Proportions of directed urinations were higher during proestrus and oestrus than anoestrus, and were higher in older females than younger females. Our findings indicate that in female Jack Russell Terriers, scent-marking with urine advertises reproductive state and continues to develop in adulthood. Additional data are needed to determine if these findings generalize to female dogs of other breeds and mixed breeds.
Transcutaneous carbon dioxide pressure monitoring in a specialized weaning unit.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate transcutaneously measured PCO2(PtcCO2) values during ventilator weaning and during bronchoscopies on ventilated patients, and to compare PtcCO2 values to PaCO2 values from arterial blood analysis and end-tidal PCO2 (PETCO2) values from capnography. METHODS: In our specialized weaning unit we measured PtcCO2 in tracheostomized patients with prolonged weaning failure during daytime spontaneous breathing trials (SBTs) (23 measurement sessions in 15 patients), during their first nights off the ventilator (12 measurement sessions in 12 patients), during bronchoscopy while ventilated (80 measurement sessions in 21 patients), simultaneous with arterial blood draw for blood gas analysis (48 measurements in 38 patients), and simultaneous with PETCO2 measurements (39 measurements in 31 patients). RESULTS: There were often large changes (> 10 mm Hg) in PtcCO2 during daytime SBTs (23%) and the initial overnight off-the-ventilator periods (42%), which influenced the decisions of whether to continue the SBT. PtcCO2 often rose during bronchoscopy (mean ± SD increase of 10.7 ± 5.8 mm Hg), which influenced the physician to change the ventilator settings 44% of the time. PaCO2 closely matched PtcCO2 (mean ± SD difference of 0.5 ± 4.1 mm Hg). There was a greater difference between PaCO2 and PETCO2 (3.7 ± 7.7 mm Hg during prolonged exhalation, and 6.8 ± 7.2 mm Hg during tidal breathing). CONCLUSIONS: Monitoring PtcCO2 is very helpful in assessing and managing patients undergoing SBTs, during the first night off the ventilator, and during bronchoscopy on ventilated patients. PtcCO2 more closely matches PaCO2 than does PETCO2.
TICK INFESTATIONS OF BIRDS IN COASTAL GEORGIA AND ALABAMA

Mist-netted birds were examined for ticks on Jekyll Island, Glynn Co., Georgia (32 bird species) in 1996–1998, and at Fort Morgan, Baldwin Co., Alabama (36 species) in 1998 during fall migration. Sixty-two (14.7%) of 423 birds from Jekyll Island and 22 (13.3%) of 165 birds from Fort Morgan were infested with ticks. The mean number of ticks per infested bird was 2.0 on Jekyll Island and 6.3 at Fort Morgan. Ten species of birds were infested with ticks on Jekyll Island where 87% of all ticks were recovered from 3 species: the common yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas), gray catbird (Dumetella carolinensis), and northern waterthrush (Seiurus noveboracensis). Eight species of birds were infested with ticks at Fort Morgan where 83% of all ticks were recovered from 3 species: the brown thrasher (Toxostoma rufum), swamp sparrow (Melospiza georgiana), and common yellowthroat. Six species of ticks (Amblyomma americanum, Amblyomma maculatum, Haemaphysalis leporispalustris, Ixodes brunneus, Ixodes minor, and Ixodes sc...
Higher Education in India: Setting the Stage for Foreign Institutions

Historically, foreign participation has had an unimpressive record and has faced numerous functional and ideological barriers. However, subtle changes are emerging in the government’s views on the subject. The ability of the foreign universities to take advantage of these changes will depend to a great extent on their intentions, vis-a-vis the scale and duration of their involvement. Ultimately, institutions that envision a symbiotic relationship with the Indian educational system are most likely to succeed in entering and thriving in the domestic market.
Groupoids and Lie Bigebras in Gauge and String Theories

This talk deals with two seemingly disparate mathematical concepts: Lie groupoids and algebroids, and Lie bigebras (bialgebras), also known as Lie-Hopf-algebras (LHA), which have recently found to have applications in quantum field theory, gauge theory, and string theory. Although many of the mathematical concepts have been around for some time, the interest in groupoids lies in potential application to string theories, ‘whereas Lie bigebras appear in recent work by Drinfel’d and others on “quantum groups” and their relation to the classical Yang-Baxter equation.
What's Not to Like About Targeted Killings? A Philosopher's View

In response to Laurie Calhoun's "We Kill Because We Can," this paper examines what is novel and morally alarming about recent targeted killing campaigns. After arguing against what Calhoun and others highlight about targeting killing, e.g. fighting from distance at little risk and naming individuals and targeting them without trial, I suggest that it is the lack of transparency regarding the rules used by military and intelligence institutions for establishing targets that is most worrisome. Based upon an analysis of leaked information, I propose that these recent campaigns can be better understood as acts of attempted risk management akin to law enforcement, as opposed to defensive strikes.
Structural Characterization of N‐Alkylated Twisted Amides: Consequences for Amide Bond Resonance and N−C Cleavage

Herein, we describe the first structural characterization of N-alkylated twisted amides prepared directly by N-alkylation of the corresponding non-planar lactams. This study provides the first experimental evidence that N-alkylation results in a dramatic increase of non-planarity around the amide N-C(O) bond. Moreover, we report a rare example of a molecular wire supported by the same amide C=O-Ag bonds. Reactivity studies demonstrate rapid nucleophilic addition to the N-C(O) moiety of N-alkylated amides, indicating the lack of n(N) to π*(C=O) conjugation. Most crucially, we demonstrate that N-alkylation activates the otherwise unreactive amide bond towards σ N-C cleavage by switchable coordination.
URBAN VEHICLE CONGESTION PRICING: A REVIEW

Drivers in urban neighborhoods who cruise streets, seeking inexpensive on-street parking create a significant fraction of measured traffic congestion. The solution to this problem is to reduce the total traffic volume including cruising traffic by implementing a congestion pricing scheme: the imposition of a usage fee on a limited-capacity resource during times of high demand. We review the history of two alternatives for implementing congestion pricing scheme: road pricing (RP), which involves cordoning off a section of the center city and imposing a fee on all vehicles that enter it; and parking pricing (PP), which increases the costs of on-street and perhaps off-street parking. PP is needed in many environments where a significant fraction of drivers are simply cruising, looking for inexpensive on-street parking. In this paper, we propose a simple method to estimate the number of cruising drivers and the optimal parking price. Our survey in Boston shows that the number of cruising vehicles reaches 10-20% of the total number of parking spaces during peak hours and the required congestion charge (CC) for onstreet parking is at least about $1/ hour.
Influences of Substrate Adhesion and Particle Size on the Shape Memory Effect of Polystyrene Particles.

Formulations and applications of micro- and nanoscale polymer particles have proliferated rapidly in recent years, yet knowledge of their mechanical behavior has not grown accordingly. In this study, we examine the ways that compressive strain, substrate surface energy, and particle size influence the shape memory cycle of polystyrene particles. Using nanoimprint lithography, differently sized particles are programmed into highly deformed, temporary shapes in contact with substrates of differing surface energies. Atomic force microscopy is used to obtain in situ measurements of particle shape recovery kinetics, and scanning electron microscopy is employed to assess differences in the profiles of particles at the conclusion of the shape memory cycle. Finally, finite element models are used to investigate the growing impact of surface energies at smaller length scales. Results reveal that the influence of substrate adhesion on particle recovery is size-dependent and can become dominating at submicron length...
The Qualitative and Quantitative Relationship of Monochromatic Radiation to Sexual and Asexual Reproduction of Pleospora Herbarum

The electromagnetic radiation requirements for the induction of the sexual (perithecia) and asexual (conidia) reproduction in Pleospora herbarum (status imperfectus Stemphylium botryosum) were dete...
Analysis of Ecological Rights Conflicts in the Perspective of Marxist Ecological Civilization

With the advancing of China's social ecological civilization and the awareness of protecting the ecological environment,ecological rights conflicts are becoming clearer and clearer.This paper analyzes the contents and causes of ecological rights conflicts.In addition,this paper puts forward four aspects to establish coordination mechanism in the perspective of Marxist ecological civilization to promote the harmony between man and nature.
Resistance of Blattella gemanica to commonly used pesticides in Tianjin

Objective To determine the current resistance of the Blattella germanica(L.) to commonly used pesticides in Tianjin,and provide evidence for better cockroaches control.Methods The residual film method recommended by WHO was applied to measure the median knockdown time(KT_(50)) for B.germanica.Batches of B.germanica were exposed to five insecticide residues(dichlorovos,acephate,propoxur,betacypermethrin and permethrin) in glass jars to determine their knockdown resistance levels.Resistance ratios were calculated as RR_(50)=KT_(50) of the test strain/KT_(50) of the susceptible strains.Results The KT_(50) for field-collected B.germanica in Nankai,Jinnan,Hexi,Tanggu,Dongli,Xiqing and Beichen were 6.15,6.49,8.37,8.22, 7.84,9.29 and 12.40 min to dichlorovos,74.28,65.36,29.52,30.23,30.67,58.64 and 33.08 min to acephate,and 24.97,40.63, 27.17,24.43,40.73,42.44 and 40.91 min to propoxur,respectively.The RR_(50) values for B.germanica of dichlorovos,acephate and propoxur were below 3.The KT_(50) to betacypermethrin for field populations in Nankai,Tanggu and Xiqing were 32.61,36.50 and 51.00 min respectively,with the RR_(50) ranging from 6.48 to 10.71 times.The values for Jinnan,Hexi,Dongli and Beichen were all greater than 120.00 min,with the RR50 greater than 20.The KT_(50) to permethrin for field populations in Nankai,Jinnan, Hexi,Dongli and Beichen were all above 120.00 min,with the RR_(50) greater than 20.However,the KT_(50) value for Xiqing strains was 26.96 min,with the RR_(50) lower than 5,and the value for Tanggu population was 14.10 min,with the RR_(50) lower than 3. Conclusion B.germanica control in Tianjin requires reduced administration of betacypermethrin and permethrin along with increased carbamates such as propoxur and organophosphorus pesticides such as dichlorovos and acephate.
Fooling Mother Nature: Epigenetics and Novel Treatments for Psychiatric Disorders

Modern formulations of psychiatric disorders hypothesize that mother nature goes awry, causing both genetic and epigenetic disease actions. Genetic disease actions are the consequences of naturally inherited risk genes that have an altered sequence of DNA. This altered DNA sequence theoretically leads to the production of altered gene products in neurons, causing inefficient information processing in various brain circuits, and biasing those circuits towards developing symptoms of a mental illness. Epigenetic disease actions are theorized either to activate risk genes to make an altered gene product or to activate normal genes to make normal gene products but at the wrong time. Epigenetic disease mechanisms theoretically turn normal genes into risk genes by causing normal genes to be expressed in neurons when these genes should be silenced or by causing normal genes to be silenced when they should be expressed.
AN ELECTROTHERMAL HEART ASSIST DEVICE

Abstract A heart assist device was designed utilizing an electrothermal energy converter. The unit incorporates electrothermal vapor actuators to convert electrical heat into mechanical displacement. The prototype drive unit consists of two electrothermal actuators coupled to a welded metal bellows. A Peltier effect thermoelectric heat exchanger, for rapid cooling of the gas, was incorporated into the design to provide adequate frequency response capability at normal physiological heart rates. An electronic controller was designed to synchronize the output power of the energy converter to the left ventricular function. The device was tested in vivo and found to produce typical aortic counterpulsation waveforms.
Amygdala reactivity predicts adolescent antisocial behavior but not callous-unemotional traits

Recent neuroimaging studies have suggested divergent relationships between antisocial behavior (AB) and callous-unemotional (CU) traits and amygdala reactivity to fearful and angry facial expressions in adolescents. However, little work has examined if these findings extend to dimensional measures of behavior in ethnically diverse, non-clinical samples, or if participant sex, ethnicity, pubertal stage, and age moderate associations. We examined links between amygdala reactivity and dimensions of AB and CU traits in 220 Hispanic and non-Hispanic Caucasian adolescents (age 11-15; 49.5% female; 38.2% Hispanic), half of whom had a family history for depression and thus were at relatively elevated risk for late starting, emotionally dysregulated AB. We found that AB was significantly related to increased right amygdala reactivity to angry facial expressions independent of sex, ethnicity, pubertal stage, age, and familial risk status for depression. CU traits were not related to fear- or anger-related amygdala reactivity. The present study further demonstrates that AB is related to increased amygdala reactivity to interpersonal threat cues in adolescents, and that this relationship generalizes across sex, ethnicity, pubertal stage, age, and familial risk status for depression.
Sectoral adjustment costs and real exchange rate dynamics in a two-sector dependent economy

Abstract This paper develops a two-sector model in which intersectoral capital movements involve adjustment costs, expressed as capital lost in the transformation process. These costs have important consequences for the dynamics of capital accumulation and particularly for real exchange rate dynamics. Persistent deviations of the real exchange rate from its equilibrium are derived and for plausible values of the adjustment cost parameters are consistent with the observed degree of real exchange rate persistence. For low adjustment costs the dynamics are qualitatively similar to those of the standard Heckscher–Ohlin technology. For high adjustment costs, the model converges to the specific-factors model. Thus our framework includes these two standard models as polar extremes.
Bolzano Against Kant’s Pure Intuition

The 19th-century polymath Bernard Bolzano is widely regarded as a figure who decisively showed that even in Kant’s time, there were philosophical and mathematical reasons to think that an intuition-based philosophy of mathematics was untenable. This paper identifies and clarifies two of Bolzano’s longstanding objections to Kant’s philosophy of mathematics. Once this is done, I defend Kant from these objections. To conclude, I discuss a deeper disagreement between Bolzano and Kant’s philosophical approaches. Namely, Bolzano rejected that a “critique of reason” (i.e., an examination of the principles and limits of human cognition) was necessary in order to secure and explain reliable forms of inference and claims to a priori knowledge.
In vivo effects of aspirin and cyclosporine on regulatory T cells and T-cell cytokine production in healthy dogs.

Cyclosporine and aspirin are routinely used in combination to treat immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) in dogs. Cyclosporine is a potent immunosuppressive agent that targets T cell production of the cytokines IL-2 and IFN-γ. Low-dose aspirin is often used to inhibit platelet function in dogs with IMHA, since these animals are prone to life-threatening thromboembolic disease. In rodents and humans, aspirin and cyclosporine have both been shown to variably affect T cell cytokine production, and also numbers of circulating regulatory T cells (Tregs). In dogs, it has not yet been determined if concurrent aspirin alters the effects of cyclosporine on T-cell cytokine expression, or if either drug influences Treg numbers. In a crossover study, seven healthy young adult dogs were given either oral high-dose cyclosporine (10 mg/kg Q12 h), oral low-dose aspirin (1 mg/kg Q24 h), oral high-dose aspirin (10 mg/kg Q12 h), or combined low-dose aspirin with cyclosporine, each for 8 days, with a washout of at least 2 weeks after each treatment. Activated T cell cytokine expression (IL-2 & IFN-γ) and percent CD4 + CD25 + FOXP3+ Tregs were evaluated using flow cytometry, both prior to and on the last day of treatment. The difference between pre- and post-treatment values for each group, as well as the difference between treatment groups, was evaluated. Cyclosporine significantly decreased IL-2 and IFN-γ expression when used alone or in combination with low-dose aspirin. High-dose aspirin, but not low-dose aspirin, also significantly decreased IL-2 expression, although the decrease was not as marked as that seen with cyclosporine alone or in combination with aspirin. Neither low-dose nor high-dose aspirin significantly affected IFN-γ expression. No drug or drug combination affected Treg numbers. Low-dose aspirin given with cyclosporine creates the same degree of T-cell cytokine suppression as does cyclosporine alone, suggesting that the two drugs can be used concurrently without significantly altering the immunosuppressive mechanism of action of cyclosporine.
Central Nervous System Involvement in a Patient with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (Richter’s Syndrome), with Concordant Cell Surface Immunoglobulin Isotypic and Immunophenotypic Markers

Central nervous system (CNS) involvement in Richter’s syndrome has not been previously described. This report describes a 45-year-old man with the simultaneous occurrence of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), extramedullary large cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), and malignant lymphoid meningeal involvement. In this case, peripheral blood lymphocytes, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lymphoblasts, and malignant cells in surgical biopsy tissue obtained from a soft tissue mass all stained concordantly for immunoglobulin isotypes and for B-cell immunophenotypic markers, supporting the hypothesis of a clonal origin for the three malignant cell populations. These observations suggest that the different tumors in Richter’s syndrome (CLL and NHL) may represent the clonal progression of a common neoplasm rather than independent neoplastic events. Richter’s syndrome and other transformations of lymphoid malignancies (prolymphocytic transformation of CLL, blast crisis of CLL, and blastic transformation of NHL) may all represent possible routes of progression in the natural history of a single neoplasm. The present case also suggests that, in patients with B-cell CLL with CNS symptoms, the possibility of blastic transformation presenting as CNS lymphoma deserves consideration.
Monthly Variations of Water Masses in the Yellow and East China Seas, November 6, 1998

The monthly water mass variations in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea are investigated using over 40 years of historical temperature and salinity observations via a cluster analysis that incorporates geographical distance and depth separation in addition to the temperature and salinity. Results delineate monthly variations in the major water masses and provide some insight into formation mechanisms and intermixing. The major water masses include the Kuroshio-East China Sea water (KE), the Yellow Sea surface water (YSS) and bottom cold water (YSB), mixed water (MW), and coastal water (CW). The distribution of the KE water mass reveals the intrusion pattern into the area west of Cheju. A separate mixed water type appears between the KE water mass and the Yellow Sea water masses during winter. The formation mechanism of the YSB appears to be the surface cooling and active mixing in winter. In the East China Sea, during summer, surface water is differentiated from the subsurface water while there is no differentiation during winter. In the Yellow Sea, a three layer system exists in the summer and fall (May–November) while a two layer system exists during the rest of the year. A fresh water mass generated by Yangtze River discharge (YD) is present over the northern East China Sea and the southern Yellow Sea during summer.
Recovering Disabled Veterans in Civil War Newspapers: Creating Heroic Disability

This article recovers the largely untold story of newspaper coverage of disabled veterans during the American Civil War, through the case of Massachusetts sergeant Thomas Plunkett, who lost both ar...
The Elementary Education Act of 1870: Landmark or Transition

The Education Act of 1870 was only one of several factors contributing to the onset of universal schooling and literacy in England. Much of the growth of state involvement in the provision of elementary schooling occurred otherwise than through explicit Parliamentary Acts. Nevertheless, there are grounds for identifying the passage by Parliament of the 1870 Education Act as a landmark event. After considering interest-group and nation-building interpretations of this Act, this chapter argues that it is most appropriately seen as exhibiting the agency of politicians as well as the importance of their interaction with local civil societies in implementing the complexities of establishing universal access to publicly funded and supervised elementary schools.
Calcium: magnesium intake ratio and colorectal carcinogenesis, results from the prostate, lung, colorectal, and ovarian cancer screening trial.

We aimed to evaluate the associations between calcium and various stages of colorectal carcinogenesis and whether these associations are modified by the calcium to magnesium (Ca:Mg) ratio. We tested our hypotheses in the prostate lung, colorectal and ovarian cancer screening trial. Calcium intake did not show a dose–response association with incident adenoma of any size/stage (P-trend = 0.17), but followed an inverse trend when restricted to synchronous/advanced adenoma cases (P-trend = 0.05). This inverse trend was mainly in participants with Ca:Mg ratios between 1.7 and 2.5 (P-trend = 0.05). No significant associations were observed for metachronous adenoma. Calcium intake was inversely associated with CRC (P-trend = 0.03); the association was primarily present for distal CRC (P-trend = 0.01). The inverse association between calcium and distal CRC was further modified by the Ca:Mg ratio (P-interaction < 0.01); significant dose–response associations were found only in participants with a Ca:Mg ratio between 1.7 and 2.5 (P-trend = 0.04). No associations for calcium were found in the Ca:Mg ratio above 2.5 or below 1.7. Higher calcium intake may be related to reduced risks of incident advanced and/or synchronous adenoma and incident distal CRC among subjects with Ca:Mg intake ratios between 1.7 and 2.5.