cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Role of Hybridization in Plant Speciation

The importance of hybridization in plant speciation and evolution has been debated for decades, with opposing views of hybridization as either a creative evolutionary force or evolutionary noise. Hybrid speciation may occur at either the homoploid (i.e., between two species of the same ploidy) or the polyploid level, each with its attendant genetic and evolutionary consequences. Whereas allopolyploidy (i.e., resulting from hybridization and genome doubling) has long been recognized as an important mode of plant speciation, the implications of genome duplication have typically not been taken into account in most fields of plant biology. Recent developments in genomics are revolutionizing our views of angiosperm genomes, demonstrating that perhaps all angiosperms have likely undergone at least one round of polyploidization and that hybridization has been an important force in generating angiosperm species diversity. Hybridization and polyploid formation continue to generate species diversity, with several n...
Transesophageal echocardiographic predictors for successful transcatheter closure of defects within the oval fossa using the CardioSEAL septal occlusion device.

OBJECTIVES To define the utility of transesophageal echocardiography in predicting the likelihood of a successful procedure and residual shunting in patients undergoing transcatheter closure of defects within the oval fossa using the CardioSEAL device. BACKGROUND Transesophageal echocardiography is used to monitor transcatheter closure of interatrial defects within the the oval fossa, but predictors of successful closure and residual shunting have yet to be determined. METHODS We reviewed transesophageal echocardiograms obtained from 26 consecutive patients undergoing attempted transcatheter closure of interatrial defects within the oval fossa between January, 1997 and May, 1998. Assessment of the atrial septum, the septal defect, and the rims of the oval fossa bordering the defect was performed in 3 planes: longitudinal, 4-chamber, and basal short-axis. RESULTS Closure proved successful in 24 patients (92%). The defect was significantly larger, and the anterosuperior rim of the defect smaller, in the 2 patients in whom occlusion was not successful. Residual shunting 24 hrs after closure was detected in 14 patients. Significant predictors of leakage included smaller posterior and superior rims, a larger shunt prior to closure, and herniation of a one left atrial arm of the device into the right atrium. In all cases, the sites of leakage were the superior rim of the defect at the superior cavo-atrial junction, and the anterosuperior rim behind the aortic root. Herniation of a left atrial arm into the right atrium was seen in 7 patients (29%). In all, it was the anterosuperior arm which herniated Doppler color flow was suboptimal in detecting residual leaks, and was enhanced substantially with the use of contrast echocardiography. CONCLUSIONS Transesophageal echocardiography allows excellent assessment of the oval fossa and deficiencies of its floor in all of their dimensions. It is an important tool for guiding the deployment of the occlusion device in patients undergoing attempted transcatheter closure of defects within the fossa. Contrast echocardiography should be used for optimal detection of residual shunting.
Personal Needs and the Acceptance of a New Group as a Reference Group

(1960). Personal Needs and the Acceptance of a New Group as a Reference Group. The Journal of Social Psychology: Vol. 51, No. 2, pp. 349-358.
Transition From Colitis to Cancer: High Wnt Activity Sustains The Tumor-Initiating Potential Of Colon Cancer Stem Cell Precursors

Ulcerative colitis (UC) increases the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), but the mechanisms involved in colitis-to-cancer transition (CCT) are not well understood. CCT may involve a inflammation-dysplasia-carcinoma progression sequence compared with the better characterized adenoma-carcinoma progression sequence associated with sporadic CRC. One common thread may be activating mutations in components of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which occur commonly as early events in sporadic CRC. To examine this hypothesis, we evaluated possible associations between Wnt/β-catenin signaling and CCT based on the cancer stem cell (CSC) model. Wnt/β-catenin immunostaining indicated that UC patients have a level of Wnt-pathway-active cells that is intermediate between normal colon and CRC. These UC cells exhibiting activation of the Wnt pathway constituted a major subpopulation (52% + 7.21) of the colonic epithelial cells positive for aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), a putative marker of precursor colon CSC (pCCSC). We further fractionated this subpopulation of pCCSC using a Wnt pathway reporter assay. Over successive passages, pCCSCs with the highest Wnt activity exhibited higher clonogenic and tumorigenic potential than pCCSCs with the lowest Wnt activity, thereby establishing the key role of Wnt activity in driving CSC-like properties in these cells. Notably, 5/20 single cell injections of high-Wnt pCCSC resulted in tumor formation, suggesting a correlation with CCT. Attenuation of Wnt/β-catenin in high-Wnt pCCSC by shRNA-mediated downregulation or pharmacological inhibition significantly reduced tumor growth rates. Overall, the results of our study indicates (i) that early activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling is critical for CCT and (ii) that high levels of Wnt/β-catenin signaling can further demarcate high-ALDH tumor-initiating cells in the nondysplastic epithelium of UC patients. As such, our findings offer plausible diagnostic markers and therapeutic target in the Wnt signaling pathway for early intervention in CCT.
Electrocardiographic Studies of Cardiac Orthotopic Allotransplantation: 1. The Normal Puppy

Nine lead electrocardiograms were recorded from 50 healthy 3–4 month old puppies under standardized conditions. Mean values and variability of basic parameters are presented. Pronounced spontaneous QRS voltage variation was noted. Oesophageal and intracavitary leads localized the sinus node. The effects of vagal stimulation and neostigmine administration are described.
Distributed simulation algorithm for sparse output DEVS

A distributed simulation algorithm for managing a set of processors executing a single-level network of sparse output discrete event system specification (DEVS) models is introduced. A sparse output DEVS is a DEVS in which the number of states that generate non-null outputs is much less than the total number of states. The new algorithm can be characterized by the following: it extends the basic abstract simulator for DEVS models; it reduces the time to determine the next activated processor, thus getting better performance; and it provides a well-defined object-oriented design for distributed simulation. Networks of continuous models that interact discretely are used for experiments. Verification and performance evaluation of the simulator algorithm are demonstrated using the DEVS-scheme simulation environment. >
Alternative ELISA Using a RNA Aptamer against Calf Intestinal Alkaline Phosphatase

Alkaline Phosphatase (AP) is extensively used in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays(ELISA), most requiring expensive and time-intensive reagents to generate (such as AP-conjugated antibodies). In a...
Gadolinium Chloride Blocks Alcohol-Dependent Liver Toxicity in Rats Treated Chronically with Intragastric Alcohol Despite the Induction of CYP2E1

Hepatic CYP2E1 is induced in several models of alcohol administration, but clinically relevant pathology is only observed in rats in a model involving the continuous intragastric administration of an ethanol-containing, corn oil-based, high-fat diet. The level of CYP2E1 correlates with the degree of liver pathology in the intragastric feeding model, which leads to the hypothesis that radical production by CYP2E1 is responsible for the pathology. Destruction of the Kupffer cells with gadolinium chloride (GdCl3) prevented the development of ethanol-dependent pathology and decreased the production of radicals that appeared in the bile of intragastrically alcohol-fed rats. If the induction of CYP2E1 and subsequent formation of oxidant species by the enzyme is causative in the ethanol-dependent hepatic pathology, then protection by GdCl3 could be due an inhibition of CYP2E1 induction. In the current study, ethanol-administration for 4 wk produced marked steatosis, necrosis, and inflammation not seen in control rats. Immunochemically, CYP2E1 was induced 5- to 6-fold in microsomes from the ethanol-treated animals. Rates of p-nitrophenol and chlorzoxazone hydroxylation were elevated approximately 3-fold, consistent with CYP2E1 induction. When GdCl3 was administered with ethanol, there was a decrease of approximately 80% in Kupffer cell receptor expression, and there was a significant decrease in hepatic pathology, which confirms previous studies. However, in the ethanol and GdCl3-treated animals, there was no significant decrease in the induction of CYP2E1. CYP2E1 was elevated approximately 5-fold, as estimated by immunoblot analysis, and rates of p-nitrophenol and chlorzoxazone hydroxylation were elevated 3- to 4-fold in ethanol + GdCl3-treated rats. Thus, these results clearly dissociate the induction of CYP2E1 by intragastric infusion of ethanol from the generation of early alcohol-induced liver disease. It is concluded that Kupffer cells rather than CYP2E1 play the major role in the initiation of hepatocyte damage caused by alcohol.
Symbolic Interaction Theory: A Perspective on Drug Abuse and Its Treatment *

Symbolic interaction theory is employed to explain the etiology of drug abuse and addiction. Selected interactionist concepts, which are especially pertinent to an understanding of drug abuse, are considered in relation to current drug abuse theory and the literature on the characteristics of drug abusers. The implications of this theoretical perspective for treatment are considered.
Solvothermal Synthesis, Structure and Optical Property of Nanosized CoSb3 Skutterudite

Binary skutterudite CoSb3 nanoparticles were synthesized by solvothermal method. The nanostructuring of CoSb3 material was achieved by the inclusion of various kinds of additives. X-ray diffraction examination indicated the formation of the cubic phase of CoSb3. Structural analysis by transmission electron microscopy analysis further confirmed the formation of crystalline CoSb3 nanoparticles with high purity. With the assistance of additives, CoSb3 nanoparticles with size as small as 10 nm were obtained. The effect of the nanostructure of CoSb3 on the UV–visible absorption and luminescence was studied. The nanosized CoSb3 skutterudite may find application in developing thermoelectric devices with better efficiency.
Data Replication in Banked DRAMs for Reducing Energy Consumption

Due to continuously increasing importance of memory systems, there have been a plethora of studies in the last decade to improve their performance and power consumption behavior. Banked memories have been the focus of several recent efforts that attempt to reduce power consumption and have been studied from both the hardware and software angles. One of the common assumptions made implicitly by all these prior efforts is that each data block has only a single copy in the banked memory system. This assumption, while preferable from the viewpoint of reducing the total memory footprint of program data, may cause unnecessary power consumption in the context of banked memories. Motivated by this observation, this paper proposes and evaluates a novel power management scheme for balanced memories based on data replication. The idea behind our approach is to use replication to prevent re-activating an otherwise idle memory bank. To achieve this, we implemented both a heuristic and an ILP based solution to the data placement and replication problem in a banked architecture.
The Efficacy of Residents as Teachers in an Ophthalmology Module

Objective Resident physicians have reported spending upward of 25% of their time teaching fellow residents and medical students. Until relatively recently, there have not been formal requirements in residency programs to learn teaching skills. The first goal of this study was to develop a novel residents-as-teachers training program to educate Ophthalmology residents on facilitating group learning and emphasizing critical-thinking skills. The second goal was to educate residents on how to teach clinical reasoning skills. Design We designed a longitudinal residents-as-teachers program that consisted of a 2-hour workshop, voluntary observation of their teaching in the small group, and student feedback on their teaching. The focus of the workshop was to educate the residents on how to facilitate critical thinking and clinical reasoning in a small group format. Voluntary video recording of residents’ teaching was offered, and feedback on their teaching was provided. Setting Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science. Participants In total, ten second-year medical student groups consisting of approximately 7 to 11 students in each group were organized in this course and each group had one teacher: 4 senior Ophthalmology residents and 6 community faculty. Results This study found that the resident teachers who completed the residents-as-teachers program were equally as effective as community faculty teachers in building medical students’ comprehension of ophthalmic principles during small group seminars according to the students’ evaluation of teaching performance. We also found that all of the medical students’ responses were overwhelmingly positive toward having residents as teachers. The medical students particularly noted residents’ preparedness and effectiveness in facilitating a discussion during the small group seminars. Conclusions Our novel program was effective at teaching residents how to teach critical-thinking skills and the resident teachers were well received by medical students in the classroom. Given the requirement that residents learn teaching skills during residency and our preliminary success, we plan to continue inviting residents to teach small group seminars in Ophthalmology, and we will continue to provide them with the residents-as-teachers program.
The Real Effects of Government Intervention: Firm-Level Evidence from TARP

This paper investigates the real and financial effects of the largest government intervention in US history, the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), on individual firms. Firms borrowing from banks that participate in TARP increase long-term debt and have more cash holdings and working capital after the Program compared to firms borrowing from banks that do not participate in TARP. But, there is no significant impact of TARP on corporate investment, employment, or R&D. We conclude that TARP exerts significant influence on firms’ liquidity and financial decisions, yet its impact on firms’ real activities is limited.
The “Good News” of God’s Coming Reign: Occupation at a Crossroads

This essay suggests that Mark’s “good news” tells the story of Jesus as the launching ground for the insurgency of God’s coming kingdom. By treating the Gospel as a witness to the nature of God’s r...
Waging Waterfare: Israel, Palestinians, and the Need for a New Hydro-Logic to Govern Water Rights Under Occupation

As water becomes scarcer, its role as both a tool and target of international politics becomes more pronounced. The power dynamics of military occupation further complicate transnational water management. As evidenced by Israel’s administration of Palestinian water resources, states occupying neighboring riparians maintain a selfish interest in shared watercourses and may use administration of those resources to advance their own hydrological and political priorities. I term this self-interested administration of occupied populations’ water resources “waterfare.” I argue that a more particularized rule, as opposed to the currently existing guiding principles, is not only appropriate, but critical to promote efficient and equitable governance of water resources under coriparian occupation. First, I sketch the hydrological dimension of Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza in order to demonstrate the reality and gravity of waterfare and to justify the rule proposed. I next outline and overlay International Humanitarian Law and Transboundary Resource Law to expose the doctrinal gaps necessitating each component of the proposed rule, which I then formulate and defend. I conclude that by reducing doctrinal ambiguity that obfuscates occupants' obligations, the rule proposed would belie many of the issues arising out of occupants’ control of coriparian communities’ water resources in general, and with regard to Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories in particular.
Surveillance on Edible Iodized Salt in Ziliujing District of Zigong City,2009-2013

Objective To investigate the popularization of edible salt in residents of Ziliujing district,Zigong and to evaluate the status of implementation for providing timely and pertinent prevention strategies. Methods According to "National monitoring scheme of iodize salt"and "Sichuan provincial monitoring scheme of iodize",36 administrative villages subordinated to 9 townships were selected in each year during the period.Results A total of 1464 edible salt samples were tested and 33 samples were non-iodine salt,53 were disqualified salt and 1378 were qualified salt. The coverage rate,disqualified rate and qualified rate was respectively 97. 8%,96. 3% and 94. 1%. Conclusion The iodize salt in Ziliujing residents is good situation and the target to eliminating iodine deficiency disorders has been continuously consolidated.
Phonon spectral energy density analysis of solids: The k point reduction in the first Brillouin zone of FCC crystals and a case study on solid argon

Abstract Many crystals of scientific and technical importance have the face-centered cubic (FCC) lattice. Computational studies of electronic, thermal, and optical properties of FCC crystals usually involve the first Brillouin zone. In this work, we examine the geometry and discretization of the first Brillouin zone of FCC crystals. We report the coordinates of the high symmetry k points in the first Brillouin zone and a systematic way of determining the coordinates of the symmetry k points. We find that using the symmetry k points could reduce the total number of k points by as much as 97.92% and thus greatly reduce the computational cost. We propose a formula for calculating lattice thermal conductivity by using phonon properties at the symmetry k points. The formula is validated by calculating the thermal conductivity of solid argon in the temperature range from 10 to 80 K with the phonon spectral energy density (SED) method and comparing the results with those from equilibrium molecular dynamics (EMD) simulations and experiments.
RT-PCR reveals muscarinic acetylcholine receptor mRNA in the pre-Bötzinger complex.

Muscarinic receptors mediate the postsynaptic excitatory effects of acetylcholine (ACh) on inspiratory neurons in the pre-Botzinger complex (pre-BotC), the hypothesized site for respiratory rhythm generation. Because pharmacological tools for identifying the subtypes of the muscarinic receptors that underlie these effects are limited, we probed for mRNA for these receptors in the pre-BotC. We used RT-PCR to determine the expression of muscarinic receptor subtypes in tissue punches of the pre-BotC taken from rat medullary slices. Cholinergic receptor subtype M(2) and M(3) mRNAs were observed in the first round of PCR amplification. All five subtypes, M(1)-M(5), were observed in the second round of amplification. Our results suggest that the majority of muscarinic receptor subtypes in the pre-BotC are M(2) and M(3), with minor expression of M(1), M(4), and M(5).
Early Graft Failure

The increasing organ donor shortage in recent years has forced the use of liver allografts with more expanded criteria for selection which are allocated to sicker and more decompensated recipients, resulting in an increase of the number of transplants. Furthermore advance in surgical techniques have allowed the use of partial liver grafts both split and living donor in order to increase to the donor pool. However, this has resulted in novel challenges and particularly graft dysfunction, graft failure, and small for size syndrome (SFSS) have become more important than ever. Clinically, post-liver transplant graft failure is a continuum ranging from an ambiguous and easily reversible graft dysfunction to a complete absence of function and primary non-function. The incidence of graft dysfunction varies from 13 to 27 % and the incidence of primary non-function affects 4–7 % of the deceased donor liver grafts [1–3]. With living donor liver transplantation, cold and warm ischemia times are minimal and donor quality typically excellent and primary non-function is less common with a 3 % incidence reported in the A2ALL study [4]. However, recipients of living donor liver transplants have a higher incidence of SFSS as cause of early graft failure. Early graft failure in both deceased donor and living donor liver transplant recipients has a major impact on the prognosis and clinical outcome after liver transplantation (LT). This chapter will outline the risk factors for early allograft dysfunction and provide a guide to early diagnosis and management strategies of graft failure and SFSS.
Money Matters: Economic and Occupational Disruptions

The explosion of higher education institutions examined in the last chapter was accompanied by drastic changes in their institutional mix, financing models, connections to the labor market and student expectations and politics. This chapter begins by exploring the growing privatization of higher education and the growth of private higher education institutions both non-profit and for-profit. Second, it examines the varied patterns in the spread of cost-sharing as an important feature of higher education financing. Third, it looks at the manner in which changes in economic conditions and occupational structures affected the complex and contradictory interconnections between higher education and employment. Finally, the issue of contestations over higher education organized around the vexing questions of access, affordability, and accountability is analyzed in the context of the changing dynamics of student activism around the world.
Alzheimer’s immunotherapy: β-amyloid aggregates come unstuck

Toxic β-amyloid (Aβ) aggregates are hypothesized to cause Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by driving a neurodegenerative cascade of events that leads to a loss of synapses and neurons, culminating in the characteristic progressive cognitive decline of the disease. Antibody-based immunotherapy to break
Introduction to this special section: Near-surface modeling and imaging

Where and what is the near surface? According to Butler (2005), the majority of near-surface surveys are shallower than 30 m, occasionally down to 100 m, and very rarely considered for depths beyond 100 m. In Saudi Arabia, the majority of upholes are of 100 m depth, and models of the near surface are deeper than 100 m in order to model to the seismic datum. In metalliferous mining areas, low-grade metamorphosed sediments or igneous rocks can constitute the near surface for mining engineering but are not considered near surface in the search for hydrocarbons. For those studying the earth's crust and who have a different perspective, Sharma (1978) finds “… velocity distributions show a well-defined low-velocity layer at 100–150 km depth …”; in those studies, the whole of the sedimentary section would be included in the near surface.
Optoelectronic properties of BiVO4 photoanodes: From fundamental electronic structure to defect passivation(Conference Presentation)

Over the past decade, bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) has been intensely investigated as a promising photoanode material in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting devices. However, little is known about native or impurity defects in this system, their effects on PEC performance, and possible passivation schemes. In this work, a detailed understanding of both the valence band and conduction band orbital character has been achieved using a combination of experimental and theoretical means. In particular, complimentary optical and X-ray spectroscopies, supported by density functional theory calculations, have been applied to high quality monoclinic BiVO4 thin films deposited by chemical vapor deposition, spin coating, and sputtering. The results demonstrate that the 2.5 eV bandgap is indirect with a higher lying 2.7 eV direct gap. Sub-bandgap radiative recombination is observed by temperature dependent photoluminescence measurements, which reveal the presence of a 620 meV deep trap. Annealing thin films of BiVO4 in a H2 atmosphere significantly reduces the sub-bandgap photoluminescence, which is correlated with an improvement by ~100-200 meV of the onset potential for photoanodic current, an increase of the fill factor, and elimination of photocurrent losses under frontside compared to backside illumination. These results on thin films, together with XPS of the thin films and solid state 1H NMR analysis of powders, suggest important parallel roles for hydrogen in BiVO4. We find that its substitutional incorporation at oxygen vacancy sites leads to passivation of associated deep level defects. In addition, interstitial hydrogen acts as a shallow level donor and beneficially increases conductivity in functional photoanodes. These results highlight that detailed understanding and controlling of carrier trapping in metal oxides, which often exhibit complex native defect properties due to compositional non-uniformities, provide significant opportunity for increasing PEC water splitting performance.
Quantitative analysis of the extent of heavy-metal contamination in soils near Picher, Oklahoma, within the Tar Creek Superfund Site

The Tri-State Mining District of Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma was the site of large-scale mining operations primarily for lead and zinc until the mid-1950s. Although mining across the area has ceased, high concentrations of heavy metals remain in the region's soil and water systems. The town of Picher, Ottawa County, OK, lies within this district and was included in the Tar Creek Superfund Site by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1980 due to extensive contamination. To elucidate the extent of heavy-metal contamination, a soil-chemistry survey of the town of Picher was conducted. Samples (n = 111) were collected from mine tailings, locally known as chat, in Picher and along cardinal-direction transects within an 8.05-km radius of the town in August 2015. Samples were analyzed for soil pH, moisture, and metal content. Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) analyses of 20 metals showed high concentrations of lead (>1000 ppm), cadmium (>40 ppm) and zinc (>4000 ppm) throughout the sampled region. Soil moisture content ranged from 0.30 to 35.9%, and pH values ranged from 5.14 to 7.42. MANOVA of metal profiles determined that soils collected from the north transect and chat were significantly different (p < 0.01) than other sampled directions. Lead, cadmium and zinc were correlated with one another. These data show an unequal distribution of contamination surrounding the Picher mining site. Mapping heavy-metal contamination in these soils represents the first step in understanding the distribution of these contaminants at the Picher mining site.
The goal-hypothesis-experiment framework: a generative cognitive domain architecture for simulation experiment management

Simulation experiments are not conducted in a vacuum. They are performed to address specific research questions that require evaluation of testable hypotheses. However, the connections among goals, hypotheses, and experiments are often characterized in an ad hoc manner. In this paper, we examine symbiotic dependencies among goals, hypotheses, and experiments within the context of computational discovery. Model-Driven Science is advanced as a strategy to facilitate the search process within the operational level of hypotheses and the tactical level of experiments. We discuss the theory of explanatory coherence for evaluating and revising hypotheses while using it as a run-time cognitive model that evolves via experimentation toward an explanatory theory of the system under study.
Multi-joule, sub-200ps laser pulse generation via SBS sub-phonon lifetime pulse compression

Multi-Joule level SBS sub-phonon lifetime pulse compression is demonstrated with a energy-scalable generator-amplifier setup to obtain 1.3J, 170ps (close to half of the phonon lifetime) laser pulses at 532nm.
De novo shoot organogenesis of Pinus eldarica Medw. in vitro : I. Reproducible regeneration from long-term callus cultures.

Seedling-derived explants of the Afghan pine, Pinus eldarica, were cultured in a triplicate experiment to produce callus that was serially subcultured for up to three years. Callus was removed at various times and induced to regenerate shoots by de novo organogenesis. The shoot regeneration process involved the identification of four discrete developmental steps, each requiring a separate cultural manipulation. In one case a regenerated shoot was induced to root following an auxin pulse treatment. Induction and limited development of buds in callus derived from mature-tree explants was also achieved. This is the first reproducible system for shoot regeneration from long-term callus cultures of a conifer.
Antimicrobial and Anti-Biofilm Medical Devices: Public Health and Regulatory Science Challenges

This chapter introduces the public health challenge of medical device healthcare associated infections (MD-HAIs) and the regulatory science challenges involved with antimicrobial and anti-biofilm medical device technologies, including coatings and other modifications. In the United States, regulatory science is the science of developing new tools, standards, and approaches to assess the safety, efficacy, quality, and performance of all FDA-regulated products. Good regulatory science can facilitate consumer access to innovative medical products that are safe and effective. Section I looks at our increasing understanding of how colonization and biofilm may play a role in the pathogenesis of medical device associated infections as well as in the emergence of drug resistant microbes. Device colonization and biofilm have unique clinical features such as persistence that make them challenging to address. This challenge requires a coordinated response from medical device manufacturers, clinicians and public health/regulatory authorities. In Section II, we take a broad view beyond antimicrobial coatings to consider the range of possible medical therapies (e.g., device coatings, antimicrobials, vaccines) to prevent MD-HAIs, their use, limitations and safety. In Section III, we discuss regulatory definitions of the different types of technology and discuss mechanisms of action and the importance of understanding combination products. Then in Section IV, we focus specifically on the regulatory science of antimicrobial technologies for medical devices. We show how the paradigm shift from a planktonic model of microbial life to a biofilm model introduces significant challenges to the scientific assessment process.
The temporalization of difference: Reflections on Deleuze's interpretation of Bergson

This paper provides an in-depth analysis of Deleuze's interpretation of Bergson, based on his largely ignored 1956 essay, “Mergson's Conception of Difference.” In this essay, Deleuze first attacks the Hegelian tradition for misunderstanding the notion of difference by reducing it to negation and then uses Bergson's concept of duration – a flow of purely qualitative mental states – to formulate a notion of difference utterly “internal” to itself, that is, irreducible to negation. The paper argues that this temporalization of difference represents a permanent feature of Deleuze's philosophy – one particularly visible in his highly influential book on Nietzsche – and concludes that Deleuze's Nietzsche therefore appears molded by a Bergsonian imprint.
Dealing with Security, Privacy, Access Control, and Compliance

IoT has dramatically enlarged the playing field with devices and data. While this brings many benefits, it also creates significant exposure to security and privacy vulnerabilities. IoT amplifies the access points for data and control, which in turn amplifies the intrusion points [1–3]. While we continue to build defenses in devices and networks, we also have to deal with a huge population of legacy devices, applications, and networks where inbuilt protection was limited [4, 5]. The threats are becoming more persistent and the impact more profound, sometimes debilitating to businesses. The threats are equally high for consumer IoT businesses as well as industrial IoT businesses. History is riddled with many examples of security breaches with significant impact. The discovery of Stuxnet [6] in 2010, a small 500 kb worm that infected the software for 14 Iranian nuclear power plants brought a lot of focus to this subject. However, there are examples from before. The Slammer worm disabled the Davis-Besse nuclear power plant in 2003. We continue to hear stories about credit card and another personal information breach all the time. A 2014 SANS survey reported 7% more respondents indicate a breach of their environments [1].
Estimating the Effect of Sports Facilities on Local Area Commercial Rents: Evidence From Brooklyn’s Barclays Center

The effect of Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on commercial land rents is estimated on a pooled cross-section of parcels within 1 mile of the arena from 2006 through 2015. The effect of the arena is iso...
Residual smallness in commutative algebra

ABSTRACTIn Oman & Salminen [19], the authors introduce and study residually small rings, defined as follows: an infinite commutative ring R with identity is residually small if for every r∈R∖{0}, there exists an ideal Ir of R such that r∉Ir and |R∕Ir|<|R|. The purpose of this note is to extend our study. In particular, we continue our investigation of residually small rings and then generalize this notion to modules.
Improving Nonmedical Vaccine Exemption Policies: Three Case Studies

Some communities that exempt parents from vaccine mandates have recently reformed their exemption policies by eliminating nonmedical exemptions, allowing nonmedical exemptions only for parents who object to vaccination for religious reasons, or making exemptions more difficult to obtain. We argue against eliminating nonmedical exemptions because there are weighty moral reasons to offer these exemptions and because eliminating them will likely have unfortunate social and political consequences. We also argue against allowing nonmedical exemptions only for parents who object to vaccination for religious reasons, on the grounds that doing so is likely to be unfair or ineffective. We conclude that nonmedical exemptions should (continue to) be available to people who object for both religious and secular reasons, and that the best way to decrease exemption rates is to make the application process more burdensome. We illustrate our arguments with examples of recent policy changes in three US states.
Lasing from Bound States in the Continuum

We have designed a high quality factor cavity that is based on a bound state in the continuum and harnessed its properties to demonstrate a novel type of surface emitting laser. We have experimentally demonstrated lasing action in this compact nanophotonic laser at room temperature with a very low threshold power.
Experiments with the Mössbauer Effect in 67Zn

A summary of the relevant properties of 67zn is given in Fig. 1. The problems are associated mainly with the narrowness of the line. The noise vibration velocities in most spectrometers are perhaps two orders of magnitude greater than the natural line width in zinc. Nevertheless it has been possible to obtain good spectra by successive improvements of the apparatus and the method.
A Covariant Model of Mesons that Decouples Confinement and Chiral Symmetry Breaking

New solutions to a recently proposed model of mesons as quark-antiquark bound states are presented. The model is covariant, confining, and chirally symmetric. That the two main features of low-energy QCD, confinement and chiral symmety breaking, enter as completely distict components of the model is emphasized. In particular, the confining potential can be taken purely scalar.
New Realities: Choices in virtual worlds — Using boundary/borders theories

This paper examines border/boundary theories in relation to other analytical approaches that may be used to study the social and psychological impact of mobile technologies, social networking, games and virtual worlds. The conceptual background of border/boundary theory is summarised followed by a discussion of definitions of dissociation disorders. A new survey instrument based on the Dissociative Experience Scale (DES) is proposed that may provide further analytical power to the basic framework of border/boundary theories.
Discovering planning invariants as anomalies in state descriptions

Planning invariants are formulae that are true in every reachable state of a planning world. We describe a novel approach to the problem of discovering such invariants—by analyzing only a reachable state of the planning domain, and not its operators. Our system works by exploiting perceived patterns and anomalies in the state description: It hypothesizes that patterns that are very unlikely to have arisen by chance represent features of the planning world. We demonstrate that the number and types of laws we discover are comparable to those discovered by a system that uses complete operator descriptions in addition to a state description.
Male-Led Science Fiction Blockbusters: Performing “Faster, More Intense”

Smith-Rowsey counters decades of conventional wisdom by arguing that performances in seminal blockbusters are not “bad” but instead entirely appropriate to certain popular narratives. In the genre of science fiction, ostensibly “bad” performances are shown to emphasize both the theme of men opposing/confronting machines as well as the (monomythic) theme of a rookie/protege learning from a master, as in this chapter’s three case studies, Star Wars (1977), Back to the Future (1985), and The Matrix (1999). Smith-Rowsey deconstructs George Lucas’ (perhaps apocryphal) singular on-set advice to actors: “O.K., same thing, only better,” and “Faster, more intense.” Smith-Rowsey also performs a limited “commutation test” comparing Eric Stoltz and Michael J. Fox in the role of Marty McFly. Finally, the author explains why the famously under-praised Keanu Reeves was a better fit for Neo than a more lauded actor such as, say, Sean Penn or Christian Bale.
Integrating Validation Arguments With the Assessment Triangle: A Framework for Operationalizing and Instantiating Validation

Despite the call for an argument-based approach to validity over 25 years ago, few examples exist in the published literature. One possible explanation for this outcome is that the complexity of th...
Sustaining a Multitiered System of Supports for English Learners in Rural Community Elementary Schools

A 5-year model demonstration project designed to improve literacy instruction and special education referrals for English learners (ELs) in grades K–3 in three rural community elementary schools wa...
Construction by De-construction

The research on how students solve electron-pushing tasks in organic chemistry suggests that students tend to memorize entire electron-pushing mechanisms as singular, indivisible units of knowledge. The research also indicates that those who can conceptualize mechanisms as collections of paradigmatic steps are more likely to solve the most challenging tasks, thus creating a need to help students learn to deconstruct these mechanisms. Individuals learning new languages exhibit an analogous behavior in which they memorize by rote entire phrases as unanalyzed chunks. Groups of words are considered unanalyzed chunks when learners can grasp the meanings of the whole phrases without necessarily understanding the constituent words. This phenomenon is most commonly associated with learning idiomatic expressions during second-language acquisition. Analyzing the chunks (i.e., breaking them down into “productive units”) is called “syntacticization”, which in the context of electron-pushing mechanisms would amount to decomposing the pathways into their constituent, paradigmatic steps. The goal of this commentary is neither to assert a definitive method for instruction in electron-pushing nor to offer an exhaustive list of strategies to help students deconstruct organic reaction mechanisms. Rather, my hope is to propose that the concepts of unanalyzed chunks and syntacticization may present a fruitful perspective to better understand how students make sense of the electron-pushing formalism.
Factors influencing ICU admission and associated outcome in patients undergoing radical cystectomy with enhanced recovery pathway.

Abstract Purpose To characterize drivers of ICU admission during index hospitalization after Radical Cystectomy (RC) with Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol, as well as corresponding outcomes. Methods A retrospective review of an IRB-approved cystectomy database was conducted. All patients who underwent RC with ERAS protocol from 2012 to 2017 were included. Exclusion criteria: adjunct nephrectomy or urethrectomy. Results A total of 512 patients were identified. ICU admission in index hospitalization was reported in 33 patients (6.4%), 26 with unplanned ICU transfer after initial non-ICU level of care and 7 with planned direct postoperative ICU admission. Higher age and Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥3 were significant risk factors for unplanned ICU admission. On multivariate analysis, age remained associated (odds ratio 1.05, 95% confidence interval 1.008, 1.1, P = 0.02) and Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥3 kept the trend (odds ratio 2.16, 95% confidence interval 0.86 − 5.07, P = 0.08) with this increased risk of ICU admission. Patients in the unplanned ICU group spent a median of 3 days (range: 0–32) at non-ICU level of care before ICU transfer; cardiac indications were the most common reason for transfer (52%). Patients who required unplanned ICU transfer had a median length of stay of 11.5 days, compared to a length of stay of 5 days (P Conclusion ICU admission is uncommon following RC with ERAS protocol. Advanced age and comorbidity index are significantly associated with unplanned ICU transfer. Planned ICU admissions are not shown to be associated with improved outcomes compared to unplanned ICU admissions. Further efforts to elucidate the role of ICU care in the context of the ERAS protocol is important for targeted care optimization and appropriate postoperative planning.
Case report of discoid lupus erythematosus in association with electronic cigarette use.

The lesions of discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) are categorized as either localized (presenting above the neck in the scalp, face, and ears), or generalized (involving areas above and below the neck, often in the upper extremities). DLE lesions are commonly incited by trauma, infection, burns, dermatitis, and ultraviolet radiation.1 Previous literature has proposed the term lupus ab igne to describe the development of clinically characteristic DLE lesions induced by chronic heat exposure.2 We present the first case, to our knowledge, of DLE lesions associated with Koebnerization from chronic heat exposure with electronic cigarette (EC) usage.
Overt censorship, self-censorship, and gender bias: an examination of high school journalism students and controversial media topics

Prior research into student journalism has indicated that a willingness to self-censor was a stronger predictor than other intrinsic concerns or external threats when it came to covering controvers...
Human Rights Discourse in the Post-9/11 Age: Kanishka Chowdhury, (London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2019, 235 pages, $84.99)

In the current moment of capitalist crisis, rising neo-fascism, unending war, climate catastrophe, border imperialism, labor super-exploitation, and global political uncertainty, we might all agree...
Cannabis Policy in the United States: Implications for Public Health

Introduction As of January 2021, a total of 36 states and the District of Columbia (DC) have legalized medical cannabis use, and 14 states and DC have legalized adult nonmedical use. This manuscript qualitatively summarizes cannabis policies across states with legal adult use marketplaces. Methods Data are from state laws and regulations, collected through January 2021, and have been verified with state officials as part of ongoing state policy tracking efforts. Results State policies differ in how cannabis products are taxed, where revenues are allocated, restrictions on the types of available products, restrictions on additives and flavors, product packaging and labeling, advertising restrictions, where cannabis can be consumed, and approaches to social equity. Conclusion Timely, accurate, and longitudinal state and local cannabis policy data are needed to understand the implications of legalization. Careful study of policy differences across and within states is warranted, as differences may affect public health and consumer safety.
Fast and Efficient Preparation of Exfoliated 2H MoS2 Nanosheets by Sonication-Assisted Lithium Intercalation and Infrared Laser-Induced 1T to 2H Phase Reversion

Exfoliated 2H molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has unique properties and potential applications in a wide range of fields, but corresponding studies have been hampered by the lack of effective routes to it in bulk quantities. This study presents a rapid and efficient route to obtain exfoliated 2H MoS2, which combines fast sonication-assisted lithium intercalation and infrared (IR) laser-induced phase reversion. We found that the complete lithium intercalation of MoS2 with butyllithium could be effected within 1.5 h with the aid of sonication. The 2H to 1T phase transition that occurs during the lithium intercalation could be also reversed by IR laser irradiation with a DVD optical drive.
Gait Characteristics, Range of Motion, and Spasticity Changes in Response to Massage in a Person with Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: Case Report

Purpose: Our study set out to measure the effect of a specific routine of massage on gait characteristics, range of motion, and spasticity in a person with incomplete spinal cord injury. Methods: This descriptive, pre–post case study, conducted at the outpatient program of a rehabilitation facility, used neuromuscular techniques in massage for a 42-year-old man with incomplete chronic C5 spinal cord injury. The massage was applied to the iliopsoas, triceps surae, and hamstring muscle groups for 3 consecutive days. Main Outcome Measures: Pre- and post-intervention testing included standard goniometric measurement of joint range of motion in the lower extremities, spasticity evaluation using the modified Ashworth scale, and evaluation of gait characteristics using GAITRite Walkway (CIR Systems, Havertown, PA, USA) pressure mapping for ambulation time, cadence, velocity, stride length, base of support, and single- and double-limb support. Results: After the therapeutic intervention, the following gait changes were demonstrated: increase in velocity and cadence of gait, decrease in ambulation time, increase in stride length, and improvements in the percentages of the swing and stance phases of the gait cycle. Conclusions: Specific application of massage therapy influenced gait speed, stride length, and swing and stance phase percentages in one person with incomplete spinal cord injury. Further study is warranted to determine the extent to which massage may affect musculoskeletal and neural impairments that limit gait in people with incomplete spinal cord injury, and the method or routine whose application will yield the most benefit.