cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Black males' self-perceptions of academic ability and gifted potential in advanced science classes

The purpose of this research effort was to examine Black male students' self-perceptions of academic ability and gifted potential in science. The purposeful sample consisted of nine Black males between the ages of 14 and 18 years. Four categories of self-perceptions of academic ability and gifted potential emerged from the data. These included: (a) gifted high achievers; (b) gifted “could do better” high achievers; (c) gifted “could do better” situational nonachievers; and (d) gifted “could do better” underachievers. Science teachers' influences that referenced participants' academic achievement pointed to validation. Participants' perceptions regarding how science teachers' influenced their academic performance focused on science teachers' content knowledge. Power dynamics germane to Black male participants' value or worth that directed their efforts in science learning environments are discussed. Implications are posited for science teaching, science education programs, and future research. This research endeavor was based on two premises. The first premise is that Black males' self-perceptions of academic ability affect their science academic achievement. The second premise is that, given parental, peer, and community influences, science teachers have considerable influence on students' self-perceptions of academic ability. However, the focus of this research was not on parental influences, peer influences, or any potential influences that participants' communities may have on their academic achievement. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 42: 888–911, 2005
Does collaborative research have greater epistemic authority

This paper presents qualitative philosophical, sociological, and historical arguments in favor of collaborative research having greater epistemic authority than research performed by individual scientists alone. Quantitatively, epistemic authority is predicted to correlate with citations, both in number, probability of citation, and length of citation history. Data from a preliminary longitudinal study of 33 researchers supports the predicted effects, and, despite the fallacy of asserting the consequent, is taken to confirm the hypothesis that collaborative research does in fact have greater epistemic authority.
Trade Liberalization, Gender Segmentation, and Wage Discrimination: Evidence from Egypt

This study evaluates the impact of trade liberalization and reductions in trade barriers on gender wage inequality in Egypt by using recent Egypt Labor Market Panel Survey (ELMPS 06) and comparing two years representing early stage (1998) and advanced stage in trade liberalization (2006). The analysis focused on private sector workers, and compared workers in tradable sectors (sectors in direct competition with the foreign trade) with workers in non-tradable sectors (not in direct competition with foreign goods). Not only wage discrimination was observed regardless of sector of employment, but also deterioration was detected. Results also indicate that tradable sectors have experienced proportionately higher levels of wage differences between men and women than non-tradable sectors.
PEPITO: improved discontinuous B-cell epitope prediction using multiple distance thresholds and half sphere exposure.

Motivation: Accurate prediction of B-cell epitopes is an important goal of computational immunology. Up to 90% of B-cell epitopes are discontinuous in nature, yet most predictors focus on linear epitopes. Even when the tertiary structure of the antigen is available, the accurate prediction of B-cell epitopes remains challenging. Results: Our predictor, PEPITO, uses a combination of amino-acid propensity scores and half sphere exposure values at multiple distances to achieve state-of-the-art performance. PEPITO achieves an area under the curve (AUC) of 75.4 on the Discotope dataset. Additionally, we benchmark PEPITO as well as the Discotope predictor on the more recent Epitome dataset, achieving AUCs of 68.3 and 66.0, respectively. Availability: PEPITO is available as part of the SCRATCH suite of
Theory of helical spin crystals: Phases, textures, and properties

Motivated by recent experiments on the itinerant helimagnet MnSi, we study general properties of helical spin crystals -magnetic structures obtained by superposing distinct spin spirals. An effective Landau description of helical spin crystals is introduced and simple rules for stabilizing various spin crystal structures over single spirals are established. Curious properties of the magnetic structures so obtained, such as symmetry stabilized topological textures and missing Bragg reflections are pointed out. The response of helical spin crystals to crystalline anisotropy, magnetic field and nonmagnetic disorder are studied, with special reference to the bcc1 spin structure, a promising starting point for discussing the partial order phases seen at high pressure in MnSi. Similar approaches may be applied to other crystallization problems such as Larkin-Ovchinnikov-Fulde-Ferrel states in spin-imbalanced superconductors.
Extensible markup languages and traditional abstracting and indexing strategies

Object oriented coding languages are used to more accurately label and search for content embedded in electronic texts. An object can be a graphic, a row of specific data housed in a table, a written text, or any other piece of information that conveys meaning. XML, XLink and RDF are second-generation object-oriented coding languages and tools derived from SGML. I illustrate how these object-oriented languages can effectively deploy the indexing techniques and systems traditionally used by information professionals.
Issues In Angel Investing Research: An Analysis of Data and Returns in the US and Abroad

Research on angel investors is sparse because data are sparse. Most comprehensive studies of angel investors have focused on the US and UK. In these studies, definitions of angel investors and estimates of returns on angel investments vary dramatically. What can we make of this wide range of reported returns? We examine the literature and find that the calculations of reported results are vague. Most researchers do not explicitly report if their estimates are equal-weighted or value-weighted, nor do they say whether the results are weighted by the duration of the investment. We show that the unit of analysis – investment, project, or angel – affects interpretations. These limitations leave the current literature incomplete.
Mitochondrial Genome Sequence of the Galápagos Endemic Land Snail Naesiotus nux

ABSTRACT We report herein the draft mitochondrial genome sequence of Naesiotus nux, a Galapagos endemic land snail species of the genus Naesiotus. The circular genome is 15 kb and encodes 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, and 21 tRNA genes.
Now More Than Ever—Refusal as Redemption

Dwight Waldo, in the context of a film series on "Public Administration Through Film" presented at the Maxwell School in 1971, issued the judgment that the George C. Scott film, Hospital, was "the best film on administration" and that "it just about says it all" concerning what public administrators face. Such a definite pronouncement, coming as it did from a man of great discernment and intellectual balance, bears reflection. The movie is about a large, urban teaching hospital in the early 1970's. George C. Scott played the role of the Chief of Medicine, in effect the co administrator of the institution. The plot was set in motion when "accidental" deaths began occurring in the hospital on a regular basis. The first death was that of an intern, who was sleeping off a sexual encounter with a nurse in a patient bed. Another nurse had mistaken the intern for an acutely diabetic patient who had quite recently been moved to another floor. The nurse had not been briefed on the change at shift rotation time and therefore mistakenly administered an injection of insulin to the intern. More accidents followed this one. Scott remarked that he felt as if he were living out a "Roman farce" as he tried to figure out what was going on and how to stop it. The mystery was resolved when it was discovered that an old physician at the hospital had become mentally unstable and was causing the deaths to happen. He explained to Scott that, since the hospital operated like a large, completely impersonal machine, all one had to do to cause people to die was to move them slightly out of place. They then would be crushed in the natural course of things by the gears and mechanisms of the hospital as they revolved in their prescribed paths. No more positive or intentional action was necessary
Jpac at Ten: The Joint Public Advisory Committee to the Nafta Commission for Environmental Cooperation

This 2005 research report on the Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC) to the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) created under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was commissioned as part of the CEC ten-year review. In light of public concerns over the environmental and social impact of trade agreements, this report examines how a key institution brings a measure of democratic dialogue to the trilateral trade agreement. Drawn from public records, stakeholder interviews, and case studies, the report assesses JPAC's efficacy as a point of public entry and means of influence on the CEC's agenda as well as the environmental agendas of NAFTA Parties. Researchers found that JPAC provided a transparent, open, and substantive forum for public debate over trade and environment issues, and articulated public concerns to the NAFTA Parties. JPAC has been particularly effective in pursuing issues where cooperation advances issues of mutual interest, and while its effectiveness on more controversial issues has been mixed, it has at least provided a barometer of public concern. JPAC has experienced challenges and frustrations, and the report details these. In many ways, for example, JPAC's relations with environmental officials from Canada, Mexico and the US have evolved into a highly formalized, even ossified discourse. JPAC can become mired in technical details, and the challenge of fulfilling a dual role of public watchdog and strategic partner has led some to criticize JPAC's occasionally antagonistic approach to Council even as others challenge its willingness to collaborate and compromise. The report concludes that - despite this inherent tension - JPAC has been a useful public monitor, a sounding board for trade and environment issues, and a structured public point of entry to the CEC. It is a unique approach to public participation in trade accords, and warrants further study as a model.
System reliability approach for rock scour

Removal of individual blocks of rock is one of the principal mechanisms by which scour can occur, and prediction of block erodibility can be complicated due to the inherent variability associated with the rock mass as well as flow conditions in the vicinity of the block(s) in question. In order address the stochastic nature of the problem, we present a methodology for system reliability assessment of the probability of scour of 3D rock blocks subject to hydraulic loads within a block theory framework. Monte Carlo simulations are used to determine overall block failure probability, and to identify the most likely failure mode. A first-order reliability method (FORM) is then used to determine sensitivity to the different variables and hence the relative level of importance of the physical parameters with respect to the dominant failure mode. An example problem is used to illustrate the value of this information in focusing site investigations and analyses on the most important variables as well as in guiding decisions regarding scour mitigation strategies.
Field observations of regional controls of soil hydraulic properties on soil moisture spatial variability in different climate zones

Knowledge of soil moisture spatial variability (SMSP) is important for many practical reasons. However, a significant gap still exists in our understanding of different controls on SMSP, especially the roles of soil hydraulic parameters due to their limited availability. Although modeling approaches have been used to assess the impacts of those parameters on SMSP, they have led to inconsistent findings. In this study, soil moisture data from Utah (5 yr) and the US Southeast (2 yr) were obtained from the Soil Climate Analysis Network (SCAN), along with estimated van Genuchten parameters. The method of mean relative difference (MRD) of soil moisture was used as a diagnostic tool for assessing different climate and soil controls on SMSP. The results show that instead of being controlled by climate variables (e.g., precipitation and potential evapotranspiration) as traditionally believed at regional scales (∼10 5 km 2 ), MRD is mainly dependent on soil hydraulic properties. In Utah with a drier climate, the residual soil moisture content (θ r ) is the dominant control on MRD, followed by the saturated soil moisture content (θ s ). With wetter climates in the US Southeast, the impacts of θ r and θ s on MRD become comparable, mostly due to the high correlation between θ r and θ s in this region, and there exists a nonlinear negative relationship between MRD and the parameter n for coarser soils, indicated by larger n values tending to have lower MRDs. The findings of this study have important implications for verifying remotely sensed moisture data and initializing and parameterizing regional land surface and climate models.
Critical perspectives on the Responsibility to Protect: BRICS and beyond:

The articles in this Special Issue derive from a conference on the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) held under the auspices of the Center for American and Global Security at Indiana University–Bloomington, 15–16 May 2015. The studies in this issue variously explore the development of the R2P in the United Nations, assess the role of the International Criminal Court in bringing perpetrators of mass atrocities to justice, introduce a territorial dimension to R2P, and elucidate the current position of non-Western emerging countries, specifically the BRICS, on R2P. The most ardent advocates of the doctrine tend to be from the major English-speaking liberal democracies, although prominent African statesmen were also instrumental in promoting the concept. The Libyan experience prompted a reassessment of R2P, magnifying suspicions that the norm may be simply a Western strategy for enhancing influence and effecting regime change. The idea of state sovereignty as responsibility domestically, and the possibility of ...
EM clustering for holistic search in human-model observers

Mathematical models of human observers for detection tasks are of interest in medical imaging analysis, but current model observers have limitations related to reliability and task range. We previously introduced a visual-search (VS) model for predicting human-observer performance at detection-localization tasks in PET and SPECT. With this model, a holistic search locates suspicious image blobs, which are then analyzed by a statistical discriminant. We tested several approaches to identifying blob features for the holistic search, including a parametric blob model based on EM implementation of a Gaussian mixture model (GMM). Comparison of several VS models against a scanning model observer and human observers was carried out with a localization ROC (LROC) study based on simulated SPECT lung images. RBI reconstructions performed with either attenuation correction or resolution compensation were postsmoothed with a 3D Gaussian filter. The study objective was to identify the optimal level of postsmoothing given a fixed number of iterations. A channelized nonprewhitening discriminant for both the scanning observer and the analysis phase of the VS models. The VS models were considerably more accurate than the scanning model at predicting human performances. A high number of blobs identified in the holistic search could not be fit by the EM-GMM algorithm. For the successful fits, the number of blob pixels corresponded well with blob area as calculated from the Gaussian covariance matrix. Overall, the reliability of the VS model will depend on how the holistic search is carried out. The high failure rate with the EM-GMM approach might be remedied with better initialization.
Nostalgia or das Heimweh: Homesickness and the Press-ganged Soldier in Sylvia’s Lovers (1863)

AbstractThis article argues that Elizabeth Gaskell’s historical novel Sylvia’s Lovers (1863) uses nostalgia as a literary aesthetic and historical context to articulate a narrative of disorientating epochal change. Gaskell’s novel draws on nostalgia’s roots as a psychosomatic disease afflicting soldiers displaced by international conflicts to reassert the traumatic roots of a familiar feeling often understood as superficial and insignificant. Nostalgia began as a disease brought on by migration and only later came to be thought of as a type of sentimental memory; first home was far away and then it was long ago. Gaskell’s novel incorporates both, mingling longing for a place with longing for a past. This double distancing articulates an experience of transition within her historical novel. She draws on an eighteenth-century trope used by figures such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau and William Wordsworth, repurposed for the demands of prose fiction. The homesick soldier who was the first sufferer with pathologic...
Corticosteroids for the management of immune-related adverse events in patients receiving checkpoint inhibitors:

IntroductionDue to enhanced T-cell activity, immune checkpoint inhibitors cause immune-related adverse effects. Corticosteroids are the mainstay of immune-related adverse effect management but the ...
Pilot Spoofing Attack Detection and Countermeasure

In a time-division duplex multiple antenna system, the channel state information can be estimated using reverse training. A pilot spoofing (contamination) attack occurs when during the training phase, an adversary (spoofer) also sends synchronized, identical training (pilot) signal as that of the legitimate receiver. This contaminates channel estimation and alters the legitimate beamforming/precoder design, facilitating eavesdropping. A recent approach proposed superimposing a random sequence on the training sequence at the legitimate receiver and then using the minimum description length (MDL) criterion to detect pilot contamination attack. In this paper, we augment this approach with estimation of both legitimate receiver and eavesdropper channels, and secure beamforming, to mitigate the effects of pilot spoofing. We consider two cases: 1) the spoofer transmits only the pilot signal and 2) the spoofer also adds a random sequence to its pilot, mimicking the legitimate receiver. We also employ a random matrix theory-based source enumeration approach instead of MDL, for spoofing detection, leading to improved detection performance. The proposed detection and mitigation approaches are illustrated via simulations.
Cognitive Performance and Locomotor Adaptation in Persons With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Background. Persons with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) show deficits in gait and neuromuscular control following rehabilitation. This altered behavior extends to locomotor adapta...
FRACTRAN: A Simple Universal Programming Language for Arithmetic

To play the fraction game corresponding to a given list $${{f}_{1}},{{f}_{2}}, \ldots ,{{f}_{k}}$$ of fractions and starting integer N, you repeatedly multiply the integer you have at any stage (initially N) by the earliest f i in the list for which the answer is integral. Whenever there is no such f i, the game stops.
Organic Preservation of Biopolymers in Fossil Leaves

This chapter investigates the morphology and chemical structure of fossil leaves from the Ardeche diatomite (Late Miocene, southeast France) and compares them to their modern equivalents. Chemical analyses of the fossil leaves revealed the presence of a recalcitrant (non-hydrolysable) geopolymer comprised of benzene derivatives, lignin-derived components, pristenes and an aliphatic component; the latter consists partly of fatty acyl subunits ranging in carbon number from C8 to C32 with an abundance of C16 and C18 units. Chemical degradation of the modern plants failed to reveal the presence of the aliphatic biomacromolecule cutan, thereby precluding selective preservation of this compound as the source for the aliphatic component of the fossil leaves. In contrast, C16 and C18 fatty acyl units are predominant in the cutin and phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) fractions of the modern leaves, while C10 to C32 acid units are characteristic of the free fatty acid (FA) fraction of epicuticular waxes. However, TEM and SEM investigations of the fossils revealed no evidence for cuticle preservation, and while a contribution from cutin cannot be excluded, the aliphatic component of the fossil polymer is possibly derived instead from the in situ polymerisation of labile cell membrane lipids and free fatty acids.
Microprocessor-driven ICP Fiber Optic Monitor

A study was designed to test the performance characteristics of an intracranial pressure (ICP) monitor composed of a Fiber Optic Transducer (FOT). The evaluation protocol was divided into two portions: in vitro and in vivo. Frequency response, time constant and other instrument specifications data were determined by the in vitro data. The response time, accuracy, and time needed to return to baseline pressure following pulse changes were evaluated in the in vivo portion of the experiment.
How the Talmud Divides an Estate Among Creditors

The Talmud gives examples of how to divide an estate among creditors when the debts total more than the estate, but it is not clear what the algorithm is. We describe the solution of this problem by Aumann, Maschler, and Kaminski, and its relation to game theory.
Precise Post-translational Tuning Occurs for Most Protein Complex Components during Meiosis.

Protein degradation is known to be a key component of expression regulation for individual genes, but its global impact on gene expression has been difficult to determine. We analyzed a parallel gene expression dataset of yeast meiotic differentiation, identifying instances of coordinated protein-level decreases to identify new cases of regulated meiotic protein degradation, including of ribosomes and targets of the meiosis-specific anaphase-promoting complex adaptor Ama1. Comparison of protein and translation measurements over time also revealed that, although meiotic cells are capable of synthesizing protein complex members at precisely matched levels, they typically do not. Instead, the members of most protein complexes are synthesized imprecisely, but their protein levels are matched, indicating that wild-type eukaryotic cells routinely use post-translational adjustment of protein complex partner levels to achieve proper stoichiometry. Outlier cases, in which specific complex components show divergent protein-level trends, suggest timed regulation of these complexes.
Grassmannian heterotic sigma model

We study the nonminimal supersymmetric heterotically deformed $\mathcal{N}=(0,2)$ sigma model with the Grassmannian target space ${\mathcal{G}}_{M,N}$. To develop the appropriate superfield formalism, we begin with a simplified model with flat target space, find its beta function up to two loops, and prove a nonrenormalization theorem. Then we generalize the results to the full model with the Grassmannian target space. Using the geometric formulation, we calculate the beta functions and discuss the 't Hooft and Veneziano limits.
Referral Infomediaries

An interesting phenomenon has been the emergence of "infomediaries" in the form of Internet referral services in many markets. These services offer consumers the opportunity to get price quotes from enrolled brick-and-mortar retailers and direct consumer traffic to particular retailers who join them. This paper analyzes the effect of referral infomediaries on retail markets and examines the contractual arrangements that they should use in selling their services. We identify the conditions necessary for the infomediary to exist and explain how they would evolve with the growth of the Internet. The role of an infomediary as a price discrimination mechanism leads to lower online prices. Perhaps the most interesting result is that the referral infomediary can unravel (i.e., no retailer can get any net profit gain from joining) when its reach becomes too large. The analysis also shows why referral infomediaries would prefer to offer geographical exclusivity to joining retailers.
The Customer Compromise and ComproScore: Toward a New Concept and Metric to Assess Customer Satisfaction, Buying Process, and Loyalty: An Abstract

This research introduces the concept of the Customer Compromise and proposes a new metric, the ComproScore, to assess customer satisfaction, buying process, and loyalty (Oliver 1980, 1999). We make and test a new theoretical proposition which states that the Customer Compromise mediates the relationships between perceived quality, perceived value, customer expectations, and share of wallet along with customer loyalty.
Efficacy of Endoscopic Interventions for the Management of Obesity: a Meta-analysis to Compare Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty, AspireAssist, and Primary Obesity Surgery Endolumenal.

Novel endoscopic procedures (endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG), AspireAssist (AA), and primary obesity surgery endolumenal (POSE)) have been developed for treatment of obesity. We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate and compare the efficacy of these three endoscopic procedures. Main outcomes of interest were percent excess weight loss (%EWL) and percent total body weight loss (%TBWL). Weighted pooled means (WPMs) were calculated and analyzed using random effects model. Mean differences (MDs) were calculated to compare these procedures. Twelve studies with 1149 patients were included. WPMs for %EWL at 6 and 12 months with ESG were 49.67 (45.67, 53.66) and 52.75 (43.52, 61.98), respectively, while %TBWLs at 6 and 12 months with ESG were 16.01 (15.10, 16.92) and 17.41 (17.08, 17.74), respectively. WPMs for %EWL at 6 and 12 months with POSE were 43.79 (40.17, 47.42) and 44.91 (40.90, 48.92), respectively. WPM for %EWL at 12 months with AA was 50.85 (46.03, 55.68). While comparing ESG and POSE, at 6 months and 12 months, MD for %EWL was 6.17 (1.07, 11.26; P = 0.01) and 7.84 (− 2.05, 17.71; P = 0.06) in favor of ESG. No difference in %EWL was observed while comparing ESG with AA (P = 0.29). Likewise, MD for %EWL to compare AA and POSE was not significant (P = 0.68). During a follow-up of 6–12 months, both AA and ESG had excellent efficacy in achieving significant and sustained weight loss; however, ESG was found to be superior in terms of weight loss when compared with POSE.
Risk Aversion and Diversification Strategies

Diversifying agricultural assets and income sources is a critical strategy employed by the poor to meet their critical needs, mitigate risks and respond to shocks. Relative to non‐poor households, poor households are more likely to face constraints to asset ownership, which may impact their ability to improve their welfare. This paper uses primary data collected from the Guatemalan Highlands, including an experiment to elicit risk preferences, to describe the association between risk preferences and a household's agricultural assets and income diversification using a model that controls for fixed effects at the community level. The findings suggest limited evidence that higher risk aversion is positively related to asset ownership. While one might expect risk averse individuals to diversify their household's sources of income, the results from this study suggest only limited evidence of this occurring in Highland Guatemala. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multidimensional profiles of welfare and work dynamics: development, validation, and associations with child cognitive and mental health outcomes.

This prospective longitudinal study addresses the research gap in the literature regarding multidimensional variation in welfare use and employment patterns, and relationships of such variation with parent earnings and child development outcomes. This study also aims to address the limitations of welfare dynamics studies that do not examine how multiple dimensions of welfare receipt and employment co-occur. Cluster analysis was utilized, using monthly welfare and employment data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, to examine variation within the welfare population in their welfare and work patterns across the first 5 years of children's lives. Six cluster profiles of welfare and work dynamics were found: Short-Term, Short-Term Work Exit, Working Cyclers, Nonworking Cyclers, Cycle to Long-Term Exit, and Long-Term. The clusters were validated using mother's 6th-year earnings as the criterion. The clusters' associations with child development outcomes in the cognitive and mental health domains (at ages 6 and 7) were then explored. Work following short-term welfare use was associated with higher child reading scores than that following long-term use (a moderate-size effect). Cycling on and off welfare in the context of high levels of employment was associated with higher child internalizing symptoms than cycling accompanied by low levels of employment (a moderate-size effect). Implications for evaluation of TANF welfare-to-work policies are discussed.
Treatment of Lyme Arthritis.

Infection with the tick-borne spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi leads to an estimated 300,000 new cases annually of Lyme disease in the United States. The northeastern United States is the most affected region, but the infection is also found in mid-Atlantic states, the upper Midwest, and in California1, and it now extends into Canada2. Lyme borreliosis in also endemic in parts of Europe and Asia1. In untreated patients, the infection generally occurs in stages, with different manifestations at each stage3. The disease usually begins with an expanding skin lesion, erythema migrans, accompanied by flu-like symptoms. Weeks later, untreated patients may have neurologic involvement, characterized by lymphocytic meningitis, cranial neuropathy, or radiculoneuropathy, or they may develop carditis, frequently manifested as atrioventricular nodal block. These manifestations of the disease can usually be treated successfully with appropriate antibiotic therapy for 2–4 weeks4. In North America, arthritis is the most common late manifestation of Lyme disease5. Lyme arthritis (LA) typically begins months after the initial tick exposure, and without antibiotic treatment, it often causes intermittent or persistent, monoarticular or oligoarticular arthritis, usually in 1 or 2 joints at a time, especially the knees, over a period of several years. Tendons, ligaments, or bursae may also be affected. Because early Lyme disease is usually recognized and treated effectively with antibiotic therapy, LA is typically seen now only in patients with minimal or no symptoms of early infection. Such patients present with arthritis at any time of the year, not only in the summer. Both children and adults are affected. Patients with LA generally have the highest IgG antibody responses seen in Lyme disease, as determined by ELISA, with expansion of the response to many spirochetal proteins, as shown by Western blotting. Similar to the experience … Address correspondence to Dr. A.C. Steere, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St., Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA. E-mail: asteere{at}partners.org
Disruption of palmitate-mediated localization; a shared pathway of force and anesthetic activation of TREK-1 channels.

Abstract TWIK related K+ channel (TREK-1) is a mechano- and anesthetic sensitive channel that when activated attenuates pain and causes anesthesia. Recently the enzyme phospholipase D2 (PLD2) was shown to bind to the channel and generate a local high concentration of phosphatidic acid (PA), an anionic signaling lipid that gates TREK-1. In a biological membrane, the cell harnesses lipid heterogeneity (lipid compartments) to control gating of TREK-1 using palmitate-mediated localization of PLD2. Here we discuss the ability of mechanical force and anesthetics to disrupt palmitate-mediated localization of PLD2 giving rise to TREK-1's mechano- and anesthetic-sensitive properties. The likely consequences of this indirect lipid-based mechanism of activation are discussed in terms of a putative model for excitatory and inhibitory mechano-effectors and anesthetic sensitive ion channels in a biological context. Lastly, we discuss the ability of locally generated PA to reach mM concentrations near TREK-1 and the biophysics of localized signaling. Palmitate-mediated localization of PLD2 emerges as a central control mechanism of TREK-1 responding to mechanical force and anesthetic action. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Molecular biophysics of membranes and membrane proteins.
Service with a smiley face: Emojional contagion in digitally mediated relationships

Abstract The lack of typical nonverbal cues in digitally mediated marketing communication (e.g., text messages, social media etc.) creates special challenges for marketers desiring to manage customer relationships. To overcome these limitations, marketers have turned to emojis to convey subtle meaning regarding the message sender (often a service provider) and to elicit positive emotion in the message recipient. Relying on theories of emotion as social information and emotional contagion, we present three studies that provide initial evidence of a positive conscious and unconscious affective response to smiley-face emojis that mediates relational outcomes when relationships are communal in nature, but not when relationships are based on simple exchange. We also make a methodological contribution by employing biometric measurement of smiling in order to capture unconscious affect and to demonstrate novel emotional contagion effects in a customer service message. We close with a discussion of the average emoji effect observed across reported and unreported studies, which is modest but reliable, as well as discussion of future research opportunities and managerial implications.
Large and Uneven Bites in End-to-End Anastomosis of the Rat Femoral Artery.

BACKGROUND Successful microvascular anastomosis depends on sutures that adequately oppose both cut vessel edges. Trainees tend to take oversized or uneven bite. To improve early microsurgical skill acquisition using the rat, this study tests the belief that such bites compromise early patency by applying exaggerated bites to end-to-end arterial anastomoses. METHODS Twelve Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of the four bite techniques to be applied to both femoral arteries (mean diameter, 0.8 mm). Large (L) and standard (S) bites measured 1.0 and 0.2 mm from the edge, respectively. Eight simple interrupted anastomoses were performed per bite technique, each labeled according to every proximal end bite size, followed by every distal end bite size: LL, LS, SL, and SS. Anastomosis time and blood flow rates were recorded and analyzed statistically. After sacrifice 5 days postoperation, anastomosis sections of each technique were examined histologically. RESULTS All 24 anastomoses (100%) maintained patency for 5 days. There was no statistical difference between all postoperative blood flow measurements at any given time. Anastomosis times using LL, LS, SL, and SS bite techniques were 41.6, 33.2, 34.8, and 25.5 minutes, respectively. Anastomosis time for the traditional bite technique (SS) was significantly shorter than all other bite techniques (p < 0.05). Histological examination of the harvested segments from each group revealed similar pathophysiological features. CONCLUSION Oversized bites (1 mm), placed symmetrically and asymmetrically across the anastomosis, do not affect early patency in the rat femoral artery. A reduced reliance on conventional guidelines for suture bites appears acceptable during microarterial anastomoses if the goal is vessel patency. However, we believe clinical competence involves the ability to place small, even bites consistently and uniformly. During microsurgical training, the occasional large bite need not be replaced; however, the trainee should be encouraged to take standard bites.
“Cold Enough for Ye?”: The Chilling Effect of Cormac McCarthy’s Child of God

Cormac McCarthy's third novel, Child of God (1973), tells the unpalatable story of the descent of Lester Ballard into voyeurism, necrophilia, and murder; yet, as scholars have observed, “the novel ...
The Star-Forming Dwarf Galaxy Populations of two z ~ 0.4 Clusters: MS1512.4+3647 and Abell 851

We present the results of a deep narrow-band [OII] 3727 \AA emission-line search for faint ($g <$ 27), star-forming galaxies in the field of the $z=0.37$ MS1512.4+3647 cluster. We find no evidence for an over-density of emission-line sources relative to the field at $z \sim$ 0.4 (Hogg et al. 1998), and therefore conclude that the MS1512.4+3647 sample is dominated by field [OII] emission-line galaxies which lie along the $\sim$ 180 Mpc line of sight immediately in front and behind the cluster. This is surprising, given that the previously surveyed $z=0.41$ cluster Abell 851 has 3-4 times the field emission-line galaxy density (Martin et al. 2000). We find that the MS1512.4+3647 sample is deficient in galaxies with intermediate colors (1.0 $< g-i <$ 2.0) and implied star-formation exponential decay timescales $\tau \sim$ 100 Myr - 1 Gyr that dominate the Abell 851 emission-line galaxy population. Instead, the majority of [OII] emission-line galaxies surrounding the MS1512.4+3647 cluster are blue ($g-i \leq 1.0$) and forming stars in bursts with $\tau < $ 100 Myr. In both samples, galaxies with the shortest star-formation timescales are preferentially among the faintest star-forming objects. Their i luminosities are consistent with young stellar populations $\sim 10^8 - 10^9 \Msun$, although an additional factor of ten in stellar mass could be hiding in underlying old stellar populations. We discuss the implications for the star-formation histories of dwarf galaxies in the field and rich clusters.
Ultrahigh GaN:SiO2 etch selectivity by in situ surface modification of SiO2 in a Cl2-Ar plasma

The realization of vertical GaN devices requires deep plasma etching and is contingent on high mask selectivity. In this work, we show that SiO2 can be an effective mask material for deep etching G...
Association between Spirometric Parameters and Depressive Symptoms in New Mexico Uranium Workers.

Background Uranium workers are at risk of developing lung disease, characterized by low forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and/or forced vital capacity (FVC). Previous studies have found an association between decreased lung function and depressive symptoms in patients with pulmonary pathologies, but this association has not been well examined in occupational cohorts, especially uranium workers. Methods This cross-sectional study evaluated the association between spirometric measures and depressive symptoms in a sample of elderly former uranium workers screened by the New Mexico Radiation Exposure Screening & Education Program (NM-RESEP). Race- and ethnicity-specific reference equations were used to determine predicted spirometric indices (predictor variable). At least one depressive symptom [depressed mood and/or anhedonia, as determined by a modified Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2)], was the outcome variables. Chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression models were used for statistical analyses. Results At least one depressive symptom was self-reported by 7.6% of uranium workers. Depressed mood was reported over twice as much as anhedonia (7.2% versus 3.3%). Abnormal FVC was associated with at least one depressive symptom after adjustment for covariates. There was no significant interaction between race/ethnicity and spirometric indices on depressive symptoms. Conclusions Although depressive symptoms are uncommonly reported in uranium workers, they are an important comorbidity due to their overall clinical impact. Abnormal FVC was associated with depressive symptoms. Race/ethnicity was not found to be an effect modifier for the association between abnormal FVC and depressive symptoms. To better understand the mechanism underlying this association and determine if a causal relationship exists between spirometric indices and depressive symptoms in occupational populations at risk for developing lung disease, larger longitudinal studies are required. We recommend screening for depressive symptoms for current and former uranium workers as part of routine health surveillance of this occupational cohort. Such screening may help overcome workers' reluctance to self-report and seek treatment for depression and may avoid negative consequences to health and safety from missed diagnoses.
Effectiveness and Safety of Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Patients with Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation and Weighing ≥ 120 Kilograms versus 60-120 Kilograms.

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have become favorable choices for anticoagulation due to their fixed-dose schedule, limited need for monitoring, and non-inferiority or superiority to warfarin. DOACs are currently not recommended in patients with a body weight ≥ 120 kg or body mass index ≥ 40 kg/m2 due to limited data regarding safety and efficacy. The aim of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of DOACs in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and weighing ≥ 120 kg with those weighing < 120 kg. A single-center, retrospective study was conducted in patients weighing ≥ 120 kg who received either apixaban, dabigatran, or rivaroxaban for stroke risk reduction in NVAF, and matched to patients who weighed < 120 kg. The primary outcome was the incidence of stroke, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or myocardial infarction, while the safety outcome was the incidence of major or clinically relevant non-major bleeding based on the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) definitions. A total of 318 patients weighing ≥ 120 kg with NVAF and meeting the inclusion criteria were evaluated and matched with 318 patients weighing < 120 kg. The primary outcome occurred in 2.5% of patients in the ≥ 120 kg group and in 3.1% of patients in the < 120 kg group (p = 0.632). The safety outcome occurred in 5.3% and 6.6% of patients in these respective groups (p = 0.503). Apixaban, dabigatran, or rivaroxaban may be well-tolerated and effective anticoagulant options in patients with NVAF weighing ≥ 120 kg.
On the relevance of transcendence in understanding Chinese thought: a response to Wang-Shik Jang

David Hall and Roger Ames have argued that the concept of strict transcendence, while central to the history of Western philosophy and theology, has played little to no part in the development of Chinese philosophy and religion. To be sure, the truth of any claim about the importance of transcendence within a tradition depends on what is meant by transcendence. But despite Hall and Ames’ attempt to formulate their claim in terms of strict transcendence, critics like Wang Shik Jang have suggested that Hall and Ames’ argument equivocates, overstates the obvious, and suppresses evidence to the contrary. In this paper I will argue that Jang’s criticisms are unfounded, and in fact present a clear example of just the sort of danger Hall and Ames warn of—namely, misreading Chinese philosophy through the lens of European Christian culture.
Digital Predistortion Enhancement by Convolutional Neural Network for Probabilistic Shaped Discrete Multi-Tone Signal Transmission in Passive Optical Network

We experimentally demonstrate a 68.2-Gb/s net data-rate probabilistic shaped discrete multi-tone transmission in passive optical network with 11G-class devices. The convolutional-neural-network strengthens digital predistortion performance with 1.1-dB improvement of system sensitivity over linear pre-equalization.
Study of the Radiative Properties of Inhomogeneous Stratocumulus Clouds

Clouds play an important role in the radiation budget of the atmosphere. A good understanding of how clouds interact with solar radiation is necessary when considering their effects in both general circulation models and climate models. This study examined the radiative properties of clouds in both an inhomogeneous cloud system, and a simplified cloud system through the use of a Monte Carlo model. The purpose was to become more familiar with the radiative properties of clouds, especially absorption, and to investigate the excess absorption of solar radiation from observations over that calculated from theory. The first cloud system indicated that the absorptance actually decreased as the cloud's inhomogeneity increased, and that cloud forcing does not indicate any changes. The simplified cloud system looked at two different cases of absorption of solar radiation in the cloud. The absorptances calculated from the Monte Carlo is compared to a correction method for calculating absorptances and found that the method can over or underestimate absorptances at cloud edges. Also the cloud edge effects due to solar radiation points to a possibility of overestimating the retrieved optical depth at the edge, and indicates a possible way to correct for it. The effective cloud fraction (Ne) for a long time has been calculated from a cloud's reflectance. From the reflectance it has been observed that the N, for most cloud geometries is greater than the actual cloud fraction (Nc) making a cloud appear wider than it is optically. Recent studies we have performed used a Monte Carlo model to calculate the N, of a cloud using not only the reflectance but also the absorptance. The derived Ne's from the absorptance in some of the Monte Carlo runs did not give the same results as derived from the reflectance. This study also examined the inhomogeneity of clouds to find a relationship between larger and smaller scales, or wavelengths, of the cloud. Both Fourier transforms and wavelet transforms were used to analyze the liquid water content of marine stratocumulus clouds taken during the ASTEX project. From the analysis it was found that the energy in the cloud is not uniformly distributed but is greater at the larger scales than at the smaller scales. This was determined by examining the slope of the power spectrum, and by comparing the variability at two scales from a wavelet analysis.
'Beyond the Seventh Fold': A Historical Account of a Natural Product Chemist

If entrenched workings of a social and cultural milieu strongly and selectively conspires to quell within an individual any notion toward a career in science, what makes such a person act and persist to the contrary? If that persistence prevails over or in the face of strong opposition, what accounts for the success? When such success brings about a degree of conceptual change in the social environment of an emerging branch of science, what kind of person whose scientific contributions help promote the change emerges from the fray? This paper is an historical account of such a person, one of the early natural product chemists who entered the field against discouragements and who remained determined when rejected in violation of publicly acclaimed principles that called for acceptance. Without any conscious attempt to direct its internal or external content, the paper is both analytical and social. The message suggests that there are philosophical views from some quarters we have ignored but perhaps should allow to enter the ongoing debate about curriculum reform. It is also a message to science and science education that perhaps we, all of us, ought to take more seriously than we do the universality of science and scientific talent.
Nancy File, Jennifer J. Mueller and Debora Basler Wisneski (Eds). Curriculum in Early Childhood Education: Re-examined, Rediscovered, Renewed

The current context in which early childhood educators do curriculum work presents challenges and opportunities for teachers and teacher educators alike. Expectations for what curriculum is, should...