cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of illicit carfentanil: Emergence of the death dragon

Abstract The United States is currently in the midst of an unprecedented illicit fentanyl crisis. In the last year alone there have been more recent fentanyl-related overdose deaths than in the previous 60 years. The current crisis is multi-faceted and involves a global supply of fentanyl and related substances being smuggled into the United States. Illicit carfentanil hydrochloride has recently entered the drug market causing multiple overdoses and deaths across the U.S. To date, over 400 confirmed carfentanil cases have been identified. Carfentanil is approximately 100 times more potent that fentanyl with only 20 μg of material required to produce a lethal dose. Due to a lack of published spectra for carfentanil HCl, analytical profiles are provided for three recent carfentanil submissions to our laboratory which include infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, isotope ratio mass spectrometry, and quantitative determination via gas chromatography–flame ionization detection. The three submissions were determined to contain 0.62%, 1.87%, and 0.31% carfentanil HCl, respectively. Each exhibit also contained a fentanyl-related substance (fentanyl or 2-furanylfentanyl). Acetylcarfentanil was characterized as an impurity in two exhibits. Isotopic analyses of two exhibits suggest they are intimately related.
Dismantling the School-to-Prison Pipeline: South Florida's Approach

The U.S. incarceration rate has increased 700% since 1970. As a result, the U.S. has the highest prison population in the world. In the U.S., only 12% of the population is Black. Yet, despite living in a “post-racial,” “colorblind” society,” 38% of the prison population is composed of Blacks. Part of this disparity stems from the disparate impact of zero-tolerance policies in school discipline. These policies were influenced by the fear of the media-driven “Black super predator;” the War on Drugs; three strikes laws; and school shootings. Similar to police officers’ implicit biases in the justice system, the implicit biases of teachers in schools is a primary reason why Black students are suspended and arrested at a rate two times greater than White students for the same offenses. The disparate impact of zero-tolerance policies has created a pipeline from school to prison. Suspension, expulsion, and arrest are often the first steps in a chain of events that lead to academic disengagement and delinquency. This phenomenon is recognized as the “School-to-Prison Pipeline,” which is a collection of punitive laws, policies, and practices that push young people, particularly Black students, out of school and into the justice system.
Complete Genome and Methylome Sequences of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Serovars Typhimurium, Saintpaul, and Stanleyville from the SARA/SARB Collection

ABSTRACT In this announcement, we report the complete genome and methylome sequences of three Salmonella enterica strains from the SARA and SARB collection: S. enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium (SARA13), S. enterica subsp. enterica serovar Saintpaul (SARA26), and S. enterica subsp. enterica serovar Stanleyville (SARB61).
ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Chronic Liver Disease.

Because liver fibrosis can be treated, it is important to diagnose liver fibrosis noninvasively and monitor response to treatment. Although ultrasound (grayscale and Doppler) can diagnose cirrhosis, it does so unreliably using morphologic and sonographic features and cannot diagnose the earlier, treatable stages of hepatic fibrosis. Transient elastography, ultrasound elastography with acoustic radiation force impulse, and MR elastography are modalities that can assess for hepatic fibrosis. Although all international organizations recommend ultrasound for screening for hepatocellular carcinoma, ultrasound is particularly limited for identifying hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and nodular cirrhotic livers. In these patient groups as well as patients who are on the liver transplant wait list, ultrasound is so limited that consideration can be made for screening for hepatocellular carcinoma with either MRI or multiphase CT. Additionally, patients who have been previously diagnosed with and treated for hepatocellular carcinoma require continued surveillance for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.
Critique [of Institutional Racism]

Vine Deloria9s incisive analysis of institutional racism in western culture applies equally well to the related problem of institutional sexism. Both women, and minorities especially individual members of minority racial groups who are immediately recognizable by members of the dominant white culture - belong to a caste rather than a class in western society. As such, we are all subjected by the traditions of white male philosophical. and intellectual processes as much as by existing socio-political institutions to the different varieties of exclusion, co-optation and disempowerment that Deloria outlines. In the past decade particularly, women9s situation in American political and institutional life has replicated the stasis and frustration experienced by racial minorities for many years preceding.
The role of endogenous insulin in different hyperlipidemic states

The relationship of insulin secretion to different types of lipid disorders was studied in 54 nonobese coronary patients with hyperlipidemia. Nineteen patients had hypercholesterolemia and normal triglycerides (type II), and 35 had endogenous hypertriglyceridemia with or without elevated cholesterol levels. Carbohydrate abnormalities and increased insulin concentrations were much more frequent in the hypertriglyceridemic group than in the type II group. Treatment designed to lower insulin levels resulted in no significant serum lipid changes in the type II subjects. In those with hypertriglyceridemia, a decrease in insulin accompanied appreciable falls in triglyceride and cholesterol levels. Mild carbohydrate abnormalities with insulin hypersecretion were closely associated with endogenous hypertriglyceridemia, but appeared to play no major role in type II hyperlipidemia.
Combustion and materials synthesis

The current issue of International Journal of Self-Propagating High-Temperature Synthesis is dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the ‘solid flame’ discovery, by A.G. Merzhanov, V.M. Shkiro, and I.P. Borovinskaya in 1967, which led to the development of rapid synthesis methods based on exothermic reactions in condensed systems. Today, Self-propagating High-temperature Synthesis (SHS) and Solution Combustion Synthesis (SCS) are very popular preparation techniques for numerous simple and complex compounds including oxygen-free ceramics, oxides, chalcogenides, metals, alloys, and composites in the form of nanoscale powders, porous items, thin films, etc. The present issue consists of brief topical review articles by active researchers in the field. The articles cover principles and some recent developments in SHS and SCS.
Arterial anomalies of the celiac trunk and median arcuate ligament compression in dogs and cats assessed by computed tomography angiography.

Objective To identify abnormalities of the celiac artery (CA) and major branches in dogs and cats by computed tomography angiography (CTA). Study design Multi-institutional retrospective case series. Animals Two hundred fifty-four dogs and 13 cats. Methods Abdominal CTA images from 2009 to 2017 were reviewed. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the relationship between CA abnormalities and sex, age, size of dog, concurrent venous anomaly, or presence of gastrointestinal signs. Results Abnormalities in the CA were observed in 32 animals (11.9%) including 9 with abnormal branching (3.4%) and 23 with CA compression (8.6%). A celiacomesenteric trunk was observed in 8 (2.9%; 6 dogs, 2 cats). The splenic artery originated from the cranial mesenteric artery in 1 dog; the hepatic arterial branches originated from the left gastric artery in another. Four out of 32 animals (12.5%) with an arterial anomaly had another vascular abnormality. Large breed dogs were more likely to have an arterial anomaly (OR 4.3, 95% CI: 1.18-15.5, P = .02) and 12 times more likely to have CA compression (OR 12.0, 95% CI: 1.4-97.7, P = .02) compared to small breed dogs. Dogs with CA compression were more likely to present for gastrointestinal signs (OR 3.6, 95% CI: 1.2-10.3, P = .01). Conclusion Anomalies of the celiac trunk are apparent on CTA and may impact surgical or image-guided intervention. Compression at the origin of the CA was apparent on imaging, similar to the median arcuate ligament syndrome in people, although the significance of this finding in dogs is unknown.
Abnormal emotional and neural responses to romantic rejection and acceptance in depressed women.

Abstract Introduction Responding adaptively to one's social environment is a key factor predicting the course of major depressive disorder (MDD). Socially rejecting events can exacerbate, whereas socially accepting events can ameliorate depressive symptoms. The neural responses to rejection and acceptance in MDD are relatively unexplored. Methods We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure neural responses to romantic rejection and acceptance in women diagnosed with current MDD (n = 19) and a matched group of healthy controls (HCs) (n = 19). During fMRI, participants received rejecting, accepting, and neutral feedback from self-selected potential romantic partners. Results In women with MDD but not HCs, rejection significantly increased activity in the right anterior insula relative to neutral feedback. Greater activation during rejection was found in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex in MDD compared to HCs. Women with MDD reported stronger emotional responses than HCs to both rejection and acceptance. In addition, left and right nucleus accumbens (NAcc) activity mediated the relationship between trait reward responsiveness and increased ratings of feeling “happy and accepted” following acceptance in HCs, but not the MDD group. Discussion Women with MDD were behaviorally and neurally hyperresponsive to rejection. Although both groups were behaviorally responsive to acceptance, in MDD this was dissociated from NAcc activity. These findings highlight abnormal behavioral and neural responses to social cues in MDD, with implications for disease prognosis and the development of novel and sensitive biomarkers for MDD focused on neural pathways for social-affective processing. Limitations Conclusions may be limited to depressed women in a romantic context.
Chapter 1 Coastal Lagoons

Coastal lagoons are inland water bodies, found on all continents, usually oriented parallel to the coast, separated from the ocean by a barrier, connected to the ocean by one or more restricted inlets which remain open at least intermittently, and have water depths which seldom exceed a few meters. A lagoon may or may not be subject to tidal mixing, and salinity can vary from that of a coastal fresh-water lake to a hypersaline lagoon, depending on the hydrologic balance. Lagoons formed as a result of rising sea level mostly during the Holocene and the building of coastal barriers by marine processes. They are often highly productive and ideal systems for aquaculture projects but are, at the same time, highly stressed by anthropogenic inputs and human activities.
Hydrothermal Gem Deposits: The Emerald Deposits of Colombia

When hot magma rises through the earth’s crust, it often fails to reach the surface to erupt as a volcano. Instead, it forms large magma bodies that cool very slowly to form large granitic masses, which, if large enough, are called batholiths.
Multispectral and Hyperspectral Studies on Greek Monuments, Archaeological Objects and Paintings on Different Substrates. Achievements and Limitations

The aim of the present paper is to assess the effectiveness of different protocols for hyperspectral and multispectral imaging in cultural heritage studies. In particular, spectral cubes or monochromatic images in the visible and near infrared spectrum are captured, using either reflected or transmitted light, in normal or tangent illumination conditions for micro and macro scale characteristics evaluation. Various parameters that influence the choice of the appropriate experimental setup are discussed, such as the type of the surface and substrate, the optical characteristics of the surface and the paint layers structure of the artwork. In addition, the morphology and the non-controlled environmental conditions are examined, especially when studying outdoor surfaces. Characteristic case studies are presented ranging from small archaeological objects and paintings to large indoor and outdoor wall surfaces with an emphasis on sketch and drawing detection as well as on color decoration and pigment identification. Through these case studies the authors want to show that spectral imaging techniques can offer much more possibilities than the common user can imagine provided that the application of the methods take into account the specific characteristics of the material and exploits its optical properties. Furthermore the basic criterion of the methodology presented is the optimization of primary results without post-processing of data, based on different setups and detection protocols with the constraints and specific requirements that different structures and specific conditions dictate.
Fetuin-A modulates lipid mobilization in bovine adipose tissue by enhancing lipogenic activity of adipocytes.

ABSTRACT Fetuin-A (FetA) is an adipokine and free fatty acid (FFA) carrier linked to adipose tissue (AT) function in monogastrics and ruminants. In dairy cows, plasma and AT FetA decrease after parturition, coinciding with reduced lipogenesis and increased lipolysis. In monogastrics, FetA enhances lipogenesis, but its role on lipid mobilization of ruminants is unclear. We hypothesized that FetA modulates lipid mobilization in bovine AT by enhancing the lipogenic activity of adipocytes. Our objective was to determine the effects of FetA on lipogenesis and lipolysis in cultured primary adipocytes from dairy cows. Preadipocytes from the tailhead subcutaneous AT depot were induced to differentiate in a 7-d coculture in vitro model. The effects of FetA on lipolytic responses of adipocytes were evaluated after a 2-h β-adrenergic stimulation with 1 µM isoproterenol (ISO) alone or combined with 0.1 mg/mL of FetA (FetA+ISO), and in cells treated with medium alone (CON) or with 0.1 mg/mL of FetA (FetA). Lipogenic responses of adipocytes treated with CON or FetA from d 5 to 7 of differentiation were assessed by fatty acid (FA) uptake quantification and triacylglycerol (TAG) accumulation, and the gene and protein expression of lipogenic markers. Bovine adipocytes abundantly expressed FetA gene and protein and secreted 48 ± 3.5 ng/DNA relative fluorescence units (RFU). Adrenergic stimulation with ISO increased lipolysis compared with CON, as reflected in the release of glycerol (0.12 ± 0.04 vs. 0.04 ± 0.02 nM/DNA RFU) and FFA (15 ± 13 vs. 6.2 ± 2.4 nM/DNA RFU). Lipolysis induced by ISO was attenuated by the addition of FetA (FetA+ISO) as reflected by lower glycerol (0.06 ± 0.04 nM/DNA RFU) and FFA (5.7 ± 2.7 nM/DNA RFU) release compared with ISO alone. Compared with CON, FetA enhanced lipogenic responses as demonstrated by higher FA uptake and increased accumulation of TAG. Exposure to FetA upregulated 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase-2 (AGPAT2) gene expression and protein content, as well as its activity. Adipocytes exposed to FetA increased the secretion of the metabolite of AGPAT2, phosphatidic acid. In conclusion, FetA attenuates lipolytic responses and enhances lipogenesis in bovine adipocytes. The upregulation of the rate-limiting lipogenic enzyme AGPAT2 by FetA suggests a potential pathway by which this adipokine promotes TAG synthesis in adipocytes. These findings suggest that FetA is a potential target for lipid mobilization modulation in AT of dairy cows.
Clonidine to treat neonatal withdrawal due to in-utero venlafaxine exposure.

Introduction: Prenatal exposure to serotonin receptor inhibitors (SSRI/SNRI) is common, as 14-23% of women struggle with some symptoms of depression during pregnancy. SSRI/SSNI’s are the recommended treatment for depression and/or anxiety where psychotherapy and behavioral treatments have failed in pregnant patients due to the low risk of teratogenicity. Neonates with in utero exposure to SSRI/SNRI within weeks of delivery can develop withdrawal symptoms. The occurrence of neonatal abstinence symptoms depends …
The management of the czech agricultural enterprises - the wages

The level of the agriculture is one of the most important objectives of the process of enlargement the Czech republic to the European Union. The article presents primary information concerning one part of the management - wage management - in the agricultural enterprises of the montane and submontane region. The analysis of data of the four agricultural enterprises is comparable and is valued on the domestic labour market in the area of the wages.
First steps for math olympians : using the American Mathematics Competitions

A major aspect of mathematical training and its benefit to society is the ability to use logic to solve problems. The American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) have been given for more than 50 years to millions of high school students. First Steps for Math Olympians considers the basic ideas behind the solutions to the majority of these problems, and presents examples and exercises from past exams to illustrate the concepts. Anyone taking the AMC exams or helping students prepare for them will find many useful ideas here. This book will promote interest in mathematics by providing students with the tools to attack problems that occur on mathematical problem-solving exams, and specifically to level the playing field for those who do not have access to the enrichment programs that are common at the top academic high schools. The book can be used either for self-study or to give people who want to help students prepare for mathematics exams easy access to topic-oriented material and samples of problems based on that material. First Steps for Math Olympians is useful for teachers who want to hold special sessions for students, but it is equally valuable for parents who have children with mathematical interest and ability.
Diagnosis and Management of Acute Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is a complex disorder that consists of a clinical syndrome with symptoms associated with pulmonary or systemic congestion with or without poor cardiac output. Acute heart failure is defined as acute onset of signs and symptoms of HF requiring urgent or emergent intervention. Symptoms may be of new onset or recurrent. Acute HF can be associated with reduced LV systolic dysfunction (HFrEF or Systolic HF) or can occur in patients with preserved LV ejection fraction (LVEF) (HFpEF or diastolic HF); up to 50 % of patients hospitalized with acute HF have preserved LV systolic function. It is important to recognize that acute HF can present without signs and symptoms of congestion and patients may only have manifestations of low cardiac output and cardiogenic shock.
Mortality of Potato Psyllid (Hemiptera: Triozidae) on Host Clippings Inoculated With Ergot Alkaloids.

Our previous study provided correlative evidence that morning glory species harboring endophytic fungi (Periglandula) are resistant to potato psyllid [Bactericera cockerelli (Sulc)], whereas species free of fungi often allowed psyllid development. In this study, we manipulated levels of ergot alkaloids in host tissues by inoculating clippings from potato plants with extracts from morning glories that harbor Periglandula [Ipomoea leptophylla Torrey, Ipomoea imperati (Vahl) Grisebach, Ipomoea tricolor Cavanilles, Ipomoea pandurata (L.) G. F. Meyer, and Turbina corymbosa (L.)] and one species (Ipomoea alba L.) that does not harbor the endophyte. Ergot alkaloids (clavines, lysergic acid amides, and ergopeptines) were detected in potato clippings, thus confirming that leaves had taken up compounds from solutions of crude extracts. Psyllid mortality rates on inoculated clippings ranged between 53 and 93% in treatments producing biochemically detectable levels of alkaloids, when compared with 15% mortality in water controls or the alkaloid-free I. alba. We then tested synthetic analogs from each of the three alkaloid classes that had been detected in the crude extracts. Each compound was assayed by inoculating clippings of two host species (potato and tomato) at increasing concentrations (0, 1, 10, and 100 µg/ml in solution). Psyllids exhibited a large and significant increase in mortality rate beginning at the lowest two concentrations, indicating that even very small quantities of these chemicals led to mortality. Feeding by nymphs on artificial diets containing synthetic compounds resulted in 100% mortality within 48 h, irrespective of compound. Further testing of ergot alkaloids to characterize the mode of action that leads to psyllid mortality is warranted.
Standard Radiographic Assessment of Femoral Cam Morphology is Influenced by Neck-Shaft Angle and Femoral Version:

Objectives:Cam-type femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a three-dimensional (3D) deformity that is still difficult to assess using traditional two-dimensional (2D) radiographic views. While measu...
2-Aminobenzothiazoles Inhibit Virulence Gene Expression and Block Polymyxin Resistance in Salmonella enterica

One promising strategy to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria is to develop compounds that block bacterial defenses against antibacterial conditions produced by the innate immune system. Salmonella enterica, which causes food-borne gastroenteritis and typhoid fever, requires histidine kinases (HKs) to resist innate immune defenses such as cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs). Herein, we report that 2-aminobenzothiazoles block histidine kinase-dependent phenotypes in Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium. We found that 2-aminobenzothiazoles inhibited growth under low Mg2+ , a stressful condition that requires histidine kinase-mediated responses, and decreased expression of the virulence genes pagC and pagK. Furthermore, we discovered that 2-aminobenzothiazoles weaken Salmonella's resistance to polymyxin B and polymyxin E, which are last-line antibiotics and models for host defense CAMPs. These findings raise the possibilities that 2-aminobenzothiazoles can block HK-mediated bacterial defenses and can be used in combination with polymyxins to treat infections caused by Salmonella.
A performance study of some approximation algorithms for minimum dominating set in a graph.

We implement and test the performances of several approximation algorithms for computing the minimum dominating set of a graph. These algorithms are the standard greedy algorithm, the recent LP rounding algorithms and a hybrid algorithm that we design by combining the greedy and LP rounding algorithms. All algorithms perform better than anticipated in their theoretical analysis, and have small performance ratios, measured as the size of output divided by the LP objective lower-bound. However, each may have advantages over the others. For instance, LP rounding algorithm normally outperforms the other algorithms on sparse real-world graphs. On a graph with 400,000+ vertices, LP rounding took less than 15 seconds of CPU time to generate a solution with performance ratio 1.011, while the greedy and hybrid algorithms generated solutions of performance ratio 1.12 in similar time. For synthetic graphs, the hybrid algorithm normally outperforms the others, whereas for hypercubes and k-Queens graphs, greedy outperforms the rest. Another advantage of the hybrid algorithm is to solve very large problems where LP solvers crash, as demonstrated on a real-world graph with 7.7 million+ vertices.
The liberalism of fear in China: Hu Ping and the uses of fear and memory in contemporary Chinese liberalism

Contemporary political theorists have sought to invoke Judith N. Shklar's liberalism of fear in discussions about human rights across cultural and national boundaries. These discussions would benef...
Constrained Energy Minimization Anomaly Detection for Hyperspectral Imagery via Dummy Variable Trick

Constrained energy minimization (CEM) has shown great success in subpixel target detection. This paper develops a dummy variable trick (DVT) to extend CEM to CEM anomaly detector (CEM-AD) and shows that CEM-AD also enjoys the same success in animation detection (AD). Its idea converts a known specific target signature d imposed on CEM to an unknown specific target signature to develop a signal-to-background ratio (SBR)-constrained energy minimization (SBR-CEM) as an unknown specified-target constrained energy minimization (UST-CEM) which serves as a liaison to derive the desired CEM-AD without prior knowledge of d. Surprisingly, the derived CEM-AD turns out to be a sample correlation matrix R-based anomaly detector, R-AD in correspondence to the well-known sample covariance matrix K-based anomaly detector developed by Reed-Xiaoli, RX-AD. To further improve CEM-AD, a low rank and sparse matrix decomposition (LRaSMD) model introduced by go decomposition (GoDec) and its sparsity cardinality (SC) are further incorporated into CEM-AD where two new versions of SC, fixed sparsity cardinality (FSC) and variable sparsity cardinality (VSC), are particularly designed to enhance AD. Finally, to effectively evaluate AD performance, recently developed 3D receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve-derived detection measures are used for comparative studies and analyses.
Pyriloxine Uptake by Proximal Tubular Epithelial Cells Isolated from Rat Kidney

We have examined the time course, temperature dependence, and concentration dependence of pyridoxine uptake by rat renal proximal tubular cells and also the effect of metabolic inhibitors upon the uptake process. The initial rate of uptake demonstrates saturation kinetics? overall uptake is rapidly achieved by a facilitated process, with additional influx attributable to diffusion prior to metabolic trapping.
Effect of tissue factor on plasma and packed RBC clotting parameters

Tissue factor (TF) is a transmembrane glycoprotein and the main triggering element for blood coagulation. Expression of TF on the cell surfaces and its appearance as a soluble molecule are characteristic features of acute and chronic inflammation in conditions such as arteriosclerosis leading to stroke and myocardial infection. A study was performed on human citrated whole blood, by separating plasma from the red blood cells. Ten microlitres of 25% tissue factor (TF) was added to both the plasma and packed red blood cells (RBC's), and the clotting time, rate of clot formation and the maximum strength of the clot determined. TF bearing samples clotted more rapidly and had greater clot strength when compared to that of control aliquots.
Biological Objectives and the Management of Living Marine Resources: A Compilation of International Agreements and U.S. Laws

This paper provides an annotated list of national and international legal agreements, treaties, laws or conventions (referred to here as agreements) that contain provisions pertaining to the management of living marine resources. The compilation was developed as part of a study on the biological objectives of fishery management. The listing contains information on 77 documents that are indicative of major fishery laws found in the United Nations Treaty Series (UNTS); United States Treaty Series (TIAS); Treaties and Other International Agreements on Fisheries, Oceanographic Resources and Wildlife Involving the United States; International Organization and Integration; International Governmental Organizations; and US Code, Congressional and Administrative News. The purpose of this paper is to provide a reference to the language used in the provisions and texts of various laws and legal agreements that address marine living resource management.
Presentism and Truthmaking

Presentism, according to which reality is limited to the present, is a natural view, but it is incompatible with the claims that reality invariably has a say in which propositions are true and that not all truths about the past are made true by the present. We survey some responses to this incompatibility.
What is a "Church"?: Implied Consent and the Contraception Mandate

This Article considers the “religious employer” exception to the “contraception mandate” – that is, the “preventative care” requirements announced by Department of Health and Human Services pursuant to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This exception has triggered significant litigation with a variety of employers claiming that they have been excluding from the “religious employer” classification in violation of both the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. In considering these claims, this Article applies an “implied consent” framework to these cases, which grounds the authority of religious institutions in the presumed consent of their members. On such an account, consent can be assumed so long as members understood the unique religious objectives of the institution when they joined, thereby implicitly authorizing the institution to make rules related to accomplishing these uniquely religious objectives. Building on this implied consent framework, this Article argues that the First Amendment should protect institutions from the requirements of the contraception mandate so long as these institutions were both organized around a core religious mission and where that religious mission was open and obvious to employees. In such circumstances, courts should presume that employees recognized the unique religious objectives of their employer and thereby implicitly authorized their employer to make rules related to achieving these religious goals.
A New Contribution in the Statistical Debate Over Trends in the Net Barter Terms of Trade Between Primary Commodities and Manufactures

This paper presents some new evidence in the statistical debate surrounding the Prebisch­ Singer hypothesis of a declining long-run trend in the net barter terms of trade between primary prod­ ucts and manUfactures. The paper analyses data from a variety of sources covering the period up to and including the early 1980s and finds evidence of a structural instability in the underlying growth path. Once appropriate action is taken to allow for this instability, some strong empirical support for the declining trend hypothesis emerges.
Theoretical performance comparison of a Compton-scatter aperture and parallel-hole collimator

Using the Uniform Cramer-Rao bound on variance, the performance of a conventional parallel-hole collimator has been compared with that of a ring-geometry Compton-scatter aperture. Objects used for the evaluation were uniformly emitting disk sources with diameters ranging from about 4-30 cm. Results for a 7.5 cm diameter disk and 141 keV incident energy show that a Compton-scatter aperture, constructed with Si detectors having 230 eV FWHM energy resolution, can be 15 times more efficient than a standard parallel-hole collimator at the same operating point.
Effectiveness and Usability of Bioinformatics Tools to Analyze Pathways Associated with miRNA Expression

MiRNAs are small, nonprotein-coding RNA molecules involved in gene regulation. While bioinformatics help guide miRNA research, it is less clear how they perform when studying biological pathways. We used 13 criteria to evaluate effectiveness and usability of existing bioinformatics tools. We evaluated the performance of six bioinformatics tools with a cluster of 12 differentially expressed miRNAs in colorectal tumors and three additional sets of 12 miRNAs that are not part of a known cluster. MiRPath performed the best of all the tools in linking miRNAs, with 92% of all miRNAs linked as well as the highest based on our established criteria followed by Ingenuity (58% linked). Other tools, including Empirical Gene Ontology, miRo, miRMaid, and PhenomiR, were limited by their lack of available tutorials, lack of flexibility and interpretability, and/or difficulty using the tool. In summary, we observed a lack of standardization across bioinformatic tools and a general lack of specificity in terms of pathways identified between groups of miRNAs. Hopefully, this evaluation will help guide the development of new tools.
The value of DNA sequence data for studying landscape genetics

In a recent Opinion article in Molecular Ecology, Wang (2010) emphasizes the fact that current patterns of genetic differentiation among populations reflect processes that have acted over temporal scales ranging from contemporary to ancient. He draws a sharp distinction between the fields of phylogeography (as the study of historical processes) and landscape genetics (which he restricts to very recent processes). Wang characterizes DNA sequence data as being inappropriate for the study of contemporary population processes and further states that studies which only include mitochondrial DNA or chloroplast DNA data cannot be considered part of landscape genetics. In this response, we clarify the generally accepted view that DNA sequence data can be analysed with methods that separate contemporary and historical processes. To illustrate this point, we summarize the study of Vandergast et al. (2007), which Wang mischaracterizes as being confused in terms of temporal scale. Although additional focus should be placed on the important issue of correct data interpretation, we disagree strongly with the implication that contemporary and historic processes cannot be separated in the analyses of DNA sequence data.
Application of thermal analysis in preservation and restoration of historic masonry materials

Thermal analysis techniques have been used in characterizing building materials from significant historic properties in the Charleston, South Carolina area. Determining the chemical and physical effects of deterioration resulting from long periods of exposure is a first step in formulating preservation strategies. In this regard, simultaneous thermal analysis coupled with evolved gas analysis has been used to study reactions between air, seawater, and masonry materials. Further, the traditional petrographic identification of mortar composition is greatly facilitated through use of thermal analysis. Simultaneous thermal analysis allows for an exact determination of the calcium carbonate content in mortars as an alternative to the use of an inferred value based on chemical analysis data. The partial dissolution of calcium carbonate in the presence of sea salt is a major deterioration process. Further, natural cements manufactured in the United States are identified, in part, based on their thermogravimetric (TG) traces and their evolved gases. The data indicates that natural cements form some carbonate phases in addition to the major hydrate phases. Clay bricks are found to exhibit interaction with sea water, with uptake of bicarbonate suggested. Additionally, there is evidence of re-hydroxylation in the 160 year old bricks. The bricks made in coastal zones contain a considerable free silica fraction that is composed of a small percentage of cristobalite. The silica content of the clay bricks is seen to result in very high thermal expansion coefficients in the area of 10 × 10−6 to 12 × 10−6 K−1. These studies provide guidance in restoration efforts where authenticity of cements is important. In the event that replacement bricks are required, matching the thermal expansion coefficient of the original bricks is a requirement for preservation of the masonry structure.
Streptococcus cristatus modulates the Fusobacterium nucleatum-induced epithelial interleukin-8 response through the nuclear factor-kappa B pathway

Zhang G, Chen R, Rudney JD.Streptococcus cristatusmodulates theFusobacterium nucleatum-induced epithelial interleukin-8 response through the nuclear factor-kappa B pathway. J Periodont Res 2011; 46: 558–567.©2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S Background and Objective: We previously reported that the interleukin-8 (IL-8) response to Fusobacterum nucleatum was attenuated in the presence of Streptococcus cristatus. Here, we further examined the underlying mechanism(s) involved in the modulating effect of S. cristatus by looking specifically at its impact on the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway under the toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling background. Material and Methods: OKF6/TERT-2 and KB cells were co-cultured with F. nucleatum and S. cristatus, either alone or in combination. Secretion of IL-8 protein was measured by ELISA. The nuclear translocation of NF-κB was evaluated by confocal microscopy, while DNA-binding activity was quantified using TransAM™ ELISA kits. Western blot analysis was performed to determine whether the anti-inflammatory effect of S. cristatus is related to the modulation of the NF-κB inhibitory protein IκB-α. Results: Incubation with F. nucleatum significantly enhanced the nuclear translocation of NF-κB. Exposure to S. cristatus alone did not cause detectable NF-κB translocation and was able to inhibit the F. nucleatum-induced NF-κB nuclear translocation. The TransAM assay further confirmed that S. cristatus blocked the nuclear translocation of NF-κB in response to F. nucleatum stimulation. In contrast to the nearly complete degradation of IκB-α induced by F. nucleatum alone, the presence of S. cristatus stabilized IκB-α. Pre-incubation with TLR2 and TLR4 antibodies, however, did not affect the epithelial response to either species alone or in combination. Conclusion: The mechanism by which S. cristatus attenuates F. nucleatum-induced proinflammatory responses in oral epithelial cells appears to involve blockade of NF-κB nuclear translocation at the level of IκB-α degradation.
Peanut Protein Isolation, Composition, and Properties

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the peanut protein isolation, composition, and properties. Worldwide production of peanuts exceeds 10,000,000 tons annually, with about 10% of the crop being grown in the United States. The protein content of the nuts is about 25%, which makes the peanut a significant source of vegetable protein for foods, feeds, and industrial products. Peanut protein consists of two principal fractions, arachin and conarachin. Arachin is a dissociation system, and its apparent physical chemical properties are dependent on the state of equilibrium existing between the associated and dissociated species. The chemical treatments is devised for stabilizing derived products, very little information is available on the chemical reactions of the proteins. The nutritional value of peanut protein compares favorably with other vegetable proteins; however, when compared with animal proteins, peanut protein is found to be deficient in lysine and methionine. Fibers, glues, sizings, and other industrial products have been made experimentally from peanut protein.
Sulfur geochemistry of hydrothermal waters in Yellowstone National Park: IV Acid–sulfate waters

Abstract Many waters sampled in Yellowstone National Park, both high-temperature (30–94 °C) and low-temperature (0–30 °C), are acid–sulfate type with pH values of 1–5. Sulfuric acid is the dominant component, especially as pH values decrease below 3, and it forms from the oxidation of elemental S whose origin is H 2 S in hot gases derived from boiling of hydrothermal waters at depth. Four determinations of pH were obtained: (1) field pH at field temperature, (2) laboratory pH at laboratory temperature, (3) pH based on acidity titration, and (4) pH based on charge imbalance (at both laboratory and field temperatures). Laboratory pH, charge imbalance pH (at laboratory temperature), and acidity pH were in close agreement for pH ±10%, a selection process was used to compare acidity, laboratory, and charge balance pH to arrive at the best estimate. Differences between laboratory and field pH can be explained based on Fe oxidation, H 2 S or S 2 O 3 oxidation, CO 2 degassing, and the temperature-dependence of p K 2 for H 2 SO 4 . Charge imbalances are shown to be dependent on a speciation model for pH values 4 concentrations, in the thousands of mg/L, result from evaporative concentration at elevated temperatures as shown by the consistently high δ 18 O values (−10‰ to −3‰) and a δD vs. δ 18 O slope of 3, reflecting kinetic fractionation. Low SO 4 concentrations ( 350 mg/L Cl) decrease as the Cl − concentration increases from boiling which appears inconsistent with the hypothesis of H 2 S oxidation as a source of hydrothermal SO 4 . This trend is consistent with the alternate hypothesis of anhydrite solubility equilibrium. Acid–sulfate water analyses are occasionally high in As, Hg, and NH 3 concentrations but in contrast to acid mine waters they are low to below detection in Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb concentrations. Even concentrations of SO 4 , Fe, and Al are much lower in thermal waters than acid mine waters of the same pH. This difference in water chemistry may explain why certain species of fly larvae live comfortably in Yellowstone’s acid waters but have not been observed in acid rock drainage of the same pH.
Atypical Antipsychotics and Newer Antidepressants

Atypical antipsychotics and newer antidepressants are commonly prescribed medications responsible for tens of thousands of adverse drug exposures each year. The emergency medicine physician should have a basic understanding of the pharmacology and toxicity of these agents. This knowledge is crucial to providing proper care and timely management of patients presenting with adverse drug effects from exposure to atypical antipsychotics and newer antidepressants.
A systems analysis of systems integration

Most if not all complex issues stated as problems intended to result in new systems may be analyzed using systems decomposition and then constructed by synthesis. Systems decomposition starts with a complex problem that may or may not be obviously solvable and deconstructs that problem into smaller more tractable problems that can be solved. Construction by synthesis treats the smaller solutions as building blocks. The key practical advantage to synthesis is that it permits concurrency of construction. The subsystems may be developed and tested independently in isolation. Not until integration will subsystems need to be brought together. Decomposition and synthesis are the ideal in theory. In practice there can be any number of problems. Potentially the most fatal of flaws can occur during decomposition where errors in abstraction lead to over-idealization of subsystem independence. Over-idealization leads to under-specification, that what is presumed to be independent is not. Once errors in subsystem specification are made, independent development ensures that undetected dependencies will remain undetected. Subsystem dependencies are hidden time bombs, dormant until the subsystems are brought together for systems integration. In systems integration the latent dependencies interact and explode in a manner most combinatorial. The term often used to describe the excitation of dormant dependencies is "emergent behavior". Emergent behavior is but one factor that plagues the integration of large software intensive systems. There have been few published analyses or case studies dedicated to systems integration, in particular analyses deemed useful as "lessons learned" for others to follow. This paper takes a hesitant first step, not towards a "lessons learned" but towards the meta, an estimation of the boundaries of what it might take before one can provide a useful "lessons learned".
Global observations of upper-tropospheric water vapor derived from TOVS radiance data

Abstract This paper describes a physically based method for the retrieval of upper-tropospheric humidity (UTH) and upper-tropospheric column water vapor (UTCWV) based an the use of radiance data collected by the TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS), principally channels 4 (14.2 μm), 6 (13.7 μm), and 12 (6.7 μm) of High-Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder. This paper demonstrates how TOVS radiance data, particularly that of the upper-tropospheric water vapor channel 12, can be modeled usefully using a single band Malkmus model with parameters tuned to a particular sensor on a particular satellite. A significant uncertainty arises from the treatment of continuum absorption, even in regions where line absorption is dominant. This uncertainty can introduce a bias as large as 2 K, which in turn leads to an uncertainty of approximately 15%–20% in the retrieved UTH and UTCWV. The research described in this paper points to the critical need for high-accuracy measurements of upper-tropospheric water vapor t...
TORT: A Three-Dimensional Discrete Ordinates Neutron/Photon Transport Code

(1991). TORT: A Three-Dimensional Discrete Ordinates Neutron/Photon Transport Code. Nuclear Science and Engineering: Vol. 107, No. 4, pp. 397-398.
The Cloze Procedure and Readability of Patient-Oriented Drug Information.

The purpose of this study was to determine 1) the readability of a patient package insert (PPI), and 2) the effect of age and schooling on the cloze test scores. The subjects (N = 75) consisted of female patients visiting family planning clinics in two midwestern communities. Each subject completed a 50-item cloze test. Raw cloze scores were converted to percentage of correct completions. Personal data supplied by each subject consisted of age and years of schooling. The mean cloze score for the PPI was 46.85 percent (instructional level) with no significant difference between the two communities. Forty percent of the subjects tested at the frustrational level, 33 percent at the instructional level, and only 27 percent at the independent level. Three out of four patients will need assistance in comprehending information in the PPI. Age and schooling had a significant (p = .01) effect on the cloze test scores.
Fish lateral line inspired hydrodynamic feedforward control for autonomous underwater vehicles

Studies have shown that the lateral line found in most fish and some other aquatic organisms is capable of providing hydrodynamic information of the surrounding fluid, which may facilitate many behavioral decisions. Previous work by the group introduced a lateral line inspired feedforward design for underwater vehicle control. The system utilizes pressure sensor arrays to estimate the hydrodynamic force acting on the vehicle such that the additional information will simplify the modeling process and improve the maneuvering accuracy for the control tasks in underwater exploration and environmental monitoring. In this paper, the feedforward control design is presented and tested in simulation for trajectory tracking and path following after expressing the force estimation algorithm in the three-dimensional domain. Pressure measurements at multiple locations on the vehicle surface form a least squares approximation of the pressure distribution. Hydrodynamic forces acting on the vehicle are then estimated and passed to the controller for improved performance. Preliminary experimental tests are conducted to vindicate the proposed algorithm.