cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Amides as ligands—VIII: Inorganic complexes of γ-butyrolactam and N-methyl-γ-butyrolactam

Abstract A series of metal complexes of γ-butyrolactam (BuL) and N-methyl-γ-butyrolactam (NMBuL) have been synthesized, showing co-ordination through the oxygen atom. The perchlorate salts of these complexes have a composition of the general formulas [M(BuL) 6 ] n + (ClO 4 ) n , and [M(NMBuL) 4 or 6 ] n + (ClO 4 ) n (M = Cr 3+ , Al 3+ , Fe 2+ , Mn 2+ , Co 2+ , Ni 2+ , Cu 2+ , Cd 2+ , Zn 2+ , Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ ). The halide complexes of the Co 2+ , Cu 2+ , Mn 2+ and Fe 3+ show, however, a marked structural difference from the perchlorate complexes. The Co(II) halides exhibit the general formula [Co(BuL) 6 ][CoX 4 ] (X = Cl, Br, I and SCN), indicating octahedral cationic and tetrahedral anionic species. The Cu(II) and Mn(II) chlorides have structures of the general formula [M(BuL) 2 Cl 2 ] and [M(BuL)Cl 2 ]. A complex having the formula [Mn(NMBuL)Cl 2 ] has also been isolated. The Fe(III) chloride complex exhibits the structure of the type [FeL 4 Cl 2 ][FeCl 4 ]. These complexes have been characterized by their i.r. spectra, electrical conductivity measurements, magnetic moments, X-ray diffraction patterns and electronic absorption spectra. The ligand field parameters Dq , B′ and β have been calculated for the octahedral cobalt(II) perchlorate complexes, and the tetrahedral [CoX 4 ] 2− species, verifying the proposed geometries and confirming the previously suggested donor order of BuL > NMBuL in the spectrochemical series.
P-Type Indium-Doped Passivated Emitter Rear Solar Cells (PERC) on Czochralski Silicon Without Light-Induced Degradation

Solar cells fabricated on boron (B)-doped Czochralski (Cz) Si wafers in the photovoltaic industry are known to suffer from light-induced degradation (LID) in efficiency. This paper reports on promising LID-free large-area indium (In)-doped Cz Si solar cells. Two different commercial-grade B-doped Cz materials were included for comparison. To study the impact of LID on the cell structure, ion-implanted large-area (239 and 242.22 cm2) screen-printed full aluminum (Al) back-surface field (BSF) baseline cells, as well as higher performance passivated emitter rear cells (PERC) with oxide passivation and local Al BSF, were fabricated. In-doped PERC cells achieved 20.3% efficiency, while the B-doped cells gave efficiencies of 20.7% and 20.5% from low- (2 Ω⋅cm) and high-resistivity (6.2 Ω⋅cm) substrates, respectively. It was found that initial efficiency of In-doped PERC cells was ∼0.2% lower due to lower bulk lifetime and higher back-surface recombination velocity. However, In-doped PERC cells showed no LID and surpassed the B-doped PERC cell efficiency by 0.3–0.5% after 0.8-sun 48-h illumination at 37 °C.
The Divine and Artistic Ideal:Ideas and Insights in Chinese and Western Thought

Across cultures,art has been related to the divine.The divine used to be viewed as the ultimate aesthetic ideal,and aesthetics is full of notions,ideas,and concepts related to it,without which artistic criticism and aesthetic education would be in a much impoverished state.The divine in art,however,is a slippery category in aesthetics that has been intuitively explored since high antiquity.In this article,I will examine some critical and theoretical data on the divine,divine creation,and divine spirit in artistic representation from the Chinese and Western traditions and explore how the Chinese and Western traditions employ ideas of the divine for artistic conceptions and aesthetic education.On the basis of comparison and contrast,I will try to obtain some rational insights into the relationship between artistic creation and the divine in terms of logical analysis.Finally,I will make some efforts to reconceptualize the insights drawn from both traditions,and explore to what extent the divine is still relevant to present-day aesthetics,how an aesthetic ideal may be conceived on ideas of the divine in artistic representation,and in what ways an art work may be considered to have entered the divine realm of artistic ideal.
Membrane structure and function. Mechanism of hemolysis induced by nematocyst venom: roles of phospholipase A and direct lytic factor.

Abstract Pure venom from the acontial nematocysts of the sea anemone Aiptasia pallida exhibited phospholipase A (phosphatide acyl-hydrolase; EC 3.1.1.4) activity on a mixture of free phospholipids. Diethyl aminoethyl cellulose fractionation of the venom gave four distinct protein peaks with the phospholipase A activity being restricted to fractions III and IV. These two fractions tested separately also were able to lyse red blood cells weakly. Fractions I and II enhanced the hemolytic activity of fractions III and IV, with fractions I and III giving as much as ninefold enhancement over that of III alone. Fraction I appears analogous to the direct lytic factor of some snake and bee venoms. Fraction III, which could not appreciably hydrolyze the phospholipids of the intact red cell membrane, was able to do so in the presence of fraction I. The sequential interactions of these two nematocyst venom proteins with the red blood cell membrane to produce hemolysis is discussed.
Genetic testing in cancer: ethical issues.

In 2002, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) established the Cancer Prevention Committee (CAPC), which was formed in the hope of ensuring the integration of cancer prevention into oncology practice and research.[1]
Strength of ERK1/2 MAPK Activation Determines Its Effect on Myelin and Axonal Integrity in the Adult CNS.

Myelin growth is a tightly regulated process driven by multiple signals. ERK1/2-MAPK signaling is an important regulator of myelin thickness. Because, in demyelinating diseases, the myelin formed during remyelination fails to achieve normal thickness, increasing ERK1/2 activity in oligodendrocytes is of obvious therapeutic potential for promoting efficient remyelination. However, other studies have suggested that increased levels of ERK1/2 activity could, in fact, have detrimental effects on myelinating cells. Because the strength, duration, or timing of ERK1/2 activation may alter the biological outcomes of cellular responses markedly, here, we investigated the effect of modulating ERK1/2 activity in myelinating cells using transgenic mouse lines in which ERK1/2 activation was upregulated conditionally in a graded manner. We found enhanced myelin gene expression and myelin growth in the adult CNS at both moderate and hyperactivated levels of ERK1/2 when upregulation commenced during developmental myelination or was induced later during adulthood in quiescent preexisting oligodendrocytes, after active myelination is largely terminated. However, a late onset of demyelination and axonal degeneration occurred at hyperelevated, but not moderately elevated, levels regardless of the timing of the upregulation. Similarly, myelin and axonal pathology occurred with elevated ERK1/2 activity in Schwann cells. We conclude that a fine tuning of ERK1/2 signaling strength is critically important for normal oligodendrocyte and Schwann cell function and that disturbance of this balance has negative consequences for myelin and axonal integrity in the long term. Therefore, therapeutic modulation of ERK1/2 activity in demyelinating disease or peripheral neuropathies must be approached with caution. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT ERK1/2-MAPK activation in oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells is an important signal for promoting myelin growth during developmental myelination. Here, we show that, when ERK1/2 are activated in mature quiescent oligodendrocytes during adulthood, new myelin growth is reinitiated even after active myelination is terminated, which has implications for understanding the mechanism underlying plasticity of myelin in adult life. Paradoxically, simply increasing the “strength” of ERK1/2 activation changed the biological outcome from beneficial to detrimental, adversely affecting myelin and axonal integrity in both the CNS and PNS. Therefore, this study highlights the complexity of ERK1/2-MAPK signaling in the context of oligodendrocyte and Schwann cell function in the adult animal and emphasizes the need to approach potential therapeutic modulation of ERK1/2 activity with caution.
Radiation properties of a rectangular patch antenna loaded with a magnetoelectric material

Magnetoelectric materials exhibit altered permeability with the application of a static electric field. As such magnetoelectric materials have the potential to affect the radiation properties of antennas loaded with such a material. In this paper, we explore the radiation properties of patch antennas loaded with slabs of magnetoelectric hexaferrite materials. It is shown that changes in permeability, due to an application of a DC voltage or electric field to the magnetoelectric material, result in radiation properties that are systematically altered as the resonance frequency of the antenna is shifted lower in the UHF band.
Understanding Guest Satisfaction with Urban Hotel Location

In this article, we unveil determinants of guest satisfaction with urban hotel locations and disclose what types of locations are preferred by guests. Using data from 8,185 online reviews of 220 Los Angeles hotels checked in during a 1-year period, we apply a mixed-effect ordered logit model to investigate factors determining location evaluation scores. We classify all location-related factors into three categories: accessibility to points of interest, transport convenience, and surrounding environment. Our results suggest that a property’s accessibility to attractions, airports, universities and public transportation, as well as green spaces, bodies of water, and local businesses are significant determinants. Free parking and airport shuttle bus service could mitigate disadvantages related to inferior airport accessibility. Moreover, we underscore different hotel location satisfaction effects across travelers’ experiences and types of travel described in the online reviews. Lastly, different types of tra...
Ion-pulling simulations provide insights into the mechanisms of channel opening of the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor

The type 1 ryanodine receptor (RyR1) mediates Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum to initiate skeletal muscle contraction and is associated with muscle diseases, malignant hyperthermia, and central core disease. To better understand RyR1 channel function, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of channel gating and ion permeation. An adequate model of channel gating requires accurate, high-resolution models of both open and closed states of the channel. To this end, we generated an open-channel RyR1 model using molecular simulations to pull Ca2+ through the pore constriction site of a closed-channel RyR1 structure determined at 3.8-A resolution. Importantly, we find that our open-channel model is consistent with the RyR1 and cardiac RyR (RyR2) open-channel structures reported while this paper was in preparation. Both our model and the published structures show similar rotation of the upper portion of the pore-lining S6 helix away from the 4-fold channel axis and twisting of Ile-4937 at the channel constriction site out of the channel pore. These motions result in a minimum open-channel pore radius of ∼3 A formed by Gln-4933, rather than Ile-4937 in the closed-channel structure. We also present functional support for our model by mutations around the closed- and open-channel constriction sites (Gln-4933 and Ile-4937). Our results indicate that use of ion-pulling simulations produces a RyR1 open-channel model, which can provide insights into the mechanisms of channel opening complementing those from the structural data.
Making The Exotic Mundane: The Manila Galleon, The Flota, And Globalization

For two and one half centuries, the Manila Galleons navigated the vast expanses of the Pacific laden with the highly desired exotica of Asia- spices, fine textiles, and glistening porcelain. Acapulco, the terminal port for the eastward-bound vessels was in reality the starting point for the distribution of their cargoes to the Iberian motherland and to the farthest corners of their colonial New World empire. These commodities not only captivated the imagination of Spain’s elites through conspicuous consumption, but they also would share in the transformation of peoples of all social standings into participants in the nascent global economy. By the time the trade ended that which was once exotic had become mundane. To illustrate these transformations this examination draws on archaeological and documentary evidence from shipwreck and terrestrial sites in California, Texas, Florida, Mexico, the Philippines and Spain dating from the sixteenth through nineteenth centuries.
Regulation of Contractility in Cardiac Muscle

The function of the heart is to pump blood to all of the organs of the body in sufficient quantity to satisfy the metabolic requirements of the tissues at any given time. The total metabolic needs of the body can vary over a wide range depending on the environment and the level of activity of the organism. In the average healthy human, the amount of blood flow required can vary over a range of five- to sixfold between the requirements during a basal level of activity and intense exercise. There are only two mechanisms by which the heart can pump more blood per unit time: an increase in the amount ejected during a single contraction, stroke volume, and an increase in the frequency of contraction. An augmentation of stroke volume can be produced by an increased resting or end diastolic volume, a more complete emptying of the ventricles during contraction, or a combination of the two. More complete emptying results from neuroendocrine stimulation of the heart. In the resting human, the ventricles normally eject about 60–65% of their end diastolic volume, but this amount can rise to approximately 90–95% under intense adrenergic stimulation. End diastolic volume does not increase very much during normal function of a healthy human, even during severe exercise, so the contribution to an increased stroke volume from cardiac dilatation, the so-called Frank-Starling Law of the Heart, is essentially restricted to maintaining an equal output from the left and right sides of the heart over any significant period of time.
Nonlinear Lattice Dynamics: Molecular Dynamics Studies

Nonlinearity combined with dispersion were essential aspects in various contexts for many decades but have enjoyed remarkable revival of interest in the last few years [1,2]. The topic we wish to discuss here is structurally-commensurate lattice systems reducing in the continuum limit to the Φ4 Hamiltonian and exhibiting a distortive phase transition. This transition takes the system from an ordered low-temperature displacement configuration to a different high-temperature pattern, where the mean displacements, representing the order parameter, vanish. The occurrence of a phase transition brings about novel aspects which were absent in previous studies of nonlinear systems such as the FERMI-PASTA-ULAN problem [3] or the TODA [4] lattice. In fact, a molecular-dynamics study [5] of a two-dimensional (2-d) model revealed, close to the transition temperature Tc, the formation and motion of clusters separated by walls, representing connected particles whose displacements have a sign opposite to that expected from the zero-temperature arrangement. The existence of these clusters and their dynamics has important consequences. It reveals that a given particle not only vibrates around a mean position, but also that the particles perform large amplitude motions which cannot be treated within the framework of conventional lattice dynamics. Subsequently, these numerical results have been confirmed [6] extended to 1-d [7–9] and 3-d systems [10] including models where the displacement vector is no longer a scalar but has two components (n = 2) [11].
Functional Behavioral Assessments: Legal Requirements and Challenges

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Amendments of 1997 require that if a student's behavior impedes his or her learning or the learning of others, then that student's Individuali...
Antipredator strategies of striped skunks in response to cues of aerial and terrestrial predators

Prey species defend themselves behaviourally and morphologically, and often use varied antipredator strategies against dissimilar predator types (i.e. terrestrial versus aerial). Striped skunks, Mephitis mephitis, spray noxious secretions at predators and advertise this danger with deterrent behaviours and black-and-white aposematic coloration. Evidence suggests skunks are effective at deterring terrestrial mammalian predators but are vulnerable to aerial predators; how skunks assess the risk posed by different predator types, however, has not been examined empirically. We recorded the behavioural responses of skunks to audio playbacks of coyotes, Canis latrans, and great horned owls, Bubo virginianus (the primary terrestrial and aerial predators of skunks, respectively), and peregrine falcons, Falco peregrinus, and white noise as controls. Skunks ran away more often from vocalizations of their main predators, great horned owls and coyotes, than from diurnal falcon vocalizations or white noise recordings. Skunks also tended to run away sooner in response to owl vocalizations than falcon or coyote vocalizations. Finally, subjects tended to engage in vigilance more frequently in response to owl vocalizations than in response to coyote vocalizations, which together with other results suggest that skunks may perceive owls as more threatening relative to coyotes. This study elucidates how a well-defended mammal can determine which perceived threat is the riskiest and alter its behaviour when its main defence strategy may not be successful against all predator types.
Interventions against bullying of prelicensure students and nursing professionals: An integrative review

The problem of bullying is of such significance, health care accreditation agencies such as The Joint Commission have reiterated that these behaviors compromise on patient safety. Researchers demonstrate that much is known about the existence of bullying behaviors in health care and its detrimental effects on the profession of nursing. Leaders in health care and nursing education are beginning to tackle this issue. Guided by the methodology of Whittemore and Knafl, the purpose of this integrative review was to analyze literature discussing the interventions against bullying directed towards prelicensure nursing students and professionals.
Derrotando barreras de aprendizaje y de la participación en clases de Biología durante la unidad: Dinámica de Poblaciones y Comunidades

El presente trabajo corresponde a una investigacion-accion desarrollada por una profesora novel de Biologia a cargo de un 2° Medio en un establecimiento municipal. A inicios de ano, dicho curso presentaba caracteristicas disruptivas y conductas de desinteres durante las clases, las que fueron atribuidas a la falta de incorporacion de las preferencias de aprendizaje de los estudiantes en cuanto a que aprender de la Biologia, como aprenderla y con quien. Al termino del proceso se evidencia que, al otorgar espacios para la participacion y la inclusion de las preferencias de aprendizaje de los estudiantes en distintas instancias, mediante estrategias propuestas por ellos mismos (inclusion de proyectos de clases, organizacion de una salida a terreno y la incorporacion de preguntas miscelaneas al termino de la clase), se logra fomentar la participacion , el compromiso y el mejoramiento del clima de aula. Esto favorece los aprendizajes en la asignatura, evidenciado en el logro de los estandares de aprendizaje. El enfocar a los estudiantes en el proceso de ensenanza y aprendizaje no solo trajo mejoras en el aprendizaje de los estudiantes, sino que tambien ayudo a desarrollar la identidad profesional de la docente novel.
The role of PPG in identification of mild cognitive impairment

Early and reliable detection of cognitive impairment is crucial for optimized care of Alzheimer's disease. In our former publication, we derived features from gait signals and proposed a novel feature selection algorithm to identify mild cognitive impairment (MCI) aging. In this paper, we concentrate on applying the previously proposed algorithm on a different biosignal, photoplethysmography (PPG), to improve MCI classification. We also demonstrate data acquisition using a finger-tip wireless pulse oximeter and feature extraction from PPG. Our classification accuracy is 0.90 ± 0.01 with the dataset from 62 elderly participants (72.71 ± 10.63 years; 31 MCI and 31 control), which is a higher classification accuracy than only using the administered neuropsychological measures. This study verifies that PPG-derived parameters also have the potential to enhance the ability to accurately diagnosis cognitive impairment.
Wet fractionation process to produce high protein and high fiber products from brewer's spent grain

Abstract Brewer's spent grain (BSG) is the major waste generated by breweries, which contains 20–30% (w/w) proteins and 40–60% (w/w) of fibers. Technologies have been investigated to valorize BSG by extracting proteins from BSG; however, none of them has been implemented on an industrial scale due to the challenges including high drying cost of wet BSG, heavy chemical consumptions, and a large volume of secondary waste after protein extraction. Herein, a wet fractionation process was proposed to fully utilize BSG by simultaneously producing high protein product (HPP) and high fiber product (HFP) through the separation of proteins and fibers from BSG. The effect of different concentrations (1, 3, and 5%, w/w) of chemicals (sodium hydroxide and sodium bisulfite) and enzyme (Alcalase, 5, 20 and 35 μL/g dry BSG) treatments on product yield and composition was investigated to maximize the process separation efficiency and potentially reduce the chemical and enzyme consumptions. The sodium hydroxide and Alcalase treatments improved the protein and fiber separation compared to the sodium bisulfite treatment. Under the optimal condition (20 μL/g dry BSG) using Alcalase, the protein separation efficiency was 84%, and the protein concentration in HPP was 43% (w/w), almost double the protein concentration (23%, w/w) in original BSG. The fiber content of the HFP was more than 80% (w/w), of which hemicellulose is the dominant fiber component.
The Benefits of Oral Rehydration on Orthostatic Intolerance in Children With Postural Tachycardia Syndrome

Objective To evaluate whether equal volumes of oral rehydration solution (ORS) or intravenous (IV) saline provide similar improvements in cardiovascular status during controlled orthostatic challenge when administered to subjects with postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) with orthostatic intolerance. Study design We studied the neurovascular response to fluid loading during orthostatic stress using lower body negative pressure (LBNP) in 10 subjects with POTS with orthostatic intolerance and 15 controls, and on subsequent days before and 1 hour after IV saline infusion or ingestion of ORS. Results Subjects with POTS exhibited reduced tolerance to LBNP (P Conclusions Maintenance of CBFv may have resulted in the improved short-term orthostatic tolerance exhibited by the subjects with POTS following ORS administration. ORS is a convenient, safe, and effective therapy for short-term relief of orthostatic intolerance.
Early Language Interventions for Young Dual Language Learners: A Scoping Review

Purpose The aim of this article was to provide a systematic scoping review of the literature describing early language interventions for young children who are dual language learners, including children with early language deficits. Method The search conducted yielded a total of 27 sources describing 70 language strategies or procedures for dual language learners from 9 months of age to 3 years 11 months of age. The majority of sources were recommended practices (n = 12) followed by descriptive studies (n = 7). There were a total of 6 intervention studies and 5 research review studies. Results Strategies were collated and categorized into 5 major types: general approach, caregiver based, interaction based, language strategies, and early literacy strategies. Conclusion A preliminary evidence map was created to chart each strategy and sources that included the strategy and to indicate the highest strength of recommendation observed across sources. A discussion of compelling and promising strategies is presented.
Abuse of anabolic steroids: A dangerous indulgence

Abstract Anabolic androgenic drugs include testosterone and its synthetic steroidal derivatives (also known as anabolic androgenic steroids [AAS]), as well as nonsteroidal selective androgen receptor modulators, which exert tissue-specific androgenic effects by binding to the androgen receptor. As these agents increase muscle mass and strength, they have been widely abused by professional athletes to seek competitive advantage. Recently the use of these compounds has also increased among amateur athletes and also among men who are not athletes but want to enhance their body image. The use of AAS is associated with many adverse effects, some of which are serious and difficult to manage. In this article, we briefly review the types of AAS, the mechanism behind their ergogenic effects, and finally discuss their adverse effects in some detail.
Demonstration of Autonomous Nested Search for Local Maxima Using an Unmanned Underwater Vehicle

Ocean Worlds represent one of the best chances for extra-terrestrial life in our solar system. A new mission concept must be developed to explore these oceans. This mission would require traversing the 10s of km thick icy shell and releasing a submersible into the ocean below. During the transit of the icy shell and the exploration of the ocean, the vehicle(s) would be out of contact with Earth for weeks or potentially months at a time. During this time the vehicle must have sufficient autonomy to locate and study scientific targets of interest. One such target of interest is hydrothermal venting. We have previously developed an autonomous nested search method to locate and investigate sources of hydrothermal venting by locating local maxima in hydrothermal vent emissions. In this work we demonstrate this approach on board an OceanServer Iver2 AUV in Chesapeake Bay, MD using simulated sensor data from a hydrothermal plume model. This represents the first step towards the deployment of this approach in conditions analogous to those that we might expect on an Ocean World.
Built-in Self-Test of Vector Matrix Multipliers on a Reconfigurable Device

An analog Vector Matrix Multiplier (VMM) along with its interface through Multi-Input Translinear Elements (MITE) is compiled on a reconfigurable Field Programmable Analog Array (FPAA) on a 350nm process. The paper focuses on the tuning algorithm to set the weights on the VMM as well as to produce levels of voltage near the power supply rails, V dd , to the source-driven VMMs, by application of a wide range of input levels. The constraints during the design and implementation process, accounting for the mismatch in devices, are discussed. A significant reduction in the variation in the levels of the desired voltage has been demonstrated in the paper.
Pyrolysis temperature and soil depth interactions determine PyC turnover and induced soil organic carbon priming

Pyrogenic organic carbon (PyC) is a complex, heterogeneous class of thermally altered organic substrates, but its dynamics and how its behavior changes with soil depth remain poorly understood. We conducted a laboratory incubation study to investigate the interactive effects of pyrolysis temperature and soil depth on the turnover of PyC compared to its precursor wood and native SOC (NSOC). We incubated dual-labeled (13C and 15N) jack pine pyrogenic organic matter produced at 300 °C (PyC300), 450 °C (PyC450), and their precursor pine wood in a fine-loamy, mixed-conifer forest soil for 745 days. A mixture of surface (0–10 cm) and subsurface (50–70 cm) forest soils, with and without labeled biomass were incubated in the dark at 55% soil water field capacity and 25 °C. Total 13C from PyC and wood mineralized as 13C-CO2 (as % of C added to soil) declined with an increase in pyrolysis temperature as follows: 54 ± 7.7% for wood, 3.1 ± 0.2% for PyC300, and 0.94 ± 0.08% for PyC450. After 2 years, soil depth interacted with pyrolysis temperature to affect C turnover, with total wood C losses significantly declining from 70.6% in surface soils to 37.5% in subsurface soil, while total losses of PyC300 and PyC450 were unaffected by differences between surface and subsurface soils. Wood induced negative priming (i.e., decreased mineralization rates) in surface soil at days 3 and 60, while PyC300 induced positive priming (i.e., increased mineralization rates) in subsurface soil at day 60. After 2 years, unlabeled NSOC losses increased from 9.2 ± 0.8% of NSOC in unamended treatments to 16.5 ± 2.6% of NSOC with PyC450 additions. Our results suggest that PyC pyrolyzed at a given temperature can mineralize at similar rates between soil depths, and high amounts of PyC450 in subsurface soils can stimulate NSOC losses. These findings indicate that soil depth imposes critical controls on PyC dynamics belowground.
The Rise of the Corporate-Issued Cryptocurrency

This paper explores the response to the Libra project by U.S. regulators and identifies issues that need to be addressed if a corporate-issued cryptocurrency like the Libra is introduced into the marketplace. Part I will provide context for the regulatory challenges facing the Libra and explore the idea of privatizing money. Part II will consider proposed approaches to regulating the Libra in the United States, chiefly the “Keep Big Tech Out of Finance Act” and examine the effect of moratoriums on innovation. Part III will discuss whether Facebook’s involvement in the Libra project is the reason for the ire it has drawn from regulators. Part IV will examine regulatory challenges facing the Libra and identify questions that must be answered to address the issuance of cryptocurrencies by corporations.
Multiples Used to Estimate Corporate Value

We evaluated various multiples practitioners use to estimate company value. We found, first, that the asset multiple (market value to book value of assets) generally generates more precise and less biased estimates than do the sales and the earnings multiples. Second, although adjusting for companies' cash levels does not improve estimates of company value, using forecasted earnings rather than trailing earnings does. Third, the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) multiple generally yields better estimates than does the EBIT multiple. Finally, the accuracy and bias of value estimates, as well as the relative performance of the multiples, vary greatly by company size, company profitability, and the extent of intangible value in the company.
An Evidence-based Guide for Obesity Treatment in Primary Care

On behalf of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, we present a model of obesity management in primary care based on the 5As counseling framework (Assess, Advise, Agree, Assist, and Arrange). Primary care physicians can use the 5As framework to build and coordinate a multidisciplinary team that: 1) addresses patients' psychosocial issues and medical and psychiatric comorbidities associated with obesity treatment failure; 2) delivers intensive counseling that consists of goal setting, self-monitoring, and problem solving; and 3) connects patients with community resources to assist them in making healthy lifestyle changes. This paper outlines reimbursement guidelines and weight-management counseling strategies, and provides a framework for building a multidisciplinary team to maximize the patient's success at weight management.
On the Transdisciplinary Field of Humor Research

Based on formal theories of humor and a computational semantic technology for information and text meaning analysis, computers could be programmed to detect and generate humor and determine the patterns of individual humor preferences both for the joke tellers or posters and for the people that comment on jokes. These patterns do not only reveal information on a person's sensitivities to various spheres of life, which, in turn, aggregated, when necessary, over any number of individuals, can be used for targeted advertising, focused marketing, and possibly political campaigns and definitely for cyber security, but also provide a solid cognitive and emotional foundation for friendlier human computer interaction. The paper introduces the rationale and theory for rigorous study of humor that provides a foundation for the outlined research.
Going negative: how reproductive rights discourse has been altered from a positive to a negative rights framework in support of 'Women's rights

In this chapter, we explore how reproductive rights came to fall under this negative rights framework, examining why this strategy dominated the history of ideas on reproductive health as a human right.
Ferret: RFID localization for pervasive multimedia

The pervasive nature of multimedia recording devices enables novel pervasive multimedia applications with automatic, inexpensive, and ubiquitous identification and locationing abilities. We present the design and implementation of Ferret, a scalable system for locating nomadic objects augmented with RFID tags and displaying them to a user in real-time. We present two alternative algorithms for refining a postulation of an object's location using a stream of noisy readings from an RFID reader: an online algorithm for real-time use on a mobile device, and an offline algorithm for use in post-processing applications. We also present methods for detecting when nomadic objects move and how to reset the algorithms to restart the refinement process. An experimental evaluation of the Ferret prototype shows that (i) Ferret can refine object locations to only 1% of the reader's coverage region in less than 2 minutes with small error rate (2.22%); (ii) Ferret can detect nomadic objects with 100% accuracy when the nomadic distances exceed 20cm; and (iii) Ferret works with a variety of user mobility patterns.
An AQUA-Based Intermediate Language for Evaluating an Active Deductive Object-Oriented Language

This paper presents an approach for evaluating the Comprehensive Declarative Object Language (CDOL). CDOL is a declarative language that supports the definition, retrieval and manipulation of data over an object-oriented database with support for active rules. We have designed and implemented an intermediate language for the evaluation of CDOL, which is based on the widely used AQUA object algebra. The mapping of a comprehensive application in CDOL to AQUA motivated this AQUA-based intermediate language, known as ABIL. A subset of AQUA operations that were necessary for translating CDOL to AQUA forms the basis of this intermediate language. This paper describes the design of ABIL and illustrates by example the translation of CDOL into ABIL. This paper also includes detailed examples of the evaluation of CDOL's rule-based query language, which utilizes a binding structure to maintain the bindings for the variables during the evaluation of a CDOL rule.
Teaching Difficult Concepts: Teaching Students to Write Specific, Detailed Analogies

An article explaining the problem getting legal writing students to use the specific facts and details of their cases in their legal analyses and detailing an exercise to teach this skill.
National Section on Dance

(1960). National Section on Dance. Journal of Health, Physical Education, Recreation: Vol. 31, No. 5, pp. 23-66.
Effect of residual elements on radiation strengthening in iron alloys, pressure vessel steels, and welds

Embrittlement of pressure vessel steels and welds during irradiation at service temperatures around 290°C is known to be related to the presence of residual elements such as copper but the mechanism of embrittlement has not been clear. Pressure vessel steels and welds with high and low copper content and binary iron alloys with 0.3 at. pct of Cu, V, Ni, and P and 0.1 at. pct C were irradiated to fluences of 2.5 x 1019 and 4.5 x 1020 n per sq cm > 1 MeV and compression tested to determine the radiation strengthening. Alloys containing copper had more rapid and greater radiation strengthening. It is concluded that the embrittlement is due to this radiation strengthening which in turn results from a higher density of defect aggregates. Vacancy trapping by the copper atoms which modifies the kinetics of defect aggregate nucleation is shown to be the most likely cause for the differences in microstructure.
The Limits of Settlement Growth: A Theoretical Outline

The Limits of Settlement Growth:. Theoretical Outline. Roland Fletcher. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995.276 pp.
Effects of stress and retesting on role play tests of social skill

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of stress in performance on role play tests of social skill. Chronic psychiatric patients were tested in a formal videotape studio or in an informal consulting room setting. Motoric and physiological measures were secured. In addition, one-half of the subjects were retested one week later. In contrast to previous studies, results indicated that the assessment was not stressful. The two groups were not different on any measure, and the mean heart rates ranged from only 80 to 84 b.p.m. The effects of retesting were difficult to interpret. There were reductions in motoric indices of anxiety (speech disruptions) but not on physiological indices. Overall, testretest reliability was quite high. The results raise several questions which affect interpretation of many social skills studies in the literature.
Long-term effects of morphine on the electroencephalogram and behavior of the rat.

Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were given 10 mg/kg i.p. injections of morphine sulfate twice weekly, at 84-h intervals, over a period of three weeks. A control group of rats was simultaneously treated with equivalent volumes of isotonic saline. The animals were then prepared with cortical and temporalis muscle electrodes. Ten days after the last injection of morphine or of saline, they were placed in individual cages for recording of the EEG and the EMG and both groups were given i.p. a 10 mg/kg test dose of morphine. In the saline-treated rats, high voltage EEG slow bursts in association with stuporous behavior appeared almost immediately after injection and prevailed for 60–90 min. This phase was followed by continuous EEG and behavioral arousal for another period of 60–90 min, after which sleep appeared. Administration of the 10 mg/kg test dose of morphine to the rats having prior morphine exposure resulted in a much shorter initial period of EEG and behavioral stupor and a longer secondary phase of EEG and behavioral arousal. The duration of the entire morphine effect as determined by the latency to sleep onset, however, was the same in the saline-treated and morphine-treated groups of rats. These results support the assumption that long-term alterations in the function of the CNS occur not only after morphine addiction, but also after only exposure to morphine.
Behavioral inhibition in children from families at high risk for developing alcoholism

ABSTRACT Objective To determine whether children at risk for the development of adult alcohol dependence would show greater “behavioral inhibition” to the unfamiliar, an early childhood temperament characteristic. Method One hundred peer play evaluations were conducted blindly with preschool children from families selected to be at high or low risk for developing alcohol dependence. Each child was paired with different children (same-sex pairs) in independent sessions to determine the stability of the behavioral response. Results High-risk children spent significantly more time staring at the other child during the peer play session while refraining from engaging in play, and significantly less time speaking to the other child. Significantly more time was spent proximal to the parent, but only on the first peer play session. These behaviors have been shown to be indicators of behavioral inhibition. Conclusions These findings suggest that the presence of behavioral inhibition to the unfamiliar in childhood may be a risk factor for later development of alcohol dependence. While there is abundant evidence that childhood externalizing behaviors are risk factors for later development of substance dependence, the present results suggest that internalizing behaviors may be a pathway as well. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry, 1999, 38(4):410–420.
South Asians in College Counseling

The goal of this article is to provide information on the assessment and treatment of South Asian college students for mental health practitioners. We provide a brief historical review of the cultures from which these students come and the process of migration to the United States and also make recommendations for work with these students in the college counseling setting. Topics addressed include family dynamics, arranged marriage, ethnic identity development, and suicide.
Directory of Evaluation Training Programs.

This training directory can guide prospective students as well as provide insights into the current state of evaluation training.
Putting humpty-dumpty together: Mining causal mechanistic biochemical models from big data

In traditional engineering disciplines, the construction of a system is usually preceded by a formal or informal specification of the design of the system being developed. In biochemical applications, however, a detailed specification of the system's structure and dynamics is usually unavailable. Thus, mechanistic details of biochemical systems must be mined from experimental observations. In this paper, we adopt a formal methods approach towards deriving causal mechanistic models from time-series observations of biochemical systems. The mined model captures causality among multiple biological events and also allows causal relationships between sets of events. We exploit results from trace theory and use the power of powerful constraint solvers to develop a new framework for causality identification and reasoning that captures dynamic relationships among species in biochemical reaction networks.
Formation of hydrophilic microporous membranes via thermally induced phase separation

Abstract Hydrophilic microporous membranes were produced via the TIPS process using two hydrophilic ethylene–acrylic acid co-polymers (zinc salt) with different co-unit contents. These co-polymers were confirmed to be hydrophilic by contact angle measurements. Low density polyethylene homopolymer was also used in this work as a reference to investigate the effect of polymer properties on the membrane structures. First, dynamic phase diagrams for these three polymer systems were determined. The cloud point curves shifted to higher temperatures and the crystallization temperature curves shifted to lower temperatures as the acrylic acid content of the co-polymer increased. The membrane structures were investigated and related to the initial polymer concentration and cooling rate. Increasing either the polymer concentration or the cooling rate decreased the pore size. Furthermore, structures with smaller pores and a skin layer at the top surface were obtained by introducing an evaporation process before the cooling to generate a polymer concentration gradient in the melted polymer solution.
Immune Mechanisms Are Major Players in Cancer

Vaccination with sipuleucel-T produced IgG antibodies to secondary prostatic carcinoma antigens and prolonged survival in some patients, and assaying for antibodies may provide prognostic information and identify new vaccine targets. Additional approaches to improve T-cell responses are needed to improve the clinical efficacy. Clin Cancer Res; 21(16); 3581–3. ©2015 AACR . See related article by GuhaThakurta et al., p. 3619
Role of polymer transparency and temperature gradients in the quantitative measurement of process stream temperatures during injection molding via IR pyrometry

The accurate and precise measurement of process stream temperatures during injection molding can be difficult, since the cyclic operation results in spatial and temporal variations of the stream temperature. This paper examines the application of a spectral infrared (IR) pyrometer to monitor the cooling of a polymer melt within the mold cavity during a typical injection molding cycle. An outline for interpreting the radiation signal collected with the IR pyrometer is presented. The discussion includes theoretical aspects as well as experimental results. The theoretical approach accounts for the polymer transparency (attenuation behavior) at the spectral wavelength of the pyrometer and also for the temperature gradient within the polymer, thereby establishing the concept of a critical depth for a given pyrometer/polymer combination. The final analysis reveals good agreement between the predicted and measured results for the transient cooling conditions of the polymer within the mold cavity. Depending on the degrees of polymer transparency used in the theoretical prediction, the deviation between the measured and predicted transient bulk temperatures after mold filling (during the mold cooling stage) varies from ±2°K to ±9°K.
Solitary Intracerebral Plasmacytoma in a Dog: Microscopic, Immunohistochemical, and Molecular Features:

A primary intracerebral plasmacytoma was identified in a 7-year-old spayed female Boston Terrier. Grossly, a well-demarcated, 2 cm in diameter, roughly spherical tumor was in the rostral aspect of the left cerebral hemisphere. Histologically, the neoplasm was composed of sheets of round cells with distinct plasmacytoid features and marked anisocytosis and anisokaryosis. Cells were positive for vimentin, CD18, CD79a, and lambda light-chain, and negative for kappa light chain, cytokeratin, lysozyme, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and S100 protein. Clonally rearranged B-cell antigen receptor genes were detected by PARR (polymerase chain reaction for antigen receptor rearrangements), confirming clonal proliferation of B lymphocytes. Although primary solitary intracerebral plasmacytoma is rare in dogs and other species, it should be included in the differential diagnosis for central nervous system round-cell neoplasms. Clonality testing can be utilized to support the histological diagnosis of this neoplasm type.
Shared antigenic epitopes on the V3 loop of HIV-1 gp120 and proteins on activated human T cells.

Abstract Proliferation of HIV-1 in the infected host is characterized by a progressive loss of CD4 + T lymphocytes and consequent dysregulation of the immune system. Both direct and indirect mechanisms have been proposed. We show here that proteins with molecular weights 35, 48, and 110 kDa on stimulated primary human T cells are recognized by neutralizing antibodies against the V3 loop of HIV-1 gp120. Recognition is specific since it can be blocked by a recombinant HIV-1 gp120. Furthermore, these V3 monoclonal antibodies, as well as sera from AIDS patients that recognized these V3-like proteins, induced killing of HIV-1-infected as well as uninfected T cells. This killing was also inhibited by HIV-1 gp120 V3 peptides. These results indicate that the V3 loop shares epitopes with proteins on stimulated T cells. This may be an additional autoimmune mechanism contributing to CD4 + T cell disappearance in AIDS. V3 antibodies have been proposed as potential prophylactic agents. However, if such vaccines were based on certain epitopes, they might induce cross-reacting immune responses with cellular proteins. Vaccine candidates should be evaluated for such potential effects.