cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Temperature and time interval for culture of postmortem neurons from adult rat cortex.

For a model of neurological disease and ischemia, we extended recent work to culture adult postmortem rat brain neurons. Frontal cortex sections were removed from adult rats immediately following sacrifice and at different postmortem intervals and with the brain at either 22°C or 4°C. Brain could be stored four times longer at 4°C between sacrifice and neuronal disaggregation to achieve the same 20% recovery of live cells from those plated compared to 22°C. Each milligram of rat frontal cortex was estimated by the optical disector method to contain 160,000 neurons. When cells were isolated as rapidly as possible, 9% of the neurons originally present in the brain were viable. Various postmortem intervals from 2 to 24 hr resulted in a reduction from 6% to 3% of the cells originally present. After 5 days in culture, viable neurons were 23–42% of those isolated. Neuron-like cells that survived represented 40–75% of the viable cells, or 0.5–2.75% of those originally estimated to be present in the brain. Electrophysiology experiments show that cells isolated 0 and 24 hr postmortem had neuronal electrical properties, including an average resting membrane potential of –48 mV, voltage-sensitive currents, and action potentials. Neuron-like cells were immunoreactive for neuron-specific enolase, neurofilament 200, glutamate, MAP2, and tau after 2 weeks in culture. These experiments show that neuron-like cells can be reliably cultured from adult rat cortex up to 6 hr postmortem when stored at 22°C and up to 24 hr postmortem when stored at 4°C. These findings should encourage donation of human postmortem brain neurons for studies on ischemia, adult pharmacology, and neurological disease. J. Neurosci. Res. 64:311–321, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Environmental Influences on Nitrite Reductase Activity in Pisum sativum L. Seedlings

Although the effects of environmental changes on extractable nitrate reductase activity are well documented, little attention has been paid to the response of nitrite reductase to similar treatments. We have followed changes in the level of extractable nitrate and nitrite reductase in the leaves of pea seedlings subjected to different light, shade, drought, and nitrate treatments. In similarity to nitrate reductase, extractable nitrite reductase increases with availability of nitrate. However, it appears that the two enzyme activities show differential responses in plants exposed to drought conditions and in plants transferred to darkness. Nitrate reductase activity declines much more rapidly than nitrite reductase. These observations and the varying influence of the other environmental treatments are discussed in relation to the different cellular locations of nitrate and nitrite reductase.
Evaluation of a walking school bus for promoting physical activity in youth

BACKGROUND: Walking to and from school has potential to increase daily physical activity among children. METHODS: A Walking School Bus (WSB) intervention was implemented for 2 years in 2 schools with a third school as a control. The primary aim evaluated school-wide prevalence of walking to school by self-report 6 times (fall, winter, spring). The secondary aims compared objective physical activity levels among a subsample of research participants (intervention INT. = 201, control CON. = 123) and between frequency of walking to school groups. INT and CON participants wore an accelerometer during 4 time periods to assess daily physical activity and were measured for body mass index (BMI) and body fat each fall and spring. RESULTS: School-wide prevalence of walking to school frequently (> 50% of the time each week) was 27% higher in the WSB schools than in the control school. INT obtained significantly more daily physical activity than CON (78.0 38.9. vs 60.6 27.7. min/d, P Language: en
Steady-state operation of the push-pull saturable-core transformer with resistive load

The widespread use of the saturable-core transformer as a push-pull magnetic amplifier in servomechanism systems is well known. This amplifier is analyzed by the methods of Storm1 to obtain the basic performance equations and to gain a broad insight into the circuit operation. The analysis is predicated on the free flow of even harmonics, that is, low control-circuit impedance, and deals with the resistive load case. Under these conditions two modes of operation are found; further, the influence of core loss and primary resistance on gain becomes apparent. From this analysis ideal graphs are prepared which show the nature of circuit operation for changes in signal, line voltage, frequency, and loading. The resulting expressions for gain, together with the boundaries of circuit operation, form a useful background in component design, quality control, and system analysis.
The dominance behavioral system and manic temperament: Motivation for dominance, self-perceptions of power, and socially dominant behaviors

The dominance behavioral system has been conceptualized as a biologically based system comprising motivation to achieve social power and self-perceptions of power. Biological, behavioral, and social correlates of dominance motivation and self-perceived power have been related to a range of psychopathological tendencies. Preliminary evidence suggests that mania and risk for mania (manic temperament) relate to the dominance system. Method: Four studies examine whether manic temperament, measured with the Hypomanic Personality Scale (HPS), is related to elevations in dominance motivation, self-perceptions of power, and engagement in socially dominant behavior across multiple measures. In Study 1, the HPS correlated with measures of dominance motivation and the pursuit of extrinsically-oriented ambitions for fame and wealth among 454 undergraduates. In Study 2, the HPS correlated with perceptions of power and extrinsically-oriented lifetime ambitions among 780 undergraduates. In Study 3, the HPS was related to trait-like tendencies to experience hubristic (dominance-related) pride, as well as dominance motivation and pursuit of extrinsically-oriented ambitions. In Study 4, we developed the Socially Dominant Behavior Scale to capture behaviors reflecting high power. The scale correlated highly with the HPS among 514 undergraduates. Limitations: The studies rely on self-ratings of manic temperament and dominance constructs, and findings have not yet been generalized to a clinical sample. Conclusions: Taken together, results support the hypothesis that manic temperament is related to a focus on achieving social dominance, ambitions related to achieving social recognition, perceptions of having achieved power, tendencies to experience dominance-related pride, and engagement in social behaviors consistent with this elevated sense of power.
Hybrid circuit/packet technologies for future optical internet

Dynamic capacity migration between circuit and packet networks is an unexplored topic, but it can be an effective way to improve network utilization. We discuss techniques for dynamic capacity sharing between circuit and packet services.
Demand for prenatal health care in South America

This study extends existing research on prenatal care demand to the South American countries of Bolivia, Columbia and Peru, using data from the Demographic and Health Surveys and employing two measures of prenatal care: whether prenatal care was ever initiated and a measure of prenatal care adequacy that includes information on month of initiation and number of visits. The results indicate that prenatal care demand in South America is significantly affected by a woman's age, previous pregnancy experience, education and marital status. Furthermore, household wealth and the degree of wantedness of the child significantly influence prenatal care demand. Since prenatal care use has been shown to improve infant and maternal health, there may be substantial benefits from economic and public health policies that target these determinants of prenatal care in the countries under study.
Real-time median filtering with a fast hardware sorter

The authors describe a fast hardware implementation of a median filter with emphasis on possible applications to power electronics. The authors focus on the median filter as a relatively easily understood example which illustrates the potential of nonlinear filtering in power electronics. To show the power of the median filter, a review of offline results first presented by W. C. Karl et al. (1990) compares output from the median and linear filters for a common input waveform: a switch voltage transient in a flyback power converter. New offline results show the result of filtering a noisy motor tachometer signal with the median filter. Some of the problems and tradeoffs associated with several traditional median filtering architectures are outlined. The proposed architecture for a real-time median filter and the benefits of the design are discussed. Results from a prototype of the design are presented. >
Empirical process approach to some two-sample problems based on ranked set samples

We study the asymptotic properties of both the horizontal and vertical shift functions based on independent ranked set samples drawn from continuous distributions. Several tests derived from these shift processes are developed. We show that by using balanced ranked set samples with bigger set sizes, one can decrease the width of the confidence band and hence increase the power of these tests. These theoretical findings are validated through small-scale simulation studies. An application of the proposed techniques to a cancer mortality data set is also provided.
Inheritance in unlikely places: using objects to build derived implementations of flat interfaces

Traditional operating systems typically provide a number of flat, non-object oriented interfaces through which system services are provided to applications. Typically such services are provided by large, monolithic implementations, with no provision for deriving related implementations through inheritance or other means. Nonetheless, it is possible to provide flexible, object oriented views of otherwise flat, non-object oriented interfaces. Furthermore, these views can be used to build new implementations of these same flat interfaces in terms of other ones. This approach can bring the benefits of objects such as enhanced and/or application specific implementations of standard services to both building and using otherwise fixed, flat interfaces which for one reson or another cannot be changed. The paper presents this paradigm and some of the benefits derived from it, citing several real systems as examples. >
Accounting for Spatial Variation in Tolerance: The Effects of Education and Religion

Prior research has shown that individuals living in the South express significantly less tolerant attitudes than the rest of the nation, while individuals residing in urban areas express significantly more tolerant attitudes than their rural peers. We seek to explain these generally unspecified Southern and urban effects by identifying demographic contextual factors that affect individuals' tolerance levels. Using 1976-2000 General Social Survey and 1990 U.S. Census data, we find that net of individual factors, residing in an area with a larger proportion of college graduates significantly increases individual levels of tolerance, while residing in an area with a larger proportion of evangelical Protestants significantly decreases tolerance. We also find that the Southern and urban effects on tolerance become non-significant after contextual-level controls are added.
Phase-shifted fiber Bragg gratings and their application for wavelength demultiplexing

It is shown that the transmission spectrum of a fiber Bragg grating can be tailored by incorporating single or multiple phase-shift regions during the fabrication process. Phase shifts open up narrowband transmission windows inside the stop band of the Bragg grating; transmitted wavelength can be changed by adjusting the amount of phase shift. As a specific application, we discuss how phase-shifted Bragg gratings can be used to make an all-fiber demultiplexer for multichannel lightwave systems. >
Mutagenesis and Functional Characterization of the Four Domains of GlnD, a Bifunctional Nitrogen Sensor Protein

GlnD is a bifunctional uridylyltransferase/uridylyl-removing enzyme (UTase/UR) and is believed to be the primary sensor of nitrogen status in the cell by sensing the level of glutamine in enteric bacteria. It plays an important role in nitrogen assimilation and metabolism by reversibly regulating the modification of PII protein; PII in turn regulates a variety of other proteins. GlnD appears to have four distinct domains: an N-terminal nucleotidyltransferase (NT) domain; a central HD domain, named after conserved histidine and aspartate residues; and two C-terminal ACT domains, named after three of the allosterically regulated enzymes in which this domain is found. Here we report the functional analysis of these domains of GlnD from Escherichia coli and Rhodospirillum rubrum. We confirm the assignment of UTase activity to the NT domain and show that the UR activity is a property specifically of the HD domain: substitutions in this domain eliminated UR activity, and a truncated protein lacking the NT domain displayed UR activity. The deletion of C-terminal ACT domains had little effect on UR activity itself but eliminated the ability of glutamine to stimulate that activity, suggesting a role for glutamine sensing by these domains. The deletion of C-terminal ACT domains also dramatically decreased UTase activity under all conditions tested, but some of these effects are due to the competition of UTase activity with unregulated UR activity in these variants.
Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy of AgTCNQ Formed from Ag Micellar and Inverse Micellar Colloidal Systems.

Silver Tetracyanoquinodimethane (AgTCNQ) is an organometallic semiconducting compound with potential for use as an optical memory storage media due to its ability to exist in two states. A laser Raman system has been proposed for this application as the two states have distinct Raman vibrational peaks. However, the Raman spectra of bulk AgTCNQ films is very weak and requires special measures to prevent laser-induced degradation and to ensure adequate signal to noise ratios. In this paper, we report a synthesis AgTCNQ consisting of AgTCNQ nanolayers grown around silver colloidal particles in both water and heptane with the use of the amphiphilic surfactants, AOT and SDS. The Raman scattering of such AgTCNQ systems has been found to be strongly enhanced and far superior to that obtained on bulk AgTCNQ films. We believe that such a system represents a novel and advantageous way of detecting the switching behavior of AgTCNQ (and other metal-TCNQ compounds) by laser, as Raman research on metal-TCNQ systems has been stymied in the past by poor Raman signals and susceptibility to laser-induced degradation.
Lysosomal Acid phosphatase deficiency: liver specific variant in the mouse.

ABSTRACT The number and classes of genes responsible for the final expression of lysosomal acid phosphatase were investigated in the mouse ( Mus musculus ). In mouse tissues, lysosomal acid phosphatase activity was separated by gel electrophoresis into two major zones of activity. The cathodal zone of activity in liver of the SM/J inbred strain was almost completely absent, while the anodal zone was increased in activity. Other tissues from SM/J were not affected, nor were livers and other tissues in 27 inbred mouse strains. Genetic studies indicated that this deficiency variant segregated as an autosomal codominant gene which has been designated Apl to symbolize the a cid p hosphatase l iver phenotype. The Apl gene was not linked to markers on chromosomes 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8 , or X . Electrophoretic, heat denaturation, neuraminidase treatment, tartrate inhibition studies and tissue mixing experiments suggested that the Apl gene was not a structural gene for acid phosphatase, but a separate gene that functions in liver and is responsible for controlling or modifying an acid phosphatase structural gene product.
A major modification of the Bousfield (1966) measure of category clustering

The measure of category clustering proposed by Bousfleld & Bousfleld (1966) was modified to take into account differences in the distribution of the expected value of number of repetitions. The possible effects of using the clustering index without this major modification are discussed.
Reentrant ventricular arrhythmias in the late myocardial infarction period: 14. Mechanisms of resetting, entrainment, acceleration, or termination of reentrant tachycardia by programmed electrical stimulation.

The mechanisms of resetting, entrainment, acceleralion, or termination of reentrant ventricular tachycardia by programmed electrical stimulation were studied in the canine post-infarction model. In this model, reentrant circuits were localized in the epicardial layer overlying the infarction and were accessible to detailed mapping by multiplexer techniques. The reentrant circuit has a characteristic figure-eight configuration in the form of two circulating wavefronts around arcs of functional conduction block that coalesce into a slow common reentrant wavefront. Termination of reentrant tachycardia occurred when a stimulated wavefront arrived earlier to a strategically located area in the proximal portion of the zone of slow conduction, before refractoriness expired distally, resulting in conduction block. The three factors that determined if the stimulated wavefrout could reach this zone in time for conduction block were: (1) the cycle length of stimulation; (2) the number of stimulated beats, and (3) the site of stimulation. The most optimal situation for stimulated termination of reentry was a critically coupled single stimulus applied to the ischemic zone close to the proximal side of the zone of slow conduction that captured locally and conducted prematurely to the strategic zone for conduction block. When a single stimulated wavefront failed to terminate reentry, one or more subsequent wavefronts succeeded. However, the stimulated train had to be terminated following the beat that interrupted reentry. Otherwise, a subsequent stimulated beat could reinitiate the same reentrant circuit or induce a different circuit. The new circuit could have a shorter revolution time, resulting in tachycardia acceleration, and occasionally degeneration into ventricular fibrillation. Overdrive termination of reentry required both a critical cycle length of stimulation and a critical number of beats in a stimulated train. Otherwise, the stimulated train could establish a new balance of refractoriness and conduction velocity in the reentrant pathway. This could perpetuate the reentrant process at the shorter cycle length of the stimulated train and spontaneous reentry would resume on termination of the train (entrainment). The study provides better understanding of the mechanisms of action of programmed electrical stimulation on reentrant ventricular tachycardia.
Robotics and science literacy: Thinking skills, science process skills and systems understanding

This paper reports the results of a study of the relationship of robotics activity to the use of science literacy skills and the development of systems understanding in middle school students. Twenty-six 11-12-year-olds (22 males and 4 females) attending an intensive robotics course offered at a summer camp for academically advanced students participated in the research. This study analyzes how students utilized thinking skills and science process skills characteristic of scientifically literate individuals to solve a robotics challenge. In addition, a pre/post test revealed that course participants increased their systems understanding, t (21) ¼ 22.47, p < .05. It is argued that the affordances of the robotics environment coupled with a pedagogical approach emphasizing open-ended, extended inquiry prompts the utilization of science literacy-based thinking and science process skills and leads to increased systems understanding. 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 45: 373-394, 2008
The Explanatory Relevance of Nash Equilibrium: One-Dimensional Chaos in Boundedly Rational Learning

Game theory is often used to explain behavior. Such explanations often proceed by demonstrating that the behavior in question is a Nash equilibrium. Agents are in Nash equilibrium if each agent’s strategy maximizes her payoff given her opponents’ strategies. Nash equilibriums are fundamentally static, but it is usually assumed that equilibriums will be the outcome of a dynamic process of learning or evolution. This article demonstrates that, even in the most simple setting, this need not be true. In two-strategy games with just a single equilibrium, a family of imitative learning dynamics does not lead to equilibrium.
Streptococci of souring milk with special reference to streptococcus lactisStudies of the streptococci. IX

Much confusion exists as to the species of streptococci found in milk at different stages in its history, and there is doubt as to whether the identity of the typical streptococcus of sour milk is generally appreciated. The medical bacteriologists usually think of streptococci in milk as indicating a suppuration in the udder or as evidence of some definite contamination, while on the other hand, the dairy bacteriologists usually think of the harmless lactic acid organism. These two points of view are often displayed in attempts to interpret the significance of streptococci in milk.
Development of Enterprise Occupational Health Management Information System

Based on the specific conditions of current occupational health management and beginning from the characteristics of enterprise occupational health management,the function design and modular design of enterprise occupational health management information system is carried out to promote occupational health management standardization and informationization and to realize networked supervision of occupational health,in which VB is selected as the development language and SQL Server 2000 as the background database.After operated on experiment site,the system design function and purpose is achieved,the integrated networked information system which connects the enterprises and the government occupational health supervision departments at all levels is realized.
Mechanisms of Heart Block after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement – Cardiac Anatomy, Clinical Predictors and Mechanical Factors that Contribute to Permanent Pacemaker Implantation

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has emerged as a valuable, minimally invasive treatment option in patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis at prohibitive or increased risk for conventional surgical replacement. Consequently, patients undergoing TAVR are prone to peri-procedural complications including cardiac conduction disturbances, which is the focus of this review. Atrioventricular conduction disturbances and arrhythmias before, during or after TAVR remain a matter of concern for this high-risk group of patients, as they have important consequences on hospital duration, short- and long-term medical management and finally on decisions of device-based treatment strategies (pacemaker or defibrillator implantation). We discuss the mechanisms of atrioventricular disturbances and characterise predisposing factors. Using validated clinical predictors, we discuss strategies to minimise the likelihood of creating permanent high-grade heart block, and identify factors to expedite the decision to implant a permanent pacemaker when the latter is unavoidable. We also discuss optimal pacing strategies to mitigate the possibility of pacing-induced cardiomyopathy.
Janet M. Corrigan, Ph.D.. Interview by Marie E. Sinioris.

The ability of health care purchasers and consumers to make objective evaluations and comparisons of health plan performance is a critical element in achieving competition based on quality and value. The Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set, commonly referred to as HEDIS 2.0, is a step toward making such evaluations and comparisons possible. To get an inside perspective on HEDIS and its implications for health care, QMHC interviewed Janet Corrigan, Ph.D., Vice President, Planning and Development, National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Dr. Corrigan is in charge of NCQA's efforts to implement and continually improve HEDIS.
On the unsoundness of static analysis for Android GUIs

Android software presents exciting new challenges for the static analysis community. However, static analyses for Android are typically unsound. This is due to the lack of specification of the Android framework, the continuous evolution of framework features and behavior, and the absence of soundness arguments and studies by program analysis researchers. Our goal is to investigate one important aspect of this problem: the static modeling of control/data flow due to interactions of the user with the application's GUI. We compare the solutions of three existing static analyses - FlowDroid, IccTA, and Gator - with the actual run-time behavior. Specifically, we observe the run-time sequences of callbacks and their parameters, and match them against the static abstractions provided by these analyses. This study provides new insights into the unsoundness of existing analysis techniques. We conclude with open questions and action items for program analysis researchers working in this increasingly important area.
Safe maneuverability zones & metrics for data reduction in naturalistic driving studies

Naturalistic driving studies (NDSs) capture drive data from multiple sensor modalities over long periods of time and under varying road conditions. NDS data reduction dictionaries list a range of events that are directly related to the conflicts and threat posed by the dynamics of the surrounding vehicles on the ego-vehicle. Manual reduction of such large scale data for events/conflicts related to dynamics of multiple vehicles is inefficient and prone to errors. In this paper, we present drive analysis techniques for automated NDS data reduction that can be deployed to identify, quantify and visualize threats posed to the ego-vehicle. In this regard, we propose safe maneuver zones (SMZs) that are derived based on the dynamics of surrounding vehicles with respect to the ego-vehicle. A set of metrics are formulated using the SMZs to quantify the threat posed by surrounding vehicles on the ego-vehicle. A detailed drive analysis of naturalistic driving data comprising more than 500,000 frames of data from over 5 hours of highway driving is presented. The resulting drive analysis reports characterize 7 different drives using the different metrics from the SMZs.
Boryl transfer reactivity of a POCOP-supported Ir-diboryl: Reduction of CO2 to CO and borylation of other small molecules

Abstract Reactions of a trivalent diboryl Ir complex Ir-(Bpin) 2 supported with a POCOP-type pincer ligand with a series of small molecules have been explored (pin = pinacolate). Ir-(Bpin) 2 deoxygenated CO 2 to make Ir-CO and O(Bpin) 2 . Attempts to deoxygenate other carbonyl compounds were not successful. The reaction with CO led to loss of B 2 pin 2 by reductive elimination and its replacement on Ir with CO. Ir-(Bpin) 2 did not react with p-trifluoromethylbenzaldehyde, acetone, ethyl acetate or benzonitrile. The reaction with ethyl formate resulted in formal dehydroethoxylation of this substrate, with formation of Ir-CO and HBpin and EtOBpin. Finally, treatment of Ir-(Bpin) 2 with ethylene resulted in diboration of ethylene to produce pinB-CH 2 CH 2 -Bpin and Ir-(C 2 H 4 ) .
Programming function into mechanical forms by directed assembly of silk bulk materials

We report simple, water-based fabrication methods based on protein self-assembly to generate 3D silk fibroin bulk materials that can be easily hybridized with water-soluble molecules to obtain multiple solid formats with predesigned functions. Controlling self-assembly leads to robust, machinable formats that exhibit thermoplastic behavior consenting material reshaping at the nanoscale, microscale, and macroscale. We illustrate the versatility of the approach by realizing demonstrator devices where large silk monoliths can be generated, polished, and reshaped into functional mechanical components that can be nanopatterned, embed optical function, heated on demand in response to infrared light, or can visualize mechanical failure through colorimetric chemistries embedded in the assembled (bulk) protein matrix. Finally, we show an enzyme-loaded solid mechanical part, illustrating the ability to incorporate biological function within the bulk material with possible utility for sustained release in robust, programmably shapeable mechanical formats.
We cannot stop dreaming Legacies and unfinished activisms : critical reflections

Our understandings of the past are very much determined by our positions in the present and how we imagine the future. We are called upon to celebrate those whose dreams and activism made it possible for us to inhabit this present. And as dissatisfied as we may be – and in fact should be – with the present, it was ushered into being by the transformative impact of past revolutionary struggles.
Cultural patterns within and outside of the post-contact Great Plains as revealed by parfleche characteristics: Implications for areal arrangements in artifactual data

Abstract For some time it has been recognized that areal arrangements in ethnographic data might help archaeologists understand equivalent arrangements in artifactual data, especially in anthropologically relevant terms. Equally, ethnographic data have shown that material-culture patterns do not necessarily conveniently map discrete “peoples” or ethnolinguistic communities. However, the question still persists as to whether areal patterns in artifactual data represent anthropologically important information, and if so, how. Ethnographically, studies of these issues have tended to adopt two approaches. Some studies have examined areal patterning across broad geographic areas in terms of presences and absences of particular artifacts or suites of artifacts. Alternatively, studies have looked at variation in the stylistic traits of particular artifacts, but over a relatively more discrete geographic range, typically a sub-region defined on the basis of other cultural and/or ecological distinctions. Here, in this study a different approach is taken, whereupon variations in the inter-tribe attributes of a singular artifact class (post-contact-era “parfleches” or decorated rawhide bags) are examined over a wide geographic area (western North America). Multivariate statistical analyses demonstrate that among-tribe variation in parfleche characteristics most strongly conforms to three geographic stylistic regions and, moreover, that these three stylistic regions disregard linguistic affiliations and “culture area” designations. These trait-level patterns conform to documented trade patterns across the study area, explaining why these areal patterns disregard distinctions made on other criteria. Ultimately, the study demonstrates ethnographically the value of contrasting areal patterns based on discrete artifactual distinctions (i.e., presence and absence of particular artifacts) versus broader-scale, but trait-level, patterns in artifacts common across these different areas.
Molecular dynamics simulations and applications in computational toxicology and nanotoxicology.

Nanotoxicology studies toxicity of nanomaterials and has been widely applied in biomedical researches to explore toxicity of various biological systems. Investigating biological systems through in vivo and in vitro methods is expensive and time taking. Therefore, computational toxicology, a multi-discipline field that utilizes computational power and algorithms to examine toxicology of biological systems, has gained attractions to scientists. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of biomolecules such as proteins and DNA are popular for understanding of interactions between biological systems and chemicals in computational toxicology. In this paper, we review MD simulation methods, protocol for running MD simulations and their applications in studies of toxicity and nanotechnology. We also briefly summarize some popular software tools for execution of MD simulations.
Mandelshtam's “Tristia”: Translating порывь into English

ABSTRACTLike the energies that turn water into waves, it is the impulse (порывь) in the words and phrases which, according to Osip Mandelshtam, turns language into poetry. The impulse has no sound ...
Abnormal band bowing effects in phase instability crossover region of GaSe1-xTe x nanomaterials.

Akin to the enormous number of discoveries made through traditional semiconductor alloys, alloying selected 2D semiconductors enables engineering of their electronic structure for a wide range of new applications. 2D alloys have been demonstrated when two components crystallized in the same phase, and their bandgaps displayed predictable monotonic variation. By stabilizing previously unobserved compositions and phases of GaSe1-xTe x at nanoscales on GaAs(111), we demonstrate abnormal band bowing effects and phase instability region when components crystallize in different phases. Advanced microscopy and spectroscopy measurements show as tellurium is alloyed into GaSe, nanostructures undergo hexagonal to monoclinic and isotropic to anisotropic transition. There exists an instability region (0.56 < x < 0.67) where both phases compete and coexist, and two different bandgap values can be found at the same composition leading to anomalous band bowing effects. Results highlight unique alloying effects, not existing in single-phase alloys, and phase engineering routes for potential applications in photonic and electronics.
Male Fireflies (Photinus pyralis (Linnaeus) and Photinus sabulosus Green) are at Special Risk of Capture by Spider Predators and are then Stolen by Kleptoparasitic Fireflies in the Genus Photuris Dejean (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)

Abstract Males of Photinus pyralis (Linnaeus) and Photinus sabulosus Green were the primary victims of spider attacks at a field site in northern Virginia from 1 July 2017 to 21 August 2017. Males of these species, as is true for other members of the genus, appear to be at far greater risk of predation than are females, a reflection of the mating system of fireflies in which males fly in search of females that are largely sedentary during the mating period. Once trapped, males are sometimes eaten by kleptoparasitic fireflies in the genus Photuris Dejean, which can usually steal wrapped prey from the spiders that have captured them, as has been demonstrated elsewhere as well, but occasionally fall prey to others of their genus that have been attracted to spider webs.
A Descriptive Science of the Pretheoretical World: A Husserlian Theme in Its Historical Context

The project of a descriptive science of the pretheoretical world is central to Husserl’s conception of the foundations of the human sciences; yet it is not well articulated in any works published by Husserl. If we consult posthumously published sources, the two main ones are part 3A of The Crisis of European Sciences 1 and Phenomenological Psychology: Lectures, Summer Semester, 1925. 2 In The Crisis, the concept of the life-world is introduced, not primarily in view of its foundational function for the human sciences, but primarily as a way of leading the attentive reader to the viewpoint of transcendental phenomenology. Thus, though that concept has significance for the human sciences, to develop it would require an interpretation which would run counter to the main thrust of The Crisis itself. In the lectures on phenomenological psychology, the concept of the experiential world is presented as required for a full understanding of both nature and mind and of all sciences, whether they be natural sciences or human sciences, which investigate features or structures of the world as given to experience.
War Abroad and Homicides at Home: Evidence from the United States

We analyze why domestic homicide rates in a country sending troops into war increase with some international wars, but not others. Drawing from research on the brutalization effect, we first explain how war can have an effect on homicides through individuals learning acceptable behavior from the state. Second, we explain why we observe the brutalization effect with some wars, but not others. We argue that illegitimate wars are associated with increased homicide rates, while state participation in legitimate wars should not affect homicide rates. Pursuing an illegitimate war may serve as a signal to society that norms and morals have been suspended, leading to a period of moral deregulation in the form of anomie. To test our theory, we conduct time-series analyses of data for the United States between 1928 and 2014. After examining the characteristics of eleven international wars pursued by the United States, we find that a brutalization effect occurs when the country engages in illegitimate, but not legitimate, conflicts. We also examine the validity of several potential alternative explanations and provide directions for future research.
Medial Elbow (Pitcher’s and Golfer’s Elbow) Denervation

The anatomy of the innervation of the medial humeral epicondyle is described, and related, clinically to “pitcher’s elbow” and “thrower’s elbow.” Nerve block of the nerve to the medial humeral epicondyle is described. Confounding clinical decisions related to cubital tunnel syndrome and intraneural ganglion are discussed. The technical approaches to denervation of the medial humeral epicondyle are described and illustrated. The results of medial humeral epicondylar denervation are presented.
Sounds novel or familiar? Entrepreneurs' framing strategy in the venture capital market

Abstract This study offers a theoretical perspective from which to examine entrepreneurial ventures' linguistic strategies. Drawing on the framing perspective, we introduce two concepts—novelty frames and familiarity frames—and examine how the use of these linguistic frames may influence entrepreneurial ventures' ability to obtain funding from venture capitalists (VCs) in different industry contexts. Based on a sample of 2883 U.S. information technology (IT) ventures and 5849 investment events from 2003 to 2014, we show that novelty and familiarity frames individually and interactively shape the amount of funding. We also found that industry capital intensity enhances the positive effects of familiarity frames. These findings highlight the role of entrepreneurial ventures' linguistic frames in shaping their funding opportunities.
From Stigma to Affirmation: Advocacy through Art in China, Japan, and Beyond

Creative Arts Educ Ther (2019) 5(1):3–13 DOI: 10.15212/CAET/2019/5/2 From Stigma to Affirmation: Advocacy through Art in China, Japan, and Beyond A Special Section on Eye Eye Nose Mouth: Art, Disability, and Mental Illness in Nanjing, China and Shiga-Ken, Japan Harvard University Asia Center Exhibition, 2019 在中国和日本艺术世界的边缘扩展正常化 哈佛大学亚洲中心特展（2019）- 眼鼻嘴：中国南京和日本滋贺县的艺术、残疾和精神疾患 Abstract This is an introduction to the special section dealing with the 2019 Harvard University Asia Center exhibition. The showing of art from Nanjing, China and Shiga-Ken, Japan workshops and the accompanying Harvard symposium feature a unique artistic advocacy seeking to change social attitudes about people living with disability and mental illness. The reflective essay reviews the exhibition and accompanying catalogue and draws parallels between the East Asian workshops and the art therapy studio movement in the West. 摘要 2019年哈佛大学亚洲中心展览“眼眼鼻嘴：艺术、残疾和精神疾病”专题介绍，日本Shiga-Ken和中国南京。南京艺术展和Shiga-Ken工作坊以及哈佛专场以独特的艺术主张为特色，寻求改变社会对残疾人以及精神疾病的态度。这篇文章回顾了展览与目录，将东亚工作坊和艺术治疗工作室与西方进行相比较。 关键词: 艺术宣传, 污名, 残疾, 心理健康, 自学成才, 外来艺术, 艺术brut, 工作室艺术疗法, 南京外来艺术工作室, Amanlier Yamanami, 郭海平, Masato Yamashita
Influence of out-of-network payment standards on insurer-provider bargaining: California's experience.

Objectives To examine the early effects of California's recent policy addressing surprise medical billing (AB-72) on the dynamics among physician, hospital, and insurer stakeholders and to identify the influences of the policy's novel out-of-network (OON) payment standard on provider-payer bargaining. This study can inform current policy formation, given that current federal proposals include a payment standard like that in AB-72. Study design Case study of the implementation of AB-72 and stakeholders' perspectives, experiences, and responses in the first 6 to 12 months after policy implementation. Methods Semistructured interviews were conducted with 28 individuals representing policy experts, representatives of advocacy organizations and state-level professional associations, and current executives of physician practice groups, hospitals, and health benefits companies. Related documentation was collected and analyzed, including bill text, rulemaking guidance, testimony before the California Senate Committee on Health, and advocacy letters. Qualitative analysis techniques, such as process tracing and explanation building, were employed to identify key themes. Results AB-72 is effectively protecting patients from surprise medical bills. However, stakeholders report that an OON payment standard set at payer-specific local average commercial negotiated rates has changed the negotiation dynamics between hospital-based physicians and payers. Interviewees report that leverage has shifted in favor of payers, and payers have an incentive to lower or cancel contracts with rates higher than their average as a means of suppressing OON prices. Physicians reported that this experience of decreased leverage is exacerbating provider consolidation. Conclusions California's experience demonstrates that OON payment standards can influence the payer-provider bargaining landscape, affecting network breadth and negotiated rates.
Equality, Bias, and the Right to an Equal Say

Thomas Christiano argues that democracies acquire a right to rule by being the unique embodiment of publicly accessible rules. Justice requires the equal advancement of the interests of all (the equality requirement). However, due to the need for citizens to shape a common world despite disagreement and limitations of human cognition, publicity is a necessary constraint on the pursuit of justice (the publicity constraint). Given that democracy is necessary to secure public equality, democratic authority is thus justified, as democracy is the only political arrangement that satisfies both the publicity constraint and equality requirement. Christiano’s argument depends on a claim that individuals should be given the right to advance what they take to be their interests. This right is defended through two interlocking claims. First, according individuals this right advances three fundamental interests: i) correcting cognitive biases; ii) being at home in the world; and iii) equal moral standing. Second, the three fundamental interests imply that any collective decision-making procedure must be publicly accessible. Thus, any argument against the right to judge for oneself either violates the publicity requirement or the equality constraint. In this paper, I argue that Christiano’s argument faces a problem—under a two-stage plural voting system, an unequal distribution of voting rights can satisfy both the publicity requirement and the equality constraint. Thus, Christiano’s claim that public equality requires an equal distribution of the right to judge for oneself is mistaken.
Against technocratic authoritarianism. A short intellectual history of the cypherpunk movement

This essay aims to correct the established idea that the cypherpunk movement was organically embracing libertarianism. By addressing the cypherpunk movement, the intellectual roots of many of the c...
Safeguarding Tourism and Tuna: Seychelles’ Fight against the Somali Piracy Problem

Seychelles is currently working to solve their piracy problem not simply manage it. Although numerous measures are underway by a multinational force, piracy continues to develop into a lucrative business. Severing the ties between piracy financiers and their criminal networks will help eliminate these activities. A standard policy mandating the arrest, prosecution, hold, and transport of all pirates is essential to solve the problem and deter this menace.
Survival of common foodborne pathogens on dried apricots made with and without sulfur dioxide treatment

Abstract To fill the current knowledge gap in the survival of foodborne pathogens on dried fruits, this study monitored the survival of three common pathogens on dried apricots. Sun-dried apricots made with (DAS) and without sulfur dioxide (DANS) treatments were used and were inoculated using a dry (sand) or a wet (phosphate-buffered saline, PBS) carrier. The survival of Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes (LM) on inoculated dried apricots was monitored for three months during ambient temperature storage. When dried apricots were inoculated with the wet carrier, all three pathogens survived the 48- hour drying period. After drying and during ambient temperature storage, the number of culturable pathogen cells decreased as the storage time increased. Among all three pathogens, STEC survived with higher culturable numbers for a longer period of time than the other two pathogens on DANS over the 90-day storage period. When pathogens were inoculated via the dry carrier, Salmonella survived with higher culturable numbers among three pathogens on DANS, indicating its enhanced survivability after being dried on sand and exposed to stress conditions before inoculation. In addition, regardless of the inoculation carriers, pathogens survived for longer periods of time or with higher levels on DANS, indicating the antimicrobial properties of free SO2 contained in DAS. In summary, based on the results of this study, pathogens can survive on dried fruits; factors affecting pathogen survival include the types of test pathogens, inoculation methods, and the use of sulfur dioxide.