cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Liberalism and Veil Politics

In the previous chapters, I have argued that we must clearly separate the task of justifying liberal political principles from that of motivating persons to act in accordance with them. Recognizing this difference helps us to avoid thinking that the mere fact that those principles are justified will assure that citizens will be motivated to act in accordance with them. In particular, I have argued that we cannot rely on individuals to be moved to act as good liberals merely through the exercise of their rational faculties. Conceived of instrumentally, reason is represented as attaching to the “engine” of desire, directing and channeling the passions in an efficient – but not necessarily liberal – direction. Thought of in an absolute sense, rationality can be defined in a way that links it to liberal values. Doing this, however, effectively cuts off rationality from an individual's desires; the rational individual will be liberal, but there is no special motivation for anyone to be rational. In claiming this, I do not intend to deny reason its essential role in liberalism, but rather to underscore one basic point: For reason to lead to actions that are consistent with liberal principles, it must operate in the right kind of context of values . The central challenge facing those who want to develop and sustain liberal institutions, then, is not simply to develop what we might call the “rational faculties” of individuals – the ability to weigh reasons and evidence and think abstractly – but also to create and maintain the aims and values appropriate for liberalism.
Hypopigmented mycosis fungoides: a retrospective clinicohistopathologic study.

Importance Hypopigmented mycosis fungoides is a rare variant of mycosis fungoides with limited published clinicohistopathologic data available. Objective To characterize our patient group, to provide additional information and insight into this malignancy. Design A 16-year retrospective medical records review (from 1992 to 2009) was conducted of patients with a diagnosis of hypopigmented mycosis fungoides. Setting All patients were seen in the department of dermatology at Howard University Hospital, an outpatient clinic in an urban academic institution. Participants The review comprised of 20 patients. Inclusion required presence of hypopigmented skin lesions and a skin biopsy diagnostic for hypopigmented mycosis fungoides. Interventions Treatment modalities, including oral psoralen with UVA, narrow-band UVB and/or topical medications such as nitrogen mustard and topical corticosteroids were employed. Results Patients ranged from 4 to 57 years old. Fifteen were African American, three African, one Afro-Caribbean and one Hispanic. The interval from disease onset to diagnosis ranged from 7 months to 24 years. Patients presented at Stage 1A or 1B. Treatment included phototherapy and topical medications. In four patients with pre- and post-treatment biopsies, the original histological diagnosis of hypopigmented mycosis fungoides and the subsequent complete resolution were shown. There was no associated mortality in the patients studied. Conclusions and Relevance Hypopigmented mycosis fungoides affected skin of colour patients in this study. This variant differs from classic mycosis fungoides: younger population, slower progression and the majority of patients remaining in Stage I with treatment. We observed that any repigmentation of lesions suggests an effective treatment regimen, complete repigmentation correlates with clinical and histopathologic resolution, and new hypopigmented lesions during remission suggest relapse. A limitation of this study is the small sample size. This is the first study to correlate the histological resolution of hypopigmented mycosis fungoides with clinical repigmentation of lesions.
Children’s Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence and their Social, School, and Activities Competence: Latent Profiles and Correlates

This study examined patterns of intimate partner violence (IPV) exposure and three domains of competence among 288 children recruited from community-based domestic violence agencies. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was performed to identify subgroups of children who differed based on levels of social, academic, and extracurricular competence and exposure to IPV. Five distinct latent profiles were identified: Frequent IPV Exposure-Low Activity Competence (39 % of children), Frequent IPV Exposure-Average Global Competence (31 % of children), Frequent IPV Exposure-High Global Competence (13 % of children), Low IPV Exposure-Compromised School Competence (11 % of children), and Low IPV Exposure-Compromised Global Competence (6 % of children). Covariates distinguished between the profiles (e.g., yearly household income, maternal education, number of children in the household) and the groups were characterized by statistically significant mean differences in total behavior problems. Implications for future research and community-based preventive intervention efforts are discussed.
Energy of Supported Metal Catalysts: From Single Atoms to Large Metal Nanoparticles

Many catalysts consist of late transition metal nanoparticles dispersed across oxide supports. The chemical potential of the metal atoms in these particles correlate with their catalytic activity and long-term thermal stability. This chemical potential versus particle size across the full size range between the single isolated atom and bulklike limits is reported here for the first time for any metal on any oxide. The chemical potential of Cu atoms on CeO2(111) surfaces, determined by single crystal adsorption calorimetry of gaseous Cu atoms onto slightly reduced CeO2(111) at 100 and 300 K is shown to decrease dramatically with increasing Cu cluster size. The Cu chemical potential is ∼110 kJ/mol higher for isolated Cu adatoms on stoichometric terrace sites than for Cu in nanoparticles exceeding 2.5 nm diameter, where it reaches the bulk Cu(solid) limit. In Cu dimers, Cu’s chemical potential is ∼57 kJ/mol lower at step edges than on stoichiometric terrace sites. Since Cu avoids oxygen vacancies, these mono...
Causes and Consequences of Genital Evolution

The study of genital diversity has experienced rapidly burgeoning attention over the past few decades. This research has shown that male genitalia in internally fertilizing animals exhibit remarkably rapid and complex evolution. In recent years, a consensus has emerged that sexual selection is responsible for much of the observed genital diversity, with natural selection largely playing a subsidiary role. Despite enhanced understanding of the key proximate forms of selection responsible for genital evolution, we still have a poor grasp of the broader, ultimate causes and consequences of the striking diversity of genitalia. Here, we highlight three topics that have so far received comparatively little attention and yet could prove critically important. First, we encourage investigation of ecology's direct and indirect roles in genital diversification, as ecological variation can influence selection on genitalia in several ways, perhaps especially by influencing the context of sexual selection. Second, we need more research into the effects of genital divergence on speciation, as genital differences could enhance reproductive isolation through either a lock-and-key process (where selection directly favors reproductive isolation) or as an incidental by-product of divergence. Third, we echo recent calls for increased research on female genitalia, as non-trivial female genital diversity exists, and multiple mechanisms can lead to rapid diversification of female genitalia. For all three topics, we review theory and empirical data, and describe specific research approaches for tackling these questions. We hope this work provides a roadmap toward increased understanding of the causes and consequences of the conspicuous diversity of primary sexual traits, and thus toward new insights into the evolution of complex traits and the phenotypic causes of speciation.
Ab Initio SCF and CI Studies on the Ground State of the Water Molecule. III. Vibrational Analysis of Potential Energy and Property Surfaces

Ab initio SCF and CI potential energy and property surfaces for the ground electronic state of the water molecule have been used in vibrational analyses of water molecules including the D and T isotopic variants. The formalism is based on a perturbation theory approach and the use of a proper non-linear transformation of internal coordinates of each surface point to normal coordinates. Vibrational excitation energies, zero-point corrections to one-electron properties, and transition intensities are reported and compared with experimental data and other ab initio results. The general usefulness of the method and its dependence on such variables as the quality of the electronic wavefunctions, subsequent analytical representations of the potential energy, and the particular application of the perturbation theory are discussed.
An update on SIPHER (Scalable Implementation of Primitives for Homomorphic EncRyption) — FPGA implementation using Simulink

Accelerating the development of a practical Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) scheme is the goal of the DARPA PROCEED program. For the past year, this program has had as its focus the acceleration of various aspects of the FHE concept toward practical implementation and use. FHE would be a game-changing technology to enable secure, general computation on encrypted data, e.g., on untrusted off-site hardware. However, FHE will still require several orders of magnitude improvement in computation before it will be practical for widespread use. Recent theoretical breakthroughs demonstrated the existence of FHE schemes [1, 2], and to date much progress has been made in both algorithmic and implementation improvements. Specifically our contribution to the Proceed program has been the development of FPGA based hardware primitives to accelerate the computation on encrypted data using FHE based on lattice techniques [3]. Our project, SIPHER, has been using a state of the art tool-chain developed by Mathworks to implement VHDL code for FPGA circuits directly from Simulink models. Our baseline Homomorphic Encryption prototypes are developed directly in Matlab using the fixed point toolbox to perform the required integer arithmetic. Constant improvements in algorithms require us to be able to quickly implement them in a high level language such as Matlab. We reported on our initial results at HPEC 2011 [4]. In the past year, increases in algorithm complexity have introduced several new design requirements for our FPGA implementation. This report presents new Simulink primitives that had to be developed to deal with these new requirements.
Direct Conversion of Syngas to Chemicals Using Heterogeneous Catalysts

Synthesis gas, a mixture of CO and H 2 , is one of the most useful intermediate, which can be converted into several important and higher-value chemicals such as fuel range hydrocarbons, alcohols, and olefins. The fact that syngas can be obtained from almost any carbon sources, including both renewable and nonrenewable sources (coal, methane, naphtha, shale oil, agricultural wastes, biomass, etc.), makes this gas mixture extremely useful to ensure the future energy sustainability. There has been a significant research interest in converting syngas to higher-value chemicals, and several heterogeneous catalysts have been used for different applications in this area. This article summarizes the research and evolution of catalysts to directly convert syngas to liquid fuels and higher-value chemicals.
Position and Orientation Agnostic Gesture Recognition Using WiFi

WiFi based gesture recognition systems have recently proliferated due to the ubiquitous availability of WiFi in almost every modern building. The key limitation of existing WiFi based gesture recognition systems is that they require the user to be in the same configuration (i.e., at the same position and in same orientation) when performing gestures at runtime as when providing training samples, which significantly restricts their practical usability. In this paper, we propose a WiFi based gesture recognition system, namely WiAG, which recognizes the gestures of the user irrespective of his/her configuration. The key idea behind WiAG is that it first requests the user to provide training samples for all gestures in only one configuration and then automatically generates virtual samples for all gestures in all possible configurations by applying our novel translation function on the training samples. Next, for each configuration, it generates a classification model using virtual samples corresponding to that configuration. To recognize gestures of a user at runtime, as soon as the user performs a gesture, WiAG first automatically estimates the configuration of the user and then evaluates the gesture against the classification model corresponding to that estimated configuration. Our evaluation results show that when user's configuration is not the same at runtime as at the time of providing training samples, WiAG significantly improves the gesture recognition accuracy from just 51.4% to 91.4%.
A Hands-On Approach for Engaging Young Scientists

Book review of“The Schoolwide Enrichment Model in Science” by Nancy Heilbronner and Joseph S. Renzulli
An Analysis of Individual Systems Thinking Elements

Systems thinking skills are important in engineering complex systems. Systems thinking includes approaches to understand and address a problem or need as well as potential solutions from holistic perspectives. Multiple studies identify key elements related to individual systems thinking. While the various studies identify sets of elements, there is limited information that defines these elements and relates them. Rubrics for these elements are also missing. In this paper, the authors discuss the identification of a set of individual systems thinking elements. The authors define the elements, establish rubrics, and discuss relationships between the various elements.
Paired methods to measure biofilm killing and removal: a case study with Penicillin G treatment of Staphylococcus aureus biofilm

This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article: Ausbacher, D., Lorenz, L., Pitts, B., Stewart, P.S. & Goeres, D.M. (2917). Paired methods to measure biofilm killing and removal: a case study with Penicillin G treatment of Staphylococcus aureus biofilm. Letters in Applied Microbiology, 66(3), 231-237, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/lam.12843 . This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions .
Sexual and gender minority health in medical curricula in new England: a pilot study of medical student comfort, competence and perception of curricula.

Background: Sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals experience high rates of harassment and discrimination when seeking healthcare, which contributes to substantial healthcare disparities. Imp...
Part 4.2: Self-Respect and Autonomy

Part IV. Section 2. Self-Respect and Autonomy:Meyers's discussion of self-respect takes into account work by Stephen Darwall, Thomas Hill, Jr., and Stephen Massey and proposes a unified triadic account that undermines the distinction between self-respect and self-esteem. After distinguishing compromised respect from unqualified respect, she shows why self-respect is both required for and a product of exercising autonomy competency.
Automated Extraction of Decision Rules for Predicting Lumbar Drain Outcome by Analyzing Overnight Intracranial Pressure

Background: Extended lumbar drain (ELD) has become a popular pre-shunt workup test to help diagnose normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). Unfortunately, this procedure requires a substantial time investment for both the family and hospital. In this study, we investigate how accurate the prediction of ELD outcome can be achieved by using simple decision rules automatically derived from pulse morphological metrics of overnight ICP recordings. Our ultimate goal is to test the hypothesis that overnight ICP monitoring, empowered by subsequent signal analysis, could be an alternative to ELD.
Understanding “Why”: Its Significance in Early Intelligence

The past decade of developmental research has led to a heightened respect for the intellectual functioning of the very young child. Following the direction set by Piaget many years ago, several investigators have suggested that from the earliest months the child categorizes and interprets the world that confronts him (Kagan, 1972; Eimas, in press; Haith et al., 1969). According to this view, the child develops a large repertoire of concepts that define the objects, people, places, and events with which he has contact. The processes through which the categories are defined differ according to the age of the child and the type of information involved. For example, neonates have been found to give preferential attention to moving objects and to light and dark contrasts, indicating that these perceptions may be present in the visual system at birth (Kagan, 1972). Also at a very early age infants appear to recognize and even to prefer the human face and voice over other shapes and sounds, a preference that some investigators have interpreted as suggesting that the human child has a perceptual set for attending to these human attributes (Fantz, 1961; Eimas et al., 1971). Other kinds of information processing appear to be dependent upon the child’s maturation and/or his experience with the external world. Gibson (1969) has suggested that the young child’s early attention to single features gradually gives way to perception of bundles of features, which are perceived at a later developmental stage as distinctive features that the child uses in deriving higher-level categories. It is difficult to say at what point in the child’s development his early percepts become organized as concepts. What is important to our purposes is that the child is no longer being viewed as a passive recipient of external stimulation; rather, he is seen as an active processor of information from a very early age (see Kessen, 1965). Investigators generally agree not only that the child’s early learning is extensive and complex but that it is also accomplished nonverbally.
Diffusing education technology: A model for language teacher professional development in CALL

Abstract This conceptual paper adapts Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations Theory (DIT; Rogers, 1995/2003), integrating it with the teacher technology education literature, in order to provide a model for professional development in computer-assisted language learning (CALL). The model consists of two stages that teacher educators can consider when developing and providing CALL professional development for teachers. Each stage was designed to address key issues in the literature. In Stage 1, persuasion, knowledge, and practice are the key issues addressed. Stage 2 focuses on providing an enabling environment for teacher growth. After presenting the literature that grounds the model, this paper describes an example of the strategies in use. The goal is to guide teacher educators to think about effective CALL professional development and to help address teachers’ resistance toward adopting CALL technologies.
A Dynamic Neural Network Designed Using Analytical Methods Produces Dynamic Control Properties Similar to an Analogous Classical Controller

Human balance is achieved using many concurrent control loops that combine to react to changes in environment, posture, center of mass and other factors affecting stability. Though numerous engineering models of human balance control have been tested, no methods for porting these models to a neural architecture have been established. It is our hypothesis that the analytical methods we have developed, combined with classical control techniques will provide a reasonable starting point for developing dynamic neural controllers that can reproduce classical control capabilities. In previous work, we tested this hypothesis and demonstrated that a biologically constrained neural controller that replicates human balance control characteristics is achievable. The objective of the work presented in this letter was to further understand how parameters within the neural model affect stability and correspond to expected changes predicted by classical control theory. We compare the performance between the neural and classical engineering models for bipedal balance in an inverted pendulum balance experiment. We then carry out an extended analysis on the performance of the neural controller by varying neural parameters, observing the changes in system dynamics, and comparing these changes to those predicted by the classical model. Our methods generate compact neural systems with few parameters, all of which are correlated to classical engineering parameters for a given control model. This works serves as a basis for how to port classical control problems to neural control architectures.
Think.com

Think.com is a free, web-based environment for primary through secondary students and educators. Think.com supports online learning communities with the tools and space to create and share their work online. Both students and teachers have the ability to easily create, communicate and collaborate with their peers in an online environment. Integration of Think.com into the curriculum provides students an exciting new venue for learning, and facilitates global communication and collaboration within a learning community.
Retinol isotope dilution accurately predicts liver reserves in piglets but overestimates reserves in lactating sows.

Retinol isotope dilution (RID) is used to estimate total body vitamin A (VA) stores in groups to assess VA status. Metabolic differences during lactation may affect RID calculations as currently ap...
A novel heat shock protein 90 inhibitor potently targets adrenocortical carcinoma tumor suppression.

Abstract Introduction Adrenocortical carcinoma is an aggressive cancer with a poor prognosis. Long noncoding RNAs are differentially expressed in cancer patients and contribute to cellular homeostasis, survival, and metastasis. We hypothesize that our novel C-terminal Hsp90 inhibitor KU758 can effectively target adrenocortical carcinoma cells and favorably alter long noncoding RNA expression. Methods Cell viability after KU758 treatment was measured in the adrenocortical carcinoma cell lines SW13, RL251, and NCI-H295R by MTS assay. Cellular mobility and metastatic potential after Hsp90 inhibition was measured through migration, invasion, and aggregate formation assays. β-catenin activity in NCI-H295R cells was determined by immunofluorescence and polymerase chain reaction. Long noncoding RNA expression was determined by polymerase chain reaction array after Hsp90 inhibition. Results KU758 is selective for adrenocortical carcinoma cells with IC50 values of 0.6 to 2.4 μM. KU758 treatment can effectively reduce migration, invasion, and aggregate formation in NCI-H295R and SW13 cells. β-catenin activity is decreased after treatment with KU758. Treatment with KU758 is associated with overall statistically significant upregulation of long noncoding RNA expression, including the tumor suppressor GAS5, which is implicated in the β-catenin and mammalian target of rapamycin pathways in adrenocortical carcinoma. Conclusion The novel C-terminal Hsp90 inhibitor KU758 is effective in the treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma cells and can significantly alter long noncoding RNA expression for tumor suppression.
Should we shift the paradigm of preclinical models for ARDS therapies

The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterised by diffuse impairment in gas exchange that can result from heterogenous aetiologies. ARDS causes 10% of intensive care unit admissions worldwide with inpatient mortality rates ranging from 35% for mild cases to 46% for severe cases.1 Despite being a common and frequently fatal process, there are no widely accepted pharmacological therapies available to treat ARDS, the management of which primarily rests on appropriate mechanical ventilation and supportive care.2 Unfortunately, numerous promising pharmacological therapies that demonstrated benefit in preclinical models or early clinical investigation have failed to demonstrate reliable improvement in clinical outcomes.3–7 In the context of a persistent clinical problem that has vexed state-of-the art investigative therapies, there have been thoughtful proposals on how to improve the investigation of potential ARDS therapies in experimental animal models of acute lung injury (ALI).8–10 A 2011 American Thoracic Society (ATS) statement defined experimental ALI as an acute process (ie, sequelae develop within 24 hours of exposure) with increased permeability of the alveolar-capillary membrane, frequently with histopathological correlation, leading to impairments in lung physiology.8 Building on these earlier proposals, Oakley and colleagues11 propose in this issue of Thorax two broad, fundamental changes in the philosophical framework for the investigation of novel therapeutics in preclinical ARDS models. The first fundamental change to the 2011 ATS definition proposed by Oakley et al 11 is that experimental animal models used to assess the clinical efficacy of proposed ARDS therapeutics should be clinically relevant. Specifically, the authors highlight three criteria to define an effective model based on the notion that the clinical conditions of animal models should reflect as best as possible the clinical conditions of human patients that would receive the experimental therapy. First, ARDS therapies should be tested in lungs with pre-existing injury …
TGFBR2 mediated phosphorylation of BUB1 at Ser-318 is required for transforming growth factor-β signaling

BUB1 (budding uninhibited by benzimidazoles-1) is required for efficient TGF-β signaling, through its role in stabilizing the TGFBR1 and TGFBR2 complex. Here we demonstrate that TGFBR2 phosphorylates BUB1 at Serine-318, which is conserved in primates. S318 phosphorylation abrogates the interaction of BUB1 with TGFBR1 and SMAD2. Using BUB1 truncation domains (1-241, 241-482 and 482-723), we demonstrate that multiple contact points exist between BUB1 and TGF-β signaling components and that these interactions are independent of the BUB1 tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) domain. Moreover, substitutions in the middle domain (241-482) encompassing S318 reveals that efficient interaction with TGFBR2 occurs only in its dephosphorylated state (241-482 S318A). In contrast, the phospho-mimicking mutant (241-482 S318D) exhibits efficient binding with SMAD2 and its over-expression results in a decrease in TGFBR1-TGFBR2 and TGFBR1-SMAD2 interactions. These findings suggest that TGFBR2 mediated BUB1 phosphorylation at S318 may serve as a switch for the dissociation of the SMAD2-TGFBR complex, and therefore represents a regulatory event for TGF-β signaling. Finally, we provide evidence that the BUB1-TGF-β signaling axis may mediate aggressive phenotypes in a variety of cancers.
Ultrabroadband, high efficiency, and linear polarization achromatic meta-lens (Conference Presentation)

We proposed and experimentally demonstrated a new method to engineer ultra-high efficiency and linear polarization achromatic meta-lens from visible to telecommunication wavelength: 660 nm to 1200 nm with 90 % efficiency. Our proposed method is a promising approach for broadband structured interfaces. This new design surpasses the current state of the art of metalens which is mainly focus on circular polarization with limited bandwidth and efficiency.
MiR-29b is associated with perinatal inflammation in extremely preterm infants.

Background Inflammation is strongly associated with premature birth and neonatal morbidities. Increases in infant haptoglobin, haptoglobin-related protein (Hp&HpRP), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels are indicators of intra-amniotic inflammation (IAI) and have been linked to poor neonatal outcomes. Inflammation causes epigenetic changes, specifically suppression of miR-29 expression. The current study sought to determine whether miR-29b levels in cord blood or neonatal venous blood are associated with IAI, identified by elevated IL-6 and Hp, and subsequent clinical morbidities in the infant. Methods We tested 92 cord blood samples from premature newborns and 18 venous blood samples at 36 weeks corrected gestational age. MiR-29b, Hp&HpRP, and IL-6 were measured by polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Results Decreased levels of miR-29b were observed in infants exposed to IAI with elevated Hp&HpRP and IL-6 levels and in infants delivered by spontaneous preterm birth. Lower miR-29 levels were also observed in women diagnosed with histological chorioamnionitis or funisitis and in infants with cerebral palsy. Higher levels of miR-29 were measured in infants small for gestational age and in venous samples from older infants. Conclusions MiR-29 may be an additional biomarker of IAI and a potential therapeutic target for treating poor newborn outcomes resulting from antenatal exposure to IAI. Impact Decreases in miR-29b are associated with intrauterine inflammation. Hp&HpRP increases are associated with decreased miR-29b. MiR-29b may be an additional biomarker for neonatal outcomes and a potential therapeutic target for intrauterine inflammation.
Homesteading on the Extraterrestrial Frontier

Many sf writers depend on the multiple narratives of the American West as templates for framing their understandings of the future. This essay examines the ways in which the western homesteading story has been adapted in fictions about future planetary settlement. It argues that the increasing complexity of these treatments reflects the deepening awareness of the ambiguities of the American homesteading experience and parallels many of the insights of the “new western history.” Key texts discussed include Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles, Robert Heinlein’s Farmer in the Sky, Philip K. Dick’s Martian Time-Slip, Kim Stanley Robinson’s Blue Mars, Jonathan Lethem’s Girl in Landscape, and Molly Gloss’s The Dazzle of Day.
Disbelief is a distinct doxastic attitude

While epistemologists routinely employ disbelief talk, it is not clear that they really mean it, given that they often equate disbelieving p with believing ¬p. I argue that this is a mistake—disbelief is a doxastic attitude of rejection and is distinct from belief (and withholding). I first clarify this claim and its opposition, then show that we must distinguish disbelieving p from believing ¬p in order to account for the fact that we continue to hold doxastic attitudes toward propositions that we reject. After defending this argument against some possible objections, I examine several cases that reveal disbelieving p to be not only non-identical to believing ¬p, but independent of that attitude as well. Finally, I sketch some immediate and potential consequences of recognizing disbelief as a distinct doxastic attitude, particularly for work on epistemic rationality.
Understanding drugs as leisure through the (de)differentiation lens and the dialectic of Logos- and Eros-modernity

Recreational drug consumption is often associated with taboos and legal sanctions. However, the processes of drug liberalisation and decriminalisation have shifted societal attitudes and individual...
The Metallicity Profile of M31 from Spectroscopy of Hundreds of H II Regions and PNe

The oxygen abundance gradients among nebular emission line regions in spiral galaxies have been used as important constraints for models of chemical evolution. We present the largest-ever full-wavelength optical spectroscopic sample of emission line nebulae in a spiral galaxy (M31). We have collected spectra of 253 H II regions and 407 planetary nebulae (PNe) with the Hectospec multi-fiber spectrograph of the MMT. We measure the line-of-sight extinction for 199 H II regions and 333 PNe; we derive oxygen abundance directly, based on the electron temperature, for 51 PNe; and we use strong-line methods to estimate oxygen abundance for 192 H II regions and nitrogen abundance for 52 H II regions. The relatively shallow oxygen abundance gradient of the more extended H II regions in our sample is generally in agreement with the result of Zaritsky et al., based on only 19 M31 H II regions, but varies with the strong-line diagnostic employed. Our large sample size demonstrates that there is significant intrinsic scatter around this abundance gradient, as much as ~3 times the systematic uncertainty in the strong-line diagnostics. The intrinsic scatter is similar in the nitrogen abundances, although the gradient is significantly steeper. On small scales (deprojected distance <0.5 kpc), H II regions exhibit local variations in oxygen abundance that are larger than 0.3 dex in 33% of neighboring pairs. We do not identify a significant oxygen abundance gradient among PNe, but we do find a significant gradient in the [N II] ratio that varies systematically with surface brightness. Our results underscore the complex and inhomogeneous nature of the interstellar medium of M31, and our data set illustrates systematic effects relevant to future studies of the metallicity gradients in nearby spiral galaxies.
Anesthetic Management and Surgical Considerations for the Patient Undergoing Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Off pump coronary artery bypass grafting is an alternative to CABG with cardiopulmonary bypass for patients with severe comorbidities. Maintenance of hemodynamic stability is paramount and can be achieved via increased fluid administration and transient vasopressor use. Maintaining the myocardial oxygen supply and demand balance is the primary anesthetic goal and monitoring for myocardial ischemia via transesophageal echocardiography can assist in management.
What Is the Role of Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptors in Pain?

There is increasing evidence that the sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) system is a modulator of pain pathways via several receptors (S1PRs), particularly S1PR1. Dysregulation of sphingolipid metabolism and SP1R1 signaling in the periphery and in the dorsal horn leads to development of persistent neuroinflammation and nociceptive behaviors in several chronic pain models.1,2 This evidence suggests that the S1P/S1PR1 system is a suitable target for management of inflammatory and neuropathic pain.
Systemization of a pharmacy technician career ladder in a multi-hospital system

Abstract Purpose Hospital consolidation into larger, systemized health systems has enabled system-wide standardization of promotion processes, including pharmacy technician career ladders. However, whether system standardization affects the job satisfaction or outcomes of pharmacy technicians is unknown. The purpose of this project was to assess pharmacy technician perceptions and outcomes after systemization of a pharmacy technician career ladder. Methods Pharmacy technician satisfaction scores and outcomes (promotion and turnover rates) were assessed in an eight-hospital health system before and after systemization of a pharmacy technician career ladder. Results Two hundred and forty-nine pharmacy technicians were employed during the pre-intervention (n = 104) and post-intervention (n = 145) time periods. One hundred and twenty-three of 145 (84.83%) pharmacy technicians completed a job satisfaction survey after implementation of the system-wide technician career ladder. Overall satisfaction for the career ladder averaged 3.8 ± 0.61 or between neutral to positive satisfaction. There was no difference in total satisfaction regardless of teaching (3.8 ± 0.59) or community hospital (3.8 ± 0.63) location (p = 0.53) or stratifying by Pharmacy Technician status. A total of 50 pharmacy technicians were hired during the study period, either during the pre-implementation (n = 36) or post-implementation (n = 14) time periods. Time to the first promotion averaged 1.73 ± 1.00 years in the pre-implementation period and 1.36 ± 0.55 years in the post-implementation period (p = 0.20). Technician voluntary turnover was similar between the time periods. Conclusion In conclusion, the standardization of a systems-level pharmacy technician promotion ladder from a single hospital to a systems-level was associated with positive job satisfaction and similar promotions and turnover rates as the historic, single hospital-based promotion ladder.
Advances in Epilepsy Surgery.

Abstract Background A large number of patients have epilepsy that is intractable and adversely affects a child's lifelong experience with addition societal burden that is disabling and expensive. The last two decades have seen a major explosion of new antiseizure medication options. Despite these advances, children with epilepsy continue to have intractable seizures. An option that has been long available but little used is epilepsy surgery to control intractable epilepsy. Methods This article is a review of the literature as well as published opinions. Results Epilepsy surgery in pediatrics is an underused modality to effectively treat children with epilepsy. Adverse effects of medication should be weighed against risks of surgery as well as risks of nonefficacy. Conclusions We discuss an approach to selecting the appropriate pediatric patient for consideration, a detailed evaluation including necessary evaluation, and the creation of an algorithm to approach patients with both generalized and focal epilepsy. We then discuss surgical options available including outcome data. New modalities are also addressed including high-frequency ultrasound and co-registration techniques including magnetic resonance imaging-guided laser therapy.
Empowering students’ writing through a more useful metalanguage: A language-based approach to high school English language arts

Abstract Many systemic functional linguistics (SFL) scholars have shown the usefulness of students’ and teachers’ abilities to utilize a functional metalanguage for school writing (Berry, 2009; Coffin, 2006; Humphrey & Macnaught, 2016; Macken-Horarik & Morgan, 2011; Rose & Martin, 2012). In the U. S., SFL work has primarily focused on teaching English as an additional language (de Oliveira, 2010a; de Oliveira & Dodds, 2010b; Gebhard, Harman, & Seger, 2007; Schleppegrell, 2009). Few scholars have explored the implications of this metalanguage for heritage English speakers (e.g., Brown, 2006, 2008, 2011) or stigmatized dialects of English like in Appalachia (Angus & Iddings, 2013; Iddings & Angus, 2015). This article presents a qualitative case study and SFL analysis of student writing to discuss the metalanguage used by twelfth-grade ELA students and teachers in Appalachian Kentucky. I argue that teachers can empower students to talk about and compose their writing with a more useful metalanguage.
Demonstration of Reversible Dispersion in a Darcy-Scale Push-Pull Laboratory Experiment

A solute transport experiment was conducted in a 50 cm $$\times$$ 50 cm $$\times$$ 4.4 cm apparatus filled with monodisperse glass beads and glycerin, using Rhodamine 6G dye as the solute. The dye movement was tracked through two cycles of a push-pull flow pattern, alternating between approximately radial outward flow and approximately radial inward flow. Depth-averaged concentration was measured during the experiment and integrated over the angular direction during post-processing to obtain a radial distribution of concentration. The experimental results were replicated using particle tracking, simulating advection and dispersion in the radial direction, including reversible dispersion during extraction. Results show that spreading of the measured concentrations follow a Fickian dispersion model during steps with radial outward flow. During steps with radial inward flow, spreading is reversed and can be modeled as reversible dispersion. The observed reversal in spreading is an indication of incomplete mixing within the pore space.
Physiological Effects of Some Common Activities

Choose one of the following activities (or any other to which you would like to monitor your body’s response). It may be of particular interest to choose an activity that you do habitually.
Apolipoprotein(a) gene transcription is regulated by liver-enriched trans-acting factor hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 alpha.

Abstract Elevated levels of lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) in the plasma are a risk factor for coronary artery disease and stroke. Plasma Lp(a) concentrations are highly heritable and predominantly determined by the liver-specific apolipoprotein(a) (apo(a)) gene. In this report we show by deletion analysis that sequences from -98 to +130 of the apo(a) gene are sufficient to direct liver-specific transcription. DNase I protection analysis of this region using HepG2 nuclear extracts revealed six major protein-binding sites, designated A to F. A mutation within footprint C, situated in the 5'-untranslated region of the gene, resulted in a marked reduction of luciferase expression from a reporter construct to 12% of wild type. This was not due to a decrease in mRNA stability. Gel mobility shift assays demonstrated that site C binds hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 alpha (HNF-1 alpha), and overexpression of HNF-1 alpha in HepG2 cells resulted in a significant stimulation of transcription from this promoter fragment. Mutation of footprint B resulted in a 2-fold enhancement of transcription. These results show that positive regulation of transcription of the apo(a) gene is dependent on the binding of HNF-1 alpha to a regulatory element situated downstream of the mRNA start site, and suggest that an as yet unidentified protein may negatively regulate apo(a) transcription by binding to a discrete sequence within the 5'-untranslated region.
ATE applied into fault modeling and fault diagnosis of AC servo motor PWM driver system

AC servo motor PWM driver system (including power module, power PWM driver board, cable, motor and photoelectric encoder/decoder) is a key sub-system of semiconductor assembly and packaging equipment. Aimed at its high fault rate, in this document we build the fault models of system based on PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) voltage, controller command and position feedback, find the test method of main faults, use ATE idea and method to perform test requirement analysis, resource allocation and driver program design, open the closed loop to decouple the system into LRUs (Line Replaceable Units) and locate the fault LRU(s) combining open loop and closed loop, on-line and off-line test. It shows that the fault modeling and ATE diagnosis above is successful by lots of experiments and test verification and has been applied into machine monitoring and fault diagnosis efficiently and effectively.
Characteristics of P388/VMDRC.04, a Simple, Sensitive Model for Studying P-Glycoprotein Antagonists

Cross-resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs is a significant problem in the treatment of patients with cancer. The discovery that this phenomenon is associated with the overexpression of a membrane glycoprotein, P-glycoprotein, which acts as a drug efflux pump, has provided a new target for drug development. To develop a model for identifying new compounds which can block the function of P-glycoprotein, we infected P388 mouse leukemic cells with a retrovirus containing a cloned human MDR1 complementary DNA. The new cell line, P388/VMDRC.04, incorporated and overexpressed the human gene as evidenced by Southern blots, increased mRNA and protein synthesis, and recognition by the MRK16 monoclonal antibody. P388/VMDRC.04 was cross-resistant to colchicine, vincristine, and doxorubicin, and the degree of resistance correlated with a reduction in cellular drug accumulation. Unlike many cell lines selected for resistance by growth in increasing concentrations of drug for prolonged periods of time, these cells did not show alternative mechanisms of resistance such as increased synthesis of glutathione or alterations in topoisomerase II. In addition, the sensitivity of P388/VMDRC.04 cells was completely restored by cyclosporin A and trans-flupenthixol. P388/VMDRC.04 cells were subcloned and 10 clones were picked for in vivo evaluation. One subclone grew similarly to parental cells in female BALB/c x DBA/2 F1 mice and showed no responsiveness to therapeutic doses of vincristine or etoposide. The combination of vincristine with cyclosporin A significantly increased the survival of mice inoculated with P388/VMDRC.04 cells. The availability of a cell line that displays the MDR phenotype, overexpresses human P-glycoprotein, but does not contain alterations in at least two well-defined alternative mechanisms of resistance, and that can be grown in simple animal models should facilitate the development of new agents active against this form of chemotherapeutic drug resistance.
Resident perceptions of radiosurgical training and the effect of a focused resident training seminar.

Object Neurosurgical training is critical in providing residents with the skill set, knowledge, and confidence to perform challenging neurosurgical procedures. Radiosurgery, which neurosurgeons helped define and refine, differs from more traditional, open neurosurgical approaches. This study evaluates the opinions of residents on current radiosurgical training and the effect of a focused educational course on those residents. Methods The American Association of Neurological Surgeons sponsored a 3-day course focused on intracranial and spinal radiosurgery. Senior-level residents were nominated by US program directors to participate in the course. Twenty-eight residents from distinct training programs were surveyed before and after the course to discern current training practices in radiosurgery and the effect of the focused educational program. The median training level of the participants was postgraduate Year 5 (mean 5.3 years, range 3–7 years). Results Two-thirds of residents reported that their trainin...
Real-Time Control of the MIT Vehicle Emulation System

The MIT vehicle emulation system (VES) is an experimental facility designed to facilitate the study of controlling robots fixed to nonstationary bases. This includes assembly and repair manipulators attached to space vehicles, or to the space shuttle arm, as well as manipulators fixed to the bed of moving ground vehicles. Controlling manipulators under these conditions for endpoint force and positioning tasks requires both the development of new theory, and the development of a testbed for verifying theoretical results through experimentation. A description is presented of the technical details of the real-time controller for the second generation VES system.
Rapid optimization of enzyme substrates using defined substrate mixtures.

Abstract A strategy is described for the rapid optimization of kcat/Km for protease substrates. Selected positions of a given peptide substrate sequence are varied through synthesis with mixtures of amino acids. Incubation of the resulting peptide mixture with the enzyme of interest and analysis by high pressure liquid chromatography provides a direct measure of analogs with enhanced kcat/Km. High performance liquid chromatography/continuous flow fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry is used to assign structure to each peak in the chromatogram. As an example of the utility and efficiency of "substrate mapping" we describe optimization of the collagenase substrate Dnp-Pro-Leu-Gly-Leu-Trp-Ala-D-Arg-NH2 (where Dnp is dinitrophenyl) at the P'1 and P'2 positions. Six different mixtures were prepared for evaluation, representing the synthesis of 128 different synthetic substrates. "Substrate mapping" has led to Dnp-Pro-Leu-Gly-Cys(Me)-His-Ala-D-Arg-NH2, a substrate that possesses a 10-fold better kcat/Km than Dnp-Pro-Leu-Gly-Leu-Trp-Ala-D-Arg-NH2.
Road Pricing and Compensation for Delay

Humphrey Institute Sustainable Transportation Applied Research Initiative, University of California Transportation Center