cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Primary Episodic Ataxias

The clinical and genetic diagnosis, genotype-phenotype correlations, pathophysiology and treatment of primary episodic ataxia syndromes are reviewed by researchers from Departments of Neurology, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA; National Hospital for Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD; and University of Rochester School of Medicine, NY, USA.
Why do you ask? Good questions provoke informative answers.

What makes a question useful? What makes an answer appropriate? In this paper, we formulate a family of increasingly sophisticated models of question-answer behavior within the Rational Speech Act framework. We compare these models based on three different pieces of evidence: first, we demonstrate how our answerer models capture a classic effect in psycholinguistics showing that an answerer’s level of informativeness varies with the inferred questioner goal, while keeping the question constant. Second, we jointly test the questioner and answerer components of our model based on empirical evidence from a question-answer reasoning game. Third, we examine a special case of this game to further distinguish among the questioner models. We find that sophisticated pragmatic reasoning is needed to account for some of the data. People can use questions to provide cues to the answerer about their interest, and can select answers that are informative about inferred interests.
Developing Visual Creative Literacies Through Integrating Art-Based Inquiry

AbstractVisual literacy and the ability to think creatively are critical skills requisite to full participation and communication in the twenty-first century. Learning experiences that integrate studio-based inquiry and other academic concepts can develop discipline skills as well as communication skills of deciphering visual cues and de/re-constructing visual metaphor. This article provides a theoretical overview of meaningful art integrated inquiry, offering examples of science, technology and math integration with studio technique, materials and processes. Further, an argument is presented for the need for all teachers to engage in art-based practices to further develop their own skills and conceptual frameworks.
Heat Shock Factor Potentiates the Promoter Chromatin Structure of the Yeast HSP90 Genes

Publisher Summary Heat shock genes are poised for instantaneous transcriptional activation in response to environmental stress. Facilitating this hair-trigger response is the presence of DNase I hypersensitive, nucleosome-free regions over the promoters of such genes. Genomic footprinting of the HSP82 promoter has revealed that the most proximal of four heat shock elements, termed HSE1, is uniquely occupied by protein ±heat shock; the other three are not stably bound by protein and are dispensable for both basal and induced function. Introduction of a double point mutation into HSE1 preferentially abolishes basal expression, whereas its deletion or substitution reduces both basal and induced transcription at least two orders of magnitude. Whereas a double point mutation within HSE1 has virtually no effect on the chromatin structure of the hsp82 promoter, deletion or substitution of this sequence leads to a dramatic transition: the DNase I hypersensitive region is replaced by two stable, sequence-positioned nucleosomes.
The Future: A Search for Values

THE FUTURE: It’s our life, and our children’s and our grandchildren’s. What will it be like? Can all of us look forward to lives more or less like people lead today? Or are there going to be some drastic changes? If major changes are indeed inevitable, can widespread pain and chaos be avoided? Is it true, as M. Giscard d’Estaing, the former President of France, said: ‘All modern day curves lead to disaster’1. What curves was he talking about? What disasters?
Frontiers in strain-engineered multifunctional ferroic materials

Multifunctional, complex oxides capable of exhibiting highly-coupled electrical, mechanical, thermal, and magnetic susceptibilities have been pursued to address a range of salient technological challenges. Today, efforts are focused on addressing the pressing needs of a range of applications and identifying, understanding, and controlling materials with the potential for enhanced or novel responses. In this prospective, we highlight important developments in theoretical and computational techniques, materials synthesis, and characterization techniques. We explore how these new approaches could revolutionize our ability to discover, probe, and engineer these materials and provide a context for new arenas where these materials might make an impact.
Three Dimensions of T.H. Green’s Idea of the Self

T.H. Green has a rather extended notion of the self, by which is meant that he thinks persons have affiliations with others that take them beyond their own individual self or family and the interests of that self or family. This paper considers that notion of an extended self under three main themes. Metaphysics and Ethics. First, the paper examines some recent work on Green’s notions of the ‘eternal consciousness’ and ‘self-realization.’ Rights and the Common Good. The paper next examines Green’s thoughts regarding the relationship between a common good among fellow citizens, on the one hand, and the rights of individuals, on the other. Reciprocity and Citizenship. Finally, the paper turns to Green’s account of the state (which includes an emphasis on democracy).
Ionic Borate-Based Covalent Organic Frameworks: Lightweight Porous Materials for Lithium-Stable Solid State Electrolytes

The synthesis and characterization of the first polyelectrolyte of intrinsic microporosity (PEIM) is described. The novel material was synthesized via reaction between the nitrile group in the polymer backbone and n-butyl lithium, effectively anchoring an imine anion to the porous framework while introducing a mobile lithium counterion. The PEIM was characterized by 13C, 1H, and 7Li NMR experiments, revealing quantitative conversion of the nitrile functionality to the anionic imine. Variable temperature 7Li NMR analysis of the dry PEIM and the electrolyteswollen PEIM revealed that lithium ion transport within the dry PEIM was largely due to interchain hopping of the Li+ ions, and that the mobility of polymer associated Li+ was reduced after swelling in electrolyte solution. Meanwhile, the swollen PEIM supported efficient transport of dissolved Li+ within the expanded pores. These results are discussed in the context of developing novel solid or solid-like lithium ion electrolytes using the new PEIM material.
Platelet-Rich Plasma: Formulations, Preparations, Constituents, and Their Effects

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a biological treatment option that is increasingly used in sports medicine applications. Outcomes from treating tendon, ligament, muscle, and cartilage injuries with PRP have been variable across many studies, and these differences may be because of the variations in formulations and preparation of PRP. The purpose of this article is to describe the factors that determine the effects of PRP.
The urban sustainable development goal: Indicators, complexity and the politics of measuring cities

Abstract As part of the post-2015 United Nations sustainable development agenda, the world has its first urban sustainable development goal (USDG) “to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”. This paper provides an overview of the USDG and explores some of the difficulties around using this goal as a tool for improving cities. We argue that challenges emerge around selecting the indicators in the first place and also around the practical use of these indicators once selected. Three main practical problems of indicator use include 1) the poor availability of standardized, open and comparable data 2) the lack of strong data collection institutions at the city scale to support monitoring for the USDG and 3) “localization” - the uptake and context specific application of the goal by diverse actors in widely different cities. Adding to the complexity, the USDG conversation is taking place at the same time as the proliferation of a bewildering array of indicator systems at different scales. Prompted by technological change, debates on the “data revolution” and “smart city” also have direct bearing on the USDG. We argue that despite these many complexities and challenges, the USDG framework has the potential to encourage and guide needed reforms in our cities but only if anchored in local institutions and initiatives informed by open, inclusive and contextually sensitive data collection and monitoring.
Load balancing and speed scaling interaction in processor-sharing systems with exponential power functions

Speed scaling has been widely adopted in energy-efficient operation of communication and computer systems. An important related issue is the interaction of speed scaling with other resource allocation mechanisms such as load balancing. This paper studies the interaction between load balancing and speed scaling in processor-sharing systems with exponential power functions. We consider three different load balancing models - the delay-minmax, delay-optimal, and energy-optimal load balancing - under speed scaling, and characterize the efficiency loss of the load-balancing-speed-scaling equilibrium with the traditional delay-minmax model in delay as well as in energy consumption. As with systems with the polynomial power functions studied in our prior work, our results show that the efficiency loss in the system with the exponential power functions is mostly bounded by the heterogeneity of the system but does not scale with the size of the system. These results provide insights in understanding the interaction of load balancing with speed scaling and guiding new designs for communication systems where the power consumption is usually an exponential function of the link rate.
Topical Toxicity of Pesticides Used in Virginia Vineyards to the Predatory Mite, Neoseiulus fallacis (Garman)

Slide dip bioassays were conducted to determine the direct toxicity of insecticides, acaricides, fungicides, and herbicides commonly used in vineyards in Virginia to Neoseiulus fallacis (Garman) (A...
Clinical Characteristics of the GLA N215S Variant and Implications for the Diagnosis and Management of Nonclassic Fabry Disease.

Our understanding of Fabry disease continues to evolve since its first description as a dermatologic disorder over a century ago, and the more we learn, the more it becomes clear that this complex disorder defies simple categorizations. A progressive inborn error of lysosomal glycosphingolipid metabolism caused by disruption of the X-linked GLA gene, Fabry disease exhibits a wide spectrum of severity and clinical findings. The phenotype that is most likely to be recognized clinically is the well-described classic form that manifests in boys or young men with neuropathic pain and paresthesia, angiokeratomas, hypohydrosis or anhydrosis, corneal verticillata, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, renal failure, and cerebrovascular strokes.1 However, the diagnosis remains challenging in people with nonclassic presentations, such as female heterozygotes, who may have a milder course or later onset but are still at risk for life-threatening complications of the disease, and cases of variant Fabry, where clinical involvement is largely confined to a single organ. For example, cardiac variant Fabry can mimic sarcomeric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.1 These diagnostic challenges are of particular concern to providers who are likely to encounter nonclassic presentations, such as those working in cardiology clinics. Fabry disease-specific treatments, such as enzyme replacement therapy or chaperone treatment, can only be initiated after an accurate diagnosis is established, and the efficacy of treatment may be limited in those with advanced disease.2 See Article by Oder et al In this issue, Oder et al3 describe a cohort of patients who were referred for evaluation of apparently isolated hypertrophic cardiomyopathy but who on further workup and genetic testing were diagnosed with nonclassic Fabry disease. This article describes 26 patients (13 men and 13 women) with the N215S (c.644A>G, p.Asn215Ser) variant in the GLA gene. The N215S variant is a common cause of Fabry, occurring in 4.8% of people in …
Mining twitter to understand the smoking cessation barriers

Smoking cessation is challenging and lack of positive support is a known major barrier to quitting cigarettes. Previous studies have suggested that social influences might increase smokers' awareness of social norms for appropriate behavior, which might lead to smoking cessation. Although social media use is increasing among young adults in the United States, research on the relationship between social media use and smoking cessation is lacking. Twitter has provided a rich source of information for researchers, but no overview exists as to how the field uses Twitter in smoking cessation research. To the best of our knowledge, this study conducted a data mining analysis of Twitter to assess barriers to smoking cessation. In conclusion, Twitter is a cost-effective tool with the potential to disseminate information on the benefits of smoking cessation and updated research to the Twitter community on a global scale.
Governance matters: climate change, corruption, and livelihoods in Bangladesh

In world climate science, Bangladesh is considered a poster child of vulnerability. The primary stressors that affect the vulnerability of the Bangladeshi population include sea-level rise, biodiversity degradation, saltwater intrusion, desertification, social exclusion, unstable political conditions, and weak governance systems. Governance is an important non-climatic stressor that has not received sufficient attention. Within this framework, this paper explores the impacts of bribery and extortion on livelihoods and adaptive capacity in the face of climate change and argues that corruption significantly reduces the ability to respond to climatic stressors. Findings draw attention to this critical issue in climate change adaptation and international development in general, particularly for developing countries.
Youth with Chronic Pain and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS): Treatment Mediators of Improvement in Functional Disability

Intensive pain rehabilitation programs are effective in increasing functioning for youth with chronic pain (CP). However, the utility of such programs for youth with CP and co-morbid postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is rarely examined. In addition, studies examining mediators of treatment for CP are sparse. This paper compares treatment outcomes for youth with CP (n = 117) and youth with CP + POTS (n = 118). Additionally, depression and pain catastrophizing were tested as potential mediators of treatment effects. Significant treatment improvements were found for functional disability, depression, pain catastrophizing, and perceived pain intensity but with no differences between groups. Improvements in depressed mood, pain catastrophizing (helplessness subscale), and pain severity partially mediated functioning improvement. Pain severity was not a significant mediator in the CP + POTS group. We concluded that depression and pain catastrophizing, especially the helplessness domain, can impact functioning improvement in adolescents with CP and POTS and are particularly important to target in treatment.
ER stress in prostate cancer: A therapeutically exploitable vulnerability?

Cooperative oncogenic effects resulting from the loss of PTEN and overexpression of MYC overcome the deleterious effects of endoplasmic reticulum stress not only to promote the growth of aggressive prostate cancer but also to expose a new therapy target for this disease (Nguyen et al ., this issue).
Lipid Packing in Lipid-Wrapped Nanoparticles

Equilibrium simulations of lipid-wrapped nanoparticles (LNP) were performed using a hybrid molecular dynamics/Monte Carlo (MD/MC) approach. The radius, R, of a spherical nanoparticle (NP) core was adjusted with MC moves while a surrounding lipid bilayer was treated with MD. A wide range of LNP sizes, with the largest R ∼ 40 nm, were studied to determine the average NP radius for a given total number of lipids, N, the number of lipids in each layer, and configurational information. A three-bead lipid model was used to allow large N. A nonequilibrium Jarzynski free energy calculation of the optimal R for a given N, was also demonstrated validating the MD/MC method. An order/disorder transition was described, unique to LNP and distinct from lamellar bilayers, that is weak and continuous with small N, but sharpens to a first order transition with N > 10000 at T ≈ 1.1, shifting to higher T with increasing N. The radius and the overlap of the inner and outer layers were used as order parameters charactering the...
COURSE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

Course management systems, also called learning management systems or virtual learning environments, are software systems designed to assist in the management of educational courses for students, especially by helping teachers and learners with course administration. The systems can often track the learners’ progress. While usually thought of as primarily tools for distance education, they are also used to support the face-to-face classroom. A course management system allows teachers to manage their classes, assignments, activities, quizzes and tests, resources, and more in an accessible online environment. Students can log on and work anytime, anywhere. Ullman and Rabinowitz (2004) more succinctly define course management systems as “Internet-based software that manages student enrollment, tracks student performance, and creates and distributes course content.” Commonly used proprietary course management systems are WebCT and Blackboard. Course management systems (CMS) are becoming critical to education and have two major purposes (Ullman & Rabinowitz, 2004). First, a CMS can supplement a conventional course experience. Second, a CMS could be used to organize a course experience. COURSE ORGANIZATION
Galileo on God, Mathematics, Certainty, and the Nature and Possibility of Human Knowledge

In this chapter we examine Galileo’s arguments for the use of geometry and its role in his characterization of knowledge. Galileo’s own presentation takes the whole of Day 1 and much of Day 2 of the Dialogue to complete, although it appears as if most of the discussion is not spent explicitly arguing for his views in this area. The heart of his epistemology is presented at the close of Day 1, as the climax to the long and often convoluted discussion that precedes it. Here he offers an account of what man can know as against the capacity and scope of God’s knowledge. Although it is not clear to what extent he is addressing some of the issues that exercised the Neoplatonists, his comments here would certainly cause them some concern. For in making his case for the possibility of human knowledge, Galileo argues for a difference in kind between what God can know and what man can know. The distinction is essential to his characterization of nature as a book to be read in the language of geometry, but it also contains some theological suggestions.
Is There a Soul or no Soul? The Buddha Refused to Answer. Why?

I have been requested by Professor Raju to represent an Oriental point of view. Hence, I will refrain from presenting a Western viewpoint.
Protein shape modulates crowding effects.

Protein−protein interactions are usually studied in dilute buffered solutions with macromolecule concentrations of
Localization value of ictal turning prone.

Abstract Purpose Ictal semiology complements ictal EEG in identifying the likely epileptogenic zone. Ictal turning prone (ITP) with body turning of 90 ° or more can be seen with frontal lobe epilepsies. The aim of our study was to evaluate the localizing value of ITP in a general population of patients undergoing long term video-EEG monitoring. Methods We reviewed our epilepsy monitoring unit database for adult patients with recorded habitual seizures with ITP. All 16 patients identified had continuous video-EEG monitoring using standard scalp electrodes; eight patients also had intracranial EEG monitoring. We only included focal seizures without evolution to bilateral tonic-clonic activity. Results We identified 16 patients with ITP, mean age of 32.5 years (range 18–50). ITP was consistently seen in at least one focal impaired awareness seizure of all patients. Ictal onset zone on scalp EEG was left temporal in five, right temporal in three, left frontal convexity in two, right frontal convexity in two, probable right medial frontal in three and probable left medial frontal in one patient. Direction of ITP was uni-directional in 12 patients while 4 patients had ITP in opposite direction in different seizures. Nine patients underwent epilepsy surgery; five patients had Engel class I outcome and four patients had Engel class III outcome. Conclusions Ictal turning prone does not have a consistent single localizing or lateralizing value and can be seen with various epileptogenic zones including medial frontal, lateral frontal or temporal. ITP direction can vary even with a single epileptogenic zone.
Emerging Technologies in the C-Suite

As I have said in the past, Life in the C-Suite is complicated. It is part political and part financial; part operational and part strategic; quiet and chaotic; and fun and tragic. It is not for the faint of heart: introverts need not apply. C-level executives also have stakeholders. Some are internal—like Boards of Directors—and some are external, like supply chain partners, vendors, and ultimately customers. Some stakeholders are aggregates, which we call brands. Life in the C-Suite is also tenuous: Some executives survive for a while and some for years. Certain skills, competencies, relationships, financial realities, and experience all determine how long the lease on the C-suite runs. Many of them are well beyond the control of the residents.
Titer measurement of HIV-1 envelope trimeric glycoprotein in cell culture media by a new tandem ion exchange and size exclusion chromatography (IEC-SEC) method

An efficient and specific liquid chromatography (LC)-based assay was developed to monitor the production of recombinant HIV-1 trimeric envelope glycoprotein (HIV Env trimer), a candidate vaccine for HIV-1 infection, in cell culture media to support scale-up process development. In this method, titer measurement was achieved by coupling a weak anion exchange chromatography (IEC) column with a size exclusion chromatography (SEC) column. This assay was specific, accurate, precise, and has been qualified for its intended purpose, with a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 10 µg/mL. This tandem separation strategy offered a reliable and timely analytical support to directly monitor the titer of HIV Env trimer during cell growth, without any extra sample purification steps.
Motor Vehicle CO2 Emissions in the United States: Potential Behavioral Feedback and Global Warming

AbstractThe previously found correlation of average annual temperature and motor vehicle travel among U.S. states suggests amplifying feedback of increased carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and warmin...
Dentin Priming with Amphipathic Antimicrobial Peptides

The evolution of bonded restorations has undergone great progress over several decades. Nonetheless, life spans of bonded restorations are limited mainly because of the eventual incidence of recurrent caries. Over time, water and waterborne agents (acids, enzymes) degrade the components of the dentin/restoration interface, allowing bacterial colonization and dentin reinfection at the margins of the restoration. We developed a 2-tier protective technology consisting of priming/coating dentin with amphipathic and antimicrobial peptides (AAMPs) to obtain hydrophobic/water-repellent and antibiofilm dentin-resisting recurrent caries around bonded restorations. We tested a series of AAMPs to assess their structure-function relationships as well as the effects of different dentin-conditioning methods on the structural features of AAMP-coated dentin. We found relation between the secondary structure of AAMPs (high portion of β-sheet), the antimicrobial potency of AAMPs, and the AAMPs' ability to form hydrophobic coatings on dentin. We also determined that AAMPs had preferential adsorption on the mineral phase of dentin, which suggested that peptides arrange their cationic and hydrophilic motifs in direct contact with the negatively charged minerals in the hydrophilic dentin. These results led us to explore different dentin-conditioning methods that would increase the mineral/collagen ratio and their effect on AAMP immobilization. We innovatively imaged the spatial distribution of the AAMPs in relation to the dentinal tubules and collagen network using a minimally invasive multimodal imaging technique: multiphoton-second harmonic generation. Using multiphoton-second harmonic generation imaging, we determined that partial deproteinization of dentin increased the amount of immobilized AAMPs as compared with the total etched dentin at the dentin surface and extended deeply around dentinal tubules. Last, we analyzed the release rate of AAMPs from dentin coatings in artificial saliva to predict their stability in the clinical setting. In conclusion, priming dentin with AAMPs is a versatile new approach with potential to fortify the otherwise vulnerable adhesive-based interfaces.
A Novel Combination of Metachronous Primary Malignancies of the Thyroid and Breast in a Patient with Neurofibromatosis Type 1.

Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) is a genetic condition of variable presentations. It has been shown to increase the risk of multiple cancers. Therefore, NF1 has been identified as a tumor-provoking condition. We present a case of a 39-year-old woman with NF1 who was diagnosed initially with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and subsequently presented with a painful breast lump. Core biopsy revealed an invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) for which selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) therapy was initiated. A lumpectomy was performed soon after, which confirmed IDC. Following surgery, the patient received a combination of anthracycline and cyclophosphamide (AC), which was later followed by a taxol-based chemotherapy regimen. This study aims to throw light on the rare phenomenon of metachronous malignancy: the occurrence of successive primary cancers in the same patient. We believe that raising awareness regarding the different neoplasms associated with NF1 is important to promote appropriate preemptive screening for early detection of a second primary neoplasm, which can help lower the morbidity and mortality associated with this condition through expedited intervention.
Establishment of a Recombinant AAV2/HBoV1 Vector Production System in Insect Cells.

We have previously developed an rAAV2/HBoV1 vector in which a recombinant adeno-associated virus 2 (rAAV2) genome is pseudopackaged into a human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1) capsid. Recently, the production of rAAV2/HBoV1 in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells has been greatly improved in the absence of any HBoV1 nonstructural proteins (NS). This NS-free production system yields over 16-fold more vectors than the original production system that necessitates NS expression. The production of rAAV with infection of baculovirus expression vector (BEV) in the suspension culture of Sf9 insect cells is highly efficient and scalable. Since the replication of the rAAV2 genome in the BEV system is well established, we aimed to develop a BEV system to produce the rAAV2/HBoV1 vector in Sf9 cells. We optimized the usage of translation initiation signals of the HBoV1 capsid proteins (Cap), and constructed a BEV Bac-AAV2Rep-HBoV1Cap, which expresses the AAV2 Rep78 and Rep52 as well as the HBoV1 VP1, VP2, and VP3 at the appropriate ratios. We found that it is sufficient as a trans helper to the production of rAAV2/HBoV1 in Sf9 cells that were co-infected with the transfer Bac-AAV2ITR-GFP-luc that carried a 5.4-kb oversized rAAV2 genome with dual reporters. Further study found that incorporation of an HBoV1 small NS, NP1, in the system maximized the viral DNA replication and thus the rAAV2/HBoV1 vector production at a level similar to that of the rAAV2 vector in Sf9 cells. However, the transduction potency of the rAAV2/HBoV1 vector produced from BEV-infected Sf9 cells was 5–7-fold lower in polarized human airway epithelia than that packaged in HEK293 cells. Transmission electron microscopy analysis found that the vector produced in Sf9 cells had a high percentage of empty capsids, suggesting the pseudopackage of the rAAV2 genome in HBoV1 capsid is not as efficient as in the capsids of AAV2. Nevertheless, our study demonstrated that the rAAV2/HBoV1 can be produced in insect cells with BEVs at a comparable yield to rAAV, and that the highly efficient expression of the HBoV1 capsid proteins warrants further optimization.
A piezoelectric-based advanced wearable: obstacle avoidance for the visually impaired built into a backpack

Visual impairment constitutes a compelling issue for our society. The aging of our population will cause a rise in the number of individuals affected by these debilitating conditions, which often challenge people in their daily routine and bear significant healthcare costs and consequences on society at large. Technological progress offers unique means to improve life conditions for the visually impaired, who still rely on low-tech systems, such as canes and service dogs. Here, we present a novel design for a piezoelectric belt integrated into a backpack, which can provide vibrotactile stimulation to the abdomen to signal the presence of obstacles. The belt is composed of an array of ten macro-fiber composite (MFC) actuators, arranged in a matrix of five columns by two rows. Obstacle identification and localization is afforded by a computer vision system, developed by our collaborators. The output from the array of actuators is controlled by the computer vision system, such that, if an obstacle is identified in a certain “capture field”, the corresponding actuator in an egocentric and spatiotopically preserved fashion is activated. The actuators comprise an encapsulated aluminum-backed MFC, driven by a tunable astable multivibrator. The resonance frequency of the actuators is tailored by adding a variable mass to a hollow cylinder fashioned as a protusion secured to the tactor, transmitting vibrations from the MFC to the skin of the human-in-the-loop. This new design allows us to enhance the peak-to-peak displacement of actuators of more than a tenfold factor over the 10-200 Hz frequency range, thereby surpassing, with a robust margin, the 50 μm threshold necessary for reliable discrimination given abdominal somatosensation.
Absorbance Detection in Multireflection Microfluidic Channels Using a Commercial Microplate Reader System

Absorbance detection is often prohibited in microfluidic channels due to the limited optical path length available in these systems. However, this optical distance may be significantly increased by guiding the probing light beam along the channel length via multiple reflections by patterned metallic surfaces. In this work, we demonstrate enhanced absorbance detection in glass microfluidic channels using a commercial microplate reader based on this principle, yielding detection limits comparable to that measured on standard microwell plates. This improvement in detectability was realized through careful optimization of the mirror lengths and locations combined with the appropriate design of a microchip holder to suitably position the microchannels in the microplate reader. Additionally, it was determined that the angle by which our device was tilted relative to the horizontal plane played an important role in this optimization. For an optimum choice of parameters accessible with our design, the sensitivity of our absorbance measurements in a 30 μm-deep channel was improved by as much as 52-fold, raising this quantity to about 84% of the corresponding value realized for 75 μL samples placed within 7 mm i.d. standard cylindrical microwells. Quantitative ELISAs employing the absorbance detection method were demonstrated on the noted multireflection microchip device for assessing West Nile viral IgM antibody levels in human serum samples yielding analyte detection limits comparable to that measured on standard microwell plates.
Correction to: Trends in U.S. Working-Age non-Hispanic White Mortality: Rural–Urban and Within-Rural Differences

In the original publication of the article, Figure 2 and 3 has been published incorrectly. The correct figures were provided here.
ER-positive breast cancer cells are poised for RET-mediated endocrine resistance

The RET tyrosine kinase signaling pathway is involved in the development of endocrine resistant ER+ breast cancer. However, the expression of the RET receptor itself has not been directly linked to clinical cases of resistance, suggesting that additional factors are involved. We show that both ER+ endocrine resistant and sensitive breast cancers have functional RET tyrosine kinase signaling pathway, but that endocrine sensitive breast cancer cells lack RET ligands that are necessary to drive endocrine resistance. Transcription of one RET ligand, GDNF, is necessary and sufficient to confer resistance in the ER+ MCF-7 cell line. In patients, RET ligand expression predicts responsiveness to endocrine therapies and correlates with survival. Collectively, our findings show that ER+ tumor cells are poised for RET mediated endocrine resistance, expressing all components of the RET signaling pathway, but endocrine sensitive cells lack high expression of RET ligands that are necessary to initiate the resistance phenotype.
The Impact of Peripheral Cooling on Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: An Integrative Review

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a prevalent, potentially long-lasting side effect of select chemotherapies. It contributes to suboptimal chemotherapy dosing, and its symptoms negatively impact patients' quality of life. To date, interventions to effectively prevent this toxicity have not been established, and interventions to treat CIPN have produced only modest results. The purpose of this integrative review is to examine the impact of regional cooling applied to distal extremities on the severity of CIPN. A literature review was performed using SCOPUS and PubMed databases. The search was not restricted by date but was restricted to English language. Forty-two articles were identified in the search, and six were included in the review after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results related to protective effects from peripheral cooling against CIPN were variable. Four out of six studies demonstrated benefit of peripheral cooling in reducing the severity of CIPN. There was evidence to suggest that applying a relatively greater degree of cooling compared with a lesser degree may confer benefit in reducing the severity of CIPN. Both direct application of cooling and use of compression to achieve fingertip cooling showed potential benefit.
Development of a Pharmacogenetic Lab-on-Chip Assay Based on the In-Check Technology to Screen for Genetic Variations Associated to Adverse Drug Reactions to Common Chemotherapeutic Agents.

Background: Antineoplastic agents represent the most common class of drugs causing Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs). Mutant alleles of genes coding for drug-metabolizing enzymes are the best studied individual risk factors for these ADRs. Although the correlation between genetic polymorphisms and ADRs is well-known, pharmacogenetic tests are limited to centralized laboratories with expensive or dedicated instrumentation used by specialized personnel. Nowadays, DNA chips have overcome the major limitations in terms of sensibility, specificity or small molecular detection, allowing the simultaneous detection of several genetic polymorphisms with time and costs-effective advantages. In this work, we describe the design of a novel silicon-based lab-on-chip assay able to perform low-density and high-resolution multi-assay analysis (amplification and hybridization reactions) on the In-Check platform. Methods: The novel lab-on-chip was used to screen 17 allelic variants of three genes associated with adverse reactions to common chemotherapeutic agents: DPYD (Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase), MTHFR (5,10-Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) and TPMT (Thiopurine S-methyltransferase). Results: Inter- and intra assay variability were performed to assess the specificity and sensibility of the chip. Linear regression was used to assess the optimal hybridization temperature set at 52 °C (R2 ≈ 0.97). Limit of detection was 50 nM. Conclusions: The high performance in terms of sensibility and specificity of this lab-on-chip supports its further translation to clinical diagnostics, where it may effectively promote precision medicine.
Due diligence and the U.S. defend forward cyber strategy

The intrusive cyber operations envisioned as part of the U.S. defend forward strategy call for renewed attention to the legal potential for States to operate without consent in other States’ territorial cyber infrastructure. Due diligence—the notion that international law includes a duty to cease and remedy damage from a State’s territory—has played an important role in limiting harm between States. Moreover, breach of due diligence serves as a powerful justification for resort to self-help by States that fall victim to harm emanating from the territory of other States. Despite its acceptance and utility, due diligence does not enjoy clear expressions of support in current U.S. legal policy. We argue that widespread international legal backing, extensive U.S. diplomatic practice, and practical concerns associated with due diligence counsel the U.S. to complement its commitment to defend forward with a clear articulation of the legal duties and doctrinal limits associated with due diligence. A clearly defined U.S. legal policy on due diligence will both support vital U.S. cyber security interests and reassert influence on a critical international legal principle.
KompaRe: A Knowledge Graph Comparative Reasoning System

Reasoning is a fundamental capability for harnessing valuable insight, knowledge and patterns from knowledge graphs. Existing work has primarily been focusing on point-wise reasoning, including search, link prediction, entity prediction, subgraph matching and so on. This paper introduces comparative reasoning over knowledge graphs, which aims to infer the commonality and inconsistency with respect to multiple pieces of clues. We envision that the comparative reasoning will complement and expand the existing point-wise reasoning over knowledge graphs. In detail, we develop KompaRe, the first of its kind prototype system that provides comparative reasoning capability over large knowledge graphs. We present both the system architecture and its core algorithms, including knowledge segment extraction, pairwise reasoning and collective reasoning. Empirical evaluations demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed KompaRe.
Concurrent validiity of the 1994 Strong Interest Inventory: a comparison of criterion groups by gender

Studied the concurrent validity of the Personal Style Scales, General Occupational Themes, and Basic Interest Scales of the 1994 Strong Interest Inventory for three participant groups: combined-sex, women, and men. Groups represented 43 occupations, with equal ntimbers of employed women and men in each group, for a total of 17,165 participants selected from the General Reference Sample (Strong Interest Inventory Applications and Technical Guide; Harmon, Hansen, Borgen, & Hammer, 1994) . Univariate and multivariate techniques were used to examine the capacity of the predictor sets to identify occupational group membership and to determine whether identification was more accurate for one sex than the other. Effect sizes and direct hit rates were reported to indicate occupational group differentiation for each of the 35 scales across all three participant groups. The statistical indices were also reported for the three predictors sets, the Personal Style Scales, General Occupational Themes, and Basic Interest Scales, across the three groups. The three predictor sets showed nearly equivalent concurrent validity for the combinedsex, women's, and men's samples. The Basic Interest Scales were found to be the most powerful predictor set, showing a higher hit rate for men than women, but no difference across participant groups in terms of variance accounted for. The Personal Style Scales and Basic Interest Scales accounted for
General image of and beliefs about European food in two mainland Chinese cities Shanghai and Xi'an

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a picture of the current image and consumer beliefs of European food in mainland Chinese consumers’ minds. Design/methodology/approach – A web-based survey was conducted for data collection in December 2013 with 541 participants from two Chinese cities: Shanghai and Xi’an. The participants reported about the image of European food and characterized European food according to 14 items for product-related beliefs and 18 items for perceived profiles. Descriptive analysis, cluster analysis and partial least squares regression were employed for data analyses. Findings – Findings show that European food has a unanimously positive image among mainland Chinese consumers. Three consumer segments were distinguished based on attribute beliefs about European food: a positive-beliefs segment, a negative-beliefs segment and an unfamiliar segment. The characteristics of typical European food consumers were high income, having long overseas experience, having visited Euro...
Chapter 6 Amorphous films for bubbles

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the properties, important for bubbles that are available in amorphous films, and provides a comparison of those properties with those available in garnets. The basic requirements for the materials are the same as for garnets. The amorphous films that have been considered for magnetic bubbles have the general composition [(RE) 1–x (TM) x ] 1–y Z y , where RE represents one of the rare earths such as Gd, Ho, Tb or a convenient non-magnetic replacement, such as Y. TM represents one of the transition metals, such as Mn, Fe, Co, Ni; Z is a third element, such as Mo, Cu, Au or Cr, introduced to provide additional flexibility for tailoring the magnetic properties. GdCoMo is referred as the class of compositions (Gd 1–x Co x ) 1–y Mo y . The films of these compositions have been fabricated by both sputtering and evaporation. In both cases, structure analysis by X-rays and electron beams indicates that atomic ordering is localized to within 15A so that the films are called “amorphous.” The magnetization of these films can be easily varied over a wide range because it is due to the difference in the separate magnetizations of the transition metal and rare earth subnetworks. Because the subnetwork magnetizations vary with temperature in a different manner, there is usually a compensation temperature at which the net magnetization is zero for a uniform film.
Mental Health Parity Act of 2007: An Analysis of the Proposed Changes

Mental health issues impact 54 million Americans each year and cost the United States over $100 billion dollars annually in medical costs, lost productivity, and mental health treatments. Many insurance policies do not cover mental health care costs equitably, leaving many to needlessly suffer. Lack of insurance coverage equity between mental health and physical/surgical treatments is at issue. Lawmakers have consistently disallowed full mental health parity based on fears of soaring insurance premiums and dubious diagnostic criteria. This article presents a policy analysis of the Mental Health Parity Act of 2007 (S. 558), focusing on the impact of this new legislation on existing state parity laws.
Copper: Organometallic Chemistry

Much of copper chemistry over the past decade has transitioned toward catalysis, driven in large measure by environmental rather than economic concerns. Catalytic processes have appeared in large numbers, in particular due to the advances made in both the design of new ligands that effectively coordinate copper, but also due to their increased availability. Applications of copper-catalyzed processes to bond formations have gone well-beyond those of a CC nature, nowadays including CN, CO, CS, CP, and CH types. Asymmetric variants based on nonracemically ligated copper salts and copper hydride have led to highly valued entries to chiral products of great use in synthesis. Transmetalations from various metals (e.g. Zn, Zr, etc.) to copper also continue to play a vital role in organic synthesis, and are discussed herein as well. Considerable progress on many physical organic fronts relating to copper chemistry has been made. New advances in technologies that shed light on structural aspects of copper reagents are now available (extended X-ray absorption fine structure, EXAFS, X-ray absorption near edge structure, XANES) and are being used to accompany X-ray analyses and highly sophisticated NMR techniques. High-level computer calculations have led to theoretical ‘pictures’ illustrating the mechanistic pathways that may be followed by some of the most commonly used reactions in copper chemistry (e.g. 1,4-additions). Taken in their entirety, these developments suggest that this past decade has been a most productive period in the continuing evolution of copper chemistry. Keywords: allylic alkylation; carbocupration; conjugate addition; ligand; metallocarbene; organocuprate; Schiff's base; transmetalation
Human-managed, hierarchical control of multiple mobile agents

In this paper we describe MASC, a multiple agent supervisory control system which will provide a human supervisor with the capabilities to interact at various hierarchical levels with a multiple mobile agent system. This hierarchy of mediation allows the agents of the system to request assistance from the human when necessary. It also provides the supervisor with the ability to assume control of the agents when they enter a state from which they are incapable of self correction. We describe the levels of the mediation hierarchy, their implementations, and their system control implications. Our goal is to create a semi-autonomous system which successfully executes all feasible tasks. >
New contributions to neutralino elastic cross sections from CP violating phases in the minimal supersymmetric standard model

We compute the four-Fermi neutralino-quark interaction Lagrangian including contributions from the CP violating phases in the MSSM. We find that neutralino-nucleus scattering cross-sections relevant for direct detection experiments show a strong dependence on the value of the CP-violating phase associated with the $\mu$ parameter, $\theta_\mu$. In some cases, for a broad range of non-zero $\theta_\mu$, there are cancellations in the cross-sections which reduce the cross-section by more than an order of magnitude. In other cases, there may be enhancements as one varies $\theta_\mu$.
Authenticating (and Inauthenticating) Local Moral Worlds: Ethnographies of Interpersonal Experience

Shelter Blues: Sanity and Selfhood among the Homeless. Robert Desjarlais. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1997. 308 pp. Women in the American Welfare Trap. Catherine Pelissier Kingfisher. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1996. 206 pp. Love, Sorrow, and Rage: Destitute Women in. Manhattan Residence. Alisse Waterston. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1999. 235 pp. Sidewalk. Mitchell Duneier. with photographs by Ovie Carter New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1999. 383 pp.
Croce, Historian-Philosopher: Is History Autobiography?

Whenever Croce used the term "history," he meant judgmental states of consciousness that "live" in the historian's mind. For this reason he described history as autobiography and contemporary. Since Croce's description of history would violate ordinary language usage and obfuscate the customary distinction between biography and autobiography, it would be useful to examine what Croce meant by his assertions and further determine what still "lives" in his theory of history.