cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of physics simulations in whole class and small group settings

This study investigates student interactions with simulations, and teacher support of those interactions, within naturalistic high school classroom settings. Two lesson sequences were conducted, one in 11 and one in 8 physics class sections, where roughly half the sections used the simulations in a small group format and matched sections used them in a whole class format. Unexpected pre/post results, previously reported, had raised questions about why whole class students, who had engaged in discussion about the simulations while observing them projected in front of the class, had performed just as well as small group students with hands-on keyboards. The present study addresses these earlier results with case studies (four matched sets of classes) of student and teacher activity during class discussions in one of the lesson sequences. Comparative analyses using classroom videotapes and student written work reveal little evidence for an advantage for the small group students for any of the conceptual and perceptual factors examined; in fact, if anything, there was a slight trend in favor of students in the whole class condition. We infer that the two formats have counter-balancing strengths and weaknesses. We recommend a mixture of the two and suggest several implications for design of instructional simulations. Display Omitted Students used physics simulations in either whole class or small group settings.Whole class students had pre-post gains as large as those of small group students.Comparative analyses of classroom videotapes and written work investigate why.In 3 of 4 comparisons, whole class discussion spent more time on crucial concepts.The only small group students who gave any evidence for using key features were AP.
Layout of the Landing Gear Cutters Tracks

Landing gear is one important part of a plane, layout of the landing gear cutters tracks have the important influence to the landing gear's precision. The advanced iso-scallop method is put forward and used in NC machining, and the annular cutter is used to calculate the tracks in the contacting point and data of the cutter so as to rationalize the planning of the cutter track and improve the efficiency.
INHIBITION OF THE ACTIVE LYMPH PUMP IN RAT MESENTERIC LYMPHATICS BY HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

The lymphatic system plays an important role in the regulation of fluid and macromolecular exchange. It is a key "safety factor" against the formation of gross edema. Spontaneous contractions in collecting lymphatics of the rat intestine are necessary for the normal transportation of lymph. Hydrogen peroxide is one of the compounds released in inflammation. Therefore, the effects of H2O2 on the pumping activity of spontaneously contracting lymphatics were evaluated in the anesthetized rat (n = 16). Diameter oscillations of the mesenteric collecting lymphatics were monitored before and after the application of H2O2 (4 and 37 microM). The activity of the lymph pump was evaluated using: contraction frequency (F), stroke volume (SV), ejection fraction (EF), and lymph pump flow (LPF). These parameters were determined from the lymphatic diameter tracings. The following changes in lymphatic activity were seen after a 20 minute exposure to 37 microM H2O2: 1) F declined 85%, from 11.6 +/- 1.5 to 1.9 +/- 1.9 cpm. 2) SV fell over 93%. 3) EF decreased 93%, from 0.57 +/- .07 to 0.05 +/- .04. 4) LPF fell dramatically (> 95%) from 41.5 +/- 10.5 to 2.6 +/- 2.5 nl/min. In conclusion, H2O2 produced an intense inhibition of the active lymph pump and it is possible that the inhibition of the active pump contributes to the edema which occurs during inflammation.
A simple inexpensive apparatus for the sterile lyophilization of small amounts of material

Abstract The construction and operation of an apparatus suitable for the sterile lyophilization of small amounts of material is described.
Objective Bayes Inference and MCMC

From its very beginnings, Bayesian inference exerted a powerful influence on statistical thinking. The notion of a single coherent methodology employing only the rules of probability to go from assumption to conclusion was and is immensely attractive. For 200 years, however, two impediments stood between Bayesian theory's philosophical attraction and its practical application. In the absence of relevant past experience, the choice of a prior distribution introduces an unwanted subjective element into scientific inference. Bayes’ rule (3.5) looks simple enough, but carrying out the numerical calculation of a posterior distribution often involves intricate higherdimensional integrals. The two impediments fit neatly into the dichotomy of Chapter 1, the first being inferential and the second algorithmic. A renewed cycle of Bayesian enthusiasm took hold in the 1960s, at first concerned mainly with coherent inference. Building on work by Bruno de Finetti and L. J. Savage, a principled theory of subjective probability was constructed: the Bayesian statistician, by the careful elicitation of prior knowledge, utility, and belief, arrives at the correct subjective prior distribution for the problem at hand. Subjective Bayesianism is particularly appropriate for individual decision making, say for the business executive trying to choose the best investment in the face of uncertain information. It is less appropriate for scientific inference, where the sometimes skeptical world of science puts a premium on objectivity. An answer came from the school of objective Bayes inference . Following the approach of Laplace and Jeffreys, as discussed in Section 3.2, their goal was to fashion objective, or “uninformative,” prior distributions that in some sense were unbiased in their effects upon the data analysis. In what came as a surprise to the Bayes community, the objective school has been the most successful in bringing Bayesian ideas to bear on scientific data analysis. Of the 24 articles in the December 2014 issue of the Annals of Applied Statistics , 8 employed Bayesian analysis, predominantly based on objective priors. This is where electronic computation enters the story. Commencing in the 1980s, dramatic steps forward were made in the numerical calculation of high-dimensional Bayes posterior distributions. Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) is the generic name for modern posterior computation algorithms.
Anna and Ahmad

This study looks to explain, using archival material from the Presbyterian Historical Society and the Egyptian National Archives, the fascinating presence of a temperance movement in late 19th and early 20th century Egypt, a Muslim-majority country. It looks at how the Egyptian temperance movement grew out of two separate traditions, Anglo-American and Islamic temperance. These traditions were divided by demographics and ideology, but came to be united in their goals, structures, and efficaciousness. Although both failed to enact meaningful legislation, they are excellent examples of the interaction between Anglo-American evangelicalism and the modern Muslim missionary movement.
Higher plasma transforming growth factor (TGF)-β is associated with kidney disease in older community dwelling adults

TGF-β is induced in the vasculature with aging suggesting that high plasma TGF-β levels may be a risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD) in older adults. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the association between plasma TGF-β levels and CKD including data for 1722 older adults who had participated in the 1996/97 visit of the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS). Prevalent CKD was defined as eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 or urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) ≥30 mg/g. We also evaluated whether baseline TGF-β levels predicted change in eGFR, cardiovascular (CV) events, or mortality in longitudinal analysis. Plasma TGF-β levels were significantly and independently associated with lower eGFR in cross-sectional analysis. Doubling of TGF-β was significantly associated with lower eGFR (β estimate after adjusting for CV risk factors = −1.18, 95% CI −2.03, −0.32). We observed no association with albuminuria. There was no association between baseline TGF-β and change in eGFR, but each doubling of TGF-β at baseline was associated with increased risk of a composite outcome of CV events and mortality, adjusted HR 1.10 (95% C.I. 1.02– 1.20, p = 0.006). In this large cohort of community-dwelling older individuals, high plasma TGF-β levels are modestly, but independently associated with lower eGFR but not with albuminuria in cross-sectional analysis. In addition, TGF-β levels are associated with increased risk of CV events and mortality. Further research is needed to determine the direction of association between plasma TGF-β and the risk of CKD and CKD-associated morbidities in older adults.
Measuring “Success” at Open Admissions Institutions

Graduation rates continue to be used as the standard benchmark for success at most institutions of higher learning, including community colleges, even by those who should know that the use of such a marker of success at open admissions institutions is highly problematic. This practice becomes particularly troublesome when we compare community college graduation rates to those of selective admissions institutions. These two kinds of institutions are very different in terms of mission and mandate, and this practice must necessarily avoid or simplify a host of contingencies that are unique to the cohort of students who attend community colleges. As the research we review suggests, measuring success at community colleges must be regarded as a very complex endeavor requiring great care and thoughtfulness.
Nonlinear σ model as an effective Lagrangian

We study the limit when the $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ mass is very large compared to other scales in the renormalized light-particle-irreducible Green's functions of the linear $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ model with $\mathrm{SO}(N+1)$ symmetry. This is a strong-coupling limit. The resulting theory is summarized by an effective Lagrangian, from which Green's functions, not just the $S$-matrix elements, can be reproduced to $O(1)$. At the one-loop level, the effective Lagrangian is explicitly constructed and the relationship between the infinities of the nonlinear model and the heavy-mass effects is clarified. We then discuss the construction of the effective Lagrangian to all orders via the method of oversubtraction. This investigation can either be looked upon as a systematic way of organizing the heavy-Higgs-boson effects or it may be interpreted as a method of defining a renormalization program for the nonlinear $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ model.
Comprehensive solid-phase extraction of multitudinous bioactive peptides from equine plasma and urine for doping detection

Abstract The ability to analyze biological samples for multitudinous exogenous peptides with a single analytical method is desired for doping control in horse racing. The key to achieving this goal is the capability of extracting all target peptides from the sample matrix. In the present study, theory of mixed-mode solid-phase extraction (SPE) of peptides from plasma is described, and a generic mixed-mode SPE procedure has been developed for recovering multitudinous exogenous peptides with remarkable sequence diversity, from equine plasma and urine in a single procedure. Both the theory and the developed SPE procedure have led to the development of a novel analytical method for comprehensive detection of multitudinous bioactive peptides in equine plasma and urine using liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). Thirty nine bioactive peptides were extracted with strong anion-exchange mixed-mode SPE sorbent, separated on a reversed-phase C18 column and detected by HRMS and data-dependent tandem mass spectrometry. The limit of detection (LOD) was 10–50 pg mL−1 in plasma for most of the peptides and 100 pg mL−1 for the remaining. For urine, LOD was 20–400 pg mL−1 for most of the peptides and 1–4 ng mL−1 for the others. In vitro degradation of the peptides in equine plasma and urine was examined at ambient temperature; the peptides except those with a D-amino acid at position 2 were unstable not only in plasma but also in urine. The developed method was successful in analysis of plasma and urine samples from horses administered dermorphin. Additionally, dermorphin metabolites were identified in the absence of reference standards. The developed SPE procedure and LC-HRMS method can theoretically detect virtually all peptides present at a sufficient concentration in a sample. New peptides can be readily included in the method to be detected without method re-development. The developed method also generates such data that can be retrospectively analyzed for peptides unknown at the time of sample analysis. It is the first generic analytical method for comprehensive detection of multitudinous exogenous peptides in biological samples, to the authors' knowledge.
Improving paediatric residents' knowledge and perspectives regarding the insulin pump using a novel educational workshop.

Objectives As a pilot study, we aimed to investigate the knowledge and perceptions of categorical paediatric residents (RES) at our institution regarding insulin pumps (IPs) and the impact following a targeted workshop. Methods All RES at our institution in attendance at a routine noon conference participated in a workshop, completing an anonymous survey before and right after the intervention to evaluate knowledge, attitudes and self-reported comfort regarding IPs. The workshop consisted of a didactic lecture followed by an insulin pump (IP) device demonstration of three commonly available brands. Knowledge score (KS) was calculated for each RES based on the total correct responses. Attitudes were assessed via 5-point Likert scale. Frequencies, t-test and McNemar tests were used to analyse data. Results Thirty four completed surveys were analysed out of 49 RES (69.3%) who attended the workshop. Among them, there were 19 first-year, 8 second-year and 7 third-year residents. Following the intervention, KS increased significantly (p Conclusion There is scope for improvement in the knowledge and perceptions of RES regarding IPs. Educational interventions like ours are needed to familiarise our future physicians with IPs to allow hospitals to provide their systematic and safe inpatient use.
Microwell-array on a flexible needle: A transcutaneous insertable impedance sensor for label-free cytokine detection

Measurement of various specific proteins in body fluids can be a key component of continuous health monitoring. The gold-standard technique for protein quantification is ELISA, which typically relies on labeling and optical fluorescence. Impedance sensors provide a promising alternative due to ease of miniaturization, rapid readout and label-free operation; yet lag their fluorescent counterparts in terms of sensitivity. We present a flexible micromachined needle-shaped impedance sensor for label-free in-situ detection of cytokines and other biomarkers. The sensor utilizes a micro-well array configuration at the needle tip to enable label-free detection while simultaneously maintaining the capability of high sensitivity detection, despite the high salt concentration of complex biological fluids. Real-time label-free detection is achieved in an in vitro skin phantom by monitoring the impedance change of the sensor electrodes as specific binding of target proteins to antibodies on the sensor surface occurs.
A Response to Darwin’s Dilemma: A-PR Cycles and the Origin of Design in Nature

Darwin faced a dilemma. He could explain the origin of species through variation, but he could not explain the origin of variation, on which his theory depended. Unable to accept that the variation-producing design in nature was merely random nor to accept Intelligent Design, these two unacceptable extremes framed Darwin’s dilemma. He needed a third option, a way to explain the origin of design in nature. I propose that, beyond the extremes of random variation with environmental selection versus Intelligent Design, there is a third option, which explains the origin of design in nature. This third option requires sacrificing a sacred cow, the traditional view that cognition is an attribute of advanced life, rather than of life itself. If the process of evolution underlies not only the origin and evolution of life but also intelligence, then life as a designer interprets interim solutions to recognize implicit patterns emerging in order to make them explicit. Life continually makes choices based on present imperfect information, with limited capacity to predict the future. This chapter proposes the A-PR hypothesis to address Darwin’s dilemma, describing how the origin of design in nature lies in life’s capacity to engage in A-PR (autonomy | pattern recognition) bootstrapping cycles where the A-PR cycle is the basic unit of creative cognition and defining attribute of life.
Angiographic Demonstration and Silicone Pellet Embolization of Facial Hemangiomas of Bone

The case report of a patient with two hemangiomatous lesions demonstrated angiographically, one involving the central maxilla, the other arising from soft tissues in the mandibular region, is presented. Selective catheterization of the external carotid arteries permitted silicone pellet embolization of the hemangiomas. Embolization treatment apparently produced thrombosis of the feeding arteries, resulting in a cure of these lesions.
MIMO Radar and Communications Spectrum Sharing: A Multiple-Access Perspective

In this paper, we investigate the joint multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar and communications system convergence problem and develop a joint radar-communications performance bound using the concept of estimation rate for radar system and data information rate for communications system. At the radar receiver, we propose a Successive Interference Cancellation (SIC) strategy to estimate radar parameters and decode communications signal simultaneously. While, at the MIMO communications transmitter, we propose a spectrum sharing scheme and show that the optimal communications performance can be achieved through a spectral and spatial waterfilling algorithm. In the end, we show that the Multiple-Access (MAC) performance bound outperforms the result from the spectrally isolated MIMO radar-communications system.
Effectiveness and safety of apixaban versus rivaroxaban for prevention of recurrent venous thromboembolism and adverse bleeding events in patients with venous thromboembolism: a retrospective population-based cohort analysis.

Summary Background Apixaban and rivaroxaban, both direct-acting oral anticoagulants, are being increasingly used in routine clinical practice because of their fixed dosing and favourable pharmacological profiles. Differences in the risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism and major bleeding events between the two drugs are currently unknown. We aimed to compare the effectiveness and safety of apixaban and rivaroxaban in prevention of recurrent venous thromboembolism and major bleeding events in patients with venous thromboembolism. Methods We did a retrospective cohort analysis of data from the Truven Health MarketScan commercial and Medicare Supplement claims databases in the USA. We analysed data for adult patients with newly diagnosed venous thromboembolism (deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism) who were new users of apixaban or rivaroxaban between Jan 1, 2014, and Dec 31, 2016. Patients who did not initiate the study drugs within 30 days of their diagnosis, those without 12 months of continuous enrolment in medical and pharmacy benefits, and those who used other anticoagulants during the baseline period were excluded. The primary effectiveness outcome was the incidence of recurrent venous thromboembolism and the primary safety outcome was the incidence of major bleeding events. Cox-proportional hazard models after propensity score matching were used to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% CI. Findings After propensity score matching, 15 254 patients were included in the cohort (3091 apixaban users and 12 163 rivaroxaban users). The crude incidence of recurrent venous thromboembolism was three per 100 person-years in the apixaban group and seven per 100 person-years in the rivaroxaban group. The incidence of major bleeding was three per 100 person-years in the apixaban group and six per 100 person-years in the rivaroxaban group. In multivariable Cox regression models, the use of apixaban compared with rivaroxaban was associated with decreased risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism (HR 0·37 [95% CI 0·24–0·55]; p Interpretation Based on our findings, apixaban seems to be more effective than rivaroxaban in preventing the development of recurrent venous thromboembolism and major bleeding events. Our data might give some assurance to clinicians that apixaban can be an effective and safe therapeutic option for treatment of patients with venous thromboembolism. Funding None.
Tropical soil profiles reveal the fate of plant wax biomarkers during soil storage

Abstract The waxy coating that protects the leaves and other soft tissues of plants includes n-alkane and n-alkanoic acid compounds that are commonly used as biomarkers to reconstruct past environment. Plant waxes have geological relevance given their persistence in soils and paleosols, as well as in lake and marine sediments, yet diagenesis may alter their molecular and isotopic signatures from synthesis to deposition. This study seeks to understand the fate of plant wax biomarkers in soils after leaf-fall as characterized by a series of tropical soil profiles. We investigate the changes in abundance, molecular distributions, and hydrogen (δD) and carbon isotopic compositions (δ13C) of plant waxes (n-alkanes and n-alkanoic acids) in six litter-to-soil profiles along a 2740 m elevation transect from the eastern flank of the Andes mountains down to the lowland Amazon floodplain in Peru. From litter to soil, we find acid/alkane ratios increase while absolute abundances decrease. In contrast, within each soil, acid/alkane ratios are roughly constant, and we find an equivalent exponential decline in concentration in both compound classes with depth, with molecular distributions indicating some new production. We observe a 4–6‰ 13C-enrichment from litter to deeper soils for both C29 n-alkanes and C30 n-alkanoic acids, of which the Suess effect accounts for ≤2‰. We infer that microbial degradation and production (or ‘turnover’) processes influence the δ13C of plant waxes that survive in soils; in contrast, no systematic change in δD values is observed. The plant wax signal in soils includes averaging of inputs and diagenetic effects, so this signature is particularly relevant for the interpretation of plant wax archives in paleosols and the plant waxes eroded from soils and exported to downstream sedimentary archives. We show that soils represent the major stock of plant wax under living ecosystems, suggesting that soils may be a quantitatively-important source of plant waxes available for fluvial erosion, with implications for studies of carbon cycling and paleoenvironmental reconstructions from downstream geological archives.
Genotypic stability effects on predicted family responses to silvicultural treatments in loblolly pine

The lack of rank change in growth characteristics when open-pollinated families of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) are planted on different sites in the Southeast has greatly simplified breeding for superior genotypes. Although family rank does not usually change, genotype by environment interactions (GXE) may be very important in operational deployment of families in regeneration programs. Using data from GXE trials and two site preparation-fertilization-herbicide trials, we estimated the growth that different families should achieve following application of these silvicultural practices. Better performing families tend to be most responsive to site changes (i.e. genetically unstable). Growth responses to silvicultural treatment will be overestimated if only the most responsive families are used in silvicultural research trials. Similarly, genetic gains will be overestimated if gain trials are planted on only the best sites or receive intensive culture
Substance Use Stigma, Avoidance Coping, and Missed HIV Appointments Among MSM Who Use Substances

Men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV who use substances have multiple stigmatized identities. Theory suggests that internalization of stigma may elicit avoidance behaviors associated with these stigmas, potentially resulting in suboptimal engagement in HIV care. We investigated interrelationships between internalized stigmas related to HIV, sexual orientation, and substance use; avoidance coping; and missed HIV appointments among 202 MSM living with HIV who use substances. Neither HIV nor sexual orientation-related internalized stigmas were associated with missed appointments, however, internalized substance use stigma (SUS) was associated (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.15, 1.87). The relationship between internalized SUS and missed appointments was partially accounted for by avoidance coping (b = 0.12; bootstrap 95% CI 0.02, 0.25). To better understand the role of SUS, we assessed relationships between enacted and anticipated SUS and missed appointments (OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.52, 2.84 and OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.10, 1.88, respectively). Avoidance coping fully accounted for the relationship between anticipated SUS and missed appointments (b = 0.12; 95% CI 0.02, 0.25). Results suggest that avoidance strategies to manage anticipated SUS may result in substance using MSM forgoing HIV care appointments.
Effects of substance use on monetary delay discounting among people who use stimulants with and without HIV: An ecological momentary assessment study.

Exploration of the real-time relationship between substance use and delay discounting may reveal potential mechanisms driving high-risk behaviors. We conducted an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) study to investigate the effects of substance use on delay discounting in a sample of people who use stimulants (HIV+: 30; HIV-: 34). Participants completed multiple EMAs throughout the day for 28 days. The EMAs collected data on delay discounting and substance use (time since last substance use and level of intoxication). Delay discounting was assessed using a brief Monetary Choice Questionnaire (MCQ). Analyses were conducted using linear mixed effects modeling. Most participants (99.1%) used cocaine as their primary stimulant. Among participants without HIV, MCQ score remained relatively stable during the first 2 hr after stimulant use, followed by an increase during 2-6 hr (p < .05), before decreasing again. For alcohol and marijuana, the MCQ score was stable during the first 4 hr after use, with a sharp increase at 4-6 hr (p < .05), before decreasing again. Among participants with HIV, there were no changes in MCQ score as a function of time since recent substance use. These findings provide evidence of a plausible connection between delay discounting and acute withdrawal that may have relevance for risky behaviors. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Persistence and transience of food insecurity and predictors among residents of two disadvantaged communities in South Carolina.

Abstract Background Little is known about patterns of household food insecurity (HFI) across more than two time points in adults in the United States, the frequency predictors of different trajectories. The distinctions between persistent and transient food insecurity trajectories may be crucial to developing effective interventions. Objective To characterize dominant trajectories of food security status over three time points between 2013 and 2016 and identify demographic, socioeconomic and health-related predictors of persistent and transient HFI. Design Cohort study in disadvantaged communities in South Carolina. Setting and subjects: 397 middle-aged participants, predominantly female, African American, living in USDA-designated food deserts. Main outcome measure Household food insecurity over time using the 18-item USDA's Household Food Security Survey Module. Statistical analyses performed Descriptive analyses of food security trajectories and multinomial regression analyses. Results At baseline (2013–2014), 61% of households reported HFI during the previous 12 months, which decreased to 54% in 2015 and to 51% in 2016. Only 27% of households were persistently food secure, 36% experienced transient and 37% persistent food insecurity. Female sex (OR 2.7, 95%CI 1.2–5.9), being married or living with a partner (OR 2.4, 95CI% 1.1–5.3) and fair health status (OR 4.4, 95%CI 2.2–8.8) were associated with increased odds of persistent food insecurity. Fair health was also a significant predictor of transient food insecurity. Conclusions These findings suggest that future research should focus on persistent versus transient trajectories separately and that tailored interventions may be needed to make progress on alleviating food insecurity among disadvantaged communities.
Comparing alkene-mediated and formaldehyde-mediated diene formation routes in methanol-to-olefins catalysis in MFI and CHA

Abstract This work uses DFT to investigate diene formation during methanol-to-olefins (MTO) via alkene-mediated and CH2O-mediated pathways in MFI and CHA zeolites. The rate controlling hydride transfer reactions were investigated with C1–C4 surface-bound alkyls present during MTO. In the CH2O-mediated pathway, rate-determining hydride transfer between surface-bound alkyl and CH3OH occurs most favorably with tert-butyl where rates of the hydride transfer exceed that of methyl at C4:C1 alkyl ratios as low as 10−10 in MFI and 10−6 in CHA. In the alkene-mediated route, hydride transfers proceed most favorably between C4H8 and secondary alkyls to form butadiene, where propyl--C4H8 (in MFI) and sec-butyl--C4H8 (in CHA) hydride transfers occur over methyl--C4H8 when their relative surface concentrations are 10−10 and 10−5 times that of methyl, respectively. Generally, once formed, C2+ surface alkyls are better hydride acceptors than CH3–Z, suggesting deactivation may be driven by larger surface-bound alkyls, formed by MTO products.
Kawasaki Disease and Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children: An Overview and Comparison

Kawasaki disease (KD) and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) are inflammatory conditions that present diagnostic and therapeutic challenges to the physician. Although many of their features overlap, they are two distinct conditions. KD is a febrile illness most commonly affecting children younger than five years. It manifests with prolonged fever and at least four of the following features: bilateral bulbar conjunctivitis, mucositis, diffuse maculopapular rash, extremity changes, and cervical lymphadenopathy of 1.5 cm or more in diameter. Patients with MIS-C may have many of the same manifestations but tend to have higher rates of gastrointestinal and neurocognitive symptoms and signs of shock on presentation. Both conditions are associated with cardiac sequelae, including coronary artery aneurysms, although children with MIS-C are at high risk of developing ventricular dysfunction and depressed cardiac output. Lymphocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, elevated troponin, and elevated B-type natriuretic peptide are key laboratory findings of MIS-C that can help distinguish it from KD. The use of intravenous immune globulin is well established in KD and also appears to have a role in the treatment of MIS-C. Aspirin has been used in KD for an anti-inflammatory effect, and low-dose aspirin is recommended for MIS-C to reduce the risk of thrombosis. In addition to supportive care, patients with MIS-C may benefit from immunomodulatory medications, although data on this topic are evolving.
Rethinking the Pharmacy Workforce Crisis by Exploring Unconventional and Emerging Career Pathways and Training

Pharmacy programs face a challenge in ensuring that all graduates obtain jobs that fulfill their goals and ambitions as pharmacists, given the limited availability of conventional positions in the workforce. Thus, it is imperative to explore and discuss the availability and needs of the positions that are unconventional but promising. To achieve this exploration, it is important to (1) recognize technical and nontechnical skill sets that pharmacy graduates possess at graduation, (2) identify unique pathways to help students explore job alternatives, and (3) educate faculty and students of employment opportunities beyond the traditional setting if desired or necessary. Students must become aware of the opportunities existing in both conventional (pharmacist clinician) and unconventional (pharmacist innovator) pharmacy careers and be able to articulate the translational skills from their training. Pharmacy programs and faculty can better support students by fostering the development and marketing of their skills.
Protectionism and Morality

The vast majority of articles and books that have been written about trade and trade policy -- nearly all -- look at trade from a utilitarian perspective. Utilitarians take the position that if free trade is a good policy, it is good because the vast majority benefits. Free trade gives consumers more choices. It gives them lower prices. It creates more jobs than it destroys. It is a positive-sum game. An underlying assumption of most utilitarian-based trade arguments is that governments have some inherent right to regulate trade. This article looks at trade policy from a different perspective. While utilitarian approaches to trade have some value, and while utilitarian arguments often --and rightly -- conclude that free and unrestricted trade is the best policy, they do so for the wrong reason. This article points out that the real reason why totally free and unrestricted trade is good is because it is the only trade policy that does not violate individual rights. Part I provides an introduction and an overview. Part II reviews utilitarian approaches to trade policy and points out the weaknesses of the utilitarian approach. Part III presents the rights approach to trade policy, which is superior to the utilitarian approach for several reasons. Part IV summarizes the article and presents conclusions.
A “Dirty” Approach to Efficient Revenue Forecasting

A “dirty forecast” refers to any forecast conducted where non-traditional, coincident indicators are included. These coincident indicators tell us about the behavior within an environment in the here and now rather than measure the environment itself. By focusing on behavior, dirty forecasts are able to pick up changes in the environment well before the changes become measurable outcomes. Dirty processes have been used for some time in economics, but their use in local government forecasting is relatively new. This paper explores the use by discussing what dirty forecasts are and how they can be used to obtain better, more efficient estimates of local government revenues and expenditures. This foundation is then demonstrated with a case study from the city of Seattle.
Hugo Wolf and his Mörike Songs: Sung desire: from Biedermeier erotica to fin-de-siècle lied

Looking at a portrait of the twenty-nine-year-old Morike, one sees what could be the archetypal image of a shy, refined poet (Illus. 1). But twenty-nine-year-olds have usually, then and now, learned the difference between roseate love in literature and the grittier stuff of sex in real life, fraught with contingencies of pain, power, disease, pregnancy, exploitation, and the ephemerality of attraction. If they were writers, they could, and often did, speak of sexuality in their works along a gamut which runs from pornography (its purposes prurient and commercial rather than aesthetic) to high poetic art, the latter inevitably more rare than the former, and what they wrote is a mirror of their own erotic psychology and of the society that shaped them. The balance between frankness and euphemism, fantasy and fact, society's stereotypes and individuality, varies from one work to another – and there are many works which partake of erotica, even where they are not defined as such. The best writers traffic in what truly matters, and the coupling (or not) of sex with love in heart and mind appears on anyone's short list of life's larger concerns. They were certainly fodder for poetry in Morike's world because he conceived of a problematic link between eroticism and the making of art, and he wrote of that vexed pairing in multiple literary guises.
Quantum focusing conjecture

We propose a universal inequality that unifies the Bousso bound with the classical focusing theorem. Given a surface $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ that need not lie on a horizon, we define a finite generalized entropy ${S}_{\mathrm{gen}}$ as the area of $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ in Planck units, plus the von Neumann entropy of its exterior. Given a null congruence $N$ orthogonal to $\ensuremath{\sigma}$, the rate of change of ${S}_{\mathrm{gen}}$ per unit area defines a quantum expansion. We conjecture that the quantum expansion cannot increase along $N$. This extends the notion of universal focusing to cases where quantum matter may violate the null energy condition. Integrating the conjecture yields a precise version of the Strominger-Thompson quantum Bousso bound. Applied to locally parallel light-rays, the conjecture implies a novel inequality, the quantum null energy condition, a lower bound on the stress tensor in terms of the second derivative of the von Neumann entropy. We sketch a proof of the latter relation in quantum field theory.
Utilizing Pro-bono Commercial Assets for Marine Mammal Surveys in High Naval Activity Area in Hawaiian Waters

Abstract : The waters surrounding the State of Hawaii are high U.S. Navy activity regions and include Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu, the FORACS (Fleet Operational Readiness and Accuracy Check Site) acoustic range operated by the Hawaii Detachment of NUWC-Newark along the Waianae coast of Oahu, and PMRF (Pacific Missile Range) in the waters off the island of Kauai and the shallow waters of west Maui. Furthermore, the RIMPAC exercises (Rim of Pacific Exercises) that occur on a regular basis involve considerable Naval resources operating close to and within Hawaiian waters. The Pacific Navy is under considerable pressure from environmental groups that have initiated up to five lawsuits to curtail the Navy s use of active sonar for training. Perhaps the best approach in combating the various environmental concerns expressed in the different lawsuits is to gather scientific data and obtain important information on the abundance and distributions of marine mammals in the high Navy activity area of Hawaii. The cost of negative encounters with marine mammals is disproportionately high in terms of negative publicity and lawsuits so it would be prudent to take steps to increase the odds against any encounters. Basic information on the biology, natural history, and behavior of dolphins and whales that frequent waters of high Navy activities are needed. Marine mammal surveys around the Hawaiian Islands have been infrequent and localized. The goal of this project was to perform regular, but relatively inexpensive acoustic surveys in the deep waters between Oahu and Hawaii and Oahu and Kauai on a seasonal basis using the assets of the Young Brothers Shipping Company, Hawaii s largest interisland shipping company. Young Brothers offered to participate by allowing us to board their tugboats and use our acoustic instruments to collect data, on a pro-bono basis. The goal was to establish a robust database of information that currently does not exist in the deep waters between islands.
Study of Ba/sub 1-x/Sr/sub x/TiO/sub 3/(100) epitaxial thin films prepared by laser deposition

Heteroepitaxial Ba/sub 1-x/Sr/sub x/TiO/sub 3/ (x=0.4 and x=0.5) thin films of thickness from 20 nm to 500 nm were grown on high T/sub c/ superconducting YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-x/ (YBCO) thin film substrates by laser ablation. Perovskite-type BST(100) on c-oriented YBCO/LaAlO/sub 3/(100) started to form at 500/spl deg/C and exhibited good crystallinity at 550/spl deg/C-620/spl deg/C. The films were characterized in the temperature range of 20 K to 300 K by polarization-versus-electric field (P-E), capacitance-versus-voltage (C-V) and current-versus-voltage (I-V) measurements. Both BST(100) thin films with x=0.4 and x=0.5 showed ferroelectric behavior below room temperature with maximum polarization of 3 /spl mu/C/cm/sup 2/ and 1.4 /spl mu/C/cm/sup 2/, respectively. Resistivity above 10/sup 11/ Ohm/spl middot/cm was obtained in the temperature range from 30 K to 300 K. Interface properties and phase transitions are discussed.
Chapter 25. Sickle Cell Anemia

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the sickle cell anemia along with its treatment with anti-sickling agents. The lack of treatment for sickle cell anemia prevails even though virtually all the molecular details of the disease are known. However, the treatment of sickle cell anemia would be possible by reversing the switch that normally occurs at birth from fetal hemoglobin to adult hemoglobin. Moreover, agents that alter membrane permeability or rheological properties may be successful in treating the disease. Among the drugs that have been subjected to such preliminary investigations are pentoxifylline, meclofenoxate, buflomedil, vincamine and pervincamine, ticlopidine, and gramacidin. By far the greatest activity concerned with anti-sickling agents has been directed toward the chemical modification of hemoglobin, either covalently or noncovalently. The goal of such modification is to reverse the self-association of hemoglobin S molecules into fibers, and thereby eliminate the symptoms of sickle cell anemia. Apart from the obvious targets, a number of sites have been “discovered” by the relatively specific reactivity of certain reagents. The bifunctional reagent bis (N-maleimidomethyl) ether (BME) that reacts with hemoglobin with a high degree of specificity, displays anti-sickling activity. Anti-sickling effects of mono– and bi– functional imidates have also been reported. Recent investigations have emphasized the increased anti-sickling potency of halogenated derivatives or extended ring structures. Sufficient progress has been achieved in understanding the basic parameters of the sickling process and sufficient experience has been obtained with a number of categories of anti-sickling agents, so that the next generation of anti-sickling agents developed may reasonably be expected to achieve markedly improved efficacies, perhaps suitable for therapeutic use.
A further call to action: training as a policy issue in court interpreting

This article gathers research from three studies conducted by industry stakeholders in US court interpreting – research which provides a blueprint for prioritising quality in courtroom language access and which concretely links court interpreter training to policy decisions in the areas of language access and interpreter certification testing. The first study examines training experiences of Spanish/English court interpreters in one US state (Wisconsin); the second surveys practising court interpreters in the same state to demarcate specific skill domains and content in which court interpreters wish to receive training; and the third study examines failure rates on the state-level oral court interpreting exams on a national level over a 15-year period, suggesting some key strategies to mitigate such failure. In light of the aforementioned studies, as well as in response to the National Center for State Court’s recent publication entitled A National Call to Action, this article represents a further call to...
Exercise Down-Regulates Hepatic Fatty Acid Synthase in Streptozotocin-Treated Rats

An acute bout of prolonged exercise has been shown to decrease hepatic fatty acid synthase (FAS) mRNA and activity induced by high carbohydrate diets. The purpose of the current study was to examine the role of insulin in this exercise down-regulation of FAS. Sixty-four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal and streptozotocin (STZ)-treated diabetic groups. After being starved for 48 h and refed a high cornstarch (C) or fructose (F) diet for 10 h, one half of each group of rats was killed after an acute bout of prolonged exercise (E), while the other half of the group was killed in the rested state. STZ treatment suppressed plasma insulin and elevated plasma glucagon levels along with a severe hyperglycemia. FAS mRNA levels decreased by 60% (P < 0.05) with STZ treatment but were 250% higher in F-fed versus C-fed rats. E abolished F-induced FAS mRNA levels in both normal and STZ rats and decreased plasma glucose concentration in STZ rats (P < 0.05). F-fed normal rats showed twofold higher hepatic FAS activity than did C-fed normal rats and this dietary induction was abolished by STZ (P < 0.05). FAS activity in normal rats was not affect by E and was increased with E in STZ rats. Nuclear protein binding to the insulin response sequence was not affected by STZ or diet and increased with E (P < 0.05). Carbohydrate response element binding was greater with F- versus C-feeding (P < 0.05) but unaffected by E. E enhanced inverted CCAAT-box element binding regardless of diet and STZ. We conclude that although insulin status had a great influence on FAS gene expression, E-induced down-regulation of FAS mRNA was not mediated by altered insulin response sequence binding but primarily by increased inverted CCAAT-box element binding to the FAS promoter and/or decreased concentration of carbohydrate metabolites.
NITROGEN‐LIMITED GROWTH RESPONSE OF RUMINAL BACTERIUM SELENOMONAS RUMINANTIUM STRAIN D TO METHYLAMINE ADDITION IN A MINIMAL MEDIUM

Methylamine is often found as a naturally-occurring metabolite in the rumen of sheep and cattle fed a variety of diets. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of methylamine on nitrogen-limited growth of Selenomonas ruminantium strain D grown on a nitrogen-free basal medium that would not support bacterial growth without the addition of a nitrogen source (ammonia, urea, glutamine, cysteine, or glutamate). In this medium S. ruminantium growth rates were significantly faster (P < 0.05) with 11 mM ammonia-nitrogen than any other nitrogen source and were slowest on glutamate-nitrogen (1 and 11 mM). Maximum optical density was greater (P < 0.05) for all nitrogen sources when the respective nitrogen source was increased from 1 mM to 11 mM nitrogen. Addition of 10 mM methylamine significantly decreased (P < 0.05) maximum optical density compared to the respective nitrogen source and concentration without added methylamine for cells grown on 1 mM glutamine-, 1 mM cysteine-, 11 mM ammonia-, 11 mM glutamine-, 11 mM cysteine- or 11 mM glutamate-nitrogen. It appears that ruminal methylamine could decrease extent of growth of ruminal selenomonads depending on the nitrogen source(s) available for nitrogen assimilation.