cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A NEW SPECIES OF SCIARA FROM CANADA (DIPTERA)

♂. Head black, shining; ocelli in a flattened triangle behind the eyebridges and separated from them by a width greater khan the diameter of an ocellus; eye-bridges contiguous and three facets wide. Face black, in width extending farther laterad than the middle of the scape. Palpi brownish, first segment short; second broadest, but little longer than wide with distinct sensory spot; third segment not twice as long as broad; fourth more slender, about three times as long as broad.
Erratum to “New pathway for hierarchical self assembly and emergent properties” [NanoToday 4 (2) (2009) 116–124]

(Murr et al., 2009). No slight was intended, and our omission completely unintentional, as we have always had the highestregard for their seminal work.The observations of Croce et al. (2007) and those reported in our publication illustrate the importance of the remark-able pathway for the hierarchical self-assembly of the silicatein subunits and the consequent emergence of the properties(exhibited by the resulting protein ﬁlament) of structure-directing catalytic synthesis and templating of inorganic materials.We again sincerely apologize to Drs. Croce et al. for our inadvertent omission of their 2007 paper, which we recognize as animportant elaboration of their earlier publication (Croce et al., 2004) that we cited.
Intercomparison of Local Hydroxyl Measurements by Radiocarbon and FAGE Techniques

Abstract A direct intercomparison of near-surface tropospheric HO concentration measurements by two different techniques was made in October–November 1992 at a rural site near Pullman, Washington. The atmosphere at the site is believed to contain low levels of anthropogenic pollution. The instruments' inlets were located at the same height (3.5 m) above the ground and were separated by 10 m along a line normal to the prevailing wind. Readings of the FAGE3 and radiocarbon instruments showed a high correlation (r2 = 0.74) despite HO concentrations that were frequently near the detection limit of the instruments. An unweighted least squares regression shows a slope significantly different from unity, indicating different calibration scales of the two instruments.
A selective effect of Mpl ligand on mRNA stabilization during megakaryocyte differentiation.

Megakaryocytes, the platelet precursors, are induced to differentiate in response to Mpl ligand. Here we report that stability of the megakaryocyte-specific platelet factor 4 (PF4) mRNA is substantially augmented in the presence of Mpl ligand. This stabilization requires protein synthesis, but the 3′-untranslated region of PF4 mRNA is not sufficient for granting the effect. This cytokine also significantly or mildly stabilizes Mpl receptor or GAPDH mRNAs, respectively, in contrast to a previously reported lack of effect on P2Y1 receptor mRNA. Our study is the first to suggest that Mpl ligand-induced lineage specification is also determined by message stabilization.
Formation and characterization of fluid lipid bilayers on alumina.

Fluid lipid bilayers were deposited on alumina substrates with the use of bubble collapse deposition (BCD). Previous studies using vesicle rupture have required the use of charged lipids or surface functionalization to induce bilayer formation on alumina, but these modifications are not necessary with BCD. Photobleaching experiments reveal that the diffusion coefficient of POPC on alumina is 0.6 μm2/s, which is much lower than the 1.4−2.0 μm2/s reported on silica. Systematically accounting for roughness, immobile regions and membrane viscosity shows that pinning sites account for about half of this drop in diffusivity. The remainder of the difference is attributed to a more tightly bound water state on the alumina surface, which induces a larger drag on the bilayer.
Dying in a Hospital Intensive Care Unit: The Social Significance for the Family of the Patient

A four month study of the relatives of patients who died in the Intensive Care Unit of a large Midwestern Hospital was prepared. Four factors related to the Intensive Care Unit (structure of the unit, staff feedback as modification, changes in the physical status of the patient, and role switching) were found to have important influences on the family-patient interaction. Interaction, in turn, had an effect on the family's grieving process. The dynamics of the family interaction-grieving process is illustrated in the following schema:It was found that, for the family, the critical aspect of the patient's situation was not the illness and death, per se, but rather the means by which the family was able to become involved with the patient. Structured as it was, the I.C.U. became a major constraint upon the family's ability to face the death of the patient.
Permissive Influence of Stress in the Expression of a U-Shaped Relationship Between Serum Corticosterone Levels and Spatial Memory Errors in Rats

The relationship between glucocorticoids (GCs) and memory is complex, in that memory impairments can occur in response to manipulations that either increase or decrease GC levels. We investigated this issue by assessing the relationship between serum corticosterone (the primary rodent GC) and memory in rats trained in the radial arm water maze, a hippocampus-dependent spatial memory task. Each day, rats learned a new location of the hidden escape platform and then 30 min later their memory of the location of the platform was tested. Under control conditions, well-trained rats had excellent spatial memory and moderately elevated corticosterone levels (approximately 26 microg/dl versus a baseline of approximately 2 microg/dl). Their memory was impaired when corticosterone levels were either reduced by metyrapone (a corticosterone synthesis inhibitor) or increased by acute stress (predator exposure), forming an overall U-shaped relationship between corticosterone levels and memory. We then addressed whether there was a causal relationship between elevated corticosterone levels and impaired memory. If elevated corticosterone levels were a sufficient condition to impair memory, then exogenously administered corticosterone, alone, should have impaired performance. However, we found that spatial memory was not impaired in corticosterone-injected rats that were not exposed to the cat. This work demonstrates that an intermediate level of corticosterone correlated with optimal memory, and either a decrease or an increase in corticosterone levels, in conjunction with strong emotionality, impaired spatial memory. These findings indicate that fear-provoking conditions, which are known to engage the amygdala, interact with stress levels of corticosterone to influence hippocampal functioning.
Scene Partitioning via Statistic-Based Region Growing

The scene partitioning problem is to delineate regions in an image that correspond to the same object according to some underlying object model. Examples include partitioning an intensity image into piecewise constant intensities or identifying separate planar regions in a disparity map. A general algorithm for solving the partitioning problem in cases of linear models is presented. The algorithm uses a statistical test in a region growing formalism. The algorithm relies on the assumption that the correct image partition is connected in image coordinates. Experiments are performed on a series of models with a range of state dimensions.
Cross correlation between cosmic-ray fluctuations and interplanetary magnetic-field fluctuations

Study of the cross-correlation between cosmic-ray intensity fluctuations and the interplanetary magnetic field, using the low-frequency limit of the theory of the interplanetary scintillations of cosmic rays. Cross-spectral analysis of the flux of the Alert neutron monitor and simultaneous values of the interplanetary magnetic field components are presented which support the theory. A model of cosmic-ray fluctuations is described, with effects of gradients and interplanetary sector structure dominating for very low frequencies (less than or about equal to .000005 Hz) and magnetic-field induced interplanetary scintillations of cosmic rays dominating for higher frequencies.
Markov Chains and Regression toward the Mean

Using the theory of stationary Markov chains, we uncover a previously unknown property of the behavior of betas. Specifically, if the cross-sectional distribution of betas is stationary over time, then the set of firms that remain in an arbitrarily chosen beta interval between one period and the next will not regress toward the mean. This surprising result occurs in spite of the well-known fact that the set of all the firms in the interval will exhibit the regression tendency. Our empirical tests indicate that betas behave in remarkable accordance with this prediction.
Tethered basic fibroblast growth factor increases vascular cell proliferation

Scaffolds should direct and promote tissue formation of tissue-engineered constructs. To optimize tissue formation, we propose the use of polyethylene glycol (PEG) conjugated bioactive factors that can be covalently immobilized to PEG diacrylate hydrogel scaffolds. We have demonstrated that the growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), retains its activity following attachment to PEG and incorporation into photopolymerized hydrogel scaffolds. Tethered bFGF significantly increased smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation on RGDS-modified PEG diacrylate hydrogels. Covalently grafting bFGF to the hydrogel stimulated increased cell number exceeding that seen when the unmodified, soluble form of bFGF was used. Thus, incorporating tethered bFGF within scaffolds is a promising method for optimizing cell proliferation, an important aspect of tissue formation.
Modeling Evolution of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) to Transgenic Corn With Two Insecticidal Traits

A simulation model of the population dynamics and genetics of western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), was created to evaluate the use of refuges in the management of resistance to transgenic insecticidal corn, Zea mays L., expressing one or two toxin traits. Hypothetical scenarios and a case study of a corn hybrid pyramided with existing toxins are simulated. In the hypothetical situations, results demonstrated that evolution is generally delayed by pyramids compared with deployment of a single-toxin corn hybrid. However, soil insecticide use in the refuge reduced this delay and quickened the evolution of resistance. Results were sensitive to the degree of male beetle dispersal before mating and to the effectiveness of both toxins in the pyramid. Resistance evolved faster as fecundity increased for survivors of insecticidal corn. Thus, effects on fecundity must be measured to predict which resistance management plans will work well. Evolution of resistance also occurred faster if the survival rate due to exposure to the two toxins was not calculated by multiplication of two independent survival rates (one for each insect gene) but was equivalent to the minimum of the two. Furthermore, when single-trait and pyramided corn hybrids were planted within rootworm-dispersal distance of each other, the toxin traits lost efficacy more quickly than they did in scenarios without single-trait corn. For the case study involving transgenic corn expressing Cry34/35Ab1 and Cry3Bb1, the pyramid delayed evolution longer than a single trait corn hybrid and longer than a sequence of toxins based on at least one resistance-allele frequency remaining below 50%. Results are discussed within the context of a changing transgenic corn marketplace and the landscape dynamics of resistance management.
Relationship of Heart Rate Variability to Parasympathetic Effect

Background—Baroreflex-mediated parasympathetic stimulation has variable effects on heart rate variability (HRV). We postulated that a quadratic function would describe the relationship between HRV and parasympathetic effect better than a linear function. Methods and Results—Twenty-nine normal volunteers (15 women; mean age 39±12 years) were studied after β-adrenergic blockade with intravenous propranolol. Five-minute ECG recordings were made during graded infusions of phenylephrine and nitroprusside to achieve baroreflex-mediated increases and decreases in parasympathetic effect, respectively. Time- and frequency-domain measures of HRV were calculated from the R-R interval tachograms. The R-R interval and the vagal-sympathetic effect (VSE=R-R interval/intrinsic R-R interval) were used as indices of parasympathetic effect. The data were fit to both quadratic and linear models. In each case, the quadratic model (with a negative coefficient for the squared term) was superior to the linear model. There was so...
Stimulatory Effects of Insulin-like Growth Factor-I on Growth Plate Chondrogenesis Are Mediated by Nuclear Factor-κB p65

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is an important regulator of endochondral ossification. However, little is known about the signaling pathways activated by IGF-I in growth plate chondrocytes. We have previously shown that NF-κB-p65 facilitates growth plate chondrogenesis. In this study, we first cultured rat metatarsal bones with IGF-I and/or pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), a known NF-κB inhibitor. The IGF-I-mediated stimulation of metatarsal growth and growth plate chondrogenesis was neutralized by PDTC. In rat growth plate chondrocytes, IGF-I induced NF-κB-p65 nuclear translocation. The inhibition of NF-κB-p65 expression and activity (by p65 short interfering RNA and PDTC, respectively) in chondrocytes reversed the IGF-I-mediated induction of cell proliferation and differentiation and the IGF-I-mediated prevention of cell apoptosis. Moreover, the inhibition of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and Akt abolished the effects of IGF-I on NF-κB activation. In conclusion, our findings indicate that IGF-I stimulates growth plate chondrogenesis by activating NF-κB-p65 in chondrocytes.
Phase Relations and Compatibilities in the Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu and Bi-Sr-Ca-Ru Oxide Systems

Phase relations of the BSCCO system are extended into the Ru-bearing system in order to elucidate the phase compatibilities of a large number of interesting materials. The systems Bi-Sr oxide, Bi-Ru oxide, and Sr-Ru oxide are delineated. The ruthenates have very high melting temperatures, are reactive with many container materials, and lose Ru by volatilization. Different synthetic pathways of alkaline earth ruthenates have been undertaken. The results of these pathways are described and discussed.
Design of Reconfigurable and Robust Integrated SC Power Converter for Self-Powered Energy-Efficient Devices

Motivated by emerging self-sustained low-power applications, an integrated power supply solution with a reconfigurable step-up/down switched-capacitor power stage and a dual-loop adaptive gain-pulse control is presented. It makes use of a reconfigurable power stage structure to implement variable gain ratios that provide efficient voltage conversion within wide input/output voltage and power ranges. It also employs an interleaving regulation scheme to significantly reduce the input inrush currents and the output voltage ripples with fast transient response. Design strategy, system optimization, and circuit implementation are addressed in detail. The converter was designed with a standard 0.35-mum digital CMOS n-well process. With an input voltage ranging from 1.5 to 3.3 V, the converter achieves variable step-up/down voltage conversion with a maximum load current of 90 mA. The maximum efficiency is 88%. The converter responds to a 70-mA load-current step change within 4.6 mus, while it robustly operates under a 1.8-V input supply variation. The design can be easily extended and reconfigured for different operation and application scenarios.
Investigation of Commutative Properties of Discontinuous Galerkin Methods in PDE Constrained Optimal Control Problems

The aim of this paper is to investigate commutative properties of a large family of discontinuous Galerkin (DG) methods applied to optimal control problems governed by the advection-diffusion equations. To compute numerical solutions of PDE constrained optimal control problems there are two main approaches: optimize-then-discretize and discretize-then-optimize. These two approaches do not always coincide and may lead to substantially different numerical solutions. The methods for which these two approaches do coincide we call commutative. In the theory of single equations, there is a related notion of adjoint or dual consistency. In this paper we classify DG methods both in primary and mixed forms and derive necessary conditions that can be used to develop new commutative methods. We will also derive error estimates in the energy and L 2 norms. Numerical examples reveal that in the context of PDE constrained optimal control problems a special care needs to be taken to compute the solutions. For example, choosing non-commutative methods and discretize-then-optimize approach may result in a badly behaved numerical solution.
Sociolinguistics of Language: Introduction to Sociolinguistics, Volume II

Sociolinguistics of Language: Introduction to Sociolinguistics, Volume II. Ralph Fasold. Cambridge, Mass.: Basil Blackwell, 1990. 342 pp. $52.95 (doth), $19.95 (paper)
Testing of the Superconducting Magnet and Cryogenics for the AMS-02 Experiment

The superconducting magnet, cryogenics, and detector systems of the AMS experiment was fully integrated and tested in test beam at CERN during 2009. In Spring 2010 the experiment underwent thermal vacuum tests at ESTEC, where it was operated in conditions simulating those that will pertain in orbit. All elements of the superconducting magnet and cryogenics performed as designed, and equilibrium operation was attained at several values of vacuum case temperature. Details of the tests are presented. A thermal model of the overall cryogenic system was calibrated from those measurements. The model was used to predict the cryogenic lifetime of the experiment, as it would be staged on ISS, to be (28 ± 6) months.
Treating diabetes in underserved populations using an interprofessional care team

Community Health Centers that provide diabetic care for underserved patients have unique challenges. This study describes how interprofessional care improves outcomes and results in cost savings. Interprofessional diabetes education and structured team building are discussed. The team consisted of a physician, nurse practitioner, clinical pharmacist, and a number of pre-medicinal, nursing, and pharmacy students. The outcomes were measured at one year intervals for a total of three years. During the two year period with the interprofessional care team, the diabetic patients in this study achieved a 10% improvement in HgA1c, and 9% improvement in systolic blood pressure, a 5% improvement in diastolic blood pressure, and a 62.6% reduction in triglycerides. These findings suggest that this interprofessional care model in a free clinic significantly improved the HgA1c, triglycerides, and blood pressure.
Sensitisation, asthma, and a modified Th2 response in children exposed to cat allergen: a population-based cross-sectional study.

Summary Background Although asthma is strongly associated with immediate hypersensitivity to indoor allergens, several studies have suggested that a cat in the house can decrease the risk of asthma. We investigated the immune response to cat and mite allergens, and asthma among children with a wide range of allergen exposure. Methods We did a population-based cross-sectional study of children (aged 12–14 years), some of whom had symptoms of asthma and bronchial hyper-reactivity. Antibodies to mite (Der f 1) and cat (Fel d 1) allergens measured by isotype (IgG and IgG4) specific radioimmunoprecipitation assays were compared with sensitisation and allergen concentrations in house dust. Findings 226 children were recruited, 47 of whom had symptoms of asthma and bronchial hyper-reactivity. Increasing exposure to mite was associated with increased prevalence of sensitisation and IgG antibody to Der f 1. By contrast, the highest exposure to cat was associated with decreased sensitisation, but a higher prevalence of IgG antibody to Fel d 1. Thus, among children with high exposure, the odds of sensitisation to mite rather than cat was 4·0 (99% CI 1·49–10·00). Furthermore, 31 of 76 children with 23 g Fel d 1 at home, who were not sensitised to cat allergen had >125 units of IgG antibody to Fel d 1. Antibodies to Fel d 1 of the IgG4 isotype were strongly correlated with IgG antibody in both allergic and non-allergic children (r=0·84 and r=0·66, respectively). Sensitisation to mite or cat allergens was the strongest independent risk factor for asthma (p<0·001). Interpretation Exposure to cat allergen can produce an IgG and IgG4 antibody response without sensitisation or risk of asthma. This modified T-helper-2 cell response should be regarded as a form of tolerance and may be the correct objective of immunotherapy. The results may also explain the observation that animals in the house can decrease the risk of asthma.
History of attempted suicide and the medical review of systems.

Previous studies indicate relationships between borderline personality disorder, characterized by chronic selfharm behaviour, and somatic preoccupation. 1 Therefore, we hypothesized a relationship between a history of suicide attempts and multiple somatic symptoms in the context of a medical review of systems (ROS). Participants were male and female outpatients, aged 18 or older, seen in a resident-provider internal medicine clinic. We excluded individuals with medical or other symptoms that would preclude their ability to complete a survey. Of 471 individuals approached, 417 (88.5%) agreed to participate; 367 completed all study measures – 124 male and 243 female, aged 19–97 years (M = 50.13, SD = 15.46). Most (88.0%) were White (African American, 7.9%; Other, 2.2%; Hispanic, 1.1%; Asian, 0.8%), with 6.6% reporting less than a high school diploma and 28.7% a bachelor’s degree or higher. One author positioned in the clinic lobby, approached incoming patients, assessed exclusion criteria, reviewed the project and invited each to complete an anonymous survey. The survey consisted of: (i) a demographic query; (ii) a query about a past history of suicide attempts (‘Have you ever intentionally, or on purpose, attempted suicide?’) and (iii) the presence or not of 35 general medical symptoms (i.e. one clinical version of a ROS) adapted from Sinsky; 2 items were preceded by the statement, ‘Have you experienced any of the following symptoms in the past week?’, with yes/no response options. The project was approved by two institutional review boards and completion of the survey was assumed to be implied consent (clarified on the survey cover page). Forty-nine (13.4%) participants indicated suicide attempts. The number of endorsed ROS symptoms ranged 0–32 (M = 6.87, SD = 5.95), with 89.9% endorsing at least one symptom. The mean number of such symptoms was greater for those who indicated a history of attempted suicide (M = 10.29, SD = 7.40) compared with those who denied such a history (M = 6.35, SD = 5.53), [F(1,365) = 19.50, P < 0.001]. Age was inversely related to the total number of symptoms endorsed (r = -0.12, P < 0.05), and those who indicated a history of attempted suicide were younger (M = 41.83, SD = 13.15) compared with those who denied such a history (M = 51.40, SD = 15.41), [F(1,361) = 16.63, P < 0.001]. However, history of attempted suicide remained a statistically significant predictor [F(1,360) = 15.84, P < 0.001] of the total number of symptoms endorsed even when age was entered as a covariate. In this sample of internal medicine outpatients, past suicide attempts were associated with a greater number of current physical symptoms – a finding that we believe is unique to the current literature. If valid, multiple current somatic symptoms might be an indistinct marker for past suicide attempts.
Osteomyelitis Caused by Moraxella osloensis

Moraxella osloensis osteomyelitis of the femur developed in a paraplegic man. He responded to treatment with oral ampicillin. Disease in humans caused by this unusual clinical isolate is reviewed.
Microresonator-based parametric frequency comb generation without an external pump laser

We demonstrate frequency comb generation spanning 900 nm by utilizing a fibermicroresonator dual-cavity design. Such a scheme eliminates the need for tuning an external pump laser to the microcavity resonance.
Concentrations and size distributions of particulate matter emissions from a Class-8 Heavy-duty diesel truck tested in a wind tunnel

In an effort to develop engine/vehicle test methods that will reflect real-world emission characteristics, West Virginia University (WVU) designed and conducted a study on a Class-8 tractor with an electronically controlled diesel engine that was mounted on a chassis dynamometer in the Old Dominion University Langley full-scale wind tunnel. With wind speeds set at 88 km/hr in the tunnel, and the tractor operating at 88 km/hr on the chassis dynamometer, a Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) was employed for measuring PM size distributions and concentrations. The SMPS was housed in a container that was attached to a three-axis gantry in the wind tunnel. Background PM size-distributions were measured with another SMPS unit that was located upstream of the truck plume. Ambient temperatures were recorded at each of the sampling locations. The truck was also operated through transient tests with vehicle speeds varying from 65 to 88 km/hr, with a wind speed of 76 km/hr. Sampling of the plume with the truck operating at 88 km/hr revealed uni-modal distributions with geometric mean diameter (GMD) values ranging from 55 to 80 nm. When size distributions from five locations in the plume were corrected for concentration with respect to dilution, they were found to be similar. Size distributions and concentrations of PM emissions from the tractor operating at 88 km/hr were found to agree with those from few other heavy-duty diesel vehicles that this team of researchers had previously tested in the field using the WVU Transportable Heavy-duty Vehicle Emissions Testing Laboratory. Under idle operation a distinct nuclei mode was detected with GMD varying from 14 to 24 nm.
Biomimetic catalysis: Taking on the turnover challenge.

Emulating the efficiency with which enzymes catalyse reactions has often been used as inspiration to develop self-assembled cages. Now two studies present approaches to achieving catalyst turnover — one of the biggest challenges in achieving truly biomimetic catalysis.
American humanitarianism and the end of Portugal’s African empire: Institutional and governmental interests in assisting Angolan refugees in Congo, 1961–74

Between 1961 and 1974, Portugal’s colonial empire in Africa disintegrated. As African liberation movements in Angola waged a protracted war for independence, hundreds of thousands of refugees fled to Congo. This article examines humanitarian assistance in Africa during decolonization to challenge the myth that humanitarian assistance has ever been impartial, neutral or independent. It compares the ways in which one organization, the American Committee on Africa (ACOA), and the US government assisted Angolan refugees in Congo. It asks: how can we understand the relationship between humanitarian aid and political positioning in a Cold War context? This article argues that the particular interests of humanitarian organizations and states determined the types of aid both provided. Cold War tensions prompted the US government to provide educational assistance as part of its humanitarian response to Angolan refugees in Congo, but the same crisis forced a nascent organization such as ACOA to open dialogue among its members in order to define its position on the relationship between African liberation politics and humanitarian intervention.Between 1961 and 1974, Portugal’s colonial empire in Africa disintegrated. As African liberation movements in Angola waged a protracted war for independence, hundreds of thousands of refugees fled to Congo. This article examines humanitarian assistance in Africa during decolonization to challenge the myth that humanitarian assistance has ever been impartial, neutral or independent. It compares the ways in which one organization, the American Committee on Africa (ACOA), and the US government assisted Angolan refugees in Congo. It asks: how can we understand the relationship between humanitarian aid and political positioning in a Cold War context? This article argues that the particular interests of humanitarian organizations and states determined the types of aid both provided. Cold War tensions prompted the US government to provide educational assistance as part of
Stress Effects in the Oxidation of Planar SiO2 Thin Films

We summarize here the results of recent experimental and analytical investigations into stress effects in planar SiO2 thin films. Experimentally, we examine the effects of a constant superposed in-plane stress upon the growth of thin oxide films in the 100 A range. In contradiction to a widely accepted model of stress effects upon SiO2 film growth, we find that both compressive and tensile in-plane stresses tend to retard oxide growth by a roughly equal amount. Analytically, we investigate the effects of the small component of strain induced parallel to the oxidation interface by the large volume expansion inherent in the oxidation of silicon. Depending upon the circumstances, this strain component, dubbed the “intrinsic strain”, can have a non-negligible effect upon the growth of planar oxide layers.
Prices and Markets in Ancient Rome

This paper argues that there was enough buying and selling (emptio venditio) in the early Roman Empire to show that there were markets, and there were enough markets at the time that there was a market economy. I use three examples to make these points, one from my research, one from the research of a younger ancient historian, and one from an older ancient historian. These examples also show the usefulness of a few economic techniques like regression analysis, comparative advantage, and assuming that farmers respond to market prices.
A Factor-Based Index of Equality in Higher Education Opportunities

There is no scientific index for assessing equality in higher education opportunities.This has a negative effect on the reforming of admissions policies.Based on the content analysis of papers regarding equality in higher education opportunities published since 2001,this study examines and identifies factors that have an impact on the issue,calculates the weight of each factor based on a factor analysis of survey data and educational statistics,and develops a factor-based index of equality in higher education opportunities.The findings show that nationality has the most significant effect on equality,followed by province of origin,home location(urban versus rural),social class,and gender.
The study of improving the culture results of amniotic fluid cells by adding antioxidants

Objective To improve the culture results of amniotic fluid by adding antioxidants.Methods Using Fractional factorial designs combined with the steepest ascent path approach,the concentration of antioxidants added in H medium was optimized to increase the growth speed of the passage fibroblast cells from amniotic fluid.And the performance of the optimized culture medium was tested with the growth index,the numbers of clones and metaphase of primary amniotic fluid cells culture.Results Vitamin E,L-ascorbic acid,α-lipoic acid and reduced GSH can all promote the growth of the amniotic fluid cells with synergic effect.Total number of clones,growth index,and total number of metaphase cells from amniotic fluid cells cultured in medium optimized by the steepest ascent path approach are all 3 times higher than those from H medium.Conclusion The optimization method of adding antioxidants in H medium can improve significantly the results of amniotic fluid cells culture and the optimized culture medium is applicable to the prenatal diagnosis.
Randomized trial of a dual-hormone artificial pancreas with dosing adjustment during exercise compared with no adjustment and sensor-augmented pump therapy.

Aims To test whether adjusting insulin and glucagon in response to exercise within a dual-hormone artificial pancreas (AP) reduces exercise-related hypoglycaemia. Materials and methods In random order, 21 adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) underwent three 22-hour experimental sessions: AP with exercise dosing adjustment (APX); AP with no exercise dosing adjustment (APN); and sensor-augmented pump (SAP) therapy. After an overnight stay and 2 hours after breakfast, participants exercised for 45 minutes at 60% of their maximum heart rate, with no snack given before exercise. During APX, insulin was decreased and glucagon was increased at exercise onset, while during SAP therapy, subjects could adjust dosing before exercise. The two primary outcomes were percentage of time spent in hypoglycaemia (<3.9 mmol/L) and percentage of time spent in euglycaemia (3.9-10 mmol/L) from the start of exercise to the end of the study. Results The mean (95% confidence interval) times spent in hypoglycaemia (<3.9 mmol/L) after the start of exercise were 0.3% (−0.1, 0.7) for APX, 3.1% (0.8, 5.3) for APN, and 0.8% (0.1, 1.4) for SAP therapy. There was an absolute difference of 2.8% less time spent in hypoglycaemia for APX versus APN (p = .001) and 0.5% less time spent in hypoglycaemia for APX versus SAP therapy (p = .16). Mean time spent in euglycaemia was similar across the different sessions. Conclusions Adjusting insulin and glucagon delivery at exercise onset within a dual-hormone AP significantly reduces hypoglycaemia compared with no adjustment and performs similarly to SAP therapy when insulin is adjusted before exercise.
Are We Getting Closer to Explaining Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia continues to contribute to major maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. In this article, we review the pathophysiological mechanisms, screening strategies, and novel therapeutic options for preeclampsia.
Mitochondrial Dysfunction in the Liver and Antiphospholipid Antibody Production Precede Disease Onset and Respond to Rapamycin in Lupus-Prone Mice.

Objective Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) constitute a diagnostic criterion of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and aPL have been functionally linked to liver disease in patients with SLE. Since the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a regulator of oxidative stress, a pathophysiologic process that contributes to the development of aPL, this study was undertaken in a mouse model of SLE to examine the involvement of liver mitochondria in lupus pathogenesis. Methods Mitochondria were isolated from lupus-prone MRL/lpr, C57BL/6.lpr, and MRL mice, age-matched autoimmunity-resistant C57BL/6 mice as negative controls, and transaldolase-deficient mice, a strain that exhibits oxidative stress in the liver. Electron transport chain (ETC) activity was assessed using measurements of oxygen consumption. ETC proteins, which are regulators of mitochondrial homeostasis, and the mTOR complexes mTORC1 and mTORC2 were examined by Western blotting. Anticardiolipin (aCL) and anti–β2-glycoprotein I (anti-β2GPI) autoantibodies were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in mice treated with rapamycin or mice treated with a solvent control. Results Mitochondrial oxygen consumption was increased in the livers of 4-week-old, disease-free MRL/lpr mice relative to age-matched controls. Levels of the mitophagy initiator dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) were depleted while the activity of mTORC1 was increased in MRL/lpr mice. In turn, mTORC2 activity was decreased in MRL and MRL/lpr mice. In addition, levels of aCL and anti-β2GPI were elevated preceding the development of nephritis in 4-week-old MRL, C57BL/6.lpr, and MRL/lpr mice. Transaldolase-deficient mice showed increased oxygen consumption, depletion of Drp1, activation of mTORC1, and elevated expression of NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase core subunit S3 (NDUFS3), a pro-oxidant subunit of ETC complex I, as well as increased production of aCL and anti-β2GPI autoantibodies. Treatment with rapamycin selectively blocked mTORC1 activation, NDUFS3 expression, and aPL production both in transaldolase-deficient mice and in lupus-prone mice. Conclusion In lupus-prone mice, mTORC1-dependent mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to the generation of aPL, suggesting that such mechanisms may represent a treatment target in patients with SLE.
Clinical and practical perspectives on the use of intravenous vs. subcutaneous Epoetin alfa in hemodialysis patients

Background. The route of Epoetin alfa (EPO) administration has become a controversial issue in recent years. Despite the National Kidney Foundation Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiative (NKF-DOQI) guidelines recommending subcutaneous (SC) EPO for all dialysis patients, only 12% of hemodialysis patients in the U.S. receive EPO by the SC route. Methods. A telephone survey was undertaken to gather opinions and clinical practice information regarding the choice of EPO route of administration. Sixteen people from several different vantage points within the dialysis community were interviewed about a variety of factors related to route of EPO therapy including clinical outcomes, financial aspects, impact on staff workload. and patient preferences. Six interviewees were specifically chosen to represent programs in which SC EPO was deemed unsuccessful in order to gain more insight into the issues causing a negative experience with this route of administration. Results. As expected, the majority of programs represented by the interviewees use intravenous (IV) EPO-a choice that, in many cases, appears to be linked to the financial reimbursement structure present in the particular dialysis program. However, some programs have tried SC administration with unsuccessful outcomes, citing a significant increase in staff workload as the primary reason. Other programs have successfully implemented the use of SC EPO through a carefully planned, unit-wide approach that includes staff and patient education. Conclusions. Dialysis staff and patients generally prefer IV EPO with regard to workload issues, ease of use, and avoidance of the discomfort associated with SC injections. The choice of EPO route of administration is a complex issue involving consideration of all of these factors.
Casimir effect in source theory

The theory of the Casimir effect, including its temperature dependence, is rederived by source theoretic methods, which do not employ the concept of zero point energy.
14.5 – The Molecular Clock

The molecular clock uses evolutionary changes in proteins and DNA to measure the passage of time. Yet molecular evolution is clocklike only to a first approximation. Uncertainties arise because of variation in rates of molecular evolution, because of difficulty in calibrating clocks, and because we measure molecular changes only indirectly. Statistical methods now cope with all of these uncertainties. As these methods have matured and molecular data sets have increased in size, the molecular clock has grown increasingly reliable.
Open Pathways to Student Success: Academic Library Partnerships for Open Educational Resource and Affordable Course Content Creation and Adoption

ABSTRACT This paper explores the current state of open educational resources (OER) including notable library-lead and multi-institutional programs. The potential for OER and affordable course material creation and adoption programs to impact student retention and persistence is examined. Potential additional partnerships and future directions for library-lead programs are discussed as well as the framework necessary for assessing the impact of library-lead OER initiatives.
Community partners' perspectives on the outcomes from international Service-learning programs: Project scope and method

In recent years, many universities have started working on development projects in developing and underdeveloped countries and have started to manage their own programs such as, EPICS. There are also several engineering organizations dedicated towards the needs in developed and developing countries such as, Engineering without Boarders, and Engineering for Sustainable World. In these programs, engineering students, young professionals, and faculty members are directly involved in international development initiatives and projects in developing and underdeveloped countries. Traditionally, in the Service-learning literature, most of the studies have focused on the learning outcomes, perspectives and experiences of the students. Although research focusing on understanding the perspectives of community partners about Service-learning outcomes, is gaining momentum and continuously increasing, most of them focus on domestic Service-learning projects. Although, community partners' perspectives (in domestic service learning program) research grounds in theory and the implications and results are valuable and useful, but because of the complexities of cross-cultural differences associated with ISL programs, these findings may not be suitable and applicable for international service learning (ISL) programs. In a recent study Reynolds, calls for more informed and community centered research on the impacts of ISL programs and partnerships not only from students' perspectives but also on the host communities. This work- in- progress paper is the part of a larger project in which we intend to look into the community partners' perspectives on the outcomes of an international Service-learning program. Our major objective is to understand the community partner's motivations, benefits and challenges of partnerships with an international Service-learning program and develop recommendations to enhance partnership relationship in ISL programs. Through this work-in-progress paper we present a background literature review and description of project scope and methods.
Analysis of multi-modal spatial visualization workshop intervention across gender, nationality, and other engineering student demographics

Spatial visualization (SV) skills are both learnable and linked to student success in engineering. Our work was motivated by previous research revealing a gender gap in SV skills that favors male engineering students. A multi-modal SV workshop intervention was incorporated into a first-year engineering projects course with the goal of fostering SV skills for all students. An analysis of SV skills, as measured by the Purdue Spatial Visualization Test (PSVT), preceding and following workshop participation is presented. SV workshop results were studied for five undergraduate engineering student demographic subsets: 1) gender, 2) first-generation status, 3) nationality, 4) socioeconomic status, and 5) underrepresented minority status. Both female and international students were found to arrive at engineering college with less-developed SV skills. Since both populations are rapidly growing in the nation's engineering colleges, closing the SV performance gap is compelling. The multi-modal SV workshop provided substantial support to all students, with a median 23% performance gain. And, workshop attendees improved their PSVT passing rate (achieving a 20-point threshold) from 0% to 92%. Results demonstrate that this replicable multi-modal SV workshop can close SV skills performance gaps among all engineering students.
Analysis of emerging video coding techniques for enhanced streaming

Today in the world of Internet of things, video consumption becomes high due to social media sites and mobile phones. Live streaming, 3DTV, IPTV, 4K technology will be the future of broadcasting. Internet traffic increases exponentially due to video streaming hence the focus of the research is to optimize the performance of streaming. The key challenge is to provide large resolution support in a multicore platform with various medium [1]. Currently H.264 and in future, H.265 will be the most adopted video format. This paper evaluates various video codec's, mainly transition of H.264 to H.265 and its implementation.
Demystifying the Mechanism of Regio- and Isoselective Epoxide Polymerization Using the Vandenberg Catalyst

A combined theoretical and experimental investigation into the structure and mechanism of the classical Vandenberg catalyst for the isoselective polymerization of epoxides has led to a consistent mechanistic proposal. The most likely reaction pathway was based on a bis(μ-oxo)di(aluminum) (BOD) resting state that proceeded through a mono(μ-oxo)di(aluminum) (MOD) transition state. The isoselectivity of the Vandenberg catalyst was derived from the rigidity of the BOD structure and its bonding to the ultimate and penultimate oxygen heteroatoms along the polyether backbone. The energetic driving force for isoselectivity was the loss of an energetically favorable secondary Al–O interaction during enchainment of oppositely configured epoxides, providing a ca. 2 kcal/mol driving force for the emergent isoselectivity. Experimental spectroscopic and kinetic evidence based on model BOD and MOD complexes support the new mechanistic framework developed using density functional theory calculations. A purposefully synth...
Surveying Dentists' Perceptions of Caregiver Refusal of Topical Fluoride.

The objective of this study was to assess dentists’ perceptions of caregiver topical fluoride refusal behaviors. We administered an 8-item survey in 2015 and 2016 (N = 582) and asked dentists about...
Persecution of the Jews

Fascist persecution of the Jews by the Salo regime represents the worst features of the regime. At the Party Congress on 14 November 1943, The Fascist Party secretary, Pavolini, set the table for a harsh anti-Semitic policy by ordering the confiscation of Jewish property to fill RSI coffers. Still, the Italian position on deportation of Jews to the Third Reich was ambiguous until Nazi agent Friedrich Boshammer arrived in Italy to coordinate the arrest and deportation of Jews. The door had swung open for the rabid Italian anti-Semite Giovanni Preziosi to assume the leadership of the General Inspectorate for Race. But in contrast to the violent anti-Semitism of the pro-Nazi Fascists, Mussolini’s position on the Jewish question continued to waver between opportunism and indifference. On the whole, since many Italians and ecclesiastics gave Jews shelter, common human values and justice in Italy often prevailed over toxic Nazi biological anti-Semitism.
Thawing Service Pipes

The frozen service troubles arising from the excessively cold weather this past winter, were viewed with much concern by operators everywhere. Knowing a review of the experiences and the recommendations of others would be of help to the writer, some time was spent in reading published articles on this subject and in gathering information from a small group of Illinois operators. The information collected has been of interest and value. Electrical thawing seems to be rapidly replacing all other methods. It is fast, and requires a minimum of labor, but must be carefully handled or disaster might result. Because of the increasing popularity of this method, and the dangers present when large currents are used, this review will deal, in the main, with this method. Three sources of energy have been used with success, and are here named in the order of their apparent popularity. 1. Gasoline engine driven generator (of welder type) ; 2. Transformers; 3. Storage battery (one reported only). The current obtainable from the first two sources mentioned is theoretically limited only by the size of the generating equipment, and for apparatus used in thawing services, it is limited only by the requirement of the application. Operators have experienced the difference in the length of time required to thaw services of different materials, which are of the same diameter, approximately of equal length and under apparently similar conditions. Assuming no gaskets or patent coupling in the line, and all other conditions alike, except material, the reason for one material permitting more rapid thawing than another is shown in table 1 which gives the resistance in ohms per milfoot for metals most commonly used in service construction. Bear in mind that because of the difference in the proportioning of various elements used