cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Deactivation of Multilayered MFI Nanosheet Zeolite during Upgrading of Biomass Pyrolysis Vapors

The catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) of biomass is a promising technology for producing renewable transportation fuels and chemicals. MFI-type catalysts have shown promise for CFP because they produce gasoline range hydrocarbons from oxygenated pyrolysis compounds; however, rapid catalyst deactivation due to coking is one of the major technical barriers inhibiting the commercialization of this technology. Coke deposited on the surface of the catalysts blocks access to active sites in the micropores leading to rapid catalyst deactivation. Our strategy is to minimize rapid catalyst deactivation by adding mesoporosity through formation of MFI nanosheet materials. The synthesized MFI nanosheet catalysts were fully characterized and evaluated for cellulose pyrolysis vapor upgrading to produce olefins and aromatic hydrocarbons. The data obtained from pyrolysis-GCMS (py-GCMS) showed that fresh MFI nanosheets produced similar aromatic hydrocarbon and olefin yields compared to those of conventional HZSM-5. However, ...
Chapter III Constrained nonlinear programming

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the constrained nonlinear programming. The quadratic programming (QP) problem involves minimizing a quadratic function subject to linear constraints. Quadratic programming is of great interest, and also plays a fundamental role in methods for general nonlinear problems. The basic principle invoked in solving NEP is that of replacing a difficult problem by an easier problem. Penalty functions in their original form are not used, but an understanding of their properties is important for recent methods. Penalty function methods are based on the idea of combining a weighted measure of the constraint violations with the objective function. The chapter discusses the methods based on the optimality conditions for problem NEP. The idea of a quadratic model is a major ingredient in the most successful methods for unconstrained optimization. However, it is shown in the derivation of optimality conditions for NEP that the important curvature is the Lagrangian function. This suggests that quadratic model should be of the Lagrangian function. However, such a model is not the complete representation of the properties of problem NEP. The chapter also discusses the reduced Lagrangian or sequential linearly constrained (SLC) methods. They have been widely used for large-scale optimization problems.
Observing network characteristics in mass collaboration design projects

Mass collaboration efforts can increase innovation and design possibilities. Incorporation of open innovation into the product development process allows for a vast array of unique perspectives and ideas. However, with the broad expansion of design possibilities, coordination of these development processes is paramount. To best make use of open innovation in product development, increased organizational efforts must be considered. The mass collaboration of individuals must account for individual intellectual abilities (competencies), working experience and even personality traits or idiosyncrasies. Approaches to this problem require the fusion of social network analysis with quantifiable design impacts. This work proposes a simulation framework that evaluates the design potential of a project team based on individual attributes and the team network structure. The overall contribution of this work comes from the exploration of team structure, focusing on network composition metrics such as centrality and network density, while attempting to understand the role of individual ability and positioning on the success of the design process. This work aims to garner a more thorough understanding of how the network structure of design teams correlates with their potential performance through a generalized simulation framework, applicable to future crowd and design initiatives.
Long-term management of Parkinson's disease using levodopa combinations.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, neurodegenerative disease. Its symptoms and course are heterogeneous. After several years of investigative drug studies, levodopa remains the most efficacious drug despite its long-term limitations. Consequently, research into new drug delivery modes is ongoing.Areas covered: This review summarizes past and current advances of levodopa therapy with a focus on long-term patient management. Current research aims to increase drug bioavailability and to deliver it to the brain continuously. Reduced fluctuations improve drug efficacy and levodopa-associated motor complications. Less considered metabolic long-term consequences of levodopa are impaired methylation capacity and antioxidant defense. Both may contribute to disease progression and weaken physiological available human neuronal repair mechanisms.Expert opinion: New developed formulations will improve pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic behavior. The authors suggest the regular supplementation wit...
Workers’ Faculties and the Development of Science Cadres in the First Decade of Soviet Power

Western governments’ science policies do not generally encompass the total national educational policy. The extent to which universities will allow themselves to be guided by governmental concerns in formulating their admissions policies varies greatly in the West. Government policies on the one hand depend on the relations between universities and the state, and on the other hand on the relations between individuals and the state. Even when serious national needs are identified, government policies tend to take the form of encouraging societal and market forces in education, rather than directing activity from above. In socialist societies, where the state monopoly over education precludes alternatives and education is regarded as an instrument of social policy, the relationship of the education system to science policy becomes more complex.
Epitaxial Growth of (SiC)XGe1-x on Silicon Substrates

Silicon carbide (SiC) has recently been used to form high intensity, blue-light emitting diodes (1) and high temperature electronic devices (2). SiC’s physical and chemical properties, (e.g., energy bandgap and dielectric constant) have filled an important materials void, offering semiconductor devices that can operate under extreme environmental conditions. In this paper, we report on chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth of (SiC)x Ge1-x single crystal films on silicon substrates. The silicon carbide germanium (SiC)X Ge1-x ternary system has only been studied in some detail by D. Girginoudi and co-workers (3). These researchers reported on the growth of amorphous (SiC)x Ge1-x films by RF sputtering. In the present study, epitaxial growth of (SiC)x Ge1-x on silicon substrates was performed using a CVD reactor which employed SiH4, C3H8, GeH4, and H2. A detailed description of the CVD reactor system is given in reference 4. The silicon samples (001) were on- and off-axis (2° toward direction). The substrates were etched using HF: de-ionized water after a standard cleaning to remove any surface oxide layers. Epitaxial growth took place at approximately 1370°C with H2 as the carrier gas. The Ge/Si ratio in the gas flow phase was varied from 0.05 to 0.20. Under these conditions, the growth rate was approximately 1.5 μm/hour.
The False Promise of Socialism and The Road to Serfdom

The Road to Serfdom is by far Hayek’s most successful work. It is also deeply misunderstood. Critics and advocates of his position alike interpret Hayek as saying that any step toward the concentration of economic power into the hands of the government must necessarily lead to totalitarianism. In short, Hayek’s argument is seen as a slippery slope one. Hayek actually argued that the members of a society must choose to continue on the path of centralization, and if consistently pursued, must ultimately substitute political discretion under central planning with democracy under the rule of law, a tragic outcome that is undesired by those who advocate central planning. The alternative is to impose constraints on the ability of the state to substitute individual planning for central planning, as was happening in some countries while Hayek was writing his book.
Using Prototypes, Verification, and Validation to Evaluate and Enhance System Architecture

The MBSAP methodology is tied together by a prototyping environment that allows an evolving system architecture to be exercised and assessed for purposes as diverse as verification and validation (V&V), performance analysis, trade study quantification, and human-in-the-loop experimentation. It has two complementary dimensions: a physical prototype is built up from real or emulated system components, while a virtual prototype brings together a set of system simulations. The virtual prototyping strategy mirrors the levels of the Axis of Abstraction of the architecture taxonomy in Chap. 1. First, we establish the fundamental concepts and terminology and explore the details of physical and virtual prototypes. We then present the essentials of V&V and the role of prototyping and simulation, and we discuss additional uses of prototyping to support a system development effort. We briefly summarize an alternative approach to SysML using Petri nets. Finally, we use the Smart Microgrid and E-X examples to illustrate these prototyping concepts. The essential idea is that a properly planned and executed prototyping activity can be of great value in reducing risk, saving cost and schedule, enhancing system V&V, and supporting many other aspects of the system life cycle. Chapter Objective: the reader will be able to define an effective prototyping strategy, including virtual and physical prototypes, and to incorporate prototypes in the planning, execution, and assessment of a system development program.
Tetradic phosphor white light with variable CCT and superlative CRI through organolead halide perovskite nanocrystals

In this work, the emission spectral range of halide perovskite nanocrystals is extended from violet to infrared, the widest emission range for halide perovskites to date. This range extension was made possible by a cost-effective solution-based synthesis process that only involves two halides [MAPb(BrxI1−x)3 and MA = CH3NH3]. Furthermore, the correlated-color temperature (CCT) of white light is tuned by blending an appropriate fraction of the as-synthesized blue, green, yellow, and red emitting nanocrystals. This represents one of the first applications of a tetradic phosphor system for maximizing the color rendering index (CRI) for this material. The CCT ranges from warm to cool white (2759–6398 K) and the CRI has a maximum value of 93.95. Thus, this fourfold phosphor approach demonstrates that halide perovskites are promising alternatives to conventional phosphors in the search for low-cost and high-quality white light sources in the next generation of white lighting technology.
Implementing a Respiratory Therapist-Driven Continuous Albuterol Weaning Protocol in the Pediatric ICU

BACKGROUND: Status asthmaticus is one of the most frequent admission diagnoses in the pediatric ICU (PICU). Collaboration between respiratory therapists (RTs) and physicians may help efficiently deliver care to a patient in status asthmaticus. The Pediatric Asthma Severity Score (PASS) is a measure of severity of a patient9s asthma exacerbation at a point in time. The aim of this quality improvement initiative was to establish an RT-driven continuous albuterol weaning protocol using the PASS score. We hypothesized that this would decrease the duration of continuous albuterol without increasing adverse events. METHODS: This was a single-center implementation study in the PICU of a quaternary care children9s hospital. Patients with a diagnosis of status asthmaticus who met criteria on continuous albuterol between September 2015 and September 2017 were included. An interdisciplinary team established the protocol, order sets, documentation, and education for involved staff. Qualifying subjects were assessed by an RT per protocol and assigned a PASS score, and the albuterol dose was adjusted on the basis of the PASS score. RESULTS: We compared 104 subjects studied before the implementation of this protocol (September 2015 to August 2016) to 117 subjects after the implementation of this protocol (September 2016 to October 2017). Median (interquartile range) duration of continuous albuterol in the PICU post-implementation was unchanged compared to pre-implementation: 12.1 (7.2–21.0) h versus 11.1 (6–19) h (P = .22). Median PICU length of stay was also unchanged post-implementation compared to pre-implementation: 19.5 (14.3–29.7) h versus 23.2 (15.2–31.3) h (P = .16). Using control charts, these processes were stable. There was no difference in adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: An interprofessionally-developed, RT-driven continuous albuterol weaning protocol can be implemented without negatively impacting duration of continuous albuterol or PICU length of stay and without increasing adverse events.
Standardized music therapy with and without acclimatization, to improve EEG data acquisition in young children with and without disability.

Abstract Introduction In young children, EEG data acquisition during stimulation tasks is difficult due to anxiety, movement and behaviorally-related interruptions, especially in those with disabilities. New method We used standardized music therapy (MT) protocols with and without acclimatization, during and prior to time-locked EEG with a published tactile testing protocol. Our prospective study leveraged a larger trial in children with/without cerebral palsy aged 7–27 months. Group1 received no preparation, Group2 received 15-minute MT prior to the EEG session, Group3 received the same as Group2 plus a rubber cap for home practice. All groups received MT procedural support during the EEG session. Sessions were stopped/started to acquire a full dataset. Trials were reviewed using a two-step artifact detection strategy by specialists masked to group allocation. Results 64 patients were included, 20 each in Groups 2 and 3, and 24 in Group1. Average age was 16.08 ± 6.33 months. All (100%) of children had data of sufficient quality and quantity for outcomes measurement without a second testing visit. There were no differences in useable trials by procedural group, disability status, age or stimulus condition. EEG recording time was shorter in Group3 vs. 1 (p = 0.02) and more patients in Group1 required repeat trials compared to Groups2 and 3 (p = 0.04 for both). Comparison with old method Our new methods resulted in no attrition from data loss, an improvement compared to published similar studies with data loss 30–55%. Acclimatization had minimal effects. Conclusion In children under 3, MT protocols result in high rates of EEG data acquisition, decrease behaviorally-related interruptions and session acquisition time. This method is successful for typically developing children and those with cerebral palsy.
Is Bigger, Better? Exploring U.S. News Graduate Education Program Rankings and Internet Characteristics.

University ranking systems influence a wide range of educational stakeholders, including students, faculty members, and campus administrators. Of these ranking systems, the U.S. News & World Report ranking of colleges and universities has been the subject of much research. However, little research has examined specific U.S. News disciplinary rankings (such as graduate education) and whether Internet characteristics—such as the popularity of an institutional website—contributes to such a ranking. This study examines relationships between Internet characteristics, institutional characteristics, and the ranking of 69 of the top graduate education programs per U.S. News & World Report 2018 rankings. This examination sought to understand which U.S. News criteria best predicts ranking and whether Internet and institutional characteristics are better predictors of ranking. Regarding U.S. News ranking criteria, results suggest peer assessment best predicts graduate education program ranking. Regarding Internet and institutional characteristics, results suggest institutions with larger endowments (p = 0.01) and smaller websites (p = 0.05) enjoy better rankings. Considering all U.S. News criteria alongside Internet and institutional characteristics, doctoral admission rates (t = 3.30, p = 0.00) and funded research per faculty member (t = − 4.89, p = 0.00) best predict ranking, but the size (t = 2.61, p = 0.01) and popularity (t = − 2.88, p = 0.00) of an institution’s website also strongly predicts ranking. Implications for theory and future research are addressed.
Justice Denied: Equity, Elections, and Remedial Redistricting Rules

As the Supreme Court has expanded the rights available to redistricting plaintiffs, it has imposed an ever-growing list of rules to regulate district courts as they craft equitable remedies. These constraining (and sometimes conflicting) principles include the Lipscomb principle, the Growe principle, the Abrams/Perry principle, the Upham principle, and the Purcell principle. Over time, these principles have hardened into doctrine and created a regime that strains to provide timely relief and is highly vulnerable to manipulation. The Supreme Court’s recent decisions in Abbott v. Perez and North Carolina v. Covington double down on this trend and further undermine the flexibility that district courts require to “mould each decree to the necessities of the particular case.” Rather than decreasing the friction between judicial and legislative actors as the Court intends, its decisions appear likely to increase judicial entanglement in the political process. To navigate the Supreme Court’s rigorous procedural regime in the meantime, district courts must incorporate equitable considerations into their case-management decisions and think strategically about how best to time, structure, and support their orders in each phase of litigation. This Essay recommends some strategies for district courts to consider, including resolving the merits with a declaratory judgment and deferring injunctive relief until after remedial briefing; making judicial remedies automatically revertible to encourage timely state appeals; and consolidating challenges to legislative remedies using Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 42(a). In turn, the Supreme Court should reflect on the regime it has wrought. Its procedural principles threaten to eclipse voters’ substantive constitutional rights and invite the very harm the Court seeks to avoid. To avoid opportunistic behavior and ensure genuine relief, the Court should refrain from micromanaging redistricting remedies, return to a more deferential appellate posture, and restore lower courts’ flexibility in the remedial process.
P725 Frequency and characteristics of biologic false positive tests for syphilis, reported in florida and new york city, 2013–2017

Background Biologic false positive (BFP) non-treponemal test results, defined as specimens with reactive non-treponemal (NT) and non-reactive treponemal test results are received and processed by United States public health surveillance programs. Non-treponemal BFPs can be attributed to a variety of infectious and non-infectious diseases. However, little is known about the distribution of BFP NT titers. We describe the frequency, NT titer distribution, and descriptive characteristics of people with BFP NT results reported in Florida and New York City (NYC). Methods Reactive NTs and BFPs (reactive NT test and ≥ 1 non-reactive treponemal tests from a person with no past or current reactive treponemal test) were extracted from Florida’s and NYC’s sexually transmitted diseases surveillance systems for 2013–2017. Results were de-duplicated by specimen collection date, test type, and titer value. For individuals, BFPs were stratified by site, patient characteristics, and highest reported titer during study period. Results A total of 526,540 reactive NTs were reported. Among these were 57,850 BFPs (28,183 Florida and 29,397 NYC), 11% of all reactive NTs, from 39,920 individuals (19,313 Florida and 20,607 NYC). Titers of 1:1 accounted for 55% (n=31,580) of all BFPs, but 5,250 (9%) were ≥ 1:8, including 654 (1.1%) ≥ 1:32. Persons with BFP were most often women 68% (n=27,161/39,920). Individuals 40+ years were at increased odds (OR 2.12; 95% C.I. 1.78–2.55) of having a high titer BFP (≥ 1:32 titer). Conclusion Syphilis BFPs (non-cases) account for a substantial number of reported tests that require processing. Some countries classify titers ≥1:8 as presumptive syphilis without treponemal testing, thus may over-count cases. Areas requiring both treponemal and NT tests for syphilis case reporting may benefit from requiring laboratories to report negative treponemal tests when they are associated with reactive NT tests. Review of patient histories might identify underlying conditions that contribute to high-titer BFP results. Disclosure No significant relationships.
Integral Transforms and Spectra

Integral transforms with respect to time and /or space yield scale information. The main transform tool to be discussed in the present section is Fourier transform between physical and spectral space.
Sterically Shielded Heptamethine Cyanine Dyes for Bioconjugation and High Performance Near‐Infrared Fluorescence Imaging

The near-infrared window of fluorescent heptamethine cyanine dyes greatly facilitates biological imaging because there is deep penetration of the light and negligible background fluorescence. However, dye instability, aggregation, and poor pharmacokinetics are current drawbacks that limit performance and the scope of possible applications. All these limitations are simultaneously overcome with a new molecular design strategy that produces a charge balanced and sterically shielded fluorochrome. The key design feature is a meso-aryl group that simultaneously projects two shielding arms directly over each face of a linear heptamethine polyene. Cell and mouse imaging experiments compared a shielded heptamethine cyanine dye (and several peptide and antibody bioconjugates) to benchmark heptamethine dyes and found that the shielded systems possess an unsurpassed combination of photophysical, physiochemical, and biodistribution properties that greatly enhance bioimaging performance.
COVID-19: a case for inhibiting IL-17?

IL-17 and IL-17 receptor inhibitors boast an impressive safety history and are widely available. Here, we argue that targeting IL-17 is immunologically plausible as a strategy to prevent acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and discuss why we think that a clinical trial of a drug in this class could be a logical addition to the effort to find effective therapies. Levels of the cytokine IL-17 positively correlate with disease severity in COVID-19. Here, the authors argue that existing anti-IL-17 therapies should be considered for the treatment of severe COVID-19.
Investigation of the need for an x-ray scatter-reduction grid during neurointerventional procedures

X-ray guided neurointerventions are catheter-based treatments for cerebrovascular diseases such as strokes and aneurysms. During such procedures visualization of treatment devices is the primary imaging task. In this work we investigate the necessity of x-ray scatter-reduction grids in performing those tasks. Various endovascular treatment devices such as stents, coils and catheters along with a low contrast blood vessel phantom were placed on a head-equivalent phantom. Images of the objects were acquired with and without a grid (15:1 grid ratio, 80 lines/cm and Al interspace). The x-ray field was set to the full 8 x 8 inch FOV to allow for realistic scatter generation. The detector was positioned close to the phantom to investigate maximal scatter conditions. Contrast and Contrast to Noise (CNR) ratios of the catheter tip and the blood vessel phantom were measured and compared for images obtained with and without the grid. The x-ray technique parameters were kept constant for all acquisitions. For the catheter tip there was a 43% reduction in contrast with the removal of the grid due to increased scatter reaching the detector. However, due to increased primary there was a 18% increase in CNR. For the blood vessel phantom, there was a 33% reduction in contrast, whereas a 17% increase in CNR. All the devices and the blood vessels in the phantom were still visible even with the increased scatter without the grid. The results of the study indicate the use of grids during neurointervention procedures might not be necessary to perform the intervention.
Effects of Smoking, Obesity, and Pulmonary Function on Home Oxygen Use after Curative Lung Cancer Surgery.

Rationale: Lung cancer surgical morbidity has been decreasing, increasing attention to quality-of-life measures. A chronic sequela of lung cancer surgery is use of postoperative oxygen at home afte...
The Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Dispute, Territorial Jurisdiction and Global Governance

The dispute arising from the European Union's attempts to protect information privacy raises difficult questions about territorial jurisdiction and democratic governance, indeed how political community and political space are defined in the digital age. This paper looks at the trans-Atlantic dispute over application of the European Union's Data Directive (1995) in the context of the emerging geographic incongruity between the reach and domain of the territorially defined Westphalian state and the deep and dense network of international economic relations. It examines the very significant EU-U.S. differences about the both the meaning of privacy and appropriate means to protect it, and reviews the development of data privacy protection in both regions. It then looks at the dispute over attempts to apply the Directive to information 'transferred' to the U.S., and the less than satisfactory attempt at resolution - the Safe Harbor agreement. It argues that the Directive was developed in the pre-Cyberspace era and that attempts to apply its provisions to transactions on the Internet raises very fundamental questions about the meaning of borders, territorial sovereignty and political space. It concludes by exploring the implications for territorial jurisdiction and global governance at some length.
Lipophilic regulator of a developmental switch in Caenorhabditis elegans

In Caenorhabditis elegans, the decision to develop into a reproductive adult or arrest as a dauer larva is influenced by multiple pathways including insulin-like and transforming growth factor β (TGFβ)-like signalling pathways. It has been proposed that lipophilic hormones act downstream of these pathways to regulate dauer formation. One likely target for such a hormone is DAF-12, an orphan nuclear hormone receptor that mediates these developmental decisions and also influences adult lifespan. In order to find lipophilic hormones we have generated lipophilic extracts from mass cultures of C. elegans and shown that they rescue the dauer constitutive phenotype of class 1 daf-2 insulin signalling mutants and the TGFβ signalling mutant daf-7. These extracts are also able to rescue the lethal dauer phenotype of daf-9 mutants, which lack a P450 steroid hydroxylase thought to be involved in the synthesis of the DAF-12 ligand; extracts, however, have no effect on a DAF-12 ligand binding domain mutant that is predicted to be ligand insensitive. The production of this hormone appears to be DAF-9 dependent as extracts from a daf-9;daf-12 double mutant do not exhibit this activity. Preliminary fractionation of the lipophilic extracts shows that the activity is hydrophobic with some polar properties, consistent with a small lipophilic hormone. We propose that the dauer rescuing activity is a hormone synthesized by DAF-9 that acts through DAF-12.
Gene-Delivery Polymers

Human gene therapy promises to provide unparalleled treatments for afflictions ranging from cystic fibrosis to cardiovascular disease to cancer. The development of safe and efficient methods for delivery of genetic material to specific cells within the body has been a limiting factor in implementation of this technology. Delivery methodologies have included the use of recombinant viruses and synthetic materials, especially cationic polymers. While viruses are by far the most efficient delivery vehicles currently available, polymers exhibit several properties—including very flexible chemistry, potential for biocompatibility, simplicity, and inexpensive synthesis—that make them excellent candidates for the gene delivery vehicles of the future. However, polymers are typically several orders of magnitude less efficient than viruses and are generally considered unacceptable for human gene therapy. Much work is underway to design and synthesize improved polymers for gene delivery applications. This article summarizes the important criteria for an ideal gene delivery vehicle in terms of the potential barriers that must be overcome. Further, the current state of the polymer-mediated gene delivery field is reviewed and several new classes of polymers, specifically designed for human gene delivery, are described. Keywords: gene therapy; cationic polymers; polylysine; polyethylenimine; polyamidoamine; biopolymers
Using Dynamical System Tools in Matlab

Numerical tools play an important role in analyzing dynamical systems. There are many numerical packages currently available for such problems as exploration of phase portraits, initial value problems, boundary value problems and bifurcation analysis. Although these packages provide substantial information about the dynamical systems, they do not inter-operate with one another easily. Each package has its own data type, model declaration, input/output structure. Frequently one has to duplicate information on the dynamical system in question to run separate packages.
Barcode haplotype variation in north American agroecosystem lady beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae).

DNA barcodes have proven invaluable in identifying and distinguishing insect pests, most notably for determining the provenance of exotic invasives, but relatively few insect natural enemies have been barcoded. We used Folmer et al.'s (1994) universal invertebrate primers and Hebert et al.'s (2004) for Lepidoptera, to amplify 658 bp at the 5' end of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase c subunit I (COI) gene in five species of lady beetles from crop fields in six states in the US Mid-Atlantic, Plains and Midwest: three native species, Hippodamia convergens Guerin-Meneville, H. parenthesis (Say) and Coleomegilla maculata (De Geer); and two exotic species, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) and Coccinella septempunctata Linnaeus. Sequence divergences within species were low, never exceeding 0.9% (Kimura 2-parameter distances). Sequence divergences between the two Hippodamia species ranged from 14.7 to 16.4%, mirroring the relationships found for other arthropod taxa. Among the exotic species, C. septempunctata sequences were as variable as those of the three native species, while H. axyridis populations comprised a single haplotype. Limited data on two Coleomegilla subspecies, C. m. lengi Timberlake and C. m. fuscilabris (Mulsant), are consistent with their belonging to the same species, although morphological and reproductive data indicate that they represent separate species. Our results support the general utility of COI barcodes for distinguishing and diagnosing coccinellid species, but point to possible limitations in the use of barcodes to resolve species assignments in recently divergent sibling species.
Stability of substantia nigra pars reticulata neuronal discharge rates during dopamine receptor blockade and its possible mechanisms.

It is hypothesized that substantia nigra pars reticulata neurons become overactive during a deficit of dopamine transmission. In this study, we examined how acute dopamine receptor blockade (SCH23390 and eticlopricle) affects impulse activity of substantia nigra pars reticulata neurons and their response to iontophoretic gamma-amino-n-butyric acid in awake, unrestrained rats. No changes in discharge rate were found during complete dopamine receptor blockade, but these neurons showed a diminished response to gamma-amino-n-butyric acid, suggesting gamma-amino-n-butyric acid receptor hyposensitivity. This may result from tonic increase in gamma-amino-n-butyric acid input from the striatum and globus palliclus, which are activated during dopamine receptor blockade. As substantia nigra pars reticulata neurons are autoactive and resistant to tonic increases in gamma-amino-n-butyric acid input, changes in their responsiveness to phasic gamma-amino-n-butyric acid inputs, not tonic increase discharge rate, may underlie movement disturbance following dopamine deficit.
Technetium: Uptake, organ distribution and loss in the mussel, Mytilus Californianus (Conrad) and the oyster Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg)

Abstract The bivalve molluscs Mytilus californianus and Crassostrea gigas were exposed to filtered seawater containing the isotope 95m Tc added as pertechnetate (TcO 4 − ) to study the biokinetic behaviour of this element. Whole body concentration factors for both organisms at equilibrium were small (CF = 1·3–1·5); individual organ concentration factors were highest for the visceral mass in both. Loss rates determined both in the laboratory and under field conditions were biphasic for both molluscs; initial loss of Tc was rapid with slightly more than 50 % of the initial label being lost within 10 days. Thereafter, loss rates decreased and whole body biological half-lives ranged from 80 to 134 days. Neither I − nor IO 3 − affected the uptake of Tc by M. californianus even when concentrations of these anions exceeded those normally present in seawater by two orders of magnitude.
Darwin, Social Theory, and the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge

This essay considers ways in which Darwin's account of natural processes was influenced by economic, ethical, and natural-theological theories in his own day. It argues that the Anabaptist concept of “the gospel of all creatures” calls into question alliances between evolutionary theory and social policy that are based on the dominance of conflictual images such as “the survival of the fittest” and questions the negative images of both nature and God that Darwinism has been taken to sponsor. The essay also considers developments in biology that have called into question dualist accounts of human nature as body and soul, thus reminding us that we are fully a part of the natural world and thus contributing, in turn, to a better theological grasp of God's relation to nature.
Oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate as an additional premedicant for adult cardiac surgery patients

Abstract Objective: To investigate the efficacy of a combination of midazolam and oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate (OTFC) as a preoperative medication for adult cardiac surgery patients compared with the use of midazolam alone. Design: A randomized, prospective study. Setting: University teaching hospital. Participants: Patients scheduled for elective coronary artery bypass surgery. Interventions: All patients were given 50 μg/kg of midazolam intramuscularly in their rooms. Group I received 300 μg of OTFC Oralet (Anesta Corp, Salt Lake City, UT) if they weighed less than 70 kg and 400 μg of OTFC Oralet if they weighed more than 70 kg. Group II received a placebo Oralet. A radial artery catheter, two internal jugular venous catheters, and a pulmonary artery catheter inserted through one of the internal jugular catheters were placed in each study patient. Fentanyl was administered intravenously as a rescue drug. Measurements and Main Results: Ninety percent of midazolam/OTFC patients reported feeling no pain during catheter placement, compared with 50% of midazolam/ placebo patients. Fifty percent of the placebo group required fentanyl supplement of 50 μg intravenously because of complaints of pain, compared with 10% of the OTFC group. The midazolam/OTFC group scored approximately 20% better than the placebo group in the independent observer score of patient analgesia and the anesthesiologist rating for ease of invasive catheter placement. No myocardial ischemic events were noted in either group as determined by electrocardiogram. All patients found the Oralet mode of delivery very acceptable. Conclusions: The OTFC Oralet provides effective analgesia and sedation when combined with midazolam for invasive catheter placement in adult cardiac surgery patients. The OTFC Oralet with its gradual onset lessens the possibility of overmedicating with fentanyl, and it offers a very acceptable mode of delivery for a preemptive analgesic.
DERMATOMYOSITIS: MORPHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS AND THE INCIDENCE OF HL-A 8 ANTIGEN

Twelve children, 6M and 6F, aged 6-14 years, two with inactive disease, were studied. EKG abnormalities had been present in 5/12 and 6/12 had reflux of swallowed barium into the pyriform sinuses. In the active phase, muscle enzymes and electromyography were abnormal in all. Muscle biopsy demonstrated a round cell infiltrate (7/11) and focal sarcoleinnal stain for IgG, IgA and IgM (rarely B1C) in 3/3. Concurrent renal and skin biopsies were done in 4. Minimal deposition of IgG and B1C was seen in the glomerular stalk in ¾, while basement membrane deposition of IgG and IgE was found in ¼. On electronmicroscopy, reticular tubular arrays (RTA) were seen in glomerular endothelial cells and in dermal and muscle capillaries. None were found in the inactive case. Skin biopsy displayed diffuse dermal stain for IgG in 4/6 active cases and none in the inactive ones (2). Increases in serum immunoglobulins were present in 5/12 and elevated nitroblue tetrazolium tests in 6/12. Tissue typing identified HL-A 8 in 7/10. This data indicates that immunological studies and the presence of RTA may reflect disease activity and that HL-A 8 occurs with unusual frequency in this disease. Supported by Grant 5-M01-RR00199 and PHS AM 14218-04.
Ditopic ligands featuring [P,S], [P,P] or [P,B] chelating pockets housed on a protected o-hydroquinone core

1,2-Dibromo-4,5-dimethoxybenzene was explored as a platform for the buildup of ditopic ligands. Low temperature reactions with n -butyllithium followed by quenches with various electrophiles led to the syntheses (2-bromo-4,5-dimethoxyphenyl)diphenylphosphine ( 1 ), (4,5-dimethoxy-2-(methylthio)phenyl)diphenylphosphine ( 2 ), 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)-4,5-dimethoxybenzene ( 3 ), and (2-(dicyclohexylboryl)-4,5-dimethoxyphenyl)diphenylphosphine ( 4 ). Oxidation of 3 produced 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphoryl)-4,5-dimethoxybenzene ( 5 ). All compounds were characterized by multinuclear ( 1 H/ 13 C/ 31 P{ 1 H}) NMR spectroscopy and by high resolution mass spectrometry. In addition, single crystal X-ray diffraction characterizations of 1 , 3 , 4 , and 5 were also carried out. Reactivity of o -phosphinophenylborane 4 toward molecular hydrogen was also probed.
At Least Do No Harm: The Use of Scarce Data

When data is scarce, it is difficult to screen the opinions of informed and uninformed experts. In spite of this difficulty it is possible to deliver incentives for informed experts to honestly reveal their views, and for uninformed experts to do no harm to a principal in the sense that uninformed experts report the view the principal held originally (i.e., without the expert's report). This follows even if there is only a single data point to evaluate the expert's opinions and the expert's preferences over risk are unknown.
Toward a new concept of the evolution of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in the Leguminosae

It is generally believed that only the nodulating species of the Leguminosae fix atmospheric nitrogen; however, anatomical, ecological and taxonomic considerations indicate that non-nodulating legume species may also fix nitrogen. To test whether nitrogen-fixing symbioses in the Leguminosae might extend to the non-nodulating species, a survey of the Leguminosae was conducted: living plants of non-nodulating species were assayed using acetylene reduction. Ethylene evolution, indicating apparent nitrogenase activity, was detected in non-nodulating species representing the major taxonomic groups of Caesalpinioideae as well as in non-nodulating species of the Papilionoideae and Mimosoideae. Non-nodules nitrogen fixation appears to have provided evolutionary precursors for the nodular symbiosis in the Leguminosae.
Behavior of antidinitrophenyl antigen-antibody complexes in hydrochloric acid and guanidine.

Abstract Proteins, azophenylarsonate hapten and other ionizable antigens are completely dissociated from antibody at acidities below pH 3·0, or in 6 M guanidine at pH 5·5. Complexes of antidinitrophenyl antibody with dinitrophenyl hapten coupled to bovine serum albumin, fibrinogen or insoluble carboxymethylcellulose did not appreciably dissociate at these concentrations of acid or guanidine, indicating that the interaction of hydrocarbons in the specific interaction site was sufficient to prevent dissociation under conditions where antibody and hapten carrier protein ionic bonds are largely disrupted.
User interactions with everyday applications as context for just-in-time information access

Our central claim is that user interactions with everyday productivity applications (e.g., word processors, Web browsers, etc.) provide rich contextual information that can be leveraged to support just-in-time access to task-relevant information. We discuss the requirements for such systems, and develop a general architecture for systems of this type. As evidence for our claim, we present Watson, a system which gathers contextual information in the form of the text of the document the user is manipulating in order to proactively retrieve documents from distributed information repositories. We close by describing the results of several experiments with Watson, which show it consistently provides useful information to its users.
The Effect of Temperature on the Energy Distribution of Photoelectrons. I. Normal Energies

An experimental test has been made of DuBridge's theory of the distribution of normal energies of photoelectrons. With a modified parallel-plate method of analysis, photoelectrons were ejected from a strip of Mo foil which could be held at any desired temperature. Current-voltage curves for temperatures from 300° to 965°K show a good agreement with the theory. From the shifts required to fit the experimental and theoretical curves the values of Vmax at 0°K can be determined. For any fixed temperature these values of Vm fit the Einstein equation, and for a fixed wave-length they are independent of T, as required by the theory.
Arsenic Trioxide (As2O3) Inhibits Expression of Estrogen Receptor—alpha Through Regulation of the Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) Pathway in Endometrial Cancer Cells

Given that prolonged exposure to unopposed estrogen has been implicated in endometrial carcinogenesis, our goal was to evaluate the effect of As2O3 on regulation of estrogen receptor-alpha (ERa) expression in endometrial cancer cells. As2O3 inhibited ER- mRNA and protein expression in a dose-dependent manner in both the Ishikawa and ECC-1 endometrial cancer cell lines. Treatment with As2O3 resulted in rapid phosphorylation of the p42/p44 MAPK which could be abolished by addition of the MAPK inhibitor, U0126. Although treatment with U0126 alone resulted in up-regulation of ER- mRNA and protein, exposure to U0126 in combination with As2O3 counteracted As2O3’s inhibitory effect on ER- expression. We provide evidence that As2O3 inhibits ER- mRNA and protein expression in endometrial cancer cells, potentially through interaction with the MAPK pathway. Thus, As2O3 may be valuable for its anti-estrogenic activity in combination with its anti-tumorigenic effects and be a novel therapeutic agent for endometrial cancer.
Acute toxicity of carbonyl iron and sodium iron EDTA compared with ferrous sulfate in young rats.

According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, exposures to excessive doses of iron supplements still occur in children less than 6 years of age. Since 1998, there has been one death among U.S. children in this age group. Exposures, including adverse events, to iron supplements and iron-containing vitamins for the years 1999 and 2000 were 23,215 and 24,249, respectively. To reduce the potential seriousness of such exposures, carbonyl iron (Fe(0)) has been suggested as a possible replacement for ferrous sulfate (FeSO(4)). Carbonyl Fe is a unique form of elemental iron because of its small particle size. It is highly bioavailable when used to correct iron deficiency anemia. There is also current interest in using sodium iron(III) ethylenediaminetetraacetate (NaFeEDTA) for food fortification. In this study both NaFeEDTA and carbonyl Fe were compared with FeSO(4), the most common form of iron for dietary supplements, to obtain information relevant to the acute toxicological profile in young rats. With FeSO(4) and NaFeEDTA, total liver nonheme iron increased with increasing dose, but the response was approximately 50% lower with NaFeEDTA compared with FeSO(4). Serum iron peaked at approximately 0.5 to 1 h for both FeSO(4) and carbonyl Fe, while NaFeEDTA was elevated up to 4 h. FeSO(4) had an LD(50) of 1.1 g Fe/kg and was approximately 45 times more toxic than carbonyl Fe, which had an LD(50) greater then 50 g Fe/kg. NaFeEDTA had an LD(50) of 1.3 g Fe/kg and, when compared with FeSO(4), had approximately the same level of toxicity.
HAW, KAYE, & MARK HADFIELD. Video in Social Science Research: Functions and Forms. New York: Routledge, 2011. Pp. 196. $35.95, paper. ISBN 978–0–41546–876–5.

The article reviews the book "Video in Social Science Research: Functions and Forms," by Kaye Haw and Mark Hadfield.
Plasticity of the systemic inflammatory response to acute infection during critical illness: development of the riboleukogram.

Background Diagnosis of acute infection in the critically ill remains a challenge. We hypothesized that circulating leukocyte transcriptional profiles can be used to monitor the host response to and recovery from infection complicating critical illness.
From face-to-face gathering to social structure

The rapid development of on-line social networking sites has dramatically changed the way people live and communicate. One particularly interesting phenomena came along with this development is the prominent role of various on-line networking portals played in scheduling and organizing off-line group events and activities. In this paper, we focus on studying the face-to-face(f2f) group formed through, or facilitated by, on-line portals. We first show the distinct characteristics of such f2f groups by analyzing datasets collected from Whrrl and Meetup. Next, we propose a dynamic model for group gathering based on the process of friend invitation to interpret how a f2f group is formed on-line. The results of our model are confirmed by empirical observations. Finally, we demonstrate that using such group information can effectively improve the accuracies of social tie inference and friend recommendation.
ASYMPTOTICALLY MINIMAX ESTIMATION OF CONCAVE AND CONVEX DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS. II

Publisher Summary The chapter discusses treatment of the concave case. A usual treatment of the concave case is that in life testing, where α 0 (F) is assumed to be zero. The chapter also discusses the obvious modifications in the definition of C n required under certain variations. It presents a theorem based on an assumption in which X 1 , …, X n are independent chance variables with the common concave distribution function F, F n are their empiric distribution function, and C n is the least concave majorant of F n .