cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Heat-Transfer Model for Fibrous Insulations

A model has been developed that describes the insulation property of fibrous insulation. The assumptions necessary for the derivation and possible limitations are discussed. Analysis of the model shows the effect of mean temperature and the effect of the insulation thickness on the effective thermal conductivity. The model provides a convenient way of predicting the thermal resistance at full thickness. Implementation of the technique, however, requires further tests with standardized equipment. Further extensions of the model and modifications of the standard measuring techniques of the standard calibration specimen have been outlined. Areas requiring further research are indicated.
Characterization of Binding Sites for the Angiotensin II Antagonist 125I-[Sarc1,Ile8]-Angiotensin II on Murine Neuroblastoma N1E-115 Cells

The murine neuroblastoma N1E-115 cell line contains binding sites for the angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor antagonist 125I-[Sarc1,Ile8]-Ang II (125I-SARILE). Binding of 125I-SARILE to N1E-115 membranes was rapid, reversible, and specific for Ang II-related peptides. The rank order potency of 125I-SARILE binding was the following: [Sarc1]-Ang II = [Sarc1,Ile8]-Ang II greater than Ang II greater than Ang III = [Sarc1,Thr8]-Ang II much greater than Ang I. Scatchard analysis of membranes prepared from confluent monolayers revealed a homogenous population of high affinity (KD = 383 +/- 60 pM) binding sites with a Bmax of 25.4 +/- 1.6 fmol/mg of protein. Moreover, the density, but not the affinity, of the binding sites increased as the cells progressed from logarithmic to stationary growth in culture. Finally, agonist, but not antagonist, binding to N1E-115 cells was regulated by guanine nucleotides. Collectively, these results suggest that the murine neuroblastoma N1E-115 cell line may provide a useful model in which to investigate the signal transduction mechanisms utilized by neuronal Ang II receptors.
Understanding information sharing in software development through Wiki log analysis

The use of wikis in software development seems to be growing rapidly. Recently, software development teams have begun to employ wikis to do such things as: collaborate across locations; brainstorm and track projects; organize knowledge; and facilitate information sharing. This poster reports preliminary findings from the analysis of the logs of two wikis, which supported two different software development projects. This work shows that, with the wiki log analysis, it is possible to identify patterns of information sharing.
Performance and modeling of broadband LiNbO/sub 3/ traveling wave optical intensity modulators

The design, fabrication and characterization of a traveling wave Ti:LiNbO/sub 3/ Mach-Zehnder interferometric modulator are discussed. The dependence of the velocity match condition on electrode thickness and wall angle is demonstrated experimentally and with finite element calculations. A set of test electrode structures is fabricated to study electrical losses in the modulator electrode. Loss coefficients are assigned to different sections of the device, and dielectric and radiative losses are shown to play an important role at high frequencies. This information is used in conjunction with finite-element calculations to develop accurate models for both the electrical and optical responses. The frequency dependence of the half-wave voltage is measured and shown to be in good agreement with a model. >
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone and Androgens Increase the Concentration of the Androgen Receptor in Sertoli Cells*

The influence of FSH and androgens on androgen receptor levels in primary Sertoli cell cultures from immature rats is studied in a monolayer binding assay and by sucrose density gradient centrifugation using the synthetic radiolabeled androgen mibolerone (7α,17α-dimethyl-19-nortestosterone) as a ligand. Preincubation of Sertoli cells for 4 days with FSH, testosterone, or 5α-dihydrotestosterone results into a 2- to 3- fold increase in mibolerone binding, as measured 18 h after removal of the agonists. The combination of androgens and FSH has additive effects. The action of FSH can be mimicked by (Bu)2cAMP, and the activity of the androgens can be blocked by the antiandrogen cyproterone acetate. The mibolerone-binding protein has the ligand specificity, affinity, and sedimentation behavior characteristic for an androgen receptor. Using a DEAEcellulose filter disc assay and 5α-dihydrotestosterone as a ligand, androgen-binding protein (ABP) was measured in the media of the studied Sertoli cell cultures. Despi...
Expression of wild-type and nuclear localization-deficient human lamin A in chick myogenic cells

Previous analysis of chick embryonic muscle (CEM) differentiation in vivo and in ovo demonstrated that lamin A accumulation to steady-state levels preceded the accumulation of muscle-specific proteins. These observations have suggested the appearance of A-type lamins may be important for differentiation. To test this hypothesis, we have temporally and quantitatively altered the expression of A-type lamins in CEM cells by transient transfection of wild-type (wt; pHLA) or nuclear localization-deficient (NLd; pHLA-del) human lamin A expression plasmids. Transfected CEM cells synthesized the wt and NLd human lamin As to high levels, both of which were resistant to high-salt extraction. The wt human lamin A localized to the nucleus, whereas the NLd protein showed cytoplasmic staining patterns, as well as time-dependent nuclear localization. The presence of endogenous chicken lamins A and B2 in NLd human lamin A cytoplasmic structures suggested the interspecies lamin copolymerization. Thus, this approach may provide a possible method for analysis of lamin-lamin or lamin-lamina component interactions in vivo. With regard to muscle differentiation, CEM cells transfected with either pHLA or pHLA-del demonstrated moderate and transient increased levels of the muscle-specific myosin heavy chain and creatine kinase activity. These increases appeared temporally and quantitatively to reflect the transient accumulation of the human lamin As. In contrast, beta-tubulin and skeletal tropomyosin protein accumulations appeared unaffected. On the basis of these results, we suggest that nuclear lamina content and structure may play a limited, permissive and indirect role in the temporally regulated expression of the myogenic phenotype.
Efficiency Loss in a Network Resource Allocation Game

We explore the properties of a congestion game in which users of a congested resource anticipate the effect of their actions on the price of the resource. When users are sharing a single resource, we establish that the aggregate utility received by the users is at least 3/4 of the maximum possible aggregate utility. We also consider extensions to a network context, where users submit individual payments for each link in the network they may wish to use. In this network model, we again show that the selfish behavior of the users leads to an aggregate utility that is no worse than 3/4 of the maximum possible aggregate utility. We also show that the same analysis extends to a wide class of resource allocation systems where end users simultaneously require multiple scarce resources. These results form part of a growing literature on the "price of anarchy," i.e., the extent to which selfish behavior affects system efficiency.
Putting Feelings into Words: Cross-Linguistic Markers of the Referential Process

The use of language to convey emotional experience is of significant importance to the process of psychotherapy, the diagnosis of problems with emotion and memory, and more generally to any communication that aims to evoke a feeling in the recipient. Bucci’s theory of the referential process (1997) concerns three phases whereby a person activates emotional, or bodily experience (Arousal Phase), conveys the images and events associated with it (Symbolizing Phase), and reconsiders them (Reorganizing Phase). The Symbolizing Phase is the major focus of this study and is operationalized by a measure called referential activity (RA) based on judges’ ratings of the concreteness, specificity, clarity and imagery of language style. Computational models of RA have previously been created in several languages, however, due to the complexity of modeling RA, different modeling strategies have been employed for each language and common features that predict RA across languages are not well understood. Working from previous computational models developed in English and Italian, this study specifies a new model of predictors common to both languages that correlates between r = .36 and.45 with RA. The components identified support the construct validity of the referential process and may facilitate the development of measures in other languages.
Democracy, credibility, and sound economics: The Israeli hyperinflation

The 1985 Israeli economic stabilization program provides a rare case of stable (as of late 1996) success under democratic auspices without major social disorder. Existing explanations for the success of the Israeli reforms overemphasize economics at the expense of politics. This paper analyzes the political causes of the early 1980s Israeli hyperinflation. The program's economic measures and performance are reviewed. The Israeli economic stabilization program succeeded because it was considered credible by the Israeli public. The social and political factors that contributed to the program's credibility are investigated and their importance is ranked. The applicability of the paper to other economic reforms under democratic auspices is highlighted and future research is outlined.
The Impact of an Extreme Event on the Sediment Budget: Hurricane Andrew in the Louisiana Barrier Islands

This paper examines the influence of Hurricane Andrew on the sediment budget of an 80-kilometer section of the Louisiana barrier islands west of the modern Mississippi delta. Because long-term bathymetric change has been extensively studied in this area, excellent baseline data are available for evaluating the impact of Hurricane Andrew. Results show that despite the high intensity of the storm and a storm track optimally positioned to impact the study area, the storm did not have an overwhelming influence on the sediment budget when compared to the changes occurring over the previous 50 years. For the Louisiana barrier islands, a 50-year record appears to be adequate for averaging the long-term contributions of both major and minor storm events to the sediment budget.
Reference Societies and Regime Change

While scholar have long posited that democratization is influenced by international interaction, this relationship has usually been black-boxed in percentages of regional democracies or limited to descriptions of specific contexts. Large-N explorations have necessarily been limited by the monadic nature of most comparative politics data. This study looks at the influence of international interaction on regime type from a dyadic perspective; exploring whether trade, region, culture, distance, economic performance, and domestic similarity affect the probability and degree of institutional convergence or divergence. The results obtained thus far suggest that the intensity of interaction between states makes a large difference in their degree of convergence from in both one and three-dimensional space from 1816 to 2008.
The Potassium Channel Blockers 4-Aminopyridine and Tetraethylammonium Increase the Spontaneous Basal Release of [3H]5-Hydroxytryptamine in Rat Hippocampal Slices

Previous investigations have demonstrated that compounds capable of blocking presynaptic potassium channels can stimulate neurotransmitter release at both peripheral and central synapses. This study examined the in vitro effects of the “classical” potassium channel blockers 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) and tetraethylammonium (TEA) on the spontaneous basal release of [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine ([3H]5-HT) from rat hippocampal slices using an automated superfusion apparatus. 4-AP and structural analogs increased the spontaneous basal release of [3H]5-HT in a concentration-related manner. The rank order of potencies from the estimated EC50 values indicated that 3,4-diaminopyridine (0.88 mM) ≈ 4-AP (1.2 mM) > 2-AP (89 mM) > 3-AP (100 mM) > pyridine (256 mM). TEA stimulated [3H]5-HT release with an estimated EC50 value of 63 mM and was less efficacious than the pyridine congeners. The enhancement of release induced by 1 mM 4-AP was additive with 100 mM TEA and 5 μM veratridine but not with 3,4-diaminopyridine or KCl (25 and 50 mM). The release induced by 4-AP (0.3, 1 and 10 mM) and TEA (30, 100 and 300 mM) was significantly attenuated in a calcium-free buffer containing 1 mM ethylene glycol-bis(b-aminoethyl ether N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid. Tetrodotoxin (1 μM), a sodium channel blocker, was unable to block the response to 4-AP (1 mM) and TEA (100 mM). Notably, this concentration of tetrodotoxin reduced the stimulation of [3H]5-HT release produced by the sodium channel opener veratridine (5 μM). Taken together, the results demonstrate that potassium channel blockade can enhance the spontaneous basal release of [3H]5-HT in rat hippocampal slices. These effects are at least partly dependent on extracellular calcium and do not appear to be mediated by modulating sodium channel function.
An Altered Diffusion Theory Based on the Double P-0 Approximation for All Geometries

The double spherical harmonics method has hitherto been considered applicable only if two conditions are fulfilled: (a) the directions of the assumed angular discontinuities could be assigned a pri...
EVOLUTIONARY STATUS OF A RELICT POPULATION OF BUFO HEMIOPHRYS COPE.

The displacement of many populations during the Wisconsin glacial maximum and subsequent climatic changes have resulted in the fragmentation of ranges of many members of the North American fauna. One species so affected is the Dakota toad, Bufo hemiophrys Cope, which is an inhabitant of the northern plains with a wide distribution in central Canada and extreme northcentral United States. An ecological relict population of this species occurs about 500 miles to the south on the Laramie Plains of southeastern Wyoming (Fig. 1). The interruption of gene flow through geographical isolation is a major factor leading to the divergence of sister populations and eventual speciation, so the study of isolated populations may throw some light on the problem of the origin and age of species. The purpose of this study was to use several approaches to compare the Laramie population of the Dakota toad with those of the same kind occurring elsewhere in order to obtain data revealing the stage of speciation of the relict population.
Development of Indicator Scales for the Comprehensive Assessment and Referral Evaluation (CARE) Interview Schedule

The objective of this research was to develop indicator scales for major health and social problems of individuals aged 65 or over who live in the community. A semistructured interview technique, the Comprehensive Assessment and Referral Evaluation (CARE), was used in two large surveys in London and New York City. Twenty-two indicator scales were developed by using items that met certain clinical and statistical criteria. These indicator scales are intended for use in developing a general taxonomy of the problems of older individuals, for clinical assessment and referral of such individuals, and for use in geriatric epidemiological research. The scales were developed to be comprehensive with regard to the CARE, to be relatively independent of one another, and to have satisfactory content, clinical, and face validities, and interrater and internal consistency reliabilities.
Uncovering the hidden meaning of cross-curriculum comparison results on the Force Concept Inventory

Evaluating curricula using stratum-specific analysis to compare performance of students with equal mastery levels as measured by the Force Concept Inventory.
Antipsychotic medication utilization in nonpsychiatric hospitalizations

BACKGROUND Although antipsychotics are used for treatment of delirium/agitation in hospitalized patients, their scope of use has not been investigated in a large, multicenter cohort. OBJECTIVE To determine rates of use and hospital variation in use of antipsychotics in nonpsychiatric admissions. DESIGN, SETTING, PATIENTS Cohort study of adult, nonpsychiatric admissions to 300 US hospitals contributing data to the Premier database, from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010. MEASUREMENTS Antipsychotic exposure defined using pharmacy charges. Potentially excessive dosing defined using guidelines for long-term care facilities. RESULTS Our cohort included 2,695,081 admissions (median age, 63 years; 56% female). Antipsychotic exposure occurred in 160,773 (6%) admissions; 102,148 (64%) received atypical antipsychotics, 76,979 (48%) received typical, and 18,354 (11%) received both. Among exposed admissions, 47% received ≥1 potentially excessive daily dose. Among the variables we analyzed, the strongest predictors of antipsychotic receipt were delirium (relative risk [RR]: 2.93, 95% CI: 2.88-2.98) and dementia (RR: 2.78, 95% CI: 2.72-2.83). After adjustment for patient characteristics, patients admitted to hospitals in the highest antipsychotic prescribing quintile were more than twice as likely to be exposed compared to patients admitted to hospitals in the lowest prescribing quintile (RR: 2.56, 95% CI: 2.50-2.61). This relationship was similar across subgroups of admissions with delirium and dementia. CONCLUSIONS Antipsychotic medication exposure is common in nonpsychiatric admissions to US hospitals. The observed variation in antipsychotic prescribing was not fully explained by measured patient characteristics, suggesting the possibility of differing hospital prescribing cultures. Additional research and guidelines are necessary to define appropriate use of these potentially harmful medications in the hospital setting. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2016;000:000–000. © 2016 Society of Hospital Medicine
CONCENTRATION OF URINE IN THE ABSENCE OF VASOPRESSIN: EFFECT OF DECREASED RENAL PERFUSION PRESSURE IN CONSCIOUS BRATTLEBORO HOMOZYGOTES

Publisher Summary This chapter summarizes studies which report that when renal perfusion pressure is reduced in conscious Brattleboro homozygotes by constricting the aorta, urine osmolality is raised above that of plasma even though the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is reduced very little or not at all. This ability to concentrate urine in the absence of vasopressin is not accounted for by an increase in filtration fraction and consequent increased proximal fractional reabsorption, or by a non-antidiuretic hormone (ADH)-mediated increase in water permeability of the distal nephron. It is possible that the capacity to render urine hyperosmotic to plasma in the absence of vasopressin and without a decrease in GFR results from decreased peritubular hydrostatic pressure and a resultant increase in proximal fractional reabsorption and/or a rise in the cortico-papillary interstitial osmotic gradient. However, these possibilities need to be examined further, as the existing Berliner-Davidson hypothesis may also account for the concentration of urine in the absence of vasopressin when the GFR is decreased.
Nucleation of protein crystals

Abstract Protein crystal nucleation is a central problem in biological crystallography and other areas of science, technology, and medicine. Recent studies have demonstrated that protein crystal nuclei form within crucial precursors. Data for several proteins provided by these methods have demonstrated that the nucleation precursors are clusters consisting of protein dense liquid, which are metastable with respect to the host protein solution. The clusters are several hundred nanometers in size, they occupy from 10 −7 to 10 −3 of the solution volume, and their properties in solutions supersaturated with respect to crystals are similar to those in homogeneous, i.e., undersaturated, solutions. The clusters exist due to the conformation flexibility of the protein molecules, leading to the exposure of hydrophobic surfaces and enhanced intermolecular binding. These results indicate that protein conformational flexibility might be the mechanism behind the metastable mesoscopic clusters and crystal nucleation. The investigations of the cluster properties are still in their infancy. Results on direct imaging of cluster behaviors and characterization of cluster mechanisms with a variety of proteins will soon lead to major breakthroughs in protein biophysics.
The Use of Quantitative Models in Sea Otter Conservation

Quantitative models have been used extensively to solve complex problems in sea otter conservation. Models represent powerful tools for simplifying and integrating data across a wide range of topics, from behavior and physiology to complex population dynamics, genetics, disease ecology, food-web interactions, and physical/biological oceanography. When based on solid data and sound assumptions, models allow scientists to test hypotheses, elucidate the underlying mechanisms of a particular problem, and make sound conservation decisions. Here I discuss several branches of conservation science in which sea otter researchers have used mathematical models to aid in their research, including behavior, population dynamics, community interactions, and applied conservation questions. For each subject area, I explain some of the key research questions, provide examples of how models have been used to help answer those questions, and highlight promising areas for future and ongoing work in sea otter conservation. Finally I explore some of the general lessons that can be drawn from these examples, focusing on points that may be useful for wildlife conservation more broadly.
Validation of syngeneic mouse models of melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer for investigating the anticancer effects of the soy-derived peptide Lunasin.

Background : Lunasin is a naturally occurring peptide present in soybean that has both chemopreventive and therapeutic activities that can prevent cellular transformation and inhibit the growth of several human cancer types. Recent studies indicate that Lunasin has several distinct potential modes of action including suppressing integrin signaling and epigenetic effects driven by modulation of histone acetylation. In addition to direct effects on cancer cells, Lunasin also has effects on innate immunity that may contribute to its ability to inhibit tumor growth in vivo. Methods: Standard assays for cell proliferation and colony formation were used to assess Lunasin's in vitro activity against murine Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) and B16-F0 melanoma cells. Lunasin's in vivo activity was assessed by comparing the growth of tumors initiated by subcutaneous implantation of LLC or B16-F0 cells in Lunasin-treated and untreated C57BL/6 mice. Results: Lunasin was found to inhibit growth of murine LLC cells and murine B16-F0 melanoma cells in vitro and in wild-type C57BL/6 mice. The effects of Lunasin in these two mouse models were very similar to those previously observed in studies of human non-small cell lung cancer and melanoma cell lines. Conclusions: We have now validated two established syngeneic mouse models as being responsive to Lunasin treatment. The validation of these two in vivo syngeneic models will allow detailed studies on the combined therapeutic and immune effects of Lunasin in a fully immunocompetent mouse model.
Nonautonomous Flows as Open Dynamical Systems: Characterising Escape Rates and Time-Varying Boundaries

A Lagrangian coherent structure (LCS) in a nonautonomous flow can be viewed as an open dynamical system, from which there is time-dependent escape or entry. A difficulty with this viewpoint is formulating a definition for the time-dependent boundary of the LCS, since it does not correspond to an entity across which there is zero transport. Complementary to this is the question of how to determine the escape rate—the time-dependent fluid flux—across this purported boundary. These questions are addressed within the context of nonautonomously perturbed two-dimensional compressible flow. The LCS boundaries are thought of in terms of time-varying stable and unstable manifolds, whose primary locations are quantified. A definition for the time-varying flux across these is offered, and computationally tractable formulae with a strong relation to Melnikov functions are provided. Simplifications of these formulae for frequently considered situations (incompressibility, time-periodic perturbations) are demonstrated to be easily computable using Fourier transforms. Explicit connections to lobe areas and the average flux are also provided.
Effects of phenological synchronization on caterpillar early-instar survival under a changing climate.

Early-instar caterpillars experience very high and often very variable mortality; if it is density dependent, it can be a key factor in outbreak dynamics. Plant physical and chemical defenses can b...
INTERVIEW WITH ECKHARD BREITINGER

This interview was conducted on Thursday, 27 August 2009, at Bayreuth University in Bayreuth, Germany. At the time, Eckhard Breitinger worked as a professor of African Studies at Bayreuth University and also ran a small publishing house, which published research by African students on African literature under the Bayreuth African Studies Series. He had done extensive research on Anglophone Cameroonian literature, having collaborated with Bole Butake and other Anglophone Cameroonian scholars on various projects. Because my doctoral research was on Butake’s plays, I interviewed Breitinger to gain his perspective on how Butake’s plays contributed to the development of Anglophone Cameroonian drama. I had already had an interview with Butake himself and needed a less subjective viewpoint on the vision in his works. This interview pays tribute to Breitinger, who died on 15 August 2013, and to Butake himself, who passed away on 1 October 2016.
Functional analysis of human cytochrome P450 21A2 variants involved in congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Cytochrome P450 (P450, CYP) 21A2 is the major steroid 21-hydroxylase, converting progesterone to 11-deoxycorticosterone and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone (17α-OH-progesterone) to 11-deoxycortisol. More than 100 CYP21A2 variants give rise to congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). We previously reported a structure of WT human P450 21A2 with bound progesterone and now present a structure bound to the other substrate (17α-OH-progesterone). We found that the 17α-OH-progesterone- and progesterone-bound complex structures are highly similar, with only some minor differences in surface loop regions. Twelve P450 21A2 variants associated with either salt-wasting or nonclassical forms of CAH were expressed, purified, and analyzed. The catalytic activities of these 12 variants ranged from 0.00009% to 30% of WT P450 21A2 and the extent of heme incorporation from 10% to 95% of the WT. Substrate dissociation constants (Ks) for four variants were 37–13,000-fold higher than for WT P450 21A2. Cytochrome b5, which augments several P450 activities, inhibited P450 21A2 activity. Similar to the WT enzyme, high noncompetitive intermolecular kinetic deuterium isotope effects (≥ 5.5) were observed for all six P450 21A2 variants examined for 21-hydroxylation of 21-d3-progesterone, indicating that C–H bond breaking is a rate-limiting step over a 104-fold range of catalytic efficiency. Using UV-visible and CD spectroscopy, we found that P450 21A2 thermal stability assessed in bacterial cells and with purified enzymes differed among salt-wasting- and nonclassical-associated variants, but these differences did not correlate with catalytic activity. Our in-depth investigation of CAH-associated P450 21A2 variants reveals critical insight into the effects of disease-causing mutations on this important enzyme.
Abstract WP161: Accessibility of Current Stroke Education Brochures: Linguistic Analysis of Written Style and Readability Measures

Background/Purpose: Existing guidelines for disease education require that written materials not exceed 6th grade reading level. Evidence shows that 90% of cardiovascular educational literature is ...
Cotton Osteotomy in Flatfoot Reconstruction: A Case Report Highlighting Surgical Technique and Modified Incision to Protect the Medial Dorsal Cutaneous Nerve

The Cotton osteotomy or opening wedge medial cuneiform osteotomy is a useful adjunctive flatfoot reconstructive procedure that is rarely performed in isolation. The Cotton procedure is relatively quick to perform and effectively corrects forefoot varus deformity after rearfoot fusion or osteotomy to achieve a rectus forefoot to rearfoot relationship. Proper patient selection is critical, because preoperative findings of medial column joint instability, concomitant hallux valgus deformity, or degenerative joint disease of the medial column might be better treated with arthrodesis of the naviculocuneiform or first tarsometatarsal joints. Procedure indications also include elevatus of the first ray, which can be a primary deformity in hallux limitus, or iatrogenic deformity after base wedge osteotomy in hallux valgus. We present the case of an adolescent patient who underwent flatfoot reconstruction, including Cotton osteotomy for correction of forefoot varus that was accentuated after double heel osteotomy. This case highlights our preferred procedure technique, including the use of a nerve-centric incision design. The use of an oblique dorsal medial incision is primarily intended to minimize the risk of trauma to the medial dorsal cutaneous nerve. At 20 months postoperatively for the right extremity and 12 months postoperatively for the left extremity, sensation remained intact, and the patient had not experienced any postoperative nerve symptoms. The patient had returned to playing sports without pain or restrictions.
Water Resource Economics:Towards a Sustainable Use of Water for Irrigation in India

The book under review is a timely and most comprehensive assessment of water and its use in agriculture. The author of the book, Chandrakanth, has done a remarkable job of weaving the hydrological, economic and institutional aspects of water use into a meaningful and complete product. He urges economists to elevate the status of water from a myopic 'factor of production' to a more holistic 'resource'.
Mechanisms of platelet clearance and translation to improve platelet storage

Hundreds of billions of platelets are cleared daily from circulation via efficient and highly regulated mechanisms. These mechanisms may be stimulated by exogenous reagents or environmental changes to accelerate platelet clearance, leading to thrombocytopenia. The interplay between antiapoptotic Bcl-xL and proapoptotic molecules Bax and Bak sets an internal clock for the platelet lifespan, and BH3-only proteins, mitochondrial permeabilization, and phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure may also contribute to apoptosis-induced platelet clearance. Binding of plasma von Willebrand factor or antibodies to the ligand-binding domain of glycoprotein Ibα (GPIbα) on platelets can activate GPIb-IX in a shear-dependent manner by inducing unfolding of the mechanosensory domain therein, and trigger downstream signaling in the platelet including desialylation and PS exposure. Deglycosylated platelets are recognized by the Ashwell-Morell receptor and potentially other scavenger receptors, and are rapidly cleared by hepatocytes and/or macrophages. Inhibitors of platelet clearance pathways, including inhibitors of GPIbα shedding, neuraminidases, and platelet signaling, are efficacious at preserving the viability of platelets during storage and improving their recovery and survival in vivo. Overall, common mechanisms of platelet clearance have begun to emerge, suggesting potential strategies to extend the shelf-life of platelets stored at room temperature or to enable refrigerated storage.
Dispersion Limitations in Optical Systems Using Offset DPSK Modulation

In M-ary differential phase-shift keying (DPSK), log 2 M information bits are encoded in the phase difference Δo between successive symbols, where Δo assuming values in the set Θ+2(i-1)π/M,i=1,⋯M. When Θ = 0, we have conventional DPSK, while when Θ = 0, we have offset DPSK. Using numerical analysis, we investigate the performance of binary and quaternary offset DPSK for arbitrary Θ in the presence of fiber chromatic dispersion (CD) and first-order polarization-mode dispersion (PMD). We show that the choice of Θ may strongly affect the tolerance of offset DPSK systems to CD and PMD.
Science and mathematics teachers' in-the-moment noticing: attending to student thinking within a lesson and beyond

Recent reform efforts in science and mathematics education call for teachers to carefully attend and respond to their students' thinking in the classroom (Schifter, 2001; Hammer & Van Zee, 2006). To help teachers achieve this goal we must first understand their existing practices for attending to student thinking (Sherin, 2001; Levin, Hammer & Coffey, 2009). In this paper we investigate how the teachers in our sample attend to student thinking in the moments of instruction. In particular we draw on data collected with our new methodology to explore the question: "Why do particular moments of student thinking stand out as interesting to a teacher?"
Extraction Efficiency of Dry-Hopping

Dry-hopping, which is the cold, aqueous extraction of hops into beer, has gained popularity in recent years as a method for achieving intense hop aroma and flavor in beer. With some brewers dry-hop...
Dynamics and Uncertainty in Land Use Conversion for Perennial Energy Crop Production: Exploring Effects of Payments for Ecosystem Services Policies

Perennial energy crops like switchgrass that are used for biofuel production have the potential to generate various water quality benefits such as reduced nitrogen runoff. Yet the current expected returns to switchgrass are not profitable enough for these crops to be widely adopted by U.S. farmers due to relatively unstable yields, volatile revenues, and high costs of crop establishment. This study uses a dynamic economic model to investigate the uncertainties in the yields and costs of switchgrass production, in comparison with those of corn-soybeans in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed in Pennsylvania. Results indicate that farmers would be willing to convert corn-soybeans to switchgrass land use with the provision of payments for ecosystem services (PES). A targeted PES policy based on the environmental effectiveness of the crop land is found to be slightly more effective in providing nitrogen reductions than a uniform PES policy with cost savings of 8–19%. Moreover, switchgrass has the potential of providing energy supply while reducing greenhouse gases emissions.
The Latest Review of Childhood Obesity among Hispanic and Latinx Populations in California

This research utilizing the data from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) (2017) reports on the factors that are linked to childhood obesity among Hispanic/Latinx communities in California with the purpose to determine the causes of the increase in childhood obesity among these two communities. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to determine the significance of the factors that most affect the rate of childhood obesity among Hispanic/Latinx children. The data from CHIS was also utilized to derive categories related to the socioeconomic factors. Frequency tests and a chi-square test on data related to childhood obesity showed that there is a high level of significant differences among the factors that were used in relation to childhood obesity. Overall, it was concluded that there is a significant relationship between childhood obesity and factors that include income, environmental conditions, parent’s education, quality of meals, and physical activity.
Reverting Hegemonic Ideology: Research Librarians and Information Professionals as “Critical Editors” of Wikipedia

While many LIS publications have focused on Wikipedia, no LIS study has used intersectional class analysis to consider the site as a transmitter and reproducer of hegemonic ideology. Using both Antonio Gramsci and LIS theorist Michael Harris as starting points, this paper argues that Wikipedia is predicated on a philosophy of pluralism that serves as a transmitter of hegemonic ideology, thereby upholding the oppressive status quo. To counter this issue, the paper encourages librarians to embrace “critical editing”—an approach to Wikipedia editing built around an awareness of power, a penchant for critical literacy, a focus on desocialization, and an emphasis on self-education. The paper concludes with an example of critical editing praxis (dubbed the “Library Repository-to-Wikipedia” method) that research librarians and information professionals can replicate to counteract aspects of Wikipedia that inherently support the status quo and, thus, hegemonic ideology.
Network Controllability-Based Prioritization of Candidates for SARS-CoV-2 Drug Repositioning

In a short time, the COVID-19 pandemic has left the world with over 25 million cases and staggering death tolls that are still rising. Treatments for SARS-CoV-2 infection are desperately needed as there are currently no approved drug therapies. With limited knowledge of viral mechanisms, a network controllability method of prioritizing existing drugs for repurposing efforts is optimal for quickly moving through the drug approval pipeline using limited, available, virus-specific data. Based on network topology and controllability, 16 proteins involved in translation, cellular transport, cellular stress, and host immune response are predicted as regulators of the SARS-CoV-2 infected cell. Of the 16, eight are prioritized as possible drug targets where two, PVR and SCARB1, are previously unexplored. Known compounds targeting these genes are suggested for viral inhibition study. Prioritized proteins in agreement with previous analysis and viral inhibition studies verify the ability of network controllability to predict biologically relevant candidates.
A Tale of Two Tales: Irony, Identity and the Fictions of Anthony Cronin and Brian O’Nolan

This essay examines two novels by Anthony Cronin in order to argue that a tendency towards either proliferation or subtraction determines late Irish modernist aesthetics. Having established that the repetition of material in Cronin's texts indicates a tendency towards subtraction, the essay positions Brian O'Nolan's work within a modernist tradition that favours proliferation, and concludes by arguing that the role irony plays in successful proliferation is problematic for a socialist literary aesthetic.
Chemotherapy of breast cancer

Carcinoma of the breast will prove fatal to over 37,000 women in the United States in 1983, despite attempts at early diagnosis. Hormonal manipulation, known to provide effective palliation for many years, can now be effectively aimed at receptor positive women who have a 50-70% chance of responding. Newer agents, such as tamoxifen and aminoglutethimide offer the benefits of older treatments with less morbidity. Investigations of drugs acting at the level of the central nervous system are ongoing. Single agent chemotherapy is clearly effective in causing tumor regression, but effective combination chemotherapy provides more responses and a longer duration of response. The most effective combination regimens at present contain doxorubicin. Pharmacologic studies at the cellular level can be expected to provide more effective combinations. The most effective way to combine hormonal and chemotherapeutic treatments is not known. In receptor positive women without life-threatening disease, beginning with hormonal treatment may be effective in providing palliation at low toxic cost without jeopardizing overall survival. New efforts to cure clinically manifest metastatic breast cancer may eschew palliation as a prime goal. Techniques of synchronizing and of stimulating breast cancer to increase its susceptibility to cytotoxic drugs are under investigation. Immunotherapy is not established as a beneficial modality in the treatment of breast cancer, although levamisole has led to suggestive benefit in small controlled trials. The use of chemotherapy, and possibly of some hormonal treatments in appropriate patients, as an adjuvant to surgery prolongs disease-free survival. This approach, using established chemotherapeutic and hormonal agents when the metastatic disease is subclinical, is consonant with abundant evidence from experimental systems and other human cancers that are curable. Expectation of curing human breast cancer will likely require aggressive action at the time when the total body tumor burden is at a minimum.
Influence of zirconia crown artifacts on cone beam computed tomography scans and image superimposition of tomographic image and tooth surface scan: An in vitro study.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM Zirconia restorations create significant artifacts on 3D cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging. Static computer-assisted implant surgery (s-CAIS) relies on the accuracy of superimposition between an intraoral surface scan and CBCT imaging. However, how the artifacts from zirconia on the tomographic image might affect the predictability of s-CAIS is unclear. PURPOSE The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of zirconia crown restorations on the superimposition process for s-CAIS. MATERIAL AND METHODS Four stone casts generated 4 groups: a control group (CG) with no crowns and 3 experimental groups with 4 (TG4), 7 (TG7), and 13 (TG13) zirconia crowns. A total of 40 CBCT scans were made for the 4 groups (n=10). All CBCTs were imported into a computer planning software program, and the casts from all 4 groups were scanned by using a high-resolution laboratory scanner. The standard tessellation language (STL) files were imported, segmented, and the 3 files superimposed for all groups. The accuracy of the superimposition was assessed, in millimeters, in 3 planes corresponding to anterior-posterior, horizontal, and vertical, as well as the overall measurement, and the results were analyzed statistically (α=.05). RESULTS The overall analysis demonstrated statistically significant differences between all groups (P<.001), except between CG and TG4. The anterior-posterior dimension demonstrated significant differences between CG and TG7 (P<.001), CG and TG13 (P<.001), TG4 and TG7 (P=.004), and TG4 and TG13 (P=.001). For the vertical dimension analysis, significant differences were found between CG and TG7 (P=.001), CG and TG13 (P<.001), and TG4 and TG13 (P<.001). For the horizontal variable, statistically significant differences were found between CG and TG7 (P=.049), CG and TG13 (P<.001), TG4 and TG13 (P<.001), and TG7 and TG13 (P=.003). CONCLUSIONS The accuracy of the superimposition of the images was influenced by the number of zirconia crowns, with an increased number reducing the superimposition accuracy.
The Redefined Hero: Discovering Champions of Social Change

This piece highlights the role of clients in our work and examines injustice on an individual level. It describes the affect of unenforced laws and discrimination on the people public interest attorneys seek to serve and reminds us about the strength and resolve of our clients. This type of focus is critical to our ability to develop relationships with our clients and value their resiliency, strength, and power. This piece is intended to remind all of us of our invaluable role in the quest for social justice. A day may come when you find yourself doubting your role or searching for inspiration in the quest for social justice. I hope you never will, but if you do, it is my hope that these impassioned messages and stories will remind you of your own journey and the reasons why you cannot wait to get back to your important justice work.
Patient reported outcomes affecting quality of life in socioeconomically disadvantaged cancer patients

The aim of this study was to identify correlates of quality of life (QOL) for socioeconomically disadvantaged cancer patients receiving care in the “safety net” health system.This cross-sectional s...
User Control of the Optimization Process and Improving Efficiency

This chapter will provide information on how the solution time of an IP problem can be reduced significantly. This is important, as in contrast to ordinary LP problems, effective solution of IP problems depends critically upon good model formulation, the use of high-level branching constructs, and control of the BB cf. Achterberg et al. (2008), Gamrath et al. (2015), and Achterberg et al. (2020). The merit of good formulations is evident in practical applications such as Meyer (1969), Jeroslow & Lowe (1984), and Cheshire et al. (1984).
Tree Productivity Enhanced with Conversion from Forest to Urban Land Covers.

Urban areas are expanding, changing the structure and productivity of landscapes. While some urban areas have been shown to hold substantial biomass, the productivity of these systems is largely unknown. We assessed how conversion from forest to urban land uses affected both biomass structure and productivity across eastern Massachusetts. We found that urban land uses held less than half the biomass of adjacent forest expanses with a plot level mean biomass density of 33.5 ± 8.0 Mg C ha-1. As the intensity of urban development increased, the canopy cover, stem density, and biomass decreased. Analysis of Quercus rubra tree cores showed that tree-level basal area increment nearly doubled following development, increasing from 17.1 ± 3.0 to 35.8 ± 4.7 cm2 yr-1. Scaling the observed stem densities and growth rates within developed areas suggests an aboveground biomass growth rate of 1.8 ± 0.4 Mg C ha-1 yr-1, a growth rate comparable to nearby, intact forests. The contrasting high growth rates and lower biomass pools within urban areas suggest a highly dynamic ecosystem with rapid turnover. As global urban extent continues to grow, cities consider climate mitigation options, and as the verification of net greenhouse gas emissions emerges as critical for policy, quantifying the role of urban vegetation in regional-to-global carbon budgets will become ever more important.
Small Group Theory

This chapter reviews the history of small group practice and theory. The contemporary issues, including the multiple purposes of group work and the dual focus of group work, are introduced. Systems theory, psychoanalytic theory, and social learning theory are reviewed and demonstrated how they have been applied to small group work through Systems Centered Therapy Groups, Interpersonal Learning Groups, Cognitive Behavioral Models, and Mutual Aid Models. The theoretical orientation of small groups is explored and how theory impacts decisions, including group purpose, role of the practitioner, assessment and intervention strategies. The goodness of fit between different theoretical approaches and various cultural groups is discussed. Finally, existing research is examined regarding the effectiveness of group work and theoretical approaches. Keywords: small group theory; small group models; working in small groups; groups; group therapy
Waveguide Input and Output Couplers

Some of the methods of coupling optical energy into or out of a waveguide were mentioned briefly in Chap. 5. In this chapter, we shall consider in more detail the various coupling techniques that can be used. The methods that are employed for coupling an optical beam between two waveguides are different from those used for coupling an optical beam in free space to a waveguide. Also, some couplers selectively couple energy to a given waveguide mode, while others are multimode. Each type of coupler has its attendant set of advantages and disadvantages; none is clearly best for all applications. Hence, a knowledge of coupler characteristics is necessary for the OIC user, as well as for the designer.
A study of the intermolecular ν51 vibration in OCH35Cl based on near infrared spectroscopy

Author Institution: Department of Chemistry, Texas A\M Steacie Institute, National Research Council