cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Water-soluble copolymers. XII. Copolymers of acrylamide with sodium-3-acrylamido-3-methylbutanoate: Synthesis and characterization

The copolymerization of acrylamide (AM) with sodium-3-acrylamido-3-methylbutanoate (NaAMB) has been studied. The value of r1r2 has been determined to be 0.56 for the AM–NaAMB pair. The molecular weights of the copolymers were relatively unaffected by monomer feed ratios. The copolymer microstructures, including run numbers and sequence distributions, were calculated from the reactivity ratios. The solution properties of the AM–NaAMB copolymers, as well as the NaAMB homopolymer, will be reported in a subsequent paper.
STAT3 in Epithelial Cells Regulates Inflammation and Tumor Progression to Malignant State in Colon

Chronic inflammation is an important risk factor for the development of colorectal cancer; however, the mechanism of tumorigenesis especially tumor progression to malignancy in the inflamed colon is still unclear. Our study shows that epithelial signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), persistently activated in inflamed colon, is not required for inflammation-induced epithelial overproliferation and the development of early-stage tumors; however, it is essential for tumor progression to advanced malignancy. We found that one of the mechanisms that epithelial STAT3 regulates in tumor progression might be to modify leukocytic infiltration in the large intestine. Activation of epithelial STAT3 promotes the infiltration of the CD8+ lymphocyte population but inhibits the recruitment of regulatory T (Treg) lymphocytes. The loss of Stat3 in epithelial cells promoted the expression of cytokines/chemokines including CCL19, CCL28, and RANTES, which are known to be able to recruit Treg lymphocytes. Linked to these changes was the pathway mediated by sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 1 and sphingosine 1-phosphate kinases, which is activated in colonic epithelial cells in inflamed colon with functional STAT3 but not in epithelial cells deleted of STAT3. Our data suggest that epithelial STAT3 plays a critical role in inflammation-induced tumor progression through regulation of leukocytic recruitment especially the infiltration of Treg cells in the large intestine.
A multigene family that interacts with the amino terminus of plasmodium MSP-1 identified using the yeast two-hybrid system

Merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP-1) is a high-molecular-weight protein expressed on the surface of the malaria merozoite in a noncovalent complex with other protein molecules. MSP-1 undergoes a series of proteolytic processing events, but no precise biological role for the various proteolytic fragments of MSP-1 or for the additional proteins present in the complex is known. Through the use of the yeast two-hybrid system, we have isolated genes encoding proteins that interact with a region of the amino-terminal proteolytic fragment of MSP-1 from the mouse parasite Plasmodium yoelii. This analysis has led to the isolation of two sequence-related molecules, one of which is the P. yoelii homologue of MSP-7 originally described in Plasmodium falciparum. BLAST analysis of the P. falciparum database has revealed that there are six related protein molecules present in this species encoded near each other on chromosome 13. In P. falciparum, we designated these molecules MSRP-1 to -5. Analysis of the P. yoelii database indicates a similar chromosomal organization for the two genes in the mouse parasite species. The three P. falciparum sequences with the highest degree of homology to the P. yoelii sequences isolated in the two-hybrid screen have been characterized at the molecular level (MSRP-1 to -3). Expression analysis indicated that the mRNAs are expressed at various levels in the different asexual stages. Immunofluorescence studies colocalized the expression of the MSRP molecules and the amino-terminal portion of MSP-1 to the surfaces of trophozoites. In vitro binding experiments confirmed the interaction between MSRP-1, MSRP-2, and the amino-terminal region of P. falciparum MSP-1.
Functional Significance of Cytochrome P450 1B1 in Endometrial Carcinogenesis

Cytochrome P450 1B1 (CYP1B1) catalyzes estrogen hydroxylation and activation of potential carcinogens. Here we explored the role of CYP1B1 in endometrial carcinogenesis. Immunohistochemical staining of endometrial carcinomas showed that CYP1B1 is up-regulated in endometrial cancers. To understand the functional significance of CYP1B1 up-regulation in endometrial cancers with regard to tumorigenesis, we used small interfering RNA-mediated approach to knockdown CYP1B1 in endometrial carcinoma cell line followed by functional assays. Further, to understand the molecular basis of the role of CYP1B1 in endometrial carcinomas, we profiled the expression of key pathway-specific genes and identified several components of cell cycle, apoptosis, and cell adhesion pathways that are potentially regulated by CYP1B1. CYP1B1 depletion in endometrial carcinoma cells leads to decreased cellular proliferation and induces G(0)-G(1) cell cycle arrest. Significantly, CYP1B1 knockdown leads to down-regulated expression of cyclin E1, S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (SKP2), minichromosome maintenance complex component 4 (MCM4), and RAD51 and up-regulation of p27(Kip1). Also, we identified cyclin E-binding protein (CEBP1) as a novel CYP1B1 target. Attenuation of CYP1B1 expression in endometrial carcinoma cells induces apoptosis and increases expression of IFN-beta (IFNbeta), granzyme A (GRZA), and tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). Importantly, CYP1B1 depletion decreased the invasive potential of the endometrial cancer cells and expression of melanoma cell adhesion molecule (MCAM). In conclusion, our data suggest that CYP1B1 up-regulation plays a crucial role in endometrial carcinogenesis by targeting multiple pathways. We speculate that CYP1B1 inhibition in endometrial carcinomas could be a useful therapeutic approach as it regulates several potential anticancer targets like cyclin E1, Skp2, and TRAIL.
Combinatorial Motion Planning of Multiple Vehicle Systems

In this paper, we are concerned with the development of approximation algorithms for the combinatorial motion planning of a collection of m vehicles. Specifically, we consider the following multiple depot, generalized multiple traveling salesmen problem (GMTSP). We are given m vehicles that start at possibly different locations and n targets that must be visited. The problem is to choose at most p les m vehicles so that (1) each target is visited by exactly one of the chosen vehicles and (2) the cost of the tours of the chosen vehicles is a minimum among all possible choices and their corresponding tours of vehicles. The criteria for the cost of tours considered is the total distance (total cost of edges) traveled by the entire collection. This problem is a generalization of the symmetric traveling salesman problem (TSP) and is NP-hard. We show that there is a 2-approx algorithm for this problem. We also provide a branch and bound procedure for this problem
Some Guidelines and Guarantees for Common Random Numbers

Common random numbers CRN is a widely-used technique for reducing variance in comparing stochastic systems through simulation. Its popularity derives from its intuitive appeal and ease of implementation. However, though CRN has been observed to work well with a broad range of models, the class of systems for which it is provably advantageous has remained rather limited. This paper has two purposes: We first discuss the effectiveness and optimality of CRN in a general setting, stressing the roles played by monotonicity and continuity properties. We then present specific, new classes of systems and comparisons for which CRN is beneficial and even optimal. Our conclusions for these systems are largely consistent with simulation practice and lend further theoretical support to folklore. Our results differ from those of previous analyses primarily because we put conditions on the timing of events, rather than the sequence of states, in a discrete-event simulation. We formulate our results in three settings corresponding to three applications of CRN: distributional comparisons, structural comparisons, and sensitivity analysis. In each case, we make use of conditions that simultaneously ensure monotonicity and continuity in the timing of events. These properties are established through explicit recursions for event epochs in terms of increasing, continuous functions.
Prenatal drug exposures sensitize noradrenergic circuits to subsequent disruption by chlorpyrifos

We examined whether nicotine or dexamethasone, common prenatal drug exposures, sensitize the developing brain to chlorpyrifos. We gave nicotine to pregnant rats throughout gestation at a dose (3mg/kg/day) producing plasma levels typical of smokers; offspring were then given chlorpyrifos on postnatal days 1-4, at a dose (1mg/kg) that produces minimally-detectable inhibition of brain cholinesterase activity. In a parallel study, we administered dexamethasone to pregnant rats on gestational days 17-19 at a standard therapeutic dose (0.2mg/kg) used in the management of preterm labor, followed by postnatal chlorpyrifos. We evaluated cerebellar noradrenergic projections, a known target for each agent, and contrasted the effects with those in the cerebral cortex. Either drug augmented the effect of chlorpyrifos, evidenced by deficits in cerebellar β-adrenergic receptors; the receptor effects were not due to increased systemic toxicity or cholinesterase inhibition, nor to altered chlorpyrifos pharmacokinetics. Further, the deficits were not secondary adaptations to presynaptic hyperinnervation/hyperactivity, as there were significant deficits in presynaptic norepinephrine levels that would serve to augment the functional consequence of receptor deficits. The pretreatments also altered development of cerebrocortical noradrenergic circuits, but with a different overall pattern, reflecting the dissimilar developmental stages of the regions at the time of exposure. However, in each case the net effects represented a change in the developmental trajectory of noradrenergic circuits, rather than simply a continuation of an initial injury. Our results point to the ability of prenatal drug exposure to create a subpopulation with heightened vulnerability to environmental neurotoxicants.
Droplet size affects glyphosate retention, absorption, and translocation in corn

Abstract The effect of droplet size on retention, absorption, and translocation of 14C-glyphosate was studied in glyphosate-resistant corn. Fine, medium, and coarse spray droplets were studied using a track-sprayer equipped with commercially available nozzles. Glyphosate-resistant corn was used to obtain measurements at field use rates in the absence of phytotoxicity. Spray retention on corn leaves was calculated based on recovered glyphosate per leaf area, and retention was higher with application of fine droplets (47%) than with application of coarse (38%) and medium (37%) droplets. Absorption in corn leaves was directly correlated with droplet size and reached a plateau 1 d after treatment (DAT) for all droplet sizes. Based on glyphosate recovered 3 DAT, coarse droplets showed the highest absorption (49%), followed by medium (35%) and fine (30%) droplets. Percentage of translocation also increased with droplet size, and translocation was primarily toward strong sink tissues such as roots and young leav...
Small-scale waste-stabilization ponds for rural communities: an undergraduate experimental venture

Though billions of people are without adequate fresh-water resources, even more people lack effective sanitation services. This latter concern is the focus of an appropriate technology initiative (WASTE Programme) of Wheaton College in Illinois which engages undergraduate students and interdisciplinary faculty in experiments with simple, small-scale waste-stabilization ponds for eventual installation in many global communities. Project laboratory data indicate that low-cost, low-maintenance systems can eliminate microbial pathogens and provide nutrient-rich effluent for agricultural use, before recharging the local groundwater.
A virtue ethical approach to decisional capacity and mental health

AbstractIt is a common assumption that lack of autonomy is incompatible with decisional capacity and mental health. However, there are two general conceptions of autonomy, one value-neutral and the other value-laden, which imply different notions of mental health. I argue that the value-neutral notion of autonomy is independently inadequate and that it also provides an inadequate foundation for judging whether someone is decisionally incapable or mentally disordered. I propose an alternative, value-laden account which posits ten capabilities required for basic human functioning. I then defend this account against objections and highlight its practical utility in designing optimal treatment.
Isolation and Analysis of the Carpenterworm Sex Pheromone

Bioassaying procedures were developed to detect the sex pheromone of virgin female carpenterworm moths, Prionoxystus robiniae Peck. In field assays the extracts from abdominal tips of 1- to 2-day-old females attracted more males than those of older females, and tips clipped in late afternoon were more potent than those clipped earlier in the day. Extracts of sex pheromone obtained from abdominal tips or from the filter paper on which females had rested elicited greater responses than those obtained by cold- or charcoal-trapping of air passed over females. Methylene chloride was chosen from among 6 solvents for use in further extraction studies. Chemical tests on the active sex pheromone extract indicate it is the acetate of an unsaturated alcohol with 14 to 16 carbon atoms.
Summing Up Hours of Any Type of Practice Versus Identifying Optimal Practice Activities Commentary on Macnamara, Moreau, & Hambrick (2016)

In their original article, Ericsson, Krampe, and Tesch-Romer (1993) reviewed the evidence concerning the conditions of optimal learning and found that individualized practice with training tasks (selected by a supervising teacher) with a clear performance goal and immediate informative feedback was associated with marked improvement. We found that this type of deliberate practice was prevalent when advanced musicians practice alone and found its accumulated duration related to attained music performance. In contrast, Macnamara, Moreau, and Hambrick’s (2016, this issue) main meta-analysis examines the use of the term deliberate practice to refer to a much broader and less defined concept including virtually any type of sport-specific activity, such as group activities, watching games on television, and even play and competitions. Summing up every hour of any type of practice during an individual’s career implies that the impact of all types of practice activity on performance is equal—an assumption that I ...
Urologic skills for primary care physicians.

SUMMARY The urologic procedures discussed in this article are within the area of competence of most primary care physicians. Incorporating these procedures into the practice enhances the professional life of physicians and allows their patients greater convenience and cost-effectiveness.
Eye Movements; Overview

Eye movements evolved to serve vision in two ways. Gaze-holding eye movements keep images of the world fairly still on the retina during natural activities, such as locomotion. Gaze-shifting eye movements point the retinal fovea, which corresponds to best vision, at features of interest in the environment. A good deal is known about how the brain controls eye movements. Consequently, eye movements are often used as experimental tools in the neurosciences and as diagnostic signs at the bedside. Animal models of eye movement disorders have led to development of new treatments for patients with impaired vision.
Randomized Trial of Endoscopist-Controlled vs. Assistant-Controlled Wire-Guided Cannulation of the Bile Duct

Randomized Trial of Endoscopist-Controlled vs. Assistant-Controlled Wire-Guided Cannulation of the Bile Duct
Acute adult onset bacterial nephritis: long-term urographic and angiographic followup.

AbstractMost adults with acute bacterial renal infection demonstrate no roentgen abnormality in the acute stage and recuperate without significant functional or morphological renal abnormality. We report the initial and long-term findings in a virulent form of acute bacterial nephritis caused by gram-negative organisms and predominantly in patients with diabetes and associated septicemia. The findings of a small, poorly functioning symmetrically scarred kidney with significant caliceal distortion and the associated angiographic abnormalities are presented for the first time in the long-term followup of this disease.
A BIOMECHANICAL STUDY OF POSTERIOR FIXATION METHODS AFTER WEDGE OSTEOTOMY OF A THORACIC VERTEBRA

Abstract Biomechanical tests were performed to compare five different methods of posterior fixation of a Heinig wedge osteotomy for single stage correction of severe spinal kyphosis. These methods included standard systems such as Harrington compression rods, sublaminar wires, and L-rods as well as two prototype methods. Force/deflection measurements, failure loading, and cyclic loading demonstrated that the two prototype systems produced greater stability (less relative motion) at the osteotomy site and were less susceptible to loosening with cyclic loading.
Are Prices Higher for the Poor in New York City

Despite earlier evidence to the contrary, recent inquiries appear to reach a consensus that the poor pay more for food. However, these studies utilize samples drawn on the basis of prior knowledge of unfair pricing strategies, proximity of volunteer surveyors, or other non-random methods. This paper revisits the issue of price discrimination by analyzing price data collected using a stratified, random sample design to answer the question of whether prices are higher in poor, urban neighborhoods. Contrary to the recent literature, I find that market prices in poor neighborhoods are not higher than those in more affluent areas.
The Public Health Innovation Model: Merging Private Sector Processes with Public Health Strengths

Public health enjoyed a number of successes over the 20th century. However, public health agencies have arguably been ill-equipped to sustain these successes and address the complex threats we face today, including morbidity and mortality associated with persistent chronic diseases and emerging infectious diseases, in the context of flat funding and new and changing health care legislation. Transformational leaders, who are not afraid of taking risks to develop innovative approaches to combat present-day threats, are needed within public health agencies. We propose the Public Health Innovation Model as a tool for public health leaders who wish to integrate innovation into public health practice. This model merges traditional public health program planning models with innovation principles adapted from the private sector, including design thinking, seeking funding from private sector entities, and more strongly emphasizing program outcomes. We also discuss principles that leaders should consider adopting when transitioning to the Public Health Innovation Model, including cross collaboration, community buy-in, human-centered assessment, autonomy and creativity, rapid experimentation and prototyping, and accountability to outcomes.
The Atlantic World. Edited by D’Maris Coffman, Adrian Leonard, and William O’Reilly. (New York, NY: Routledge, 2015. Pp. xxii, 704. $262.00.)

Coordinating what is in many ways an experimental volume, the editors state at its outset that their aim is to “illustrate the methodological diversity of more recent post‐Atlantic approaches” (3)....
Subset Selection and Summarization in Sequential Data

Subset selection, which is the task of finding a small subset of representative items from a large ground set, finds numerous applications in different areas. Sequential data, including time-series and ordered data, contain important structural relationships among items, imposed by underlying dynamic models of data, that should play a vital role in the selection of representatives. However, nearly all existing subset selection techniques ignore underlying dynamics of data and treat items independently, leading to incompatible sets of representatives. In this paper, we develop a new framework for sequential subset selection that finds a set of representatives compatible with the dynamic models of data. To do so, we equip items with transition dynamic models and pose the problem as an integer binary optimization over assignments of sequential items to representatives, that leads to high encoding, diversity and transition potentials. Our formulation generalizes the well-known facility location objective to deal with sequential data, incorporating transition dynamics among facilities. As the proposed formulation is non-convex, we derive a max-sum message passing algorithm to solve the problem efficiently. Experiments on synthetic and real data, including instructional video summarization, show that our sequential subset selection framework not only achieves better encoding and diversity than the state of the art, but also successfully incorporates dynamics of data, leading to compatible representatives.
A Numerical Solution of the Boltzmann Equation

The mathematical connection between the microscopic behavior of electrons as described by electron-neutral scattering cross sections and the macroscopic behavior of an electron swarm is through the Boltzmann equation which describes the time-evolution of the electron energy distribution function (EEDF) in phase space. The Boltzmann equation can be solved to yield the EEDF, various integrals over which yield the measurable parameters in a swarm experiment (Huxley and Crompton, 1974). Two preceeding papers describe the mathematical foundation (Skullerud, 1981) and analysis of the Legendre expansion solution of the Boltzmann equation as well as asymptotic forms of the solutions (Allis, 1981). For applications, it is almost always necessary to solve the Boltzmann equation numerically. This article describes some recent work in numerical solution techniques.
PROMESA, Puerto Rico and the American Empire

As the United States ascended to hyper-power status during the late 1970s, it changed colonial policy in Puerto Rico. The change, which included the elimination of favorable tax legislation and demilitarization, devastated Puerto Rico’s economy. Puerto Rico borrowed heavily in a failed effort to offset the dramatic decline in capital inflows. The federal government enacted PROMESA after Puerto Rico announced it could not repay the debt. The law was designed to restore Puerto Rico to financial solvency by imposing oppressive austerity measures. PROMESA was a watershed event because it stripped Puerto Rico of the limited sovereignty the federal government had allowed. But, just as colonialism is the source of Puerto Rico’s economic and humanitarian crises, colonialism will also sabotage PROMESA’s plan to extract wealth from an impoverished population. Hurricane Maria has guaranteed that Puerto Rico will never have the resources to repay the debt holders.
A Pilot Study of Viscoelastic Monitoring in Pediatric Trauma: Outcomes and Lessons Learned.

Background: Examine the characteristics and outcomes of pediatric trauma patients at risk for coagulopathy following implementation of viscoelastic monitoring. Materials and Methods: Injured children, aged
Validation of the flow theory in an on-site whitewater kayaking setting.

The validation of the flow theory in an on-site whitewater setting is examined. A-priori hypotheses emphasized 3 concerns: (1) the relationship between a four channel model of flow and specific lev...
Beispiele von Dieselanlagen

Die Gesichtspunkte, nach denen die Aufstellung eines Motors im ortsfesten Betrieb geplant und durchgefahrt werden mus;, konnen nach Art der Fundamentierung, Art der Kupplung mit der anzutreibenden Maschine, Art des verwendeten Kraftstoffes, Art der Kuhlung und Art einer eventuell vorzusehenden Abwarmeverwertung aufgegliedert werden. Der Normalfall ist eine starre Lagerung des Motors auf einem Betonfundament in entsprechender Grose (Abb. 391). Fur die Grose des Betonblockes bzw. die Breite seines Fuses ist die spezifische Tragfahigkeit der jeweiligen Bodenart bestimmend. Bei dieser Art der Fundamentierung werden, wenn auch geringe, unvermeidliche Erschutterungen an die nahere Umgebung weitergeleitet. Die Fundamente des Maschinenhauses sollen sich daher nicht mit dem Motorfundament unmittelbar berahren, um das Haus vor zu starken Erschutterungen zu schatzen.
Polar and Magnetic Layered A‐Site and Rock Salt B‐Site‐Ordered NaLnFeWO6 (Ln: La, Nd) Perovskites.

NaLaFeWO6 (I) and NaNdFeWO6 (II) are prepared by thermal decomposition (1% H2/Ar, 900 °C, 6 h for (I), 5% H2/N2, 850 °C, 2 h for (II)) of appropriate precursors obtained by reacting stoichiometric amounts of Na2CO3, La2O3, Nd2O3, FeC2O4, and (NH4)10W12O41 in aqueous citric acid solution containing HNO3 followed by solvent evaporation to yield an organic resin which is dried and decomposed (air, 600 °C, 12 h).
Collapse capacity of reinforced concrete skewed bridges retrofitted with buckling-restrained braces

Abstract This study assesses the collapse capacity and failure modes of skewed bridges retrofitted with buckling-restrained braces (BRBs) at the column bent. The asymmetric configuration of these bridges requires a three-dimensional numerical model that considers uncertainties in the seismic ground motions. The factors controlling the seismic performance of these bridges are obtained from a case study of a three-span reinforced concrete box girder skewed bridge with varying skew angles of 0°, 18°, 36°, and 54°. Numerical models with distributed plasticity and concentrated plasticity are created considering material deterioration and plastic deformation properties. A numerical distributed plasticity model with strength and stiffness deterioration is calibrated with a concentrated plasticity model by performing two-dimensional incremental dynamic analyses (IDAs) on the straight bridges (i.e., 0° skew angle), using 21 far-field ground motions. Then, the collapse capacity of original and retrofitted skewed bridges is obtained from three-dimensional IDAs using the distributed plasticity model. The collapse capacity and failure modes of BRB components are summarized based on investigations from experimental data. Nonlinear time history analyses indicate that the BRB retrofit greatly improves the seismic performance of skewed bridges, but it has negligible effects on the bridge’s collapse capacity after BRB failure. However, the use of BRB greatly reduces the bridge’s probability of failure, and the mean annual frequency of global collapse, since the BRB components dissipate seismic energy as structural fuses. The proposed method of parameter calibration, including BRB failure, is found to be sufficiently reliable to perform satisfactory results.
Avoidance of DNA methylation. A virus-encoded methylase inhibitor and evidence for counterselection of methylase recognition sites in viral genomes.

Theocr + gene of bacterial virus T7 codes for the first protein recognized to inhibit a specific group of DNA methylases. The recognition sequences of several other DNA methylases, not susceptible to Ocr inhibition, are significantly suppressed in the virus genome. The bacterial virus T3 encodes an Ado-Met hydrolase, destroying the methyl donor and causing T3 DNA to be totally unmethylated. These observations could stimulate analogous investigations into the regulation of DNA methylation patterns of eukaryotic viruses and cells. For instance, an underrepresentation of methylation sites (5′-CG) is also true for animal DNA viruses. Moreover, we were able to disclose some novel properties of DNA restriction-modification enzymes concerning the protection of DNA recognition sequences in which only one strand can be methylated (e.g., type III enzymeEcoP15) and the primary resistance of (unmethylated) DNA recognition sites towards type II restriction endonucleaseEcoRII.
Skin color as a predictor of mental health in young Latinx children.

Abstract Rationale Racial phenotype shapes the ways in which others perceive and interact with children, with implications for their immediate and long-term well-being. Still, few empirical studies have examined these links in Latinx children. Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between skin color, as a salient marker of racial phenotype, and the mental health of young, Latinx children. Methods The present study was conducted in the United States between 2010 and 2013. Participants (N = 684) were Mexican- and Dominican origin 4 - 5-year olds who were rated based on their skin tone as “moderately dark” (54%), “honorary white” (35%), and “collective black” (11%). Regression models were used to estimate the association between skin color (measured at age 4–5) and internalizing and externalizing behaviors (measured at the end of first grade). Results By the end of first grade, “collective black” children had higher ratings on several indicators of internalizing and externalizing problems compared to their “honorary white” peers; this pattern was particularly pronounced for girls. Moreover, the association between externalizing behaviors at baseline and first grade was stronger among children with dark, relative to light, skin color. Conclusions These findings suggest that darker-skinned Latinx children may be at increased risk for more severe and/or more persistent mental health problems, perhaps due to discrimination based on their skin color. In order to develop intervention strategies to prevent mental health problems in the Latinx child population, future research is needed to examine how racism may manifest, particularly in teacher-student and parent-child interactions, in the everyday experiences of young children.
Effect of harvest region shape, biomass yield, and plant location on optimal biofuel facility size

Abstract The development of biofuel production facilities using renewable biomass faces many hurdles. One of these is determining the appropriate size of the facility under different uncertain conditions. Facility size is affected by many factors including transportation cost rate, biomass yields, facility location, and the availability of harvest region. This research focuses on understanding the impact of varying harvest yields that are typical with utilizing forest resources and the use of factors to account for actual road routes instead of Euclidean distance. The results suggest that use of realistic travel distances tends to lower the optimal facility size and increase the unit cost per liter of fuel. Varying harvesting yields do have an effect, but this is more a relation of actual location of the facility and less to do with varying yield across the region from which the biomass is harvested.
The Role of Epistemology and Epistemic Games in Mediating the Use of Mathematics in Chemistry: Implications for Mathematics Instruction and Research on Undergraduate Mathematics Education

Mathematics is used in the physical sciences to describe and model phenomena, resulting in a unique interface between mathematics and disciplines such as chemistry and physics. This paper focuses on themes emerging from a larger project that investigated how students understand and use mathematics in chemical kinetics, a field of study concerned with monitoring the rate of chemical reactions. The primary data source for this study involved a subset of the data from the larger project, focusing on semi-structured interviews with 40 students sampled from a second-semester general chemistry course. During the interviews students were asked to work through chemical kinetics problems that could be solved without calculations (using relationships between quantities and chemistry principles) or they could be solved algorithmically (using equations and the provided data). The interviews were analyzed using the construct of epistemic games, which describe a collection of resources and an associated structure that define and guide problem-solving and reflect epistemological commitments. Findings indicate students have productive resources and approaches for engaging in problem-solving, reflected by the observed shared set of epistemic games. Implications emphasize the role of scaffolding and explicit questioning to prevent compartmentalization of chemistry and mathematics, suggesting the need for more support to help students productively apply the knowledge and skills learned in mathematics courses to contexts such as chemistry.
Robotically handled whole-tissue culture system for the screening of oral drug formulations.

Monolayers of cancer-derived cell lines are widely used in the modelling of the gastrointestinal (GI) absorption of drugs and in oral drug development. However, they do not generally predict drug absorption in vivo. Here, we report a robotically handled system that uses large porcine GI tissue explants that are functionally maintained for an extended period in culture for the high-throughput interrogation (several thousand samples per day) of whole segments of the GI tract. The automated culture system provided higher predictability of drug absorption in the human GI tract than a Caco-2 Transwell system (Spearman’s correlation coefficients of 0.906 and 0.302, respectively). By using the culture system to analyse the intestinal absorption of 2,930 formulations of the peptide drug oxytocin, we discovered an absorption enhancer that resulted in a 11.3-fold increase in the oral bioavailability of oxytocin in pigs in the absence of cellular disruption of the intestinal tissue. The robotically handled whole-tissue culture system should help advance the development of oral drug formulations and might also be useful for drug screening applications. A robotically handled culture system using porcine gastrointestinal tissue explants for the high-throughput interrogation of the gastrointestinal tract predicts the absorption of oral drugs in the human gut better than Caco-2 Transwells.
Optimal Placement of PMU: A Brief Review

For monitoring and controlling the large modern power system, a measuring device such as phasor measurement unit (PMU) provides an important role. APMU provides time-synchronized voltage and current phasor values relevant buses where these PMUs are placed. As the PMUs and communication devices are expensive, it is not possible economically as well as practically to install PMU on each bus to measure the states. This paper describes the advantages of PMU inclusion on the power network and discusses various optimum positioning methods which used to determine the minimum amount of PMUs to obtain full power system observability.
The influence of time in range on daily mood in adults with type 1 diabetes.

Abstract Aims To investigate the impact of time in range (TIR) on mood in adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Methods We followed a cohort of 219 T1D adults, all currently employing a real-time continuous glucose monitoring system (RT-CGM), to investigate how daily changes in CGM metrics were associated with nightly reports of positive and negative mood over a two-week period. Results Greater daily %TIR (70–180 mg/dL) and less time in “severe” hyperglycemia (% time above range (TAR) > 300 mg/dL) were both significantly associated with higher ratings on all positive mood elements and lower ratings on most negative mood elements (all ps 300 emerged as an independent predictor of many of the positive and negative mood variables. Neither daily changes in time spent in hypoglycemia ( Conclusions This study provides the first evidence that time in range (%TIR) is associated with, and likely enhances, daily mood. Consistent with previous studies, we also found that more time spent in “severe” hyperglycemia is linked to more negative mood.
A Mapping Study of Veterinary Literature on Perceptions and Attitudes of Female Canine Spaying.

This is a mapping study conducted to evaluate the characteristics of where content that engages in perspectives or attitudes on female dog spaying is published. Three databases, CAB Direct, PubMed, and Scopus, were systematically searched. There were 84 out of 642 papers identified and screened for relevance on attitudes or perceptions on female canine spaying. These 84 articles were then examined for recurring authors, institutional representation, and publisher information. Additionally, information regarding the population being addressed, veterinarian or client, was noted with most literature addressing the veterinary perspective. Many important articles were published in a wide array of journals from many countries, which suggests the importance of not only browsing journals but also searching for relevant literature in databases like CAB Abstracts and MEDLINE.
The Impact of Chronic Pain on Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Outcomes

Chronic pain among individuals diagnosed with opioid use disorder (OUD) receiving opioid agonist treatment (OAT) is common. We review extant literature on the impact of chronic pain on OAT outcomes (i.e., illicit opioid use and OAT retention). We found 13 manuscripts using 9 datasets. The relationship between chronic pain and OAT outcomes is mixed. Most studies reported no relationship between chronic pain and illicit opioid use, but definitions of chronic pain were inconsistent. There was some evidence that chronic pain is associated with higher likelihood of drug use, and associations with retention were rarely reported. OAT clinics should thoughtfully assess pain at intake and regularly assess pain intensity and interference. Repeated assessments during daily life offer some advantages, and there is a need for nonpharmacologic pain treatments that complement OAT clinical care. These may require additional resources for OAT clinics to effectively address pain.
Reflected appraisals across multiple reference groups: Discrepancies in self and individual delinquency

Abstract We explore the implications of multiple reference groups for symbolic interaction explanations of delinquency. Specifically, we test the idea that dissimilarity in reflected appraisals across reference groups weakens the effect of the appraisals of a single group on behavior. We also assess whether the relative influence of different reflected appraisals is moderated by differences in the amount of time spent in and attachment to the roles taken among specific reference groups. Using data from the National Youth Survey, our findings mostly support symbolic interactionist predictions: Dissimilarity in reference groups' reflected appraisals weakens the influence of a single group's appraisals on behavior. We also found some evidence that, relatively, the more time an individual spends and the more attached they are to a role in a particular reference group, the more strongly correlated the respective appraisals are with delinquent behavior. Contrary to our predictions, we found that relatively strong attachments to one's role with their parents weakens the influence of parental reflected appraisals as a rule violator.
8 - Induction of Autoimmunity by Adjuvant Hydrocarbons

Although susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is genetically determined, environmental factors such as ultraviolet radiation, chemicals, or infections are likely to play an important role in triggering the disease in susceptible individuals. It is reported that a lupus-like disease with disease-specific autoantibodies and nephritis develops in non-autoimmune prone mice treated with pristane, a hydrocarbon derived from the metabolism of chlorophyll. More recently, it has become clear that other hydrocarbons, notably the mineral oil Bayol F and the endogenous hydrocarbon squalene, also can induce lupus-like disease in mice. These substances share the capacity to serve as immunological adjuvants, defined as “substances used in combination with a specific antigen that produce more immunity than the antigen alone”. The induction of murine lupus by immunological adjuvants is significant for two reasons. First, it provides a model for the interaction of environmental triggers with the genetic background in systemic autoimmunity, and secondly, it raises the possibility that adjuvant hydrocarbons might trigger autoimmune disease in susceptible humans. This chapter elaborates on the current state of understanding about the immunological effects of adjuvants and presents a recent work on the induction of autoimmunity by these materials.
Cu(II) promotes amyloid pore formation

The aggregation of α-synuclein is associated with dopamine neuron death in Parkinson's disease. There is controversy in the field over the question of which species of the aggregates, fibrils or protofibrils, are toxic. Moreover, compelling evidence suggested the exposure to heavy metals to be a risk of PD. Nevertheless, the mechanism of metal ions in promoting PD remains unclear. In this research, we investigated the structural basis of Cu(II) induced aggregation of α-synuclein. Using transmission electron microscopy experiments, Cu(II) was found to promote in vitro aggregation of α-synuclein by facilitating annular protofibril formation rather than fibril formation. Furthermore, neuroprotective baicalein disaggregated annular protofibrils accompanied by considerable decrease of β-sheet content. These results strongly support the hypothesis that annular protofibrils are the toxic species, rather than fibrils, thereby inspiring us to search novel therapeutic strategies for the suppression of the toxic annular protofibril formation.
Ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint. Report of three cases.

Abstract Three cases of ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint have been presented, one resulting from traumatic injury with fracture of the condyloid process and the other two resulting from infection in the joint area. The importance of thorough clinical examination of the patient manifesting limitation of motion in the temporomandibular joint is emphasized in each of these case presentations. The indicated treatment in cases of ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint is surgical intervention.
Pion and Proton Emission in Intermediate Energy Heavy Ion Collisions

The intermediate range of heavy ion bombarding energies (20 MeV<E/A<l GeV) encompasses a large variety of reaction mechanisms from fusion at the lowest energies to almost complete explosion at the highest. Up until now, equation of state studies have been hampered by insufficient detailed information on some of the basic properties of the mechanisms. In the discussion below I will deal with a few of these problems. In particular, what can we learn about source size and shape from inclusive and semi-inclusive measurements?
A Criterion to Control Nonlinear Error in the Mixed-Mode Bending Test

The mixed-mode bending test ha: been widely used to measure delamination toughness and was recently standardized by ASTM as Standard Test Method D6671-01. This simple test is a combination of the standard Mode I (opening) test and a Mode II (sliding) test. This test uses a unidirectional composite test specimen with an artificial delamination subjected to bending loads to characterize when a delamination will extend. When the displacements become large, the linear theory used to analyze the results of the test yields errors in the calcu1ated toughness values. The current standard places no limit on the specimen loading and therefore test data can be created using the standard that are significantly in error. A method of limiting the error that can be incurred in the calculated toughness values is needed. In this paper, nonlinear models of the MMB test are refined. One of the nonlinear models is then used to develop a simple criterion for prescribing conditions where thc nonlinear error will remain below 5%.
ProtocolDB: storing scientific protocols with a domain ontology

This paper addresses a systemic problem in science: although datasets collected through scientific protocols may be properly stored, the protocol itself is often only recorded on paper or stored electronically as the script developed to implement the protocol. Once the scientist who has implemented the protocol leaves the laboratory, this record may be lost. Collected datasets without a description of the process used to produce them become meaningless; furthermore, the experiment designed to produce the data is not reproducible. In this paper we present the ProtocolDB system that aims at assisting scientists in the process of (1) designing and implementing scientific protocols, (2) storing, querying, and transforming scientific protocols, and (3) reasoning about collected experimental data (data provenance).
Loving and Leaving: The Ethics of Postcolonial Pain in Chimamanda Adichie's Purple Hibiscus

As coming of age first-person narratives involving young women in modern African contexts, both Chimamanda Adichie’s 2003 novel Purple Hibiscus and Tsitsi Dangarembga’s 1989 novel Nervous Conditions investigate the effect of despotic patriarchs on the structures of family. At the same time both novels also reveal the ways in which their narrators emerge as critically aware intellectuals with the ability to note intimate alliances between the domestic violence of the father and the sovereign violence of the state, intertwined as these are in a nexus of colonial and neo-colonial realities. However, it is precisely in the distinct mobilizations that lead to her protagonist overcoming the deadening influence of such autocratic figures that Adichie charts out an intellectual and political trajectory radically different from the one Dangarembga’s protagonist must follow. This radically different trajectory offers important new directions for thinking about the shifting semiotics of postcolonialism in the contemporary African situation.
Book review: Rachel Connelly, Deborah S. DeGraff, Rachel A.Willis. Kids at Work: The Value of Employer-Sponsored On-site Child Care Centers.W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, Kalamazoo, MI (2004), ISBN 0-88099-304-9 (175pp, $16.00, Paper).

Few employers offer direct child-care assistance to their workers, and of those that do only a tiny fraction operates on-site day care centers. Given the tremendous growth in market work among women and especially among mothers of young children in the last three decades, we might have expected to see wider adoption of on-site child care as an employee benefit, yet this did not happen. Could the reason be that on-site day care is not sufficiently valued by workers and therefore not highly demanded? In Kids at Work, Rachel Connelly, Deborah DeGraff and Rachel Willis take on this question by surveying workers at three firms—two firms with on-site centers and another without—about their usage and contingent valuations of these services.
Is There a Psychology of the Deaf

Striking similarities between the traits attributed to Africans by European colonizers and those attributed to deaf people by hearing experts lead to the hypothesis that the trait attributions of the “psychology of the deaf” reflect not the characteristics of deaf people but the paternalistic posture of the hearing experts making these attributions. Five kinds of evidence support the hypothesis: the attributions reveal paternalistic universals and ethnocentrism, and a claim to a civilizing burden that fails to mask the paternalist's economic interest. Moreover, a review of the literature of “the psychology of the deaf” finds it gravely flawed in test administration, language, scoring, content, norms, and subject groups.