cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Religious Freedom Amid the Tumult

The Supreme Court Term ending in summer 2020 was action-packed for religious freedom. The Court decided six cases pertaining to the issue—double, even triple the usual number—in contexts from school choice to public-health closures of churches to clashes between religious liberty and nondiscrimination laws. The decisions also came at a time of extraordinary stress and turbulence in society, and they relate in striking ways to those forces of turbulence. This Article discusses religious freedom in relation to three Ps of turbulence: Pandemic, Polarization of culture and politics, and Protests over racial injustice. In each of these areas, the Article aims to explain the Court's approach and defend religious freedom today as a vital aspect of human dignity. Among many lessons from today’s crises is that religion, freely chosen and exercised, is a vital aspect of human identity. Religious exercise provides individuals with strength and comfort in the stresses of a pandemic. Religious belief motivates service to others in schools and social-service agencies; credible legal threats to those organizations aggravate our already dangerous polarization. Now as much as ever, it is vital to defend religious freedom for all. Despite some mixed signals, the current Supreme Court seems willing to shoulder that task. But to defend religious freedom credibly means recognizing rights for others too. Christian conservatives must support religious liberty and equality for Muslims as well. A credible defense of religious freedom also calls for confronting rather than denying the problems of racial inequality. And it calls for drawing careful lines so that LGBT people can participate in economic life and traditionalist religious organizations can follow their religious identity.
‘It’s this one teacher … I just don’t like him’: the role of gender in establishing culturally relevant caring relationships

Given limited scholarship examining gender dynamics in interactions between Black female students with Black male teachers, it is important to interrogate how Black girls experience teaching and le...
Jews of Florida: Centuries of Stories

This is the first comprehensive history of the Jews of Florida from colonial times to the present. The author is the founding executive director of the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU [Florida International University] and is the result of field work by the author during which she traveled 250,000 miles across the state. The book is at once a serious history of this ethno-religious group and a coffee table book with 700 black and white and color images on glossy paper. The history runs from 1513 to 2019, although it was not until 1763 that Jews were allowed to live in Florida.
Race, Ethnicity, and Politics in Venezuela

Venezuela has a long history of racial and ethnic inequality. Dating back to the colonial period, structures of racial and ethnic inequality were established, leading to the social, political and economic marginalization of non-white racial and ethnic groups. Although changes have occurred in Venezuela over the centuries, with some significant changes in the last 15 years, these populations continue to be overrepresented among the poor and continue to face discrimination. This is partially due to the denial that racism exists, and partially due to a privileging of class over race in Venezuelan politics both historically and today.
Changes in Barrier Effect in Pathological States

Publisher Summary Diseases of the central nervous system that are severe enough to alter its structural organization result in localized or generalized increase in the permeability of the blood-brain barrier. In pathophysiological research, however , the blood–brain barrier still denotes a hypothetical structure or mechanism with specific vulnerability and almost general rate-limiting importance. The chapter mentions Bilirubin and the blood–brain barrier in detail. As a conclusion, one can state that at the present time, the exact mechanism of bilirubin transfer and deposition in the brain of the hyperbilirubinemic newborn is not known properly. It seems to be certain that the process involves more than increased barrier permeability. However, the relative importance of pre-existing cellular damage (most likely anoxic) versus secondary tissue damage due to bilirubin toxicity in kernicterus cannot be assessed, yet.
Potential Toxicity of Selected Insecticides to Rice Leafhoppers and Planthoppers and their Important Natural Enemies

Potential toxicity of selected insecticides to rice brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens , whitebacked planthopper (WBPH), Sogatella furcifera , green leafhopper (GLH), Nephotettix virescens and their important predators in rice ecosystem, viz., green mirid bug, Cyrtorhinus lividipennis , brown mirid bug, Tytthus parviceps and veliid predator, Microvelia douglasi atrolineata was assessed in the greenhouse. Among the single compound insecticides, spinosad was moderately toxic to BPH followed by flubendiamide while ethiprole and indoxacarb were not effective against BPH, WBPH and GLH. Flubendiamide was least toxic to green mirid bug compared to acephate and other insecticides. Ethiprole and spinosad were less toxic to nymphs of brown mirid bug. Individually ethiprole, spinosad, flubendiamide were less toxic to Microvelia , but indoxacarb was more toxic. Ethiprole+imidacloprid and thiamethoxam+lambdacyhalothrin exhibited excellent initial and persistent toxicity against BPH, WBPH and GLH, but these two combination products were also highly toxic to all the three natural enemies recording 100% mortality within 24 hours. Flubendiamide+fipronil exhibited moderate toxicity against BPH, but was less effective against WBPH and ineffective against GLH. However, this product was highly toxic to both the mirid bugs and relatively less toxic to veliid bug.
A Review of “Almost Free: A Story about Family and Race in Antebellum Virginia”

In Almost Free, Eva Sheppard Wolf traces the remarkable story of the formerly enslaved, later free African-American Samuel Johnson and his family, all of whom chose to remain in a Virginia hostile ...
Acetylated histones are associated with FMR1 in normal but not fragile X-syndrome cells

Mutation of FMR1 results in fragile X mental retardation. The most common FMR1 mutation is expansion of a CGG repeat tract at the 5' end of FMR1, which leads to cytosine methylation and transcriptional silencing. Both DNA methylation and histone deacetylation have been associated with transcriptional inactivity. The finding that the methyl cytosine-binding protein MeCP2 binds to histone deacetylases and represses transcription in vivo supports a model in which MeCP2 recruits histone deacetylases to methylated DNA, resulting in histone deacetylation, chromatin condensation and transcriptional silencing. Here we demonstrate that the 5' end of FMR1 is associated with acetylated histones H3 and H4 in cells from normal individuals, but acetylation is reduced in cells from fragile X patients. Treatment of fragile X cells with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC) resulted in reassociation of acetylated histones H3 and H4 with FMR1 and transcriptional reactivation, whereas treatment with trichostatin A (TSA) led to almost complete acetylated histone H4 and little acetylated histone H3 reassociation with FMR1, as well as no detectable transcription. Our results represent the first description of loss of histone acetylation at a specific locus in human disease, and advance understanding of the mechanism of FMR1 transcriptional silencing.
An E-box/M-CAT hybrid motif and cognate binding protein(s) regulate the basal muscle-specific and cAMP-inducible expression of the rat cardiac alpha-myosin heavy chain gene

Expression of the cardiac myosin heavy chain (MHC) genes is regulated developmentally and by numerous epigenetic factors. Here we report the identification of a cis-regulatory element and cognate nuclear binding protein(s) responsible for cAMP-induced expression of the rat cardiac alpha-MHC gene. By Northern blot analysis, we found that, in primary cultures of fetal rat heart myocytes, the elevation of intracellular levels of cAMP results in up-regulation of alpha-MHC and down-regulation of beta-MHC mRNA expression. This effect of cAMP was dependent upon the basal level of expression of both MHC transcripts and was sensitive to cycloheximide. In transient expression analysis employing a series of alpha-MHC/CAT constructs, we identified a 31-base pair fragment located in the immediate upstream region (-71 to -40), which confers both muscle-specific and cAMP-inducible expression of the gene. Within this 31-base pair fragment there are two regions, an AT-rich portion and a hybrid motif which contains overlapping sequences of E-box and M-CAT binding sites (GGCACGTGGAATG). By substitution mutation analysis, both elements were found important for the basal muscle-specific expression; however, the cAMP-inducible expression of the gene is conferred only by the E-box/M-CAT hybrid motif (EM element). Using mobility gel shift competition assay, immunoblotting, and UV-cross-linking analyses, we found that a protein binding to the EM element is indistinguishable from the transcription enhancer factor-1 (TEF-1) in terms of sequence recognition, molecular mass, and immunoreactivity. Methylation interference and point mutation analyses indicate that, besides M-CAT sequences, center CG dinucleotides of the E-box motif CACGTG are essential for protein binding to the EM element and for its functional activity. Furthermore, our data also show that, in addition to TEF-1, another HF-1a-related factor may be recognized by the alpha-MHC gene EM element. These results are first to demonstrate transcriptional activation of a sarcomeric gene by cAMP and support the role of TEF-1 and HF-1a-like factors in the regulation of alpha-MHC gene expression in cardiac myocytes.
Verification of Java Programs Using Symbolic Execution and Invariant Generation

Software verification is recognized as an important and difficult problem. We present a novel framework, based on symbolic execution, for the automated verification of software. The framework uses annotations in the form of method specifications and loop invariants. We present a novel iterative technique that uses invariant strengthening and approximation for discovering these loop invariants automatically. The technique handles different types of data (e.g. boolean and numeric constraints, dynamically allocated structures and arrays) and it allows for checking universally quantified formulas. Our framework is built on top of the Java PathFinder model checking toolset and it was used for the verification of several non-trivial Java programs.
TU-G-303-04: Radiomics and the Coming Pan-Omics Revolution

‘Radiomics’ refers to studies that extract a large amount of quantitative information from medical imaging studies as a basis for characterizing a specific aspect of patient health. Radiomics models can be built to address a wide range of outcome predictions, clinical decisions, basic cancer biology, etc. For example, radiomics models can be built to predict the aggressiveness of an imaged cancer, cancer gene expression characteristics (radiogenomics), radiation therapy treatment response, etc. Technically, radiomics brings together quantitative imaging, computer vision/image processing, and machine learning. In this symposium, speakers will discuss approaches to radiomics investigations, including: longitudinal radiomics, radiomics combined with other biomarkers (‘pan-omics’), radiomics for various imaging modalities (CT, MRI, and PET), and the use of registered multi-modality imaging datasets as a basis for radiomics. There are many challenges to the eventual use of radiomics-derived methods in clinical practice, including: standardization and robustness of selected metrics, accruing the data required, building and validating the resulting models, registering longitudinal data that often involve significant patient changes, reliable automated cancer segmentation tools, etc. Despite the hurdles, results achieved so far indicate the tremendous potential of this general approach to quantifying and using data from medical images. Specific applications of radiomics to be presented in this symposium will include: the longitudinal analysis of patients with low-grade gliomas; automatic detection and assessment of patients with metastatic bone lesions; image-based monitoring of patients with growing lymph nodes; predicting radiotherapy outcomes using multi-modality radiomics; and studies relating radiomics with genomics in lung cancer and glioblastoma. Learning Objectives: 1. Understanding the basic image features that are often used in radiomic models. 2. Understanding requirements for reliable radiomic models, including robustness of metrics, adequate predictive accuracy, and generalizability. 3. Understanding the methodology behind radiomic-genomic (’radiogenomics’) correlations. Research supported by NIH (US), CIHR (Canada), and NSERC (Canada)
Primary care providers' bereavement care practices: recommendations for research directions

Objective Bereaved patients are often seen in primary care settings. While most do not require formal support, physicians may be called upon to provide support to some bereaved, particularly those with bereavement-related mental health disorders like complicated grief and bereavement-related depression. Research evidence on physician bereavement care is scant. We make recommendations for future research in this area.
EFFECTS OF WEATHER ON PARROT GEOPHAGY IN TAMBOPATA, PERU

Abstract Geophagy is widespread and well documented for mammals, but avian geophagy has only recently become the subject of serious scientific investigation. I analyzed data from 606 mornings of observations at a large avian geophagy site or “clay lick” in the southwestern Amazon Basin to examine the effects of weather on bird lick use. Birds used the clay lick on 94% of the mornings without precipitation or fog. Parrots dominated the site in both numbers of species (17) and individuals (>99%). Weather conditions were significantly correlated with total lick use: there was greater use on sunny mornings and less on rainy mornings. Fog and overnight rain were correlated with low lick use. Sun, rain, fog, and overnight rain were recorded on 47, 25, 20, and 8% of the mornings, respectively. I estimated that inclement weather caused an annual 29% reduction in geophagy for all bird species combined. When early morning rain prevented species from using the lick, they did not return later in the day nor did they ...
Toward 64 Gbps wideband digital backend design for the Event Horizon Telescope

A broad international collaboration is building the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT). The aim is to test Einstein's theory of General Relativity (GR) in one of the very few places it could break down: the strong gravity regime right at the edge of a black hole. The EHT is an earthsize VLBI array operating at the shortest radio wavelengths that has achieved unprecedented angular resolution of a few tens of μarcseconds. For nearby supermassive black holes (SMBH) this size scale is comparable to the Schwarzschild Radius, and emission in the strong GR regime at the edge of the event horizon can be directly observed.
Polylithic modeling and solution approaches using algebraic modeling systems

Based on the Greek term monolithos (stone consisting of one single block) Kallrath (Comput Chem Eng 33:1983–1993, 2009) introduced the term polylithic for modeling and solution approaches in which mixed integer or non-convex nonlinear optimization problems are solved by tailor-made methods involving several models and/or algorithmic components, in which the solution of one model is input to another one. This can be exploited to initialize certain variables, or to provide bounds on them (problem-specific preprocessing). Mathematical examples of polylithic approaches are decomposition techniques, or hybrid methods in which constructive heuristics and local search improvement methods are coupled with exact MIP algorithms. Tailor-made polylithic solution approaches with thousands or millions of solve statements are challenges on algebraic modeling languages. Local objects and procedural structures are almost necessary. Warm-start and hot-start techniques can be essential. The effort of developing complex tailor-made polylithic solutions is awarded by enabling us to solve real-world problems far beyond the limits of monolithic approaches and general purpose solvers.
Simulating dynamic activities using a five-axis knee simulator.

This work describes the design and capabilities of the Purdue Knee Simulator: Mark II anti a sagittal-plane model of the machine. This five-axis simulator was designed and constructed to simulate dynamic loading activities on either cadaveric knee specimens or total knee prostheses mounted on fixtures. The purpose of the machine was to provide a consistent, realistic loading of the knee joint, allowing the kinematics and specific loading of the structures of the knee to he determined based on condition, articular geometry, and simulated activity. The sagittal-plane model of the knee simulator was developed both to predict the loading at the knee from arbitrary inputs and to generate the necessary inputs required to duplicate specified joint loading. Measured tibio-femoral compressive force and quadriceps tension were shown to he in good agreement with the predicted loads from the model. A controlled moment about the ankle-flexion axis was also shown to change the loading on the quadriceps.
Common problems and coping strategies reported in childhood and early adolescence

This research investigated problems commonly experienced by children and young adolescents, and the strategies they use to cope with these events. Six hundred seventy-six children, ages 9–13 years, were asked to identify a problem they recently experienced and to describe the strategies they used to cope with it. In addition, they were also asked to complete a scale describing how they coped with a common problem (being grounded by parents). In general, we found that children reported four common Stressors: parents, siblings, school, and friends. These Stressors were the same across age and sex; however, the coping strategies employed differed by age and type of problem. Both age and sex effects were found in reported use of coping strategies to deal with being grounded by parents. The results of this study suggest that more research must be performed to offset the lack of data in the area of children's normative coping. The implications of the findings for clinical assessment and treatment of children are discussed.
Agrarian Change and Privatization of Ejido Land in Northern Mexico

This paper uses the findings of a 1999 case study of ejidos (collective landholdings) in the Yaqui Valley, Sonora, a prominent agricultural region of northwest Mexico, to examine responses to a series of economic and legal reforms enacted as part of Mexico’s ‘Reform of the Countryside’, which began in the late 1980s. In particular, it analyses reactions to the 1992 amendment to Article 27 of Mexico’s Constitution, which legalized the rental and sale of previously inalienable ejido land and created programmes and institutions to officially certify ejido members’ land rights. The paper concludes that the complex of economic and legal reforms – combined with the specificities of Sonoran agriculture – has generated a visible change in ejidos with respect to land operation, setting the stage for an accelerated shift towards the privatization of agricultural land in northern Mexico.
Wavelength-Modulation Spectra and Band Structures of InP and GaP

Modulated-reflectivity measurements of InP and GaP at 5, 77, and 300 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K are compared with empirical-pseudopotential calculations of the electronic band structure, the imaginary part of the frequency-dependent dielectric function, and the derivative of the reflectivity.
Pressure tuning in the search for new and improved solid state materials

Pressure tuning is a potentially useful tool to increase the rate of discovery of solid-state materials with improved properties. The interaction parameters that determine the properties of a given material define a phase space, which can have one or more dimensions. A single solid-state compound can be represented by a single point in this phase space. The traditional approach to the search for new materials involves an exploration of phase space by sequential synthesis and characterization of new solid-state compounds. Because materials interaction parameters (e.g., orbital overlap, orbital energy, magnetic coupling, etc.) can be tuned with pressure, phase space can also be traversed with pressure, potentially allowing a property of interest to be optimized. The advantages of pressure tuning include the ability to tune rapidly and cleanly, typically without introducing disorder, phase separation, or other complicating factors. Demonstration of the existence of materials that exhibit improved properties ...
Adenosine-induced atrioventricular block: A rapid and reliable method to assess surgical and radiofrequency catheter ablation of accessory atrioventricular pathways

Abstract Adenosine has been shown to inhibit anterograde and retrograde conduction through the atrioventricular (AV) node while having little or no effect on accessory pathway conduction. Its rapid onset of action and short half-life make it particularly suitable for repetitive measurements. In this study, the utility of adenosine was tested in assessing completeness of accessory pathway ablation. Sixteen patients with an accessory pathway were studied (eight surgical ablations, eight catheter ablations with radiofrequency energy). Before ablation, no accessory pathway was sensitive to adenosine. Twelve patients with pre-excitation showed high grade AV node block with maximal pre-excitation on the administration of adenosine during atrial pacing. Four patients with a concealed accessory pathway demonstrated high grade AV block without evidence of latent anterograde accessory pathway conduction. Preablation ventriculoatrial (VA) block was not observed in any of the 16 patients in response to adenosine during ventricular pacing. Immediately after accessory pathway ablation, all patients developed AV and VA block with the administration of adenosine during atrial and ventricular pacing, respectively. These findings were confirmed during follow-up study 1 week later. Atrioventricular block during atrial and ventricular pacing with adenosine affords a reliable and immediate assessment of successful pathway ablation.
Vibrational echoes for classical and quantum solutes

The infrared vibrational echo measurement has the capacity to discriminate among spectral line-broadening processes according to time scale. Modelling infrared vibrational echoes in condensed phases at the molecular level requires computing the dynamics of large, anharmonic systems, a task far more tractable in classical than in quantum mechanics. The use of classical trajectory data to compute vibrational echoes raises the issue of the quantitative relationship between classical and quantum vibrational echo calculations. This relationship is addressed here in classical and quantum calculations of the vibrational echo for an anharmonic oscillator coupled to a harmonic solvent. Our calculations demonstrate that for a high-frequency solute coupled to a low-frequency solvent, in which the echo is dominated by pure dephasing dynamics, a fully classical calculation can represent a reasonable approximation to the quantum mechanical result.
Thomas Bradwardine on God and the Foundations of Modality

Scholars have claimed that the fourteenth-century thinker Thomas Bradwardine held that God's will freely determined what was necessary, possible and impossible and in this regard, he was a medieval precursor to Descartes. In this article, I argue against this interpretation of Bradwardine. I show that Bradwardine held that objects derive their modal status based on whether God's necessary and immutable being isrepugnant or non-repugnant to their existence. I offer readings of thepassages in which Bradwardine appears to state that God's will determines modality that render them consistent with the non-voluntarist interpretation of his modal theory.
I Think I Am Doing Great but I Feel Pretty Bad About It Affective Versus Cognitive Verbs and Self-Reports

Four experiments were conducted to examine the effect of responding to self-report items framed with either a cognitive verb (think) or an affective verb (feel). Participants' open-ended self-descriptions were significantly more negative when they responded to a feel prompt than when they responded to a think prompt (Experiments 1 and 2). This effect persisted and influenced scores on a subsequent measure of self-esteem (Experiment 2). Substituting the verb think for feel in the Rosenberg self-esteem scale resulted in significantly higher reported self-esteem for female participants but not for male participants (Experiments 3 and 4). The research contributes to the literature demonstrating the subtle effects of word choice on responses to self-report items.
The decomposition of YBa2Cu3O7 − x at low oxygen pressures

Abstract The solid state decomposition of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 − x (1-2-3) has been determined by thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction over the range of oxygen partial pressure 10 −5 -1 atm and the temperature range 400–950°C. The derived phase stability diagram contains fields of stability of 1-2-3-) [Y 2 BaCuO 5 (2-1-1) + BaCuO 2 + Cu 2 O], [2-1-1 + BaCuO 2 + BaCu 2 O 2 ], [2-1-1 + YBa 3 Cu 2 O x (1-3-2) + BaCu 2 O 2 and [2-1-1 + BaCu 2 O 2 + BaO].
EVIDENCE AGAINST A PROGESTERONE-LIKE ACTION OF ASCORBIC ACID

ASCORBIC ACID is known to be present in high concentration in the corpus luteum, and to be increased in concentration in the uterus during progestational changes, due to the effect of progesterone (I). It is also stated that lowered concentration of ascorbic acid in the guinea pig can prevent proper progestational proliferation or, after it has taken place and pregnancy has supervened, removal of this substance from the diet can cause a termination of the pregnancy (2). This evidence led Israel and Meranze to suspect that perhaps vitamin C is associated with progesterone in bringing about progestational proliferation and that alone it may be able to cause similar changes (3). They have published an article (1941) in which they report the results of experiments indicating that vitamin C has this effect. The present work was undertaken as a repetition of their investigation.
Serum amyloid A, the major vertebrate acute-phase reactant.

The serum amyloid A (SAA) family comprises a number of differentially expressed apolipoproteins, acute-phase SAAs (A-SAAs) and constitutive SAAs (C-SAAs). A-SAAs are major acute-phase reactants, the in vivo concentrations of which increase by as much as 1000-fold during inflammation. A-SAA mRNAs or proteins have been identified in all vertebrates investigated to date and are highly conserved. In contrast, C-SAAs are induced minimally, if at all, during the acute-phase response and have only been found in human and mouse. Although the liver is the primary site of synthesis of both A-SAA and C-SAA, extrahepatic production has been reported for most family members in most of the mammalian species studied. In vitro, the dramatic induction of A-SAA mRNA in response to pro-inflammatory stimuli is due largely to the synergistic effects of cytokine signaling pathways, principally those of the interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 type cytokines. This induction can be enhanced by glucocorticoids. Studies of the A-SAA promoters in several mammalian species have identified a range of transcription factors that are variously involved in defining both cytokine responsiveness and cell specificity. These include NF-κB, C/EBP, YY1, AP-2, SAF and Sp1. A-SAA is also post-transcriptionally regulated. Although the precise role of A-SAA in host defense during inflammation has not been defined, many potential clinically important functions have been proposed for individual SAA family members. These include involvement in lipid metabolism/transport, induction of extracellular-matrix-degrading enzymes, and chemotactic recruitment of inflammatory cells to sites of inflammation. A-SAA is potentially involved in the pathogenesis of several chronic inflammatory diseases: it is the precursor of the amyloid A protein deposited in amyloid A amyloidosis, and it has also been implicated in the pathogenesis of atheroscelerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
The role of attentiveness, mobility history, and separation of hiding sites on stage IV search behavior

Abstract The relationship between visual attentiveness, search behavior, and duration of independent mobility was examined for fifty-six 8- to 10-month-old infants presented with three versions of the Stage IV object permanence task. The number and spatial separation of hiding sites was manipulated to explore the role of these factors on visual attention and search performance. In a repeated measures design, perseverative search errors were less likely on both a two- and a six-location task with equally wide separation of the A and B hiding sites than on a two-location task with A and B close together, thus indicating that spatial separation of sites is a more important contributor to successful search than number of hiding sites alone. In addition, visual attentiveness was significantly associated with correct search at B in all three versions of the task. A significant developmental relationship was found between the length of time infants had been independently mobile and visual attentiveness during the hiding procedure. These findings are discussed in terms of the transition to self-produced mobility and expanding spatial experience in the second half of the first year and how visual attentiveness and search performance might improve as a function of such changes.
Synthesis and structures of Zn(C6H12OS2)2(ClO4)2 and Zn(C3H6NS2)2(C3H4N2)--model compounds for the Zn sites in RNA polymerase.

Abstract Model compounds for the Zn sites of the β′ and the β subunits in RNA polymerase [1] were synthesized. Single crystal structures and X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements for these two model complexes are reported. In Zn(C 6 H 12 OS 2 ) 2 (ClO 4 ) 2 , the Zn is coordinated by four sulfur and two oxygen atoms. The average ZnS bond length is 2.514 A and the ZnO bond length is 2.089 A, which are similar to these bond distances reported for the Zn site in the β′ subunit of RNA polymerase. In Zn(C 3 H 6 NS 2 ) 2 (C 3 H 4 N 2 ), the Zn atom is coordinated by four sulfur atoms and one nitrogen atom of an imidazole group. The average of the ZnS bond length is 2.469 A and the ZnN bond length is 2.009 A, which are also similar to the ZnS and ZnN bonds in the β subunits of RNA polymerase.
Assimilation of multiple data sets with the ensemble Kalman filter to improve forecasts of forest carbon dynamics

The ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) has been used in weather forecasting to assimilate observations into weather models. In this study, we examine how effectively forecasts of a forest carbon cycle can be improved by assimilating observations with the EnKF. We used the EnKF to assimilate into the terrestrial ecosystem (TECO) model eight data sets collected at the Duke Forest between 1996 and 2004 (foliage biomass, fine root biomass, woody biomass, litterfall, microbial biomass, forest floor carbon, soil carbon, and soil respiration). We then used the trained model to forecast changes in carbon pools from 2004 to 2012. Our daily analysis of parameters indicated that all the exit rates were well constrained by the EnKF, with the exception of the exit rates controlling the loss of metabolic litter and passive soil organic matter. The poor constraint of these two parameters resulted from the low sensitivity of TECO predictions to their values and the poor correlation between these parameters and the observed va...
Roller coaster headaches revisited.

Abstract Background Roller coasters are probably one of the more popular rides at amusement parks around the world. Despite their relative safety, nontraumatic intracranial injuries have been reported following roller coaster rides. The presence of an intracranial arachnoid cyst may increase the risk of nontraumatic injury in this setting. Case description We describe a 33-year-old female with a left middle fossa arachnoid cyst who presented with increasing headaches from bilateral subdural hygromas after a roller coaster ride. The patient underwent bilateral burr hole drainage of her subdural hygromas with resolution of her symptoms. Conclusion This case demonstrates the potential risks of intracranial injury in patients with an underlying arachnoid cyst who engage in certain types of recreational activity.
A political base of a polyphonic debate

Abstract The energy and passion of the interpretative accounting researchers represent a ray of light in what is otherwise the rather gray and uninspiring sky of academic accounting research, at least in the US. In commenting on the polyphonic debate engaged in by the “young” interpretativist researchers, I consider two points. First, I take issue with the supposition that the “mainstream” is not as homogenous as it appears. Second, to propose that interpretative accounting research can gain acceptance purely on its merits is, at best, politically naive. I conclude by calling for international solidarity among the different research genres. Only through mutual appreciation and support can the reputational hierarchies be changed such that diversity, innovation, and relevance are again recognized as primary criteria for evaluating academic accounting research.
FORCE PREDICTION BY PIV IMAGING: A MOMENTUM-BASED APPROACH

Abstract A momentum-based method for determining the instantaneous force on a body is formulated for application to quantitative imaging of vortex shedding from a cylinder. It involves a control volume that is fixed to the reference frame of an accelerating body and requires only the instantaneous velocity within the control volume and derivatives of velocity along the control surface.
Gender Variation in Partner Abuse: Findings From a Conservative Christian Denomination

This study examines three areas of intimate partner violence in a conservative Christian denomination, noting gender differences in patterns of abuse among men and women. Specifically investigating patterns of victimization, the study identifies women as targets of intimate terrorism. Women who experienced escalating violence and sexual violence also reported emotional abuse, controlling behaviors, and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that are typical of intimate terrorism. Women who endured potentially lethal violence had the added associated action of calling the police or 911. Although factors that are associated with male victimization also feature controlling behaviors, the control is not associated with PTSD or associated fear behaviors that are typical of intimate terrorism.
The value of retirement income streams: the value of military retirement

Abstract We examine issues surrounding the value of military retirement income. We then provide estimates of the expected present value of this income stream after taxes for singles, married couples, widows and widowers of military retirees. Finally, we contend that individuals should treat the after-tax present value of military retirement income as a bond in their family portfolio. When so considered, it can dramatically affect the family’s asset allocation.
Nationalism, Collective Action, and Rationality

Since Olson's free-rider paradox, scholars have questioned the applicability of rational choice analyses to the study of nationalism and other forms of collective action. The most heated debates have centered on the participation of ordinary group members rather than elites. Leaders lack the material resources to adequately remunerate grassroots activists for their exploits or to individually punish defectors. This article posits that the problem lies not with the strategic thinking of nonelites but with the way rationality has been conceptualized in the scholarly literature. We should challenge the standard assumption that rational behavior is limited to accruing material rewards. This article will reexamine this conjecture in light of alternative interpretations underscoring that individuals endeavor to maximize nonmaterial utilities.
Limited Downstream Response of Stream Channel Size to Urbanization in a Humid Tropical Basin

Stream channel changes are often assumed to propagate downstream of the disturbed or urbanized reach, especially where the main controlling variables of discharge and sediment load vary regularly in the downstream direction. A survey of bankfull cross-sectional sizes at 10 stations along a tropical stream shows that downstream propagation of the disturbance may not always occur. Serial regression analysis suggests that a reduction in channel size induced by urbanization did not extend beyond the urbanized reach. Furthermore, local channel change did not alter the downstream log linear trend between channel size and basin area. Apparently, the storage of floodwaters and sediments on floodplains reduced the downstream effects of urbanization.
Comparing the Roles of Political Appointees and Career Executives in the U.S. Federal Executive Branch

This study uses Anthony Downs’s well-known typology of bureaucratic roles (climbers, conservers, advocates, zealots, and statesmen) as a theoretical template to examine the roles of political appointees and career executives serving in Washington, D.C. during the Reagan administration. Officials were asked to rank various personal goals in a 1987 survey. Political appointees were more likely to endorse climber (career advancement) and zealot (policy promotion) goals. Career executives were more likely to endorse advocate (support for the organization) responses. Notably, both political and career officials ranked zealot and statesman goals highly, suggesting that each group gains significant psychic income from supporting policies they believe in and from serving their country. Furthermore, each group was relatively unlikely to endorse conserver options, suggesting that those who reach the highest rungs of the civil service, whether political or career, are not motivated by job security or a limited workload.
Stability of lorazepam diluted in bacteriostatic water for injection at two temperatures

Lorazepam is commonly used to produce sedation in infants. As errors may occur with the measurement of small volumes of concentrated drugs, we studied the stability of lorazepam diluted from 4 mg/ml to 1 mg/ml in bacteriostatic water for injection at two temperatures. The diluted lorazepam was stored in 10 glass vials (five at 22 degrees C and five at 4 degrees C). Samples were collected at 0, 7, 14, 28, 42, 56, 70 and 91 days after storage at each temperature. Lorazepam was measured in duplicate from each of five vials (n = 10) at each temperature by a specific and stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method. After 7 days' storage, the mean lorazepam concentration was 88% of the original concentration at 22 degrees C, and 90% of the original concentration at 4 degrees C. After 2 weeks of storage, the mean lorazepam concentration was 42% of the original concentration at 22 degrees C, and 1.5% of the original concentration at 4 degrees C. Crystals appeared after 4 weeks of storage at 22 degrees C and after 2 weeks of storage at 4 degrees C. At 3 months the mean lorazepam concentration was 6.1% and 7.5% of the original concentration at 22 degrees C and 4 degrees C, respectively. Thus, lorazepam diluted in bacteriostatic water for injection and stored in glass vials is stable for less than 7 days at 22 degrees C and for 7 days at 4 degrees C.
The role of pediatric neuropsychological assessment in primary care practice.

As medical practitioners, physicians are typically the first clinical professionals to evaluate a child. In addition, physicians are one of the few clinicians who maintain an ongoing, consistent relationship with children and their parents. In contrast, pediatric neuropsychologists typically serve as consultants who work with children for a brief, circumscribed period of time. The purpose of the present article is to provide an overview of pediatric neuropsychological assessment and outline the ways in which pediatric neuropsychology contributes to the practice of primary care physicians and the care of children. Pediatric neuropsychological assessment involves the examination of children’s neurocognitive and neurobehavioral functioning. 1-3 Specifically, it involves the integration of information across a number of domains within the context of development and brain/behavior relationships (the interaction between cognitive functioning, medical issues, and psychiatric factors). Pediatric neuropsychological assessment includes the evaluation of children’s intellectual ability, memory, attention, executive/ organizational skills, perceptual‐spatial skills, graphomotor-coordination skills, and socio-emotional functioning. Psychoeducational testing is often included for the assessment of learning and academic achievement. Developmental testing includes the assessment of children under the age of 5 and involves the evaluation of skill acquisition across a number of domains (eg, gross- and fine-motor skills, communication, self-help skills, and sociability). Pediatric neuropsychological evaluations are more comprehensive than evaluations conducted within the school setting. The primary purpose of a school-based evaluation is the assessment of a child’s functioning within the school environment, the identification of barriers to a child’s successful academic performance, and determination of eligibility for special education services or accommodations (Individuals with Disabil
Comparisons of psychophysical and neurophysiological studies of cochlear implants

This paper compares psychophysical and neural studies of electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve with the goal of evaluating the relevance of single-unit animal models for the development of cochlear prostheses for profoundly deaf humans. Comparative psychophysical studies with implanted deaf subjects indicate that animal models, at least nonhuman primates, provide a close match to humans, though this is not always true for acoustic stimulation of normal-hearing subjects. However, the human-animal comparisons, especially those involving electrical stimuli, need further study using more carefully matched conditions. Comparisons of psychophysical and neurophysiological thresholds for electrical stimulation in animals reveal consistently higher thresholds in the neural studies. A number of factors which may account for these differences are discussed. A partial resolution of the problem could result from conducting neurophysiological and behavioral studies in the same animal. Finally, comparison of psychophysical and neurophysiological studies of temporal encoding suggest that there may be more information encoded in the auditory nerve than is used by the system, at least for nonspectral frequency discrimination. This points to a need for further analysis of the processing of this information at higher levels in the auditory pathway.
Novel Strategy for Selection of Monoclonal Antibodies Against Highly Conserved Antigens: Phage Library Panning Against Ephrin-B2 Displayed on Yeast

Ephrin-B2 is predominately expressed in endothelium of arterial origin, involved in developmental angiogenesis and neovasculature formation through its interaction with EphB4. Despite its importance in physiology and pathological conditions, it has been challenging to produce monoclonal antibodies against ephrin-B2 due to its high conservation in sequence throughout human and rodents. Using a novel approach for antibody selection by panning a phage library of human antibody against antigens displayed in yeast, we have isolated high affinity antibodies against ephrin-B2. The function of one high affinity binder (named as ‘EC8’) was manifested in its ability to inhibit ephrin-B2 interaction with EphB4, to cross-react with murine ephrin-B2, and to induce internalization into ephrin-B2 expressing cells. EC8 was also compatible with immunoprecipitation and detection of ephrin-B2 expression in the tissue after standard chemical fixation procedure. Consistent with previous reports on ephrin-B2 induction in some epithelial tumors and tumor-associated vasculatures, EC8 specifically detected ephrin-B2 in tumors as well as the vasculature within and outside of the tumors. We envision that monoclonal antibody developed in this study may be used as a reagent to probe ephrin-B2 distribution in normal as well as in pathological conditions and to antagonize ephrin-B2 interaction with EphB4 for basic science and therapeutic applications.
The myth of the civic nation

Abstract The idea of a purely civic nationalism has attracted Western scholars, most of whom rightly disdain the myths that sustain ethnonationalist theories of political community. Civic nationalism is particularly attractive to many Americans, whose peculiar national heritage encourages the delusion that their mutual association is based solely on consciously chosen principles. But this idea misrepresents political reality as surely as the ethnonationalist myths it is designed to combat. And propagating a new political myth is an especially inappropriate way of defending the legacy of Enlightenment liberalism from the dangers posed by the growth of nationalist political passions.
Direct activity measurements in liquid Ag-Cu alloys using a valved Knudsen cell-mass spectrometer system

The primary objective of this investigation was to demonstrate a new method of measuring activities. The mass spectrometric analysis of effusates from a unique valved Knudsen cell was used to determine the activity of Ag in the liquid Ag−Cu system at 1400 K. The alloy compositions were varied from one composition extreme to the otherin situ. The system exhibits positive deviation from ideal behavior, and the results are in agreement with previous investigations and are summarized by the equation $$1n\gamma _{{\rm A}g} = \left( {1.116 \pm 0.034} \right)\left( {1 - X_{Ag} } \right)^2 $$
An Estimation of a Simulated Viscoelastic Subbottom Parameter Using Statistical Digital Signal Processing Methods

The mean-square wave response of a lightly damped thermo-viscoelastic medium to a special type of nonstationary random excitation is determined. The excitation function on the thermoviscoelastic medium is taken in the form of a product of a well defined, slowly varying envelope function, and a part which prescribes the statistical characteristics of the excitation. The rectangular step function is used for the envelope function, and noise with an exponentially decaying harmonic correlation function is used to prescribe the statistical property of the excitation. By taking into consideration the slow variation envelope function and the wave characteristics of the lightly damped thermoviscoelastic medium, the mean square response is evaluated by using F.F.T.
Homolog pairing and meiotic progression in Coprinus cinereus

We have used fluorescence in situ hybridization to examine homolog pairing during the synchronous meiosis of the basidiomycete Coprinus cinereus. Using spread preparations of meiotic nuclei, we confirmed previous studies that showed that at 6 h post-karyogamy essentially all meiotic nuclei are in pachytene. We found that homolog pairing occurs rapidly after karyogamy, that a 1 Mb chromosome does not associate more quickly than a 2.5 Mb chromosome, and that interstitial, single-copy sites can associate stably prior to nucleolar fusion. Analysis of two probes for the same pair of homologs revealed that by 4 h after karyogamy each chromosome examined was at least partially paired in all meiotic cells. In addition, these studies showed that chromatin condensation increases after pairing and that chromatin shows stable compaction at pachytene.