cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A drought indicator reflecting ecosystem responses to water availability: The Normalized Ecosystem Drought Index

We thank the principal investigators of the AmeriFlux network, and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science for funding the AmeriFlux data resources. We thank the U.S. Department of Energy Lawrence Berkeley Lab Ameriflux Network Management Project for core site support. This research was supported through the National Science Foundation award EF1137306/MIT subaward 5710003122 to the University of California Davis; and other government, industry and foundation sponsors of the MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change. For a complete list of sponsors and U.S. government funding sources, please visit http://globalchange.mit.edu/sponsors/all.
Parental Stress in Families of Children With Disabilities

Parents of children with disabilities often experience a higher level of stress than parents of children without disabilities, regardless of categories of disabilities. Understanding parental stres...
Bacterial biogeography of adult airways in atopic asthma.

Perturbations to the composition and function of bronchial bacterial communities appear to contribute to the pathophysiology of asthma. Unraveling the nature and mechanisms of these complex associations will require large longitudinal studies, for which bronchoscopy is poorly suited. Studies of samples obtained by sputum induction and nasopharyngeal brushing or lavage have also reported asthma-associated microbiota characteristics. It remains unknown, however, whether the microbiota detected in these less-invasive sample types reflect the composition of bronchial microbiota in asthma. Bacterial microbiota in paired protected bronchial brushings (BB; n = 45), induced sputum (IS; n = 45), oral wash (OW; n = 45), and nasal brushings (NB; n = 27) from adults with mild atopic asthma (AA), atopy without asthma (ANA), and healthy controls (HC) were profiled using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Though microbiota composition varied with sample type (p < 0.001), compositional similarity was greatest for BB-IS, particularly in AAs and ANAs. The abundance of genera detected in BB correlated with those detected in IS and OW (r median [IQR] 0.869 [0.748–0.942] and 0.822 [0.687–0.909] respectively), but not with those in NB (r = 0.004 [− 0.003–0.011]). The number of taxa shared between IS-BB and NB-BB was greater in AAs than in HCs (p < 0.05) and included taxa previously associated with asthma. Of the genera abundant in NB, only Moraxella correlated positively with abundance in BB; specific members of this genus were shared between the two compartments only in AAs. Relative abundance of Moraxella in NB of AAs correlated negatively with that of Corynebacterium but positively with markers of eosinophilic inflammation in the blood and BAL fluid. The genus, Corynebacterium, trended to dominate all NB samples of HCs but only half of AAs (p = 0.07), in whom abundance of this genus was negatively associated with markers of eosinophilic inflammation. Induced sputum is superior to nasal brush or oral wash for assessing bronchial microbiota composition in asthmatic adults. Although compositionally similar to the bronchial microbiota, the microbiota in induced sputum are distinct, reflecting enrichment of oral bacteria. Specific bacterial genera are shared between the nasal and the bronchial mucosa which are associated with markers of systemic and bronchial inflammation.
The Hilbert-Waring theorem

Waring’s problem for exponent k is to prove that the set of nonnegative integers is a basis of finite order, that is, to prove that every nonnegative integer can be written as the sum of a bounded number of kth powers. We denote by g(k) the smallest number s such that every nonnegative integer is the sum of exactly s kth powers of nonnegative integers. Waring’s problem is to show that g(k) is finite; Hilbert proved this in 1909. The goal of this chapter is to prove the Hilbert-Waring theorem: the kth powers are a basis of finite order for every positive integer k.
A comparison of pathogens and contaminants based on the number of positive blood cultures in a set.

Summary A total of 2766 positive blood cultures, from the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Oklahoma City (1961–1981) were evaluated to determine the relationship of organism, pathogenicity and number of cultures (blood culture bottles) positive. Most patients had 2–4 blood cultures drawn. Organisms which are usually considered as nonpathogenic (Bacillus, Propionibacterium) were mostly found in only one of the cultures. Whereas those microorganisms which are considered pathogenic were most often found in two or more cultures. Organisms like Staphylococcus epidermidis are the most difficult to classify because they can be either pathogenic or contaminant. If an organisms which is normally considered a nonpathogen is found in two or more cultures, it should be considered as a potential pathogen until proven otherwise.
Are LCCEs Exempt from Income Taxes

Lamaze International Certified Childbirth Educators (LCCEs) may incorporate as tax-exempt organizations under the federal tax law if they meet all of the outlined requirements. They may then be considered exempt from income taxes for the purpose of any law that refers to tax-exempt organizations.
Barriers to paracellular permeability in rabbit esophageal epithelium.

Abstract Morphological and electrophysiological techniques were used to define the location and nature of the barriers to diffusion across the intercellular space (paracellular pathway) of rabbit esophageal epithelium. Transmission electron microscopy and light microscopy coupled with histochemistry identified a series of tight junctions and an intercellular material staining positively for neutral and acidic glycoconjugates as likely barrier candidates. Additional studies with lanthanum and horseradish peroxidase showed that the barrier to diffusion of tracers was present throughout the stratum corneum and extended to the upper three to seven layers of stratum spinosum and that these findings were most compatible with the presence of the intercellular glycoconjugate material but not the tight junctions. Further positive staining for carbohydrate moieties at the electron microscopic level with periodic acid-thiocarbohydrazide-silver proteinate sug gested that the glycoconjugate material was synthesized in the cells of the barrier layers and packaged in intracellular membrane-bound vesicles before secretion into the intercellular space. Although tight junctions were present in series within stratum corneum and, less commonly, extended to two to three cell layers of upper stratum spinosum, analysis of tracer studies, freeze-fracture replicas, electrophysiological data, and mannitol fluxes, while not conclusive, provided little to support a major role for these junctions in barrier function in this tissue.
NONLINEAR PROPELLANT SLOSHING IN A RECTANGULAR CONTAINER OF INFINITE LENGTH

ABSTRACT An approximate solution is given for the problem of nonlinear motion of liquid with a free fluid surface in a rectangular container of infinite length. The solution for free oscillations is derived with a perturbation method and the second-order nonresonant solution is presented. In the free oscillation case the system was detected to exhibit a hardening characteristic for fluid heights in the range 0 0.2. Results for surface elevation, fluid force, and liquid moment are presented for harmonic translatory excitation of the container. In addition to the deviations in magnitude due to large amplitude motion as a result of large excitation amplitude, a superharmonic resonance phenomenon which does not occur in linearized theory was detected. The magnification functions show the influence of the superharmonic content of the solution. While in linearized theory the fluid force and moment due to translatory excitation exhibit only odd vibration modes, the nonlinear results clearly show coupling with the even modes. Furthermore, the range at which the free fluid surface begins to splash is presented versus forcing frequency for various excitation amplitudes.
Performance analysis and comparison of machine learning algorithms for predicting nugget width of resistance spot welding joints

Recently, machine learning algorithms have been extensively utilized in resistance spot welding (RSW) applications to develop non-destructive weldability assessment systems to predict nugget width of RSW joints. However, different predictive models have different prediction performance that can be highly inconsistent. It is critical to compare predictive models and determine the efficient model(s). To the best of our knowledge, a comprehensive analysis and systematic prediction performance comparison of RSW nugget width prediction models have not been performed. This paper presents a statistical performance comparison methodology based on bootstrapping and hypothesis testing techniques to systematically compare the prediction performance of predictive models and determine the efficient model(s). Also, a deep neural net (DNN) nugget width prediction model is developed, analyzed, and compared with prior models. Bootstrapping is applied to generate sampling distributions for each predictive model, and statistical comparison tests are employed to analyze and compare the performance of each predictive model and identify statistically significant performance differences. Results of this analysis indicate that DNN, developed for RSW nugget width prediction in this paper, outperforms previous models.
The effect of respiratory viral assay panel on antibiotic prescription patterns at discharge in adults admitted with mild to moderate acute exacerbation of COPD: a retrospective before- after study.

Despite well-defined criteria for use of antibiotics in patients presenting with mild to moderate Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (AECOPD), their overuse is widespread. We hypothesized that following implementation of a molecular multiplex respiratory viral panel (RVP), AECOPD patients with viral infections would be more easily identified, limiting antibiotic use in this population. The primary objective of our study was to investigate if availability of the RVP decreased antibiotic prescription at discharge among patients with AECOPD. This is a single center, retrospective, before (pre-RVP) - after (post-RVP) study of patients admitted to a tertiary medical center from January 2013 to March 2016. The primary outcome was antibiotic prescription at discharge. Groups were compared using univariable and multivariable logistic-regression. A total of 232 patient-episodes were identified, 133 following RVP introduction. Mean age was 68.1 (pre-RVP) and 68.3 (post-RVP) years respectively (p = 0.88). Patients in pre-RVP group were similar to the post-RVP group with respect to gender (p = 0.54), proportion of patients with BMI < 21(p = 0.23), positive smoking status (p = 0.19) and diagnoses of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA, p = 0.16). We found a significant reduction in antibiotic prescription rate at discharge in patients admitted with AECOPD after introduction of the respiratory viral assay (pre-RVP 77.8% vs. post-RVP 63.2%, p = 0.01). In adjusted analyses, patients in the pre-RVP group [OR 2.11 (CI: 1.13–3.96), p = 0.019] with positive gram stain in sputum [OR 4.02 (CI: 1.61–10.06), p = 0.003] had the highest odds of antibiotic prescription at discharge. In patients presenting with mild to moderate Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (AECOPD), utilization of a comprehensive respiratory viral panel can significantly decrease the rate of antibiotic prescription at discharge.
Enhancing Object Detection in Adverse Conditions using Thermal Imaging.

Autonomous driving relies on deriving understanding of objects and scenes through images. These images are often captured by sensors in the visible spectrum. For improved detection capabilities we propose the use of thermal sensors to augment the vision capabilities of an autonomous vehicle. In this paper, we present our investigations on the fusion of visible and thermal spectrum images using a publicly available dataset, and use it to analyze the performance of object recognition on other known driving datasets. We present an comparison of object detection in night time imagery and qualitatively demonstrate that thermal images significantly improve detection accuracy.
Evolving thresholds for liver transplantation in hepatocellular carcinoma: A Western experience.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Once considered an experimental treatment with dismal survival rates, liver transplantation for HCC entered a new era with the establishment of the Milan criteria over 20 years ago. In the modern post-Milan-criteria era, 5-year survival outcomes are now upwards of 70% in select patients. Liver transplantation (LT) is now considered the optimal treatment for patients with moderate to severe cirrhosis and HCC, and the rates of transplantation in the United States are continuing to rise. Several expanded selection criteria have been proposed for determining which patients with HCC should be candidates for undergoing LT with similar overall and recurrence-free survival rates to patients within the Milan criteria. There is also a growing experience with downstaging of patients who fall outside conventional LT criteria at the time of HCC diagnosis with the goal of tumor shrinkage via locoregional therapies to become a candidate for transplantation. The aim of this review article is to characterize the various patient selection criteria for LT, discuss balancing organ stewardship with outcome measures in HCC patients, present evidence on the role of downstaging for large tumors, and explore future directions of LT for HCC.
Clinical Outcomes after Pediatric Lung Transplantation at Cystic Fibrosis Care Centers

Purpose Clinical outcomes remain extremely poor for children with cystic fibrosis undergoing lung transplantation. Since 1961, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has maintained a network of accredited Cystic Fibrosis Care Centers (CFCC) designated to deliver specialized, multidisciplinary care for people with cystic fibrosis (CF). While this integrated clinical approach is thought to be beneficial in patients undergoing transplantation, it remains unknown whether lung transplantation at a CFCC is associated with improved long-term outcomes among children with CF. Methods We used the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients to identify all children (age Results We included 336 children with CF who underwent lung transplantation during the study period. Of these patients, 229 (68%) were transplanted at CFCCs. During a median follow-up time of 2.5 person-years, 35 (10%) children experienced graft failure or underwent retransplantation, and 7 (2%) children were lost to follow-up. In our multivariable Cox proportional hazards model, there was no significant difference in graft survival (HR 1.13, 95% CI 0.82-1.56) or overall survival (HR 1.10, 95% CI 0.77-1.57). Conclusion In children with CF, lung transplantation at a designated CFCC was not associated with a significant improvement in overall or graft survival. While treatment at a CFCC may not be associated with improved survival after pediatric lung transplantation, specialized care at a CFCC may result in improvements in other aspects of care which could not be assessed in this analysis.
Food insecurity and substance use in people with HIV infection and substance use disorder.

Background: Food insecurity and substance use are common among people living with HIV (PLWH). Substance use may help people cope with hunger and thus be associated with food insecurity, but the ass...
32-LB: Early Selective Loss of CGRP Sensory Innervation to Cutaneous Arterioles May Be an Early Prediabetic Feature Developing prior to the Onset of Overt Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) in Rhesus Monkeys and Humans Instead of Being a Consequence

Vasculopathy complications of T2D cause limited tissue perfusion, ulcers, and often amputation. Mechanisms underlying T2D vasculopathy remain ambiguous. Compare to normal controls, multi-molecular immunofluorescence of glabrous hand and foot skin biopsies from 12T2D monkeys and 35 humans revealed a consistent depletion of CGRP containing sensory innervation (CGRPsens) that normally mediates local vasodilatation of cutaneous resistance arterioles. By contrast, arteriole vasoconstricting noradrenergic sympathetic innervation (NAsymp) remained largely intact. Thus, a vasoconstrictive imbalance could potentially impede arteriole blood flow contributing to hypertension and reduced capillary perfusion. Further analyses of monkeys indicated that this neurovascular pathology may begin during prediabetic metabolic syndrome. Surprisingly, the NAsymp and a separate set of CGRPsens to precapillary arterioles and capillaries initially remained intact in the T2D monkeys and humans and may even be increasing. This may be a maladaptive response to dilate and increase capillary perfusion to compensate for a reduced arteriole supply. As such, dilatation of the capillaries may increase their blood volume, but inadvertently reduce the rate of blood flow resulting in anoxia. In advanced T2D, a de novo superficial shunt pathology appears and capillaries begin to deteriorate. In contrast to this neurovascular pathology occurring early or before overt T2D onset, we and others have non-painful and painful T2D neuropathies involving other types of tactile sensory innervation typically occur after T2D hyperglycemia is well established. Thus, the early stage neurovascular pathology may be a direct contributor to the onset of 2TD instead of being a consequence of TD2 hyperglycemia, and may be a potential target for early detection and pre-emptive treatment. Disclosure F. Rice: None. G. Houk: None. B.C. Hansen: None. X. Tigno: None. P. Albrecht: None.
Absolute lymphocyte count on the first day of thymoglobulin predicts relapse-free survival in matched unrelated peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

Anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) targets in-vivo T lymphocytes. Variations in the recipient absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) might result in a variable exposure of ATG. We hypothesized that recipient A...
Rationalizing Calcium Electrodeposition Behavior by Quantifying Ethereal Solvation Effects on Ca2+ Coordination in Well-Dissociated Electrolytes

Author(s): Driscoll, DM; Dandu, NK; Hahn, NT; Seguin, TJ; Persson, KA; Zavadil, KR; Curtiss, LA; Balasubramanian, M | Abstract: Ca-ion electrochemical systems have been pushed to the forefront of recent multivalent energy storage advances due to their use of earth-abundant redox materials and their high theoretical specific densities in relation to monovalent or even other more widely explored multivalent-charge carriers. However, significant pitfalls in metal plating and stripping arise from electrolyte decomposition and can be related to the coordination environment around Ca2+ with both the negatively charged anion and the organic-aprotic solvent. In this study, we apply multiple spectroscopic techniques in conjunction with density functional theory to evaluate the coordination environment of Ca2+ across a class of ethereal solvents. Through the combination of X-ray absorption fine structure and time-dependent density functional theory, descriptive measures of the local geometry, coordination, and electronic structure of Ca-ethereal complexes provide distinct structural trends depending on the extent of the Ca2+-solvent interaction. Finally, we correlate these findings with electrochemical measurements of calcium tetrakis(hexafluoroisopropoxy)borate (CaBHFIP2) salts dissolved within this class of solvents to provide insight into the preferred structural configuration of Ca2+ electrolytic solutions for optimized electrochemical plating and stripping.
Gaseous Dark Matter Detectors

Dark Matter detectors with directional sensitivity have the potential of yielding an unambiguous positive observation of WIMPs as well as discriminating between galactic Dark Matter halo models. In this article, we introduce the motivation for directional detectors, discuss the experimental techniques that make directional detection possible, and review the status of the experimental effort in this field.
Your culture, my values: the perpetuation of power relations in collaborative research in academic environments

Questo articolo indaga i problemi associati alla ricerca collaborativa nelle scuole di specializzazione dei paesi piu sviluppati, quando essa si interessa alle relazioni di potere tra paesi sviluppati e paesi in via di sviluppo. L’articolo esplora la mancanza di conoscenza dell’influenza del ricercatore, la partecipazione parziale degli stakeholder locali e la permanenza delle relazioni di potere pre-esistenti. L’autrice condivide una riflessione sulla sua esperienza di studentessa che, insieme ad altri undici studenti internazionali, supervisionati da due professori americani, provenienti da un’universita americana, nell’autunno del 2019, hanno studiato e viaggiato in Sierra Leone, dove hanno lavorato in collaborazione con studenti e professori locali. Sebbene il progetto fosse pensato per essere collaborativo, ha finito per produrre una collaborazione parziale. L’articolo si conclude con raccomandazioni per evitare gli stessi problemi. This article investigates problems arising from collaborative research in graduate schools in the developed world. It specifically examines how it relates to developed and developing countries’ power relations and explores the lack of knowledge of the influence of researcher, partial participation of local stakeholders, and a predominance of power relations. The author reflects on her experience as one of the eleven international students, supervised by two American professors, from an American university, who, in the Fall of 2019, studied and traveled to Sierra Leone, where they worked in collaboration with local students and professors. Although the project was meant to be collaborative, it ended up producing partial collaboration. The article concludes with recommendations to avoid the same issues.
Research Productivity and Its Relationship to Library Collections

Objective – The purpose of this study was to explore in the current academic library environment, the relationship between library collections data (collections’ size, expenditures, and usage) and faculty productivity (scholarly output). The researchers also examined the degree to which new and existing library metrics predict faculty productivity. Methods – Demographic data (e.g., faculty size, student size, research and development expenditures), library budget data (e.g., collection expenditures), collection use data (e.g., full-text article requests and database searches), and publication output for 81 doctoral granting universities in the United States were collected to explore potential relationships between research productivity, collection use, library budgets, collection size, and research expenditures using partial correlations. A hierarchical multiple regression was also used to ascertain the significance of certain predictors of research productivity (publications). Results – A correlation existed between the number of publications (research productivity) and library expenditures (total library expenditures, total library material expenditures, and ongoing library resource expenditures), collection size (volumes, titles, and ebooks), use of collection (full-text article requests and total number of references in the articles), and research and development expenditures. Another key finding from the hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that full-text article requests were the best predictor of research productivity, which uniquely explained 10.2% of the variation in publication. Conclusion – The primary findings were that full-text article requests, followed by library material expenditures and research expenditures, were found to be the best predictor of research productivity as measured by articles published.
Classifying single nucleotide polymorphisms in humans

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are the most common form of genetic variation amongst the human population and are key to personalized medicine. New tests are presented to distinguish pathogenic/malign (i.e., likely to contribute to or cause a disease) from nonpathogenic/benign SNPs, regardless of whether they occur in coding (exon) or noncoding (intron) regions in the human genome. The tests are based on the nearest neighbor (NN) model of Gibbs free energy landscapes of DNA hybridization and on deep structural properties of DNA revealed by an approximating metric (the h-distance) in DNA spaces of oligonucleotides of a common size. The quality assessments show that the newly defined PNPG test can classify a SNP with an accuracy about 73% for the required parameters. The best performance among machine learning models is a feed-forward neural network with fivefold cross-validation accuracy of at least 73%. These results may provide valuable tools to solve the SNP classification problem, where tools are lacking, to assess the likelihood of disease causing in unclassified SNPs. These tests highlight the significance of hybridization chemistry in SNPs. They can be applied to further the effectiveness of research in the areas of genomics and metabolomics.
Differentially Quantized Gradient Descent

Consider the following distributed optimization scenario. A worker has access to training data that it uses to compute the gradients while a server decides when to stop iterative computation based on its target accuracy or delay constraints. The only information that the server knows about the problem instance is what it receives from the worker via a rate-limited noiseless communication channel. We introduce the technique we call differential quantization (DQ) that compensates past quantization errors to make the descent trajectory of a quantized algorithm follow that of its unquantized counterpart. Assuming that the objective function is smooth and strongly convex, we prove that differentially quantized gradient descent (DQ-GD) attains a linear convergence rate of $\max\{\sigma_{\text{GD}}, \rho_{n}2^{-R}\}$ , where $\sigma_{\text{GD}}$ is the convergence rate of unquantized gradient descent (GD), $\rho_{n}$ is the covering efficiency of the quantizer, and $R$ is the bitrate per problem dimension $n$ . Thus at any $R\geq\log_{2}\rho_{n}/\sigma_{\text{GD}}$ , the convergence rate of DQ-GD is the same as that of unquantized GD, i.e., there is no loss due to quantization. We show a converse demonstrating that no GD-like quantized algorithm can converge faster than $\max\{\sigma_{\text{GD}}, 2^{-R}\}$ . Since quantizers exist with $\rho_{n}\rightarrow 1$ as $n\rightarrow\infty$ (Rogers, 1963), this means that DQ-GD is asymptotically optimal. In contrast, naively quantized GD where the worker directly quantizes the gradient attains only $\sigma_{\text{GD}}+\rho_{n}2^{-R}$ . The technique of differential quantization continues to apply to gradient methods with momentum such as Nesterov's accelerated gradient descent, and Polyak's heavy ball method. For these algorithms as well, if the rate is above a certain threshold, there is no loss in convergence rate obtained by the differentially quantized algorithm compared to its unquantized counterpart. Experimental results on both simulated and realworld least-squares problems validate our theoretical analysis.
Boilerplate Semantics: Judging Natural Language in Standard Deal Contracts

Many corporate finance lawsuits involve the interpretation of commonly-used boilerplate contracts, the meaning of which is thought to be widely understood. In some cases, however, judges interpret these contracts in ways that upend market actors’ expectations about the meaning of terms and frustrate the presumed intent of the parties. Given this experience, it is a source of frequent surprise that certain standard provisions continue to be used, sometimes almost verbatim, even after becoming notorious sources of conflict. A number of persuasive explanations have been advanced for this phenomenon, but this Essay argues that they are incomplete and that an overlooked additional factor helps to explain the persistence of trouble-making language. Many boilerplate clauses that become the subject of controversy share a type of ambiguous semantic structure that linguists know well, but that we as lawyers are rarely trained to identify. This type of structure lends itself well to boilerplate but contributes to confusion and opportunistic reading of contract language. Semantically ambiguous constructions can seem straightforward enough to a drafting lawyer on the first read, but they contain multiple layers of often-hidden meaning that provide fertile ground for later disputes. Despite the confusion that these structures create, their ambiguities are difficult to spot and correct, especially using the interpretive processes that we lawyers are accustomed to using. Thus, even earnest attempts to correct problematic language can end up falling short. This Essay identifies these structures using three well-known boilerplate provisions whose interpretations have proved controversial. The Essay also discusses ways in which lawyers can learn to recognize these structures and suggests that algorithms designed to process natural language may be able to “see” them even when humans struggle to do so.
Race and Ethnicity in Latin American History

Preface Introduction 1. The Sixteenth-Century Encounter, 1492-1550 2. The Seventeenth-Century Decline, 1580-1715 3. The Transitional Eighteenth Century, 1715-1825 4. New States and Struggles for Ethno-Racial Hegemony, 1820-1910 5. Ethnicity, Race, and National Identity, 1890-1960 6. Ethnicity and Race in the Late Twentieth Century.
13 Ways of Looking at Dred Scott

Dred Scott v. Sanford is a classic case that is relevant to almost every important question of contemporary constitutional theory. Dred Scott connected race to social status, to citizenship, and to being a part of the American people. One hundred fifty years later these connections still haunt us; and the twin questions of who is truly American and who American belongs to still roil our national debates. Dred Scott is a case about threats to national security and whether the Constitution is a suicide pact. It concerns whether the Constitution follows the flag and whether constitutional rights obtain in federally held lands overseas. And it asks whether, as Chief Justice Taney famously said of blacks, there are indeed some people who have no rights we Americans are bound to respect. Dred Scott remains the most salient example in debates over the legitimacy of substantive due process. It subverts our intuitions about the relative merits of originalism and living constitutionalism. It symbolizes the problem of constitutional evil and the question whether responsibility for great injustices lies in the Constitution itself or in the judges who apply it. Finally, Dred Scott encapsulates the central problems of judicial review in a constitutional democracy. One the one hand, Dred Scott raises perennial questions about the judicial role in cases of profound moral and political disagreement, and about judicial responsibility for the backlash and political upheaval that may result from judicial review. On the other hand, the political context of the Dred Scott decision suggests that the Supreme Court rarely strays far from the wishes of the dominant national political coalition. It raises the unsettling possibility that, given larger social and political forces, what courts do in highly contested cases is far less important than we imagine.
Quantitative studies on viral interference in suspended L cells. II. Factors affecting interference by UV-irradiated Newcastle disease virus against vesicular stomatitis virus.

Abstract Exposure of suspended L cells to NDV UV for 24 hours induced full protection against small doses of VSV: the cells grew without producing VSV antigen or infectious virus. As the cultures gradually regained susceptibility, the average yields of infectious virus per virus antigen-producing cell were as much as 1000 times lower than in controls. Reduced yields were also observed in cultures in which interference had not been solidly established. This implies that interference in this system is not an “all or none” phenomenon. Challenge of NDV UV -treated cells with VSV at multiplicities in excess of one partially overcame protection: the cells synthesized VSV antigen and were destroyed without yielding infectious virus. Large doses of noninfectious UV-irradiated VSV destroyed normal and protected cells alike, but in the absence of detectable synthesis of viral antigen. This toxic activity could not be separated from the virus particle.
Globalization and the Internationalization of Graduate Education: A Macro and Micro View

Since the 1990s, globalization has become a central phenomenon for all of society, including graduate education and particularly doctoral education. Globalization takes place in a context where doctoral education and research capacity are unevenly distributed and where a few research universities, mainly in wealthy countries, have become powerful social institutions. But all graduate education systems are increasingly part of an international context in which policy-makers — at every level — are aware of and responding to developments in higher education outside their national borders. For the ﬁ rst time, conditions exist for the emergence of a truly international system of doctoral education; this openness to innovation and expansion holds enormous potential for advancing a more effective future-oriented PhD.
A robust scalable cluster-based multi-hop routing protocol for wireless sensor networks

Wireless sensor networks are widely deployed for a wide range of applications for gathering information about the environment, monitoring huge building etc. However, the limited energy of the sensor nodes requires efficient gathering of information so that the network lifetime is increased. In literature it is proved that this efficiency can be achieved by clustering the sensor nodes in the network. Previously we proposed a single hop genetic based clustering protocol (GCA) for sensor networks. However, multi-hop routing techniques are known to be a practical approach to solving the problem of routing in sensor networks. In this paper, we present a new robust clustering based multi-hop routing protocol for wireless sensor networks. The proposed genetic clustering algorithm (M-GCA) employs evolutionary techniques to form an efficient virtual backbone. This backbone is used to support routing messages to the base station. Simulation results show that the proposed multi-hop routing protocol outperforms GCA, a single-hop clustering protocol in several scenarios.
Structure of the Eip28/29 gene, an ecdysone-inducible gene from Drosophila.

Abstract The EIPs 28 and 29 are a family of polypeptides identified originally by their ecdysone inducibility in Drosophila cell lines. At least two family members, 28III and 29III, appear to be primary translation products. Here we describe a unique Eip28/29 gene that must encode both primary products. The Eip28/29 gene is unique because the cloned genomic DNA hybridizes to both EIP 28 and 29 messenger RNAs under stringent conditions, but does not anneal detectably to other genomic sequences even under mild conditions. Furthermore the diverse products of this gene are not alleles because flies homozygous for the chromosomal region (71CD) containing the Eip28/29 gene produce mRNAs that translate to yield all the EIPs 28 and 29. We report here the sequence of a 2855-nucleotide region encompassing the Eip28/29 gene. By comparisons with complementary DNA sequences and by nuclease protection experiments we have derived a complete structure for the Eip28/29 transcription unit. The primary transcript is 2146 nucleotides long and is processed by the removal of three introns to yield the predominant mature transcript in tissue culture cells (979 nucleotides). This transcript probably corresponds to the 28III mRNA. Neither the start of the transcription unit nor the structure of the predominant transcript is affected by the hormone ecdysone. The genomic sequence reveals a series of heptanucleotide and octanucleotide repeats of unknown function that fall at about 50-nucleotide intervals within the first 150 nucleotides upstream from the transcription unit. In addition this sequence, when combined with previously published data, suggests that the consensus cap site sequence in Drosophila may be extended to include 13 nucleotides centered on the heptanucleotide core previously recognized by Snyder et al. (1982).
Constraints-based complex behavior in rich environments

In order to create a system capable of planning complex, constraints-based behaviors for an agent operating in a rich environment, two complementary frameworks were integrated. Linear Temporal Logic mission planning generates controllers that are guaranteed to satisfy complex requirements that describe reactive and possibly infinite behaviors. However, enumerating all the relevant information as a finite set of Boolean propositions becomes intractable in complex environments. The PAR (Parameterized Action Representation) framework provides an abstraction layer where information about actions and the state of the world is maintained; however, its planning capabilities are limited. The integration described in this paper combines the strengths of these two frameworks and allows for the creation of complex virtual agent behavior that is appropriate to environmental context and adheres to specified constraints.
Bayesian Inference for Finite-State Transducers

We describe a Bayesian inference algorithm that can be used to train any cascade of weighted finite-state transducers on end-to-end data. We also investigate the problem of automatically selecting from among multiple training runs. Our experiments on four different tasks demonstrate the genericity of this framework, and, where applicable, large improvements in performance over EM. We also show, for unsupervised part-of-speech tagging, that automatic run selection gives a large improvement over previous Bayesian approaches.
GRG Profiles: David A. Lieberman.

I was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and retain two important qualities of that heritage: a very flat ‘‘A’’ when I speak and an enduring love for the St. Louis Cardinals. Growing up in the Eisenhower postwar, 1950s, I experienced a world far different from that of my parents, who had known depression and World War. I knew about Russians, the Cold War, and the existential threat of the atomic bomb. My parents became community activists in our suburb of University City, just west of St. Louis, and provided important role models for my siblings and me. My father served on the City Council and my mother on the School Board, each for more than 25 years. These were elected, but unpaid, positions. Although my neither of my parents was unlikely to be leader, their message was clear: It is not sufficient to sit in the audience of life; it is important to get up on stage and try to make a difference—to try to make your community a better place. Lesson 2: Mentorship
Carbon Dioxide as a Sex-Determining Factor in Moina Macrocopa

1. Under certain conditions carbon dioxide may be employed to suppress completely the production of male young by crowded Cladoceran mothers. 2. Under conditions presumably associated with depression periods carbon dioxide is wholly ineffectual in the suppression of male production. 3. Lack of food, accumulation of waste products and alterations of the hydrogen-ion concentration of the medium have been advanced as possible causes of depression periods in Cladocera, but it is probable that many other factors are also associated with the phenomenon.
Imaging Pancreatic Cancer: The Role of Multidetector CT with Three-Dimensional CT Angiography

Over the past two decades, there have been significant technical advancements in computed tomography (CT). This has allowed CT to remain the gold standard for the evaluation of pancreatic pathology despite the advent of other imaging modalities, including MRI, PET and endoscopic ultrasound. Initially, CT scanners could only obtain 10-mm-thick slices at a rate of 4 slices per minute. Today, the current state of the art is multidetector CT (MDCT) technology, which allows the entire pancreas to be imaged by 1-mm slices in under 20 s. In addition, these new scanners allow true volume acquisition. The resultant data sets can be displayed not only as axial slices but also as a three-dimensional (3D) volume. The detail of these reconstructions when performed with volume rendering and maximum intensity projection techniques allows a detailed vascular mapping with accuracy that may exceed classic angiography. The use of thin collimation and dual-phase acquisition also improves the detection of hepatic metastasis as well as other sites of extrapancreatic disease. This article reviews the current state of the art of pancreatic imaging with specific emphasis on the use of MDCT, volume acquisitions and 3D arterial- and venous-phase vascular mapping. The advantages of these techniques and their impact on diagnosis and patient management are also addressed.
Future directions in scientific supercomputing for computational physics

NERSC, the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center, is a leading scientific computing facility for unclassified research, and has had a significant impact on computational physics in the U.S. Here we will summarize the recent experience at NERSC, and present the four key elements of our strategic plan for the next five years. Significant changes are expected to happen in computational science during this period. Supercomputer centers worldwide must continue to enhance their successful role as centers that bridge the gap between advanced development in computer science and mathematics on one hand, and scientific research in the physical, chemical, biological, and earth sciences on the other. Implementing such a strategy will position NERSC and other centers in the U.S. to continue to enhance the scientific productivity of the computational physics community, and to be an indispensable tool for scientific discovery.
Gene order in the major histocompatibility complex of the rat

The loci in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of the rat which code for class I and class II antigens—RT1.A and RT1.B, respectively — have previously been separated by laboratory-derived recombinants and by observations in inbred and wild rats. Closely linked to the MHC is the growth and reproduction complex (Grc) which contains genes influencing body size (dw-3) and fertility (ft). These phenotypic markers were used in this study to orient the A and B loci of the MHC. Two recombinants were used for mapping. The BIL(R1) animal is a recombinant between the MHC and Grc, and it carries the haplotype RT1.A lBlGrc+. The r10 animal is an intra-MHC recombinant, and it has the haplotype RT1.A nB1 Grc. These recombinants were characterized serologically, by mixed lymphocyte reactivity, by immune responsiveness to poly (Glu52Lys33Tyr15) and by the presence of the dw-3 gene. The data demonstrate that the gene order of the loci is: dw-3-RT1.B-RT1.A.
Adaptive changes in saccade amplitude : Oculocentric or orbitocentric mapping ?

Abstract The saccadic system rapidly adjusts the amplitude of refixation movements to visual targets when abnormal postsaccadic errors occur. This is called rapid saccadic adaptation. It is not yet clear whether this form of adaptation produces changes related to oculocentric mechanisms, such as retinal error or motor error, or orbitocentric mechanisms, such as eye or gaze position. These experiments were designed to test whether rapid saccadic adaptation was orbitocentric, oculocentric, or both by creating a precise sensory motor mismatch between the visual target and the required saccade. Measurements were made to determine adaptive changes as a function of (1) saccade direction; (2) eye position; and (3) saccade amplitude. Changes were found to be amplitude- and direction-specific but changes were generalized across a broad range of orbital positions. Two conditions of adaptation: increasing and decreasing amplitude, produced quantitatively similar results, indicating that similar mechanisms underlie both processes. Thus, these data support the view that changes during rapid saccadic adaptation are organized principally in a retina-referenced (oculocentric) map, but only broadly, if at all, in a head-referenced (orbitocentric) map. The changes are consistent with a mechanism represented in a spatial mapping of either retinal or motor error. Copyright © 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.
Synthesis of [2-3H-ethyl]S-(2-chloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethyl)-L-cysteine and its use in covalent-binding studies.

Abstract Metabolism of S-(2-chloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethyl)- l -cysteine (CTFC) yields chlorofluorothioacetyl fluoride, which reacts with cellular proteins to form stable lysine adducts. Little is known about the subcellular localization of these protein adducts or about their role in CTFC-induced nephrotoxicity. A method for the synthesis of CTFC and other cysteine S-conjugates labeled with 3H at the S-alkyl or S-alkenyl position would be useful in studies of S-conjugate metabolism and toxicity. Reaction of l -cysteine, chlorotrifluoroethene, 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene, and 3H-labeled water followed by repeated crystallization yielded radiochemically pure [3H]CTFC (235 mg, 20% yield; sp act 1.07 × 109 Bq/mmol), which was identical to CTFC by TLC, 1H NMR, and 19F NMR. 3H NMR revealed a doublet of triplets at 6.5 ppm with geminal and vicinal T-F couplings of 51.5 and 6.0 Hz, respectively, consistent with the proposed structure. When 2H-labeled water was used, [2H]CTFC was formed, and its structure was confirmed by 1H and 19F NMR, FAB-MS, and TLC. Analysis of renal and hepatic subcellular fractions of rats given 1, 10, or 100 μmol/kg [3H]CTFC showed a dose-dependent binding of 3H-containing metabolites to liver and kidney proteins.
Prospects for a new search for the electron electric-dipole moment in solid gadolinium-iron-garnet ceramics

We address a number of issues regarding solid-state electron electric-dipole moment (EDM) experiments, focusing on gadolinium-iron garnet [(GdIG) chemical formula ${\text{Gd}}_{3}{\text{Fe}}_{5}{\text{O}}_{12}$] as a possible sample material. GdIG maintains its high magnetic susceptibility down to 4.2 K, which enhances the EDM-induced magnetization of a sample placed in an electric field. We estimate that lattice polarizability gives rise to an EDM enhancement factor of approximately 20. We also calculate the effect of the demagnetizing field for various sample geometries and permeabilities. Measurements of intrinsic GdIG magnetization noise are presented, and the fluctuation-dissipation theorem is used to compare our data with the measurements of the imaginary part of GdIG permeability at 4.2 K, showing good agreement above frequencies of a few hertz. We also observe how the demagnetizing field suppresses the noise-induced magnetic flux, confirming our calculations. The statistical sensitivity of an EDM search based on a solid GdIG sample is estimated to be on the same level as the present experimental limit. Such a measurement would be valuable given the completely different methods and systematics involved. The most significant systematics in such an experiment are the magnetic hysteresis and the magnetoelectric effect. Our analysis shows that it should be possible to control these at the level of statistical sensitivity.