cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Connecticut Second Chance Pardon Gap

Connecticut Law Chapter 961a Section 54-142a, Chapter 960a Sections 54-76o and 54-130a allows individuals whose criminal records meet certain conditions to apply for pardons of their past criminal convictions. Proposed Bill SB 403, Connecticut’s “Clean Slate” Act, likewise would provide for automatic erasure of the records of a subset of individuals who can apply for pardons. Ascertaining, then applying existing pardons law and proposed “Clean Slate” law to a sample of 309,827 criminal histories of individuals with Connecticut convictions records, and then extrapolating to the estimated population of 450K individuals in the state with convictions, we estimate the share and number of people who are eligible to apply for pardons, under existing pardons and “Clean Slate” eligibility rules but have not received relief and therefore fall into the “second chance gap,” the difference between applications eligibility for and receipt of records relief. (We did not model legal financial obligations or other out of record criteria). Based on the methods described above, we find that approximately 88% of individuals with convictions (394K) are eligible to apply for pardons of their convictions, 80% (355K) for relief from all convictions. Under Clean Slate, 60% (266K) of individuals with convictions would be eligible for relief from their convictions, 30% (134K) for relief from all convictions. Based on reported records, the State pardoned 626 cases in the last year of available data (2019). At this rate, it would take 631 years for everyone currently eligible to apply for Pardons to get them, 425 years to clear the backlog of those eligible for relief under Clean Slate. The felony population would decline from 10% to 8% under Clean Slate, to 2% if all eligible to apply for pardons were automatically granted them. These facts make automated relief an administratively attractive option. However, due to deficiencies in the data and ambiguities in the law uncovered during our analysis, including regarding disposition, chargetype, and sentence completion criteria, to provide relief through “Clean Slate” automated approaches would require significant data normalization and cleaning efforts. We include, in Appendix E, statute drafting alternatives to address problems, based on previous Clean Slate efforts. Included in our report are our Methodology (Appendix A); Disposition Data Report (Appendix B); Appendix C (Common Charges); Detailed Absolute Pardon Statistics (Appendix D); Clearance Criteria Challenges and Legislative Drafting Alternatives (Appendix E). Appendix F contains further analyses by race. Black men are two times more likely to have a felony record and four times more likely to be incarcerated than white men, and black adult men are incarcerated at a rate that is 14-15 times their prevalence in the general population. (Appendix F) Automation of pardons relief and SB403 would both decrease racial disparities, but automation of pardons relief would do so to a much more considerable degree.
Modeling the Water-Energy Nexus for the Phoenix Active Management Area

Phoenix, an Active Management Area in the desert Southwest US, is the 5th most populated city in the US. Scarce local groundwater and water transported from external resources must be managed in the presence of different types of energy sources. Local and regional decision-makers are faced with answering challenging questions on managing water, energy supply, and demand over a few years to several decades. Prediction and planning for the interdependency of these entities can benefit from modeling the water and energy systems as well as their interactions with one another. In this paper, the integrated WEAP and LEAP tools and a modeling framework that externalizes their hidden linkage to an interaction model are described and compared using the Phoenix AMA. Loose coupling enabled by interaction modeling is a key for decision-policies that should be grounded at the nexus of the water-energy system of systems.
Acceptance: The Capacity for Acceptance of Self, Others, and Life Itself

It is our original, primordial, and life-affirming capacity for identificatory resonance with our essential others that makes it possible for us to cultivate the capacity for acceptance. Psychological growth involves a form of acceptance of oneself that can be achieved only in the context of a real relationship with a relatively psychologically mature person who is, for the most part, unconditionally accepting and serves as an identificatory figure. Self-acceptance is from the beginning intertwined with the acceptance of the essential other. Dialectically speaking, there can be no genuine acceptance of the Other without true self-acceptance.
Breach pair superfluidity: a brief review.

Interior gap superfluidity was introduced together with Frank Wilczek. Later on together with our collaborators, we generalized this new possibility of superfluidity to a more broader concept, breach pair superfluidity. In the occasion to celebrate Professor Frank Wilczek's seventieth birthday and his productive career in several major areas in physics, I dedicate this note to recall the exciting times of developing this idea, the main aspects of the proposed phase, and discussion on its stability condition.
Communities in conflict : Resolving differences through collaborative efforts in environmental planning and human service delivery

Increasingly, public administrators and managers in the fields of human service and environmental planning have been exploring new avenues to resolve complex and seemingly intractable public problems. Confronting such controversial issues as land management plans, common-pool resources, endangered species, welfare reform, health care and immigration are requiring new and more innovative ways of doing business - ways in which problem - solving and leadership is a shared pursuit of governmental agencies and concerned citizens. Since collaborative efforts in these arenas have recently reemerged as one avenue to resolve complex policy disputes, it is premature to give an accurate assessment of their long term viability. This research contributes to the emerging data base on collaboration by analyzing two successful case studies within the fields of environmental planning and human service delivery: The Clark County Habitat Conservation Plan for the Desert Tortoise and The Family Preservation and Family Support Program. Both groups demonstrate how affected parties can craft solutions through collaboration, dialogue and engagement. The collaborative planning of these two groups succeeded where many other groups dealing with the same or similar issues have failed. Given the right mixture of urgency, lack of better options, and committed and dynamic participants, solutions are possible. Through both qualitative and quantitative techniques, this study focuses on factors contributing to their success, limitations of these efforts, and possibilities for improving this method of handling, and ultimately resolving complex community issues.
Complexity of Accountability for Mass Atrocity

Over the past two decades, a new international regime of individual criminal accountability has emerged as a dominant regulatory mechanism to address gross human rights violations. At the same time, states are still pursuing claims against each other for human rights abuses in front of international courts. These two concepts of responsibility—individual and state—are not only fundamentally at odds with one another; they also exclude the third, critical aspect of political accountability—societal responsibility for past violence. This triple accountability—of individual perpetrators who committed the crimes, of the state that hired them to implement the practices, and of society that supported or tacitly approved repressive state policies—is a complex political condition that the current transitional justice framework is ill equipped to deal with. Individualization of accountability serves the retributive purpose of justice, but it is woefully inadequate to address the collective political ideologies that made such heinous crimes possible in the first place. Domestic elites can be enthusiastic supporters of individual human rights trials, but not because they want to bring about justice, rather because they want to shield the state and society from complicity in past crimes. To address this paradox, this article presents a new framework of postconflict accountability that includes individual, state, and societal responsibility for human rights violations.
MEMS for single-islet electroisletogram

This paper reports the first MEMS device designed for in vitro measuring of electroisletogram (EIG) of individual rat islets. Using vacuum to hold an islet in proximity to a microelectrode, strong EIG signals in millivolt range are obtained, while the noise is about 100µV pk-pk. This work proves the feasibility of using MEMS and EIG for high-throughput screening, in contrast to patch-clamp measurements, of islets for transplantation to treat diabetes.
Assessing the efficacy of antiepileptic treatments: the ketogenic diet.

Purpose: To evaluate the evidence for determining if the ketogenic diet is an effective treatment for epilepsy. Methods: A literature review of published data over the past 80 years concerning the ketogenic diet was performed, focusing on efficacy, tolerability, age of patient population, as well as study design. Results: There have been several studies involving prospective and retrospective studies showing the ketogenic diet to be a very efficacious treatment in epilepsy, particularly epilepsy in childhood. However, no Class 1 studies have been published concerning the efficacy of the ketogenic diet. Conclusions: The ketogenic diet appears to be a very effective treatment for epilepsy, particularly in childhood. It would be beneficial to have Class 1 studies available to help better define the role of the diet both in children and adults.
A radio-education intervention to improve maternal knowledge of obstetric danger signs

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether a radio-education intervention (REI) is associated with improved maternal knowledge of pregnancy danger signs (PDS) in Nicaragua. METHODS: This cross-sectional pilot study used pretests and posttests to evaluate whether an REI was associated with improved knowledge of PDS among 77 pregnant and postpartum women in Nicaragua. RESULTS: The total number of PDS identified by study participants increased from 130 before the intervention to 200 after the intervention, an increase of 53.8% (Wilcoxon signed-rank test (z) = -4.18; P < 0.00001). The three PDS for which participant knowledge increased significantly after the intervention were 1) swelling of the face and hands, 2) convulsions, and 3) vaginal bleeding. Participants who 1) reported having a sister who had experienced a pregnancy complication, 2) lived in an urban setting, and 3) had more than a sixth-grade education were significantly more likely to score higher on posttests related to knowledge of PDS than those without those attributes (90.9% versus 56.9% [Χ² (degrees of freedom) = 4.60 (1); P = 0.043; n = 76]; 75% versus 45.9% [Χ² = 6.8 (1); P = 0.009; n = 77]; and 62.5% (12+ years education) versus 79.3% (6-12 years) versus 50.0% (0-6 years education) versus 25.0% (no education) [Χ² = 8.11 (1); P = 0.044; n = 77] respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to the REI was associated with a significant increase in the ability to identify PDS. Further studies should establish whether this increase in knowledge of PDS is associated with increases in use of maternity care services and decreases in delays in seeking care.
The influence of three short-term weight loss interventions on self-efficacy, decisional balance, and processes of change in obese adults

Motivational and psychosocial outcomes have not been reported in behavioral weight loss programs utilizing the SenseWear Pro armband (SWA) and motivational interviewing; making it difficult to identify motivational components that may be related to weight loss. The Transtheoretical Model (TTM) is one model used to help explain motivation and behavior change through the constructs of decisional balance (DB), diet and physical activity self-efficacy (SE), and cognitive and behavioral processes of change (C-POC, B-POC). The purpose of this study was to assess the changes in TTM constructs of DB, SE, and both CPOC and B-POC in a randomized trial evaluating three different weight loss interventions in obese adults. Seventy-eight subjects (32 males and 46 females) completed one of three 8-week weight loss interventions with guidance from a health coach and the utilization of motivational interviewing techniques. Group 1 (n = 26) received a behaviorally guided weight loss program (GWLP), Group 2 (n = 26) received a self-monitoring tool called the SenseWear Pro Armband (SWA) with Weight management system (WMS) and Group 3 (n = 26) received both programming options (GWLP + SWA). Weight change and changes in TTM constructs of SE, DB (pros vs. cons), and C-POC and B-POC were assessed at baseline and at the completion of the intervention. Changes in variables across time and condition were assessed using multivariate ANOVAs and the magnitude of effects were reported using effect sizes. All interventions produced significant weight loss, with no significant differences between groups. Significant changes in TTM constructs were observed over time and some differences were evident between groups. Large effect sizes were found for improvements in
Has Prenatal Folate Supplementation Established an At-Risk Population for Age-Related Cognitive Decline?

Nutrition exerts a pervasive impact on normal and pathological conditions of the nervous system throughout life. Maternal folate supplementation during pregnancy has reduced developmental disorders of the nervous system, but may have also fostered an increase in individuals harboring genetic polymorphisms that compromise folate usage. Such individuals may harbor a lifetime requirement for additional dietary folate, often not met beyond peri/postnatal periods. An increased association of such polymorphisms has been detected in individuals with autism. Prenatal nutritional supplementation may have inadvertently established latent conditions that, in the absence of continued supplementation, may lead to age-related cognitive decline.
Association of many regions of the Bacillus subtilis chromosome with the cell membrane.

Unsheared lysates of Bacillus subtilis 168T(-) containing uniformly labeled deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) were exposed to varying doses of gamma rays to introduce double-strand scissions in the chromosome. From an estimate of the number-average molecular weight and the amount of DNA bound to membrane after irradiation, about 70 to 90 regions of the bacterial chromosome were detected in membrane fractions. Since this number was independent of the molecular weight of the DNA (i.e., the extent of fragmentation of the chromosome), it is thought to represent an upper limit in the number of membrane-binding sites per chromosome.
Producing the Best for Aerospace and Defense: Systems Architecting and Engineering Program at the University of Southern California

The Systems Architecting and Engineering Graduate Program at the University of Southern California began as a graduate educational program primarily focused on aerospace and defense. Founded by Eberhardt Rechtin in 1987, the program today is a science, technology, engineering, and math success story in terms of its growth, teaching approach, and contributions to the engineering workforce in aerospace and defense. Systems Architecting and Engineering is a multidisciplinary field that cuts across science, technology, engineering, and math, and draws on concepts from psychology, sociology, biology, and economics. This paper presents the genesis of this program, its teaching philosophy, its evolution in response to the demands of the marketplace, and its vision for the future.
Social, Psychological, and Communication Impacts of an Agroterrorism Attack

Although increasing attention is being devoted to many aspects of agroterrorism preparedness and response, far less consideration has been given to social, psychological, and communication issues. Yet, the manner in which these issues are approached will be one of the principal determinants of an agroterrorism event's outcome. To gain a better understanding of the range of potential impacts, this article examines the 2001 foot-and-mouth disease experience in the United Kingdom. Although the outbreak was not the result of terrorism, its rapid spread, huge scale, and widespread effects provide valuable insights into the kinds of social, psychological, and communication challenges that could arise during a major agroterrorism event. The implications for preparedness and response are explored, and several recommendations are then presented for better addressing the social, psychological, and communication impacts of agroterrorism. The article closes with a discussion of continuing research needs. Keywords: agroterrorism; terrorism; disaster management; foot-and-mouth disease; psychosocial impacts; risk communication
ContactPoint: helping large organizations collaborate

In this paper we present what we have learned while working with a large distributed marketing organization in order to design and develop ContactPoint, a personalized content delivery system and collaborative tool. It can be very difficult for members of large organizations to stay informed about what is happening in different parts of the organization. ContactPoint allows members of the organization to subscribe to one or more information sources, receive information alerts on their desktop, easily identify subject matter specialists, and collaborate with those specialists.
Interactive video gaming compared with health education in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a feasibility study

Objective We evaluated the feasibility of a trial of Wii interactive video gaming, and its potential efficacy at improving cognitive functioning compared to health education, in a community sample of older adults with neuropsychologically defined mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Functional expression of murine multidrug resistance in Xenopus laevis oocytes.

Abstract The development of multidrug resistance (MDR) is associated with the overproduction of a plasma membrane glycoprotein, P glycoprotein. Here we report the functional expression of a member of the murine mdr family of proteins and show that Xenopus oocytes injected with RNA encoding the mouse mdr1b P glycoprotein develop a MDR-like phenotype. Immunological analysis indicated that oocytes injected with the mdr1b RNA synthesized a protein with the size and immunological characteristics of the mouse mdr1b P glycoprotein. These oocytes exhibited a decreased accumulation of [3H]vinblastine and showed an increased capacity to extrude the drug compared to control oocytes not expressing the P glycoprotein. In addition, competition experiments indicated that verapamil, vincristine, daunomycin, and quinidine, but not colchicine, can overcome the rapid drug efflux conferred by the expression of the mouse P glycoprotein.
A new rodent behavioral paradigm for studying forelimb movement.

The center-out task is a standard paradigm often used to study the neural control of reaching movements in human and non-human primates. However, there are several disadvantages to the use of monkeys, notably costs, infrastructural requirements, and ethical considerations. Here we describe a similar task designed to examine forelimb movements in rats. Rats were trained to grasp a joystick with their forepaw and use it to control the movements of a sipper tube in two dimensions. The rats learned to move the joystick in four directions with at least 70% accuracy after about 45 days of training. In addition, rats were able to learn a reversed mapping between joystick and sipper tube movement. This is a more complicated behavior than has been previously demonstrated for rats, and it could allow more motor behavior studies to be conducted in rodents instead of monkeys. We currently are using this behavior to decode the rats’ forelimb movements from their brain signals.
Tests on oil-impregnated paper-II effects of gas pressure

In 1934 tests were started to investigate the important factors influencing the life of oil-impregnated paper at high voltage. Last year we described the techniques developed to date in this investigation. The present paper presents all data taken on specimens tested under a gas pressure of 200 pounds per square inch and compared all results obtained with one commercial mineral oil and one commercial wood-pulp paper for 3 conditions of gas pressure. The results indicate that under the conditions of these tests there is no correlation between dielectric loss and electrical life and that gas-free specimens are superior to any specimens saturated with gas up to 200 pounds per square inch pressure.
Numerical simulation of the ram accelerator using a new chemical kinetics mechanism

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solutions of the full Navier-Stokes equations, including finite-rate chemical kinetics, are used to numerically simulate the reacting in-bore flowfield for a 90-mm (bore diameter) ram-accelerator projectile propulsion system. In this system a gun tube is filled with a high-pressure gaseous mixture of hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. An axisymmetric projectile is launched into this tube, and rails are attached to the tube wall to ensure projectile centering. The shock system that develops around the projectile, along with boundary layers on the projectile and tube surfaces, ignites the mixture on or near the projectile afterbody. The resulting pressure imbalance on the projectile generates thrust. Numerical predictions of this pressure field can be used to evaluate the thrust efficiency of the system, i.e., the projectile design combined with the chemical composition of the propellant gas. Comparison of the predicted pressure field and the measured pressure data is used to judge the accuracy of the CFD code. The choice of chemical kinetics mechanism used in the CFD code is of critical importance in achieving an accurate numerical simulation of the ram accelerator.
Long-term potentiation persists in an occult state following mGluR-dependent depotentiation.

Depotentiation, the reversal of long-term potentiation (LTP), can be induced by activation of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) or NMDA receptors (NMDARs). Although NMDAR-dependent depotentiation is due to a protein phosphatase-dependent erasure of LTP, the notion that mGluR-dependent depotentiation also involves LTP erasure is controversial. To address this issue we used electrophysiological and biochemical approaches to investigate mGluR-dependent depotentiation in hippocampal slices. Activating group I mGluRs with (R,S)-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG) induced robust depotentiation in both the CA1 and CA3 regions of hippocampal slices. Western immunoblotting of samples prepared from DHPG-treated slices revealed, however, that activation of group I mGluRs causes a transient increase in phosphorylation of AMPA receptor GluR1 subunits at sites crucial for LTP and under some conditions causes persistent activation of αCamKII. The paradoxical ability of DHPG to induce depotentiation while at the same time activating signaling pathways involved in LTP suggests that LTP might not be erased by mGluR-dependent depotentiation. Consistent with this, DHPG-induced depotentiation did not restore the ability of high-frequency stimulation to induce LTP at synapses that had previously undergone saturating levels of LTP. In addition, blocking the expression of DHPG-induced LTD revealed hidden LTP at depotentiated synapses. Our results indicate that LTP and mGluR-dependent LTD can co-exist at excitatory synapses.
Subfibrillar structure of type I collagen observed by atomic force microscopy

We have imaged native rat tail and reconstituted bovine dermal type I collagen by atomic force microscopy, obtaining a level of detail comparable to that obtained on the same samples by transmission electron microscopy. The characteristic 60–70 nm D periodicity consists of ridges exhibiting high tip-sample adhesion alternating with 5–15-nm-deep grooves having low adhesion. We also observe an intraperiod or "minor" band consisting of 1-nm-deep grooves, and "microfibrils" arranged parallel to or inclined approximately 5 degrees to the fibril axis. In air collagen fibrils exhibit negligible compression under the forces exerted by the tip. When immersed in water the subfibrillar features disappear and the fibrils become softer, compressing by 5% of their height under an 11-nN force. Material on the surface of the sample sometimes accumulates on the atomic force microscope tip; contrary to expectation such tip contamination can improve as well as reduce resolution.
Ne-intercalated C60: Pressure dependence of Ne-site occupancies.

We report the Rietveld refinement of the structures of inert gas (Ne)-intercalated ${\mathrm{C}}_{60}$ using time-of-flight neutron powder diffraction data. Various pressures to \ensuremath{\sim}2.5 kbar at room temperature were employed. We find that only the octahedral interstices are occupied by the Ne intercalate. The pressure dependence of the Ne occupancies in the octahedral site has been determined. The cubic lattice parameter increases linearly with the amount of intercalated Ne. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
An overview of the Bluetooth wireless technology

The Bluetooth/sup TM/ wireless technology is designed as a short-range connectivity solution for personal, portable, and handheld electronic devices. Since May 1998 the Bluetooth SIG has steered the development of the technology through the development of an open industry specification, including both protocols and application scenarios, and a qualification program designed to assure end-user value for Bluetooth products. This article highlights the Bluetooth wireless technology.
Scientific collaboration and team science: a social network analysis of the centers for population health and health disparities

The past decade has seen dramatic shifts in the way that scientific research is conducted as networks, consortia, and large research centers are funded as transdisciplinary, team-based enterprises to tackle complex scientific questions. Key investigators (N = 167) involved in ten health disparities research centers completed a baseline social network and collaboration readiness survey. Collaborative ties existed primarily between investigators from the same center, with just 7 % of ties occurring across different centers. Grants and work groups were the most common types of ties between investigators, with shared presentations the most common tie across different centers. Transdisciplinary research orientation was associated with network position and reciprocity. Center directors/leaders were significantly more likely to form ties with investigators in other roles, such as statisticians and trainees. Understanding research collaboration networks can help to more effectively design and manage future team-based research, as well as pinpoint potential issues and continuous evaluation of existing efforts.
The effect of increasing obesity on the response to and outcome of assisted reproductive technology: a national study

Objective To evaluate the effect of increasing female obesity on response to and outcome of assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment. Design Historical cohort study. Setting Clinic-based data. Patient(s) A total of 152,500 ART cycle starts from the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology Clinical Outcomes Reporting System for 2007–2008, limited to women with documented height and grouped by body mass index (BMI, [weight/height 2 ]). Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Cycle cancellation overall, cycle cancellation due to low response, treatment failure (not pregnant vs. pregnant), and pregnancy failure (fetal loss or stillbirth vs. live birth), as adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals, with cycles among normal-weight women as the reference group. Result(s) Cycle cancellation overall and cancellation due to low response using autologous oocytes significantly paralleled increasing BMI. The odds of treatment failure rose significantly with autologous-fresh cycles, from 1.03 for cycles among overweight women (BMI 25.0–29.9) to 1.53 for cycles among women with BMIs ≥50.0 kg/m 2 . Likewise, the odds of pregnancy failure were most significant with increasing BMI among women with autologous-fresh cycles, increasing from 1.10 for cycles to overweight women to 2.29 for cycles to women with BMI ≥50.0 kg/m 2 . Conclusion(s) These results indicate significantly higher odds of cycle cancellation. In addition, treatment and pregnancy failures with increasing obesity significantly increased starting with overweight women.
Effects of Le Fort I osteotomy on human gingival and pulpal circulation

The maxillary blood flow during the first 24 h following Le Fort I osteotomy was evaluated by laser Doppler flowmetry. Pulpal blood flow was recorded from two maxillary incisors and gingival blood flow was assessed from a site slightly apical to the interdental papilla of the maxillary central incisors of 12 patients receiving Le Fort I osteotomy, nine control patients receiving mandibular osteotomy, and 10 nonsurgical control subjects without orthodontic appliances. Measurements were made before surgery and at time intervals between 0-8, 8-16, and 16-24 h after surgery. The nonsurgical controls were tested at similar intervals. Gingival and pulpal blood-flow measurements did not change over time in the nonsurgical control group. Presurgical blood-flow values did not differ between the two surgical groups. Following surgery, mean gingival (but not pulpal) blood flow was significantly lower for patients treated with Le Fort I osteotomy than for patients treated with mandibular osteotomy. Follow-up examinations revealed that one patient receiving Le Fort I osteotomy experienced loss of gingiva and bone around both central incisors. This patient had one of the largest reductions in gingival blood flow.
Solubility measurements of methane and ethane in water at and near hydrate conditions

The isobaric solubility of pure methane and ethane gases in liquid water was measured under different conditions, including hydrate formation points, using a ramping method in which measurements are made through the entire and continuous hydrate formation/decomposition cycle. The work was conducted for methane at 3.45 MPa (500 psia) and temperatures ranging from 17.0 to 0.0°C (290.2 to 273.2 K), and for ethane at 0.66 MPa (95 psia) and a temperature range of 17.0 to 0.0°C (290.2 to 273.2 K). The isobaric solubilities obtained show a significant divergence from (normal) Henry's law solubility as the temperature is lowered. The increase in the solubility is presumably the result of the onset of a sorption process that traps the gas molecules in the water structure. Several sub-processes were observed as the hydrate formation was taking place: (1) the dissolution of the gas in the liquid water, or interstitial solubility, (2) the onset of the sorption sub-process and build-up of the hydrate precursors, (3) the catastrophic formation and the existence of the solid phase with its slushy characteristics, and (4) the solidification of the hydrates, therefore causing the total plugging of the experimental cell.
A STUDY OF PLASTICITY BY PRACTICAL POTTER'S METHODS1

By the use of the potter's wheel it is shown that bentonite added to non-plastic and lean ceramic materials will produce plasticity of the same quality as that found in high grade ball clays. Curves show the results obtained. The colloid theory of plasticity is sustained and it is demonstrated that mineral colloids of the type of the bentonites are of great value in ceramic work where plasticity is highly important.
A crescendo-decrescendo murmur and lightheadedness in a patient with a left ventricular assist device.

![Figure][1] [![Graphic][3] ][3][![Graphic][4] ][4] A patient with a continuous-flow left ventricular assist device experienced debilitating lightheadedness after initiation of an oral vasodilator. On examination, a loud systolic crescendo-decrescendo murmur was heard over the
S-wave velocity estimation using converted-wave VSP data

In three-component (3C) VSP data processing, first-break times of direct downgoing S-wave are commonly used for estimating the S-wave velocity. However, comparing to direct P-wave arrivals, the direct downgoing S-waves are usually too weak to be picked precisely. To mitigate this disadvantage, we present a new method of S-wave velocity estimation by using converted (P-to-S) waves in VSP data. Two synthetic examples as well as a real 3C VSP dataset are tested to demonstrate the effectiveness of this method. Results show that the proposed method can be a good alternative to conventional S-wave velocity estimation method using VSP data.
Scimitar syndrome with peripheral left pulmonary artery branch stenoses

Partial anomalous pulmonary venous return most commonly involves the right pulmonary veins, with the site of connection most frequently the superior vena cava. Other sites of connection include the right atrium, inferior vena cava, superior vena cava plus right atrium, azygos vein, and coronary sinus.1-4 The pathologic features of a partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage to the inferior vena cava associated with hypoplasia of the right lung were initially described by Parks in 1912. The term “scimitar syndrome” was coined by Neil1 et a1.2 in 1960 to describe the syndrome of partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage of the right lung into the inferior vena cava, hypoplasia of the right lung with bronchial abnormalities and abnormal lobation, and partial systemic arterial supply to the right lung. Herein, we report a case of scimitar syndrome with an unusual associated vascular abnormality which presented a confusing clinical picture. A 19-year-old female with congenital heart disease was referred prior to a contemplated pregnancy for evaluation of a murmur. Her medical history was notable for pneumonia at the age of 4 years, at which time a heart murmur was first noted, and several recurrent bouts of pneumonia throughout her childhood and teenage years. She denied a history of cyanosis. Physical examination was notable for a prominent right ventricular heave and palpable third and fourth heart sounds. A loud grade IV/VI systolic murmur was heard, as well as a nearly pandiastolic murmur, both heard loudest over the entire left chest and only faintly audible over the right chest. The ECG revealed right axis deviation with right ventricular hypertrophy. The chest roentgenogram (Fig. 1) showed dextroposition of the heart and the typical scimitar configuration with a cardiothoracic ratio of 13.2122.6. The lung fields showed increased vascularity of the right lung. A lung scan showed increased perfusion of the right lung compared with that of the left (Fig. 2). Cardiac catheterization was carried out and revealed moderate elevation of right heart pressures. The main pulmonary artery pressure was 55/20 with a mean of 35 mm Hg. Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure was normal. Oximetry and green dye curves were compatible with partial anomalous right pulmonary venous return with an oxygen step-up in the inferior vena cava, 2 cm below its junction with the right atrium. An anomalous pulmonary vein emptying into the
120. Influence of childhood adversity and neighborhood violence on inflammatory risk in young urban African American men

Increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in African American men (AAM) may be rooted in childhood adversity. Altered stress reactivity and low grade inflammation are both risk factors for CVD. Thus, this ongoing project seeks to determine whether childhood adversity and neighborhood violence result in greater inflammatory risk and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenocortical (HPA) dysregulation during adulthood. AAM, 18–27 years, are being enrolled from disadvantaged urban neighborhoods. Saliva and plasma levels of the proinflammatory cytokine, IL-6, and salivary cortisol are evaluated. Demographically, men were raised in low-income households and report childhood physical abuse and emotional neglect, as well as intense exposure to neighborhood violence. Results revealed that increased childhood emotional neglect was related to increased salivary cortisol levels. In contrast, direct exposure to violence was associated with decreased salivary cortisol, likely reflecting effects of allostatic load on HPA regulation. Elevations in circulating and salivary IL-6 were related to increased childhood emotional abuse and physical neglect, respectively. However, social support buffered the effects of childhood adversity, as it was associated with reduced salivary IL-6 levels. Findings indicate that early life adversity imprints long-lasting effects on stress and inflammatory response systems. Identification of aspects of early life adversity that increase inflammatory risk, as well as identification of protective factors that reduce this risk, can guide approaches that target the early-life environment and improve well-being for those raised under adverse conditions.
Dynamics of populations with nonoverlapping generations, continuous mortality, and discrete reproductive periods

Abstract Simple nonlinear difference equations have been used to describe the growth of populations with nonoverlapping generations; these equations assume mortality and recruitment to be discrete and instantaneous. In reality, mortality is more or less continuous and recruitment is more or less continuous over discrete intervals of time. This information was incorporated into the discrete time form of the logistic equation and the closed form solution was obtained. The population growth rate depends on recruitment, mortality, duration of the lifespan, and timing of the reproductive period. Population stability depends on the population growth rate, and therefore, stability also depends on the above factors. A stable population occurs with high mortality and a relatively short reproductive period. Under certain conditions a relatively small decrease in mortality can cause the dynamical behavior of a population to change drastically.
REACTIONS OF 6-TRICYANOVINYLDIHYDROQUINOLINES

Reactions of 6-tricyanovinyldihydroquinoline with concentrated hydrochloric acid and methanolic sodium hydroxide yield chlorine substitution on the heterocyclic ring and methoxide substitution of the cyano group, respectively. The chlorine substitution via a radical process is initiated from the tricyanovinyl group by the irradiation of visible light.
Letter by Yusuf Regarding Article, “Pacemaker Reuse: An Initiative to Alleviate the Burden of Symptomatic Bradyarrhythmia in Impoverished Nations Around the World”

To the Editor: We applaud Dr Baman et al for their efforts in highlighting the issue of pacemaker reuse to alleviate the burden of bradyarrhythmias in underdeveloped countries.1 Despite the high death rates due to communicable diseases, by 2010 the leading cause of death in the developing countries, including Pakistan, was cardiovascular disease.2 Statistics for 2006 to 2007 indicate that Pakistan …
Estimation of primary drainage three-phase relative permeability for organic liquid transport in the vadose zone

The modeling of transport of organic liquid contaminants through the vadose zone often requires three-phase relative permeabilities. Since these are difficult to measure, predictive models are usually used. The objective of this study is to assess the ability of eight common models to predict the drainage relative permeability to oil in a three-phase system (water-oil-air). A comparison of the models' estimates using data set from Oak [Oak, M.J., 1990. Three-phase relative permeability of water-wet Berea. In: Seventh Symposium on Enhanced Oil Recovery, Paper SPE/Doe 20183. Tulsa, OK, April 22-25] showed that they provide very different predictions for the same system. The goodness of the models does not increase with the amount of data or computation that the models require. Also, the calculations showed how different interpretations of the models and of the terminology associated with them can significantly impact the predictions. Thus, considerable error may be introduced into the simulations of organic liquid transport in the vadose zone depending on the selection and interpretation of the three-phase relative permeability model.
Western blotting using microchip electrophoresis interfaced to a protein capture membrane.

Western blotting is a commonly used assay for proteins. Despite the utility of the method, it is also characterized by long analysis times, manual operation, and lack of established miniaturized counterpart. We report a new way to Western blot that addresses these limitations. In the method, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-protein complexes are separated by sieving electrophoresis in a microfluidic device or chip. The chip is interfaced to a moving membrane so that proteins are captured in discrete zones as they migrate from the chip. Separations of SDS-protein complexes in the molecular weight range of 11–155 kDa were completed in 2 min with 4 × 104 theoretical plates at 460 V/cm. Migration time and peak area relative standard deviations were 3–6% and 0.2%, respectively. Detection limit for actin was 0.7 nM. Assays for actin, AMP-kinase, carbonic anhydrase, and lysozyme are shown to demonstrate versatility of the method. Total analysis time including immunoassay was 22–32 min for a single sample. Because pr...
The Condition Survey of the Manuscripts in the Monastery of Saint Catherine on Mount Sinai

Summary To embark on a conservation programme in the library of the monastery of Saint Catherine on Mount Sinai, it was first essential to carry out a survey of the books to assess their condition and record their physical composition. This paper describes how we record the condition of the books. As the collection is largely unknown and situated in a very remote location, it was clear that a definitive methodology was not going to be found until the survey itself had started, with the result that the design of the forms has in some areas changed radically from our first, formative visits. The working method needed also to be as rapid as possible, because our time in the monastery is limited and expensive, and to incorporate internal mechanisms to encourage consistency and accuracy. We therefore use paper forms with many check boxes and drawings, which also reduces written text, an advantage as we use surveyors from several different countries. The surveyors work in pairs, so that the work of one can be c...
Selective deletion of the membrane-bound colony stimulating factor 1 isoform leads to high bone mass but does not protect against estrogen-deficiency bone loss

To better define the biologic function of membrane-bound CSF1 (mCSF1) in vivo, we have generated mCSF1 knockout (k/o) mice. Spinal bone density (BMD) was 15.9% higher in k/o mice compared to wild-type (wt) controls (P < 0.01) and total BMD was increased by 6.8% (P < 0.05). A higher mean femur BMD was also observed but did not reach statistical significance (6.9% P = NS). The osteoclastogenic potential of bone marrow isolated from mCSF1 k/o mice was reduced compared to wt marrow. There were no defects in osteoblast number or function suggesting that the basis for the high bone mass phenotype was reduced resorption. In addition to a skeletal phenotype, k/o mice had significantly elevated serum triglyceride levels (123 ± 7 vs. 88 ± 3.2 mg/dl; k/o vs. wt, P < 0.001), while serum cholesterol levels were similar (122 ± 6 vs. 116 ± 6 mg/dl; k/o vs. wt, P = NS). One month after surgery, 5-month-old k/o and wt female mice experienced the same degree of bone loss following ovariectomy (OVX). OVX induced a significant fourfold increase in the expression of the soluble CSF1 isoform (sCSF1) in the bones of wt mice while expression of mCSF1 was unchanged. These findings indicate that mCSF1 is essential for normal bone remodeling since, in its absence, BMD is increased. Membrane-bound CSF1 does not appear to be required for estrogen-deficiency bone loss while in contrast; our data suggest that sCSF1 could play a key role in this pathologic process. The reasons why mCSF1 k/o mice have hypertriglyceridemia are currently under study.
Renal carcinoma discovered after trauma

Abstract This case report emphasizes the importance of differential diagnosis (carcinoma, hypertension) in renal trauma at any age (patient was twenty-five years).
Can a phase transition make quantum mechanics less embarrassing

Abstract A homework problem is given in which a particle in a double well in contact with an infinite bath of two-level systems undergoes a phase transition from the familiar, non-degenerate, symmetric, non-local state of the isolated particle, to a pair of asymmetric states favoring one or the other of the wells, as the coupling to the bath increases or as the tunneling amplitude between the two wells decreases.
Effect of morphology, crosslink density, and miscibility on interpenetrating polymer network damping effectiveness

The areas under the linear loss modulus versus temperature curves (loss area, LA) and tan δ versus temperature curves (TA) were evaluated for a number of acrylic, methacrylic, styrenic and butadiene based copolymers and interpenetrating polymer networks, IPNs, as a function of crosslink density and comliosition, and were compared with values predicted by group contribution analysis. The LAs of the sequential IPNs, cross-poly(n-butyl methacrylate)-inter-crosspolystyrene, were found to exhibit up to 30% larger LAs than the poly(n-butyl metacrylate-stat-styrene) copolymers, which had LAs slightly less than the values predicted from the group contribution analysis. At constant chemical composition (50% n-butyl methacrylate, 50% styrene), LA equals 14.4 GPa K for the IPN, attributed to a synergistic effect resulting from the IPN's microheterogeneous morphology, as compared with 10.7 GPa K for the single phase, miscible copolymer. Increases in the LA with increased concentration of polymer, network II were also observed for cross-poly(ethyl acrylate)-inter-crosspolystyrene and cross-polybutadiene-inter-cross-polystyrene IPNs. On the other hand, cross-polybutadiene-inter-cross-poly(methyl methacrylate) IPNs had LAs much lower than were predicted by the group contribution analysis, which were attributed to lower miscibility in this system relative to the other systems evaluated. In general, decreased crosslink densities and lower concentrations of network II increased TA. These findings demonstrate how the morphology of a multiphase polymeric material can affect LA and TA, with significant increases In damping capability over the average of the component polymer values.
Mountains Without Handrails: Reflections on the National Parks

Focusing on the long-standing and bitter battles over recreational use of our national parklands, Joseph L. Sax proposes a novel scheme for the protection and management of America's national parks. Drawing upon the most controversial disputes of recent years---Yosemite National Park, the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, and the Disney plan for California's Mineral King Valley---Sax boldly unites the rich and diverse tradition of nature writing into a coherent thesis that speaks directly to the dilemma of the parks.
What is the trouble with trunnions

Background Recent studies have attributed adverse local tissue reactions (ALTRs) in patients with total hip arthroplasties (THAs) to tribocorrosion debris generated by modular femoral stems. The presentations of ALTR are diverse, as are the causes of it, and the biological responses can be important reasons for failure after THA.