cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The fate of patients with retinal artery occlusion and Hollenhorst plaque.

Objective Ocular symptoms and signs often herald hemispheric neurological events associated with extracranial cerebrovascular disease. However, the presence of a Hollenhorst plaque (HP) or retinal artery occlusion (RAO) and the risk of stroke is unclear. The purpose of this study was to review the outcomes of all patients who presented with a HP or RAO at a single institution. Methods Between 2000 and 2005, the management and outcome of 130 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of HP, central RAO, or branch RAO (ICD-9 codes 362.30 to 362.33) were reviewed. Patients with transient monocular visual loss (amaurosis fugax), retinal venous occlusion, and other ocular pathologies were excluded. Electronic and hardcopy medical records were reviewed for demographic data, clinical variables, radiological, and noninvasive vascular lab testing. Duplex and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of the carotid arteries were reviewed to confirm the presence of a lesion and quantify the degree of stenosis. Results During the study interval, 70 males and 60 females, with a mean age of 68 ± 16 (±SD) years underwent ophthalmologic evaluation. Symptoms were present in 61% of patients and included eye pain, blurred vision, or atypical visual symptoms, while 39% were asymptomatic. Atherosclerotic risk factors in this population included the presence of hypertension (73%), diabetes (33%), hyperlipidemia (75%), and tobacco use (38%). A majority of patients underwent carotid interrogation via Duplex imaging (68%). Carotid bifurcation stenoses ipsilateral to the ocular findings were 60% in only 8% of patients. Six patients with lesions greater than 60% went on to have either a carotid endarterectomy or carotid stenting. Follow-up data on this group ranged from 1 to 49 months (median, 22 months), with no stroke or transient ischemic attack identified. There were five deaths during follow-up; none related to stroke. Serial carotid Duplex examinations failed to identify progression of carotid stenoses in this group of patients. Overall survival was 94% at 36 months for this cohort. Conclusion The presence of a HP or RAO is associated with a low prevalence of extracranial cerebrovascular disease that requires intervention. Furthermore, in contradistinction to amaurosis fugax, these ocular findings are not associated with a high risk for hemispheric neurological events.
The perception of relative motion by young infants.

The perception of relations between stimuli is considered to be essential for perceptual grouping. The present study investigated the ability of five-month-old infants to perceive the relative motions between simultaneously moving dots. Two of the dots moved horizontally back and forth in parallel trajectories, and a third dot moved vertically up and down between the other two. As a consequence of the relative motions, adults perceived the vertically moving dot to be moving an average of 32° clockwise or counterclockwise from the vertical depending on the phase of motion between the vertical and horizontal dots. An habituation paradigm was used to determine whether infants also perceive these relative motions. A control group of infants was presented a display with the same phase of motion between the vertical and horizontally moving dots for twelve trials. The experimentals were presented with the same display as the controls during the first ten trials, but on the last two trials the phase of motion was...
Evidence for a cell fate refinement mechanism in sensory neurons

The olfactory receptors (ORs), which are G-protein coupled receptors, number more than 1,000 and comprise the largest gene family in the mammalian genome. ORs are expressed both monogenically and monoallelically in olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) and the mechanism that controls their regulation is largely unknown. ORs reside in constitutive heterochromatin and selection of one OR and from one allele occurs stochastically. To ensure singular monoallelic OR expression, a negative feedback mechanism is elicited by the first selected OR to suppress non-selected ORs in a given neuron. Here we describe results for mice with a 'monoclonal' nose that express one OR, M71,in 95% of all mature OSNs. The M71 transgene suppresses expression of endogenous ORs, and remaining endogenous expression is mostly restricted to immature neurons in the olfactory epithelium. We show that the endogenous OR repertoire are expressed prior to suppression by M71 transgene expression, contrary to current models. When we introduced a second transgene into M71 mice that expressed another OR in most mature OSNs, OSNs uncharacteristically expressed both of the ORs. We hypothesize that unresolved OR competition compromised the neuron's ability to express only one receptor. We further show that suppression of endogenous ORs by M71 is not reversible, and that M71 does not need to be continuously expressed for endogenous ORs to remain suppressed. In these experiments, we have engineered OSNs to express more than one OR in an OSN at a time, which is normally a low probability event. We believe that these experiments reveal the existence of a backup pathway that ensures only one OR will be expressed per neuron. It is possible that mammals have evolved similar mechanisms in other examples of stochastic, monoallelic gene expression, such as in random X-chromosome inactivation or lymphocyte receptor expression.
Gelation in an amorphous polymer: a discussion of its relation to membrane formation

Abstract The phase equilibrium behaviour of polysulphone (PSF) in mixtures of N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA) with added non-solvent, water, has been examined. The effect of solvent-non-solvent mixtures on the glass transition temperature depression was studied using differential scanning calorimetry while gel melting/gelation behaviour was examined using the falling-ball method. Analysis showed that a non-crystallizable membrane system may form a gel in the absence of a glass transition. The position of the thermoreversible sol-gel transition on the ternary phase diagram for PSF-DMA-water was determined to be invariant with respect to the time allowed for the gel to form. It is suggested that the gel melting temperature for PSF-DMA determined in the falling-ball experiments is simply that at which the viscous drag of the solution is sufficiently reduced to allow significant motion of the ball. An adequate description of both the motion of the falling ball and the gel melting temperature behaviour is provided through use of a Stokes' law calculation in which the solution viscosity is expressed as a function of temperature using the WLF equation with the glass transition temperature as the reference temperature. The implications of describing gelation in terms of a viscosity mechanism with regard to the structure formation processes associated with asymmetric membrane production are discussed in a semiquantitative manner.
Majority-vote model on a dynamic small-world network

Abstract Dynamic small-world networks combine short-range interactions within a fixed neighborhood with stochastic long-range interactions. The probability of a long-range link occurring instead of a short-range one is a measure of the mobility of a population. Here, the critical properties of the majority-vote model with noise on a two-dimensional dynamic small-world lattice are investigated via Monte Carlo simulation and finite size scaling analyses. We construct the order–disorder phase diagram and find the critical exponents associated with the continuous phase transition. Findings are consistent with previous results indicating that a model’s transitions on static and dynamic small-world networks are in the same universality class.
Simultaneous thermogravimetry and mass spectrometry in polymer characterization

Abstract The assembly and operation of a simple, directly coupled thermobalance and quadrupole mass spectrometer are described. Usefulness of the method and ease of operation are illustrated by the decomposition of TDI and MDI polyurethanes, ABS plastic and a capped and uncapped polyester.
Biomass pretreatment and hydrolysis.

This session deals with recent progress on pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass, the peripheral reactions associated with pretreatment, and assessment of the effectiveness of pretreatment by enzymatic hydrolysis. Pretreatment is an essential element of the integral bioconversion process, and its objective is to enhance the susceptibility of cellulosic substrates to the action of cellulase enzymes.
Phase-sensitive parametric motion transducer

We have built a parametric motion transducer that is a prototype for a "back-action-evasion" measuring device. Our tests demonstrate that it has the expected phase sensitivity in its fundamental mechanical-to-electrical coupling when appropriately pumped. Another test verifies the anticipated frequency and loss dependence of the coupling. A third test verifies that the absolute magnitude of coupling is reasonably close to model predictions.
(De)stabilizing Sexual Violence Discourse: Masculinization of Victimhood, Organizational Blame, and Labile Imperialism

Following calls to center nation, we analyze sexual violence discourse in the US Peace Corps. The texts we consider deploy three typical dichotomies—public/private, self/other, and agent/victim—that, in this case, reveal inconsistencies at the intersections of race and gender. We argue that these inconsistencies are evidence of lability, counterintuitive discursive shifts necessary to maintain white heteromasculine dominance. Instead of blaming individual victims of rape and assault, the masculinization of victimhood shifts culpability to the Peace Corps. This organizational blame maintains the moral position of the US and legitimates imperialism. By marking these instabilities, we trace the solidity and vulnerability of sexual violence discourse as it organizes global power.
The application of artificial neural networks for outcome prediction in a cohort of severely mentally ill outpatients

SUMMARY Social workers and other mental health workers lack clinical decision support tools to predict which clients are at greatest risk of psychiatric rehospitalization. Artificial neural networks (ANNs), are computer decision support tools that make prediction and classification decisions based on accumulated experience and information contained in successfully solved cases (correct decisions). This study evaluates the use of ANNs in predicting rehospitalization of severely mentally ill outpatients. Eight Bayesian ANN models achieved correct prediction rates ranging from 75% to 93% for two prediction conditions. These results support the utility of Bayesian ANN models in the development of clinical decision support tools.
Measurement of RD114 Virus Nucleotide Sequences in Feline Cellular DNA

MCALLISTER et al.1 recently reported the observation of a type-C virus released from cultured human rhabdomyosarcoma cells following passage in foetal kittens. The parent cell line (RD cells) contained no virus before passage. However, a cell line, RD114, established from a brain tumour in an inoculated kitten released particles with morphological and biological properties of a mammalian RNA tumour virus. The obvious explanation that the appearance of RD114 virus (RDV) represented an infection of the human RD cells by an endogenous feline oncornavirus was undermined by the observation of striking antigenic and biological differences between RDV and known feline viruses. Briefly listed, these differences included the observation that: (1) RDV grows well on human and primate cells but not on feline cells1; (2) the group-specific antigen of known feline type-C viruses was absent from RDV as were feline envelope antigens as judged by interference and viral neutralization tests; further, antigens of other known mammalian type-C viruses were not detected, with the exception of the interspecific antigen (gs-3)1,2; (3) the constituent RNA-dependent DNA polymerase of RDV did not react with antisera against feline leukaemia virus (FLV) DNA polymerase and other mammalian viral DNA polymerases3; (4) the molar base ratio of the high molecular weight RNA genome of RDV differs significantly from that of the FLV released from RD cells infected with FLV4. Thus, the suggestion was made that RDV might be a human type-C virus originating from the rhabdomyosarcoma cells of the RD cell line1.
Adjacency and prediction in school-age stutterers.

The adjacency effect is the tendency for stutterings to occur adjacent to previously stuttered words which have been blotted out in successive readings of a passage. It is presumed to show that stu...
Further evidence that sparing of function after spinal cord transection in the neonatal rat is not due to axonal generation or regeneration.

Abstract To test the possibility that a small number of axons may have crossed through the site of injury after midthoracic spinal cord transection in the newborn rat, corticospinal tract axons and ascending spinal axons were traced using autoradiography in chronic neonatal-operated rats. No evidence was found that axons of the labeled nerve tracts passed through or around the site of transection.
A COGNITIVE TUTOR FOR GENETICS PROBLEM SOLVING: LEARNING GAINS AND STUDENT MODELING*

Genetics is a unifying theme of biology that poses a major challenge for students across a wide range of post-secondary institutions, because it entails complex problem solving. This article reports a new intelligent learning environment called the Genetics Cognitive Tutor, which supports genetics problem solving. The tutor presents complex, multi-step problems and is constructed around a cognitive model of the knowledge needed to solve the problems. This embedded cognitive model enables the tutor to provide step-by-step assistance, and to maintain a model of the student's problem-solving knowledge. The tutor consists of 16 modules with about 125 total problems, spanning five general topics: Mendelian inheritance, pedigree analysis, genetic mapping, gene regulation, and population genetics. This article reports two evaluations of the tutor. A pretest/posttest evaluation of student learning gains for individual tutor modules across multiple colleges and universities yielded average gains equivalent to almo...
Animal and Vegetable Substitutes for Fish Meal in the Abernathy Diet, 1973

(1976). Animal and Vegetable Substitutes for Fish Meal in the Abernathy Diet, 1973. The Progressive Fish-Culturist: Vol. 38, No. 3, pp. 123-126.
Thermodynamics of the hydrolysis reactions of 1-naphthyl acetate, 4-nitrophenyl acetate, and 4-nitrophenyl α-L-arabinofuranoside.

Microcalorimetry, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and liquid chromatography−mass spectrometry (LC-MS) have been used to conduct a thermodynamic investigation of the hydrolysis reactions {1-naphthyl acetate(aq) + H2O(l) = 1-naphthol(aq) + acetate(aq)}, {4-nitrophenyl acetate(aq) + H2O(l) = 4-nitrophenol(aq) + acetate(aq)}, and {4-nitrophenyl α-l-arabinofuranoside(aq) + H2O(l) = l-arabinose(aq) + 4-nitrophenol(aq)}. Calorimetrically determined enthalpies of reaction ΔrH(cal) were measured for all three reactions. However, since the positions of equilibrium for all of these reactions were found to lie very far to the right, it was only possible to set lower limits for the values of the apparent equilibrium constants K′. A chemical equilibrium model, together with pKs and standard enthalpies of reaction ΔrH° for the H+ binding reactions of the reactants and products, was then used to calculate the values of ΔrH° for chemical reference reactions that correspond to the overall biochemical reactio...
The effect of velocity on the solid particle erosion rate of alloys

Abstract Velocity is a critical test variable in erosion, and can easily overshadow changes in other variables, such as target material, impact angle, etc. The effect of velocity on erosion rate was studied in 70–30 brass (cold worked and annealed) and Fe–C martensite (as-quenched and tempered) and it was found, as previously shown, that erosion rate is dependent on velocity by a power law, given by ER= kV n . However, the velocity exponent n was found to be target material independent and is governed by test conditions, including particle characteristics and the erosion test apparatus. In addition, n is not dependent on the erosion mechanism. Results from tested as-quenched martensite and tempered martensite showed that the exponent is approximately 2.9 for both materials, even though martensite eroded by a brittle cracking mechanism, while tempered martensite eroded by a plastic deformation mechanism. No difference in the erosion rate relationship was found between the fully annealed and the 70% cold worked brass. The exponent n was found to change over time with nominally the same erosion test conditions, indicating that n is very sensitive to slight changes in erodent particles and/or the test apparatus, and that it must be measured periodically if erosion results generated at different times are to be compared. 1
Reductive Voltammetric HPLC Detection of Aflatoxins: Determination of Aflatoxin Bl In Foods

Abstract A reductive voltammetric detector, consisting of static mercury drop electrode was investigated for possible determination of aflatoxins B1, B2, G2, and G2 by HPLC. The HPLC system consisted of a C18 ODS column and a mobile phase composed of 30% acetonitrile and 0.01M tetrabutylammonium bromide. The detector was operated in a differential pulse mode, set to the peak potential of −1.25 volts vs. Ag/AgCI. Under these conditions the sensitivity of the system was sufficient to determine aflatoxin B1 present in several foods. Good agreement was obtained between this method and thin layer chromatography.
Toward a broader – but still rigorous – definition of leader integrity: Commentary

Excerpt] The impetus for this special issue of The Leadership Quarterly grew out of the desire of a small but enthusiastic group of leadership scholars who were interested in the concepts of integrity in general and behavioral integrity (the consistency between words and actions) in particular. Guest Editor Tony Simons' (2002) theoretical article in Organization Science had sparked a great deal of interest in behavioral integrity, including the interest of a then-doctoral student at Binghamton University, Guest Editor Mike Palanski. Palanski was seeking advice for his dissertation, and Simons wished to build a cadre of scholars with an interest in leader behavioral integrity. A year or so later, Palanski had the “misfortune” of presenting a paper on integrity as the final presenter in the final session on the final day of the 2006 Academy of Management conference in Atlanta. To his surprise, the room was packed, and it quickly became clear that others also wished to study leader integrity in more depth.
Systems-Level Analysis of Genome-Wide Association Data

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have emerged as the method of choice for identifying common variants affecting complex disease. In a GWAS, particular attention is placed, for obvious reasons, on single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that exceed stringent genome-wide significance thresholds. However, it is expected that many SNPs with only nominal evidence of association (e.g., P < 0.05) truly influence disease. Efforts to extract additional biological information from entire GWAS datasets have primarily focused on pathway-enrichment analyses. However, these methods suffer from a number of limitations and typically fail to lead to testable hypotheses. To evaluate alternative approaches, we performed a systems-level analysis of GWAS data using weighted gene coexpression network analysis. A weighted gene coexpression network was generated for 1918 genes harboring SNPs that displayed nominal evidence of association (P ≤ 0.05) from a GWAS of bone mineral density (BMD) using microarray data on circulating monocytes isolated from individuals with extremely low or high BMD. Thirteen distinct gene modules were identified, each comprising coexpressed and highly interconnected GWAS genes. Through the characterization of module content and topology, we illustrate how network analysis can be used to discover disease-associated subnetworks and characterize novel interactions for genes with a known role in the regulation of BMD. In addition, we provide evidence that network metrics can be used as a prioritizing tool when selecting genes and SNPs for replication studies. Our results highlight the advantages of using systems-level strategies to add value to and inform GWAS.
Development of a Mobile Commerce Security Analysis Method

The objective of this study is to develop a mobile commerce security analysis method for determining mobile commerce security requirements and provide suggestions to m-commerce security system deve...
Building Black Holes: Supercomputer Cinema

A new computer code can solve Einstein's equations of general relativity for the dynamical evolution of a relativistic star cluster. The cluster may contain a large number of stars that move in a strong gravitational field at speeds approaching the speed of light. Unstable star clusters undergo catastrophic collapse to black holes. The collapse of an unstable cluster to a supermassive black hole at the center of a galaxy may explain the origin of quasars and active galactic nuclei. By means of a supercomputer simulation and color graphics, the whole process can be viewed in real time on a movie screen.
Toward a multilevel framework of engagement and performance at work

Most of the research to date has approached engagement from either the individual – or group-level, while there has been little effort to understand the employee engagement process across organizat...
Tidal flow field in a small basin

[1] The tidal flow field in a basin of small dimensions with respect to the tidal wavelength is calculated. Under these conditions, the tide becomes a standing wave oscillating synchronously (with a flat water surface) over the whole basin. The shallow water equations can thus be strongly simplified, expressing the discharge vector field in terms of a potential function and a stream function. The potential function can be independently solved with the continuity equation, and is responsible for the total water balance in the basin. Moreover, the flow field derived from the potential function is shown to represent the tidal motion in a deep basin with flat bottom. Departures from this situation are treated with a stream function, that is, a correction for the potential function solution, and is solved through the vorticity equation. The stream function accounts for the nonlinear inertial terms and the friction in the shallow water equations, as well as bottom topography. In basins where channels incise within shallow tidal flats, the solution demonstrates that friction redistributes momentum, increasing the flow in the channels and decreasing it on the flats. The model is tested in San Diego Bay, California, with satisfactory results.
Real-time color Doppler optical coherence tomography using an autocorrelation technique

Color Doppler optical coherence tomography (CDOCT) is a functional extension of optical coherence tomography that can image flow in turbid media. We have developed a CDOCT system capable of imaging flow in real time. Doppler processing of the analog signal is accomplished in hardware in the time domain using a novel autocorrelation technique. This Doppler processing method was implemented arm of the interferometer. Image data was acquired, processed, and displayed in real time. We have demonstrated, for the first time, imaging of bi-directional flow with CDOCT in real time in a tissue-simulating phantom consisting of intralipid solution flowing in a glass capillaries submerged in intralipid solution. Issues of velocity resolution, imaging speed, and range of velocity measurement are discussed, as well as potential applications of real-time CDOCT.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Habitat characterization for striped marlin in the Pacific Ocean

Abstract Striped marlin ( Kajikia audax ) are highly valuable in commercial and recreational fisheries, and recently determined to be overfished in the Western and Central North Pacific Ocean, but direct field observations of their vertical habitats are lacking. To characterize their spatial and oceanographic associations across multiple regions in the Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Southern California, Baja California, Costa Rica, Panama, and Ecuador), we analyzed behavioral data returned by 159 pop-up satellite archival tags (median, maximum deployment: 61; 259 days). Striped marlin demonstrated pronounced use of the mixed layer, with fish spending at least 54% of their time between 0 and 10 m across all regions. Individuals remained near the surface in nighttime and were located near the bottom of the mixed layer during daytime. Although striped marlin shared a thermal niche >20 °C and remained within ∼8 °C of sea surface temperature (SST), even when 15–31 °C SSTs were experienced, the deepest depth (532 m) and coldest temperature (8.6 °C) recorded to date indicated broader habitat associations. Vertical activity below the mixed layer comprised a lesser portion (5–45%) of their time at depth but suggests that key ecological functions occur there. We examined the effects of spatiotemporal and environmental factors on percent time spent at ≥60 m and maximum depth through the use of generalized additive mixed models. Location, SST, mixed layer depth, temperature at 100 m and dissolved oxygen at 100 m and 300 m were significant predictors of vertical activity. Striped marlin exploited cold ( −1 ) environments for short durations (10–40 min), presumably for foraging and predator avoidance. Understanding vertical habitat characteristics of striped marlin is necessary for evaluating their vulnerability to gear, for identification of realistic bycatch reduction measures, and for providing spatially explicit information in stock assessments.
Integrated methodology for multiple systems estimation and record linkage using a missing data formulation

There are now three essentially separate literatures on the topics of multiple systems estimation, record linkage, and missing data. But in practice the three are intimately intertwined. For example, record linkage involving multiple data sources for human populations is often carried out with the expressed goal of developing a merged database for multiple system estimation (MSE). Similarly, one way to view both the record linkage and MSE problems is as ones involving the estimation of missing data. This presentation highlights the technical nature of these interrelationships and provides a preliminary effort at their integration.
Enrichment of Triticum aestivum gene annotations using ortholog cliques and gene ontologies in other plants

While the gargantuan multi-nation effort of sequencing T. aestivum gets close to completion, the annotation process for the vast number of wheat genes and proteins is in its infancy. Previous experimental studies carried out on model plant organisms such as A. thaliana and O. sativa provide a plethora of gene annotations that can be used as potential starting points for wheat gene annotations, proven that solid cross-species gene-to-gene and protein-to-protein correspondences are provided. DNA and protein sequences and corresponding annotations for T. aestivum and 9 other plant species were collected from Ensembl Plants release 22 and curated. Cliques of predicted 1-to-1 orthologs were identified and an annotation enrichment model was defined based on existing gene-GO term associations and phylogenetic relationships among wheat and 9 other plant species. A total of 13 cliques of size 10 were identified, which represent putative functionally equivalent genes and proteins in the 10 plant species. Eighty-five new and more specific GO terms were associated with wheat genes in the 13 cliques of size 10, which represent a 65% increase compared with the previously 130 known GO terms. Similar expression patterns for 4 genes from Arabidopsis, barley, maize and rice in cliques of size 10 provide experimental evidence to support our model. Overall, based on clique size equal or larger than 3, our model enriched the existing gene-GO term associations for 7,838 (8%) wheat genes, of which 2,139 had no previous annotation. Our novel comparative genomics approach enriches existing T. aestivum gene annotations based on cliques of predicted 1-to-1 orthologs, phylogenetic relationships and existing gene ontologies from 9 other plant species.
Neuroimaging contributions to novel surgical treatments for intractable obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Research in predictor studies has largely been limited to disorders such as obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), as it has a fairly well-established pathophysiology in the literature, and patients with OCD are more likely to receive neurotherapeutic treatment. As neurosurgical procedures are often invasive and involve standard risks associated with neurosurgery, along with a high cost, there is a major impetus to distinguish potential responders to treatment using neuroimaging techniques. This could not only assist in patient selection and improve response rates, but could also potentially be implemented to tailor a treatment avenue to an individual patient. Here we review studies that elucidate the pathophysiology of OCD, illustrate modern neurosurgical treatments and investigate predictive correlates of treatment outcome.
Three alternative Middle East peace scenarios

Purpose – The article seeks to address the lack of serious, normative scenarios exploring peace in the Middle East.Design/methodology/approach – Three normative, backcasted scenarios were written. These were derived from literature searches, interviews with experts in the field, and input from a three‐round Delphi. Actions were identified and rated by the Delphi panel in Rounds 1 and 2. Draft text with areas for comment throughout the scenarios was collected in Round 3 and used to improve the draft scenarios.Findings – The scenarios address seven preconditions for peace in the Middle East: secure borders for Israel; establishment of a viable and independent Palestinian state; resolution of the Jerusalem question; ending violence by both sides and building confidence; social and economic development; education; and resolution of Palestinian refugee status.Originality/value – The scenarios are intended for use in a variety of settings to help further the Middle East peace process.
The effects of attending a diverse college

Abstract The question of whether there are benefits to be obtained from having a diverse student body is a key issue in the debate over affirmative action. This paper estimates the effects of college racial diversity on post-college earnings, civic behavior, and satisfaction with the college attended. I use the Beginning Postsecondary Students survey, which allows me to control for exposure to racial diversity prior to college. Moreover, I use two techniques from Altonji, Elder, and Taber (2005) to address the issue of selection on unobservables. The first is a sensitivity analysis showing how the coefficient on diversity changes when different values of the correlation are imposed in a system of equations that consists of a selection equation and an outcome equation. The second is estimation based upon an assumption that selection on unobservables equals selection on observables, which, along with the OLS results, gives estimates of bounds on the effect. Single-equation estimates suggest a possible positive effect of diversity on satisfaction with the racial climate at the college attended and a negative effect on community service, but I do not find an effect on other outcomes. Moreover, the estimates are very sensitive to the assumptions made about selection on unobservables.
Special Rules for the Church: The “Ministerial” Exception under the Americans with Disabilities Act

: In the Hosanna-Tabor case, the United States Supreme Court held that there is a broad exception under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for employees who are ministers. A Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod school could fire an elementary school teacher with a disability because she was a “called teacher,” even though the termination would otherwise have violated the ADA. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America supported this decision, but this contradicts the ELCA's position with respect to persons living with disabilities. It also reflects an “idolatry of the call” inconsistent with the priesthood of all believers. A better course for the ELCA is to agree to be bound by those standards that it advocates for the secular world.
New Media and Social Networks: Considerations from Clients in Addictions Treatment

Web-based (2.0) media will play an increasing role in substance abuse treatment. Two focus groups identified initial barriers and potential uses within a population living below the median income. Client suggestions included using different approaches to service delivery based on a person's access to web 2.0 media. Preliminary results indicated that contrary to the staff members' opinions, the majority of clients appeared to have sufficient Internet access and the requisite social networking skills in order to participate in online interventions. Future research should focus on using games as a potential mode of online service delivery, on the potential of the various forms of social networking, and whether classism exists between client and staff perceptions.
Immediate force loss after eccentric contractions is increased with L-NAME administration, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor.

Abstract : Introduction Nitric oxide (NO) signaling regulates many biological processes in skeletal muscle, wherein aberrant signaling contributes to myopathic conditions (e.g., Duchenne muscular dystrophy). NO has been shown to play a role in muscle regeneration after injury. However, less is known about its role during injury. In this study we aimed to determine whether NO synthase (NOS) inhibition exacerbates functional deficits immediately after the performance of eccentric contractions. Methods Wild-type mouse extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles underwent in vitro functional testing in the presence or absence of a non-specific NOS inhibitor (L-NAME, 10 mM) before and after performance of 10 eccentric contractions. Results After eccentric contractions, Po was reduced by 25% for muscle in regular physiological solution but by 50% with the addition of L-NAME (P = 0.009). Conclusions Non-specific blockade of NOS exacerbates functional deficits immediately after eccentric contractions, suggesting that NO signaling protects skeletal muscle from excessive injury in healthy muscle.
Religious commitment and its interaction with scientific professions: a low-church real-science, critique of “science” and “spirituality”

Abstract After a brief autobiographical background, as an activist scientist and engineer, the author offers a broad critique of the attempt to relate science and religion at the theoretical level. The important level at which to seek a relation, both scientifically and religiously, is one of practice, not theory. Indeed, because science as theory is itself in the process of reaching its own internal limits, because of the manifest failures of reductionist science and technology, it is time for scientists and engineers to return to Einstein's commitment to pursue science for the common good. The rising popularity of alternative medicine is also cited as a contemporary historical phenomenon that points toward an emerging, fundamental realignment of the science–technology–society relationship.
A Random Base Change Algorithm for Permutation Groups

A new random base change algorithm is presented for a permutation group G acting on n points whose worst case asymptotic running time is better for groups with a small to moderate size base than any known deterministic algorithm. To achieve this time bound, the algorithm requires a random generator Rand(G) producing a random element of G with the uniform distribution and so that the time for each call to Rand (G) is bounded by some function f(n, G). The random base change algorithm has probability 1 - 1/|G| of completing in time O(f(n, G) log |G|) and outputting a data structure for representing the point stabilizer sequence relative to the new ordering. The algorithm requires O(n log |G|) space and the data structure produced can be used to test group membership in time O(n log |G|). Since the output of this algorithm is a data structure allowing generation of random group elements in time O(n log |G|), repeated application of the random base change algorithms for different orderings of the permutation domain of G will always run in time O (n log2 |G|). An earlier version of this work appeared in Cooperman and Finkelstein (1992b).
Mechanistic insight into the TH1-biased immune response to recombinant subunit vaccines delivered by probiotic bacteria-derived outer membrane vesicles.

Recombinant subunit vaccine engineering increasingly focuses on the development of more effective delivery platforms. However, current recombinant vaccines fail to sufficiently stimulate protective adaptive immunity against a wide range of pathogens while remaining a cost effective solution to global health challenges. Taking an unorthodox approach to this fundamental immunological challenge, we isolated the TLR-targeting capability of the probiotic E. coli Nissle 1917 bacteria (EcN) by engineering bionanoparticlate antigen carriers derived from EcN outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). Exogenous model antigens expressed by these modified bacteria as protein fusions with the bacterial enterotoxin ClyA resulted in their display on the surface of the carrier OMVs. Vaccination with the engineered EcN OMVs in a BALB/c mouse model, and subsequent mechanism of action analysis, established the EcN OMV’s ability to induce self-adjuvanted robust and protective humoral and TH1-biased cellular immunity to model antigens. This finding appears to be strain-dependent, as OMV antigen carriers similarly engineered from a standard K12 E. coli strain derivative failed to generate a comparably robust antigen-specific TH1 bias. The results demonstrate that unlike traditional subunit vaccines, these biomolecularly engineered “pathogen-like particles” derived from traditionally overlooked, naturally potent immunomodulators have the potential to effectively couple recombinant antigens with meaningful immunity in a broadly applicable fashion.
NASA AND SUPERALLOYS: A CUSTOMER, A PARTICIPANT, AND A REFEREE

NASA has had a long history of research and development in the field of superalloys. These efforts have continued today, where the latest advancements in turbine disk and blade technologies are being developed. Although NASA does support military flight systems, its predominant role is in supporting civilian air transportation systems, and thus has goals for improving fuel efficiency, emissions, noise, and safety of today s aircraft. NASA has traditionally served several distinct but complimentary roles as participants in multi-disciplinary research teams, as customers who fund research and development efforts at industry and universities, and as referees who can address broad issues that affect the entire aeronautics community. Because of our longer range viewpoint, we can take on higher risk, higher reward research topics. NASA can also serve as an intermediary between the basic research performed primarily at universities and the development efforts emphasized by industry. By interacting with individual companies, NASA can identify areas of general interest and problems common to a large portion of the aeronautics community, and devise programs aimed at solving these problems. In space missions, NASA is a direct customer responsible for developing vehicles. In the case of the Space Shuttle, NASA has worked with various contractors to design and build numerous components out of superalloys. Another fascinating area for the use of superalloys is in power systems for long life applications in space. Potential missions include providing electric power for deep space missions, surface rovers, including lunar and Mars, and stationary power generators on the lunar surface.
α,β‐Dehydrogenation of β‐Dicarbonyl Compounds by Selenoxide Elimination: 2‐Acetyl‐2‐Cyclohexen‐1‐One

α,β-dehydrogenation of β-dicarbonyl compounds by selenoxide elimination: 2-acetyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one intermediate: 2-acetyl-2-phenylselenocyclohexanone product: 2-acetyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one reactant: benzeneseleninic acid Keywords: elimination, dehydrogenation; elimination, miscellaneous; oxidation, miscellaneous; 2-acetyl-2-phenylselenocyclohexanone, preparation of; diphenyldiselenide, recovery from benzeneseleninic acid; tetrahydrofuran; selenium compounds, toxicity; addition funnels, pressure-equalizing; distillation, apparatus, Kugelrohr distillation oven
DORMANCY AND GERMINATION IN A GUILD OF SONORAN DESERT ANNUALS

To investigate bet hedging and species coexistence in a guild of Sonoran Desert winter annuals, we subjected seeds of eight species to factorial combinations of summer treatments (varying temperature and precipitation), germination conditions (representative of early, middle, and late germination season temperatures and day lengths), and experiment trial dates (spanning the germination season). In keeping with bet hedging theory, we found that many viable seeds would not germinate in response to any combination of treatments (germination usually <50%). In keeping with the storage effect model, we found that these coexisting species differed in their germination response to our experimental manipulations and also differed in how the experimental variables interact. Field germination data from a long-term project on population and community dynamics of this guild show that germination fractions are similar between field and growth chamber and that species that tend to germinate under early season conditions in the growth chamber also tend to do so under unmanipulated field conditions. Some species are nondormant during the summer and only acquire dormancy at the onset of the autumn germination season, while others appear to have either innate or conditional dormancy until the onset of the germination season.
Integrated activation of MAP3Ks balances cell fate in response to stress.

In vivo, tissues and organs are exposed to numerous stressors that require cells to respond appropriately for viability and homeostasis. Cells respond to these stressors, which range from UV irradiation, heat shock, chemicals, and changes in osmolality, to oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines, by activating pathways that protect cells from damage. If the stress is too great, cells commit to undergo apoptosis. Such cell fate decisions involve the stress-mediated activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) networks, ultimately under the control of MAPK kinase kinases, or MAP3Ks. It is the MAP3Ks that coordinate the localization, duration and magnitude of MAPK activation in response to cell stress. A single stressor may activate several MAP3Ks, each of which impacts the balance between survival and apoptotic signaling. In this prospect article, we review the specific MAP3Ks that integrate the physiological response to cell stressors. The interrelationships among different stressors are discussed, with an emphasis on how the balance of signaling through MAP3Ks controls the MAPK response to determine cell fate. J. Cell. Biochem. 102: 848–858, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Radioisotope-based XRF instrumentation for determination of lead in paint: an assessment of the current accuracy and reliability of portable analyzers used in New York State

Childhood lead poisoning remains a significant public health issue, especially in the United States, where the most common source of exposure is lead-based paint (LBP). X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analysis is still the most widely used method for detecting LBP in the field. Although portable XRF instrumentation based on excitation from a 57Co radioisotope has been used for more than 30 years, there have been few reports documenting its performance. Here we describe a study that was conducted by the New York State Department of Health's Wadsworth Center laboratory in response to concerns raised by field users of the RMD LPA-1 XRF analyzer (Protec Instrument Corp.) working across the state. The performance issues were investigated for ten field units: five reported as problematic based on user feedback, and 5 that were not. Accuracy was assessed against NIST SRM 2579 lead in paint, which was developed specifically for use with portable XRF analyzers. On average, the absolute bias found was within ±20% at the threshold value for LBP (1.0 mg cm−2) based on the NIST SRM 2579 data. Calibration blocks provided with each analyzer for quality assurance monitoring were evaluated using a different XRF analyzer (Niton XLT 3t 700s GOLDD) operated in painted products mode (μg cm−2). However, when the Niton XRF analyzer was checked against NIST SRM 2579, it was found to have a negative bias. That negative bias was easily corrected using a “calibration” curve with a quadratic fit to the data. NIST-corrected data obtained for the calibration blocks showed assigned values were within the manufacturer's stated tolerance range, albeit with a consistent positive bias. The root cause for 3 of the 5 problematic devices was likely incorrect positioning of the device. A low bias for a fourth device was likely caused by a deteriorated calibration block, and the fifth device, while just within the manufacturer's technical specifications, was the only one confirmed with a low bias. Increased operator training may resolve some of the issues reported in the field; on-going competency assessments may be warranted for this hand-held technology.
The structure and photovoltaic property relationship of porphyrins for high efficiency solar cells

Several 5-(4-carboxyphenyl)-10,15,20-tris(phenyl) porphyrin derivatives with different substituents (NO 2 , CN, CH 3 , OCH 3 , CN, NO 2 , Cl, N(CH 3 ) 2 , N(Ph) 2 ) in the para-positions of phenyl groups are designed and synthesized for systematic study of structural effect on their photovoltaic performance in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Density Functional Theory (DFT) level calculation indicates the decrease of energy levels of frontier molecular orbitals (HOMO and LUMO) when substituents change from NO 2 , CN, Cl, H, OCH 3 , CH 3 , N(CH 3 ) 2 to N(Ph) 2 . Photovoltaic performances of these porphyrins in DSSCs show that introducing of electron donating groups in porphyrins and Zn2+ ion favors the energy conversion of sunlight to electricity.
Without Merit: One Library’s Attempt to Put “Merit” Back in “Merit Pay”

This article outlines a proposal developed at the University of North Carolina of a method for awarding merit pay to librarians. The library has a two-tiered structure that includes faculty who are tenured and others who work on contract. Because of this, the Acting University Librarian created two task forces to investigate ways to make merit pay equitable. Each task force developed a proposal that eventually was merged into one document. This article examines the process of developing a plan for merit pay and library faculty reactions to the plan.