cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Social Class Mobility and Positive Psychology

Taking a strengths-based perspective, this chapter focuses on understanding social class transitions and resilience among people in lower social classes. The Mobility Typology is a framework for understanding how people in lower social classes navigate social transitions. This typology is predicated on an experience of social class transition (upward, downward, or laterally) and the identification and use of resources to help the individual adapt to the new social class environment. Although the typology is relevant for people experiencing upward, downward, and lateral transitions, the chapter will focus on those moving from lower to upper social classes and thus focus will be on the entitled and distressed types. The authors challenge the perception that people in lower social classes lack agency or are constantly struggling, and instead highlight possible points of strengths. Positive psychology is able to provide an understanding of the strengths that individuals of the entitled and distressed types possess and how these individuals may construct meaning from their contexts. Practice and research implications are provided.
Using Powerful Learning Experiences to Prepare School Leaders

Addressing systemic inequities in schools requires preparation of leaders who are bold, adaptive, and well-versed in addressing problems of practice so they can be effective leaders. This article o...
On Modeling and Optimizing LTE/Wi-Fi Coexistence with Prioritized Traffic Classes

The dramatic growth in demand for mobile data service has prompted mobile network operators (MNOs) to explore new spectrum resources in unlicensed bands. MNOs have been recently allowed to extend LTE-based service called LTE-LAA over 5 GHz U-NII bands, currently occupied by Wi-Fi. To support applications with diverse QoS requirements, both LTE and Wi-Fi technologies introduce multiple priority classes with different channel contention parameters for accessing unlicensed bands. How these different priority classes affect the interplay between coexisting LTE and Wi-Fi technologies is still relatively under explored. In this paper, we develop a simple and efficient framework that helps MNOs assess the fair coexistence between MNOs and Wi-Fi operators with prioritized channel access under multi-channel setting. We derive an approximated close-form solution for each MNO to pre-evaluate the probability of successful transmission (PST), average contention delay, and average throughput when adopting different priority classes to serve different traffics. MNOs and Wi-Fi operators can fit our model using measurements collected offline and/or online, and use it to further optimize their systems’ throughput and latency. Our results reveal that PSTs computed with our approximated closed-form model approach those collected from system-level simulations with around 95% accuracy under scenarios of dense network deployment density and high traffic intensity.
A novel method for bone fatigue monitoring and prediction

Bone fatigue, often manifest as stress fractures, is a common injury that plagues many individuals, adversely affect quality of life, and is an obstacle to extended human spaceflight. This manuscript details a pilot study that was conducted to determine if the Phase Space Warping (PSW) methodology could be used to monitor/predict fatigue failure in bone tissue. A Moon's beam experimental apparatus was used to perform variable amplitude fatigue tests on bovine bone specimens. Scanning electron microscopy was used to evaluate the fracture surface and identify the fracture type. The PSW method allowed for successful identification of the various damage modes and may lead to the development of a viable tool for predicting the health and fatigue life of bone.
Fast uncertainty quantification for dynamic flux balance analysis using non-smooth polynomial chaos expansions

We present a novel surrogate modeling method that can be used to accelerate the solution of uncertainty quantification (UQ) problems arising in nonlinear and non-smooth models of biological systems. In particular, we focus on dynamic flux balance analysis (DFBA) models that couple intracellular fluxes, found from the solution of a constrained metabolic network model of the cellular metabolism, to the time-varying nature of the extracellular substrate and product concentrations. DFBA models are generally computationally expensive and present unique challenges to UQ, as they entail dynamic simulations with discrete events that correspond to switches in the active set of the solution of the constrained intracellular model. The proposed non-smooth polynomial chaos expansion (nsPCE) method is an extension of traditional PCE that can effectively capture singularities in the DFBA model response due to the occurrence of these discrete events. The key idea in nsPCE is to use a model of the singularity time to partition the parameter space into two elements on which the model response behaves smoothly. Separate PCE models are then fit in both elements using a basis-adaptive sparse regression approach that is known to scale well with respect to the number of uncertain parameters. We demonstrate the effectiveness of nsPCE on a DFBA model of an E. coli monoculture that consists of 1075 reactions and 761 metabolites. We first illustrate how traditional PCE is unable to handle problems of this level of complexity. We demonstrate that over 800-fold savings in computational cost of uncertainty propagation and Bayesian estimation of parameters in the substrate uptake kinetics can be achieved by using the nsPCE surrogates in place of the full DFBA model simulations. We then investigate the scalability of the nsPCE method by utilizing it for global sensitivity analysis and maximum a posteriori estimation in a synthetic metabolic network problem with a larger number of parameters related to both intracellular and extracellular quantities.
Conscientious refusal, abortion, and the professional standard of care

Summary While clinicians may legitimately refuse to participate in some abortions, they should not refuse when doing so would likely cause significant harm to a patient's health or endanger her life in order to comply with duties inherent in the ethical core of medicine. The argument that clinicians have an obligation, on patient request, to provide any and all interventions that are not illegal and fall within the scope of professional practice should be rejected. The ethical core of medicine can be thought of as constituted by the Hippocratic injunction to help and not to harm, the primary obligation to ensure patients’ health by employing interventions within the professional standard of care, and the acknowledgment that individuals voluntarily choose to join the profession to which certain fundamental obligations attach. Clinicians should have the ethical right to refuse to participate in ordinary abortion, but lack this right if refusal threatens patients’ lives or poses a significant risk of harm to their health as recognized by the standard of care. Refusal to participate in some abortions has presumptive ethical merit under the principle of evaluative respect and accommodation which grounded in the respect moral agents should have for each other's attributions of moral status. Clinicians are moral agents, not medical vending machines, who have deeply held, self-identifying moral commitments (religious or otherwise) that deserve respect when not in conflict with the ethical core of medicine.
Isothermal Titration Calorimetry to Investigate Uremic Toxins Adsorbing onto Metal-Organic Frameworks

Summary Recent efforts have examined metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as sorbents for removing pollutants and trace chemicals, such as pharmaceuticals, from aqueous media. To date, few studies have investigated the energetics of interactions between toxic species and MOF-based sorbents. To this end, we elected to use isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) to quantify the thermodynamic parameters associated with the adsorption of uremic toxins, namely p-cresyl sulfate and indoxyl sulfate, onto zirconium-based MOFs. NU-1000, a mesoporous MOF comprising a pyrene-based linker, possesses two distinct adsorption sites that display dramatically different enthalpic and entropic parameters. ITC measurements further reveal that a concerted interaction that embodies both favorable enthalpic and entropic contributions is critical for designing a high-capacity MOF-based adsorbent.
Opioid Research: Past and Future

The International Narcotics Research Conference (INRC) has a rich history of uniting the most creative minds across the fields of chemistry, pharmacology, physiology, and behavior in the study of opioids. The Conference has been a forum for sharing knowledge, discussing controversies, introducing innovative research, and announcing landmark discoveries. In this perspective for the Special Issue commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Conference we briefly highlight how the INRC has guided the evolution of opioid research and how new tools, models, and approaches are facilitating our ability to achieve the goals of preventing and treating opioid use disorder. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This perspective highlights the important role that the International Narcotics Research Conference has played in the evolution of opioid research and emphasizes how technological advances are facilitating research toward the goals of preventing and treating opioid use disorder.
Comorbid depression associated with non-routine discharge following craniotomy for low-grade gliomas and benign tumors - a nationwide readmission database analysis.

Prior studies have demonstrated elevated rates of depression in patients with malignant brain tumor; however, the prevalence and effect on surgical outcomes in patients with low-grade gliomas (LGG) and benign brain tumors (BBT) remain unknown. Readmission and non-routine discharge, which includes discharge to skilled nursing, rehabilitative, and other inpatient facilities, are well-established quality of care indicators. We sought to analyze the association between comorbid depression and non-routine discharge, readmission, and other post-operative inpatient outcomes in patients with LGG and BBT. The Nationwide Readmissions Database from 2010 to 2014 was retrospectively queried to select for surgically treated patients with LGG and BBT. Multivariable logistic regression models adjusting for patient and hospital characteristics were used to determine the effects of comorbid depression on post-operative outcomes. Interaction of gender and depression on non-routine disposition was analyzed. We identified 31,654 craniotomies for resection of BBT and LGG (2010–2014). The majority of patients (64.1%) were female. The rate of depression comorbid with BBT and LGG was 11.9%. Depression was associated with non-routine discharge after surgery (OR 1.19, p 0.0002*), but was not associated with increased morbidity, mortality, or readmission at 30 or 90 days. The rate of comorbid depression was higher among female than male patients (14.0 vs. 8.0%). Depression in males was associated with a 38% increased likelihood of non-routine disposition (p = 0.0002*), while depression in females was associated with a 13% increased likelihood of non-routine disposition (p = 0.03*). Depression is prevalent in patients with LGG and BBT and is associated with increased risk of non-routine discharge following surgical intervention. The increased likelihood of non-routine disposition is greater for males than that for females. Awareness of the risk factors for depression may aid in early screening and intervention and improve overall patient outcomes.
Improving the quality of a prenatal heart program using a dynamic data platform

Introduction Congenital heart defects are increasingly diagnosed before birth. Fetal diagnosis promotes optimal site of delivery and the early management of complex defects. Coordination of the related clinical data, pertinent to the obstetric and cardiologic encounters with the mother, and also the ultimate newborn’s record. We developed a dynamic data platform (PMID: 27680300) that allows clinicians to collect and integrate clinical data from multiple sources at the Michigan Congenital Heart Center (MCHC). This abstract describes our effort in designing and developing a fetal database management application (hereafter the …
Interleukin 17A: Key Player in the Pathogenesis of Hypertension and a Potential Therapeutic Target

To summarize key advances in our understanding of the role of interleukin 17A (IL-17A) in the pathogenesis of hypertension and highlight important areas for future research and clinical translation. While T helper 17 (Th17) cells are major producers of IL-17A, there are several additional innate and adaptive immune cell sources including gamma-delta T cells, innate lymphoid cells, and natural killer cells. IL-17A promotes an increase in blood pressure through multiple mechanisms including inhibiting endothelial nitric oxide production, increasing reactive oxygen species formation, promoting vascular fibrosis, and enhancing renal sodium retention and glomerular injury. IL-17A production from Th17 cells is increased by high salt conditions in vitro and in vivo. There is also emerging data linking salt, the gut microbiome, and intestinal T cell IL-17A production. Novel therapeutics targeting IL-17A signaling are approved for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and show promise in both animal models of hypertension and human studies. Hypertensive stimuli enhance IL-17A production. IL-17A is a key mediator of renal and vascular dysfunction in hypertensive mouse models and correlates with hypertension in humans. Large randomized clinical trials are needed to determine whether targeting IL-17A might be an effective adjunct treatment for hypertension and its associated end-organ dysfunction.
Associations of systemic health and medication use with the enlargement rate of geographic atrophy in age-related macular degeneration

Background The associations of geographic atrophy (GA) progression with systemic health status and medication use are unclear. Methods We manually delineated GA in 318 eyes in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study. We calculated GA perimeter-adjusted growth rate as the ratio between GA area growth rate and mean GA perimeter between the first and last visit for each eye (mean follow-up=5.3 years). Patients’ history of systemic health and medications was collected through questionnaires administered at study enrolment. We evaluated the associations between GA perimeter-adjusted growth rate and 27 systemic health factors using univariable and multivariable linear mixed-effects regression models. Results In the univariable model, GA perimeter-adjusted growth rate was associated with GA in the fellow eye at any visit (p=0.002), hypertension history (p=0.03), cholesterol-lowering medication use (p Conclusions GA growth rate may be associated with the fellow eye status, cholesterol-lowering medication use, and diuretic use. These possible associations do not infer causal relationships, and future prospective studies are required to investigate the relationships further.
Focal reactive periostitis ossificans in a long bone: radiologic and pathologic findings.

Abstract Florid reactive periostitis ossificans (FRPO) is a benign juxta-cortical lesion of unknown etiology which most commonly occurs in the hands and feet. We report the radiographic, CT, and MR features of a pathologically confirmed FRPO in the distal femur, a location in which only a handful of cases has been reported. A 26-year-old male who presented with distal thigh pain initially underwent radiograph and CT, which illustrated a well-circumscribed, ossified lesion associated with the cortex of the femur without contiguity with the medullary canal. A subsequent MRI demonstrated heterogeneous signal intensity corresponding to the ossified portion of the lesion with a T2 hyperintense cartilaginous cap and surrounding edema. The lesion was surgically excised and pathologic diagnosis of FRPO, a mixture of osteoid, mature bone, cartilage and fibrous tissue, with associated inflammatory cells, was confirmed. Follow up four months after surgery revealed significant improvement in the patient's pain.
Incorporation of macromolecules into living cells.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the incorporation of macromolecules into living cells. Techniques for loading impermeant molecules into the cytoplasm of living cells have become essential cell and molecular biological tools. There are several variations of the mechanical strategy for temporarily disrupting plasma membrane or its derivatives. Cells allowed to pinocytose macromolecules in hypertonic medium are loaded by osmotically lysing such pinosomes. Scrape loading is another simple technique for loading cell populations with macromolecules. Adherent cells are scraped off of their substratum with a rubber policeman in the presence of the macromolecules to be loaded. The major variable influencing loading and cell yield from the scrape loading procedure is the strength with which cells adhere to their substratum. Radiolabeled molecules can be used as tracers in quantitative measurements of amount of loading. Phase contrast microscopy provides a rapid way of visually assessing cell health and fluorescence microscopy of qualitatively assessing the extent to which individual cells and the population as a whole are loaded.
The Heritage Fallacy: Race, Loyalty, and the First Grambling-Southern Football Game.

The lost cause of the Civil War has never really gotten out of our souls. Football, with all of its battle-related language, has long been an expression of our Southern militarism.—David Sansing, white Southerner, former director of the Center for the Study of Southern Culture, University of Mississippi In the East, college football is a cultural exercise … On the West Coast, it is a tourist attraction …In the Midwest, it is cannibalism … But in the South it is religion … And Saturday is the holy day.—Marino Casem, black Southerner, former director of the Department of Athletics, Southern University and A&M College
A query methodology with a relational database for quick HLA matching

This paper describe a query methodology with a relational database when multiple factors need to be considered, and complicated conditions have to be satisfied. The main ideas are using reusable temporary data pool to store intermediate query results, and using reference tables to store search conditions. The program is designed for quick HLA match between an available donor and recipients' waiting list in needs of kidney transplantation. The algorithm is not only covering the identical HLA match and also deal with cross-reactive antigen groups(CREGs).
Impacts of agricultural irrigation recharge on groundwater quality in a basalt aquifer system (Washington, USA): a multi-tracer approach

Irrigation in semi-arid agricultural regions can have profound effects on recharge rates and the quality of shallow groundwater. This study coupled stable isotopes (2Η, 18O), age-tracers (3H, CFCs, 14C), 87Sr/86Sr ratios, and elemental chemistry to determine the sources, residence times, and flowpaths of groundwater and agricultural contaminants (e.g. NO3–) in the Saddle Mountains Basalt Aquifer in central Washington, USA, where over 80% of the population depend on groundwater for domestic use. Results demonstrate the presence of two distinct types of water: contaminated irrigation water and pristine regional groundwater. Contaminated irrigation water has high NO3– concentrations (11–116 mg/l), 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.70659–0.71078) within range of nitrogen-based fertilizers, detectable tritium (2.8–13.4 TU), CFC ages 20–40 years, high δ18O values (−16.9 to −13.5‰), and ∼100 percent modern 14C. Pristine regional groundwater has low NO3– concentrations (1–5 mg/l), no detectable tritium (≤0.8 TU), low δ18O values (−18.9 to −17.3‰) and 14C ages from ∼15 to 33 ky BP. Nitrogen and oxygen isotopes of NO3–, combined with high dissolved oxygen values, show that denitrification is not an important process in the organic-poor basalt aquifers resulting in transport of high NO3– irrigation water to depths greater than 40 m in less than 30 years.
Alcohol Advertising and Adolescent Alcohol Consumption in the UnitedStates

Although several other factors such as alcohol price, income, age, and race exist that possibly affect alcohol consumption, the correlation between advertising spending by the alcohol industry and subsequent adolescent alcohol consumption is not as crystal clear. Consequently, this issue generates much debate, especially in recent times. This article is available in The Park Place Economist: http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/parkplace/vol12/iss1/12
Acute Amnesia due to Isolated Mammillary Body Infarct

Background There are limited reports describing acute amnesia after mammillothalamic tract infarction. Furthermore, acute infarction isolated to the mammillary body has never been reported. We present the first case of anterograde amnesia after isolated acute infarction of the mammillary body in a patient without concurrent or prior thalamic or mammillothalamic tract injury. Methods A retrospective review of the patient's electronic medical record including inpatient notes and all radiological examinations was performed. Results A 50-year-old woman presented with acute onset of confusion and constant repetition of the same questions. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the brain showed isolated acute infarct of the left mammillary body without concurrent abnormality of the thalamus or mammillothalamic tract. MR angiography showed severe stenosis of the proximal posterior cerebral artery at the origin of the perforating mammillary artery. Conclusions Isolated injury to the mammillary body is rare. In addition to recognized memory-related structures such as the thalamus and mammillothalamic tract, mammillary body injury may also play a role in memory dysfunction. Knowledge of the vascular supply of memory-related structures is important in diagnosing and understanding memory dysfunction.
Performance isolation and fairness for multi-tenant cloud storage

Shared storage services enjoy wide adoption in commercial clouds. But most systems today provide weak performance isolation and fairness between tenants, if at all. Misbehaving or high-demand tenants can overload the shared service and disrupt other well-behaved tenants, leading to unpredictable performance and violating SLAs.This paper presents Pisces, a system for achieving datacenter-wide per-tenant performance isolation and fairness in shared key-value storage. Today's approaches for multi-tenant resource allocation are based either on per-VM allocations or hard rate limits that assume uniform workloads to achieve high utilization. Pisces achieves per-tenant weighted fair shares (or minimal rates) of the aggregate resources of the shared service, even when different tenants' partitions are co-located and when demand for different partitions is skewed, time-varying, or bottlenecked by different server resources. Pisces does so by decomposing the fair sharing problem into a combination of four complementary mechanisms--partition placement, weight allocation, replica selection, and weighted fair queuing--that operate on different time-scales and combine to provide system-wide max-min fairness.An evaluation of our Pisces storage prototype achieves nearly ideal (0.99 Min-Max Ratio) weighted fair sharing, strong performance isolation, and robustness to skew and shifts in tenant demand. These properties are achieved with minimal overhead (
Strategic energy issues: Energy for what purpose?

The developed world has adopted a pattern of increasing energy use. This pattern aims: to achieve continuing economic growth; to provide comfort and leisure; to increase the mobility of people, goods and services; and to guarantee military security. The result is a depletion of non–renewable sources of energy. One suggested solution is to increase the global use of renewable sources of energy. But only rarely are the above objectives challenged. Are there not limits to be set on growth and military escalation? The solution is not only conservation and the development of renewable energy; the ultimate answer is a revision of the level and pattern of energy use.
Narrow-Angle and Wide-Angle Astrometry via Long Baseline Optical/Infrared Interferometers

Long baseline optical/infrared interferometers, such as the Mark III Stellar Interferometer1 on Mt. Wilson and the ASEPS-0. Testbed Interferometer2 on Palomar Mountain, California, have good capabilities for narrow-angle and wide-angle astrometry with very high precision. Using the Mark III Interferometer many spectroscopic binaries became “visual” for the first time. The measurement accuracy of angular separation is 0.2 mas, the smallest separation measured between two components is 2 mas, the maximum magnitude difference is 4 mag, and the smallest semi-major axis is 4 mas. Such high angular resolution and dynamic range have been used to determine stellar masses with precision of 2% and differential stellar luminosities to better than 0.05 mag for separations of less than 0.″2. For some binary stars, not only have the systems been resolved, but also the diameter of the primary component has been determined, yielding direct measurements of stellar effective temperature with high accuracy. For parallax determination, the precision is 1 mas or better and is unaffected by interstellar extinction. For wide-angle astrometry with the Mark III interferometer, the observation results yielded average formal la errors for FK5 stars of about 10 mas. Presently a new infrared interferometer, the ASEPS — 0 Testbed Interferometer on Palomar Mountain is under construction, and is being optimized to perform high accuracy narrow-angle astrometry using long baseline observations at 2.2 μm, with phase referencing for increased sensitivity. The goal is to demonstrate differential astrometric accuracies of 0.06-0.1 mas3 in order to allow for detection of extra-solar planets in the near future.
Effect of large-scale periodic unsteadiness on the heat transport in the downstream region of a junction boundary layer

Abstract The heat transport in the boundary layer downstream of a junction between a streamlined cylinder and a wall is examined. This flow is characterized by large-scale periodic motions, attributable to vortex shedding, which affect the turbulent heat transport and may contribute to enhanced wall heat transfer. Experimental data obtained using a triple-wire turbulent heat-flux probe were analyzed using triple decomposition and a conditional sampling technique that separated the large-scale periodic motions from the background turbulence. The periodic motions lead to large-scale movements of the instantaneous thermal boundary-layer interface and contribute significantly to the overall Reynolds heat fluxes. The intermittency of the temperature signal revealed that the hot/cold interface penetrated much closer to the wall than in an undisturbed two-dimensional (2-D) boundary layer. Two different mechanisms that might be responsible for the observed transport phenomena are discussed: (1) a portion of the shed vortex filament that is skewed by the mean strain field of the wake and boundary layer; and (2) large counter-rotating stream-wise vortices identified from mean-flow measurements that oscillate in the unsteady wake of the obstacle.
The effects of acetylcholine on the turnover of phosphatidic acid and phosphoinositide in sympathetic ganglia, and in various parts of the central nervous system in vitro.

The effect of acetylcholine on the incorporation of P32 into the individual phosphatides in slices of various structures of the nervous system has been studied. There was a marked stimulation of P32 incorporation into phosphoinositide and phosphatidic acid, but not into phosphatidyl choline and phosphatidyl ethanolamine, in the cat stellate and celiac ganglia in vitro. Acetylcholine stimulated P32 incorporation into certain phosphatides, primarily phosphoinositide and phosphatidic acid, in several structures of the cat and guinea pig brain; there was little or no effect of acetylcholine on phosphatide turnover in the inferior corpora quadrigsemina and cerebellar cortex. The suggestion is made that the phospholipid effect can best be explained as being concerned with the active transport of sodium ions out of the cell across the postsynaptic membrane of cholinergic neurons in response to acetylcholine.
Multiple spin-echo MR imaging of the body: image contrast and motion-induced artifact.

Abstract For a given TR and TE, image quality changes when the number of spin echoes obtained is varied. To investigate the importance of this in clinical imaging, a total of 4 patients and 9 volunteers had MRI examinations of the abdomen (n = 7) and/or pelvis (n = 8) which included at least 2 sequences with identical TR (2000 or 2500 ms), TE (80 ms) and other parameters, but with a different series of refocusing pulses. Sequences included single-echo (S), asymmetric and symmetric double-echo (AD and SD) and quadruple-echo (Q) techniques. Image contrast and severity of motion-induced artifact was measured via blind examination by 3 independent MRI radiologists and calculation of signal-difference, signal-difference-to-noise ratios and intensity of motion-induced “ghost artifact.” The order of decreasing signal differences was S, SD, AD and Q, and all of three liver lesions were better seen with S than with SD techniques. These observations are consistent with signal loss from cumulative inaccuracies from multiple 180° RF pulses. The order of increasing intensity of ghost artifact was Q, SD, AD and S, consistent with the beneficial motion artifact-reducing effects of even-echo rephasing. Knowledge of these effects of multi-echo imaging allows one to make informed decisions about imaging protocols rather than to simply obtain multiple echoes “because they are free.”
Chromium-oxide Growth on Fe–Cr–Ni Alloy Studied with Grazing-emission X-ray Fluorescence

Using grazing-emission X-ray fluorescence (GEXRF), isothermal oxidation of the alloys 55Fe–25Cr–20Ni and 55Fe–25Cr–20Ni(+0.3Y) (wt.%) were studied as a function of oxidation time at 750 °C in O2. In addition, the effect of thermal cycling was studied. Using GEXRF, oxide thickness, the Cr-depletion zone in the substrate, and Fe and Ni concentrations in the oxide were monitored as a function of oxidation time. Scanning-electron microscopy was used to independently measure the Cr-depletion zone. Raman spectroscopy was used to measure the concentration of Fe2O3 appearing in the oxides in early oxidation (less than 2 h). Both GEXRF and Raman measurements show that the thermally-grown chromium oxide purifies with extended oxidation; initially abundant Fe2O3 became undetectable after 2 h of oxidation. However, the total Fe concentration was still ∼3% after 2 h but systematically decreased with further oxidation. Thermal cycling had no effect on these results.
Reactions of Group V Transition Metal Oxide Cluster Ions with Ethane and Ethylene

Reactions of mass-selected group V transition metal oxide cluster ions (VxOy±, NbxOy±, and TaxOy±) with ethane (C2H6) and ethylene (C2H4) were investigated. The major reaction channels observed during the reactions of C2 hydrocarbons with MxOy+ were association and oxygen transfer. The association channel, MxOyC2Hn+, where n = 4 or 6, was common to most of the group V transition metal oxide cluster cations examined. However, a reaction channel corresponding to the loss of an oxygen atom from the mass-selected metal oxide cluster, producing MxOy-1+, was only observed during the reactions of (V2O5)n+, where n = 1, 2, or 3, with ethane and ethylene and during the reactions of ethylene with Nb2O5+. It is proposed that this reaction pathway is oxygen transfer from the mass-selected metal oxide cluster cation to the neutral hydrocarbon. This oxygen transfer channel is the major pathway observed during the course of reactions of V2O5+, V4O10+, and V6O15+ with ethane and ethylene, but this reaction pathway is min...
The role of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for treatment of portal hypertension and its complications: A conference sponsored by the National Digestive Diseases Advisory Board

TIPS is a new and exciting modality for treatment of portal hypertension and its complications. Indications for TIPS remain to be better defined in terms of efficacy and cost-benefit in relationship to other established modes of therapy of portal hypertension. Prospective, randomized controlled trials are needed for these comparisons. Until the role of TIPS in the routine management of the complications of portal hypertension is better defined, TIPS should be used only in situations in which conventional medical and endoscopic therapies have failed.
`The Dance of Poverty' and Beninese Folktales

Apres une breve introduction sur les fonctions du conte populaire, et sur la situation de la litterature orale au Benin, l'A. propose une traduction, en langue anglaise, d'un conte moral Fon : La danse de la pauvrete, qui met en garde contre le pouvoir corrupteur de la richesse materielle et les dangers de l'avarice.
STUDIES ON THE BIOASSAY OF HORMONES—THE ASSAY OF ESTROGENS BY A CHICK OVIDUCT METHOD

This communication is concerned with the response of the chick oviduct to various estrogens, particularly to the view of using this endpoint as a method of assaying estrogens. animals, materials, methods For these studies White Leghorn Pullets were employed which were obtained from Kerr Chickeries in Frenchtown, N. J. The animals were received in Cleveland between one to three days after hatching and immediately placed on a diet of commercial chick starting mash. The bulk of the experiments were started on the fourth day of life although some were started on the seventh day of life. In either case the material to be studied was injected subcutaneously once daily for five days and the determination of oviduct weight and body weight was done at autopsy 24 hours after the last injection. The total material administered per animal was dissolved in 0.5 cc. of corn oil and 0.1 cc. was injected daily.
Information processing bias and pharmacotherapy outcome in older adults with generalized anxiety disorder

Information processing bias was evaluated in a sample of 25 older adults with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) over the course of 12 weeks of escitalopram pharmacotherapy. Using the CANTAB Affective Go/No Go test, treatment response (as measured by the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, Penn State Worry Questionnaire, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Severity Scale) was predicted from a bias score (i.e., difference score between response latencies for negative and positive words) using mixed-models regression. A more positive bias score across time predicted better response to treatment. Faster responses to positive words relative to negative words were associated with greater symptomatic improvement over time as reflected by scores on the GADSS. There was a trend toward significance for PSWQ scores and no significant effects related to HAMA outcomes. These preliminary findings offer further insights into the role of biased cognitive processing of emotional material in the manifestation of late-life anxiety symptoms.
John H. McWhorter. 2011. Linguistic simplicity and complexity: Why do languages undress? Berlin: de Gruyter Mouton. 338 pp.

This review article consists of three parts: a presentation of McWhorter’s book, an evaluation of the book, and a proposal for a systematic metric for one version of the notions of simplicity and complexity in languages. McWhorter’s basic thesis, that creoles have simpler grammars than their lexifier languages and simpler grammars than languages transmitted through acquisition in childhood, must begin with rigorous definitions of the terms ‘simplicity’ and ‘complexity’. The paper proposes a way to measure simplicity and complexity. Whether the notions of simplicity or complexity have a heuristic value remains an open question.
Effects of manipulation of augmented knowledge of results and work surface angle on performance of a serial positioning task.

The effects of manipulating augmented information feedback on performance efficiency of 24 male adults in a simple motor skill were studied. The three levels of information feedback were no augmented knowledge of results, positive augmented knowledge of results and negative augmented knowledge of results, using light and tone as signal modes. The motor skill was a serial-positioning movement, simulating many industrial assembly tasks, and was given at three work surface angles (0 degrees, 9 degrees and 18 degrees), utilizing an automated geometric work station. Results indicated that, disregarding the signal mode, feedback had no effect on performance. However, when light was utilized as a mode of signal, results were superior at 0 degrees and 18 degrees angles when positive knowledge of results was provided. Work surface angle had little effect on performance efficiency, the 18 degrees angle being slightly superior to the 0 degrees and 9 degrees angles. Language: en
Nurses and doctors in prime time series: the dynamics of depicting professional power.

Abstract This essay sketches a comparison of 1960s' television portrayals with those of the present to show that a limited and incomplete portrayal of nurses has been an enduring feature of prime-time medical television programs. They have depicted physicians then and now as captains of the medical ship and nurses then and now their ancillary and ill-defined helpers. As the comparison makes clear, part of nurses' lack of clear power in TV medical scenarios has to do with the explicit and implicit clout exercised by physicians' organizations to present doctor images effectively. That clout contrasts with nursing organizations' lack of attempts or ability (it's hard to gauge which) to influence network television's most prominent representations of their roles and the environments in which they work.
Activation Energy for the Sintering of Two-Phase Alumina/Zirconia Ceramics

In an earlier paper we reported measurements of the activation energy for sintering from constant-heating-rate experiments with alumina/5% zirconia. Here, results from a full range of compositions in this two-phase system are described. They show that the activation energy remains in the range 700 ± 100 kJ/mol when the composition changes from 5 to 95 vol% zirconia. In comparison, pure zirconia sinters with an activation energy of 615 ± 80 kJ/mol and pure alumina with the energy of 440 ± 45 kJ/mol. The addition of 2.8 mol% yttria to zirconia does not have a measurable effect on the activation energy. The grain size dependence of the sintering rate suggests boundary-diffusion-controlled sintering. These activation energies are phenomenologically correlated with the interfacial energies in alumina, zirconia, and two-phase alumina/zirconia, suggesting that the bonding at the interface influences diffusional transport.
Enhanced electrochemical performance of ion-beam-treated 3D graphene aerogels for lithium ion batteries

Abstract High energy light-ion (3.8 MeV He) bombardment is used to introduce lattice defects in a 3-dimensional (3D) interconnected network of graphene aerogels (GAs). When these materials are used as anodes for lithium ion batteries, we observe improved percentage reversible capacity and cycle stability compared to those without ion-beam treatment. Furthermore, all ion-beam treated 3D graphene samples exhibit substantially higher Coulombic efficiencies, suggesting at beneficial role of vacancy-type defects in stabilizing solid-electrolyte interphases. Although 3D graphene exhibits initial reversible capacities that are 2–3 times higher than that of graphite (∼372 mAh/g), fast capacity fading is observed but becomes more stable after ion-beam treatment. Our experimental results demonstrate that ion-beam treatment is an effective route to tune and produce good-performance graphene electrodes, and that vacancy-type defects help to promote reversible lithium storage capacity in graphene. We further observe that 3D GAs irradiated to the highest dose studied (10 16 cm −2 ) fail rapidly upon electrochemical cycling, likely caused by the excessive ion-beam damage and graphene restacking. Raman I (D)/ I (D′) signature is considered linked to defect type in graphene and thus is proposed, for the first time, as an indicator of the reversible capacity for GAs.
Examining the Relational Processes of a Highly Successful Teacher of African American Children.

Culturally responsive educational practices have arisen as effective means of increasing culturally diverse students’ academic achievement and psychological well-being; however, the relational proc...
The formalin test and the opioid nature of stress-induced analgesia.

Exposure to electric shock produces an analgesic reaction (SIA) that is reversed by opiate antagonists (“opioid” SIA) under some conditions but not under other conditions (“nonopioid” SIA). A number of studies using tail-flick to radiant heat as the measure of pain sensitivity have found that a small number of shocks lead to nonopioid SIA, while a large number of shocks produce opioid SIA. In contrast, a small number of shocks have been reported to produce opioid SIA when the Formalin test was used to measure pain reactivity. However, the Formalin test involves administering a chronic pain stimulus (injection of Formalin into the paw) for an extended period before the shocks. Here it is reported that this “preexperimental” stress is sufficient to convert the SIA after a small number of shocks measured by tail-flick to the opioid form.
Global climate change: The quantifiable sustainability challenge

Population growth and the pressures spawned by increasing demands for energy and resource-intensive goods, foods, and services are driving unsustainable growth in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Recent GHG emission trends are consistent with worst-case scenarios of the previous decade. Dramatic and near-term emission reductions likely will be needed to ameliorate the potential deleterious impacts of climate change. To achieve such reductions, fundamental changes are required in the way that energy is generated and used. New technologies must be developed and deployed at a rapid rate. Advances in carbon capture and storage, renewable, nuclear, and transportation technologies are particularly important; however, global research and development efforts related to these technologies currently appear to fall short relative to needs. Even with a proactive and international mitigation effort, humanity will need to adapt to climate change, but the adaptation needs and damages will be far greater if mitigation act...
Failure of a Single Neonatal Dose of Testosterone to Alter Ovarian Function in the Rhesus Monkey

Female rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were injected with an aqueous suspension of testosterone (T) 35 mg/kg within 24 hours following birt h. At 30 months of age observations on their menstrual cycles were beg un and continued for 1 year. Laparotomies were done and ovaries and ute ri examined and measured. Plasma progestins were determined by a modifi ed competitive protein-binding method on 5 control and 5 experimental animals every 3rd day for 27 days. Neither menstrual cycle length nor duration of menses of neonatally treated animals differed from controls. Ovarian and uterine sizes were the same as in controls and numbers of corpora lutea were similar. A similar cyclic pattern of plasma progestin with the peak secretion between Days 15 and 25 was found in both groups. The ability of these animals to conceive and maintain pregnancy is currently being tested. Higher doses of testoster one 105 mg/kg are also being tried in similar tests.
Domesticity in the federal Indian schools: the power of authority over mind and body

This study of off-reservation boarding schools for Native Americans illustrates how Indian students contested federal authority. Analyzing domesticity training and notions of proper dress for female students, it sheds light on the relations of power within the schools as the U.S. government tried to train Indians for subservience according to 19th-century racist theories of their circumscribed physical and mental development. Archival records document federal practice; narratives by alumni of the Chilocco Indian Agricultural School in Oklahoma provide student perspectives. The bloomer story, an important shared narrative, symbolizes student cooperation within (and competition between) gender-defined peer groups. [American Indians, education, women, boarding schools, power relations, resistance, ethnicity]
Long-term forest soil warming alters microbial communities in temperate forest soils

Soil microbes are major drivers of soil carbon cycling, yet we lack an understanding of how climate warming will affect microbial communities. Three ongoing field studies at the Harvard Forest Long-term Ecological Research (LTER) site (Petersham, MA) have warmed soils 5oC above ambient temperatures for 5, 8 and 20 years. We used this chronosequence to examine soil microbial communities in response to chronic warming. Bacterial community composition was studied using Illumina sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene, and bacterial and fungal abundance were assessed using quantitative PCR. Only the 20-year warmed site exhibited significant change in bacterial community structure in the organic soil horizon, with no significant changes in the mineral soil. The dominant taxa, abundant at 0.1% or greater, represented 0.3% of the richness but nearly 50% of the observations (sequences). Individual members of the Actinobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria and Acidobacteria showed strong warming responses, with one Actinomycete decreasing from 10% to 2% relative abundance with warming. We also observed a significant decrease in mean bacterial ribosomal RNA gene copy number in warming plots compared to controls, a trait linked to maximum growth rate or trophic strategy among bacteria. Increased bacterial alpha diversity, shifting beta diversity, decreased fungal abundance and increased abundance of bacteria with low rRNA operon copy number, including Alphaproteobacteria and Acidobacteria suggest that more or alternative niche space is being created over the course of long-term warming.
Lysosomal Rag-ulation of mTOR Complex 1 Activity

An amino acid-sensing pathway regulates mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) activity and participates in nutrient control of cell metabolism and growth. Sancak et al. (2010) identify a lysosomal membrane-localized super-complex that drives amino acid-dependent mTORC1 activation.
A membrane filter procedure for assaying cytotoxic activity in heterotrophic bacteria isolated from drinking water

Cytotoxic activity assays of Gram-negative, heterotrophic bacteria are often laborious and time consuming. The objective of this study was to develop in situ procedures for testing potential cytotoxic activities of heterotrophic bacteria isolated from drinking water systems. Water samples were passed through 0.45 microns membrane filters which were then placed upon appropriate media incubated. After incubation, each membrane filter was transferred to the surface of Y-1 mouse adrenal cells overlaid with 1% agar. The filters were removed after exposure for 15 min. The Y-1 cells were then incubated at 37 degrees C in 2.5% CO2 for an additional 24 h. The release of putative cytotoxic and cytotonic products from the bacterial colonies was recognized by zones of cellular lysis and injury of Y-1 cells that appeared immediately beneath the membrane. Cytotoxic strains of Aeromonas, Vibrio, Escherichia, and Legionella spp. were readily recognized by this method. About 1% of the bacteria isolated from drinking water also released cytotoxic products. This frequency was dependent upon the primary medium used and the density of bacteria present. The majority of cytotoxic strains isolated from drinking water also expressed protease activity (95%) and haemolytic activity (70%). This in situ membrane filter procedure is a facile method for simultaneously testing many different bacterial colonies.