cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Rise and Fall of The Moffat Institution: Mission Education in a Colonial Borderland

AbstractAs the Scottish missionary Robert Moffat retired in Britain after a long career working among the Tswana in southern Africa, the London Missionary Society decided to found a seminary in his name for training African evangelists. The Moffat Institution at Kuruman was completed in 1879, but within only 20 years its classrooms were mostly empty and crumbling. The brief life of the Moffat Institution demonstrates the constraints under which European missionaries operated in the borderland region north of the Cape Colony. While British missionaries within the Cape Colony promoted the liberal ideal of equality for Africans through their Anglicisation, founding English-medium schools that focused on study of European culture, British missionaries in areas still governed by Tswana rulers laboured instead to translate Christianity into Tswana terms, presenting the gospel in ways that might appear less threatening, attract the interest of potential converts and gain the assistance of local evangelists. Duri...
Absorption and lateral shift of beams incident upon lossy multilayered media

The reflected field produced by a beam incident upon planar multilayered structures having small losses is examined by using both an approximate approach and a highly accurate Gaussian-beam analysis. In particular, situations are considered wherein high absorption of the incident energy flux occurs when a generalized Brewster-type regime prevails. We find that the high-absorption phenomenon is due to the large lateral displacement of the beam on its reflection under certain critical conditions. For small losses, this beam shift occurs in a forward direction, similar to that in ideally lossless media; however, for losses that are above a certain critical value, the beam shift appears in an unexpected backward direction. Our results show that all these effects are accounted for by the interaction between the incident energy and a leaky wave that can be supported by the multilayered structure.
Ambient operation of Li/Air batteries

Abstract In this work, Li/air batteries based on nonaqueous electrolytes were investigated in ambient conditions (with an oxygen partial pressure of 0.21 atm and relative humidity of ∼20%). A heat-sealable polymer membrane was used as both an oxygen-diffusion membrane and as a moisture barrier for Li/air batteries. The membrane also can minimize the evaporation of the electrolyte from the batteries. Li/air batteries with this membrane can operate in ambient conditions for more than one month with a specific energy of 362 Wh kg −1 , based on the total weight of the battery including its packaging. Among various carbon sources used in this work, Li/air batteries using Ketjenblack (KB) carbon-based air electrodes exhibited the highest specific energy. However, KB-based air electrodes expanded significantly and absorbed much more electrolyte than electrodes made from other carbon sources. The weight distribution of a typical Li/air battery using the KB-based air electrode was dominated by the electrolyte (∼70%). Lithium metal anodes and KB-carbon account for only 5.12% and 5.78% of the battery weight, respectively. We also found that only ∼20% of the mesopore volume of the air electrode was occupied by reaction products after discharge. To further improve the specific energy of the Li/air batteries, the microstructure of the carbon electrode needs to be further improved to absorb much less electrolyte while still holding significant amounts of reaction products.
The Relationships Between Parental Influence and Student Achievement in Seventh Grade Mathematics

Parental influence has been identified as an important factor affecting student achievement, but the variables addressed by various parent-school partnership programs vary, and lack literature support. This deficiency was ameliorated in this study through an analysis of a national data base from the Longitudinal Study of American Youth (LSAY). AH parental variables investigated in LSAY were considered in this study, and significant variables of students' achievement in seventh grade mathematics were selected through the Backward Elimination Procedure in the Statistical Analysis System (SAS). The results show that those variables significant at α= .05 have accounted for around 22% variability of the student achievement. A further analysis of the empirical results seems to indicate that parent education and encouragement are strongly related to improved student achievement. However, parents should attempt to understand students' feeling, and expect students to take the full responsibility for their successes in the school.
Treatment of Adult-Onset Acute Macular Retinoschisis in Enhanced-S Cone Syndrome with Oral Acetazolamide

Purpose To report on the efficacy of the oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitor (CAI) acetazolamide in treating macular retinoschisis (RS) in the rare vitreoretinal dystrophy best known as the enhanced S-cone syndrome (ESCS). Design Interventional case report. Methods setting: University-based practice. patient: A 48-year old Jewish Italian male with clinically, functionally, and molecularly confirmed ESCS, attributable to homozygosity for the R311Q mutation in the NR2E3 gene, presented with sudden visual acuity (VA) loss (20/200) and metamorphopsia in the left eye resulting from acute, late-onset, asymmetric macular RS. intervention: Open-label, off-label treatment with the oral CAI acetazolamide. main outcome measure(s): Best-corrected VA, retinal thickness, and retinal microanatomy, assessed by Stratus optical coherence tomography (OCT) criteria. Results Following treatment, instituted one month after the acute-onset VA loss, retinal thickness and microanatomic profile normalized in the affected eye, with restoration of 20/20 corrected VA. The fellow eye, which had remained asymptomatic at 20/16 vision, had experienced mild paracentral macular RS evident by OCT criteria, which also resolved completely following oral CAI treatment. The outcome was maintained throughout the follow-up period at a low maintenance dose. Conclusions Taken together with other recent reported benefits of topical and oral CAIs in the treatment of macular RS in X-linked retinoschisis, this interventional case report shows that CAIs can be used to treat effectively macular RS in general, and also specifically in ESCS.
Ecophysiological studies inHesperaloe funifera(Agavaceae): a potential new CAM crop. Seasonal patterns of photosynthesis

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of seasonal variation in temperature and irradiation on photosynthesis rates, proportion of nocturnal CO 2 uptake, and water-use efficiency (WUE) in Hesperaloe funifera (Agavaceae), and to discuss what these seasonal patterns reveal about the nature of the interactions among environmental factors as they affect CO 2 uptake. CO 2 uptake showed the highest 24 h integrated values in fall and spring and the lowest in winter and summer. Temperature and light do not appear to interact in a simple multiplicative manner in their relationship to photosynthesis. A conceptual model describing the seasonal pattern of photosynthetic capacity in Hesperaloe is presented. Moderately high daily integrated CO 2 uptake rates, a long growing season, and high WUE throughout the year have agronomic significance for Hesperaloe as a potential new crop for arid lands.
Semantics for the Logic of Essence

This paper provides a possible worlds semantics for the system of the author's previous paper ‘The Logic of Essence’. The basic idea behind the semantics is that a statement should be taken to be true in virtue of the nature of certain objects just in case it is true in any possible world compatible with the nature of those objects. It is shown that a slight variant of the original system is sound and complete under the proposed semantics.
Consumer stakeholder view of corporate social responsibility: a comparative analysis from USA and India

Purpose – The objective of this research is to examine the perception of corporate social responsibility (CSR) held by consumers in India and America in order to draw out similarities and differences in conceptualization and response.Design/methodology/approach – This paper uses a web‐based questionnaire in English, given that it is most commonly used for professional communication in India. A qualitative analysis of participant responses to open‐ended questions was conducted to generate results.Findings – There is a substantial portion of US consumers who are unaware of socially responsible companies compared with their Indian counterparts who failed to recognize the CSR initiatives of multinational companies. Qualitative analysis showed that, though there was some overlap in CSR domains between the two countries, each sample also identified domains that were unique. Finally, both country samples also showed a positive level of CSR responsiveness.Research limitations/implications – The paper used a web‐b...
Estimation of Dynamic Term Structure Models

We study the finite-sample properties of some of the standard techniques used to estimate modern term structure models. For sample sizes and models similar to those used in most empirical work, we reach three surprising conclusions. First, while maximum likelihood works well for simple models, it produces strongly biased parameter estimates when the model includes a flexible specification of the dynamics of interest rate risk. Second, despite having the same asymptotic efficiency as maximum likelihood, the small-sample performance of Efficient Method of Moments (a commonly used method for estimating complicated models) is unacceptable even in the simplest term structure settings. Third, the linearized Kalman filter is a tractable and reasonably accurate estimation technique, which we recommend in settings where maximum likelihood is impractical.
Financing integrated coastal management: experiences in Mabini and Tingloy, Batangas, Philippines

Integrated coastal management (ICM) is increasingly seen as an effective means to manage coastal resources around the world. In 1991 the passage of the Local Government Code in the Philippines devolved coastal management responsibilities to local governments. At the time of decentralization, coastal municipalities were largely unaware of the tasks associated with managing coastal resources. Additionally, many municipalities found the financial and technical support supplied by the central government to cover these additional responsibilities insufficient. Today, local government units (LGU) struggle to adequately plan, implement, and enforce ICM related activities and legislation. These challenges are due in part to deficiencies in fiscal administration and the misaligned priorities of many LGUs and coastal communities. Several coastal zone stakeholders, from the local to the national level, were interviewed for this analysis; key-informants expressed various perceptions on the financing of ICM in Mabini and Tingloy, Batangas.
Community-Based Prevention Programs in the War on Drugs: Findings from the “Fighting Back” Demonstration:

Illegal drug use remains one of the United States' most serious health problems, and the “War on Drugs” continues without an end in sight. Antidrug programs, which offer the potential to reduce substance abuse problems, are a component of efforts to deal with the problem, but they operate absent adequate scientific analysis. Although policy has shifted from a focus on supply control to one that includes prevention and treatment, research and theory lag behind program implementation. Thus, for example, community-based programs designed to change norms and systems of substance use have been widely promoted despite the lack of data to support their use. The present paper summarizes findings from an evaluation of a large national demonstration program, “Fighting Back.” Results of the evaluation of broad-based community initiatives in a dozen communities show that the programs failed to reduce rates of substance use and associated harms. These findings, along with other evidence, place reliance on community-ba...
Addressing a worldwide readership through the filter of translation

Responsibility for the failure of an information transfer through the filter of translation should be shared by the writer of the text, who may have given the translator insoluble conundrums. Ambiguities in the original text are identified as the main pitfalls, and application of the generally accepted guidelines for good, clear English is presented as a solution. Examples of guidelines specifically intended to help technical people write text intelligible to readers who are not native English speakers are described. Several questions to keep in mind when writing and editing technical papers to be translated and their solutions are discussed. >
Growth differentiation factor-15 and prognosis in acute respiratory distress syndrome: a retrospective cohort study

Introduction We sought to determine whether higher levels of the novel biomarker growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) are associated with poor outcomes and the presence of pulmonary vascular dysfunction (PVD) in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
Cerebrospinal Fluid Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) Suppression and Efavirenz Drug Concentrations in HIV-1—Infected Patients Receiving Combination Therapy

Efavirenz, a potent inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase, is a promising addition to the antiretroviral armamentarium. Efavirenz levels and HIV-1 RNA levels were measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma of 10 HIV-1-infected patients taking efavirenz, 600 mg daily, in combination with other antiretroviral medications. Efavirenz was detected in the CSF at a mean concentration of 35.1 nM (range, 6. 6-58.9 nM), which was above the IC95 for wild-type HIV-1. The mean CSF-to-plasma ratio was 0.61% (range, 0.26%-0.99%). CSF HIV-1 RNA levels were ascertained in 9 of the patients; all were <400 copies/mL after a mean of 26 weeks on therapy. Eight of the 9 patients had no detectable virus in plasma. These results indicate that efavirenz is present in the CSF at low levels and is effective in suppressing CSF viral levels when used in combination therapy.
cis‐3,4‐Dichlorocyclobutene

cis-3,4-Dichlorocyclobutene byproduct: 1,4-dichlorobutadiene product: cis-3,4-dichlorocyclobutene Keywords: cyclization, cycloaddition; halogenation, chlorination
Restoration of the Kissimmee River: A Conceptual Model of Past and Present Fish Communities and Its Consequences for Evaluating Restoration Success

Efforts to restore fish communities of the Kissimmee River will require carefully defined criteria for assessing success. A goal of regaining communities mirroring those in the historical river may not be an appropriate target because the ecological conditions of the river before channelization are poorly known. The Kissimmee River is in a biogeographic region historically low in fish diversity, and no comparable rivers in that region remain substantially unaltered by human activity to permit their use as reference sites indicative of conditions in the Kissimmee before channelization. I propose alternative criteria for assessing restoration success emphasizing expectations for ecosystem function in similar floodplain rivers. Assessing ecosystem function will be less simple than assessing criteria such as fish condition or density of selected species. But criteria based solely on fish-population characteristics cannot be justified quantitatively. Information integrated from several levels of biotic organization (individuals, populations, communities, and systems) should be drawn upon in making conclusions about restoration success. I develop a conceptual model to outline aspects of ecosystem function that could serve as a basis for evaluation of the restoration of fish communities of the Kissimmee River. The model focuses on the dynamics of the flux of floodplain-channel nutrients and the movement of larvae, juvenile, and adult fishes and macroinvertebrates. The present community may be dominated more by species tolerant of low-oxygen conditions, such as gar and bowfin, than the restored community will be. I propose that nest sites may be the limiting recruitment success of substrate spawning species in the channelized river and that these species, including sunfish and large-mouth bass, will increase in abundance after restoration. Also, species relying on floodplain habitats, including sun-fish species, darters, and some minnows, may also increase in frequency with restoration of floodplain-channel hydro-logical conditions and habitats. The observation that no species are known to have disappeared from the Kissimmee River, and its relatively simple community structure compared to rivers of comparable size elsewhere, are encouraging for prospects of successful restoration.
Daily Coping Practice Predicts Treatment Effects in Children With Sickle Cell Disease

Objective: To examine the 1-month effects of a pain coping skills intervention in children with sickle cell disease (SCD). Methods: Forty-six African American children (8–17 years old) were randomly assigned to either a coping skills condition or a standard care control condition. Children were asked to practice daily with audiotaped instructions of skills (e.g., relaxation, imagery). Results: Multivariate analyses of summary measures indicated that children in the coping intervention (versus control group) reported a significantly more active approach to managing pain. Multilevel random effects models applied to daily diary data indicated that on pain days when children practiced their strategies, they had fewer health care contacts, fewer school absences, and less interference with household activities than on days when they did not practice. Conclusions: Brief training in coping skills followed by minimal therapist contact may lead to a range of benefits when children practice with their skills on a consistent basis.
Drafting New York Civil-Litigation Documents: Part XX — Summary-Judgment Motions: An Overview

This article, part of a continuing series on drafting litigation documents under New York law, offers an overview of summary-judgment motions.
Structural and dynamical relationships of Ca2+ and H2O in smectite/2H2O systems

We present an X-ray diffraction and multi-nuclear (2H and 43Ca) NMR study of Ca-exchanged hectorite (a smectite clay) that provides important new insight into molecular behavior at the smectite-H2O interface. Variable-temperature 43Ca MAS NMR and controlled humidity XRD indicate that Ca2+ occurs as proximity-restricted outer-sphere hydration complexes between –120 and +25 °C in a two-layer hydrate and at T ≤ –50 °C in a 2:1 water/solid paste. Changes in the 43Ca NMR peak width and position with temperature are more onsistent with diffusion-related processes than with dynamics involving metal-surface interactions such as site exchange. The 2H NMR signal between –50 and +25 °C for a two-layer hydrate of Ca-hectorite is similar to that of Na- and other alkali metal hectorites and represents 2H2O molecules experiencing anisotropic motion describable using the 2H C2/C3 jump model we proposed previously. 2H T1 relaxation results for Ca- and Na-hectorite are well fit with a fast-exchange limit, rotational diffusion model for 2H2O dynamics, yielding GHz-scale rotational reorientation rates compatible with the C3 component of the C2/C3 hopping model. The apparent activation energy for 2H2O rotational diffusion in the two-layer hydrate is greater for Ca-hectorite than Na-hectorite (25.1 vs. 21.1 kJ/mol), consistent with the greater affinitymore » of Ca2+ for H2O. The results support the general principle that the dynamic mechanisms of proximity-restricted H2O are only weakly influenced by the cation in alkali metal and alkaline earth metal smectites and provide critical evidence that the NMR resonances of charge-balancing cations in smectites become increasingly influenced by diffusion-like dynamic processes at low temperatures as the charge density of the unhydrated cation increases.« less
Determinants of mRNA Stability in Higher Plants

In eukaryotes, each of the steps between transcription of a gene and degradation of the corresponding protein are potential targets for regulation of expression. Of these, transcriptional control mechanisms are the best understood, both from the perspective of basic components of the transcriptional apparatus, and with respect to the mechanisms that regulate specific genes or sets of genes. However, it has become apparent that many eukaryotic genes are controlled to some extent by posttranscriptional events (Peltz et al., 1991). The contribution of mRNA processing, transport, and stability, and of translational and post-translational mechanisms to the regulation of gene expression has therefore received increasing attention recently. Of these, regulation at the level of mRNA stability is among the most widely evoked, but the mechanisms by which such control is exerted remain poorly understood.
Annual research review: impact of advances in genetics in understanding developmental psychopathology.

It was hoped that diagnostic guidelines for, and treatment of, child psychiatric disorders in DSM-5 would be informed by the wealth of clinical genetic research related to neurodevelopmental disorders. In spite of remarkable advances in genetic technology, this has not been the case. Candidate gene, genome-wide association, and rare copy number variant (CNV) studies have been carried out for attentiondeficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Autism, Tourette’s Syndrome, and schizophrenia, with intriguing results, but environmental factors, incomplete penetrance, pleiotropy, and genetic heterogeneity, underlying any given phenotype have limited clinical translation. One promising approach may be the use of developmental brain imaging measures as more relevant phenotypes. This is particularly important, as subtle abnormalities in timing and expression of gene pathways underlying brain development may well link these disorders and be the ultimate target of treatments. Keywords: Developmental psychopathology, genetics, copy number variants, pre-natal diagnosis, nosology, prevention.
Assessing carbon dynamics at high and low rainfall agricultural sites in the inland Pacific Northwest US using the eddy covariance method

Abstract Agricultural soils have the potential to be an important carbon (C) sink with proper management. The main goal of this study was to characterize C dynamics and net C exchange over two full crop years at two sites in the inland Pacific Northwest (iPNW). The iPNW is a highly productive dryland wheat growing region. The two measurement sites represent the low- and high-end of the regional precipitation gradient (250 and 550 mm year−1, respectively). The low rainfall site is in a winter wheat-fallow rotation, while the high rainfall site is under continuous cropping with a rotation that includes winter wheat and pulse crops. The net ecosystem exchange of CO2 (NEE) was monitored using the eddy covariance method. The winter wheat cropping years were strong CO2 sinks, with net uptake of 517 ± 26 and 524 ± 29 g C m−2 year−1 at the high- and low-rainfall sites, respectively. The fallow and pulse-crop years were close to neutral with respect to NEE, with a net uptake of 20 ± 38 g C m−2 year−1 for garbanzo beans at the high rainfall site, and a net loss of 3 ± 19 g C m−2 year−1 for the fallow season at the low rainfall site. Combining NEE with other carbon exchange terms, most importantly carbon import and export via seeding and harvest, gives the net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB). We found that even when harvest export was taken into account, both sites acted as net carbon sinks over the two year period: the NECB at the continuous cropping site was 202 ± 60 g C m−2, and the crop-fallow site had a NECB of 444 ± 34 g C m−2. These results present useful insights to field-scale C dynamics on finely resolved timescales. To understand the potential of soils as a long term C sink however, longer-term monitoring over multiple complete crop rotation cycles in combination with other field measurements or process-based models will be necessary.
Distinguishing between weedy Amaranthus species based on intron 1 sequences from the 5‐enolpyruvylshikimate‐3‐phosphate synthase gene

BACKGROUND Hybridization between Amaranthus species and the potential for herbicide resistance to be transferred by hybridization are of growing concern in the weed science community. Early detection of evolved herbicide resistance and hybrids expressing resistance to single or multiple herbicides is important to develop an effective control strategy. RESULTS A PCR test was developed for quick identification of weedy amaranths and any hybrids. The sequences of intron 1 for the 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS; EC 2.5.1.19) gene were determined for Amaranthus palmeri, A. spinosus, A. retroflexus, A. blitoides, A. viridis, A. tuberculatus and A. hybridus. These sequences were aligned and primers were developed in areas where the sequence differed between species. Species-specific primers and cycle conditions were successfully developed. These primers produce a single robust band only for the species for which they were designed. CONCLUSION The PCR techniques described here allow identification of a weedy amaranth or suspect hybrid in a few hours. Using a similar target, it may be possible to design simple PCR tests to identify even more difficult to distinguish weed species or weeds prone to interspecific hybridization. Published 2016. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Elementary school teachers’ uses of mathematics curricular resources

AbstractWith the adoption of new content standards, teachers are often left without adequate curriculum resources. This study examined how educators used their curricular resources to teach new mathematics standards in the USA. Analyses of open-ended survey responses from 257 teachers and teacher–leaders in Grades 3 through Grade 5 indicated that every educator reported supplementing their districts’ or schools’ primary curricular resources with other materials. These supplements primarily included resources found for free on websites and resources that claimed to be aligned to the new standards, but varied in terms of alignment to national standards for effective mathematics curriculum. Implications for this study include further research on how teachers make decisions regarding curriculum resources as well as increasing teachers’ access to quality curriculum materials that can support students’ mathematical learning.
Organic Reaction Systems: Using Microcapsules and Microreactors to Perform Chemical Synthesis

The appetite for complex organic molecules continues to increase worldwide, especially in rapidly developing countries such as China, India, and Brazil. At the same time, the cost of raw materials and solvent waste disposal is also growing, making sustainability an increasingly important factor in the production of synthetic life-saving/improving compounds. With these forces in mind, our group is driven by the principle that how we synthesize a molecule is as important as which molecule we choose to synthesize. We aim to define alternative strategies that will enable more efficient synthesis of complex molecules. Drawing our inspiration from nature, we attempt to mimic (1) the multicatalytic metabolic systems within cells using collections of nonenzyme catalysts in batch reactors and (2) the serial synthetic machinery of fatty acid/polyketide biosynthesis using microreactor systems. Whether we combine catalysts in batch to prepare an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) or use microreactors to synthesiz...
Reversible Changes in Solution pH Resulting from Changes in Thermoresponsive Polymer Solubility

Pendant groups on polymers that have lower-critical solution temperature (LCST) properties experience a water-like environment below the LCST where the polymer is soluble but are less hydrated above the LCST when the polymer phase separates from solution. When these pendant groups are amphoteric groups like carboxylate salts or ammonium salts, the change in solvation that accompanies the polymer precipitation event significantly changes these groups’ acidity or basicity. These changes in acidity or basicity can lead to carboxylate salts forming carboxylic acid groups by capturing protons from the bulk solvent or ammonium salts reverting to the neutral amine by release of protons to the bulk solvent, respectively. When polymers like poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) that contain a sufficient loading of such comonomers are dissolved in solutions whose pH is near the pKa of the pendant acid or basic group and undergo an LCST event, the LCST event can change the bulk solution pH. These changes are reversible. These...
Development of a Chemoenzymatic Process for Dehydroepiandrosterone Acetate Synthesis

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA, 2) is an important endogenous steroid hormone in mammals used in the treatment of a variety of dysfunctions in female and male health,1 as well as an intermediate in the synthesis of steroidal drugs, such as abiraterone acetate which is used for the treatment of prostate cancer.2−4 In this manuscript we describe a novel, concise, and cost-efficient route toward DHEA (2) and DHEA acetate (3) from 4-androstene-3,17-dione (4-AD, 1). Crucial to success was the identification of a ketoreductase from Sphingomonas wittichii for the highly regio- and stereoselective reduction of the C3-carbonyl group of 5-androstene-3,17-dione (5) to the required 3β-alcohol (2, >99% de). The enzyme displayed excellent robustness and solvent stability under high substrate concentrations (up to 150 g/L).
Alternatives in different dimensions: a case study of focus intervention

In Beck (Nat Lang Seman 14:1–56, 2006), focus intervention is used as an argument for reducing Hamblin’s (Found Lang 10:41–53, 1973) semantics for questions to Rooth’s (Association with focus. Ph.D. Thesis, 1985) focus semantics. Drawing on novel empirical evidence from Mandarin and English, we argue that this reduction is unwarranted. Maintaining both Hamblin’s original semantics and Rooth’s focus semantics not only allows for a more adequate account for focus intervention in questions, but also correctly predicts that focus intervention is a very general phenomenon caused by interaction of alternatives in different dimensions.
Recategorizing childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia with monoclonal antibodies to human T cells

The lymphoblasts of three patients with childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were analyzed for their immunologic surface markers. Blasts from two of these patients did not form rosettes with sheep erythrocytes and the third did so marginally, suggesting these patients had non-T-cell leukemia. These blasts were also tested with monoclonal antibodies that detect thymocyte differentiation markers, and all three patients were highly reactive with at least two of these reagents. We anticipate the availability of multiple standardized monoclonal reagents will necessitate a recategorization of ALL phenotypes. Some of these leukemic phenotypes may not correspond to normal stages of lymphoid differentiation. Therefore, we suggest that it may be inappropriate to attempt to identify and categorize leukemic cells by the pathways of normal differentiation.
Leveraging the Habit-forming Aspects of Technology to Increase Levels of Physical Activity

The use of technology to promote physical activity has been rapidly gaining popularity as technological advances find ever-broadening applications. Though some technology aspects (i.e., on-screen video games) were for long perceived to be incompatible with efforts to diminish physical inactivity, evolving technology has made incorporating newer forms possible in physical activity settings. Professionals interested in physical activity continue to explore and embrace more technology applications with features that advance movement goals. For example, technologies such as the Striiv pedometers, which use virtual challenges and virtual rewards to make movement habitual, demonstrate how habit-forming technology could help to spur sustainable healthy levels of physical activity. This article proposes increased exploration and utilization of habit-forming technology features to encourage more physical activity time in and outside of the physical education classroom. It suggests deliberately seeking technologies...
Development of Improved Radiation Drive Environment for High Foot Implosions at the National Ignition Facility

Analyses of high foot implosions show that performance is limited by the radiation drive environment, i.e., the hohlraum. Reported here are significant improvements in the radiation environment, which result in an enhancement in implosion performance. Using a longer, larger case-to-capsule ratio hohlraum at lower gas fill density improves the symmetry control of a high foot implosion. Moreover, for the first time, these hohlraums produce reduced levels of hot electrons, generated by laser-plasma interactions, which are at levels comparable to near-vacuum hohlraums, and well within specifications. Further, there is a noteworthy increase in laser energy coupling to the hohlraum, and discrepancies with simulated radiation production are markedly reduced. At fixed laser energy, high foot implosions driven with this improved hohlraum have achieved a 1.4×increase in stagnation pressure, with an accompanying relative increase in fusion yield of 50% as compared to a reference experiment with the same laser energy.
Sulfonamide-Based Inhibitors of Aminoglycoside Acetyltransferase Eis Abolish Resistance to Kanamycin in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

A two-drug combination therapy where one drug targets an offending cell and the other targets a resistance mechanism to the first drug is a time-tested, yet underexploited approach to combat or prevent drug resistance. By high-throughput screening, we identified a sulfonamide scaffold that served as a pharmacophore to generate inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis acetyltransferase Eis, whose upregulation causes resistance to the aminoglycoside (AG) antibiotic kanamycin A (KAN) in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Rational systematic derivatization of this scaffold to maximize Eis inhibition and abolish the Eis-mediated KAN resistance of M. tuberculosis yielded several highly potent agents. A crystal structure of Eis in complex with one of the most potent inhibitors revealed that the inhibitor bound Eis in the AG-binding pocket held by a conformationally malleable region of Eis (residues 28–37) bearing key hydrophobic residues. These Eis inhibitors are promising leads for preclinical development of innovativ...
What Did Xunzi Learn from the Daoists

Though there was no “Daoist school” in Xunzi’s time, he was familiar with the thinkers that we think of as Daoist. He rejected them, aligning himself with the school of Confucius instead, but he also learned important things from them, specifically about the natures of Heaven, the Heart, and Ritual. Ultimately, however, it was the failure of Daoism to establish limits for things like violence, social freedom, and wealth, that revealed to Xunzi the rightness of the Confucian Way.
Posttranslational Modification of Myelin Proteins

Myelin of the central nervous system (CNS) is produced as an extension of the plasma membrane of oligodendroglial cells; it is spiraled around the axons, and in mature animals, exists as a compact multilamellar structure. The nature of the signals directing the initiation of myelination (interaction of the oligodendroglial plasma membrane with an axon), and the mechanisms involved in the subsequent spiraling of membrane around the axon and the eventual compaction of these membranes to give mature myelin, remain largely unknown. Presumably, these complex processes involve interactions between proteins, or perhaps more specifically, between functional groups modifyng these proteins.
Mining Incomplete Data with Attribute-Concept Values and Do Not Care Conditions

In this paper we present novel experimental results on comparing two interpretations of missing attribute values: attribute-concept values and "do not care" conditions. Experiments were conducted on 176 data sets, with preprocessing using three kinds of probabilistic approximations (lower, middle and upper) and the MLEM2 rule induction system. The performance was evaluated using the error rate computed by ten-fold cross validation. At 5% statistical significance level, in four cases attribute-concept values and in two cases "do not care" conditions performed better (out of 24 cases). At 10% statistical significance level, in five cases attribute-concept values and in three cases "do not care" conditions performed better. In the remaining cases the differences were not statistically significant.
Microfluidic device for rapid digestion of tissues into cellular suspensions

The ability to harvest single cells from tissues is currently a bottleneck for cell-based diagnostic technologies, and remains crucial in the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Tissues are typically broken down using proteolytic digestion and various mechanical treatments, but success has been limited due to long processing times, low yield, and high manual labor burden. Here, we present a novel microfluidic device that utilizes precision fluid flows to improve the speed and efficiency of tissue digestion. The microfluidic channels were designed to apply hydrodynamic shear forces at discrete locations on tissue specimens up to 1 cm in length and 1 mm in diameter, thereby accelerating digestion through hydrodynamic shear forces and improved enzyme–tissue contact. We show using animal organs that our digestion device with hydro-mincing capabilities was superior to conventional scalpel mincing and digestion based on recovery of DNA and viable single cells. Thus, our microfluidic digestion device can eliminate or reduce the need to mince tissue samples with a scalpel, while reducing sample processing time and preserving cell viability. Another advantage is that downstream microfluidic operations could be integrated to enable advanced cell processing and analysis capabilities. We envision our novel device being used in research and clinical settings to promote single cell-based analysis technologies, as well as to isolate primary, progenitor, and stem cells for use in the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Crystal Structure of Faradaurate-279: Au279(SPh-tBu)84 Plasmonic Nanocrystal Molecules

We report the discovery of an unprecedentedly large, 2.2 nm diameter, thiolate protected gold nanocrystal characterized by single crystal X-ray crystallography (sc-XRD), Au279(SPh-tBu)84 named Faradaurate-279 (F-279) in honor of Michael Faraday’s (1857) pioneering work on nanoparticles. F-279 nanocrystal has a core–shell structure containing a truncated octahedral core with bulk face-centered cubic-like arrangement, yet a nanomolecule with a precise number of metal atoms and thiolate ligands. The Au279S84 geometry was established from a low-temperature 120 K sc-XRD study at 0.90 A resolution. The atom counts in core–shell structure of Au279 follows the mathematical formula for magic number shells: Au@Au12@Au42@Au92@Au54, which is further protected by a final shell of Au48. Au249 core is protected by three types of staple motifs, namely: 30 bridging, 18 monomeric, and 6 dimeric staple motifs. Despite the presence of such diverse staple motifs, Au279S84 structure has a chiral pseudo-D3 symmetry. The core–sh...
Mitigating Litigation for Adventure Recreation Operators: The Ski Safety Act.

Adventure tourism is a rapidly growing segment of the tourism industry, which can be regarded as specific activities that are alluring for their uncertain and potentially dangerous outcomes. Risk-taking attitudes and behaviors may be common among adventure recreationists and increase the potential for litigation against recreation operators. In Fleury v. IntraWest Winter Park Operations Corporation (2014), delineation of an inherent danger or risk of skiing provided by the Ski Safety Act of 1979 was interpreted differently by various parties, giving rise to legal action. Because ski resort operators are typically granted immunity from damages resulting from inherent dangers of skiing, the interpretation of this statutory definition has implications for the liability attributed to the skier versus the resort operator and sets precedent for similar circumstances. This paper analyzes the aforementioned case and provides recommendations for adventure recreation operators in terms of risk management. Subscribe to JOREL
Thermochemical wastewater valorization via enhanced microbial toxicity tolerance

Thermochemical (TC) biomass conversion processes such as pyrolysis and liquefaction generate considerable amounts of wastewater, which often contains highly toxic compounds that are incredibly challenging to convert via standard wastewater treatment approaches such as anaerobic digestion. These streams represent a cost for TC biorefineries, and a potential valorization opportunity, if effective conversion methods are developed. The primary challenge hindering microbial conversion of TC wastewater is toxicity. In this study, we employ a robust bacterium, Pseudomonas putida, with TC wastewater streams to demonstrate that aldehydes are the most inhibitory compounds in these streams. Proteomics, transcriptomics, and fluorescence-based immunoassays of P. putida grown in a representative wastewater stream indicate that stress results from protein damage, which we hypothesize is a primary toxicity mechanism. Constitutive overexpression of the chaperone genes, groEL, groES, and clpB, in a genome-reduced P. putida strain improves the tolerance towards multiple TC wastewater samples up to 200-fold. Moreover, the concentration ranges of TC wastewater are industrially relevant for further bioprocess development for all wastewater streams examined here, representing different TC process configurations. Furthermore, we demonstrate proof-of-concept polyhydroxyalkanoate production from the usable carbon in an exemplary TC wastewater stream. Overall, this study demonstrates that protein quality control machinery and repair mechanisms can enable substantial gains in microbial tolerance to highly toxic substrates, including heterogeneous waste streams. When coupled to other metabolic engineering advances such as expanded substrate utilization and enhanced product accumulation, this study generally enables new strategies for biological conversion of highly-toxic, organic-rich wastewater via engineered aerobic monocultures or designer consortia.
Poisson's Ratio of a Hyperelastic Foam Under Quasi-static and Dynamic Loading

Abstract Poisson's ratio is a material constant representing compressibility of material volume. However, when soft, hyperelastic materials such as silicone foam are subjected to large deformation into densification, the Poisson's ratio may rather significantly change, which warrants careful consideration in modeling and simulation of impact/shock mitigation scenarios where foams are used as isolators. The evolution of Poisson's ratio of silicone foam materials has not yet been characterized, particularly under dynamic loading. In this study, radial and axial measurements of specimen strain are conducted simultaneously during quasi-static and dynamic compression tests to determine the Poisson's ratio of silicone foam. The Poisson's ratio of silicone foam exhibited a transition from compressible to nearly incompressible at a threshold strain that coincided with the onset of densification in the material. Poisson's ratio as a function of engineering strain was different at quasi-static and dynamic rates. The Poisson's ratio behavior is presented and can be used to improve constitutive modeling of silicone foams subjected to a broad range of mechanical loading.
Explaining the Change from Biface to Flake Technology

Why do Coke bottles have ridges? Why did the “American system” of manufacture, with its production of identical, interchangeable parts, fail in the homeland of its invention, France? Why do all of the great American cars of the 1950s have tail fins? Why were Mississippi riverboats created for a working life of 3 or 4 years? Why do home blenders have between 1 and 18 speeds? Why the Qwerty rather than the more “logical” Dvorak keyboard? Why were there over 800 tractor manufacturers in the early part of this century, and only a handful today? Why is the geared eggbeater the standard in American kitchens, while Europeans continue to beat eggs with a whisk? Why did Thomas Jefferson’s perfectly designed plow, the “Mouldboard of Least Resistance,” win an award from the American Philosophical Society, but not the acceptance of the American farmer?
Rotation-as-fast-axis scanning-probe x-ray tomography: the importance of angular diversity for fly-scan modes

We investigate the effects of angular diversity on image-reconstruction quality of scanning-probe x-ray tomography for both fly- and step-mode data collection. We propose probe-coverage maps as a tool for both visualizing and quantifying the distribution of probe interactions with the object. We show that data sampling with more angular diversity yields better tomographic image reconstruction as long as it does not come at the cost of not covering some voxels in the object. Therefore, for fly-mode data collection, rotation-as-fast-axis (RAFA) trajectories are superior to raster or other non-RAFA trajectories because they allow for the increasing of angular diversity without sacrificing spatial coverage uniformity. In contrast, for step-mode data collection and a fixed measurement budget, increasing angular diversity can come at the cost of not covering some voxels, and may not be desired. This study has implications for how scanning-probe microscopes should be collecting data in order to make the most of limited resources.
Investigation of Two-Stage Load Forecasting to Minimize Error Residuals

This paper discusses preliminary results obtained using a two-stage forecasting method for PJM Interconnection data sets. In stage 1, autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) was deployed, and in stage 2, residuals from stage 1 was fed as an input to exponential smoothing (ES) method. The data contained demand values from 11 regions of PJM Interconnection. The datasets used to predict day-ahead demand values are both in 24-hour and 30-day format for 2016 calendar year. The accuracy of forecasting is evaluated using Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) and Mean Absolute Deviation (MAD) parameters. An economic dispatch was then carried using a linear programming formulation in Algebraic Mathematical Programming Language (AMPL) environment. The preliminary results indicate two stage process of ARIMA with ES and ARIMA with ARIMA outperforms one-stage application for this data set.