cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Photoelectric Decimal-Coded Shaft Digitizer

This aper describes a non-counting decimal-coded shaft digitizer. Phototubes are used to read the posi-of masks, permitting static as well as dynamic readout with minimum loading of the measured shaft. Reading is done with several units, each reading a digit of the decimal number representing the shaft position. A special decimal code enmploying 5 phototubes per decade is used to avoid intra-decade ambiguities. Inter-decade ambiguities are prevented by using two masks on all but the first decade. An experimental digitizer, using standard components, is described.
A problem of Boyd concerning geometric means of polynomials

Abstract In this paper we derive an equality which characterizes the distribution of the modulus of a polynomial on the unit circle. This inequality is used to prove a conjecture of Boyd concerning the geometric mean of the modulus of a polynomial of several variables averaged over the torus. References are cited which discuss the relationship of this conjecture to a classical question of Lehmer concerning the distribution of roots of polynomials.
Bragg Reflector Waveguide and Electro-Optic Modulator Based on Barium Titanate Epitaxial Thin Films

We report the nanofabrication of Bragg reflector waveguide structure based on barium titanate (BTO) epitaxial thin film grown on MgO substrate and characterized its optical transmission. A low pressure (~1 Torr) nano-lithography was used for the formation of Bragg reflector waveguide structure. We demonstrate that there is sufficient refractive index contrast to form a well-defined stop band by forming gratings in a top strip layer of Si3N4 that was grown on BTO thin film. Simulation of the optical transmission and stop band of TE mode, and electro-optic (EO) modulator tunability are discussed as well. The non-linear photonic crystal waveguides are potentially suitable as tunable optical filters and ultra-wide bandwidth modulators.
ETL, a Novel Seven-transmembrane Receptor That Is Developmentally Regulated in the Heart: ETL IS A MEMBER OF THE SECRETIN FAMILY AND BELONGS TO THE EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR-SEVEN-TRANSMEMBRANE SUBFAMILY *

Using differential display of rat fetal and postnatal cardiomyocytes, we have identified a novel seven-transmembrane receptor, ETL. The cDNA-predicted amino acid sequence of ETL indicated that it encodes a 738-aa protein composed of a large extracellular domain with epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like repeats, a seven-transmembrane domain, and a short cytoplasmic tail. ETL belongs to the secretin family of G-protein-coupled peptide hormone receptors and the EGF-TM7 subfamily of receptors. The latter are characterized by a variable number of extracellular EGF and cell surface domains and conserved seven transmembrane-spanning regions. ETL mRNA expression is up-regulated in the adult rat and human heart. In situ hybridization analyses revealed expression in rat cardiomyocytes and abundant expression in vascular and bronchiolar smooth muscle cells. In COS-7 cells transfected with Myc-tagged rat ETL, rat ETL exists as a stable dimer and undergoes endoproteolytic cleavage of the extracellular domain. The proteolytic activity can be abolished by a specific mutation, T455A, in this domain. In transfected mammalian cells, ETL is associated with cell membranes and is also observed in cytoplasmic vesicles. ETL is the first seven-transmembrane receptor containing EGF-like repeats that is developmentally regulated in the heart.
Endotoxin and hypoxia-induced intestinal necrosis in rats: the role of platelet activating factor.

ABSTRACT: We have previously shown that intravascular platelet activating factor (PAF) causes ischemic bowel necrosis in rats morphologically similar to neonatal nec-rotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Because endotoxin (LPS) and hypoxia are risk factors for NEC, we studied their effect on PAF metabolism and the development of intestinal injury. Young mate Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized with pentobarbital and divided into six experimental groups: 1) control, 2) LPS alone (2 mg/kg), 3) hypoxia atone (5% O2), 4) LPS + hypoxia, 5) WEB 2086 (PAF antagonist) + LPS + hypoxia, and 6) SRI 63–441 (PAF antagonist) + LPS + hypoxia. Evaluations included blood pressure recording, superior mesenteric artery blood flow, arterial blood gas, white blood cell count, hematocrit, plasma PAF, plasma acetylhydrolase, plasma tumor necrosis factor, intestinal perfusion, and intestinal injury at 3 h. We found that LPS + hypoxia synergistically contributed to hypotension (mean blood pressure 27 ± 5.6% baseline versus 101 ± 3.9% control) metabolic acidosis (pH 7.05, base deficit 24 mEq/L), hemoconcentration, decreased superior mesenteric artery blood flow (2.2 ± 03 mL/min versus 5.8 ± 0.2 mL/min control), and intestinal injury. The morbidities resulting from LPS + hypoxia were partially or completely prevented by PAF antagonists. In addition, animals treated with LPS + hypoxia had neutro-penia, elevated plasma acetylhydrolase, and elevated plasma TNF. These results suggest that endogenous PAF may contribute to LPS + hypoxia-induced intestinal hy-poperfusion and necrosis.
Facile construction of novel polycyclic ring systems using a metallocarbenoid-induced cyclization of acetylenic diazo carbonyl compounds

The Rh(II)-catalyzed reaction of diazo 2-propynyl maolonamic acid ester derivatives produce furo[3,4-c]furans in excellent yield. The methodology was applied to the synthesis of several polyheteroc...
Anticoagulant Therapy and Risk of Cerebrovascular Events After Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation in the Elderly

Stroke and Atrial Fibrillation Ablation. Introduction: Factors associated with cerebrovascular events (CVEs) after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) have not been well defined in elderly patients (≥65 years). The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of CVEs after RFA in patients with AF ≥65 years old, in comparison to patients <65 years, and with or without AF. Methods and Results: This study included 508 consecutive patients ≥65 years old (mean age: 70 ± 4 years), who underwent RFA for paroxysmal (297) or persistent (211) AF. A stratified group of 508 patients 4 weeks after the RFA) occurred in 15 of 508 (3%) of patients ≥65 years old (1% per year) and in 5 of 508 (1%) patients 75 years old (OR = 4.9, ±95% CI: 3.3–148.5, P = 0.001) was the only independent predictor of a CVE. Among patients <65 years old, body mass index was the only independent predictor of a late CVE (OR = 1.2, ±95% CI: 1.03–1.33, P = 0.02). Conclusions: The risk of a periprocedural CVE after RFA of AF is similar among patients ≥65 and 75 years old is the only independent predictor of late CVEs regardless of the rhythm, anticoagulation status, or the CHADS2 score (Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age ≥ 75 years, Diabetes mellitus and prior Stroke or transient ischemic attack). (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 23, pp. 36-43, January 2012)
Does industry self-regulation reduce pollution? Responsible Care in the chemical industry

Self-regulation programs, in which industry associations set membership codes beyond government regulations, are prevalent despite scarce evidence on their effectiveness. We examine Responsible Care (RC) in the US chemical manufacturing sub-sector, whose membership codes include pollution prevention, using our author-constructed panel database of 3,278 plants owned by 1,759 firms between 1988 and 2001. We apply two sets of instrumental variables to address a plant’s parent firm’s self-selection into the program, using: (i) the characteristics of other plants belonging to the same firm in our multi-plant sample; and (ii) firm participation in the industry association before the establishment of RC and industry-level RC participation in our full sample. We find that on average, plants owned by RC participating firms raise their toxicity-weighted pollution by 15.9% relative to statistically-equivalent plants owned by non-RC participating firms. This estimated increase is large relative to the yearly 4% reduction in pollution among all plants in our sample between 1988 and 2001. Moreover, RC raises plant-level pollution intensity by 15.1%. These results caution against reliance on self-regulation programs modeled on the pre-2002 RC program that did not require third party certification and in those sectors that lack independent third party certification.
Random belief equilibrium in normal form games

Abstract In defining random belief equilibrium (RBE) in finite, normal form games we assume a player's beliefs about others' strategy choices are randomly drawn from a belief distribution that is dispersed around a central strategy profile, the focus . At an RBE: (1) Each chooses a best response relative to her beliefs. (2) Each player's expected choice coincides with the focus of the other players' belief distributions. RBE provides a statistical framework for estimation which we apply to data from three experimental games. We also characterize the limit-RBE as players' beliefs converge to certainty. When atoms in the belief distributions vanish in the limit, not all limit-RBE (called robust equilibria ) are trembling hand perfect Nash equilibria and not all perfect equilibria are robust.
A facile photosynthesis of trans-dioxoruthenium(VI) porphyrins.

Photolysis of porphyrin-ruthenium(IV) dichlorate complexes with visible light results in homolytic cleavage of the O–Cl bond in the chlorates to form trans-dioxoruthenium(VI) species bearing either sterically encumbered or unencumbered porphyrin ligands.
Infrared spectroscopic detection of ions and free radicals in discharge plasmas

ABSTRACTHigh-resolution infrared spectroscopy of molecular ions and free radicals has witnessed a dramatic progress inthe past ten years. Spectroscopic identification and characterization of transient species are of great importance forunderstanding elementary processes in discharge plasma.s. Infrared spectroscopy of molecular ions is a relatively newfield. Nevertheless, up to the present time, more than 50 species (including negative ions) have been identified and thespectroscopic constants have been determined. In this presentation, some of the more recent results are reviewed, anda new observation of the infrared spectra of D3 and formation mechanism of triatomic hydrogen radicals in hydrogendischarge plasma are discussed.1. INTRODUCTIONInfrared and millimeter wave spectroscopic detection of free radicals and molecular ions has attracted greatinterest of high-resolution spectroscopists throughout the history of molecular spectroscopy. However, it is relativelyrecent, after the advent of tunable infrared lasers, that the free radical and ion spectroscopy took off. Observations ofthe microwave lines of CO+ and HCO+ by Woods and coworkers1'2 were great achievements which not only provideda definite identification of the interstellar HCO+ but also paved the way to laboratory microwave and millimeter wavespectroscopy of ions to follow. In the infrared region, the absorption spectroscopy of molecular ions was brought intoreality, when Oka accomplished the first spectroscopic identification of H in a glow discharge in hydrogen in the4-pm region.3 Both Woods's and Oka's experiments were very straightforward. Cooled d.c. glow discharge was theion source, and the absorption spectra were recorded using frequency modulation technique.A similar method was successfully applied to the subsequent observation of the v= 1
Occurrence and respiration of ultraplankton in the upper 500 meters of the ocean

Abstract By gentle concentration the ultraplankton of the open ocean were prepared for estimation of their rate of respiration and for microscopic examination while still alive. Except in coastal waters the predominant organisms of the upper 500 m in the western North Atlantic and Southeast Pacific were generally μ flagellates (2–10 μ). Most bacteria and many flagellates were associated with flocculent organic aggregates. Below 25–50 m most of the flagellates were non-pigmented. Evidence is presented that much of the energy fixed by photosynthesis is utilized by Protista. Organic aggregates appear to be the locus of much of the metabolic activity in the ocean.
Plasma refractometry using angular spectral filters on OMEGA EP

A fourth-harmonic (263-nm) probe beam has been commissioned on OMEGA EP. A novel diagnostic has been developed for it to diagnose plasma-density profiles using angular spectral filters to generate a contour map of refractive angles.
Trade and Gunboats: The United States and Brazil in the Age of Empire

Tables and maps Introduction 1. The United States in the Gilded Age 2. Target: Latin America 3. Brazil: from monarchy to republic 4. Brazil debates the treaty 5. The iron marshal and the northern giant 6. The democrats take over 7. Of revolts and gunboats 8. Flint's feet 9. Yankee traders in Brazil 10. Aftermath Conclusion Appendixes Notes References Index.
Minimum volume confidence regions for a multivariate normal mean vector

Summary. Since Stein's original proposal in 1962, a series of papers have constructed confidence regions of smaller volume than the standard spheres for the mean vector of a multivariate normal distribution. A general approach to this problem is developed here and used to calculate a lower bound on the attainable volume. Bayes and fiducial methods are involved in the calculation. Scheffe-type problems are used to show that low volume by itself does not guarantee favourable inferential properties.
Nanoscale molecular-switch crossbar circuits

Molecular electronics offer an alternative pathway to construct nanoscale circuits in which the critical dimension is naturally associated with molecular sizes. We describe the fabrication and testing of nanoscale molecular-electronic circuits that comprise a molecular monolayer of [2]rotaxanes sandwiched between metal nanowires to form an 8 × 8 crossbar within a 1 µm 2 area. The resistance at each cross point of the crossbar can be switched reversibly. By using each cross point as an active memory cell, crossbar circuits were operated as rewritable, nonvolatile memory with a density of 6. 4G bits cm −2 .B ys etting the resistances at specific cross points, two 4 × 4s ubarrays of the crossbar were configured to be a nanoscale demultiplexer and multiplexer that were used to read memory bits in a third subarray.
Integration of nodal and BMP signals in the heart requires FoxH1 to create left-right differences in cell migration rates that direct cardiac asymmetry.

Failure to properly establish the left–right (L/R) axis is a major cause of congenital heart defects in humans, but how L/R patterning of the embryo leads to asymmetric cardiac morphogenesis is still unclear. We find that asymmetric Nodal signaling on the left and Bmp signaling act in parallel to establish zebrafish cardiac laterality by modulating cell migration velocities across the L/R axis. Moreover, we demonstrate that Nodal plays the crucial role in generating asymmetry in the heart and that Bmp signaling via Bmp4 is dispensable in the presence of asymmetric Nodal signaling. In addition, we identify a previously unappreciated role for the Nodal-transcription factor FoxH1 in mediating cell responsiveness to Bmp, further linking the control of these two pathways in the heart. The interplay between these TGFβ pathways is complex, with Nodal signaling potentially acting to limit the response to Bmp pathway activation and the dosage of Bmp signals being critical to limit migration rates. These findings have implications for understanding the complex genetic interactions that lead to congenital heart disease in humans.
Vertically oriented carbon nanofiber based nanoelectromechanical switch

We present a proof-of-principle study of a vertically aligned carbon nanofiber switch and study relevant parameters via a model for a static switch. Vertically aligned freestanding carbon nanofibers are produced by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) and their deflection under applied voltage is measured using an optical microscope. The deflection is compared with a static force balance model, which successfully predicts the switching behavior assuming a nanofiber modulus of 40 GPa, which is consistent with independent modulus measurements made in our laboratory. The model is then extended to explore constraints for implementing a vertically aligned nanotube switch into present CMOS process flow. Carbon nanofibers of less than 40 nm in diameter, which may be grown by current PECVD technology, are shown to be acceptable for device integration for current and future CMOS scaling. To accommodate varying tube sizes and architectures, a basic scaling relationship is developed to relate CMOS via parameters and nanofiber characteristics to programming voltage
Photoresponsiveness of turkey breeder hens changes during the egg-laying season: relative and absolute photorefractoriness

Abstract Photosensitive species undergo neuroendocrine changes during a reproductive season that cause them to gradually become unresponsive to a photoperiod that initially stimulated reproduction. They may first become relatively photorefractory (rPR), when they will cease egg laying only if photoperiod is reduced, and then absolutely photorefractory (aPR), when they will cease laying despite long day length. Our objective was to test the photoresponsiveness of breeder turkey hens during egg production at various times following photostimulation and to relate photoresponsiveness to rPR and aPR as well as plasma levels of prolactin (PRL) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Hens were maintained in cages in light-controlled facilities and photostimulated at 31 wk of age (September) with a photoperiod of 16L:8D. At 8, 14, and 20 wk after photostimulation, treated hens received a 2-wk exposure to an 11.5L:12.5D photoperiod and were then returned to 16L:8D. Exposure to the shortened photoperiod at 8 wk of photostimulation resulted in three distinct responses of declining egg production: nonresponders (NR, 32.7% of hens), partial responders (PAR, 43.9%), or full responders (FR, 23.4%). Egg production returned to control levels following return to a 16L:8D photoperiod. This response repeated at the 14- and 20-wk treatment periods but with greater declines in egg production in the NR and PAR groups. The incidence of subsequent aPR in the NR, PAR, and FR groups was 5.7, 8.5 and 24%, respectively, as compared to 23.3% for the controls. Plasma LH and PRL concentrations also declined in response to 11.5L:12.5D and also rebounded following return to 16L:8D. The hormonal responses of NR, PAR, and FR were similar. We conclude that turkey hens exhibit varying degrees of rPR early during the egg laying season and that the incidence and severity of the rPR response increases as the laying season progresses. Further, PRL and LH levels did not reflect the differences in egg production among the responder and nonresponder groups to changes in photoperiod.
Bayesian Hierarchical Modeling with 3PNO Item Response Models

Fully Bayesian estimat ion has been developed for unidimensional IRT models. In this context, prior distributions can be specified in a hierarchical manner so that item hyperparameters are unknown and yet still have their own priors. Th is type of hierarchical modeling is useful in terms of the three-parameter IRT model as it reduces the difficu lty of specifying model hyperparameters that lead to adequate prior distributions. Further, hierarch ical modeling amelio rates the noncovergence problem associated with nonhierarchical models when appropriate prior informat ion is not available. As such, a Fortran subroutine is provided to implement a hierarchical modeling procedure associated with the three-parameter normal og ive model for binary item response data using Gibbs sampling. Model parameters can be estimated with the choice of noninformative and conjugate prior d istributions for the hyperparameters.
Virtual interpersonal touch: expressing and recognizing emotions through haptic devices

This article examines the phenomenon of Virtual Interpersonal Touch (VIT), people touching one another via force-feedback haptic devices. As collaborative virtual environments become utilized more effectively, it is only natural that interactants will have the ability to touch one another. In the work presented here, we used relatively basic devices to begin to explore the expression of emotion through VIT. In Experiment 1, participants utilized a 2 DOF force-feedback joystick to express seven emotions. We examined various dimensions of the forces generated and subjective ratings of the difficulty of expressing those emotions. In Experiment 2, a separate group of participants attempted to recognize the recordings of emotions generated in Experiment 1. In Experiment 3, pairs of participants attempted to communicate the seven emotions using physical handshakes. Results indicated that humans were above chance when recognizing emotions via VIT but not as accurate as people expressing emotions through nonmediated handshakes. We discuss a theoretical framework for understanding emotions expressed through touch as well as the implications of the current findings for the utilization of VIT in human-computer interaction.
On almost sure sample stability of nonlinear stochastic dynamic systems

In this note, an extension of Khasminskii's theorem on almost sure stability of linear stochastic differential equations to a class of nonlinear stochastic differential equations is presented. The necessary and sufficient conditions for almost sure stability are proved. It is shown that in the second-order case, the stable region can be exactly determined by studying the singular boundaries of one-dimensional diffusion processes. The authors present a modified form of Feller's criteria for classification of singular boundaries. The new criteria are equivalent to and much simpler for applications than Feller's criteria. Two examples of nonlinear stochastic dynamic systems with stable regions illustrate the application procedures. >
DDX5 regulates DNA replication and is required for cell proliferation in a subset of breast cancer cells

Understanding factors required for DNA replication will enrich our knowledge of this important process and potentially identify vulnerabilities that can be exploited in cancer therapy. We applied an assay that measures the stability of maintenance of an episomal plasmid in human tissue culture cells to screen for new DNA replication factors. We identify an important role for DDX5 in G1-to-S phase progression where it directly regulates DNA replication factor expression by promoting the recruitment of RNA Polymerase II to E2F-regulated gene promoters. We find that the DDX5 locus is frequently amplified in breast cancer and that breast cancer derived cells with amplification of DDX5 are much more sensitive to its depletion than breast cancer cells and a breast epithelial cell line that lack DDX5 amplification. Our results demonstrate a novel role for DDX5 in cancer cell proliferation and suggest DDX5 as a therapeutic target in breast cancer treatment.
Friend and Family Support for Weight Loss in Adolescent Females

Abstract Background: Overweight and obesity rates in children and adolescents are concerning, particularly among girls. Social support from friends has been associated with healthier eating and higher levels of physical activity, yet little is known about the relationship between social support and weight loss among adolescents. This aim of this study was to prospectively examine the relationship between baseline social support from friends and family, changes in social support, and weight loss. Methods: Sixty-five adolescent girls completed a one-year weight loss intervention trial. Data were collected at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Results: At baseline, family support was higher compared to friend support; however, lower friend support at baseline and increases in friend support from baseline to 6 months and 12 months were associated with weight loss. When controlling for other predictors of weight loss, change in friend support for healthy eating was predictive of weight loss at 12 months. Concl...
Induction of Cytochrome P450 Enzymes That Metabolize Xenobiotics

One of the many interesting aspects of the cytochrome P450 enzymes is that some are inducible; that is, following exposure of the cell to an inducing chemical, enzyme activity increases, in some cases by orders of magnitude. The induction phenomena were first recognized because they produced alterations in pharmacological responses to drugs or other xenobiotics. For example, animals chronically exposed to barbiturates become “tolerant” to the hypnotic effects of these drugs, because they induce the cytochrome P450 enzymes responsible for their own metabolism.1 Similarly, the induction of cytochrome P450 enzymes reduced the incidence of neoplasia in animals exposed to chemical carcinogens2 Such examples illustrate two interesting points. First, inducers are often substrates for the induced enzymes; thus, enzyme activity increases only as needed. Second, enzyme induction usually enhances detoxification, particularly when low to moderate concentrations of substrate are present; thus, under most conditions, induction is a protective mechanism, whereby the cell can detoxify lipophilic compounds that might otherwise accumulate. Both characteristics are likely to facilitate the survival of the cell in a potentially toxic chemical environment.
Coupled embedding of sequential processes using gaussian process models

In this dissertation we consider the task of making predictions from high dimensional sequential data. Problems of this type arise in many practical scenarios, such as the estimation of 3D human figure motion from a sequence of images or the predictions of implied volatility trends from sequences of option market indicators in financial time-series analysis. However, direct predictions of this type are typically infeasible due to high dimensionality of both the input and the output data, as well as the existence of temporal dependencies. To address this task we present a novel approach to subspace modeling of dyadic high dimensional sequences which have a co-occurrence or regression relationship. Statistical reasoning suggests that predictions made through low dimensional subspaces may improve the performance of predictive models if such subspaces are properly selected. We show that selection of such optimal predictive subspaces can be made, and is largely analogous, to the task of designing a particular family of Gaussian processes (GP). As a consequence, many of the models we consider here can be seen as a generalization of the well-known GP regressors. We first study the role of dynamics in subspace modeling of single sequence and propose a new family of marginal auto-regressive (MAR) models which can describe the space of all stable auto-regressive sequences. We utilize the MAR priors in a Gaussian process latent variable model (GPLVM) framework to represent the nonlinear dimensionality reduction process with a dynamic constraint. To model the low dimensional embedding in the prediction tasks, we propose two alternative approaches: a generative model and direct predictive, discriminative model. For the generative modeling approach, we extend the framework of probabilistic latent semantic analysis (PLSA) models in a sequential setting. This dynamic PLSA approach results in a new generative model which learns a pair of mapping functions between the subspace and the two data sequences with a dynamic prior. For the discriminative modeling approach, we address the problem of learning optimal regressors that maximally reduce the dimension of the input while preserving the information necessary to predict the target values based on the sufficient dimensionality reduction concept. Instead of the iterative solutions of previous approaches, we show how a globally optimal solution in closed form can be obtained by formulating a related problem in a setting reminiscent of the GP regression. In the set of experiments on various vision and financial time-series prediction problems, the proposed two models achieve significant gains in accuracy of prediction as well as interpretability, compared to other dimension reduction and regression schemes.
Culture Clash: Teaching Cultural Defenses in the Criminal LawClassroom

In the law school classroom, the Socratic method of legal analysis removes a dispute at issue in a given case from its sociocultural context and takes the cultural backgrounds of the parties into account only when they serve the legal argument. The language of the law commands law students to siphon off the emotional and cultural content because of the enduring belief that the law is neutral and impartial. Accordingly, cultural conflicts are deemed irrelevant to legal analysis because laws are unbiased and culture-blind. This detached outlook has been termed perpectivelessness to denote a neutral, odorless, colorless non-perspective. This essay describes how coverage of cultural defenses in a Criminal Law course can serve to create space within classroom discussion for considering perspectives other than those inherent in traditional legal analysis. This discussion not only affirms the relevance of other world views, but also calls into question the illusion of objectivity that cloaks our laws. By addressing this matter, students, hopefully, will learn to recognize the cultural assumptions imbedded in the cases they are reading and gain a deeper understanding of the law. The teaching plan for this lesson contains three distinct issues: (1) the relevance of culture to the criminal law, (2) the propriety of cultural defenses in the criminal law, and (3) the culture of the law school classroom. With issue one, students discuss several cases or fact patterns and consider how a cultural defense might be used in each situation. In issue two, arguments are made for or against the use of cultural defenses in our criminal legal system. Finally, issues one and two are placed in the context of issue three, in which students mull over the process of legal education and the distinct culture of the law school classroom.
Correlates of Interorganizational Service Coordination in Community Corrections

Because weak interagency coordination between community correctional agencies (e.g., probation and parole) and community-based treatment providers has been identified as a major barrier to the use of evidence-based practices (EBPs) for treating drug-involved offenders, this study sought to examine how key organizational (e.g., leadership, support, staffing) and individual (e.g., burnout, satisfaction) factors influence interagency relationships between these agencies. At each of 20 sites, probation/parole officials (n = 366) and community treatment providers (n = 204) were surveyed about characteristics of their agencies, themselves, and interorganizational relationships with each other. Key organizational and individual correlates of interagency relationships were examined using hierarchical linear models (HLM) analyses, supplemented by interview data. The strongest correlates included Adaptability, Efficacy, and Burnout. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
Is There a Rush to the Death Penalty in the Caribbean: The Bahamas Says No

This survey of current developments will explore the debate between human rights groups and government proponents in English-speaking Caribbean [ESC] nations over the use of the death penalty. It will focus on Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Bahamas. A review of the debate in the ESC may encourage reflection on whether there should be time limitations placed on the imposition of the use of the death penalty in the United States and other nations that retain the penalty. Amnesty International and other human rights groups report that over half the countries in the world have now abolished the death penalty in law or in practice. Specifically, Amnesty International reports that as of April 1998, sixty-three countries and territories have abolished the death penalty for all crimes, while ninety-one other countries, a number of which are in the ESC, retain and use the death penalty. Many human rights groups have decried what they believe to be a resurgence of the use of the death penalty in some of those ESC nations whose people have seen a rise in crime rates over the past decade and who believe that the imposition of the death penalty will deter serious crime.Recently, death warrants have been issued by the respective governments of these countries for death row prisoners who still have applications pending before international bodies, such as the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of the Organization of American States (IACHR) and the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC). This article places special emphasis on the Bahamas because it is the only one of these three countries that actually carried out the death penalty. The double execution of Trevor Fisher and Richard Woods on October 15, 1998, was the first double hanging in the Bahamas since 1983. The applications for the appeals of Fisher and Woods are still pending before the IACHR. The section of this article concerning the Bahamas will include portions of the author’s February, 1999, personal interview with the Honorable Tennyson Wells, Attorney General of the Bahamas, regarding his government's position with respect to the Fisher and Woods cases.
Probing the Active Site Chemistry of β-Glucosidases along the Hydrolysis Reaction Pathway

β-Glucosidases (EC 3.2.1.21) can be found in all domains of living organisms, where they play essential roles in the removal of terminal glucosyl residues from nonreducing ends of saccharides and g...
Evaluation of the Influence of Droplet Size and Density of Bacillus thuringiensis Against Gypsy Moth Larvae (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae)

A study was conducted to determine the effect of spray droplet size and density on the efficacy of a commercial preparation of Bacillus thuringiensis against the gypsy moth ( Lymantria dispar L.). A concentration of 5,795 International Units (IU)/µl was used. In the laboratory, various size droplets and densities were tested against larvae using 12-cm2 red oak leaflets. Results show that producing relatively high densities of small (50-150 µm) droplets of B. thuringiensis will increase the efficacy compared with larger droplets (> 150 µm) present at low densities at the same dose. Median lethal dose estimates are made for droplets in three size classes (50-150, 150-250, and 250-350 µm). LD95’s for the generalized size classes of 100, 200, and 300 µm were 10.8, 2.2, and 0.9 drops/cm2, respectively. Implications of these results are discussed.
General Purpose Graphics Processing Unit Based High-Rate Rice Decompression and Reed-Solomon Decoding

As the volume of data acquired by space-based sensors increases, mission data compression/decompression and forward error correction code processing performance must likewise scale. This competency development effort was explored using the General Purpose Graphics Processing Unit (GPGPU) to accomplish high-rate Rice Decompression and high-rate Reed-Solomon (RS) decoding at the satellite mission ground station. Each algorithm was implemented and benchmarked on a single GPGPU. Distributed processing across one to four GPGPUs was also investigated. The results show that the GPGPU has considerable potential for performing satellite communication Data Signal Processing, with three times or better performance improvements and up to ten times reduction in cost over custom hardware, at least in the case of Rice Decompression and Reed-Solomon Decoding.
Parents’ Experiences With Ultrasound During Pregnancy With a Lethal Fetal Diagnosis

This longitudinal naturalistic study sought to describe parent experiences of ultrasounds during pregnancies with lethal fetal diagnoses (LFDs). We interviewed 16 mothers and 14 partners twice during pregnancy and twice after birth and death of their infant. Parents reported that ultrasound providers had a profound impact on their experiences with LFDs. Within three stages of pregnancy (pre-diagnosis, learning the diagnosis, and living with the diagnosis), themes of optimistic expectation, hearing bad news, need to know, and time with baby emerged. The dynamics of interactions with ultrasound providers included differing goals and expectations, and compatibility of interactions. These interactions were either satisfying or added to parents' burden. Ultrasound providers have the opportunity to share valuable knowledge and facilitate understanding and precious time with the baby. Providers of obstetrical care can improve communication with parents with LFDs at critical time periods by matching their interaction to parents' needs.
Care of persistent ectopic pregnancy after laparoscopic conservative surgery

Objective To investigate the care effect of persistent ectopic pregnancy after laparoscopic conservative surgery. Methods Selected patients who had get laparoscopic conservative surgery and persistent ectopic pregnancy after the surgery in the first people's hospital of Yangzhou city from June 2007 to December 2011.Extracted 96 patients,analyzed the psychological care,health education,routine care and drug use care they had get. Results The patients of persistent ectopic pregnancy had recovered through our hospital's treatment and attentive care,and had avoided secondary surgery,away from life-threatening. Conclusion Nursing staff should enrich their professional knowledge,actual operating techniques,effective care for patients with persistent ectopic pregnancy after laparoscopic conservative surgery,these can ease the patients' disease,and ensure the patients' safety.
Pentoxifylline restores cardiac output and tissue perfusion after trauma-hemorrhage and decreases susceptibility to sepsis.

Background. Although pentoxifylline produces various beneficial effects in a preheparinized model of hemorrhagic shock, it was unknown whether this agent restores the depressed cardiac output (CO) and tissue perfusion in a nonheparinized model of trauma-hemorrhage and resuscitation and, if so, whether it decreases the susceptibility'to sepsis after hemorrhage. Methods. After laparotomy (i.e., induction of trauma), rats were bled to and maintained at a mean arterial pressure of 40 mm Hg until 40% of the maximum shed blood volume was returned in the form of Ringer's lactate. The animals were then resuscitated with Ringer's lactate, four times the volume of shed blood
Interferon-γ Polymorphisms in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Interferon-gamma is a cytokine which is believed to play a role in both the susceptibility and pathogenesis of lupus. To determine whether genetic variants might influence the development of this polygenic autoimmune disease, we analyzed the gene frequency of eight different alleles in controls and patients with SLE. Ninety-nine controls and 136 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus were genotyped for a CA repeat in the first intron of the interferon-gamma gene. There were no statistically significant differences in the allele frequencies between patients and controls suggesting that these polymorphic variants do not influence susceptibility. We then examined whether any of these alleles were associated with specific clinical manifestations. Allele 1 was associated with gastrointestinal lupus while allele 6 was associated with more severe lupus. Allele 2 appeared to be protective for arthritis. This suggests that genetic variation in interferon-gamma expression might influence the disease course.
Wages and Leisure

The programmer who seeks to induce the subsistence cultivator to work much longer hours than he does now must offer him a high marginal return per hour in exchange. Does the subsistence cultivator, we are often asked, value his leisure? Some economists have said, over-hastily, that it has no value to them. But on examination this is seen not to be a rational answer. If leisure really had no value, people would be willing to work for nothing, or nearly nothing. The strange fact (disclosed below) that, throughout all places and times for which we have information, the rural labourer, however poor, will not do a day’s work for less than 3 kg. grain equivalent, gives us an approximate but interesting measure of the value which the very poor put on their leisure. And recent work, both empirical and theoretical, has shown that as levels of real income rise, the valuation which we put on our leisure increases; most of us require to be offered overtime wages much higher than our average wages, to persuade us to work any longer.
Problems, Goals, and Trade-Offs

Fiscal, monetary, and international tools are available to meet economic problems. The government can use taxes, transfers, and government spending; wage and price controls; and and other less obvious tools. Open-market transactions are the principal monetary tool. Exchange rate policies and trade restrictions can be used to affect the international sector of the economy. With all of these tools and problems, trade-offs are hard to avoid. In particular, the short-term trade-offs exist between inflation and unemployment and exchange rates and the balance of trade. Other trade-offs persist as well. Giving up a goal can be necessary, but it still remains to choose which goals are important and which can be foregone. This choice is not an easy one. Economic goals are not the only ones that are needed to be considered. Social and environmental concerns are also important, and these problems impose additional economic trade-offs.
Relating Economic Crises to Democracy

Economic crises are a key factor behind the rise of democracy protests and can help explain the recent proliferation of democracy protests around the world, which has taken place in the presence of a downturn in the global economy. Economic crises make democracy protests more likely to occur, I argue, because they raise discontent within society for governments in general, and authoritarianism in particular, and elevate support for opposition candidates, who are more likely to organize protests when they believe that support for them is high. While economic crises are not the only issue likely to generate discontent against regimes and provoke mobilization, the economy is generally the most important issue affecting people's political attitudes across countries. Economic crises are also likely to affect the responses of governments to democracy protests. National leaders have less incentive to accommodate democracy protests when crises occur because they are less likely to retain power in open and competitive elections when the economy is not performing well. However, if economic crises are severe, and democracy protests very large as a result, national leaders are likely to be compelled to accommodate the protests and/or step down from power regardless. POPULAR DISCONTENT IN ECONOMIC CRISES Economic crises generally lead to popular discontent toward governments especially when the public perceives governments as having played a role in either precipitating the crises or in having managed them poorly (Lewis-Beck 1986; Powell Jr. and Whitten 1993; Lewis-Beck and Stegmaier 2000). The public has good reason to either credit or blame their governments for the state of the economy. Although governments do not have complete discretion over their economies, governments do have significant influence over them, and can contribute to economic crises in many ways, including poor fiscal policies, costly foreign and domestic wars, profligate spending, corruption, and so forth. Authoritarian governments tend to have more discretion over their countries’ economies than democratic states because they are less open to the world economy via trade and investment than democracies (Jensen 2003; Milner and Mukherjee 2009), and face fewer checks and balances in domestic policy-making. Nothing stood in the way of the superstitious general Ne Win provoking an economic crisis in Burma in 1987, when he demonetized certain currency notes and replaced them with 45 and 90 kyat notes because they were both divisible by and added up to the lucky number nine.
The Initial Glimpse at Long-term Outcomes Following the Repair of Truncus Arteriosus

The article by Naimo and colleagues (outcomes of truncus arteriosus repair in children: 35 years of experience from a single center) provides the initial glimpse at long-term outcomes following truncus arteriosus repair. Although survival has improved over the past decade, the morbidity resulting from subsequent re-operations now comprises a significant area for improvement in the ensuing decade.
Chemical Approach to Positional Isomers of Glucose-Platinum Conjugates Reveals Specific Cancer Targeting through Glucose-Transporter-Mediated Uptake in Vitro and in Vivo.

Glycoconjugation is a promising strategy for specific targeting of cancer. In this study, we investigated the effect of d-glucose substitution position on the biological activity of glucose–platinum conjugates (Glc-Pts). We synthesized and characterized all possible positional isomers (C1α, C1β, C2, C3, C4, and C6) of a Glc-Pt. The synthetic routes presented here could, in principle, be extended to prepare glucose conjugates with different active ingredients, other than platinum. The biological activities of the compounds were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. We discovered that varying the position of substitution of d-glucose alters not only the cellular uptake and cytotoxicity profile but also the GLUT1 specificity of resulting glycoconjugates, where GLUT1 is glucose transporter 1. The C1α- and C2-substituted Glc-Pts (1α and 2) accumulate in cancer cells most efficiently compared to the others, whereas the C3-Glc-Pt (3) is taken up least efficiently. Compounds 1α and 2 are more potent compared to 3 ...
Histamine facilitates GABAergic transmission in the rat entorhinal cortex: Roles of H 1 and H 2 receptors, Na + -permeable cation channels, and inward rectifier K + channels

In the brain, histamine (HA) serves as a neuromodulator and a neurotransmitter released from the tuberomammillary nucleus (TMN). HA is involved in wakefulness, thermoregulation, energy homeostasis, nociception, and learning and memory. The medial entorhinal cortex (MEC) receives inputs from the TMN and expresses HA receptors (H1 , H2 , and H3 ). We investigated the effects of HA on GABAergic transmission in the MEC and found that HA significantly increased the frequency of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) with an EC50 of 1.3 µM, but failed to significantly alter sIPSC amplitude. HA-induced increases in sIPSC frequency were sensitive to tetrodotoxin (TTX), required extracellular Ca2+ , and persisted when GDP-β-S, a G-protein inactivator, was applied postsynaptically via the recording pipettes, indicating that HA increased GABA release by facilitating the excitability of GABAergic interneurons in the MEC. Recordings from local MEC interneurons revealed that HA significantly increased their excitability as determined by membrane depolarization, generation of an inward current at -65 mV, and augmentation of action potential firing frequency. Both H1 and H2 receptors were involved in HA-induced increases in sIPSCs and interneuron excitability. Immunohistochemical staining showed that both H1 and H2 receptors are expressed on GABAergic interneurons in the MEC. HA-induced depolarization of interneurons involved a mixed ionic mechanism including activation of a Na+ -permeable cation channel and inhibition of a cesium-sensitive inward rectifier K+ channel, although HA also inhibited the delayed rectifier K+ channels. Our results may provide a cellular mechanism, at least partially, to explain the roles of HA in the brain. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.