cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Luminescent Quadrupolar Borazine Oligomers: Synthesis, Photophysics, and Two-Photon Absorption Properties.

A set of monodisperse bent donor-acceptor-donor-type conjugated borazine oligomers, BnNn+1 (n=1-4), incorporating electron-rich triarylamine donor and electron-deficient triarylborane acceptor units has been prepared through an iterative synthetic approach that takes advantage of highly selective silicon-boron and tin-boron exchange reactions. The effect of chain elongation on the electrochemical, one- and two-photon properties and excited-state photodynamics has been investigated. Strong intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) from the arylamine donors to boryl-centered acceptor sites results in emissions with high quantum yields (Φfl >0.5) in the range of 400-500 nm. Solvatochromic effects lead to solvent shifts as large as ∼70���nm for the shortest member (n=1) and gradually decrease with chain elongation. The oligomers exhibit strong two-photon absorption (2PA) in the visible spectral region with 2PA cross sections as large as 1410 GM (n=4), and broadband excited-state absorption (ESA) attributed to long-lived singlet-singlet and radical cation/anion absorption. The excited-state dynamics also show sensitivity to the solvent environment. Electrochemical observations and DFT calculations (B3LYP/6-31G*) reveal spatially separated HOMO and LUMO levels resulting in highly fluorescent oligomers with strong ICT character. The BnNn+1 oligomers have been used to demonstrate the detection of cyanide anions with association constants of log K>7.
Development and validation of a SNP panel for parentage assignment in rainbow trout

Abstract In salmonid aquaculture, family-based selective breeding programs rely on accurate pedigree information for estimating genetic merits. The pedigree information can be tracked through the use of Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags. However, PIT tags can be expensive, and cannot be used with small fish. DNA markers offer an alternative approach for pedigree tracking and microsatellites have been previously used for parentage assignments in rainbow trout. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are becoming increasingly popular in aquaculture research because they are highly abundant and are amenable for high throughput genotyping. The objectives of this study were to develop a SNP panel for parentage assignment in rainbow trout and to evaluate the accuracy of parentage assignment using fish with known pedigrees. Two groups of SNPs were targeted: 1) genome SNPs distributed across all 29 chromosomes; and 2) previously identified trait-associated SNPs. Among the 128 SNPs selected for assay development, 102 (79.7%) working assays were developed. A panel of 95 SNP assays including 68 genome SNPs and 27 trait-associated SNPs was used to genotype 499 fish with known pedigrees from Troutlodge, Inc. and from the USDA/ARS National Center for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture. Parentage assignments matched perfectly with the known pedigrees when all 95 SNPs were used. Near perfect parentage assignment was obtained with the 68 genome SNPs, and the accuracy of parentage assignment was over 98% with a subset of 48 genome SNPs. Therefore, these SNP assays are robust and enable accurate parentage analysis in populations that are typically used in rainbow trout breeding programs. Statement of relevance Provide alternative method to track pedigrees.
Output frequency response characteristics of nonlinear systems. Part II: overlapping effects and commensurate multi-tone excitations

The output response of nonlinear systems is strongly dependent on the extent to which different input frequency combinations/intermodulations overlap one another and contribute to a common output frequency component. This makes it hard to determine the actual number of output frequencies, or to determine which of the many possible combinations contribute to a specified output frequency of interest. Systematic algorithms are presented for resolving these issues in a manner, which is both efficient and straightforward to implement on a computer. Three broad classes of input are considered: multi-tone, but nominally incommensurate sinusoids; multi-tone, harmonically related sinusoids and multi-tone excitations that are equi-spaced in frequency. The considered inputs also admit the possibility of a dc bias component since this can significantly affect the system response. The algorithms are therefore applicable to a broad range of practical inputs, and their use and benefits are illustrated with several examples.
Selection of Materials for Pressure Vessels and Chemical Plants

The selection of materials for pressure vessels and chemical plants depends on a number of factors such as operating pressure, operating temperature, operating medium, regulations in force in the country of the plant user concerned and manufacturing possibilities. The essay clearly explains how the above specified factors individually influence the selection of materials. The article also deals with the ranges of application of certain material groups such as unalloyed and low-alloy steels, fine-grained steels, austenitic chromium-nickel steels, unalloyed ferritic chromium steels and other materials. The article closes with remarks on the operational safety of pressure vessels.
Continuous medial representation of brain structures using the biharmonic PDE

A new approach for constructing deformable continuous medial models for anatomical structures is presented. Medial models describe geometrical objects by first specifying the skeleton of the object and then deriving the boundary surface corresponding to the skeleton. However, an arbitrary specification of a skeleton will not be “Valid” unless a certain set of sufficient conditions is satisfied. The most challenging of these is the non-linear equality constraint that must hold along the boundaries of the manifolds forming the skeleton. The main contribution of this paper is to leverage the biharmonic partial differential equation as a mapping from a codimension-0 subset of Euclidean space to the space of skeletons that satisfy the equality constraint. The PDE supports robust numerical solution on freeform triangular meshes, providing additional flexibility for shape modeling. The approach is evaluated by generating continuous medial models for a large dataset of hippocampus shapes. Generalizations to modeling more complex shapes and to representing branching skeletons are demonstrated.
The Fermilab ACNET upgrade

Abstract The Fermilab Accelerator Controls Network (ACNET) upgrade consists of a new physical medium (IEEE 802.5 token ring), additions to the calling sequence and added processor support. ACNET is the accelerator control backbone network for all data communication. A proprietary network was replaced by an IEEE standard enabling an open network with excellent characteristics for the control system. The calling sequence was enhanced for the added capabilities of the token-ring interface such as “gather-read” and “scatter-write”. In addition to prior support of DEC PDP11s under RS11M and VAXs under VMS, the ACNET calling sequence was implemented in the language C for the IBM PC with MS-DOS and Motorola 680x0 with MTOS using VME bus. Additional support is in progress for Intel 80x86 with MTOS using Multibus II.
Superoxide imposes leakage of sulfite from Escherichia coli.

Abstract Escherichia coli, which lacks the cytosolic superoxide dismutases, exhibits several nutritional auxotrophies when growing aerobically. The cysteine/methionine requirement, which is one of these, was previously shown to be due to leakage from the cells, and accumulation in the medium, of a metabolic intermediate on the biosynthetic route to these amino acids. The parental strain does not significantly accumulate this compound. It is now shown that treatment with alkaline cyanide releases sulfite from this compound, a property shared by α-hydroxy sulfonic acids (carbonyl–bisulfite adducts). Since E. coli accumulates carbonyl compounds in the growth medium, it appears likely that the sulfitogenic compounds accumulated by the sod A sod B strain are α-hydroxy sulfonic acids.
ATHLETE: Lunar cargo unloading from a high deck

As part of the NASA Exploration Technology Development Program, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory is developing a vehicle called ATHLETE: the All-Terrain Hex-Limbed Extra-Terrestrial Explorer. 1 2 Each vehicle is based on six wheels at the ends of six multi-degree-of-freedom limbs. Because each limb has enough degrees of freedom for use as a general-purpose leg, the wheels can be locked and used as feet to walk out of excessively soft or other extreme terrain. Since the vehicle has this alternative mode of traversing through or at least out of extreme terrain, the wheels and wheel actuators can be sized for nominal terrain. There are substantial mass savings in the wheel and wheel actuators associated with designing for nominal instead of extreme terrain. These mass savings are at least comparable-to or larger-than the extra mass associated with the articulated limbs. As a result, the entire mobility system, including wheels and limbs, can be lighter than a conventional all-terrain mobility chassis. A side benefit of this approach is that each limb has sufficient degrees-of-freedom to be used as a general-purpose manipulator (hence the name “limb” instead of “leg”). Our prototype ATHLETE vehicles have quick-disconnect tool adapters on the limbs that allow tools to be drawn out of a “tool belt” and maneuvered by the limb. A power-take-off from the wheel actuates the tools, so that they can take advantage of the 1+ horsepower motor in each wheel to enable drilling, gripping or other power-tool functions.
Non-enzymatic DNA strand breaks induced in mammalian cells by fluorescent light.

Abstract Fluorescent light (5.4 J · m −2 · s −1 ) induces 0.041 single-strand breaks per 10 8 daltons per h in the DNA of cultured Chinese hamster cells (4.8 · 10 −6 breaks per 10 8 daltons per J · m −2 ). The breaks are induced at 1° C and hence are not likely to be the result of endonuclease incision. When the cells are incubated at 37° C, the breaks are rejoined within 2 h. At least two lesions are responsible for the observed effects. One lesion has the ability to break DNA subsequently treated with alkali but is neither toxic nor mutagenic. This lesion is produced by light of wavelength greater than approx. 350 nm. The other lesion(s) produce mutagenicity and/or toxicity, but do not necessarily produce strand breaks. These lesion(s) are produced by light of wavelength less than 350 nm.
Encoding information flow in AURA (abstract only)

Two of the main ways to protect security-sensitive resources in computer systems are to enforce access-control policies and information-flow policies. In this paper, we show how to enforce information-flow policies in AURA, which is a programming language for access control. When augmented with this mechanism for enforcing information-flow polices, AURA can further improve the security of reference monitors that implement access control.We show how to encode security types and lattices of security labels using AURA's existing constructs for authorization logic. We prove a noninterference theorem for this encoding. We also investigate how to use expressive access-control policies specified in authorization logic as the policies for information declassification.
How ambulatory care is different: a paradigm for teaching and practice

This paper reviews the issues regarding an increased emphasis on medical education and practice in the ambulatory care setting. A paradigm for ambulatory medicine is offered which combines the elements of 'traditional' medical care and teaching with the more 'distinctive' elements representative of the ambulatory setting. The former includes aetiology, history, physical examination, laboratory tests and therapy; while the latter includes continuity, context, health education, economics and responsibility. The paradigm is illustrated in relation to the problem of hypertension. The ambulatory medicine paradigm is further discussed with respect to potential barriers to its acceptance. These include: (1) the assumption that 'traditional' medical education does teach all 10 elements of the paradigm; (2) the axiom that if one learns to care for the sickest patients, the less ill ones should be manageable; (3) the intuitive aspects of the 'art' of practising ambulatory medicine; (4) the recognition that this teaching will require a longitudinal experience; and (5) perception that the five distinctive elements are not 'hard' science and objectively measurable. Nevertheless, the changing face of medical practice requires the adoption of an ambulatory medicine paradigm in medical education.
Thermal inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes in ground beef under isothermal and dynamic temperature conditions

Abstract The objective of this research was to compare the suitability of three kinetic models for describing the survival of a cocktail of Listeria monocytogenes in ground beef under both isothermal and dynamic temperature conditions. Ground beef (93% lean), inoculated with a 4-strain cocktail of L. monocytogenes, was subjected to heating at 57, 60, 63, or 66 °C to develop isothermal kinetic models. Experimental data showed that the isothermal survival curves were not strictly linear and were downwardly concaved. The isothermal inactivation of L. monocytogenes in ground beef was better described by two nonlinear kinetic models, the Weibull-type and the modified Gompertz models. Analytical results showed that root mean square error values (RMSE) of the Weibull-type and the modified Gompertz models were 0.19 and 0.20 log(CFU/g), both significantly smaller than that of the linear model (0.48 log(CFU/g)). Under linear heating dynamic conditions, however, only the modified Gompertz model, with a RMSE of only 0.71 log(CFU/g), was suitable for describing the survival of the pathogen. Both linear and Weibull-type models grossly underestimated the survival of L. monocytogenes in ground beef during dynamic heating.
On the nonlinear dynamics of flame fronts in condensed combustible matter

Abstract In this Letter we introduce an ordinary differential equation capable of qualitative description of oscillatory plane flame fronts and a partial differential equation that can be expressed in terms of curvature and normal velocity of the surface to describe evolution of arbitrary shapes including spinning flames in a solid combustible. The idea of the method used for derivation of the equations consists of introduction of artificial parameters to bring the system into a low-frequency or long-wave region in order to separate the scales of the variables, and of preservation of the principal nonlinearity contributed by the reaction rate. The results of a preliminary analytical and numerical study of the evolution equations are discussed.
Tunable superluminal propagation on a silicon microchip.

We demonstrate tunable superluminal propagation in a silicon microphotonic device in a solid-state room-temperature device of tens of micrometers in dimension allowing easy integration with high-bandwidth room-temperature systems. We achieve tunable negative delays up to 85 ps and effective group indices tunable between −1158 and −312.
EVOLUTION OF SHORELINE CLEANUP ASSESSMENT TEAM ACTIVITIES DURING THE BUFFALO 292 OIL SPILL

ABSTRACT The Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Team (SCAT) effort during the Buffalo 292 oil spill is noteworthy because of its evolution during the event and because it demonstrated the importance of having a pretrained pool of field personnel. During the initial phase of the spill, when oil was impacting the Galveston Bay entrance along the upper Texas coast, two teams were assembled by the Texas General Land Office and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientific support coordinators. The state of Texas had a large pool of trained SCAT personnel from which to draw because of extensive, interagency SCAT training conducted the previous summer. Although traditional SCAT methods proved too time-consuming to provide timely input early in the spill, they did provide information critical in gaining agreement on acceptable final cleanup levels. In the spill's second phase, as it moved southwest toward Matagorda Island and points south, the SCAT effort became more streamlined and was better able to...
African American and European American Students’ Peer Groups During Early Adolescence: Structure, Status, and Academic Achievement:

Focusing on a sample of 382 African American (206 female) and 264 European American (132 female) students in diverse fourth and fifth grade classrooms, this study investigated three questions concerning the connections between peer groups and academic achievement during early adolescence: (a) How is group structure (i.e., hierarchy and cohesion) associated with group centrality (i.e., status) in the classroom? (b) Does group structure predict academic achievement? and (c) Do peer-group status systems support or undermine academic achievement? Results were similar for African American and European American students. Group hierarchy was positively associated with group centrality but negatively associated with individual academic achievement. Individual status was positively associated with academic achievement. Discussion focuses on multifaceted peer-group influences on academic achievement and implications for educational practice.
Nitric Oxide Inhibits Contraction of Isolated Pig Ureteral Smooth Muscle

AbstractPurpose: To investigate the L-arginine/nitric oxide (NO) pathway in the pig isolated ureter.Materials and Methods: Functional inhibitory effects mediated by NO were assessed and correlated with cyclic nucleotide levels. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity was measured by monitoring the conversion of [sup 3 H]-arginine to [sup 3 H]-citrulline. Immunohistochemical studies were performed.Results: The NO-donor SIN-1 reduced in a concentration-dependent manner the frequency of contractions, whereas NO completely interrupted the contractile activity. In precontracted strips exposed to SIN-1 or NO, there were 6- and 12-fold increases of the cyclic GMP levels in comparison with control preparations. Activity of NOS was moderate. Overall innervation of the ureter was sparse, and there were few NOS-immunoreactive nerves.Conclusion: Although few NOS-containing nerves were found, pathways regulating the cyclic GMP levels of pig ureteral smooth muscle were demonstrated. Such pathways may be important targets ...
The Interaction of Three Levels of Aptitude Determined by a Teach-Test Procedure with Two Treatments Related to Area.

The main purpose of this study was to examine the interaction of two treatments on measuring area with three levels of aptitude. The two treatments differed in their emphasis on a unit of area, and the aptitude was the child's ability to learn certain mathematical concepts about a unit-oflength measure. Concepts related to the unit are central to the understanding of the purpose of measuring, yet little research has been concentrated on this subject. While developing curriculum materials, it was found that certain unit concepts appeared to be in the grasp of some children but not of others. There was a need not only to determine which children were in each category but also to develop treatments beneficial to each group.
Tissue mineral element content in swine fed clinoptilolite.

La clinoptilolite est une des zeolites presentes dans certaines roches sedimentaires. Dans certaines conditions elle aurait un effet benefique sur la croissance des animaux. On etudie ici l'effet d'addition de clinoptilolite a des nourritures (differentes par leur concentration en fer et calcium) sur le stockage des elements mineraux dans les tissus comestibles
Preparation of E- and Z-5-deuterioadamantan-2-ol

The title synthesis can readily be carried out on a 50 mg scale or more, starting with the 54/46 mixture of E- and Z-5-bromoalcohols obtained from the sodium borohydride reduction of the ketone. The key feature on which the synthesis dependes is the fact that the Z-trimethylsilyl bromoether is reduced by zinc borohydride (and -deuteride) in benzene much faster than the E- epimer.
Isolation of Adult Rhesus Neural Stem and Progenitor Cells and Differentiation into Immature Oligodendrocytes

Neural stem and progenitor cells (NSPCs) have been isolated from several regions of the brain from mice, rats, and humans. These cells possess the characteristics of self-renewal and differentiatio...
The end of the obesity epidemic

by Michael Gard, London, Routledge, 2010, 208 pp., £28.99 (paperback), ISBN 978-0-415-48988-1 Michael Gard’s The End of the Obesity Epidemic is, among other things, a thorough going critique of the...
Solid State Blending of Poly(ethylene terephthalate) with Polystyrene : Extent of PET Amorphization and Compositional Effects on Crystallizability

Polystyrene (PS) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) were blended together in the solid state via cryogenic mechanical attrition (CMA) and in the melt through conventional twin-screw extrusion. CMA PS/PET blend morphologies were characterized both qualitatively and quantitatively through microscopy and thermal analysis. Specifically, CMA reduced the dispersed-phase domain size and its distribution relative to simple melt extrusion, although not to the extent attained with added chemical compatibilizers. CMA also amorphized the PET phase and depressed the PET cold crystallization rate, which was measured by post-CMA nonisothermal MDSC analysis. The PET amorphization efficiency and crystallizability for CMA PS/PET blends were the highest and lowest, respectively, at the PS/PET phase inversion. These concomitant phenomena are known to be caused by CMA-induced PET crystal defect formation and subsequent entropic stabilization. Such behaviors are linked to the enhanced presence of an uncrystallizable rigid amorphous PET phase, and the weight fraction of this rigid amorphous fraction (RAF PET) was quantified and also maximized near the PS/PET phase inversion. Moreover, the increased compatibilization and amorphization efficiencies and reduced PET crystallizability were determined to be interdependent. These studies have verified that CMA of PET with PS is more efficient than extrusion due to the formation of nonequilibrium, metastable morphologies that can be more precisely controlled and better stabilized with an interesting, composition-dependent interplay between PET crystallizability and the extent of PS/PET compatibilization. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 1348–1359, 2008
A possible role for chemically-produced excited states in biology.

Abstract The purpose of this article is to point out that chemically-produced electronically excited states may well be involved in certain biological phenomena. The reactions of these chemically-produced excited states would complement the important and well known reactions of light generated excited states (in photosynthesis, vision, etc.). A specific case of the isomerization of santonin by chemically-produced excited states is given, and biochemical analogies are discussed.
Correlation of Dielectric Constant and Solubilizing Properties of Tetramethyldicarboxamides

The dielectric constants of aqueous solutions of four tetramethyldicarboxamides (tetramethylpimelamide, tetramethylsuberamide, tetramethylazelamide, and tetramethylsebacamide) were measured at 25 degrees. The values obtained were utilized in assessing the solubility behavior patterns of glutethimide, a semipolar, water-insoluble drug in these amide-water systems. At equimolar concentrations of water-rich amide solutions, the solubilizing power paralleled the chain length of the amides. The higher homologs appeared to favor more extensive solvation, as shown by the lower dielectric constants of their resulting solutions. Deviation in solubilizing action between the odd-carbon amides and the even-carbon amides, however, was exhibited at higher amide concentrations. The two odd-carbon amides, tetramethylpimelamide and tetramethylazelamide, showed consistently greater solubilizing action. This phenomenon was attributed to the greater association tendencies of the odd-carbon amides with water, which effectively reduced self-associations of glutethimide.
Oral bexarotene in a therapy-resistant Sézary syndrome patient: observations on Sézary cell compartmentalization.

Background A 63-year-old man with therapy-resistant Sezary syndrome was enrolled in a multicenter trial of oral bexarotene for advanced-stage cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Methods Monthly evaluations for efficacy and side-effects were conducted and documented. Results Gradual improvement in erythema, pruritus, and scale was noted during the initial 16-week trial period and treatment was extended to 40 weeks. From week 20 to week 40, the erythroderma continued to improve and the lymph node burden decreased, but the absolute Sezary cell count inversely increased. By week 40, intractable pruritus and erythroderma abruptly recurred, and bexarotene was discontinued. Conclusions Bexarotene is well tolerated and can be efficacious in patients with Sezary syndrome. Shifting of Sezary cells between different compartments was noted. Further studies on the interaction between the skin, lymph nodes, and peripheral blood compartments during bexarotene treatment in this subset of patients with CTCL are needed.
Ethnic identity, neighborhood risk, and adolescent drug and sex attitudes and refusal efficacy: the urban African American girls' experience.

This study examined the impact of ethnic identity and neighborhood risk on drug and sex attitudes and refusal efficacy among early adolescent urban African American females (n = 175). The model also predicted a moderating relationship of ethnic identity on neighborhood risk for drug and sex attitudes and refusal efficacy. Data were collected as part of a larger drug education program and analyzed via hierarchical multiple regression. The analyses controlled for household structure and menarche. Results indicated a direct relationship of higher ethnic identity and higher sexual refusal efficacy, higher disapproval of drug use, and lowered intentions to use drugs. Neighborhood risk was directly related to lower disapproval of drug use. There was a small moderating effect of ethnic identity on neighborhood risk for intention to use drugs. Findings provide support for prevention programs for African American youth that seek to reduce risk behaviors by increasing ethnic identity, particularly in low resource c...
Invariant measures on semigroups with closed translations

where tx denotes the (continuous) right translation s ~ s x . Let Cb(S) and Co(S) be the space of all real valued continuous functions on S which are bounded and have compact supports respectively. For f e C b (S), fx denotes the function fo tx and for B ~ S, CB (x) denotes the characteristic function of B. We denote by # ~ #(. x 1) the measure #x (B) = # (B x 1), for B ~ N. (Similarly for ~# (B) = # (x1 B).) If # is a regular probability measure, Px is also a regular probability measure and the function of x, # (B x 1), for fixed B e N, is (Borel) measurable. In fact, for open V~ S, V~={xeS; #(Vx-~)>a} is open so that the function #(Vx-1), for fixed open V, is lower semicontinuous. (See [3] where the proofs of these facts are given. Their proof applies without modification to our case.) If # and v are regular probability measures, their convolution is defined as the probability measure on N defined by
Evidence for a bidirectional cross-tolerance between morphine and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol in mice

Abstract Male Swiss-Webster mice were rendered tolerant to morphine by subcutaneous implantation of a morphine pellet, each containing 75 mg morphine base, for 3 days. Mice implanted with placebo pellets served as controls. A high degree of tolerance to the analgesic effect of morphine developed as evidenced by decreased analgesic response to various doses of morphine. Δ 9 -Tetrahydrocannabinol (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg i.p.) produced dose-dependent analgesic and hypothermic effects in mice implanted with placebo pellets. A significant decrease in the analgesic effects of tetrahydrocannabinol was observed in morphine-tolerant mice as compared to placebo controls. Mice were rendered tolerant to Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol by injecting the drug (5, 10, or 20 mg/kg i.p.) twice daily for 4 days. Vehicle-injected mice served as controls. Tolerance to the analgesic and hypothermic effects of Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol in mice injected chronically with the drug was evidenced by the decreases in the intensity of these responses when compared to those observed in vehicle-injected controls. Morphine produced dose-dependent analgesic and hypothermic effects in mice injected chronically with vehicle but the intensity of these effects was significantly lower in mice injected chronically with Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol. These results indicate that a possible interaction exists between Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol and the μ-opioid receptors and that a substantial tolerance to analgesic and hypothermic effects of morphine develops in Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol-tolerant mice. To investigate whether the chronic administration of Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol alters the μ-opioid receptors in the central nervous system (CNS), the binding of a selective μ-opioid receptor agonist, [ 3 H][ D -Ala 2 , MePhe 4 , Gly-ol 5 ]enkephalin ([ 3 H]DAMGO), to whole brain and spinal cord μ-opioid receptors was determined in Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol-tolerant animals. The B max and K d values of [ 3 H]DAMGO in brain or the spinal cord of Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol-tolerant mice were not altered. Thus, evidence is presented for the existence of bidirectional cross- tolerance between morphine and Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol in the mouse without changes in μ-opioid receptors of the central nervous system.
Assessing child welfare outcomes: the American perspective

This paper examines US research on child welfare outcomes, focusing on family preservation, out-of-home care, and family reunification services. The review highlights the range of mixed findings in each of these areas, along with methodological issues and constraints. In light of the complexity of child welfare services, future outcome research should complement the rigorous use of quantitative methods with the careful application of qualitative methods.
An approach to optimize block surgical schedules

Abstract We provide an approach to optimize a block surgical schedule (BSS) that adheres to the block scheduling policy, using a new type of newsvendor-based model. We assume that strategic decisions assign a specialty to each Operating Room (OR) day and deal with BSS decisions that assign sub-specialties to time blocks, determining block duration as well as sequence in each OR each day with the objective of minimizing the sum of expected lateness and earliness costs. Our newsvendor approach prescribes the optimal duration of each block and the best permutation, obtained by solving the sequential newsvendor problem, determines the optimal block sequence. We obtain closed-form solutions for the case in which surgery durations follow the normal distribution. Furthermore, we give a closed-form solution for optimal block duration with no-shows.
Teachers' Attitudes about Professional Development in High-SES and Low-SES Communities.

Practicing teachers in high-SES and low-SES communities completed a survey that assesses the strength of teachers’ support for professional development (PD), with the goal of determining the extent to which PD initiatives in low-SES communities face obstacles not evident in more affluent areas (N = 150). A multiple regression analysis was conducted on the factor scores produced by the survey, Teachers’ Attitudes about Professional Development (TAP). Support for PD was higher in high-SES communities than low-SES ones, and higher among elementary teachers than secondary teachers in both communities. To the extent that teachers’ attitudes about PD influence the effectiveness of PD initiatives, these attitudes present difficulties in low-SES communities beyond those evident in high-SES areas. Needed are professional-development models, and research that tests them, to determine how best to overcome obstacles that teachers’ attitudes likely cause in PD initiatives in low-SES communities.
The separation and determination of nickel, chromium, cobalt, iron, titanium, tungsten, molybdenum, niobium and tantalum in a high temperature alloy by anion-exchange

Abstract An anion-exchange method of separating the constituents in high temperature alloys has been devised. Nine elements including titanium, tungsten, molybdenum, niobium and tantalum are determined in an alloy on a single sample weight. Any combination of the elements mentioned above may be determined in steels and high temperature alloys with a simple ion-exchange scheme suitable for routine analysis.
Hospital Readmission by Method of Data Collection

Background Hospital readmissions are increasingly used to pay hospitals differently. We hypothesized that readmission rates, readmissions related to index admission, and potentially unnecessary readmissions vary by data collection method for surgical patients. Study Design Using 3 different data collection methods, we compared 30-day unplanned readmission rates and potentially unnecessary readmissions among colorectal surgery patients at a single institution between July 2009 and November 2011. We compared the NSQIP clinical reviewer method, the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) administrative billing data method, and physician medical record review. Results Seven hundred and thirty-five colorectal surgery patients were identified with readmission rates as follows: NSQIP 14.6% (107 of 735) vs UHC 17.6% (129 of 735). The NSQIP method identified 9 readmissions not found in billing records because the readmission occurred at another hospital (n = 7) or due to a discrepancy in definition (n = 2). The UHC method identified 31 readmissions not identified by NSQIP because of a broader readmission definition (n = 20) or were missed by reviewers (n = 11). The NSQIP method identified 72% of readmissions as related to index admission and physician chart review identified 83%. The UHC method identified 51% of readmissions as related to index admission and physician chart review identified 86%. Sixty-six of 129 UHC readmissions (51%) were deemed potentially preventable; based on physician chart review, 112 of 129 readmissions (87%) were deemed clinically necessary at the time of presentation. Most readmissions were due to surgical site infections (46 of 129 [36%]) and dehydration (30 of 129 [23%]). With improved patient-care efforts, 41 of 129 (31.8%) complications might not have required readmission. Conclusions Readmission rates and unnecessary readmissions vary depending on data collection methodology. Reimbursements based on readmission should use standardized and fair methods to minimize perverse incentives that penalize hospitals for appropriate care of high-risk surgical patients.
The influence of physical activity and yoga on central arterial stiffness

Central arterial stiffness is an accepted risk factor for cardiovascular disease. While aerobic activity is associated with reduced stiffness the influence of practicing yoga is unknown. The aims of this study were to: 1) evaluate arterial stiffness in middle-aged adults who regularly practiced yoga, performed regular exercise, or were inactive, 2) evaluate the reproducibility of arterial stiffness measured in the left and right carotid artery and by pulse wave velocity (PWV). Twenty six healthy subjects (male and female, 40–65 yrs old) were tested on two separate days. Carotid artery distensibility (DC) was measured with ultrasound. Physical activity was determined by questionnaire. Yoga and aerobic subjects had similar physical activity levels. Yoga and aerobic groups were not different in either DC (p = 0.26) or PWV (p = 0.21). The sedentary group had lower DC and higher PWV compared to the aerobic and yoga groups (both, p < 0.001). Stiffness measures were reliable day to day (coefficients of variation ~2.5%) and similar between left and right arteries (CV = 2.2%). Physical activity was a strong predictor of both measures of arterial stiffness, although other factors such as nutritional status need to be accounted for. An independent effect of practicing yoga could not be detected. Stiffness measures were reproducible and left and right sides were consistent with each other.
Optical Matrix-Vector Processing For Computational Fluid Dynamics

An optical processor to solve partial differential equations for computational fluid dynamics applications is considered. This application is new and original for optical processors. The algorithms that are used are optical realizations of the Newton-Raphson method for nonlinear equations and a new optical LU direct decomposition and Gauss-Seidel iterative solution to the resultant linear algebraic equations. These algorithms are used to solve Burger's equation (a specific form of the momentum equation in fluid dynamics). The nonlinear equations provide 1-D velocity data at each time step. Simulation results of optical processing with these algorithms on computational fluid dynamics data is included.
Software Ease-of-Use Evaluation Using Magnitude Estimation

Two software usability studies were conducted that used magnitude estimation (line production) in an ease-of-learning comparison of the command and panel-entry interface of the IBM Hierarchical Storage Manager (HSM), Release 3.2 program product. The first study revealed a number of user-interface problems with the prototype panels, which were then corrected in the released product. The second study verified that these changes significantly improved the panel interface of HSM. Both direct and indirect comparisons were used in the evaluations and a power function showing the relationship between perceived difficulty and task-completion time was reported.
Practicing and Evaluating Soft Skills in IT Capstone Projects

Information technology (IT) professionals have constantly stressed the importance of soft skills and used them as a key factor in hiring and career development. The soft skills are often difficult to be practiced and evaluated in IT curriculum, specifically in a subject or a skill focused course. We took on the challenge in an IT capstone course where students complete a term-long real-world team project. We redesigned the IT capstone course to systematically embed soft skill requirements in the team project, facilitate the training of soft skills, and evaluate students' soft skill competences. In this paper, we present our experiences and findings on curriculum improvement and students' soft skills development and assessment.
Vote share and return rates: A comparison of two measures of election outcomes

This paper compares two measures of House election outcomes: return rates and vote share for presidential party incumbents. It is found that these election variables move independently from each other. The empirical work discovers that the relationship between return rates and vote share varies as vote share increases and as time progresses. It reports that economic variables explain movement in return rates independent of vote share, but economic variables cannot explain variation in vote share independent of return rates. These results suggest return rates are more sensitive to economic fluctuations than vote share. This paper also finds that the magnitude of the response to changes in economic variables differs across these two election result terms.
The Treatment of Cardiovascular Symptoms by Acupuncture

The author compares Western concepts of cardiovascular disease and their analogues in Chinese traditional medical concepts. Experimental evidence based upon treatment of one patient with acupuncture is presented to indicate the possibility of acupuncture's efficacy in reducing cardiovascular symptoms.
A Multiple Hyper-ellipsoidal Subclass Model for an Evolutionary Classifier

Abstract A pattern classification scheme in which the classifier is able to grow and evolve during the operation process is presented. The evolutionary property of the classifier is made possible by modeling the pattern vectors in multiple hyper-ellipsoidal subclass distributions. Learning of the classifier takes place at the subclass levels only. This property allows the classifier to retain its previously learned patterns while accepting and learning new pattern classes. The classifier is suitable to operate in dynamical environments where continuous updating of the pattern class distributions is needed.
Concise Review: The Promise of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Studies of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia (SCZD) is a heritable developmental disorder. While the molecular mechanism of disease remains unclear, insights into the disorder have been made through a vast array of experimental techniques. Together, MRI brain imaging, pharmacological and postmortem pathological studies have observed decreased brain volume, aberrant neurotransmitter signaling, reduced dendritic arborization and impaired myelination in SCZD. Genome wide association studies have identified common single nucleotide polymorphisms as well as rare copy number variants that contribute to SCZD, while mouse models of candidate SCZD genes show behavioral abnormalities and anatomical perturbations consistent with human disease. The advent of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) makes it possible to study SCZD using live human neurons with a genetic predisposition towards SCZD, even without knowledge of the genes interacting to produce the disease state. SCZD hiPSC neurons show cellular defects comparable to those identified in postmortem human and mouse studies, and gene expression changes consistent with predictions made by GWAS. SCZD hiPSC neurons represent a new tool to look beyond phenotype and begin to dissect the molecular mechanisms of SCZD.
‘Doing intimacy’ in a public market: how the gendered experience of ethnography reveals situated social dynamics:

This article considers the way in which gender gains significance during ethnographic research to reveal situated social dynamics. As a female ethnographer in a male-dominated setting, I map my own...
Oral administration of cromolyn in a patient with protein-losing enteropathy, food allergy, and eosinophilic gastroenteritis.

Objective To determine treatment for a woman with a 2 1/2-year history of edema and diarrhea. Design We present a case report of a 47-year-old woman with protein-losing enteropathy and eosinophilic gastroenteritis who had positive results to allergy prick skin tests and increased allergen-specific IgE antibodies to numerous foods. Material and Methods Laboratory studies revealed low levels of serum total protein and albumin. Biopsy specimens showed widespread eosinophilia. A restricted diet was recommended. An elemental diet was poorly tolerated, and the patient wanted to avoid systemic administration of corticosteroids. Thus, we initiated oral cromolyn sodium therapy. Results After oral administration of cromolyn, the patient's condition improved dramatically; the diarrhea abated, and the edema resolved. Her serum albumin level returned to normal. Conclusion Oral cromolyn therapy should be considered in patients with eosinophilic gastroenteritis in whom food allergy has been implicated. No side effects associated with use of this drug were noted in our patient.
Cyclic Three-, Four-, Five-, and Six-Coordinate Nitrogen-Containing Phosphorus Compounds Varying in Ring Size from Five- to Ten-Membered. P−N Donor Action1

New nitrogen-containing phosphorus compounds 1 and 3−5 were prepared by the reaction of a nitrogen-containing phenol with PhPCl2. Hydrolysis of 1 gave an acyclic anionic phosphinate hydrogen bonded to an ammonium component (2). Use of a nitrogen-containing diol with P(OPh)3 resulted in oxidative addition to give hexacoordinate pentaoxyphosphorus compound 6 exhibiting P−N donor action. X-ray analyses performed on all six phosphorus compounds revealed a variety of geometries extending from three- to six-coordinate with ring sizes varying from five- to ten-membered. The structure of 3 is displaced toward a trigonal bipyramid (TBP) as a result of weak P−N donor action. As a consequence of N−C bond cleavage, 1 forms as a bicyclic phosphorane with the nitrogen atom located at an equatorial site of a TBP. In the formation of the tetracoordinate cyclic phosphinate 5, a P−C bond is formed at the expense of O−C bond cleavage of the reactant diol. 1H and 31P NMR spectra indicated that the basic coordination structur...
Large Scale Medical Image Search via Unsupervised PCA Hashing

Medical image search is a significant way to provide similar clinical cases for doctors. Text based and content based image retrieval techniques have been widely investigated in the last decades. However, handling text-missing images and large scale medical database is still challenging. Traditional methods may encounter unsolvable efficiency problem or storage problem when tackling millions of images with general computers. In this paper, we employ an efficient PCA hashing based method for mapping raw features into locality preserving binary code. We focus on investigating the efficiency of PCA hashing while maintaining its competitive performance in medical image search. Ranking aggregation is used to achieve fusion of different features or fusion of retrieval results, which significantly improves single feature retrieval rate and thus compensates the overall accuracy. Without significantly sacrificing the retrieval accuracy, the benefit is a huge gain in physical memory and runtime efficiency. Experimental results show that hashing methods achieve far lower memory and far less time consuming handling large scale database.
Service Science, Management, Engineering, and Design (SSMED): An Emerging Discipline - Outline & References

The growth of the global service economy has led to a dramatic increase in our daily interactions with highly specialized service systems. Service (or value-cocreation) interactions are both frequent and diverse, and may include retail, financial, healthcare, education, on-line, communications, technical support, entertainment, transportation, legal, professional, government, or many other types of specialized interactions. And yet surprisingly few students graduating from universities have studied anything about service or service systems. Service Science, Management, Engineering, and Design (SSMED), or service science for short, is an emerging discipline aimed at understanding service and innovating service systems. This article sketches an outline and provides an extensive, yet preliminary, set of references to provoke discussions about the interdisciplinary nature of SSMED. One difficult challenge remaining is to integrate multiple disciplines to create a new and unique service science.
Bootstrapping a data mining intrusion detection system

The application of data mining techniques in intrusion detection has received a lot of attention lately. Most of the approaches require of a training phase based on the availability of labelled data, where the labels indicate whether the points correspond to normal events or attacks. Unfortunately, this labelled data is not readily available in practice. In this paper we present a novel method based in intersecting segments of unlabelled data and using the intersection as the base data for unsupervised learning (clustering). The clustering algorithm, along with a method to find outliers with respect to the base clusters form the basis for separation of unlabelled data into groups of points that are normal (attack-free) and points that correspond to attacks. We show that the technique is very sucessful in separating points of the data sets of the DARPA, Lincoln Labs evaluation of 1999.