cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cultural Amnesias, Changing Political Needs, and Conflicting Memories of General Pershing and the “Moro” Rebellion, 1915–2000

In this chapter, the author argues that between 1915 and 2000 several different American generations were presented with multidirectional and competitive tales about Pershing, his use of pig burial strategies, and the need for continued occupation of the Philippines. Cultural amnesia set in as General Pershing’s command of the American Expeditionary Forces contributed to the production of hagiographic tales of how Pershing saved lives during the Great War. As various communities sent their soldiers to fight in World War II or the Vietnam War, they produced stories about Pershing that were contextualized by referring back to the narratives that were produced by the anti-imperialists and pro-expansionists. Subjugated knowledges of Bud Dajo and Bud Bagsak occasionally resurfaced but most Americans wanted to read uplifting tales.
Summary of Lessons Learned from Two Studies: An Open Clinical Trial and a Randomized Controlled Trial of PCIT and Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Recently, there has been a growing interest in the use of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) among preschoolers and school-age children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In this chapter, we describe two studies of PCIT and ASD: an open clinical trial and a randomized controlled trial. In both evaluations, we used the standard PCIT protocol to examine treatment efficacy with children 3–7 years of age and tested the traditional PCIT model without adaptations. However, tailoring the model to meet the unique needs of individual children was necessary. In a few cases, adapting the model was required to address persistent aggression in CDI and difficulty sitting for a length of 3 min during the discipline sequence. We discuss the considerable promise of PCIT as a treatment for children with ASD to reduce disruptive behavior severity and we highlight particular lessons learned through our clinical work with children with ASD and their families.
Diblock copolymers enhance folding of a mechanosensitive membrane protein during cell-free expression

The expression and integration of membrane proteins into vesicle membranes is a critical step in the design of cell-mimetic biosensors, bioreactors, and artificial cells. While membrane proteins have been integrated into a variety of nonnatural membranes, the effects of the chemical and physical properties of these vesicle membranes on protein behavior remain largely unknown. Nonnatural amphiphiles, such as diblock copolymers, provide an interface that can be synthetically controlled to better investigate this relationship. Here, we focus on the initial step in a membrane protein’s life cycle: expression and folding. We observe improvements in both the folding and overall production of a model mechanosensitive channel protein, the mechanosensitive channel of large conductance, during cell-free reactions when vesicles containing diblock copolymers are present. By systematically tuning the membrane composition of vesicles through incorporation of a poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(butadiene) diblock copolymer, we show that membrane protein folding and production can be improved over that observed in traditional lipid vesicles. We then reproduce this effect with an alternate membrane-elasticizing molecule, C12E8. Our results suggest that global membrane physical properties, specifically available membrane surface area and the membrane area expansion modulus, significantly influence the folding and yield of a membrane protein. Furthermore, our results set the stage for explorations into how nonnatural membrane amphiphiles can be used to both study and enhance the production of biological membrane proteins.
Final Stretch Model of Ductile Fracture

The differential equations defining the material resistance developed during the early stages of a ductile fracture process are derived from the concept of "final stretch." The model suggests a certain near-tip distribution of displacements associated with a quasi-static Mode I crack such that the resulting strains are logarithmically singular at the crack tip. The final results, which are illustrated by the diagrams of J-resistance curves, are equivalent to analogous data obtained by other researchers on the basis of the incremental plasticity theory. Similarities between the present results and the solutions due to Paris and co-workers as well as the most recent data obtained by Shih and co-workers are pointed out.
Swarm intelligence–based distributed stochastic model predictive control for transactive operation of networked building clusters

Abstract To maximize potential energy and cost savings, networked clusters of local buildings are formed for energy transactions. Both centralized and distributed decision approaches were explored in past decades as a way to enable efficient transactive operations. However, online distributed stochastic transactive operation has been overlooked in the literature. To bridge gaps in the research, a bi-level distributed stochastic model predictive control framework was proposed to study the transactive operations of building clusters where a system-level agent is employed to coordinate multiple building agents at the subsystem level. The energy transaction is optimized by a marginal price-based particle swarm optimizer at the system level. Given the energy transaction decisions, each building can independently solve a scenario-based two-stage stochastic model to optimally dispatch the electricity and ancillary services for optimal energy performance. The effectiveness of the proposed framework and coordination algorithm are demonstrated in deterministic, stochastic, and online operations and compared to centralized decisions using several sets of experiments. In addition, the proposed approach can realize autonomous transactive operation and be extended to community-level building clusters in a plug-and-play way.
Steric influence of salicylaldehyde-based Schiff base ligands on the formation of trans-[Re(PR3)2(Schiff base)]+ complexes

Complexes of the type trans-[Re(PR3)2(Schiff base)]+ (R = ethyl and/or phenyl) 2–7 were prepared by the reaction of (nBu4N)[ReOCl4] with H2sal2en or H2sal2ibn followed by addition of a tertiary phosphine. The trans-[Re(PR3)2(sal2en)]+ complexes 2–4 were stable in solution, whereas the trans-[Re(PR3)2(sal2ibn)]+ complexes 6–7 were observed to convert to their corresponding cis-[ReO(PR3)(sal2ibn)]+ products through a process involving ligand dissociation, metal oxidation, and Schiff base ligand rearrangement. The conversion of the trans-[Re(PR3)2(sal2ibn)]+ complexes is likely driven by steric interactions between the bulky backbone gem-dimethyl groups of the sal2ibn ligand and the phosphine ligands. These complexes were isolated and characterized by 1H and 13C NMR, FT-IR spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The results reported herein provide insight into the factors that drive trans-[Re(PR3)2(Schiff base)]+ complex formation. This will aid in the development of novel 186/188Re therapeutic agents and the design of novel bifunctional N2O2 Schiff base ligands.
Representational gravity: Empirical findings and theoretical implications.

Judgment of the location of a previously viewed moving or stationary target is often displaced in the direction of implied gravitational attraction, and this has been referred to as representational gravity. Variables that have been investigated for a possible influence on representational gravity include characteristics of the target (size/mass, velocity, distance traveled, orientation, modality), display (retention interval, response measure, height in the picture plane), context (nontarget intramodal stimuli, cross-modal components of a single stimulus), and observer (oculomotor behavior, body orientation, psychopathology), and several additional variables that might influence representational gravity but have not yet been investigated are suggested for future studies. Conclusions and speculations regarding the contribution and relationship of representational gravity to several variables, processes, and tasks (physical gravity, linear acceleration, subjective visual vertical, size/mass and weight, other biases in spatial localization, catching and intercepting a moving target, an internal model of gravity, naive physics, a gravity heuristic, art and aesthetics) are discussed, and compatibility of representational gravity with Gibsonian and representational approaches is noted. It is suggested that representational gravity is an important adaptation that aids observers in interactions with physical objects in the environment, but that such an adaptation is not necessarily fully consistent with objective physical principles.
Economic Democracy at Work: Why (and How) Workers Should Be Representated on U.S. Corporate Boards

Workers should have representation on corporate boards of directors in the United States, as employees are key stakeholders whose contribution is necessary for the success of innovative enterprises. The European model of codetermination has proven effective, yet it cannot be simply imported to the United States. Implementing such a reform in the 21st century U.S. context requires consideration of many key issues, including the appropriate mechanisms for worker-director election, representation, and organization. The article addresses the relationship between corporate law and labor law, including the restrictions on company-dominated labor organizations.
Tangled in the Wires: An Assessment of the Existing U.S. Renewable Energy Legal Framework

Fossil fuel dependence threatens environmental preservation as well as the stability of our economic and social institutions. The time is ripe for a transition away from fossil fuel over-consumption and toward renewable energy deployment. This article is an analysis of current public efforts to provide renewable energy incentives and promote wide-scale deployment. Effective initiatives require coordination between public actors and policies and a cohesive renewable energy policy strategy. Currently, governmental efforts are tangled in a complexity of actors, policies, and barriers. This analysis determines that public actors at all levels of government must work together to shape a viable and comprehensive renewable energy legal framework.
Displacement dewatering of sludge with supercritical CO2.

Abstract Supercritical CO2 (sCO2) displaces water from wastewater, alum, and papermill sludge. The sCO2 appears to enter the sludge matrix through viscous fingering through the entrained water. Because the water removed far exceeds the solubility of water in sCO2, it must be displaced by the sCO2 rather than dissolved out. Adding a small amount of soap to the sludge converts some of the bound water into free water, which can then be displaced by sCO2. Application of the sCO2 in multiple stages greatly enhances dewatering as compared to a single stage process. Approximately 70, 70 and 85% of the initial water can be removed from alum, wastewater and paper sludges, respectively, through a five-stage process. Staged application of sCO2 doubles the efficiency of water removal over a single-stage process of the same duration. It is proposed that when the sCO2 entrained in the sludge is decompressed between stages some of the water is explosively displaced by the expanding CO2.
The Delivery of Orthopaedic Care amidst COVID-19 and Social Distancing

In this paper we present the findings of a literature review covering articles published in the last three decades describing the application of telemedicine in orthopaedics. A review of the PubMed Central and Medline provided 75 articles studying the role of telemedicine, the majority directly examining the application of telemedicine in orthopaedic patients. We report the summarized findings of these studies, the financial and HIPAA considerations of using telemedicine, and provide an example of our single urban level-1 trauma center's strategy for incorporating telemedicine into the clinical practice of orthopaedic surgeons during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Oncolytic herpes simplex virus infects myeloma cells in vitro and in vivo.

Because most patients with multiple myeloma (MM) develop resistance to current regimens, novel approaches are needed. Genetically modified, replication-competent oncolytic viruses exhibit high tropism for tumor cells regardless of cancer stage and prior treatment. Receptors of oncolytic herpes simplex virus 1 (oHSV-1), NECTIN-1, and HVEM are expressed on MM cells, prompting us to investigate the use of oHSV-1 against MM. Using oHSV-1-expressing GFP, we found a dose-dependent increase in the GFP+ signal in MM cell lines and primary MM cells. Whereas NECTIN-1 expression is variable among MM cells, we discovered that HVEM is ubiquitously and highly expressed on all samples tested. Expression of HVEM was consistently higher on CD138+/CD38+ plasma cells than in non-plasma cells. HVEM blocking demonstrated the requirement of this receptor for infection. However, we observed that, although oHSV-1 could efficiently infect and kill all MM cell lines tested, no viral replication occurred. Instead, we identified that oHSV-1 induced MM cell apoptosis via caspase-3 cleavage. We further noted that oHSV-1 yielded a significant decrease in tumor volume in two mouse xenograft models. Therefore, oHSV-1 warrants exploration as a novel potentially effective treatment option in MM, and HVEM should be investigated as a possible therapeutic target.
Optical micro-resonator sensor for air velocity measurement

The proposed sensor utilizes a whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonator to measure velocity-induced non-coherent Doppler shifts in Mie-scattered light from particles moving with the air-flow. The resonator replaces the typical Fabry-Perot instrument to measure the Doppler shift. A prototype sensor was developed and experiments were carried out in an atomizing nozzle with a 25μm-diameter water-droplet-seeded air jet. Individual velocity measurements were made at the center of the nozzle, switching the flow on and off. Preliminary results show promise for the WGM-based velocity sensor concept, which would significantly reduce the size and weight of future Direct-Detection-Doppler systems for air-speed measurement, with possible applications in airborne-platform weather-monitoring and planetary studies.
A hierarchical modelling approach to estimating humpback whale abundance from sand lance abundance

Abstract The primary prey of humpback whales in the southwestern Gulf of Maine is sand lance. Despite this established relationship, we lack models to further understand the influence of sand lance on humpback whales or to predict humpback abundance or distribution in response to climate-related changes in sand lance abundance or distribution. We used a subset of long-term standardized survey data (2013–2019) from Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary and a Bayesian hierarchical modeling approach to explore the influence of sand lance on humpback whales at multiple spatial and temporal scales while accounting for sampling variability and propagating uncertainty. We developed zero-inflated Poisson mixed effects models for both sand lance and humpbacks, using modelled sand lance abundance as a predictor in the whale model. Results showed a statistically clear positive correlation between sand lance and humpback whales. Regional mean abundances of both species increased from north to south, though site-level variation within regions showed more variability. Results suggest annual variation in abundance of both species, with potentially different influences. We demonstrate one management application of our method by examining entanglement risk for humpback whales. Whale aggregations were more likely to occur in a high density area of fixed fishing gear that overlaps with an area of higher sand lance abundance. Our work suggests that humpback whale distribution in the larger Gulf of Maine may be impacted by climate-related fluctuations in sand lance abundance. Predicting future distributions of humpback whales is important for ecosystem-based management, including mitigation of human impacts, and our work serves as a foundation for further model development.
Energy justice, renewable energy, and the rural-urban divide: Insights from the Southwest U.S.

Abstract This study uses energy justice (particularly, distributive and recognition as justice dimensions) to compare a rural and an urban population living near or receiving energy from a large-scale solar-wind energy park in Arizona, in the southwest United States. The authors found that climate change is shaping ways renewable energy is being used today (and changed over time) by different actors in their communities as well as by local organizations serving low-income individuals. Small-scale, renewable energy projects better served these groups. There was more governmental and non-profit organization support for these projects in the urban site than the rural area. Adverse effects of large-scale projects on communities and wildlife were not being addressed via benefits or profit sharing. Policy and program recommendations such as adding small-scale solar capacity to the existing utility service portfolio, as well as increasing funding for local energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives for low-income housing and non-residential initiatives like community gardens and community centers conclude the article.
Cognitive Impairment in Schizophrenia

Cognitive functioning is moderately to severely impaired in patients with schizophrenia. This impairment is the prime driver of the significant disabilities in occupational, social, and economic functioning in patients with schizophrenia and an important treatment target. The profile of deficits in schizophrenia includes many of the most important aspects of human cognition: attention, memory, reasoning, and processing speed. While various efforts are under way to identify specific aspects of neurocognition that may lie closest to the neurobiological etiology and pathophysiology of the illness, and may provide relevant convergence with animal models of cognition, standard neuropsychological measures continue to demonstrate the greatest sensitivity to functionally relevant cognitive impairment.
Comparison and assessment of current-source-inverter-fed induction motor drive systems with unity power factor

Current-source based rectifier/inverter topologies are used in medium and high power ac drive applications due to their inherent merits over voltage-source based topologies. For current-source based ac drive applications, unity power factor in the utility lines can be achieved through two approaches: one with a PWM current source rectifier (PWM-CSR) and the other using a thyristor rectifier in parallel with an active filter. Despite numerous publications for the two drive systems, the features and advantages between them have not been clearly explained. This paper in detail presents the theoretical analysis and mathematical derivations for the two topologies, from the point of view of converter kVA ratings, switch ratings, input/dc-link reactive component designs, and dc-link current/voltage level requirements. Based on these criteria, the two drive systems are systematically compared.
Parental Care and Mate Choice in the Giant Water Bug Belostoma lutarium

Parental care and sexual selection are highly interrelated. Understanding the evolution of sex-specific patterns of parental care and sexual selection is a major focus of current evolutionary ecology research and requires empirical studies that simultaneously quantify components of both parental care and sexual selection in a single species. In this study, we quantify the dynamics of paternal care and sexual selection in the giant water bug Belostoma lutarium. Specifically, we examined (1) which sex potentially experiences sexual selection, (2) which traits, if any, are associated with attaining a mate by males and/or females (i.e. which traits are potentially under selection), and (3) which male and female traits, if any, relate to paternal care and offspring survival. Our findings suggest that (1) males are likely the choosier sex and that heavier females are more likely to mate than smaller females, (2) that female body weight is under selection if female weight is a trait that is stable within a given individual and (3) body size is sexually dimorphic, with females being the larger sex in this species. There was no evidence of male or female traits being linked to offspring survival in this species, although this is potentially due to the lack of egg predators in our study. We discuss our findings in relation to the evolution of sex roles and future avenues of research in this species.
Bioturbation artifacts in zero‐age sediments

[1] Most seafloor sediments are dated with radiocarbon, and the sediment is assumed to be zero-age (modern) when the signal of atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons is present (Fraction modern (Fm) > 1). Using a simple mass balance, we show that even with Fm > 1, half of the planktonic foraminifera at the seafloor can be centuries old, because of bioturbation. This calculation, and data from four core sites in the western North Atlantic indicate that, first, during some part of the Little Ice Age (LIA) there may have been more Antarctic Bottom Water than today in the deep western North Atlantic. Alternatively, bioturbation may have introduced much older benthic foraminifera into surface sediments. Second, paleo-based warming of Sargasso Sea surface waters since the LIA must lag the actual warming because of bioturbation of older and colder foraminifera.
Purification and Properties of a Nonspecific Acid Phosphatase from Wheat Germ

While studying the phosphoglyceric acid mutase of wheat germ, we noted marked phosphatase activity when extensively purified mutase preparations were tested with n-3-phosphoglyceric acid and D-Z, 3diphosphoglyceric acid as substrates (1). Since we had found low phosphatase activity for these reagents in many biological materials (2), there was the possibility, previously discussed (l), that the enzymatic hydrolysis of these substrates was a dual function of the purified wheat germ mutase. Further examination, however, showed there was no correlation between phosphatase and mutase activities at several stages of purification, indicating phosphatase contamination of the wheat germ mutase preparations. Additional evidence for the nonidentity of the two enzymatic activities has now been obtained by extensive purification of the phosphatase from wheat germ, by the method presented in this paper. The purified preparations of nonspecific acid phosphatase described in this paper have activities of the same order of magnitude as those of the extensively purified intestinal monoesterase (3) and of the crystalline pyrophosphatase of yeast (4). The best phosphatase preparations are essentially free of P-glycerate mutase activity.
Politics is Not Enough: Re-examining the Racial and Economic Conditions for Protest in American Cities

More than thirty years ago, Peter Eisinger wrote an article that greatly influenced the thinking of students of social movements but gained little traction in the fields of American urban and racial politics. Entitled “The Conditions of Protest Behavior in American Cities” (American Political Science Review, 1973) Eisinger discovered that a governing regime’s internal dynamics partly determine the likelihood of insurgency, for systems with a mixture of open and closed characteristics most conduced protest. These findings helped lay the groundwork for the well-known political process approach and the literature on protest opportunity structures. Shaw and Brown greatly extend upon Eisinger’s late 1960s findings by using time-series methods to analyze an unique dataset of 20 cities with black and white mayors, ranging from 1970 to 1990. This dataset includes an extensive list of demographic, political, and fiscal expenditure variables and combines them with protest events as coded from newspaper accounts.Shaw and Brown’s findings challenge three important assumptions of the urban regime as well as racial politics literature: (1) cities with highly educated, post-materialist constituencies are the most likely to encourage grassroots protest under all conditions; (2) post-Civil Rights Movement black incorporation halted all significant evidences of mass grassroots protest; and (3) protest has little to no affect upon the fiscal expenditure decisions of black-led vs. white-led cities. The empirical and theoretical contributions of this article are interdisciplinary because they explore the often neglected ties between the social movement theories of sociology and the urban and racial politics theories of political science.
Simplified analytical solution for axial load capacity of concrete-filled double-skin tube (CFDST) columns subjected to fire

Abstract Concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) columns and even more so concrete-filled double-skin tube (CFDST) columns have demonstrated a desirable behavior when subjected to fire loading conditions. Current methods to estimate the axial load capacity for these columns exposed to fire are either limited to simple cases using tables or require complex finite element analysis. In an effort to develop a more general and practical approach to this problem, a simplified step by step analytical procedure is proposed for the calculation of the axial load capacity of CFDST columns subjected to any given time–temperature (fire) curve. The procedure was defined by combining an analytical solution to the heat transfer problem with calculation of axial load capacity using the fire-modified material properties adopted from the Eurocode 4 general rules for structural fire design. The proposed method was verified with existing experimental and advanced finite element simulation results. A number of design recommendations, based on the knowledge gained from using the procedure for different case studies, are proposed for CFDST columns subjected to fire.
A Review of “Climate Change and Global Energy Security: Technology and Policy Options”

If I were asked to identify the most important overarching issues of our day, climate change and energy security would be high on my list. Everyone has a stake in addressing both of them. Most peop...
A neural network approach to failure diagnostics for underwater vehicles

The author addresses the proposed use of Kalman filters and artificial neural networks to provide the detection and isolation of impending system failures. Such system health diagnosis is necessary for the overall success of mission controllers for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). Two examples of network designs are given. The first addresses the identification of anomalous changes to the vehicle's acceleration behavior resulting from possible propulsion system changes or loss of propulsion efficiency from fouling. The second example relates to the identification of excessive frictional loads in the propulsion drive train that may cause motor failure. In each case, the training method and the resulting decision surface characterization of the networks so designed are described. >
The relative effects of content and vocal delivery during a simulated employment interview

The limited research that has directly addressed the effects of verbal and nonverbal competencies on interviewer perception treats oral communication superficially during the employment interview process. This study was designed to test the effects of two oral communication competencies (content and vocal delivery) on evaluators' assessments of interviewees during a simulated employment interview. These data reveal that the consistency between the quality of content (what is said) and the quality of vocal delivery (how it is said) has a strong impact on evaluators' assessment of personality and evaluators' hiring preference.
Mechanisms of Disease: ion channel remodeling in the failing ventricle

In an attempt to compensate for compromised hemodynamics in heart failure, neurohumoral mechanisms are activated that trigger fundamental changes in gene expression and in protein processing, trafficking and post-translational regulation, resulting in myocyte hypertrophy. Unfortunately, over time these changes become maladaptive, predisposing to myocyte loss, chamber dilatation, interstitial hyperplasia and intercellular uncoupling. Intrinsic and peripheral responses to mechanical dysfunction alter the expression and function of key ion channels and calcium-handling proteins, thereby remodeling the cellular action potential and the intracellular calcium transient. This electrophysiological remodeling renders the heart more vulnerable to ventricular arrhythmias that underlie sudden cardiac death. In this Review, we consider key ventricular ionic changes that are associated with heart failure, with the intention of identifying molecular targets for antiarrhythmic therapy.
SpoOA activates and represses its own synthesis by binding at its dual promoters

Abstract The SpoOA protein of Bacillus subtilis controls the onset of sporulation by regulating transcription of various genes in both positive and negative manners on the promoters affected. The expression of the spoOA gene occurs from two promoters (Pv, Ps), separated by 148 bp, and transcription switches from Pv to Ps early in the sporulation program. DNase I footprint analysis of the spoOA promoter region revealed three distinct sites of SpoOA binding: −4 to +19 relative to Pv, −17 to +1 relative to Ps, and a region between Pv and Ps. The Pv region and the region between the two promoters was sufficient for repression of Pv, Induction of Ps also required these regions which are upstream of −52 relative to Ps. Mutant SpoOA proteins containing asp→asn mutations at asp10 and asp56 were inactive in repression of the abrB promoter in vivo yet still retained DNA-binding activity. The results presented are consistent with a model in which the phosphorylated form of SpoOA acts directly at its promoters to achieve induction of Ps and repressions of Pv. These effects at the spoOA promoter were independent of the presence of the major kinase, KinaA.
Incubation Period of Chickens Selected Bidirectionally for Juvenile Body Weight

Abstract BIDIRECTIONAL mass selection for body weight at eight weeks of age (Siegel, 1962) has resulted in concomitant changes in embryonic stage at oviposition (Coleman and Siegel, 1966) and development during incubation (Coleman et al., 1963). The diameter of the blastoderm of unincubated eggs and the number of somites after 38 hours of incubation are influenced by inbreeding and outbreeding (Bernier et al., 1951). Smyth and Howes (1949) demonstrated that the length of the incubation period could be changed through artificial selection, and Crittenden and Bohren (1961) reported that hatching time was highly heritable. Further, Henderson (1950) observed differences among breeds for the length of the incubation period. Henderson and Champion (1948) noted that juvenile weights of chicks that hatched early were somewhat heavier than their later hatching contemporaries. Since our weight lines are known to differ in embryological stage at oviposition, it is of interest to determine if the length . . .
Molecular structure and vibrational analysis of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene-α-d3

Abstract The X-ray structures of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene-α-d3 have been determined at 130 K. The molecular structure and vibrational spectra are calculated by the MNDO-PM3 method, and are in agreement with experimental results. The short intra-and intermolecular hydrogen contacts correlate with the known thermal and ionization degradation pathways of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene.
OR Practice-Computer-Based Models for Policy Making: Uses and Impacts in the U.S. Federal Government

This paper examines factors influencing implementation and use of computer models that have been successfully institutionalized as part of federal policy-making. It is based upon detailed case studies of two kinds of models that have been widely assimilated and used in federal agencies-microanalytic simulation models and macroeconomic models. It concludes that the most important influences on successful modeling are the means to do modeling supply factors and the desire of bureaucrats and politicians to use model-generated information demand factors. Of these, demand factors are most important. The availability and promotion of computer models alone is insufficient to generate use, whereas their political saliency is critical. Thus, where the means to do modeling are weak, but the desire to use models is strong, government agencies invest heavily in the creation of new modeling efforts.
Dual graph partitioning for Bottom-Up BVH construction

Bounding Volume Hierarchies (BVHs) are essential tools in performing collision detection on three-dimensional information. They reduce the number of expensive calculations required to determine whether or not two geometrical entities collide by using inexpensive calculations to rule out parts of the objects that could not possibly intersect. Quickly producing a high quality BVH is an important aspect of three-dimensional multimedia analysis. As such a powerful optimization, efficient and high quality BVHs are still an active area of research. Herein, the authors present a novel BVH representation that reduces the redundancy in the tree structure by allowing a node to contain an arbitrary number of children, as well as compressing non-unique nodes and combining their children. A new partitioning scheme using a graphical representation of the object is also presented to improve the quality of the generated BVH. HighlightsWe present a way to partition triangulated faces for BVH construction.A representation of an AABB tree that exploits a hashmap is examined.BVH representation and partitioning increase quality of BVH.
Metabolic oxidation of diethylstilbestrol to diethylstilbestrol-4', 4“-quinone in Syrian hamsters

Diethylstilbestrol-4',4"-quinone (DES Q) has previously been postulated to be a reactive intermediate in diethylstilbestrol (DES) metabolism. DES is oxidized to DES Q in vitro, but the occurrence of the quinone metabolite in vivo has not yet been demonstrated due to its instability and chemical reactivity. In this report, the characteristics of in vitro formation of DES Q and the isolation of 3H-labeled DES Q from tissue extracts of hamsters injected with radiolabeled DES is described. In vitro, the time-dependent formation of DES Q as a function of microsomal protein, cofactor or substrate concentrations was demonstrated. The microsome-mediated oxidation of DES to quinone was inhibited by various compounds that also effectively inhibit the peroxidatic activity of cytochrome P-450. In vivo, the formation of DES Q occurred in all tissues investigated, livers and kidneys of male and female adult hamsters, neonates and fetuses, and in uterus and placenta. Concentrations of quinone metabolite in liver and kidney of adult hamsters after injection of 75 mumol/kg DES were 76 and 20 pmol/g tissue respectively. In neonates and fetus, concentrations of DES Q after the same dose of DES were markedly less than those in adults (0.026 and 0.047% of adult levels in neonatal liver and kidney and 0.013 and 0.016% of adult levels in fetal liver and kidney respectively). Since DES Q was also formed by fetal liver homogenate in vitro, fetal oxidizing enzymes appear to be the source of the quinone metabolite in this tissue. DES Q concentrations were also examined after injection of DES into hamsters pretreated with vitamin C or alpha-naphthoflavone, substances known to inhibit DES-induced renal carcinogenesis. Quinone metabolite levels were cut in half in response to vitamin C in correlation with the approximately 50% decrease in DES-induced renal tumors reported previously. alpha-Naphthoflavone pretreatment decreased renal and hepatic DES Q concentrations by 70 and 17% respectively, also in correlation with the known prevention of kidney tumors by this flavone. These data support a role of DES Q in DES-induced carcinogenesis. Since there is no correlation between DES Q concentrations and target site specificity of DES induced tumors, the oxidation of DES to DES Q and the genotoxicity of this metabolite may be a necessary but not sufficient event in tumor development. Hormone-dependent growth of initiated cells may also be necessary for the occurrence of cancers.
Risk factors of adolescent drug use: An affect-based interpretation

We examined the continuity and stability of relational patterns among putative risk factors and measures of total drug use over the age period of 12 to 18. Using Marlatt's (1987) affect-based model of moderation versus dependence, risk factors were classified on the basis of their assumed relationships to (a) positive and negative affect and (b) low versus high constraint. It was hypothesized that two distinct developmental pathways characterize the emergence of drug use in a normal population sample of adolescents: one indicative of low constraint and a predominance of positive affect, the other indicative of low constraint and a predominance of negative affect. Results of principal components analyses generally support the hypothesis. Theoretical and methodological implications are discussed.
X-ray fluorescence spectrographic determination of impurities and alloying elements in tantalum container materials

Abstract X-ray fluorescence methods have been used for determining molybdenum, niobium, thorium, tungsten, yttrium and zirconium as impurities or alloying constituents in tantalum and binary tantalum alloys being investigated as container materials for molten plutonium fuels. Various solvents were tested for dissolving tantalum samples, and hydrofluoric acid was found to be the most suitable. Samples are dissolved in hydrofluoric acid and diluted to a known volume; then the solution is analyzed by means of an X-ray tube with a tungsten target. X-ray tube operating conditions and counting times were selected to give good precision in a minimum time. Effects of impurities and variations in X-ray tube voltage and current, scintillation counter voltage, solvent composition, dilution volume and count rate were determined. Molybdenum, niobium and zirconium as impurities in tantalum within the concentration range of 25–2000 p.p.m. are determined by means of a line-to-background intensity-ratio method with a precision ranging from 17 p.p.m. at the 25–100 p.p.m. level to 43 p.p.m. at the 2000 p.p.m. level. From 0.5 to 10 per cent of tungsten in tantalum-tungsten alloys is determined with an absolute standard deviation of 0.09 per cent by comparing the intensity ratio of the tungsten L α1 to tungsten L αCompton for the sample with ratios obtained for known standards. Thorium or yttrium in binary alloys is determined in the 0.025 to 10 per cent concentration range, using an internal standard procedure. Thorium is added as an internal standard in the determination of yttrium, and yttrium is added as an internal standard in the determination of thorium. Following sample dissolution, the ThF 4 , and YF 3 precipitates are separated from the tantalum, dissolved in H 2 SO 4 and diluted to volume, and the intensity ratio of the thorium to yttrium lines is measured. Relative standard deviations of 7 and 2 per cent, respectively, were obtained in the 0.025–0.1 and 0.1–10 per cent concentration ranges for yttrium, and 12 and 3 per cent for thorium in the 0.025–0.1 and 0.1–10 per cent concentration ranges.
Programming studio: a course for improving programming skills in undergraduates

Even after taking numerous programming courses, many students have poor programming skills. This is a problem not only in their post-graduation employment, but even in the higher-level Computer Science courses, where large programs are routinely assigned. Yet, teaching programming skills is expensive; like teaching writing, it can only be accomplished by a repeated cycle of writing, getting informed feedback, and rewriting. In this paper, we describe a computer science course designed around the concept of a studio course like those used in art and architecture. Its key elements are practice, public presentation, and review by peers in a small group. We discuss our experience in teaching the course for two years. We believe this course can be replicated and taught, at reasonable cost, even in large CS departments.
Agricultural byproducts as adsorbents for metal ions in laboratory prepared solutions and in manufacturing wastewater

Abstract Byproducts of soybean and cottonseed hulls, rice straw and sugarcane bagasse were evaluated as metal ion adsorbents in aqueous solutions. Adsorption capacities were determined by adsorption isotherms using the Langmuir model. Their adsorption capacities for Zn(II) were: soybean hulls > cottonseed hulls > rice straw > sugarcane bagasse. Capacities varied from 0.52 to 0.06 meg/g dry weight of byproduct. Rice straw and sugarcane bagasse were not evaluated further in this study because of their low adsorptive capacities (≤ 0.12 meq/g). At a subsaturating concentration of metal ion (100 mg/L), soybean and cottonseed hulls adsorbed high levels (95.6–99.7%) of Cr(III), Co(II), Cu(II), Ni(II) or Zn(II). The ability of soybean and cottonseed hulls to sequester metal ions was further evaluated with three different samples of manufacturing wastewater. These wastewaters had environmentally unacceptable concentations of Zn(II) , Cu(II) and Ni(II). Soybean and cottonseed hulls adsorbed similar amounts of these...
Site-Specific 13C Chemical Shift Anisotropy Measurements in a Uniformly 15N,13C-Labeled Microcrystalline Protein by 3D Magic-Angle Spinning NMR Spectroscopy

In this Communication, we introduce a 3D magic-angle spinning recoupling experiment that correlates chemical shift anisotropy (CSA) powder line shapes with two dimensions of site-resolved isotropic chemical shifts. The principal tensor elements from 127 ROCSA line shapes are reported, constraining 102 unique backbone and side-chain 13C sites in a microcrystalline protein (the 56 residue β1 immunoglobulin binding domain of protein G). The tensor elements, determined by fitting to numerical simulations, agree well with quantum chemical predictions. The experiments, therefore, validate calculations of CSAs in a protein of known structure. The data will be useful for the development of side-chain CSA quantum calculations and will aid in the design and interpretation of solution NMR experiments that utilize CSA−dipole cross-correlation to constrain torsion angles or to enhance resolution and sensitivity (such as in TROSY). Furthermore, the methodology described here will enable databases of CSA data to be gene...
Field note: comparative efficacy of a woody evapotranspiration landfill cover following the removal of aboveground biomass.

Woody vegetation cultivated for moisture management on evapotranspiration (ET) landfill covers could potentially serve a secondary function as a biomass crop. However, research is required to evaluate the extent to which trees could be harvested from ET covers without significantly impacting their moisture management function. This study investigated the drainage through a six-year-old, primarily poplar/cottonwood ET test cover for a period of one year following the harvest of all woody biomass exceeding a height of 30 cm above ground surface. Results were compared to previously reported drainage observed during the years leading up to the coppice event. In the first year following coppice, the ET cover was found to be 93% effective at redirecting moisture during the spring/summer season, and 95% effective during the subsequent fall/winter season. This was slightly lower than the 95% and 100% efficacy observed in the spring/summer and fall/winter seasons, respectively, during the final measured year prior...
Sensing of Carbon Dioxide by a Decrease in Photoinduced Electron Transfer Quenching

We described a new approach to sensing of carbon dioxide based on photoinduced electron transfer (PET) quenching. Fluorophores like naphthalene and anthracene are known to be quenched by unprotonated amines by the PET mechanism. We examined the fluorescence spectral properties of two amine-containing fluorophores, 1-naphthylmetylamine (NMA) and 9-ethanolaminomethylanthracene (EAA). When dissolved in an organic solvent, both fluorophores displayed increased intensity when equilibrated with gaseous carbon dioxide. In the case of NMA, we found that the mean lifetime increased with increasing partial pressures of CO(2). The intensity and lifetime changes of NMA are completely reversible when CO(2) is removed by purging with argon. Our results are consistent with decreased quenching by the covalently linked amino groups when CO(2) is dissolved in the solution. At present, we are not certain whether the increased intensity is due to protonation of the amino groups or to carbamate formation. In either event, these results suggest that CO(2) can be detected directly using amine-containing fluorophores without the use of bicarbonate and a pH-sensitive fluorophore.
A physical interpretation of the ‘red Sirius’ anomaly

The controversy over whether the brightest star, Sirius (α CMa; HR 2491), was red in visual appearance some 2000 years ago, as suggested by Ptolemy amongst others, is re-examined from a physical perspective. Objections to hypotheses based on evolutionary events within the Sirius binary system itself are briefly reviewed. Scenarios that invoke reddening caused by foreground extinction in the interstellar medium or in the Earth's atmosphere are examined in detail to determine whether they offer viable alternatives. It is deduced that only atmospheric extinction is capable of producing appropriate changes in the colour and brightness of Sirius. This result concurs with the findings of Ceragioli, who deduced, from a re-evaluation of the historical evidence and the cultural role of Sirius in Greek and Roman society, that ‘red Sirius’ refers to observations made at the heliacal risings and settings of the star. Both physical and historical evidence are thus consistent with an interpretation of the ‘red Sirius’ anomaly based on reddening in the terrestrial atmosphere.
Translation in vitro of Drosophila heat-shock messages.

Abstract Polysomal RNA from heat-shocked Drosophila tissue culture cells directs the in vitro synthesis of proteins which appear to be the same as heat-shock proteins made in vivo . Each message is about 1.5 times larger than the minimum size needed to code for the protein it specifies. In situ hybridization indicates a correspondence between messages for some of the proteins and particular chromosomal sites.
High incidence of identifiable pathology in girls referred for evaluation of short stature

In published series of boys referred for evaluation of short stature the vast majority,90-95%,are found not to have treatable pathology and carry the final diagnosis of constitutional delay of puberty or constitutional short stature. There are little published data on girls referred for decreased growth rate. We did a prospective study (looking for endocrine chromosomal or other medical pathology)on girls referred over a 2 year period for height <3%. Work-up included history, P.E., karyotype, T4,TSH,LH,FSH and growth hormone (GH) dynamics. Of 33 girls studied, 5 were found to be XO Turner's and 4 were sex chromosome mosaics. Of these 9 girls, 3 had no stigmata of Turner's except for short stature. Three patients were found to have GH deficiency; in one this was secondary to a suprasellar germinoma and in the other 2 it was idiopathic. Three other girls were found to have non-endocrine systemic disease: neurofibromatosis,tracheoesophageal fistula and congenital microcephaly. The girl with neurofibromatosis had no discernable endocrine abnormalities and had a normal GH response to exercise tolerance test. Thus of those girls referred for short stature evaluation 45% had identifiable pathology,in marked contrast to much lower incidence of pathology seen in short boys. This underlines the need for careful evaluation of short girls.