cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Concise Enantioselective Synthesis and Cytotoxic Evaluation of the Anticancer Rotenoid Deguelin Enabled by a Tandem Knoevenagel/Conjugate Addition/Decarboxylation Sequence.

(−)-Deguelin is a rotenoid natural product that possesses significant potential as a chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agent. While several racemic syntheses of deguelin have been reported, a formal evaluation of the anticancer activity of both the natural and unnatural enantiomers remains lacking. We describe herein the successful application of a flexible and selective thiourea-catalyzed cyclization strategy toward the enantioselective total synthesis of deguelin, which allows access to either stereoisomer for biological studies. The synthesis was completed in six steps (longest linear) with no protecting groups. The evaluation of both enantiomers of the natural product demonstrated potent inhibition of several cancer cell lines by these compounds, but interestingly showed that the unnatural (+)-deguelin preferentially inhibited the growth of MCF-7 breast cancer and HepG2 liver carcinoma cells when compared to the natural product.
Development of a cross-section based streamflow routing package for MODFLOW

It is challenging to simulate stream-aquifer interactions for the wide channel streams with the existing stream routing packages of MODFLOW. To overcome this limitation, a Cross-Section streamflow Routing (CSR) package is developed to simulate the streamflow and the interaction between streams and aquifers for the stream with a width larger than the MODFLOW grid size. In the CSR package, streams are divided into stream segments which are formed by two consecutive cross-sections. A cross-section is described by a number of streambed points that determine the geometry and hydraulic properties of the streambed. The stream water depth and streamflow at the cross-sections are related by the Single Channel method, the Divided Channel method, a data table or a power function. A rapid algorithm is used to compute the submerged area of the MODFLOW grid. The streambed conductance of a grid cell is computed based on its submerged area, streambed hydraulic conductivity and thickness. Stream-aquifer seepage is subsequently estimated as the product of the streambed conductance and difference between the stream stage and groundwater hydraulic head. Stream-aquifer seepage is treated as lateral flow in the streamflow routing computation with the Muskingum-Cunge method or mass conservation method. A hypothetical problem is established to test the capabilities of the CSR package with steady- and transient-state models. The results compare favorably with the SFR2 package and the HEC-RAS model. However, significant difference in flood wave attenuation is observed between the CSR package and the SFR2 package. It proves that the CSR package is capable of simulating the variation of stream-aquifer interactions in both space and time efficiently. The CSR package represents a certain improvement over previous MODFLOW streamflow packages by providing the efficient cross-section based computation and the unique capability of simulating streambed heterogeneity in longitudinal and transverse directions.
Afterword How the ‘New Modernist Studies’ fails the Old Modernism

This essay challenges the New Modernist Studies by criticizing its reliance on analogies and its claims that modernist work of subversion is its most significant legacy. The essay tries to diagnose the psychological principles that underlie the formation of these beliefs. It provides an alternative account of the continuing value of modernist work – first, in terms of five principles that make possible non-reductive readings of modernism; and then, by means of three philosophical models for close reading, for establishing relations among texts and experiences, and for dialectical thinking that attends to similarities and differences as fundamental to identifying the historical roles of any phenomena.
Extended duality for nonlinear programming

Duality is an important notion for nonlinear programming (NLP). It provides a theoretical foundation for many optimization algorithms. Duality can be used to directly solve NLPs as well as to derive lower bounds of the solution quality which have wide use in other high-level search techniques such as branch and bound. However, the conventional duality theory has the fundamental limit that it leads to duality gaps for nonconvex problems, including discrete and mixed-integer problems where the feasible sets are generally nonconvex. In this paper, we propose an extended duality theory for nonlinear optimization in order to overcome some limitations of previous dual methods. Based on a new dual function, the extended duality theory leads to zero duality gap for general nonconvex problems defined in discrete, continuous, and mixed spaces under mild conditions. Comparing to recent developments in nonlinear Lagrangian functions and exact penalty functions, the proposed theory always requires lesser penalty to achieve zero duality. This is very desirable as the lower function value leads to smoother search terrains and alleviates the ill conditioning of dual optimization. Based on the extended duality theory, we develop a general search framework for global optimization. Experimental results on engineering benchmarks and a sensor-network optimization application show that our algorithm achieves better performance than searches based on conventional duality and Lagrangian theory.
Equatorial superrotation in a slowly rotating GCM - Implications for Titan and Venus

The GISS GCM is used here to examine the hypothesis that equatorial superrotation on slowly rotating planets is sensitive to the nature of the vertical radiative heating profile and can exist in the absence of diurnally varying forcing. The general circulation, diabatic heating, and thermal structure produced in the experiments are described and the heat and angular momentum budgets and energy cycles are analyzed to understand the factors conducive to equatorial superrotation. The implications of the results for future planetary missions are addressed.
Octreotide Scintigraphy for the Detection of Paragangliomas

Paragangliomas are neuroendocrine tumors located primarily in the head and neck region, but they can also occur at other sites. Confirming the preoperative diagnosis and detecting synchronous tumors may be difficult in some patients. Octreotide is a somatostatin analog that, when coupled to a radioisotope, produces a scintigraphic image of tumors expressing somatostatin type 2 receptors. Paragangliomas, like many neuroendocrine tumors, have been found to have a high density of somatostatin type 2 receptors on the cell surface. This study compared the results of preoperative octreotide scintigraphy with the histopathology in 21 patients who underwent surgery for presumed head and neck paragangliomas. Octreotide scan findings were positive in 16 patients with paragangliomas and negative in 3 patients with other pathology. One false-positive and 1 false-negative result were obtained. Thus, this test had an accuracy of 90%, a sensitivity of 94%, and a specificity of 75%. Previously unidentified synchronous tumors were identified in 5 patients. On the basis of this series of patients, octreotide scintigraphy appears to be a reliable test to detect paragangliomas and may be quite helpful in preoperative planning.
Power laws and the AS-level Internet topology

In this paper, we study and characterize the topology of the Internet at the autonomous system (AS) level. First, we show that the topology can be described efficiently with power laws. The elegance and simplicity of the power laws provide a novel perspective into the seemingly uncontrolled Internet structure. Second, we show that power laws have appeared consistently over the last five years. We also observe that the power laws hold even in the most recent and more complete topology with correlation coefficient above 99% for the degree-based power law. In addition, we study the evolution of the power-law exponents over the five-year interval and observe a variation for the degree-based power law of less than 10%. Third, we provide relationships between the exponents and other topological metrics.
Some Economic Costs of Corruption in LDCs

It has often been argued that bribery creates auction-like conditions and, hence, improves allocative efficiency of bureaucratic decisions. This article shows that these auction-like conditions are not likely to exist because officials will restrict access to bribery in order to reduce the risks of detection. Alternatively, officials may engage in supply-stretching whose long-term costs are likely to outweigh any gains in allocative efficiency. It is also shown that bribery may impose other costs resulting from the efforts of officials to create or augment the opportunities for receiving bribes.
Slow growth in the United States of the number of minorities in the RN workforce.

Purpose: To assess the extent to which the number of minority RNs has grown during the past 20 years, and to identify and compare key trends in personal and professional characteristics among minority groups and between minority and majority populations of RNs. Nursing education programs, employers, philanthropic organizations, and governments have expended considerable effort and resources to increase the number of minorities in nursing. Design: Longitudinal analysis of trends in the number, education, employment, and earnings of minority RNs from 1977 to 1997. Methods: Descriptive analysis of data from the U.S. National Sample Surveys of the Population of Registered Nurses, 1977-1996; and data from the U.S. Bureau of the Census Current Population Survey (CPS) Outgoing Rotation Croup Annual Merged Files, 1977-1997. Findings: In the past 20 years, the number of minority RNs has grown from 87,386 (or 6.3% of the total supply of RNs) in 1977 to 246,364 RNs (9.7%) in 1996. The number of Black (nonHispanic), Asian Pacific/Islanders, and American Indian/Alaskan Native nurses nearly tripled in this period while the number of Hispanics doubled. Although these rates of growth are impressive, the percentage of minorities in nursing lags considerably behind the percentage (18.3%) who are teachers, and the percentage (28.2%) in the U.S. population. Conclusions: Studies are needed to determine the barriers that exist in nursing education programs, health care organizations, and society in general that deter minorities from a nursing career. Without this understanding, efforts to design and implement ideas to attract, educate, and retain minorities in nursing education and later in the workplace are hampered.
Some ideas for decomposing the domain of elliptic partial differential equations in the schwarz process

Etude de la decomposition du domaine des equations aux derivees partielles elliptiques dans le processus de Schwarz. Elaboration des methodes numeriques pour les multiprocesseurs
Synthetic Aperture HF Radar Wave Measurement Experiments

The directional distribution of ocean waves at one or several discrete wave lengths can be measured to 5 or 10 degree resolution by a high-frequency surface-wave radar system using a synthetic aperture antenna. For infrequent observations, the synthetic aperture antenna may be simpler than a large antenna installation having the same directional resolution. The application of the synthetic aperture to oceanographic observations is illustrated by experiments which measured the directional distribution of waves in the open ocean from a small island and from a ship in the Pacific Ocean, and the fetch-limited growth of waves following a polar frontal passage at Galveston, Texas.
Relation of β‐Lactoglobulin – Sodium Polypectate Aggregation to Bulk Macromolecular Concentration

Aggregation of β-Lactoglobulin β-Lg) solutions, with and without sodium polypectate (SPP), was investigated at pH 6.5 and 3.5 by turbidity measurements and gel permeation chromatography during heating at 1°C/min. The ratio of β-Lg:SPP was maintained at 10:1. At pH 6.5, the transition temperature of β-Lg aggregation decreased linearly with the logarithm of β-Lg concentration. Irrespective of β-Lg concentration, SPP did not affect the rate of β-Lg aggregation during heating at pH 6.5. However, SPP influenced the formation of high-molecular-weight (HMW) β-Lg aggregates during heating at pH 6.5 was related to bulk macromolecular concentration. No thermal aggregation transitions were detected for β-Lg solutions at pH 3.5. SPP interacted with β-Lg at pH 3.5 to form a complex that precipitated on heating.
Aviation Finance: An Overview

The aviation finance sector has spent the past year at the intersection of two dramatic industry changes—exposed on one hand to the credit crunch and the world of structured finance, and on the other to the cycles of the airline industry and the year9s drastic rise and fall in oil prices. Over the course of 2009, with an estimated $70 billion of aircraft ordered for delivery, airlines and aircraft lessors will turn to the various markets that typically finance new deliveries: capital markets (with bonds historically structured either as enhanced equipment trust certificates (EETCs) or portfolio lease securitizations), bank loans (usually secured loans), and export-import agency-guaranteed debt. This article discusses the environment facing the airlines and aircraft leasing companies, the market values on the underlying aircraft collateral, and the traditional structures and current outlook within each of the above-mentioned financing markets.
A purely logical characterization of circuit uniformity

Utilizing the connection between uniform constant-depth circuits and first-order logic with numerical predicates, the author provides a purely logical characterization of uniformity based on the intrinsic properties of these predicates. By requiring a numerical predicate R to satisfy a natural extensibility condition-that it can be translated to a polynomially magnified domain based on tuple constructions-he shows that R must already be elementarily definable from >
Inheritance of resistance in eastern black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) to acetolactate synthase inhibitors

Abstract Experiments were conducted to determine the inheritance of resistance in a Wisconsin accession of eastern black nightshade to acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors. ALS-inhibitor–susceptible (S) and ALS-inhibitor–resistant (R) plants were crossed (S × R), and inheritance was characterized in F1 and F2 generations. Inheritance was characterized further in progeny of reciprocal crosses (R × S) and backcrosses (BCs) (S × F1 and R × F1). In dose–response experiments, three- to four-leaved F1 plants were intermediate in response to imazethapyr compared with parent R and S plants. The imazethapyr ED50 value (the effective dose that reduced shoot dry biomass by 50% compared with nontreated plants) was 99.6 ± 13.6, 32.5 ± 8.9, 24.5 ± 3.3, and 0.6 ± 0.1 g ae ha−1 for R, F1 (R × S), F1 (S × R), and S plants, respectively. Similarly, the response of in vivo ALS activity in F1 plants to imazethapyr was intermediate compared with that of parent R and S plants. To differentiate among phenotypes in F2 generati...
Does "IT Doesn't Matter" Matter?: A Study Of Innovation And Information Systems Issues

A new analysis of secondary data examines Carr’s controversial Harvard Business Review article of 2003 by considering the relative importance of top information systems issues according to the level of innovation in an industry. Although the majority of the subsequent literature argues that Carr was wrong, our analysis provides evidence suggesting that Carr may have been right.
Teacher Perspectives of Challenges Within the Norwegian Educational System

This research examines teacher perspectives’ of educational challenges in Norway. Norway is one of the most well-resourced, prosperous, social welfare states in the world, yet the OECD (2011) recognized students’ weak basic skills and insufficient teacher ability in content and pedagogy, along with engagement and imbalanced resources as points for educational improvement. An open-ended questionnaire was administered to 138 teachers practicing in Norway to explore challenges from their perspective. Teachers reported the following challenges: completing government paperwork with competing pedagogical demands, adapting teaching to each student due to large class sizes, motivating students, managing social and emotional problems of students, and meeting society’s increasingly unrealistic expectations. Teachers perceived their challenges to be a result of a poorly built educational system, not from deficits in their teaching skills. We concluded from this study that teacher voice and participation in improvement decisions are needed, given some discrepancy in perceived challenges among these findings, international surveys, and policy-related reports.
New Insulating Antiferromagnetic Quaternary Iridates MLa10Ir4O24 (M = Sr, Ba).

Recently, oxides of Ir4+ have received renewed attention in the condensed matter physics community, as it has been reported that certain iridates have a strongly spin-orbital coupled (SOC) electronic state, Jeff = ½, that defines the electronic and magnetic properties. The canonical example is the Ruddlesden-Popper compound Sr2IrO4, which has been suggested as a potential route to a new class of high temperature superconductor due to the formal analogy between Jeff = ½ and the S = ½ state of the cuprate superconductors. The quest for other iridium oxides that present tests of the underlying SOC physics is underway. In this spirit, here we report the synthesis and physical properties of two new quaternary tetravalent iridates, MLa10Ir4O24 (M = Sr, Ba). The crystal structure of both compounds features isolated IrO6 octahedra in which the electronic configuration of Ir is d5. Both compounds order antiferromagnetically despite the lack of obvious superexchange pathways and resistivity measurement shows that SrLa10Ir4O24 is an insulator.
Does Entomology Need a Boogeyman

Even though our culture has become more sophisticated, we have found it difficult to get away from the old practice of threats of the boogeyman, who does all kinds of things to children and adults alike. Boogeyinsects are even more effective than boogeymen, or boogeypersons, because of the widespread general fear of insects and other arthropods such as spiders. When the insect threat is a Ay, mosquito, or moth, the alarm raised may be entirely beneficial, resulting in control efforts, but without damage to any industry that is based upon such insects. Now that the boogeyman is the Africanized honey bee, Apis mellifera L., in South America, however, the alarm adds to fears already present among the populace. This may seriously affect the beekeeping industry and, in turn, the large part of agriculture that must rely on honey bees for pollination. These effects include complaints about the presence of honey bee colonies anywhere in sight, rejection of requests for apiary locations, and even use of fewer colonies for pollination.
The abortin reaction in the testicle as an indicator of the hypersensitiveness of infection

The purpose of this paper is to report further investigation of the hypersensitiveness of infection with B. abortus by means of the testicular abortin test. The reader is referred to recent articles by Long1 and Long and Seyfarth 2 on the use of the testicle as an extremely sensitive indicator of the hypersensitive state in the tuberculous guinea-pig. In the course of the investigations reported in their papers, the abortus experiment was tried on a small scale. The guineapigs were injected intraperitoneally, and it was found that the lesions of abortus infection itself produced by this means of infection were extensive and especially prone to attack the testicle. The effect of abortin on the testicle of the guinea-pig infected with B. abortus was thus not as clear cut as that of tuberculin on the tuberculous pig. In this article, the terms abortus and melitensis, and abortin and melitensin, have been used interchangeably. The basis of this terminology lies in the work of Evans 3 in which she showed "that morphologically, serologically, and biochemically the B. abortus bovinus and the organism which causes undulant or Malta fever are practically indistinguishable." She showed that B. abortus and B. melitensis were identical on the various culture mediums; that the biochemical changes of the two organisms were the same and that the agglutination reactions to a B. abortus antiserum were exactly alike. In carrying out a set of absorption tests, it was found, furthermore, that for practical purposes using a B. abortus antiserum, B. abortus and B melitensis cannot be distinguished from one another. When application was made to the United States Hygienic Laboratory for a culture of B. abortus, a culture of B. melitensis of Bruce was forwarded to this laboratory. Obviously, the organisms were considered as identical.
Manipulating dispersion and distribution of graphene in PLA through novel interface engineering for improved conductive properties.

This study aimed to enhance the conductive properties of PLA nanocomposite by controlling the dispersion and distribution of graphene within the minor phase of the polymer blend. Functionalized graphene (f-GO) was achieved by reacting graphene oxide (GO) with various silanes under the aid of an ionic liquid. Ethylene/n-butyl acrylate/glycidyl methacrylate terpolymer elastomer (EBA-GMA) was introduced as the minor phase to tailor the interface of matrix/graphene through reactive compatibilization. GO particles were predominantly dispersed in PLA in a self-agglomerating pattern, while f-GO was preferentially located in the introduced rubber phase or at the PLA/EBA-GMA interfaces through the formation of the three-dimensional percolated structures, especially for these functionalized graphene with reactive groups. The selective localization of the f-GO also played a crucial role in stabilizing and improving the phase morphology of the PLA blend through reducing the interfacial tension between two phases. The...
Effect of Surface Deposited Pt on the Photoactivity of TiO2

The roles of deposited Pt clusters and adsorbed O2 in the photoactivity of anatase TiO2 (101) surfaces have been studied using density functional theory. O2 only adsorbs to TiO2 surfaces when excess negative charge is available to form O–Ti bonds, which can be provided by a photoexcited electron or subsurface oxygen vacancy, in which cases the adsorption energies are −0.94 and −2.52 eV, respectively. When O2 adsorbs near a subsurface defect, it scavenges extra electron density and creates a hole that can annihilate excited electrons. In aqueous solutions, O2 interactions with the TiO2 surface are rare because water preferentially adsorbs at the surface. Pt clusters on TiO2 significantly enhance O2 adsorption providing many adsorption sites with adsorption energies up to −1.69 eV, stronger than the −0.52 eV adsorption energy of H2O on the Pt cluster. Consequently, Pt increases the rate of electron scavenging by O2 relative to that of undoped TiO2 leading to enhanced photocatalytic performance. Pt states co...
Epidemiological Analysis of Hand- foot- mouth Disease in Changsha in 2008- 2012

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of hand- foot- mouth disease( HFMD) in Changsha from 2008 to 2012,and provide a scientific basis for preventing and controlling HFMD. Methods We used descriptive method to analyze the hand- foot- mouth disease data from January 1st,2008 to December 31st,2012 in Changsha, which were collected from the National Disease Monitoring Information Management System. Results There were 79,604 HFMD general cases,142 severe cases,and 26 death cases reported in Changsha from 2008 to 2012. The incidence of HFMD in Changsha during the period of 2008- 2012 showed an upward trend. Most of the cases occurred in spring and summer and the incidence peaked from April to July. Most of the cases were scattered and preschool children. 93. 94% of the reported cases were children under 5 years of age,and male cases were more than female ones. 57. 57% of the confirmed cases were infected by EV71. Conclusions The incidence of HFMD in Changsha shows a gradually increasing trend. Targeted countermeasures should be adopted in allusion to high- risk persons before the peak season for HFMD.
Successful Therapy for EBV Associated B Cell Lymphoproliferative Disorders in Immunodeficiency Using Alpha Interferon and Intravenous Immunoglobulin

Immunodeficiency, be it congenital or acquired, predisposes individuals to develop lymphoid malignancy. When studied, many of these disorders are B cell lymphoproliferative processes (BLPD) and they are frequently associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) (1–3). EBV infects and immortalizes B lymphocytes, resulting in rapid polyclonal proliferation. Normally, the host immune system responds to and tightly regulates this proliferation. In the immunocompromized host, B cell proliferation proceeds unchecked, often resulting in death from organ failure secondary to infiltration by rapidly dividing cells or evolves from a reactive polyclonal process to a monoclonal malignant lymphoma. BLPD has been extremely resistant to conventional approaches to therapy using anti-viral agents, irradiation, or chemotherapy. We report here our experience using a new approach to these disorders: immunotherapy with the combination of recombinant alpha interferon (IFN) and intravenous immunoglobulin (IvIgG).
Downregulation of Neutrophil CD43 by Opsonized Zymosan

CD43, a prevalent white blood cell molecule distinguished by its mucin- like surface region, has been proposed as a “functional barrier” that prevents or negatively regulates a variety of cell surface interactions. Implicit in this hypothesis is the expectation that CD43 will be altered or removed when white blood cells are activated. To investigate alterations of CD43 in a dramatic example of functional cell activation, suspension neutrophils were challenged with opsonized zymosan, a characterized stimulator of phagocytosis and respiratory burst oxidase. Flow cytometry showed decreased surface density of CD43 in opsonized zymosan-treated neutrophils, and immune precipitation showed decreased cellular CD43 content, indicating that opsonized zymosan downregulates CD43 by a proteolytic mechanism. Based on densitometry of immune precipitates, CD43 levels were decreased 42% +/- 6% in neutrophils treated for 10 minutes with opsonized zymosan and decreased 70% +/- 3% in neutrophils treated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). CD43 downregulation in response to opsonized zymosan, like PMA-induced CD43 downregulation, was insensitive to the serine protease inhibitor diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP). In contrast, CD43 downregulation in response to opsonized zymosan or PMA was prevented by 4-(2-aminoethyl)-benzenesulfonylfluoride (AEBSF) and 3′4′- dichloroisocoumarin (3,4-DCI), both of which are characterized serine protease inhibitors. Activation of the neutrophil respiratory burst oxidase by opsonized zymosan or PMA was also insensitive to DFP and prevented by AEBSF and 3,4-DCI. These findings indicate a requirement for a proteolytic step in activation of the respiratory burst of intact suspension neutrophils by opsonized zymosan and PMA and suggest that CD43 cleavage may be a required proteolytic event.
Housing and abstinence self-efficacy in formerly incarcerated individuals

ABSTRACTTo avoid recidivism, formerly incarcerated individuals must successfully navigate barriers to reentry, including finding adequate housing and avoiding substance use. This study examined how time in diverse housing situations affects abstinence self-efficacy in formerly incarcerated individuals. Formerly incarcerated individuals were surveyed about previous housing situations and abstinence self-efficacy after release from prison or inpatient substance use treatment. Models were estimated with both days spent in different housing situations in the past 180 and past 30 days. More time spent in recovery situations was associated with increased abstinence self-efficacy, while more time spent in precarious situations was associated with decreased abstinence self-efficacy.
Health, Nutrition, Access to Healthy Food and Well-Being Among African Americans

It has become more or less widely accepted as common sense that nutrition is related to health and wellness and that poor nutrition and/or unhealthy eating will lead to higher rates of obesity and higher rates of chronic diseases like diabetes, stroke, heart disease, cancer, and ultimately to death. Thus, in order to move beyond the obvious, we must consider and explore the other factors that lead to or result in poor nutrition and ultimately poor health. In this chapter, we explore the role that social class plays in shaping individual access to a healthy diet, and we consider the role that social structure, particularly social and racial housing segregation, plays in shaping the access that entire populations, e.g., African Americans in urban centers, have to healthy, nutritious food. In our case study on food deserts we also examine the role that perceptions and ideologies play in shaping food choices. We begin this chapter by arguing that hegemonic ideologies that connect racial/ethnic identity and food are very powerful in shaping individuals’ food choices even in the face of common sense understandings of the importance of nutrition in leading a healthy life.
Semantic Technologies for Searching in e-Science Grids

Searching is a key function in scientific cyber-infrastructures; there these systems need to implement superior meaning-based search functionalities powered by suitable semantic technologies. These required semantic technologies should enable computers to comprehend meaning of the objects being searched and user’s search intentions, compare these meanings, and discern which object may satisfy user’s need. We present a survey of meaning representation and comparison technologies, followed by a design of meaning representation and comparison technique which is coherent to the cognitive science and linguistics models. This proposed design addresses the key requirement of meaning compositionality which has not been addressed adequately and efficiently by existing research. We present an algebraic theory and techniques to represent hierarchically composed concepts as a tensor which is amenable to efficient semantic similarity computation. We delineate a data structure for the semantic descriptors/keys and an algorithm to generate them and describe an algorithm to compute the semantic similarity of two given descriptors (tensors). This meaning comparison technique discerns complex meaning while enabling search query relaxation and search key interchangeability. This is achieved without the need of a meaning knowledgebase (ontology).
Legal cannabis laws, home cultivation, and use of edible cannabis products: A growing relationship?

Abstract Background Over half of U.S. states have enacted legal cannabis laws (LCL). In parallel, edible cannabis products (i.e., edibles) have presented new regulatory challenges. LCL provisions that dictate access to cannabis (e.g., home cultivation (HC) or dispensaries (DSP)) may impact edible production and use. This study examined relationships among HC and DSP provisions, cannabis cultivation, and edible use. Methods An online cannabis use survey was distributed using Facebook. Data were collected from 1813 cannabis-using adults. U.S. states were classified as states without LCL (Non-LCL) or LCL states that: (1) only permit DSP (LCL DSP-only), (2) only permit HC (LCL HC-only), or (3) permit HC and DSP (LCL HC+DSP). Analyses tested associations among these classifications, cannabis growing, and edible use and procurement. Results Individuals in LCL HC-only and LCL HC+DSP states were more likely to report currently growing cannabis at home (OR: 3.3, 95% CI: 1.7, 6.2; OR: 3.9, 95% CI: 2.4, 6.3, respectively) and past-month edible use (OR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.4, 3.4; OR: 2.9, 95% CI: 2.2, 3.9, respectively) than individuals in LCL DSP-only states. Regardless of state, those who had grown cannabis were more likely to have made edibles than those who had never grown cannabis (OR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.8, 2.6). Individuals in LCL HC-only states were more likely to have made edibles in the past month than individuals from Non-LCL (OR: 2.75, 95% CI: 1.5, 5.3) and DSP-only states (OR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.0, 4.4). Individuals in LCL HC+DSP states were more likely to have purchased edibles in the past month than individuals from Non-LCL (OR: 3.7, 95% CI: 2.4, 5.6) and DSP-only states (OR: 3.2, 95% CI: 1.8, 5.5). Conclusion Specific LCL provisions may differentially affect individuals' propensity to grow cannabis and make, buy, and use edible cannabis products. Permitting home cultivation contributes to a greater likelihood of growing cannabis. Those who grow cannabis economize the plant by creating homemade edible cannabis products. Conversely, permitting dispensaries increases the likelihood of purchasing edibles. The psychoactive effects of edibles with unknown and variable cannabinoid content will be unpredictable. Policymakers should carefully consider how specific LCL provisions can affect patterns of cannabis edible product access and quality.
Ten Years of Response to Intervention: Trends in the School Psychology Literature

With the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education (Improvement) Act (IDEA) in 2004, local education agencies (LEAs) were no longer required to employ an IQ-achievement discrepancy model in the identification of a specific learning disability (SLD). Rather, districts were permitted to use data from a Response to Intervention (RTI) framework in determining a student’s eligibility for special services under the SLD classification. Because this change in legislation has the potential to impact the ways in which schools provide services to students, it is important to review the research base that informs practice. This review of the trends in the RTI literature examines the frequency and type of published research in the 10 years that followed the changes to IDEA. Results indicate that further research is warranted, particularly in the areas of procedural integrity and full model implementation.
Portrayals of Endangered Species in Advertising: Exercising Intertextuality to Question the Anthropocentric Lens

This paper examines recent advertisements used by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to raise awareness about the predicament of endangered, vulnerable, and threatened species. By engaging in a critical...
A detailed examination of laser-ion acceleration mechanisms in the relativistic transparency regime using tracers

We present a particle-in-cell study of linearly polarized laser-ion acceleration systems, in which we use both two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) simulations to characterize the ion acceleration mechanisms in targets which become transparent to the laser pulse during irradiation. First, we perform a target length scan to optimize the peak ion energies in both 2D and 3D, and the predictive capabilities of 2D simulations are discussed. Tracer analysis allows us to isolate the acceleration into stages of target normal sheath acceleration (TNSA), hole boring (HB), and break-out afterburner (BOA) acceleration, which vary in effectiveness based on the simulation parameters. The thinnest targets reveal that enhanced TNSA is responsible for accelerating the most energetic ions, whereas the thickest targets have ions undergoing successive phases of HB and TNSA (in 2D) or BOA and TNSA (in 3D); HB is not observed to be a dominant acceleration mechanism in the 3D simulations. It is in the intermediate optimal regime, both when the laser breaks through the target with appreciable amplitude and when there is enough plasma to form a sustained high density flow, that BOA is most effective and is responsible for the most energetic ions. Eliminating the transverse laser spot size effects by performing a plane wave simulation, we can isolate with greater confidence the underlying physics behind the ion dynamics we observe. Specifically, supplemented by wavelet and FFT analyses, we match the post-transparency BOA acceleration with a wave-particle resonance with a high-amplitude low-frequency electrostatic wave of increasing phase velocity, consistent with that predicted by the Buneman instability.We present a particle-in-cell study of linearly polarized laser-ion acceleration systems, in which we use both two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) simulations to characterize the ion acceleration mechanisms in targets which become transparent to the laser pulse during irradiation. First, we perform a target length scan to optimize the peak ion energies in both 2D and 3D, and the predictive capabilities of 2D simulations are discussed. Tracer analysis allows us to isolate the acceleration into stages of target normal sheath acceleration (TNSA), hole boring (HB), and break-out afterburner (BOA) acceleration, which vary in effectiveness based on the simulation parameters. The thinnest targets reveal that enhanced TNSA is responsible for accelerating the most energetic ions, whereas the thickest targets have ions undergoing successive phases of HB and TNSA (in 2D) or BOA and TNSA (in 3D); HB is not observed to be a dominant acceleration mechanism in the 3D simulations. It is in the intermediate op...
Evidence for opportunity.

“Our nation is moving toward two societies, one black, one white—separate and unequal.” So concluded a 1968 report by the Kerner Commission, established by U.S. President Lyndon Johnson to investigate the race riots of 1967. Not only did the report shine a spotlight on America's unfulfilled promises, it spurred action by politicians and policy-makers. Fifty years later, it is fair—and necessary—to ask if anything has changed. Healing Our Divided Society , the 2018 sequel to the Kerner report, argues sadly that gains of the 1970s and early 1980s are evaporating or reversing. But, noting the role of empirical evidence in bolstering past reforms, the new report suggests hopefully that “the quantity and sophistication of scientific information available today far exceeds what was available [in 1968].”
Dynamics of the p53 response to ionizing and ultraviolet radiation

The tumor suppressor protein p53 compiles information about cellular stressors to make decisions on whether the cell should survive or undergo apoptosis. However, the p53 response depends on the source of damage, displaying a 'digital' oscillatory response after ionizing radiation (IR) damage and a proportional non-oscillatory response following UV damage. We propose a mathematical model that qualitatively replicates this observed behavior. The difference in p53 dynamics in the model results from two mechanisms: IR damage is fully detected minutes after exposure while UV damage is detected over several hours; and the p53-controlled transcriptional response is dominated by inactive p53 following UV damage. In particular, we hypothesize that an unidentified positive feedback loop controlled by inactive p53 is required to maintain the qualitative high p53 response to UV damage. This work proposes an explanation for two distinct responses of p53 to DNA damage and how each response can lead to cell cycle arrest or apoptosis.
Electrophysiological and Optical Methods for Studying the Excitability of the Nerve Membrane

This chapter is devoted mainly to methods of preparing various types of excitable tissue for electrophysiological and optical investigations. Attempts are also made to explain how several different types of electrophysiological observations can be made using such tissue. In writing this chapter, the authors have assumed that most of the readers have never witnessed nerve fiber dissection of frog or squid. The authors had two objectives in preparing this chapter: (1) to give some idea of the technical problems which may be encountered by those who plan to work in this field of biological science and (2) to provide insight to investigators who are presently facing difficulties of some kind in their neurobiologically oriented research. The illustrations are designed to give readers a clear and correct image of the procedures involved.
Maurice Merleau-Ponty: “Ethics”as an Ambiguous, Embodied Logos

Maurice Merleau-Ponty was born in Rochefort-sur-Mer on March 14,1908. On his own admission, he spent an idyllic childhood, the recovery of which, according to Jean-Paul Sartre, constituted a key motive of his philosophy. In 1913, upon the death of his father, the family moved to Paris, and Merleau-Ponty entered the lycee system. He graduated from the Lycee Louis-le-Grand and in 1926 was admitted to the Ecole Normale Superieure. It was during his years there that he met Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir. Since Bergson had already retired, Merleau-Ponty studied with the German idealist Leon Brunschvicg. Sartre graduated in 1929 and Merleau-Ponty in 1930.
Grain Boundary Dislocations and the Topography of Grain Boundary Planes

Some topographic properties of grain boundary dislocations are demonstrated, and their effects on the properties of the dislocations are discussed. It is shown that conventional rules concerning dislocation reactions may be inadequate for many grain boundary dislocations.
STUDYING POLYOMA VIRUS GENE EXPRESSION AND FUNCTION BY SITE-DIRECTED MUTAGENESIS USING SYNTHETIC OLIGONUCLEOTIDES

Publisher Summary This chapter describes a methodology to construct a transformation-defective polyoma virus mutant that directs the synthesis of a normal small τ antigen, a functional large τ containing a single ala to val change, and a truncated (51K) middle τ antigen, which lacks 37 amino acids at its C-terminus. The shortened middle τ polypeptide is missing the hydrophobic tail thought to be responsible for the anchorage of this protein into the plasma membrane. The deleted middle τ is also inert in an in vitro protein kinase assay. This methodology is being followed to construct other mutants affecting early viral protein function, as well as mutants affected in controlling signals for RNA synthesis and processing.
The Different Facets of Anhedonia and Their Associations with Different Psychopathologies

Over the last several decades, there has been increasing interest in the role that anhedonia plays in various psychopathologies, ranging from mood disorders, to eating disorders, to psychotic disorders. The term ‘anhedonia’ (which simply means, without pleasure) has been used to describe a wide range of constructs, affective experiences, and events. Given the breadth of the term, it is likely that different aspects of anhedonia may be related to different psychopathologies in various ways. This review discusses how the literature has parsed anhedonia and how the various components and facets of anhedonia may relate to various psychopathological constructs. In addition, this review takes concepts and theories from the broad affective science literature and identifies additional components of anhedonia that may be critical to the field’s understanding of the construct. Given the importance that anhedonia plays in a multitude of psychopathological constructs, a careful analysis of the various components and facets of anhedonia may provide a conceptual framework for research in this area.
Neurologic Abnormalities in Sepsis

Septic shock continues to be a major cause of inhospital mortality (Ziegler et al. 1991). However, improvements in the acute resuscitation of patients presenting with septic shock have changed the nature of this illness. Fewer patients are dying of the early hemodynamic disturbances accompanying bacteremia. Rather, prolonged survival with progressive organ system dysfunction, leading ultimately to death, is the more common clinical course of this patient population (Baue, 1975; Eiseman et al. 1977). Not surprisingly, marked changes in neurologic function are frequently seen in septic patients with organ system dysfunction (Pine et al. 1983). Descriptions of patients with severe neurologic impairment associated with systemic infection date back to the early part of this century (Diamond 1928). However, detailed information on the frequency and different presentations of neurologic abnormalities in septic patients is lacking. This chapter will review the relevant clinical literature regarding neurologic syndromes encountered in human sepsis and examine experimental studies in laboratory animals regarding sepsis-induced alterations in neurophysiology.
Analysis of particle behavior inside the classifier of a Raymond Bowl Mill while co-milling woody biomass with coal

Abstract Woody biomass cofiring with coal at existing pulverized-coal boilers is known to be a green energy source and is a low-expense alternative for pure coal combustion. Co-milling woody biomass particles (15 wt%) with coal particles (85 wt%) before burning at a boiler is a complex problem because large woody biomass particles (>300 μm) exit the milling system along with the fine particles. A Computational Particle Fluid Dynamics (CPFD) is used in this paper to present a novel analysis about the behavior of woody biomass particles as they are mixed with coal particles inside the classifier. To meet this objective, a model of SolidWorks of the milling system is defined using the Barracuda VR 17.1.0 software package. We made a C# programming code to analyze the post processing files of this simulation (base simulation); it showed that approximately none of the large particles of woody biomass nor any of the coal particles that exit along with fine particles swirl inside the classifier, and they exit the system in the product stream immediately after getting through the vanes. More importantly, only a few numbers of the exiting particles, regardless of their size, swirl inside the classifier. Manipulation of hardware can improve the classifier performance and leads to changes in the behavior of particles inside the classifier. However, changes in operating conditions cannot improve it significantly. Particle size distribution and the average flow rate of the product stream of the experiment and the base simulation match well.
Reduced ionic effect and accelerated electro-optic response in a 2D hexagonal boron nitride planar-alignment agent based liquid crystal device

The presence of excess free-ion impurities in liquid crystals (LCs) gives rise to a number of problems in the electro-optical liquid crystal displays (LCDs), e.g., slow electro-optical responses and image sticking effects. Here we experimentally present that the two-dimensional (2D) hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) nanosheet can serve as a planar-alignment agent and as an ion-capturing agent at the same time in an electro-optic LC device. The 2D h-BN nanosheet is employed as a planar-alignment agent on one side of an LC cell, where the standard planar-aligning polyimide (PI) layer is used on the other side of the cell. The LC exhibits uniform planar-alignment in this h-BN/PI hybrid device. It is found that the free-ion impurities in the LC are significantly suppressed in this h-BN/PI hybrid cell compared to that in a standard PI/PI LC cell. The free-ion density is reduced in the hybrid cell due to the 2D h-BN nanosheet’s ion-capturing process. The reduction of ionic impurities results in an accelerated electro-optic response of the LC in the h-BN based hybrid cell—which may have potential application for faster electro-optic devices.
Selective Production of Oxygen from Seawater by OxidicMetallate Catalysts

Although the emphasis of water splitting is typically on hydrogen generation, there is a value in the oxygen byproduct especially for life support in field operations. For such applications, the production of a pure, unadulterated oxygen stream is highly desired under environmental conditions. Here, we demonstrate that self-healing oxygen evolution catalysts composed of cobalt or nickel are capable of selectively producing oxygen from both 0.5 M NaCl solutions and seawater. Differential electrochemical mass spectrometry demonstrates the absence of halogen in the product stream, and chemical analysis shows the production of only minute amounts of hypohalous acid.