cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Islamic securitisation: An ethical remedy to incentive problems?

Islamic securitisation in the form of sukuk has grown into a notable segment of global structured finance over the recent past. This paper surveys the unique structural features of the sukuk market and assesses the resilience of shari'ah compliance to the adverse effects of conflicts of interest that became apparent in the US subprime mortgage crisis and the subsequent fallout in global financial markets. This examination also considers recent regulatory changes to the definition of sukuk and current policy considerations of alternative forms of capital-market based refinancing techniques, such as covered mortgage bonds, and the way they relate to Islamic securitisation. The paper concludes with a brief outlook on future challenges and developments in the sukuk market.
Note on “The Value of Two-Person Zero-Sum Repeated Games the extensive case”

The purpose of this note is to extend the results of J. F.Mertens and S.Zamir, The Value of Two-Person Zero-Sum Repeated Games with Lack of Information on Both Sides (Intern. Journal of Game Theory,1, 39–64, 1971) to the case where both players are not necessarily informed of each other's pure strategy choices at each stage.
Establishing the psychometric properties of the Self and Perceived-partner Authenticity in Relationships Scale-Short Form (AIRS-SF): Measurement invariance, reliability, and incremental validity

Abstract This article evaluates the psychometric properties of Self and Perceived-partner versions of the Authenticity in Relationships Scale (AIRS; Lopez & Rice, 2006). Two samples were collected. Sample 1 (N = 487) was comprised of romantically involved adults residing in the United States, recruited from the Amazon Mechanical Turk, who completed Self and Perceived-partner versions of the AIRS, along with a number of other self-report measures. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to establish measurement invariance across Self and Perceived-partner versions of the scale and eliminate non-essential items. The revised 12-item short-form (AIRS-SF) exhibited excellent reliability in the validation sample, as well as a holdout sample of romantically involved college students (N = 112). Multi-group path analysis provided additional evidence for the incremental validity of the AIRS-SF. Consistent with prior experimental work, the Perceived-partner AIRS-SF predicts relationship satisfaction and commitment through interpersonal trust, independent of attachment avoidance.
Toward Integration of Vehicle and Fuel Regulation: California Case Study

Governments around the world are attempting to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with distinct fuel and vehicle policies. As alternative powertrains and fuels are introduced, vehicle-fuel interactions become more intense and policy design and effectiveness become more problematic. These interactions are analyzed for fuel providers complying with California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard program and automakers complying with the Pavley vehicle GHG emission standards. It is found that each program could significantly affect industry compliance in the other program once both programs are implemented. This analysis, in turn, indicates that continuing coevolving adjustments will be needed to ensure that rules directed at vehicle manufacturers and fuel providers result in the most cost-effective and efficient achievement of GHG and energy goals. Specific suggestions are offered for updating and upgrading the two regulatory programs. Although the findings are specific to California, they are also broadly general...
Transcription of an Expanded Genetic Alphabet

Expansion of the genetic alphabet with a third base pair would have immediate biotechnology applications and also lay the foundation for a semisynthetic organism with an expanded genetic code. A variety of unnatural base pairs have been shown to be formed efficiently and selectively during DNA replication, and the pairs formed between the unnatural nucleotide d5SICS and either dMMO2 or dNaM are particularly interesting because they have been shown to be replicated with efficiencies and fidelities that are beginning to approach those of a natural base pair. Not only are these unnatural base pairs promising for different applications, but they also demonstrate that nucleobase shape and hydrophobicity are sufficient to control replication. While a variety of unnatural base pairs have been shown to be substrates for transcription, none are transcribed in both possible strand contexts, and the transcription of a fully hydrophobic base pair has not been demonstrated. We show here that both of the unnatural base pairs d5SICS:dMMO2 and d5SICS:dNaM are selectively transcribed by T7 RNA polymerase and that the efficiency of d5SICS:dNaM transcription in both possible strand contexts is only marginally reduced relative to that of a natural base pair. Thus, as with replication, we find that hydrogen-bonding is not essential for transcription and may be replaced with packing and hydrophobic forces. The results also demonstrate that d5SICS:dNaM is both replicated and transcribed with efficiencies and fidelities that should be sufficient for use as part of an in vitro expanded genetic alphabet.
Autonomous robot vision software design using Matlab toolboxes

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a cost-effective way to design robot vision and control software using Matlab for an autonomous robot designed to compete in the 2004 Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition (IGVC). The goal of the autonomous challenge event is for the robot to autonomously navigate an outdoor obstacle course bounded by solid and dashed lines on the ground. Visual input data is provided by a DV camcorder at 160 x 120 pixel resolution. The design of this system involved writing an image-processing algorithm using hue, satuaration, and brightness (HSB) color filtering and Matlab image processing functions to extract the centroid, area, and orientation of the connected regions from the scene. These feature vectors are then mapped to linguistic variables that describe the objects in the world environment model. The linguistic variables act as inputs to a fuzzy logic controller designed using the Matlab fuzzy logic toolbox, which provides the knowledge and intelligence component necessary to achieve the desired goal. Java provides the central interface to the robot motion control and image acquisition components. Field test results indicate that the Matlab based solution allows for rapid software design, development and modification of our robot system.
Early Childhood Special Education in the Next Decade Implementing and Expanding P.L. 99–457

In this article, the authors propose several future challenges for the early childhood special education (ECSE) field. In the next decade, ECSE public policy developments will be related both to im...
Radiographic and Computed Tomographic Evaluation of Lisfranc Dislocation: A Cadaver Study:

Six cadaver feet were used for radiological and computed tomographic (CT) evaluation. The tarsometatarsal joints of each specimen were displaced dorsolaterally in successive 1-mm increments. None of the 1-mm and two thirds of the 2-mm dorsolateral Lisfranc dislocations could be visualized on routine radiographs; they could all be noted on CT scans. There was good assessment on CT scan for the extent of the minor lesions that are normally obscured by overlapping projection in routine radiographs. A Lisfranc injury that appears undisplaced on radiographs or acceptable after closed reduction may still have an unpredictable outcome because of the presence of an occult joint subluxation. CT scanning is more sensitive than radiography for detecting the minor amounts of Lisfranc displacement. If there is any doubt on the radiographs, a CT scan should be performed. The early diagnosis and treatment of Lisfranc injuries may minimize development of post-traumatic degenerative arthritis.
Experiments with the KITE attitude control simulator

Simulation experiments are conducted to test an attitude control technique for tethered satellites using the tether tension force to generate control torques by moving the tether attach point relative to the satellite center of mass. A scaled, one-dimensional, air-bearing supported laboratory simulation of the Kinetic Isolation Tether Experiment shows that the attitude of the simulator can be regulated to within 0.75 arcsec with a bandwidth of about 0.1 Hz. The control design includes a state estimator to calculate the vehicle mass center and to calculate the effect of the stepper motor dynamics on the state estimate. Results are presented from closed-loop attitude control experiments to verify the attitude control technique.
Strategies for diagram understanding: generalized equivalence, spatial/object pyramids and animate vision

A semantic analysis approach is described in which diagrams are represented as collections of geometric objects. The fundamental organizing principle for these objects is the generalized equivalence relation. Examples include near, parallel, and aligned. These relations can be computed efficiently using GOSSAMER, a pyramidal data structure that allows spatially associative access to objects. Animate vision, in which the image is scanned either continuously or discontinuously, is used to mimic the efficient strategy used by humans to view diagrams. The system is implemented in Common Lisp and is being applied to data graphs and gene diagrams in the biological literature. >
Effects of Surfaces on the Melting/Freezing Behavior of Fluids in Derivatized- and Nude-Porous Silica

Comparative differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements were made at 200 K < T < 310 K on geometrically restricted cyclohexane and n-decane in nude-, trimethyl derivatized-, and hexyl derivatized-porous (Rp= 4 nm) silica with a view to determine how the surface structure of the confining media affects the thermodynamic behavior of the restricted fluid. Our results suggest that, irrespective of the fact that both trimethyl derivatized- and hexyl derivatized-silica have methyl terminal groups, the freezing or melting transition of cyclohexane is much more depressed in trimethyl derivatized-silica than in hexyl derivatized- or nude-silica. This is not the case for n-decane where the depression in the melting transition is consistent with the fact that the effective pore radius of the hexyl derivatized-silica is smaller than the trimethyl derivatized- or nude-silica.
Assuring Timeliness in an e-Science Service-Oriented Architecture

An improvement to public-resource e-science portals shows promise in solving a well-known dilemma: how to dynamically discover a provider PC that is ready to deliver computing power when the scientific community requires it.
Distinct properties of single-wall carbon nanotubes with monovalent sidewall additions

Ab initio calculations reveal distinct electronic properties associated with functionalized single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with monovalent sidewall additions. The metallic tubes are found to be more reactive than the semiconducting ones. The hybridization between the addend and the tube induces unique impurity states near the Fermi level. For semiconducting tubes the state is localized near the functionalized site with a characteristic length of 15 A. In contrast, the impurity state is extended and acts as a strong scattering centre in metallic tubes. This effect greatly hinders the ballistic transport of electrons along the metallic nanotubes. The characteristic dependence of the electronic states and the conductance on functional molecules provides possible pathways for chemical sensor applications and the band structure engineering.
Off-stoichiometric silver antimony telluride: An experimental study of transport properties with intrinsic and extrinsic doping

AgSbTe2 is a thermoelectric semiconductor with an intrinsically low thermal conductivity and a valence band structure that is favorable to obtaining a high thermoelectric figure of merit zT. It also has a very small energy gap Eg ∼ 7.6 ± 3 meV. As this gap is less than the thermal excitation energy at room temperature, near-intrinsic AgSbTe2 is a two carrier system having both holes (concentration p) and electrons (n). Good thermoelectric performance requires heavy p-type doping (p > > n). This can be achieved with native defects or with extrinsic doping, e.g. with transition metal element. The use of defectdoping is complicated by the fact that many of the ternary Ag-Sb-Te and pseudo-binary Sb2Te3-Ag2Te phase diagrams are contradictory. This paper determines the compositional region most favorable to creating a single phase material. Through a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic doping, values of zT > 1 are achieved, though not on single-phased material. Additionally, we show that thermal conductivity is not affected by defects, further demonstrating that the low lattice thermal conductivity of I-V-VI2 materials is due to an intrinsic mechanism, insensitive to changes in defect structure.
Autoantibodies in patients with silicone implants

Immune disorders are characterized by development of autoantibodies. Autoantibodies, particularly antinuclear antibodies, are detected in the majority of patients with connective tissue diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and scleroderma. Recent reports have described persons with silicone implants who have developed scleroderma and systemic lupus erythematosus. Since autoantibodies are suspected to play an important role in the pathogenesis of the connective tissue disease, the nature of the autoantibodies produced in patients with silicone-associated rheumatic disease is important to understand. A review of the English literature and abstracts from the 1992 American College of Rheumatology meeting showed that immunofluorescent testing for antinuclear antibody was positive in a wide range (7% to 68%) of patients with silicone implants. When examining only those patients with silicone implants and clinical evidence of connective tissue disease, the proportion of patients with a positive immunofluorescent test was less than commonly found in a series of patients with idiopathic connective tissue disease. Sensitive testing by Western blot technique revealed autoantibodies in 10% of patients with silicone implants and negative immunofluorescent test results. Patients with silicone implants and scleroderma-like illness were characterized by anticentromere and anti-PM-Scl antibodies, whereas patients with silicone implants and SLE or undifferentiated connective tissue disease were characterized by antibodies to small nuclear ribonucleoproteins, specifically B'/B polypeptide. In addition, antibodies to a high molecular weight protein have been discovered by Western blot in more than 50% of persons with silicone implants. Differences in autoantibody production between patients with silicone-associated rheumatic disease and patients with idiopathic rheumatic disease may be a distinguishing feature. Further characterization of these autoantibodies is needed.
GABA Receptors Containing Rdl Subunits Mediate Fast Inhibitory Synaptic Transmission in Drosophila Neurons

GABAergic inhibition in Drosophila, as in other insects and mammals, is important for regulation of activity in the CNS. However, the functional properties of synaptic GABA receptors in Drosophila have not been described. Here, we report that spontaneous GABAergic postsynaptic currents (sPSCs) in cultured embryonic Drosophila neurons are mediated by picrotoxin-sensitive chloride-conducting receptors. A rapid increase in spontaneous firing in response to bath application of picrotoxin demonstrates that these GABA receptors mediate inhibition in the neuronal networks formed in culture. Many of the spontaneous GABAergic synaptic currents are sodium action potential independent [miniature IPSCs (mIPSCs)] but are regulated by external calcium levels. The large variation in mIPSC frequency, amplitude, and kinetics properties between neurons suggests heterogeneity in GABA receptor number, location, and/or subtype. A decrease in the mean mIPSC decay time constant between 2 and 5 d, in the absence of a correlated change in rise time, demonstrates that the functional properties of the synaptic GABA receptors are regulated during maturation in vitro. Finally, neurons from the GABA receptor subunit mutant Rdl exhibit reduced sensitivity to picrotoxin blockade of the mIPSCs and resistance to picrotoxin-induced increases in spontaneous firing frequency. This demonstrates that Rdl containing GABA receptors play a direct role in mediating synaptic inhibition in Drosophila neural circuits formed in culture.
Motivated Cognition in Legal Judgments—An Analytic Review

How and when do legal decision makers' preferred outcomes inadvertently drive their judgments? This psychological phenomenon, known as motivated cognition or motivated reasoning, has become an important topic of investigation among scholars conducting experimental research at the intersection of law and psychology. This article presents an overview of that literature, discusses some of its legal applications and implications, highlights areas that require further investigation, and considers some potential ways to curtail the covert operation of motivated cognition in the legal arena.
The dilemma and reality of transplant tourism: An ethical perspective for liver transplant programs

Transplant programs are likely to encounter increasing numbers of patients who return after receiving an organ transplant abroad. These patients will require ongoing medical care to monitor their immunosuppression and to provide treatment when the need arises. Transplant societies have condemned transplantation with organs purchased abroad and with organs procured from executed prisoners in China. Nevertheless, transplant programs require guidance on how to respond to the needs of returning transplant tourists and to the needs of patients who may choose to become transplant tourists. This discussion presents a case that raised such issues in our program. It goes on to offer reasons for considering a program's responses in terms of the most relevant principles of medical ethics, namely beneficence and nonjudgmental regard.
Design of a maximum-likelihood detector for cooperative communications in intersymbol interference channels

Recently, cooperative communication has attracted a lot of attention for its potential to increase spatial diversity. However, limited attention has been paid to the physical layer and implementation issues. In this paper, we investigate the feasibility of building optimal detectors for cooperative communications in intersymbol interference channels. A novel system model with the amplify-and-forward half-duplex relay is first introduced. Subsequently, we propose an optimal detector for receiver design which can be realized with a whitening filter and maximum likelihood sequence estimator (MLSE) based on the Viterbi algorithm. The implementation of the proposed detector is discussed, and its complexity is analyzed based on an FPGA implementation result. Numerical simulations demonstrating the performance of the detector are provided.
Reflecting on the Tensions Between Emic and Etic Perspectives in Life History Research: Lessons Learned

Utilice una metodologia de historia de vida en este estudio por el cual se lograron narrativas escritas y orales de seis estudiantes postsecundarios que se auto-identificaron como lesbiana, gay, bisexual, y/o queer. Procure entender, mediante este proceso narrativo, como los acontecimientos y comportamientos pasados formaron las identidades de los participantes y su sentido de resiliencia. Durante el proceso de analisis de datos, experimente la tension entre categorias y temas emic y etic. Por consiguiente, luche por mantener una posicion inductiva en todas las partes del proceso de codificacion. Este articulo brinda una descripcion de este proceso y procura contribuir a la discusion sobre las perspectivas emic y etic en la investigacion cualitativa. URN: http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs140268
A regulator of G protein signaling-containing kinase is important for chemotaxis and multicellular development in dictyostelium.

We have identified a gene encoding RGS domain-containing protein kinase (RCK1), a novel regulator of G protein signaling domain-containing protein kinase. RCK1 mutant strains exhibit strong aggregation and chemotaxis defects. rck1 null cells chemotax approximately 50% faster than wild-type cells, suggesting RCK1 plays a negative regulatory role in chemotaxis. Consistent with this finding, overexpression of wild-type RCK1 reduces chemotaxis speed by approximately 40%. On cAMP stimulation, RCK1 transiently translocates to the membrane/cortex region with membrane localization peaking at approximately 10 s, similar to the kinetics of membrane localization of the pleckstrin homology domain-containing proteins CRAC, Akt/PKB, and PhdA. RCK1 kinase activity also increases dramatically. The RCK1 kinase activity does not rapidly adapt, but decreases after the cAMP stimulus is removed. This is particularly novel considering that most other chemoattractant-activated kinases (e.g., Akt/PKB, ERK1, ERK2, and PAKa) rapidly adapt after activation. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we further show that both the RGS and kinase domains are required for RCK1 function and that RCK1 kinase activity is required for the delocalization of RCK1 from the plasma membrane. Genetic evidence suggests RCK1 function lies downstream from Galpha2, the heterotrimeric G protein that couples to the cAMP chemoattractant receptors. We suggest that RCK1 might be part of an adaptation pathway that regulates aspects of chemotaxis in Dictyostelium.
Summoning the past: Autobiography as a “movement toward possibility”

This chapter explores student autobiography through the dimensions of the autobiographical impulse, perspective, and response. It suggests that the notability of student autobiography lies not only in the act of writing, but also in the response to the writing on the part of both the author and the reading audience.
HEATR project: ATR algorithm parallelization

High Performance Computing (HPC) Embedded Application for Target Recognition (HEATR) is a project funded by the High Performance Computing Modernization Office through the Common HPC Software Support Initiative (CHSSI). The goal of CHSSI is to produce portable, parallel, multi-purpose, freely distributable, support software to exploit emerging parallel computing technologies and enable application of scalable HPC's for various critical DoD applications. Specifically, the CHSSI goal for HEATR is to provide portable, parallel versions of several existing ATR detection and classification algorithms to the ATR-user community to achieve near real-time capability. The HEATR project will create parallel versions of existing automatic target recognition (ATR) detection and classification algorithms and generate reusable code that will support porting and software development process for ATR HPC software. The HEATR Team has selected detection/classification algorithms from both the model- based and training-based (template-based) arena in order to consider the parallelization requirements for detection/classification algorithms across ATR technology. This would allow the Team to assess the impact that parallelization would have on detection/classification performance across ATR technology. A field demo is included in this project. Finally, any parallel tools produced to support the project will be refined and returned to the ATR user community along with the parallel ATR algorithms. This paper will review: (1) HPCMP structure as it relates to HEATR, (2) Overall structure of the HEATR project, (3) Preliminary results for the first algorithm Alpha Test, (4) CHSSI requirements for HEATR, and (5) Project management issues and lessons learned.
UV Optical Diagnostics for PDE Applications

The time-resolved OH concentration and gas temperature are measured in the Stanford University pulse detonation tube facility using UV absorption spectroscopy. OH is monitored by direct absorption of the R21(5) and S21(1) transitions in the 0, 0 band of the A-X system near 306.5 nm using a CW ring dye laser source. A new technique based on a kinetic spectrograph is used to measure burned gas temperature from broadband UV CO2 absorption. Results from these diagnostics are useful in verifying computational simulations and in advancing PDE design and development.
The importance of medical education accreditation standards.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relative and absolute importance of individual standards used by accreditation agencies throughout the world. Method: We developed a 150-item survey that consisted of all World Federation for Medical Education standards, supplemented with additional standards used around the world. International accreditation experts rated the standards based on the importance of each standard for ensuring the quality of undergraduate medical education. A 3-point scale was employed: 1 ¼ not important, 2 ¼ important but not essential, 3 ¼ essential. Results: Thirteen of 22 chosen experts anonymously completed the survey (59%). The mean values, over raters, across individual standards ranged from 2.32 to 2.87, indicating that most of the 150 standards are at least important, and often essential, for ensuring program quality. Fourteen standards received the highest rating of 3 (‘‘Essential’’) from all experts, and four standards received mean ratings � 2.00. Variability in the ratings across the experts for individual standards ranged from 0.00 (unanimous agreement) to 0.76 (moderate disagreement). Conclusions: While there is some global variation in experts’ opinions of accreditation standards, certain standards are considered essential. Our summary data are useful for determining best practices for medical education accreditation systems.
An interdisciplinary, experiment station-based participatory comparison of alternative crop management systems for California's Sacramento Valley

In 1989, a group of researchers, farmers and farm advisors initiated an interdisciplinary study of the transition from conventional to low-input and organic management of a 4-year, five-crop rotation. Crop yields initially varied among systems, but now appear to be approaching each other after a transition period that included the development of practices and equipment most appropriate for each system. Farming practices and crop production costs are carefully documented to compare the various systems' economic performance and biological risks. Supplying adequate N and managing weeds were challenges for the low-input and organic systems during the first rotation cycle, and experiments are being conducted on an 8-acre companion block to find solutions to these and other problems. Leading conventional and organic growers provide a much-needed farmer perspective on cropping practices and economic interpretations, because we try to provide “best farmer” management of each system. Research groups within the project are focusing on soil microbiology, economics, pest management, agronomy and cover crop management.
Methodology for placing localized guard rings to reduce substrate noise in mixed-signal circuits

A methodology is proposed to improve the efficacy of placing guard rings to reduce substrate coupling noise in mixed-signal circuits. The methodology is based on a localized guard ring structure within an aggressor circuit by redesigning the standard cells in a library. Specifically, a noise aware library is generated where each standard cell contains a dedicated substrate contact. This library is used within the aggressor block. Dedicated contacts within the cells generate a localized guard ring structure within each aggressor block. The proposed methodology achieves enhanced isolation as compared to conventional guard rings by minimizing the number of vertical current paths within the substrate.
Grazing-Induced Modifications to Peak Standing Crop in Northern Mixed-grass Prairie

Selective grazing can modify the productive capacity of rangelands by reducing competitiveness of productive, palatable species and increasing the composition of more grazing-resistant species. A grazing system (season-long and short-duration rotational grazing) 3 stocking rate (light: 16 steers ? 80 ha 21 , moderate: 4 steers ? 12 ha 21 , and heavy: 4 steers ? 9h a 21 ) study was initiated in 1982 on northern mixed-grass prairie. Here, we report on the final 16 years of this study (1991–2006). Spring (April + May + June) precipitation explained at least 54% of the variation in peak standing crop. The percentage of variation explained by spring precipitation was similar between stocking rates with short-duration grazing but decreased with increasing stocking rate for season-long grazing. April precipitation explained the greatest percentage of the variation in peak standing crop for the light stocking rate (45%), May precipitation for the moderate stocking rate (49%), and June precipitation for the heavy stocking rate (34%). Peak standing crop was 23%–29% greater with light (1 495 6 66 kg ? ha 21 , mean 6 1 SE) compared to moderate (1 218 6 64 kg ? ha 21 ) and heavy (1 156 6 56 kg ? ha 21 ) stocking rates, which did not differ. Differences in peak standing crop among stocking rates occurred during average and wet but not dry springs. Neither the interaction of grazing system and stocking rate nor grazing system alone affected standing crop across all years or dry, average, or wet springs. Grazing-induced modification of productive capacity in this northern mixed-grass prairie is attributed to changes in species composition with increasing stocking rate as the less productive, warm-season shortgrass blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis [H.B.K.] Lag. ex Griffiths) increases at the expense of more productive, cool-season midheight grasses. Land managers may need to substantially modify management to offset these losses in productive capacity.
Pancreatic Lesions in Inbred Mice Produced by Freund's Adjuvant

Summary Inbred mice were isoimmunized with crude pancreatic antigen, with and without Freund's adjuvant in a controlled study. The injection of pancreatic antigen alone failed to produce histologic evidence of pancreatic damage. Freund's adjuvant alone or with pancreatic antigen caused an interstitial pancreatitis. The site of deposition of Freund's adjuvant clearly influenced the incidence of intraperitoneal lesions seen. Significant changes in the plasma amylase levels occurred. No correlation with histologic alterations in the pancreas was observed. Lesions in liver, spleen, and kidney, described by others, were not seen to the extent expected.
The Supreme Court's Recent Overhaul of the Discretionary Function Exception of the Federal Tort Claims Act

The discretionary function exception to the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) establishes a line beyond which federal courts may not assess liability for negligence in favor of injured persons against the United States. After the Supreme Court’s Dalehite and Indian Towing decisions, lower courts developed serviceable standards by which to mark that line. Recently, the Court in three opinions established a new analytical model for lower courts to follow in marking that line. The risk of establishing any model is that it may be a pointless quest for unattainable exactitude. Courts in fact define the range of governmental activities for which there is no liability simply by refusing to make any determination regarding negligence. An analytical model cannot change this. Some may endeavor to describe how to apply the discretionary function exception in terms of how agencies operate, i.e. a process approach. This article describes application of the discretionary function exception in terms of how courts operate. This approach makes application of the discretionary function turn only on a court’s capacity to review particular conduct of government employees against a negligence standard. This article undertakes to summarize the policy objectives of negligence law and to examine how courts determine whether they can pursue such objectives in a particular FTCA case. The discretionary function exception does not compel any particular outcome in a case, and so this article may appear to offer less than others to guide determinations of whether government conduct falls within the discretionary function exception.
A New Kind of AIDS: Adapting to the Success of Protease Inhibitors in an AIDS Care Organization

Using a case study analysis of Heath House, a Santa Barbara residential care facility for People Living With HIV/AIDS, this paper examines the effects of protease inhibitors on the life of an AIDS care organization. The case of Heath House reveals that when care providers are committed to static conceptualizations of an epidemic and its “victims,” and have defined the value of their work in relationship to these conceptualizations, new technologies threaten organizational identity and stability. While prior research on goal displacement has emphasized the process by which an organization's members lose sight of their original goals to achieve greater efficiency or legitimacy, this study offers an example of the process by which members adhere to original goals and ideologies, even when change becomes necessary for organizational survival. This article examines tensions between residents and staff at Heath House that occurred when the very institutional culture that allowed it to thrive became anachronistic as AIDS changed. I explore problems of internal dissent and external problems of legitimacy.
Analysis of Epigenetic Mechanisms Regulating Opioid Receptor Gene Transcription

Opioid drugs are generally used for moderate and severe pain reductions which act through opioid receptors. Studies on transcriptional regulation of opioid receptors are still invaluable because not only transcription is the first step to produce protein products in cells, but the receptor transcription levels also affect the pain reduction by opioids, as observed in studies of heterozygous opioid receptor knockout mice.There are growing evidences that epigenetic regulation has played significant roles in transcriptional regulation of genes, including opioid receptors. In general, epigenetic mechanisms include three main regulatory factors: DNA methylation, chromatin modification, and noncoding RNAs (such as microRNA). From previous studies of ours and others on opioid receptors, those epigenetic factors were clearly involved in regulating opioid receptor expression in vivo and in vitro. In this chapter, among those three techniques we describe more details of DNA methylation methods because of emerging concepts of DNA methylation with the recent discovery of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine converting enzyme, TET1. Another analytical method of the epigenetic factors, chromatin modification, will be described briefly and information of analyzing noncoding RNAs is briefly mentioned in Subheading 1.
Overlapped-coupling between spherical discrete elements and micropolar finite elements in one dimension using a bridging-scale decomposition for statics

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a concurrent multiscale computational method for granular materials in the quasi-static loading regime. Design/methodology/approach – Overlapped-coupling between a micropolar linear elastic one-dimensional (1D) mixed finite element (FE) model and a 1D chain of Hertzian nonlinear elastic, glued, discrete element (DE) spheres is presented. The 1D micropolar FEs and 1D chain of DEs are coupled using a bridging-scale decomposition for static analysis. Findings – It was found that an open-window DE domain may be coupled to a micropolar continuum FE domain via an overlapping region within the bridging-scale decomposition formulation for statics. Allowing the micropolar continuum FE energy in the overlapping region to contribute to the DE energy has a smoothing effect on the DE response, especially for the rotational degrees of freedom (dofs). Research limitations/implications – The paper focusses on 1D examples, with elastic, glued, DE spheres, and a linear elas...
Differential display RT-PCR for identifying novel gene expression in the lung

The unique identity of each cell is the result of differential gene expression. A new strategy for differential cDNA screening introduced by Liang and Pardee utilizes anchored oligo-dT primers and random 5' oligonucleotide 10-mers to carry out polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on reverse-transcribed RNA from different cell populations. The amplified cDNAs are displayed on a standard sequencing gel as 100-500 bands per lane on the resulting autoradiograms and comparisons are drawn between the different cell populations. The major advantages of this method over previous differential screening approaches are its high sensitivity, the small amounts of tissue required, and the ability to carry out rapid mRNA analyses using total RNA and to test multiple tissues in parallel. Its limitations are the need for many primer combinations for adequate representation of mRNAs and the large number of bands displayed. A screening strategy should include multiple positive and negative control samples and Northern blots to identify cDNAs differentially expressed. This approach should facilitate the identification of many novel genes expressed in a variety of physiological and pathological conditions.
Research on Transformation of Transition Power,Opportunities and Paths from Undertaking Manufacturing to Emerging Industries of Yangtze River Delta——A Case Study from Kunshan

This study takes Kunshan as a case,and discusses the development stages and characteristics of emerging industries and traditional industries in Yangtze River Delta. Based on analysis of transition power and opportunities,we put forward transformation paths from undertaking manufacturing to emerging industries of Yangtze River Delta,such as high-tech converting path,supporting facilities of emerging industries path,ordinal withdrawal paths and industrialized science and education path.
Soil-Surface-Applied Insecticides for Control of Bagrada hilaris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Broccoli, 2014

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of insecticides against Bagrada hilaris when applied as surface-banded soil applications on broccoli under low desert growing conditions. Broccoli “Emerald Crown” was direct seeded into double row beds on 42-inch centers on 16 September 2014. Plots were two beds in width by 30 ft in length. Stand establishment was achieved using overhead sprinkler irrigation and irrigated with furrow irrigation thereafter. Four replications of each treatment were arranged in an RCB design. Product formulations and rates for each compound are provided in Tables 1 and 2. The soil insecticides were applied as a surface-band treatment using a single-bed boom equipped with a single flat fan nozzle (8004VS) oriented parallel with each seed line and calibrated to deliver 25 gpa spray at 40 psi. A 2–3 inch spray band was placed directly over …
SEASONAL BURROWING BEHAVIOR AND ECOLOGY OF APORRHAIS OCCIDENTALIS (GASTROPODA : STROMBACEA)

1. SCUBA observations and in situ tagging experiments were carried out on a population of Aporrhais occidentalis during 1973-1976. Seasonal changes in burrowing behavior were quantified by determining the percentage of tagged snails found burrowing each month. Gut content analyses were performed at monthly intervals to determine if the intensity of feeding activity fluctuates seasonally. Empty A. occidentalis shells were collected and examined for evidence of predation. 2. Specimens of A. occidentalis alternate between periods of epifaunal activity and infaunal quiescence. Tagged snails tended to remain burrowed from August through January, but were active on the surface of the substrate from February until late summer. Gut content analyses showed that the snails fed actively during their epifaunal period, but ceased feeding while burrowed. 3. Laboratory attempts to influence burrowing behavior by manipulating water temperature were unsuccessful. 4. Published observations on eastern Atlantic species of Aporrhais suggest that seasonal burrowing behavior may be characteristic of the genus.
Food Art Does Not Reflect Reality: A Quantitative Content Analysis of Meals in Popular Paintings

Can the frequency with which a food is depicted in paintings give historical insight into family meals over the years and across countries? To initially explore this question, 750 food-related paintings were screened down to 140 paintings from Western Europe and the United States depicting small, family meals. Quantitative content analyses showed the most frequently eaten foods (such as chicken, eggs, and squash) were least frequently depicted in paintings. In contrast, the most aspirational foods such as shellfish were commonly painted in countries with the smallest coastlines (Germany), and over half (51.4%) of the paintings from the seafaring Netherlands contained non-indigenous tropical lemons. Moreover, although bread and apples have been commonly available over time, bread has been painted 74% less frequently and apples painted 302% more frequently. In general, paintings tend to feature meals with foods that were either aspirational to the commissioning family, aesthetically pleasing or technically difficult for the painter, or that encoded cultural, religious, or political information for informed viewers. Care should be taken to not project food depictions in paintings as indicative of what was actually served or eaten in that country at the time.
Reconciling the god and gender gaps: the influence of women in church politics

ABSTRACTSocial scientists have long recognized women as being both more religious and more liberal than men. Indeed, men have been disaffiliating from churches and the Democratic Party at higher rates than women for several decades. Moreover, we show evidence to suggest that churchgoing women, while less liberal than women in the general population, are nevertheless more liberal than churchgoing men. Given these trends, one might expect churches to have become more liberal in response to these changing demographics. However, using nationally representative data of American congregations and their adherents, we show that churches with a higher percentage of female congregants are actually more conservative. We suggest that the institutional structure of churches limits the ideological influence and contributions of women within the church community. Specifically, women are often excluded formally or informally from decision-making leadership positions in the church. When women are allowed greater access to...
Annual cyclicity in export efficiency in the inner Southern California Bight

The balance of marine autotrophy and heterotrophy regulates the ocean's ability to serve as a CO2 sink, as organic material produced by autotrophs sinks into the ocean interior to drive the biological pump. Marine ecosystems over the continental margins, especially coastal upwelling regions, account for a disproportionate amount of carbon export, thus even small fluctuations in export in these regions can have a large impact on the global carbon cycle. In this study, we estimated the rate of gross oxygen production (GOP), stoichiometrically related to gross primary production, by combining measurements of the triple isotope composition of dissolved oxygen with estimates of vertical advection, eddy diffusion and air-sea gas exchange in a one-dimensional two-box non-steady state model of the euphotic zone. Net oxygen production (NOP) estimates based on O2/Ar were then combined with GOP to estimate the NOP/GOP ratio, or potential export efficiency, out of the euphotic zone at the San Pedro Ocean Time series (SPOT) during an 18-month period between January 2013 and June 2014. GOP estimates ranged from 161 ± 44 to 477 ± 155 mmol m−2 d−1 during this period, peaking in May each year, and NOP/GOP ratios ranged from 0.05 ± 0.10 to 0.65 ± 0.28. The highest export efficiency occurred in late February/early March, following the onset of spring upwelling, declining as the upwelling season continued. This study demonstrates that export efficiency changes through time in this temperate coastal upwelling region on a repeated annual cycle and the magnitude of export efficiency suggests efficient photosynthetic energy conversion by phytoplankton in spring.
New Approaches Towards the ‘Good Life’: Applications and Transformations of the Capability Approach

New Approaches Towards the ‘Good Life’: Applications and Transformations of the Capability Approach ties the capability approach to social scientific methods and continental philosophy, addressing ...
Rehabilitation for Disabling Stroke

After disabling stroke, impairments in motor control, language, aspects of attention and memory, the visual field, sensation, mood, and behavior are among those that interfere with self-care, mobility, and communication and, in turn, daily activities, participation in usual roles, and health-related quality of life. All of these are the targets of neurological rehabilitation. Major gains over the first few months post injury occur in relation to intrinsic biological mechanisms of restoration, as well as goal-directed, progressive practice. A growing variety of conceptually based therapies aim to engage neural network plasticity and have improved motor and language outcomes for moderately impaired patients. Cognitive and motor training that drives the molecular and structural processes of learning and memory, as well as compensatory behavioral adaptations, can begin within 2 days of stroke onset in medically stable patients, continue through inpatient subacute rehabilitation to enable a return home with assistance as needed, and proceed with pulses of outpatient practice and problem solving to regain more functional home and community skills.
Identification of NTRK3 Fusions in Childhood Melanocytic Neoplasms.

Spitzoid neoplasms are a distinct group of melanocytic tumors. Genetically, they lack mutations in common melanoma-associated oncogenes. Recent studies have shown that spitzoid tumors may contain a variety of kinase fusions, including ROS1, NTRK1, ALK, BRAF, and RET fusions. We report herein the discovery of recurrent NTRK3 gene rearrangements in childhood melanocytic neoplasms with spitzoid and/or atypical features, based on genome-wide copy number analysis by single-nucleotide polymorphism array, which showed intragenic copy number changes in NTRK3. Break-apart fluorescence in situ hybridization confirmed the presence of NTRK3 rearrangement, and a novel MYO5A-NTRK3 transcript, representing an in-frame fusion of MYO5A exon 32 to NTRK3 exon 12, was identified using a rapid amplification of cDNA ends–based anchored multiplex PCR assay followed by next-generation sequencing. The predicted MYO5A-NTRK3 fusion protein consists of several N-terminal coiled-coil protein dimerization motifs encoded by MYO5A and C-terminal tyrosine kinase domain encoded by NTRK3, which is consistent with the prototypical structure of TRK oncogenic fusions. Our study also demonstrates how array-based copy number analysis can be useful in discovering gene fusions associated with unbalanced genomic aberrations flanking the fusion points. Our findings add another potentially targetable kinase fusion to the list of oncogenic fusions in melanocytic tumors.