cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Review of animal models of bipolar disorder that alter ion regulation.

Abstract Background Accurate modeling of psychiatric disorders in animals is essential for advancement in our understanding and treatment of the severe mental illnesses. Of the multiple models available for bipolar illness, the ones that disrupt ion flux are currently the only ones that meet the three criteria for validity: face validity, construct validity, and predictive validity. Methods A directed review was performed to evaluate animal models for mania in which ion dysregulation was the key intervention. Results Three models are identified. All focus on disruption of the sodium potassium pump. One is pharmacologic and requires surgical insertion of an intracerebroventricular (ICV) cannula and subsequent administration of ouabain. Two are genetic and are based on heterozygote knockout (KO) of the alpha2 or alpha3 subunits of the sodium pump. Alpha2 KOs are believed to have altered glial function, and they do not appear to have a full array of manic symptoms. Alpha3 KOs appear to be the best characterized animal model for bipolar disorder currently available. Conclusion Animal models that disrupt ion regulation are more inclined to model both mania and depression; and are thus the most promising models available. However, other models are important for demonstrating mechanisms in important pathophysiologic aspect of bipolar disorder.
A unified approach for deriving optimal finite differences

Abstract A unified approach to derive optimal finite differences is presented which combines three critical elements for numerical performance especially for multi-scale physical problems, namely, order of accuracy, spectral resolution and stability. The resulting mathematical framework reduces to a minimization problem subjected to equality and inequality constraints. We show that the framework can provide analytical results for optimal schemes and their numerical performance including, for example, the type of errors that appear for spectrally optimal schemes. By coupling the problem in this unified framework, one can effectively decouple the requirements for order of accuracy and spectral resolution, for example. Alternatively, we show how the framework exposes the tradeoffs between e.g. accuracy and stability and how this can be used to construct explicit schemes that remain stable with very large time steps. We also show how spectrally optimal schemes only bias odd-order derivatives to remain stable, at the expense of accuracy, while leaving even-order derivatives with symmetric coefficients. Schemes constructed within this framework are tested for diverse model problems with an emphasis on reproducing the physics accurately.
Computational molecular field theory for nematic liquid crystals

Nematic liquid crystals exhibit configurations in which the underlying ordering changes markedly on macroscopic length scales. Such structures include topological defects in the nematic phase and tactoids within nematic-isotropic coexistence. We discuss a computational study of inhomogeneous configurations that is based on a field theory extension of the Maier-Saupe molecular model of a uniaxial, nematic liquid crystal. A tensor order parameter is defined as the second moment of an orientational probability distribution, leading to a free energy that is not convex within the isotropic-nematic coexistence region, and that goes to infinity if the eigenvalues of the order parameter become nonphysical. Computations of the spatial profile of the order parameter are presented for an isotropic-nematic interface in one dimension, a tactoid in two dimensions, and a nematic disclination in two dimensions. We compare our results to those given by the Landau--de Gennes free energy for the same configurations and discuss the advantages of such a model over the latter.
Transient interactions and influence among bacteria in field-grown Arabidopsis thaliana tissues

Interactions between bacteria are thought to play an important role in the assembly of plant microbial communities (1), yet the extent of temporal variation in these interactions is unclear. We inferred interactions from sequence-based counts of bacteria in a series of Arabidopsis thaliana tissue samples spanning major developmental transitions in the plant life cycle (2). Bacterial interactions were transient, even among variants found together at consecutive developmental stages. The overwhelming majority of these interactions were positive, indicating that competition for the plant niche might be a less important driver of bacterial abundances than cooperation or common responses to host and environmental factors. Over time, interaction networks diverged from an initial scale-free structure and became increasingly modular. In all networks, we found evidence of a hierarchical structure in which hub bacteria bridged network modules. However, the identities of bacteria in these influential roles also varied during plant growth.
Why are epilepsy mortality rates rising in the United States? A population-based multiple cause-of-death study

Introduction Epilepsy mortality rates are rising. It is unknown whether rates are rising due to an increase in epilepsy prevalence, changes in epilepsy causes of death, increase in the lethality or epilepsy or failures of treatment. To address these questions, we compare epilepsy mortality rates in the USA with all-cause and all-neurological mortality for the years 1999 to 2017. Objectives To determine changes in US epilepsy mortality rates versus all-cause mortality, and to evaluate changes in the leading causes of death in people with epilepsy. Design Retrospective population-based multiple cause-of-death study. Primary outcome Change in age-adjusted epilepsy mortality rates compared with mortality rates for all-cause and all-neurological mortality. Secondary outcome Changes in the leading causes of death in epilepsy. Results From 1999 to 2017, epilepsy mortality rates in the USA increased 98.8%, from 5.83 per million in 1999 to 11.59 per million (95% CI 88.2%–110.0%), while all-cause mortality declined 16.4% from 8756.34 per million to 7319.17 per million (95% CI 16.3% to 16.6%). For the same period, all-neurological mortality increased 80.8% from 309.21 to 558.97 per million (95% CI 79.4%–82.1%). The proportion of people with epilepsy who died due to neoplasms, vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s increased by 52.3%, 210.1% and 216.8%, respectively. During the same period, the proportion who died due to epilepsy declined 27.1%, while ischaemic heart disease as a cause of death fell 42.6% (p Conclusions Epilepsy mortality rates in the USA increased significantly from 1999 to 2017. Likely causes include increases in all-neurological mortality, increased epilepsy prevalence and changes in the underlying causes of death in epilepsy, led by increases in vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s. An important finding is that ischaemic heart disease and epilepsy itself are declining as underlying causes of death in people with epilepsy.
“We always tell them, but they don’t do anything about it!” Middle School Black girls Experiences with Sexual Harassment at an Urban Middle School:

Black women and girls are frequently left out of narratives on sexual harassment/sexual violence due to pervasive racism and sexism. Schools contribute to this silence by continuing to overlook the...
Liposomes embedded within fibrin gels facilitate localized macrophage manipulations within nerve.

Abstract Background Understanding the role of macrophages at discrete spatial locations during nerve regeneration after injury is important. But, methodologies that systemically manipulate macrophages can obscure their roles within discrete spatial locations within nerve. New method Liposomes were embedded within fibrin gels to construct a delivery system that facilitated macrophage-specific manipulations at a sole spatial region, as macrophages accumulated within the fibrin. Clodronate liposomes were characterized for their toxicity to specific cells composing nerve in vitro, then tested for macrophage-specific depletion in vivo. This delivery system using clodronate liposomes was used to repair a mouse sciatic nerve gap to evaluate its efficacy and effects. Result Clodronate liposomes showed specific toxicity to macrophages without affecting dorsal root ganglia (DRG)-derived neurons, endothelial cells, or Schwann cells in culture. The delivery system demonstrated sustained release of liposomes for more than 7 days while still retaining liposomes within the fibrin. In vivo, the delivery system demonstrated macrophages were targeted by liposomes, and the use of clodronate liposomes minimized macrophage accumulation within fibrin, while not affecting macrophage accumulation within DRG. Nerve regeneration across the nerve gap repaired using this delivery system was associated with decreased angiogenesis, Schwann cell accumulation, axon growth, and reinnervation of affected muscle. Comparison with existing methods This delivery system allowed specific perturbation of macrophages locally in nerve. This method could be applicable across species without the need for genetic manipulations or systemic pharmaceuticals. Conclusion Liposomes embedded within fibrin gels locally target macrophages at the site of nerve injury, which enables greater precision in conclusions regarding their roles in nerve.
Mormonism and the World Religions Discourse

This article examines the ways in which the status of Mormonism within academic comparative religion discourses is quite different from that which has evolved among Latter-day Saint leaders and within the burgeoning field of Mormon studies. Whereas Mormonism is a quasi-Christian New Religious Movement in most world religions textbooks and reference works, some scholars of Mormonism have advanced the expanding Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints into the position of world religion. In doing so, they have adopted the terminology of a broader taxonomy largely without regard for maintaining its established demarcations. This classificatory tension, which will likely increase in the future, reveals some of the underlying logics, semantic confusions, and power dynamics of comparative religion discourses, ultimately problematizing the categories of Christianity, world religion, and New Religious Movement as currently constituted.
A Feasibility Study on an Ultra-Brief Intervention for Improving Freshmen's Emotional Intelligence.

In 1990, Salovey and Mayer introduced emotional intelligence (EI). Thirty-one years later, a proliferation of interventions to improve people’s EI has taken place. A literature review of studies focused on enhancing the EI of college students revealed a notable gap. When educational material for training sessions included all of the skills in an EI model, researchers usually utilized lengthy durations (i.e., 11–56 h). Few successful investigations employed an ultra-brief (i.e., ≤1 h) approach. The present study examined the feasibility of training using a minimalistic timeframe and a sample of freshmen; their transitional challenges from high school to college mark them as an appropriate target population. Employing a quasi-experimental one-group pretest–posttest design, the recruited participants (n = 75) experienced an ultra-brief intervention highlighting the complete skill-set in the Ability Emotional Intelligence model. Findings from a one-way repeated measures MANOVA indicated improvement transpired in two of four MSCEIT scores (i.e., perception and facilitation). The merit of the present study is delineated using Orsmond and Cohn’s five objectives for feasibility investigations. In addition, implications of the results and possible applications are proposed.
Research on Realization Technology of Arc Grounding Fault on Distribution Network on Field Test Data

Based on the distribution network practical-test-platform, the research work on the realization technology of arc grounding fault in distribution network can be carried out. In this paper, the arc grounding fault model is established, the development process of intermittent arc grounding fault is described in detail, and an arc grounding fault simulation device and a simulation flow are designed. The simulation example of the distribution network practical-test-platform is built on the PSCAD software, and the intermittent arc grounding fault of the neutral ungrounded system and the low resistance grounding system is simulated and analyzed.
Characterization of Solid Residues Obtained from Supercritical Ethanol Liquefaction of Swine Manure

Animal wastes are considered as renewable energy resources, which contain a great energy potential. For this study, swine manure was treated with supercritical ethanol within the reaction temperature range of 240-360°C to produce bio-oil, resulting in a significant amount of solid residues. Solid residues were characterized by using Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR), Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM), surface area, elemental and thermogravimetric (TG) analyses. Solid residues were mainly composed of carbon (26-29 wt%) and ash (35-45 wt%) and exhibited low surface areas (11-17 m2/g). The analyses indicated an incomplete conversion of lignocellulosic components and thermal chemical reactions including hydrolysis, dehydration, decarboxylation, aromatization and condensation. Supercritical ethanol liquefaction is considered as a feasible way to remove oxygen and utilize carbon and hydrogen in swine manure to produce carbonaceous materials and energy condensed bio-fuels.
Cyclic Deformation and Failure of Polymers

The phenomenological fatigue behavior of many metals can be described by equations in which the material constants are determined from cyclic deformation and monotonic fracture properties. This approach makes it possible to describe and predict fatigue behavior with a minimum of testing and provides a rational method for selecting metals to resist fatigue. There have been few attempts to determine what cyclic and monotonic properties are necessary to describe and predict the fatigue failure of polymers, however, and this knowledge may be useful when and if these materials are modified to be used for structural purposes. To this end the cyclic deformation and failure behavior of some common plastics is examined. At least three failure phenomena occur in polycarbonate and polymethylmethacrylate tested in completely reversed strain control at room temperature and at low frequencies: catastrophic.fracture, cyclic fracture, and delayed cyclic softening. At high cyclic strains the definition of failure is often arbitrary, and the onset of failure can depend upon the test frequency. In this region it does not appear feasible to relate the fatigue behavior to any monotonic material properties. At low cyclic strains the number of cycles to fracture appears to be independent of the frequency of testing, and the behavior is often described by an equation similar to the Coffin-Manson equation. Moreover, when log strain is plotted against log life, the slope appears to be relatively constant for a variety of polymers. In addition, the plot of stress amplitude versus log life is linear for nylon and polycarbonate in the low strain region and the extrapolation to one reversal is very well approximated by the fracture load divided by the cross sectional area after fracture.
Development of a Serum-free, Three Dimensional Cell Culture Model for Primary Human Articular Chondrocytes to Test Potential Therapeutics

Chondrocytes were isolated by protease digestion and cultured in alginate at 2, 5, 10 x 10 cells in serum-free medium. Production of collagen degradation products was measured in days 2 and 5 culture medium and day 5 cell-associated matrix. The optimal plating density was 5 x 10 cells/culture, as determined by Lowry protein analysis. Type I collagen telopeptide breakdown products were higher in cultures established from the femoral condyles than from the patella, and in OA cultures compared to AKA controls. Type II collagen telopeptides were also detected in both OA and TKA cultures; however, the amounts of these telopeptides were not significantly different in the two types of cultures. These results demonstrate that human articular chondrocytes survive and are metabolically active when cultured in this serum-free, 3D culture system. The femoral condyles and tibial plateau were the optimal sites for tissue harvesting. With this model system we can effectively measure clinical endpoints for testing new drugs that may reduce tissue destruction in OA.
The life patterns of individuals who had been recently hospitalised for an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

flanagan j (2010) Journal of Nursing and Healthcare of Chronic Illness2, 205–214 The life patterns of individuals who had been recently hospitalised for an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Aim. This study used Newman’s (Health as Expanding Consciousness, 2nd edn, 2000) health as expanding consciousness to explore the life patterns of individuals who had an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease requiring hospitalisation. Background. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a chronically debilitating disease of the lungs. Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease requiring hospitalisation are highly correlated with increased mortality rates, making this experience critical in the disease trajectory (Groenewegen et al., Chest, 2, 2003, 459) While there have been many studies aimed at understanding the patient experience of late stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, there is a gap in knowledge consistent with the goals of nursing about the life patterns of patients recently hospitalised for the first time with an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Methods. Newman’s (Health as Expanding Consciousness, 2nd edn, 2000) Health as Expanding Consciousness guided data collection. Fourteen patients who had been admitted for an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were individually interviewed at three time points posthospitalisation. Data were collected over an 18-month period in 2008–2009. For the purpose of this report, two life pattern appraisals are presented and discussed. Findings. Fourteen patients including eight men and six women between the ages of 48–92 participated in the study. Participants readily engaged in the dialogue. The stories focused on what was personally meaningful and for these participants, the dialogue was not focused on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Isolation was a common experience with uniquely expressed meaning for each participant. The ability to form key relationships early in life may impact choices throughout life and requires further exploration. Conclusion. Through using health as expanding consciousness, a nurse–patient relationship was formed providing a more complete understanding of the unique experiences and needs of the participants. There were many missed opportunities for health care providers in addressing their care. Relevance to clinical practice. The process of dialoguing with patients to reflect on life patterns and choices underscored the importance of holistically knowing them and engaging them in care.
Mobile Wireless Communications: 2.5G/3G Mobile wireless systems: packet-switched data

Introduction Previous chapters of this book have focused on second-generation (2G) wireless systems designed principally for wireless telephony, i.e., to carry voice calls, interfacing with wired telephone networks. We discuss in this chapter worldwide efforts to develop and deploy more advanced cellular networks, designed to provide higher bit rate wireless data services to interface with the Internet and other data networks. The objective is to provide wireless networks capable of carrying multimedia traffic such as voice, video, images, and data files interfacing with wired networks to present the user with seamless communication, where possible, end-to-end. These cellular networks extend the 2G systems into what is generally characterized as the third-generation (3G) or, for some cases, 2.5G systems. Much higher bit rate wireless local-area networks (W-LANs) have been designed as well to provide some of the same services, and are already beginning to pervade the business and academic sectors. These are discussed in Chapter 12. The new generation of cellular networks treats voice communication essentially the way the second generation does – as circuit-switched telephone traffic. Data, however, are to be carried in packet-switched format. The data bit rates used are higher than those currently available in the 2G systems. The wireless LANs (WLANs) discussed in Chapter 12 use packet switching exclusively. Studies are going on concurrently on fourth-generation cellular systems as well. Those systems would be expected to be all-packet-switched, interfacing seamlessly with packet-switched wired networks such as the Internet.
Carbon nanotube field effect transistors - fabrication, device physics, and circuit implications

The device and circuit implications of carbon nanotube field effect transistors (CNFET) as a logic technology are assessed. The salient device characteristics and fabrication techniques are described based on measured device parameters. The device/circuit performance of CNFET are estimated and the key technical challenges to developing the CNFET as a logic technology are discussed.
Isoform composition and stoichiometry of the approximately 90-kDa heat shock protein associated with glucocorticoid receptors.

We have observed that the approximately 90-kDa non-steroid-binding component of nonactivated glucocorticoid receptors purified from WEHI-7 mouse thymoma cells (which has been identified as the approximately 90-kDa heat shock protein) consistently migrates as a doublet during polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing and reducing conditions. It has recently been reported that murine Meth A cells contain a tumor-specific transplantation antigen (TSTA) which is related or identical to the approximately 90-kDa heat shock protein (Ullrich, S.J., Robinson, E.A., Law, L.W., Willingham, M., and Appella, E. (1986) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83, 3121-3125). The observation that TSTA and the approximately 90-kDa heat shock protein isolated from these cells exists as two isoforms of similar molecular mass and charge has suggested to us that the doublet we observed is also due to the existence of two isoforms. However, unlike TSTA, which appears to contain the two isoforms in similar relative abundance, nonactivated glucocorticoid-receptor complexes seem to contain predominantly the lower molecular mass isoform. We have therefore conducted this study to determine whether TSTA and the approximately 90-kDa component of glucocorticoid receptors are indeed related, to establish whether the receptor preferentially binds one isoform of the approximately 90-kDa heat shock protein, and to investigate the stoichiometry of the nonactivated receptor complex. By comparing Meth A TSTA and the approximately 90-kDa component of the receptor in their reactions with the AC88 monoclonal antibody (specific for the approximately 90-kDa heat shock protein) and a polyclonal antibody directed against Meth A TSTA, we found that these two proteins are indistinguishable and probably identical. We then used the BuGR1 (directed against the steroid-binding subunit of glucocorticoid receptors) and AC88 monoclonal antibodies to purify, respectively, receptor-associated and free approximately 90-kDa heat shock protein from WEHI-7 cells grown for 48 h with [35S]methionine to metabolically label proteins to steady state. Following analysis of the proteins by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing and reducing conditions, the relative amounts of the two isoforms in each sample were determined from the 35S counts and the known methionine content of each isoform. We found that approximately three-quarters of both the receptor-associated and the free approximately 90-kDa heat shock protein is present as the lower molecular weight isoform, indicating no preferential binding of either isoform in the receptor. The long-term metabolic labeling approach has also enabled us to direc
Contemporary Issues with Public Policy Polls

This article is intended to stimulate discussion on the current problems with public policy polls, and to invite readers to submit essays for the December issue of Survey Practice addressing some aspect of these problems. Essays that defend current practices are just as welcome as articles that point to problems. Any suggested solutions to problems are welcome as well. Perhaps it’s useful to focus the discussion on three major issues that various authors have identified that detract from the utility of polls: 1) ignoring nonopinion, 2) not accounting for intensity of opinion, and 3) failing to differentiate between hypothetical and actual opinion. (If there are other issues a reader would like to address that deal with the current practices of public policy pollsters, these articles are acceptable as well.)
On the Distinction between Model-Theoretic and Generative-Enumerative Syntactic Frameworks

Two kinds of framework for stating grammars of natural languages emerged during the 20th century. Here we call them generative-enumerative syntax (GES) and model-theoretic syntax (MTS). They are based on very different mathematics. GES developed in the 1950s out of Post's work on the syntactic side of logic. MTS arose somewhat later out of the semantic side of logic. We identify some distinguishing theoretical features of these frameworks, relating to cardinality of the set of expressions, size of individual expressions, and 'transderivational constraints'. We then turn to three kinds of linguistic phenomena: partial grammaticality, the syntactic properties of expression fragments, and the fact that the lexicon of any natural language is in constant flux, and conclude that MTS has some major advantages for linguistic description that have been overlooked. We briefly consider the issue of what natural languages in MTS terms, and touch on implications for parsing and acquisition.
Sporulation Synchrony of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Grown in Various Carbon Sources

Sporulation of several strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae grown in a variety of carbon sources that do not repress the tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes was more synchronous than the sporulation of cells grown in medium containing dextrose which does repress those enzymes. Dextrose-grown cells showed optimal sporulation synchrony when inoculated into sporulation medium from early stationary phase when the dextrose in the medium is exhausted. Logarithmic-phase cells grown in either non-fermentable carbon sources (acetate and glycerol) or a fermentable carbon source that does not repress tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes (galactose) sporulated more synchronously than the early stationary-phase dextrose cells. Attempts were made to sporulate cells taken from both complex and semidefined media. The semidefined acetate medium failed to support the growth of a number of strains. However, cells grown in the complex acetate medium, as well as both complex and semidefined glycerol and galactose media, sporulated with better synchrony than did the dextrose-grown cells.
Chronic testosterone treatment impairs vocal learning in male zebra finches during a restricted period of development

To study the effects of chronic exposure to testosterone on song behavior development, we administered various amounts of testosterone to juvenile male zebra finches during different periods of song acquisition. We report that testosterone exposure during development profoundly impairs song learning in juvenile males. The effects of the hormone do not seem to be dose related but vary according to the period of life during which testosterone is administered. Exposure to testosterone starting before day 40 and lasting until adulthood decreases the number of syllables in the birds' repertoire and increases the number of phrases per bout of singing. In addition to these changes in the “syntactical” features of song, acoustic abnormalities are also present in the song syllables of males that begin to receive testosterone during the first month of life. Administration of testosterone during only the first 3 weeks of life produces acoustic abnormalities but has no effect on repertoire size or bout structure. Birds receiving the hormone between 20 and 40 d of age develop both acoustic abnormalities and a reduced repertoire size, but their song bouts contain a normal number of song phrases. Exposure to testosterone starting on day 40 produce no behavioral abnormalities. These results indicate that normal song development requires a period of low levels of circulating testosterone and also provide support for the idea that vocal learning entails a progressive sequence of events.
Shark attack-related injuries: epidemiology and implications for plastic surgeons

Summary Background and aim The increased media attention to shark attacks has led to a heightened fear and public awareness. Although few sharks are considered dangerous, attacks on humans can result in large soft tissue defects necessitating the intervention of reconstructive surgeons. This study aims to evaluate and describe the characteristics of shark-related injuries in order to improve treatment. Methods The Global Shark Accident File, maintained by the Shark Research Institute (Princeton, NJ, USA), is a compilation of all known worldwide shark attacks. Database records since the 1900s were reviewed to identify differences between fatal and nonfatal attacks, including: geography, injury pattern, shark species, and victim activity. Results Since the 1900s, there have been 5034 reported shark attacks, of which 1205 (22.7%) were fatal. Although the incidence of attacks per decade has increased, the percentage of fatalities has decreased. Characteristics of fatal attacks included swimming ( p = 0.001), boating ( p = 0.001), three or more bite sites ( p = 0.03), limb loss ( p = 0.001), or tiger shark attack ( p = 0.002). The most common attacks were bites to the legs (41.8%) or arms (18.4%), with limb loss occurring in 7% of attacks. Geographically, the majority of attacks occurred in North America (36.7%) and Australia (26.5%). Most attacks in the USA occurred in Florida (49.1%) and California (13.6%). Conclusions Although rare, shark attacks result in devastating injuries to patients. As these injuries often involve multiple sites and limb loss, this creates a significant challenge for reconstructive surgeons. Proper identification of the characteristics of the attack can aid in providing optimal care for those affected.
OMED: Educational Services-raising expectations and performance

Summary form only given as follows. Since its inception in 1979, OMED has been an organization of continual change for the benefit of its customers. It has gone from being a comprehensive student services provider to an organization that focuses on the business and engineering of education. What was once the Office of Minority Educational Development (OMED) is now OMED: Educational Services. The new model and approach has allowed OMED to create a portfolio of activities and services designed to meet the ever changing needs of our students. This portfolio is customer (student) centered and driven by paradigms that are fundamental to systems engineering and business success, and designed to create quality diversity. Those philosophies include: creating a maintaining a culture that expects outstanding performance; viewing education as a manufacturing process that is designed to generate a desired output from raw material; coaching students to manage the system through the development, practice, and refinement of strategies; empowering students to become proactive learners and problem solvers who are intellectually adaptive; serving students as individuals; one at a time; couching the educational process as a family investment that is to be systematically managed; treating students as customers and valuing their "business" and their input; ensuring process and program development that is data driven. The results have generated a significant improvement in grade averages and retention rates with underrepresented students performing on par with the overall population.
Disciplined Hearts: History, Identity, and Depression in art American Indian Community

Disciplined Hearts: History, Identity, and Depression in art American Indian Community. Theresa DeLeane O'Nell. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1996. 252 pp.
The Farmer-Owned Reserve: How Is the Experiment Working?: Discussion

The paper written by Meyers and Ryan does a good job reviewing the background and operation of the farmer-owned reserve program. They also have developed a model to analyze the market impact of the reserve. Their results indicate that without the reserve we would have seen lower average prices and higher price variability. Finally, the authors raise a number of relevant issues about operational problems as well as the future prospects for the reserve as a policy instrument. I would like to elaborate on their paper, giving my impression of how well the reserve has worked and what needs to be done to keep the reserve operating effectively in the interest of both producers and consumers. The Meyers-Ryan paper correctly points out that raising the storage rate and allowing immediate entry of 1976 and 1977 crop wheat into the reserve were important factors in increasing the rate of accumulation after a slow start. Nevertheless, producers had substantial incentives to enter the reserve during the accumulation phase. The release level was higher than farm prices during 1977 and 1978. But, with the target price set above the release level for the 1978 and 1979 crops, producers had a reasonable expectation that farm prices would come up to or near the release level. Because the producer had to recover only
Evaluating Single-Pass Catch as a Tool for Identifying Spatial Pattern in Fish Distribution

ABSTRACT We evaluate the efficacy of single-pass electrofishing without blocknets as a tool for collecting spatially continuous fish distribution data in headwater streams. We compare spatial patterns in abundance, sampling effort, and length-frequency distributions from single-pass sampling of coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki clarki) to data obtained from a more precise multiple-pass removal electrofishing method in two mid-sized (500–1000 ha) forested watersheds in western Oregon. Abundance estimates from single- and multiple-pass removal electrofishing were positively correlated in both watersheds, r = 0.99 and 0.86. There were no significant trends in capture probabilities at the watershed scale (P > 0.05). Moreover, among-sample variation in fish abundance was higher than within-sample error in both streams indicating that increased precision of unit-scale abundance estimates would provide less information on patterns of abundance than increasing the fraction of habitat units sampled. In ...
UNDERSTANDING STABILITY IN MUTUALISMS: CAN EXTRINSIC FACTORS BALANCE THE YUCCA–YUCCA MOTH INTERACTION?

Mutualisms form an integral part of many communities and play an important role in the maintenance and promotion of biodiversity. The inherent conflict of interest between mutualists suggests that partners should reduce the cost of the interaction whenever possible. As a result, defense mechanisms may evolve to prevent overexploitation by both partners. Selection for the evolution of defenses intrinsic to the interaction may be unnecessary, however, under particular ecological conditions. I examined the interaction between the pollinating yucca moth Tegeticula cassandra and its host plant Yucca filamentosa to determine whether extrinsic factors are important in promoting stability in this mutualism. Yuccas can selectively abscise fruit with high egg loads for moth species that damage ovules during oviposition into the locule. Female T. cassandra, however, lay eggs less than a millimeter beneath the tissue surface and fail to damage ovules, circumventing this mechanism of selective abscission. Consequently, yuccas are unable to regulate egg loads by T. cassandra, and moths are free to lay many eggs. Despite this, only 5–11% of T. cassandra eggs survive to exit the fruit as mature larvae. I tested the hypothesis that T. cassandra survivorship is regulated by the extrinsic factors dehydration and predation. While exclusion of potential predators seemed to have no effect on survivorship, moth eggs in flowers with experimentally increased vapor pressure had significantly greater survivorship compared to controls. Survivorship of a closely related locule-ovipositing species was unaffected by either predator exclusion or changes in vapor pressure. The results suggest that the stability of mutualisms can depend at least in part on extrinsic factors.
Incorporating risk assessment and risk management into public policies on genetically modified finfish and shellfish

Abstract Genetically modified finfish and shellfish pose economic benefits to aquaculture, but also pose ecological and genetic risks to ecosystems receiving such organisms. Realization of benefits with minimization of risks posed by a new technology can be addressed through the processes of risk assessment and risk management. Public policies adopted by individual countries will reflect differences in the outcome of risk assessment and risk management processes resulting from differences among the receiving ecosystems and sets of human values at issue. A number of countries and international institutions have begun development of policies for oversight of genetically modified aquatic organisms. In the United States, a working group commissioned by the U.S. Department of Agriculture incorporated risk assessment and risk management principles into draft performance standards for safely conducting research with genetically modified finfish and shellfish. The performance standards address research with a broad range of aquatic GMOs, and compliance is intended to be voluntary. In contrast, the Canadian policy mandates adherence to specified guidelines for experiments with transgenic aquatic organisms; establishment as national policy is expected soon. Based upon the recently-adopted Gene Technology Act, Norwegian policy does not preclude use of genetically engineered aquatic organisms in the aquaculture industry, but the Norwegian government seems unlikely to support such use. Policies on aquatic GMOs have been adopted by leading international institutions concerned with fisheries management or aquaculture. The philosophy and technical content of oversight policies have important implications for scientists involved in research with aquatic GMOs.
Effects of computer/television convergence on users' perception of content, equipment and affect

This 2 x 2 between subjects experiment examined the effects of label (computer or television) on users' evaluation of identical equipment and content (comedy show or web page). Content was evaluated more positively on key traits (humor and intelligence) when viewed via the traditional medium. The "computer" was perceived as superior on picture clarity, competence, and quality. "Computer" participants reported greater feelings of involvement, while "television" participants reported greater feelings of ease. "Television" participants demonstrated better memory for traditional television content than "computer" participants. These results extend prior research on labels and technology showing that there are important psychological implications for digital convergence.
Mini Fission-Fusion-Fission Explosions (Mini-Nukes). A Third Way Towards the Controlled Release of Nuclear Energy by Fission and Fusion

Chemically ignited nuclear microexplosions with a fissile core, a DT reflector and U238 (Th232) pusher, offer a promising alternative to magnetic and inertial confinement fusion, not only burning DT, but in addition U238 (or Th232), and not depending on a large expensive laser of electric pulse power supply. The prize to be paid is a gram size amount of fissile material for each microexplosion, but which can be recovered by breeding in U238. In such a "mini-nuke" the chemical high explosive implodes a spherical metallic shell onto a smaller shell, with the smaller shell upon impact becoming the source of intense black body radiation which vaporizes the ablator of a spherical U238 (Th232) pusher, with the pusher accelerated to a velocity of ∼ 200 km/s, sufficient to ignite the DT gas placed in between the pusher and fissile core, resulting in a fast fusion neutron supported fission reaction in the core and pusher. Estimates indicate that a few kg of high explosives are sufficient to ignite such a "mini-nuke", with a gain of ∼ 10 3 , releasing an energy equivalent to a few tons of TNT, still manageable for the microexplosion to be confined in a reactor vessel. A further reduction in the critical mass is possible by replacing the high explosive with fast moving solid projectiles. For light gas gun driven projectiles with a velocity of ∼ 10 km/s, the critical mass is estimated to be 0.25 g, and for magnetically accelerated 25 km/s projectiles it is as small as ∼ 0.05 g. With the much larger implosion velocities, reached by laser- or particle beam bombardment of the outer shell, the critical mass can still be much smaller with the fissile core serving as a fast ignitor. Increasing the implosion velocity decreases the overall radius of the fission-fusion assembly in inverse proportion to this velocity, for the 10 km/s light gas gun driven projectiles from 10 cm to 5 cm, for the 25 km/s magnetically projectiles down to 2 cm, and still more for higher implosion velocities.
Efficient BDDs for bounded arithmetic constraints

Symbolic model checkers use BDDs to represent arithmetic constraints over bounded integer variables. The size of such BDDs can in the worst case be exponential in the number and size (in bits) of the integer variables. In this paper we show how to construct linear-sized BDDs for linear integer arithmetic constraints. We present basic constructions for atomic equality and inequality constraints and generalize our complexity results for arbitrary linear arithmetic formulas. We also present three alternative ways of handling out-of-bounds transitions and discuss heterogeneous bounds on integer variables. We experimentally compare our approach to other BDD-based symbolic model checkers and demonstrate that the algorithms presented in this paper can be used to improve their performance significantly.
Catalytic stripping voltammetry of vanadium in the presence of dihydroxynaphthalene and bromate

Abstract Vanadium was complexed with 2,3-dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN), absorbed onto a hanging mercury drop electrode, and measured using square wave stripping voltammetry. The reduction current of the adsorbed complex was greatly increased (100 times) by the addition of bromate ion. Preconcentration of the vanadium complex was done at a potential of −0.1 V vs. Ag AgCl at pH 4.8 in the presence of 0.1 M DHN and 5 mM NaBrO 3 . The detection limit for a 1 min adsorption time was 1.5 × 10 −11 M, and the reduction current was linear over the range of 5 × 10 −11 to 4 × 10 −9 M. The relative standard deviation was calculated as 1% ( n = 7) for 1 × 10 −9 M. The method was applied to the determination of vanadium in natural water samples.
A Practical Algorithm for Finding Matrix Representations for Polycyclic Groups

In this paper we describe a new algorithm for constructing a representation by integer matrices for a polycyclic group given by a finite presentation. This is a first step toward finding a practical algorithm for this problem. We used our algorithm to construct representations for various polycyclic groups. The examples which we studied included a collection of free nilpotent groups, and our results here led us to a new theoretical result concerning such groups.
Irradiation potentiation of cellular transfer of EAE: time course and locus of effect in irradiated recipient Lewis rats.

Abstract Further studies of the potentiating effect of 500 rads total body irradiation on cellular transfer of experimental allergic encephalomyeliatis (EAE) in Lewis rats have revealed two findings bearing on underlying mechanisms. First, the effect is transitory, potentiation of disease being observed in recipients irradiated 1 or 4 days before transfer of syngeneic sensitized donor lymphoid cells but not among animals irradiated 7 or 14 days before cell transfer. Second, lead shielding selectively excluding the central neuraxis from irradiation results in relatively little augmentation of EAE compared to that observed in non-shielded irradiated animals. We believe irradiation potentiation of EAE results from transitory alterations in central nervous system target tissue rendering it more vulnerable to host immunologic attack.
New Tetraalkylborate Initiators for Remote Polymerization

The polymerization of acrylic esters without direct use of light and/or heat is an important goal. We have investigated a system where the activating component is delivered in a flow of a carrier gas which has unrestricted access to a surface covered with to-be-polymerized monomers. The active ingredient (H2O2 vapor) reacts with coating components (tetraalkylborates) to generate free radicals and initiate polymerization in the surface layer. Differences in reactivity are explained by differing oxidation potentials and alkyl substituents on the boron atom. Radical trapping experiments support the mechanism proposed.
Correlates of hormone replacement therapy use in former users of oral contraceptives

Objectives: To explore what differentiates postmenopausal physicians who previously used oral contraceptives (OC) and now use hormone replacement therapy (HRT) from those who used OC previously and are not now using HRT. Also to examine, among premenopausal physicians who have used OC, factors associated with intended future HRT use. Methods: The Women Physicians’ Health Study took a stratified random sample of U.S. women MDs aged 30–70 years (4501 respondents, a 59% response rate). We limited this examination to the 65% who had used oral contraceptives. Results: Among postmenopausal women who previously used OC, being younger, sexually active, or an ob-gyn, or having had a hysterectomy, were significantly associated (P < .05) with a greater prevalence of current HRT use. Also associated (P 0.05–0.10) were being a member of a married or unmarried couple, living in a non–East Coast region, and having a female personal physician. Conversely, those with a history of breast cancer were much less likely to take HRT. Women physicians taking HRT were significantly more likely to report counseling their patients about its use; 44% of HRT users counseled their older female patients about HRT at least yearly, while only 22% of nonusers did so. Factors associated with prior OC use and intended future HRT use also will be discussed. Conclusions: Identifying factors that influence transitions from OC to HRT use may help predict future use. Physicians’ personal HRT status was associated with patient counseling practices.