cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Esophageal temperature during atrial fibrillation ablation poorly predicts esophageal injury: An observational study

Background Esophageal injury (EI) remains a concern when performing pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using the high-power short-duration (HPSD) technique. Objective We aim to indicate that high esophageal temperature during HPSD PVI does not correlate with positive esophageal endoscopy (EGD) findings. Methods A retrospective observational study was performed on 43 patients undergoing PVI using HPSD (50 W for 6–7 seconds per lesion) at Tulane Medical Center from July 2020 to January 2021. Esophageal temperature was monitored throughout the procedure using a temperature probe and patients underwent EGD the following day. Small ulcers, nonbleeding erosions, erythema, and/or esophagitis were considered positive EGD findings. Results Mean age was 64.9 years; 46.5% of the patients were female. Eleven patients had positive EGD findings (group 1) and 32 patients had normal EGD (group 2). There was no statistical difference in mean esophageal peak temperature between group 1 and group 2 (43.9°C ± 2.9°C and 42.5°C ± 2.3°C, respectively, P = .17). There was no association between positive EGD results and esophageal temperature during PVI. Mean baseline esophageal temperature was similar in both groups (36.1°C, P = .78). Average contact force (P = .53), ablation time (P = .67), age (P = .3096), sex (P = .4), body mass index (P = .14), and other comorbidities did not correlate with positive endoscopy results. We found positive correlation between the distance of the left atrium (LA) to esophagus and positive EGD (P = .0001). Conclusion EI during HPSD PVI does not correlate to esophageal temperature changes during ablation. However, esophageal injury does correlate to a shorter proximity of the esophagus to the LA.
Psychometric evaluation of a decision quality instrument for medication decisions for treatment of depression symptoms.

A high quality treatment decision means patients are informed and receive treatment that matches their goals. This research examined the reliability and validity of the Depression Decision Quality Instrument (DQI), a survey to measure the extent to which patients are informed and received preferred treatment for depression. Participants were aged 18 and older from 17 US cities who discussed medication or counseling with a physician in the past year, and physicians who treated patients with depression who practiced in the same cities. Participants were mailed a survey that included the Depression-DQI, a tool with 10 knowledge and 7 goal and concern items. Patients were randomly assigned to either receive a patient decision aid (DA) on treatment of depression or no DA. A matching score was created by comparing the patient’s preferred treatment to their self-reported treatment received. Concordant scores were considered matched, discordant were not. We examined the reliability and known group validity of the Depression-DQI. Most patients 405/504 (80%) responded, 79% (320/405) returned the retest survey, and 60% (114/187) of physicians returned the survey. Patients’ knowledge scores on the 10-item scale ranged from 14.6 to 100% with no evidence of floor or ceiling effects. Retest reliability for knowledge was moderate and for goals and concerns ranged from moderate to good. Mean knowledge scores differentiated between patients and physicians (M = 63 [SD = 15] vs. M = 81 [SD = 11], p < 0.001), and between patients who did and didn’t receive a DA (M = 64 [SD = 16] vs. M = 61 [SD = 14], p = 0.041). 60.5% of participants received treatment that matched their preference. Based on the multivariate logistic regression, ‘avoiding taking anti-depressants’ was the only goal that was predictive of taking mediation (OR = 0.73 [0.66, 0.80], p < 0.01). Shared Decision Making Process scores were similar for those who matched their preference and those who didn’t (M = 2.18 [SD = 0.97] vs. M = 2.06 [SD = 1.07]; t(320) = − 1.06, p = 0.29). Those who matched had lower regret scores (matched M = 1.72 [SD = 0.74] vs. unmatched M = 2.32 [SD = 0.8]; t(301) = − 6.6, p < .001). The Depression DQI demonstrated modest reliability and validity. More work is needed to establish validity of the method to determine concordance. Trial registration: NCT01152307.
National Biological Control Institute: History, Philosophy and Communication System

In 1990, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), established the National Biological Control Institute (NBCI) as part of the Department’s commitment to implement biological control, sustainable systems, and integrated pest management. NBCI’s mission is to promote, facilitate, and provide leadership for biological control. NBCI encourages and supports documentation of biological control; develops and distributes educational information resources, and participates in strategic planning for biological control at scientific and administrative levels.
Host strain selection for bacterial expression of toxic proteins.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the Escherichia coli T7 RNA polymerase expression system and the problems associated with the selection of a suitable bacterial host strain. Protocols are described in the chapter to determine if a host strain is unreceptive to transformation and expression of a cytotoxic gene product and to prepare an amenable host strain for transformation and expression of the desired gene product. The amenable host strain is prepared by curing a plasmid, encoding a toxic protein, from a bacterial strain that is capable of high expression of the toxic protein. An example of host strain determination using a plasmid encoding HIV-1 protease under transcriptional control of the T7 promoter and expression in the bacterial host strain BL21(DE3)pLysS is presented in the chapter. E. coli expression systems, the most popular system for large scale protein production, have been widely used for the expression of recombinant retroviral proteases. The major advantages are the ease of subcloning into expression vectors using standard molecular biological techniques and the cost effectiveness of growth, selection, and large scale production.
COURTING CHAOS: CONFLICTING GUIDANCE FROM COURTS HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED FOR CLEARER RULES TO GOVERN THE SEARCH AND SEIZURE OF DIGITAL EVIDENCE

Today's digital devices allow users to store an astounding amount ofpersonal information and data of all types. People now favor hard drives and e-mails over file cabinets and letters. When conducting criminal investigations in today's high-tech world, forensic analysts may compare digital fingerprints rather than physical ones. Investigators must obtain search warrants before examining any digital device for evidence of criminal activity, just as they would before searching a suspect's car, home, or office. In the digital context, however, the warrant requirement goes awry. Traditional search and seizure rules fail to prevent general, exploratory searches, which threaten individual privacy rights. Courts recognizing this problem have adopted "special approaches" for conducting digital media searches. Although these approaches provide greater protection for privacy rights, they often severely hamper legitimate law-enforcement interests. In order to both preserve privacy rights and promote justice, legislatures must enact laws directed at the search and seizure of digital media. These laws should (1) require investigators to follow narrow search protocols, but allow expanded searches where necessary; (2) require investigators to obtain a second warrant before seizing out-of-scope evidence, with a narrow exception; and 3) require a taint team to review digital media containing privileged or third party files. * UCLA School of Law, J.D., Managing Editor, UCLA Law Review, Senior Articles Editor, UCLA Journal of Law & Technology, 2008-2009, U.C. San Diego, B.S., Biology. I would like to thank the attorneys at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California, San Jose, for inspiring me to write this article, with thanks in particular to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hanley Chew, Jeffrey Schenk, Daniel Kaleba, Susan Knight, and Jeff Nedrow for taking the time to answer my questions and guide me to resources. I would also like to thank Chris Beeson, Director of the Regional District Forensics Lab for the Northern District of California, for setting aside time in his busy schedule to give me an overview of how forensics analysts proceed with the complicated task of searching for digital evidence. And of course, thanks to my friends and family for edits and encouragement. 1 Robinton: COURTING CHAOS Published by Yale Law School Legal Scholarship Repository, 2010 12 Yale J.L. & Tech. 311 (2010)
A classification of real and complex nilpotent orbits of reductive groups in terms of complex even nilpotent orbits

Let g be a complex, reductive Lie algebra. We prove a theorem parametrizing the set of nilpotent orbits in g in terms of even nilpotent orbits of subalgebras of g and show how to determine these subalgebras and how to explicitly compute this correspondence. We prove a theorem parametrizing nilpotent orbits for strong involutions of G in terms of even nilpotent orbits of complex subalgebras of g and show how to explicitly compute this correspondence. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.)
Validation of a ski simulator

Abstract The use of simulation devices to improve the motor performances of athletes is becoming increasingly popular. It was the purpose of this study to determine the validity of a ski simulator (Dukane, Model 14A635). It was hypothesized that this device would not only differentiate among skiers (N = 60) and nonskiers (N = 20), but that it would also classify skiers (N = 80) according to their levels of proficiency, i.e., nonskiers, beginners, intermediates, and advanced skiers. The validity of the simulator was established through the use of divergent groups. A deliberate sampling procedure was utilized to select 20 female subjects for each of the above 4 groups. The subjects ranged in age from 18 to 26 yr and were tested individually under controlled laboratory conditions. After a practice trial at a speed of 6 rpm each subject took 3 trials at slow (6.5) rpm, medium (7) rpm, and fast (7.5) rpm speeds. A 1-min rest period was interspaced between each trial. The simulator recorded automatically an err...
A Long Story Short

Chicago: where these our actors, extras aU, gather to enact the old American vaudev?le, violence and ideaUsm, wh?e the orchestra tunes up (reedy cries, brass oaths, nightstick percussion) and the audience is restless, unready for what w?l happen here. The thick yeUow curtain of gas is about to rise on an August stage. The '68 Cantata: the Democratic Convention in Chicago. For aU the atonal chords, the symbol-clash of violence and ideaUsm, history was not here to repeat itself. This was not Governor WaUace in 1957 calling troops to bar black students from schools, nor Governor Altgeld in 1884 calling in troops to halt union men in the Pullman Strike. These, our actors, were not WobbUes beaten senseless, nor suspected Reds dragged from their beds. This was not Wounded Knee, nor the Little Bighorn. This was more Uke Gettysburg, where We are met on a great battlefield of that war, z new battlefield: television, without which the world will little note nor long remember any of this. And Uke Gettysburg, the impUcations are vast, historically com plex. But the immediate questions are strategic, and in that regard, simple: who shaU gain this field? Who shaU hold it? The battlefield became the battle. Television would make victors of the losers and legends of the few. In Chicago, The '68 Cantata chords open with Janis Joplin wringing Gershwin's Summertime dry, counterpoint to hot damn, Summer in the City, but this summer, in this city, a chorus of extras performs The Battle Hymn of the New Republic, a civ? war concerto. And what could you caU it but civ? war? A nation divided, Now we are engaged in a great civil war testing whether that nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure the continuation of the war in South east Asia. We wore our passions on our persons, Uke uniforms In Chicago, where faith of our fathers' V for Victory?two fingers punched against the sky?becomes Peace signs, salutes, symbols carbonating across America. Oh Say Can You See Star Spangled Banners everywhere inappropri ate, unimaginable: on our backs and our butts, on blue jeans, T-shirts. Oh, It's A Grand Old Flag, but it means something entirely else in the rage and surge, the streets of Chicago where the rag-tag all-volunteer army carries the flag upside crazy down: banner to the new battlefield, television which w?l ask in images, O Where have all the flowers gone? Gone to cinders in the ashes of
Electron energy loss spectroscopy of polytetrafluoroethylene: experiment and first principles calculations

We have performed electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) on a 200 kV transmission electron microscope (TEM) equipped with a monochromator to investigate molecular conformation of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The experimental spectra show several unique features in the low-loss region and the onset of carbon K-edge for PTFE. Density function theory (DFT) methods are employed to calculate the low-loss and core-loss spectra of PTFE with consideration of the effects of phase transitions, chain orientation and polarization. The shape and width of the characteristic peaks of the experimental spectra are well reproduced in DFT calculations. By comparing the spectra from experiments and theory, the detailed information about the conformational dependence of EEL spectra for PTFE can be obtained. In the present work, we have demonstrated an application of combining high-resolution EELS and DFT calculations in both low-loss and core-loss regions to discriminate changes of chain conformation and orientation for the polymer with complex phase transition behavior.
Heterodimerization and deoxyribonucleic acid-binding properties of a retinoid X receptor-related factor.

The extent thyroid hormone receptors (TRs) bind to AGGTCA-related motifs as monomers and/or homodimers, and as heterodimers with retinoid X receptors (RXRs) depends on the number, spacing, and orientation of these half-sites. Here we show that recombinant RXR alpha affects TR binding to DNA in diverse ways; it enhances recombinant TR beta 1 binding to four-nucleotide-spaced direct repeat and palindromes but not to inverted palindromes. We also used an endogenous factor termed RXR alpha-RF that cross-reacted with antibodies to RXR alpha and copurified and formed heterodimers on DNA with rat liver TRs (mostly TR beta 1 isoform), supporting the fact that endogenous TRs are commonly heterodimers. RXR alpha-RF formed, like recombinant RXR alpha, heterodimers on DNA with vitamin D and retinoic acid but not estrogen receptors. RXR alpha-RF differed from recombinant RXR alpha in that it provoked enhancement of TR beta 1 binding to DNA irrespective of half-site architecture, was resistant to heating to 50 C, and d...
The Role of School and Community-Based Programs in Aiding Latina/o High School Persistence.

This study documents the important role school and community-based programs have for sustaining the persistence of Latina/o high school students in an urban, low achieving school district. Consensu...
Asymmetric EM Reveals New Twists in Phage ϕ29 Biology

Tang et al. (2008) probe the virion structure of bacteriophage ϕ29 by asymmetric reconstructions of cryo-electron microscopy images, visualizing subunit conformations, protein-DNA interactions, and a novel twist of dsDNA that may aid in retention of the genome prior to ejection.
Threadfin shad, Dorosoma petenense Günther, mortality: causes and ecological implications in a South‐eastern United States reservoir

Cold stress was identified as an important factor influencing both reservoir-wide mortality and impingement of threadfin shad, Dorosoma petenense, during the period October 1976 to April 1977 in Watts Bar Reservoir, Tennessee. Relative numbers and size frequency of impinged threadfin shad were similar to the relative numbers and size frequency of shad preyed upon by sauger, Stizostedion canadense, and skipjack herring, Alosa chrysochloris. This relationship implies that the factor mainly responsible for impingement, low temperature, also influences prey vulnerability. Threadfin shad made up 99% of the combined diet of sauger and skipjack herring from November until the threadfin shad disappeared in January. These predators did not readily switch to alternative prey in the short term, but by the next autumn 25–100% of the diet was alternative prey. Reappearance of threadfin shad the year following mass mortality and ability of the predators to vary their diet emphasize the resilient nature of some predator-prey systems.
Regulation of c-myc Gene by Nitric Oxide via Inactivating NF-κB Complex in P19 Mouse Embryonal Carcinoma Cells

Nitric oxide (NO) may regulate gene expression by directly modifying redox state-sensitive residues of transcription factors. Here we show that the NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), rapidly represses c-myc gene transcription in a protein synthesis-independent manner in P19 embryonal carcinoma cells by inactivation of NF-κB. SNP treatment reduces the DNA binding ability of the constitutively active NF-κB heterodimer, p65/p50, and its consequent transactivation of the c-myc promoter. Repression can be blocked by the peroxynitrite scavenger, deferoxamine, but not by dithiothreitol, which triggers reduction of S-nitrosylated residues. In HEK293 cells, where tumor necrosis factor-α can activate NF-κB, SNP likewise suppresses the binding of the active NF-κB complex, restoring the binding of the repressive p50/p50 homodimer complex. This effect of SNP in HEK293 cells is also blocked by deferoxamine. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis of SNP-treated P19 cells reveals reduced association of p65, but not of p50, with the promoter region of the endogenous c-myc gene. SNP-induced p65 dissociation was associated with the recruitment of histone deacetylase 1 and 2 to the endogenous c-myc gene promoter and the subsequent deacetylation of its chromatin histone. This study is the first to demonstrate that NO modulates the transcriptional activity of the c-myc gene promoter by dissociating the active form of NF-κB and replacing it with a repressive NF-κB complex, correlated with the recruitment of gene-silencing histone deacetylases. In light of findings that NF-κB stimulates Myc oncoprotein expression in cancers, our findings suggest that NO should be investigated as a prospective therapeutic cancer agent.
Computational studies on the isomeric structures in the pyrophosphito bridged diplatinum(II) complex, platinum pop

Density functional calculations at the B3LYP/LanL2DZ+(f,d,p) level have identified two hydrogen bonding motifs for the title molecule, a C 4 h eclipsed and a D 4 staggered structure. The eclipsed structure is calculated to be only about 0.8 kcal/mol more stable than the staggered structure when unscaled zero point energies are considered. The two structures can be distinguished in an X-ray crystallographic analysis on the basis of the Pt-P-O-P dihedral angle without the need to explicitly locate hydrogen atoms in the structure. Calculated vibrational frequencies and assignments are generally in very good agreement with the available experimental information. One notable exception to this agreement is the experimentally observed 232 cm - 1 -Raman transition that was previously assigned to a nonspecific ring bending mode and is currently reassigned to the symmetric Pt 2 P 8 stretching mode.
Periodic regularization, multiband structure, and orthogonal polynomials.

Instead of using polynomial potentials for Hermitian matrix models which are bounded from below, an alternative regularization scheme is to make the potential periodic by employing unitary matrices. We discuss, perturbatively and nonperturbatively, the multiband phase structure that arises in unitary one-matrix models with potentials having several local minima. The tree-level phase diagram for a prototypic {ital U}{sub 2}({theta}) potential is presented. The multiband structure is then studied from the viewpoint of the orthogonal polynomial recursion coefficients {ital T}{sub {ital n}}, using the operator formalism to relate them to the large-{ital N} limit of the generating function {ital F}({ital z}) =={minus}({ital i}/{ital N}){l angle}{ital Tr}(1+{ital zU})/(1{minus}{ital zU}){r angle}. We show how a periodicity structure in the sequence of the {ital T}{sub {ital n}} coefficients naturally leads to multiband structure. We next study the double-scaling limit from various phase boundaries leading to nonperturbative string equations for unitary matrix models. Finally, we comment on the fate of the {ital k}=2 pure gravity solution under a {ital periodic} {ital regularization}.
The psychodynamics of borderline personality disorder: A view from developmental psychopathology

This article provides a contemporary view of the psychodynamics of borderline personality disorder (BPD) from a developmental psychopathology perspective. We first briefly describe the evolution of the borderline construct in psychoanalysis and psychiatry. Then we provide clinically and empirically informed model of domains of personality function and dysfunction that provides a roadmap for thinking about personality pathology from a developmental psychopathology standpoint and examine the nature and phenomenology of BPD in terms of these domains of functioning. Next, we describe prominent dynamic theories of etiology of BPD and examine these in relation to the available research. Finally, we describe psychodynamic conceptions of treatment and the way BPD phenomena manifest in treatment, followed again by consideration of relevant research, particularly on transference-countertransference constellations empirically identified in the treatment of patients with BPD.
Ratio-metric sensor to detect riboflavin via fluorescence resonance energy transfer with ultrahigh sensitivity

Abstract In this paper, a novel fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) ration-metric fluorescent probe based on heteroatom N, S doped carbon dots (N, S-CDs) was developed to determine riboflavin in aqueous solutions. The ratio of two emission intensities at different wavelengths is applied to determine the concentration of riboflavin (RF). This method is more effective in reducing the background interference and fluctuation of diverse conditions. Therefore, this probe obtains high sensitivity with a low limit of detection (LOD) of 1.9 nM (0.7 ng/ml) which is in the highest level of all riboflavin detection approaches and higher than single wavelength intensity detection (1.9 μM). In addition, this sensor has a high selectivity of detecting riboflavin in deionized water (pH=7) with other biochemical like amino acids. Moreover, riboflavin in aqueous solution is very sensitive to sunlight and can be degraded to lumiflavin, which is toxic. Because the N, S doped carbon dots cannot serve as an energy donor for N, S doped carbon dots and lumiflavin system, this system makes it easy to determine whether the riboflavin is degraded or not, which is first to be reported. This platform may provide possibilities to build a new and facile fluorescence resonance energy transfer based sensor to detect analytes and metamorphous analytes in aqueous solution.
Enhancement of transform coding by nonlinear interpolation

In conventional transform coding, a linear transformation generates a set of transform coefficients for each image block, followed by quantization of the transform coefficients and inverse transformation. We show that for a given transform encoder, the conventional decoder employing inverse transformation is a special case of a nonlinear interpolative decoder that performs table lookups to reconstruct the image blocks from the code indexes. In the nonlinear interpolative decoder, each received code index of an image block addresses a particular codebook to fetch a component block. The image block is then reconstructed as the vector sum of the component blocks. Hence with a set of well designed codebooks, this new decoding technique will be superior to the conventional decoder. In this paper, we develop an iterative algorithm for designing a set of locally optimal codebooks. We also present a hybrid decoder which combines conventional decoding with nonlinear interpolative decoding to reduced the memory requirement for codebook storage. Computer simulations with the JPEG image compression algorithm demonstrate that this new decoding technique can decode enhanced quality pictures from the bit stream generated by the standard encoding scheme.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Structural characterization of the lipopolysaccharide O-antigen and capsular polysaccharide of Vibrio ordalii serotype O:2

Structures of the capsular and O-chain polysaccharides of Vibrio ordalii serotype O : 2, the causative agent of vibriosis in salmonid fish, were determined by high-field NMR techniques, mass spectrometric methods and partial hydrolysis. Both polymers were shown to be composed of linear tetrasaccharide repeating units, having the structure : [4)-β- D-Glcp2NAc3NAN-(14)-β-Glcp2NAc3NAmA-(14)-α- L-Galp2NAc3NAcA-(13)-β- D-Sugp-(1]n, ∣ Fo- L-Ala where Am = acetamidino; Fo = formyl; AN = amide, and Sug = 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxy- D-xylo-hexos-4-ulose.
Immunological Comparisons of Two Synthetic Human Parathyroid Hormone-(l-34) Peptides

The immunological properties of human parathyroid hormone-(l-34) synthesized in accord with the sequence reported by Brewer et al.and the different sequence found by Niall et al.were compared with those of highly purified native human hormone-(l–84). Analyses were performed by radioimmunoassay using 7 anti-bovine parathyroid hormone antisera and bovine parathyroid hormone-(l–34) as tracer. Whereas human parathyroid hormone-(l–34) synthesized in accord with the sequence of Niall et al. was immunologically indistinguishable from native human hormone in all 7 assay systems, striking differences were seen between human parathyroid hormone-(l–34) synthesized in accord with the sequence of Brewer et al.and the native hormone. In none of the 7 assay systems did human parathyroid hormone-(l–34) synthesized in accord with the sequence of Brewer et al. give the same displacement slopes that the reference preparation gave. The observation that immunologic probes easily discriminate between the two different human pa...
After-attack performance of parameter estimation systems

In this paper, attacks on systems estimating the value of an unknown deterministic parameter based on quantized noisy observations are studied. The attacks are categorized according to the information available to the attacking entity. The considered categories are attacks of full information, which are generally more devastating, and the information free attacks, which are generally less effective. Given an estimation algorithm and a quantization scheme, the presented work provides the actual error in estimation rather than a bound on it. More importantly, the error is provided for cases of misspecified observation models and sub-optimal estimation algorithms. A special property of the information free attack is presented. The error in estimation is studied under some possible attack mitigation schemes carried out at the fusion center.
Congestion-aware Traffic Routing System using sensor data

In this paper, we present a congestion-aware route planning system. First we learn the congestion model based on real data from a fleet of taxis and loop detectors. Using the learned street-level congestion model, we develop a congestion-aware traffic planning system that operates in one of two modes: (1) to achieve the social optimum with respect to travel time over all the drivers in the system or (2) to optimize individual travel times. We evaluate the performance of this system using 10,000+ taxis trips and show that on average our approach improves the total travel time by 15%.
Mechanism of 5′-Directed Excision in Human Mismatch Repair

Abstract We have developed a purified system that supports mismatch-dependent 5′→3′ excision. In the presence of RPA, ATP, and a mismatch, MutSα activates 5′→3′ excision by EXOI, and excision terminates after removal of the mispair. MutSα confers high processivity on EXOI, and termination is due to RPA-dependent displacement of this processive complex from the helix and a weak ability of EXOI to reload at the RPA-bound gap in the product, as well as MutSα- and MutLα-dependent suppression of EXOI activity in the absence of a mismatch cofactor. As observed in the purified system, excision directed by a 5′ strand break in HeLa nuclear extract can proceed in the absence of MutLα or PCNA, although 3′ excision in the extract system requires both proteins.
Altruism and the Experimental Data on Helping Behavior

Philosophical accounts of altruism that purport to explain helping behavior are vulnerable to empirical falsification. John Campbell argues that the Good Samaritan study adds to a growing body of evidence that helping behavior is not best explained by appeal to altruism, thus jeopardizing those accounts. I propose that philosophical accounts of altruism can be empirically challenged only if it is shown that altruistic motivations are undermined by normative conflict in the agent, and that the relevant studies do not provide this sort of evidence. Non-normative, purely causal, psychological factors would be empirically relevant only if the notion of altruism is broadened to include the requirement that one recognize certain situations as calling for altruism. But even in that case, the relevant studies are not designed in such a way that could threaten philosophical theories of altruism.
Out of plane shear of a cracked rectangular orthotropic block

Abstract The problem under consideration is the out of plane shear of a cracked rectangular orthotropic block. The exact solution is obtained by stating the problem in terms of a triple trigonometric series relation, which in turn can be shown to be equivalent to a singular integral equation whose solution is known. For the case of constant shear, the solution simplifies greatly and numerical results are given.
Managing Crop Residues for the Retention of Carbon

Soil organic matter, a major sink for carbon, is controlled by many factors that have complex interactions. The management of crop residues is of primary importance. Reduced tillage and no-tillage practices result in a significant build-up of soil organic matter because they greatly reduce the rates of decomposition of both the native soil organic matter and of the crop residues. The crop residues decompose slower because most remain on the soil surface where there is less biological activity, and the native soil organic matter decomposes slower because there is less tillage for aerating the soil and for breaking the aggregates that expose organic compounds to the soil microorganisms. Crop residues, however, are highly variable. Although most crop residues contain about 40 percent carbon, the nitrogen contents range from very low to more than 3.5 percent. For carbon to be stabilized in the soil as organic matter, there must be adequate nitrogen available in the system and this factor is frequently overlooked. Climate is often the most critical factor determining the sustainability and enhancement of soil organic matter. As temperatures increase, organic matter decomposition, particularly in frequently tilled soils, is greatly accelerated. As precipitation decreases, there is less biomass produced for replenishing decomposed carbon. Consequently, soil organic matter maintenance becomes increasingly difficult in either hot or and regions, and particularly difficult in areas that are both hot and arid. Semiarid regions comprise almost 40% of the world’s land area so management of crop residues in these fragile areas is important in relation to the global C picture.
Developmental-specific expression and immunoreactivity of keratins during odontogenesis in rat embryos.

Abstract The enamel organ of the mammalian dental primordium undergoes a precise sequence of differentiation. To correlate this differentiation with tissue-specific markers we analysed the keratin protein composition and immunoreactivity of incisor primordia from the earliest stage of odontogenesis to the neonatal period. Throughout the enamel organ synthesized a characteristic subset of keratin proteins, and the expression of one specific keratin marked the onset of the cap stage. Interestingly, the immunoreactivity of the ameloblastic keratins against polyclonal antibodies increased with progressive odontogenesis, suggesting that cytokeratin filaments may undergo post-translational or conformational alterations during assembly within differentiating enamel-organ cells.
A note on a conjecture of Dirac

Abstract In 1970, Dirac conjectured that for every integer k⩾4, there exists a vertex k-critical graph which contains no critical edge. In this paper, we construct an infinite family of (α,ω)-graphs. A direct consequence of this construction will be that Dirac's conjecture holds whenever k−1 is not prime.
Synergies between writing stories and writing programs in problem-solving courses

First-year problem-solving and computer programming courses are gateway courses with low passing rates, resulting in student attrition and transfers out of computer science degrees. Our urban institution serves mostly underrepresented minority students, typically an at-risk population given their minimal previous programming experience and weak mathematical background. We offer a computer problem-solving course (PS) to prepare students in computing and engineering majors for a rigorous first programming course (CSI). Given a change in programming learning context from a programming language to the 3D programming environment Alice, the pass rate increased by 8% points (from 70% to 78%). The higher pass rate in the Alice PS course does not result in a weaker preparation of students for the subsequent CSI course. Moreover, teaching the Alice PS course as part of an interdisciplinary learning community linked to a first course in English composition with strong narrative components further increases student performance and retention. This intentional interdisciplinary approach to problem solving allows students to purposefully connect and integrate knowledge and skills from across the disciplines, developing synergies between writing stories and writing computer programs.
Competing motivations: drug reinforcement vs non-drug reinforcement:

A behavioral pharmacological conceptualization of drug abuse is summarized, which views drug abuse as learned operant behavior that is reinforced by positive effects produced by drugs of abuse. In this view drug abuse may be better characterized as involving attraction rather than compulsion. Incentive-based treatments may be useful for overcoming and competing with the reinforcing effects of drugs of abuse. Illustrative examples of incentive-based treatments for drug abuse, and their results, are described. The efficacy of incentive-based treatments indicates that many substance abusers possess the necessary skills to achieve abstinence and suggests that motivational interventions alone may be sufficient in many cases. Areas for further research are discussed that relate to refining and developing incentive-based therapies and to improving their practical utility and public acceptability
Impacts of information systems on efficiency of sales order processing

Since the sales order processing function is essential to the generation of the firm's revenue, its efficiency may be measured by a productivity index representing the firm's revenue, preferably value-added revenue, per unit of its inputs. This index enables one to evaluate economic impacts of an information system on the function. In the past, information systems have helped to enhance the productivity of the function as they have evolved in steps by incorporating advances in computer technology into their design. The evolution mainly concerns how order data are prepared and entered into the computer system. Two cases are presented to illustrate such productivity enhancements.
Effects of nucleotides and Na + on ouabain activation of the phosphatase associated with Na + , K + -ATPase.

Abstract Ouabain activation of the phosphatase associated with Na + ,K + -ATPase is a time-dependent process which is stimulated by ATP and other nucleotides. Further stimulation by Na + is observed under certain conditions. The stimulatory effect of ATP was found to be due to an increase in the affinity of the enzyme for ouabain. The time required for maximal ouabain activation to be achieved was decreased by ATP and further decreased by ATP + Na + . These conditions for maximal activation by ouabain are similar to those required for maximal ouabain binding and suggest that the same ouabain site is responsible for activation of Mg 2+ -dependent phosphatase and for inhibition of Na + ,K + -ATPase and K + -phosphatase.
Differential fertility in central India: a path analysis.

This study is one of the few multivariate analyses of the relations of several demographic and socioeconomic variables to fertility and the use of contraception. For fertility, 56 of the 92 hypothesized paths are found to be significant at the .05 level or better. The five variables having a significant and direct effect on fertility, as shown by their path coefficients (p), are: duration of marriage (p= .721), spouse’s cohort (p= −.093), spouse’s age at marriage (p = .052), caste (p = −.071), and number of siblings of husband (p = .050). p] The use of contraception is affected by, in order of importance, the spouse’s education (p = .267), the husband’s education (p = .099), the husband’s income (p= .089), and surplus children, i.e., number of living children exceeding ideal number of children (p = .059). Child mortality, which is linked to number of living children and thus indirectly to surplus children, is affected by, in order of importance, the number of children ever born (p = .723), the husband’s education (p = \t-.166), the spouse’s absence by death or separation (p = .084), and family structure (p = \t-.035). p] The advantages and disadvantages of path analysis for this type of research are briefly mentioned.
TU‐C‐AUD‐01: Visual Sensations During Megavoltage Radiotherapy to the Orbit Attributable to Cherenkov Radiation

Purpose: To compute and to verify experimentally Cherenkov radiation production inside the eye from direct and indirect high energy x‐ray irradiation of the orbit and that it exceeds detectability of Cherenkov radiation in scotopic vision. We show that the Cherenkov yield for direct and indirect irradiation exceeds the detection threshold of 6.4×107 photons/m2s. Methods: In photon and electron beamradiotherapy of intraorbital and periorbital tissues, patients commonly report having light sensations during treatment. The explanation usually offered is that ‘nerve stimulation’ is occurring. The radiotherapy literature reports the effect to be the result of ‘phosphenes’. Although phosphenes may play a role, we propose instead that patients are predominantly seeing Cherenkov radiation resulting from electrons inside the eye having kinetic energy exceeding the Cherenkov radiation threshold of 0.26 MeV. We consider calculations for direct irradiation of the eye from a portal image and indirect irradiation from treatment of peri‐orbital tissues and show that it exceeds threshold detection. Results: We calculate the Cherenkov yield using analytic methods and the measurements were in good agreement with our calculations. The Cherenkov radiation from a distilled water phantom, a square plastic phantom and an anthropomorphic plastic phantom were readily visible with a high quality CCD video camera. A digital camera captures the images from the console monitor. Threshold detection of Cherenkov radiation emanating from the water phantom through the video camera was determined and compared to a measurable source. The calculations for the water phantom match reasonably well with measurements and are roughly 1 lux and 3 lux respectively. Conclusion: We show images of Cherenkov radiation emanating from routine radiotherapytreatments and demonstrate that measurements corresponding to these images match well with calculations. We show that the Cherenkov component generated inside ocular media is sufficient to be detected by the patient.
An algorithm for tracking fluid particles in numerical simulations of homogeneous turbulence

Abstract Lagrangian statistical quantities are of fundamental physical importance in our understanding of turbulence, but are very difficult to measure and hence infrequently reported in the literature. A particle-tracking algorithm is developed to extract accurate Lagrangian statistics from numerically calculated velocity fields. Lagrangian time-series are obtained from the method of direct numerical simulation, which supplies the Eulerian' velocity field on a three-dimensional grid network. The accuracy of the Lagrangian time series depends; primarily; on the accuracy of the interpolation scheme used to calculate fluid-particle velocities. Interpolation schemes based on Taylor series and on cubic splines have been implemented and tested. Errors in computed particle displacements are quantified for simple, frozen velocity fields. The algorithm is applied to stationary homogeneous isotropic turbulence with the energy maintained by artificial forcing. It is demonstrated that with adequate spatial resolution, accurate estimates of Lagrangian statistics such as velocity autocorrelations, structure functions, and frequency spectra can be obtained either with a third-order Taylor series interpolation scheme or with a cubic spline scheme. Cubic splines give higher interpolation accuracy, but they are more difficult to implement in codes that rely on secondary storage.
Emergency radiology testing, teaching, and training

This article summarizes the training and teaching of radiology residents before they attempt unsupervised emergency call, as reported in the radiologic literature. It is hoped that this report will prompt a serious evaluation of the responsibilities of radiology residents assigned to the emergency center and a reconsideration of the radiologic training and experience provided to radiology residents before they are required to assume these responsibilities. Clearly, education and training in radiology appropriate to the responsibilities expected of the on-call emergency radiology resident are required to assure optimum patient care.
Striatal Versus Hippocampal Representations During Win-Stay Maze Performance

The striatum and hippocampus are widely held to be components of distinct memory systems that can guide competing behavioral strategies. However, some electrophysiological studies have suggested that neurons in both structures encode spatial information and may therefore make similar contributions to behavior. In rats well trained to perform a win-stay radial maze task, we recorded simultaneously from dorsal hippocampus and from multiple striatal subregions, including both lateral areas implicated in motor responses to cues and medial areas that work cooperatively with hippocampus in cognitive operations. In each brain region, movement through the maze was accompanied by the continuous sequential activation of sets of projection neurons. Hippocampal neurons overwhelmingly were active at a single spatial location (place cells). Striatal projection neurons were active at discrete points within the progression of every trial-especially during choices or following reward delivery-regardless of spatial position. Place-cell-type firing was not observed even for medial striatal cells entrained to the hippocampal theta rhythm. We also examined neural coding in earlier training sessions, when rats made use of spatial working memory to guide choices, and again found that striatal cells did not show place-cell-type firing. Prospective or retrospective encoding of trajectory was not observed in either hippocampus or striatum, at either training stage. Our results indicate that, at least in this task, dorsal hippocampus uses a spatial foundation for information processing that is not substantially modulated by spatial working memory demands. By contrast, striatal cells do not use such a spatial foundation, even in medial subregions that cooperate with hippocampus in the selection of spatial strategies. The progressive dominance of a striatum-dependent strategy does not appear to be accompanied by large changes in striatal or hippocampal single-cell representations, suggesting that the conflict between strategies may be resolved elsewhere.
The Contemporary Role of City Managers

A growing body of recent literature documents the city manager's politically active role in today's communities. This role challenges the normative assumption upon which the council-manager plan of government is based; namely that the city manager is a politically neutral, administrative expert subordinate to a governing body. On the basis of in-depth interviews and the published work of today's city managers primarily, the way city managers explain and justify their role is identified and examined.
On Sturmian theory for second order systems

A generalization of the Sturm Comparison Theorem is given to nonselfadjoint second order linear systems. In addition, a theorem, involving the existence of a solution with strictly positive components, is proven. Counterexamples are given to show that the theorems are false without the stated assumptions. Introduction. Consider the vector differential equations (1) x" + A(t)x = 0 and (2) y" + B(t)y = O where A(t) = (a,,(t)) and B(t) -(b,(t)) are continuous n X n matrices. A number / is a conjugate point of a, a a,J(t) at some point t, t E [a, P] (where P is the first conjugate point of a relative to (1)), then the first conjugate point of a relative to (2) is less than the first conjugate point of a relative to (1). Later, in [4] it was shown that with the additional assumption that A(t) and B(t) be symmetric, the strict inequality b1_(t) > a,,(t) can be relaxed to hold only along the diagonal elements, i.e. b,,(t) > all(t). The purpose of our first theorem is to show that this result holds without the symmetry assumption on A(t) and B(t). Furthermore, we give a simple example to show that not only the comparison theorem established here but also those established in [2 and 4] are all false without the nonnegativity assumption on the elements of the coefficient matrices. This should eliminate any doubt about the importance of the nonnegativity assumption made in the earlier works [1-6]. In [1] it was shown that if (1) is disconjugate on [a, oc) and if A(t) is a symmetric matrix with nonnegative elements, which is irreducible at some point in [ a, oo), then (1) has a solution which vanishes at a and all of whose components are strictly positive on (a, oc). This result was later established [6] without the symmetry condition. In both proofs the existence of a nontrivial solution with nonnegative components followed independent of the irreducibility condition. In this paper, we Received by the editors June 21, 1982. 1980 Mathematics Suhject Classification. Primary 34A25; Secondary 34C10 Kev words anid phrases. Conjugate point, disconjugate, irreducible, symmetric, selfadjoint, solution. ")1983 American Mathematical Society 0002-9939/82/(XX)-0972/$02 ()(