cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Local Food Innovation in a World of Wicked Problems: The Pitfalls and the Potential

Food-oriented markets, such as food innovation districts (FIDs), have been touted as potential methods to address complex societal issues involving the environment, poverty, and health. On this front the Grand Rapids Downtown Market (DTM) was created in 2013, envisioned as a vibrant public space for local food, entrepreneurship, community health, and jobs. An innovative, collective response to the interconnected and urgent problems of poverty, access, health, diet, and environment, the DTM can serve as a case study through which the value and necessity of a wicked problems framework become apparent. Wicked problems literature demonstrates that collaborative and iterative processes are essential to effective and inclusive transformational change of food systems, while also emphasizing that there can be no final, ideal solution. On the other hand, as an FID intentionally located in a low-income neighborhood, the DTM has been subject to criticism about top-down, expensive, and exclusionary practices aimed at gentrification. In the end, this analysis suggests that while FIDs can address local problems resulting from dominant food systems and practices, they can also function as a gentrifying force. Efforts more directly aimed at bottom-up, participatory engagement are essential to making collectively systemic, equitable changes in current food systems and practices. Emphasizing the need for bridge institutions, we argue that it is essential to value actively a wider array of knowledge cultures.
The Right of Appeal From Trinidad and Tobago's Industrial Court

The belief that common law rules and principles are ill-suited to the task of regulating union-management disputes gained acceptance as industrialization and industrial relations developed over the years.1 In Trinidad and Tobago, this belief finds expression in the fact that labor disputes are subject to statutory regulations and are resolved by an Industrial Courtcomposed largely of persons with industrial relations expertisewhich is expected to act with regard for the principles and practices of industrial relations. There is, however, a right of appeal to the regular, common law-oriented Court of Appeal; therefore, the extent to which the Industrial Court's non-common law decisions are challengeable on common law grounds depends largely on the extent of the right of appeal. To date, the Court of Appeal has not determined the extent of this right under the controlling statute, the Industrial Relations Act (IRA).2
Functional significance of subjective response to alcohol across levels of alcohol exposure.

Pre-clinical neurobiological models of addiction etiology including both the allostatic model and incentive sensitization theory suggest that alcohol consumption among alcohol-dependent (AD) individuals will be dissociated from hedonic reward as positive reinforcement mechanisms wane in later stage dependence. The aims of this study are to test this claim in humans by examining the relationship between dimensions of subjective responses to alcohol (SR) and alcohol craving across levels of alcohol exposure. Non-treatment-seeking drinkers (n = 205) completed an i.v. alcohol challenge (final target breath alcohol concentration = 0.06 g/dl) and reported on SR and craving. Participants were classified as light-to-moderate drinkers (LMD), heavy drinkers (HD) or AD. Analyses examined group differences in SR and craving response magnitude, as well as concurrent and predictive associations between SR domains and craving. At baseline, LMD and AD reported greater stimulation than HD, which carried over post-alcohol administration. However, stimulation was dose-dependently associated with alcohol craving in HD only. Furthermore, lagged models found that stimulation preceded craving among HD only, whereas this hypothesized pattern of results was not observed for craving preceding stimulation. Sedation was also positively associated with craving, yet no group differences were observed. In agreement with the prediction of diminished positive reinforcement in alcohol dependence, this study showed that stimulation/hedonic reward from alcohol did not precede craving in AD, whereas stimulation was dose-dependently associated with and preceded craving among non-dependent HD.
Partial night sleep deprivation reduces natural killer and cellular immune responses in humans.

Prolonged and severe sleep deprivation is associated with alterations of natural and cellular immune function. To determine whether alterations of immune function also occur after even a modest loss of sleep, the effects of early-night partial sleep deprivation on circulating numbers of white blood cells, natural killer (NK) cell number and cytotoxicity, lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell number and activity, and stimulated interleukin-2 (IL-2) production were studied in 42 medically and psychiatrically healthy male volunteers. After a night of sleep deprivation between 10 P.M. and 3 A.M., a reduction of natural immune responses as measured by NK cell activity, NK activity per number of NK cells, LAK activity, and LAK activity per number of LAK precursors (CD16,56, CD25) was found. In addition, concanavalin A-stimulated IL-2 production was suppressed after sleep deprivation due to changes in both adherent and nonadherent cell populations. After a night of recovery sleep, NK activity returned to baseline levels and IL-2 production remained suppressed. These data implicate sleep in the modulation of immunity and demonstrate that even a modest disturbance of sleep produces a reduction of natural immune responses and T cell cytokine production.
Effects of epilepsy surgery on psychiatric and behavioral comorbidities in children and adolescents

When considering surgery in children, it is important to think about the potential effect on psychiatric and behavioral outcome. A growing body of evidence suggests that the type of epilepsy (benign or catastrophic) and the age of the patient affect developmental outcome. In younger children with catastrophic epilepsy, the primary goal of therapy is not only to control seizures, but also to offer the child the opportunity for the best possible development. In older children with partial seizures, the therapeutic goal is to control seizures, which may allow a more normal life and improve behavior. Epilepsy surgery generally appears to have a positive effect on behavior and development in many younger children with catastrophic epilepsy. Psychiatric and behavioral outcomes in older children with complex partial epilepsy are less clear; many patients improve, but there does appear to be a small risk of developing new psychiatric or behavioral disorders postoperatively.
Debt-for-nature swaps as noncooperative outcomes

Abstract Recently, nongovernmental organizations have engaged in debt-for-nature swaps in an effort to slow the rate of deforestation. The purpose of this paper is to provide analysis of the welfare properties that arise to self-enforcing swaps. We show that swaps may be self-enforcing in that they can arise as noncooperative equilibria at high harvest and debt levels. Under these conditions, a credit constrained LDC is likely to reduce harvest levels. Similarly if the NGO views preservation projects as complements, it is likely to provide debt relief. We provide simulations to demonstrate the effects of different parametric values for the utility functions of the LDC and NGO on the noncooperative and cooperative equilibria.
Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry of disaccharide polyether polyols

The products resulting from the propoxylation of sucrose and lactose under alkaline conditions have been studied using FAB mass spectrometry. Soft desorption/ionization, using fast atoms, was expected to show intense protonated molecules for each component of the reaction mixture, thus allowing the extent of propoxylation to be examined under various conditions. However, it appears that addition of the FAB matrix, namely thioglycerol, prior to mass spectral analysis, resulted in alteration of the analyte via hydrolysis/dehydration, with protonated molecules appearing only for matrix/analyte reaction products, and not the original compounds which were to be examined. The resulting mass spectra, however, provided information regarding the extent of propoxylation and were consistent with results obtained by other researchers examining acetylated sugars using CI-MS.
Internet searching after parents receive abnormal newborn screening results

Many parents experience confusion and anxiety when their infant has an abnormal newborn screening result, especially for the heterozygous ‘carrier’ results that are typically communicated by primary care providers. The Internet is an important media source for health information, so many organizations have developed websites for parents after newborn screening. Surprisingly, little research has been done on the role that the Internet plays for parents after newborn screening. This qualitative study explored parents' comments about the Internet included in open-ended interviews conducted as part of a larger study of parents after newborn screening identifies carrier status for cystic fibrosis or sickle cell disease. Analysis used emergent theme coding and deductive coding grounded in uses and gratifications theory. Parents reported a variety of motivations for searching, and many parents volunteered that they had searched the Internet despite a physician's recommendation to avoid the Internet in this matte...
1.2.1 Development of an Exploratory Computer Model for Acquisition Management of System‐of‐systems

The Department of Defense (DoD) has placed a growing emphasis in recent years on the pursuit of agile capabilities via net-centric operations. In this setting, systems are increasingly required to interoperate along several dimensions. Yet, the manner in which components of these “system-of-systems” are acquired (designed, developed, tested and fielded) has not kept pace with the shifts in operational doctrine. Acquisition programs have struggled with complexities in both program management and engineering design. This paper presents a classification of underlying complexities in the acquisition of system-of-systems and describes a conceptual model that exposes the connectivity between systems, requirements, and externalities throughout the acquisition lifecycle. Implementing this model in an exploratory computer simulation highlights the relationship between requirement dependencies, risk profiles of the project and management parameters like span-of-control of SoS engineers and managers. The objective of the simulation (which remains under development) is to allow acquisition professionals to develop intuition for procuring and deploying system-of-systems, providing a venue for experimentation to develop insights that will underpin successful acquisition of SoS-oriented defense capabilities.
Child-Report Data and Assessment of the Social Environment in Schools.

Objectives. This study tested the quality of data collected with the online Elementary School Success Profile (ESSP) for Children from a diverse sample of 1,172 third through fifth graders. Methods. Mplus confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) procedures for ordinal and clustered data were used. Results. Of 80 original items, 61 loaded on 13 dimensions in a first-order model that had good fit in 3 random subsamples. Children in Grades 3 through 5 may not be reliable reporters about neighborhood adults’ caring. However, 12 statistically sound and independent dimensions related to school, peers, family, and well-being were obtained. Conclusions. The ESSP for Children provides school staff with quality data to use in conjunction with family and teacher ESSP data to guide intervention choices in schools.
Isolation of a morphologically-transformed epithelial cell-line from rat kidney following an in vivo dose of dimethylnitrosamine

Abstract In an in vivo-in vitro system, a rat kidney epithelial cell-line was isolated into continuous culture 48 h after a single administration intraperitoneally of dimethylnitrosamine (DMN). The dose used, 60 mg/kg, was known to induce approximately a 40% incidence of renal cortical epithelial tumors, in addition to a much higher incidence of renal mesenchymal tumors. The cell-line was established from several persisting islands of epithelial cells which were cultured in Leibowitz medium supplemented with various-growth enhancing agents and periodically, the antifibroblastic agent cis -hydroxyproline. Through succeeding subcultures, the cells retained an epithelial morphology and at confluence piled-up into 3-dimensional ridges and domes above the monolayer. The cells were characterized by continuous growth in culture, the ability to form colonies at very low seeding rates, loss of anchorage-dependence as determined by growth in semi-solid media and formation of multicellular aggregates in suspension culture, and agglutination in the presence of conconavalin A. These altered properties of growth and behavior indicate that the renal epithelial cells constitute a morphologically transformed line. As such, they may represent the same target cell population from which DMN-induced epithelial tumors arise in the rat kidney.
Actuator design for high force proprioceptive control in fast legged locomotion

High speed legged locomotion involves high acceleration and extensive loadings of the leg, which impose critical challenges in actuator design. We introduce actuator dimensional analysis for maximizing torque density and transmission ‘transparency’. A front leg prototype developed based on insight from the analysis is evaluated for direct proprioceptive force control without force sensors. The vertical stiffness controlled leg was tested on a material testing device to calibrate the mechanical impedance of the leg. By compensating transmission impedance from commanded torque, the leg was able to estimate impact force. For the impact test, the mean absolute error as a ratio of full scale sensor force is 0.041 in the 3406 N/m stiffness experiment and is 0.049 in the 5038 N/m experiment. The results indicate that prescribed force profile control is possible during high speed locomotion.
Structure and properties of heteroepitaxial Pb(Zr0.35Ti0.65)O3/SrRuO3 multilayer thin films on SrTiO3 (100) prepared by MOCVD and RF sputtering

Abstract Epitaxial SrRuO3 thin films were deposited on SrTiO3 (100) substrates by RF sputtering for use as bottom electrodes and epitaxial buffer layers. On these conductive substrates, epitaxial Pb(Zr0.35Ti0.65)O3 (PZT) thin films were deposited by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and optical waveguiding were used to characterize the phase, refractive index, and film thickness of the deposited films. The epitaxial PZT films were c-axis oriented and contained -19.7% volume fraction of 90° domains. Ferroelectric hysteresis and dielectric measurements of epitaxial PZT ferroelectric capacitor structures formed using sputtered ITO top electrodes showed: a remanent polarization of 51.8 Ω/cm2, a coercive field of 54.9 kV/cm, a dielectric constant of 410, a bipolar resistivity of ∼5.8x109 Ω-cm at a field of 275 kV/cm, and a breakdown strength of >400 kV/cm. The cyclic fatigue behavior of the films showed a strong dependenc...
Critical Analysis of Cretaceous Stratigraphy and Paleobotany of Atlantic Coastal Plain

This paper presents paleobotanical analyses and discussion bearing on the age, correlation, and stratigraphic relationships of the Cretaceous plant-bearing beds of the Coastal Plain from New Jersey to South Carolina. In New Jersey evidence is presented which challenges the recent correlation, by Spangler and Peterson, of the greater part of the plant-bearing Raritan formation with the Potomac group of Maryland-Delaware, and the assignment, by the same authors, of the major part of the Raritan formation to the Early Cretaceous. It is shown that both floral and faunal evidence supports the assignment of the Raritan formation to the early Late Cretaceous; and that both floral and faunal evidence indicates that none of the Potomac group formations can be correlated with any part of the Raritan formation of New Jersey. In the Delaware-Maryland-Virginia area the assignment of the Arundel and Patapsco formations of the Potomac group to the Late Cretaceous, as is done in two recent reports, is shown to be based on doubtful evidence. These formations are here regarded as more reasonably assignable to the Early Cretaceous, on the evidence of both plants and vertebrates. The beds overlying the Potomac group in Maryland and Delaware are here considered correctly assigned to the Raritan formation. In North Carolina the flora of the lower Black Creek formation is regarded as of essentially the same age as the Raritan and Magothy floras farther north, rather than of Matawan age as indicated in the Cretaceous correlation chart by the National Research Council Committee. In South Carolina the plant-bearing beds of the upper part of Cooke's Tuscaloosa formation are reassigned to the Middendorf member of the Black Creek formation, and are shown to be equivalent in age to the lower Black Creek formation of North Carolina. The name "Tuscaloosa formation" is abandoned for beds in both North and South Carolina which are here referred to the "Lower Cretaceous? (undifferentiated)."
Analysis of iterative waterfilling algorithm for multiuser power control in digital subscriber lines

We present an equivalent linear complementarity problem (LCP) formulation of the noncooperative Nash game resulting from the DSL power control problem. Based on this LCP reformulation, we establish the linear convergence of the popular distributed iterative waterfilling algorithm (IWFA) for arbitrary symmetric interference environment and for certain asymmetric channel conditions with any number of users. In the case of symmetric interference crosstalk coefficients, we show that the users of IWFA in fact, unknowingly but willingly, cooperate to minimize a common quadratic cost function whose gradient measures the received signal power from all users. This is surprising since the DSL users in the IWFA have no intention to cooperate as each maximizes its own rate to reach a Nash equilibrium. In the case of asymmetric coefficients, the convergence of the IWFA is due to a contraction property of the iterates. In addition, the LCP reformulation enables us to solve the DSL power control problem under no restrictions on the interference coefficients using existing LCP algorithms, for example, Lemke's method. Indeed, we use the latter method to benchmark the empirical performance of IWFA in the presence of strong crosstalk interference.
The Foundations of Modern Terrorism: State, Society and the Dynamics of Political Violence

In this book Martin A. Miller focuses on terrorist actions by dissident groups and the resulting governmental responses. Approaching this feedback system chronologically, throughout the twentieth c...
THE KINETICS OF ELECTRON TRANSFER FOR A SERIES OF IRON(II) CYCLIDENE COMPLEXES

Abstract The kinetics of oxidation of a series of iron(II) cyclidene complexes by tris(1,10-phenanthroline)cobalt(III) in methanol have been measured by stopped flow spectrophotometry. The reactions obey a first order rate law when the cobalt(III) complex is present in large excess. The corresponding second order rate constants fall in the range 5.0–130 × 105 M−1s−1 (25°C). A linear correlation between the logarithm of the rate constant and the iron(III)/(II) redox potential indicates that the reactions behave as simple outer-sphere electron transfer processes. The self-exchange rate constants for the iron cyclidene complexes have been estimated from the Marcus equation and found to vary between 0.7 × 107 M1s1 and 9 × 107 M1s1. The dependence of the self-exchange rate constant on ligand structure is discussed.
Biogeochemical processes in soils and ecosystems: From landscape to molecular scale

Abstract Biogeochemistry has emerged as a vital scientific discipline for addressing human and natural impacts on ecosystems across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. Geological, chemical, and biological processes are intimately interlinked in the Earth System. Thus, biogeochemical studies require a multidisciplinary approach to examine processes and interactions occurring within and between the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and geosphere. Research across multiple spatial and temporal scales is necessary to fully understand the large-scale response (e.g., global change) and the underlying processes regulating the response. Modeling efforts are an important tool for bridging multiple scales. They help assimilate what is known and reveal knowledge gaps in our understanding of complex systems. Incorporation of molecular techniques to chemical phenomena (surface chemistry) and microbial diversity is very important because many biogeochemical processes and ecosystem functions are determined at this scale. Biogeochemical studies will play an increasingly important role in our future as the planet is now dominated by human activities. These human impacts have ushered in a new era in the geological history of Earth, the Anthropocene.
Local realism and measured correlations in the spin-s Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen experiment

Two aspects of the Clauser-Horne conditions for the compatibility with local realism of measured spin-\textonehalf{} Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen correlations are investigated in the spin-$s$ case. (1) A new set of necessary conditions is given for compatibility with local realism. These conditions are violated for a large range of geometries. The range does not diminish with increasing $s$, if the observed correlations are sufficiently near to the quantum-theoretic predictions. (2) A simple counterexample is given to the spin-1 generalization of a recent conjecture that the conditions tested by the Clauser-Horne spin-\textonehalf{} inequalities are sufficient as well as necessary for compatibility of the data with local realism.
Factors affecting the viscosity of hyaluronic acid and synovial fluid

Abstract The composition of clots formed from bovine synovial fluids was found to vary markedly with pH at 0.05 ionic strength. All hyaluronic acid was found in the clot over the range pH 2.2–4. The percentage of hyaluronic acid in the clot increased with a decrease of pH. At ionic strengths greater than about 0.22, mucin clot formation did not occur. These mucin clots belong to the class of complex coacervates of Bungenberg de Jong and appear to be combinations of a negatively charged acid (hyaluronic acid) and positively charged proteins. Synovial fluids underwent a mainly irreversible loss of viscosity upon exposure to acid conditions, especially in the pH interval 3–4. This loss in viscosity appears to have arisen from the oxidative-reductive depolymerization (ORD) reaction and a depolymerization of hyaluronic acid. The effect of pH on the ORD reaction was studied and found to be different for the four “reducing agents” studied. Three of four “reducing agents” showed a maximum effect in the range pH 4–7.
Initial results using splat cooling in the development of boron doping for the simulation of fusion reactor helium embrittlement

Abstract A technique is being developed using the 10B (n,α) 7Li reaction to simulate helium generation in fusion reactor materials during fission reactor irradiations. Rapid quenching is used to produce a homogeneous boron distribution and thus the possibility of a subsequently homogeneous helium distribution. Initial results on splat cooled stainless steel samples, with 100 and 500 appm boron, indicate the absence of observable grain boundary segregation in the as splatted condition and after annealing at 575°C for 90 minutes.
“Mom said we had a money maker”: Sexualization and Survival Contexts among Homeless Women

This study examines the lived experiences of a group of homeless women, with particular attention to their “sexualization” and how this frames their interpretations of and responses to their homelessness. A symbolic interactionist approach locates the social construction of femininity with its emphasis on sexualized embodiment within larger structural conditions of gender inequality. The impact of these structural conditions intersects with homelessness for the participants in this study. In-depth interviews at a homeless shelter reveal the early sexualization that degraded and violated the women, eroding their self-worth as young girls and, later, as adults. These circumstances shaped their gendered fears and vulnerabilities and influenced the context of their survival.
Absolute Continuity for Unbounded Jacobi Matrices with Constant Row Sums

We investigate the spectral properties of a class of Jacobi matrices in which the subdiagonal entries are quadratics and the row sums are constants.
Study of the effect of regrinding on the cumulative damage to the mechanical properties of fiber‐reinforced nylon 66

An experimental study of the tensile strength of nylon 66 regrind, with and without short-fiber reinforcement, is reported. For nylon 66 without reinforcement, a uniform increase in tensile strength has been observed with increasing number of moldings. This is due to a further condensation reaction which occurs during molding. For short fiber-reinforced nylon 66 composite, the tensile strength decreases with increasing number of moldings, which is attributed to the cumulative breakage of fiber length through mechanical working. A model based on fiber length analysis is proposed, and the semiempirical equation can be used to predict experimental results and balance cost–end use properties.
Investigating the Interactions of Yeast Prions – [SWI+], [PSI+] and [PIN+]

Multiple prion elements, which are transmitted as heritable protein conformations and often linked to distinct phenotypes, have been identified in the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It has been shown that overproduction of a prion protein Swi1 can promote the de novo conversion of another yeast prion [PSI+] when Sup35 is co-overproduced. However, the mechanism underlying this Pin+ ([PSI+] inducible) activity is not clear. Moreover, how the Swi1 prion ([SWI+]) interacts with other yeast prions is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that the Pin+ activity associated with Swi1 overproduction is independent of Rnq1 expression or [PIN+] conversion. We also show that [SWI+] enhances the appearance of [PSI+] and [PIN+]. However, [SWI+] significantly compromises the Pin+ activity of [PIN+] when they coexist. We further demonstrate that a single yeast cell can harbor three prions, [PSI+], [PIN+], and [SWI+], simultaneously. However, under this condition, [SWI+] is significantly destabilized. While the propensity to aggregate underlies prionogenesis, Swi1 and Rnq1 aggregates resulting from overproduction are usually nonheritable. Conversely, prion protein aggregates formed in nonoverexpressing conditions or induced by preexisting prion(s) are more prionogenic. For [PSI+] and [PIN+] de novo formation, heterologous “facilitators,” such as preexisting [SWI+] aggregates, colocalize only with the newly formed ring-/rod-shaped Sup35 or Rnq1 aggregates, but not with the dot-shaped mature prion aggregates. Their colocalization frequency is coordinated with their prion inducibility, indicating that prion–prion interactions mainly occur at the early initiation stage. Our results provide supportive evidence for the cross-seeding model of prionogenesis and highlight a complex interaction network among prions in yeast.
Development Aspects of a Miniature Fluid Counter

This paper is concerned with the development of a miniaturized no-moving-parts fluid pulse counter for an ordnance application. Performance criteria of interest are supply pressure insensitivity, power drain, mass flow requirements, and frequency response. The major portion of the discussion deals with the identification and resolution of key problem areas associated with the counter operating characteristics. A modeling approach was used to study the interaction area flow structure for both steady-state and transient flow conditions. As a result of this program a settable binary counter capable of accepting input signals of greater than 3 kc has been obtained. The packing density achieved was 70 binary bits per cubic inch. For input frequencies below 700 cps, the minimum power drain and mass flow rates are 0.047 w per binary bit and 28 X 10~ Ib/sec per binary bit, respectively. System pressure variations from 0.9 to over 30 psig can be tolerated by this circuit.
Cytokinin and the regulation of a tobacco metallothionein‐like gene during copper stress

Higher plant metallothioneins are suspected of reducing metal-induced oxidative stress and binding copper and zinc cofactor metals for delivery to important apometalloproteins. A metallothionein-like gene (MT-L2) cDNA clone pCkn16A1 (Accession U35225) was cloned from heat-shock-induced Nicotiana plumbaginifolia containing the heat-shock-inducible isopentenyl transferase (ipt) gene (HS-ipt). Ipt expression in plants leads to enhanced cytokinin biosynthesis. In mature leaves of non-transformed N. plumbaginifolia and Nicotiana tabacum, copper stress caused a significant loss of MT-L2 mRNA transcripts. Under non-stressed conditions, HS-ipt induced (N. plumbaginifolia) or light-induced (SSU-ipt) (N. tabacum) plants had higher MT-L2 transcript levels than non-transformed or transformed (GUS) controls. Unlike control plants, copper stress did not reduce MT-L2 mRNA levels in the cytokinin accumulating transgenic plants. Enhanced cytokinin production also led to lower lipid peroxidation compared with controls under non-stressed and copper-stressed conditions. Greater MT-L2 transcript levels and protection against oxidative events prior to or during copper stress could contribute to the observed eight-fold accumulation of copper in mature leaves of ipt expressing plants compared to non-transformed plants. Expression of this tobacco MT-L2 mRNA may be modulated directly by cytokinin or indirectly as a consequence of cytokinin-mediated antioxidant activity.
Light effects on pyrethrum shoot cultures

Light consistently increased the pyrethrin content of pyrethrum shoot organ cultures. Under the experimental conditions used, the pyrethrin increase was not dependent upon a constant light supply.
Determining conditional stability constants for Pb complexation by carboxymethyl-β-cyclodextrin (CMCD)

Abstract Carboxymethyl-β-cyclodextrin (CMCD) has been proposed for remediation of metal-contaminated sediments. This research presents stability constants for CMCD–lead complexes, and demonstrates a rigorous methodology for estimating stability constants for metal-complexing agents. The conditional stability constant for the lead–CMCD aqueous complex was determined to be 10 5.18 with the 95% confidence interval ranging from 10 5.14 to 10 5.22 . The best fit for experimental data was made by assuming a reaction between divalent CMCD 2− and Pb 2+ and using the WATEQ activity coefficient formulation. The optimized value was derived from experimental data with the geochemical model PHREEQC coupled to UCODE_2005, a parameter optimization program. Like FITEQL, UCODE has a built-in option to optimize parameter values by minimizing the weighted sum of squared residuals (WSSR). However, our approach not only allows rapid, automatic optimization of the stability constant, but also allows determination of uncertainties in estimated parameter values and statistical analysis to assess the appropriateness of the conceptual model. The automation of the process allows testing of multiple conceptual models and the final values produced are internally consistent with the PHREEQC database. In this case five different conceptual models to describe the metal complexation and protonation reactions of CMCD were considered.
An estimation of US industry-level capital–labor substitution elasticities: support for Cobb–Douglas

A key parameter that determines the distributional impacts of a policy shift in general equilibrium models is the elasticity of substitution between capital and labor. Despite the importance of this parameter in applied modeling, its identification continues to pose a challenge. Given the structure of most growth models, we posit that the true relationship between capital and labor is likely to be close to Cobb–Douglas. Using a rich new data set from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), we estimate substitution elasticities for 28 industries that cover the entire economy, and provide an indication of the long- and short-run ranges of those estimates. We fail to reject the Cobb–Douglas specification in 20 of the 28 industries. These findings lend support to the Cobb–Douglas specification as a transparent starting point in simulation analysis.
Improved Process Understanding Using Multiway Principal Component Analysis

Producing a uniform polymer by batch processing is important for the following reasons: to improve the downstream processing performance, to enable material produced at one site to be used by another, and to remain competitive. Eliminating the sources of batch-to-batch variability and tightening the control of key variables are but two ways to accomplish these objectives. In this work, it is shown that multiway principal component analysis (MPCA) can be used to identify major sources of variability in the processing steps. The results show that the major source of batch-to-batch variability is due to reactor temperature variations arising from disturbances in the heating system and other heat-transfer limitations. Correlations between the variations in the processing steps and the final product properties are found, and recommendations to reduce the sources of variations are discussed.
Effect of implementation of a paediatric neurocritical care programme on outcomes after severe traumatic brain injury: a retrospective cohort study

Summary Background Outcomes after traumatic brain injury are worsened by secondary insults; modern intensive-care units address such challenges through use of best-practice pathways. Organisation of intensive-care units has an important role in pathway effectiveness. We aimed to assess the effect of a paediatric neurocritical care programme (PNCP) on outcomes for children with severe traumatic brain injury. Methods We undertook a retrospective cohort study of 123 paediatric patients with severe traumatic brain injury (Glasgow coma scale scores ≤8, without gunshot or abusive head trauma, cardiac arrest, or Glasgow coma scale scores of 3 with fixed and dilated pupils) admitted to the paediatric intensive-care unit of the St Louis Children's Hospital (St Louis, MO, USA) between July 15, 1999, and Jan 15, 2012. The primary outcome was rate of categorised hospital discharge disposition before and after implementation of a PNCP on Sept 17, 2005. We developed an ordered probit statistical model to assess adjusted outcome as a function of initial injury severity. We assessed care-team behaviour by comparing timing of invasive neuromonitoring and scored intensity of therapies targeting intracranial hypertension. Findings Characteristics of treated patients (aged 3–219 months) were much the same between treatment periods. Before PNCP implementation, 33 (52%) of 63 patients had unfavourable disposition at hospital discharge (death or admission to an inpatient facility) and 30 (48%) had a favourable disposition (home with or without treatment); after PNCP implementation, 20 (33%) of 60 patients had unfavourable disposition and 40 (67%) had favourable disposition (p=0·01). Seven (11%) patients died before PNCP implementation compared with two (3%) deaths after implementation. The probit model indicated that outcome improved across the spectrum of Glasgow coma scale scores after resuscitation (p=0·02); this improvement progressed with increasing injury severity. Kaplan-Meier analysis suggested that neuromonitoring was started earlier and maintained longer after implementation of the PNCP (p=0·03). Therapeutic intensity scores were increased for the first 3 days of treatment after PNCP implementation (p=0·0298 for day 1, p=0·0292 for day 2, and p=0·0471 for day 3). The probit model suggested that increasing age (p=0·03), paediatric risk of mortality III scores (p=0·0003), and injury severity scores (p=0·02) were reliably associated with increased probability of unfavourable outcomes whereas white race (p=0·01), use of intracranial pressure monitoring (p=0·001), and increasing Glasgow coma scale scores after resuscitation (p=0·04) were associated with increased probability of favourable outcomes. Interpretation Outcomes for children with traumatic brain injury can be improved by altering the care system in a way that stably implements a cooperative programme of accepted best practice. Funding St Louis Children's Hospital and the Sean Glanvill Foundations.
Why it is important for in-service elementary mathematics teachers to understand the equality .999… = 1

Abstract Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with in-service fifth grade teachers. The purpose of these interviews was to examine teachers’ reactions to arguments that .999… = 1. Previously reported results indicate that some pre-service elementary school teachers possess misunderstandings about mathematical issues related to decimals with single repeating digits. This research investigates whether some in-service teachers possess misunderstandings about mathematical issues related to .999…. This paper reports on one instance of a teacher whose responses indicate that the teacher's sense of number and sense of measurement are intertwined, resulting in fragile understanding of repeating decimals. These data present evidence that teachers continue to develop repeated decimal understandings and misunderstandings throughout their careers, and that the curriculum, everyday experience, and perceptions of student learning combine to form or reinforce these understandings. Because decimals with a single repeating digit (e.g. .333… and .666…) are an integral part of the elementary mathematics curriculum, we argue that it is important that in-service elementary mathematics teachers have a clear understanding of concepts related to the concept of infinity as they emerge through the study of the equality .999… = 1.
Protein docking with information on evolutionary conserved interfaces

Structural modeling of molecular assemblies lies at the heart of understanding molecular interactions and biological function. We present a method for docking protein molecules and elucidating native-like structures of protein dimers. Our method is based on geometric hashing to ensure the feasibility of searching the combined conformational space of dimeric structures. The search space is narrowed by focusing the sought rigid-body transformations around surface areas with evolutionary-conserved amino-acids. Recent analysis of protein assemblies reveals that many functional interfaces are significantly conserved throughout evolution. We test our method on a broad list of sixteen diverse protein dimers and compare the structures found to have lowest lRMSD to the known native dimeric structures to those reported by other groups. Our results show that focusing the search around evolutionary-conserved interfaces results in lower lRMSDs.
Second‐Price Auctions with Asymmetric Payoffs: An Experimental Investigation

A series of two-player, second-price common-value auctions are reported. In symmetric auctions, bidders suffer from a winner's curse. In asymmetric auctions in which one bidder has a private value advantage, the effect on bids and prices is proportional rather than explosive (the prediction of Nash equilibrium bidding theory). Although advantaged bidders are close to making best responses to disadvantaged bidders, the latter bid much more aggressively than in equilibrium, thereby earning negative average profits. Experienced bidders consistently bid closer to the Nash equilibrium than inexperienced bidders, although these adjustments towards equilibrium are small and at times uneven.
Short communication: Naturally sensitive Bacillus thuringiensis EG10368 produces thurincin H and acquires immunity after heterologous expression of the one-step-amplified thurincin H gene cluster

Heterologous expression of bacteriocin genetic determinants (or operons) has long been a research interest for the functional analysis of genes involved in bacteriocin biosynthesis, regulation, modification, and immunity. Previously, construction of genomic libraries of the bacteriocin producer strains was usually required to identify new bacteriocin operons, a method that is tedious and time consuming. For the first time, we directly amplified an 8.14-kb bioinformatically identified thurincin H gene cluster using a one-step PCR method with 100% accuracy. This amplified gene cluster was cloned into plasmid pHT315, resulting in plasmid pGW139, and subsequently transformed to Bacillus thuringiensis EG10368, a strain naturally sensitive to thurincin H. Heterologous expression of the gene cluster makes the sensitive B. thuringiensis EG10368 produce thurincin H at a higher level compared with the wild-type producer, B. thuringiensis SF361. Moreover, B. thuringiensis EG10368pGW139 acquired complete immunity to thurincin H. The results indicated that one-step PCR is a promising tool to accurately amplify long bacteriocin gene clusters used in bacteriocin functional analysis studies and it is an effective way to produce bacteriocins at a higher level, without the need to clone large chromosomal fragments.
Tightly Regulated and Heritable Division Control in Single Bacterial Cells

The robust surface adherence property of the aquatic bacterium Caulobacter crescentus permits visualization of single cells in a linear microfluidic culture chamber over an extended number of generations. The division rate of Caulobacter in this continuous-flow culture environment is substantially faster than in other culture apparati and is independent of flow velocity. Analysis of the growth and division of single isogenic cells reveals that the cell cycle control network of this bacterium generates an oscillatory output with a coefficient of variation lower than that of all other bacterial species measured to date. DivJ, a regulator of polar cell development, is necessary for maintaining low variance in interdivision timing, as transposon disruption of divJ significantly increases the coefficient of variation of both interdivision time and the rate of cell elongation. Moreover, interdivision time and cell division arrest are significantly correlated between mother and daughter cells, providing evidence for epigenetic inheritance of cell division behavior in Caulobacter. The single-cell growth/division results reported here suggest that future predictive models of Caulobacter cell cycle regulation should include parameters describing the variance and inheritance properties of this system.
Solving the algebraic Riccati equation on a hypercube multiprocessor

A parallel algorithm for solving the algebraic Riccati equation is described and its performance on an Intel iPSC/d5 is reported. Three variations of the matrix sign function algorithm are compared. The best one showed efficiencies of about 60 percent on large problems.
Enhancement by hydroxyurea of the anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 potency of 2′-β-fluoro-2′,3′-dideoxyadenosine in peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Abstract Ribonucleotide reductase inhibitors such as hydroxyurea (HU) and related compounds, at low, non-toxic doses, enhance the anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) potency of both purine and pyrimidine 2′, 3′-dideoxynucleosides (ddNs) in human lymphocytes and macrophages. The most marked enhancement of inhibition of HIV-1 replication reported to date has been seen with the purine ddN 2′,3′-dideoxyinosine (ddIno): a low level of HU (0.1 mM) permitted a 4.5-fold reduction in optimal ddIno dosage with no decrease in therapeutic effect or increase in toxicity. We report here even more marked enhancement by HU of the potency of the purine ddN 2′-β-fluoro-2′,3′-dideoxyadenosine (2′-β-F-ddAdo), where the addition of 0.1 mM HU permitted a 7.1-fold reduction in the optimal dose of 2′-β-F-ddAdo in the phytohemagglutinin-activated peripheral blood mononuclear cell HIV-1 test system.
Trends in Cancer Immunotherapy

Modulation of the immune system for therapeutic ends has a long history, stretching back to Edward Jenner's use of cowpox to induce immunity to smallpox in 1796. Since then, immunotherapy, in the form of prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines, has enabled doctors to treat and prevent a variety of infectious diseases, including cholera, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, measles and mumps. Immunotherapy is now increasingly being applied to oncology. Cancer immunotherapy attempts to harness the power and specificity of the immune system for the treatment of malignancy. Although cancer cells are less immunogenic than pathogens, the immune system is capable of recognizing and eliminating tumor cells. However, tumors frequently interfere with the development and function of immune responses. Thus, the challenge for cancer immunotherapy is to apply advances in cellular and molecular immunology and develop strategies that effectively and safely augment antitumor responses.
Intramembranous particle distribution at the node of Ranvier and adjacent axolemma in myelinated axons of the frog brain

The plasma membrane of myelinated axons in the frog brain has been examined by the freeze-fracture technique. The cytoplasmic leaflet of the axolemma contains numerous randomly distributed particles in nodal and internodal regions but relatively fewer particles in the axoglial junctional portion of the paranodal region. Particle distribution is even less uniform in the outer leaflet of the axolemma, which contains a low concentration of particles in the internodal region and a relatively high concentration at the node of Ranvier (approximately 1200 particles mum-2). The nodal particles tend to be larger than most intramembranous particles, approaching 200 A diameter. The paranodal region of the leaflet is virtually devoid of such particles except in the narrow helical 'groove' which faces extracellular clefts between terminating glial processes. In places this pathway widens to form 'lakes' up to approximately 0.3 mum2 area which contain large numbers of large particles resembling those at the node. The concentration of particles at the node is in the same range as the concentration of sodium channels estimated to be in this region and it is suggested on the basis of their location and concentration that these particles represent ionophores. The distribution of particles in the paranodal region suggests that the large intramembranous particles do not have free access to the axoglial junctional portion of the membrane and therefore the movement of such particles along the paranodal region of the membrane may occur primarily in the membrane of the 'groove' spiraling through this portion of the axolemma. Such a restriction in surface area for particle movements on either side of the node of Ranvier could result in trapping of particles at the node and thus contribute to their concentration in the nodal axolemma.
Doppelseitige, subtrochantere, luetische sogenannte Spontanfrakturen der Oberschenkel mit Bruch eines Marknagels

Es wird uber einen Fall von doppelseitigen, subtrochanteren Oberschenkelfrakturen berichtet. Als Ursache wurde auf Grund der syphilitischen Infektion in der Anamnese, der nachtlichen lanzinierenden Knochenschmerzen, der Rontgenbefunde sowie der histologischen Untersuchung eine tertiare Lues festgestellt. Die aktive chirurgische Therapie wurde durch den Bruch eines Marknagels im rechten Oberschenkel kompliziert. Nach Entfernung der Nagelfragmente erneute Kuntschernagelung an gleicher Stelle. Auch die zu einem spateren Zeitpunkt aufgetretene linksseitige pathologische Fraktur wird genagelt. Ausheilung beider Bruche in idealer Stellung bei voller Gelenkfunktion nach Entfernung beider Nagel. Wegen der guten, doch manchmal verzogerten Ausheilungstendenz, ist bei luetischen Spontanfrakturen immer ein aktives chirurgisches Vorgehen angezeigt.