cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Recent Progress in the Discovery and Development of 2-Nitroimidazooxazines and 6-Nitroimidazooxazoles to Treat Tuberculosis and Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Nitroimidazole drugs have a long history as therapeutic agents to treat bacterial and parasitic diseases. The discovery in 1989 of a bicyclic nitroimidazole lead, displaying in vitro and in vivo antitubercular activity, spurred intensive exploration of this and related scaffolds, which led to the regulatory approval of pretomanid and delamanid as a new class of tuberculosis drugs. Much of the discovery work related to this took place over a 20-year period ending in 2010, which is covered in a number of cited reviews. This review highlights subsequent research published over the 2011–August 2020 timeframe, and captures detailed structure–activity relationship studies and synthetic strategies directed towards uncovering newer generation drugs for both tuberculosis and selected neglected tropical diseases. Additionally, this review presents in silico calculations relating to the drug-like properties of lead compounds and clinical agents, as well as chemical development and manufacturing processes toward providing bulk drug supplies.
An Application of Computer Vision for Optimal Sensor Placement in Drop Printing

Abstract The use of imaging technologies in the process industries has the potential to provide state, dynamic, statistical or modal information that cannot otherwise be obtained from systems which limit or invalidate the use of physical property and spectroscopic measurement methods for real-time acquisition. To extract the desired information, computer vision techniques can be used to reduce the high-dimensional image data to the salient features, which can then be employed for modelling, optimization, and control purposes. This work applies such an approach to determine the optimal placement of a high-resolution camera for online quantification of drops printed in a slurry-based additive manufacturing process for pharmaceuticals. Systematic selection requires a model of drop instability, which, due to stochastic effects introduced by particles, must be based on real data with sufficient temporal discretization to capture the event dynamics. Thus, high-speed imaging was utilized to generate representative videos, and computer vision algorithms were employed to automate extraction of the coupled temporal evolution of object shape and position, and to detect and recognize breakup and coalescence events. The resultant data were subsequently employed to determine the image sensor and fiber-optic placements that maximize measurement information acquired by online acquisition system. Results are presented for drop printing slurries at 15 distinct ink formulations – spanning several particle size distributions and particle loadings – which are comprised of a set of 250,000 images.
Perceptions of Career and Technical Education in Montana: How Did A Nation at Risk Effect Workforce Education in the Late 20th Century and Now?

Career and Technical Education provides students of all ages with the academic and technical skills, knowledge, and training necessary to succeed in future careers and to become lifelong learners. It marries educational objectives and workforce skill sets identified by industry as critical and in high demand. Demand for employees with these skill sets are critical, yet employers are having an increasingly hard time filling these positions. Have stigmas and biases created by education policy such as A Nation At Risk , as well as, the resulting education shift from Career and Technical Education as a part of a well-rounded public education to College Preparatory curriculum in high schools created a “four-year or bust” societal norm?
Economic Dispatch of a Smart Grid with Vehicle-to-Grid Integration

Plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) have gained a lot of popularity due to their environmental-friendly operation when compared to conventional fuel vehicles. Through collective control by an aggregator, PEVs batteries can also provide ancillary services such as load leveling and frequency regulation to improve the quality of power provided in the power grid. This study presents the modeling, simulation, and analysis of a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) system connected to a smart power grid. The model considers different penetration levels of PEVs in a system and investigates the economic and technical effects of using PEVs to support the grid. The model was tested using an IEEE 24 bus network to verify the effects that PEVs penetration has on generation cost in power systems. Results show that although the use of PEVs did not result in a significant reduction in the cost of power generation, the optimal scheduling of PEVs was effective in flattening the load profile through valley filling and peak load reduction.
The effect of Celmanax™ SCP on fecal pathogen shedding, health, and performance of preweaned Holstein dairy calves

Diarrhea in preweaned dairy calves is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Optimizing health in this crucial period without antibiotics is of primary interest. Celmanax™ SCP (CSCP) contains derivatives of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell wall blended with fermentation products. Mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) are yeast cell wall components with binding sites for Gram negative bacteria that lead to pathogen removal. MOS and β-glucans may produce immunomodulatory effects . Dosing with S. cerevisiae has been shown to prevent clinical signs in calves challenged with Salmonella spp. Additionally, S. cerevisiae lowered fecal scores pre- and postweaning (Alugongo et al, 2016]. Our objective was to investigate the effect of CSCP supplementation in Holstein dairy calves, on fecal pathogen shedding, overall health and average daily gain (ADG) during the preweaning period.
Rising Labor Costs, Earnings Management, and Financial Performance of Health Care Providers Around the World

Amid increasing interest in how government regulation and market competition affect the cost and financial sustainability in health care sector, it remains unclear whether health care providers behave similarly to their counterparts in other industries. The goal of this chapter is to study the degree to which health care providers manipulate accruals in periods of financial difficulties caused, in part, by the rising costs of labor. We collected the financial information of health care providers in 43 countries from 1984 to 2013 and conducted a pooled cross-sectional study with country and year fixed-effects. The empirical evidence shows that health care providers with higher wage costs are more likely to smooth their earnings in order to maintain financial sustainability. The finding of this study not only informs regulators that earnings management is pervasive in health care organizations around the world, but also contributes to the studies of financial book-tax reporting alignment, given the existing empirical evidence linking earnings management to corporate tax avoidance in this very sector.
Design and Testing of a Modular High-Speed Permanent-Magnet Machine for Aerospace Propulsion

High-power-density megawatt-scale surface permanent magnet (SPM) machines are strong candidates for future aircraft electric propulsion applications. Additional power density and fault tolerance benefits can be gained by designing the machine as an Integrated Modular Motor Drive (IMMD) that breaks the machine into multiple three-phase modules, each with its own dedicated power electronics. This paper discusses development of a 1 MW SPM machine for an IMMD configuration with a rated speed of 20,000 rev/min. A lower-power demonstrator version of this machine (200 kW) has been built to retire key technical risks and to validate machine models for the final design. The materials, components, and performance of this demonstrator machine are reviewed. The machine test configuration is described, and initial test results are presented that exhibit promising agreement with performance predictions provided by simulations and analytical models. Finally, fault tolerance benefits of the modular stator design are experimentally demonstrated.
Mechanisms of HCV resistance to broadly neutralizing antibodies

Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) block infection by genetically diverse hepatitis C virus (HCV) isolates by targeting relatively conserved epitopes on the HCV envelope glycoproteins, E1 and E2. Many amino acid substitutions conferring resistance to these bNAbs have been characterized, identifying multiple mechanisms of bNAb escape. Some resistance substitutions follow the expected mechanism of directly disrupting targeted epitopes. Interestingly, other resistance substitutions fall in E2 domains distant from bNAb-targeted epitopes. These substitutions, which can confer broad resistance to multiple bNAbs, act by less clearly defined mechanisms. Some modulate binding of HCV to cell surface receptors, while others may induce conformational changes in the E2 protein. In this review, we discuss mechanisms of HCV bNAb resistance and implications for HCV vaccine development.
Choosing your Battles: Governors' Career Path, Spending Priorities and Performance

The managerial quality hypothesis suggests managers/leaders' quality (e.g., experience) contributes to performance. However, this proposition assumes all types of experience contribute equally to all spectra of policies. This oversimplification may explain the inconsistency in the leaders' quality-performance relationship. We offer a contingency perspective in which the performance effects of a leader's accumulated skills are contingent on (a) the nature of the leader's predominant career path (e.g., technocratic vs. political) as well as (b) the type of implementation process (e.g., administrative vs. political) a policy requires. We estimate the causal effect of leaders' career paths on spending priorities and argue that skills accumulated in technocratic posts differ from those accrued in political posts. Once in office, leaders align their differentiated set of skills with implementing and spending on certain policies to boost performance. Specifically, chief executives who pursue mainly technocratic career paths will prioritize policies requiring an administrative implementation process. In contrast, those with political career paths will prioritize policies requiring a political implementation process. We test our propositions using a panel data set of Mexican governors during the 1995-2014 period, covering four gubernatorial administrations. The causal effect of career paths on spending priorities is estimated using a two-stage regression estimation, using an instrumental variable approach combined with a generalized difference-in-differences design. Our findings suggest governors with greater technocratic experiences spend more on health policies, characterized by an administrative implementation process. On the contrary, governors with greater political career paths spend more on labor policies, characterized by a political implementation process.
Developing synthetic microbes to produce indirubin-derivatives

Abstract Indirubins are natural-plant secondary metabolites that belong to the family of indigoids. Indirubin and its derivatives play a vital role in the fields of dyes and medicinal chemistry. Indirubin is an active ingredient of traditional Chinese medicine that is used to treat chronic myeloid leukemia. Studies revealed that indirubin and its derivatives have hemostatic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. Bioactive indirubin-derivatives have been produced for pharmaceutical applications by leveraging the costly and hazardous chemical synthesis routes. Currently, it is mainly used for the clinical treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia and features the advantages of low toxicity and few side effects. Additionally, studies demonstrated that indirubin-derivatives can act as an immunologically active anti-tumor drug for cancer treatments. This review highlights the potential of green metabolic routes for developing indirubin-derivatives from biomass via microbial approaches. We described the key enzymes, including P450s and other monooxygenases, and the synthetic biology strategies that tailor these enzymes and relevant metabolic pathways in E. coli to funnel biomass-derived substrates to indirubin and its derivatives via a key precursor molecule tryptophan. We also highlighted the chemo-microbial hybrid process to obtain the indirubin-derivative from biomass-derived substrates. The presented sustainable microbial approaches will enable the production of indirubin-derivatives at a commercial scale which can be adapted to the microbial production of other high-value indigoids.
Salting-out chromatography : Aldehydes and Ketones

Abstract Mixtures of aldehydes and/or ketones have been separated by salting-out chromatography. The effects of such variables as sample size, flow rate, concentration of the eluent, cross-linking, mesh size, and type of resin on the elution behavior of the compounds were studied. Salting-out parameters were determined for thirteen ketones and four aldehydes. The differential pH method of Roe and Mitchell is applicable to the determination of carbonyl compounds in aqueous salt solutions.
Gemcitabine pharmacokinetics and interaction with paclitaxel in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

Gemcitabine administered at a fixed dose rate of 10 mg/m2 per min has been reported to achieve plasma steady-state concentrations ranging from 10 to 20 μM in patients with acute leukemia. These concentrations have been shown to saturate the intracellular accumulation of the active triphosphate metabolite. We designed this pharmacokinetic study to assess the ability of a fixed dose rate of gemcitabine to achieve the desired steady-state concentration in the absence and presence of paclitaxel in patients with solid tumors. A group of 14 patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer received paclitaxel 110 mg/m2 over 3 h on days 1 and 8 and gemcitabine 800 mg/m2 over 80 min on days 1 and 8 every 21 days. Patients received gemcitabine alone on cycle (C) 1, day (D) 1. Pharmacokinetic samples were collected at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 and 80 min during infusion and 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 h after infusion on C1D1, C1D8, C2D1, C4D1 and C6D1. Of 13 patients included in the pharmacokinetic analysis, 61% achieved the desired steady-state concentration (Css) with gemcitabine alone (C1D1), whereas only 0 to 45% of patients achieved the desired Css with paclitaxel and gemcitabine, depending on the treatment cycle. Paclitaxel significantly decreased systemic clearance (ClT; P=0.012) and volume of distribution (Vd; P=0.050) and significantly increased Css (P=0.009). Gemcitabine plasma pharmacokinetic parameters demonstrated great interpatient variability in the absence of paclitaxel (Css 30%, ClT 30%, Vd 55%). Interpatient and intrapatient variability in gemcitabine pharmacokinetics were not observed when gemcitabine was administered in combination with paclitaxel (P>0.05). Gemcitabine plasma pharmacokinetic parameters are significantly altered in the presence of paclitaxel.
Magnetic properties of LaVO3.

Herein, we report on the magnetic properties of ${\mathrm{LaVO}}_{3}$. We have observed diamagnetism in this compound, which is an antiferromagnetic insulator, below the N\'eel temperature under field-cooled conditions. We observe hysteresis in magnetization versus applied field M(H) isotherms below the N\'eel temperature. ${\mathrm{LaVO}}_{3}$ has a ferromagnetic component to the spin ordering, due to canting of spins and/or due to ferrimagnetism. Four-probe resistivity measurements rule out the possibility of superconductivity and the dimagnetism appears to be associated with uncompensated antiferromagnetism (ferrimagnetism). From our $^{51}\mathrm{V}$ NMR measurements on ${\mathrm{LaVO}}_{3}$ we associate the kink in susceptibility with magnetic ordering.
Stochastic CVP Analysis with Economic Demand and Cost Functions

The analysis focuses on key concepts associated with the extensive CVP under uncertainty literature which has developed since the seminal contribution by Jaedicke and Robichek (1964). For the most part the previous literature has not incorporated economic functions relating production quantity to price and/or average cost. This model developed herein incorporates a linear demand function and a quadratic average cost function. Explicit solutions are found for five “special quantities”: (1) the lowest quantity which sets breakeven probability equal to the minimum acceptable level, (2) the quantity which maximizes breakeven probability, (3) the quantity which maximizes a Cobb-Douglas utility function defined on expected profits and breakeven probability, (4) the quantity which maximizes expected profits, and (5) the highest quantity which sets breakeven probability equal to the minimum acceptable level. Comparative statics effects are determined of the various model parameters on the five special quantities. A “CVP possibilities graph” is developed showing attainable combinations of expected profits and breakeven probability. Possible applications of the model are discussed.
The role of interstitial manganese in manganese-doped ferromagnetic semiconductors

We present a theory of interstitial Mn in Mn-doped ferromagnetic semiconductors. Using density-functional theory, we show that under the non-equilibrium conditions of growth, interstitial Mn is easily formed near the surface by a simple low-energy adsorption pathway. In GaAs, isolated interstitial Mn is an electron donor, each compensating two substitutional Mn acceptors. Within an impurity-band model, partial compensation promotes ferromagnetic order below the metal-insulator transition, with the high Curie temperature occurring for 0.5 holes per substitutional Mn.
Vacuum ultraviolet thin films. 1: Optical constants of BaF 2 , CaF 2 , LaF 3 , MgF 2 , Al 2 O 3 , HfO 2 , and SiO 2 thin films

An iteration process matching calculated and measured reflectance and transmittance values in the 120-230 nm VUV region is presently used to ascertain the optical constants of bulk MgF2, as well as films of BaF2, CaF2, LaF3, MgF2, Al2O3, HfO2, and SiO2 deposited on MgF2 substrates. In the second part of this work, a design concept is demonstrated for two filters, employing rapidly changing extinction coefficients, centered at 135 nm for BaF2 and 141 nm for SiO2. These filters are shown to yield excellent narrowband spectral performance in combination with narrowband reflection filters.
Sulphur-radical control on petroleum formation rates

Most petroleum is formed through the partial decomposition of kerogen (an insoluble sedimentary organic material) in response to thermal stress during subsurface burial in a sedimentary basin1,2. Knowing the mechanisms and kinetics of this process allows the determination of the extent and timing of petroleum formation, which, in turn, are critical for evaluating the potential for petroleum occurrences within a sedimentary basin. Kinetic models of petroleum generation are derived mainly from pyrolysis experiments1,2, in which it is usually assumed that formation rates are controlled by the strength of the bonds within the precursor compounds: this agrees with the observation that petroleum formation rates increase with increasing sulphur content of thermally immature kerogen2,3,4, C–S bonds being weaker than C–C bonds. However, this explanation fails to account for the overall composition of petroleum. Here I argue, on the basis of pyrolysis experiments, that it is the presence of sulphur radicals, rather than the relative weakness of C–S bonds, that controls petroleum formation rates. My findings suggest that the rate of petroleum formation depends critically on the concentration of sulphur radicals generated during the initial stages of thermal maturation. The proposed mechanism appears to provide a realistic explanation for both the overall composition of petroleum and the observed variation in formation rates.
Low Cost Schottky Barrier Solar Cells Fabricated on CdSe and Sb2 S 3 Films Chemically Deposited with Silicotungstic Acid

A novel method for fabricating high efficiency metal (Pt, Au, and Ni)/(CdSe or Sb[sub 2]S[sub 3]) Schottky barrier solar cells is reported. The method is based on the fabrication of n-CdSe or Sb[sub 2]S[sub 3] thin films chemically deposited with and without silicotungstic acid (STA). The performances of the Schottky junctions fabricated with the films deposited with STA, CdSe(STA), or Sb[sub 2]S[sub 3](STA), are significantly higher than those deposited without STA. Under AM1 illumination, the photovoltaic properties of the improved Pt/CdSe(STA) diode showed V[sub oc] = 0.72 V, J[sub sc] = 14.1 mA/cm[sup 2], FF [approx equal] 0.70, and efficiency [eta] [approx equal] 7.2%. Analogous results are obtained on Pt/n-Sb[sub 2]S[sub 3](STA), where the photovoltaic response of the improved diode showed V[sub oc] = 0.63 V, J[sub sc] = 11.3 mA/cm[sup 2], FF [approx equal] 0.63, and [eta] [approx equal] 5.5%. The ideality factor (n) and saturation current density (J[sub 0]) were also significantly improved. C-V measurements at 1 MHz showed that the barrier height ([phi][sub b]) of the fabricated diodes are 0.62 and 0.59 eV for Pt/CdSe and Pt-Sb[sub 2]S[sub 3] junctions, respectively, and 0.81 and 0.80 eV for Pt/CdSe(STA) and Pt-Sb[sub 2]S[sub 3](STA) junctions, respectively. It is alsomore » observed that the [phi][sub b] values are independent of the metal work functions (W). This is attributed to the Fermi level pinning of CdSe or Sb[sub 2]S[sub 3] films deposited with and without STA.« less
Detection of random vectors using an unsupervised neural network

In this paper, we consider the detection of a random vector in the presence of additive noise. First, we point out the relationship between linear optimal quadratic detector and the principal components of the random noisy signal. Then, we implement the classical quadratic detector for random signal using an adaptive unsupervised neural network. The basic element of the neural detector is the Principal Components Analysis (PCA) network proposed by Oja and Sanger. We show that the PCA network can be viewed as bandpass filter banks for noisy signals, thus it reduces the power of noise greatly. Therefore, it can improve the performance of the classical detector. The advantages of using the neural detector instead of the classical one are: (1) on-line adaptive algorithm can be used to train the neural detector; (2) noise can be reduced greatly with properly selected number of output units of the neural network; (3) parallel processing to simultaneously compute several eigenvalues of the input signal. Stimulated by this merit, it has been pointed out that neural networks can be used for most signal processing problems based on subspace decomposition.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Automated External Defibrillators and Secondary Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death Among Children and Adolescents

Sudden cardiac death is devastating at any age, but it is especially so among children and adolescents. This report discusses the outcomes for patients with out-of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and describes public access defibrillation programs in general and those directed at children and adolescents. In addition, the relatively new concept of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)–automated external defibrillator (AED) programs directed at schools is discussed. Although limited data are available, some of the preliminary data suggest improved OHCA outcomes associated with CPR-AED programs implemented in schools. These early data provide hope for the future potential reduction in the incidence of sudden cardiac deaths in the school setting, not only among children and adolescents, but also among adults.
A Biosensor of S100A4 Metastasis Factor Activation: Inhibitor Screening and Cellular Activation Dynamics

S100A4, a member of the S100 family of Ca2+-binding proteins, displays elevated expression in malignant human tumors compared with benign tumors, and increased expression correlates strongly with poor patient survival. S100A4 has a direct role in metastatic progression, likely due to the modulation of actomyosin cytoskeletal dynamics, which results in increased cellular motility. We developed a fluorescent biosensor (Mero-S100A4) that reports on the Ca2+-bound, activated form of S100A4. Direct attachment of a novel solvatochromatic reporter dye to S100A4 results in a sensor that, upon activation, undergoes a 3-fold enhancement in fluorescence, thus providing a sensitive assay for use in vitro and in vivo. In cells, localized activation of S100A4 at the cell periphery is observed during random migration and following stimulation with lysophosphatidic acid, a known activator of cell motility and proliferation. Additionally, a screen against a library of FDA-approved drugs with the biosensor identified an array of phenothiazines as inhibitors of myosin-II associated S100A4 function. These data demonstrate the utility of the new biosensor both for drug discovery and for probing the cellular dynamics controlled by the S100A4 metastasis factor.
Effective strategic planning in public transit systems

Abstract This paper identifies the characteristics of strategic planning systems of transit agencies that enhance these agencies’ abilities to respond effectively to federal legislative requirements and mandates, and have positive community impacts. These characteristics are, each unit or division must develop its own action plan to be combined into a system-wide strategic plan, strategic planning should receive more than lip service from top and unit or division level managers, and it requires the involvement and commitment of top-level management. Additional characteristics are, strategic planning should be designed to have an external orientation, to focus on an organization’s responsiveness to the demands of its customers, and it should focus on identifying and exploiting areas of future growth opportunities. Furthermore, it requires involvement of employees, and it must fit the management and decision-making styles of top-level managers.
Heat conduction and magnetic phase behavior in electron-doped Ca1-xLaxMnO3 (0≤x≤0.2)

Measurements of thermal conductivity (K) vs temperature are reported for a series of Ca 1 - x La x MnO 3 (0 ≤x≤0.2) specimens. For the undoped (x=0), G-type antiferromagnetic compound a large enhancement of K below the Neel temperature (T N ∼125 K) indicates a strong coupling of heat-carrying phonons to the spin system. This enhancement exhibits a nonmonotonic behavior with increasing x and correlates remarkably well with the small ferromagnetic component of the magnetization reported previously [Neumeier and Cohn, Phys. Rev. B 61 14319 (2000)]. Magnetoelastic polaron formation appears to underly the behavior of K and the magnetization at x≤0.02.
The relationship between repetitive DNA and chromosomal bands in man.

The relationship between chromosomal bands and repetitious DNA has been investigated by means of the quinacrine fluorescence technique and in situ hybridization with c-RNA to different fractions of repetitive DNA. A comparison of the Q bands with the labelling patterns obtained showed a preferential distribution of repetitive DNA's at Cot's ranging from 0 to 5 in those regions that are Q band positive. A distinct labelling was also observed in the pericentromeric regions and in some telomeres. It is suggested that the distribution of repetitive DNA along the chromosomes plays an important role in band formation.
Explaining systems: Investigating middle school students' understanding of emergent phenomena

Science, as with all cognitive activities, is fundamentally a matter of interpretation, sense-making, and explanation. This study focused on a small group of middle school students as they developed understanding of a particular type of phenomena: emergent systems. Such systems are notable in that macro-level properties emerge as the result of micro-level interactions between system components. I describe students' initial understanding of emergent systems, as well as the ways in which their thinking came to reflect the following heuristics: (a) recognition that there may not be a singular causal force underlying the system; (b) distinguishing between micro- and macro-levels of analysis; and (c) comprehending that even small changes at the micro-level can have significant effects at the macro-level (Resnick, 1994). I conclude by considering some implications for science education. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 37: 784–806, 2000
Multiple Facets of Inequity in Racial and Ethnic Achievement Gaps

This article provides a critical look into national trends of the achievement gaps between Whites and Blacks and between Whites and Hispanics over the last 3 decades based on the National Assessment of Educational Progress mathematics assessments. It examines multiple facets of inequity underlying the racial and ethnic achievement gaps from 3 perspectives: equality, adequacy, and reciprocity. Although the Black-White and Hispanic-White mathematics achievement gaps narrowed significantly over the last 3 decades, there was some setback in the national progress during the last decade and the achievement gaps remain substantially large. The study finds that the racial and ethnic achievement gaps are highly inequitable, as it turns out that schools do not measure up to essential conditions of equity: Minority students do not (a) get fairly equal educational opportunities, (b) achieve minimally adequate level of competency, and (c) learn in a racially integrated school. The recent trend of widening racial achie...
COLLEGE STUDENTS' EXPERIENCES WITH DIVERSITY AND THEIR EFFECTS ON ACADEMIC SELF-CONFIDENCE, SOCIAL AGENCY, AND DISPOSITION TOWARD CRITICAL THINKING

The results of this study conducted at the University of Michigan (n = 289) indicate that students with more experiences with diversity, particularly enrollment in diversity courses and positive interactions with diverse peers, are more likely to score higher on academic self-confidence, social agency, and critical thinking disposition. In addition, the study provides evidence that diversity experiences may work together to foster development of certain aspects of self.
Prevalence and correlates of intimate partner violence among young, middle, and older women of Korean descent in California

This research examined the prevalence and correlates of intimate partner violence (IPV) among younger, middle-aged, and older Korean American women. Data were drawn from telephone interviews of a population-based, representative probability sample (N = 592) of female adults of Korean descent residing in California, with a completion rate of 70 %. Data were grouped by age. In each group, psychological aggression was the most common type of IPV in the past year, followed by a moderate form of sexual coercion, while physical assault and injury were infrequent. Immigration stress was associated with psychological aggression in all three groups, and partner alcohol use was associated in none. Other predictors varied by group. Results suggest that psychological abuse is a serious issue, and that women’s life stage is an important consideration in IPV among Korean Americans. Findings, which sometimes diverged from those of prior studies of this population, merit further investigation.
Determination of water by controlled-potential coulometry

A new electroanalytical approach, utilizing controlled-potential coulometry, for the determination of water has been devised. The proposed method involves the coulometric measurement of iodide produced by the stoichiometric reaction of water with Karl Fischer reagent and shows promise of providing a selective means of water estimation without prior chemical calibration.
Effectiveness of freezer storage in fulfilling the chilling requirement of fall-lifted ponderosa pine seedlings

The degree to which freezer storage fulfilled the chilling requirement of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws.) seedlings of two sources was determined by monitoring their development after potting or planting. The seedlings were lifted in September, October, November, or March and subjected to storage before outplanting. The fulfillment of chilling was assessed by measuring days to budbreak, cumulative percentage of seedlings flushing, foliated shoot length, and rate of bud abortion. The effect of freezer storage depended on stage of seedling development at lifting, length of storage, and seed source. Storage did not totally replace winter conditions, especially for seedlings lifted in September and October. Those from a high-elevation seed source flushed sooner than those from a low-elevation source. Delayed budbreak after planting of early lifted seedlings from the high-elevation source disappeared in the second year, but those from the low-elevation source continued to show effects. Seedlings lifted and stored in November had patterns of budbreak that were similar to those of seedlings that had overwintered in beds.
Predicting Mortality in Patients Suffering From Prolonged Critical Illness: An Assessment of Four Severity-of-Illness Measures

Abstract Study objectives Investigators have been using severity-of-illness indexes such as APACHE II (acute physiology and chronic health evaluation score II) to describe patients with prolonged critical illness. However, little is known about the utility of these indexes for this patient population. We evaluated the ability of four severity-of-illness indexes to predict mortality rates in 182 patients with prolonged critical illness. Design Retrospective inception cohort study. Setting A single, urban, long-term, acute-care hospital in Chicago. Patients One hundred eighty-two patients transferred from 37 acute-care hospital ICUs. Measurements and results We assessed four indexes: the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II, the simplified acute physiology score II, the mortality prediction model II, and the logistic organ dysfunction system using variables measured on admission to the long-term acute-care hospital ICU. We found that none of these indexes distinguished well between the patients who lived and the patients who died (area under ROC [receiver operating characteristics] curve Conclusions Investigators and clinicians should use caution in using severity-of-illness measures developed for acutely ill patients to describe critically ill patients admitted to long-term care units. As clinical practice and research focus more on these latter patients, development of adequately performing severity-of-illness measures appropriate to this patient population will be needed.
Hair lost in translation.

A new study identifies mutations in the HR gene as the cause of Marie Unna hereditary hypotrichosis (MUHH). The mutations seem to disrupt an unusual leader sequence–based mechanism of translational repression, making MUHH the first example of a disease linked to this form of repression.
Opportunities for selective removal of methoxyethoxymethyl (mem) ethers

Abstract An investigation of the selective cleavage of β-methoxyethyoxymethyl (MEM) ethers using 2-chloro-1,3,2-dithioborolan at −78°C is reported.
High-performance liquid chromatography determination of phenolic constituents in 17 varieties of cowpeas

Seventeen varieties of cowpeas grown in Arkansas were analyzed for their phenolic constituents using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Protocatechuic acid was identified as the major phenolic acid present in esterified forms. The amount of protocatechuic acid increased from trace-3.6 to 9.3-92.7 mg/100 g of flour in the 17 varieties of cowpeas after hydrolysis. Six other phenolic acids, including, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, 2,4-dimethoxybenzoic acid, and cinnamic acid, were also identified. These phenolic acids were evenly distributed mainly in free acid forms at <7 mg/100 g of flour. Total phenolic contents determined using Folin-Ciocalteu's reagent were largely different among the 17 varieties, ranging from 34.6 to 376.6 mg/100 g of flour. A comparison of the HPLC chromatograms of the 17 cowpea phenolics before and after alkali hydrolysis indicated the conversion of a pattern with evenly distributed peaks to one with a single major peak for protocatechuic acid, suggesting that the chromatograms before hydrolysis better represent the identities of the cowpea varieties.
On the strong convergence of a weighted sum

Abstract We prove the equivalence of the almost sure and complete convergence of a particular weighted sum of independent, identically distributed random variables investigated by Chow and Lai, 1973 . Limiting behavior of weighted sums of independent random variables. Ann. Probab. 1, 810–824.
Local Atomic Structure of a High-Entropy Alloy: An X-Ray and Neutron Scattering Study

By using high-energy synchrotron X-ray and neutron scattering, the local structure of a ternary high-entropy alloy Zr1/3Nb1/3Hf1/3 is characterized by means of pair distribution function (PDF) analysis. Results show that this alloy is a body center cubic (b.c.c.) phase in both bulk sample and in a thin film ~1.5 µm thick. The PDFs obtained from X-ray diffraction and neutron diffraction agree well with each other. The measured PDFs differ from the calculated PDF, particularly in the peak shape of the first two peaks, indicating local lattice distortion due to different atomic sizes in the solid solution.
Studies and characterization of a murine neuroblastoma model

Clinical chemotherapy in the treatment of neuroblastoma is undergoing further evaluation. Chemotherapeutic agents, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and hexamethylmelamine, were investigated in a murine neuroblastoma model that, in part, histologically and morphologically resembles the human tumor. The tumor was inoculated subcutaneously (SC), intramuscularly (IM), intraperitoneally (IP), intrarenally (IR). Growth of tumor was observed at all sites, as well as the appearance of metastases. Maximal survival of 32 +/- 1 days was seen (SC) and the minimum was 15 +/- 1 days (IR) (p less than 0.05). Corresponding survival rate for IM was 26 +/- 1 days and IP 21 +/- 1 days. For this reason SC was selected for drug testing. Cyclophosphamide 100 mg/kg/week showed the most favorable results, as determined by autopsy status with fewer tumors and a greater tumor weight decrease over time. This agent also showed a significantly longer survival in comparison to all other drugs (p less than 0.0001). The results with vincristine and hexamethylmelamine in the dose ranges employed differed little from the placebo, except for the finding of a slight decrease in body weight at autopsy.
Recent progress in understanding ion bombardment-induced synergism in the erosion of carbon due to multispecies impact

Abstract Multiparticle bombardment-induced synergism in erosion of materials has become a subject of major interest because of its relevance in two important technological developments of recent decades, viz., microelectronics and thermonuclear fusion. Synergistic effects may produce an enhanced erosion of chemically reactive materials (for example, Si, SiO 2 , etc, in microelectronics, and C, TiC, etc, in fusion technology) when these are bombarded simultaneously by low energy (⩽1 eV) reactive atoms/molecules and either of energetic (100s to 1000s eV) ions, electrons, or photons. An enhanced erosion is desirable for etching processes in microcircuit fabrication, but it may lead to an undesirably high rate of impurities introduction into fusion plasmas. Results presented here relate only to ion-induced synergistic effects in the erosion of C when simultaneously bombarded by energetic (60 to 5000 eV) H + (D + ) ions and sub-eV H° atoms. First results show that synergism may increase the erosion yield of C by factors of ⩾50 to ⩾100 over the yields (~5 × 10 −5 to 10 −3 CH 4 /H° due to sub-eV H° bombardment alone, or by factors of ~2 to 3 over the yields (~0.1 CH 4 /H + ) due to H + −C interaction at the temperature for maximum chemical erosion. Experiments and phenomenological models suggest that ion bombardment-induced damage may play a fundamental role in synergistic erosion.
A global partnership for development and other unfulfilled promises of the millennium project

This article revisits the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (mdgs) set in 2000, timely now because policy makers are currently making plans for the period after 2015. After laying out a critical analysis of the mdgs, the article focuses on Millennium Goal 8, the global partnership for development. The argument made is that the absence of any goal to reset the asymmetrical power relations between the North and the South reveals the limitations of the endeavour. The pharmaceutical industry is discussed in detail because mdg8/Target 6 deals with access to affordable, essential drugs in developing countries. This target seems emblematic of a problem found throughout the millennium project: the unaddressed need for real economic development. Target 6 exemplifies both North–South and public–private conflicts of interest, which are carefully hidden in official documents behind the euphemism of ‘partnership’, as if countries of such unequal power could be partners.
Anomalies of subdiffractive guided wave propagation along metamaterial nanocomponents

[1] We describe our recent results on some of the anomalous propagation properties of subdiffractive guided modes along plasmonic or metamaterial cylindrical waveguides with core-shell structures, with particular attention to the design of optical subwavelength nanodevices. In our analysis, we compare and contrast the azimuthally symmetric modes, on which the previous literature has concentrated, with polaritonic guided modes, which propagate in a different regime close to the plasmonic resonance of the waveguide. Forward and backward modes may be envisioned in this latter regime, traveling with subdiffraction cross section along the cylindrical interface between plasmonic and nonplasmonic materials. In general, two oppositely oriented power flows arise in the positive and negative permittivity regions, consistent with our previous results in the planar geometry. Our discussion applies to a various range of frequencies, from RF to optical and UV, even if we are mainly focused on optical and infrared propagation. At lower frequencies, artificially engineered plasmonic metamaterials or natural plasmas may be envisioned to obtain similar propagation characteristics.
The effects of religious self-identification on support for the new christian right: An analysis of political activists

Abstract Using data from a mail survey of Republican contributors, the effects of religions self-identifications on attitudes toward Christian Right objects Moral Majority and Pat Robertson were examined. As expected, Moral Majority drew best among self-identified fundamentalists, while Robertson was most popular among charismatic identifiers. Multiple identifiers were slightly less likely to support either Christian Right object than identifiers with a single theological tradition. The implications for religious politics are discussed.
On size distributions of atmospheric aerosols

Abstract The question of the existence of asymptotic power laws, or more properly Pareto distributions, for atmospheric aerosols is examined. Present evidence that continental aerosols are asymptotically Paretian is not convincing. Improved tests for such an hypothesis are suggested. An analytical formulation of a model for the atmospheric aerosol, based on condensational growth for particles greater than a certain size, is shown to yield “characteristic” aerosol number densities whose forms are determined by the particular growth law assumed for condensation. The growth processes coupled to a reservoir of particles at the truncation point of the density, supplied by nucleation, condensation, and coagulation, cause the aerosol to “forget” its initial distribution and to approach with time the “characteristic” densities. When condensational growth proportional to particle mass is assumed, an exact Paretian density is obtained whose exponent is determined by the ratio of particle removal to growth rates. “Characteristic” densities arising from other condensational growth laws are summarized. It does not appear that these various “characteristic” densities can be resolved with present observational data for atmospheric aerosols.
Residue dynamics and biological effects of polychlorinated biphenyls in aquatic organisms.

Toxicity, residue dynamics, and biological effects of polychlorinated biphenyls (Aroclor® series) were investigated in several freshwater invertebrates and fishes. Acute static toxicities (LC50) of PCB's ranged from 3.2 to 2,400Μg/L for invertebrates and from 1.2 to 61 mg/L for fish. The LC50's for invertebrates exposed in flow-through diluter systems for 5 to 10 days were 0.6 to 80Μg/L and those for fish exposed for 30 days were 3.0 to 433Μg/L. Invertebrates accumulated Aroclor 1254 residues up to 6,300 times greater than those to which they were exposed. Biological accumulation of Aroclors 1248 and 1254 by channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) was 56,370 to 61,190 times the levels in water after 77 days. Dietary exposures of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) to Aroclor 1254 at rates of 1.45 to 14,500Μg/kg body weight per day had no effect on growth; no observable toxicosis was produced until 260 days; all fish in the group treated with the highest concentration died after 260 to 265 days. Thyroid activity, as measured by 72-hr thyroidal125I uptake, increased significantly. Thyroid activity in channel catfish fed Aroclors 1232, 1248, 1254, or 1260 at concentrations of 2.4 and 24Μg/g was altered only by Aroclor 1254.
Remediation of benzo(a)pyrene in contaminated sediments using peroxy-acid

Release of benzo(a)pyrene is of an environmental concern due to its toxic nature. To elucidate the degradation of benzo(a)pyrene in lake sediments an advanced oxidation process (AOP) employing peroxy-acids as oxidizing agents was investigated. The sediments used in this study were collected from Lake Macatawa (Holland, MI) throughout the eastern basin and ranged in composition from sandy to silty-clay. Laboratory experiments were made by exposing spiked sediment samples to a 1:1:1 v/v/v mixture of hydrogen peroxide/acetic acid/deionized (DI) water solution. Analytical measurements were performed using gas chromatography equipped with a flame ionization detector. From the AOP experiments, transformation of benzo(a)pyrene was observed in both sediment types over a period of 24-h. The disappearance of the parent compound seemed more rapid with the use of propionic acid than with acetic acid, a behavior that is not yet well understood. The organic acid, DI water, and hydrogen peroxide controls did not demonstrate applicable degradation, suggesting that the disappearance of the parent compound was related to the peroxy-acid process.
An open-and-shut case?

In this issue of Blood , Harper and colleagues explain how the mutation responsible for a common hereditary elliptocytosis results in the instability of the membrane and the shape of the cell. The conformational equilibrium of the spectrin dimers in these cells favors the “closed” state, with a
Stereo random field for bi-layer image segmentation

Stereo image segmentation usually incorporates depth cues to achieve high quality. However, previous methods that pointwise propagate information within stereo pairs could suffer from a poorly estimated depth map. In this paper, we introduce a novel graphical model where a greater amount of reliable messages can be conveyed during two-view joint segmentation. This model leads to a strongly coupled stereo pair, thus improving robustness, accuracy and consistency of stereo segmentation. Additionally, we augment a depth map to a novel correspondence matrix which is suitable for the proposed stereo segmentation model. Our experiments on a public stereo dataset show that the proposed correspondence method and stereo model outperforms state-of-the-art stereo segmentation algorithms.