cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Governance Feminism in New York's Human Trafficking Intervention Courts

In New York’s new Human Trafficking Intervention Courts (HTICs), mostly female defendants are prosecuted for prostitution-related offenses and then offered social services in lieu of more traditional criminal justice sentences. These alternative problem-solving courts represent a reconceptualization of the status of prostitution defendants in the New York criminal court system: formerly regarded as low priority, quality-of-life offenders, they are perceived by the HTICs as presumptive victims of gender-based violence. This chapter explores the role that feminists, holding a range of views on commercial sex, played in the creation of these new courts even as it argues that virtually no feminist position — liberal, abolitionist, sex worker — should condone the arrest of women for selling sex. It explores how some feminists embraced the courts as depoliticized providers of services while others made strategic decisions to work with the new courts despite clear ideological misgivings. As such, the chapter argues, the HTICs raise questions endemic to all governance feminism projects: when and why is it worth it to compromise feminist aims?
Lineages of Learning

In his account of the Egyptian king Sesostris, Herodotus recorded that the annual flooding of the Nile often left farmers owning less land and, therefore, owing less tax. To adjudicate disputes, Sesostris commissioned a team of inspectors to judge the amount of land that had been lost, and so to assess the new tax on the land. “I think,” added Herodotus, “this was the way in which geometry was invented, and passed afterwards into Greece – for knowledge of the sundial and the gnomon and the twelve divisions of the day came into Greece from Babylon.”
FTY-720 induces apoptosis in neuroblastoma via multiple signaling pathways

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extra-cranial pediatric solid tumor. High-risk NB is difficult to treat due to the lack of response to current therapies and aggressive disease progression. Despite novel drugs, alternative treatments and multi-modal treatments, finding an effective treatment strategy for these patients continues to be a major challenge. The current study focuses on examining the effects of FTY-720 or fingolimod, a drug that is FDA-approved for refractory multiple sclerosis, in NB. The results showed that FTY-720 regulates multiple pathways that result in various effects on calcium signaling, ion channel activation and cell survival/death pathways. FTY-720 rapidly inhibits TRPM7 channel activity, and inhibited TRPM7 kinase activity, modulates calcium signaling, induces a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore, and ultimately leads to cell death. Interestingly, the data also showed that low concentrations of FTY-720 sensitized drug-resistant NB cells to antineoplastic drugs. These results suggest that FTY-720 may be an attractive alternative for the treatment of NB.
Interactive computer graphics for bio-stereochemical modelling

Several computer graphics programs for bio-stereochemical modelling are discussed for display and manipulation of molecules. The RPMI system which is currently running on the Univac 70 computer, is easily adaptable to any computer, with or without sophisticated graphics hardware. Hence, we emphasize the availability of an easy to handle and inexpensive means for building, manipulating, and displaying molecules. The RPMI system also includes an automated, noninteractive program for fast construction of specified molecular structures. The NASA system is running on an Evans and Sutherland display system which has sophisticated hardware and which is capable of continuously rotating the molecule with constant adjustment of perspective and intensity. Details are given for the important geometrical manipulations such as translations, rotations, and juxtapositions, and several procedures for building of molecules are described. A method is described for exploration of the fitting of peptides around DNA by means of isogeometric helices.
Genomics of Brain Aging: Apolipoprotein E

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is a cholesterol transport protein strongly implicated in risk for age-related neurodegenerative disorders, especially Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The best characterized ApoE-associated risk for AD is due to one of three APOE gene isoforms (e2/e3/e4), specifically the e4 allele. This allele is not only associated with overall risk for AD but also with its appearance at an earlier age. In addition, it is associated with alterations in cerebral glucose metabolism and hippocampal loss due to age in individuals not diagnosed with AD or other dementia. Two APOE gene promoter polymorphisms also are likely to have a strong association with AD, and APOE likely participates in feedback to regulate its own expression.
Environmental fate and microbial effects of monensin, lincomycin, and sulfamethazine residues in soil

The impact of commonly-used livestock antibiotics on soil nitrogen transformations under varying redox conditions is largely unknown. Soil column incubations were conducted using three livestock antibiotics (monensin, lincomycin and sulfamethazine) to better understand the fate of the antibiotics, their effect on nitrogen transformation, and their impact on soil microbial communities under aerobic, anoxic, and denitrifying conditions. While monensin was not recovered in the effluent, lincomycin and sulfamethazine concentrations decreased slightly during transport through the columns. Sorption, and to a limited extent degradation, are likely to be the primary processes leading to antibiotic attenuation during leaching. Antibiotics also affected microbial respiration and clearly impacted nitrogen transformation. The occurrence of the three antibiotics as a mixture, as well as the occurrence of lincomycin alone affected, by inhibiting any nitrite reduction, the denitrification process. Discontinuing antibiotics additions restored microbial denitrification. Metagenomic analysis indicated that Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Chloroflexi were the predominant phyla observed throughout the study. Results suggested that episodic occurrence of antibiotics led to a temporal change in microbial community composition in the upper portion of the columns while only transient changes occurred in the lower portion. Thus, the occurrence of high concentrations of veterinary antibiotic residues could impact nitrogen cycling in soils receiving wastewater runoff or manure applications with potential longer-term microbial community changes possible at higher antibiotic concentrations.
A new method of estimating derived cetane number for hydrocarbon fuels

Abstract A new spectroscopic predictor for estimating ignition characteristics including derived cetane number is proposed for hydrocarbon fuels. This spectroscopic predictor is the ratio of room temperature absorbance of unreacted fuel vapor at 3.41 and 3.39 μ m, termed here as the “3.41/3.39 absorption ratio.” Its wide availability and applicability are demonstrated for a range of pure hydrocarbons, mixtures of pure hydrocarbons, and distillate and synthetic jet fuels. Quasi-linear calculation methods are provided for practical use. Spectroscopic and kinetic interpretations are provided based on the fraction of –CH2– hydrogen relative to all carbon-bonded hydrogen. In addition, the correlations between the proposed predictor and ignition delay time and C2H4 yield are presented and discussed to exhibit the predictor’s potential as a fuel screening tool.
GI Manifestations With a Focus on the Esophagus: Recent Progress in Understanding Pathogenesis

Esophageal dysfunction is common in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients. Limited treatment options are available for scleroderma esophageal disease. Here, we discuss recent updates on the diagnosis, treatment, and characterization that have been made in patients with scleroderma esophageal disease. In the past few years, novel diagnostic tools have provided insight into esophageal dysmotility in SSc patients. New drugs are being tested and might improve symptoms and quality of life in SSc patients with esophageal dysfunction. Molecular stratification methods have facilitated the identification of molecular signatures in the esophagus of SSc patients. The Friend leukemia integration 1 (Fli1) conditional knockout mouse is the first animal model to report an esophageal phenotype with SSc features. The clinical presentation in SSc patients with esophageal dysfunction is heterogeneous, complicating diagnosis and management. The improvement of diagnostic tools for esophageal symptoms and dysfunction and the use of molecular approaches in SSc mouse models and patient biopsies offer an opportunity to improve the characterization of SSc esophageal disease, which should help improve management and treatment decisions.
Landing Gear Accident

The Concorde represented a highlight of the British-French aviation collaboration. This Mach 2+ aircraft required numerous compromises to produce a commercial aircraft with the ability to service intercontinental routes. The delta wing design provides optimal lift and drag during the high-speed cruise portion of flight. Its low-speed lift characteristics meant that higher takeoff and landing speeds would be required vs. subsonic commercial aircraft. This chapter details the takeoff accident at Paris’s Charles De Gaulle airport that resulted in the loss of a Concorde. The ultimate root cause can be traced to the landing gear impacting a small piece of runway debris, generating a breach in one of the fuel tanks and fire that affected engines and the wing.
Are Preferred Scalp Locations for Alopecia Areata Patches a Clue to Neuronal Etiology

Background Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease causing hair loss in 2% of the population. Anecdotally, hair specialists report that patches localize to the scalp periphery. Changes in sensory innervation and/or scalp vasculature may play a role in the development and localization of alopecic patches. Objective To evaluate the most common locations of initial alopecic scalp patches. Materials and methods A retrospective chart review, with comprehensive evaluation of clinical photographs, was conducted from July 2016 to June 2018 to include AA patients (n = 112). Clinical data was collected on gender, age, race, time until presentation at the clinic, and areas of hair loss on initial presentation. Results The most common areas of initial AA patches in both females and males were the occiput (49 vs. 48.5%), parietal (46.9 vs. 21.2%), vertex (26.5 vs. 18.2%), and frontal (24.5 vs. 18.2%) regions; 26.8% of patients present with either alopecia totalis or universalis. Limitations This is a single-center study with underrepresentation of minority races. Conclusion AA patches most commonly present on the occiput of the scalp in both female and male patients. Cervical spine nerves C3 and C2 supply sensory innervation and the occipital artery supplies blood to this area.
Educational Attainment and Social Norms of Voting

Why does the likelihood of voting increase with education in the US? Prominent theories attribute education’s effect to human capital, which affords individuals resources needed to participate, but neglect social motivations. We test a theory of internalized social norms as another contributing factor, providing evidence in three studies. First, we show that highly educated people are more likely to view voting as a civic duty, and that civic duty partially mediates the effect of education on voting. Second, we show education is associated with a higher likelihood of overreporting voting in the 2016 election. Third, we show that educated respondents are more likely to withstand stimuli incentivizing them to report they will not vote in an upcoming election. The results imply that voting norms vary by education, and invite more attention to social explanations for socioeconomic disparities in turnout.
Effect of Productive Discussion on Written Argumentation in Earth Science Classrooms.

Active teachers noted persistent problems in their classrooms, including low levels of student engagement and gaps in students’ use of evidence in forming arguments. Earth Science students provided...
A Comparison of Peer Instruction and Collaborative Problem Solving in a Computer Architecture Course

While substantial research has demonstrated that active learning pedagogies are better for learning than passive lectures, we need to understand the trade-offs between different active learning pedagogies. Computer Architecture at Midwestern University has historically been taught using active lectures, introducing content with a few clicker questions. In Fall 2018 (N = 363), short video lectures were made available to students as a supplemental resource. In Spring 2019, the instructor flipped the course, requiring students to watch the video lectures and complete an assignment before attending class. Two versions of the course were taught concurrently, using the same homework assignments, machine problems, and examinations but with different in-class pedagogies. Version SP19PI (N = 179) was taught using peer instruction. Version SP19CP (N = 73) was taught using collaborative problem solving, organizing students into teams of 3 to work on problems. Students completed surveys that measured their perceptions of time spent on the course, course difficulty, perceptions of stress, and sense of belonging. We compare students' performance on midterm exams and their non-cognitive outcomes to examine the relative effects of these different active learning pedagogies. We find that both flipped offerings (peer instruction and collaborative problem solving) benefited students beyond active lectures. Peer instruction (SP19PI) made learning more efficient. Collaborative instruction (SP19CP) provided greater social support for learning and eliminated gender grade disparities.
From BIM to extended reality in AEC industry

Abstract In the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry, Extended Reality (XR) technologies that simulate a construction project in a multidimensional digital model and present multiple aspects of a project can be a tremendous help in all stages of a project. This study aims to identify the outsourcing patterns for such technologies among construction project stakeholders. Currently, there is limited literature about XR technologies, and because of it, the sections containing the results of this study are as follows: (1) a concise review of the most recent VR, AR, and MR technologies in the design and construction industry; (2) an introduction to the most commonly used wearable XRs on the market in terms of features, ease of use, and their specifications; (3) a summary of the different methods and software used for converting the BIM model to VR, AR, and MR; and (4) finally, a case study included the integrated definition function (IDEF0) model that details how to convert the BIM model of the NASA-Mars habitat project to a VR and MR model that uses Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Samsung HMD, and Microsoft HoloLens headsets. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive review regarding using XR to solve a variety of construction project management issues effectively and efficiently. More importantly, this study provides a roadmap for future efforts involving the implementation of XR technologies in the AEC industry.
A parallel particle-in-cell code for spacecraft charging problems

This paper reports the recent development of a full-scale particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation package highlighting an efficient electro-statics (ES)-PIC implementation for spacecraft charging problems. Numerical simulations are crucial in studying plasma flows because analytical solutions are rare, and experiments are expensive. There are many types of plasma flow that need various numerical methods for efficient and accurate simulations; as such, how to implement and organize those different methods into one comprehensive simulation package is challenging. This work adopted several modern software design patterns and developed a versatile package that includes various PIC schemes. This package has an open architecture, clean interfaces with both serial and parallel simulation capabilities. Two benchmark test cases are included to demonstrate the capabilities of this package. Then two plasma flows around a positively charged probe are simulated, and the results are discussed. The simulation results are consistent with past simulation results, and new insights are obtained. This work can lead to the development and organization of more sophisticated plasma simulation solvers in the future.
tepR encoding a bacterial enhancer-binding protein orchestrates the virulence and interspecies competition of Burkholderia glumae through qsmR and a type VI secretion system.

The pathogenesis of the rice pathogenic bacterium Burkholderia glumae is under the tight regulation of the tofI/tofR quorum-sensing (QS) system. tepR, encoding a group I bacterial enhancer-binding protein, negatively regulates the production of toxoflavin, the phytotoxin acting as a major virulence factor in B. glumae. In this study, through a transcriptomic analysis, we identified the genes that were modulated by tepR and/or the tofI/tofR QS system. More than half of the differentially expressed genes, including the genes for the biosynthesis and transport of toxoflavin, were significantly more highly expressed in the ΔtepR mutant but less expressed in the ΔtofI-tofR (tofI/tofR QS-defective) mutant. In consonance with the transcriptome data, other virulence-related functions of B. glumae, extracellular protease activity and flagellum-dependent motility, were also negatively regulated by tepR, and this negative regulatory function of tepR was dependent on the IclR-type transcriptional regulator gene qsmR. Likewise, the ΔtepR mutant exhibited a higher level of heat tolerance in congruence with the higher transcription levels of heat shock protein genes in the mutant. Interestingly, tepR also exhibited its positive regulatory function on a previously uncharacterized type VI secretion system (denoted as BgT6SS-1). The survival of the both ΔtepR and ΔtssD (BgT6SS-1-defective) mutants was significantly compromised compared to the wild-type parent strain 336gr-1 in the presence of the natural rice-inhabiting bacterium, Pantoea sp. RSPAM1. Taken together, this study revealed pivotal regulatory roles of tepR in orchestrating multiple biological functions of B. glumae, including pathogenesis, heat tolerance, and bacterial interspecies competition.
Lift-off of semipolar blue and green III-nitride LEDs grown on free-standing GaN

Light emitting diodes (LEDs), with active blue and green emitting and sacrificial multi-quantum well layers, were epitaxially grown using metal organic chemical vapor deposition on free-standing semipolar ( 20 2 ¯ 1 ) GaN substrates. NanoLEDs were then fabricated and released into solution using an approach based on forming a mm-scale mesa, Au–Au thermocompression bonding to a submount, large-area photoelectrochemical etching, and colloidal lithography. Photo- and cathodoluminescence (CL) measurements demonstrated that nanoLEDs were optically active after fabrication and released into the solution. Monte Carlo simulations of the electron trajectory through GaN/InGaN were performed to understand the patterns shown in CL images. The fabrication process developed herein could provide a viable route to highly efficient, nanoscale blue and green light emitters for applications in next-generation display technologies.
The Tension that Results from an Integrated Approach: General Discussion

Is there a need for evil in order to define ourselves? Is there a need to perceive individual therapy as an evil in order to define family therapy? Is there a need to perceive family therapy as an evil in order to define individual therapy? Is it going to be the individual therapist versus the family therapist? Are we going to spend all of our time today and down through the corridors of Lime debating this, fighting with each other? Can we really put it together in some way that is meaningful and useful, defining what we do, not on the basis of the split, but just on what we do? And, can we in some way encompass it all in a unity which comes back to the idea of one approach?
Challenges Faced by Highly Polyploid Bacteria with Limits on DNA Inheritance.

Most studies of bacterial reproduction have centered on organisms that undergo binary fission. In these models, complete chromosome copies are segregated with great fidelity into two equivalent offspring cells. All genetic material is passed on to offspring, including new mutations and horizontally acquired sequences. However, some bacterial lineages employ diverse reproductive patterns that require management and segregation of more than two chromosome copies. Epulopiscium spp., and their close relatives within the Firmicutes phylum, are intestinal symbionts of surgeonfish (family Acanthuridae). Each of these giant (up to 0.6 mm long), cigar-shaped bacteria contains tens of thousands of chromosome copies. Epulopiscium spp. do not use binary fission but instead produce multiple intracellular offspring. Only ∼1% of the genetic material in an Epulopiscium sp. type B mother cell is directly inherited by its offspring cells. And yet, even in late stages of offspring development, mother-cell chromosome copies continue to replicate. Consequently, chromosomes take on a somatic or germline role. Epulopiscium sp. type B is a strict anaerobe and while it is an obligate symbiont, its host has a facultative association with this intestinal microorganism. Therefore, Epulopiscium sp. type B populations face several bottlenecks that could endanger their diversity and resilience. Multilocus sequence analyses revealed that recombination is important to diversification in populations of Epulopiscium sp. type B. By employing mechanisms common to others in the Firmicutes, the coordinated timing of mother-cell lysis, offspring development and congression may facilitate the substantial recombination observed in Epulopiscium sp. type B populations.
A longitudinal evaluation of family caregivers' willingness to pay for an in-home nonpharmacologic intervention for people living with dementia: results from a randomized trial.

Objective: To determine the willingness-to-pay (WTP) of family caregivers to learn care strategies for persons living with dementia (PLwD). Design: Randomized clinical trial. Setting: Community-dwelling PLwD and their caregivers (dyads) in Maryland and Washington, DC. Participants: 250 dyads. Intervention: Tailored Activity Program (TAP) compared to attention control. TAP provides activities tailored to the PLwD and instructs caregivers in their use. Measurement: At baseline, 3 and 6 months, caregivers were asked their WTP per session for an 8-session 3-month in-home nonpharmacologic intervention to address behavioral symptoms and functional dependence. Results: At baseline, 3 and 6 months, caregivers assigned to TAP were willing to pay 28.17). Conclusions: Family caregivers are willing to pay more for an intervention immediately following participation in a program similar to which they were asked to value.
My Dead Father

Having survived a difficult birth, the author’s victory over an early death appears foiled by bipolar disorder, the experience of which Garcia compares to “rehearsing for the process of dying.” Life as he knew it is gone; institutionalization, loss of authority over the self, and neuro changes seem to predict slow death routs life in the present. Even the author’s attempt at engaging in queer “romance and intimacy” are deemed ill-fated. Garcia’s abusive father is himself “dead” and domestic violence at his hands is the likely cause of his mother’s dangerously premature delivery. Yet recollection of the author’s grandmother and her commonsense approach to gardening reveals that even the undesirable has value and purpose in life, and that healing may take place given time.
Single-cell resolution analysis of the crosstalk between chemogenically activated astrocytes and microglia

Summary Astrocytes are the most common glial cell type in the brain, yet, it is unclear how their activation affects the transcriptome of neighboring cells. Engineered G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) called Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs) enable selective activation of specific cell types, such as astrocytes. Here, we combine activation of astrocytes in the hippocampus and cortex of healthy mice with single-cell RNA sequencing. Our data show that long-term activation of astrocytes dramatically alters the transcriptome of astrocytes and microglia. Genes that were differentially expressed in Gq-DREADD-activated astrocytes are involved in neurogenesis and low-density lipoprotein particle biology, while those in the microglia were involved in lipoprotein handling, purinergic receptor activity, and immune cell migration and chemotaxis. Furthermore, network analysis showed that Gq-DREADD-mediated activation in astrocytes resulted in an upregulation of genes involved in the GPCR signaling pathways and calcium ion homeostasis, confirming astrocyte activation. This dataset will serve as a resource for the broader neuroscience community, and our findings highlight the importance of studying transcriptomic alterations in microglia after astrocyte activation in vivo.
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis presenting as otomastoiditis with nasopharyngeal and parotid lesions

Abstract A middle-aged woman presented with two months of left ear pain and hearing loss. She had previously been admitted to an outside hospital for left-sided otomastoiditis and was treated with antibiotics without resolution. After failing outpatient management with pressure equalization tube placement and developing new neck pain, she was admitted to the hospital to rule out meningitis. Lumbar puncture was normal and the patient started on broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed persistent fluid in the left middle ear and mastoid without bony erosion as well as a mass in the left nasopharynx and right parotid gland. The patient did not improve and was taken for biopsy of masses and left tympanomastoidectomy. Multiple blood and tissue samples were negative for infection or malignancy. Ultimately, autoimmune labs were obtained showing elevated cANCA and serine proteinase 3 (PR3), consistent with granulomatosis with polyangiitis and she improved with steroid treatment. This is the first report of GPA with focal simultaneous involvement of the nasopharynx and parotid, which made the diagnosis challenging to establish.
Propitious temporal changes in clinical outcomes after transcatheter compared to surgical aortic valve replacement; a meta-analysis of over 65,000 patients

Background The treatment of symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS) has rapidly evolved over the past decade, in both transcatheter (TAVR) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), resulting in reported improved clinical outcomes. Operator experience and technical improvements have improved outcomes especially for patients undergoing TAVR. We sought to determine and compare 1-year outcomes using a contemporary meta-analysis. Method We searched the Medline (MESH), Cochrane and Google scholar databases using keywords "AS", "atrial fibrillation" (AFib) and "stroke". We performed a meta-analysis to compare TAVR with SAVR populations for post-procedural stroke, all-cause and cardiovascular mortality at 1-year. Results A total of 23 studies met criteria for analysis with total population of 66,857 patients, of which 61,913 had TAVR and 4944 had SAVR. Temporal trends demonstrated overall improvement in outcome for both, TAVR and SAVR groups through the decade. Outcomes, in terms of stroke (3.1% vs. 5%), all-cause (12.4% vs. 10.3%) and cardiovascular mortality (7.2% vs. 6.2%) were similar at 1-year, in TAVR versus SAVR, respectively. Conclusion Despite overall gradual improvement in both TAVR and SAVR outcomes over the decade, there is a statistical overlap in confidence intervals for all-cause, cardiovascular mortality and postprocedural stroke at 1-year. While 23 individual studies demonstrate considerable advantages of each technique in certain cohorts, integrating over 65,000 pts with our stratified surgical analysis suggests that TAVR is comparable to SAVR for low and intermediate risk population while superior to SAVR only in the highest-risk population for short and intermediate term outcomes. This has substantial socio-economic implications as we contemplate expanding our TAVR indications to low/intermediate risk populations.
Molecular genetics of Alzheimer's disease

Genetic studies have led to the identification of three genes which, when mutated, cause familial forms of Alzheimer's disease (AD): the beta-amyloid precursor protein gene (APP), presenilin 1 (PS-1) and presenilin 2 (PS-2). Association studies have also shown that the epsilon 4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene increases risk for AD in a dose-dependent manner in both familial and sporadic forms of AD. It is likely that there are additional AD risk factors, both genetic and environmental, as 50% of sporadic AD cases have no ApoE epsilon 4 alleles, and families showing mendelian inheritance of AD exist in which there are no mutations in any of the known genes.
Health and Medical Care in the U.S.: A Critical Analysis

A collection of papers that challenge the conventional analyses of the problems facing health, medicine and medical care in Western societies in general, and North America in particular.
PROBABILISTIC STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS AND DESIGN

Some of the important advantages of probabilistic design procedures are presented and compared with deterministic techniques. The problem of the compounding of hazards is illustrated by comparing a series type of structure with a parallel type of structure. Both structures have the same characteristics from a deterministic viewpoint, but the parallel type clearly is superior to the series type if probabilistic concepts are employed. The specification of material properties in manufacture is clearly probabilistic. These same material properties are specified and treated deterministically in structural practice without regard to the actual properties of the materials. Similarly, real loadings, although probabilistic in nature are treated as deterministic. Analysis and design procedures employ models of loading and response that have little relationship to reality. The design decision process for seismic loading is illustrated using statistical decision theory. The formulation of optimization of decisions under uncertainty is considered.
Distinguishing Real Results from Instrumental Artifacts: The Case of the Missing Rain

A striking feature of nineteenth century science is its unprecedented concern with systematic and precise observation of the natural world (Cannon 1978; Miller 1986; Daston 1995). A fine illustration of this can be found in the field of meteorology, where the nineteenth century brought not just a dramatic increase in the number of stations at which regular observations of weather conditions were made, but also the organization of those stations into coordinated national observing networks. As these networks were established and expanded, scientists contemplated which instruments to use, where to locate them, how often to make observations, and how to record and communicate those observations. When it came to measuring rainfall, an especially difficult question concerned the appropriate height at which to place a rain gauge. It was well known that gauges located high above the ground often caught significantly less rain than gauges placed near the ground. But the cause of this height-catch difference remained a vexing mystery. Do elevated rain gauges give inaccurate readings? Or is there simply less rain present at elevated locations? If there is less rain, can elevated gauge readings be adjusted to ground-level readings—the readings that matter for practical purposes, such as agriculture? During the nineteenth century, the answers to these questions were hotly debated by amateurs and eminent scientists alike. Sir John Herschel himself remarked that “no more interesting problem can fix the attention of the meteorologist” than that of explaining the height-catch difference (Herschel 1861, 105). This paper outlines scientists’ investigation of the height-catch problem from its discovery in the middle of the eighteenth century to its resolution in the late nineteenth century. Ultimately, scientists came to agree that the height-catch difference reflected the “imperfect collection” (Symons 1882) of rain by elevated gauges. Both the gauge itself and the building on which it was located would disrupt the flow of the wind, and the resulting wind patterns would carry past the gauge some
Building Mutual Support in Groups

SUMMARY The concept of support is frequently referred to in the groupwork literature but is relatively underdeveloped and unspecified. This paper partializes the concept of support and identifies and illustrates specific professional behaviors which are essential to the building of support in a group.
Anatomy of the blackout investigation

Summary form only given. When the blackout occurred on August 14, 2003 it was completely unexpected. On August 15, 2003 President Bush and Prime Minister Chretien established a Joint US-Canadian Power Outage Task Force to investigate cause and to make recommendations about how to avoid future occurrences. The task force created three working groups to perform the actual investigation. In this talk we report on the structure and activities of the Electric System Working group.
Hypothermic Neuroprotection in Cerebral Ischemia

Mild to moderate hypothermia is an easily implemented and acceptably tolerated method of achieving potential neuroprotection from both cerebral ischemia and traumatic brain injury.This chapter discusses the results of experimental studies about hypothermic neuroprotection in cerebral ischemia. During transient high-grade global forebrain ischemia in rats, despite control of the animal's rectal temperature, brain temperature tended to fall spontaneously. By monitoring and stabilizing cranial temperature at various fixed levels during ischemia, it was demonstrated that reductions of brain temperature of just 2–3°C during 20 min of global ischemia completely prevented neuronal necrosis of the otherwise highly vulnerable hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neuron population and reduced necrosis of striatal neurons by 75% or more; intraischemic cranial temperatures of 30–31°C completely suppressed hippocampal and striatal histopathology. This protective effect has been repeatedly confirmed in rodent ischemia models and substantiated, as well, in at least some studies in larger species. An important mechanism by which hypothermia protects in focal ischemia is by reducing the numbers of ischemic depolarizations occurring in the peri-infract zone—events which engender ionic translocations and incur an energy debt in marginally perfused tissue, eventuating in irreversible deterioration of the ischemic penumbra. Both NMDA and non-NMDA antagonists also suppress ischemic depolarizations.
Isolation Based on l-Selectin Expression of Immune Effector T Cells Derived from Tumor-draining Lymph Nodes

Abstract The ability to generate a large number of tumor-reactive T lymphocytes is the most critical requirement for adoptive immunotherapy. Our laboratory has previously demonstrated that cells from tumor-draining lymph nodes (LNs) are an excellent source of tumor-reactive T lymphocytes. After activation with anti-CD3, these cells readily proliferate in low concentrations of interleukin 2 and acquire effector functions. The adoptive transfer of these cells is capable of mediating the regression of tumors established in the lung as well as in the brain. Here, we analyzed several adhesion molecules on the tumor-draining LN T cells and separated them based on l-selectin expression. The homing receptor l-selectin mediates adhesion to the luminal surface of specialized high endothelial venules, thus regulating lymphocyte recirculation through peripheral LNs. In response to progressive tumor growth, a small population of draining LN T cells down-regulated l-selectin and increased the expression of CD44 and lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1. In adoptive immunotherapy, purified T cells with low l-selectin (l-selectin-) expression constituted all the in vivo antitumor reactivity, whereas isolated high l-selectin (l-selectin+) cells were ineffective. Furthermore, reverse transcription-PCR analysis revealed that l-selectin- cells expressed interleukin 2, IFN-γ and tumor necrosis factor α mRNA upon in vitro stimulation with specific tumor cells. These results suggest that highly potent immune T cells can be isolated based on their pattern of adhesion molecule expression. The ability of the immune effector cells to transcribe cytokine genes when stimulated with tumor cells provides a basis for identifying similar cells for adoptive immunotherapy of cancer in humans.
Violagabriellae Variant of Staphylococcus epidermidis on Normal Human Skin

Twenty-seven strains of a reddish violet pigment-producing variety of Staphylococcus epidermidis have been recovered from normal human skin. They closely resemble the previously unique Castellani strain, named Micrococcus violagabriellae, which was placed by K. J. Steel in S. epidermidis. These strains are classified as S. epidermidis by using the Baird-Parker schema; however, besides the pigment produced, they also differ from S. epidermidis in proteolytic activity and effect on litmus milk. The variety seems to be part of the normal flora of the human axilla.
Hejira in a Jetta

Spiral Jetta . A Road Trip Through the Land Art of the American West. By Erin Hogan . University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2008. 188 pp. $20. ISBN 9780226348452. Horgan's often humorous narrative of her journey to several monumental earthworks from the 1970s and 1980s interweaves her personal observations and responses with art history and theory.
A novel beta-galactosidase gene isolated from the bacterium Xanthomonas manihotis exhibits strong homology to several eukaryotic beta-galactosidases.

The gene encoding a beta-galactosidase from Xanthomonas manihotis was cloned into Escherichia coli. The gene resides on a 2.4 kb DNA fragment which was isolated from a partial Sau3A library in the cloning vector pUC19 using 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (X-gal) as the selection. The enzyme produced by the clone has a specificity for beta 1-3- > beta 1-4-linked galactose. The nucleotide sequence of the gene was determined. The deduced protein sequence contained 597 amino acids yielding a monomeric molecular mass of 66 kDa. The cloned beta-galactosidase showed no similarity to any known prokaryotic beta-galactosidase. However, extensive similarity was observed with eukaryotic beta-galactosidases from animals, plants and fungi. The strongest similarity was with the beta-galactosidases found in the human and mouse lysosomes (42 and 41% identity, respectively). Alignment of the X.manihotis and eukaryotic beta-galactosidase sequences revealed seven highly conserved domains common to each protein. Additionally, Domain 1 in X.manihotis showed similarity to regions within catalytic domains from seven xylanases and cellulases belonging to family 10 of glucosyl hydrolases. A region spanning Domain 2 showed similarity to the catalytic domain of endo beta 1-3 glucanases from tobacco and barley.
Needs Analysis and Collection Development Policies for Culturally Diverse Populations

Readers of this article probably do not need convincing of the importance of building library collections for diverse populations; some readers will also know how time consuming and difficult it is to do so. Interest in the topic is not new; you can find entries in Library Literature on the subject as far back as the 1920s, and from then on interest in the topic fluctuates. It waned in the 1970s along with the reductions in library funding, but today there is increasing concern with building collections to serve the needs of an ethnically diverse population.
Regulation of PD-1, PD-L1, and PD-L2 expression during normal and autoimmune responses.

Newer members of the B7-CD28 superfamily include the receptor PD-1 and its two ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2. Here, we characterize the expression of PD-1, PD-L1, and PD-L2 in tissues of naive miceand in target organs from two models of autoimmunity, the pancreas from non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice and brain from mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). In naive mice, proteiexpression of PD-1, PD-L1, and PD-L2 was detected in the thymus, while PD-1 and PD-L1 were detected in the spleen. PD-L1, but not PD-L2, was also detected at low levels on cardiac endothelium, pancreatic islets, and syncyciotrophoblasts in the placenta. In pre-diabetic NOD mice, PD-1 and PD-L1 were expressed on infiltrating cells in the pancreatic islets. Furthermore, PD-L1 was markedly up-regulated on islet cells. In brains from mice with EAE, PD-1, PD-L1, and PD-L2 were expressed on infiltrating inflammatory cells, and PD-L1 was up-regulated on endothelium within EAE brain. The distinct expression patterns of PD-L1 and PD-L2 led us to compare their transcriptional regulation in STAT4(-/-), STAT6(-/-), or NF-kappaB p50(-/-)p65(+/-) dendritic cells (DC).PD-L2, but not PD-L1, expression was dramatically reduced in p50(-/-)p65(+/-) DC. Thus, PD-L1 and PD-L2 exhibit distinct expression patterns and are differentially regulated on the transcriptional level.
A Two-Stage Model of the Simultaneous Relationship Between Retail Development and Crime:

This study looks at crime as one potential obstacle to the revitalization of downtown retail areas. High crime in central city neighborhoods may discourage retail development, either because crime ...
Weak process models for robust process detection

Many defense and security applications involve the detection of a dynamic process. A process model describes the state transitions of an object, which evolves in time according to specific know laws. Given a process model, the process detection problem is to identify the existence of such a process in large amount of observation data. While Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) are widely used to characterize dynamic processes, it's usually hard to estimate those state transition and emission probabilities precisely in practice, especially if we don't have sufficient training data. An inaccurate process model could lead to high false alarm and misdetection rates and the inference result could be misleading in the decision-making process. To this end, we propose nonparametric weak models derived from HMMs to characterize dynamic processes. A weak model doesn't need the strong requirement for probability specification as in HMMs. In this paper, we analyze the properties of such weak models and propose recursive algorithms to compute the hypotheses of the hidden state sequence and the size of the hypothesis set. Further we analyze how to control the size of the hypothesis set by increasing the number of sensors to tune the structure of the emission matrix.
Some pitfalls in interpretation of the I.Q.

It is often assumed that I.Q. scores are precise measures of intelligence that remain stable over time unless dramatic interventions occur, and that they afford accurate prediction of other behavior. On the basis of a review of some of the literature and the nature of psychological measurement and clinical experience, more tenable interpretations of such data are offered. I.Q. determinations are limited in their usefulness in predicting individual behavior. Interpretations and recommendations are best couched in terms of probability of success and should be founded on more than one score alone.
Angel investor characteristics that determine whether perceived passion leads to higher evaluations of funding potential

Abstract Despite interest in understanding the role passion plays in investor decision making, little is known about the conditions under which perceived passion is likely to play a significant role in the funding decision process. We first establish a relationship between perceived passion and evaluations of funding potential, then use affective reactivity as a theoretical framework to explore how several individual characteristics of angel investors impact the relationship between perceived passion and evaluations of funding potential. The results indicate that the relationship is stronger for angel investors who are older, more intuitive, have a high openness personality, or those who are motivated to mentor. Surprisingly, the relationship weakens for angels who are extraverted and those who have a promotion-dominated regulatory focus.
Exacerbation of fibrous dysplasia associated with an adolescent pregnancy

Fibrous dysplasia is a metabolic skeletal disorder in which the medullary spaces of affected bones are replaced by fibro-osseous tissue. Patients with fibrous dysplasia usually become symptomatic during childhood; the adolescent patient we describe is unusual because she was not known to suffer from fibrous dysplasia until she became pregnant and experienced a dramatic reactivation of the symptoms. The therapeutic implication of this case and reproductive counselling for young women with fibrous dysplasia are discussed.
Biochemical genetics of oxidative resistance to diazinon in the house fly

Abstract The genetics and biochemistry of oxidative resistance to diazinon were investigated in a diazinon-resistant strain of the house fly, Musca domestica L. The resistant strain was crossed with a multimarker susceptible strain and substrains containing portions of the resistant strain genome were prepared. Resistance, microsomal oxidase, and cytochrome P-450 spectral characteristics were then compared in the different strains. The major gene for resistance to diazinon is semidominant and is located on chromosome II, 13 crossing over units from the recessive mutant stubby wing. Additional resistance genes occur on chromosome II and on other chromosomes as well. Resistance to diazinon was introduced into a susceptible mutant-marked strain via genetic crossing over. Increases in parathion oxidase, total and P-450-specific N - and O -demethylase activity, and resistant strain type I binding spectrum were introduced along with resistance, indicating genes controlling these parameters and resistance are either identical or closely linked. No increase in activity of cytochrome P-450 itself was introduced into the mutant strain. Additional genes controlling the amount of cytochrome P-450 and several spectral changes characteristic of the resistant strains are apparently controlled by genes located at different loci on chromosome II. Resistance factors on other chromosomes are also present, but were not characterized.
Single-Cell Trajectory Detection Uncovers Progression and Regulatory Coordination in Human B Cell Development

Tissue regeneration is an orchestrated progression of cells from an immature state to a mature one, conventionally represented as distinctive cell subsets. A continuum of transitional cell states exists between these discrete stages. We combine the depth of single-cell mass cytometry and an algorithm developed to leverage this continuum by aligning single cells of a given lineage onto a unified trajectory that accurately predicts the developmental path de novo. Applied to human B cell lymphopoiesis, the algorithm (termed Wanderlust) constructed trajectories spanning from hematopoietic stem cells through to naive B cells. This trajectory revealed nascent fractions of B cell progenitors and aligned them with developmentally cued regulatory signaling including IL-7/STAT5 and cellular events such as immunoglobulin rearrangement, highlighting checkpoints across which regulatory signals are rewired paralleling changes in cellular state. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of human B lymphopoiesis, laying a foundation to apply this approach to other tissues and “corrupted” developmental processes including cancer.