cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bilingualism and Learning

Bilingualism is defined as a speaker's ability to use two languages for communication. Due to the complexity of its nature, the study of bilingualism relies on several fields within linguistics, anthropology, psychology, neuroscience, and education. The study of bilingualism describes language behaviors of bilingual speakers, social and pragmatic patterns of using two languages, language development, and acquisition and loss, among other issues. Researchers attempt to explain the effect that bilingualism has on human cognition, societal relationships, and education of bilingual children. This article discusses bilingualism and learning from three perspectives: types of bilingualism, bilingual processing, and bilingualism and academic learning.
UNIT 24.4 Phosphoproteomics

Protein phosphorylation is one of the most important mechanisms of regulating protein function in cells, and it plays an important role in controlling diverse biological processes, including cellular proliferation, migration, and metabolism. The term “phosphoproteome” refers to the complement of proteins that undergoes phosphorylation, the extent of their phosphorylation status at the level of individual residues, as well as the dynamics of the phosphorylation events in response to various stimuli. This unit provides methods for enrichment of phosphorylated proteins and peptides using anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies or titanium dioxide, respectively. Support protocols are provided for two detergent-free cell lysis methods, fractionation of proteins prior to enrichment, and use of stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) method for studying dynamics of phosphorylation events. Curr. Protoc. Protein Sci. 50:24.4.1-24.4.21. © 2007 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Keywords: signal transduction; kinase; substrate; mass spectrometry; quantitative proteomics; bioinformatics
The Social Impact of Profit-Maximizing Firms

The recent ascent of social enterprise into the lexicon of business schools and, more importantly, businesses themselves, reflects a growing concern that profit-maximizing firms don’t address all of the world’s problems. There are significant problems the world is facing — income disparities, environmental concerns, human trafficking — and many claim that profit seeking businesses are not only not helping, they are exacerbating some of these problems. Social enterprises that do not maximize profits are seen as the solution. We disagree. We begin by considering alternatives to profit maximization in a free market. We then recognize that there are limitations and qualifications to the profit-maximizing model, most of which can be addressed most effectively by appropriate government action. However, we conclude that these qualifications do not undermine the basic argument that firms trying to maximize profits are generally socially beneficial. We don’t have a fundamental disagreement on the goals, such as environmental protection, advanced by proponents of social enterprises. In fact, it is precisely because we believe these are so important that we are making these arguments.
Virtual logarithms

The modification of the number field sieve which Joux and Lercier recently used to compute logarithms in a prime field of a record 120 decimal digits makes use of the notion of a virtual logarithm of a prime ideal in a number ring. We provide necessary and sufficient conditions for their method to succeed and give an explicit formula for the virtual logarithm of an ideal.
Mouse models of pancreatic cancer: An ever-emerging arm of cancer drug discovery

Abstract Pancreatic cancer (PC) ranks among the most lethal malignancies worldwide with a dismal survival rate. Several years of basic and clinical research using a plethora of mouse models have led to significant advancements in developing therapeutic strategies against PC; however, the overall survival of PC patients has not seen much improvement. The insufficiency in replicating the favorable preclinical outcome for most cancer drugs in PC patients stems from multiple factors including interspecies genomic variability, intra- and inter-patient tumor heterogeneity, and ineffective study design in terms of drug dosing and end-point selection. The current chapter encompasses the various mouse models of PC used in drug discovery research, their current application, strengths, and weaknesses. Further, we have explored the future goals and realistic challenges that need to be addressed in order to develop potentially predictive mouse models for better clinical translation of novel cancer therapeutics.
The National Research Council Report on the Prevention of Reading Difficulties in Young Children and the Process of Dubitation

The author examines two significant issues, the adjudication of evidence and the architecture of instruction in the context of research on beginning reading. In particular, he reflects on his participation as a member of the National Research Council's committee that published the recent report entitled Preventing Reading Difficulties in Young Children (1998). The National Academy of Sciences panel of experts process is contrasted with a more explicit process for codifying scientific evidence and including quantitative experimental research as the primary source of evidence. In addition, the author argues for the importance of attending to the architecture of instruction in beginning reading.
Truck crashes and potential countermeasures on Wyoming highways and interstates: Recommendations for all responsible agencies

Wyoming has one of the highest truck cash rates in the United States. Three safety agencies in the state, theWyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT), the Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP), and the ...
Anorectal disorders in the immunocompromised

Abstract Patients with anorectal complaints develop both typical and unusual anorectal pathology, and colorectal surgeons should be aware of the ways in which altered immunocompetence affects the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of benign and malignant anorectal disease. After reviewing what defines altered immunocompetence or the immunocompromised state, this article will review how this changes diagnosis, management, and in some cases, prognosis of anorectal disease.
Design Considerations in Multisite Randomized Trials Probing Moderated Treatment Effects

Past research has demonstrated that treatment effects frequently vary across sites (e.g., schools) and that such variation can be explained by site-level or individual-level variables (e.g., school...
Exaggerated Stream Depletion in Streams with Spatiotemporally Varying Streambed Conductance

AbstractStream depletion is the reduction in flow rate in a stream due to pumping in an aquifer that is hydraulically connected to the stream. We developed a semianalytical expression for stream de...
VOLTTRON™ Agent Development for Enabling Reactive Power Support of Non-Utility DERs by Integrating Transactive Energy Approach

To enable better voltage regulation in power systems with high penetration of photovoltaics (PV) and other distributed energy resources (DERs), inverters are now being required to provide reactive power support to the grid in addition to providing real power generated by PV panels. This paper develops a framework that coordinates the support from DER-based inverters, which are grid-connected non-utility assets, by using a transactive energy approach. Results of the implementation demonstrate participation of DER-based inverters can be achieved by using the coordination between distributed controllers and a centralized controller. With the transactive energy approach, both the customer and utility can achieve benefits that meet their individual needs.
Bose-Einstein condensates in a one-dimensional double square well: Analytical solutions of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation

We present a representative set of analytic stationary-state solutions of the nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation for a symmetric double-square-well potential for both attractive and repulsive nonlinearity. In addition to the usual symmetry-preserving even and odd states, nonlinearity introduces quite exotic symmetry-breaking solutions---among them are trains of solitons with different number and sizes of density lumps in the two wells. We use the symmetry-breaking localized solutions to form macroscopic quantum superposition states and explore a simple model for the exponentially small tunneling splitting.
Treating Creative Black Intellectual Property Ownership as a Human Right

This article argues that the ownership of African American (sometimes also called "black") creative work BY African Americans who are the descendants of slaves in the US should be considered a human right under US copyright law. Particular focus will be on how this work has been taken, appropriated and rebranded for profit without the permission of its original creators, and how a more expansive interpretation of US copyright law incorporating : 1) human rights law principles of dignity and bodily autonomy, 2) moral rights principles found in the Berne Union Treaty, and 3) Indigenous Community collective rights' approaches to cultural heritage can counter this tendency and redress past wrongs. I will illustrate how these concepts might work by applying them to two recent copyright law disputes in the US involving revered gospel preacher and performer, Shirley Caesar, and popular rap artist J Milly. Note: Readers and others who download this paper should only use it for nonprofit research and teaching purposes, not alter or change it in any manner, and give attribution to the author if you quote from it. Please contact the author if you prefer other uses.
Silas Weir Mitchell on the Cerebellum: Rich Neurophysiological Concepts and a Modern Perspective.

Silas Weir Mitchell (1829 – 1914), the Philadelphia-based neurologist, is considered a founding father of American neurology. Mitchell’s 1869 paper on the physiology of the cerebellum is rich in both content and physiological concepts. Although several of the specific models proposed by Mitchell are no longer considered valid, a number of concepts, or collateral aspects of these concepts, are still considered of value today. No longer valid concepts are (1) that the cerebellum works in concert with the “spinal ganglia” to coordinate motion, and (2) that the cerebellum has a higher-order inhibitory effect on the “spinal ganglia.” The valid concepts are (1) that the cerebellum is part of an integrated system of brain regions that produce and modulate movement, (2) that compensatory neural plasticity and cerebellar reserve allow the cerebellum to compensate in the setting of tissue damage, (3) that higher brain systems exert an inhibitory effect on lower brain systems, and (4) that there is a physiological gap between higher and lower life forms. This paper reviews these concepts.
Characterization of an archaeal inorganic pyrophosphatase from Sulfolobus islandicus using a [31P]-NMR-based assay.

Abstract Inorganic pyrophosphatase catalyzes the conversion of pyrophosphate to phosphate and is often critical for driving reactions forward in cellular processes such as nucleic acid and protein synthesis. Commonly used methods for quantifying pyrophosphatase enzyme activity employ reacting liberated phosphate with a second molecule to produce absorbance changes or employing a second enzyme in coupled reactions to produce a product with a detectable absorbance. In this investigation, a novel [31P]-NMR spectroscopy-based assay was used to quantitatively measure the formation of phosphate and evaluate the activity of inorganic pyrophosphatase from the thermoacidophilic Crenarchaeota Sulfolobus islandicus. The enzymatic activity was directly measured via integration of the [31P] resonance associated with the phosphate product (δ = 2.1 ppm). Sulfolobus islandicus inorganic pyrophosphatase preferentially utilized Mg2+ as divalent cation and had pH and temperature optimums of 6.0 of 50 °C, respectively. The Vmax value was 850 μmol/min/mg and the Km for pyrophosphate was 1.02 mM. Sequence analysis indicates the enzyme is a Family I pyrophosphatase. Sulfolobus islandicus inorganic pyrophosphatase was shown to be inhibited by sodium fluoride with a IC50 of 2.26 mM, compared to a IC50 of 0.066 mM for yeast inorganic pyrophosphatase. These studies reveal that a [31P]-NMR spectroscopy-based assay is an effective method for analyzing catalysis by phosphate-producing enzymes.
Necessitation and Justification in Kant's Ethics

In the Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals, Kant claims that hypothetical imperatives are analytic and that categorical imperatives are synthetic. This claim plays a crucial role in Kant’s attempt to establish moral ‘oughts’ as categorically binding on all rational agents, for by classifying moral statements according to this distinction, Kant hopes to uncover the sort of justification required to establish such statements. However, Kant’s application of the analytic/ synthetic distinction to imperatives is problematic. For one thing, this distinction was developed by Kant in connection with indicative, subject-predicate statements, which would seem to cast doubt on the idea that imperatives can be either analytic or synthetic. Moreover, Kant’s claim that hypothetical imperatives are analytic and categorical imperatives are synthetic seems to conflict with other claims in his moral works. For example, in the Groundwork, Kant claims that hypothetical imperatives are (compared to categorical imperatives) unproblematic since they can be established on the basis of experience (G, 419-20, 49-50). But this is incompatible with the idea that hypothetical imperatives are analytic, since presumably all analytic statements are a priori — established independently of experience.
Biosynthetic pathways in Oxalobacter formigenes

Oxalate is the only substrate that supports the growth of Oxalobacter formigenes, an anaerobic, gram negative rod that inhabits the intestinal tract of many mammals. Oxalate is decarboxylated to formate and CO2 in a nearly 1:1 ratio but some carbon from oxalate is also used for cell synthesis. Two pathways for assimilation of oxalate (the glycerate pathway and the serine pathway) have been described in aerobic bacteria. We found that cell-free lysates of O. formigenes contained the following enzymatic activities: oxalyl-CoA reductase, glyoxylate carboligase, tartronic semialdehyde reductase, glycerate kinase, hydroxypyruvate reductase and glyoxylate dehydrogenase. No evidence for serine-giyoxylate aminotransferase found. These results support the concept that 0. formigenes assimilates carbon from oxalate using the glycerate pathway and that the serine pathway is not functional.
Multi-diffusion-tensor fitting via spherical deconvolution: a unifying framework

In analyzing diffusion magnetic resonance imaging, multitensor models address the limitations of the single diffusion tensor in situations of partial voluming and fiber crossings. However, selection of a suitable number of fibers and numerical difficulties in model fitting have limited their practical use. This paper addresses both problems by making spherical deconvolution part of the fitting process: We demonstrate that with an appropriate kernel, the deconvolution provides a reliable approximative fit that is efficiently refined by a subsequent descent-type optimization. Moreover, deciding on the number of fibers based on the orientation distribution function produces favorable results when compared to the traditional F-Test. Our work demonstrates the benefits of unifying previously divergent lines of work in diffusion image analysis.
Effect of Dynamical Accuracy for Uncertainty Propagation of Perturbed Keplerian Motion

This paper poses the following question: How precisely must an Earth orbiter’s dynamics be mapped to accurately capture the statistical evolution of its uncertainty? This question is addressed by using a simplified dynamical system that replaces the short-period variations with constants. The systems are defined and applied to the propagation of uncertainty for a non-Keplerian orbit. The simplified dynamical system is defined with two different types of approximate solutions: one is based on the Brouwer–Lyddane theory, and another is based on Lagrange planetary equations. The simplified dynamical system allows exploration of the relationship between dynamical model precision and uncertainty propagation accuracy, as well gained insight into effects due to individual variations: that is, secular, short, and long periods. Accuracy of propagation of uncertainty with the simplified dynamical system is verified with statistical methods for dynamical models including perturbations of J2 and third-body gravity. I...
The Retro–Diels–Alder Reaction Part II. Dienophiles with One or More Heteroatom

This review (Part II) is topically organized around the dienophile that is generated in a retro [4 + 2] reaction, and to the extent possible follows the principles adopted for Part I, which covers reactions in which both dienophile bonding centers are carbon atoms. The present chapter encompasses retro–Diels–Alder (rDA) reactions in which one or both of the dienophile reaction centers are heteroatoms. Any of the other atoms in the starting material (cycloadduct) may be carbon or heteroatom. Substituents on all positions are encompassed, and any bond order available to any oxidation state of an element is included, as is bonding to non-nearest neighbor atoms (e.g., bicyclics). The reader is directed to Part I (Vol. 52) for general discussion of the rDA reaction, the features that affect rates and outcome, and the use of acids, bases, other catalysts, and scavengers. Certain subclassifications (e.g., processes proposed under MS conditions, polymer applications) of rDA reactions have been omitted from both sections; these topics are listed in the Introduction to Part I. Citations to over 100 reviews on various aspects of the rDA reaction are collected at the beginning of the References to Part I. Those that are especially pertinent to Part II will be repeated here, in the context of the particular dienophile under discussion. The decision to split the review of the rDA reaction into two parts was based on the volume of literature encountered, as outlined in the Introduction to Part I. Active literature searching was concluded for both Parts in April 1995, although occasional more recent references have been included. Keywords: nitriles; retro Diels-Alder; dienophiles; oxazoles; pyrimidines; pyrazines; triazines; expelled; imines; isocyanates; carbonyl compounds; thiocarbonyl; carbon dioxide; alpha-pyrones; mesionics; dinitrogen; aliphatic diazines; pyridazines; bis-heterodienophiles; diimides; nitrogen oxides; oxygen; phosphorus; sulfur; experimental conditions; tabular survey
The Nuclear Gene Rf3 Affects the Expression of the Mitochondrial Chimeric Sequence R Implicated in S-Type Male Sterility in Maize

The mitochondrial genomes of maize plants exhibiting S-type cytoplasmic male sterility (cms-S) contain a repeated DNA region designated R. This region was found to be rearranged in the mitochondria of all cms-S cytoplasmically revertant fertile plants in all nuclear backgrounds analyzed. A 1.6-kb mRNA transcribed from the R region in mitochondria of sterile plants was absent from all cytoplasmic revertants examined. The nuclear gene Rf3, which suppresses the cms-S phenotype, was found to have a specific effect on the expression of the R sequence; the abundance of the major R transcripts, including the cms-S-specific 1.6-kb mRNA, is decreased in mitochondria of restored plants. Nucleotide sequence analysis of R has revealed similarities to the R1 plasmid found in some South American maize races with RU cytoplasm, to the M1 plasmid found in one source of Zea luxurians teosinte, to the atp9 mitochondrial gene and its 3' flanking sequence, and also to a region 3' to the orf221 gene. The derived amino acid sequence of the R region predicts two open reading frames (ORFs). These ORFs contain the similarities to R1, M1, atp9 and orf221. The present report reveals the chimeric nature of the R region, describes the complex effect of Rf3 on the expression of the R sequence and implicates R in the sterile phenotype of cms-S maize.
Nuclear forensics analysis with missing data

We have applied a new imputation-based method for analyzing incomplete data, called Monte Carlo Bayesian Database Generation (MCBDG), to the spent fuel isotopic composition (SFCOMPO) database. About 60 % of the entries in SFCOMPO are absent. The method estimates missing values of a property from a probability distribution created from the existing data for the property, and then generates multiple instances of the completed database for training a machine learning algorithm. Uncertainty in the data is represented by an empirical or an assumed error distribution. The method makes few assumptions about the underlying data, and it compares favorably against results obtained by replacing missing information with constant values.
Intergyre communication in a three-layer model

Abstract A three-layer, wind-driven, general circulation model involving both subtropical and subpolar gyres has been developed to study intergyre exchange. Following some early studies, the present work allows flow to baroclinically cross the intergyre boundary. This model differs from past work by examining a three-layer fluid. Solutions with both southward and northward subsurface flows are obtained. The two principal objectives of this work are to clarify the structure and maintenance of the permanent thermocline and to aid in understanding the distribution of deep water masses. A class of thermocline structures at the zero Ekman pumping line has been constructed that permits intergyre exchange, or communication. The zones of exchange are called windows. In this study, the windows have several unique properties relative to those computed elsewhere, and exhibit relatively rich structure. Principally, the addition of an active third layer allows a new second baroclinic window to open. This new window is...
Sensitivity of spinI=5/2 perturbed-angular-correlation measurements to combined magnetic-dipole and electric-quadrupole hyperfine interactions

To design, analyze, and interpret perturbed-angular-correlation (PAC) experiments, the theory of the combined nuclear-magnetic-dipole and nuclear-electric-quadrupole interaction is applied. The applications involve polycrystalline sources that contain spinI=5/2 intermediate-quantum-level PAC probes. Frequencieswkk′, amplitudesakk′, and perturbation functionsG22(t) are calculated for various values of the combined-interaction parametersη, β, andα, wheny=wL/WQ is fixed at 30. For relatively large values ofy, the weak shift in them-state energies caused by the electric-quadrupole interaction generally produces a large change in the resulting perturbation function, and the effect is sensitive to the specific values of the parametersη, β, andα. This sensitivity arises because the weak shift inm-state energies produces heterodyning. Moreover, this analysis indicates that PAC measurements of combined interactions in highly-distorted crystals (WQ≠0 andη≠0) can provide potentially more information than previously thought. This analysis strongly suggests that more experimental investigations should be performed on highly-distorted crystals.
Diffusional influences on deactivation rates

The interrelation between internal diffusion and concentration-independent deactivation is examined using a simple mathematical model. Analytical procedures are developed for evaluating the performance of single catalyst particles in the presence of diffusion and deactivation. By incorporating time-dependent effectiveness factors in design equations, reactor performance under the combined influence of diffusion and deactivation is predicted. By analogy to the effectiveness factor for non-deactivating systems, the concept of a deactivation effectiveness factor is introduced.
CtrA mediates a DNA replication checkpoint that prevents cell division in Caulobacter crescentus.

Coordination of DNA replication and cell division is essential in order to ensure that progeny cells inherit a full copy of the genome. Caulobacter crescentus divides asymmetrically to produce a non-replicating swarmer cell and a replicating stalked cell. The global response regulator CtrA coordinates DNA replication and cell division by repressing replication initiation and transcription of the early cell division gene ftsZ in swarmer cells. We show that CtrA also mediates a DNA replication checkpoint of cell division by regulating the late cell division genes ftsQ and ftsA. CtrA activates transcription of the PQA promoter that co-transcribes ftsQA, thus regulating the ordered expression of early and late cell division proteins. Cells inhibited for DNA replication are unable to complete cell division. We show that CtrA is not synthesized in pre-divisional cells in which replication has been inhibited, preventing the transcription of PQA and cell division. Replication inhibition prevents the activation of the ctrA P2 promoter, which normally depends on CtrA phosphorylation. This suggests the possibility that CtrA phosphorylation may be affected by replication inhibition.
Load and Resistance Factor Calibration for Wood Bridges

The paper presents the calibration procedure and background data for the development of design code provisions for wood bridges. The structural types considered include sawn lumber stringers, glued-laminated girders, and various wood deck types. Load and resistance parameters are treated as random variables, and therefore, the structural performance is measured in terms of the reliability index. The statistical parameters of dead load and live (traffic) load, are based on the results of previous studies. Material resistance is taken from the available test data, which includes consideration of the post-elastic response. The resistance of components and structural systems is based on the available experimental data and finite element analysis results. Statistical parameters of resistance are computed for deck and girder subsystems as well as individual components. The reliability analysis was performed for wood bridges designed according to the AASHTO Standard Specifications and a significant variation in reliability indices was observed. The recommended load and resistance factors are provided that result in consistent levels of reliability at the target levels.
Surface modification enabled carrier mobility adjustment in CZTS nanoparticle thin films

Abstract As the essential building blocks of many electronic devices, solid state thin-films are attracting extensive interest. Soluble nanocrystals (NCs) make it possible to develop robust, low-cost, large-scale fabrication methods for thin-films. However, the organic surface ligands normally used to stabilize the NCs make those thin-films a NC–ligand complex which may possess varied electrical performance compared to a single component system. Previous models could only estimate the charge transportation characteristics in those films quantitatively by considering the capping ligands as a barrier of charges from inter-particle hopping. In this work, we demonstrated that starting from first principles density functional theory, the carrier mobility in a CZTS NC–ligand complex can be determined quantitatively, and guided by this model, we developed a low-cost, low-temperature technique to fabricate CZTS thin films which have a carrier mobility of up to 10.9 cm2/(VS).
Polymerization of acrylonitrile initiated by the Redox system peroxydisulfate-cyclohexanol in the presence of silver ion catalyst

Abstract The kinetics of the polymerization of acrylonitrile initiated by the redox system peroxydisulfate-cyclohexanol catalyzed by silver ion has been studied. The rate of polymerization was found to be directly proportional to the first power of monomer concentration and the square roots of peroxydisulfate, cyclohexanol, and silver ion concentrations. The effect of temperature has been investigated in the range of 35 to 60°C and the overall activation energy was found to be 4.6 kcal/mol from the Arrhenius plot. A plausible kinetic scheme has been proposed to account for the observations.
Politics and the Origins of the Nonprofit Corporation in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, 1780-1820

This article explores the origins of the nonprofit corporation following American independence. Corporations had long been considered state agencies responsible to and under the control of state leaders. Both Federalists and Republicans believed that corporate trustees were political officeholders. Only in the face of intense partisan and religious conflict did they change their minds. By examining debates over the legal status of colleges and churches, this article explains how party politics and religious pluralism convinced leaders in Massachusetts and New Hampshire to distinguish between nonprofit corporations and the state. These debates culminated in the United States Supreme Court case of Dartmouth College v. Woodward. The court ruled that private corporations were protected from state control. The decision provided the legal foundation for the subsequent development of the nonprofit corporation and civil society in the United States.
Brain microvessels are innervated by locus ceruleus noradrenergic neurons.

Abstract Noradrenergic fibers from the locus ceruleus were identified in close proximity to brain microvessels, and adrenoceptors exist in isolated brain capillaries. Yet, proof of innervation of brain microvessels by locus ceruleus remains elusive. We now demonstrate increased density of β-adrenoceptors by pindolol binding in microvessels isolated from the norepinephrine-depleted cerebrum two weeks after locus ceruleus lesion or reserpine treatment. This finding of ‘denervation supersensitivity’ in brain microvessels implies that their adrenoceptors respond to norepinephrine from the locus ceruleus, and strongly suggests that the locus ceruleus innervates brain microvessels. These results may have important implications because blood-brain barrier dysfunction may be a factor in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer dementia and Parkinson disease, which are associated with locus ceruleus degeneration.
One-dimensional compressible gas dynamics calculations using the Boltzmann equation

One-dimensional inviscid gas dynamics computations are made using a new method to solve the Boltzmann equation. The numerical method is explicit and is based on concepts from the kinetic theory of gases. The gas density, velocity and temperature are computed by integrating numerically the molecular velocity distribution function. This in turn is computed from the Boltzmann equation using an operator splitting approach. The basic algorithm is shown to be efficient and unconditionally stable. The method is tested for a single component diatomic ideal gas on initial-boundary value problems. These include the Riemann shock-tube problem and shock wave reflection from a stationary wall for a range of incident Mach numbers up to M = 10. The results show that the method can offer significant advantages over standard finite difference methods for certain problems. Shock waves are resolved well with minimal oscillations in the solution, and accurate results are obtained with Courant numbers an order of magnitude larger than the usual stability limit. The method performs best in regions of the flow which are close to thermodynamic equilibrium and is first order accurate in regions which are far from equilibrium, as would be predicted from kinetic theory arguments.
A comparative study of green building in urban and transitioning rural North Carolina

Green building has gained popularity in urban areas for reducing energy use. This study analyzes factors influencing green building adoption and use through five comparative case studies of urban and transitioning (rapidly developing rural) North Carolina counties. Interviews and policy analyses reveal factors determining green building activity in transitioning counties, including the presence ofactive advocacy and industry organisations, supportive governments and knowledge spillover from nearby university sustainability programmes. Confusion over green building processes, hesitance to alter development practices, low inter-governmental co-ordination and feedback between low green building education and government outreach, can limit green building activity. Our findings point to recommendations for federal, state and local government actions to incentivise green building in transitioning areas.
Update on hereditary hemochromatosis and the HFE gene.

Hereditary hemochromatosis (HHC) is the most common inherited single gene disorder in people of northern European descent. Hereditary hemochromatosis is characterized by increased intestinal absorption of iron leading to its deposition into multiple organs. The classic description of HHC is bronze diabetes in a patient with cirrhosis. Hereditary hemochromatosis is increasingly being diagnosed at an earlier, less symptomatic stage. Diagnosis is based on an elevated fasting early morning transferrin saturation. Treatment is by phlebotomy, which, if initiated before the development of cirrhosis or diabetes, is associated with a normal life expectancy. Recently, a gene associated with HHC was discovered and named HFE. Two point mutations of this gene have been referred to as C282Y and H63D. Several US and European studies have found that 60% to 93% of patients with suspected HHC are homozygous for C282Y. Positive results of HFE gene testing may eliminate the need for a liver biopsy in selected cases. The greatest utility otHFE gene testing will likely be in screening family members of an identified proband and in helping to resolve ambiguous cases.
The new Wittgenstein: A critique

In recent years, a novel approach to the interpretation of Wittgenstein’s Tractatus has caught the imagination of a growing number of philosophers.1 Advocates of this approach, while they differ on details, are broadly agreed on the following key points: Early and late Wittgenstein subscribed to a ‘deflationary’ conception of philosophy, according to which it asks no questions and advances no theses (see, for example, Diamond 1991: 202–3; Conant 1992: 156; Goldfarb 1997: 58). In keeping with this conception, the Tractatus itself contains no philosophical theses or doctrines (Conant 1992: 156; 1993: 216; 1995, 270; Floyd 1998: 87; cf. Diamond 1991: 182). Rather, except for certain ‘framing remarks,’ 2 which provide instructions for reading the book, the Tractatus contains only strings of plain nonsense – ‘plain’ because it is not deep or illuminating nonsense that is imagined somehow to ‘gesture at’ something that cannot be put into words3 (Diamond 1991: 181; Conant 1989b: 344–5; Floyd 1998: 98). In reading the Tractatus one is supposed to ‘work through’4 its nonsense sentences – to struggle to make sense of them – but only in order to experience them ‘dissolv[ing] from inside,’ or ‘crumbling in upon themselves’ in the attempt (Goldfarb 1997: 66; Conant 1989b: 339; cf. Conant 1989a: 274, fn. 16). By means of this process, which some have described as a ‘dialectic’ (e.g., Floyd 1998: 82), the reader is supposed to unmask the disguised nonsense that constitutes the ‘body’ of the Tractatus (Conant 1989b: 346; 1992: 159; 1993: 218). Importantly, the nonsense of the Tractatus is not designed, as many ‘standard’ readers suppose, to alert us in some indirect way to the capacity of language to show something that cannot be said (cf. Conant 2000: 196). Instead, even Wittgenstein’s remarks about ‘showing’ are in the end to be abandoned for nonsense (Conant 1989b: 340–1; 2000: 196; Diamond 1991: 181–2; Ricketts 1996: 93; Putnam 1998: 110; Kremer 2001: 55–6).5 Tractarian nonsense nonetheless possesses enough psychological suggestiveness to generate the illusion of sense and, for some advocates of this view, to count as ‘ironically self-destructive’ (e.g., Diamond 1991: 198). The value of the Tractatus lies in its capacity to facilitate self-understanding (cf. Diamond 2000: 161), and to afford relief from philosophical perplexity (Conant 1989b: 354) – but in nothing else. As Conant puts it: ‘The only insight that Tractarian elucidation imparts, in the end, is one about the reader himself: that he is prone to [certain particular] illusions of thought’ (Conant 2000: 197, cf. Conant 1992: 157). Because it is not difficult to find a similar conception of philosophy in the freewheeling dialogues of the Philosophical Investigations, advocates of this approach are apt to claim for the two works a near coincidence of method and spirit (see Conant 1989a: 246–7, 1989b: 346; 1993: 224, fn. 87). Accordingly, they tend to be sceptical of the traditional or ‘standard’ view that the later Wittgenstein came to regard a number of central Tractarian doctrines as seriously mistaken (see, e.g., Conant
Linear and nonlinear systems with non-Gaussian white noise input

Methods are examined for analyzing the response of linear and nonlinear systems subjected to two non-Gaussian white noise processes, the Poisson and the α-stable white noises. The analysis of linear systems is simple and can be based on the theory of filtered Poisson and α-stable random processes. On the other hand, there are no simple and efficient methods for the response analysis of nonlinear systems subjected to these non-Gaussian white noises. Several methods are presented and illustrated by examples. These methods include a Markov chain model with random time step, the Monte Carlo simulation, and extensions of the Ito calculus, the equivalent linearization, and the path integral techniques.
The Effect Of Background Knowledge On The Reading Comprehension Of Second Language Learners

ABSTRACT This study investigated the effect of relevant background knowledge on the reading comprehension of high school students of Spanish as a Foreign Language. Two hundred three Spanish Level 2 and Spanish Level 3 students were asked to read an authentic report of a baseball game from a Spanish language newspaper. Comprehension of the text was determined by a 12-item multiple choice test consisting of two types of questions: explicit and implicit. A subject's relevant background knowledge of baseball was assessed by means of a 9-item multiple choice questionnaire. Subsequently, 52 of the original subjects were identified as having “Limited Knowledge” of baseball and 38 as having “High Kno wledge” for a total of 90 subjects. Forty-four of them were enrolled in Spanish Level 3 classes and 46 in Spanish Level 2. Test scores for these 90 subjects were used in the data analysis. Results indicate that 1) background kno wledge is a significant factor that affects reading comprehension across the two types of questions when the textual material is at the “instructional” reading level and 2) background knowledge could be more important than language level in comprehending such material.
Modification of the cysteine residues of the lactose repressor protein using chromophoric probes.

Abstract Reaction of the lactose repressor protein from Escherichia coli with 2-chloromercuri-4-nitrophenol and 2-bromoacetamido-4-nitrophenol, both environmentally sensitive chromophoric probes, resulted in modification of cysteine residues. Inducer and operator binding activities were not affected by the introduction of either probe into the structure of the protein. The extent of reaction with 2-chloromercuri-4-nitrophenol was not altered by the presence of either inducers or anti-inducers, but reaction with 2-bromoacetamido-4-nitrophenol increased in the presence of inducers. Up to pH 9, increasing the pII yielded an increase in the extent of modification with 2-bromoacetamido-4-nitrophenol. Denaturation of the repressor protein exposed all three cysteine residues to modification by both reagents. The reaction of repressor with 2-chloromercuri-4-nitrophenol was prevented by prior modification of repressor using 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid); also, the 2-mercuri-4-nitrophenol moiety could be dissociated from the protein by the addition of sulfhydryl reagents. The cysteines which reacted with two equivalents of 2-chloromercuri-4-nitrophenol were identified as 268 ( ≈90% ), 107 ( ≈70% ) and 140 ( ≈40% ). Modification of the protein using one equivalent of this reagent resulted in reaction primarily with cysteine 268 ( ≥ 75% ). Reaction with 2-bromoacetamido-4-nitrophenol resulted in modification of cysteines 140 (85%) and 107 (35%). Prior blocking of the cysteine residue 107 by 2-chloromercuri-4-nitrophenol resulted in modification of primarily cysteine 140 by 2-bromoacetamido-4-nitrophenol. The introduction of these two similar chromophoric reporter groups into the repressor protein at known sites provides a probe of repressor structure in regions previously not studied due to the absence of chromophoric groups. In addition, the introduction of the mercury atom of 2-mercuri-4-nitrophenol at defined sites in the protein molecule without affecting binding activity provides a heavy atom derivative for X-ray crystallographic studies.
Infrared spectroscopy of polycrystalline ZnO and ZnO:N thin films

Abstract Polycrystalline zinc oxide (ZnO) and nitrogen-doped zinc oxide (ZnO:N) films, about 1 μm thick, were grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition on crystalline silicon substrates. Infrared absorption measurements reveal a complex growth chemistry resulting in the presence of carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen-related functional groups not seen in single-crystal material. Noteworthy changes in the absorbance spectra that occur with the incorporation of nitrogen include a group of strongly absorbing bands around 1800 cm −1 and a band at 3020 cm −1 attributable to a N–H bond. These atomic configurations, in addition to the observed O–H bands around 3400 cm −1 , provide insight into the difficulties of creating p-type ZnO through the incorporation of nitrogen.
Hypervalent Iodine(III)-Promoted Intermolecular C–C Coupling of Vindoline with β-Ketoesters and Related Substrates

The regioselective intermolecular coupling reaction of vindoline with a wide range of substrates including β-ketoesters, β-diketones, β-ketoaldehydes, β-ketonitriles, malononitriles, and β-cyanoesters provides an opportunity for the synthesis of vinblastine analogues containing deep-seated changes in the upper velbanamine subunit. The transition-metal-free hypervalent iodine(III)-promoted intermolecular sp3/sp2 coupling, representing a special class of selective C–H activation with direct carbon–carbon bond formation, proceeds with generation of a quaternary center capable of incorporation of the vinblastine C16′ methyl ester and functionalized for subsequent divergent heterocycle introduction.
Environmentally assisted crack growth rates of high-strength aluminum alloys

The scope of this project is to evaluate the environmentally assisted long crack growth behavior of candidate high-strength aluminum alloys/tempers, specifically AA7150-T7751 and AA7040-T7651, for consideration as viable replacements/refurbishment for stress-corrosion cracking in susceptible AA7075-T6 aircraft components found in aging aircraft systems.
Effects of supportive-expressive group therapy on pain in women with metastatic breast cancer.

Objective: To examine whether a group intervention including hypnosis can reduce cancer pain and trait hypnotizability would moderate these effects. Design: This randomized clinical trial examined the effects of group therapy with hypnosis (supportive-expressive group therapy) plus education compared to an education-only control condition on pain over 12 months among 124 women with metastatic breast cancer. Main Outcome Measures: Pain and suffering, frequency of pain, and degree of constant pain were assessed at baseline and 4-month intervals. Those in the treatment group also reported on their experiences using the hypnosis exercises. Results: Intention-to-treat analyses indicated that the intervention resulted in significantly less increase in the intensity of pain and suffering over time, compared to the education-only group, but had no significant effects on the frequency of pain episodes or amount of constant pain, and there was no interaction of the intervention with hypnotizability. Within the intervention group, highly hypnotizable participants, compared to those less hypnotizable, reported greater benefits from hypnosis, employed self-hypnosis more often outside of group, and used it to manage other symptoms in addition to pain. Conclusion: These results augment the growing literature supporting the use of hypnosis as an adjunctive treatment for medical patients experiencing pain.
Have We Forsaken Reading Theory in the Name of "Quick Fix" Interventions for Children with Reading Disability?.

Our contribution to this special issue on reading theory questions the effectiveness of the prevailing interventions intended to improve word-reading and reading comprehension skills in children with reading disability (RD). Our hypothesis is that we as a field may have inadvertently diluted reading theory in ways that compromise the power of intervention programs. For both word reading and reading comprehension we argue that current intervention programs target instruction at a knowledge level below that which is necessary to foster reading skill development that is “generative” in children with RD. Further, we contend that current interventions for children with RD fail to mimic and promote the inductive learning mechanisms that characterize typical reading development. Thus, we return to reading theory in an attempt to identify ways that current interventions may be reconceptualized to treat word-reading and reading comprehension deficits. In doing so, we call for the development of a new generation of...
Effect of substrate crystallinity on growth and optical properties of InP nanowires

Growth mechanisms and optical properties of indium phosphide nanowires were investigated on various material surfaces. InP nanowires were grown on three types of substrate surfaces; Si, GaAs and a hydrogenated silicon template layer prepared on a quartz substrate, by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. The role of substrate in nanowire growth mechanisms and optical properties is addressed.
THE EFFECTS OF INCREASED ACCESS TO EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION ON SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE AND ABORTION RATES

In 2006, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved access to emergency contraception through pharmacies without a prescription. Several states, however, had previously allowed pharmacy access to emergency contraception. In particular, Washington State was the first state to implement such a program in 1998. If emergency contraception is used as a substitute for a surgical abortion, then pharmacy access could reduce unintended pregnancy. Pharmacy access, however, could lead to an increase in risk taking, especially among teens or young adults, and hence lead to increased rates of sexually transmitted diseases. In this article, we use county-level data as well as specific timing of changes in pharmacy access to consider the intended and unintended consequences of pharmacy access to emergency contraception in Washington. The results indicate that while county-level access to emergency contraception was unrelated to trends in sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and abortions before access changed, access afterwards led to a statistically significant increase in STD rates (gonorrhea rates), both overall and for females. We do not find, however, an impact of pharmacy access on abortion or birth rates. These results are robust to several specification tests (including use of Oregon counties as additional control counties) as well as several falsification tests. (JEL I1, I18, J13)