cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
POSITIVISMO JURÍDICO INCLUYENTE

Generally speaking, legal positivism is composed of different Thesis: The Social Fact Thesis, the Conventionality Thesis and the Separability Thesis. Depending on the stance that is chosen regarding each of these Thesis, legal positivists can be either inclusive or exclusive. This article pretends to outline some of the claims that are commonly identified with inclusive legal positivism, while at the same time presenting some of the criticisms that rise from other traditions, such as exclusive legal positivists and antipositivists. Ultimately, the perspectives exposed herein are weighed in order to discern which of the theoretical claims hold up and which can bedefeated by counterarguments.
Legacies That Stem from Kempe’s 1976 Call for a System of Prevention

In 1976, Dr. C. Henry Kempe published an article on the efficacy of home visitation for new parents in preventing child abuse and issued his innovative call for a universal, mandatory national home visitation effort for new parents. While not the first piece of writing about preventing child abuse, the article seemed to galvanize thinking about the virtues of prevention, and it does appear to have had a continuing impact on prevention efforts worldwide. Certainly not all of what came after Kempe’s call for action perfectly followed his dictates; in fact some can be seen as quite polar to Kempe’s thoughts. Yet an analysis of the literature since 1976 shows clear connections between Kempe’s article and much of what followed over the next 35 years. In sum, the article does appear to have been the catalyst for a broadening understanding of what prevention might include, who might be involved, and how it might best be done.
The Neuronal Basis of Electrosensory Perception and Its Control of a Behavioral Response in a Weakly Electric Fish

Although electroreception is a sensory modality alien to us and, therefore, not easily accessible to our intuition, it has become a favorite system for the exploration of a wide spectrum of issues in sensory physiology and perception, involving disciplines as diverse as receptor biophysics and neuroethology. A number of reasons may be responsible for this development. First, electric stimuli can easily be measured and controlled experimentally. Second, electroreceptors are distributed over the body surface and are thus individually accessible. Third, the central nervous anatomy of some electrosensory systems has been explored in great detail and appears to be more transparent than the neuronal substrate of more commonly studied sensory systems, such as audition and vision in mammals. Fourth, a number of rather simple behavioral responses controlled by electroreception are sufficiently robust to function in neurophysiological preparations. This allows for the exploration of individual neurons under simultaneous monitoring of an intact behavioral response. It thus appears that the electric sense offers a suitable model system for the study of principles in the neuronal organization of perception and its control of adaptive behavioral responses, both central issues of neuroethology.
Teaching Critical Writing in the World Theatre Course: WAC Pedagogy and the Scaffolded Research Paper

A common issue that theatre professors may struggle with is balancing course content with significant writing requirements. How do we make our students better writers and critical thinkers while maintaining time for course content? Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) pedagogy and practices, such as scaffolded writing, teaching collaboration, and peer review, offer a student-centered model for addressing this issue and facilitate student academic success. In this paper, we offer an example of a scaffolded approach to the research paper assignment designed for our World Theatre courses at City University of New York–Hunter College. We first discuss WAC pedagogy and practices as implemented in other fields and their research findings. We then lay out the scaffolding design of our research paper assignment and explain the various exercises and activities we implemented throughout the semester. Next, we discuss three different case studies to exhibit the usefulness of scaffolded design for three unique student types, before turning our attention to the benefits of the scaffolded process. We conclude by describing our assessment tools and the rationale behind these grading methods, along with reflections on the process as well as recommendations for its implementation in other courses.
Abstract 1390: Honokiol, a bioactive component from Magnolia plant, promotes DNA demethylation and reactivates silenced tumor suppressors in pancreatic cancer cells through TET-dependent mechanism

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. American Cancer Society estimated that in 2017, approximately 53,670 new cases of pancreatic cancer will be diagnosed and 43,090 deaths will occur. In addition to genetic changes, epigenetic alterations are commonly associated with cancers including pancreatic cancer. Studies have shown that DNA hypermethylation contributes to tumor growth by inactivating tumor suppressors. DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) regulate DNA methylation, but mechanisms underlying DNA demethylation have not fully elucidated and have enormous translational potential. Ten-eleven translocations (TETs) have been shown to convert 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) into 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) and eventually reactivates tumor suppressors. Bioactive components from plants have shown their efficacy as potential chemopreventive and therapeutic agents. Here, we investigated the effect of honokiol on DNA methylation using in vitro cell culture model. We first checked the expression levels of global DNA methylation in pancreatic cancer cell lines (PANC-1, AsPC-1) and compared with normal human pancreas duct epithelial cells. Our data revealed that the levels of global DNA methylation were higher in pancreatic cancer cell lines. Treatment of AsPC-1 and PANC-1 cells with honokiol for five days resulted in significant decrease in global DNA methylation levels (60-80%, p Citation Format: Ram Prasad, Santosh Katiyar. Honokiol, a bioactive component from Magnolia plant, promotes DNA demethylation and reactivates silenced tumor suppressors in pancreatic cancer cells through TET-dependent mechanism [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1390.
Distributed Quantized Weight-Balancing and Average Consensus Over Digraphs

This paper studies distributed quantized weight-balancing and average consensus over fixed digraphs. A digraph with non-negative weights associated to its edges is weight-balanced if, for each node, the sum of the weights of its outgoing edges is equal to that of its incoming edges. We propose and analyze the first distributed algorithm that solves the weight-balancing problem using only quantized (one-bit) information among nodes and simplex communications (compliant to the directed nature of the graph edges). Asymptotic convergence of the scheme is proved and a convergence rate analysis is provided. Building on this result, a novel distributed algorithm is proposed that solves the average consensus problem over digraphs, using, at each iteration, only two-bit simplex communications between adjacent nodes – one bit for the weight-balancing problem, the other for the average consensus. Convergence to the average of the real (i.e., unquantized) node's initial values is proved, both almost surely and in mean square sense. Finally, numerical results validate our theoretical findings.
A preliminary study on prenatal polybrominated diphenyl ether serum concentrations and intrinsic functional network organization and executive functioning in childhood

Background The prenatal period is a period of vulnerability during which neurotoxic exposures exert persistent changes in brain development and behavior. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), used as flame retardants in commercial products, are known to be developmental neurotoxicants. PBDEs were phased out of use in the United States a decade ago, but exposure remains widespread due to their release from existing products and biopersistence. Despite consistent animal and epidemiological evidence of developmental neurotoxicity, the neural substrates linking prenatal PBDE serum concentrations to impaired neurodevelopment are poorly understood. Methods In the present study, we used resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine associations between prenatal PBDE concentrations measured in maternal serum and intrinsic functional network organization (i.e., global and local efficiency; estimated using a graph-theoretical approach) in 5-year-old children (n = 34). We explored whether PBDE serum concentrations were associated with executive functioning (EF) assessed using a parent-report questionnaire (BRIEF-P) (n = 106) and whether changes in intrinsic functional network organization linked the association between prenatal PBDE serum concentrations and EF problems. Results Children with higher prenatal PBDE serum concentrations showed: (a) increased global efficiency of brain areas involved in visual attention (e.g., inferior occipital gyrus) (β's = .01, FDR-corrected p's ≤ .05); (b) more reported EF problems (β's = .001, FDR-corrected p's ≤ .05). Higher global efficiency of brain areas involved in visual attention was associated with more EF problems (β's = .01, FDR-corrected p's Conclusions Intrinsic functional network organization of visual attention brain areas linked prenatal PBDE concentrations to EF problems in childhood. Visual attention may contribute to the development of higher-order cognitive functions, such as EF, which could be explored in future studies.
Effects of skeletal unloading on the bone marrow antibody repertoire of tetanus toxoid and/or CpG treated C57BL/6J mice.

Abstract Spaceflight is known to impact the immune system in multiple ways. However, its effect on the antibody repertoire, especially in response to challenge, has not been well characterized. The development of the repertoire has multiple steps that could be affected by spaceflight, including V-(D-)J-gene segment rearrangement and the selection of complementarity determining regions (CDRs); specifically, CDR3, responsible for much of the diversity in the repertoire. We used skeletal unloading with the antiorthostatic suspension (AOS) model to simulate some of the physiological effects associated with spaceflight. Animals ± AOS were challenged with tetanus toxoid (TT) and/or CpG, an adjuvant. Two weeks after challenge, bone marrow was collected and sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq 2 × 300 platform. The resulting antibody repertoire was characterized, including V-, D- (heavy only), and J-gene segment usage, constant region usage, CDR3 length, and V(D)J combinations. We detected changes in gene-segment usage in response to AOS, TT, and CpG treatment in both the heavy and light chains. Additionally, changes were seen in the class-switched VH-gene repertoire. Alterations were also detected in V/J pairing for both the heavy and light chains, and changes in CDR3 length. We also detected lower levels of CDR3 AA overlap than detected in the splenic repertoire. These results demonstrate that AOS, TT, and CpG alter the bone marrow antibody repertoire however, it is still unclear from the data whether there is a loss of host antigen-specific responsiveness because of the change in gene use.
12-HETrE, An Endogenous Inhibitor of Platelet Activation,

Abstract 3254 Platelet activation plays a pivotal role in thrombosis and hemostasis. Understanding the signaling events mediating this process is essential in preventing unwanted clot formation, which can lead to the development of heart attack, stroke, and venous thromboembolism. Fatty acids may play an important role in determining the level of platelet reactivity, however the mechanism(s) by which this occurs are not entirely clear. 12-lipoxygenase (12-LOX) has been shown to oxidize the fatty acid, arachidonic acid (AA), in order to produce the bioactive eicosanoid 12-HETE, which has recently been shown to play a role in tissue factor activation and subsequent thrombin generation in the platelet (Thomas et al., 2010, J Biol Chem; 285:6891–903). 12-HETE has also been shown to signal to cells, in part, through the G protein-coupled receptor GPR31 (Guo et al, 2011, J Biol Chem; epub). While research on 12-LOX-mediated eicosanoid regulation of platelets has primarily focused on 12-HETE, the potential for regulation of platelets by eicosanoids derived from other fatty acids has been overlooked. As the fatty acid content on the platelet membrane is extremely dynamic and fatty acid supplementation is correlated with a reduced risk for cardiovascular disease, we hypothesized that 12-LOX oxidation of another fatty acid may play a direct role in regulating platelet function. To test this hypothesis, the Ω-6 fatty acid dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA) as well as its eicosanoid derived from 12-LOX oxidation, 12-hydroxyeicosatrienoic acid (12-HETrE), were applied to washed platelets followed by stimulation with thrombin, PAR1-AP, or PAR4-AP. Platelets treated with either DGLA or 12-HETrE showed significant attenuation in platelet aggregation following stimulation with thrombin or PAR-AP. A number of biochemical intermediates were also tested in the presence of 12-HETrE or DGLA including Rap1 activation, αIIbβ3 integrin activation, α-granule secretion, and dense granule secretion. All endpoints tested were attenuated in the presence of DGLA or 12-HETrE relative to control. To confirm the regulation was unique to DGLA and its metabolite, the same endpoints were measured in the presence of AA or 12-HETE. Pre-treatment with either AA or 12-HETE did not attenuate any of the agonist-mediated platelet activation endpoints. Thus, our data supports a unique role for 12-HETE and 12-HETrE and that fatty acid regulation of platelet function may be highly dependent on the lipid content of the platelet. Shifting the ratios of fatty acids in the platelet through dietary supplementation or pharmacological intervention may be sufficient to induce a cardio-protective state, in part, through increasing 12-HETrE formation and subsequently inhibiting platelet activation. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Evidence of low levels of trace organic contaminants in terminal lakes.

Abstract Endorheic lakes (or terminal lakes, TLs) have no natural outlet other than evaporation and slow infiltration. Some TLs receive reclaimed wastewater which contains poorly removed trace organic contaminants (TrOCs). To determine if TLs accumulate TrOCs we conducted a preliminary assessment of the occurrence of ten TrOCs in three TLs receiving reclaimed wastewater and one TL which does not directly receive reclaimed wastewater. Five of ten TrOCs (carbamazepine, DEET, fluoxetine, primidone, and trimethoprim) were present in all four TLs’ surface waters (~0.3–1109 ng/L), six (caffeine, carbamazepine, DEET, diphenhydramine, primidone, and trimethoprim) were present in sediment samples (0.1–77 ng/gDW) and in soil samples (0.1–137 ng/gDW). Concentrations of caffeine, carbamazepine, diphenhydramine, fluoxetine and meprobamate were significantly higher in TLs receiving wastewater from a secondary treatment plant compared to those TLs which received tertiary treated wastewater. Carbamazepine, fluoxetine, sulfamethoxazole, and trimethoprim were present at concentrations greater than is typical of other U.S. freshwater lakes, but other TrOC concentrations were present at lower concentrations than in other freshwater lakes. We conclude that some TrOCs may accumulate in TLs, but to a lesser extent than would be expected based on the accumulation of dissolved constituents alone, which indicates that there are other unidentified processes in TLs that contribute to TrOC losses. Other TLs across the globe may have similar levels of TrOCs due to anthropogenic influence and treated wastewater inputs.
Case-based audit and feedback around a decision aid improved antibiotic choice and duration for uncomplicated cystitis in primary care clinics

Objectives The objective of our study was to evaluate the impact of a multifaceted stewardship intervention on adherence to the evidence-based practice guidelines on treatment of uncomplicated cystitis in primary care. We hypothesised that our intervention would increase guideline adherence in terms of antibiotic choice and duration of treatment. Design A preintervention and postintervention comparison with a contemporaneous control group was performed. During the first two study periods, we obtained baseline data and performed interviews exploring provider prescribing decisions for cystitis at both clinics. During the third period in the intervention clinic only, the intervention included a didactic lecture, a decision algorithm and audit and feedback. We used a difference-in-differences analysis to determine the effects of our intervention on the outcome and guideline adherence to antibiotic choice and duration. Setting Two family medicine clinics (one intervention and one control) were included. Participants All female patients with uncomplicated cystitis attending the study clinics between 2016 and 2019. Results Our sample included 932 visits representing 812 unique patients with uncomplicated cystitis. The proportion of guideline-adherent antibiotic regimens increased during the intervention period (from 33.2% (95% CI 26.9 to 39.9) to 66.9% (95% CI 58.4 to 74.6) in the intervention site and from 5.3% (95% CI 2.3 to 10.1) to 17.0% (95% CI 9.9 to 26.6) in the control site). The increase in guideline adherence was greater in the intervention site compared with the control site with a difference-in-differences of 22 percentage points, p=0.001. Conclusion A multifaceted intervention increased guideline adherence for antibiotic choice and duration in greater magnitude than similar trends at the control site. Future research is needed to facilitate scale-up and sustainability of case-based audit and feedback interventions in primary care.
“We Didn’t Start the Fire”: What Can Billy Joel Teach Us About the External Environment?:

General and strategic management courses frequently provide external analysis tools through which students identify, classify, and assess how changes in the general external environment impact indu...
The neural basis of number word processing in children and adults.

Abstract The ability to map number words to their corresponding quantity representations is a gatekeeper for children’s future math success ( Spaepen et al., 2018 ). Without number word knowledge at school entry, children are at greater risk for developing math learning difficulties (Chu et al., 2019). In the present study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine the neural basis for processing the meaning of spoken number words and its developmental trajectory in 4- to 10-year-old children, and in adults. In a number word-quantity mapping paradigm, participants listened to number words while simultaneously viewing quantities that were congruent or incongruent to the number word they heard. Whole brain analyses revealed that adults showed a neural congruity effect with greater neural activation for incongruent relative to congruent trials in anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and left intraparietal sulcus (LIPS). In contrast, children did not show a significant neural congruity effect. However, a region of interest analysis in the child sample demonstrated age-related increases in the neural congruity effect, specifically in the LIPS. The positive correlation between neural congruity in LIPS and age was stronger in children who were already attending school, suggesting that developmental changes in LIPS function are experience-dependent.
Hearing As Seeing Space and Time in Auditory Processing

The perception of sound involves a complex array of attributes and processes, ranging from the sensation of timber, pitch, and other spectral estimates (primarily monaural tasks), to the localization and fusion of sound sources, and the cocktail-party-effect (primarily bin- aural tasks). Computational strategies proposed to describe these phenomena have mostly emphasised temporal, rather than spatial, features in the representation of sound in the auditory system. This has led to considerably divergent views of the processing (and possible underlying biological networks) in auditory versus other sensory systems, such as the visual system. Recent experimental findings from the peripheral and central auditory system, however, reveal intricate spatiotemporal neural response patterns and a multitude of spatial cues that can encode the acoustic stimulus. These results suggest a unified computational framework, and hence shared neural network architectures, for central auditory and visual processing
Truth, Telling the Truth, and Being Truthful

This article links Oliver Sacks's examination of receptive (or global) aphasia with Julian Jaynes's hypothesis concerning the origin of reflective consciousness to clarify the role of nonverbal communication in the constitution of ethical relationships. The vehicle for explicating that linkage is a recent play by Orion White, The Girl Who Changed into a Dog. Commentary on selected scenes from the play suggests a conception of ethics based on the following assumptions: (1) Ethics is fundamentally relational rather than principled; (2) owing to its relational character, ethical action is determined by the particularities of the contexts as understood by the actors involved in them; (3) spoken language provides a better medium than written language for developing and sustaining these ethical relationships; (4) the affective dimensions of spoken utterances are no less important than their cognitive dimensions for "truthfully" depicting those contexts; (5) the affective dimensions of spoken utterances are infl...
System Accommodation of Propylene Loop Heat Pipes For The Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) Instrument

Loop Heat Pipes (LHP) are used for precise temperature control for NASA Goddard Space Flight Center's Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) Instrument in a widely varying LEO thermal environment. Two propylene LHPs are utilized to provide separate thermal control for the Nd:YAG Lasers and the remaining avionics/detector components suite. Despite a rigorous engineering development and test plan to demonstrate the performance in the restrictive GLAS design, the flight units failed initial thermal vacuum acceptance testing at GSFC. Subsequent investigation revealed that compromises in the mechanical packaging of these systems resulted in inadequate charge levels for a concentric wick LHP. The redesign effort included larger compensation chambers that provide more fluid to the wick for start-up scenarios and highlighted the need to fully understand the limitations and accommodation requirements of new technologies in a system design application. Once again, seemingly minor departures from heritage configurations and limited resources led to performance and operational issues. This paper provides details into the GLAS LHP engineering development program and acceptance testing of the flight units, including the redesign effort.
Voriconazole N‐oxide and its ultraviolet B photoproduct sensitize keratinocytes to ultraviolet A

SummaryBackground The antifungal agent, voriconazole, is associated with phototoxicity and photocarcinogenicity. Prior work has indicated that voriconazole and its hepatic N-oxide metabolite do not sensitize keratinocytes to ultraviolet B (UVB). Clinical observations have suggested that ultraviolet A (UVA) may be involved. Objectives To determine the photochemistry and photobiology of voriconazole and its major hepatic metabolite, voriconazole N-oxide. Materials and methods Voriconazole and voriconazole N-oxide were spectrophotometrically monitored following various doses of UVB. Cultured human keratinocytes were treated with parental drugs or with their UVB photoproducts, and survival following UVA irradiation was measured by thiazolyl blue metabolism. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and 8-oxoguanine were monitored by fluorescence microscopy. Results Voriconazole and voriconazole N-oxide have varying UVB absorption but do not acutely sensitize cultured human keratinocytes following UVB exposure. However, sustained UVB exposures produced notable dose- and solvent-dependent changes in the absorption spectra of voriconazole N-oxide, which in aqueous solution acquires a prominent UVA absorption band, suggesting formation of a discrete photoproduct. Neither the parental drugs nor their photoproducts sensitized cells to UVB although all but voriconazole N-oxide were moderately toxic to cells in the dark. Notably, both voriconazole N-oxide and its UVB photoproduct, but not voriconazole or its photoproduct, additionally sensitized cells to UVA by greater than three-fold relative to controls in association with UVA-induced ROS and 8-oxoguanine levels. Conclusions Voriconazole N-oxide and its UVB-photoproduct act as UVA-sensitizers that generate ROS and that produce oxidative DNA damage. These results suggest a mechanism for the phototoxicity and photocarcinogenicity observed with voriconazole treatment.
Pattern of Protein Synthesis in Monkey Cells Infected by Simian Virus 40

Abstract After infection of several permanent monkey cell lines by simian virus 40 (SV40), four additional protein bands can be detected by simple sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of whole-cell extracts. These bands appear only after the onset of viral deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis, and inhibitors of DNA synthesis prevent their appearance. Three of them correspond to three previously identified capsid components, VP1, VP2, and VP3. The fourth protein band, which does not correspond to a previously identified virion component, is induced by SV40 infection of CV-1 and BSC-1 cultures but not by infection of MA-134 cultures.
How toxic is hexachlorophene

Previously published, and unpublished, data relating to the toxicity of hexachlorophene (other than dermal) are reviewed. These data were considered by the Food and Drug Administration in formulating regulatory proposals on hexachlorophene.
Monitoring environmental standards : do local conditions matter?

Economists have criticized regulations that impose uniform environmental standards on plants that may face different marginal abatement costs and damage functions. Such critics ignore the difference in standard implementation across plants, giving rise to nonuniform standards. The authors analyze what determines the regulators' monitoring activities and what factors explain their decision to inspect a plant's environmental performance. They find that regulators are sensitive to local environmental damages and allocate inspection efforts to plants whose emissions are likely to generate more damage. Although national standards are uniform, implementation is a function of local conditions. Local monitoring and enforcement of national standards effectively determines the local price of pollution. Ignoring the tradeoffs taking place locally could undermine and render ineffective national regulatory and policy reform. This supports the public interest theory of regulation, which views the regulator as an agent whose objective is to maximize social welfare. The authors also show that the regulator's behavior is a function of variables not directly related to abatement cost and damages. In particular, conditions in the local labor market affect the regulator's monitoring strategy choice. This lends support to the economic theory of regulation, which views regulators as agents whose behavior can best be explained by assuming that they seek to maximize their political support.
Environmental policy and Japanese society

This paper examines successes and failures of Japanese environmental policy in the postwar period. The analysis evaluates Japanese environmental policy according to: (1) the form of the policy; (2) the administrative machinery for the policy; and (3) the probable consequences of the policy. A second paper, appears on p. 199 of this journal, examines the lessons from Japanese environmental policy about Japanese society and about environmental policy in general.
Intelligent Control for Cell Culture Processes

An Integrated Intelligent System is being developed for cell culture process control, which consists of several symbolic reasoning systems and numerical computation packages. These software programs are written in different languages and can be used independently. They are under the control of a supervisory expert system, namely, the Meta-System. The key issue to construct the Integrated Intelligent System is to organize the Meta-System. The Meta-System manages the selection, operation and communication of these programs. This new system can diagnose measurement and actuator failures, abnormal process conditions, and select and activate the most suitable control technique for the particular process conditions. It can also serve as a universal configuration to develop high-performance intelligent systems for many complicated engineering applications.
Estimation and identification for 2-D block Kalman

The author considers the development of recursive identification and estimation techniques for the 2-D block Kalman filtering method proposed by M.R. Azimi-Sadjadi and P.W. Wong (IEEE Trans. on Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Proc., vol.ASSP-35, p.1736-49, Dec. 1987). A recursive identification scheme is introduced which can be used online to update image model parameters based upon the local statistics within a processing window. The correlation matrix of the model noise is estimated by solving a set of vector Yule-Walker equations. A recursive procedure is given for computing the parameters of the higher-order models. A method for updating the Kalman gain matrix which does not require any matrix inversion operation is also suggested. >
Drug Abuse Handbook.

Drug Abuse Handbook. Steven B. Karch, ed. New York: CRC Press, 1998, 1138 pp. Hard cover $99.95. ISBN 0-8493-2637-0. The Drug Abuse Handbook contains 42 pages of appendices and 1055 pages of detailed, current information on what appears to be every possible aspect and ramification of drug abuse, making this a “must have” reference for the toxicologist working in clinical and forensic toxicology or the employee drug-testing arena. It will also be useful to other professionals dealing with the issues of drug abuse, including medical review officers, pathologists, pharmacists, educators, and physicians dealing with addicted patients. An Index is included, an essential in a book that covers this many topics. Although the book focuses primarily on drugs that are commonly thought of as “abused” drugs, much of the discussion provides both general and specific information that will be applicable to the toxicology of other drugs as well. A large number …
Long-run equilibrium and total expenditures in rent-seeking: A comment

Although Corcoran is mathematically correct, I believe his comment is not very helpful. In order to discuss the matter in some detail, the reader should consult table 7–1 from my original “Efficient Rent-Seeking” reproduced on page 92.1 This shows the equilibrium investment of each individual, different numbers of individuals playing the game (n), and differing values of r. Table 7–2, also reproduced on page 93, shows the total investment.
Photovoltaics and hydrogen: Future energy options

Solar power is destined to make a significant contribution to world energy supply for reasons of both the finite amount of fossil fuels and environmental damage consciousness. It is emphasized that the global environmental damage caused thermodynamically is more alarming to life on Earth than the risk of exhausting the finite amount of fossil fuels being consumed at the present rate. Solar power plants can be designed and constructed to convert solar radiation into some concentrated form of useful energy first and then into electricity or directly into electricity. The latter kind is comprised of photovoltaic cells. This paper discusses some of the solar energy options and also presents a historical overview, explains the rudimentary physical principles of the technology, the photovoltaic effect, the process to generate electricity in silicon solar cells, thin-film devices and high efficiency cells, and finally, the state-of-the-art of the latest developments in solar cell technology. Finally, the storing of solar energy, collected by a photovoltaic system, is recommended in the form of hydrogen as a future energy option.
Total sputtering yield of Nb bombarded by MeV heavy ions

Abstract The angular distribution and total yield of atoms sputtered from polycrystalline Nb by 70 MeV 79 Br 7+ ions have been measured. For comparison, measurements have also been made using 100 keV 40 Ar + and 100 keV 79 Br + projectiles. Targets were sputtered in ultra-high vacuum and sputtered material was collected on cylindrical AI foils. The areal density of collected material was subsequently determined by Rutherford backscattering using 850 keV 4 He + and 15 MeV 16 O 3+ incident ions. The low energy results were consistent with previous measurements in this energy regime where collision cascades are the dominant sputtering mechanism. For the 70 MeV Br irradiation, we measured a total yield, Y = 0.14, which is also consistent with a collisional description of the sputtering process.
Simulation studies on the control of posture and movement in a multi-jointed limb

Simulation studies were performed to evaluate the effectiveness of different control schemes in stabilizing a multi-jointed limb (human arm) in response to force perturbations. The mechanical properties of the arm were modeled as a linear visco-elastic system and the effectiveness of negative feedback of angular position and torque was evaluated. The effectiveness of a given amount of position feedback depended strongly on the initial position of the arm and on the perturbation, while torque feedback was much more consistently effective in damping the motion of the limb.
Data publication: towards a database of everything

The fabric of science is changing, driven by a revolution in digital technologies that facilitate the acquisition and communication of massive amounts of data. This is changing the nature of collaboration and expanding opportunities to participate in science. If digital technologies are the engine of this revolution, digital data are its fuel. But for many scientific disciplines, this fuel is in short supply. The publication of primary data is not a universal or mandatory part of science, and despite policies and proclamations to the contrary, calls to make data publicly available have largely gone unheeded. In this short essay I consider why, and explore some of the challenges that lie ahead, as we work toward a database of everything.
Diversity-function relationships changed in a long-term restoration experiment.

The central tenet of biodiversity–ecosystem function (BEF) theory, that species richness increases function, could motivate restoration practitioners to incorporate a greater number of species into their projects. But it is not yet clear how well BEF theory predicts outcomes of restoration, because it has been developed through tests involving short-run and tightly controlled (e.g., weeded) experiments. Thus, we resampled our 1997 BEF experiment in a restored salt marsh to test for long-term effects of species richness (plantings with 1, 3, and 6 species per 2 × 2 m plot), with multiple ecosystem functions as response variables. Over 11 years, 1- and 6-species assemblages converged on intermediate richness (mean = 3.9 species/0.25-m2 plot), and composition changed nonrandomly throughout the site. While three species became rare, the two most productive species became co-dominant. The two dominants controlled and increased shoot biomass, which appeared to decrease species richness. Diversity–function relat...
Mathematical model of a time and position variant external load on a gear tooth using the modified timoshenko beam equation

A piece wise continuous closed-form dynamic model of spur gear teeth meshing, using the modified Timoshenko beam equation for a stubby cantilever beam of varying cross-sectional area, is presented. The kinematics and kinetic relationships of a shaft-driven spur gear are used to determine the force on the involute surface of the gear tooth. A convenient set of equations, used to locate this force, is presented. The co-ordinates of this force are given with respect to a gear fixed coordinate system, located at the base of the gear tooth. The governing equations of motion were then numerically solved, and dynamic simulations of the gear tooth response at different gear speeds were performed. This model was then compared with the empirical data from research performed at the NASA Lewis Research Center.
The Use of Historical Materials in Elementary Science Classrooms.

Science educators have stressed in recent years the importance of providing students with an historical understanding of the development of scientific knowledge. Although many approaches have been suggested for building historical understanding of science, historical source materials have often been deemed too difficult to use with ele- mentary school students. This article reports on a case study that used archival and con- temporary source materials in project activities, such as photographs and field notes, to engage students in the processes of data generation, selection, annotation, and evaluation. The curricular science activities of one elementary classroom with 29 fourth and fifth grade students are decribed and analyzed as they build and use archives of historical and con- temporary naturalist materials. The article concludes with a discussion of the feasibility and benefits of using historical source materials within elementary science education, as well as the implications for selecting and preparing historical source materials in digital format for use in elementary education. 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Sci Ed 85:349- 367, 2001.
Ways of knowing and epistemological beliefs : Combined effect on academic performance

To obtain a more complete understanding of personal epistemology this study examines two epistemic paradigms – ways of knowing (specifically connected knowing and separate knowing) and epistemological beliefs (specifically beliefs about knowledge structure, knowledge stability, learning speed, and learning ability). Participants were 107 college students who completed questionnaires that assessed ways of knowing and epistemological beliefs. Multivariate analysis of variance revealed that men score significantly higher on separate knowing. Path analyses revealed that the effects of ways of knowing on academic performance are mediated by belief in the speed of learning.
A small and secure submission system for UNIX systems

Often the only choices available for submitting assignments are paper, diskette, or e-mail. Yet each of these media has major shortcomings. This paper delineates these shortcomings, reviews previous attempts at creating useful assignment submission systems, and describes a new submission system, named turnin. This UNIX-based submission system is attractive because it is small, simple, easy to maintain, and intuitive to use. One of the major problems addressed by the design of turnin is support for submission of files across multiple NFS mounted file systems. Other features include the ability to enforce due dates, keep files in secure locations, keep accurate time stamps for individual submissions, and provide feedback to students about the status of their individual submissions.
Acid-base status in nonketotic diabetics.

Measurements of acid-base parameters in arterial blood were performed in patients with different types of well-controlled diabetes. The diabetics showed normal acid-base status in recumbent position after a night's fast. In contrast to the control subjects, the diabetics showed, on change of posture, an enhanced ventilation, leading to a lowering of Pco2 by 2-3 mm Hg and a rise in pH of 0.02 about 30 min after erect position was assumed. The higher blood pH in diabetics seemed to persist during daytime.
Seeing the Partner: A Video Recall Study of Emotional Behavior in Same- and Mixed-Sex Late Adolescent Romantic Couples

Fifty-three college-aged same- and mixed-sex romantic couples (83% White, 63% female, mean age, 20.8) engaged in a video recall task in which they rated their own and their partners’ behaviors and emotions. Females reported feeling more connected to partners and reported fewer negative behaviors than males. Females with male partners reported the highest feelings of connection and the fewest negative behaviors. Males with male partners reported the lowest connection and most negative behaviors. Behavioral mirroring and empathic accuracy did not vary by sex of the actor or of their partner. Partners’ self-reported connection and negative behaviors were similar and they accurately perceived each others’ average behavioral and emotional states. The data showed little evidence that partners’ behaviors mirrored one another temporally across time segments, however. Results suggest that college-aged same and mixed-sex romantic couples show greater similarities than differences in functioning.
Auditory Context and Memory Retrieval in Young Infants

Three-month-old infants were trained to move an overhead crib mobile while 1 of 2 musical selections was played. Retention was assessed 1 or 7 days later in the presence of either the same music or a different musical selection. In Experiment 1, the musical selections were very different (classical versus jazz); in Experiment 2, they were much more similar (two classical pieces). Infants in both experiments displayed 1 day retention regardless of which music was played during the retention test. At 7 days, retention was seen only when the music played during the retention test matched the training music. These data are consistent with similar findings showing that 3-month-old infants' memory is disrupted at long retention intervals when the context present during retention testing does not match the learning context. As the infant's memory wanes, context appears to function as a necessary cue for the retrieval of acquired expectancies.
Power system probabilistic security assessment using Bayes classifier

This paper presents a method for power system security assessment based on the Bayes classifier. This method can be applied to calculate probabilistic security indices as well as on-line security assessment. In general, the determination of security breach is a cumbersome and time-consuming process due to dynamic and steady-state effects. These effects can be incorporated by considering transient stability, satisfaction of system load without violation of constraints, and voltage stability studies. The variation of the system load, as well as contingencies, may cause system transition to a different operating state. It is impractical if not impossible to evaluate all these situations, such as contingencies resulting from load variation. The straightforward Monte Carlo simulation, one of the possible methods in power system reliability analysis, requires the evaluation of a system operating state for each sampled state and is computation-intensive. In the proposed method, first the joint probability density of feature vectors has been obtained by using some training data. Once this joint distribution is obtained, the Bayes classifier provides the assessment of system security without complicated contingency analyses and can reduce the computational burden. Security status of a given feature vector can be determined by a posteriori probability rule called Bayes rule, which can be implemented in on-line security assessment or power system reliability studies.
Do hemolyzed potassium specimens need to be repeated

Abstract Background In the emergency department (ED), hyperkalemia in the presence of hemolysis is common. Elevated hemolyzed potassium levels are often repeated by emergency physicians to confirm pseudohyperkalemia and to exclude a life-threatening true hyperkalemia. Objectives We hypothesize that in patients with a normal renal function, elevated hemolyzed potassium, and normal electrocardiogram (ECG), there may not be a need for further treatment or repeat testing and increased length of stay. Methods Data were prospectively enrolled patients presenting to the ED from July 2011 to February 2012. All adult subjects who had a hemolyzed potassium level ≥ 5.5 mEq/dL underwent a repeat potassium level and ECG. The incidence of true hyperkalemia in this population was measured. Results A total of 45 patients were enrolled. The overall median age was 52 years (range 25–83 years); 22 were female (49%). In patients with hyperkalemia on initial blood draw and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) ≥ 60 (n = 45), the negative predictive value was 97.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 88.2–99.9%). When patients had hyperkalemia on initial blood draw, GFR ≥ 60, and a normal ECG (n = 42), the negative predictive value was 100% (95% CI 93.1–100%). Conclusions In the setting of hemolysis, GFR ≥ 60 mL/min in conjunction with a normal ECG is a reliable predictor of pseudohyperkalemia and may eliminate the need for repeat testing. In patients with a normal GFR who are otherwise deemed safe for discharge, our results indicate there is no need for repeat testing.
Comparative judicial discretion: An empirical test of economic models

Author(s): Cooter, Robert D.; Ginsburg, Tom | Abstract: The legitimacy of the European Union rests in large part on the legitimacy of its courts and their ability to contribute to political development. Judges have their own preferences about the political order, which they can exercise through the interpretation of statutes. Judicial lawmaking is constrained, however, by the countervailing power of other officials. A judicial interpretation of a statute can be overturned by fresh legislation that explicitly stipulates the preferred interpretation of the legislators. The discretionary power of judges increases as the probability decreases that a judicial interpretation of a statute will be repealed by fresh legislation. Fresh legislation is more difficult to enact when the constitution divides power, providing more officials with the power to veto bills. Conversely, fresh legislation is easier to enact when a single, disciplined party governs the state. Therefore, we predict that courts will be more adventurous in interpreting legislation as the number of independent vetoes on fresh legislation increases and as the unity and discipline of political parties decreases. We test this prediction using data from European and other industrial democracies. The data confirms the prediction. Please contact the Program in Law and Economics at Boalt Hall School of Law, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720 for a copy of this paper.
The effect of gamma irradiation on the superconducting properties of GdBa2cu3o7−x

Abstract The effects of gamma irradiation on the superconducting properties of GdBa 2 Cu 3 O 7− x have been investigated. No significant changes in the superconducting transition temperature T c or the normal-state resistivity could be ascribed to the gamma irradiation, irrespective of the ambient gas, for gamma doses up to 1.8 × 10 10 rad. This result contradicts two previous studies reported in the literature. Reasonable explanations for these discrepancies were developed based on the observed inherent sample-to-sample variations of T c or the normal-state resistivity, the extreme sensitivity of these materials to inadvertent heating at temperatures as low as 200°C, and the tendency of these ceramics to develop microcracks with thermal cycling.