cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Early cognitive and behavioral problems in children with nodular heterotopia

Adults with periventricular nodular heterotopia (PNH) have epilepsy and dyslexia, but most have normal intelligence. It is not known whether PNH-related reading difficulty can be detected earlier in childhood or whether associated behavioral problems are present. We studied 10 children with PNH, 3 of whom did not have seizures, and 10 matched controls with neuropsychological testing and parental rating instruments at two time points separated by about 1 year. Children with PNH performed significantly worse than controls on a task related to reading fluency. In addition, those with PNH showed significantly worse adaptive skills, and a measure of conduct problems significantly worsened over time. Mood and behavioral problems were reported more commonly, though not significantly so, in children with PNH. These findings demonstrate that reading dysfluency can be evident in children with nodular heterotopia, even in the absence of epilepsy, but also highlight difficulties with behavior in this population.
Navy bean responses to zinc fertilizers

Abstract Experiments were conducted to study the effects of various Zn carriers and rates on the growth and Zn uptake of Sanilac navy beans. Plants were grown under greenhouse and growth chamber conditions for 2, 4, 6 or 8 weeks on a Wisner silty clay loam soil low in available Zn. Plant growth responded to the various Zn fertilizers except at 4 weeks where no response was obtained. Only ZnZnEDTA and ZnNa2EDTA increased growth at 2, 6 and 8 weeks while ZnSO4, ZnHEIDA, ZnNTA and Zn(NO3)2 did not give consistent responses at all of these periods. The Zn carriers did not influence uptake until 6 weeks after planting. Zinc rates began to influence plant growth at about the bloom stage, 6 weeks after planting with 2.0 kg/ha Zn as ZnNa2EDTA and 3.3, 6.6 and 13.2 kg/ha Zn as ZnSO4 giving higher responses than 0.7 or 1.3 kg/ha Zn as ZnNa2EDTA. The most consistent increase in Zn uptake at 2, 6 and 8 weeks was obtained with 6.6 and 13.2 kg/ha Zn applied as ZnSO4. No differences in uptake were obtained at 4 weeks be...
A solution to problems presented by residual magnetism in electron beam welding

(1991). A solution to problems presented by residual magnetism in electron beam welding. Welding International: Vol. 5, No. 9, pp. 707-719.
Ventilatory Response during Dissociative Sedation in Children—A Pilot Study

Objectives: It is unclear whether ketamine induces subclinical respiratory depression when administered in dissociative doses intravenously (IV). The authors report a pilot study of capnography in emergency department (ED) pediatric patients receiving ketamine alone for procedural sedation, and describe serial measures of ventilatory response [end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO 2 ), respiratory rate, pulse oximetry]. Methods: The authors performed continuous capnography on a convenience sample of 20 ED pediatric patients who received ketamine 1.5 mg/kg IV for procedural sedation. Results: Continuous EtCO 2 and pulse oximetry remained essentially unchanged following ketamine injection, and no EtCO 2 levels > 47 mm Hg were noted at any point throughout sedation. Conclusions: No hypoventilation was observed in 20 ED pediatric patients receiving ketamine 1.5 mg/kg administered IV over 1 minute. The authors found no evidence of respiratory depressant properties for this dissociative agent.
Gender differences in methamphetamine use and responses: a review.

Background: Men and women differ markedly with regard to their use of, and responses to, methamphetamine (MA) and related amphetamines. However, these gender differences oftentimes are given only a cursory consideration in the analyses of these MA effects. Objective: In this brief review, we summarize the data on gender differences in various parameters of MA use and responses. Such information on the pattern of male versus female differences in the use and responses to this psychostimulant can aid in tailoring gender-dependent treatment strategies. Methods: English-language articles were identified from MEDLINE as well as from reference lists of identified articles for the years 1966 to 2007. Search terms included various combinations of men/male, women/female, methamphetamine, and gender/sex differences. Only studies with human subjects were reviewed. Results: Women tend to begin MA use at earlier ages, appear more dependent on MA, but also respond better to treatment than do men. MA use appears to be associated with depression in women, and women seem more committed to MA, whereas men are more likely to use other drugs in the absence of access to MA. Female MA abusers had both larger volumes within the corpus callosum and more hyperperfused regions in the parietal and occipital areas of the brain, along with more genetic alterations but less MA-induced toxicity. Amphetamine-stimulated dopamine release was greater in men. Conclusions: When considered in total, women seem more dependent on and committed to MA but show diminished (amphetamine-stimulated) dopamine responses and a decreased degree of toxicity, as indicated by a lower incidence of emergency department-related deaths involving MA. A pervasive comorbidity of depression or depression-related characteristics were present in women MA users, suggesting that MA may serve as a type of self-medication for their depression. These findings not only highlight the need for consideration of gender when assessing MA use, but also can serve to direct efforts at prevention and treatment programs that address the specific needs of men and women.
Quantitative Microplasma Electron Number Density Measurement by Coherent Microwave Rayleigh Scattering

In this paper, a method for quantitative measurement of electron number density in a microplasma by coherent microwave Rayleigh scattering is described. Coherent microwave Rayleigh scattering reaches its maximum when the microwave frequency is at its resonance frequency. The resonance frequency depends on the electron number density in the microplasma and the electron-neutral and Coulomb collisional frequencies. When a subnanosecond microwave pulse illuminates the microplasma, the average electron number density can be measured from the frequency analysis of microwave scattering. The technique will be able to quantitatively measure subnanosecond-resolved electron number density evolution in the microplasma.
Phosphatidylcholine (PC)-specific Phospho-Lipase C (PC-PLC) is required for LPS-mediated macrophage activation

Lipid rafts are sphingolipid-rich membrane microdomains critical to the assembly of the TLR4 receptor complex during LPS exposure within the macrophage. Previously we have demonstrated that activation of the atypical PKC, PKC-ζ, is required for LPS-mediated TLR4 receptor assembly and activation. However, the mechanism in which this kinase is activated following LPS exposure leading to TLR4 receptor assembly and activation remains unknown. The purpose of this study is to determine if the sphingolipid metabolite ceramide produced by PC-PLC is required for activation of this process by LPS. Methods. Differentiated THP-1 cells were stimulated with 100 ng/ml of LPS. Selected cells were pretreated with 100 μM of the PC-PLC inhibitor tricylodecan-9-yl xanthogentate (D609). Lipid raft and cellular protein were extracted and analyzed for TLR4, and PKC-ζ and MAPK activation. TLR4 mobilization to lipid rafts was verified by immunohistochemistry. Harvested supernatants were analyzed by ELISA for TNF-μ production. Results. LPS led to the phosphorylation of PKC-ζ and the mobilization of TLR4 to lipid rafts as demonstrated by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. This receptor complex assembly was followed by the activation of the MAPK family, consisting of ERK 1/2, p38, and JNK, and the production of TNF-μ. Pretreatment with D609 resulted in abolished LPS-mediated PKC-ζ phosphorylation, and attenuated LPS-mediated TLR4 lipid raft mobilization (figure), MAPK activation, and TNF-μ production (P > 0.05). Conclusion. TLR4 receptor assembly occurs following LPS exposure. Assembly of the TLR4 receptor complex requires the generation of ceramide by PC-PLC. Thus, modulation of sphingholipid conversion to ceramide by PC-PLC may serve as a therapeutic target for modulation of macrophage activation during sepsis. Download full-size image
Ambidextrous Scholarship: A Review Essay

This essay reviews three recent works in the field of philosophy of education, each of which brings the work of a major philosophical thinker to bear on contemporary topics within education: Michael Peters, ed., Heidegger, Education, and Modernity; Randall Curren, Aristotle on the Necessity of Public Education; and Mordechai Gordon, ed., Hannah Arendt and Education. I argue that these works are representative of a current trend in educational philosophers' ideas, including their political, social, and ethical philosophy. This approach to philosophy of education differs in significant ways from past approaches, in which the connection between philosophy and education was conceived narrowly. In the works under consideration here, education is not understood as an isolated field that is connected to philosophy only through a concerted effort; rather, education is understood as a presence within the broad constellation of philosophical questions. These books therefore not only shed light on educational matters, but they also demonstrate an elegant way to bring together theory and practice, mind and body, philosophy and education.
Synthesis and biological evaluation of a selective N- and p/q-type calcium channel agonist.

The acute effect of the potent cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) inhibitor (R)-roscovitine on Ca2+ channels inspired the development of structural analogues as a potential treatment for motor nerve terminal dysfunction. On the basis of a versatile chlorinated purine scaffold, we have synthesized ca. 20 derivatives and characterized their N-type Ca2+ channel agonist action. Agents that showed strong agonist effects were also characterized in a kinase panel for their off-target effects. Among several novel compounds with diminished cdk activity, we identified a new lead structure with a 4-fold improved N-type Ca2+ channel agonist effect and a 22-fold decreased cdk2 activity as compared to (R)-roscovitine. This compound was selective for agonist activity on N- and P/Q-type over L-type calcium channels.
Identification of caries risk factors in toddlers

The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors to predict caries progression in toddlers in primary-healthcare settings for the cost-effective targeting of preventive and referral strategies. We examined 329 children (26 ± 6 mos old) twice, one year apart, in Indiana, USA. A 107-item structured interview was used to collect information from the primary caregiver and child on factors/beliefs/perceptions/behaviors that could affect caries development, transmission of bacteria, medical-dental health, and access to care. Bacterial levels, gingivitis, dental plaque, and caries experience were assessed. Multiple-variable logistic regression models of caries progression toward cavitation included family caries experience, transmission-related behaviors, dietary factors, health beliefs, and lower income, but differed in selected predictors/predictive power by race/ethnicity. Addition of clinical variables did not significantly improve the prediction.
Malignant rhabdoid tumor of the bladder and ganglioglioma in a 14 year-old male with a germline 22q11.2 deletion

Malignant rhabdoid tumors (MRTs) are rare pediatric malignancies characterized by clinically aggressive lesions that typically show loss of SMARCB1 expression. We herein describe a case of a malignant rhabdoid tumor of the bladder in a 14-year-old male with an autism spectrum disorder and a de novo 3 Mb germline deletion in chromosome band 22q11.2 that included the SMARCB1 gene. The malignancy developed in the setting of chronic hematuria (>2 years) following the occurrence of two other lesions: a central nervous system ganglioglioma and an intraoral dermoid cyst. MRTs of the bladder are exceedingly rare, and this patient is the oldest child reported with this tumor to date. This case adds to the growing body of literature regarding the recently described, phenotypically diverse, distal 22q11.2 syndrome. Furthermore, this is the first reported case in which an MRT of the bladder appears to have developed from a pre-existing bladder lesion. Finally, this case further supports a rhabdoid tumorigenesis model in which heterozygous loss of SMARCB1 predisposes to initial tumor formation with intact SMARCB1 expression, with subsequent inactivation of the other SMARCB1 allele, which results in transformation into more malignant lesions.
Assessment and Evaluation in Social Work Education: Formative and Summative Approaches

Despite a wealth of tacit knowledge in academia regarding effective teaching strategies and a rich theoretical and empirical knowledge base on student learning, social work instructors wishing to identify appropriate ways to measure teaching and learning have little evidence to guide them. This article presents a framework for assessment of student learning and evaluation of instructor teaching that distinguishes between formative methods, which support an ongoing process of improvement, and summative methods, which represent a measure of competence or mastery. While summative methods are often used to meet institutional or programmatic goals, formative methods bridge assessment and evaluation and can result in a more reflective, constructive, and productive experience for both instructors and students.
Strain-induced crystallization of polyethylene terephthalate.

Strain induced crystallization of polyethylene terephthalate by reorganization of paracrystalline ball-like structures present in amorphous material
A model for calculating virial coefficients of natural gas hydrocarbons with impurities

Abstract A model for calculating second and third virial coefficients, originally developed to described the behavior of polar halocarbon refrigerants and their mixtures, has been applied to systems of natural gas hydrocarbons and their common impurities, namely H 2 S, H 2 O, CO 2 , CO, and N 2 . It can be used to correlate data, point out probable errors and provide predictions where data are nonexistent or unreliable. It also provides a means for calculating accurate gas-phase densities, thermodynamic properties, fugacities, and “calculated data” which can be incorporated into global equations of state for phase equilibrium calculations. Examples are shown for some of the pure components and for the binary systems C 2 H 6 + H 2 S and CH 4 + H 2 O. In the case of H 2 O, terms are included that account for association. Comparisons are made with available data, and predicted values are shown where no data exist.
How prepared are your interns to take calls? Results of a multi-institutional study of simulated pages to prepare medical students for surgery internship

Abstract Background This study evaluated a simulated pages curriculum that was developed to assess communication and clinical decision making in medical students and interns. Methods A curriculum consisting of 14 simulated pages was administered across 5 institutions to 150 senior medical students. A 3-case subset was administered to interns who did not participate in the curriculum. Six expert surgeons identified critical fails and set passing scores for case-specific assessments using the Graphical Hofstee Method. Results Participants in the curriculum demonstrated superior clinical decision making compared with non-participants across all cases scenarios ( P Conclusions Participation in a mock page curriculum improved performance. The performance of participants based on expert standards set for simulated page performance highlight the need for innovative approaches to improve interns' preparedness to take calls.
Public Infrastructure and Economic Productivity: A Transportation-Focused Review

Economists' interest in the question of public infrastructure productivity has grown steadily since the 1980s. This paper reviews the literature on this topic with a particular focus on transportation's economic impact. Cumulative evidence reveals that, first, estimates of the elasticity of output with respect to public capital have declined over time and are currently indistinguishable from zero. Second, highways have local negative spillover effects that arise from economic activities being drawn to infrastructure-rich locations at the expense of adjacent areas. Third, transportation infrastructure is subject to congestion, which reduces the productivity of such infrastructure even when stocks remain constant. Finally, highways consistently enhance the productivity of manufacturing firms even when they do not do so for firms in other sectors.
Extracranial lesions of the head and neck: preliminary experience with Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging.

The authors report initial experience with magnetic resonance imaging enhanced with gadolinium diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) in 27 patients with various extracranial lesions of the head and neck. Unenhanced T1- and T2-weighted images were compared with T1-weighted images obtained 3-30 minutes after Gd-DTPA administration. Overall, compared with precontrast T1- and T2-weighted images, Gd-DTPA improved the visibility of lesions in 11 and five of 27 patients, respectively. Gd-DTPA particularly improved the conspicuity of tumors of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses and tumors having perineural or intracranial extension. Gd-DTPA-enhanced images were equivalent to precontrast T1- and T2-weighted images in five and 13 patients, respectively, and inferior to them in nine and eight patients, respectively. Mixed results were obtained in two patients and one patient when Gd-DTPA-enhanced images were compared with T1- and T2-weighted images, respectively. The authors conclude that Gd-DTPA has definit...
Variable participation in the defense of communal feeding territories by blue monkeys in the Kakamega Forest, Kenya

While blue monkey groups often defend feeding territories against their neighbours, group members do not participate equally. Data spanning 5 years and 5 wild groups were used to address factors that might explain variable participation, both across age-sex classes and among individual adult females. Adult females participated most, although there was a 9-fold difference between those individuals who participated most and least. Juvenile participation increased with age, but female juveniles participated more than males in each cohort. Male juveniles reduced participation as they approached the age of natal emigration. In general, it seems that adult participation patterns are acquired gradually during ontogeny. Among adult females, those with infants participated less than those without infants, and higher-ranking females participated more than lower-rankers. The presence of matrilineal kin in the group did not generally affect participation by adult females. Age-sex class differences and the effect of infant presence can be explained in terms of relative costs and benefits to participation. The lack of a kinship effect was unexpected. The rank effect was also unanticipated, given that rank does not predict reproductive success in this species. High-ranking females may face lower costs, offer staying incentives to lower-ranked females, or trade services with them.
Early disseminated Lyme disease: Lyme meningitis

Lyme meningitis is the direct result of invasion of the nervous systfem by Borrelia burgdorferi . Occurring within the first few months of infection, it initially presents as a chronic basilar meningitis. Much about the pathogenesis of Lyme meningitis has been learned from animal models, the best being the adult Rhesus macaque. Injection of these animals with a highly infective strain of B. burgdorferi has led to a very predictable course of events: erythema migrans within the first few weeks after injection, development of anti- B. burgdorferi antibody, detection of spirochetemia in weeks 3 and 4, and central nervous system (CNS) invasion within 1 month with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pleocytosis. In humans, facial palsy is the earliest clinical indicator. Headache and meningismus are symptoms of inflammation of the subarachnoid space. Severe fatigue and arthralgia are common extra-CNS symptoms. Culture is not generally useful for detecting or confirming Lyme meningitis. False-positive serologic tests may occur in patients with other infections, inflammatory processes, or malignancies. Immunoblotting will differentiate true-from false-positive antibody reactivity. Lack of a consistently positive serum antibody titer should make the diagnosis of Lyme meningitis suspect. Positive CSF antibody is almost universal in patients with Lyme meningitis. Polymerase chain reaction is a direct test that is highly specific and sensitive. The antibiotic treatment of choice is intravenous (IV) cephalosporins or penicillin for 2–3 weeks. If the clinical picture is anything less than absolutely classic, a lumbar puncture and Western blot of serum should be obtained in a seropositive patient before initiating intravenous antibiotic therapy. There is no role at this time for long-term (>1 month) intravenous antibiotics. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents can also be of benefit.
A philosophical analysis of David Orr’s theory of ecological literacy: biophilia, ecojustice and moral education in school learning communities

In his writings, David Orr claims that the US is in an “ecological crisis” and that this stems from a crisis of education. He outlines a theory of ecological literacy, a mode by which we better learn the ecology of the Earth and live in a sustainable manner. While emphasizing a shock doctrine, the diagnosis of “crisis” may be correct, but it is short-lived for children and adults of the world. In this philosophical analysis of Orr’s theory, it is argued that we move beyond the perspective of crisis. By extending Orr’s ecological literacy with biophilia and ecojustice and by recognizing the importance of experience-in-learning, science education is envisioned to incorporate values and morals within a longer term ideology of educational reform.
Interference analysis of multi-hop cellular sensor networks

Wireless sensor networks can enhance efficiency in a wide range of settings, from health care to the electric grid. Identifying high-capacity architectures for wireless sensor networks is critical to supporting many of the applications that are envisioned to modernize these sectors. In this paper, we propose a multi-hop architecture with in-band relaying to improve the capacity of cellular sensor networks. We present an interference analysis for our multi-hop network and compare the uplink outage capacity for different number of hops. We show that, with spread spectrum based transmissions, multi-hop communication can significantly increase capacity relative to the conventional single-hop model, however the capacity improvement diminishes as the number of hops increases.
Extraction of edge radiation within a straight section of Aladdin

Edge radiation may be extracted by a slotted mirror located within a straight section of the Aladdin electron storage ring. For wavelengths exceeding 1 mm, this method is expected to provide a greater flux than a large aperture located downstream of a straight section or bending magnet source. The edge radiation within an Aladdin straight section may find application as a broadband source for wavelengths of 1 μm–60 mm, or as a diagnostic of the bunch length through coherent emission.
Targeted delivery of antibodies through the blood-brain barrier by MRI-guided focused ultrasound.

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is a persistent obstacle for the local delivery of macromolecular therapeutic agents to the central nervous system (CNS). Many drugs that show potential for treating CNS diseases cannot cross the BBB and there is a need for a non-invasive targeted drug delivery method that allows local therapy of the CNS using larger molecules. We developed a non-invasive technique that allows the image-guided delivery of antibody across the BBB into the murine CNS. Here, we demonstrate that subsequent to MRI-targeted focused ultrasound induced disruption of BBB, intravenously administered dopamine D4 receptor-targeting antibody crossed the BBB and recognized its antigens. Using MRI, we were able to monitor the extent of BBB disruption. This novel technology should be useful in delivering macromolecular therapeutic or diagnostic agents to the CNS for the treatment of various CNS disorders.
A mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry investigation of the nature of [C10H10]+˙, [C9H7]+ and [C10H8]+˙ gas phase ions

Additional evidence for the rearrangement of the 1- and 3-phenylcyclobutene radical cations, their corresponding ring-opened 1,3-butadiene ions and 1,2-dihydronaphthalene radical cations to methylindenetype ions has been obtained for the decomposing ions by mass analysed ion kinetic energy spectroscopy (MIKES). The nature of the [C9H7]+ and [C10H8]+˙ daughter ions arising from the electron ionization induced fragmentation of these [C10H10]+˙ precursors has been investigated by collisionally activated dissociation (CAD), collisional ionization and ion kinetic energy spectroscopy. The [C9H7]+ produced from the various C10H10 hydrocarbons are of identical structure or an identical mixture of interconverting structures. These ions are similar in nature to the [C9H7]+ generated from indene by low energy electron ionization. The [C10H8]+˙ ions also possess a common structure, which is presumably that of the maphthalene radical cation.
Additions to the Uredinales of Venezuela-III.

(1943). Additions to the Uredinales of Venezuela—II. Mycologia: Vol. 35, No. 4, pp. 434-445.
Role of specific dopamine receptor subtypes in amphetamine discrimination.

Biochemical, electrophysiological, and behavioral experiments suggest that the dopamine D-1 and D-2 receptor subtypes functionally interact. In rats trained to discriminate 1.0 mg/kg d-amphetamine, substitution with the D-2 agonist quinpirole (0.1–2.0 mg/kg) produces amphetaminelever responding, whereas the D-1 agonist SKF 38393 (0.3–10.0 mg/kg) elicits only saline-appropriate responding. Combining either quinpirole (0.05–0.5 mg/kg) or SKF 38393 (0.5–10.0 mg/kg) with 0.3 mg/kg d-amphetamine results in dose-dependent increases in amphetamine-lever responding. Conversely, the D-1 antagonist SCH 23390 (0.02–0.1 mg/kg) antagonizes the discrimination produced by 0.7 mg/kg d-amphetamine. Additional combination studies examined the effect of DA receptor drugs on discrimination when quinpirole is substituted in d-amphetamine trained rats. SKF 38393 (0.5–7.0 mg/kg) fails to increase the amphetamine-appropriate lever response produced by either 0.05 or 0.2 mg/kg quinpirole. Similarly, SCH 23390 (0.01–0.1 mg/kg) fails to antagonize the amphetamine-lever responding produced by either 0.2 or 0.5 mg/kg quinpirole. Haloperidol (0.02–0.2 mg/kg) does antagonize the amphetamine-appropriate response produced by quinpirole substitution. The d-amphetamine discrimination studies indicate that stimulating D-2 receptors alone or D-1 receptors in the presence of d-amphetamine yields d-amphetamine-lever responding, and suggests that D-1/D-2 receptors can functionally interact to alter discrimination behavior. Quinpirole substitution, on the other hand, shows an insensitivity to D-1 receptor manipulations.
Reaction discovery enabled by DNA-templated synthesis and in vitro selection

Current approaches to reaction discovery focus on one particular transformation. Typically, researchers choose substrates based on their predicted ability to serve as precursors for the target structure, then evaluate reaction conditions1,2,3,4,5,6 for their ability to effect product formation. This approach is ideal for addressing specific reactivity problems, but its focused nature might leave many areas of chemical reactivity unexplored. Here we report a reaction discovery approach that uses DNA-templated organic synthesis7,8,9,10 and in vitro selection to simultaneously evaluate many combinations of different substrates for bond-forming reactions in a single solution. Watson–Crick base pairing controls the effective molarities of substrates tethered to DNA strands; bond-forming substrate combinations are then revealed using in vitro selection for bond formation, PCR amplification and DNA microarray analysis. Using this approach, we discovered an efficient and mild carbon–carbon bond-forming reaction that generates an enone from an alkyne and alkene using an inorganic palladium catalyst. Although this approach is restricted to conditions and catalysts that are at least partially compatible with DNA, we expect that its versatility and efficiency will enable the discovery of additional reactions between a wide range of substrates.
Adaptive Approximations and Exact Penalization for the Solution of Generalized Semi-infinite Min-Max Problems

We develop an implementable algorithm for the solution of a class of generalized semi-infinite min-max problems. To this end, first we use exact penalties to convert a generalized semi-infinite min-max problem into a finite family of semi-infinite min-max-min problems. Second, the inner min-function is smoothed and the semi-infinite max part is approximated, using discretization, to obtain a three-parameter family of finite min-max problems. Under a calmness assumption, we show that when the penalty is sufficiently large the semi-infinite min-max-min problems have the same solutions as the original problem, and that when the smoothing and discretization parameters go to infinity the solutions of the finite min-max problems converge to solutions of the original problem, provided the penalty parameter is sufficiently large. Our algorithm combines tests for adjusting the penalty, the smoothing, and the discretization parameters and makes use of a min-max algorithm as a subroutine. In effect, the min-max algorithm is applied to a sequence of gradually better-approximating min-max problems, with the penalty parameter eventually stopping to increase, but with the smoothing and discretization parameters driven to infinity. A numerical example demonstrates the viability of the algorithm.
In vitro evidence that subcutaneous administration of glatiramer acetate induces hyporesponsive T cells in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Abstract Glatiramer acetate (GA; Copaxone) is a random sequence polypeptide used in the treatment of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RR MS). We have recently demonstrated that prior to treatment, GA induces proliferation of resting T cells and is not cross-reactive with myelin antigens. Daily GA injections induce a significant loss of this GA responsiveness, which is associated with the induction of highly cross-reactive Th2-type T cells potentially capable of suppressing inflammatory responses. The mechanism of action by which GA induces T cell nonresponsiveness leading to T cell receptor degeneracy in patients with RR MS is unknown. Here, we examined the effects of daily GA administration on the induction of T cell hyporesponsiveness. The frequency of GA-reactive T cells in peripheral blood of seven patients with RR MS was measured by limiting dilution analysis prior to and during 6 months of treatment. In addition, a model in which GA-reactive T cells were stimulated in vitro was developed to better characterize the selection of T cell populations over time. In vivo treatment with GA induced a decrease in GA-reactive T cell frequencies and hyporesponsiveness of CD4+ T cell reactivity to GA in vitro that was only partially reversed by the addition of IL-2. These data suggest that T cell peripheral tolerance to GA was achieved in vivo during treatment. Thus, our in vitro data suggest that the underlying changes in GA-reactive CD4+ T cell reactivity could be explained by the induction of T cell anergy and clonal elimination.
2-Ethylhexanol uncouples oxidative phosphorylation in rat liver mitochondria.

Abstract 2-Ethylhexanol (70 μM), a non-genotoxic carcinogen and peroxisome proliferator, stimulated oxygen uptake in the perfused rat liver by about 10%6 during the first 10 min of infusion. Perfusion with a higher, hepatotoxic dose of ethylhexanol (3 mM) led to a transient increase in oxygen uptake followed by a rapid inhibition of respiration of over 50% in 10 min. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, indicative of irreversible cell death, was detected in the effluent perfusate after 20 min. After 10 min of perfusion with ethylhexanol, livers were freeze-clamped, acid extracts were prepared and adenine nucleotides were measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Ethylhexanol decreased the ATP/ADP ratio from 2.5 to 0.9. Thus, marked decreases in hepatic energy state due to inhibition of respiration preceded cell death. To attempt to understand this phenomenon, the effect of ethylhexanol on isolated mitochondria was studied. Similar to classical uncoupling agents, ethylhexanol stimulated state-4 rates of respiration, diminished coupled rates of respiration, and decreased the P/O ratio in a dose-dependent manner in isolated mitochondria. Ethylhexanol also decreased uptake of radiolabeled 45 CaCl 2 by isolated mitochondria 4- to 5-fold. Therefore, we hypothesize that ethylhexanol initially uncouples oxidative phosphorylation leading to diminished ATP synthesis and collapse of ion gradients across the mitochondrial membrane.
The influence of private school enrollment on public school performance

School choice reform refers to changes that allow parents greater freedom to choose schools for their children. School choice reform is contentious because it fundamentally alters the environment in which public and private schools operate and could result in significant changes for both demanders and suppliers of education. This article develops a model of public education with imperfect exit to predict how private school enrollment influences performance of public schools. Empirical evidence from data on all private and public schools in California provides substantial support for the hypothesis that public school test scores are inversely related to private school enrollments and charter school enrollments when private and charter schooling reflects exiting by parents unhappy with local public schools. Implications regarding how expanded private school choice might influence public school performance in California and elsewhere are discussed.
Transverse coherence of self-amplified spontaneous emission

Abstract Transverse coherence of Self-Amplified Spontaneous Emission (SASE) in high-gain FELs is investigated through a three-dimensional eigenmode analysis. It is the first time such an analysis could be carried out to account for the effects of emittance and betatron focusing. In addition to the variational solution (Xie, Nucl. Instr. and Meth. A 445 (2000) 59, these proceedings) found for the fundamental mode, E 00 , similar solutions are derived here for two higher order eigenmodes, E 10 and E 01 . Based on the growth rates of these three modes, a universal criteria on transverse coherence of SASE is proposed.
Highly accurate tracking system for a laser communications link

A high frame rate CCD camera with interface to a digital signal processor has been developed for a pointing control loop for laser communications. The CCD array is operated in a windowed- read mode with the digital signal processor controlling the vertical and horizontal shifts in the image and storage planes. Development of the camera and interface hardware for a demonstration of precision beam pointing is presented.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A Survey of Adult Communication Activities

The present survey investigated the communication activities of a general adult population. Particular attention was given to speaking and listening activities. The study includes a broad spectrum of occupations. Questionnaires containing a communication log were mailed to four hundred randomly selected adults in the San Diego area. (One hundred and seventy-three logs were returned.) The logs, divided into fifteen minute segments, contained the following categories: sleep, no communication, conversation, television, reading, listening, speaking. Brief definitions for each of these categories were contained in a cover letter. Results, in general, indicated: 1) that administrators, salesmen, students, teachers and professionals rank as high communicators; 2) approximately three-fourths (72.8%) of our waking time is given over to communication activities.
Behavioral Economics and Perverse Effects of the Welfare State

SUMMARY Critics often argue that government poverty programs perversely make the poor worse off by encouraging unemployment, out-of-wedlock births, and other ‘social pathologies.’ However, basic microeconomic theory tells us that you cannot make an agent worse off by expanding his choice set. The current paper argues that familiar findings in behavioral economics can be used to resolve this paradox. Insofar as the standard rational actor model is wrong, additional choices can make agents worse off. More importantly, existing empirical evidence suggests that the poor deviate from the rational actor model to an unusually large degree. The paper then considers the policy implications of our alternative perspective.
Studies with Cyanidium caldarium, an anomalously pigmented chlorophyte.

Cyanidium caldarium, an alga found in acid hot springs troughout the world, has a morphology and developmental history resembling those of Chlorella, but contains C-phycocyanin and no chlorophyll other than chlorophyll a. The reasons for considering it to be a member of the Chlorophyta are reviewed. Cyanidium is also remarkable for its thermal and acid tolerance. It grows readily in the dark on sugar media. However, light is required for the formation of chlorophyll and phycocyanin except in occasional variant cells which can form limited amounts of these pigments in the dark. Light-grown Cyanidium carries out normal green plant photosynthesis but resembles the red and some of the blue-green algae in that chlorophyll-absorbed light is used with lower efficiency than that absorbed by phycocyanin. The possible significance of the unusual pigmentation of Cyanidium is discussed.
Polarons and bipolarons in polypyrrole: Evolution of the band structure and optical spectrum upon doing

Presentation des resultats de calculs de structure de bandes en liaison forte pour une chaine polypyrrole deformable, en fonction du dopage. Les etats qui sont produits sont des polarons et des bipolarons dont le spectre d'excitation explique les donnees d'absorption optique
Solvent Kinetic Isotope Effects Monitor Changes in Hydrogen Bonding at the Active Center of Yeast Pyruvate Decarboxylase Concomitant with Substrate Activation: The Substituent at Position 221 Can Control the State of Activation†,‡

Substrate activation of yeast pyruvate decarboxylase has been studied extensively in the authors' laboratories providing strong evidence that interaction of substrate with residue C221 provides the trigger, and the information is then transmitted along the C221 to H92 to E91 to W412 to G413 pathway to the 4'-amino nitrogen of the thiamin diphosphate cofactor. Earlier, it was found that the C221S substitution reduced the Hill coefficient from 2.0 to 0.8-0.9, the C221A substitution to 1.0, even though C221 is located on the beta domain some 20 A from the active center thiamin diphosphate cofactor, which is at the interface of the alpha and gamma domains. Here are reported experiments on the C221D/C222A and C221E/C222A variants, in which a negative charge is built onto the C221 side chain, to better mimic the effect of a pyruvate molecule covalently bonded to C221 as a thiohemiketal. Both variants were purified to an optimal activity of 70% of the wild-type enzyme, higher activity than that with the earlier uncharged substitutions at this position. The Hill coefficient for both variants is exactly 1.0. The deuterium solvent kinetic isotope effects (SKIE) on k(cat) for these variants were similar to that for the wild-type enzyme and the C221A/C222A variant, suggesting that starting with the first irreversible step (decarboxylation) the rate-limiting transition states are very similar for all of these enzyme forms. In contrast, such SKIE on k(cat)/K(m) are quite different for the C221A/C222A variant (0.62) than for the C221E/C222A or C221D/C222A variants (0.80-0.82), clearly indicating the effect of the C221 substitutions on transition states starting with the binding of the first substrate to the enzyme and terminating with the decarboxylation step. The results provide strong additional evidence for the involvement of residue C221 in the substrate activation process and suggest that the C221D (C221E) substitution shifts the enzyme into a conformation that resembles the activated conformation. A comparison with SKIE for the wild-type enzyme provides insight to changes in hydrogen bonding at the active center as a result of substrate activation.
Optimal policy estimation for continuous review inventory systems

Abstract The paper considers a continuous review ( s , S ) inventory system where the interarrival times of the customers and the quantities demanded by them (demand batch sizes) form two independent and identically distributed sequences. The performance of several easy-to-compute optimal policy approximations based on the asymptotic renewal theory are evaluated. The results are tabulated for a wide range of parameter settings for gamma, log-normal, truncated normal, Weibull and inverse Gaussian batch size distributions. The interarrival time distributions are assumed to be exponential following [1,2]. The exact policy is computed by a search routine using the numerical methods of McConalogue [3,4].
Issues of context in information retrieval (IR): an introduction to the special issue

The subject of context has received a great deal of attention in the information retrieval (IR) literature over the past decade, primarily in studies of information seeking and IR interactions. Recently, attention to context in IR has expanded to address new problems in new environments. In this paper we outline five overlapping dimensions of context which we believe to be important constituent elements and we discuss how they are related to different issues in IR research. The papers in this special issue are summarized with respect to how they represent work that is being conducted within these dimensions of context. We conclude with future areas of research which are needed in order to fully understand the multidimensional nature of context in IR.
Detection of viral antigen following exposure of one-day-old chickens to the Holland 52 strain of infectious bronchitis virus.

Summary One‐day‐old specific‐pathogen‐free single comb White Leghorn chickens were inoculated by eyedrop with either 0.1 ml of phosphate buffered saline containing 104.3 EID50 of the Holland 52 strain of infectious bronchitis virus or normal allantoic fluid. Trachea, caecal tonsils and kidneys were removed from randomly selected birds at 0, 3, 5, 7 and 10 days post‐inoculation (pi) and the presence or absence of viral antigen was detected utilizing virus isolation (VI), an indirect fluorescent antibody technique (IFA), or a streptavidin‐biotin immunohistochemical (IH) technique. The presence of viral antigen as detected by the IH technique was also compared to histopathological changes in serial sections stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Detection of viral antigen occurred more frequently with VI than with IFA or IH. The IFA and IH techniques detected viral antigen with about the same frequency. Viral antigen was detected in the mucosa and submucosa of the trachea as early as 3 days pi, reached maximum...
Liberal Theology and Transformative Pedagogy

The author makes a case for the contributions of liberal theology to the transformative pedagogy that is essential for the flourishing of human beings in the twenty-first century. First he advocates the retention of liberal theology, but in a postmodern form that is open, critical, experiential, visionary, and culturally transformative. Then he demonstrates points of contact between this revisioned theology and liberal education, particularly those connections manifested in five elements of transformative pedagogy: education and life-formation, the rhythm of education, constructive and interactive knowledge, connected and imaginative teaching, and education as the practice of freedom. The author concludes that a revisioned liberal theology can contribute significantly to the recovery and explication of the religious dimension of education and its incumbent power of transformation.
High-power multi-mode laser to single-mode pump conversion

Abstract A novel pump-sharing module for multi-channel amplifiers based on integration of high-power multimode semiconductor lasers and planar waveguide circuits is proposed. The feedback-free modules are designed for optimum coupling, throughput and power uniformity on silicon using BPM method and fabricated via the sol–gel process of photo patternable precursors. Modal properties of the multimode lasers are considered by studying spectrum and spatial distribution of laser output power at different temperatures. Employing an 1500 mW 980 nm multimode laser (TE polarized), via lens and Butt coupling up to 1250 mW of laser output is coupled into the multimode channel waveguides, which are tapered and branched to four single mode waveguides. The measured pump power from splitter outputs, randomly polarized, exceeds 600 mW. At constant temperatures ranging from 22 °C to 30 °C, the pump-sharing modules exhibit good stability with a power uniformity of
AUTONOMOUS UNDERWATER VEHICLES FOR OCEAN RESEARCH: CURRENT NEEDS AND STATE OF THE ART TECHNOLOGIES

Research in the field of scientific Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) has been underway for over 3 decades. Much of the original work was funded by the military, and the vehicles were intended for Naval Ordnance Systems Command oceanographic needs, although the payloads were for general scientific use. Over the last decade, several autonomous underwater vehicles have been purposely built for both the science community and industrial operations around the world. Because of the variety of mission requirements, AUV configurations and options available today are numerous. Beginning with a brief overview of the history of AUVs for science, this paper continues with discussion of the ocean applications that are suitable to AUVs. Highlighted are some points a potential user might consider when selecting an AUV for a particular science application. An overview of several AUVs available today has been included exploring the cross-section of capabilities offered. This leads into the emerging requirements for AUVs of the future. Conclusions offer insights on lessons learned by several members of the oceanographic AUV community and how these lessons might be applicable when considering AUVs as a solution to today's intriguing oceanographic science questions.