cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Wavelength-Independent Coherence Cleaning by Parametric Plasma Amplification

Although incoherence generally suppresses stimulated scattering processes in plasma, we show that this requirement relaxes for parametric amplification in the pump-depletion regime, including for x rays, providing a compact wavelength-independent source of high-peak-power radiation.
Crosstalk between the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and Androgen Receptor Signaling Pathways in Prostate Cancer

Malignant cells are characterized by complex and often overlapping signaling pathways that modulate uncontrolled proliferation, leading to tumor growth and cancer progression. Prostate cancer is characterized by a dependence on androgens for growth initiation, and androgen deprivation is the standard treatment for advanced disease. Invariably, progression to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) occurs. Effective treatment options are currently limited to cytotoxic chemotherapy. In addition to androgen-mediated androgen receptor (AR) signaling in CRPC, multiple growth factor pathways are active, including the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor family of tyrosine kinases. Crosstalk between these two pathways has been studied in prostate cancer cell lines, xenograft tumor models, and in prostate cancer patients. This manuscript will focus on EGFR signaling, AR signaling, EGFR-AR crosstalk, and therapies targeted at these receptor-mediated regulatory pathways in CRPC
Levels of Control: A Useful Frame of Perception

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses a common frame of perception or universe of discourse in developmental biology. Development is a series of interlocking processes involving molecular interactions revealed in the communication between nucleus and cytoplasm, in induction, and in the coordination of cell movements. The most fruitful new generalizations of the immediate future are likely to emerge from the frame of perception provided by molecular genetics: the concept of levels of control and their interactions; and the concept of regulation. The importance of agitating existing information, leading to changing concepts, is exemplified by the advances arising out of a reconsideration of the relations between DNA replication and transcription. The chapter tries to carry the generalization a step further, and to examine its implications. The fact that many tissues for example, lens and muscle, undergo rapid cell division prior to “terminal” differentiation raised the question whether new transcription may depend upon an immediately preceding replication. However, it was not until studies of the mechanism of transformation of cells by tumor viruses revealed a requirement for cellular DNA synthesis that the importance of reexamining these relations was brought home.
Intermolecular relaxation has little effect on intra-peptide exchange-transferred NOE intensities

Exchange-transferred nuclear Overhauser enhancement (etNOE) provides a useful method for determining the 3-dimensional structure of a ligand bound to a high-molecular-weight complex. Some concern about the accuracy of such structures has arisen because indirect relaxation can occur between the ligand and macromolecule. Such indirect relaxation, or spin diffusion, would lead to errors in interproton distances used as restraints in structure determination. We address this concern by assessing the extent of intermolecular spin diffusion in nineteen peptide-protein complexes of known structure. Transferred NOE intensities were simulated with the program CORONA (Calculated OR Observed NOESY Analysis) using the rate-matrix approach to include contributions from indirect relaxation between protein-ligand and intraligand proton pairs. Intermolecular spin diffusion contributions were determined by comparing intensities calculated with protonated protein to those calculated with fully deuterated protein. The differences were found to be insignificant overall, and to diminish at short mixing times and high mole ratios of peptide to protein. Spin diffusion between the peptide ligand and the protein contributes less to the etNOE intensities and alters fewer cross peaks than the well-studied intramolecular spin diffusion effects. Errors in intraligand interproton distances due to intermolecular relaxation effects were small on average and can be accounted for with the restraint functions commonly used in NMR structure determination methods. In addition, a rate-matrix approach to calculate distances from etNOESY intensities using a volume matrix comprising only intraligand intensities was found to give accurate values. Based on these results, we conclude that structures determined from etNOESY data are no less accurate due to spin diffusion than structures determined from conventional NOE intensities.
LVAD-DT as the Final Destination: End-of-Life Experiences

Introduction As the number of persons living with advanced heart failure (HF) continues to increase, so does the implantation of mechanical circulatory support devices. Over half of the left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) currently implanted are indicated for destination therapy (DT) but there is a gap in the current evidence regarding the end-of-life experiences (EOL) of this group. Purpose To investigate the EOL experiences of LVAD-DT recipients and their family caregivers throughout the LVAD-DT trajectory including: 1) pre-implantation experiences, 2) conversations about device deactivation, 3) use of EOL services including palliative care and hospice, and 4) device deactivation prior to death. Methods Thirty five individuals and their family caregivers (n=70) from 2 longitudinal prospective studies participated in qualitative interviews that occurred approximately every month for up to 24 months or until the death of the LVAD-DT recipient. After the death of LVAD-DT recipient, the caregiver was interviewed about LVAD deactivation and use of EOL services. Qualitative content analysis was utilized to explore the experiences of participants through the EOL. EOL service utilization determined via EMR review. Results During study enrollment LVAD-DT recipients had on average 6 readmissions. The main reasons for readmission included: infection/ sepsis, GI bleed, RHF, and anemia. Sixty percent of the dyads (21/35) received a palliative care consult prior to implantation. Of those only 19% (4/21) recalled the consultation. Six out of thirty five (17%) had an advance directive in the EMR. All advance directives were completed prior to LVAD-DT implantation and none included documentation of wishes for device deactivation. The main results from the content analysis highlighted the lack of EOL planning. LVAD-DT recipients and caregivers did not recall advance care planning or conversations regarding device deactivation throughout the LVAD trajectory. Six patients died with an LVAD in place. Of those, 2 received no EOL services, 3 had EOL services only during their terminal hospitalization, and 1 had ongoing EOL services during the last month of life with deactivation in the home setting prior to death. Conclusions The pre-implantation period is a very busy time, if palliative care consults occurred they often were not remembered by the LVAD recipient or their family member. EOL services were not routinely initiated nor did they transition across episodes of care or settings, despite frequent hospitalizations in the post-implantation period. Additional research is needed on the role of improved EOL care coordination across settings and episodes of care.
The Settler Saga

This chapter explores representations of contact settler life, like Catherine Parr Traill’s Canadian tale, Backwoods of Canada (1836); James Fenimore Cooper’s story of the American frontier in The Deerslayer (1841); John Robinson’s South African narrative, George Linton or the First Years of an English Colony (1876); and Marcus Clarke’s account of Australian convicts, For the Term of His Natural Life (1874). The chapter argues that these novels present a version of the settler experience as a heroic saga, downplaying or erasing conflict with indigenous peoples to focus on the settler’s journey and struggle to conquer the land. In this way, these stories participate in cultural denial, facilitating the disavowal of violence inherent in imperial conquest and the indigenous victims of that violence.
Vestibular Schwannomas: Neurology, Neurophysiology and Anatomy

Seventh and eighth nerves originate from the lateral aspect of the brainstem, traverse CPA cistern and IAC terminate in the inner ear, where they provide innervation of the vestibular end organs. The CPA cistern is an expansion of the subarachnoid space between the lateral lobe of the cerebellum, cerebellar peduncles, and lateral pons medially and the temporal bone laterally. In the far lateral IAC, CoN enters the modiolus of the cochlea at the cochlear aperture, FN enters the meatal foramen to become the labyrinthine segment of FN, and the SVN & IVN enter the labyrinth of the inner ear. Chorda tympani nerve enters the middle ear just medial to the tympanic membrane through an opening, the iter chordae posterior, runs across the middle ear space and then exits the middle ear into the infratemporal fossa through Huguier’s canal. A series of interconnected spaces within the otic capsule form the bony labyrinth consisting of the cochlea, vestibule, semicircular canals and vestibular aqueduct. AICA, and occasionally the basilar artery provide the blood supply to the cochlea and vestibular organs through labyrinthine artery. Objective tinnitus is the perception of sound from an internal sound source such as turbulent blood flow within a vascular structure or blood pressure pulsations transmitted from the dura to the inner ear. Vertigo related to peripheral vestibular dysfunction is typically perceived as rotational movement and lasts for several hours to several days but eventually subsides as the central nervous system compensates for the peripheral dysfunction. Acoustic reflex thresholds are determined by playing a stimulus while monitoring for a change in the compliance of the middle ear system. Electrophysiologic testing of the inner ear and auditory system, ABR/BAER or ECoG has no significant role in diagnosis of VS as these tests have been replaced by cross sectional imaging. Facial Nerve Monitoring is commonly utilized during the surgical treatment of vestibular schwannoma and is particularly useful in medium and large sized tumors. However, FNM does not replace the detailed anatomic knowledge and technical skill required to operate near the facial nerve. Cochlear nerve physiology can be monitored intraoperatively when hearing preservation is a goal of surgery and provides the microsurgeon with a valuable tool for assessing the impact of surgical manipulations on the integrity and function of the auditory system.
Advances in Endoscopic Imaging of the Biliary Tree

Direct endoscopic imaging of the biliary tree is increasingly performed by endoscopists since the introduction of digital single-operator cholangioscopy. In parallel, there have been several advances to overcome the challenges associated with direct peroral cholangioscopy with development of multibending cholangioscopes and new devices to enable direct placement of an endoscope into the biliary tree without a supporting duodenoscope. The indications for cholangioscopy are also evolving with newer indications, such as intraductal lithotripsy, foreign body (mostly stent) removal, guide wire cannulation of specific ducts, photodynamic therapy for cholangiocarcinoma, and performance of fluoroscopy-free cholangiography. There has also been progress in image enhancement during cholangioscopy and additional imaging techniques, such as intraductal ultrasound, confocal laser endomicroscopy, and optical coherence tomography.
Repetitive Sex Offenders, Treatment of

This article is a revision of the previous edition article by R.A. Prentky, B.K. Schwartz, volume 23, pp. 15893–15897, © 2001, Elsevier Ltd.
Divergent Hammett Plots of the Ground- and Excited-State Proton Transfer Reactions of 7-Substituted-2-Naphthol Compounds

The rational design of photoacids requires accessible predictive models of the electronic effect of functional groups on chemical templates of interest. Here, the effect of substituents on the photoacidity and excited-state proton transfer (PT) pathways of prototype 2-naphthol (2OH) at the symmetric C7 position was investigated through photochemical and computational studies of 7-amino-2-naphthol (7N2OH) and 7-methoxy-2-naphthol (7OMe2OH). Time-resolved emission experiments of 7N2OH revealed that the presence of an electron-withdrawing versus electron-donating group (EWG vs EDG, NH3+ vs NH2) led to a drastic decline in photoacidity: p Ka* = 1.1 ± 0.2 vs 9.6 ± 0.2. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations with explicit water molecules confirmed that the excited neutral state (x = NH2) is greatly stabilized by water, with equation-of-motion coupled cluster singles and doubles calculations supporting potential mixing between the La and Lb states. Similar suppression of photoacidity, however, was not observed for 7OMe2OH with EDG OCH3, p Ka* = 2.7 ± 0.1. Hammett plots of the ground- and excited-state PT reactions of substituted 7-x-2OH compounds (x = CN, NH3+, H, CH3, OCH3, OH, and NH2) vs Hammett parameters σp showed breaks in the linearity between the EDG and EWG regions: ρ ∼ 0 vs 1.14 and ρ* ∼ 0 vs 3.86. The divergent acidic behavior most likely arises from different mixing mechanisms of the lowest Lb state with the La and possible Bb states upon substitution of naphthalene in water.
Comparing the Effects of Paper and Digital Checklists on Team Performance in Time-Critical Work

This mixed-methods study examines the effects of a tablet-based checklist system on team performance during a dynamic and safety-critical process of trauma resuscitation. We compared team performance from 47 resuscitations that used a paper checklist to that from 47 cases with a digital checklist to determine if digitizing a checklist led to improvements in task completion rates and in how fast the tasks were initiated for 18 most critical assessment and treatment tasks. We also compared if the checklist compliance increased with the digital design. We found that using the digital checklist led to more frequent completions of the initial airway assessment task but fewer completions of ear and lower extremities exams. We did not observe any significant differences in time to task performance, but found increased compliance with the checklist. Although improvements in team performance with the digital checklist were minor, our findings are important because they showed no adverse effects as a result of the digital checklist introduction. We conclude by discussing the takeaways and implications of these results for effective digitization of medical work.
Disability in Pulmonary Hypertension

Disability in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) is rooted not only in physical impairment, but can also be the result of associated mental and emotional dysfunction often experienced by PH ...
Ghosted (I went looking for a haunting)

I went looking for a haunting in a spectral scene woven through a book and a bench: Toni Morrison’s Beloved, and the Toni Morrison Society’s Bench By the Road in Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina. ...
Two-Port Up/Down DC-DC Converter for Two-Dimensional Maximum Power Point Tracking of Differential Diffusion Charge Redistribution Solar Panel

Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is one of the main challenges in solar photovoltaic systems, especially under partial shading conditions in which solar panels do not receive uniform solar irradiance. The diffusion charge redistribution (DCR) technique is an approach which uses the intrinsic diffusion capacitance of solar cells together with semiconductor switches to balance the voltage among the cells. Using this technique enables us to apply MPPT with cell-level granularity using a single module-level converter. The differential DCR (dDCR) structure is a modification to the conventional DCR structure to enable differential power processing, which leads to low insertion loss because only the mismatch power is processed by every switch. The dDCR architecture has two outputs and needs a two-port converter. This paper examines a two-port up/down dc-dc converter which is capable of doing two-dimensional MPPT of dDCR solar panels. An emulator is also presented to replicate the averaged behavior of dDCR solar panels for evaluating the converter. Prototypes of the converter and the emulator were built and a coordinate ascent method was used as the two-dimensional MPPT algorithm; the capability of the converter to do two-dimensional MPPT of dDCR solar panels was demonstrated.
Beyond Accuracy: The Role of Mental Models in Human-AI Team Performance

Decisions made by human-AI teams (e.g., AI-advised humans) are increasingly common in high-stakes domains such as healthcare, criminal justice, and finance. Achieving high team performance depends on more than just the accuracy of the AI system: Since the human and the AI may have different expertise, the highest team performance is often reached when they both know how and when to complement one another. We focus on a factor that is crucial to supporting such complementary: the human’s mental model of the AI capabilities, specifically the AI system’s error boundary (i.e. knowing “When does the AI err?”). Awareness of this lets the human decide when to accept or override the AI’s recommendation. We highlight two key properties of an AI’s error boundary, parsimony and stochasticity, and a property of the task, dimensionality. We show experimentally how these properties affect humans’ mental models of AI capabilities and the resulting team performance. We connect our evaluations to related work and propose goals, beyond accuracy, that merit consideration during model selection and optimization to improve overall human-AI team performance.
A novel PARAFAC model for continental hot springs reveals unique dissolved organic carbon compositions

Abstract Dissolved organic carbon in hot springs reflects a range of sources and biogeochemical processes. We evaluated ~200 continental hot spring samples, with a range in pH and temperature, collected from the Tengchong hydrothermal region, Yunnan Province, China and Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA. Dissolved organic carbon concentrations ranged from 16.7 µM to 2.97 mM. Acidic springs displayed the highest values and widest range in carbon concentration. Alkaline springs had a narrower range and lower average concentrations. Carbon composition was evaluated using ultraviolet absorption and 3D-fluorescence spectroscopy. Total fluorescence was correlated (p 97% of the total fluorescence. Our model includes three humic-like components, one protein-like component, and one novel component exclusively observed in highly acidic springs. The closest spectral match to the novel component is an acid-soluble lignin produced during high-temperature, acid digestion of wood pulp. Humic-like components were dominant in mid-pH springs (4
African American women with advanced-stage ovarian cancer have worse outcomes regardless of treatment type

Objective There has been an increase in the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in recent years. Our objective was to determine if African American women are more likely to receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy than primary debulking surgery, when compared to their Caucasian counterparts, and the impact of such an approach on oncologic outcomes. Methods A retrospective cohort study was performed using the National Cancer Database (NCDB). Women aged 18–90 years, diagnosed with stage IIIC or IV epithelial ovarian cancer between January 2010 through December 2014 were included. Women with unknown treatment or treatments outside of neoadjuvant chemotherapy or primary debulking surgery were excluded. Only women of Caucasian, African American, or Hispanic origin who received either neoadjuvant chemotherapy or primary debulking surgery were included; all other races were excluded. Descriptive statistics were computed, and continuous variables were assessed for normality. Groups were compared using ANOVA or non-parametric medians tests for continuous variables, and chi-squared tests were used for dichotomous or categorical variables. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of treatment. A p value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results A total of 19 838 women with stage IIIC and IV epithelial ovarian cancer met the inclusion criteria. A total of 14 988 (75.6%) were treated with primary debulking surgery, while 4850 women (24.4%) were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Of those treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 24.5% were white, 27.0% were African American, and 22.1% were Hispanic (p=0.005), and when adjusted for confounders, being African American was a predictor of receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.29, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.51). Ninety-day mortality rates were higher in African American women compared with Caucasian and Hispanic women (2.9% vs 2.0% vs 1.6%, p=0.013). There were no differences in 30-day mortality, 90-day mortality, or status at last contact in African American women, when comparing neoadjuvant chemotherapy and primary debulking surgery. In Caucasian women, outcomes were worse in women receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Conclusions Compared to other races, African American women with advanced ovarian cancer are more likely to receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy than primary debulking surgery and had a higher 90-day mortality rate. In African American women there was no difference in outcomes based on treatment type.
Application progress of social support and psychological intervention on preventing multidrug-resistant tuberculosis

China has a high burden of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) . The treatment for MDR-TB was affected by complex and long treatment course, high treatment costs and high psychological burden. Previous studies have shown that social support and psychological intervention play an important role in alleviating the economic and psychological burden, and improving the compliance and treatment outcome in MDR-TB patients. The aim of this article is to conclude and analyze the research progress of social support and psychological intervention in China and overseas in recent years. Different intervention methods are collected and classified into different areas. The article also gives some expectations to the studies of social support and psychological intervention refer to follow-up and management in MDR-TB patients. Key words: Review; Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis; Social support; Psychological intervention
Syntax-sensitive regions of Broca’s area and the posterior temporal lobe are differentially recruited by production and perception

Abstract Neuroimaging studies of syntactic processing typically result in similar activation profiles in Broca’s area and the posterior temporal lobe (PTL). However, substantial functional dissociations between these regions have been demonstrated with respect to lesion-symptom mapping in aphasia. To account for this, Matchin & Hickok (2020) proposed that both regions play a role in syntactic processing, broadly construed, but attribute distinct functions to these regions with respect to production and comprehension. Here we report an fMRI study designed to test this hypothesis by contrasting the subvocal articulation and comprehension of structured jabberwocky phrases (syntactic), sequences of real words (lexical), and sequences of pseudowords (phonological). We defined two sets of language-selective regions of interest (ROIs) in individual subjects for Broca’s area and the PTL using the contrasts [syntactic > lexical] and [syntactic > phonological]. We found robust significant interactions of comprehension and production between these two regions at the syntactic level, for both sets of language-selective ROIs. This suggests a core difference in the function of these regions: language-selective subregions of Broca’s area play a role in syntax driven by the demands of production, whereas language-selective subregions of the PTL play a role in syntax driven by the demands of comprehension.
Competence in Decision Making: Setting Performance Standards for Critical Care.

Background Health care professionals must be able to make frequent and timely decisions that can alter the illness trajectory of intensive care patients. A competence standard for this ability is difficult to establish yet assuring practitioners can make appropriate judgments is an important step in advancing patient safety. We hypothesized that simulation can be used effectively to assess decision-making competence. To test our hypothesis, we used a "standard-setting" method to derive cut scores (standards) for 16 simulated ICU scenarios targeted at decision-making skills and applied them to a cohort of critical care trainees. Methods Panelists (critical care experts) reviewed digital audio-video performances of critical care trainees managing simulated critical care scenarios. Based on their collectively agreed-upon definition of "readiness" to make decisions in an ICU setting, each panelist made an independent judgment (ready, not ready) for a large number of recorded performances. The association between the panelists' judgments and the assessment scores was used to derive scenario-specific performance standards. Results For all 16 scenarios, the aggregate panelists' ratings (ready/not ready for independent decision making) were positively associated with the performance scores, permitting derivation of performance standards for each scenario. Conclusions Minimum competence standards for high-stakes decision making can be established through standard-setting techniques. We effectively identified "front-line" providers who are, or are not, ready to make independent decisions in an ICU setting. Our approach may be used to assure stakeholders that clinicians are competent to make appropriate judgments. Further work is needed to determine whether our approach is effective in simulation-based assessments in other domains.
Prominent Corticospinal Tract Changes on MRI in Bulbar Onset Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) (5329)

Objective: To describe and report prominent imaging features identified in a case of bulbar onset ALS. Background: While MRI is usually performed to exclude alternate causes of symptoms, several features have been reported in patients with ALS. Examples may include cerebral cortex atrophy, motor band sign, and corticospinal tract hyperintensity; however, these changes are variable and often subtle. Design/Methods: Case Report Results: 46 year-old right-handed woman was admitted to the neurological intensive care unit for respiratory distress in the setting of progressive decline over the preceding 5 months. Her disease course initially began as dysphagia; however, gastroenterology evaluation including modified barium swallow study (MBSS) and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) were unremarkable. She then developed dysarthria and eventually distal muscle weakness months later. Just prior to her hospitalization, she had magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, cervical spine, and 3 limb nerve conduction study (NCS) with electromyography (EMG) to further investigate her symptoms. These results were highly concerning for motor neuron disease, specifically amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Particularly, MRI brain demonstrated hyperintense changes from the precentral cortex through the pons along the corticospinal tracts. Her neurologic exam while admitted was additionally notable for both upper and lower motor neuron signs including tongue fasciculations. She was diagnosed with bulbar onset ALS, started on Riluzole, and referred to our regional ALS medical home at time of discharge. Conclusions: Imaging features on MRI can aide in the diagnosis of ALS, in addition to ruling out alternate pathology. These changes can be well delineated and observed in the subset population of bulbar onset ALS. Disclosure: Dr. Neupert has nothing to disclose. Dr. Dunn has nothing to disclose. Dr. Aysenne has nothing to disclose.
Strategies for Preventing Technologist Burnout During the Pandemic

The article highlights the strategies employed by the New York University (NYU) Langone Health Radiology Department to prevent technologist burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic Topics discussed include the sources of technologist anxiety such as access to appropriate personal protective equipment and access to childcare or eldercare for increased work hours and school closures, effect of strategies on staff morale and well-being, and the importance of the emotional resilience of technologists
Pura ira y “Pura ira”: Un planteamiento an(árquico) y esquizoanalítico de Leopoldo María Panero

Johnny Lydon, el musico y cantante del grupo punk Sex Pistols, ha dicho que “la ira es una forma de energia”; y si para Lydon, nada fue sagrado, tampoco lo fue para Leopoldo Maria Panero. Desde el principio, Panero logro ensamblar su rebelion vital (en contra de la triangulacion de Edipo, y de la “santisima familia” burguesa) con su rebeldia poetica. Por lo tanto, su an(arquia) es mas existencial que politica. La traduccion de El Anti Edipo al castellano (por Paco Monge) le dio la oportunidad de explorar la teoria esquizoanalitica de Gilles Deleuze y Felix Guattari, y adaptarla tanto a su vida como a su obra. Este ensayo, entonces, emprendera un planteamiento esquizoanalitico de Panero, tomando en cuenta la ira/“ira” como formas de energia fisiologica y “performativa”. Asi, segun la tesis de este ensayo, Panero logro producir un gran corpus poetico, porque fue capaz de acceder a lo que Deleuze y Guattari llaman el “proceso esquizoanalitico”, y transgredir la estructura edipica vis-a-vis con su propia “produccion deseante”. Desde tal perspectiva es que se puede entender gran parte de la poetica de Panero
9 Reconceptualizing Recognition Uniformity

Proponents of federalization list several problems with the current state-based approach. They argue that it frustrates U.S. foreign policy by allowing foreign creditors to take advantage of state-based policies that lack reciprocity requirements. This chapter shows how the debaters have largely misconceptualized uniformity, and explores a reconsideration of how one views this component of the discourse. It argues that "outcome" uniformity, i.e., past litigant and court behavior, can be observed empirically, and that that approach presents the most promising method to inform the policy debate. The chapter explains that because much of the recognition outcome is the product of judicial interpretation, there is a dearth of evidence showing that the federalized alternative would produce significantly more outcome uniformity than the current state-by-state approach. It concludes that, while there may be good reasons for federalization, the uniformity justification currently lacks adequate theoretical and empirical support. Keywords: federalization; recognition uniformity; state-based approach; U.S. foreign policy
A Reinvented Union: A Concern for Teaching, Not Just Teachers

The current school reform movement, with its emphasis on teacher professionalism, teacher empowerment, and shared decision making, has challenged teachers’ unions to develop more collegial relations with school boards. Bob Chase, president of the National Education Association, has called for the union to “reinvent” itself and to assume responsibility for improving school quality and the quality of the teaching force. This article discusses the development of teachers’ unions in the 1960s as adversaries of school boards. From the beginning the unions adopted an industrial model of labor relations, one tailored for factories and assembly lines rather than school environments. Today, there are signs that teachers’ unions are accepting Bob Chase’s vision of a more professional union, one in which union leaders and school leaders can become public allies in the struggle to improve schools.
An Orally Supplemented Mononucleotide Mixture Prevents the Decrease in T Cell-Dependent Humoral Immunity in C57BL/6 Mice Fed a Nucleotide-Free Diet

T-cell-dependent humoral immune responses are lower in mice fed a nucleotide-free (NF) diet. In a previous study, a mononucleotide and nucleoside mixture prevented the decrease in humoral immune responses in mice fed a NF diet when a total of seven doses [2100 micromol/(kg x dose)] were administered intraperitoneally. In the present study, C57BL/6 (B6) mice were fed a NF diet for 3 wk with or without mononucleotide mixture (MM) supplementation. The MM was given at the levels of 14 or 70 micromol/(kg x d) by daily gavage feeding for 3 wk. Control mice were fed a NF diet without supplements (negative control) or a NF diet plus the mononucleotide/nucleoside mixture administered intraperitoneally (positive control). Both doses of MM prevented the decrease in T-dependent antibody (Ab) production in mice fed a NF diet as effectively as positive controls. T-helper (Th) spleen cells from mice of each diet group were enriched, mixed with Th cell-depleted spleen cells from each diet group, and antigen-primed in the culture. The number of Ab-secreting cells formed was higher with Th cells from mice with oral MM supplements or from positive controls than with those from mice without nucleotide supplement. The source of Th cell-depleted spleen cells did not influence the number of Ab-secreting cells. Thus, orally supplemented nucleotides can prevent the suppression of Th cell-dependent humoral immunity in mice fed a NF diet with doses likely to be provided by dietary sources.
Application of the Chebyshev collocation method to the types of partial differential equations which occur in plasma physics

Summary form only given, as follows. A self consistent and sufficiently accurate picture of plasma dynamics emerges from the solution of the coupled set of Maxwell-Vlasov equations. To remove the unobserved velocity space degrees of freedom the coupled moments of the Vlasov equation are calculated and truncated following certain prescribed rules. This process results in a fluid dynamics description of plasma interactions. In this paper a technique for solving these equations using a modification of the collocation method with Chebyshev polynomials is presented. An outline of the technique follows. The computational region under consideration is broken into subregions in which all functions are represented as a sum of a small number of Chebyshev polynomials. The PDE under consideration is solved for one time step in each subregion through Runge-Kutta integration The boundaries of the subregions are then allowed to move by analytically continuing the solution from one region into another. The problem is solved again in each new subregion and the process is continued for as many time steps as needed. The problem of the Gibb's Phenomenon is avoided by using a spline to connect a region on one side of a singularity with the other side. The method is applied to four types of equations: (1) the wave equation; (2) the Burgers equation; (3) the inviscid Burgers equation with a singularity; (4) Laplace's equation. In all cases the numerical solution is compared to the analytic solution.
Chapter 19 – Quality Control

This chapter discusses the potential applications of thermal analysis and calorimetry for quality control (QC). Quality control (or quality assurance, QA) is a very important component of any commercial or industrial operation that produces or uses materials. QC or QA is the name of the operation conducted to assure that the nature of a material is within certain specifications that are critical for subsequent processing or use. When considering quality control options, simplicity and time required for testing are important considerations. Many traditional tests are not currently found in the modern quality control laboratory because of the time required to prepare the material and conduct the testing. It is also important to consider the amount of sample required for the testing. With the introduction of many new techniques (fast scanning differential scanning calorimetry, sample controlled thermal analysis (SCTA), modulated and other temperature programmed techniques, etc.), many more new opportunities will arise for providing quality control tools.
Diurnal rhythm of testosterone and luteinizing hormone in hypogonadal men.

: To determine the relationship between increasing luteinizing hormone (LH) production and the diurnal secretion of LH and testosterone (T) in adult men, studies were performed on five men with gonadotropin insufficiency associated with prolactinoma, five eugonadal men, and five men with primary testicular failure. Blood samples were drawn every 10 to 20 minutes for 24 hours beginning at 8:00 to 8:30 AM to evaluate diurnal periodicity. Mean (± SEM) LH levels in the three groups were 7.67 ± 1.46 mlU/ml, 13.9 ± 3.2 mlU/ml, and 62.3 ± 14.4 mlU/ml, respectively, and mean serum T levels were 8.05 ± 1.49 nmol/L, 13.9 ± 3.5 nmol/L, and 9.15 ± 1.3 nmol/L, respectively. Cosinor analysis revealed that each hyperprolactinemic man had a T rhythm with a significant 24-hour periodicity; the mean acrophase was at 5:00 AM. Testosterone levels were 35.0 ± 10.6% less at 4:00 PM than at 8:00 AM. Eugonadal men also demonstrated a significant diurnal T rhythm with an acrophase at 6:00 AM, and T levels were 15.8 ± 5.3% less at 4:00 PM than at 8:00 AM. By contrast, there was no significant diurnal rhythm in T secretion among the men with testicular failure, although serum T levels were 11.5 ± 3.7% less at 4:00 PM than at 8:00 AM. For LH, hyperprolactinemic men demonstrated a significant 24-hour rhythm with an acrophase at 1:30 AM, whereas no significant 24-hour periodicity was identified among either eugonadal men or men with testicular failure. The diurnal LH rhythm characteristic of pubertal boys is a property of the gonadotropin-receptor hormone (GnRH) pulse generator that is expressed in adult men with hyperprolactinemia and gonadotropin insufficiency. These data are consistent with the possibility that the expression of this rhythm reflects an enhanced gonadotropin-suppressive action of T in these men. As gonadotropin secretion increases to and beyond normal levels, there is a progressive dampening of the diurnal patterns of T and LH secretion.
Statisticaljz approximations for differential cross sections: preliminary results for He + H2 and He + CO2

Abstract The statistical j z approximation developed recently is extended to include differential cross sections. Two levels of the approximation are studied, both of which lead to the same expressions for the statistical j z integral cross sections. The approach is illustrated by applications to He + H 2 and He + CO 2 collisions, and the results agree very well with results of full j z CCS calculations. Thus, j z CCS quality differential cross sections can now be obtained extremely efficiently by this new statistical j z approximation.
P01.01. Living Well With Chronic Pain: A 4-session Group Intervention in Integrative Health, Initial Results

Focus Areas: Integrative Approaches to Care, Supporting Behavioral Change, Alleviating Pain Outcome data compiled and analyzed for patients taking a 4-session class in an integrative healthcare setting. Course content includes (1) education on chronic pain; (2) experiential learning of mindfulness practices related to breath, body scan, difficult emotions, and catastrophic thinking; (3) managing behavioral pacing and planning for breakout pain; (4) research-based holistic lifestyle and complementary healthcare options; and (5) the process of change. Attempts will be made to gather data upon completion of class, 3 months, and 6 months, looking at changes in pain experience and/or lifestyle due to material learned intellectually versus experientially.
Spectroscopic characterization of molecular interdiffusion at a poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)/vinyl ester interface

Abstract The molecular interdiffusion across a poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)/vinyl ester monomer (PVP/VE) interface was investigated in situ by Fourier transform infrared attenuated total reflectance ( FT i.r.-ATR) spectroscopy. In order to separate the effects of the vinyl ester monomer diffusion and the VE crosslinking reaction, ATR experiments were carried out at temperatures below the normal curing temperature of the VE. The infrared bands at 1717 and 1507 cm −1 , characteristic of the vinyl ester monomer, and the bands at 1669 and 1419 cm −1 , characteristic of the PVP, were used in a quantitative analysis. Diffusion coefficients were determined by following intensity variations in these selected characteristic bands as a function of time, and fitting this data to a Fickian model. A mutual diffusion coefficient on the order of 2×10 −8 cm 2 /s was calculated at 100°C. Although the magnitude of the diffusion coefficients obtained was consistent with values found in the literature for diffusion of small molecules in polymers, the simple one-dimensional Fickian diffusion model employed as a first approximation had some limitations for the particular (PVP/VE) system. Because the glass transition temperature of PVP changed as diffusion proceeded, the mutual diffusion coefficient should not stay constant. In fact, it was shown that the T g can drop by as much as 140°C during the diffusion process.
Rupture of equilibrium foam films due to random thermal and mechanical perturbations

Abstract A generalized formalism for the rupture of an equilibrium foam film due to imposed random thermal and mechanical perturbations, modeled as a Gaussian white noise, is presented. The evolution of amplitude of perturbation is described by a stochastic differential equation. The average film rupture time is the average time for the amplitude of perturbation to equal to one half the film thickness and is calculated by employing a first passage time analysis for different amplitudes of imposed perturbations, wavenumbers, film thickness, van der Waals and electrostatic interactions and interfacial mobilities. A critical film thickness is identified based on the sign of the disjoining pressure gradient, below which the film is unstable in that the rupture time is very small. There exists an optimum wavenumber for minimum rupture time only for an unstable film. The calculated values of rupture time as well as the optimum wavenumber in the present analysis agree well with the results of linear stability analysis for unstable film with immobile film interfaces. For stable films, the rupture time is found to increase dramatically with film thickness near the critical film thickness. As expected, the average rupture time was found to be higher for smaller amplitudes of imposed perturbations, larger surface potentials and smaller Hamaker constants. The interfacial mobility is accounted for through surface viscosity as well as Marangoni effect. The mean rupture time for partially mobile gas–liquid interface, as characterized by two dimensionless groups, dimensionless surface viscosity and dimensionless Marangoni number, increased with the two dimensionless groups and approached the limiting value for immobile interfaces. The second moment of the rupture time distribution was also evaluated and a beta distribution was fitted to the first two moments. The fitted rupture time distribution was found to be broader for larger film thickness, smaller pressure amplitude, lower Hamaker constant and smaller surface potential.
Optimizing Multi-copy Two-hop Routing in Mobile Social Networks

In this paper, an opportunistic multi-copy twohop routing algorithm is proposed for mobile social networks (MSNs) to minimize the expected data delivery delay, using local information. For each source-destination pair, the source dynamically maintains a forwarding set consisting of relay nodes. The forwarding set selection is based on the number of remaining message copies, as well as the number and quality of relays that have not received a message copy. The source only forwards its message to the relay nodes in its forwarding set, which will in turn forward the message to the destination directly. We propose a greedy approach to select the forwarding set with n message copies at the source, in an MSN with m (m>n) relays. All forwarding sets can be determined with a time complexity of O(m logm+nm). Then, the proposed multi-copy two-hop routing algorithm is applied to a feature space routing scheme, where the contact frequencies are estimated by social feature distances. Finally, the competitive performance of the proposed schemes are shown in real trace-driven simulations. Keywords—Mobile social networks, multi-copy routing, opportunistic routing, social features, two-hop routing.
Dual Pareto Efficiency

Abstract Consider an economy with d commodities and n individuals. A pair (p, M), where p is a price vector and M = (m1, m2, ..., mn) is a set of n individual income levels, defines a set of individual budget constraints. It is known that such pairs provide a framework for duality-based investigations of Pareto efficient allocations and of equilibria. This paper employs this framework in a general setting, not requiring smoothness or boundedness of budget sets, to develop duals of the first and second theorems of welfare economics. Namely, under suitable assumptions: (1) the price-income pair associated with any equilibrium is dual Pareto efficient, and (2) corresponding to any dual Pareto-efficient pair, there is an allocation which together with the given prices forms an equilibrium. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Number(s): D00, D50, D51, D6l.
An Automated System for Controlling the Laminar Flow Interface in a Microfluidic System

The interface between adjacent laminar flow streams in the output channel of a Y-shaped confluent microfluidic network is useful for investigating the response of individual living cells to steep chemical gradients. This paper reports the design and performance of an automated pressure-feedback system for accurately and rapidly changing the position of that interface. The device will be employed to investigate the dynamic response of cells to time-varying chemical stimulation. The system works by controlling the pressure difference between the two adjoining inputs of the microfluidic network, altering the relative flow rate of the laminar streams in the output microchannel. Continuity of incompressible fluids dictates that the plane of the interface between the two streams will move from side to side as the flow rates change. The sample-data control system samples a temperature-compensated monolithic piezoresistive pressure sensor at 1 kilohertz, allowing the control of high-bandwidth microfluidic systems. This automated system enables long-duration, high-precision experiments that involve time-varying parameters to be performed simply, rapidly, and inexpensively.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Market timing: a test of a charting heuristic

Abstract We implement a graphical (or ‘charting’) heuristic, the ‘bull flag’, which accepts a particular pattern of historical prices as a signal for a future market price increase, test it with several years of New York Stock Exchange Composite Index history, and find positive results. The results support the validity of technical analysis for stock market price prediction and fail to confirm the efficient markets hypothesis.
Development of corpora lutea from follicles autotransplanted under the kidney capsule in rabbits.

Preovulatory follicles, dissected from the rabbit ovary 5–8 hr after mating and autotransplanted under the kidney capsule, developed into corpora lutea with a normal histologic appearance. These corpora lutea secreted progesterone as evidenced by the fact that pregnancies were maintained in the absence of any corpora lutea in the ovaries. However, if the ovaries were removed, abortions occurred and corpora lutea under the kidney capsule regressed. Daily injections of 17β-estradiol (1.5 or 2.0 μg/rabbit/day) prevented abortions and embryos were alive at autopsy 5 days after bilateral ovariectomy. Bilateral castration at thetime of follicle autotransplantation did not preclude the early development of corpora lutea asrevealed by histology of grafts removed at autopsy 4 days later. Corpora lutea under the kidneycapsule and those in situ regressed following an injection of luteinizing hormone (NIH-LH-Sll, 90 μg/rabbit). The LH-stimulated follicle isolated from contiguous ovarian tissues develops into a corpus...