cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Composition on Gelation Kinetics of Unfilled and Nanoapatite-Filled Poly(lactide-ethylene oxide-fumarate) Hydrogels

Abstract Oscillatory shear rheometry at small strains was used to investigate the effects of composition (concentration of macromer, crosslinker, initiator/accelerator, and filler) on the gel point and ultimate storage modulus of poly(l-lactide- co -ethylene oxide- co -fumarate) (PLEOF) hydrogels. PLEOF in situ polymerizing hydrogels can be used as biodegradable scaffolds for cell encapsulation and tissue regeneration. The time evolution of the viscoelastic properties of the polymerizing mixture during the sol–gel transition was monitored using mechanical rheometry. According to the results, while the ultimate storage modulus linearly increased with the concentration of methylene bisacrylamide (BISAM) crosslinker, the values of the storage and loss moduli at the gel point were insensitive to the concentration of BISAM. Similar behavior was observed for PLEOF hydrogels reinforced with hydroxyapatite nanoparticles.
Blood Sacrifice and the Nation: Totem Rituals and the American Flag

Blood Sacrifice and the Nation: Totem Rituals and the American Flag. Carolyn Marvin and David W. Ingle. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999. ix. 398 pp., graphs, illustrations, photographs, appendix, notes, references, index.
Exploring the Perceived Believability of DTC Advertising in the US

The pharmaceutical industry in the US recently introduced new self‐regulatory guidelines on direct‐to‐consumer (DTC) advertising, which some suggest are a response to prolonged criticism of its marketing strategies. Current studies conducted by the industry, academics, and regulatory bodies report that consumers find informational value in DTC advertising, yet scant evidence exists as to whether or not consumers actually believe the information presented overall (as opposed to any specific DTC ad.). This paper reports the results of an exploratory investigation into the perceived believability of pharmaceutical performance claims in US DTC advertisements, and whether or not differences exist in the ad.'s perceived believability by source, channel, or message factors, or by consumer demographics. Results are both consistent and, at times, contradictory, to the current level of understanding regarding DTC advertising.
Model for Sr‐Cs‐Ca‐Mg‐Na ion‐exchange equilibria on chabazite

Chabazite zeolites are used at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to decontaminate wastewaters containing 90Sr and 137Cs. Treatability studies show that chabazite can remove trace amounts of these nuclides from wastewaters containing much higher concentrations of calcium and magnesium. The design of ion-exchange columns for multicomponent systems requires a method for predicting multicomponent equilibria from binary, ternary and quaternary experiments, since the number of experiments required for an empirical equilibrium model is not generally feasible. Binary interaction parameters for the Wilson equation are used to predict solid-phase activity coefficients for the five-component system. The sum of squares of deviations between experimental and predicted solution concentrations for the data points available is calculated. The average deviation per data point for the five-component system is lower than for some of the ternary-and four-component data sets containing calcium or magnesium.
Comparison of nonerythroid alpha-spectrin genes reveals strict homology among diverse species.

The spectrins are a family of widely distributed filamentous proteins. In association with actin, spectrins form a supporting and organizing scaffold for cell membranes. Using antibodies specific for human brain ..cap alpha..-spectrin (..cap alpha..-fodrin), the authors cloned a rat brain ..cap alpha..-spectrin cDNA from an expression library. Several closely related human clones were also isolated by hybridization. Comparison of sequences of these and other overlapping nonerythroid and erythroid ..cap alpha..-spectrin genes demonstrated that the nonerythroid genes are strictly conserved across species, while the mammalian erythroid genes have diverged rapidly. Peptide sequences deduced from these cDNAs revealed that the nonerythroid ..cap alpha..-spectrin chain, like the erythroid spectrin, is composed of multiple 106-amino-acid repeating units, with the characteristic invariant tryptophan as well as other charged and hydrophobic residues in conserved locations. However, the carboxy-terminal sequence varies markedly from this internal repeat pattern and may represent a specialized functional site. The nonerythroid ..cap alpha..-spectrin gene was mapped to human chromosome 9, in contrast to the erythroid ..cap alpha..-spectrin gene, which has previously been assigned to a locus on chromosome 1.
Survey of research in modeling conveyor-based automated material handling systems in wafer fabs

Automated material handling systems (AMHS) play a central role in modern wafer fabrication facilities (fabs). Typically, AMHS used in wafer fabs are based on discrete vehicle-based overhead systems such as overhead hoisted vehicles. Conveyor-based continuous flow transport (CFT) implementations are starting to gain support with the expectations that CFT systems will be capable of handling high-volume manufacturing transport requirements. This paper discusses literature related to models of conveyor systems in semiconductor fabs. A comprehensive overview of simulation-based models is provided. We also identify and discuss specific research problems and needs in the design and control of closed-loop conveyors. It is concluded that new analytical and simulation models of conveyor systems need to be developed to understand the behavior of such systems and bridge the gap between theoretical research and industry problems.
Mechanism of Electrophilic Fluorination with Pd(IV): Fluoride Capture and Subsequent Oxidative Fluoride Transfer.

Electrophilic fluorinating reagents derived from fluoride are desirable for the synthesis of 18F-labeled molecules for positron emission tomography (PET). Here, we study the mechanism by which a Pd(IV)–complex captures fluoride and subsequently transfers it to nucleophiles. The intermediate Pd(IV)–F is formed with high rates even at the nano- to micromolar fluoride concentrations typical for radiosyntheses with 18F due to fast formation of an outer-sphere complex between fluoride and Pd(IV). The subsequent fluorine transfer from the Pd(IV)–F complex is proposed to proceed through an unusual SET/fluoride transfer/SET mechanism. The findings detailed in this manuscript provide a theoretical foundation suitable for addressing a more general approach for electrophilic fluorination with high specific activity 18F PET imaging.
Significance of instream autotrophs in trophic dynamics of the Upper Mississippi River.

Trophic dynamics of large river–floodplain ecosystems are still not well understood despite development of several conceptual models over the last 25 years. To help resolve questions about the relative contribution of algal and detrital organic matter to food webs in the Upper Mississippi River, we (1) separated living and detrital components of ultrafine and fine transported organic matter (UTOM and FTOM, respectively) by colloidal silica centrifugation; (2) identified stable isotope signatures (δ13C and δ15N) for these two portions of transported organic matter and other potential organic matter sources; and (3) employed a multiple source, dual-isotope mixing model to determine the relative contribution of major energy sources to primary consumers and the potential contribution of basal sources to the biomass of secondary consumers. The δ13C and δ15N of living and detrital fractions of UTOM and FTOM were distinct, indicating clear differences in isotopic composition of the algal and detrital fractions of transported organic matter. Living and detrital transported organic matter also differed from other potential organic matter sources by either δ13C or δ15N. A six-source mixing model using both δ13C and δ15N indicated that algal transported organic matter was the major resource assimilated by primary consumers. The contribution of detrital transported organic matter was small in most cases, but there were a small number of taxa for which it could potentially contribute to more than half the assimilated diet. Colloidal dissolved organic matter, which includes heterotrophic bacteria, accounted for only a small fraction of the organic matter assimilated by most primary consumers, indicating that coupling between microbial processes and metazoan production is minimal. Terrestrial C3 litter from the floodplain forest floor and aquatic macrophytes were also relatively unimportant to the assimilated diet of primary consumers. Application of the mixing model to compare basal source isotopic ratios to secondary consumers revealed that most organic matter moving from primary to secondary consumers originated from algal TOM. Our findings indicate that autochthonous organic matter is the major energy source supporting metazoan production in the main channel of this large river, at least during the summer. This study joins a number of other investigations performed globally that indicate organic matter originating from instream production of sestonic and benthic microalgae is a major driver in the trophic dynamics of large river ecosystems.
Do time-averaged, whole-building, effective volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions depend on the air exchange rate? A statistical analysis of trends for 46 VOCs in U.S. offices.

We used existing data to develop distributions of time-averaged air exchange rates (AER), whole-building ‘effective’ emission rates of volatile organic compounds (VOC), and other variables for use in Monte Carlo analyses of U.S. offices. With these, we explored whether long-term VOC emission rates were related to the AER over the sector, as has been observed in the short term for some VOCs in single buildings. We fit and compared two statistical models to the data. In the independent emissions model (IEM), emissions were unaffected by other variables, while in the dependent emissions model (DEM), emissions responded to the AER via coupling through a conceptual boundary layer between the air and a lumped emission source. For 20 of 46 VOCs, the DEM was preferable to the IEM and emission rates, though variable, were higher in buildings with higher AERs. Most oxygenated VOCs and some alkanes were well fit by the DEM, while nearly all aromatics and halocarbons were independent. Trends by vapor pressure suggested multiple mechanisms could be involved. The factors of temperature, relative humidity, and building age were almost never associated with effective emission rates. Our findings suggest that effective emissions in real commercial buildings will be difficult to predict from deterministic experiments or models.
Coupling impedance of a periodic array of diaphragms

The method is presented for calculating the high-frequency longitudinal transverse coupling impedances in a periodic array of diaphragms in a circular perfectly conducting pipe. The method is based on Weinstein's theory of diffraction of a plane electromagnetic wave on a stack of halfplanes. Using Weinstein's solution, it is shown that the problem of finding the beam field in the pipe reduces to an effective boundary condition at the radius of the diaphragms which couples the longitudinal electric field with the azimuthal magnetic one. Solving Maxwell's equations with this boundary condition leads to simple formulae for Z/sub long/ and Z/sub tr/. A good agreement with a numerical solution of the problem found by other authors is demonstrated.
Vitamin B12, cognition, and brain MRI measures: a cross-sectional examination.

Objective: To investigate the interrelations of serum vitamin B12 markers with brain volumes, cerebral infarcts, and performance in different cognitive domains in a biracial population sample cross-sectionally. Methods: In 121 community-dwelling participants of the Chicago Health and Aging Project, serum markers of vitamin B12 status were related to summary measures of neuropsychological tests of 5 cognitive domains and brain MRI measures obtained on average 4.6 years later among 121 older adults. Results: Concentrations of all vitamin B12–related markers, but not serum vitamin B12 itself, were associated with global cognitive function and with total brain volume. Methylmalonate levels were associated with poorer episodic memory and perceptual speed, and cystathionine and 2-methylcitrate with poorer episodic and semantic memory. Homocysteine concentrations were associated with decreased total brain volume. The homocysteine-global cognition effect was modified and no longer statistically significant with adjustment for white matter volume or cerebral infarcts. The methylmalonate-global cognition effect was modified and no longer significant with adjustment for total brain volume. Conclusions: Methylmalonate, a specific marker of B12 deficiency, may affect cognition by reducing total brain volume whereas the effect of homocysteine (nonspecific to vitamin B12 deficiency) on cognitive performance may be mediated through increased white matter hyperintensity and cerebral infarcts. Vitamin B12 status may affect the brain through multiple mechanisms.
Building Validity Evidence for Scores on a State‐Wide Alternate Assessment: A Contrasting Groups, Multimethod Approach

The relationships between ratings on the Idaho Alternate Assessment (IAA) for 116 students with significant disabilities and corresponding ratings for the same students on two norm-referenced teacher rating scales were examined to gain evidence about the validity of resulting IAA scores. To contextualize these findings, another group of 54 students who had disabilities, but were not officially eligible for the alternate assessment also was assessed. Evidence to support the validity of the inferences about IAA scores was mixed, yet promising. Specifically, the relationship among the reading, language arts, and mathematics achievement level ratings on the IAA and the concurrent scores on the ACES-Academic Skills scales for the eligible students varied across grade clusters, but in general were moderate. These findings provided evidence that IAA scales measure skills indicative of the state's content standards. This point was further reinforced by moderate to high correlations between the IAA and Idaho State Achievement Test (ISAT) for the not eligible students. Additional evidence concerning the valid use of the IAA was provided by logistic regression results that the scores do an excellent job of differentiating students who were eligible from those not eligible to participate in an alternate assessment. The collective evidence for the validity of the IAA scores suggests it is a promising assessment for NCLB accountability of students with significant disabilities. The methods of establishing this evidence have the potential to advance validation efforts of other states' alternate assessments.
Towards a conceptual and operational union of bacterial systematics, ecology, and evolution

To completely understand the ecology of a bacterial community, we need to identify its ecologically distinct populations (ecotypes). The greatest promise for enumerating a community's constituent ecotypes is held by molecular approaches that identify bacterial ecotypes as DNA sequence clusters. These approaches succeed when ecotypes correspond with sequence clusters, but some models of bacterial speciation predict a one-to-many and others a many-to-one relationship between ecotypes and sequence clusters. A further challenge is that sequence-based phylogenies often contain a hierarchy of clusters and subclusters within clusters, and there is no widely accepted theory to guide systematists and ecologists to the size of cluster most likely to correspond to ecotypes. While present systematics attempts to use universal thresholds of sequence divergence to help demarcate species, the recently developed ‘community phylogeny’ approach assumes no universal thresholds, but demarcates ecotypes based on the analysis of a lineage's evolutionary dynamics. Theory-based approaches like this one can give a conceptual framework as well as operational criteria for hypothesizing the identity and membership of ecotypes from sequence data; ecology-based approaches can then confirm that the putative ecotypes are actually ecologically distinct. Bacterial ecotypes that are demonstrated to have a history of coexistence as ecologically distinct lineages (based on sequence analysis) and as a prognosis of future coexistence (based on ecological differences), are the fundamental units of bacterial ecology and evolution, and should be recognized by bacterial systematics.
A faster distributed arithmetic architecture for FPGAs

Distributed Arithmetic (DA) is an important technique to implement digital signal processing (DSP) functions in FPGAs. However, traditional lookup table (LUT) based DA architectures contain one or more carry propagation chains in the critical path that dictates the fastest time at which an entire design can run. In this paper, we describe a novel technique that can reduce or eliminate the carry-propagate chain from the critical path in LUT based DA architectures on FPGAs. In the proposed scheme, the individual bits of a word do not have to be processed as a unit. Instead, the current iteration can start as soon as the least significant bit (LSB) of the previous iteration is available, without waiting for the entire word from the previous iteration to be fully computed. This technique has great potential in speeding up DSP applications based on DA. Designs are described for serial and parallel DALUT and accumulator structures in which an n-bit carry chain, where n is the word length, is broken into smaller r-bit chains, 1*nnr
Designing a research agenda to improve the quality of emergency care

A systematic approach to develop a research agenda for improving the quality of emergency care is presented. This approach is based on the six domains of quality outlined by the Institute of Medicine (effective, timely, efficient, safe, patient-centered, and equitable care) and a sequence of four research steps (evidence, synthesis, assessment, and intervention). Examples related to the care of patients with acute myocardial infarction are used to illustrate the proposed approach. Examples of other emergency medicine research topics relevant to the Institute of Medicine quality domains are also presented. Research to improve the quality of emergency care can benefit from a more systematic consideration of the domains of quality and the research steps necessary to generate evidence and inform quality improvement efforts in practice.
The Structure of Lay Consultation Networks: Managing Illness in Community Settings

Objective: We examined the structure of lay consultation networks among elderly people. Methods: Data were gathered through interviews with 548 elderly adults living in Florida retirement communities and in Cleveland. Respondents identified people they consulted about symptom or disease information, health worries, what the doctor said, and consulting health providers. Network size, composition, geographic dispersion, gender homogeneity, and division of labor were assessed. Results: Eighty percent identified at least one network member (range=1to7 consultants). Networks largely consisted of family members, particularly spouses and women. Older adults talked most frequently with network members about physician visits. Widowed individuals were more likely to rely on children and friends and have networks outside their neighborhoods than married elders. Women's networks included a broader range of relationships than men's networks. Discussion: Results reaffirmed the importance of gender in structuring networ...
Meaningful use: a roadmap for the advancement of health information exchange

Frankel and colleagues have compared Israel and the U.S.’s experiences with health information exchange (HIE). They highlight the importance of institutional factors in fostering HIE development, notably the influence of local structures, experience and incentives. Historically, information infrastructure in the U.S. has been limited due to lack of standards, fragmented institutions and competition. The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act of 2009 authorized billions of dollars for the adoption and “Meaningful Use” of electronic health records. HITECH programs and Meaningful Use incentives target the advancement of HIE through 1) building blocks, 2) local support and 3) payment incentives. Meaningful Use requirements create a roadmap to broader electronic exchange of health information among providers and with patients. Ultimately, successful HIE in the U.S. will depend on whether Meaningful Use can address institutional needs within local markets. This is a commentary on http://www.ijhpr.org/content/2/1/722
The role of perspective in identifying domains of reference

We used the contrastive expectation associated with scalar adjectives to examine whether listeners are sensitive to the distinction between common and privileged information during real-time reference resolution. Our results show that listeners used this distinction to narrow the set of potential referents to objects with contrasts in common ground from the earliest moments. These results extend previous evidence that ground information influences real-time language processing by showing that the distinction between common and privileged information is used without being triggered by unusual circumstances.
A MEMS radio-frequency ion mobility spectrometer for chemical vapor detection

A first-of-a-kind micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) radio-frequency ion mobility spectrometer (rf-IMS) with a miniature drift tube of total volume 0.6 cm 3 has been fabricated and tested. The spectrometer has detection limits in the parts per billion (ppb) and the ability to identify chemicals such as isomers of xylene not resolved in conventional time-of-flight ion mobility spectrometry. Spectrometer operation with a miniature 10.6 eV (l ¼ 116:5 nm) UV photodischarge lamp and a 1 mCi radioactive ionization source has been demonstrated. The resultant spectra with both these ionization sources are similar, with several additional peaks evident for the radioactive source. The effect of varying the carrier gas flow rate on the resultant spectra has been investigated and optimal flow conditions are found at flow rates between 2 and 3 l/min. The rf-IMS has been interfaced to a mass spectrometer (MS) and rf-IMS spectral peaks have been confirmed. The rf-IMS/MS configuration illustrates another use for the rf-IMS as a pre-filter for atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) mass spectrometry applications. # 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Use of two-axis joystick for control of externally powered shoulder disarticulation prostheses

We explored a new method for simple and accurate control of shoulder movement for externally powered shoulder disarticulation prostheses with a two-axis joystick. We tested 10 subjects with intact shoulders and arms to determine the average amount of shoulder motion and force available to con- trol an electronic input device. We then applied this informa- tion to two different input strategies to examine their ef fectiveness: (1) a traditional rocker potentiometer and a pair of force-sensing resistors and (2) a two-axis joystick. Three nondisabled subjects and two subjects with shoulder disarticu- lation amputations attempted to control an experime ntal exter- nally powered shoulder using both control strategies. Two powered arms were tested, one w ith powered flexion/extension and humeral rotation and one with powered flexion/extension and adduction/abduction. Overwhelmingly, the subjects pre- ferred the joystick control, because it was more intuitively li nked with their shoulder movement. Additionally, two motions (one in each axis) could be controlled simultaneously. This pilot study provides valuable insight into an effective means of controlling high-level, externally powered prostheses with a two-axis joystick.
Obstetrics/Gynecology Residents’ Knowledge of Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer and Lynch Syndrome

Although there have been many studies regarding physicians’ knowledge of hereditary cancer syndromes, very little information exists regarding medical residents’ knowledge of hereditary cancer syndromes. Obstetrics/gynecology residents completed a test which evaluated their knowledge of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer and Lynch syndrome. Areas of relative deficit were identified. Residents indicated a desire and need for more education regarding this topic. Cancer genetics education programs should place more emphasis on the areas in which residents’ appeared to be deficient in order to aid future physicians in the identification of high-risk individuals.
Synthesis and Characterization of Cyanate Ester Functional Benzoxazine and Its Polymer

The first benzoxazine incorporating cyanate ester group in its structure has been synthesized. The polymerization process investigated by differential scanning calometry (DSC) exhibits two clearly separated exotherm maxima, corresponding to cyanate ester trimerization and benzoxazine, respectively. The nature of each exotherm is studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The activation energies for cyanate ester trimerization and benzoxazine ring-opening polymerization are determined by both Kissinger’s and Ozawa’s methods. Furthermore, both exothermic temperatures observed are lower than those of the published values of benzoxazine and dicyanate ester blends. Thermal properties such as glass transition temperature and char yield are studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Those properties are found to be outstanding compared to the reported properties of general benzoxazine resins and polymerized blends of benzoxazine and dicyanate ester, offeri...
Stepwise Segmented Regression Analysis: An Iterative Statistical Algorithm to Detect and Quantify Evolutionary and Revolutionary Transformations in Longitudinal Data

This chapter proposes an iterative statistical approach, based on the principles of stepwise and segmented regression, to detect and quantify evolutionary trends and revolutionary changes (breakpoints) in long-term processes. The resulting stepwise segmented regression analysis was initially developed to assess especially complex social systems such as behavioral changes across the Wikipedia editorial community.
Drug Testing and Privacy in the Workplace

In this article several of the most prominent arguments in support of employee drug testing will be considered. As we shall see, none of the arguments typically offered are particularly compelling.
Multinomial interpoint distances

We explore the properties of the squared Euclidean interpoint distances (IDs) drawn from multinomial distributions. We consider the distances within one sample and across two samples and obtain their means, variances, covariances and distributions. We discuss applications of IDs for testing goodness of fit, the equality of high dimensional multinomial distributions, classification, and outliers detection. A simulation study compares the performance of the $$\chi ^2$$ and the likelihood ratio statistics for testing equality of distributions, with methods based on the IDs.
Rapid Consolidation of Nanophase Al2O3 and an Al2O3/Al2TiO5 Composite

A rapid consolidation technique has been utilized in producing single phase AI2O3 in less than 10 minutes at 1400°C resulting in a grain size less than 500 nm. TiO2 has been added in hopes of obtaining Al2O3/Al2TiO5 nanocomposites in sintering times less than 30 minutes. The sintering process involves resistance heating of a graphite die containing the powder at heating rates of about 10 °C/s. The resistance heating step is preceded by a preparatory step consisting of DC voltage pulses applied across a prepressed powder compact. The retention of the nanostructure is attributed to the rapid heating rate although the possible effect of the DC pulses are also discussed. An Al2O3/Al2TiO5 composite has been produced during a short anneal immediately following sintering of an Al2O3/TiO2 nanocomposite. Substantial grain growth has been observed to occur during the transformation taking the composite to the microcrystalline regime.
The influence of carbohydrate source and concentration and light on fruitbody development in Clavicorona pyxidata.

The influence of the type of carbohydrate and its concentration and of light on fruitbody development in Clavicorona pyxidata was studied. Fruiting was stimulated by transfer of inocula grown on ce...
Regulation of superficial single nephron glomerular filtration rates in infant rats.

SummaryThe rate of growth of infant rats has been varied by increasing food availability to selected litters. Within the two different populations of infant rats, slow growing versus fast growing, superficial single nephron GFR has little relationship to animal age. Rather, SNGFR is related both to body size and kidney weight. A somewhat better relationship between SNGFR and kidney weight has been found. Fast growing rats show a greater ratio of SNGFR to kidney weight than do slow growing rats.
Low sorption and fast dissipation of the herbicide saflufenacil in surface soils and subsoils of an eroded prairie landscape.

Saflufenacil partitioning and dissipation were evaluated in soils from an eroded prairie landscape to provide information on its expected environmental fate. Saflufenacil Kd values followed trends in soil organic carbon content. In surface soils, Kd values ranged from 0.05 to 0.2 L kg–1 in the depositional lower slope and from 0.02 to 0.06 L kg–1 in the eroded upper slope. In subsurface soils, Kd values were an order of magnitude higher in the lower slope (mean 0.1 L kg–1) than in the upper slope (mean 0.01 L kg–1). Sorption was slightly higher in samples aged 1–8 weeks compared to freshly spiked soils. Mean dissipation half-lives (DT50) were 13 d in surface soils and 32 d in subsurface soils. The observed low sorption and relatively rapid dissipation of saflufenacil suggest that this herbicide will be readily available for degradation or plant uptake in the root zone.
Atanasoff: Forgotten Father of the Computer. By Clark R. Mollenhoff. Ames: Iowa State University Press, 1988. 274 pp. Hardbound: $24.95.

(1990). Atanasoff: Forgotten Father of the Computer. The Oral History Review: Vol. 18, No. 1, pp. 175-176.
‘The Form Most Eligible’: Liberty in the Constitutional Convention

Although the framers of the U.S. Constitution agreed that the first principles stated by the Declaration of Independence were fundamental, they thought that the form which freedom should take within the Constitution could not be discovered by a resort to natural rights (and thus declined to affix a bill of rights to the Constitution). They rejected both the view that liberty is independence (whether of individuals or of states) and the view that liberty is equivalent to the rule of the people. Instead, they held a political view offreedom in which liberty is understood as the scope men have for political action. The institutions they designed direct the use of liberty to the common good. In light of this analysis, the issue of whether the Constitution's provisions concerning slavery and its treatment of women are indications of an inadequate view of liberty can be answered in the negative.
Roots "Resolving the Death Penalty: Wisdom from the Ancients"

Lest it be cruel and unusual, the U.S. Supreme Court has held, capital punishment must be consistent with the evolving standards of decency of a maturing society. Although controversy swirls around our current sense of decency, this Society's changing standards are largely the product of deeply embedded traditions and an unchanging cultural core. Thus, virtually every heated death penalty debate today requires us not only to take the temperature of the people, but also to appreciate their temperament. ROOTS: Resolving the Death Penalty: Wisdom from the Ancients reflects the current controversy back onto the core of Western Culture - the Old Testament and Ancient Greeks. The essay extracts values and lessons from the Ancients neutrally and honestly, although, perhaps because, the author is a retributivist who feels certain that the past counts, and that death is sometimes (but very rarely) rightful punishment. Roots sets out objectively to reveal those standards of decency that do not, and will not evolve, but permanently inform our view of human dignity and what we owe the victim, the surviving family, the defendant, and ourselves as a maturing but continuing culture. Ultimately, Roots provides abolitionists, as well as advocates, much support. The first section offers a biblical reinterpretation: The condemnation of Adam and Eve as a death penalty perhaps disproportional and definitely delayed; Cain - a marked man spared the death penalty; the Command of Genesis - by the hand of man shall his blood be shed; Abraham's challenge to God not to slay the righteous with the wicked; super due process in Deuteronomy - you shall inquire diligently . . . and only if it be true and certain; the incommensurable value of human life - you shall accept no ransom; inferring non-intentional culpable mental states - since he had not hated his neighbor in time past; depraved indifference recklessness - accustomed to gore . . . and its owner has been warned. The second part of Roots considers many fundamental values independently embraced by the Ancient Greek lawgivers and philosophers: Odysseus-at-the-mast having placed it forever out of his power to be moved by a passion of the moment; blood pollution and the rejection of the blood price; restrictions upon the victim's family deciding the killer's fate; Pythagoras' program of proportionality, imposing rational limits; the reply of Heraclitus - you cannot step in the same river twice; the Sophists' relativism and subjectivity - man is the measure of all things combined with their commitment to progress; Plato's contrary insistence on moral essences. The last section draws on the wisdom of the Ancients to counter critics - abolitionists and advocates - from Justice Marshall to Justice Scalia that the U.S. Supreme Court's modern death penalty doctrine is ultimately incoherent. It suggests a jurisprudence of informed emotion - necessary and sufficient for a moral death penalty - which embraces consistency (treating like cases alike) while also incorporating the incommensurably rich uniqueness of every human being.
Activated abl oncogenes and apoptosis : Differing responses of transformed myeloid progenitor cell lines

Activation of the c-abl protooncogene occurs during the generation of both the Abelson murine leukemia virus and the bcrabl fusion gene. To further dissect the biological properties of these proteins, we studied their effect on apoptosis. Using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to induce apoptosis in the murine myeloid progenitor cell line 32Dcl3, we examined the effect of expression of both v-abl and bcrabl transgenes on apoptosis. v-abl expressing 32Dcl3 cells are sensitive to apoptosis induction, similar to parental 32Dcl3 cells. In contrast, bcrabl expression 32Dcl3 cells are protected from the apoptotic stimulus resulting from DMSO exposure. Analyzing the expression patterns for Bcl-2 and Bax, two proteins known to modulate the apoptotic response, we found a downregulation of Bcl-2 and enhanced expression of Bax in 32Dcl3 cells. In 32Dcl3/v-Abl cells, Bcl-2 expression remained constant while Bax was upregulated, whereas in 32Dcl3 cells expressing bcrabl, there was continuous expression of Bcl-2 at a level greater than observed in v-abl transformed cells. Taken together, our data demonstrate that although both activated abl gene products promote overlapping effects of some biological responses (i.e., factor-independent proliferation) they diverge in their effect on apoptotic signaling pathways.
A convenient form of the multiplicative decomposition of the deformation gradient

For many purposes in continuum mechanics it has been found useful to decompose the deformation gradient into two factors, which result from some elastic process through which destressing is achieve...
Justice Was More Than His Title

California lawyers have long played in a colorful local rite: Explaining the Law of California to the World. Regularly we have been called upon to describe-often with difficulty-to wondering clients and counterparts elsewhere how poorly their cherished practices and contractual provisions might fare if tested in our courts. Lately, the frequency of such conversations has seemed to diminish. Perhaps non-Californians have simply gotten used to the notion that our state is somehow always "different". More likely, however, it is because the California rule has increasingly become the rule of other states-even the federal rule-as judges elsewhere find workable and durable the accommodations of interests struck here.
Synthetic approaches to elucidate roles of disulfide bridges in peptides and proteins

The pairing of cysteine residues to form disulfide bridges represents the only way that nature establishes covalent crosslinks bringing together in three dimensions portions of linear polypeptide chains that are apart in the linear sequence. As a consequence, conformations of peptides and proteins can be “locked” and both their stabilities and biological activities are affected. Disulfide bridges can also be harnessed in creative ways for de novo design studies. Finally, an active research question is to understand the roles of disulfide bridges in the folding process; the answer may be different for protein sequences able to readily access their final stable packed conformations versus peptide molecules that are generally quite conformationally flexible until covalent crosslinks are introduced. In order to develop a better understanding of the relative importance of disulfides, our laboratory continues to develop methods for the reliable assembly of cystine-containing peptides and small proteins, and for the construction of the required bridges [1]. We also consider a variety of analogous structures, including those in which disulfides are replaced by trisulfides, in which disulfides have been intentional mispaired, and in which paired half-cysteines have been replaced by paired acid isosteres. These approaches are applied to a range of target molecules, including oxytocin and deaminooxytocin (9 residues, disulfide bridge between residues 1 and 6), somatostatin (14 residues, disulfide bridge between residues 3 and 14), SI (13 residues, disulfide bridges between residues 2 and 7; 3 and 13), apamin (18 residues, disulfide bridges between residues 1 and 11; 3 and 15), and bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI, 58 residues, disulfide bridges between residues 5 and 55; 14 and 38; and 30 and 51). This article surveys our most recent progress both on synthetic aspects and on conformational/biological consequences, some of which is detailed further in the Proceedings of this Symposium [2]. We report new cysteine protecting groups and racemization-free anchoring and coupling procedures, a reusable polymeric reagent to mediate intramolecular disulfide formation, and studies which compare solution and onresin regioselective schemes for disulfide bridge formation.
Cryogenic Control System for the g-2 Muon Ring

The g-2 Muon storage ring consists of three superconducting solenoids 15 meters in diameter, and a beam Inflector solenoid 1.7 meters in length. All superconducting solenoids are indirectly cooled by forced two-phase helium. Cryogenic cooling is accomplished via a J-T circuit and a LHe control dewar. The control System for this cryogenic system is built around commercially available Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC’s) and cryogenic hardware for monitoring temperature, pressure and flow control. The complexity of this system necessitated the use of a graphical user interface (GUI) which permitted operators to perform monitoring and control functions from a central control room. The graphical interface allowed for rapid operator training and, with the cooling circuit schematic shown graphically they can respond to critical situations promptly. Critical data points on the experiment are logged in the software and historical trends are provided for. Using a software based system allowed for rapid system revisions as they were required. Flow control can be performed manually by the operator or automatically by the software based on linear control algorithms. The system has been in use for two years with successful results.
Understanding Confidence: Its Roots and Role in Performance

With an in-depth analysis of confidence and its components, this chapter examines the underlying psychological components of confidence and discusses how critical and creational mindfulness may facilitate the process of confidence build-up. By exploring the relationship between the subjective worlds of the individual, the group, team, and society members, the chapter demonstrates how a mindfully creating a choice of behavior including the choice of the perspective is embedded within the root analysis of confidence cultivation. The chapter discusses the role of character and looks into the implications of accountability, initiative, and collaboration for confidence enhancement.
Greater Efficiency In The Prescription Department

Abstract Professor Rabe observes that prescription department design and storage are too closely tied with tradition, and not sufficiently related to actual present-day practice.
Minimal clinically important difference for change in 6-minute walk test distance of adults with pathology: a systematic review

Rationale, aims, and objectives The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) is widely used as a test of functional exercise capacity. Several studies have reported the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for the 6MWT; however, the findings of the studies have not been examined in the context of one another. In this review, we aimed to summarize available information on the MCID for the 6MWT performed by patients with pathology. Methods Relevant literature was identified by searches of 3 electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health), examination of article reference lists, and consultation with an expert. Inclusion necessitated that articles (1) be original, full length, and peer reviewed, (2) report an MCID for the 6MWT, and (3) focus on adults with medical issues. Articles were excluded if the MCID was determined by a procedure other than receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Articles were abstracted for information on participants, interventions, 6MWT distance, and the determination of MCID. Quality was assessed using a hybrid 9-item (0- to 18-point) instrument. Results Six articles were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The populations studied included people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, coronary artery disease, diffuse parenchymal lung disease, and non–cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis and adults with fear of falling. Mean baseline 6MWT distances ranged from 295 to 551 m. The MCIDs for which the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was at least 0.70 ranged from 14.0 to 30.5 m. Conclusions Based on our findings, a change of 14.0 to 30.5 m may be clinically important across multiple patient groups.
Predicting Treatment Longevity after Successive Conifer Removals in Sierra Nevada Aspen Restoration

Populus tremuloides (quaking aspen) stands throughout the Sierra Nevada Mountains are undergoing succession to conifers. Removal of conifers is being tested, however, little is known about treatment longevity—the time taken for stand density to return to pretreatment levels. To determine longevity of treatments removing conifers below different size limits, we developed tree growth equations from data collected in 1 ha plots around Lake Tahoe in P. tremuloides stands with varying amounts of conifer, and simulated stand development after treatment in two stands. At Ward Creek, cutting all conifer
Comments on the first ‘Person in Practice’ article

The inaugural article written by Dr Abi Berger in the new ‘Person in Practice’ series was published in the July 2016 issue of the journal.1 In it, Dr Berger discusses attracting patients with similar conditions to her own. She ‘admits’ to suffering from anxiety and epiretinal membranes in the past and, more recently, to symptoms of menopause including disturbed sleep, night sweats and low mood, which she describes as an abyss. She …
Fred's Reusable Evaluation Device: Providing Support for Quick and Reliable Linguistic Annotation.

This paper describes an interface that was developed for processing large amounts of human judgments of linguistically annotated data. Freds Reusable Evaluation Device (Fred) provides administrators with a tool to submit linguistic evaluation tasks to judges. Each evaluation task is then presented to exactly two judges, who can submit their judgments at their own leisure. Fred then provides several metrics to administrators. The most important metric is precision, which is provided for each evaluation task and each annotator. Administrators can look at precision for a given data set over time, as well as by evaluation type, data set, or annotator. Inter-annotator agreement is also reported, and that can be tracked over time as well. The interface was developed to provide a tool for evaluating semantically marked up text. The types of evaluations Fred has been used for so far include things like correctness of subject-relation identification, and correctness of temporal relations. However, Freds full versatility has not yet been fully exploited.
Speech Recognition in Adults With Cochlear Implants: The Effects of Working Memory, Phonological Sensitivity, and Aging

Purpose Models of speech recognition suggest that “top-down” linguistic and cognitive functions, such as use of phonotactic constraints and working memory, facilitate recognition under conditions o...
Comparison of Associations of Reduced Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate With Stroke Outcomes Between Hypertension and No Hypertension.

Background and Purpose—We compared the association of low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with stroke outcomes among patients with hypertension and without hypertension. Methods—We used...
Aerobic fitness in adolescents with chronic pain or chronic fatigue: parallels and mechanisms?

OBJECTIVE Chronic fatigue and chronic pain both deter people from participating in exercise, even though exercise is often a key component of treatment. While reasons for this may seem obvious, the extent and mechanism(s) of reduced exercise performance among affected individuals, particularly those with chronic pain, are not well described. We hypothesized that patients with chronic fatigue are more deconditioned than those with chronic pain, due to the nature of their illness or disability. DESIGN Retrospective chart audit June 2012 to December 2014. SUBJECTS Adolescents with chronic fatigue (320, 73 males) or chronic pain (158, 30 males). METHODS Maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test to determine peak oxygen uptake (VO2) and work efficiency. RESULTS Mean (standard deviation (SD)) peakVO2 was similar between patients with chronic fatigue and chronic pain: males 36.5 (SD 8.3) vs 34.2 (SD 7.3) ml/kg/min (p = 0.17); females 27.3 (SD 6.1) vs 27.6 (SD 6.6) ml/kg/min (p = 0.67). PeakVO2 was < 90% predicted in 80% and 75% of females, or 77% and 83% of males, with chronic fatigue and chronic pain, respectively. Peak O2pulse and work efficiency were likewise similar. CONCLUSION Patients in both groups manifest exercise responses typical of cardiopulmonary deconditioning and to similar extent. Failure to detect unique cardiopulmonary or muscle pathophysiology suggests a shared pathway to low aerobic work capacity.
China’s Chances of Survival

In their new book, Can China Survive ?, my friends Hallett Abend and Anthony J. Billingham propound an interesting theme and arrive at a terrible conclusion:-