cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods: Theory and Practice

Updated and expanded for the second edition, this volume provides attorneys, academics and students with a detailed yet accessible overview of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG). Adopted by more than eighty nations and governing a significant portion of international sales, the CISG regulates contract formation, performance, risk of loss, conformity to contractual requirements and remedies for breach. This volume explains the CISG doctrines and their ambiguities, and appraises the extent to which the doctrines reduce transaction costs for commercial actors. Its topic-based approach will be ideal for those pursuing academic analysis or subject-specific research.
Nop9 is a PUF-like protein that prevents premature cleavage to correctly process pre-18S rRNA.

Numerous factors direct eukaryotic ribosome biogenesis, and defects in a single ribosome assembly factor may be lethal or produce tissue-specific human ribosomopathies. Pre-ribosomal RNAs (pre-rRNAs) must be processed stepwise and at the correct subcellular locations to produce the mature rRNAs. Nop9 is a conserved small ribosomal subunit biogenesis factor, essential in yeast. Here we report a 2.1-A crystal structure of Nop9 and a small-angle X-ray-scattering model of a Nop9:RNA complex that reveals a 'C'-shaped fold formed from 11 Pumilio repeats. We show that Nop9 recognizes sequence and structural features of the 20S pre-rRNA near the cleavage site of the nuclease, Nob1. We further demonstrate that Nop9 inhibits Nob1 cleavage, the final processing step to produce mature small ribosomal subunit 18S rRNA. Together, our results suggest that Nop9 is critical for timely cleavage of the 20S pre-rRNA. Moreover, the Nop9 structure exemplifies a new class of Pumilio repeat proteins.
MicroRNA hsa-mir-16 Contributes to Regulation of Myeloid Differentiation of Human CD34+ Cells.

Abstract In a large microRNA-array and bioinformatics study, we determined all of the microRNAs (miRs) expressed by human CD34+ hematopoietic stem-progenitor cells (HSPCs) from bone marrow and G-CSF mobilized blood. When we combined miR expression data, mRNA expression data fro a previous study (Georgantas et al, Cancer Research 64:4434), and data from various published mir-target prediction algorithms, we were able to bioinformaticly predict the actions of miRs within the hematopoietic system. MicroRNA hsa-mir-16 was highly expressed in CD34+ HSPCs, and was predicted to target several HSPC-expressed mRNAs (CXCR4, HoxB7, Runx-1, ETS-1, and Myb) that encode proteins known to be critically involved specifically in myelopoiesis within the hematopoietic system. We first confirmed that protein expression from each of these putative target mRNAs was in fact regulated by mir-16. The 3′UTR sequence from each of these mRNAs was cloned behind a luciferase reporter. Each reporter construct was transfected into K562 cells, which strongly express mir-16. In all cases, protein expression from the predicted target mRNA was greatly reduced in K562 cells, as compared to controls. As a first determination of mir-16's function in hematopoietic cells, HL60 and K562 cells were transduced with hsa-mir-16 lentivirus, then treated with various chemical differentiation inducers. As was predicted by bioinformatics, hsa-mir-16 halted myeloid differentiation of HL60 cells, but did not affect megakaryocytic differentiation or erythroid differentiation of K562 cells. These initial findings suggest that mir-16 is a specific negative regulator of myelopoiesis. We are currently evaluating the effects of mir-16 on normal human CD34+ cells by in vitro CFC and suspension culture assays, as well as in vivo by transplantation of hsa-mir-16 lentivirus transduced cells in immunodeficient mice.
Educating the Commons Through Cooperatively Run Schools

In this chapter, I am chiefly interested in articulating a theoretical claim that cooperatively run schools can educate the commons causally and reproductively. Cooperatively run schools educate the commons because going to school at a cooperative can cause commons to come about by reproducing the kinds of knowledge and skills necessary to maintain an existing commons. I will make this case by completing the theoretical background already begun in this introduction, then narrating the “educational genesis” of one of the world’s best-known large-scale industrial cooperatives: the Mondragon Cooperative Corporation in Spain. After narrating that educational genesis as a kind of founding myth, I claim that cooperatively run schools can teach the commons and lay out a brief set of considerations for how to apply this strategy in the United States in the early twenty-first century.
Processability evaluation of a Mo-containing FeCrAl alloy for seamless thin-wall tube fabrication ☆

Abstract The processability of a Mo-containing FeCrAl alloy (Fe-13Cr-5.2Al-2Mo base, in wt%), developed for accident-tolerant nuclear fuel claddings, was evaluated through a stepwise rolling process at 400 °C under two different inter-pass annealing conditions (i.e., 650 °C for 1 h and at 870 °C for 30 min). The inter-pass annealing at 870 °C easily softened the FeCrAl alloy; however, it led to the formation of coarse grains of ~200 µm. On the other hand, the FeCrAl alloy maintained elongated, deformed grains with the inter-pass annealing at 650 °C, but the annealed samples showed relatively high deformation resistance and strong texture. Important aspects concerning the processability and microstructural control of FeCrAl alloys, such as deformation inhomogeneity, texture development, and grain coarsening, were discussed. Optimized processing conditions were recommended, based on the results, to achieve desirable microstructures with balanced processability and mechanical properties.
Predicting the Double Layer Width on Pt(111) in Acid and Base with Theory and Extracting It from Experimental Voltammograms

Voltammograms measured for carefully prepared Pt(111) electrodes by the Alicante group show the presence of pH dependencies in the onset potentials for under potential deposited H deposition and for OH deposition from water oxidation. In this article we show that the second derivatives of voltammograms can be used to provide consistent and useful measures of the onset potentials for H and OH deposition. From analysis of the voltammograms, we find an increase in the width of the double layer potential region, beginning at 0.19 V and ending at 0.31 V, over the pH range of 1 to 14. We use density functional theory to calculate the onset potentials for 13 different water structures on Pt(111) and find the experimental trend is produced when the OH(ads) oxidation product surface is saturated with water molecules. The theory indicates that the onset potentials for OH(ads) coverages exceeding 1/3 ML are high, and in acidic electrolyte the potentials exceed those for OH(ads) oxidation to O(ads).
Identifying the causes of the changes in the prevalence patterns of diabetes in older U.S. adults: A new trend partitioning approach.

Abstract Aims To identify how efforts to control the diabetes epidemic and the resulting changes in diabetes mellitus, type II (T2D) incidence and survival have affected the time-trend of T2D prevalence. Methods A newly developed method of trend decomposition was applied to a 5% sample of Medicare administrative claims filed between 1991 and 2012. Results Age-adjusted prevalence of T2D for adults age 65+ increased at an average annual percentage change of 2.31% between 1992 and 2012. Primary contributors to this trend were (in order of magnitude): improved survival at all ages, increased prevalence of T2D prior to age of Medicare eligibility, decreased incidence of T2D after age of Medicare eligibility. Conclusions Health services supported by the Medicare system, coupled with improvements in medical technology and T2D awareness efforts provide effective care for individuals age 65 and older. However, policy maker attention should be shifted to the prevention of T2D in younger age groups to control the increase in prevalence observed prior to Medicare eligibility.
Introduction to the Special Issue: Successful Inclusion for Students With Disabilities Who Are Learning English:

Students who are learning English is one of the fastest growing groups of students in U.S. public schools. Evidence suggests that students learning English are often placed in segregated special ed...
Modeling of DDR5 signaling from jitter sequences to accurate bit error rate (BER)

Intel's signal integrity (SI) analysis for memory in the server segment has neither considered correlated jitter nor handled jitter amplification over channel when performing fast analytical signaling analyses. This inaccuracy is no longer feasible with the intended data rates of DDR5. Here, we propose a DDR5 flow that starts from jitter sequences or histograms and ends with signaling analysis via FastBER that can comprehend jitter amplification over I/O channels regardless of whether Tx jitter is correlated or uncorrelated. The paper contributes results of large scale testing of FastBER signaling in such a scenario and also offers solutions to practical issues like jitter extrapolation and time-margin skew due to setup and hold asymmetry.
Nilpotency of Loops

Bruck [70] contains a theory of nilpotency of loops which embodies some of the basic features of nilpotency for groups. We shall sketch a less general approach which seems conceptually simpler. Let 𝕷 be any class of loops such that: (a) Every subloop of a member of 𝕷 is in 𝕷. (b) Every loop which is a homomorphic image of a member of 𝕷 is in 𝕷.
The Middle Voice in Being and Time

The task of thinking about Heidegger after Heidegger is not necessarily one of following the development and shaping of his various thoughts. We might also think back from where we are now or from one or another of his later works, reversing a forward, linear development, or we might follow the transformation of the question of being to something vaguely other than being that is both unknown and to be thought. We might depart from Heidegger and follow language and thought that have emerged from the impact of his work. Or we might follow his own language, its movements and developments. It often shows a way that Heidegger himself was not always clear about, a way that he found himself following as though something were emerging beyond his intentions and reflections, a language in which thinking changed as it felt the impact of other language and thought that were forgotten, set aside, or never quite articulated, but are now released in his writing. Heidegger’s way of thinking is not simply the totality of his own careful efforts. It is a way that spawns beginnings and departures. His ‘way’ passes on a preoccupation with what is in its own lineage and is also beyond the reach of clarity in our inherited language and thought. The task of thinking in this language is governed by what is to be thought and is not quite thinkable, like an enticement, oblique and hidden, but received now with a sense of quiet urgency, drawing and perplexing, upsetting our satisfactions and our sense of Tightness as we think.
The Riemann Surface of an Algebraic Function

Let \(F(x,y) = {a_0}(x){y^n} + {a_1}(x){y^{n - 1}} + ... + {a_n}(x) \in {\Bbb C}\left[ {x,y} \right]\) be an irreducible polynomial, let \(V = \left\{ {\left( {x,y} \right) \in {{\Bbb C}^2}|F(x,y) = 0} \right\}\). Let \({S_0} = \left\{ {x \in {\Bbb C}{\text{|}}{a_0}(x) = 0} \right\},{S_1} = \left\{ {x \in {\Bbb C}{\text{|}}{\exists _y} \in {\Bbb C}{\text{with }}F(x,y) = 0 = \frac{{\partial F}}{{\partial F}}(x,y)} \right\}\) and let \(S = {S_0} \cup {S_1} \cup \left\{ \infty \right\} \subset {{\Bbb P}^1}.\). Let \(\pi :V \to {\Bbb C}\) be the projection \((x,y) \mapsto x,V' = V - {\pi ^{ - 1}}(S) = V - {\pi ^{ - 1}}({S_0} \cup {S_1})\) and \(\pi ' = \pi |V'\). We have seen that if D e is a small disc around \(a \in S({D_\varepsilon } = \left\{ {|z| > \frac{1}{\varepsilon }} \right\} \cup \left\{ \infty \right\}\) if a = ∞), then \(\pi '|{\pi ^{ - 1}}({D_\varepsilon } - \left\{ a \right\}) \to {D_\varepsilon } - \left\{ a \right\}\)is a finite covering (of n-sheets). In particular, π−1 (D e − a) has only finitely many connected components. Moreover, if W is a connected component of V’, then π’|W is again a covering, and so maps W onto P1 − S. Hence V’ has only finitely many connected components. (We shall see below that it is, in fact, connected.) Let W 1,…, W r be the components of V’. Then \({\pi _j} = \pi |{W_j} \to {\Bbb P}{^1} - S\) is a finite covering, hence every boundary point of W j is algebraic. Let \({\hat \pi _j}:\hat W \to {{\Bbb P}^1}\) be the algebraic completion of \({\hat \pi _j}:\hat W \to {{\Bbb P}^1} - S.\). If \(P \in {\hat W_j} - {W_j}\) and \(a = {\hat \pi _j}(P),\), there is a neighbourhood U of P and e > 0 such that \({\hat \pi _j}|U \to {D_\varepsilon }\) is isomorphic to the map \(z \mapsto a + {z^m}({\text{or }}z \to {z^{ - m}})\) for some m > 0, so that, in particular, in particular, \({\hat \pi _j}|U \to {D_\varepsilon }\) is proper. It follows that for any a ∈ S, there is e > 0 so that \({\hat \pi _j}|{\hat \pi _j}^{ - 1}({D_\varepsilon }) \to {D_\varepsilon }\) is proper. Since \(\hat \pi |{W_j} \to {{\Bbb P}^1} - S\) is proper, \({\hat \pi _j}:{\hat W_j} \to {{\Bbb P}^1}\) is proper, so that \({\hat W_j}\) is compact.
Regulation of Cholesterol 7 α -Hydroxylase

Microsomal cholesterol 7 α-hydroxylase is the first and rate limiting enzyme in the conversion of cholesterol to bile acids in the liver. This enzyme activity is enhanced two to three fold by the treatment of rats with bile acid sequestrant, cholestyramine, and varies depending on animal species, sex and age. A cytochrome P-450 isozyme was isolated from cholestyramine-treated female rats and was active in reconstitution of cholesterol 7 α-hydroxylase activity with NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and phospholipid. Phospholipid is required for optimal activity. Cytochrome b 5 could stimulate the reconstituted activity by two and half- fold. Reconstituted enzyme activity could be abolished by preincubation with alkaline phosphatase. On the other hand, cAMP-dependent protein kinase stimulated the activity by two and half-fold. These results suggest that reconstituted cholesterol 7 α-hydroxylase activity can be modulated by phosphorylation and dephosphorylation mechanism.
Signaling Pathways Mediating Dendritic Cell Dysfunction in Cancer

Dendritic cells are professional antigen-presenting cells that regulate the immune system. In cancers, they uptake tumor antigens, deliver them to T cells, and induce tumor-specific T-cell responses. However, tumor cells develop mechanisms to evade the immune system, partly by impairing dendritic cell differentiation, function and longevity. Accumulating evidence has indicated that intracellular signaling pathways, such as MAPK, JAK/STAT3, PI3K/Akt, and NF-κB, are critical to the regulation of dendritic cell differentiation, survival, and activity. However, these signaling pathways are found to be hyperactivated in both tumor cells and dendritic cells in malignancies. The constitutive activation of these pathways in cancer cells leads to tumor cell secretion of cytokines that activate intracellular signaling pathways, particularly p38 MAPK, in dendritic cells or their progenitor cells and impair dendritic cell differentiation and function. In this chapter we will discuss signaling pathways that mediate dendritic cell dysfunction. We will focus on the roles of MAPK, particularly p38 MAPK, in negatively regulating dendritic cell differentiation and function in cancers.
Modeling aqueous contaminant removal due to combined hydrolysis and adsorption: oxytetracycline in the presence of biomass-based activated carbons

This work demonstrates a new model to determine which mechanism(s) – adsorption or hydrolysis – is (are) responsible for the removal of oxytetracycline (OTC) from water in the presence of biomass-b...
Discontinuation of proton pump inhibitor use reduces the number of endoscopic procedures required for resolution of walled-off pancreatic necrosis.

Background and Objectives: Endoscopic drainage/debridement of symptomatic walled off necrosis (WON) using lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS) is both safe and effective. While endoscopic management of WON is the standard approach to treatment, the ideal concomitant medical therapy remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to further elucidate the effect of proton pump inhibitor (PPIs) therapy on the technical and clinical success of endoscopic treatment of WON. Methods: Two hundred and seventy-two patients in 8 centers with WON managed by endoscopic drainage using LAMS were evaluated. Patients were followed for at least 6 months following treatment. The patients were divided into two groups: Those that used PPIs continuously during the therapy and those not on PPIs continuously during the interval of therapy. Outcomes included but were not limited to technical success, clinical success, number of procedures performed, and adverse events. Results: From 2013 to 2016, 272 patients underwent WON drainage with successful transmural LAMS placement. The two groups were split evenly into PPI users and non-PPI users, and matched in regards to demographics, etiology of pancreatitis, WON size, and location. There was no difference in the technical success between the two groups (100% vs. 98.8%, P = 1), or in clinical success rates (78.7% vs. 77.9%). There was a significant difference in the required number of direct endoscopic necrosectomies to achieve clinical success in the PPI vs. non-PPI group (3.2 vs. 4.6 respectively, P
Dynamically encircling exceptional points in active media (Conference Presentation)

Dynamically encircling an exceptional point (EP) of a non-Hermitian system, in which the parameters are continuously varied around the EP, offers direction dependent conversion into orthogonal eigenstates that is robust to input state variation. The requirement for adiabatic conditions in the encircling, equating to very slow modulation in parameter space about the EP, ultimately results in long path lengths. This proves a strong limitation on the use of passive materials for mode conversion in such systems, as including loss becomes necessary. Thus, in passive converters, output of the converted mode will have very small intensity and be difficult to integrate into larger systems. Here we experimentally demonstrate chiral conversion into orthogonal supermodes by dynamic encirclement of an EP in an active, nonlinear system of two coupled waveguides. The introduction of gain allows for sufficiently adiabatic systems with control of output intensity, equaling or amplifying that of the input signal. This work paves the way for further use of active media in chiral mode converters, as well as the fabrication of semiconductor lasers with direction dependent mode output, more suitable for integration into larger systems.
Maize nested introgression library provides evidence for the involvement of liguleless1 in resistance to northern leaf blight

Abstract Plant disease resistance is largely governed by complex genetic architecture. In maize, few disease resistance loci have been characterized. Near-isogenic lines (NILs) are a powerful genetic tool to dissect quantitative trait loci (QTL). We analyzed an introgression library of maize near-isogenic lines (NILs), termed a nested NIL (nNIL) library for resistance to northern leaf blight (NLB) caused by the fungal pathogen Setosphaeria turcica. The nNIL library was comprised of 412 BC5F4 NILs that originated from 18 diverse donor parents and a common recurrent parent, B73. Single nucleotide polymorphisms identified through genotyping by sequencing (GBS) were used to define introgressions and for association analysis. NILs that conferred resistance and susceptibility to NLB were comprised of introgressions that overlapped known NLB QTL. Genome-wide association analysis and stepwise regression further resolved five QTL regions, and implicated several candidate genes, including Liguleless1 (Lg1), a key determinant of leaf architecture in cereals. Two independently-derived mutant alleles of lg1 inoculated with S. turcica showed enhanced susceptibility to NLB. In the maize nested association mapping population, leaf angle was positively correlated with NLB in five recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations, and negatively correlated with NLB in four RIL populations. This study demonstrates the power of a nNIL library combined with high density SNP coverage to resolve QTLs. Furthermore, the role of lg1 in leaf architecture and in resistance to NLB has important applications in crop improvement. Significance Statement (120 words) Understanding the genetic basis of disease resistance is important for crop improvement. We analyzed response to northern leaf blight (NLB) in a maize population consisting of 412 near-isogenic lines (NILs) derived from 18 diverse donor parents backcrossed to a recurrent parent, B73. NILs were genotyped by sequencing to detect introgressed segments. We identified NILs with greater resistance or susceptibility to NLB than B73. Genome-wide association analysis, coupled with stepwise regression, identified 5 candidate loci for NLB resistance, including the liguleless1 gene. The LIGULELESS1 transcription factor is critical in development of the leaf ligular region and influences leaf angle. We found that liguleless1 mutants are significantly more susceptible to NLB, uncovering a pleiotropic role for liguleless1 in development and disease resistance.
Using Health Systems Engineering Approaches to Prepare for Tailoring of Implementation Interventions

Implementation of evidence-based practices often requires tailoring implementation strategies to local contextual factors, including available resources, expertise, and cultural norms. Using an exemplar case, we describe how health systems engineering methods can be used to understand system-level variation that must be accounted for prior to broad implementation. Within the context of a single-center quality improvement activity, a multi-disciplinary stakeholder team used health systems engineering methods to describe how pre-endoscopy antithrombotic management was executed, and implemented a redesigned process to improve clinical care. The research team then conducted multiple stakeholder focus groups at four different health-care systems to describe and compare current processes for pre-endoscopy antithrombotic medication management. Detailed work flow maps for each health-care system were developed, analyzed, and integrated to develop an overarching current work flow map, identify key process steps, and describe areas of process variation. Five key process steps were identified across the four health systems: (1) place an endoscopy order, (2) screen for antithrombotic use, (3) coordinate medication management, (4) instruct the patient, and (5) confirm appropriate medication management before procedure. Across health systems, we found a high degree of variation in each step (e.g., who performed, use of technology, systematic vs. ad hoc process). This variation was influenced by two key system-level contextual factors: (1) degree of health system integration and (2) role and training level of available staff. These key steps, areas of variation, and contextual factors were integrated into an assessment tool designed to facilitate tailoring of a future implementation and dissemination strategy. Tools from health systems engineering can be used to identify key work flow process steps, variations in how those steps are executed, and influential contextual factors. This process and the associated assessment tool may facilitate broader implementation tailoring.
Conclusions and Commentary

The chapters in this volume underscore the interplay of evolutionary forces, environmental pressures, cultural practices, patterns of perception, and social structures in generating human conflict and resolving it throughout history. Only within such structural contexts can the agency of individual actors be understood. It is instructive to review some of these structures and to reflect on both the substance of the findings presented here as well as the methods we may employ to interpret them.
Barriers to Technological Adoption in Spain and Portugal

Since 1945, both Spain and Portugal have experienced significant market transformations. These countries were both led by dictators for many years until the mid 1970s when each moved toward more democratic governments and more open markets. As a result, each experienced significant changes in output with Spain’s becoming a model for proper market based transformations. Although Portugal’s transformation has been less impressive it experienced improvements too. This paper uses a Parente and Prescott (J Polit Econ 102(2), 298-321, 1994; 2000) type model to investigate the recent transformations in each of these countries and quantify the extent to which barriers to technological adoption may have played for these two development experiences. Our results indicate that from 1945 to 2003 these barriers have fallen considerably but remain high, and are somewhat higher in Portugal than in Spain.
XCVATR: Detection and Characterization of Variant Impact on the Embeddings of Single -Cell and Bulk RNA-Sequencing Samples

Gene expression profiling via RNA-sequencing has become standard for measuring and analyzing the gene activity in bulk and at single cell level. Increasing sample sizes and cell counts provides substantial information about transcriptional architecture of samples. In addition to quantification of expression at cellular level, RNA-seq can be used for detecting of variants, including single nucleotide variants and small insertions/deletions and also large variants such as copy number variants. The joint analysis of variants with transcriptional state of cells or samples can provide insight about impact of mutations. To provide a comprehensive method to jointly analyze the genetic variants and cellular states, we introduce XCVATR, a method that can identify variants, detect local enrichment of expressed variants, within embedding of samples and cells. The embeddings provide information about cellular states among cells by defining a cell-cell distance metric. Unlike clustering algorithms, which depend on a cell-cell distance and use it to define clusters that explain cell clusters globally, XCVATR detects the local enrichment of expressed variants in the embedding space such that embedding can be computed using any type of measurement or method, for example by PCA or tSNE of the expression levels. XCVATR searches local patterns of association of each variant with the positions of cells in an embedding of the cells. XCVATR also visualizes the local clumps of small and large-scale variant calls in single cell and bulk RNA-sequencing datasets. We perform simulations and demonstrate that XCVATR can identify the enrichments of expressed variants. We also apply XCVATR on single cell and bulk RNA-seq datasets and demonstrate its utility.
Early Prediction of Post-acute Care Discharge Disposition Using Predictive Analytics: Preventing Delays Caused by Prior Health Insurance Authorization and Reducing the Inpatient Length of Stay

Objective: A patient’s medical insurance coverage plays an essential role in determining the post-acute care (PAC) discharge disposition. The prior health insurance authorization process postpones the PAC discharge disposition, increases the inpatient length of stay, and effects patient health. Our study implements predictive analytics for the early prediction of the PAC discharge disposition to reduce the deferments caused by prior health insurance authorization, the inpatient length of stay and inpatient stay expenses. Methodology: We conducted a group discussion involving 25 patient care facilitators (PCFs) and two registered nurses (RNs) and retrieved 1600 patient data records from the initial nursing assessment and discharge notes to conduct a retrospective analysis of PAC discharge dispositions using predictive analytics. Results: The chi-squared automatic interaction detector (CHAID) algorithm enabled the early prediction of the PAC discharge disposition, accelerated the prior health insurance process, decreased the inpatient length of stay by an average of 22.22%, and reduced inpatient stay expenses by $1,974 for state government hospitals, $2,346 for non-profit hospitals and $1,798 for for-profit hospitals per day. The CHAID algorithm produced an overall accuracy of 84.16% and an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve value of 0.81. Conclusion: The early prediction of PAC discharge dispositions can condense the PAC deferment caused by the prior health insurance authorization process and simultaneously minimize the inpatient length of stay and related expenses incurred by the hospital.
Expanding New York State's Earned Income Tax Credit Programme: the effect on work, income and poverty

Given its favourable employment incentives and ability to target the working poor, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) has become the primary antipoverty programme at both the federal and state levels. However, when evaluating the effect of EITC programmes on income and poverty, governments generally calculate the effect using simple accounting, where the value of the state or federal EITC benefit is added to a person's income. These calculations omit the behavioural incentives created by the existence of these programmes, the corresponding effect on labour supply and hours worked, and therefore the actual effect on income and poverty. This article simulates the full effect of an expansion of the New York State EITC benefit on employment, hours worked, income, poverty and programme expenditures. These results are then compared to those omitting labour supply effects. Relative to estimates excluding labour supply effects, the preferred behavioural results show that an expansion of the New York State EITC i...
Narrative imagery: Emotional modulation in the default mode network.

The default mode network (DMN) is activated when constructing and imagining narrative events, with functional brain activity in one region, the medial-prefrontal cortex, hypothesized to be modulated during emotional processing by adding value (or pleasure) to the episodic representation. However, since enhanced reactivity during emotional, compared to neutral, content is a more frequent finding in both the brain and body in physiological, neural, and behavioral measures, the current study directly assesses the effects of pleasure and emotion during narrative imagery in the DMN by using a within-subject design to first identify the DMN during resting state and then assess activation during pleasant, neutral, or unpleasant imagery. Replicating previous findings, enhanced functional activity in the medial prefrontal cortex was found when imagining pleasant, compared to unpleasant, events. In addition, emotion-related activation was found when imagining either pleasant or unpleasant, compared to neutral, events, in other nodes of the DMN including the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), angular gyrus, anterior hippocampus, lateral temporal cortex, temporal pole, dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC), and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC). Pervasive emotional modulation in the DMN is consistent with the view that a primary function of event retrieval and construction is to remember, recreate, and imagine motivationally relevant events important for planning adaptive behavior.
Dewey, pragmatism, and economic methodology

Introduction John Dewey, the Transactional View and the Behavioural Sciences Part One: Pragmatism and Postmodernism 1. Five Milestones of Pragmatism Frank X. Ryan 2. John Dewey and the Pragmatic Century Richard Bernstein 3. Putnam and Rorty on their Pramatist Heritage: Re-Reading James and Dewey Sami Pihlstroem 4. Dewey and/or Rorty Joseph Margolis 5. Avoiding Wrong Turns: A Philippic Against the Lingustification of Pragmatism David L. Hildebrand 6. Pragmatism as Post-Postmodernism Larry A. Hickman 7. Toward a Truly Pragmatic Theory of Signs: Reading Peirce's Semeiotic in Light of Dewey's Gloss Vincent Colapietro Part Two: Inquiry, Language and Nature 8. Dewey on Inquiry and Language - After Bentley John E. Smith 9. Dewey, Analytic Epistemology, and Biology Peter H. Hare 10. Pragmatic Naturalism, Knowing the World, and the Issue of Foundations: Beyond the Modernist-Postmodernist Alternative Sandra Rosenthal Part Three: Inquiry and Society 11. John Dewey and the Intersection of Democracy and Law Richard Posner 12. Truth but No Consequences: Why Philosophy Doesn't Matter Stanley Fish 13. The Logical Necessity of Ideologies Tom Burke 14. Pragmatism John J. Stuhr 15. Corrigibilism Without Solidarity Isaac Levi Part Four: Economic Methodology 16. Pragmatism, Knowledge, and Economic Science: Deweyan Pragmatic Philosophy and Contemporary Economic Methodology D. Wade Hands 17. A Deweyan Economic Methodology Alex Viskovatoff 18. Dewey and Economic Reality Michael S. Lawlor 19. The Subjectivist Methodology of Austrian Economics and Dewey's Theory of Inquiry Peter Boettke, Don Lavoie and Virgil Storr 20. After the 'New Economics,' Pragmatist Turn? William Milberg
MAN-COMPUTER CONCEPTS FOR PLANNING AND SCHEDULING

An interactive man-computer system for project planning and scheduling can overcome many of the theoretical and practical problems of manual and computer batch processing methods. Four key elements in the proposed unified system include: (1) a man, or group of men; (2) a man-computer interface; (3) an integrated system of interactive programs; and (4) a direct access computer data base. The man is the source of insight, judgement, intuition, qualitative analysis, and practical evaluations. The interface is a subsystem of devices and programs that allows a nonspecialist to converse with the computer at the application problem level. The programs logically integrate the principles behind basic network methods including critical path scheduling, resource allocation and leveling, time-cost analysis, and cash flow. The data base maintains files of information relating to project planning and scheduling in a readily accessible form.
Counseling Caregivers of Families Affected by HIV/AIDS: The Use of Narrative Therapy

This article proposes the use of Narrative Therapy with family caregivers of family members diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. The authors identify the reasons for using Narrative Therapy with African family caregivers who have relocated to the United States of America. The tenets of Narrative Therapy are outlined, and a case illustration is provided to show how Narrative Therapy can be implemented. In this case study, the client moves from a state of helplessness and hopelessness to being able to regain control of her life and improve the care of her sister. She was able to re-write her story: from feeling incompetent to a position of strength. Although Narrative Therapy was used successfully with an African family caregiver within the USA, the authors assert that the interventions have the potential to be used as effectively with those clients living in Africa, provided counselors are sensitive to cultural differences that will affect their practice.
Existence and uniqueness of steady-state solutions for an electrochemistry model

We present a simple proof for the existence and uniqueness of steady-state solutions to an electrochemistry model with multiple species. In this note we give a simple proof for the existence and uniqueness of steadystate solutions for an electrochemistry model with multiple species. The equations in such a model have been the subject of a series of papers by Choi and Lui (see [1, 2, 3, 4] and references therein). In the steady-state, the species concentrations can be expressed in terms of the electrical potential A, and thus the problem is equivalent to solving a single integro-differential equation for W (see, e.g., [4] for details). Let Q be an open, bounded C0o1 domain in Rh (n = 1,2 or 3) and A9 = P1 U P2 U P3 where P1 and P2 are relatively closed. Then the equation for the potential is m ziCie-ziS?(x) (1) 6L\(~~~Q = Sf_ ezisw(Y)dy ?Qx with boundary conditions (2) f =-a/2 on F1, =a/2 on ]2 and -I = 0 on F3. Here Q(x) E L2(Q) represents a possible background charge concentration, and e > 0 is the permittivity. The constant Ci > 0 is the prescribed mass for the ith species, and zi is its signed charge. a > 0 is the applied potential difference between the two electrodes. (For convenience, we have translated W by the constant a/2 from the formulation in [4].) The existence/uniqueness of W in this problem has been shown by Choi and Lui for the case n = 1 in [1, 2] and for the case n > 2 in [3], both under the assumptions that Q _ 0 and EziCi = 0. These assumptions were then removed in [4]. Their arguments varied from case to case, and were quite involved, especially for the uniqueness. The proof that we will present in this note is simple and valid for all cases, and provides an explicit L' bound for the solution. In particular, our argument for uniqueness is short and elementary. Received by the editors June 22, 1999. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification. Primary 45K05, 35J20.
Surface structure of intact cells and spheroplasts of pseudomonas aeruginosa.

This report describes the ultrastructural features of Pseudomonas aeruginosa after freeze-etching of intact cells and enzymatically prepared spheroplasts. Freeze-etching of intact cells revealed two convex layers of the cell wall and particles within the hydrophobic interior of the cell membrane. Areas of the membrane free of particles were sometimes elevated in the form of rather large dome-shaped structures. Spheroplasts were formed from intact cells by the addition of trypsin to a reaction mixture of lysozyme and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. Spheroplasts contained the outer lipoid layer of the cell wall. It was possible to observe this cell wall layer in freeze-etch preparations of spheroplasts. The spheroplast membrane like that of intact cells was cleaved along a central plane to expose particles and particle-free areas. Images
Enforcing request integrity in web applications

A web application is constructed to process an intended sequence of requests. Failing to enforce the intended sequences can lead to request integrity (RI) attacks, wherein an attacker forces an application into processing an unintended request sequence. Cross-site-request forgeries (CSRF) and workflow violations are two classes of RI attacks. Enforcing the intended request sequences is essential for ensuring the integrity of the application. We describe a new approach for enforcing request integrity in a web application, and its implementation in a tool called BAYAWAK. Under our approach, the intended request sequences of an application are specified as a security policy, and a framework-level method enforces the security policy strictly and transparently without requiring changes in the application's source code. Our approach can be compared to operating system (OS) support for access control--access control is not built into the application, but based on OS level policy settings. We evaluated BAYAWAK using nine open source web applications. Our results indicate that our approach is effective against request integrity attacks and incurs negligible overhead.
Common themes from the extremes: using two methodologies to examine adolescents' perceptions of anti-violence public service announcements

Purpose: To determine in what ways adolescents perceive public service announcements (PSAs) in general and, more specifically, anti-violence health messages. Methods: Seventy-nine adolescents who were involved with the issue of violence (39 pro-social, 40 incarcerated) participated. These youth were from four sites (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Detroit, Michigan, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Portland, Oregon) and were chosen at random from a pool recommended by community leaders. First, adolescents were questioned on their demographics and knowledge of, attitudes about, and experience with, violence. Then, adolescents rated eight PSAs on levels of interest, understanding, believability, and perceived effect. In semistructured individual interviews, the adolescents discussed each of the PSAs as well as how health messages can effectively reach young people. We used quantitative and qualitative methodologies to analyze the data. Results: Adolescents had similar opinions about the presented messages and using PSAs. Across both the pro-social and incarcerated groups, adolescents (a) opposed celebrity spokespeople, (b) preferred authentic-looking characters and realistic situations, (c) dismissed messages directed at either younger or older audiences, (d) confused abstractions, (e) focused on visuals, and (f) suggested using graphic images. Conclusions: The similarities observed between the pro-social and incarcerated adolescents may arise from the fact that, although the nature of their experience varied, both groups had high levels of issue involvement. From this study, we can make three recommendations for creating messages: (a) use authentic-looking characters in realistic situations; (b) employ simple, visual, and graphic messages; and (c) do formative evaluations with target audiences.
Functional significance of climbing-fiber synchrony

: Population coding and behavioral approaches were taken toward analyzing the functional significance of the climbing-fiber system. Analyses of neuronal interaction using the joint peristimulus time histogram showed that given a low rate of firing, the climbing-fiber system organizes itself to fire synchronously during movement—a feature that bears little or no relationship to the modulation in firing rate during movement or whether olivary neurons respond to a sensory stimulus. Moreover, the climbing-fiber system avoids synchrony during a passive sensory response but actively makes a transition into synchrony as a movement is initiated. Thus, from a functional viewpoint, the active feature of the climbing-fiber system to organize into synchronously firing cell ensembles is uniquely motor. Analyses of behaving rats without an inferior olive revealed that the climbing-fiber system optimizes the timing of skilled movement by reducing reaction time and the interval between repetitive movements by 100 milliseconds. Finally, using classical delay eyeblink conditioning, it was found that the inferior olive is essential for learning about rapid sequences of events but not the same event sequence when given more slowly. It was concluded that the climbing-fiber system exerts its function through synchrony, which provides a 100 ms advantage in movement speed and the ability to learn about events that are rapidly presented in time.
Elemental ion release from four different fixed prosthodontic materials.

Objective Elemental release is important because it plays a significant role in material biocompatibility. The aim of this study was to investigate the release of metal ions from four fixed prosthodontic materials. Methods Specimens were prepared using the conventional lost wax technique for gold and nickel–chromium (Ni–Cr) alloys, and by cutting blocks and bar for CAD–CAM ceramic and stainless-steel (St-St) alloy, respectively. All specimens were polished (600 grit SiC paper), and ultrasonically cleaned with ethanol for 5 min. After they were immersed in 0.9% sodium chloride (NaCl) and 1% lactic acid, and were kept at 37 °C for 7 days, the elemental release (μg/cm2) from each material was analyzed by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. The rate (n = 5) was statistically analyzed by ANOVA/Tukey test (p < 0.05). Two immersion blank solutions were used as a negative control group. Results Higher elemental release (mean ± S.D.) of all elements from all materials was evident into the lactic acid solution except for Ag. In the gold alloy, there was significant difference (p < 0.05) between Zn and other released elements in the NaCl solution, and it also revealed significant difference between Pd or Ag and Cu which detection value was more than Zn (but no statistical difference) into lactic acid solution. The Ni was significantly more released from Ni–Cr alloy than the other elements into both NaCl and lactic acid solutions. The same was observed for Fe released from St-St alloy. There was more significant release of K than Al from CAD–CAM ceramic in only NaCl solution. Significance Transient exposure of tested materials to an acidic environment is likely to significantly increase the elemental release from them. The significant higher release of Ni from Ni–Cr alloy, and Zn, Cu from gold alloy was evident.
Ultrafilters and types on models of arithmetic

Si (I, #7B-R) est un modele d'un fragment suffisant d'arithmetique d'ordre 2, alors #7B-R est une algebre sous-booleenne de l'ensemble puissance de I. On etudie les ultrafiltres sur ces algebres booleennes #7B-R
On the Separation of Half-Wave Potentials Required for Resolution of Simple, Reversible, Overlapping Waves in Stationary Electrode Voltammetry

SUMMARY Linear potential sweep voltammetry at stationary or quasi-stationary electrodes has become a widely accepted analytical technique. In contrast with the well-known dc polarographic current-voltage curve which reaches a limiting current (i1) at potentials sufficiently removed from the half-wave potential (E1/2), the voltammetric curve at a stationary electrode in unstirred solution reaches a maximum value (ip) after which the current decreases rather slowly as the potential is increased further. This “tail” is a matter of concern in the analysis of multicomponent systems if two or more species react during a single sweep of the electrode potential. This communication presents the results of calculations made to determine the separation of half-wave potentials required to permit the quantitative determination of each species in multicomponent systems. Regular, first-, and second-derivative techniques are considered.
Pancreatic Enzyme Pharmacotherapy

Supplemental pancreatic enzyme preparations are provided to patients with conditions of pancreatic exocrine deficiency such as chronic pancreatitis and cystic fibrosis. These patients frequently experience steatorrhea, which occurs from inadequate fat absorption. The delivery of sufficient enzyme concentrations into the duodenal lumen simultaneously with meals can reduce nutrient malabsorption, improve the symptoms of steatorrhea, and in some cases alleviate the pain associated with chronic pancreatitis. Current clinical practices dictate administration of lipase 25,000-40,000 units/meal by using pH-sensitive pancrelipase microspheres, along with dosage increases, compliance checks, and differential diagnosis in cases of treatment failure. Despite the large number of specialty enzyme replacements available commercially, many patients remain dissatisfied with standard therapy, and future developments are needed to optimize treatment in these individuals.
Probing intercellular interactions between vascular endothelial cadherin pairs at single-molecule resolution and in living cells.

Vascular endothelial (VE) cadherin is the surface glycoprotein cadherin specific to the endothelium that mediates cell–cell adhesion and plays a major role in the remodeling, gating, and maturation of vascular vessels. To investigate the contribution of individual VE-cadherins to endothelial cell–cell interactions and investigate whether different classical cadherins display different kinetics and micromechanical properties, we characterize the binding properties of VE-cadherin/VE-cadherin bonds at single-molecule resolution and in living human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Our single-molecule force spectroscopy measurements reveal that type II VE-cadherin molecules form bonds that are less prone to rupture and display a higher tensile strength than bonds formed by classical type I neuronal (N) cadherin and epithelial (E) cadherin. The equilibrium lifetime of the VE-cadherin/VE-cadherin bond is significantly longer than formed by N-cadherin/N-cadherin bonds and E-cadherin/E-cadherin bonds. These results indicate that VE-cadherins form bonds that have kinetics and mechanical properties that are significantly different from those formed by classical type I cadherins, properties that are particularly well adapted to the barrier and adhesive functions of VE-cadherin in endothelial cell–cell junctions.