cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
“Were There Any Black People in Johnstown?” An Investigation of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy in Service of Supporting Disciplinary Literacy Learning in History:

This case study describes how culturally relevant pedagogy can be used in disciplinary rigorous ways in an urban middle school history classroom. The focus is on a unit about the Johnstown Flood of...
Phase 1 trial of decitabine and CT antigen-specific vaccine in relapsed pediatric solid tumors.

10070 Background: The Cancer/Testis (CT) antigens MAGE-A1, MAGE-A3 and NY-ESO-1 are selectively expressed at varying levels on many pediatric solid tumor cells, including neuroblastoma (NB), and th...
U.S. Trends in Arts Attendance and Literary reading: 2002-2017: A First Look at Results from the 2017 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts

As the title indicates, this is a very brief presentation of results from the U.S. National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Survey of Public Participation in the Arts (SPPA) for 2017, comparing figure...
Rheological characteristics of mesophases of block copolymer solutions

Self-assembly of block copolymers in the presence of solvents forms ordered mesophase structures, also known as lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs). The aim of this work is to investigate the rheological properties of Pluronic block copolymer/water/oil mesophases with lamellar and hexagonal structures. The flow behavior of lamellar and hexagonal mesophases indicates that they have yield stress. Oscillatory shear experiments show that mesophases have solid-like behavior and exhibit type III non-linear behavior. The elastic modulus of mesophases is probably controlled by the van der Waals interaction between micelles. We suggest that at relatively low frequencies, defects control the rheological behavior of LLCs, while at high frequencies, the contributions in micellar scale are dominant. Applying high strains on the LLCs induces two relaxation times after cessation of flow, decreases the storage modulus in the whole frequency range, and decreases the loss modulus in small-frequency regime with negligible effect at high frequencies. The decrease in moduli is reversible and the system relaxes back to its original elastic modulus at rest. The observed behavior can be attributed to the elimination of defects under high strains and their re-formation during long enough rest times.
General Alonso de León’s Expeditions into Texas, 1686–1690

Alonso de Leon explored the regions north of New Spain that would become Texas between 1686 and 1690, first in a search for French interlopers and then in an attempt to settle the region for Spain....
H-INDEX: Hash-Indexing for Parallel Triangle Counting on GPUs

Triangle counting is a graph algorithm that calculates the number of triangles involving each vertex in a graph. Briefly, a triangle encompasses three vertices from a graph, where every vertex possesses at least one incidental edge to the other two vertices from the triangle. Consequently, list intersection, which identifies the incidental edges, becomes the core algorithm for triangle counting. At the meantime, attracted by the enormous parallel computing potential of Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), numerous efforts have been devoted to deploy triangle counting algorithms on GPUs.While state-of-the-art intersection algorithms, such as merge-path and binary-search, perform well on traditional multi-core CPU systems, deploying them on massively parallel GPUs turns out to be challenging. In particular, merge-path based approach experiences the hardship of evenly distributing the workload across vast GPU threads and irregular memory accesses. Binary-search based approach often suffers from the potential problem of high time complexity. Furthermore, both approaches require sorted neighbor lists from the input graphs, which involves nontrivial preprocessing overhead. To this end, we introduce H-INDEX, a hash-indexing assisted triangle counting algorithm that overcomes all the aforementioned shortcomings. Notably, HINDEX achieves 141.399 billion TEPS computing rate on a Protein K-mer V2a graph with 64 GPUs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work that advances triangle counting beyond the 100 billion TEPS rate.
The Effect of Political Frictions on Long Term Care Insurance

We document that political frictions significantly affect both pricing and supply in the long-term care insurance (LTCI) market. Comparing insurers' requests for premium increases submitted in the same year and for the same policy to different state regulators, we find that they are 7.7% more likely to be approved and receive 4.4% more of the requested amount after an election year. Over time, regulatory pushback on premium increase requests can dampen cash flows and increase the probability of company dropout. Insurers who receive one standard deviation less of their requested increase are 7.8% more likely to leave the market.
2.02 – Alkaline Earth Organometallics

For over 100 years, the well-known and synthetically important Grignard reagents (RMgX) have dominated research in organoalkaline earth chemistry. Nevertheless, both the smallest (Be) and largest (Ca–Ba) members of the group 2 metals have distinctive organometallic compounds with structures and reactivity that have no counterparts in the organomagnesium halides. All the elements of group 2 (Be–Ba) display divalent oxidation states and feature largely ionic bonding in their compounds. The change in size from Be2+ to Ba2+ is nearly sixfold, however, and a correspondingly large range of coordination numbers (from 2 to 9) and structural types (from monomers to coordination polymers) are found in organoalkaline earth complexes. In recent years, sterically bulky ligands have been used increasingly to form complexes that have lower coordination numbers, greater solubility, and altered reactivity compared with compounds containing less bulky ligands. Computational investigations have also played a progressively more important role in describing the metal–ligand interactions in organoalkaline earth chemistry, and have been used to elucidate bonding arrangements (including fluxional processes) and mechanisms of catalysis. Although a large part of non-magnesium group 2 chemistry has focused on cyclopentadienyl derivatives, non-cyclopentadienyl species (e.g., alkyls, acetylides, allyls, dienes, and other π-bound species) are now well represented with the heavier alkaline earth elements. Organoalkaline earth complexes have expanded from their traditional role in organic synthesis (the Grignard reagents and dialkylmagnesiums) to include applications in materials science such as the chemical vapor deposition of metals and metal oxides and the polymerization of polar monomers.
CHAPTER 5 – Nonarithmetic Operations

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on certain aspects of nonarithmetic operations. The stop instructions in the CDC 1604 operate as unconditional jump instructions. In explicit computers, each instruction includes a jump, that is, each instruction contains the location of the instruction which is to follow. An instruction such as the sign jump specifically tests the single sign bit. In a computer, the basic operation of forming a logical product or sum is usually utilized in a number of related operations giving specialized combinations of logical and transmissive, complementing, and arithmetic instructions. In the CDC 1604, there are several instructions that facilitate the problem of dealing with individual bits in a register. A basic problem that often arises in programming is that of selecting a quantity with a given property from a set of stored data. The names equality search and threshold search reflect the fact that the basic conditions are the same.
American soccer at a crossroad: MLS’s struggle between the exigencies of traditional American sports culture and the expectations of the global soccer community

With the formation of Major League Soccer (MLS) in 1996 the United States joined the soccer world by featuring a profession league on the very top of its soccer pyramid. However, over the past 25 y...
Social Norm Vulnerability and its Consequences for Privacy and Safety in an Online Community

Within online communities, social norms that both set expectations for and regulate behavior can be vital to the overall welfare of the community--particularly in the context of the privacy and safety of its members. For communities where the cost of regulatory failure can be high, it is important to understand both the conditions under which norms might be effective, and when they might fail. As a case study, we consider transformative fandom, a creative community dedicated to reimagining existing media in often subversive ways. In part due to the marginalized status of many members, there are strong, longstanding norms to protect the community. Through an interview study with 25 fandom participants, we investigate social norms that have been largely effective over time at maintaining member privacy and safety, but also break down under certain circumstances. Catalysts for these breakdowns include tensions between sub-communities and an increasing presence of outsiders, though most prominently, we identify a disconnect between the norms the community needs to support and the design of the platforms they occupy.
Chemiluminescence-promoted oxidation of alkyl enol ethers by NHPI under mild conditions and in the dark.

Abstract The hydroperoxidation of alkyl enol ethers using N-hydroxyphthalimide and molecular oxygen occurred in the absence of catalyst, initiator, or light. The reaction proceeds through a radical mechanism that is initiated by N-hydroxyphthalimide-promoted autoxidation of the enol ether substrate. The resulting dioxetane products decompose in a chemiluminescent reaction that allows for photochemical activation of N-hydroxyphthalimide in the absence of other light sources.
Resolving cell state in iPSC-derived human neural samples with multiplexed fluorescence imaging

Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived (iPSC) neural cultures offer clinically relevant models of human diseases, including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, and Autism Spectrum Disorder. In situ characterization of the spatial-temporal evolution of cell state in 3D culture and subsequent 2D dissociated culture models based on protein expression levels and localizations is essential to understanding neural cell differentiation, disease state phenotypes, and sample-to-sample variability. Here, we apply PRobe-based Imaging for Sequential Multiplexing (PRISM) to facilitate multiplexed imaging with facile, rapid exchange of imaging probes to analyze iPSC-derived cortical and motor neuron cultures that are relevant to psychiatric and neurodegenerative disease models, using over ten protein targets. Our approach permits analysis of cell differentiation, cell composition, and functional marker expression in complex stem-cell derived neural cultures. Furthermore, our approach is amenable to automation, offering in principle the ability to scale-up to dozens of protein targets and samples. Tomov et al. utilize DNA-PRISM to allow for multiplexed imaging of cultured cells using antibodies modified with oligonucleotide probes. The differentiation of iPSCs to cortical and motor neurons is characterized in model cultures, relevant for use in disease research and drug screening.
THE CORRELATION BETWEEN STUDENTSâ€™ LEVEL OF ANXIETY AND STUDENTSâ€™ ACHIEVEMENT IN WRITING CLASS

Writing is one of the language skills which shows how a second language learner performs his or her verbal competence. Writing performance of an English learner can reflect the learnerâ€™s knowledge in English language patterns through the written discourse they present. However, due to several factors, writing in the target language is not always easy for a second language learner. Thus, there are some Indonesian students fail to perform their best in writing though those who can not achieve good mark in writing are not always the left behind students.Second language learnerâ€™s verbal performance is determined by three internal factors namely filter, organizer, and monitor (Dulay, Burt, Krashen, 1982 : 45-60). The first factor is a subconscious processÂ related to learnerâ€™s affective state which includes anxiety. This research start s from a hypothesis that studentsâ€™ high level of anxiety is followed by lower studentsâ€™ achievement. Thus, this research is aimed to prove the hypothesis as well as seeing if there is a strong correlation between the studentsâ€™ Â level of anxiety and their achievement. The data were gained through document, questionnaire using Westide Test Anxiety Scale and Focus Group Discussion. The results of the study indicate a weak negative correlation between studentsâ€™ level of anxiety and studentsâ€™ achievement. From the result of the Focus Group Discussion, Â it was found that the sources of studentsâ€™ anxiety were varied. Â
Proton beam therapy for head and neck carcinoma of unknown primary: Toxicity and quality of life

Purpose Proton radiation therapy (PRT) may offer dosimetric and clinical benefit in the treatment of head and neck carcinoma of unknown primary (HNCUP). We sought to describe toxicity and quality of life (QOL) in patients with HNCUP treated with PRT. Patients and methods Toxicity and QOL were prospectively tracked in patients with HNCUP from 2011 to 2019 after institutional review board approval. Patients received PRT to the mucosa of the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and bilateral cervical lymph nodes with sparing of the larynx and hypopharynx. Patient-reported outcomes were tracked with the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory-Head and Neck Module, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Head and Neck, the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory, and the Xerostomia-Related QOL Scale. Primary study endpoints were the incidence of grade ≥ 3 (G3) toxicity and QOL patterns. Results Fourteen patients (median follow-up, 2 years) were evaluated. Most patients presented with human papillomavirus-positive disease (n = 12, 86%). Rates of G3 oral mucositis, xerostomia, and dermatitis were 7% (n = 1), 21% (n = 3), and 36% (n = 5), respectively. None required a gastrostomy. During PRT, QOL was reduced relative to baseline and recovered shortly after PRT. At 2 years after PRT, the local regional control, disease-free survival, and overall survival were 100% (among 7 patients at risk), 79% (among 6 patients at risk), and 90% (among 7 patients at risk), respectively. Conclusion Therefore, PRT for HNCUP was associated with highly favorable dosimetric and clinical outcomes, including minimal oral mucositis, xerostomia, and dysphagia. Toxicity and QOL may be superior with PRT compared with conventional radiation therapy and PRT maintains equivalent oncologic control. Further prospective studies are needed to evaluate late effects and cost-effectiveness.
An Efficient, Large-Gradient, Electrical Stimulation System to Promote Directional Neural Growth

There is significant interest in developing electric field (EF) application into a technology that will direct nerve regeneration and potentially therapeutics that can restore nervous system function. In fact, EFs are naturally generated in the body and have been shown to be an essential catalyst for promoting the healing of skin wounds. In the case of skin injuries, selective localization of ionic pumps has been shown to generate an electric potential across the skin epithelium. Injury to the skin shorts this potential, leading to the generation of an electric gradient along the axis of the wound, with the negative potential localized to the centre of the wound [1] . Skin epithelial cells have been shown to be sensitive to this electric gradient, directing their migration along the gradient towards the centre of the lesion. Eventually, skin epithelial cells seal the wound, causing the electrical gradient to collapse. Similarly, a large body of research has shown that nerve axons are electro-sensitive and grow towards the more negative potential in the presence of an EF [2] . Exploiting this biological phenomenon for clinical application requires approaches that can generate large gradients along the tissue to support growth and regeneration.
Designing Bootstrap Prediction Regions

This article discusses the design and bootstrap construction of asymptotically optimal prediction regions. The emphasis is on devising simultaneous one-sided prediction intervals. A good solution to this problem implies constructions for simultaneous two-sided prediction intervals and for multivariate prediction regions.
Persistence of Interferon Action in Mouse Cells Permeabilized with Lysolecithin

Abstract DNA synthesis, as measured by incorporation of [3H]TTP, was inhibited in Swiss mouse 3T3 cells treated with interferon and subsequently permeabilized with lysolecithin. The degree of inhibition observed was similar in intact or permeabilized cells. The interferon-induced antiviral state was retained in permeabilized cells.
Microwave Extraction of Water from Lunar Regolith Simulant

Nearly a decade ago the DOD Clementine lunar orbital mission obtained data indicating that the permanently shaded regions at the lunar poles may have permanently frozen water in the lunar soil. Currently NASA's Robotic Lunar Exploration Program, RLEP-2, is planned to land at the lunar pole to determine if water is present. The detection and extraction of water from the permanently frozen permafrost is an important goal for NASA. Extraction of water from lunar permafrost has a high priority in the In-Situ Resource Utilization, ISRU, community for human life support and as a fuel. The use of microwave processing would permit the extraction of water without the need to dig, drill, or excavate the lunar surface. Microwave heating of regolith is potentially faster and more efficient than any other heating methods due to the very low thermal conductivity of the lunar regolith. Also, microwaves can penetrate into the soil permitting water removal from deep below the lunar surface. A cryogenic vacuum test facility was developed for evaluating the use of microwave heating and water extraction from a lunar regolith permafrost simulant. Water is obtained in a cryogenic cold trap even with soil conditions below 0 C. The results of microwave extraction of water experiments will be presented.
Matroid polytopes: algorithms, theory, and applications

This dissertation presents new results on three different themes all related to matroid polytopes. First we investigate properties of Ehrhart polynomials of matroid polytopes, independence matroid polytopes, and polymatroids. We prove that for fixed rank their Ehrhart polynomials are computable in polynomial time. The proof relies on the geometry of these polytopes as well as a new refined analysis of the evaluation of Todd polynomials. Second, we discuss theoretical results regarding the algebraic combinatorics of matroid polytopes. We discuss two conjectures about the h *-vector and coefficients of Ehrhart polynomials of matroid polytopes and provide theoretical and computational evidence for their validity. We also explore a variant of White’s conjecture which states that every matroid polytope has a regular unimodular triangulation. We provide extensive computational evidence supporting this new conjecture and propose a combinatorial condition on simplices sufficient for unimodularity. Lastly we discuss properties of two dimensional faces of matroid polytopes. Finally, motivated by recent work on algorithmic theory for non-linear and multicriteria matroid optimization, we have developed algorithms and heuristics aimed at practical solutions of large instances of these difficult problems. Our methods primarily use the local adjacency structure inherent in matroid polytopes to pivot to feasible solutions which may or may not be optimal. We also present a modified breadth-first-search heuristic that uses adjacency to enumerate a subset of feasible solutions. We present other heuristics, and provide computational evidence supporting these new techniques. We implemented all of our algorithms in the software package MOCHA (Matroids Optimization Combinatorial Heuristics and Algorithms).
A New Opportunity in Silicon-Based Microelectronics

Silicon is the foundation for the entire microelectronics industry, and researchers are keen to learn how to extend its capabilities by attaching useful organic molecules to its surfaces. In his commentary, Yates discusses work recently published in J. Phys. Chem. by Hamers et al. in which they report the attachment of olefin molecules to the important silicon (100) surface. This may open the door to attaching other organics, while preserving their chemical functionality.
Ammonia production in the oral cavity and the use of ammonium salts for the control of dental caries

Abstract 1. 1. Ammonia nitrogen developed in human saliva by natural processes has the ability to inhibit the growth of L. acidophilus. 2. 2. The inhibition of the lactobacilli is not due to the alkalinity which the ammonia might provide, for the same alkalinity established by sodium acetate had no inhibiting action. 3. 3. Dibasic ammonium phosphate used orally in a mouth rinse and dentifrice caused a marked reduction in the oral lactobacilli counts but has not reduced the number in some of the subjects to a level that would indicate an arrest of dental caries. 4. 4. In vitro experiments indicate that a combination of 5 per cent dibasic ammonium phosphate and 3 per cent urea is more effecetive as an antibacterial and antiacidic agent than is either of these substances alone. 5. 5. It appears from bacteriologic observations that the use of an ammoniumcontaining dentifrice and mouth rinse as employed by the average individual may not completely check caries activity. Other measures, particularly dietary management, may be necessary to establish at least initial control.
A study of trace and minor elements in the solid tumor model 3924A hepatoma before and after treatment with 5-fluorouracil

Abstract The changes in the concentrations of a number of trace elements have been determined by neutron activation analysis in a solid tumor model, blood and its host liver, following 5-fluorouracil administration. Studies have also been carried out for non-tumor bearing animals after 5-fluorouracil. The changes in some of the trace elements parallel destructive changes found in the tumor. Studies are in progress to determine if changes in the urinary concentrations of these trace elements parallel the time sequence of the destructive changes found in the tumor. The potential clinical usefulness of these trace elements are being evaluated along with other biological markers which may eventually be utilized to assess the therapeutic effectiveness of different treatment modalities as well as monitor the patient for possible reoccurrence of the cancer following treatment.
MCL — Optimization oriented programming language

Abstract MCL is an optimization control language associated with the recently published MERLIN optimization package. It is developed so as to aid in constructing effective minimization strategies. It is very simple and easy to master. Supports Fortran-like operations, conditional and unconditional branching, multidimensional arrays, loops, statement functions, I/O operations and offers quite a few intrinsic functions. MERLIN has been further developed too, so that now it can be driven by the object code produced by the MCL compiler.
Postlandfall Tropical Cyclone Reintensification in a Weakly Baroclinic Environment: A Case Study of Hurricane David (September 1979)

Abstract An analysis is conducted from a potential vorticity (PV) perspective of the reintensification of Tropical Storm David over the northeastern United States in September 1979. David, a major long-lived hurricane, originated near the Cape Verde Islands in late August 1979. It made final landfall in Georgia on 4 September 1979 and weakened rapidly thereafter. The noteworthy aspect of David was its subsequent reintensification approximately 27 h after landfall as a warm-core disturbance in a weakly baroclinic environment. In this regard the redevelopment of David is unlike the classical extratropical transformation of a tropical storm in a strongly baroclinic environment that has been documented in the literature. The authors' analysis of the evolution of the dynamical tropopause subsequent to storm landfall revealed that David reintensified in response to “tropopause lifting” (upward displacement of the dynamic tropopause) ahead of a nondeepening and otherwise very weak upper-tropospheric disturbance....
The Demand for Immigrant Workers: Labor Scarcity or Social Control?

Recent analyses of the economic role of immigrant workers from Mexico in U.S. labor markets have been advanced from two divergent interpretations—a labor scarcity argument and a social control thes...
Utilization of neutron diffraction and Mossbauer spectroscopy in the studies of the cathode for SOFCs

Abstract Neutron diffraction and Mossbauer spectroscopy were used to characterize the perovskite type cathodes, in terms of the crystal structure, oxygen occupancy, magnetic moment, and Fe valence state. It was found that a lower symmetry trigonal space group P-3C1 gave improved fits to the data including the matching of a peak not fitted in the R3¯c symmetry. A significant lattice distortion from rhombohedral to cubic was observed in La 0.60 Sr 0.40 FeO 3− δ (L6SF) quenched from 1200 °C. Average Fe valence states are ∼3.04 and 3.36 for La 0.60 Sr 0.40 FeO 3− δ quenched from 1500 and 700 °C, respectively. Results from neutron diffraction and Mossbauer spectroscopy indicated that [D.A. Berry, W.A. Surdoval, M.C. Williams, 222nd ACS National Meeting, Chicago, IL, United States, (2001)], in the specimen without quenching, there was no significant oxygen vacancy ( δ =0), and ratio of Fe 3+ over Fe 4+ is 6/4, and [S.P. Simner, J.F. Bonnett, N.L. Canfield, K.D. Meinhardt, V.L. Sprenkle, J.W. Stevenson, Electrochem. Solid State Lett., 5, A173 (2002)] in the sample quenched from 1500 °C, δ was ∼0.2, and Fe exhibited a valence state of ∼3+.
Procedural fairness and interfirm cooperation in strategic alliances

This study applies the justice theory to address interpartner cooperation in strategic alliances. It emphasizes how procedural fairness as perceived by boundary spanners in these alliances influences cooperation outcomes. We theorize that procedural fairness improves cooperation results through enhancing relational value and curtailing relational risk in an environment characterized by both economic and social exchange. Our path analysis suggests that procedural fairness has a direct effect on operational outcome, but an indirect effect on financial outcome via increased trust driven by fairness. Procedural fairness contributes more to performance outcomes when strategic alliances are equity joint ventures than if they are contractual agreements. Theoretical and managerial implications arising from the findings are highlighted. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A reactor-design equation based on a proposed distributed boundary-layer thickness

An empirical equation is developed which seems applicable to the general problem of fixed-bed catalytic design and relates the reaction rate (in a differential reactor) or conversion (through an integral reactor) to the surface reaction rate, the flow rate through the bed, and the physical properties of the system. The development is based on the assumption that there exists a film of stagnant fluid surrounding each catalyst particle, through which mass is transferred only by molecular motion, and that the thickness of this film varies throughout the bed from zero to some upper limit in a manner which is described by a distribution function. The equation involves two empirical constants: the multiplying constant and the exponent in the usual jd-factor-Reynolds-number relationship. The application of this equation is illustrated. It appears to provide a basis for evaluation of the contribution of diffusional steps in the over-all mechanism and to provide a means for predicting an expected conversion rate at any flow rate through the bed, provided only that the surface (chemical) reaction rate is known at the operating temperature. It also appears possible to calculate values of the surface-reaction-rate constant and the temperature coefficient from data taken from a reactor operating in the diffusion-controlled range.
(18)F-FDG PET/CT predicts survival in patients with inflammatory breast cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Purpose The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in predicting overall survival in inflammatory breast cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Excretion in Human Urine of an Unknown Amino-acid derived from Dates

IN the course of an investigation with the aid of paper chromatography of the genetics of amino-acid excretion in man, it was observed that some individuals excreted large quantities of an unknown ninhydrin-positive substance. Upon inquiry concerning the diet of these individuals, it was found that dates had been eaten in all cases. Seven individuals were selected who had not eaten dates for at least a month, and chromatograms of their urine were prepared. In no case was the ‘date spot’ observed. These seven individuals were then fed eight to ten dates in the evening, and the following morning a sample of their urine was collected. Another urine sample was obtained the following morning. In every case the chromatograms of the first urine specimen showed quite clearly the ‘date spot’. The chromatograms of the urine specimens produced on the second day after eating dates showed only a trace of this spot, or failed to show it altogether.
Identification of the delayed rectifier potassium channel, Kv1.6, in Cultured astrocytes

Astrocytes are an abundant glial cell type of the central nervous system that appear to play a role in regulating extracellular potassium concentrations in brain, thereby contributing to the maintenance of normal neuronal activity. Voltage-gated potassium conductances, shown to be present in astrocytes, may be involved in this and other astrocytic functions. Toward defining the role of voltage-gated potassium channels in astrocytes, total RNA prepared from cultured mouse cortical astrocytes was screened, using a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) approach, for the expression of several members of the Shaker-like potassium channel subfamily (Kv1.1-Kv1.6). A relatively high level of Kv1.6 transcript was identified by RT-PCR and then confirmed and quantitated by ribonuclease protection assays using a Kv1.6-specific riboprobe. Immunocytochemical staining showed double-labeling of glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive cells with antibody specific for the Kv1.6 channel. The Kv1.6 protein expression was variable among the individual astrocytes. Outward voltage-gated currents were studied in astrocytes in primary culture using the Nystatin-perforated patch voltage clamp technique. Outward potassium currents were observed in all cells studied, and this current was partially blocked by perfusion with 100 nM dendrotoxin (DTX) in 14 of 16 cells tested. This DTX-sensitive current appeared to be a sustained outward potassium current, consistent with the suggestion that the Shaker-like potassium channel Kv1.6 underlies a portion of the delayed rectifier potassium current in cultured mouse cortical astrocytes.
DNA hypomethylating agents 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine and valproate increase neuronal 5-lipoxygenase mRNA

DNA methylation regulates gene expression. Neuronal 5-lipoxygenase expression increases during aging and during the proliferation of immature rat cerebellar granule neurons. In these cultures, we investigated the effects of hypomethylating agents 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (AdC) and valproate on 5-lipoxygenase mRNA. Both drugs increased 5-lipoxygenase mRNA in proliferating cells; only valproate was effective in differentiated neurons. We propose that neuronal 5-lipoxygenase expression can be affected by aging-altered DNA methylation and by hypomethylating drugs, such as the anticonvulsant valproate.
Temperature-dependent second- and third-order optical nonlinear susceptibilities at the Si / SiO 2 interface

Using a two-color laser technique, we have measured the temperature dependence of the second- and third-order optical nonlinear susceptibilities, ${\ensuremath{\chi}}^{(2)}$ and ${\ensuremath{\chi}}^{(3)}$, at the $\text{Si}/{\text{SiO}}_{2}$ interface. A laser beam at 540 nm directed normal to the surface was used to pump electrons from the silicon valence band to trap states on the ${\text{SiO}}_{2}$ surface leaving the holes at or near the interface thus creating a capacitance electric field. A second beam of wavelength 800 nm incident at $45\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ on the same spot resulted in a second-harmonic signal whose intensity was related to the varying interfacial electric field. We find that the photoinduced electric field is temperature independent since the charge distributions remain unchanged after pumping and both ${\ensuremath{\chi}}^{(2)}$ and ${\ensuremath{\chi}}^{(3)}$ increase as the temperature increases.
Efficient phase-matched infrared third-harmonic generation in liquid CO–O 2 –SF 6 mixtures

A power conversion efficiency of 2% has been achieved for frequency tripling the CO2 laser R(6) line at 1069 cm−1 in liquid CO–O2 mixtures in tight focusing geometry. Phase matching by the addition of the positively dispersive SF6 molecule to the CO–O2 mixtures has been demonstrated. Potential limitations to the conversion efficiency are discussed.
Performance, self-explanation, and agency

Social constructionist explanations of human thought and behavior hold that our representations (e.g. of race, or gender, or mental illness, or emotion) produce and regulate the categories, thoughts, and behaviors of those they represent. Performative versions of constructionist accounts explain these thoughts and behaviors as part of an intentional, strategic performance that is elicited and regulated by our representations of ourselves. This paper has four aims. First, I sketch a causal model of performative social constructionist claims. Second, I articulate a puzzling feature of performative claims that makes them seem especially implausible: the puzzle of intention and ignorance. Like other constructionists, performative constructionists are especially interested in explaining thoughts and behaviors that are widely but mistakenly believed to be the unintentional consequences of membership in a natural kind. But why doesn’t the intentional performance of a category undermine this ignorance? My third aim is to resolve this puzzle. I suggest that a plausible understanding can be found in the failure to locate one’s mental states in a causal explanation of one’s thoughts and actions. Finally, I argue that this model implies that the sorts of theories we (as a community or as a culture) offer of particular behaviors can create or destroy agency and responsibility with regard to those behaviors.
Preface: Conservation and Management of Aquatic Resources in Arid Lands

Water is clearly one of the most important natural resources in the western United States and drought is a major issue in states like New Mexico. Regulation of river flows and land uses in riparian zones and areas linked to them impair aquatic ecosystems and endanger the native biota in regions everywhere. The pervasive effects of humans on aquatic ecosystems reach their greatest magnitude in highly variable ecosystems situated in arid landscapes. The precious value of water, to humans and, in fact, to all life forms on Earth, demands that we look carefully at the changes we inflict on the landscape and seek an understanding of how we might inadvertently be affecting our own future existence. This issue contains articles contributed to a conference on “Aquatic Resources in Arid Lands” that was held in Las Cruces, New Mexico on April 30–May 2, 2003. We organized this conference to bring together prominent aquatic scientists, natural resource agency personnel, and water users to consider issues associated with management of aquatic resources. Invited experts spoke on paleoclimatology, terrestrial-aquatic linkages, ecology, invasive species, decision-support modeling, river restoration, and conservation genetics. The 2-day conference concluded with a half-day facilitated workshop on “Sound Science and Effective Policy for Managing Aquatic Resources.” This issue presents conference research papers on aquatic resources in five categories: climate, hydrology, endangered species, river restoration, and water policy. Climatic uncertainty is the major challenge in managing aquatic ecosystems in arid lands. The first article by Lioubimtseva and Cole addresses the global concern of climate change. Compelling evidence for global warming continues to accrue, although the potential consequence for arid lands is uncertain. Lioubimtseva and Cole argue that the extreme variability of deserts contributes to this uncertainty and they raise the possibility that local and regional human impacts, such as large-scale irrigation projects, may have a greater effect on regional climate than global climate change. In a second article on climate, Hall et al. examine a 40-year climatic record for the upper Rio Grande Basin of New Mexico and Colorado. They report that there is little consistency in time or space in climatic variations across the region. Local regions have climatic shifts in specific periods of the year that appear unrelated to trends in other periods and places. Hydrologic variations in the basin generally indicate trends for elevated river discharge and earlier onset of freshet in recent decades. Understanding hydrologic interactions between surface and groundwaters would enhance water resource management in many ways, especially in regions with most or all of the surface water appropriated for human uses. For the Alcalde Ditch in northern New Mexico, Fernald and Guldan have found that at least 5% of the total ditch flow seeps out
Honestly, do we need a policy on truth?

Physicians are taught that the foundation of the physician-patient relationship is trust, and trust is based in part on truthfulness. While drawing important "lines in the sand" regarding whether and why to tell the truth, ethics codes promulgating honesty fail to provide clinicians with guidance regarding what is the truth, as well as when and how to disclose it. These issues may be at the core of why an adverse event is left undisclosed. Consistently being truthful in the setting of an error is particularly difficult and requires overcoming a num- ber of institutional and personal barriers. The article concludes that if delivering "the truth" is important, then articulation of criteria for determining what should be told, by whom, and when is essential. A policy that considers the practical issues and provides guidance may be useful.
Physicochemical Stereospecificity in Taste Perception of α-D-Mannose and β-D-Mannose

THE anomers α- and β-D-mannose differ structurally only in that H and OH at the C1 atom of the pyranose ring are interchanged. In spite of this apparently minor difference in structure, it has been suggested that the ambiguity of taste perception of D-mannose is due to actual differences in taste between the two anomers of this substance; the evidence presented in support of this view, however, was indirect because insufficient pure β-D-mannose was available for direct taste tests on that anomer1. Sufficient pure β-D-mannose was therefore prepared for a direct and statistically reliable comparison. It was found that the subjects reliably reported the α-anomer as sweet and the β-anomer as bitter. As before, the equilibrium mixture was found to be an ambiguous stimulator.
The fluorescence excitation spectrum of thymine: Evidence for wavelength dependence of the quantum yield☆

Abstract The absorption and fluorescence excitation spectra of thymine in dilute alkali do not agree; the fluorescence quantum yield is wavelength dependent. The disagreement may be explained by associating the fluorescence with one of the two tautomeric forms assumed by thymine in dilute alkali. The fluorescence quantum yields of 10−3 M thymine in 10−2 N NaOH and in 10−2 N NaOH in 75% dioxane with excitation at 290 mμ are 0.0016 and 0.0025, respectively. The emission maxima in these solvents are at 390 mμ and 380 mμ, respectively.
Can phase angle determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis assess nutritional risk? A comparison between healthy and hospitalized subjects

summary Background & aims: Low phase angle (PhA) by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), is associated with increased morbidity and nutritional risk. This study determined the cut-off values for PhA compared to Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS-2002) and Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) in patients at hospital admission, and evaluated the association between PhA and serum albumin. Methods: PhA was determined in patients (Men (M)/Women (W) ¼382/267), and healthy age-, sex- and height-matched controls. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for PhA compared to NRS-2002, SGA and serum albumin. The cut-off values were assessed by receiver operator characteristics area under the curve (ROCeAUC). Results: The best PhA cut-offs were 5.0
The effects of violence in childhood.

Impaications.of the use and misuse of physical puniZhment in the socialization and training of children is the subject of this discussion. This discussion deals primarily with the implications of the use by parents of physical pain as a child-rearing technique by which they attempt to implement their goals for their children, whether it be the acquisition of positive behaviors or the extinction of unacceptable or negative behaviors. An unfavorable view is taken Of parental resort to physical punishment, based on a personal position and empirical psychological research. The personal reasons include: (1) the issue of the unfairness of an adult physically striking a child, (2) the issue-of-language, i.e. the reliance of humans on verbal means in the training of their young, and (3) the issue of intentionality, the deliberate infliction of physical pain. On the scientific .level, three principal sources of empirical literature are drawn upon to support the position of opposition of physical punishment. The first relates to studies on , the consequences of punishment in the context of child-rearing practices; the second relevant data sources are the experimental studies of the effects of punishment; and the third pertinent set of investigations are those studies relating inhibitory traits to other personality attributes, particularly aggression. (CR)
Protective effects in ambulatory blood pressure and centralized injuries in hydrocephalic Dahl rats on high and low NaCl diets

Our previous studies in hydrocephalic Dahl rats indicated that the NaCl signal is perceived in the structures around the third brain ventricle. In the present study, we assessed 24-h ambulatory blood pressures (ABPs), weight (WT) gains, and the kidney and brain injuries in induced hydrocephalic and control group Dahl S rats on 0.3% and 6% NaCl diets. Constant WT gains were observed among low NaCl fed and high NaCl fed aqueduct blocked groups, whereas high NaCl-fed sham group rats were losing WT and dying off after 8 weeks. A circadian BP curve in the high NaCl sham group was very distinct from that in the other three groups with markedly increased peak pressure during the light cycle with very high amplitude as compared with all the other three groups (both P < .0001). There was not only a very unstable fluctuating curve present, but a day–night rhythm shift was also prominent in the high NaCl sham group. In a kidney cross-section, 54 rats on a 0.3% low NaCl diet for 14 weeks averaged 156 glomeruli. A total of 34 high NaCl fed, aqueduct blocked rats averaged 141 glomeruli, whereas 23 sham blocked rats averaged 102 glomeruli (−28%, P < .0001). A brain cross-section showed many small lacunae in high NaCl-fed sham rats as compared with the truly blocked rats (193 ± 14 v 77 ± 10 lacunae, a 2.5-fold reduction, P < .0001). The changes in the blocked group may be due to volume and electrolyte rebalance with reduced pressures in the brain volume-controlling center.
The calculation of multidimensional semiclassical wave functions in the forbidden region using real valued coordinates

A method that uses only real valued coordinates is presented for integrating the many dimensional semiclassical wave function into the forbidden region. The procedure first determines a surface of caustic points by running the set of trajectories that define the wave function in the allowed region. In the forbidden region, the momentum and the action integral are both complex functions of position, and their imaginary parts vanish on the caustic surface. The direction of the imaginary part of the momentum pI can be chosen to the perpendicular to the caustic surface at all points on that surface. Equations are derived for integrating the values of the real and imaginary parts of the momentum along the curves that follow the direction of pI. The equations for the change in the action integral and the prefactor for the semiclassical wave function along these curves are also obtained, allowing for the determination of the semiclassical wave function in the forbidden region. Calculations are performed for a tw...
Demonstrations In Holometry Using Fiber Optics

Herein we demonstrate the versatility of optical fibers in holometry. Real time interferometric fringes causes by rigid body motion can be largely compensated by judiciously moving the object beam emanating from a fiber.© (1987) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Multiphysics model for blood flow and drug transport with application to patient-specific coronary artery flow

A multiphysics mathematical model to simulate drug delivery in idealized and patient-specific coronary arteries is presented. Blood is modeled as an incompressible Navier–Stokes fluid, the arterial wall as a linear poroelastic medium, and the drug transport is described by a scalar advection-diffusion equation. The drug compound is released into the bloodstream, carried by the flow, deposited onto the endothelium, penetrates into the wall, and is transported within the arterial wall. NURBS-based isogeometric analysis is employed to describe the geometry and discretize the fluid-solid interaction equations.
Large Scale Page-Based Book Similarity Clustering

The Google Books corpus now counts over 15M books spanning 7 centuries and countless languages. Traditional cataloguing at that scale is imprecise, and often fails to identify more complex book-to-book relationships, such as `same text, different pagination' or 'partial overlap'. Our contribution is a two-step technique for clustering books based on content similarity (at both book and page level) and classifying their relationships. We run this on our corpora consisting of more than 15M books (5B pages). We first detect similar books and similar pages within matching books, using hashing techniques and judicious thresholds. We then combine those features to identify the exact relationship between matching books. In this paper, we describe the basic approach to making the problem tractable, as well as the features and classifiers that we used. We enumerate a small number of relationships to qualify the link between scanned real-world books. Finally, we provide precision and recall measurements of the classifier.