cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Encouraging Global Awareness in a Computer Networking Course

Contribution: This article demonstrates that social, cultural, economic, and political topics can be effectively addressed in the context of traditional computer science and engineering topics with few additional resources and little coordination. Background: Social, cultural, economic, and political influences are often secondary topics in computer science and engineering curricula. Superficial treatment of these topics can impede future graduates by limiting their understanding of how global factors influence the design of products, the availability of consumers, and future employment. Research Question: Are there ways to effectively integrate coverage of global issues and technical course material that sacrifice little class time and require few resources? If so, which activities and tools are most effective? Methodology: Computer networking students were introduced to the well-known networking tools Traceroute and WHOIS. Students were required to successfully use these tools for a graded assignment. After finding the country of origin with a visual Traceroute tool, students chose an article reporting on a technical topic in the social, cultural, political, or economic context of one of the origin countries. Students answered questions regarding their previous and new knowledge on the graded assignment and then reported the effectiveness of the activities in encouraging global awareness on an anonymous questionnaire. Findings: Students reported little previous knowledge of all countries included in the assignment but found the assignment useful in learning about global influences within the context of traditional networking tools. Furthermore, students reported differences in what activity during the assignment was most effective when learning about global issues.
221 Social Integration and Sleep Quality during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Prospective Evidence from a Study of Retired Older Adults

Introduction: Growing evidence has documented the adverse impact of the global coronavirus pandemic on sleep quality. Older adults may be especially susceptible to declines in sleep quality for multiple reasons, including their elevated risk of social isolation and loneliness during the pandemic. Given the adverse health consequences of poor sleep, there is a need to identify resilience factors that help protect older adults against decreased sleep quality. Social integration is a plausible resilience factor because involvement in a broad range of social relationships is thought to promote psychological well-being (e.g., meaning, purpose in life), as well as reduce the intensity and duration of negative psychological states. Social integration may also assume increased importance during the coronavirus pandemic because of normative declines in overall social contact. This prospective study assessed the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on older adults' sleep quality and tested whether social integration moderated the impact of the pandemic on sleep quality. Methods: A sample of 115 retired older adults (mean age = 68.6, 58% female, 89% white) completed self-report assessments of their social integration (number of roles on Cohen's Social Network Index) and sleep quality (global score on Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) before and after the onset of the coronavirus pandemic (mean duration of follow-up = 2.3 years). Results: Multilevel analyses indicated that social integration moderated the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on sleep quality;there was no main effect of time. Older adults with low social integration had reduced sleep quality from Time 1 to Time 2 (b=.94, p=.02), whereas older adults with high social integration showed no changes in sleep quality over time (b=-.38, p=.37). Conclusion: Broader social networks confer resilience against pandemic-related declines in sleep quality among older adults. The level of social integration should be addressed when studying or treating sleep complaints during the coronavirus pandemic. Additional research is warranted to determine whether psychosocial interventions targeted towards older adults with low social integration can reduce observed differences in sleep quality.
Parallel Computing in Quantum Chemistry

Parallel Computing Concepts and Terminology Introduction Parallel Computing in Quantum Chemistry: Past and Present Trends in Hardware Development Trends in Parallel Software Development Parallel Computer Architectures Flynn's Classification Scheme Network Architecture Node Architecture MIMD System Architecture Further Reading Communication via Message-Passing Point-to-Point Communication Operations Collective Communication Operations One-Sided Communication Operations Further Reading Multi-Threading Pitfalls of Multi-Threading Thread-Safety Comparison of Multi-Threading and Message-Passing Hybrid Programming Further Reading Parallel Performance Evaluation Network Performance Characteristics Performance Measures for Parallel Programs Performance Modeling Presenting and Evaluating Performance Data: A Few Caveats Further Reading Parallel Program Design Distribution of Work Distribution of Data Designing a Communication Scheme Design Example: Matrix-Vector Multiplication Summary of Key Points of Parallel Program Design Further Reading Applications of Parallel Programming in Quantum Chemistry Two-Electron Integral Evaluation Basics of Integral Computation Parallel Implementation Using Static Load Balancing Parallel Implementation Using Dynamic Load Balancing The Hartree-Fock Method The Hartree-Fock Equations The Hartree-Fock Procedure Parallel Fock Matrix Formation with Replicated Data Parallel Fock Matrix Formation with Distributed Data Further Reading Second-Order Moller-Plesset Perturbation Theory The Canonical MP2 Equations A Scalar Direct MP2 Algorithm Parallelization with Minimal Modifications High-Performance Parallelization Performance of the Parallel Algorithms Further Reading Local Moller-Plesset Perturbation Theory The LMP2 Equations A Scalar LMP2 Algorithm Parallel LMP2 Appendix A: A Brief Introduction to MPI Appendix B: Pthreads: Explicit Use of Threads Appendix C: OpenMP: Compiler Extensions for Multi-Threading Index References appear at the end of each chapter.
Controlled perturbation of circular jets

The near flow fields of periodically perturbed circular air jets have been experimentally investigated for the Strouhal number range 0 ≤ StD ≤ 4.0 and the Reynolds number range 11,000–113,000. The largest total fluctuation intensity growth on the centerline occurs at StD ≌ 0.85 while the largest fundamental amplitude growth occurs at StD ≌ 0.30. At StD ≌ 0.85, most of the fluctuations is at the subharmonic frequency associated with vortex pairing in the ‘jet mode’, which is independent of the ‘shear layer mode’ of vortex pairing occurring at Ste ≌ 0.011. Smoke visualization at lower speeds provided further details of pairing in either mode. In the jet mode of vortex pairing, the Reynolds stress undergoes large excursions even though its time average values are not altered appreciably by the excitation.
Oleocanthal rapidly and selectively induces cancer cell death via lysosomal membrane permeabilization

(-)-Oleocanthal (OC), a phenolic compound present in extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), has been implicated in the health benefits associated with diets rich in EVOO. We investigated the effect of OC on human cancer cell lines in culture and found that OC induced cell death in all cancer cells examined as rapidly as 30 minutes after treatment in the absence of serum. OC treatment of non-transformed cells suppressed their proliferation but did not cause cell death. OC induced both primary necrotic and apoptotic cell death via induction of lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP). We provide evidence that OC promotes LMP by inhibiting acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) activity, which destabilizes the interaction between proteins required for lysosomal membrane stability. The data presented here indicate that cancer cells, which tend to have fragile lysosomal membranes compared to non-cancerous cells, are susceptible to cell death induced by lysosomotropic agents. Therefore, targeting lysosomal membrane stability represents a novel approach for the induction of cancer-specific cell death.
Dynamic Stiffness Matrices for Viscoelastic Half-Plane Foundations

Numerical results are presented for complex-valued dynamic (frequency-dependent) stiffness influence coefficients for a homogeneous isotropic linearly viscoelastic half-space in plane strain or generalized plane stress. These influence coefficients, defined for uniformly spaced nodal points at the surface, are obtained from solutions of two boundary value problems, associated with unit harmonic displacements prescribed separately in each of the two-degrees-of-freedom of one nodal point with all other nodal points kept fixed. Results for two viscoelastic models, Voigt solid and constant hysteretic solid, are included. Utilizing the results of this work, the earthquake response of a structure, idealized as a two-dimensional finite element system, on the surface of a viscoelastic half-space in plane strain or generalized plane stress can be analyzed by the substructure method. Because the boundary value problems were solved for unit displacements at individual nodal points on the surface of the foundation, it would not be necessary to limit the base of the structure to a rigid plate.
Practitioner Sensibility and the Negotiation of Contradictory School Reforms

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Teaching, Learning and Teacher Education atDigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications: Department of Teaching, Learning andTeacher Education by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. For more information, please contactproyster@unl.edu.
Higher Classification Accuracy of Short Metagenomic Reads by Discriminative Spaced k-mers

The growing number of metagenomic studies in medicine and environmental sciences is creating new computational demands in the analysis of these very large datasets. We have recently proposed a time-efficient algorithm called Clark that can accurately classify metagenomic sequences against a set of reference genomes. The competitive advantage of Clark depends on the use of discriminative contiguous k-mers. In default mode, Clark’s speed is currently unmatched and its precision is comparable to the state-of-the-art, however, its sensitivity still does not match the level of the most sensitive (but slowest) metagenomic classifier. In this paper, we introduce an algorithmic improvement that allows Clark’s classification sensitivity to match the best metagenomic classifier, without a significant loss of speed or precision compared to the original version. Finally, on real metagenomes, Clark can assign with high accuracy a much higher proportion of short reads than its closest competitor. The improved version of Clark, based on discriminative spaced k-mers, is freely available at http://clark.cs.ucr.edu/Spaced/.
A Unified Framework to Assess Myocardial Function from 4D Images

This paper describes efforts aimed at developing a unified framework to more accurately quantify the local, regional and global function of the left ventricle (LV) of the heart, under both normal and ischemic conditions, using four—dimensional (4D) imaging data over the entire cardiac cycle. The approach incorporates motion information derived from the shape properties of the endocardial and epicardial surfaces of the LV, as well as mid—wall 3D instantaneous velocity information from phase contrast MR images, and/or mid—wall displacement information from tagged MR images. The integration of the disparate but complementary sources of information overcomes the limitations of previous work which concentrates on motion estimation from a single image—derived source. 1
Heat transport in spatially fluctuating laser generated d. c. magnetic fields

In this paper, we investigate anomalous electron thermal conduction perpendicular to d.c. laser-generated B fields. We find that d.c. spatial fluctuations δB about a mean field BO can produce large enhancements in the cross-field diffusion coefficient, over its δB = 0 value. There are by now a multitude of suggested sources for laser-generated d.c. magnetic fields. When all these processes act at once, the likely result is an overall “average” field BO which is probably toroidal, due to Vn x VT sources, plus a spatially fluctuating component δB due to the sum of all the other field sources. For parameters appropriate to laser fusion experiments, we use a quasilinear model to describe the effect of particle scattering by fluctuations δB. We find that if δB ⪝ BO, the diffusion coefficient can be comparable to the Bohm value: D ∼ (v t 2 /Ωc(∣δB∣)2/B o 2 ). Next we discuss the effect of field-line wandering on the flux. Finally, we investigate an analogue of neoclassical diffusion appropriate to laser-plasma conditions.
Abstract NS17: Caregiving Needs of Family Caregivers of Latino Stroke Survivors

Background/purpose: Latinos are at higher risk for stroke at a younger age due to multiple factors and stroke care is usually provided by family members in the home setting (familism). Caregiver information is procured in various ways; more often via “word of mouth” from family/friends versus healthcare providers. Culture, religion, and knowledge of stroke/resources or lack thereof, all impact the Latino caregiver. The purpose of this study was to examine perceived needs and resources of family caregivers of Latino stroke survivors. Method: Ethnography was used to examine the perspectives/practices of Latino stroke caregivers. Participants were solicited from a Stroke Support Group in Southern CA. Data were collected via a focus group interview of six family caregivers in Spanish/English after informed consents were signed. Interview data/field notes were recorded. Thematic analysis of the interviews /notes was performed. Results: The mean age of the caregivers was 35 years. The average number of daily care hours was reported as 10-12. All were new caregivers within the last 12 months. Three themes were revealed. The first theme was, “caring for family.” All caregivers received some information; however few sought outside resources related to language, finances, distrust of outside caregivers, or transportation. Caregivers served as “gatekeepers” regarding the stroke survivors’ health. Another theme was, “hope for survivor’s recovery.” Although some caregivers experienced fatigue and stress, they were optimistic for their loved one’s recovery. The third theme was, “what’s next?” Caregivers often did not know where to access resources beyond the MD office or clinic; expressed anxiety about outside services, and usually relied solely on family/friends for information and support. Conclusions: Stroke family caregivers need providers to look “within culture “and be sensitive to the needs of the Latino family; provide caregiver classes in Spanish/English that highlight stroke/caregiver information, identify informal support, and seek affordable community options for services, such as stroke support groups in Latino communities; all of which can enhance the caregiver’s experience and promote positive stroke outcomes.
The Daykeepers of Another Time

Barbara Tedlock. Time and Highland Maya. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1982. xii. 245 pp. $27.50 (cloth)
Beginning employment as a child care worker: An examination of work experiences

The experiences associated with the first twelve months of work as a child care worker were examined using interviews and questionnaires. On the basis of the resulting data, it is hypothesized that care workers encounter, in sequence, three distinct phases or ways of experiencing the job. It is suggested that identification and awareness of this sequence can facilitate the provision of adequate supervision and training.
Static power converters, harmonics, the power system and you

The essential reasons why static power converters (SPCs) possess operating characteristics that are a cause of concern with regard to the power system are described. Aspects of the power system whereby the SPC AC line side characteristics can result in unfavorable effects are presented. Application guidelines and system solution concepts derived from analysis and practice are provided. The focus is entirely on three-phase full-wave bridge SPCs. The harmonic disturbance caused by three-phase full-wave bridge diode- and thyristor-type SPCs is emphasized. >
The visibility of 350 °C black-body radiation by the shrimp Rimicaris exoculata and man

The eye of the 'eyeless' shrimp Rimicaris exoculata is unusual in having no image-forming optics and a high concentration of rhodopsin1. The shrimps swarm around 350 °C hydrothermal 'black smoker' vents in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge2. There is no other known source of visible light in the shrimp's environment. The spectral sensitivity of rhodopsin is well matched to typical spectra of bioluminescence of organisms found at lesser depths, but other animals detect such emissions without the unusual features of the R. exoculata eye1. These two features are most easily understood as an adaptation for the detection of extremely faint sources of light. Physical calculations presented here indicate that the shrimp could see the black-body radiation of the 350 °C vents, even though these sources are practically invisible to the human eye. This would be useful to the shrimp as it feeds on sulphide-loving bacteria very near to the vents3 but must avoid the lethal 350 °C vents themselves.
Trends in the management of esophageal carcinoma based on provider volume: treatment practices of 618 esophageal surgeons

SUMMARY Controversy exists regarding optimal treatment practices for esophageal cancer. Esophagectomy has received focus as one of the index procedures for both hospital and surgical quality despite a relative paucity of controlled trials to define best practices. A survey was created to determine the degree of heterogeneity in the treatment of esophageal cancer among a diverse group of surgeons and to use high-volume (HV) (≥15 cases/year) and low-volume (LV) (<15 cases/year) designations to discern specific differences in the management of esophageal cancer from the surgeon's perspective. Based on society rosters, surgeons (n = 4000) in the USA and 15 countries were contacted via mail and queried regarding their treatment practices for esophageal cancer using a 50-item survey instrument addressing demographics, utilization of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, and choice of surgical approach for esophageal resection and palliation. There were 618 esophageal surgeons among respondents (n = 1447), of which 77 (12.5%) were considered HV. The majority of HV surgeons (87%) practiced in an academic setting and had cardiothoracic training, while most LV surgeons were general surgeons in private practice (52.3%). Both HV and LV surgeons favored the hand-sewn cervical anastomosis and the stomach conduit. Minimally invasive esophagectomy is performed more frequently by HV surgeons when compared with LV surgeons (P = 0.045). Most HV surgeons use neoadjuvant therapy for patients with nodal involvement, while LV surgeons are more likely to leave the decision to the oncologist. With a few notable exceptions, substantial heterogeneity exists among surgeons' management strategies for esophageal cancer, particularly when grouped and analyzed by case volume. These results highlight the need for controlled trials to determine best practices in the treatment of this complex patient population.
The effect of Puccinia jaceae var. solstitialis on the yellow starthistle biological control insects Eustenopus villosus and Chaetorellia succinea

Abstract Six insect biocontrol agents have been introduced, with limited success, for managing the invasive plant yellow starthistle ( Centaurea solstitialis ). In 2003, a recently introduced fungal rust agent, Puccinia jaceae var. solstitialis , was approved for release in California. The presence of the rust in this multi-species complex was evaluated for its effect on performance of the two most common insect biocontrol agents for yellow starthistle, Chaetorellia succinea and Eustenopus villosus . To accomplish this, yellow starthistle was planted in 1 m 2 plots in monocultures at three densities and in a competition replacement series with wild oat ( Avena fatua ) in both 2006 and 2007. Twenty seedheads were dissected from each plot to evaluate the effect of P. jaceae on seedhead maturation and insect attack rate. In the replacement series experiment in 2007 and in 2006 and 2007 combined, P. jaceae caused a 35% and 20% increase, respectively, in the proportion of mature seedheads compared to total seedheads. However, there were no significant differences in the density experiment in either year or in the replacement series experiment in 2006. Although P. jaceae appeared to have a slight effect on yellow starthistle seedhead maturation, there was no effect of the rust on seedhead attack rates of either insect biological control, regardless of the experiment or year. These results indicate that P. jaceae does not interact significantly with the insect biological control agents for yellow starthistle.
PARTIAL LIQUID VENTILATION VS GAS VENTILATION: HISTOLOGIC DIFFERENCES USING HIGH FREQUENCY AND CONVENTIONAL TECHNIQUES. † 2083

PARTIAL LIQUID VENTILATION VS GAS VENTILATION: HISTOLOGIC DIFFERENCES USING HIGH FREQUENCY AND CONVENTIONAL TECHNIQUES. † 2083
Spectroscopic Study of the Thermal Degradation of PVP-capped Rh and Pt Nanoparticles in H2 and O2 Environments

Poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) capped platinum and rhodium nanoparticles (7-12 nm) have been studied with UV-VIS, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. The absorption bands in the region 190-900 nm are shown to be sensitive to the electronic structure of surface Rh and Pt atoms as well as to the aggregation of the nanoparticles. In-situ FTIR-DRIFT spectroscopy of the thermal decay of PVP stabilized Rh and Pt nanoparticles in H{sub 2} and O{sub 2} atmospheres in temperatures ranging from 30 C-350 C reveal that decomposition of PVP above 200 C, PVP transforms into a 'polyamidpolyene' - like material that is in turn converted into a thin layer of amorphous carbon above 300 C. Adsorbed carbon monoxide was used as a probing molecule to monitor changes of electronic structure of surface Rh and Pt atoms and accessible surface area. The behavior of surface Rh and Pt atoms with ligated CO and amide groups of pyrrolidones resemble that of surface coordination compounds.
Nonstoichiometric Interfaces and Al 2 O 3 Adhesion with Al and Ag

We have determined the relative stability of stoichiometric, oxygen-rich, and aluminum-rich $\mathrm{Al}/\mathrm{Al}{}_{2}\mathrm{O}{}_{3}$ and $\mathrm{Ag}/\mathrm{Al}{}_{2}\mathrm{O}{}_{3}$ interfaces from first principles. Stable structures vary significantly with oxygen chemical potentials. Computed works of adhesion agree reasonably well with sessile drop experimental values, including correlation with measured oxygen chemisorption effects on Ag. The ordering of predicted bond energies of the interfaces, ceramics, and metals seems consistent with monotonic and fatigue fracture experiments.
Separable but not equal: The location determinants of discrete services offshoring activities

In this paper we explore the question of why firms offshore particular services to specific geographic locations. We draw on research related to the unique characteristics of services in trade and commerce, and more recent analyses of the transnational unbundling and spatial dispersion of business processes. We move beyond a simple assessment of the cost sensitivity or relative sophistication of offshoring services and develop a typology emphasizing the degree to which offshoring services activities are interactive, repetitive, or innovative. We suggest that the location of offshoring projects will depend on the particular mix of these attributes, and test this assertion using a data set of 595 export-oriented offshore services projects initiated from 2002 to 2005 by US and UK company parents in 45 developed and developing countries. We find that offshore location choices greatly depend on these services characteristics, and in sometimes surprising ways, and draw implications from our findings for international business theory, policy, and practice.
Unitarizable highest weight modules of the conformal group

We give the classification and structure of all untarizable highest weight representations of the group SU (2,2), using recent results of M. Kashiwara, R. Parthasarathy, and M. Vergne. We verify a conjecture of Kashiwara and Vergne that all such representations occur as subrepresentation of the Segal-Shale-Weil representation and its k -fold tensor products. In fact k may be taken to be ≤3. As an application we obtain the complete analytic continuation of the holomorphic discrete series of representations of SU (2,2)—a result first obtained by K. Gross and W. Holman III by entirely different methods.
Pollen increases fitness and abundance of Orius insidiosus Say (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) on banker plants

Abstract Banker plants are intended to enhance biological control by sustaining populations of natural enemies. Banker plants do this by providing alternative sources of food for natural enemies, such as pollen for omnivorous predators, thus decreasing the likelihood of their starvation and emigration from a cropping system when pest populations are low or absent. A banker plant system consisting of the Black Pearl pepper, Capsicum annuum ‘Black Pearl’, and the omnivorous minute pirate bug, Orius insidiosus Say (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) has recently been proposed to improve biological control of thrips. Therefore, we studied how pollen from the Black Pearl pepper plant affects O. insidiosus fitness and abundance through a series of laboratory and greenhouse experiments. We found that a mixed diet of pollen and thrips increased O. insidiosus female longevity, decreased nymphal development time, and yielded larger females compared to a diet of thrips alone. Furthermore, O. insidiosus abundance was greater on flowering pepper plants than non-flowering pepper plants. From these results, we suggest that pollen from Black Pearl pepper banker plants could increase adult O. insidiosus abundance for the purpose of biological control in two ways: (1) reduce starvation and increase longevity of O. insidiosus when prey is absent; (2) enhance O. insidiosus fitness and fecundity when prey is present by mixing plant and prey diets. These results encourage future studies with the Black Pearl pepper as a banker plant for improving biological control of thrips in commercial greenhouses.
The role of biotransformation on the pharmacology of the monoamineoxidase inhibitor 5-oxo-N-(d-trans-2-phenylcyclopropyl)-1-2-pyrrolidone-carboxamide (EX-4883).

Abstract 5-oxo-N-(d- trans -2-phenylcyclopropyl)-1-2-pyrrolidone-carboxamide (EX 4883) is a potent inhibitor of monoamine oxidase in vivo. Upon being activated by a soluble fraction preparation of rat liver homogenate, it is also an inhibitor of monoamine oxidase in vitro. The biotransformation products are hypothesized to be tranylcypromine and pyrrolidone carboxylic acid. Tranylcypromine sulfate and EX-4883 were added to several test preparations in order to compare any pharmacological responses. Comparing the responses on a molar basis, it was impossible to distinguish between the stimulatory effects of the two drugs in the following pharmacological test systems: (1) rat blood pressure, (2) cat blood pressure, (3) cat nictitating membrane, and (4) rat Langendorff heart. The first dramatic pharmacological evidence of non-identical responses to equimolar concentrations of tranylcypromine and EX-4883 came in experiments with isolated rat atria. Tranylcypromine was more potent in eliciting positive inotropic responses from the atria than was EX-4883, but the dose-response curves were parallel. Prior bioactivation of EX-4883 by a soluble fraction component of rat liver homogenate caused a shift of the control curve toward the tranylcypromine control curve. The results support the conclusion that EX-4883 must be biotransformed before it is a pharmacologically active compound, and, that once it is activated, EX-4883 has a pharmacology analogous to that of tranylcypromine.
Sample size influence on boron trifluoride-methanol procedure for preparing fatty acid methyl esters

Sample size influences the yields of methyl esters of fatty acids by the boron trifluoride-methanol method. A study of the method revealed that best recoveries are obtained by using a minimum of 350 mg of lipid extract to prepare the methyl esters.
RESEARCH ON AGING: ITS FUTURE IN THE UNITED STATES

Aging will have to become a major issue for all of us who are deeply concerned with the field of mental health. Although I wil[ discuss psychiatry's contribution to the field of aging, my principal focus will be on the broad agenda of research on aging. I will stress, however, that we in psychiatry need to work with our colleagues in related mental health fields to maximize our contribution to the care, service, and dignity of older Americans. There is a new politics of aging. In 1974, the elderly comprised 15 percent of the voting population, but cast 17 percent of the votes. Some 51 percent of the older population voted--the highest proportion of all age groups, except for the middle-aged from 45 to 64. Clearly, the potential political clout of the elderly reinforces the importance of research on aging. Research on aging is relatively new. Interest began in the 1940s, with the founding of the Gerontological Society, the American Geriatrics Society, and a private gift of $10,000 from the josiah Macy, Jr., Foundation to the federal government with the observation that aging was one of the great social and health issues of our time. It was the Nobel Prize-winning Russian medical scientist Elie Metchnikoff who introduced the term "gerontology"; an American pediatrician, Ignez Nascher, introduced the term "geriatrics" to refer to the specific knowledge regarding the treatment and prevention of illness among older people. This is the century of the elderly. In 1900, only 3 million Americans were over 65. Today there are nearly 23 million--an increase from 4 percent of the population to nearly 11 percent. 3'p3 Now, pause and consider what is ahead. Your children and mine--those youngsters who "greened" America--will grow up, then grow old in about the year 2020 to 2030. We estimate that by then between 17 and 23 percent of the American population will be over 65. The estimates vary because of unpredictable birth rates and rates of emigration, but every projection in this century regarding the number of older people
Tumor necrosis factor-α enhances interferon-γ-mediated class II antigen expression on astrocytes

Astrocytes can function as antigen-presenting cells (APC) upon expression of class II antigens, which are induced by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) can act synergistically with IFN-gamma with respect to class II expression on a variety of cells. As brain cells themselves can secrete TNF-like factors upon stimulation, we examined the effect of TNF-alpha on IFN-gamma-mediated class II induction on astrocytes. TNF-alpha alone had no effect on class II expression, but did synergize with IFN-gamma for enhanced expression of class II antigens. The specificity of TNF-alpha activity was demonstrated by blocking the amplifying effect of TNF-alpha with a polyclonal anti-TNF-alpha antibody. Kinetic analysis of the synergistic effect indicated that optimal TNF-alpha enhancement of class II expression was observed when astrocytes were pretreated with IFN-gamma 12-24 h prior to TNF-alpha addition. A possible mechanism for the synergistic action between IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha may be increased TNF-alpha receptor expression by IFN-gamma. Astrocytes treated with IFN-gamma for 24 h express more TNF-alpha receptors (3900/cell) than do untreated astrocytes (2483/cell), with no significant change in the binding affinity (Kd). These results suggest that the synergistic activity of TNF-alpha requires an inductive signal from IFN-gamma, which in part may be increased TNF-alpha receptor expression. Altogether, our observations indicate that TNF-alpha enhances ongoing class II major histocompatibility complex gene expression in rat astrocytes, which in this system is initially induced by IFN-gamma. TNF-alpha exerts its effect by binding to high affinity TNF-alpha receptors on astrocytes, whose expression is also enhanced by IFN-gamma. These two cytokines work in concert to elevate class II expression on astrocytes, an event which can contribute to initiation and/or perpetuation of intracerebral immune responses.
A Power Stronger Than Itself: The AACM and American Experimental Music

By George E. Lewis. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2008. ISBN‐13: 978‐0‐226‐47695‐7 (hardcover). 676 Pp. $35.00. Chicago figures prominently in the American cultural and intellectual landsca...
A Randomized Controlled Trial of β-Blockers Versus Endoscopic Band Ligation for Primary Prophylaxis: A Large Sample Size is Required to Show a Difference in Bleeding Rates

Primary prophylaxis with nonselective β-blockers in high-risk subjects has been shown to be effective in reducing both esophageal variceal bleeding and mortality. Recently it has been suggested that band ligation may be a better option for primary prophylaxis. We compared nonselective β-blockers with band ligation in patients with large varices (F2, F3) and elevated hepatic venous wedge pressure gradient (HVWPG, ≥12 mm Hg). All patients were prospectively followed for variceal bleeding, mortality, and treatment-related complications. Based on previous published studies, we estimated that 90 patients in each arm would be required to show a difference in bleeding rate. The study was prematurely terminated when we realized that our estimated sample size was inadequate to show a difference based on the observed bleeding rate. At the time of termination, 31 patients (Child A, 11; B, 14; C, 6), with a mean HVWPG of 19 ± 9.1 mm Hg, were randomized to either band ligation (group A; n = 16) or β-blockers (group B; n = 15). Baseline demographics of both groups were similar and the mean follow-up period was 27.4 ± 12.9 months. During the follow-up, two patients in group A and one patient in group B had bleeding. Nine patients (29%; group A, six; group B, three; P = ns) died due to non-bleeding-related causes and five (16%) patients (group A, three; group B, two) underwent liver transplantation. Treatment-related complication were minimal in both groups. Despite the selection of high-risk patients, the observed bleeding rate was much lower than anticipated. Based on our observed bleeding rates, 424 patients would be required in each arm to show a difference between band ligation and β-blocker therapy.
The reaction of arylmagnesium bromides with N-(ω-bromoalkyl)phthalimides

The reaction of the N-(ω-bromoalkyl)phthalimides, 1 and 2, with a series of arylmagnesium bromides in tetrahydrofuran yielded the corresponding oxazoloisoindoles 4a-4h and oxazinoisoindoles 5a-5f. At low temperatures, phenylmagnesium bromide, on treatment with 1 and 2, yielded the open-chain alcohols, 7 and 8. With 3, phenylmagnesium bromide yielded the corresponding alcohol 9 under any conditions utilized. In several cases, the products isolated from the reaction of 1 with arylmagnesium bromides were shown to depend on the order of addition, with monoarylated oxazoloisoindoles 4c and 4d being formed when the Grignard reagent was added to 1, and triarylated products 10a and 10b formed when the order of addition was reversed. A further triarylated product 10c was also obtained by the latter method.
Specialist roles for nurse teachers

Abstract It is becoming the practice in some of the larger schools of nursing to designate a senior member of the teaching staff for the responsibility of curriculum studies; the post is usually that of assistant director of nurse education. Although smaller schools with 200–500 students do not have assistant director posts, it is equally important that curriculum design, development and evaluation is carried out. This paper describes the attempt by one school of nursing to overcome the problem of finding the time to concentrate on curriculum planning and the emergence of a teaching structure based on tutor specialisation. With a new general nursing syllabus promised by the English National Board it is important that schools of nursing should address themselves to this area of educational management.
Defending a cosmopolitanism without illusions. Reply to my critics

This essay engages with several critiques of my project a ‘cosmopolitanism without illusions.’ Who is the subject of rights? What are the objects of rights? Is there a distinction between human and moral rights? Furthermore, what is prior in this cosmopolitan account: democracy or human rights? Do democratic iterations exhaust the meaning of principles of rights? Finally, does the ‘scarf affair’ really signify the return of ‘political theology’ or have not such disputes always accompanied secularization and modernity? I argue that moral rights comprise more than human rights and that non-human beings such as animals can have moral rights claims against us. Democratic iterations and rights complement one another; neither is prior and that although debates about religion and secularization have been endemic to modernity, the return of references to Carl Schmitt’s ‘political theology’ is rather new.
Thermodynamic and kinetic evidence for a two-step reaction between methane monooxygenase compound Q and substrates

Abstract Methane monooxygenase (MMO) contains a binuclear iron cluster that forms a bis-μ-oxo Fe(IV)2 intermediate termed compound Q (Q) which has previously been shown to be the species that oxidizes methane to form methanol. This report summarizes the results from transient kinetic studies that were used to study the temperature dependence of the rate of Q decay as a function of substrate type, concentration, and deuteration. The Arrhenius plots for the rate of Q decay in the presence of methane were found to be nonlinear with both the temperature and rate at which the break is observed dependent upon methane concentration. In contrast, the Arrhenius plots for the reaction of Q with alternate substrates such as ethane and propane are linear. An analysis of the thermodynamic activation parameters in combination with the deuterium kinetic isotope effects (KIE) suggests that the reaction between Q and the substrate occurs in two steps, one being substrate binding and the other CH bond cleavage.
Population coding of shape in area V4

Shape is represented in the visual system by patterns of activity across populations of neurons. We studied the population code for shape in area V4 of macaque monkeys, which is part of the ventral (object-related) pathway in primate visual cortex. We have previously found that many macaque V4 neurons are tuned for the curvature and object-centered position of boundary fragments (such as ‘concavity on the right’). Here we tested the hypothesis that populations of such cells represent complete shapes as aggregates of boundary fragments. To estimate the population representation of a given shape, we scaled each cell’s tuning peak by its response to that shape, summed across cells and smoothed. The resulting population response surface contained 3‐8 peaks that represented major boundary features and could be used to reconstruct (approximately) the original shape. This exemplifies how a multi-peaked neural population response can represent a complex stimulus in terms of its constituent elements.
Modified Pechini synthesis and characterization of Y-doped strontium titanate perovskite

This work reports the modified Pechini preparation and properties of an A-site deficient perovskite Sr0.86Y0.08TiO3−δ (SYT). Good chemical homogeneity and electrical conductivity were determined, making SYT a potential conductive component material in a composite anode for solid oxide fuel cells. As an oxide with inherent resistance to oxidation and hydroxylation, SYT could be a substitute for the metallic Ni component in composite anodes for solid oxide fuel cells, particularly for reversible solid oxide fuel cells with attendant high steam concentrations.
Nonperturbing test for cytotoxicity in isolated cells and spheroids, using electron paramagnetic resonance.

Electron paramagnetic resonance imaging (EPRI) and EPR spectroscopy of nitroxides have been applied to detect and quantify cytotoxic effects in mammalian cells in vitro Images depicting microscopic viable and nonviable areas in the same multicellular spheroid (a model of solid tumors) have been acquired prior to and following the treatment with an antitumor drug, Adriamycin. The loss of viability in the inner region of the viable rim was detected. Such mapping of the time-course changes of the localization of viable and nonviable cells in the same intact biological object is not possible with routinely used methods to measure viability, such as histological examination. The experimental conditions required for high accuracy and sensitivity of the EPRI of spheroids have been evaluated and directions for further development of this approach are indicated. © 1991 Academic Press, Inc.
Neural correlates of instrumental learning in primary auditory cortex

In instrumental learning, Thorndike's law of effect states that stimulus-response relations are strengthened if they occur prior to positive reinforcement and weakened if they occur prior to negative reinforcement. In this study, we demonstrate that neural correlates of Thorndike's law may be observed in the primary auditory cortex, A1. Adult owl monkeys learned to discriminate tones higher than a standard frequency. Responses recorded from implanted microelectrodes initially exhibited broad spectral selectivity over a four-to-five octave range. With training, frequency discrimination thresholds changed from close to one octave to about 1/12 octave. Physiological recordings during the week in which the monkey came under behavioral control signaled by a drop in measured threshold had stronger responses to all frequencies. During the same week, A1 neural responses to target stimuli increased relative to standard and nontarget stimuli. This emergent difference in responsiveness persisted throughout the subsequent weeks of behavioral training. These data suggest that behavioral responses to stimuli modulate responsiveness in primary cortical areas.
Dematin, a human erythrocyte cytoskeletal protein, is a substrate for a recombinant FIKK kinase from Plasmodium falciparum

P. falciparum causes the most deadly form of malaria, resulting from the adherence of infected red blood cells to blood vessels. During the blood stage of infection, the parasite secretes a large number of proteins into the host erythrocyte. The secretion of a 20-member family of protein kinases known as FIKK kinases, after a conserved Phe-Ile-Lys-Lys sequence motif, is unique to P. falciparum. Identification of physiological substrates of these kinases may provide perspective on the importance of FIKK kinase activity to P. falciparum virulence. We demonstrate, for the first time, the heterologous expression and purification of a FIKK kinase (PfFk4.1, PFD1165w). The recombinant kinase is active against general substrates and phosphorylates itself. Having demonstrated kinase activity, we incubated recombinant Fk4.1 with parasite and human erythrocyte lysates. No parasite-derived substrates were identified. However, treatment of erythrocyte ghosts shows that the FIKK kinase Fk4.1 phosphorylates dematin, a cytoskeletal protein found at the red blood cell spectrin-actin junction.
Liquid-state transitions (T>Tg) of poly(vinyl alcohol)

The two liquid state transitions,Tll andTll, of non-crystalline, uncrosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) were determined by differential scanning calorimetry.Tll increased as the molecular weightMn increased, whileT′ll remained almost constant. Crosslinking and crystallinity lead to disappearance of the transitionTll. The transitionTll was linked to mobility of whole chains, whereasT′ll was characteristic of segmental mobility.
Determinants of congressional minimum wage support: the role of economic education

Much has been made about the lack of economic education among the public at large, yet little has been said about the limited education of Members of Congress. This paper examines the economic education levels of Members of Congress voting on the 2007 increase in the minimum wage. Controlling for a variety of characteristics of members and constituents, this study finds that members who majored in economics as undergraduates were less likely to vote for the minimum wage increase than their colleagues. No other major had a consistent influence. A large number of statistical specifications confirm the robustness of the finding.
Experimental and analytical investigations of mass transport processes of 12cr-1 movw steel in thermally-convected lithium systems

Experimental data on corrosion and mass transport in lithium/12Cr-1 MoVW steel were obtained from two thermal convection loops; one operated from 360 to 505 °C for 3040 h and the other from 525 to 655 °C for 2510 h. The experimental effort was supported by analytical investigations of possible mechanisms of corrosion and mass transport. It was found that mass transfer is not a simple function of temperature and alloy component solubility. Above 580 °C mass transfer appears to be dominated by alloy solubility via the temperature gradient. Between 450 and 580 °C, mass transfer appears to be related to surface reactions involving dissolved carbon and nitrogen in lithium with chromium, and carbides on the steel surface. The corrosion rates, as interperted from weight-change as uniform dissolution, from this work, are significantly lower than those adopted in recent blanket design studies.
Desflurane: a new volatile anesthetic for cesarean section. Maternal and neonatal effects

Desflurane, a new volatile anesthetic agent with low blood/gas solubility, has recently been studied in clinical and animal trials but its use in obstetrics has not been adequately evaluated. This prospective study was undertaken to evaluate the maternal and neonatal effects of desflurane in obstetrical patients. Seventy-five healthy parturients undergoing primary or repeat cesarean section were randomly assigned to one of three groups of 25 each, end-tidal 3% desflurane, 6% desflurane or 0.6% enflurane, combined with 50% N2O and O2. All patients had rapid sequence induction of anesthesia with thiopentone sodium followed by succinylcholine for tracheal intubation. After delivery, anesthesia was maintained with reduced concentration of desflurane or enflurane with 67% N2O in O2, supplemented by butorphanol tartrate. Maternal hemodynamic parameters, blood loss and maternal awareness during surgery were monitored. Neonatal outcome was evaluated by Apgar scores, neurological and adaptive capacity scores (NACS), cord blood gas and acid-base status, and time to sustained respiration (TSR). Maternal blood loss did not differ significantly between the three groups and none of the patients developed intraoperative awareness. All three groups responded to psychomotor performance equally fast. Patients in all three groups developed transient hypertension and tachycardia during induction of anesthesia which returned to baseline values in approximately 5 min. Neonatal outcome was equally good in the three groups. More neonates in the 6% desflurane group had TSR > 90 s compared to the 3% desflurane group (P < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)