cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Online Learning of Volatility from Multiple Option Term Lengths

In this work we utilize implied volatility predictions from options on individual securities to predict the average volatility of an ensemble of securities. We cast this as a problem of online learning with expert advice, which has been studied extensively in the Machine Learning community. In this setting we treat each security as an expert and adaptively maintain a set of weights to combine the implied volatility predictions of all securities in our ensemble. We also consider options of different term lengths, treating each term length as a separate learning task in a Multi-task Learning (MTL) framework. In this MTL framework information is shared between the learning tasks to improve the overall learning process. We conduct experiments using historical option pricing data and corresponding historical volatility records. Using the straight mean of the implied volatility predictions as a benchmark strategy, we demonstrate improved combined predictions with a basic online learning algorithm and further improvement with our MTL framework.
Equality on trial: gender and rights in the modern American workplace

Equality on Trial sets out to document how Title VII of the Civil Rights Act came about in 1964. It depicts how the concept of sex discrimination has slowly developed by highlighting the interactio...
Nonlogical Methods for Commonsense Reasoning

Why use logic for commonsense reasoning? What about other approaches? We review several other important approaches to commonsense reasoning: qualitative reasoning, analogical processing, probabilistic reasoning, and the society of mind. We assess their strengths and weaknesses and discuss their relationships to the event calculus.
Introduction to distributed interactive simulation

During the past five years, Workshops on Standards for the Interoperability of Distributed Simulations have provided the forum for establishing standards for networking dissimilar simulations to create virtual worlds in which many subjects can interact. These virtual worlds can be used for training individuals, testing equipment, prototyping products, research and development or any application involving the interaction of groups of people in a common synthetic environment. The Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS) Vision document1 produced by the workshop describes the domain of interest as follows. "The primary mission of DIS is to define an infrastructure for linking simulations of various types at multiple locations to create realistic, complex, virtual "worlds" for the simulation of highly interactive activities. This infrastructure brings together system built for separate purposes, technologies from different eras, products from various vendors, and platforms from various services and permits them to interoperate. DIS exercises are intended to support a mixture of virtual entities (human-in-the-loop simulators), live entities (operational platforms and test and evaluation systems), and constructive entities (wargames and other automated simulations)." Not only must DIS achieve interoperabilty among different simulations and simulation domains, it must also attain interoperability among different physical and behavioral representations of the environment, establish a means to manage these virtual worlds, and use communication networks to link them together. As the power and potential to create robust Distributed Interactive Simulation environments gains recognition, the need for establishing standards for the implementation of these principles grows dramatically. The following paper will discuss the DIS standards development effort by describing the standards infrastructure and the process by which standards are created.
Bibliometric Network Analysis and Visualization for Serials Librarians: An Introduction to Sci2

Bibliometric data have the potential to inform collection development, describe institutional scholarship strengths and citation patterns, and suggest potential areas of research collaboration. Thi...
An anthropology of lying: Trump and the political sociality of moral outrage

It has long been a truism that politicians lie, but with the entry of Donald Trump into the US political domain, the frequency, degree, and impact of lying in politics are now unprecedented. An anthropology of lies does not seek to correct them but instead asks, How do we understand lies and liars in their cultural, historical, and political context? Asking this question allows us to see clearly the work of lies, including their meaningful and sometimes violent consequences. By thinking anew about the anthropology of lying, anthropologists can show the unexpected ways that community can form around lies.
Experiences with Benevolent Sexism: Scale Development and Associations with Women’s Well-Being

Ambivalent sexism theory (Glick and Fiske 1996, 1997) suggests that sexism takes two forms: an overt hostility as well as a subtle benevolence. We examined benevolent sexist behaviors and developed a 25-item Experiences with Benevolent Sexism Scale. Exploratory factor analysis (Study 1, U.S. college sample of 489 women) and confirmatory factor analysis (Study 2, online sample of 216 women) revealed three subscales of benevolently sexist experiences: Heterosexual Intimacy, Protective Paternalism, and Complementary Gender Differences. Women reported experiencing benevolently sexist events more frequently than overtly hostile sexist events; however, they perceived the hostile events to be more distressing and sexist (Studies 1 and 2). Experiencing Protective Paternalism was positively associated with self-doubt and negatively associated with self-esteem (Studies 1 and 2), and psychological well-being (Study 2). However, experiencing Complementary Gender Differentiation was negatively associated with self-doubt and positively associated with self-esteem (Studies 1 and 2), psychological well-being, flourishing, and submission to authority (Study 2). Finally, women in romantic relationships reported more benevolently sexist experiences than did those not in romantic relationships and the frequency of those experiences was positively associated with perceptions of the partner’s benevolently sexist attitudes (Study 2). The results highlight that women frequently experience sexism, ranging from overtly hostile to a subtle benevolence, and the different types of benevolent sexism each have unique associations with women’s well-being.
Sulfur Groups in Coal and Their Determinations

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the problems associated with the selection and preparation of a sample and describes the novel methods of analysis, the determination of individual sulfur functional groups, and the errors associated with various methods of analysis. The chapter discusses a few potential sources of error in sulfur analysis because of inadequate sampling and handling techniques. The presentation is informal and dwells on the major issues only. The chapter discusses sulfur in coal-derived materials (CDM). Processing of coal changes the chemical and physical structure of coal and often produces new structures that were not present in the original coal. The identity and the quantity of CDM will, therefore, depend on the structure of the original coal and on the processing conditions applied and their intensities.
Experimental and numerical study of chaff cloud kinetic performance under impact of high speed airflow

Abstract To solve the kinetic and diffusion problem of surface-type infrared decoy, multi-chaff kinetic models are established and chaff cloud holistic kinetic performance are analyzed under the impact of high speed airflow in this work. Chaffs rotate rapidly during the motion under the impact of high speed airflow. The rotation speed is correlated with lift, position of pressure center and aerodynamic damping. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is used to compute the aerodynamic coefficients of chaff. It is found that there exists serious aerodynamic interference which mainly relates to the overlapping area and distance among chaffs during the diffusion of chaff cloud. The chaff wind tunnel test and rocket sled experiment are carried out to verify the credibility of the models in this work. Then, the variation of chaff cloud expectation and extremum are analyzed to achieve the holistic kinetic and diffusing performance of chaff cloud. Simulation results demonstrate that the chaffs diffuse rapidly under the impact of high speed airflow and chaff cloud can be formed rapidly within 0.5 s. The shape of the chaff cloud is similar to cone that forms a certain angle with the horizontal plane and most chaffs focus on the second half.
“Untouchable”? Social Status, Identity, and Mental Health Among Adolescents in Nepal:

Caste is a primary basis for oppression in many parts of South Asia with individuals from low caste backgrounds commonly experiencing the degradation of untouchability and daily discrimination at b...
Is Religion Special? More Likely Than Not!

Some have questioned why religion should be singled out for special treatment in our legal instruments, such as the US Constitution, Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Why, for example, do these documents afford protection to citizens who engage in an activity religiously, while not affording the same protection for citizens who engage in what appears to be the same activity non-religiously? To answer this question, the author explains why religion, as with other associations and practices (e.g., marriage, speech, etc.), has been justly singled out. However, he goes on to show how so-called non-religious beliefs and practices can be afforded the same (and in some cases, a slightly different) protection under the law without diminishing the historical reason for religion’s specialness: the two sovereigns account.
Form and function in China’s urban land regime: The irrelevance of “ownership”

Abstract China’s urban land is typically said to be owned by the state, with private parties “merely” permitted to own long-term use rights of up to seventy years. This regime has been praised by those who believe it embodies socialist values and criticized by those who believe it will hamper growth. This article argues that both views are mistaken; that the features of the long-term use rights are not significantly different from those attaching to full private fee simple ownership, and that the main features of China’s system are shared by other jurisdictions such as Hong Kong where the existence of a well functioning real estate market and satisfactory economic growth have never been doubted. In short, ownership is a sufficiently elastic concept that something called “state ownership” can easily accommodate any number of specific institutional arrangements that serve different functions. There is thus no substitute for a fine-grained analysis of the specific details of any particular land tenure regime before reaching conclusions about its economic effects. This article also offers support for the idea that property rights cannot be understood as simply exogenously imposed rules of the game that must be followed. The rules of the game reflect and affect wealth and influence, which can be put to the service of changing the rules themselves. Although governments can attempt to create institutions, whether and how they will actually function in society is difficult to control.
Assessment of forest fire impacts on carbonaceous aerosols using complementary molecular marker receptor models at two urban locations in California's San Joaquin Valley

Two hundred sixty-three fine particulate matter (PM2.5) samples were collected over fourteen months in Fresno and Bakersfield, California. Samples were analyzed for organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), water soluble organic carbon (WSOC), and 160 organic molecular markers. Chemical Mass Balance (CMB) and Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) source apportionment models were applied to the results in order to understand monthly and seasonal source contributions to PM2.5 OC. Similar source categories were found from the results of the CMB and PMF models to PM2.5 OC across the sites. Six source categories with reasonably stable profiles, including biomass burning, mobile, food cooking, two different secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) (i.e., winter and summer), and forest fires were investigated. Both the CMB and the PMF models showed a strong seasonality in contributions of some sources, as well as dependence on wind transport for both sites. The overall relative source contributions to OC were 24% CMB wood smoke, 19% CMB mobile sources, 5% PMF food cooking, 2% CMB vegetative detritus, 17% PMF SOA summer, 22% PMF SOA winter, and 12% PMF forest fire. Back-trajectories using the Weather Research and Forecasting model combined with the FLEXible PARTicle dispersion model (WRF-FLEXPART) were used to further characterize wind transport. Clustering of the trajectories revealed dominant wind patterns associated with varying concentrations of the different source categories. The Comprehensive Air Quality Model with eXtensions (CAMx) was used to simulate aerosol transport from forest fires and thus confirm the impacts of individual fires, such as the Rough Fire, at the measurement sites.
An Evaluation of the Children's Advertising Review Unit:

This article evaluates the purpose and performance of the Children's Advertising Review Unit. The Unit's activities are described and the results of an analysis of CARU case summaries are reported....
Study on In Vitro Growth of Rubus fraxinifolius Mutant (m1) Resulted from Gamma-Ray Irradiation (60Co)

Rubus fraxinifolius belonging to the wild raspberry group has not been developed in Indonesia. Mutation breeding using gamma-ray as mutagen which was combined with in vitro culture is one of acceleration effort to obtain superior characteristics of the fruit crops, such as larger fruit size, higher nutrition content, plant with less of spines and fruit storage ability. The R. fraxinifolius seeds were irradiated with different doses of gamma-ray ranging from 0 to 500 Gy using the 60 Co (Cobalt). This research aimed to determine in vitro growth of R. fraxinifolius mutant (M1) after irradiation using gamma-ray. The results showed that the highest percentage of seed germination was obtained on the doses of 100 and 200 Gy. Furthermore, the subculture of R. fraxinifolius mutant (M1) on MS medium with the addition of BA showed the different growth on number of shoots, number of leaves, and plantlet height. Moreover, R. fraxinifolius control showed higher value of shoots, number of leaves, and plantlet height at 4 and 8 weeks after subculture compared to R. fraxinifolius mutant. MS medium with the addition of IBA showed that the number of roots of R. fraxinifolius control (5.75) was higher than that of R. fraxinifolius mutant (M1) (4.83).
On Serving Two Masters: Directing Critical Technical Practice towards Human-Compatibility in AI

In this project I have worked towards a method for critical, socially aligned research in Artificial Intelligence by merging the analysis of conceptual commitments in technical work, discourse analysis, and critical technical practice. While the goal of critical technical practice as proposed by [1] is to overcome technical impasses, I explore an alternative use case - ensuring that technical research is aligned with social values. In the design of AI systems, we generally start with a technical formulation of a problem and then attempt to build a system that addresses that problem. Critical technical practice tells us that this technical formulation is always founded upon the discipline's core discourse and ontology, and that difficulty in solving a technical problem might just result from inconsistencies and faults in those core attributes. What I hope to show with this project is that, even when a technical problem seems solvable, critical technical practice can and should be used to ensure the human-compatibility of the technical research.
A System for the Study of Kallikreins

The formation of kallidin (lysyl-bradykinin) by the action of glandular kallikreins upon plasma kininogen shows that the substrate specificity of these enzymes is very different from that of trypsin and plasma kallikrein, which yield bradykinin from the same substrate. Although one of the bonds cleaved by glandular kallikrein (Arg-Ser, at the carboxyl end of bradykinin and kallidin) is a typical trypsin substrate cleavage site, and is also cleaved by plasma kallikrein, the other site (Met-Lys, at the amino end of kallidin) is not cleaved by trypsin and plasma kallikrein. This unique second cleavage site has led to considerable work and discussion as to whether the enzyme has one or two active sites (see Fiedler and Leysath, and Prado and Araujo-Viel, this volume). In order to study glandular kallikreins more exactly and as an aid to development of specific inhibitors for glandular kallikreins, a new set of substrates has been synthesized and used for initial studies with rat urinary kallikrein (RUK).
Netarsudil's Effect in Eyes with a History of Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty.

Abstract This retrospective study of 75 eyes provides evidence that in eyes with a history of prior selective laser trabeculoplasty, addition of netarsudil can still provide additional intraocular pressure lowering.
Catalytic Hydrogenolysis of Aryl C-F Bonds Using a Bimetallic Rhodium-Indium Complex.

A homogeneous rhodium–indium catalyst hydrodefluorinates substrates bearing strong aryl C–F bonds, including difluoro- and fluorobenzene, using 1 atm of H2, alkoxide bases, and moderate temperature...
Minimax Estimation of the $L_{1}$ Distance

We consider the problem of estimating the $L_{1}$ distance between two discrete probability measures $P$ and $Q$ from empirical data in a nonasymptotic and large alphabet setting. When $Q$ is known and one obtains $n$ samples from $P$ , we show that for every $Q$ , the minimax rate-optimal estimator with $n$ samples achieves performance comparable to that of the maximum likelihood estimator with $n\ln n$ samples. When both $P$ and $Q$ are unknown, we construct minimax rate-optimal estimators, whose worst case performance is essentially that of the known $Q$ case with $Q$ being uniform, implying that $Q$ being uniform is essentially the most difficult case. The effective sample size enlargement phenomenon, identified by Jiao et al. , holds both in the known $Q$ case for every $Q$ and the $Q$ unknown case. However, the construction of optimal estimators for $\|P-Q\|_{1}$ requires new techniques and insights beyond the approximation-based method of functional estimation by Jiao et al.
Optimizing Safety in Velopharyngeal Insufficiency Surgery for Children with 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome

22q11.2 microdeletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) is a common genetic condition associated with structural and functional velopharyngeal anomalies. However, not all patients with 22q11.2DS presenting for ...
Using theory-informed data science methods to trace the quality of dental student reflections over time

This study describes a theory-informed application of data science methods to analyze the quality of reflections made in a health professions education program over time. One thousand five hundred reflections written by a cohort of 369 dental students over 4 years of academic study were evaluated for an overall measure of reflection depth (No, Shallow, Deep) and the presence of six theoretically-indicated elements of reflection quality (Description, Analysis, Feeling, Perspective, Evaluation, Outcome). Machine learning models were then built to automatically detect these qualities based on linguistic features in the reflections. Results showed a dramatic increase from No to Shallow reflections from the start to end of year one (20% → 66%), but only a limited gradual rise in Deep reflections across all four years (2% → 26%). The presence of all six reflection elements increased over time, but inclusion of Feelings and Analysis remained relatively low even at the end of year four (found in 44% and 60% of reflections respectively). Models were able to reliably detect the presence of Description (κTEST = 0.70) and Evaluation (κTEST = 0.65) in reflections; models to detect the presence of Analysis (κTEST = 0.50), Feelings (κTEST = 0.54), and Perspectives (κTEST = 0.53) showed moderate performance; the model to detect Outcomes suffered from overfitting (κTRAIN = 0.90, κTEST = 0.53). A classifier for overall depth built on the reflection elements showed moderate performance across all time periods (κTEST > 0.60) but relied almost exclusively on the presence of Description. Implications for the conceptualization of reflection quality and providing personalized learning support to help students develop reflective skills are discussed.
Rehabilitation Principles in Bone metastasis

Metastatic bone disease is often associated with a decline in function and overall quality of life. Pain and musculoskeletal events are contributors to decrease mobility and independence. 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 In cases where there is neurological involvement, such as in patients with cord compression syndrome, it can be associated with neurogenic bowel and bladder. The role of cancer rehabilitation providers is to improve the overall health-related quality of life and their function and independence. Rehabilitation interventions, including aerobic and resistant exercise prescription, are associated with positive physical and self-reported outcomes with a low rate of adverse events. 4 Low impact aerobic activity has been wildly studied in patients with bone metastasis and has been found to be safe. 4 , 9 Rehabilitation physicians focus on designing a rehabilitation and exercise plan that improves the patient's physical function while keeping in mind the necessary precautions to prevent musculoskeletal events. Activity modification and physical activity that prevents the axial loading of the spine can improve the core musculature of patients with spine involvement while decreasing the risk of compression fractures of the vertebral bodies. 21 Furthermore, patients who have undergone surgical interventions as part of the treatment of metastatic bone disease frequently present an acute functional decline. Rehabilitation providers are vital in evaluating these functional impairments and developing a comprehensive rehabilitation plan in the appropriate setting (inpatient vs home vs outpatient). 26 Overall, patients with metastatic bone disease present with functional impairments that put them at risk for immobility-related complications. Rehabilitation interventions, such as exercise, are safe and effective in improving immobility complications, decreasing caregiver burden, and improving overall quality of life. 4 , 7 , 9 , 26
Precision Measurements of Long-Baseline Neutrino Oscillation at LBNF

In a long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment, the primary physics objectives are to determine the neutrino mass hierarchy, to determine the octant of the neutrino mixing angle θ23, to search for CP violation in neutrino oscillation, and to precisely measure the size of any CP-violating effect that is discovered. This presentation provides a brief introduction to these measurements and reports on efforts to optimize the design of a long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment, the status of LBNE, and the transition to an international collaboration at LBNF.
Pigeon Liver Malic Enzyme: III. FLUORESCENCE STUDIES OF COENZYME BINDING

Abstract Purified pigeon liver malic enzyme (malate dehydrogenase (decarboxylating), EC 1.1.1.38) fluoresces strongly with excitation and emission maxima at 293 mµ and 350 mµ, respectively. Binding of reduced triphosphopyridine nucleotide by malic enzyme was studied by the fluorescence technique. The purified enzyme binds TPNH strongly and causes a blue shift in the emission maximum of TPNH from 465 to 440 mµ, and an enhancement of fluorescence intensity. Titration of malic enzyme with TPNH yields a binding weight of 76,400 g of protein per mole of TPNH and a site dissociation constant of 7.5 x 10-7 m. l-Malate binds to the enzyme-TPNH complex in the presence of Mn++, but at a site other than the TPNH-binding site. The binding of enzyme with l-malate or TPNH is specific, and is not observed with either d-malate or reduced diphosphopyridine nucleotide. TPN binds to malic enzyme in competition with TPNH. The ratio of site dissociation constants was determined, and from this, the dissociation constant for TPN is calculated to be 9.7 x 10-7 m.
Improved survival accounts for most, but not all, of the increase in bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

The incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) increased from 10.6% in 1976 through 1980, to 21.7% (1981 through 1985), and to 32.9% (1986 through 1990) in very low birth weight neonates (1500 g or less) admitted to the Vanderbilt Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, while there was a concurrent decline in incidence of neonatal death (NEOD) during the same periods (26.4%, 18.3%, and 15.9%, respectively). Population changes in risk factors (birth weight, sex, race, location of birth, gestational age, diagnosis of hyaline membrane disease, and 5-minute Apgar score) over time do not account for this increase. To estimate the proportion of the increase in BPD attributable to the concurrent decline in NEOD during these periods, separate logistic regression models for NEOD and BPD were calculated from patients born during 1976 through 1985. These results were used to predict the expected number of cases of NEOD and BPD during 1986 through 1990, assuming that the adjusted incidence of NEOD and BPD remained constant from 1976 through 1985, to 1986 through 1990. The increase in the combined outcome, NEOD/BPD, over the three time periods (34.2%, 36.1%, and 43.5%) remained statistically significant after adjustment for the risk factors listed above. During 1986 through 1990, the predicted number of NEOD was 83 more than the number observed, while the predicted number with BPD was 115 less than the number observed. If all 83 averted cases of NEOD during 1986 through 1990 had developed BPD, then 83 (72%) of the 115 excess cases of BPD could be attributed to averted NEOD. The approximate 95% confidence interval for this estimate was 58% to 87%. These results indicate that while most of the excess cases of BPD in 1986 through 1990 could be explained by neonates who previously would have died, there were still additional cases of BPD that were not explained by the risk factors included in this analysis.
Structure of 7Be: (I). The 6Li(p, p′)6Li∗ reaction

The differential cross section for the 6Li(p, p′)6Li∗ (2.184 MeV) reaction was measured over a range of incident proton lab energies between 3.60 and 9.40 MeV. The analysis of a broad resonance indicates the presence of a 1.8 MeV broad state in 7Be at about 10.0 MeV excitation energy with the properties Jπ = 32− or 52−, with 72− or 92− being possible but less probable, and T = 12.
Feedrate Optimization for Machine Tool Control Subject to Contour Error Constraints

Optimization techniques are applied to feedrate and voltage control in order to improve performance of biaxial contouring systems. This is done by maintaining contour error within a prescribed tolerance while tracking the trajectory in minimum time. In addition to the error constraint, the current and voltage constraints are required to keep the motors from overloading. The design of the controllers requires two steps. First, an LQR-type innerloop controller for the armature voltage is designed for each axis to assure stability using a performance index that penalizes current, armature voltage, and axial error. Next, nonlinear programming techniques are used to find the outerloop control or feedrate profile (which determines the tracking time) and the weighting matrices (which determine the innerloop controller gains) subject to voltage, current, and two-dimensional contour error constraints for a given trajectory. Although the innerloop controllers are originally designed to minimize a weighted sum of axial error, current, and voltage, the outerloop optimization of the feedrate takes into account the two-dimensional contour error explicitly. In this manner, it is possible to tune the controllers to a particular trajectory to achieve the best performance. The method is tested via simulation using a model of a representative biaxial DC motor contouring system for an elliptical trajectory.
Cybersecurity Policy as if "Ordinary Citizens" Mattered: The Case for Public Participation in Cyber Policy Making

Given the ubiquity of computer networks and our reliance as a society on their integrity and robustness, the quality of cybersecurity is an issue that affects everyone. Yet, cybersecurity policy making has remained almost entirely within the purview of lobbyists and technical experts. This article argues for both the plausibility and normative imperative of greater public participation in cyber policy making.
Formation of a stable adduct between ubiquitin and the Arabidopsis ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, AtUBC1+.

Abstract Ubiquitin conjugating enzymes (E2s) are an integral part of a multienzyme pathway that ligates ubiquitin to intracellular target proteins. This ligation has been implicated in a number of fundamental processes including protein degradation, cell cycle progression, DNA repair, and organelle biogenesis. To function, E2s form a labile thiol-ester intermediate between a specific cysteine within the E2 and the carboxyl terminus of ubiquitin; this high energy intermediate then serves as the donor for ubiquitin ligation. To aid in the characterization of E2s, we have created a stable ubiquitin-E2 intermediate using a mutant form of the 16-kDa E2 encoded by the Arabidopsis thaliana AtUBC1 gene in which the active-site cysteine at residue 88 was replaced with serine. The mutant protein synthesized in Escherichia coli formed an adduct with ubiquitin in vitro, but in this case the E2 and ubiquitin were linked via a more stable ester bond. The ester-linked ubiquitin could not be transferred subsequently to substrate proteins in an E3 alpha-dependent conjugation reaction. The ester adduct was sufficiently stable to survive purification by anion exchange high performance liquid chromatography. As a result, this adduct may prove useful for the structural analysis of ubiquitin-E2 intermediates and in the study of E2s interacting with other ubiquitin pathway enzymes.
Age Related Bladder Capacity and Bladder Capacity Growth in Children With Myelomeningocele

AbstractPurpose: Currently the relationship between bladder capacity and age in children with myelomeningocele is inadequately understood, such that nomograms derived from neurologically normal children are inappropriately applied to the myelodysplastic population. The aim of the present study was to evaluate age related bladder capacity and bladder capacity growth in children with myelomeningocele, and compare them to those of age matched, neurologically intact children.Materials and Methods: Bladder capacity was determined by cystometrography in children with myelodysplasia. Regression analysis was used to derive a relationship between bladder capacity and patient age. Data were stratified by sphincter activity, bladder sensation and uninhibited contractions, and regression analysis was repeated. To evaluate serial growth change in bladder capacity divided by time yielded a yearly bladder capacity growth rate in patients who underwent 2 cystometrograms done at least 3 months apart before age 9 years.Res...
Friedel-Crafts crosslinking methods for polystyrene modification: 2. Tg′Tll and T′ll transitions of grated polystyrene

Polystyrene was grafted with 1,4-dimethyl-2,5-dichloromethyl benzene in dichloroethane solution at 50°C using SnCl4 as a catalyst. Thermal analysis of grafted polystyrene samples using differential scanning calorimetry revealed two liquid-liquid transitions, Tll and T′ll, in addition to the glass transition, Tg′ and the decomposition temperature, Td. The effect of the number of junctions per polystyrene chain on Tg′Tll and T′ll is examined and analysed.
Small-Molecule Reprogramming of Cancer Metabolism

Small molecules that inhibit common cancer-associated changes in metabolism have great potential as widely applicable therapies. In this issue of Chemistry & Biology , Kung et al. report the characterization of a small molecule activator of the enzyme pyruvate kinase M2, which reprograms cancer cell metabolism resulting in dependence on the amino acid serine.
Influence of tissue composition on the final volume of rat liver blocks prepared for electron microscopy

Methods for measuring and evaluating changes in volume of small tissue blocks prepared for transmission electron microscopy are presented. The results indicate: (1) that some blocks swell and others shrink, and (2) that changes in block volume can be explained by inhomogeneous changes occurring in three different tissue compartments. For stereological studies attempting to extrapolate changes in fixed and embedded tissue to those of fresh tissue, consequences of inhomogeneous volume changes in tissue compartments include a decrease in reliability and an increase in statistical variance of stereological density estimates. Since factors could not be found to correct for the changes in individual tissue compartments, alternative strategies are considered for dealing with the volume artifacts of fixation.
Statelessness: The making and unmaking of political identity

(1996). Statelessness: The making and unmaking of political identity. The European Legacy: Vol. 1, Fourth International Conference of the International Society for the study of European Ideas, pp. 820-825.
Constraints on interactive processes in auditory word recognition: The role of sentence context

Abstract An experiment is reported that investigated the role of semantic context effects on identification of speech. Tokens from speech voicing series (e.g., DENT-TENT) were embedded in sentence contexts semantically biased toward the voiced or voiceless endpoints. Subjects labeled stimuli in the category boundary region (perceptually ambiguous stimuli) such that a contextually appropriate word was formed. Identification responses to endpoint tokens (perceptually clear stimuli) were not influenced by the context. For perceptually ambiguous stimuli, reaction times for context consistent responses were not faster than context inconsistent responses; at the continua endpoints a reaction time advantage for context consistent responses was found. The reaction time data are discussed in terms of a postperceptual mechanism underlying the demonstrated context effect on identification responses. The postperceptual mechanism supported by the reaction time data contrasts with many current models of context effects in the auditory domain that claim context operates to facilitate initial encoding of the stimulus.
Mechanistic Investigation of Intramolecular Aminoalkene and Aminoalkyne Hydroamination/Cyclization Catalyzed by Highly Electrophilic, Tetravalent Constrained Geometry 4d and 5f Complexes. Evidence for an M−N σ-Bonded Insertive Pathway

A mechanistic study of intramolecular hydroamination/cyclization catalyzed by tetravalent organoactinide and organozirconium complexes is presented. A series of selectively substituted constrained geometry complexes, (CGC)M(NR2)Cl (CGC = [Me2Si(η5-Me4C5)(tBuN)]2-; M = Th, 1-Cl; U, 2-Cl; R = SiMe3; M = Zr, R = Me, 3-Cl) and (CGC)An(NMe2)OAr (An = Th, 1-OAr; An = U, 2-OAr), has been prepared via in situ protodeamination (complexes 1−2) or salt metathesis (3-Cl) in high purity and excellent yield and is found to be active precatalysts for intramolecular primary and secondary aminoalkyne and aminoalkene hydroamination/cyclization. Substrate reactivity trends, rate laws, and activation parameters for cyclizations mediated by these complexes are virtually identical to those of more conventional (CGC)MR2 (M = Th, R = NMe2, 1; M = U, R = NMe2, 2; M = Zr, R = Me, 3), (Me2SiCp‘ ‘2)UBn2 (Cp‘ ‘ = η5-Me4C5; Bn = CH2Ph, 4), Cp‘2AnR2 (Cp‘ = η5-Me5C5; R = CH2SiMe3; An = Th, 5, U, 6), and analogous organolanthanide comple...
Ultrastructural morphology of the olfactory pathway for cerebrospinal fluid drainage in the rabbit

Previous physiological studies indicate that the olfactory region serves as a major pathway for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage into the lymphatic system. The present study was undertaken to determine the ultrastructural characteristics of this egress route. New Zealand White rabbits received a single bolus injection of the tracer ferritin (MW 400,000) into both lateral ventricles in such a manner as not to raise the intraventricular pressure above the normal level. The animals were sacrificed via intracardiac perfusion of fixative between less than 12 minutes and 4 hours following injection. The cribriform region was removed en bloc, decalcified, sectioned coronally, and prepared for light and electron microscopic examination.
Surface Modification of Sapphire by Magnesium‐Ion Implantation

Single crystals of Al2O3 were implanted at a temperature of 25°C with magnesium ions that were accelerated at 200 keV and then annealed in oxygen gas for 15 h at 1500°C. The microstructure and composition in the implanted region were examined using analytical electron microscopy techniques, with an emphasis on identification of the microstructural changes that were caused by implantation and annealing. Implantation created a damage zone 0.3 µm thick in the near-surface region of sapphire, and implanted magnesium ions were distributed in this zone without detectable precipitation. Annealing in oxygen gas caused redistribution of the implanted magnesium ions and the formation of a discrete buried layer of spinel (MgAl2O4) that was epitactic with both the substrate and the cap layer.
Neutron scattering from elemental silver

Abstract Differential neutron elastic-scattering cross sections of elemental silver were measured from 1.5 → 10 MeV at scattering angles distributed between ≈17° and 160°. Cross sections for ten inelastically scattered neutron groups were determined, corresponding to observed excitations of 328 ± 13, 419 ± 50, 748 ± 25, 908 ± 26, 1150 ± 38, 1286 ± 25, 1507 ± 20, 1623 ± 30, 1835 ± 20, and 1944 ± 26 keV, all of which were composites of contributions from the two isotopes 107Ag and 109Ag. The experimental results were interpreted in terms of the spherical-optical and rotational and vibrational coupled-channels models.
The structure of 16O and 17O(p, d)16O reaction

The first significant disagreement with recent “exact” shell-model calculations occurs in 17O(p, d)16O at Ep = 31 MeV. The 4+ level at 10.36 MeV has < 5% of its predicted intensity. Little 1p32 strength appears below 18 MeV excitation in agreement with the model.
Prevention and Treatment of Postproctectomy Infertility

Physicians who care for patients of childbearing potential of both genders who require pelvic surgery must have a clear understanding of the best-available evidence with regards to infertility as an outcome in this cohort. More specifically, colorectal surgeons must clearly understand the ramifications of altered anatomy on fertility and be able to adequately counsel patients. In this article we provide definitions associated with fertility and review the best-available literature regarding the impact of medical therapy for inflammatory bowel disease on fertility and both female and male infertility after proctectomy for chronic ulcerative colitis and rectal cancer. Finally, we review techniques for optimization of fertility as well as available options and treatments for those who have difficulty conceiving.
The Connection between Stigma, Power, and Life Chances: A Qualitative Examination of Gender and Sex Crime in Yemen

Using interview and observational data collected in 2008, we examine how community leaders discuss gender norms and social stigma in Yemen. We focus on how interviewees describe how and why they stigmatize and discriminate against women. We pay particular attention to the connection between stigma and life chances (Link and Phelan 2001). Informants explain that women committing fornication are subjected to imprisonment, banishment, or honor killing. Men, on the other hand, are able to engage in impression management and mediation rituals in order to return to their communities. These practices connect the formal legal system in Yemen to gender norms and allow men in this society to maintain power over women.
CHARACTERIZATION OF AN EMBRYOGENIC CELL SUSPENSION CULTURE DERIVED FROM CULTURED INFLORESCENCES OF PENNISETUM AMERICANUM (PEARL MILLET, GRAMINEAE)

Suspensions composed of small, richly cytoplasmic starch-containing cells (embryogenic cells) and elongated thick-walled cells with large vacuoles were established from cultured inflorescence segments of pearl millet in Murashige and Skoog's medium supplemented with 2.5 mg 2,4-D/l + 5% coconut milk. When 2- to 3-wk-old suspensions were transferred to agar with reduced 2,4-D levels, hundreds of globular and early cotyledonary embryoids were produced which developed into green plants when transferred to medium + ABA. Atypical embryoids, some containing many shoot meristems and a leafy scutellum were also observed
Auger resonant Raman spectroscopy used to study the angular distributions of the Xe 4d5/2-->6p decay spectrum.

The Auger resonant Raman effect can be used as a method to eliminate natural lifetime broadening in resonant Auger spectra. We have coupled this method with high-resolution photons from the Advanced Light Source to study angular distributions and decay rates of the Xe4{ital d}{sub 5/2}{r_arrow}6{ital p} resonant Auger lines. The angular distribution parameters {beta} of almost all possible final ionic 5{ital p}{sup 4}({sup 3}{ital P},{sup 1}{ital D},{sup 1}{ital S})6{ital p} states have been determined. Our data, which remove the discrepancy between previous lower-resolution experimental results, are compared to different theoretical results. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
Analysis of public verbal feedback as a staff management procedure

We evaluated public verbal feedback as a potentially effective and efficient means of improving institutional staff performance. Following baseline observations of the self-help training conducted by three groups of direct care staff with clients who had profound mental retardation, verbal feedback was presented publicly to individual staff during routine staff meetings. The feedback addressed the (in)frequency of the staffs training endeavors and required only a few minutes to present. Results indicated that each group of staff increased their client training when the public verbal feedback was provided. Probes of client self-help skills indicated that as the frequency of staff-conducted training increased, client skill acquisition improved. Generalization measures indicated that staff increased only those work behaviors for which they received feedback. Results are discussed regarding the efficiency of public verbal feedback as a means of improving staff performance, as well as the need for research to continue expanding and refining a technology of staff management.
Physical activity levels among urban adolescent females

Abstract Study Objective: To examine the proportion of girls engaging in vigorous physical activity in a sample of inner-city adolescent girls and to identify factors associated with this level of exercise. In addition, to report perceived barriers to exercise. Design: Prospective cross-sectional survey. Setting: Primary care health center. Participants: Females residing in a large northeastern city aged 12–21 yr (n = 305) who presented to a primary care site between September 2000 and May 2001 were consecutively recruited. Main Outcome Measure: In addition to being measured for height and weight, each subject anonymously completed a self-report instrument assessing demographic and reproductive characteristics, weight concerns, number of friends who exercise, medical conditions limiting exercise, and efforts to alter weight status. To compare with other published research, we used standardized measures of vigorous physical activity. We also inquired about parent's weight, exercise, and health status. Finally, each subject was asked about access to physical education classes as well as perceived barriers to exercise. Results: We found that 30.5% (n = 93) of inner-city females reported engaging in regular vigorous exercise in the last week, while 46.6% (n = 142) reported no physical activity. Five factors were significantly associated with regular vigorous exercise including: most or all friends exercised (AOR = 4.72); involved with a sports team (AOR = 3.59); trying to lose weight (AOR = 2.92); believing in the importance of exercise (AOR = 2.37; and being less than 17 years of age (AOR = 2.18). Time constraints and laziness were the most common reasons given for not engaging in physical activity. Conclusions: Among this sample of primarily minority, inner-city females, engaging in regular vigorous physical activity was much less than has been suggested by other studies. Research efforts to accurately measure physical activity levels among inner-city youth must continue concurrent to the development of health promotion interventions.
IN UTERO CORTISONE ALTERS THE INTESTINAL SIALYL-AND FUCOSYLTRANSFERASE ACTIVIES IN NEWBORN RATS

Changes in intestinal surface carbohydrates, such as sialic acid and fucose, may influence the binding of membrane receptors to bacteria/toxins or antigens. We have recently reported (Biochim. Biophys. Acta 883, 496, 1986) that the activities of intestinal sialyltransferase (ST) and fucosyltransferase (FT) are reciprocally related and modulated by cortisone during postnatal development. These glycosyl-transferase changes may provide an enzyme basis for the shift from sialylatipn to fucosylation of the intestinal surface during maturation. To further study whether prenatal treatment of cortisone may affect the activities of these two enzymes, cortisone (20 mg/100 g body weight) was injected i.p. in pregnant rats daily beginning at 17 days of gestation. The newborn rats (<24 hr old) were sacrificed and ST and FT were assayed in the membranous (105,000 × g pellet) fraction of small intestine, using asialofetuin as an exogenous acceptor. The results show that the activity of ST was decreased by 50% in the newborn rat exposured to cortisone in utero, while the activity of FT in the cortisone-treated group was induced 2-3 fold compared to the control. This study indicates that cortisone seems able to act as a signal in utero to modulate the expression of intestinal ST and FT and suggests that the cortisone-induced changes in intestinal glycosyltransferases may play a role in the maturation of the mucosal barrier in neonates. (Support by NIH grant DK37521).
HIGH FISH OIL DIET INCREASES OXIDATIVE STRESS POTENTIAL IN MAMMARY GLAND OF SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RATS

1. The purpose of this study was to determine whether high omega-3 (19% menhaden oil, 1% corn oil) or high omega-6 (20% corn oil) fatty acid diets would decrease expression of hypertension in the female spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), promote tumourigenesis in the rat 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) model of mammary cancer or increase the susceptibility of the mammary gland to lipid peroxidation. A group of rats on a 5% corn oil diet served as the low fat control group. 2. We found that the high omega-3 and high omega-6 fatty acid diets did not significantly decrease mean arterial pressure. Marked differences occurred between the effects of omega-3 and omega-6 high fatty acid diets on baseline oxidation, auto-oxidation and iron-ascorbate catalyzed oxidation. The omega-3 diet showed 675% increase in basal oxidation, a 2624% increase in auto-oxidation and a 4244% increase in iron-ascorbate catalyzed oxidation compared to the omega-6 diet in mammary tissue homogenates. Although all rats were given 5 mg DMBA (i.g.), no mammary tumours were observed in any of the dietary groups. 3. We conclude that: (i) high polyunsaturated fatty acid diets do not decrease blood pressure in the female SHR; (ii) high fish oil diet markedly increases oxidative potential in the mammary gland; and (iii) the female SHR is resistant to DMBA-induced tumourigenesis.