cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dialectical Thinking: Further Implications for Creative Thinking

Dialectical thinking is in and of itself a creative process. To recognize its creative aspect, one has to appreciate the very nature of dialectical thinking.
Deformable mirror-based two-photon microscopy for axial mammalian brain imaging

Abstract This work presents the design and implementation of an enhanced version of a traditional two-photon (2P) microscope with the addition of high-speed axial scanning for live mammalian brain imaging. Our implementation utilizes a deformable mirror (DM) that can rapidly apply different defocus shapes to manipulate the laser beam divergence and consequently control the axial position of the beam focus in the sample. We provide a mathematical model describing the DM curvature, then experimentally characterize the radius of curvature as well as the Zernike terms of the DM surface for a given set of defocuses. A description of the optical setup of the 2P microscope is detailed. We conduct a thorough calibration of the system, determining the point spread function, the total scanning range, the axial step size, and the intensity curvature as a function of depth. Finally, the instrument is used for imaging different neurobiological samples, including fixed brain slices and in vivo mouse cerebral cortex.
Varied Responses to Human-Induced Seismicity in the City of Azle, Texas

Fracking has helped to usher in an era of energy abundance in the United States. This advanced drilling procedure has helped the nation to attain the status of the largest producer of crude oil and natural gas in the world, but some of its negative externalities, such as human-induced seismicity, can no longer be ignored. The occurrence of earthquakes in communities located at proximity to disposal wells with no prior history of seismicity has shocked residents and have caused damages to properties. It has evoked individuals’ resentment against the practice of injection of fracking’s wastewater under pressure into underground disposal wells. Though the oil and gas companies have denied the existence of a link between such a practice and earthquakes and the local and state governments have delayed their responses to the unforeseen seismic events, the issue has gained in prominence among researchers, affected community residents, and the media. This case study has offered a glimpse into the varied responses of stakeholders to human-induced seismicity in a small city in the state of Texas. It is evident from this case study that although individuals’ complaints and protests from a small community may not be successful in bringing about statewide changes in regulatory policies on disposal of fracking’s wastewater, they can add to the public pressure on the state government to do something to address the problem in a state that supports fracking.
Optimizing Support Vector Machine Analysis in Low Density Biological Data Sets

We explore the effectiveness of Support Vector Machines (SVM) for classification in a sparse data set. Non-human primate models are utilized to analyze Alcohol Use Disorders (AUDs); however, the resulting data have a limited sample size. The challenge of low sample numbers and low replicates are explored using a variety of optimization strategies for feature extraction, including correlation, entropy, density, linear support vector machines for regression (SVR), backward SVR, and forward SVR. We investigate these approaches against the backdrop of the relationship between alcohol consumption and tibial bone mineral density. The results indicate that machine learning (ML) can effectively be used in cases of low and diverse biological data sets. The best relevance feature ranking strategies are correlation, SVR forward, and SVR backward.
A Threshold Standard for Regulating Invasive Nonhuman Primate Research in the Age of the Major Brain Projects

On account of their phylogenetic similarity to humans, nonhuman primates (NHPs) play an indispensable role in both basic and translational neuroscience research. The recent establishment of a number of brain projects to map the brain and to discover new therapies for brain disease and disorders has focused attention on the use of NHPs, particularly since some of these projects have led to an increase in the use of NHPs in research (Australian Brain Alliance, Blue Brain Project (Switzerland), BRAIN Initiative (USA), Brain/MINDS (Japan) Canada Brain Research Fund, China Brain Project, Cuban Human Brain Mapping Project, Israel Brain Technologies, Korean Brain Initiative, Latin American Brain Mapping Network). At present, there is considerable variety in the national and international regulations governing NHP use. In order for the projects to gain broad public support and to provide adequate protection for NHPs, it is important that the regulations are harmonized.
198 Mental health consequences of violence in Mexico: a qualitative analysis of provider perspectives

Background and Purpose Violence in Mexico has risen to epidemic levels, with far-reaching implications for mental health. Since 2007, violence associated with the Drug War in Mexico claimed the lives of over 200,000 people and resulted in more than 40,000 disappearances. This research focuses on mental health service access when extreme community violence occurs. Methods Eighty semi-structured interviews were conducted with physicians (72%) and other health professionals (28%) in five states of Mexico selected for their high incidence of violence. Purposive sampling was conducted through local public health agencies. Recruitment was in person or by telephone. Interviews focused on how violence affects mental health of patients and providers’ perception of mental health service needs/use. Interviews were in Spanish, recordings were transcribed, and coded thematically using ATLAS.ti. Results Health professionals in all states reported an increase in mental health needs. Patients sought primary care services related to mental health for anxiety, stress, and shortness of breath, insomnia, headache and stomach aches. Psychologists in primary care centers are overbooked. In rural areas there are no psychologists; individuals travel longer distances to seek services. Tertiary psychiatric hospitals are regional and few in the country, referral diagnosis is required. Patients forgo mental health care due to an excess of demand, lack of services or referral, and long distances. Providers use words like ‘psychosis’, ‘nerves’, ‘fear’ and ‘depression’ to describe the mental health needs of patients. Conclusions and Implications This study underscores the importance of understanding the impact of violence on mental health in vulnerable communities where health inequities exist. Trauma informed mental health services are needed at the primary care level. Greater information and communication of mental health consequences of violence exposure would likely help improve health outcomes and reduce inequities.
Overview of the latest jet physics results from ALICE

We overview recent jet measurements in pp and Pb-Pb collisions with the ALICE detector. ALICE reconstructs jets at midrapidity using the anti-$k_{\mathrm{T}}$ algorithm, including both charged particle jets from the ALICE tracking detectors, and full jets from the combination of the ALICE electromagnetic calorimeter with the tracking system. We focus on inclusive and semi-inclusive jet measurements as well as jet substructure measurements, including a variety of groomed and ungroomed observables. In pp collisions, these results test pQCD techniques at $p_{\mathrm{T,\;jet}}<140$ GeV$/c$ in a low pileup environment, and can constrain models of non-perturbative effects. In Pb-Pb collisions, these measurements test models of jet quenching in the quark-gluon plasma, and can be used to constrain the properties of high temperature QCD matter.
UBITect: a precise and scalable method to detect use-before-initialization bugs in Linux kernel

Use-before-Initialization (UBI) bugs in the Linux kernel have serious security impacts, such as information leakage and privilege escalation. Developers are adopting forced initialization to cope with UBI bugs, but this approach can still lead to undefined behaviors (e.g., NULL pointer dereference). As it is hard to infer correct initialization values, we believe that the best way to mitigate UBI bugs is detection and manual patching. Precise detection of UBI bugs requires path-sensitive analysis. The detector needs to track an associated variable’s initialization status along all the possible program execution paths to its uses. However, such exhaustive analysis prevents the detection from scaling to the whole Linux kernel. This paper presents UBITect, a UBI bug finding tool which combines flow-sensitive type qualifier analysis and symbolic execution to perform precise and scalable UBI bug detection. The scalable qualifier analysis guides symbolic execution to analyze variables that are likely to cause UBI bugs. UBITect also does not require manual effort for annotations and hence, it can be directly applied to the kernel without any source code or intermediate representation (IR) change. On the Linux kernel version 4.14, UBITect reported 190 bugs, among which 78 bugs were deemed by us as true positives and 52 were confirmed by Linux maintainers.
The Energy Ship Concept

In this chapter the basic concept of converting the energy contained in the winds over water is described. It is shown that wind-propelled “air-sea interface vehicles” equipped with hydrokinetic turbines offer an opportunity for a new energy conversion system.
Assessment of Arm Volume Using a Tape Measure Versus a 3D Optical Scanner in Survivors with Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema.

Background: Lymphedema (LE) is a significant clinical problem for breast cancer survivors. While the water displacement test and circumferential assessment using a tape measure (TM) are common meth...
Virtual Makerspaces: Merging AR/VR/MR to Enable Remote Collaborations in Physical Maker Activities

We present a mixed-reality system for remote collaborations, where collaborators can discuss, explore, create and learn about 3D physical objects. The system combines Hololens augmented reality, 3D Kinect cameras, PC and virtual reality interfaces, into a virtual space that hosts remote collaborators, and physical & virtual objects. When talented people have access to fabrication tools and expertise, incredible inventions can be manifested to solve local and global problems. Because of this, the “maker movement” is a growing phenomenon, manifested through the increased number of maker spaces in many affluent communities. However, many talented individuals lack access to resources in their local communities, and collaboration opportunities with remote experts are wasted due to the limitations of current teleconferencing systems. We present a mixed-reality (MR) system for enabling remote collaborations in the context of maker activities, that allows groups of students and instructors to discuss, explore, create and learn about physical objects. The system combines augmented reality (AR) headsets, 3D cameras, PC and virtual reality (VR) interfaces, into a virtual space that contains multiple remote students, instructors, physical and virtual objects. Remote students can see a real-time 3D scan of the on-site user's physical environment, and the virtual avatars of other students. The system can support learning and exploration by showing virtual overlays on real objects (ex: showing a physical robot's sensor data or internal circuitry) while responding to real-time manipulation of physical objects by the on-site user; and can support design activities by allowing remote and local participants to annotate physical objects with virtual drawings and virtual models. This platform is being developed as an open-source project, and we are currently building applications with the intention to deploy in hybrid makerspace classrooms involving on-site and remote students.
Reproductive healthcare denials among a privately insured population

Abstract This study aimed to quantify and examine reproductive healthcare denials experienced by individuals receiving employer-sponsored health insurance. We conducted a national cross-sectional survey using probability and non-probability-based panels from December 2019-January 2020. Eligible respondents were adults employed by any Standard and Poor’s 500 company, who received employer-sponsored health insurance. Respondents (n = 1,001) reported whether anyone on their healthcare plan had been denied a reproductive healthcare service in the past five years and details about their denials. We conducted bivariate analyses and multiple logistic regression to estimate factors associated with denials. Eleven percent of respondents (14% of women; 10% of men) reported a denial. Compared to lower-income respondents, those with income ≥ $50,000/year were less likely to experience a denial (aOR = 0.53; 95% CI 0.29–0.97). Compared to respondents who were never married, being married (aOR = 2.33; 95% CI: 1.03–5.30) or cohabiting (aOR = 2.43; 95% CI: 1.03–5.72) significantly increased odds of experiencing a denial. In 38% of cases the patient learned of the denial at a scheduled visit, while 23% learned in an emergency setting, and 13% after the encounter. Individuals covered by employer-sponsored health insurance continue to be denied coverage of preventive services. Employers and insurers can facilitate access to reproductive healthcare by ensuring that their plans include comprehensive coverage and in-network providers offer comprehensive services.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Post-Treatment PET/CT in HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer.

Objective:To perform a systematic review with meta-analysis to investigate the utility of post-treatment PET/CT specifically in HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma following curati...
Motivated contextualism

The concept of knowledge is used to certify epistemic agents as good sources (on a certain point or subject matter) for an understood audience. Attributions of knowledge and denials of knowledge are used in a kind of epistemic gate keeping for (epistemic or practical) communities with which the attributor and interlocutors are associated. When combined with reflection on kinds of practical and epistemic communities, and their situated epistemic needs for gate keeping, this simple observation regarding the point and purpose of the concept of knowledge has rich implications. First, it gives one general reason to prefer contextualism over various forms of sensitive invariantism. Second, when gate keeping for a select community of experts or authorities, with an associated body of results on which folk generally might then draw (when gate keeping for a general source community) the contextual demands approximate those with which insensitive invariantists would be comfortable.
Closing the Theory–Research Gap in Knowledge Brokerage: Remaining Challenges and Emerging Opportunities

The chapters assembled in this volume collectively aim to advance the application of social network analysis to knowledge brokerage and policymaking. This body of work provides valuable insights regarding the methodological approaches and associated challenges of detecting and analyzing knowledge brokerage activity in complex systems as brokerage relates to the flow of research evidence. This closing chapter reflects on continuing challenges and emerging opportunities for closing critical gaps in knowledge brokerage scholarship from a social network perspective. The goal of the closing discussion is to inform a future research agenda for expanding knowledge brokerage research and the role of knowledge brokerage in evidence-informed policymaking from the perspective of social network analysis theory and methodology.
FIXED-ORDER DISSIPATIVE ESTIMATOR DESIGN FOR UNCERTAIN STOCHASTIC SYSTEMS

Abstract A general class of discrete-time uncertain nonlinear stochastic systems with quadratic sum constraints is considered. A linear fixed order state estimator for state estimation is presented for various estimation error performance criteria in a unified framework. The observer is of order equal to the difference between the state and output vector dimensions. The performance criteria considered in this paper include guaranteed-cost suboptimal versions of estimation objectives like H 2 , H ∞ , stochastic passivity, etc. The design of fixed-order linear state estimators that satisfy these criteria are given using a common matrix inequality formulation.
Membrane oxygen enrichment

Abstract Combustion with oxygen-enriched air can substantially reduce fuel consumption in certain industrial applications. The use of membranes is a potentially attractive approach for producing oxygen-enriched air. A variety of membrane materials and operating conditions can be used to produce oxygen concentrations in the range of interest, which is generally 25 to 35% O 2 . To determine the optimum system, a trade-off must be made between capital cost (membrane area) and operating cost (pumping power). A silicone-based membrane oxygen enricher was fabricated and factory tested. As expected, a substantial reduction in natural gas consumption was achieved. During the test period some membrane degradation was experienced due to pinhole formation. It was determined that pinholes were not a result of the factory environment, and that use of a membrane oxygen enricher to achieve fuel savings is technically feasible.
Entropy analysis of Brownian motor

Biological nano- and micromachines perform transport guarantying functionality of living cells. Thermal fluctuations is the major source of energy for these machines. They transport biological materials and ions, build proteins, attain motility of the cell, etc. Fluctuation driven transport can be studied applying the Brownian ratchet principle, and this concept provides the understanding of how electrochemical energy converted into mechanical energy. The importance of Brownian motion is its versatility in explaining a wide range of biological processes. This paper reports entropy analysis, model developments and analysis of nanobiomotors. This analysis of Brownian motor may result in understanding the motion, energy conversion, energy transfer, as well as other mechanisms and processes at the molecular level specifically examining nano- and micromachines.
Hexokinase II mRNA and gene structure, regulation by insulin, and evolution

A DNA segment that is highly conserved in glucokinase (hexokinase IV) and hexokinase I cDNA was used to identify specific cDNAs in a library prepared from rat adipose tissue mRNA. Some of these cDNAs were identified as being hexokinase I cDNA. Others, although similar to both the glucokinase and hexokinase I cDNAs, were unique. Two of these unique cDNAs overlapped and contained an open reading frame that encoded a protein of 103 kDa which, when expressed in Escherichia coli, had kinetic properties characteristic of hexokinase II. The entire hexokinase II mRNA sequence and the exon-intron structure of the hexokinase II gene were determined. A single transcription initiation site and two distinct termination sites account for the two observed hexokinase II RNA species of 5500 and 4400 nucleotides that were detected when either of the cDNAs was used as a hybridization probe against poly(A)+ RNA isolated from rat adipose tissue. Hexokinase II mRNA was decreased in adipose tissue from diabetic rats, but was restored by insulin treatment to levels found in nondiabetic control rats. Insulin also induced hexokinase II mRNA in two adipose cell lines (3T3-F442A and BFC-1B) and two skeletal muscle cell lines (C2C12 and L6). In L6 cells, this increase was accounted for by a corresponding increase of hexokinase II gene transcription. Comparison of the structures of the hexokinase II and glucokinase genes support the hypothesis that the 100-kDa hexokinase arose by gene duplication and tandem ligation of a 50-kDa glucokinase-like ancestral gene.
Evaluation of [18F]Mefway biodistribution based on whole-body microPET imaging of mice

1462 Objectives [18F]Mefway is a novel radiotracer specific to the serotonin 5-HT1A receptor class. In preparation for using this tracer in humans we have performed whole-body microPET studies in mice to evaluate the biodistribution and dosimetry of [18F]Mefway. Methods Six mice (3 females, ~ 25g, 3 males, ~30g) received iv tail injections (9.48 ± 2.88 MBq) of [18F]Mefway and scanned for 2 hours in an Inveon dedicated PET scanner. Each animal also received an high resolution CT scan using an Inveon CT. The CT images were used to draw volume of interest (VOI) on the following organs: brain, large intestine, stomach, heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas, bone, spleen, testes, thymus and urinary bladder. All organ time activity curves had the decay correction reversed and were normalized to the injected activity. The portion of each curve between end of the scan and infinity was approximated with an exponential. The area under the normalized curves was then used to compute the residence times in each organ. Data were analyzed using PMOD and Matlab software. The residence times in mouse organs were converted to human values using scale factors based on differences between organ and body weights. OLINDA 1.1 software was used to compute the absorbed dose in each organ. Results The average mouse doses were 6.14E+01 mSv/MBq (urinary bladder), 3.18E+01 mSv/MBq (kidney), 2.79E+01 mSv/MBq (osteogenic cells) and less than 7.84E+00 mSv/MBq in other organs. The average human equivalent doses were 3.5E-02 mSv/MBq (urinary bladder), 3.1E-02 mSv/MBq (kidney), 2.47E-02 mSv/MBq (osteogenic cells) and less than 1.7E-02 mSv/MBq in other organs. The dose values correlated with those of 11C-WAY , another 5-HT1A tracer for which dosimetry has been evaluated in humans. Conclusions The elimination of radiotracer was primarily via kidney and urinary bladder with the urinary bladder being the critical organ. Whole-body mouse imaging can be used as a preclinical tool to estimate the absorbed doses of [18F]Mefway in humans. Research Support NIH R21 AG03052
Egregiously Conflated Concepts: An Examination of "Toleration as Recognition"

The vast literature on toleration has done little to clarify this “philosophically elusive concept.” In an effort to make it more effective in resolving “hard cases of contemporary pluralism,” some moral and political philosophers have tried to expand the conceptual domain of toleration. In effect, they not only associate, but conflate toleration with a host of other virtues and approaches to diversity. Such tendencies are symptomatic of either an ignorance of or an intentional effort to dispense with the definitive negative aspect of toleration. This essay is intended to serve as a reminder of this negative aspect and the conceptual limitations that it places on toleration.
Local structure and macroscopic properties in Pb Mg 1 ∕ 3 Nb 2 ∕ 3 O 3 − Pb Ti O 3 and Pb Zn 1 ∕ 3 Nb 2 ∕ 3 O 3 − Pb Ti O 3 solid solutions

We have examined the local structure of $\mathrm{Pb}{\mathrm{Mg}}_{1∕3}{\mathrm{Nb}}_{2∕3}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}\mathrm{Pb}\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ (PMN-PT) and $\mathrm{Pb}{\mathrm{Zn}}_{1∕3}{\mathrm{Nb}}_{2∕3}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}\mathrm{Pb}\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ (PZN-PT) solid solutions using density functional theory. We find that the directions and magnitudes of cation displacement can be explained by an interplay of cation-oxygen bonding, electrostatic dipole-dipole interactions, and short-range direct and through oxygen $\mathrm{Pb}B$-cation repulsive interactions. We find that the Zn ions move off center in the PZN-PT system, which also enables larger Pb and $\mathrm{Nb}∕\mathrm{Ti}$ displacements. The off-centering behavior of Zn lessens $\mathrm{Pb}B$-cation repulsion, leading to relaxor-to-ferroelectric and rhombohedral-to-tetragonal phase transitions at low $\mathrm{Pb}\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ content in the PZN-PT system. We also show that a simple quadratic relationship exists between Pb and $B$-cation displacements and the temperature maximum of the dielectric constant, thus linking the enhanced displacements in PZN-PT systems with the higher transition temperatures.
The Augmint multiprocessor simulation toolkit for Intel x86 architectures

Most publicly available simulation tools only simulate RISC architectures. These tools cannot capture the instruction mix and memory reference patterns of CISC architectures. We present an overview of Augmint, an execution driven multiprocessor simulation toolkit that fills this gap by supporting Intel x86 architectures. Augmint also supports trace driven simulation for uniprocessors as well as multiprocessors, with minor effort on the part of simulator developers. Augmint runs m4 macro extended C and C++ applications such as those in the SPLASH and SPLASH-2 benchmark suites. Augmint supports a thread based programming model with shared global address space and private stack space. Augmint supports a simulator interface compatible with that of the MINT simulation toolkit for MIPS architectures, thus allowing the reuse of most architecture simulators written for MINT. Augmint simulations run on x8d based uniprocessor systems under Unix or Windows NT. The source code of Augmint is publicly available from http://www.csrd.uiuc.edu/iacoma/augmint.
Measurements of hydrogen--helium radiation at shock-layer temperatures appropriate for Jupiter entry

Shock waves traveling at approximately 16 km/sec into a gas mixture of 7% H2 and 93% He were used to simulate the shock-layer conditions for a representative shallow entry into the Jovian atmosphere. The absolute intensities of line and continuum radiation were measured and the radiative cooling of the shock-heated gas is shown.
Plasma-assisted combustion in a miniature microwave plasma torch applicator

Summary form only given. A compact microwave plasma torch has been designed and experimentally evaluated for operation in both plasma-only and plasma-assisted combustion modes. The torch is designed to be light and to operate at atmospheric pressure with a torch discharge size of less than 1 mm in diameter. The potential applications of the torch are for materials synthesis, material cutting and welding, and various surface treatments. The operation of the torch in a combustion mode with hydrocarbon gases burning with oxygen or air is investigated with microwave power applied to modify the combustion process. The objective of this investigation is to quantify the changes in the combustion process as microwave power is applied to create or intensify the discharge. This torch employs an open ended coaxial structure of 12 mm outer diameter with the discharge located at the tip of the center conductor that is 5 mm in diameter. Microwave power at 2.45 GHz is coupled into the torch applicator at power levels of 10's to 100's of watts. The discharge is formed at atmospheric pressure where the feed gas flows through a nozzle hole of 200-500 mum diameter located at the end of the applicator center conductor. Two nozzle configurations studied include a water-cooled brass nozzle and a ceramic nozzle. The microwave plasma torch is experimentally evaluated with a variety of feed gas mixtures including argon, mixtures of argon with hydrogen, argon with nitrogen, methane and oxygen, and selected other hydrocarbon gases mixed with oxygen and air. This torch maintains discharges over a wide range of flows from diffusional flow for gentle surface processing to high velocity flow approaching supersonic velocities. Diagnostic measurements performed include (1) gas temperature measured by optical emission spectroscopy (OES), (2) discharge power densities and, (3) discharge volume and size. These measurements are performed versus absorbed microwave power, gas flow rate and gas mixture composition. By using spatially resolved OES measurements, the temperature profile of the discharge is determined. The discharge size for absorbed microwave powers of 10-30 watts using a plasma-only mode of operation (i.e. argon) is 0.4-0.5 mm in diameter and 2-4 mm long for a nozzle diameter of 0.25 mm. When the torch is operated in a plasma-assisted combustion mode the flame (discharge) volume and intensity increase as the microwave power is applied to the flame. Data quantifying the influence of microwave power on the flame will be presented.
Divergence of Pumilio/fem-3 mRNA Binding Factor (PUF) Protein Specificity through Variations in an RNA-binding Pocket

mRNA control networks depend on recognition of specific RNA sequences. Pumilio-fem-3 mRNA binding factor (PUF) RNA-binding proteins achieve that specificity through variations on a conserved scaffold. Saccharomyces cerevisiae Puf3p achieves specificity through an additional binding pocket for a cytosine base upstream of the core RNA recognition site. Here we demonstrate that this chemically simple adaptation is prevalent and contributes to the diversity of RNA specificities among PUF proteins. Bioinformatics analysis shows that mRNAs associated with Caenorhabditis elegans fem-3 mRNA binding factor (FBF)-2 in vivo contain an upstream cytosine required for biological regulation. Crystal structures of FBF-2 and C. elegans PUF-6 reveal binding pockets structurally similar to that of Puf3p, whereas sequence alignments predict a pocket in PUF-11. For Puf3p, FBF-2, PUF-6, and PUF-11, the upstream pockets and a cytosine are required for maximal binding to RNA, but the quantitative impact on binding affinity varies. Furthermore, the position of the upstream cytosine relative to the core PUF recognition site can differ, which in the case of FBF-2 originally masked the identification of this consensus sequence feature. Importantly, other PUF proteins lack the pocket and so do not discriminate upstream bases. A structure-based alignment reveals that these proteins lack key residues that would contact the cytosine, and in some instances, they also present amino acid side chains that interfere with binding. Loss of the pocket requires only substitution of one serine, as appears to have occurred during the evolution of certain fungal species.
On Analysis of Symmetrically Predicted Endogenous Subgroups: Part One of a Method Note in Three Parts

Researchers and policy makers are increasingly dissatisfied with the “average treatment effect.” Not only are they interested in learning about the overall causal effects of policy interventions, b...
Phase I clinical trial of weekly docetaxel and exisulind, a novel inducer of apoptosis.

Background: The objective of this phase I study was to determine the maximal tolerated dose (MTD) of the combination of weekly docetaxel and exisulind in patients with advanced solid tumors. Patients and methods: Patients with advanced or refractory solid tumors were treated with intravenous weekly docetaxel with daily oral exisulind. The following dose levels (docetaxel/exisulind) were explored: 30-mg/m2/200 mg po bid, 35/200, 35/250 and 40/250. Docetaxel was administered weekly for 6 weeks followed by 2 weeks off, and exisulind was taken twice daily. Each cycle was 8 weeks. Results: Eighteen patients were enrolled in the study. All of them had received prior systemic therapy. Most patients had either melanoma or carcinomas of the upper gastrointestinal tract. A total of 31 cycles of therapy were administered. DLTs were grade 3 diarrhea, anorexia and fatigue and grade 3 cutaneous toxicity at dose level 4 (40/250). Myelosuppression was mild. Fatigue and gastrointestinal toxicity (anorexia, dyspepsia, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea) represented the most common toxicities. However, grade 3 and grade 4 toxicities were uncommon. There were no treatment related deaths. No objective responses were observed and five patients achieved stable disease. Conclusions: The recommended dose for phase II studies is weekly docetaxel 35 mg/m2 for 6 weeks followed by 2 weeks off in combination with oral exisulind 250 mg po bid. This combination is feasible and well-tolerated at these doses.
Theory of droplet size distribution measurements in emulsions using ultrasonic spectroscopy

Ultrasonic spectroscopy is a rapid nondestructive method of measuring droplet size distributions in concentrated emulsions in situ. The ultrasonic velocity and attenuation coefficient of an emulsion are measured over a range of frequencies, and then multiple scattering theory is used to convert these measurements to a droplet size distribution. In this article we discuss the physical basis of ultrasonic spectroscopy, present mathematical equations for converting ultrasonic measurements to droplet size distributions, and discuss the advantages and limitations of the ultrasonic technique compared to other techniques.
"Words that hold us up:" Teacher talk and academic language in five upper elementary classrooms

Abstract This study investigates the oral academic language used by English as a second language prepared teachers during content area instruction in five upper elementary classrooms in the United States. Using ethnographic and sociolinguistic perspectives the authors examine the oral, academic language exposure students received from their teachers during mathematics, social studies, and language arts instruction in mainstream classrooms. Findings suggest that English language learners in these classrooms (1) had limited opportunities to hear the specialized language of the content areas, and (2) encountered a variety of opaque terms (e.g., homophones, idiomatic expressions), which can potentially hinder understanding. These findings have important implications for: understanding the subtle and overt aspects of the language of school, increasing our understanding of teacher talk during content area instruction, and preparing educators to teach the unique linguistic demands of each academic content area.
Neutron diffraction studies on a 4-coordinate hydrogen atom in an yttrium cluster.

A four-coordinate hydrogen atom has been unambiguously located, by single-crystal neutron diffraction for the first time, in the center of the tetrahedral metal complex Y4H8(Cp‘)4(THF) [Cp‘=C5Me4(SiMe3)]. The core of the molecule consists of a tetranuclear cluster with one interstitial, one face-bridging, and six edge-bridging hydride ligands. The compound was prepared via the reaction of YCp‘(CH2SiMe3)2(THF) with gaseous H2. Neutron data were collected on a 4 mm3 crystal at the Quasi-Laue diffractometer VIVALDI at ILL (Grenoble)1a and on an 8 mm3 crystal at the SXD diffractometer at ISIS (Didcot). The final agreement factor is R = 8.9% for 4171 reflections. The existence of 4-coordinate hydrogen now completes the series of high-connectivity hydride ligands located in the interstitial cavities of molecular cluster complexes. We had previously reported the existence of 6-coordinate hydrogen in the octahedral cavity of [HCo6(CO)15]- in 1979, and 5-coordinate hydrogen in the square pyramidal cavities of [H2R...
Heat generation in an elastic binder system with embedded discrete energetic particles due to high-frequency, periodic mechanical excitation

High-frequency mechanical excitation can induce heating within energetic materials and may lead to advances in explosives detection and defeat. In order to examine the nature of this mechanically induced heating, samples of an elastic binder (Sylgard 184) were embedded with inert and energetic particles placed in a fixed spatial pattern and were subsequently excited with an ultrasonic transducer at discrete frequencies from 100 kHz to 20 MHz. The temperature and velocity responses of the sample surfaces suggest that heating due to frictional effects occurred near the particles at excitation frequencies near the transducer resonance of 215 kHz. An analytical solution involving a heat point source was used to estimate heating rates and temperatures at the particle locations in this frequency region. Heating located near the sample surface at frequencies near and above 1 MHz was attributed to viscoelastic effects related to the surface motion of the samples. At elevated excitation parameters near the transducer resonance frequency, embedded particles of ammonium perchlorate and cyclotetramethylene-tetranitramine were driven to chemical decomposition.
Evaluation research in social work

Evaluation research in social work is becoming more varied and is showing signs of greater sophistication. It is taking on new forms and functions in such innovations as single subject designs and developmental research. Field experiments have begun to look more like scientific undertakings aimed at advancing knowledge and less like bad marriages between tight designs and loose programs. Agencies have made a start toward making evaluation a part of routine operations through the introduction of accountability systems and other evaluation mechanisms. In so doing they may be turning away from occasional, splashy projects to a more humdrum, but probably more efficient and useful approach to evaluation.
Heterogeneous nucleation of ice at the liquid-liquid interface

Abstract Aerosol particles containing liquid terpenes do not act as cloud condensation nuclei; they do not initiate formation of cloud droplets in clouds. They do, however, act as ice-forming nuclei initiating formation of ice particles. Presence of sulfate ions in cloud droplets appears to make them susceptible to freezing at higher temperatures when in contact with some of the terpenes. Heterogeneous nucleation of ice at a liquid-liquid interface was found to take place at higher temperatures in aqueous ammonium sulfate solutions than in pure water. The averaged temperatures of the phase transition were −3.6, −4.7, −4.4 and −4.8°C for pine needle oil, α-pinene oxide, eucalyptol and linalool, respectively; the corresponding temperature increases were 4.7, 7.8, 3.6 and 6.7°C. Separation of terpene molecules by dilution in carbon tetrachloride produced a marked decrease in ice nucleation temperatures. It was suggested that the arrangements of dipoles at the interface have decisive influences on the phase transition. Temperature of ice nucleation in the presence of solutions of hexadecanol in carbon tetrachloride generally decreases with a decrease of its concentration; the highest temperature of −5.0°C was found at 10 −3 M of hexadecanol and 10 −1 M of ammonium sulfate.
Decreased incorporation of phosphate and amino acids into low-solubility, nuclear proteins in rapidly growing hepatomas

Abstract 1. 1. The incorporation of 32 P-phosphate and 3 H-amino acids was studied in nuclear protein fractions of normal and neoplastic liver. 2. 2. The most marked change in hepatomas was a decreased incorporation of isotope into a low solubility fraction of non-histone proteins in rapidly growing tumors. 3. 3. The phosphate content of this fraction was lower in Morris hepatomas 9618A 2 and 7777 than host livers. 4. 4. Significant decreases were not seen in slowly growing hepatomas and regenerating rat liver.
Structure and function of animal fatty acid synthase

Fatty acid synthase (FAS; EC 2.3.1.85) of animal tissues is a complex multifunctional enzyme consisting of two identical monomers. The FAS monomer (∼270 kDa) contains six catalytic activities and from the N-terminus the order is β-ketoacyl synthase (KS), acetyl/malonyl transacylase (AT/MT), β-hydroxyacyl dehydratase (DH), enoyl reductase (ER), β-ketoacyl reductase (KR), acyl carrier protein (ACP), and thioesterase (TE). Although the FAS monomer contains all the activities needed for palmitate synthesis, only the dimer form of the synthase is functional. Both the biochemical analyses and the small-angle neutron-scattering analysis determined that in the dimer form of the enzyme the monomers are arranged in a head-to-tail manner generating two centers for palmitate synthesis. Further, these analyses also suggested that the component activities of the monomer are organized in three domains. Domain I contains KS, AT/MT, and DH, domain II contains ER, KR, and ACP, and domain III contains TE. Approximately one fourth of the monomer protein located between domains I and II contains no catalytic activities and is called the interdomain/core region. This region plays an important role in the dimer formation. Electron cryomicrographic analyses of FAS revealed a quaternary structure at approximately 19 A resolution, containing two monomers (180×130×75 A) that are separated by about 19 A, and arranged in an antiparallel fashion, which is consistent with biochemical and neutron-scattering data. The monomers are connected at the middle by a hinge generating two clefts that may be the two active centers of fatty acid synthesis. Normal mode analysis predicted that the intersubunit hinge region and the intrasubunit hinge located between domains II and III are highly flexible. Analysis of FAS particle images by using a simultaneous multiple model single particle refinement method confirmed that FAS structure exists in various conformational states. Attempts to get higher resolution of the structure are under way.
Multiplexing of Motor Information in the Discharge of a Collision Detecting Neuron during Escape Behaviors

Summary Locusts possess an identified neuron, the descending contralateral movement detector (DCMD), conveying visual information about impending collision from the brain to thoracic motor centers. We built a telemetry system to simultaneously record, in freely behaving animals, the activity of the DCMD and of motoneurons involved in jump execution. Cocontraction of antagonistic leg muscles, a required preparatory phase, was triggered after the DCMD firing rate crossed a threshold. Thereafter, the number of DCMD spikes predicted precisely motoneuron activity and jump occurrence. Additionally, the time of DCMD peak firing rate predicted that of jump. Ablation experiments suggest that the DCMD, together with a nearly identical ipsilateral descending neuron, is responsible for the timely execution of the escape. Thus, three distinct features that are multiplexed in a single neuron's sensory response to impending collision—firing rate threshold, peak firing time, and spike count—probably control three distinct motor aspects of escape behaviors.
Plasma cathepsin D isoforms and their active metabolites increase after myocardial infarction and contribute to plasma renin activity

Plasma renin activity (PRA) is often found to increase after myocardial infarction (MI). Elevated PRA may contribute to increased myocardial angiotensin II that is responsible for maladaptive remodeling of the myocardium after MI. We hypothesized that MI would also result in cardiac release of cathepsin D, a ubiquitous lysosomal enzyme with high renin sequence homology. Cathepsin D release from damaged myocardial tissue could contribute to angiotensin formation by acting as an enzymatic alternate to renin. We assessed circulating renin and cathepsin D from both control and MI patient plasma (7–20 hours after MI) using shallow gradient focusing that allowed for independent measurement of both enzymes. Cathepsin D was increased significantly in the plasma after MI (P < 0.001). Furthermore, circulating active cathepsin D metabolites were also signi.cantly elevated after MI (P < 0.04), and contained the majority of cathepsin D activity in plasma. Spiking control plasma with cathepsin D resulted in a variable but significant (P = 0.005) increase in PRA using a clinical assay. We conclude that 7–20 hours after MI, plasma cathepsin D is significantly elevated and most of the active enzymatic activity is circulating as plasma metabolites. Circulating cathepsin D can falsely increase clinical PRA determinations, and may also provide an alternative angiotensin formation pathway after MI.
Density behavior and wave-front error for a nuclear-reactor-pumped gas laser

Taylor-series expansion coefficients are derived to fourth order for the density field of a gas undergoing fission-fragment pumping from a nuclear reactor. The density solutions are used to calculate the gain cell’s index of refraction, internal ray paths, optical path differences, and focal lengths. The ray paths are shown to exhibit nearly random behavior near the gain cell’s exit aperture, and the cell’s focal lengths are shown to oscillate from +∞ to −∞ with astigmatic- and spherical-type aberrations present in the calculated output intensity.
A trajectory detector for the measurement of short lived activity by decay in flight

Abstract A trajectory detector especially suited to the measurement of charged particle decay energies and half lives by a decay in flight technique is described. With recoil velocities presently available at heavy-ion accelerators, the apparatus provides a low background method for in-beam investigation of α-decay in the 1–100 ns half life range. The method is demonstrated for the α-decay of 217 Ac made in the reaction 208 Pb( 14 N,5n) 217 Ac.
Utilizing Motion Pictures in Engineering Education: An Example in Radiation Heat Transfer

In complex subjects retention is an issue. Interested students appear to excel in such subjects, but the retention rates for everyone else suffer somewhat. In this paper an example is laid out of how to utilize motion pictures, and specifically the scientific errors therein, to create interesting problems that this author has found helps in student retention of complex engineering material. The example focuses on radiation heat transfer in general, and calculating configuration factors and heat transfer rates in particular. The problem from motion pictures is both interesting and complex enough to engage students in a meaningful experience where engineering tools are utilized.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Breaking Stereotypes: Constructing Geographic Literacy and Cultural Awareness through Technology.

Youths in the United States are less geographically and culturally literate than are youths in many other industrialized countries. In an time in which the world is becoming increasingly interconnected, it is pertinent that American youths study geography, evaluate stereotypes, and understand how individuals are perceived by others. The authors confront these issues and offer solutions. They explore roots of this illiteracy and provide classroom examples of student geographic and cultural misconceptions before demonstrating how, through the combination of technology and instruction from a global perspective, teachers can promote geographic literacy and cultural awareness. The authors conclude by providing digital resources that enable social studies instructors to teach geography more effectively.
Moral Membership in a Postliberal State

This review article interprets Michael Walzer's Spheres of Justice: A Defense of Pluralism and Equality as a radical argument for community. It demonstrates the continuity between this volume, in which the particular community and its own moral understanding is the foundation of justice, and Walzer's study of international relations in terms of universal human rights m Just and Unjust Wars. It questions the appropriateness of Walzer's conception of community, of membership, and of shared moral understanding for heterogeneous and differentiated modern societies, and in particular for the United States. It defends liberalism, with its indirect market relations and legal formalism, against Walzer's communitarian challenge, with its substantive agreement among members about the meaning, value, and distribution of goods.
Interface Between Psychotropic Medications, Neurobiology, and Mental Illnesses

The interface between psychotropic medication, neurobiology, and mental illnesses should be more adequately recognized by clinical and other social workers. This article argues for this claim by examining its consistency with current policies of the National Institute of Mental Health and by discussing understandings about the relationship between neurobiology and mental illness and medication.