cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A learning space for beginning programming students

Traditional programming courses would seem to be active learning courses by their very nature. After all, students must be actively engaged in practicing their craft if they are to be successful. But, does a course that depends on lectures and a handful of programming assignments really engage students in a meaningful way? The concept of a learning space, as proposed by David and Alice Kolb, describes a number of learning concepts that are intended to enhance experiential learning by promoting growth producing experiences for learners. This paper outlines some of the key aspects of a learning space as described by Kolb, and describes the changes made to one section of our beginning programming course to create an active learning space. Results are compared with a similar section taught during previous semesters.
An Evaluation of the Decision by World Athletics on Whether or Not to Ban the Nike Vapor Fly Racing Shoe in 2020

Nike developed the VaporFly 4% racing shoe as part of the 2017 Breaking-2 Project. The designation of 4% within the VaporFly name, as well as results from elite and recreational runners, indicate that the shoe provides a conferred advantage of 4% in race settings over leading competitor brands (Reynolds 2018). Mounting evidence suggests that there is validity to this claim and that it is more than just a marketing gimmick intended to create hype and boost sales. Since October of 2019, World Athletics has been rumoured to be drafting legislation to limit specifications of racing shoes (Francis 2019) in order to mitigate any advantage the VaporFly may provide to athletes. An official ruling came down from World Athletics on 31 January 2020 that amends the rules for governing competition shoes for elite athletes (World Athletics 2020). The rule change addresses aspects of the VaporFly technology and aims to clear up future issues on racing shoe specifications. In this intervention we highlight important factors that World Athletics considered in its decision and how the ruling will impact athletics.
Lateralized role of prefrontal cortex in guiding orienting behavior

Orienting movements are essential to sensory-guided reward-seeking behaviors. Prefrontal cortex (PFC) is believed to exert top-down control over a range of goal-directed behaviors and is hypothesized to bias sensory-guided movements. However, the nature of PFC involvement in controlling sensory-guided orienting behaviors has remained largely unknown. Here, we trained rats on a delayed two-alternative forced-choice task requiring them to hold an orienting decision in working memory before execution is cued. Medial PFC (mPFC) Inactivation using either Muscimol or optogenetics impaired choice behavior. However, optogenetic impairment depended on the specific trial epoch during which inactivation took place. In particular, we found a lateralized role for mPFC during the presentation of instruction cues but this role became bilateral when inactivation occurred later in the delay period. Electrophysiological recording of multiple single-unit activity further provided evidence that this lateralized selectivity is cell-type specific. Our results suggest a previously unknown role of mPFC in mediating sensory-guided representation of orienting behavior and a potentially distinct cell-type specific role in shaping such representation across time.
Modeling of radionuclide and heavy metal sorption around low and high pH waste disposal sites at Oak Ridge, Tennessee: Classification review package

Modeling of mineral precipitation and metal sorption reactions using MINTEQA2 and the iron oxyhydroxide diffuse-layer model has provided insights into geochemical processes governing contaminant migration from low-level radioactive waste disposal sites at the US Department of Energy`s Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Y-12 Plant at Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Both acidic and basic nuclear-fuel reprocessing wastes, locally mixed with decontamination solvents, were disposed of in unlined trenches and lagoons. Model results show that as wastes move toward neutral pH due to reactions with surrounding soils and saprolite, mineral precipitation and sorption can limit the solubility of heavy metals and radionuclides. However, observed contaminant levels in monitoring wells indicate that at least locally, wastes are moving in faults and fractures and are not retarded by sorption reactions along such flow paths. Model results also support previous studies that have indicated organic complexing agents used in decontamination procedures can enhance radionuclide and heavy metal solubility when mixed with nuclear fuel reprocessing wastes. However, complex interactions between metal-organic complexes and mineral surfaces and natural organic matter, biodegradation, and fracture flow complicate the interpretation of contaminant mobility.
Deorphaning a solute carrier 22 family member, SLC22A15, through functional genomic studies

The human solute carrier 22A (SLC22A) family consists of 23 members, representing one of the largest families in the human SLC superfamily. Despite their pharmacological and physiological importance in the absorption and disposition of a range of solutes, eight SLC22A family members remain classified as orphans. In this study, we used a multifaceted approach to identify ligands of orphan SLC22A15. Ligands of SLC22A15 were proposed based on phylogenetic analysis and comparative modeling. The putative ligands were then confirmed by metabolomic screening and uptake assays in SLC22A15 transfected HEK293 cells. Metabolomic studies and transporter assays revealed that SLC22A15 prefers zwitterionic compounds over cations and anions. We identified eight zwitterions, including ergothioneine, carnitine, carnosine, gabapentin, as well as four cations, including MPP+ , thiamine, and cimetidine, as substrates of SLC22A15. Carnosine was a specific substrate of SLC22A15 among the transporters in the SLC22A family. SLC22A15 transport of several substrates was sodium-dependent and exhibited a higher Km for ergothioneine, carnitine, and carnosine compared to previously identified transporters for these ligands. This is the first study to characterize the function of SLC22A15. Our studies demonstrate that SLC22A15 may play an important role in determining the systemic and tissue levels of ergothioneine, carnosine, and other zwitterions.
Separating symbolic and active representation: a mixed methods study of gender and education in China

Bureaucracies representative of the public can affect programme outcomes either through active representation by bureaucrats or symbolic representation via changes in client behaviour. Separating o...
The musical gift: sonic generosity in post-war Sri Lanka: by Jim Sykes, New York, Oxford University Press, 2018, 261+xviii pp., $61 (Cloth), ISBN 9780190912024

When Rabindranath Tagore named his Nobel-winning collection of verses ‘Gitanjali’ (Song Offerings), he was following the time-honoured tradition of perceiving one’s music and poetry as gifts. It wa...
Correcting for Duplicate Scene Structure in Sparse 3D Reconstruction

Structure from motion (SfM) is a common technique to recover 3D geometry and camera poses from sets of images of a common scene. In many urban environments, however, there are symmetric, repetitive, or duplicate structures that pose challenges for SfM pipelines. The result of these ambiguous structures is incorrectly placed cameras and points within the reconstruction. In this paper, we present a post-processing method that can not only detect these errors, but successfully resolve them. Our novel approach proposes the strong and informative measure of conflicting observations, and we demonstrate that it is robust to a large variety of scenes.
Engendering Curriculum History

Preface Acknowledgements 1. Introduction 2: Engendering Curriculum History 3. Imaging Curriculum 4. Embodying Curriculum 5. Decolonizing Curriculum 6. Unsettling Curriculum 7. Experiencing Curriculum 8. The Future of the Past Endnotes References Index
Living on the Grid: The U.S. Rectangular Public Land Survey System and the Engineering of the American Landscape

At the end of the French and Indian War (1754–1763), England gained all French territory between the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers which included the area of the present states of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and part of Minnesota. Collectively referred to as the Northwest Territory, Anglo settlement of the region was already underway by the late 18th century. Political leaders of the new United States placed an emphasis on providing an orderly foundation for transferring land in the region from the public domain to private holdings. To facilitate this transfer the U.S. Rectangular Public Land Survey System (RPLSS) was created in 1785. Using a set of baselines and meridians, the RPLSS repetitively divided lands from Ohio to the Pacific Ocean into 36 mi2 townships (93.3 km2), each including 36 one-mile square (2.6 km2) sections. The purpose of this chapter is to identify and analyze the broad effects of the RPLSS upon the landscape of the United States. After discussions of the Northwest Territory, the surveying systems used in colonial America, and the RPLSS’s purpose and implementation, the chapter focuses on the monumental and widespread effects of the system. Among those discussed are U.S. resistance to the decimal system, the use of straight lines oriented to the cardinal directions for local and state boundaries in the western U.S., the adoption of the grid pattern for town and city streets, the survey’s dramatic effect upon the agricultural landscape and transportation system, and the survey’s neglect of environmental features and biotic communities.
Behavior and emotion modulation deficits in preschoolers at risk for bipolar disorder

Background Bipolar disorder (BD) is highly familial, but studies have yet to examine preschoolers at risk for BD using standardized, developmentally appropriate clinical assessment tools. We used such methods to test whether preschoolers at familial risk for BD have more observed difficulty modulating emotions and behaviors than do low-risk preschoolers. Identification of emotional and behavioral difficulties in at-risk preschoolers is crucial for developing new approaches for early intervention and prevention of BD. Methods Using the standardized disruptive behavior diagnostic observation schedule (DB-DOS) protocol for preschoolers, we compared 23 preschoolers (Mage: 4.53 ± 0.73 years; 18 males) with a first-degree relative with BD to 21 preschoolers (Mage: 4.65 ± 0.84 years; 11 males) without a family history of BD. We characterized psychopathology in this sample using the Preschool Aged Psychiatric Assessment and behavioral and emotional problems using the Child Behavior Checklist. Results High-risk preschoolers demonstrated significantly more intense, pervasive, and clinically concerning problems in anger modulation and behavior dysregulation on the DB-DOS than the low-risk group. High-risk relative to low-risk preschoolers, were also more likely to have maternal-reported anxiety and oppositional defiant disorders and internalizing and externalizing problems. Conclusions Clinically concerning problems in anger modulation and behavior regulation, measured during standardized laboratory observation, differentiate preschoolers at high familial risk for BD from those at low risk. Investigation in a large longitudinal sample is critical for replication and for determining whether these observed behavioral differences can be reliably used as prodromal indicators of mood disorders.
Accelerating mobile video applications using Intel/sup /spl reg// Wireless MMX/spl trade/ technology

Demand for mobile video applications is growing today in wireless handheld platforms. Intel/sup /spl reg// Wireless MMX/spl trade/ technology has been designed to accelerate video applications by using single instruction multiple data (SIMD) techniques to expose and accelerate the data parallelism inherent in video processing. Intel Wireless MMX technology is a 64-bit SIMD coprocessor of the Intel XScale/spl trade/ microarchitecture which is optimized for low-power handheld applications. The paper provides an overview of the Wireless MMX technology architecture, its instruction set, pipeline organization and functional units. It also provides analysis of the features of the architecture that specifically enhance the video performance. Initial measured performance results are also provided.
Maintaining high bandwidth under dynamic network conditions

The need to distribute large files across multiple wide-area sites is becoming increasingly common, for instance, in support of scientific computing, configuring distributed systems, distributing software updates such as open source ISOs or Windows patches, or disseminating multimedia content. Recently a number of techniques have been proposed for simultaneously retrieving portions of a file from multiple remote sites with the twin goals of filling the client's pipe and overcoming any performance bottlenecks between the client and any individual server. While there are a number of interesting tradeoffs in locating appropriate download sites in the face of dynamically changing network conditions, to date there has been no systematic evaluation of the merits of different protocols. This paper explores the design space of file distribution protocols and conducts a detailed performance evaluation of a number of competing systems running in both controlled emulation environments and live across the Internet. Based on our experience with these systems under a variety of conditions, we propose, implement and evaluate Bullet' (Bullet prime), a mesh based high bandwidth data dissemination system that outperforms previous techniques under both static and dynamic conditions.
Interactive video on demand over high speed networks

Interactive Video on Demand with Instantaneous Access (IVoD-i) can offer users with VCR like functions by sending requests to video servers. Earlier work has shown that the Available Bit Rate Service of ATM networks can be effectively used for interactive video on demand. However, non optimal values of the connection setup parameters can affect the Quality of Service (QoS) at the user. This is because the ABR service only provides minimum bandwidth guarantee for a connection. The objective of this paper is to provide QoS to IVoD-i over the ABR service of ATM. To achieve this objective, we have developed an analytical framework to determine the ABR connection parameters to guarantee QoS to IVoD-i users. Our proposed framework has been tested with real life MPEG video traces. Results show that our framework can provide QoS to IVoD-i users. Moreover, our framework outperforms previous schemes in terms of startup delay, user buffer requirement, and jitter.
Solving large scale electromagnetic problems using a Linux cluster and parallel MLFMA

The second half of the 1990s has witnessed the development of two important concepts in computational sciences. First, the fast multipole method (FMM) and its multilevel variants (MLFMA) have evolved into a powerful technique allowing researchers to solve large scale problems in electromagnetics. The other is in the area of commodity parallel computing. The development of fast but inexpensive microprocessors, the evolution of Linux as a reliable and efficient operating system, and message passing standards (MPI) have prompted various researchers to construct inexpensive high performance parallel computers from commodity components. By combining the two technologies, that of the MLFMA and the commodity parallel computers, one can solve large scale electromagnetic simulations fairly inexpensively. However, in order to exploit the computing power offered by a cluster of personal computers, efficient parallel implementations of MLFMA using the message passing paradigm have to be developed. We have previously developed a portable, parallel library, called ScaleME, for MLFMA for electrodynamic and acoustic integral equation solvers (Velamparambil et al., 1998). This library uses MPI for communication and has been tested successfully on a variety of parallel computers. As an attempt to solve large scale electromagnetic scattering problems on parallel computers made from commodity components using ScaleME, we previously constructed a Linux network, called the Orion cluster, from commodity components. In this paper, we demonstrate the combined power of ScaleME and Orion through a set of test problems.
Optical properties and distribution of stratospheric aerosols

Stratospheric aerosols significantly influence both the Earth's climate and the chemical composition of the stratosphere. Volcanic aerosols injected into the stratosphere, due to large volcanic eruptions, further enhance the effect on the climate and possibly lead to ozone depletion in the middle latitude stratosphere. The authors studies focus primarily on the change in the distribution of stratospheric aerosols before and after volcanic activity. The particle backscatter and other properties of stratospheric aerosols are studied to describe their variations. The Penn State Rayleigh/Raman lidar utilizes a Nd:YAG laser transmitting at both the doubled (532 nm) and tripled (355 nm) frequencies. The detector is equipped with separate channels to measure the low and high altitude signals from both the 532 nm and 355 nm as well as the Raman shifted returns due to N/sub 2/ and H/sub 2/O (660 nm and 607 nm). The LAMP lidar was first deployed on board the RV Polarstem during the LADIMAS campaign and has since been in operation in the United States. Scattering due to stratospheric aerosols from volcanic activity has been studied across different latitudes and over time. The effects due to Mt. Pinatubo (Philippines) and Mt. Hudson (Chile) eruptions have been compared. >
Hagiography and Early Medieval History1

In the first half of the 1990s, several scholars challenged the idea of hagiography as a genre in late antiquity and the early and central Middle Ages. Focusing on pre-twelfth-century Latin narratives about saints, I briefly survey scholarship from the last two decades and consider how it has engaged with this issue. Using examples of neglected and unusual “hagiographic” texts, I explore the possibilities and limitations of alternative approaches. Hagiography is a modern construct that is often treated as a medieval reality. Not only hagiography, but the idea of genre itself, is overly restrictive for understanding the great diversity of writings about saints. Anachronistic ideas of hagiography and genre have obscured the creativity of many works and the fluidity of literary traditions. Instead of appealing to modern classifications, we need to pay attention to the full range of evidence for the multiple literary traditions that writers, readers, and scribes invoked, and for the various uses to which they put the individual works.
Artificial transmembrane ion channels from self-assembling peptide nanotubes

NATURALLY occurring membrane channels and pores are formed from a large family of diverse proteins, peptides and organic secon-dary metabolites whose vital biological functions include control of ion flow, signal transduction, molecular transport and produc-tion of cellular toxins. But despite the availability of a large amount of biochemical information about these molecules1, the design and synthesis of artificial systems that can mimic the bio-logical function of natural compounds remains a formidable task2–12. Here we present a simple strategy for the design of artifi-cial membrane ion channels based on a self-assembled cylindrical β-sheet peptide architecture13. Our systems—essentially stacks of peptide rings—display good channel-mediated ion-transport activ-ity with rates exceeding 107 ions s−1, rivalling the performance of many naturally occurring counterparts. Such molecular assemblies should find use in the design of novel cytotoxic agents, membrane transport vehicles and drug-delivery systems.
Identifying antigens and antibodies in serology

Abstract The problem of whether it is theoretically possible to determine antigens and antibodies in a cross-reacting serological system is analyzed. Conditions are listed which will insure that the serological operations of absorption, elution, blocking, and counterblocking uniquely determine antigens and antibodies. There is no restriction on cross-reactivity. The protocol for counterblocking was given by Denniston and has not been developed by serologists. Denniston has shown that counterblocking can be replaced by combinations ofthe other operations in a system where there can be no cross-reactivity. This paper indicates the potential usefulness of such a technique.
Librarians without Borders? Virtual Reference Service to Unaffiliated Users

Abstract The author investigates issues faced by academic research libraries in providing virtual reference services to unaffiliated users. These libraries generally welcome visitors who use on-site collections and reference services, but are these altruistic policies feasible in a virtual environment? This paper reviews the use of virtual reference service by unaffiliated users to determine their expectations, assess level of demand, and provide recommendations on how libraries should respond. Virtual reference desks can serve their primary constituency and function as a public good for external users if they understand and articulate their role as mediators in the information seeking process. “Shut not your doors to me, proud libraries…” Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass , 1900
Separation of hemoglobin variants by ion-exchange chromatography on monobead resins

Abstract Our studies on the separation of hemoglobin variants using Monobead 1 ion exchangers show that these ion exchangers will resolve variants that heretofore could not be resolved. Procedures with these ion exchangers, therefore, extend our ability to detect hemoglobinopathies. Since it is also important to study the physiocochemical properties of variants, their isolation is of critical importance to the researcher. The methods described in this report enable variants to be isolated in quantitative amounts so that such studies can be performed. Most isolations can be accomplished within 1 h, under mild conditions with aqueous buffers. Elution gradients can be changed conveniently to optimize resolution of most variants. These methods should serve as a valuable adjunct in studying the structure-function relationship of hemoglobin and other proteins
Relationship between the surface area and the X-ray crystallite size for thorium oxides

Abstract The present results confirm the surface area-crystallite size relationship that Allred, Buxton, and McBride [ J. Phys. Chem. 61, 117 (1957)] obtained for thoria derived from oxalate decomposition and extend the applicability of their equation to other thoria samples. It was observed that the presence of the nitrate ion (or oxides of nitrogen) during the oxalate decomposition strongly influenced the surface area (crystallite size) of the final product. The precipitation procedure appears to determine the crystallite size for thoria from the decomposition of the “hydroxide.”
Geriatrics: A Selected Up‐to‐date Bibliography

This is the first annual revision of the Geriatrics Bibliography. Rather than publish only new references, the previous list has been totally revised. Approximately one quarter of the old references have been replaced by more current or more detailed articles. In addition, the bibliography has been expanded to include a number of new topics, with over one hundred more references. In preparing this revised list, many good articles were, of necesssity, excluded. The number of publications pertinent to clinical geriatrics has grown quickly over the past year. Preference, as before, was given to recent publications, since they usually provide a list of the important earlier articles. Most of the references are less than five years old; the exceptions deal with specific issues not covered as well in the subsequent literature. An occasional review article is cited to cover gaps in the geriatric literature or merely to amplify aspects of common diseases that have been widely ignored outside of geriatric medicine. Most of the references selected deal specifically with an elderly patient population. Exceptions include those dealing with diseases remarkably common in the aged but for which no adequate study from a geriatric viewpoint exists, e.g., monoclonal gammopathy, Paget's disease, pulmonary emboli. All studies in geriatrics are confounded by questions of “normal” aging as opposed to the concomitants of aging frequent in our society: inactivity, relative obesity, malnutrition, and psychosocial trauma. The first set of references (I) includes synopses on the causation of aging, the second (II) on the systems known to degenerate with advancing age. The next two topics (III, IV) are clinically related: one deals with the basic distinctions of the geriatric patient and the other with the ancillary services available. As geriatrics is basically a multidisciplinary field, the bulk of the references are cited by pertinent specialty.
Periodic learning about a hidden state variable

Abstract In active learning models the value function is necessarily convex in the priors. Hence, in combination with a concave objective, the decision problem need not become concave so that nonregularity problems are inherent. This paper considers an objective that unambiguously implies a quasi-convex decision problem and highlights the effect of the inherent nonregularities on active learning. A trigger policy for learning is shown to be optimal: the minimum amount of learning is optimal until uncertainty surpasses a critical value. At this trigger point the maximum amount of learning is chosen, uncertainty falls temporarily, and the cycle then repeats itself.
FLUORINE NMR STUDIES OF THE HUMAN CARBONIC ANHYDRASE-3,5-DIFLUOROBENZENESULFONAMIDE COMPLEX

Fluorine and nitrogen-15 NMR experiments are described which show that 3,5-difluorobenzenesulfonamide binds to human carbonic anhydrase I in a 1:1 complex, that the bound inhibitor is present as an anion and that the aromatic ring of the inhibitor undergoes rapid rotation in the complex in spite of likely interactions with the aromatic ring of Phe-91 which are strong enough to give an appreciable 19F{1H} NOE. A previously predicted enhancement of binding by fluorination of the inhibitor was confirmed. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Knowledge deficits regarding Chagas disease may place Mexico's blood supply at risk.

Prevention of transfusion-related Chagas disease in Mexico City depends on targeted questionnaire-based screening of donors by nurses at blood banks. To assess potential problems with this strategy, surveys were distributed to the nurses who screen donors in a random sampling of nine blood banks in Mexico City, to measure appropriate knowledge about Chagas disease. We found that 80% (95% CI 68–92%) of nurses answered at least one of the three donor risk factor questions incorrectly, which may fail to trigger confirmatory laboratory testing of potentially infected units. If this knowledge deficit is widespread, up to 680,000 units (95% CI 578,000–782,000 units) of donated blood could be potentially contaminated with Chagas disease in Mexico. In place of targeted screening, routine laboratory testing of all donated blood would be a cost-effective method to safeguard blood recipients from iatrogenic Chagas disease.
The Performance of Peace: Indians, Speculators, and the Politics of Property on the Maine Frontier, 1735–1737

Abstract In 1736, Penobscot and Massachusetts leaders cooperated to evict colonists from Native lands in Maine, rejecting the claims of a wealthy, powerful land speculator to that territory. This article finds that Native and European conceptions of landownership facilitated this unlikely alliance on what was an otherwise volatile frontier.
The microbial community in the layered sediments at Laguna Figueroa, Baja California, Mexico: Does it have Precambrian analogues?

Abstract In the hypersaline lagoon at Laguna Figueroa vertically stratified diverse communities of microorganisms thrive. The modern sediments of Baja California at Laguna Figueroa contain cyanobacterial communities and sedimentary structures produced by these blue greens that have already been studied by Horodyski and his colleagues. This paper provides an introduction to the complex microbial communities, primarily those that underlie the laminated Microcoleus mats. They are composed of anaerobic photosynthetic and heterotrophic bacteria. The following genera of cyanobacteria at least are components of these mat communities: Lyngbya, Microcoleus, Entophysalis, Phormidium, Pseudoanabaena, Anabaena and Schizothrix. Among the photosynthetic bacteria several species of Thiocapsa-like microbes formed major surface components of certain mats and scums; rhodospirilli, rhodopseudomonads, chromatis and others were seen. The following nonphotosynthetic bacteria were identified: Nocardia sp., three types of spirilli, two types of Spirochaeta sp., two types of Desulfovibria sp., a new strain of red Beneckea and four distinctive unidentified coccoid and filamentous bacteria. Reasons are given for believing several of the species are new to science and that the microbial diversity is far greater than the approximately twenty species reported here. Eukaryotes are extremely rare. Only one species of animal, a herpachtechoid copepod, was ever seen in the 8-km long microbial communities of the hypersaline basin. Dunaliella salina, a chlorophyte and Aspergillus sydowi, an ascomycetous fungus were the only eukaryotes that were observed to be regular components of mat communities. Ciliates, amoebae (including a chrysarchnion-like microbe) and diatom tests, mostly empty, were the only other eukaryotes observed. Attempts to enrich for eukaryotic microorganisms were not successful whereas attempts to enrich for bacteria, especially anaerobes led to such a profusion of forms that to continue detailed study of them was beyond our means. Unidentified small rods and cocci constituted the largest fraction of individuals in the subsurface community. The microbes isolated from mats are adapted for alternating dry and wet conditions as well as high concentrations of salt and low concentrations of oxygen.
Association of hypothyroidism with adverse events in patients with heart failure receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Hypothyroidism is associated with an adverse prognosis in cardiac patients in general and in particular in patients with heart failure (HF). The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of hypothyroidism on patients with HF receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Additionally, the impact of level of control of hypothyroidism on risk of adverse events after CRT implantation was also evaluated. We included consecutive patients in whom a CRT device was implanted from April 2004 to April 2010 at our institution with sufficient follow-up data available for analysis; 511 patients were included (age 68.5 ± 12.4 years, women 20.4%); 84 patients with a clinical history of hypothyroidism, on treatment with thyroid hormone repletion or serum thyroid-stimulating hormone level ≥5.00 μU/ml, were included in the hypothyroid group. The patients were followed for up to 3 years after implant for a composite end point of hospitalization for HF, left ventricular assist device placement, or heart transplant and cardiac death; 215 composite end point events were noted in this period. In a multivariate model, hypothyroidism (hazard ratio [HR] 1.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.027 to 2.085, p = 0.035), female gender (HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.428 to 0.963, p = 0.032), and creatinine (HR 1.26, 95% CI 1.145 to 1.382, p
Movement of water in fish otoliths

Abstract The diffusion of small organic and inorganic solvent molecules and larger dye molecules into fish otoliths has long been utilized in clearing and staining otoliths to facilitate age estimation studies. This study quantifies the diffusivity of water into otoliths of Beryx splendens as a general analog of small molecule diffusivity in otoliths. The effects on the optical properties of otoliths of the diffusion of solvent and dye molecules into otoliths are also discussed.
A decline in nitrogen availability affects plant responses to ozone

Summary • The effects are presented here of a decline in nitrogen (N) availability on ozone (O3)-induced accelerated foliar senescence during the growing season in a hybrid poplar. • Cuttings of Populus trichocarpa × maximowizii were grown in sand culture where N supply to the plant could be controlled on a daily basis and reduced in half of the plants when desired. All plants received charcoal-filtered air; half also received supplemental O3. • Ozone and N withdrawal both reduced plant growth. Plants grown in both N treatments displayed leaf senescence and abscission in response to O3, but leaf abscission in the N-withdrawal treatment was approximately double that of the constant-N treatment. Ozone had differential effects on light-saturated net photosynthesis (Asat) and total soluble protein in the younger and older foliage depending on N treatment. • A decline in N availability increased the rate of O3-induced accelerated senescence and was associated with plant size and possibly continued active growth. Compensatory responses of young leaves to O3 exposure only occured when N availability to the plant declined and O3-induced accelerated senescence was most severe.
Activation of metal-acyl oxygen atoms by triflic anhydride: a simple synthetic route to reactive cationic vinylidene complexes☆

Abstract (η5-Cyclopentadienyl) (acyl) (carbonyl) (tertiary phosphine) iron complexes react rapidly with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid anhydride to afford cationic vinylidene complexes, via the intermediacy of cationic carbene complexes. Spectroscopic and chemical characterizations of these vinylidene complexes are reported.
Locally optimal invariant tests for change in level

The classical change point problem is considered, from the invariance point of view. Locally optimal invariant tests are derived for the change in level, when the initial level and the common variance are assumed to be unknown. The tests derived by Chernoff and Zacks (1964) and Gardner (1969), for the change in level, when variance is known, are shown to be locally optimal invariant tests.
Jim Crow’s Daughters Different Social Class-Different Experience With Racism

African American women share the common ground of surviving in a racially stratified society. Nonetheless, the diversity of their experiences emerges. This article contrasts the lived experiences of two elderly African American daughters of the Jim Crow South. Commonly shared social markers (race, gender, and historical and regional contexts) are held in contrast to their notably different social classes. Salient features of their diverse experiences corroborate the supposition that although all African American women encounter racism, social-class differences influence how racism is experienced. Family racial socialization pathways are conceptualized as reliance on personal resources versus reliance on personal defiance.
High prevalence of alcohol use among hepatitis C virus antibody positive injection drug users in three US cities

Injection drug users (IDUs) acquire the majority of new hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections and frequently use alcohol. Alcohol abuse accelerates liver disease among HCV-infected persons, can reduce the effectiveness of treatment for HCV infection and may be a contraindication for HCV treatment. HCV seropositive, HIV-negative IDUs aged 18-35 years in Baltimore, New York City and Seattle who were enrolled in a behavioral risk-reduction intervention trial underwent computerized self-interviews to assess baseline alcohol use and dependence and medical history. We measured problem alcohol use using the 10-item Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scale. Of 598 participants, 84% responded "false" to: "it is safe for a person with HCV to drink alcohol". Problem drinking, defined as score > or =8 on AUDIT, was identified in 37%. Correlates of scoring > or =8 on AUDIT included homelessness, male gender, primarily injecting speedballs, having injected with used needles, prior alcohol treatment and depression. Although most HCV seropositive IDUs in our sample appear informed about their increased risk of liver disease from alcohol, two-fifths screened positive for problem alcohol use. These findings underscore the importance of referring HCV-positive persons to effective alcohol treatment programs to reduce future liver damage and improve eligibility for and effectiveness of treatment of HCV.
Optimization of resonances in photonic crystal slabs

Variational methods are applied to the design of a two-dimensional lossless photonic crystal slab to optimize resonant scattering phenomena. The method is based on varying properties of the transmission coefficient that are connected to resonant behavior. Numerical studies are based on boundary-integral methods for crystals consisting of multiple scatterers. We present an example in which we modify a photonic crystal consisting of an array of dielectric rods in air so that a weak transmission anomaly is transformed into a sharp resonance.
Three-dimensional viscous inverse method for axial blade design

A fully three-dimensional (3D) viscous inverse method for blade design is presented. Built on a time-marching finite-volume direct Navier–Stokes solver, the inverse algorithm employs two extra components to make the solver work in the design mode: an inverse boundary condition on the blade surfaces combined with a camber generation scheme that updates the blade geometry. The inverse blade boundary condition satisfies the prescribed pressure loading by allowing the flow to cross the blade surfaces during the iteration process, and the camber generation scheme subsequently enforces the flow-tangency condition by adjusting the camber surface so that the blade surfaces are properly aligned with the velocity field. To preserve the smoothness and mechanical integrity of the blade, the camber surface is modelled with a series of Bezier curves in the blade span direction. Using the calculated camber surface, the complete blade geometry is then generated from a prescribed blade thickness distribution. Through thes...
Hypercyclic and Cyclic Vectors

Abstract Let X denote an arbitrary separable Banach space over the field of complex numbers and B(X) the Banach algebra of all bounded linear operators on X. We prove the following results. (1) An element of the space X is hypercyclic (supercyclic) for all positive powers Tn of an operator T in B(X) if it is hypercyclic (supercyclic) for T. (2) Under some condition on the spectrum of the adjoint of a cyclic operator, the set of all cyclic vectors of the operator is dense. This result extends to any cyclic commutative subset of B(X). (3) Under a mild condition on the spectrum of a cyclic operator T the set of all separating vectors for the commutant {T}′ of T is dense. This also extends to any cyclic commutative subset of B(X). (4) A slightly stronger version of a theorem of K. F. Clancey and D. D. Rogers on cyclic vectors. Finally, we define and discuss hereditarily hypercyclic operators.
Reply to Kevin Carnahan and Erik A. Anderson

In my response to Kevin Carnahan, I explain the concept of religion that I have been working with in my writings on the place of religious reasons in public political discourse. While acknowledging that religion is often privatized, my concern has been with religion as a way of life. It is religion so understood that raises the most serious issues concerning the role of religion in public discourse. In my response to Erik A. Anderson, I go beyond what I have previously said about the role of religious reasons in public discourse. As an alternative to Rawlsian public reason, I argue that the essence of liberal democracy is that every citizen is to have equal political voice. I go on to consider what it is to exercise one’s equal political voice as a moral engagement.
Genesis and Stability of Silicomolybdic Acid on Silica-Supported Molybdenum Oxide Catalysts: In-Situ Structural-Selectivity Study on Selective Oxidation Reactions

Abstract The formation of silicomolybdic acid (SMA, H 4 SiMo 12 O 40 ) on silica-supported molybdenum oxide catalysts has been studied by in situ Raman spectroscopy, by TGA measurements, and for the selective oxidation of methane to formaldehyde. The formation of silico-molybdic acid requires exposing the MoO 3 /SiO 2 to air saturated with water for several hours at room temperature. The large amount of water deposited on the silica support allows solubilization of part of the silica support in the presence of solvated heptamolybdate species, which leads to the formation of silicomolybdic acid. Desorption of water via thermal treatments breaks the silicomolybdic acid into dehydrated or partial hydrated species which are stable up to ca. 573 K. Above 573 K, only an isolated and distorted mono-oxe surface molybdenum oxide species is observed by in situ Raman spectroscopy. Consequently, the silicomolybdic acid species on SiO 2 should not result in catalytic behavior different from that of conventional MoO 3 /SiO 2 catalysts for reactions taking place above 573 K. Unlike surface molybdenum oxide species, the surface SMA species on SiO 2 are stable during methanol oxidation at 503 K and do not transform into crystalline β-MoO 3 phase. The selective oxidation of methane to formaldehyde (843-883 K) shows no difference between conventional silica-supported molybdenum oxide and silica-supported silicomolybdic acid catalysts. In situ Raman spectroscopy studies during methanol oxidation at temperatures above 573 K reveal that the surface silicomolybdic acid species are not stable and transform into crystalline β-MoO 3 .
Quaternion representation of RNA sequences and tertiary structures

A quaternion representation of nucleotides is proposed, with representation of RNA sequences by vectors whose elements are quaternions. Structure and transition matrices in quaternion representation are defined. Correspondence between diagrammatic technique in complex-number and quaternion representation of nucleotides is delineated.
On the Zeros of Solutions of Differential Equations

On considere l'equation differentielle lineaire d'ordre 2 classique (py')+qy=0 sur l'intervalle (x−,x+), ou −∞≤x−<x+≤∞. On suppose que p −1 et q sont des membres a valeurs reels de L 1 loc (x−,x+) positifs sur (x−,x+)
Studies on synaptic transmission in spinal cord cultures: a comparison of postsynaptic actions of classical neurotransmitters with the peptides.

Abstract The postsynaptic action of the classical neurotransmitter noradrenaline (NA), the reversal potential of the excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) and the effects of divalent cations on EPSPs in dissociated spinal cord cultures are described. In co-cultures of locus coeruleus explant and spinal cord cells, it was found that NA could mimic the response evoked by stimulation of the explant on the spinal cord cells surrounding the explants. Both depolarization and hyperpolarization responses were observed. On a few occasions, a biphasic response consisting of a hyperpolarization followed by a depolarization was observed. The depolarizing response was associated with an increase in input resistance of the membrane. This would suggest that NA may have a facilitatory effect on synaptic transmission. The depolarizations were antagonized by the α-antagonist piperoxane, and were not affected by the β-antagonist propranolol at the concentrations tested, indicating that the receptor mediating these responses is of the α-type. The reversal potential for dorsal root ganglion and spinal cord cells was +8±3.2 mV (mean±s.e.m.), and that for spinal cord and spinal cord cells was −4±4.3 mV (mean±s.e.m.). These values are different from those previously reported for glutamate in spinal cord cultures. The effects of high and low concentrations of calcium ions on quantal output and mean quantal amplitude or quantal size of the EPSP were further examined. As expected, the cation had an effect mainly on the release process: increasing the concentration of calcium increased the amount of neurotransmitter released, while reducing the concentration of calcium reduced release. Quantal size was slightly or not affected by alteration of external calcium. In comparing the postsynaptic actions of classical neurotransmitters to those of peptides, there is apparently no evidence that the actions of the two groups of agents on central neurons are different. It appears, however, that the peptides generally elicit responses at lower concentrations than the classical neurotransmitters. Further experimentation is required to fully elucidate the actions of peptides on mammalian central neurons.
Characteristics of an Induced Variant of Bacterionema matruchotii

Bacterionema matruchotii, a calcifiable filamentous organism, was treatetl ultrasonically. The disrupted cells produced typical colonies that developed macroscopic globular structures. A nonfilamentous, pleomorphic variant was derived from the globules. The variant retained the calcification potential of the filament, as well as fermentation and ultrastructural similarities.
Cadmium inhibition of hepatic drug metabolism in the rat.

Pretreatment of rats and mice of either sex with a single 2.0 mg/kg dose of cadmium acetate (840 μg Cd ion) potentiates the action of subsequently administered hexobarbital. Three days after cadmium administration to the male rat the duration of response to hexobarbital, but not that to barbital was significantly prolonged. Plasma concentrations of hexobarbital at awakening were not different from controls, indicating that cadmium treatment had not altered central nervous system sensitivity to the barbiturate. Such treatment of male rats 3 days prior to sacrifice leads to a significant inhibition of the metabolism of aminopyrine, hexobarbital, p-nitroanisole and zoxazolamine in microsomal subfractions obtained from these animals; microsomal cytochrome P-450 is reduced to 50% of control values by the cadmium treatment. Inhibition of the metabolism of these substrates by cadmium was also achieved when the metal was added to isolated microsomes in concentrations ranging from 5 × 10−4 to 5 × 10−7 m.
MicroRNAs in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common leukemia in the western world. Recent research, conducted primarily in basic science laboratories, has indicated a role for microRNAs (miRNAs) in the pathogenesis and prognosis of this disease. MiRNAs are small, non-coding, functional RNAs, that mediate post-transcriptional inhibition of messenger RNAs. Because miRNA expression levels in CLL patients differ from that of normal patients, there may be a role for these novel small molecules as biomarkers in this disease.