cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cultivating Mathematics Identities In and Out of School and In Between

ERICA N. WALKER is an associate professor of matheamtics education at Teachers College, Columbia University, Box 210, 525 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027; email: ewalker@tc.edu. Her research focuses on social and cultural factors as well as educational policies and practices that facilitate mathematics engagement, learning, and performance, especially for underserved students. Cultivating Mathematics Identities In and Out of School and In Between
Axion induced oscillating electric dipole moment of the electron

A cosmic axion, via the electromagnetic anomaly, induces an oscillating electric dipole for the electron of frequency ${m}_{a}$ and strength $\ensuremath{\sim}(\mathrm{few})\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}32}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{e}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{cm}$, two orders of magnitude above the nucleon, and within a few orders of magnitude of the present standard model constant limit. We give a detailed study of this phenomenon via the interaction of the cosmic axion, through the electromagnetic anomaly, with particular emphasis on the decoupling limit of the axion, ${\ensuremath{\partial}}_{t}a(t)\ensuremath{\propto}{m}_{a}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0$. The analysis is subtle, and we find the general form of the action involves a local contact interaction and a nonlocal contribution, analogous to the ``transverse current'' in QED, that enforces the decoupling limit. We carefully derive the effective action in the Pauli-Schr\"odinger nonrelativistic formalism, and in Georgi's heavy quark formalism adapted to the ``heavy electron'' (${m}_{e}\ensuremath{\gg}{m}_{a}$). We compute the electric dipole radiation emitted by free electrons, magnets and currents, immersed in the cosmic axion field, and discuss experimental configurations that may yield a detectable signal.
Adhesion assessment of copper thin films

Nano-indentation testing has been used to quantitatively assess the adhesion of thin copper films, sputtered to thicknesses of 150 nm to 1500 nm. Copper films of low residual stress were deposited via RF diode cathode sputtering onto SiO{sub 2}/Si substrates. Overlayers of DC magnetron sputtered tungsten, 850 nm thick with high residual stress, were additionally used to provide a driving force for delamination. All films tested exhibited buckle-driven delamination, from which the interfacial toughness was estimated to be 0.2 - 2 J/m{sup 2}, which is comparable to the thermodynamic work of adhesion. The use of an overlayer requires extensions of existing models, but otherwise does not change the interfacial adhesion, allowing measurements of films that would not otherwise delaminate.
Characteristic vibrational coupling behavior of intermolecular potentials

Some recently available intermolecular potentials have been investigated and cast into a form suggestive of similar vibrational coupling behavior. The underlying physical factors behind these similarities are discussed. It is argued that a typical potential will exhibit an intermolecular distance(s) at which the vibrational coupling vanishes. It is expected that knowledge of this behavior will be particularly useful in model calculations of vibrationally inelastic collision processes.
Real men do not read labels: the effects of masculinity and involvement on college students' food decisions.

Abstract. Consumer literature shows that a decision's degree of personal importance and relevance—one's level of involvement in the decision—indicates which type of intervention strategy will be effective in influencing consumers' choices. The authors surveyed 358 college students at a state university in the western United States to test the applicability of involvement on issues of obesity and eating habits. They found food decisions to be of greater personal importance and relevance to female students than to their male counterparts. The results suggest that efforts to address levels of obesity and being overweight among male college students must recognize that men's food choices are very much rooted in the ideology of what it means to be female and male in contemporary American society. The authors advance 5 peripheral-route intervention strategies to augment existing cognitive-oriented, information-based intervention programs.
Fast implementation of a scan statistic for identifying chromosomal patterns of genome wide association studies

In order to take into account the complex genomic distribution of SNP variations when identifying chromosomal regions with significant SNP effects, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) association scan statistic was developed. To address the computational needs of genome wide association (GWA) studies, a fast Java application, which combines single-locus SNP tests and a scan statistic for identifying chromosomal regions with significant clusters of significant SNP effects, was developed and implemented. To illustrate this application, SNP associations were analyzed in a pharmacogenomic study of the blood pressure lowering effect of thiazide-diuretics (N=195) using the Affymetrix Human Mapping 100 K Set. 55,335 tagSNPs (pair-wise linkage disequilibrium R^2<0.5) were selected to reduce the frequency correlation between SNPs. A typical workstation can complete the whole genome scan including 10,000 permutation tests within 3 h. The most significant regions locate on chromosome 3, 6, 13 and 16, two of which contain candidate genes that may be involved in the underlying drug response mechanism. The computational performance of ChromoScan-GWA and its scalability were tested with up to 1,000,000 SNPs and up to 4000 subjects. Using 10,000 permutations, the computation time grew linearly in these datasets. This scan statistic application provides a robust statistical and computational foundation for identifying genomic regions associated with disease and provides a method to compare GWA results even across different platforms.
Note on the hydrolysis of amylose by beta-amylase

Amylose is thought to be a slightly branched polymer with a s-amylolysis limit of about 78%. Treating amylose with a mixture of the debranching enzyme pullulanase and s-amylase will give 100% conversion to maltose. Interesting one does not obtain 100% conversion if the enzymes are used sequentially. We have found that amylose retrogrades and becomes insoluble while being incubated with pullulanase. Minimum debranching time will give 100% s-amylolysis, which we think explains the previously reported need to use the enzymes simultaneously.
Detailed Electron Probe Microanalysis of Three Teeth Sections with Early Enamel Caries

A detailed electron microprobe analysis of Ca, P, Na, Cl, and Mg in three early carious lesions is compared with data of these elements found in noncarious enamel of the same three specimens.
Emotional Distress Among LGBT Youth: The Influence of Perceived Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation

The authors evaluated emotional distress among 9th-12th grade students, and examined whether the association between being lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgendered (i.e., "LGBT") and emotional distress was mediated by perceptions of having been treated badly or discriminated against because others thought they were gay or lesbian. Data come from a school-based survey in Boston, Massachusetts (n = 1,032); 10% were LGBT, 58% were female, and ages ranged from 13 to 19 years. About 45% were Black, 31% were Hispanic, and 14% were White. LGBT youth scored significantly higher on the scale of depressive symptomatology. They were also more likely than heterosexual, non-transgendered youth to report suicidal ideation (30% vs. 6%, p < 0.0001) and self-harm (21% vs. 6%, p < 0.0001). Mediation analyses showed that perceived discrimination accounted for increased depressive symptomatology among LGBT males and females, and accounted for an elevated risk of self-harm and suicidal ideation among LGBT males. Perceived discrimination is a likely contributor to emotional distress among LGBT youth.
Fall risks assessment among community dwelling elderly using wearable wireless sensors

Postural stability characteristics are considered to be important in maintaining functional independence free of falls and healthy life style especially for the growing elderly population. This study focuses on developing tools of clinical value in fall prevention: 1) Implementation of sensors that are minimally obtrusive and reliably record movement data. 2) Unobtrusively gather data from wearable sensors from four community centers 3) developed and implemented linear and non-linear signal analysis algorithms to extract clinically relevant information using wearable technology. In all a total of 100 community dwelling elderly individuals (66 non-fallers and 34 fallers) participated in the experiment. All participants were asked to stand-still in eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC) condition on forceplate with one wireless inertial sensor affixed at sternum level. Participants’ history of falls had been recorded for last 2 years, with emphasis on frequency and characteristics of falls. Any participant with at least one fall in the prior year were classified as faller and the others as non-faller. The results indicated several key factors/features of postural characteristics relevant to balance control and stability during quite stance and, showed good predictive capability of fall risks among older adults. Wearable technology allowed us to gather data where it matters the most to answer fall related questions, i.e. the community setting environments. This study opens new prospects of clinical testing using postural variables with a wearable sensor that may be relevant for assessing fall risks at home and patient environment in near future.
A high-resolution geometry capture system for facial performance

Introduction We developed a high-resolution, real-time facial performance capture system based on a spherical gradient photometric stereo technique [Ma et al. 2007] and multi-view stereo. We use four spherical gradient illumination patterns to estimate normal maps of subjects. A structured-light-assisted two-view stereo system is employed to acquire 3D positions of the subject. The captured stereo geometry is then enhanced using the gradient normals. This allows details such as dynamic wrinkles and fine-scale stretching and compression of skin pores to be captured in real-time.
Direct Computation of the FOE with Confidence Measures

We propose a direct method for locating the focus of expansion (FOE), based on simple parallel computations in selected regions of the image; each is a circular patch around an estimated FOE. Simple computations allow determining the direction from the estimated to the true FOE. The best estimate of the intersection of the so-called FOE constraint lines for several regions gives the location of the FOE. Some analysis allows us to assign a confidence measure to the information from each local region, in order to give more weighting to the most reliable data. Hence, the FOE can be located with more accuracy, even when the data from various local regions lacks sufficient information. Results of experiments with real images of various texture content are given to demonstrate the performance of the method.
Interface structure of GaAs/AlAs semiconductor superlattices prepared by MOCVD

Abstract The heterointerfaces in GaAs/AlAs semiconductor superlattices grown by the MOCVD technique have been examined on the atomic scale using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and were found to be atomically smooth and without defects.
$sup 15$N(p,d)$sup 14$N REACTION AT 39.8 MeV.

Energy spectra and angular distributions were obtained for the $^{15}\mathrm{N}(p, p)^{15}\mathrm{N}$ and $^{15}\mathrm{N}(p, d)^{14}\mathrm{N}$ reactions at 39.8 MeV. Spectroscopic factors were extracted for the levels in $^{14}\mathrm{N}$ populated by ${l}_{n}=1$ pickup and were found to be in excellent agreement with intermediate-coupling predictions, which for this nucleus differ only slightly from $j\ensuremath{-}j$ coupling. A width of 210\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}30 keV was measured for the ${J}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}={1}^{+}$, $T=1$ level at 13.72 MeV. Angular distributions for other levels populated in the $^{15}\mathrm{N}(p, d)^{14}\mathrm{N}$ reaction are shown.
Quasi-maximum likelihood estimation and testing for nonlinear models with endogenous explanatory variables

Abstract I propose a quasi-maximum likelihood framework for estimating nonlinear models with continuous or discrete endogenous explanatory variables. Joint and two-step estimation procedures are considered. The joint procedure is a quasi-limited information maximum likelihood procedure, as one or both of the log likelihoods may be misspecified. The two-step control function approach is computationally simple and leads to straightforward tests of endogeneity. In the case of discrete endogenous explanatory variables, I argue that the control function approach can be applied with generalized residuals to obtain average partial effects. I show how the results apply to nonlinear models for fractional and nonnegative responses.
Issues Associated with the Support of Military Precedence in IP Networks

IP networks, such as the Global Information Grid (GIG), must support Quality of Service (QoS) for a variety of applications. Messages generated by these applications are often characterized by military precedence, which indicates relative importance and urgency. The requirements for precedence-based voice and video support can be derived from current practices in circuit switched networks. A high precedence call which cannot be served because all trunks are occupied will preempt a lower precedence call. It will be necessary to create the equivalent capability in the GIG which will support voice and video calls. It is more difficult to develop a preemption concept for non-signaled messages such as file transfers and web transactions. In these applications high precedence messages can be favored without totally preempting lower precedence messages. Several strategies for doing so will be discussed in this paper.
Sensory Learning: Rapid Extraction of Meaning from Noise

Recent studies show that humans can rapidly learn to differentiate originally meaningless sounds into long-lasting memories, illustrating the flexibility of sensory processes and raising important questions about how sensory memories are formed.
Spectrophotometric determination of iron (II) with quinisatin oxime

Abstract A sensitive spectrophotometric determination of iron is based on the blue color (absorption maximum at 660 mμ) formed by reaction of iron (II) with quinisatin oxime in buffered solution containing ethyl alcohol and a small amount of dimethylformamide. The color develops rapidly and is stable for a few h. The absorbance is well reproducible, and conforms to Beer's law. The optimum concentration range at 1 cm optical path is about 0.5 to 2.5 p.p.m. of iron. Small amounts of iron(III) are reduced by the reagent and cause no difficulty. Cobalt and nickel interfere. Iron(II) and quinisatin oxime react in a 1:3 mole ratio; some possible modes of complex formation are suggested.
Free tissue transfer at an army medical center

Free tissue transfer has been demonstrated to be an effective modality of treating a variety of wounds and conditions in the civilian population. The use of these procedures has been underreported by American military surgeons. Military surgeons face unique hurdles that make the effective performance of these procedures difficult. We report our experience with free flap reconstruction at an American Army medical center. We performed 44 free flaps in 38 patients; although operative times and hospital length of stay were comparatively long, our success rates were excellent with only one partial flap loss.
Gastrointestinal and Hepatic Manifestations of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), characterized by inflammation of the synovium and surrounding structures, has a prevalence of 0.5–1%. Rheumatoid vasculitis (RV) is an inflammatory condition of the small- and medium-sized vessels that affects up to 5% of patients with RA with intestinal involvement in 10–38% of these cases. Clinically apparent RV of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, while rare, is often catastrophic, resulting in ischemic ulcers and bowel infarction. Vasculitis of the colon may present as pancolitis clinically similar to ulcerative colitis. Rectal biopsies that include submucosal vessels are positive for vasculitis in up to 40% of cases. Abnormal esophageal motility in RA may result in heartburn and dysphagia. Chronic atrophic gastritis may be associated with hypergastrinemia and hypo- or achlorhydria, promoting small bowel bacterial overgrowth. RA is the most common cause of secondary amyloidosis with GI symptoms in 22% of affected patients. Although amyloid is usually found in the liver, it is rarely evident clinically. Felty’s syndrome occurs in less than 1% of patients with RA and is characterized by neutropenia and splenomegaly. The liver may be involved with portal fibrosis or nodular regenerative hyperplasia. Liver histology is abnormal in 92% of RA patients at autopsy, although the changes are usually mild without associated hepatomegaly. Drug-induced liver disease may occur with aspirin, sulfasalazine, and methotrexate. Significant liver damage is rare if the drug is discontinued or the patient is properly monitored. RA can affect both the GI tract and the liver; changes are usually mild except with RV.
Transport of informosomes from isolated nuclei of regenerating rat liver.

Abstract Nuclei, isolated from regenerating rat liver following a 30-minute prelabelling in vivo with orotic acid-6- 14 C, are shown to release rapidly labelled RNA in informosome-like particles in the cell-free system. This release is both energy- and temperature-dependent and is reduced if the cytosol in the incubation medium is derived from normal, rather than regenerating liver. The identity of the transported RNA with messenger RNA is supported by its failure to compete with ribosomal, or transfer RNA under optimal hybridizing conditions with rat liver DNA, and also by its poly-A content and occurrence in nucleo-protein particles with densities characteristic of informosomes.
A fast overcurrent protection scheme for IGBT modules through dynamic fault current evaluation

This paper presents a new active overcurrent protection scheme for IGBT modules based on the evaluation of fault current level by measuring the induced voltage across the stray inductance between the Kelvin emitter and power emitter of IGBT modules. Compared with the commonly used desaturation protection, it provides a fast and reliable detection of fault current without any blanking time. Once a short circuit is detected, a current limiting and clamping function is activated to dynamically suppress the transient peak current, thus reducing the considerable energetic and thermal stresses induced upon the power device. Subsequently, a soft turn-off mechanism is employed aiming to reduce surge voltages induced by stray inductance under high current falling rate. Moreover, the proposed method provides flexible protection modes, which overcome the interruption of converter operation in the event of momentary short circuits. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed approach have been validated by simulation results with real component models in Saber. A Double Pulse Tester (DPT) based experimental test setup further verifies the proposed protection scheme.
Patient-centred decision making in breast reconstruction utilising the delayed–immediate algorithm

Summary Delayed–immediate reconstruction is an increasingly valuable algorithm for patients anticipating post-mastectomy radiation therapy. Despite the cosmetic and long-term advantages of autologous tissue repair, a subset of patients choose implant-based reconstruction after their initial preference for autologous reconstruction. A critical evaluation of patients who initially planned to undergo delayed–immediate reconstruction but later chose to continue with implant-based reconstruction has not been previously reported. A retrospective analysis of the senior author's (M.Y.N.) patients who initially intended to undergo delayed–immediate autologous breast reconstruction following mastectomy and chose to abandon autologous reconstruction in favour of prosthetic reconstruction was completed from 2005 to 2011. Seven patients (10 breasts) met inclusion criteria. The mean patient age and body mass index were 50.2 years and 32.1 kg m −2 , respectively. Expansion required an average of 4.4 office visits to achieve adequate expansion volume, mean 483 ml (240–600 ml). The mean time from expander placement to definitive reconstruction was 14.6 months. Mean follow-up time was 20.4 months. Complications included infection (1/7), incisional dehiscence (1/7) and capsular contracture (2/7), and late revision surgery was performed in two patients. Successful reconstruction was achieved in 100% of patients (7/7) with a patient-reported satisfaction of 100%. Patient motivations for changing the reconstructive algorithm included a faster post-operative recovery in four patients (4/7) and potential donor-site morbidity in three patients (3/7). Depression or cancer-related fatigue symptoms were self-reported in 4/7. Avoiding donor-site morbidity and a simpler recovery are the main factors that influence patients to change their desire for autologous reconstruction to an implant-based reconstruction. Cancer-related fatigue and depression are prevalent in this population and may be implicated in a patient's desire to undergo less extensive reconstructive surgery. Allowing for the choice of definitive implant-based reconstruction in select patients is safe and is likely to result in high patient satisfaction with satisfactory aesthetic outcomes.
A microtiter plate-based β-lactam binding assay for inhibitors of high-molecular-mass penicillin-binding proteins.

Abstract High-molecular-mass penicillin-binding proteins (HMM PBPs) are essential for bacterial cell wall biosynthesis and are the lethal targets of β-lactam antibiotics. When purified, HMM PBPs give undetectable or weak enzyme activity. This has impeded efforts to develop assays for HMM PBPs and to develop new inhibitors for HMM PBPs as HMM PBP targeted antibacterial agents. However, even when purified, HMM PBPs retain their ability to bind β-lactams. Here we describe a fluorescently detected microtiter plate-based assay for inhibitor binding to HMM PBPs based on competition with biotin–ampicillin conjugate (BIO–AMP) binding.
Construction and characterization of deltaretrovirus indicator cell lines

The deltaretroviruses, which include bovine leukemia virus (BLV) and human T-cell leukemia virus types 1 and 2 (HTLV-1 and HTLV-2), replicate poorly in culture and the molecular details of their life cycles are limited. To facilitate the analysis of virus replication, mammalian cell lines were created with the long terminal repeats (LTRs) of each virus driving expression of the enhanced green fluorescent protein gene (egfp). The BLGFP, H1GFP and H2GFP cell lines detect virus infection by the expression of GFP via the transactivation of the LTR via the Tax protein of BLV, HTLV-1 or HTLV-2, respectively. GFP expression was measured by flow cytometry, yielding sensitive and rapid detection of virus infectivity. Interestingly, we observed that the Tax proteins of HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 could transactivate the BLV LTR at levels that were comparable to that of BLV Tax. In contrast, the BLV Tax showed low levels of transactivation in H1GFP and H2GFP cells. HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 Tax proteins efficiently transactivated both the HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 LTRs. Finally, spinoculation of BLV resulted in only a two-fold increase in viral titer.
Conversion of waste plastic to oil : Direct liquefaction versus pyrolysis and hydroprocessing

Two approaches for the conversion of waste post consumer plastic (PCP) into oil have been investigated: (1) direct liquefaction and (2) pyrolysis followed by hydprocessing of the pyrolysis liquids...
Hydrogen bonding. Part 75. Infrared, titrametric and molecular orbital study of the structure, solubility and reaction with fluoride ion of 2,3-dicarboxypyrazine

Abstract 2,3-Dicarboxypyrazine (2,3-H 2 DCPz), unlike 2,3-dicarboxypyridine (2,3-H 2 DCPy), does not exist as a zwitterion in the solid state. This is due to the remarkably low base strength of nitrogen in the pyrazine ring relative to that of pyridine. The decrease in the base strength of pyrazine relative to pyridine may result from greater disruption of the aromatic π-system of pyrazine on protonation than is the case with pyridine. We propose that 2,3-H 2 DCPz has a structure of C s symmetry in the solid state in which one carboxyl group forms an internal hydrogen bond to carbonyl of adjacent carboxyl in the same molecule, and the second carboxyl forms an intermolecular hydrogen bond to carbonyl in an adjacent molecule. The monoanion in 2,3-NaHDCPz has a strong O–H–O covalent three-center hydrogen bond between carboxylate groups. When saturated solutions of 2,3-H 2 DCPz are treated with F − , one additional diacid molecule is taken into solution for each 1.5 F − added. As is the case with 2,3-H 2 DCPy, the high solubility and acid strength of 2,3-H 2 DCPz (p K a =2.87) leads to formation of the hydrogen-rich H 2 F 3 − ion instead of HF 2 − .
Modeling of Retention Time for High-Speed Embedded Dynamic Random Access Memories

Embedded dynamic random access memory (eDRAM) is becoming a popular choice for large cache applications due to its density, speed, and power benefits. One of the crucial challenges in eDRAM design is meeting the retention time specification. Due to implementation in logic process, usually eDRAM suffers from poor retention time compared to commodity DRAM. The retention time of eDRAM designed in scaled technologies not only depends on bitcell leakage but also on effects such as reference voltage variations, frequency-dependent writeback voltage, and various pattern-dependent coupling noise. Under the strict frequency and power budgets, these second-order mechanisms start playing a major role in determining the array retention time. Designing eDRAM array for certain retention time requires detailed modeling and understanding of the noise sources and variations. This paper investigates these components and provides a model of eDRAM retention time. Our results in 22 nm predictive technology shows that retention time can be impacted by as much as 10-16 × if the noise and variations are not contained in the design.
Structure of chemically deposited polycrystalline-silicon films

Abstract The influence of the deposition conditions on the structure of chemically deposited, polycrystalline-silicon films has been examined. The films were deposited primarily onto oxidized silicon wafers by the thermal decomposition of silane over temperature and thickness ranges of 650°–1200°C and 0.6–15 microm, respectively. After an initial induction period, which exhibits an activation energy of about 1.0 eV, island-type nucleation was observed for deposition temperatures of 850° and 1025°C; however, no islands could be resolved for a deposition temperature of 650°C. Although {110}- and {111}-texture are both important in the thinner films, {110}-texture becomes dominant over most of the temperature range as the film thickness increases. The {100}-texture is important in thicker films deposited at higher temperatures. Transmission electron microscopy indicated that the grain size increases with increasing film thickness and deposition temperature, ranging from less than 0.05 microm to more than 1 microm in the films studied. An investigation of the influence of the initial stages of deposition on the development of the texture indicated that the highly twinned {110}-grains, once nucleated, grow most rapidly. An anomalous, low-temperature structure, the effect of the reactant gas, and the influence of the substrate have been briefly investigated.
Hypoxia enhances high-voltage-activated calcium currents in rat primary cortical neurons via calcineurin

Hypoxia regulates neuronal ion channels, sometimes resulting in seizures. We evaluated the effects of brief sustained hypoxia (1% O(2), 4h) on voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) in cultured rat primary cortical neurons. High-voltage activated (HVA) Ca(2+) currents were acquired immediately after hypoxic exposure or after 48h recovery in 95% air/5% CO(2). Maximal Ca(2+) current density increased 1.5-fold immediately after hypoxia, but reverted to baseline after 48h normoxia. This enhancement was primarily due to an increase in L-type VGCC activity, since nimodipine-insensitive residual Ca(2+) currents were unchanged. The half-maximal potentials of activation and steady-state inactivation were unchanged. The calcineurin inhibitors FK-506 (in the recording pipette) or cyclosporine A (during hypoxia) prevented the post-hypoxic increase in HVA Ca(2+) currents, while rapamycin and okadaic acid did not. L-type VGCCs were the source of Ca(2+) for calcineurin activation, as nimodipine during hypoxia prevented post-hypoxic enhancement. Hypoxia transiently potentiated L-type VGCC currents via calcineurin, suggesting a positive feedback loop to amplify neuronal calcium signaling that may contribute to seizure generation.
Postmodern / Drama: Reading the Contemporary Stage. By Stephen Watt. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press, 1998; pp. viii + 220, $ 42.50 hardcover.

While it might not be a stretch to get scholars and critics to agree that the work of people like Robert Wilson and Richard Foreman are postmodern, asking the same folks to agree upon this categorization for Samuel Beckett, Harold Pinter, and Sam Shepard might be more challenging. Stephen Watt address this issue of classification with regards to drama, which for Watt excludes “performance,” to concentrate on “what writers write” (4). This is not an easy task since, as Watt points out, the very idea of postmodernism dissolves “neatly sutured categories, such as genres themselves” (8). With this understanding, which prompts the dialectical slash in the book's title, Watt searches for a way to “begin to unravel the taut conceptual skein that results from the paradoxical union of the two terms” (13).
SAGE Genie: A suite with panoramic view of gene expression

If the achievement of complete sequencing of the one-dimensional genetic codes of the human genome can be compared with man landing on the moon, the interpretation of genomic instruction in a four-dimensional biological context, such as during development and diseases, will prove to be a much more challenging and daunting task than that of getting man back from the moon to the earth. One of the greatest mysteries of life has been how a fertilized egg, which contains all of the genetic information that defines a living organism, can give rise to so many different tissues, which organize into different organs, as it divides and differentiates. It is clear that to unravel life's mysteries, we will have to rely, at least in large part, on tools that can allow us to determine when and where a gene is to be turned on or off in a cell as it divides, differentiates, and ages. Obviously, such tools are also important for the detection of when and where a seemingly precise interpretation of genomic instruction goes awry, which underlies many disease states such as cancer.
Moral goodness and the truth of religious claims

In The Justification of Religious Belief ~, Basil Mitchell at tempts to demonstrate that the case for or against Christianity is a cumulat ive argument. Among the evidence which might be presented in such a cumulat ive demonstration in support of theistic claims is the transformation of character effected in the person of the religious saint. In fact, moral goodness is regularly appealed to, both by laypersens and theologians, as warrant for believing religious propositions. However, such a moral transformation, Mitchell warns, cannot be considered direct evidence of the presence or activity of some supernatural being:
Foxg1 promotes olfactory neurogenesis by antagonizing Gdf11

Foxg1, a winged-helix transcription factor, promotes the development of anterior neural structures; in mice lacking Foxg1, development of the cerebral hemispheres and olfactory epithelium (OE) is severely reduced. It has been suggested that Foxg1 acts by positively regulating the expression of growth factors, such as Fgf8, which support neurogenesis. However, Foxg1 also binds Smad transcriptional complexes, allowing it to negatively regulate the effects of TGFbeta family ligands. Here, we provide evidence that this latter effect explains much of the ability of Foxg1 to drive neurogenesis in the OE. We show that Foxg1 is expressed in developing OE at the same time as the gene encoding growth differentiation factor 11 (Gdf11), a TGFbeta family member that mediates negative-feedback control of OE neurogenesis. Mutations in Gdf11 rescue, to a considerable degree, the major defects in Foxg1(-/-) OE, including the early, severe loss of neural precursors and olfactory receptor neurons, and the subsequent collapse of both neurogenesis and nasal cavity formation. Rescue is gene-dosage dependent, with loss of even one allele of Gdf11 restoring substantial neurogenesis. Notably, we find no evidence for a disruption of Fgf8 expression in Foxg1(-/-) OE. However, we do observe both a failure of expression of follistatin (Fst), which encodes a secreted Gdf11 antagonist normally expressed in and around OE, and an increase in the expression of Gdf11 itself within the remaining OE in these mutants. Fst expression is rescued in Foxg1(-/-);Gdf11(-/-) and Foxg1(-/-);Gdf11(+/-) mice. These data suggest that the influence of Foxg1 on Gdf11-mediated negative feedback of neurogenesis may be both direct and indirect. In addition, defects in development of the cerebral hemispheres in Foxg1(-/-) mice are not rescued by mutations in Gdf11, nor is Gdf11 expressed at high levels within these structures. Thus, the pro-neurogenic effects of Foxg1 are likely to be mediated through different signaling pathways in different parts of the nervous system.
Optimal level-crossing prediction for jump linear MIMO dynamical systems

In this article, the theoretically optimal prediction of level-crossings for a jump linear MIMO (multi-input/multi-output) dynamical system driven by a control input is investigated. The study of this problem is motivated by the practical implications for design of an optimal alarm system as applied to the advance prediction of adverse events, which will elicit the fewest false alarms for a fixed detection probability. It was found that using an additional control input term results in increased uncertainty due to the associated model for the control. However, using the appropriate condition for optimality provides an accommodation for this uncertainty which does not translate into compromised predictive capability. For the given application, it was observed that modeling the control input as a linear dynamical system results in better prediction performance and qualitatively has a higher model fidelity than when using a hidden Markov model for the same function.
HPV 16 and cigarette smoking as risk factors for high‐grade cervical intra‐epithelial neoplasia

Although genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is well established as the etiologic agent for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), little is known about the cofactors involved in the development of high-grade lesions or the progression of low-grade to high-grade lesions. In our study of HPV-infected women with CIN (163 CIN I, 51 CIN II and 44 CIN III), women with CIN II or III were compared with those with CIN I for risk factors associated with high-grade lesions. After controlling for age, education, ethnicity and frequency of Pap smear screening, infection with HPV 16, but not high viral load or infection with multiple types, was associated with high-grade lesions (OR for CIN II 5 11.96, OR for CIN III 5 23.74). Risk of CIN III, but not CIN II, increased with number of cigarettes smoked per day (ORs 5 1.49 and 3.35 for I10 and G10 cigarettes per day, respectively) and decreased with frequency of condom use during sex (ORs 5 0.60 and 0.32 for women who used condoms occasionally/sometimes and most/ all of the time, respectively). There were no associations between high-grade lesions and plasma levels of micronutrients (retinol, b-carotene, a-tocopherol and reduced ascorbic acid). Our results indicate that infection with HPV 16 is associated with high-grade lesions. Additional cofactors, such as cigarette smoking, may be required as a carcinogen to advance HPV-infected cells toward neoplastic progression. Int. J. Cancer 78:281‐285, 1998. r 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Anomalously low sodium MORB magmas: Evidence for depleted MORB or analytical artifact?

Abstract One common characteristic of quenched natural basaltic glass is the presence of microcrystalline halos surrounding many microphenocrysts (spherulites). From our investigations of the composition of basaltic grasses in both quenched lavas and in plagioclase-hosted melt inclusions, we have discovered that quench halo portions of spherulites are over 100 times as susceptible to Na loss during microprobe analysis than normal basaltic glass. This implies that there may be a significant negative bias in published MORB glass Na contents. This, in turn, would result in potential systematic errors in existing models of MORB petrogenesis that are dependent on those data.
Potential discrepancies in radar signature predictions for ground vehicles

An investigation of modeling issues at K/sub a/-band and above was conducted using Xpatch, a high-frequency radar signature prediction code based on the shooting and bouncing ray technique. The lessons learned apply to a large class of ground targets of interest for millimeter wave radar applications. We summarize the unclassified modeling results and computational requirements at K/sub a/-band frequencies. The ground vehicle simulations indicate that accurate target representations are required to a resolution on the order of the wavelength. In many cases the available data corresponds to near-field measurements. In this case we use the Xpatch near-field simulations to better reproduce the measured radar signatures.
Radiology resident selection: results of a survey.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The author determined which criteria were important to program directors for selecting candidates for diagnostic radiology residency. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to all radiology residency program directors. They were asked to rank 20 criteria they considered important in a written application. Miscellaneous questions about their program's selection process, including the interview, also were asked. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 69%. Statistical analysis of responses showed significant differences between geographic regions and types of programs (university versus private hospital). Class rank and medical school grades were found to have the highest rating of importance. Nearly half of responding programs use a score sheet to evaluate the written application. On average, almost 60 candidates are invited to interview for approximately five available positions. CONCLUSIONS: Criteria believed to be important for selection and the radiology resident selection process show significant differences among programs. These can be correlated partially with the location and type of program.
A facile synthesis of pyrrolo[1,2‐a]pyrimidines and pyrrolo[1,2‐a]imidazoles

The one-step synthesis of 8-t-butoxycarbonyl-6,7-dimethyl-2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrimidine from acetyl methyl carbinol, 3-aminopropionic acid, and t-butyl cyanoacetate is reported. Utilizing a similar technology under basic conditions, 7-substituted 5,6-dimethyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-(1H)-pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazole is synthesized from acetyl methyl carbinol, ethyl glycinate, and the appropriate acetonitrile.
Triglyceride synthesis from dihydroxyacetone phosphate and palmitate by microsomes from mammary glands of lactating mice.

Both di- and triglycerides were synthesized when microsomes isolated from mammary glands of lactating mice were incubated with dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP), (1-14C)palmitate, ATP, CoASH, GSH, KF, MgCl2, and NADPH. When NADH replaced NADPH, glyceride synthesis was very low. In the absence of either NADPH or NADH, DHAP was acylated to palmityl-DHAP. Since microsomes do not have glycerol 3-phosphate NAD:oxidoreductase activity, we inferred that glycerol 3-phosphate (GP) is not an intermediate in triglyceride biosynthesis from DHAP. This reductase, present in the cytosol, was active only with NADH. With the same concentration of either GP or DHAP, microsomes yielded essentially similar amounts of di- and triglycerides. Mitochondria, while capable of synthesizing palmityl-DHAP, did not produce di- and triglycerides.
Laterality and language experience

A meta-analysis was conducted on studies that examined hemispheric functional asymmetry for language in brain-intact monolingual and bilingual adults. Data from 23 laterality studies that directly compared bilingual and monolingual speakers on the same language were analysed (n = 1234). Variables examined were language experience (monolingual, bilingual), experimental paradigm (dichotic listening, visual hemifield presentation, and dual task) and, among bilinguals, the influence of second language proficiency (proficient vs nonproficient) and onset of bilingualism (early, or before age 6; and late, or after age 6). Overall, monolinguals and late bilinguals showed reliable left hemisphere dominance, while early bilinguals showed reliable bilateral hemispheric involvement. Within bilinguals, there was no reliable effect of language proficiency when age of L2 acquisition was controlled. The findings indicate that early learning of one vs. two languages predicts divergent patterns of cerebral language lateralisation in adulthood.
High thermal conductivity ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) films

United States. Dept. of Energy (EERE/Office of Advanced Manufacturing Program Award DE-EE0005756)
Partial denaturation of Haemophilus influenzae DNA by alkali.

Abstract Suboptimal condition of alkaline denaturation was used to partially denature Haemophilus influenzae DNA and fractions from these DNA molecules possessing various degrees of strandedness were resolved by hydroxyapatite column chromatography. Exonuclease I sensitivity as well as transforming activity were used to elucidate the secondary structure of these fractions. Fractions supposedly corresponding to the single- and double-stranded DNA were shown to be different from the completely denatured and native DNA, respectively.
Dynorphin Modulates Ocular Hydrodynamics and Releases Atrial Natriuretic Peptide via Activation of κ-Opioid Receptors

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of the kappa opioid receptor (KOR) agonist, dynorphin A (Dyn), on aqueous humor dynamics (intraocular pressure (IOP), aqueous humor flow rate (AFR)), pupil diameter (PD) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) levels in the aqueous humor of the rabbit. Topical and unilateral application of Dyn caused dose-related, bilateral reductions in IOP and AFR. An intermediate dose of Dyn (33 microg) caused bilateral mydriasis whereas a higher dose (100 microg) caused unilateral miosis. The Dyn-induced reduction in IOP and aqueous flow rate as well as the mydriasis were antagonized by nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI), a relatively selective KOR antagonist. In addition to the effects on IOP, PD and AFR, Dyn caused dose-related increases in aqueous ANP levels that was attenuated by nor-BNI. The present study indicates that Dyn reduces IOP, in part, by reducing AFR. Moreover, the increase in ANP levels could be involved in the Dyn-induced reductions in IOP and AFR. Based upon the inhibitory effects of nor-BNI, these Dyn-induced events are due, in part, to the activation of KORs in the ciliary processes of the eye.
Performance comparison of potassium and sodium vapor anode, multi-tube AMTEC converters

Abstract An analysis is conducted to compare the performance of Mo–41%Re, eight-tube, potassium and sodium alkali metal thermal-to-electric converters of identical design. The results showed that the operation envelope of the potassium converter is severely limited by incipient dryout in the evaporator wick due to the lower surface tension and higher molecular weight of potassium compared to sodium. As a result of this operational limit, at the same load voltage, the potassium converter delivers lower electrical power and has a lower conversion efficiency than the sodium converter. Moving the evaporator wick surface further away from the hot plate (and shortening its total length) expands the operation envelope of the potassium converter by raising the incipient dryout limit. At the same load voltage, the potassium converter with the remote evaporator wick can deliver the same electrical power as the reference sodium converter, while operating at a 50 K lower hot side temperature and a 90 K lower optimum condenser temperature. When operating at a hot side temperature of 1174 K and 2.7 V, the potassium converter with the remote evaporator wick delivers a peak electrical power of 8.5 We at an efficiency of 17.4%, compared, respectively, to 6.2 We and 16.4% for the reference potassium converter, and 7.3 We and 15.5% for the reference sodium converter.
Defeasible A Priori Justification: A Reply to Thurow

Joshua Thurow offers a defence of the claim that if a belief is defeasible by non-experiential evidence then it is defeasible by experiential evidence. He responds to an objection which I make against this claim, and offers two arguments in support of his own position. I show that Thurow's response misconstrues my objection, and that his supporting arguments fall short of their goal.
Validation of a nomogram for predicting positive repeat biopsy for prostate cancer.

ABSTRACT Purpose: We reported a nomogram and subsequently a corrected version for predicting the probability of positive biopsy in men with 1 or more prior negative biopsies. In this study we assessed the validity of this nomogram when applied to an external dataset. Materials and Methods: There were 230 patients from the Brooklyn Veterans Administration Medical Center who underwent 1 or more repeat biopsies after initial negative biopsy from January 1993 to June 2003. Predictor variables studied in the nomogram were patient age, family history of prostate cancer, digital rectal examination, serum prostate specific antigen, prostate specific antigen slope, months from initial negative biopsy session, months from previous negative biopsy session, cumulative number of negative cores previously taken and history of high grade intraepithelial neoplasm or atypical small acinar proliferation. We calculated the nomogram predicted probability in each patient. These predicted outcomes were compared with actual biopsy results. Area under the ROC curve was calculated as a measure of discrimination. Calibration was assessed graphically. Results: We evaluated a total of 356 repeat biopsies in 230 patients (mean 2.56 total biopsies per patient). The mean number of total cores per patient was 17.9. There were 78 positive biopsies. The area under the ROC curve was 0.71, which was greater than any single risk factor. Nomogram calibration appeared to be good. Conclusions: Our corrected nomogram for predicting positive repeat biopsy performed well when applied to a sample of men at the Brooklyn Veterans Administration Medical Center. This nomogram can provide important additional information to aid the urologist and patient with a negative biopsy in evaluating clinical options.