cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Education as a Ladder for Economic Success: Examining how Assessments of Economic Position Play into Preferences for Educational Priorities

It would seem natural that the public would be more economically conservative during bad economic times than during good economic times, but how does this conservatism translate to views on basic government spending priorities? Oklahoma has one of the worst-funded education systems in the nation; the state ranks 46th in per-student funding for schools and 42nd for teacher pay, and there is broad consensus in the state that these statistics must be improved for the sake of the state’s economy. Due to the economic downturn, however, the public may be less willing to support government spending on even necessary programs such as public education. Conversely, given the emphasis placed on education as a mechanism for improving one’s economic circumstances by securing a better, more stable job there is reason to believe that there would be more support for public education during a recession. Using data from a state-wide random-digit-dial survey we will test these competing hypotheses, specifically by demonstrating how assessments of family economic situation and current economic situation compared to that of a year ago affect self-reported economic conservatism and assessments of the state of public education in Oklahoma.
Functional Diversification of Polymethacrylates by Dynamic β-Ketoester Modification

Postpolymerization modification is a powerful strategy for the rapid generation of functional polymers, but the availability of reactions that enable fast and selective functionalization using only benign materials remains limited. We report the utility of the condensation reaction between β-ketoesters and primary amines for efficient polymer functionalization at room temperature. Under Bronsted acid catalysis, polymers containing pendent β-ketoesters could be functionalized with a diverse scope of primary amines containing various polar and nonpolar functional groups. The formed enaminone linkages are robust under ambient conditions but undergo dynamic transamination at elevated temperatures, enabling stimuli-responsive interchange of previously installed functional N-substituents. This protocol can be conducted catalyst-free at high temperature, but the addition of modest amounts of p-toluenesulfonic acid results in rapid substituent exchange, within 10 min in some cases. Furthermore, this equilibrium-c...
Minimum distance model checking in Berkson measurement error models with validation data

This article studies a minimum distance regression model checking approach in the presence of Berkson measurement errors in covariates without specifying the measurement error density but when external validation data are available. The proposed tests are based on a class of minimized integrated square distances between a nonparametric estimate of the calibrated regression function and the parametric null model being fitted. The asymptotic distributions of these tests under the null hypothesis and against certain alternatives are established. Surprisingly, these asymptotic distributions are the same as in the case of known measurement error density. In comparison, the asymptotic distributions of the corresponding minimum distance estimators of the null model parameters are affected by the estimation of the calibrated regression function. A simulation study shows desirable performance of a member of the proposed class of estimators and tests.
NDT Geophysical Instrumentation and Data Acquisition and Processing Enhancement

Scientists who work in the field of NDT geophysical methods for archaeology and monumental heritage seek to address today’s demands to detect, characterize, and discriminate buried archaeological features and to obtain useful information about the conservation degree of an important monument for remediation and restoration disposal. They increasingly rely on high-resolution NDT geophysical methods to provide accurate and efficient results. In comparison with other direct procedures, NDT geophysical methods are especially well-suited for this application because they minimize time and cost factors and maximize the amount of data, information, and knowledge obtained. This chapter introduces a new mode to acquire, process, and interpret NDT geophysical data that could be define as “not standard”. This mode is intended to provide a framework for viewing the basic problem, the appropriate solving data processing and the relationship between the data, the information, and the knowledge throughout this process. In addition, this mode provides a conceptual organizing structure for identifying the means by which data, information, and knowledge can be enhanced for both site and monument characterization. Lastly, a look at how advanced visualization techniques can help address classical problems will be taken. This latter process can help in distinguishing materials that have different physical property characteristics.
Point of Care Image Capture with a Custom Smartphone Application: Experience with an Encounter-Based Workflow

Medical documentation is one of the primary methods by which physicians share clinical information and impressions over time with one another. As the adage says, "a picture is worth a thousand words," and physicians have started leveraging consumer mobile technology to share images with one another. However, image sharing often uses short message service texting and similar methods, which can be noncompliant with privacy regulations and can also limit the ability to communicate information longitudinally and across specialties. Sharing of such information is increasingly important, however, as smaller practices are joining to create large geographically spread out health care networks. To this end, we developed an application to acquire and store images via smartphone and seamlessly transfer into the patient's electronic medical record (EMR) to enable digital consults and longitudinal evaluation in a private and compliant method.
High-Performance Graphene Oxide Nanofiltration Membranesfor Black Liquor Concentration

Black liquor (BL) concentration by multieffect evaporation is an extremely energy-intensive operation in the kraft pulping cycle. Membranes can significantly save energy in this process, but conven...
A Transcriptionally Definable Subgroup of Triple-Negative Breast and Ovarian Cancer Samples Shows Sensitivity to HSP90 Inhibition.

Purpose: We hypothesized that integrated analysis of cancer types from different lineages would reveal novel molecularly defined subgroups with unique therapeutic vulnerabilities. On the basis of the molecular similarities between subgroups of breast and ovarian cancers, we analyzed these cancers as a single cohort to test our hypothesis. Experimental Design: Identification of transcriptional subgroups of cancers and drug sensitivity analyses were performed using mined data. Cell line sensitivity to Hsp90 inhibitors (Hsp90i) was tested in vitro. The ability of a transcriptional signature to predict Hsp90i sensitivity was validated using cell lines, and cell line- and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. Mechanisms of Hsp90i sensitivity were uncovered using immunoblot and RNAi. Results: Transcriptomic analyses of breast and ovarian cancer cell lines uncovered two mixed subgroups comprised primarily of triple-negative breast and multiple ovarian cancer subtypes. Drug sensitivity analyses revealed that cells of one mixed subgroup are significantly more sensitive to Hsp90i compared with cells from all other cancer lineages evaluated. A gene expression classifier was generated that predicted Hsp90i sensitivity in vitro, and in cell line- and PDXs. Cells from the Hsp90i-sensitive subgroup underwent apoptosis mediated by Hsp90i-induced upregulation of the proapoptotic proteins Bim and PUMA. Conclusions: Our findings identify Hsp90i as a potential therapeutic strategy for a transcriptionally defined subgroup of ovarian and breast cancers. This study demonstrates that gene expression profiles may be useful to identify therapeutic vulnerabilities in tumor types with limited targetable genetic alterations, and to identify molecularly definable cancer subgroups that transcend lineage.
Acoustic Heat-Flux Sensor

Speed of sound in seawater is strongly influenced by temperature and speed of sound can be measured remotely from the solid boundary of a sensor. Thus, a measure of temperature fluctuations made instantaneously at the same time and in the same volume as velocity fluctuations can provide a correlation representing heat flux. This was implemented in a MAVS with a vertical Heat-Flux Sensor and tested in a deployment in 2017 at the Orkney Gap in Antarctica. Data from this deployment is examined here to determine the sensitivity and utility of this technique.
Improved optoelectronic properties in CdSexTe1−x through controlled composition and short-range order

Abstract We employ first principles methods based on density functional theory and beyond to study CdSexTe1−x alloys in the zincblende and wurtzite structures. From the cluster expansion formalism, we provide a detailed phase diagram showing a consolute temperature of 325 K, above which miscibility may be achieved. In the random solid solution, a zincblende-to-wurtzite phase boundary is found to range from Se concentrations of x = 0.5–0.6, in agreement with experiment, owing to increasing ionic character of the Cd-anion bonds. Disordered CdSexTe1−x configurations are modeled using special quasirandom structures, for which optoelectronic properties are computed with the hybrid HSE06 functional. Alloying is shown to cause strong bowing effects in the band gap and effective electron/hole masses, which we attribute to local structural distortions as illustrated by analysis of bond length distributions. Downward bowing in the band gap and effective hole mass of the zincblende structure is highlighted for its potential benefits in photovoltaics through increased net photocurrent. Absorption coefficients and reflectivity are also reported, showing promising results in zincblende CdSexTe1−x as indicated by substantial optical absorption throughout all Se concentrations. Lastly, we identify the presence of short-range order in CdSexTe1−x characterized by clustering among like atoms in order to minimize strain. The degree of clustering, which may be tuned by temperature, also controls the magnitude of the band gap. Therefore, we propose both composition and short-range order as effective tools to be utilized in the design and synthesis of improved solar cell absorber layer materials.
Mercury and selenium concentrations in fishes of the Upper Colorado River Basin, southwestern United States: A retrospective assessment

Mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) are contaminants of concern for fish in the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB). We explored Hg and Se in fish tissues (2,324 individuals) collected over 50 years (1962-2011) from the UCRB. Samples include native and non-native fish collected from lotic waterbodies spanning 7 major tributaries to the Colorado River. There was little variation of total mercury (THg) in fish assemblages basin-wide and only 13% (272/1959) of individual fish samples exceeded the fish health benchmark (0.27 μg THg/g ww). Most THg exceedances were observed in the White-Yampa tributary whereas the San Juan had the lowest mean THg concentration. Risks associated with THg are species specific with exceedances dominated by Colorado Pikeminnow (mean = 0.38 and standard error ± 0.08 μg THg/g ww) and Roundtail Chub (0.24 ± 0.06 μg THg/g ww). For Se, 48% (827/1720) of all individuals exceeded the fish health benchmark (5.1 μg Se/g dw). The Gunnison river had the most individual exceedances of the Se benchmark (74%) whereas the Dirty Devil had the fewest. We identified that species of management concern accumulate THg and Se to levels above risk thresholds and that fishes of the White-Yampa (THg) and Gunnison (Se) rivers are at the greatest risk in the UCRB.
Oxygen vacancy effect on ultra-fast carrier dynamics of perovskite oxide La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 thin films

Complex oxide thin films, such as La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (LSMO), are widely studied for a variety of applications. Transient reflectivity (TR) measurements on LSMO indicate enhanced surface recombination of charge carriers in films less than 20 nm in thickness. Oxygen growth pressure variation illustrates that higher oxygen pressures provide more electron dominance in the system, and producing a larger band filling effect which eventually results in higher excitations. Wavelet analysis can distinguish abrupt oscillatory modes with close energy ranges and have been introduced as a method to study sound velocities in ultra-thin films.
Current state of Grand Rounds in U.S. pathology training programs

Abstract Grand Rounds are held with variable frequency in many academic pathology departments, but their exact goal is uncertain, and the type of subjects covered, and presenters have not been studied. We aimed to gather information about the current state of pathology grand rounds (PGR). We identified all US pathology residency programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and searched their websites for information regarding PGR, extracting data on their existence, frequency and timing. For a representative subgroup of institutions from all US regions and program sizes, we tabulated the 2017–2018 PGR titles and presenters (gender, degree(s), resident/fellow, faculty academic rank). We found that 71 of 142 (50%) ACGME-accredited programs had PGR, more often in programs with >12 residents (53/88, 60%). PGR were scheduled most commonly weekly, on Thursdays, and at noon. We analyzed 1019 PGR presentations from 41 institutions located in 26 US states. Among the 1105 presenters, 183 (16.56%) were trainees, 74 (6.7%) were non-academic, and 848 (76.7%) were faculty, 559 male and 289 female (M/F = 1.93). M/F ratio increased with academic rank, from 1.0 (117/115) for assistant, to 2.0 (135/68) for associate, and 2.9 (307/106) for full professors. Topics covered by PGR belonged to anatomic pathology (357), clinical pathology (209), research (184) or other medical or surgical specialties (149). Our study suggests that trainees are a major intended audience of pathology grand round. Unfortunately, there is a gender gap among pathology grand round presenters that widens with increasing academic rank of presenters.
Performance Analysis for Tensor-Train Decomposition to Deep Neural Network Based Vector-to-Vector Regression

This work focuses on a performance analysis of tensor-train decomposition applied to the deep neural network (DNN) based vector-to-vector regression. Tensor-train Network (TTN), obtained through tensor-train decomposition, converts a DNN based vector-to-vector regression into a tensor-to-vector mapping with fewer parameters. We can therefore build an over-parametrized DNN with the tensor-train representation such that the optimization error can be significantly reduced, while the upper bounds on the approximation and estimation errors can be maintained. We compare TTN-based neural architecture against an over-parametrized DNN on the MNIST dataset, and the experimental evidence demonstrates the validity of our conjectures on our proposed performance bounds.
Theory of a harmonic gyrotron in a rectangular cavity using a ribbon type electrons

Small signal theory of a harmonic gyrotron operating in an axially grooved rectangular waveguide using a ribbon type electron beam will be presented. Mode selection and efficiency scaling as a function of harmonic number will be discussed.
Abstract 2502: Genetic and functional heterogeneity of DCIS as predictors of invasive cancer

Genetic diversity both between and within individual tumors constitutes a challenge to personalized cancer medicine. Intra-tumor heterogeneity provides the genetic fuel for natural selection in clonal evolution and cancer progression. Tumors with high levels of genetic heterogeneity are hypothesized to be more likely to demonstrate aggressive behavior and progress to invasion and metastasis. We analyzed the mutational loads from separate areas of pure DCIS and compared this to genetic heterogeneity in DCIS lesions found adjacent to invasive and metastatic cancer. Two spatially distinct areas of DCIS from each case were macro-dissected and the DNA extracted from FFPE samples. To analyze the data, we developed new bioinformatics methods that allowed analysis of small amounts of degraded DNA extracted from FFPE samples across multiple regions. Our bioinformatics pipeline was optimized on a series of 28 independent technical replicates of the same DNA sample sequenced twice, as training tools to find the best filtering parameters. Whole exome sequencing was performed on each of the two geospatially separated samples for each case. Minimum coverage for inclusion in this study was 40X over at least 50% of the exome. We used the ratio of private mutations (only in 1 area) to public (found in both areas) mutations as a measure of intra-tumor heterogeneity. We present an approach to measure clonal heterogeneity using a bulk sequencing strategy applied to geospatially distinct foci of DCIS. We found statistically significant difference between DCIS adjacent to invasive disease and metastatic patients9 genetic divergence (t-test, p=0.013). Our findings suggest that genetic and functional heterogeneity may play an important evolutionary role as a driver for invasive progression. Citation Format: Angelo Fortunato, Diego Mallo, Lorraine King, Timothy Hardman, Allison Hall, Jeffrey R. Marks, Shelley Shelley Hwang, Carlo C. Maley. Genetic and functional heterogeneity of DCIS as predictors of invasive cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 2502.
Buried Secrets of the North Carolina Coast, USA

The Outer Banks Barrier Islands of North Carolina, USA are beautiful and dynamic coastal features with a long and complicated human history and geological story. The hard work of numerous university faculty, agency scientists and students have uncovered the geological secrets of this region. Using geophysical devices that reveal the underpinnings of the islands and estuaries, and collecting sediments and fossils to understand changes to the environments, we can see how the islands and estuaries responded to climate conditions and storm patterns in the past. Those past responses are informing us of what might be expected in the future given projected climate and sea-level changes. This is the story of the work that has been done to reveal the secrets of this coast.
An edible bioactive fraction from Rosa multiflora regulates adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and high-fat diet-induced C57Bl/6 mice models of obesity

Objectives: Rose varieties are cultivated worldwide for ornamental flowers and have been greatly valued in the cosmetics and medicinal applications. Medicinal preparations from the different parts of the rose, including leaves, petals, and fruits, have been studied for various health benefits. Here, we have studied the efficacy of a standardized rose petal extract using the experimental models. Materials and Methods: The anti-obesity effect of a polyphenol-rich extract from the petals of Rosa multiflora var. platyphylla (RoseFit, 2%–3% isoquercetin) was studied using in vitro adipocyte differentiation model and in vivo diet-induced obesity model. Results: Treatment with 250 and 500 μg of rose fit dose-dependently reduced the differentiation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes and lipid accumulation thereof. The expression of adipogenic markers such as CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-alpha and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma was markedly down regulated in the adipocytes treated with RoseFit. A 6-week treatment of high-fat diet (HFD) fed mice with RoseFit (100 mg and 200 mg/kg) significantly reduced the body weight, liver and fat pad weights, and adipocyte cell size of epididymal fat. Rose fit treatment also mitigated the hepatic inflammation significantly as compared to untreated HFD mice. Conclusion: Collectively, our findings suggest that the standardized rose petal extract may be used as a functional ingredient in food to increase the nutritional value and health-promoting effects.
AI, Ethics, and Law: A Possible Way Forward

This Chapter offers a framework for analyzing the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), ethics, and law. It does so, as Part 1 explains, by (1) suggesting potential limitations on AI consciousness and identifying the implications of those limitations for ethics and law, and (2) acknowledging three possible philosophical objections to this line of analysis and providing reasons to reject each of them. Part 2 explores the role that consciousness plays in forming objectives, including in making relevant moral and other value judgments. It suggests that as long as AI lacks consciousness we will have difficulty regulating it — our ethics and law often rely on intent in assigning, respectively, moral responsibility and legal liability — and difficulty using it to regulate ourselves — value judgments play an important role in resolving ethical and legal disputes. It also notes that conscious AI is likely to have very different first-person experiences than we do — and hence very different forms of intent and values than we have — giving rise to another set of difficulties for regulating it and for it regulating us. With this sketch of an argument in place, Part 3 addresses three potential philosophical objections to it: that consciousness as a matter of theory cannot have the sort of causal effect on behavior that Part 2 presumes; that consciousness as a matter of empirical fact does not have that sort of causal effect; and that Part 2 relies on a dubious understanding of free will. Part 3 contends that none of these objections is persuasive. The Chapter concludes that the analysis in Part 2 warrants further development.
Traversing Anthropocentric Horizons With Her: Trans-Corporeal Surrogacy, Enchantment, and Disenchantment in Human-Machine Assemblage:

This article aims to shed light on the intricacies that overturn McLuhan's vision of technologies as extensions or prosthetics of human capabilities when applied to human-machine communication (HMC...
Development of a reduced mechanism for sour gas flaring

Industrial sour gas flaring is difficult to operate appropriately, especially when the gas stream contains high concentrations of sulfur compounds such as hydrogen sulfide and mercaptans. However, most of the detailed combustion mechanisms for hydrocarbons are too complicated, and the computation can be time consuming. In addition, most of the available combustion mechanisms for sulfur compounds are not tailored for sour gas flaring. A reduced combustion mechanism for sour gas will be highly desirable for practical application. In this work, a reduced combustion kinetic mechanism for sour gas combustion, namely the H&S mechanism, was created. This mechanism was validated against experimental data from the literature with proven accuracy. During mechanism analysis, it was found that the addition of H2S had a significant impact on the radical pool. A small amount of H2S leads to a fast buildup of H, OH, and O radicals and a rapid decomposition of CH4. The impact on ignition delay time due to an increase in H2S concentration by 3 vol. % was also analyzed. The impact needs to be compensated by the addition of supplementary fuel. This research will contribute to the clean combustion of sour gas, especially sour gas flares.
Darnton, Robert, Pirating and Publishing: The Book Trade in the Age of Enlightenment

If you are expecting to find a book that explores the intersection of swashbuckling buccaneers on the high seas and the book trade, I do not think even Robert Darnton could find that connection (al...
Making a More Mentally Healthy World.

Two dinosaurs were standing on the street corner talking to one another and occasionally waving to passing motorists. They held no signs, so I could not discern what the costumed people might be se...
National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Automated Information Security Handbook

The NASA Automated Information Security Handbook provides NASA's overall approach to automated information systems security including discussions of such aspects as: program goals and objectives, assignment of responsibilities, risk assessment, foreign national access, contingency planning and disaster recovery, awareness training, procurement, certification, planning, and special considerations for microcomputers.
A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENT DATA

The coded variables in the different files are not consistent and little information on accident etiology is collected. Examples of the inadequacies of present data in terms of the collected and coded variables are show. A system approach is needed to identify critical, currently neglected variables and develop units of measurement and data collection procedures. The system view would be based on the paradigm of the human operator in a man-machine system, simultaneously performing tracking and vigilance tasks and making decisions in a varying environment. By increasing utilization of more dophisticated mathematical models of man-machine systems and controlled laboratory experiments, sets of critical variables could be defined and their interactions studied, both theoretically and experimentally. /GMRL/
Internet Teaching of the Neurologic Examination and OSCE Performance in the Neurology Clerkship (s19.006)

OBJECTIVE To compare the educational value of two websites that teach the neurologic examination (NIHSS training versus www.neuroexam.com) as assessed by medical student performance on Stroke, Headache, and Neuropathy OSCEs. BACKGROUND Neurophobia is pervasive among medical students, non-neurology residents, and practicing physicians, and much of that fear results from lack of proficiency with the neurologic examination. It remains unclear whether bedside, online, lecture-based, or OSCE-based teaching (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) is the “best” method of teaching the neurologic examination. Standardized training resources for the neurologic examination are limited. We compared two online resources featuring videos: NIHSS training (http://nihss-english.trainingcampus.net) and www.neuroexam.com to see which would enhance student OSCE performance. DESIGN/METHODS The study was designed as a two-arm single-blinded, randomized control study of students at Stony Brook University School of Medicine from July 2013 through June 2014. Students underwent stratified randomization based on clerkship location and rotation month, and were assigned to NIHSS training or www.neuroexam.com before completing three OSCEs. OSCE performance scores for three patient cases (Stroke, Headache, and Neuropathy) were compared using a stratified nonparametric test (SAS 9.3). RESULTS Seventy-nine students were enrolled; 37 students completed online NIHSS training and 42 students used www.neuroexam.com. Students using www.neuroexam.com had a significantly higher total score on the Stroke OSCE: 82.8±8.04 vs 76.75±12.59 for students using NIHSS (p=0.0276). Similar trends occurred for the Headache and Neuropathy OSCEs, but were not consistently statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Using www.neuroexam.com significantly improved students’ performance on a Stroke OSCE compared to online NIHSS training, with similar trends for Headache and Neuropathy. General neurologic examination training rather than focused stroke examination training may be more helpful for students, even when examining stroke patients. Online websites with teaching videos may represent a viable model for improving students’ skills with the neurologic examination. Study supported by: 2013 AAN Education Research Grant Disclosure: Dr. Harth has nothing to disclose. Dr. Xue has nothing to disclose. Dr. Yang has nothing to disclose.
Discovery of antirhinoviral leads by screening a combinatorial library of ureas prepared using covalent scavengers

Abstract Solution phase parallel synthesis of equimolar mixtures of ureas was accomplished using a solid-supported “covalent scavenger” (aminomethylpolystyrene) to remove isocyanate impurities. Screening of these purified mixtures for antirhinoviral activity in a whole cell assay and subsequent deconvolution of hit mixtures afforded novel antirhinoviral agents with low cytotoxicities.
Juvenile hyperactivity in rats after acute exposure to carbon monoxide.

Abstract The hypothesis was tested that exposure of neonatal rats to carbon monoxide (CO) to the point of respiratory failure would result in brain damage evidenced as hyperactivity. Five-day-old rats were exposed in a dynamic flow chamber to a concentration of carbon monoxide in air which caused coma and respiratory failure (defined as failure to breathe in 20 sec) after about 2 hr of exposure. From 7 to 15 days after birth, signs of hyperactivity were present in the CO-exposed rats in an open field test. In the same age period, tests of reflex development did not demonstrate differences between CO-exposed and control rats. From 17 to 22 days of age, the CO-exposed rats were more often awake in the nest box than control rats. After weaning, the CO-exposed rats were found to be hyperactive, particularly at night, in a residential maze. This hyperactivity was present at 4, 5, 6, and 8 weeks of age, but the rats recovered by 3 months of age. When adult rats were exposed to CO, mild nocturnal hyperactivity usually developed several weeks after exposure, and no recovery was found up to 5 months later. The rapid onset and complete reversibility of hyperactivity in rats exposed to CO as neonates makes this form of anoxic damage an interesting model for further investigation.
Penitence, Confession, and the Power of Submission in Late Medieval Women's Religious Communities

This article argues that depictions of penance and confession in late medieval "Sisterbooks," which were written by women religious for communal use, show that medieval women understood religious authority to be enhanced through submission and service to community members. These collections of the lives and reminiscences of deceased sisters and father confessors construct idealized piety and religious authority through public acts of obedience and submission which built a reputation for sanctity, not just for the individual penitent, but for her entire community. Thus in the Sisterbooks, obedience to a confessor or spiritual director for both male and female penitents shifts the locus of spiritual authority from the confessor to the penitent and her community through communal observation and evaluation. These medieval Christian women understood the relationships between confessors and confessants as one which conferred power and authority to the penitent, complicating Foucault's influential claim that the sacrament of confession granted all power to the confessor who heard sins in secret. In the Sisterbooks, interactions between women religious and their confessors are depicted as relational, complex, and constantly in flux.
Model selection via adaptive shrinkage with t priors

We discuss a model selection procedure, the adaptive ridge selector, derived from a hierarchical Bayes argument, which results in a simple and efficient fitting algorithm. The hierarchical model utilized resembles an un-replicated variance components model and leads to weighting of the covariates. We discuss the intuition behind this type estimator and investigate its behavior as a regularized least squares procedure. While related alternatives were recently exploited to simultaneously fit and select variablses/features in regression models (Tipping in J Mach Learn Res 1:211–244, 2001; Figueiredo in IEEE Trans Pattern Anal Mach Intell 25:1150–1159, 2003), the extension presented here shows considerable improvement in model selection accuracy in several important cases. We also compare this estimator’s model selection performance to those offered by the lasso and adaptive lasso solution paths. Under randomized experimentation, we show that a fixed choice of tuning parameter leads to results in terms of model selection accuracy which are superior to the entire solution paths of lasso and adaptive lasso when the underlying model is a sparse one. We provide a robust version of the algorithm which is suitable in cases where outliers may exist.
Epistemology, two types of functionalism, and first-person authority

My target article did not attribute a pervasive ontological significance to phenomenology, so it escapes Bogdan's “epistemological illusion.” Pust correctly pinpoints an ambiguity between contentinclusive and content-exclusive forms of folk functionalism. Contrary to Fodor, however, only the former is plausible, and hence my third argument against functionalism remains a threat. Van Brakel's charity approach to first-person authority cannot deal with authority vis-a-vis sensations, and it has some extremely odd consequences.
A Proverb in Mind: The Cognitive Science of Proverbial Wit and Wisdom

Contents: Preface. Views of the Proverb. The Tangle of Figurative Language. Cognitive Foundations. Theories of Proverb Cognition. Under, Inside and Outside the Proverb. Brain, Development and Intelligence. New Horizons. References. Appendix: Proverb Source Materials.
The osmotic pressure of concentrated protein and lipoprotein solutions and its significance to ultrafiltration

Abstract Side-by-side measurements were made of osmotic pressure and ultrafiltration flux from a stirred cell for separate saline solutions of the proteins, bovine serum albumin, bovine fibrinogen, human low density lipoprotein and for polyethylene oxide .in distilled water. Albumin osmotic pressures were large enough to conclude that concentration polarization limits ultrafiltrate flux mostly by decreasing the driving forceΔP -Δπ. For the other large macrosolutes, concentrated-solution osmotic pressures were so small that polarization probably limits flux at the usual levels of applied pressure by adding a hydrodynamic resistance (gel layer) in series with the membrane resistance.
A simple method for extracting average doping concentration in the polysilicon and silicon surface layer near the oxide in polysilicon-gate MOS structures

The author demonstrates a simple technique that extracts average doping concentration in the polysilicon and silicon near the oxide in a metal/polysilicon/oxide/silicon system. The technique is based on the maximum-minimum capacitance method on two large area structures/spl minus/one MOSFET and one MOSC (MOS capacitor). The technique is simple and reliable since only three data points in the C-V data are required/spl minus/two points in MOSC C-V and one point in MOSFET C-V. The technique avoids inaccuracy caused by interface traps at the polysilicon/oxide and the oxide/silicon interface. The technique can be implemented into fab routine electric-test procedures for simultaneously monitoring change of doping concentration in polysilicon and silicon during process development. >
Privacy and Policy for Genetic Research

I begin with a discussion of the value of privacy and what we lose without it. I then turn to the difficulties of preserving privacy for genetic information and other medical records in the face of advanced information technology. I suggest three alternative public policy approaches to the problem of protecting individual privacy and also preserving databases for genetic research: (1) governmental guidelines and centralized databases, (2) corporate self-regulation, and (3) my hybrid approach. None of these are unproblematic; I discuss strengths and drawbacks of each, emphasizing the importance of protecting the privacy of sensitive medical and genetic information as well as letting information technology flourish to aid patient care, public health and scientific research.
Evaluation of spring cereal grains and wild Triticum germplasm for resistance to Rhizoctonia solani AG-8

Rhizoctonia root rot, caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn AG-8 (Anastomosis Group 8), is a yield-limiting disease of direct-seeded cereals in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) region of the USA, and to date, no resistant Triticum germplasm has been identified. The objective of this research was to identify potential sources of genetic resistance among selected members of the primary, secondary, and tertiary gene pools of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) for use in cultivar improvement. Members of the primary gene pool {spring wheat germplasm, synthetic hexaploids, triticale (x Triticosecale spp.), Triticum turgidum var. durum (Desf.) Bowden [= T. turgidum subsp. durum (Desf.) Husn.]}, secondary gene pool [Aegilops cylindrica Host, Dasypyrum villosum (L.) P. Candargyl, and tertiary gene pool (Hordeum vulgare L.) of wheat were screened for disease response to two isolates (C1 and D2) of R. solani AG-8 in controlled environment assays. Variation for magnitude of susceptibility to both isolates was detected, but no sources of resistance were identified among primary or tertiary gene pool members. Isolate D2 generally produced more severe disease than isolate C1, with the exception of the most susceptible accessions for which both isolates caused equally severe disease. All accessions of D. villosum exhibited some level of seedling resistance to isolate Cl, and 73% also displayed a resistance response to isolate D2. All D. villosum/durum amphiploids, as well as Chinese Spring/D. villosum addition lines, were susceptible to both isolates. Differences in disease response between the two isolates suggest that varying levels of virulence, or aggressiveness, exist among R. solani AG-8 isolates.
Cold-collision-shift cancellation and inelastic scattering in a Yb optical lattice clock

Recently, $p$-wave cold collisions were shown to dominate the density-dependent shift of the clock transition frequency in a ${}^{171}$Yb optical lattice clock. Here we demonstrate that by operating such a system at the proper excitation fraction, the cold-collision shift is canceled below the $5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}18}$ fractional frequency level. We report inelastic two-body loss rates for ${}^{3}\phantom{\rule{-0.16em}{0ex}}{P}_{0}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}$-${}^{3}\phantom{\rule{-0.16em}{0ex}}{P}_{0}$ and ${}^{1}\phantom{\rule{-0.16em}{0ex}}{S}_{0}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}$-${}^{3}\phantom{\rule{-0.16em}{0ex}}{P}_{0}$ scattering. We also measure interaction shifts in an unpolarized atomic sample. Collision measurements for this spin-1/2 ${}^{171}$Yb system are relevant for high-performance optical clocks as well as strongly interacting systems for quantum information and quantum simulation applications.
BioMEMS and Cellular Biology: Perspectives and Applications

The ability to culture cells has revolutionized hypothesis testing in basic cell and molecular biology research. It has become a standard methodology in drug screening, toxicology, and clinical assays, and is increasingly used in regenerative medicine. However, the traditional cell culture methodology essentially consisting of the immersion of a large population of cells in a homogeneous fluid medium and on a homogeneous flat substrate has become increasingly limiting both from a fundamental and practical perspective. Microfabrication technologies have enabled researchers to design, with micrometer control, the biochemical composition and topology of the substrate, and the medium composition, as well as the neighboring cell type in the surrounding cellular microenvironment. Additionally, microtechnology is conceptually well-suited for the development of fast, low-cost in vitro systems that allow for high-throughput culturing and analysis of cells under large numbers of conditions. In this interview, Albert Folch explains these limitations, how they can be overcome with soft lithography and microfluidics, and describes some relevant examples of research in his lab and future directions.
CONTROL OF HUMAN ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

Chaos control has been applied to control atrial fibrillation in humans. Results are presented on the application and evaluation of chaos control for slowing and regularizing local electrical activation of the right atrium of humans during induced atrial fibrillation.
Lebanon--its effect on smoking and drinking habits among Irish United Nations troops.

This is a study of the smoking and drinking habits of Irish soldiers. Data were recorded for subjects immediately before travelling overseas, at the end of six months in South Lebanon, and six months after returning to Ireland.
Remnant sugar maple (Acer saccharum subsp. skutchii) populations at their range edge: Characteristics, environmental constraints and conservation implications in tropical America

Abstract Relationships between environmental conditions and persistence of populations at edges of ranges should be useful for predicting consequences of climate change. We characterized environmental conditions of six disjunct sites in Mexico and Guatemala that contain all known relict populations of the most southern subspecies of sugar maple, cloud forest sugar maple (Acer saccharum subsp. skutchii). We also sampled abundance and basal area of all tree species, recording 164 species, 92 genera (61% tropical), and 54 families at these sites. Temperate genera decreased in number from north to south, but mixtures of temperate and tropical species were co-dominant with cloud forest sugar maple at all sites. For all species, basal area was 24–52 m2 ha−1 and density was 990–2986 trees/ha at the six sites. Cloud forest sugar maple comprised 7–43% of total basal area and 1–16% of total densities at each site. Populations of cloud forest sugar maple currently are vulnerable to environmental change. Anthropogenic disturbance is negatively affecting four populations, and regeneration is successfully occurring in only two sites. As a result, densities and basal area are much reduced compared to more northern temperate populations. NMS-ordination indicated that elevation and hurricane frequency are major environmental constraints related to abundance. Maple recruitment is associated with short hurricane return intervals that maintain higher elevation cloud forests in states conducive for regeneration. We establish the conservation status of cloud forest sugar maple at the southern end of its range relative to expected climate change and propose this subspecies be included in the IUCN-Red List.
Evaluation of the H -function inversion integral for real variables using Jordan's lemma and residues

The validity of Jordan’s lemma in the evaluation of all H-function inversion integrals for real variables is established. Consequently, these inversion integrals can be evaluated by residues without imposing constraints (such as those of Cook and Barnes) other than those specified in the definition of the H-function inversion integral for nonnegative real variables. The analytical form $h( x )$ of the H-function inversion integral for real variables $x\geqq 0$ is then expressible as a sum of residues. The constraints imposed by Cook and Barnes for the validity of the method of residues are required only if one makes the unnecessary demand that the inversion integral always be evaluated over the left Bromwich contour when the poles are in the LHP and always over the right Bromwich contour when the poles are in the RHP, without permitting certain legitimate transformations of the poles into the opposite half plane. It is always possible to use one of the two Bromwich contours by utilizing the transformation...
Catalytic behaviour of dense hot water.

Water is known to exhibit fascinating physical properties at high pressure and temperature. Its remarkable structural and phase complexities suggest the possibility of exotic chemical reactivity under extreme conditions, although this remains largely unstudied. Detonations of high explosives containing oxygen and hydrogen produce water at thousands of kelvin and tens of gigapascals, similar to conditions in the interiors of giant planets. These systems thus provide a unique means of elucidating the chemistry of ‘extreme water’. Here, we show that water has an unexpected role in catalysing complex explosive reactions—contrary to the current view that it is simply a stable detonation product. Using first-principles atomistic simulations of the detonation of the high explosive pentaerythritol tetranitrate, we discovered that H2O (source), H (reducer) and OH (oxidizer) act as a dynamic team that transports oxygen between reaction centres. Our finding suggests that water may catalyse reactions in other explosives and in planetary interiors.
Stress and Microstructure in Lpcvd Polycrystalline Silicon Films: Experimental Results and Closed Form Modeling of Stresses

Characterization of undoped polycrystalline silicon films indicates that correlations exist between stress and microstructure. Films of thickness between 0.5–3.6 μm were deposited onto SiO2-covered single crystal silicon wafers between 605 and 700°C using low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD). The average in-plane film stress and the stress gradient through the film thickness were determined from wafer curvature measurements, and film microstructure was studied with cross-sectional TEM. Films deposited near 605°C exhibit overall tensile stresses that result from an amorphous to crystalline phase change. At deposition temperatures exceeding 630°C, a columnar grain structure evolves out of a transition region of small grains at the SiO2 interface. The columnar films are compressive, with the source of compression linked to the region of small grains. Stress is modeled using a closed form solution ihat considers a linearly elastic contracting ellipsoidal inclusion near the surface of a half space. Several applications of the stress model are discussed.
Subcellular localization of alpha-tubulin and opsin mRNA in the goldfish retina using digoxigenin-labeled cRNA probes detected by alkaline phosphatase and HRP histochemistry.

This paper describes a method for non-radioactive in situ hybridization providing subcellular localization of mRNA in 3 /~m cryosections. We used two alternative colorimetric reactions to detect digoxigenin-labeled cRNA probes: alkaline phosphatase and HRP (horseradish peroxidase). With some probes the signal with the alkaline phosphatase reaction was intense, and diffusion of the reaction product was noticeable. Using HRP-conjugated antibodies improved the resolution but decreased the sensitivity of the signal. Photoamplification of the HRP reaction product increased the contrast and improved the sensitivity of the technique.
Meta-Analysis of Factor Analyses: An Illustration Using the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory

Among the many topics considered by meta-analysts, one that has received relatively little attention is the statistical integration of multivariate outcome data. This article focuses on a procedure proposed by Kaiser that has been used to integrate the results from different factor analyses. After giving a geometrical description of Kaiser's procedure, the authors illustrate its use with factor analytic studies of the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory. The results show that the seven subscales of the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory measure two dimensions of aggressiveness, one that can be called covert. The need for further development and application of multivariate data synthesis procedures is also discussed.