cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experimental Philosophy and Free Will

This paper develops a sympathetic critique of recent experimental work on free will and moral responsibility. Section 1 offers a brief defense of the relevance of experimental philosophy to the free will debate. Section 2 reviews a series of articles in the experimental literature that probe intuitions about the ‘‘compatibility question’’—whether we can be free and morally responsible if determinism is true. Section 3 argues that these studies have produced valuable insights on the factors that influence our judgments on the compatibility question, but that their general approach suffers from significant practical and philosophical difficulties. Section 4 reviews experimental work addressing other aspects of the free will ⁄ moral responsibility debate, and section 5 concludes with a discussion of avenues for further research.
In situ crosslinked hydrogels formed using Cu(I)-free Huisgen cycloaddition reaction

BACKGROUND: ‘Click’ chemistry, or the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of organic azides with alkynes, has been evaluated for many biomedical purposes; however, its utility in crosslinking hydrogels in situ is limited by the toxicity of the requisite copper(I) catalyst. We report the first use of catalyst-free Huisgen cycloaddition to generate crosslinked hydrogels under physiological conditions using multivalent azide-functionalized polymers and an electron-deficient dialkyne crosslinker. RESULTS: Water-soluble azide-functionalized polymers were crosslinked with an electron-deficient dialkyne crosslinker to form hydrogels at physiological temperature without the addition of copper(I) catalyst. Crosslinking was confirmed using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared and 1H NMR analyses. Flow by vial inversion and dynamic rheological methodologies were implemented to evaluate gelation kinetics at 37 °C of variable polymer compositions, concentrations and stoichiometric ratios. Kinetic studies revealed gelation in as little as 12 h at 37 °C, although strong gels that withstand inversion were observed by 1–8 days. CONCLUSION: The ability to form hydrogel networks under mild conditions demonstrates the potential viability of the catalyst-free ‘click’ crosslinking chemistry for in situ gelling and other biological applications. Further chemical modifications in the crosslinking moieties, as well as polymer and crosslinker conformations, are expected to enhance gelation kinetics to a more biomedically practical rate. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry
Maternal smoking and fetal growth of full term infants.

Results of investigation into the effects of maternal smoking and other selected independent variables on fetal growth indicated that smoking by gravida was assoicated with reductions in birth weights and crown-heel lengths but not with ponderal indices of newborn infants. Mothers of single infants were interviewed following delivery and before discharge about the amount of smoking during pregnancy. Infants were weighed and measured at birth and step-wise multiple regression analyses were used to interpret the data for 4 groups of infants: males born to primiparas males born to multiparas females born to primiparas and females born to multiparas. Results indicate that maternal smoking during pregnancy was associated with reductions in birth weights and crown-heel lengths but not in ponderal indices of these groups of full-term infants. The effects of smoking on fetal growth did not appear to be related to poor maternal nutrition and mean weight gains during the last 2 trimesters of pregnancy were not significantly different in smoking and nonsmoking mothers. Conflicting opinions exist concerning whether the reduction in crown-heel lengths are transitory or not; thus further study is recommended.
Optimum mass integration strategies for condensation and allocation of multicomponent VOCs

Abstract Multicomponent volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are among the most important species employed in the process industry. Their recovery and allocation, therefore, are critical tasks in many facilities. A key VOC recovery technology is condensation. This paper introduces a systematic procedure for the optimal design of condensation, mixing and routing of multicomponent VOCs. Mass integration strategies are employed as a holistic framework for addressing the problem. First, a mixed integer nonlinear program is developed to solve the problem. Because of the non-convexity of the problem coupled with the need to solve an inner minimization problem, a global optimization procedure is developed. This procedure is based on exploiting problem properties gained by insights, active constraint strategies and decomposition techniques. Furthermore, the solution strategy allows the use of non-ideal vapor liquid equilibrium calculations outside the optimization problem thereby significantly simplifying the calculations while still maintaining the rigor of the results. Using these concepts, the seemingly complicated design task is reduced to a far more tractable problem which is solved globally. A case study is presented to demonstrate the broad applicability and potential benefits of the approach along with its global optimization solution strategies.
Role of noise and music as anxiety modulators: Relationship with ovarian hormones in the rat

a b s t r a c t This work aims to verify the role of noise and music as anxiety modulators and their relationship with ovarian hormones. For this purpose, female Wistar rats were used and treated, forming different experimental groups, with 17--estradiol, progesterone, allopregnanolone, finasteride (inhibitor of the 5--reductase) and faslodex (inhibitor of estrogen receptors), with the rats being previously ovariectomized in the case of the first three hormones. All the groups were submitted to stimuli of silence, white noise (sound that has all frequencies) and music (sonata for 2 pianos K. 448 by W.A. Mozart), and to two valuation tests of the anxiety levels: elevated plus-maze and light-dark box transition. In this study, the anxiogenic effect of noise and the anxiolytic effect of music were verified. Both exerted their effects separately from the ovarian steroid hormones, although the influ- ence of progesterone and allopregnanolone increased the anxiolytic power of the music. 17--estradiol was the least influential of the ovarian hormones and its effects might be concealed by the intervention of the other two (allopregnanolone and progesterone). © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Molecular genetic and biochemical evidence for the involvement of the heptapeptide cleavage sequence in determining the reaction profile at two tobacco etch virus cleavage sites in cell-free assays.

Abstract Potyviruses express their genetic information from a genome length RNA as a single polyprotein, which is post-translationally processed by at least two different viral-encoded proteolytic activities. Since regulation of the expression of individual genes is not likely to occur at the transcriptional level, we sought to determine if post-translational regulation of gene expression was possible via differential proteolytic processing. Modulating the rate of cleavage at different gene product junctions could be a potential mechanism to regulate the kinetics of formation of specific gene products. We have examined the proteolytic processing of two tobacco etch virus (TEV) cleavage sites using a cell-free system in which synthetic polyprotein precursors were processed by the TEV 49-kDa proteinase. The amino acid sequences at these two sites contained both conserved and variable positions. The cleavage reaction at the TEV 50/71-kDa junction was characterized as “slow” ( T 1 2 = ∼ 27 min ) while the cleavage reaction at the 58/30-kDa junction was judged “fast” ( T 1 2 = ∼ 5 min ). Similar cleavage reactions were observed whether the cleavage site was in its natural polyprotein context or placed in a foreign position. The slow and fast cleavage sites could be interconverted by changing the nonconserved amino acid positions. The data suggest that the heptapeptide sequence proximal to a TEV cleavage site determines not only cleavage at a particular junction but influences the cleavage reaction profile in cell-free studies.
A quantitative analysis of the F18 flight control system

This paper presents an informal quantitative analysis of the F18 flight control system (FCS). The analysis technique combines a coverage model with a fault tree model. To demonstrate the method's extensive capabilities, we replace the fault tree with a digraph model of the F18 FCS, the only model available to us. The substitution shows that while digraphs have primarily been used for qualitative analysis, they can also be used for quantitative analysis. Based on our assumptions and the particular failure rates assigned to the F18 FCS components, we show that coverage does have a significant effect on the system's reliability and thus it is important to include coverage in the reliability analysis.
Barley in udon noodles Tallarines elaborados con cebada

Abraded (up to 20%) ground naked non-waxy and waxy barleys were blended with wheat flours. Amylograph peak temperatures of wheat/barley blends (85:15) decreased by 1.5 °C with non- waxy barley and by 3.5 °C with waxy barley. Peak viscosities of wheat flours was increased by the addition of non-waxy barley and decreased by the addition of waxy barley. Adding either non-waxy or waxy barley increased breakdown viscosities. Texture profile analysis (TPA) para meters of udon noodles prepared from wheat-barley blends were largely unaffected by non-waxy barley, but were lowered by waxy barley and by potato, corn or barley starches. Whereas incor poration of increasingly abraded non-waxy barley had little effect on the TPA parameters of udon noodles, addition of increasingly abraded waxy barley decreased hardness and chewiness of udon noodles. A shorter cooking time is required to cook noodles from wheat-barley blends (as indicated by lower peak viscosity temperatures and more open internal structures of noodles, as seen by scanning electron microscopy) than from wheat flour. Extent of colour darkening of udon noodles was reduced as the added barley flours were obtained from increasingly abraded grain.
Regulation of Insulin-Like Growth Factor I Messenger Ribonucleic Acid Levels by Serum in Cultured Rat Fibroblasts*

Fibroblasts represent one of the in vivo sites of extrahepatic insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) production. In this study, cultured fibroblasts prepared from the skin of neonatal rats were used as a model to assess the role of serum in regulating IGF-I messenger RNA (mRNA) levels. IGF-I mRNA, as demonstrated by Northern blot analysis, was present in the cultured fibroblasts, and serum free media which was conditioned by fibroblasts for 20 h contained 108 pg/ml of immunoreactive IGF-I. Fetal calf serum (FCS) decreased steady state IGF-I mRNA levels, as measured by solution hybridization/ RNase protection assay, in fibroblasts in a time- and dosedependent fashion. Incubation of fibroblasts for 18 h in the presence of 0.3%, 0.6%, or 1% FCS decreased IGF-I mRNA levels to 76%, 56%, and 46% of the levels present in control cells which were maintained in serum free media with 0.25% BSA. Maximal inhibition to approximately 20% of control levels was seen with 4–10% FCS. In contrast, basic fibroblast growth fac...
Genetic and environmental influences on impulsivity: A meta-analysis of twin, family and adoption studies

A meta-analysis of twin, family and adoption studies was conducted to estimate the magnitude of genetic and environmental influences on impulsivity. The best fitting model for 41 key studies (58 independent samples from 14 month old infants to adults; N=27,147) included equal proportions of variance due to genetic (0.50) and non-shared environmental (0.50) influences, with genetic effects being both additive (0.38) and non-additive (0.12). Shared environmental effects were unimportant in explaining individual differences in impulsivity. Age, sex, and study design (twin vs. adoption) were all significant moderators of the magnitude of genetic and environmental influences on impulsivity. The relative contribution of genetic effects (broad sense heritability) and unique environmental effects were also found to be important throughout development from childhood to adulthood. Total genetic effects were found to be important for all ages, but appeared to be strongest in children. Analyses also demonstrated that genetic effects appeared to be stronger in males than in females. Method of assessment (laboratory tasks vs. questionnaires), however, was not a significant moderator of the genetic and environmental influences on impulsivity. These results provide a structured synthesis of existing behavior genetic studies on impulsivity by providing a clearer understanding of the relative genetic and environmental contributions in impulsive traits through various stages of development.
Other papers: Eight steps to better newsletters

To the new or prospective editor, publishing a professional society newsletter can seem a formidable task. It need not be, however, with proper planning and organization. This paper describes a systematic approach to editing: (1) analyzing the editing task and assessing current publications; (2) considering costs and production alternatives; (3) formulating publication goals and an editorial philosophy; (4) planning a yearly calendar of issues and setting publication deadlines; (5) identifying critical issues and sources of information; (6) establishing methods for obtaining information; (7) creating a distinctive image; and (8) following through. Using a systematic approach simplifies the task of editing and makes it possible to publish newsletters that are accurate, attractive, authoritative, interesting, and readable as well as timely and informative.
The uppermost abdomen in the recumbent patient: The last neglected area in radiology

Custom has come to dictate an inadequate evaluation of the abdomen by allowing the kidney ureters and bladder study (KUB) to be deemed equivalent to a full study of the supine abdomen. The reason for this suboptimal approximation is related to architectural imperatives, traditional practice, and landmark studies favoring horizontal beam projections. Now, using the digital scout view in conjunction with contemporaneous computed tomography, the diagnostic importance of the uppermost abdomen, positioned beyond the superior limit of a KUB, can be demonstrated, and its sensitivity can be measured for the recognition of pneumoperitoneum. In large patients, a two-view supine abdominal series can overcome the neglect of the subdiaphragmatic region, improving our capability to recognize free air, even when its volume is less than 1 cc.
Simulation of Human Problem-Solving Method

One of the most intriguing and potentially important applications of the digital computer is in the simula tion of human thought processes. The objects of thought when suitably coded can be transformed, classified and stored within the computer at will.The predominant charactertistic of human thought processes is their generality. To make any progress in the simulation of such processes, it is first necessary to isolate a small region and examine it in isolation. As progress is made in one region, it can be ex panded and generalized to include a wider field, and it is likely that many of the methods used in a re stricted field will be susceptible to modification for use in a larger area. It is desirable to work initially in a region in which the relationships between the ob jects of thought are clearly defined.This report deals with the problem of finding se quences of transformations which constitute proofs of trigonometric identities. The method described need not be confined to this particular problem,...
Fas antigen and sporadic Alzheimer's disease in Southern Italy: evaluation of two polymorphisms in the TNFRSF6 gene.

Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Super Family 6 gene (TNFRSF6), also known as FAS, encodes the Fas antigen, a cell surface receptor mediating cell apoptosis, situated on chromosome 10q located near the region of linkage to sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (sAD). FAS levels have been reported elevated in the brain of AD patients. Due to both positional and pathobiological criteria, the association of the FAS antigen with this pathology is of great interest. We have tested two SNPs in the FAS gene in 223 Italian patients with non-familial AD from Southern Italy (Calabria region) and 211 healthy control subjects. No significant differences in allelic and genotypic distributions were found between cases and controls, or late and early-onset AD patients, thus suggesting that these polymorphisms do not represent an AD risk factor in our population.
Correlation of Joint Line Tenderness and Meniscal Lesions in Patients with Acute Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears

We sought to evaluate the accuracy with which joint line tenderness is associated with meniscal lesions in knees with acute anterior cruciate ligament tears. The physical assessment of joint line tenderness was performed at a mean of 8 days after the initial injury in 173 patients who subsequently underwent anterior cruciate ligament re construction. Identification of meniscal lesions was documented at the time of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Eighty-nine patients (51%) had medial joint line tenderness; of this subgroup, 40 (45%) had a medial meniscal tear. Eighty-four patients (49%) had no medial joint line tenderness; of this subgroup, 29 (35%) had a medial meniscal tear. Fifty-nine patients (34%) had lateral joint line tenderness; of this subgroup, 34 (58%) had a lateral meniscal tear. One hundred four teen patients (66%) had no lateral joint line tenderness; of this subgroup, 56 (49%) had a lateral meniscal tear. Medial joint line tenderness was 44.9% sensitive and 34.5% specific in predi...
Expression and Localization of CLC Chloride Transport Proteins in the Avian Retina

Members of the ubiquitously expressed CLC protein family of chloride channels and transporters play important roles in regulating cellular chloride and pH. The CLCs that function as Cl−/H+ antiporters, ClCs 3–7, are essential in particular for the acidification of endosomal compartments and protein degradation. These proteins are broadly expressed in the nervous system, and mutations that disrupt their expression are responsible for several human genetic diseases. Furthermore, knock-out of ClC3 and ClC7 in the mouse result in the degeneration of the hippocampus and the retina. Despite this evidence of their importance in retinal function, the expression patterns of different CLC transporters in different retinal cell types are as yet undescribed. Previous work in our lab has shown that in chicken amacrine cells, internal Cl− can be dynamic. To determine whether CLCs have the potential to participate, we used PCR and immunohistochemical techniques to examine CLC transporter expression in the chicken retina. We observed a high level of variation in the retinal expression levels and patterns among the different CLC proteins examined. These findings, which represent the first systematic investigation of CLC transporter expression in the retina, support diverse functions for the different CLCs in this tissue.
Separation of dimethylaminoazobenzenethiohydantoin amino acids by high-performance liquid chromatography at low picomole concentrations

The separation of all common dimethylaminoazobenzenethiohydantoin (DABTH) amino acids derived from modified Edman sequencing can be achieved by using high-performance liquid chromatography. All derivatives, including DABTH-Ile and DABTH-Leu, can be readily separated in a solvent mixture of sodium acetate buffer and 1% ethylene dichloride in acetonitrile. The high absorbance of the DABTH amino acids at 436 nm makes possible the quantitative determination of these derivatives at picomole concentrations in a relatively short time (30-40 min).
A note on sparseness conditions on chordless vertices of cycles

Abstract Conditions that disperse the chordless vertices of cycles correspond—sometimes in unexpected ways—to a variety of standard graph classes. Two examples: no cycle of length at least 5 has chordless vertices that are distance 2 apart in the cycle if and only if the graph is distance-hereditary; no cycle of length at least 5 has any chordless vertices if and only if every block of the graph is complete multipartite.
Viking‐era diurnal water‐ice clouds

[1] Water-ice clouds during the Viking era are mapped as a function of season, latitude, longitude, and time of day. In the springtime hemisphere, where data are available, clouds are observed to decrease from morning to midday. They are observed to increase in extent from midday to afternoon, possibly due to increased atmospheric temperatures causing uplifting of dust which then acts as cloud condensation nuclei. During the summer hemisphere clouds are observed to decrease in extent throughout the day, indicating sufficient warming to prevent water reaching the condensation level. The Hadley cell upwelling branch is seen throughout the year via cloud belts in both the northern (aphelion cloud belt) and southern hemispheres in their respective springs and summers. Clouds extending equatorward of 60°N in late northern summer and early northern autumn are seen primarily over the Acidalia Planitia longitudinal sector and may indicate the southernmost extent of the north polar hood or clouds associated with storms. Water-ice clouds associated with topographic features are seen, including Olympus Mons, the Tharsis volcanoes, and the northern rim of Hellas basin. There is little evidence for interannual variability in the prominent cloud features (e.g., the aphelion cloud belt) since they are present in both Martian years examined, though the detailed structure does change.
The hepatocyte glucose-6-phosphatase subcomponent T3: its relationship to GLUT2.

Abstract Glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) is a multiple protein complex in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that includes a mechanism (known as T3) for glucose exit from the ER to the cytosol. The molecular identity of T3 is not known. T3 has been shown to be functional in the absence of GLUT2, indicating that it is not GLUT2. Here we found a 55-kDa protein in high-density microsomal fraction (HDM) of rat hepatocytes that is recognized by polyclonal GLUT2 antibody raised against the GLUT2 C-terminal 14-amino-acid-sequence peptide. HDM contained calnexin but no integrin-β1 or Na/K ATPase in Western blotting. Significant GLUT2 immunoreactivity was colocalized with colligin, an ER marker, in confocal microscopy. Furthermore, the 55-kDa protein in HDM was labeled with a covalently reactive, impermeable glucose transporter substrate, 1,3-bis-(3-deoxy- d -glucopyranose-3-yloxy)-2-propyl 4-benzoyl-benzoate (B3GL) when hepatocyte homogenates, but not intact cells, were labeled. In addition glucose efflux from HDM vesicles was sensitive to B3GL treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Based on these findings, we suggest that T3 may be a novel facilitative glucose transporter that is highly homologous to GLUT2 in the C-terminal sequence, thus cross-reacting with the GLUT2 antibody. The finding will be useful in molecular identification and cloning of T3.
High-extraction magnetic filtration: A new beneficiation process for industrial minerals

Many high-quality industrial mineral deposits are being rapidly depleted, and lower-quality deposits must be beneficiated to meet the specifications required for industrial uses. In a number of instances, iron and titanium mineral impurities are the major contaminants. High-extraction magnetic filtration (HEMF) will remove magnetic and paramagnetic minerals from industrial rocks and minerals such as ball clay, bauxite, bentonite, high silica sand, kaolin, kyanite, talc, tripoli, and wollastonite. Data are presented on all of the above minerals, showing that each can be upgraded in quality by removing iron- and titanium-bearing minerals. For example, the iron content of an Arkansas bauxite was reduced from 7.92% to 0.86%, and the brightness of a white Texas bentonite was increased from 83.5% to 93.0%. HEMF can be used as a beneficiation process to increase the reserves of many industrial minerals and to produce higher-quality products. The process involves selectively filtering magnetic or paramagnetic mineral particles from a slurry, allowing the nonmagnetic mineral particles to pass through a magnetic matrix filter.
Sedimentation velocity properties of complex mitochondrial DNA.

The interlocked duplex DNA rings in a catenane appear to sediment as independent units when the rings are relaxed and as connected units when the rings are in a superhelical conformation.
Variations in the course of the hypoglossal nerve: a case report and literature review

The extracranial hypoglossal nerve has a well described course as it traverses the neck, and is frequently identified during neck dissection, carotid endarterectomy and other procedures involving the deep spaces of the neck. A case is presented which demonstrates aberrancy of its anatomic position. Variations of its course are well documented, however none have demonstrated a course lateral to the internal jugular vein. This serves to alert the surgeon to be mindful of such atypical presentations as the consequences of iatrogenic injury to such structures may be significant.
Brain growth: Interactions of maturation with adrenal steroids

Abstract By performing autopsies at two different ages—when fully mature or 80 days later—it was possible to determine whether adrenalectomy-induced brain growth is enduring or transient, due to a temporary acceleration of maturation. Male rats were adrenalectomized or sham-operated at age 25 days. The effects on brain were assessed at either age 65 days or 145 days. Adrenalectomy produced the previously reported hypertrophy as reflected in hindbrain weight, forebrain weight, and linear dimensions. Most importantly, the adrenalectomy-induced brain growth not only continued across the two phases, the rate of divergence between the groups increased with age. The results clearly reject the idea that adrenalectomy merely hastens maturation of the brain. Rather, the effects of adrenalectomy are enduring, progressive, and more dramatic with age.
Ischemia-Induced Interleukin-8 Release After Human Heart Transplantation: A Potential Role for Endothelial Cells

Background Interleukin-8 (IL-8) secreted from endothelial cells is a powerful neutrophil chemoattractant and activator. We hypothesized that human endothelial cells deprived of oxygen would secrete...
On duality for a generalized Monge–Kantorovich problem

Abstract The existence of a minimizer for a special version of the Monge–Kantorovich problem is solved using classical tools of functional analysis, and it is shown that the minimizer is not unique. Our variational problem has a connection to the Michell problem in optimal design.
Effects of intravenous Salmonella dublin on cattle at different stages of Fasciola hepatica infection.

Abstract Cattle given 10 8 S. dublin intravenously 25 weeks after oral administration of 1000 metacercariae of F. hepatica all developed diarrhoea and 6 of the 9 died. All 3 survivors regularly excreted more than 10 4 S. dublin per g of faeces until they were slaughtered 30 weeks later. S. dublin was then isolated from more than half of the tissues examined from cach animal. Fluke-free cattle showed only transient pyrexia and a low incidence of excretion beyond the second week after injection of 10 8 S. dublin . One tissue from each of 2 animals from this group of 6 contained S. dublin at necropsy. The response to 10 8 S. dublin was unaffected by F. hepatica given 1 week previously. The response to 10 7 S. dublin was not altered by F. hepatica given 25 weeks or 1 week previously. Plasma levels of liver-derived intracellular enzymes, used as indices of liver damage, were not elevated 1 week after fluke infection and by 25 weeks the levels had fallen considerably from their maximal values. In animals given S. dublin 1 week after fluke, the plasma enzyme levels around 12 weeks later suggested that liver damage was extremely severe at the time in those animals.
Multifactorial analysis of local recurrences in rectal cancer, including DNA ploidy studies: a predictive model.

DNA ploidy studies were performed in 188 patients operated on for rectal cancer. In order to define different risk groups of patients, a stepwise logistic regression was carried out in 138 patients who underwent abdominal “curative” resections. Thirtyseven variables were analyzed. Although several variables were significant, only three improved the prognostic value: (1) more than three positive lymph nodes (p=0.0007); (2) macroscopic local tumor invasion (p=0.01); and (3) DNA ploidy (p=0.03). Standardized discriminant coefficients were used to obtain a model and format for predicting local recurrences. This is the first time that a predictive model for rectal cancer, using DNA ploidy as a variable, is reported.
Capital Punishment as a Response to Evil

Some jurisdictions acknowledge, as a matter of positive law, the relevance of evil to capital punishment. At one point, the state of Florida counted that the fact that a murderer’s crime was “especially wicked, evil, atrocious or cruel” as an aggravating factor for purposes of capital sentencing. I submit that Florida may be onto something. I consider a thesis about capital punishment that strikes me as plausible on its face: if capital punishment is ever morally permissible, it is permissible as a response to evil. Call this the Punishment as a Response to Evil thesis, or PRE. If capital punishment is not morally permissible as a response to evil, then, according to PRE, it is not morally permissible, period. PRE admits of at least two different readings: on the first, if capital punishment is ever morally justified it is justified as a punishment for evil crimes; on the second, if capital punishment is ever morally justified it is justified as a punishment for evil people. While this first version of PRE has found advocates in both philosophy and forensic psychiatry, I argue against this first reading of PRE and for the second. To secure this conclusion I appeal to an account of evil and evil personhood that I have developed elsewhere.
The measured energy loss of high energy electrons in aluminum

The energy distributions of electrons of about 54, 75 and 97 Mev have been measured before and after passing through aluminum absorbers of thicknesses ranging from 0.730 to 5.574 gm/cm2. The electrons were accelerated by the LINAC of the Naval Postgraduate School. The most probable energy losses agree with the theory ofBlunck andWestphal for all thicknesses; the half widths of the distributions agree with theory except for large thicknesses, where they exceed the theoretical values. These results are in contrast to those ofBreuer, which indicate systematically large half widths and most probable energy losses which are greater than theory for thicknesses greater than about 2 gm/cm2. Since our data agree with those ofBreuer, the difference occurs in the treatment of the theory.
Additional evidence for fusion-fission in 32S+24Mg reactions: Division of excitation energy and spin in the fission fragments.

We have measured {gamma} rays in coincidence with {sup 12}C fragments from the fission of {sup 56}Ni produced with the {sup 32}S+{sup 24}Mg reaction at {ital E}{sub lab}=140 MeV. These data provide insight into the fission process in this light system by giving information about the energy and spin sharing between the {sup 12}C and {sup 44}Ti fragments, and the spin alignment of the lighter, {sup 12}C fragment. The spin transfer and the nuclear temperature'' at scission deduced from this measurement can be related to the compound-nucleus spin and potential energy at scission. The results indicate a statistical decay process consistent with the predictions of the transition-state model employing newer estimates of the spin- and mass-asymmetry-dependent saddle-point energies and corresponding shapes. No evidence is found for the spin alignment of the {sup 12}C fragments, contrary to what might be expected for a deep-inelastic scattering origin of the fully energy damped yields.
Global ionospheric TEC variations during January 10, 1997 storm

The ionospheric storm evolution process was monitored during the January 10, 1997 magnetic cloud event, through measurements of the inonospheric total electron content (TEC) from 150 GPS stations. The first significant response of the inonospheric TEC to the geomagnetic storm was at 0300 UT as an auroral/subauroral enhancement around the Alaskan evening sector.
Evaluation of Nanostructural, Mechanical, and Biological Properties of Collagen–Nanotube Composites

Collagen I is an essential structural and mechanical building block of various tissues, and it is often used as tissue-engineering scaffolds. However, collagen-based constructs reconstituted in vitro often lacks robust fiber structure, mechanical stability, and molecule binding capability. To enhance these performances, the present study developed 3-D collagen-nanotube composite constructs with two types of functionalized carbon nanotubes, carboxylated nanotubes and covalently functionalized nanotubes (CFNTs). The influences of nanotube functionalization and loading concentration on the collagen fiber structure, mechanical property, biocompatibility, and molecule binding were examined. Results revealed that surface modification and loading concentration of nanotubes determined the interactions between nanotubes and collagen fibrils, thus altering the structure and property of nanotube-collagen composites. Scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy revealed that the incorporation of CFNT in collagen-based constructs was an effective means of restructuring collagen fibrils because CFNT strongly bound to collagen molecules inducing the formation of larger fibril bundles. However, increased nanotube loading concentration caused the formation of denser fibril network and larger aggregates. Static stress-strain tests under compression showed that the addition of nanotube into collagen-based constructs did not significantly increase static compressive moduli. Creep/recovery testing under compression revealed that CFNT-collagen constructs showed improved mechanical stability under continuous loading. Testing with endothelial cells showed that biocompatibility was highly dependent on nanotube loading concentration. At a low loading level, CFNT-collagen showed higher endothelial coverage than the other tested constructs or materials. Additionally, CFNT-collagen showed capability of binding to other biomolecules to enhance the construct functionality. In conclusion, functionalized nanotube-collagen composites, particularly CFNT-collagen composites, could be promising materials, which provide structural support showing bundled fibril structure, biocompatibility, multifunctionality, and mechanical stability, but rigorous control over chemical modification, loading concentration, and nanotube dispersion are needed.
Comparison of Seismicity Rates in the New Madrid and Wabash Valley Seismic Zones

The Wabash Valley seismic zone in southern Illinois and Indiana is a northeastern extension of the New Madrid seismic zone (Figure 1). Like New Madrid, the Wabash zone is underlain by a failed Precambrian rift, which plays a role in controlling the recent faulting (Braile et al. 1986; Sexton et al. 1986; Bear et al. 1997). Paleoliquefaction deposits indicate the past occurrence of large earthquakes in the Wabash zone (Obermeier 1998) that may have been comparable to those that occurred in the New Madrid zone in 1811–1812 (Hough et al. 2000). The two areas seem likely to be mechanically coupled in that stress transfer following large earthquakes in one could affect earthquake occurrence in the other (Mueller et al. 2004). Numerical modeling indicates that stress transfer following the 1811–1812 New Madrid earthquakes may be loading faults in the Wabash zone (Li et al. 2005; 2007). Despite their similarities, the two zones have an intriguing difference in seismicity rates (Stein and Newman 2004). This difference is shown in Figure 2A by comparison of frequency-magnitude plots. The plots combine the Center for Earthquake Research and Information (CERI) catalog of seismologically recorded small earthquakes spanning January 1975–June 2010 (http://www.ceri.memphis.edu/seismic/catalogs/cat_nm.html) and the Nuttli catalog of historic earthquakes for 1804–1974 with magnitudes out to magnitude 6.2 (Nuttli 1974). Both areas show a Gutenberg-Richter distribution of seismicity, log …
Molecular mechanisms involved in bacterial speck disease resistance of tomato

An important recent advance in the field of plant-microbe interactions has been the cloning of genes that confer resistance to specific viruses, bacteria, fungi or nematodes. Disease resistance (R) genes encode proteins with predicted structural motifs consistent with them having roles in signal recognition and transduction. The future challenge is to understand how R gene products specifically perceive defence-eliciting signals from the pathogen and transduce those signals to pathways that lead to the activation of plant defence responses. In tomatoes, the Pto kinase (product of the Pto R gene) confers resistance to strains of the bacterial speck pathogen, Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato, that carry the corresponding avirulence gene avrPto. Resistance to bacterial speck disease is initiated by a mechanism involving the physical interaction of the Pto kinase and the AvrPto protein. This recognition event initiates signalling events that lead to defence responses including an oxidative burst, the hypersensitive response and expression of pathogenesis-related genes. Pto-interacting (Pti) proteins have been identified that appear to act downstream of the Pto kinase and our current studies are directed at elucidating the roles of these components.
All regular Landsberg metrics are Berwald

This article negatively answers the long standing problem concerning the existence of non-Berwald Landsberg metrics.
Reactive Spreading in Ceramic/Metal Systems

Reactive spreading, in which a chemically active element is added to promote wetting of noble metals on nonmetallic materials, is evaluated mechanistically. Theories for the energetics and kinetics of the steps involved in spreading are outlined to permit comparison to the steps in the compound formation that typically accompanies reactive wetting. These include: fluid flow, active metal adsorption, including nonequilibrium effects, and triple line ridging. They can all be faster than compound nucleation under certain conditions. This analysis plus assessment of recently reported experiments on metal/ceramic systems lead to a focus on those conditions under which spreading proceeds ahead of the actual formation of a new phase at the interface. This scenario may be more typical than commonly believed, and perhaps is the most effective situation leading to enhanced spreading. A rationale for the slow spreading rates plus the pervasive variability and hysteresis observed during high temperature wetting also emerges.
Quercetin: bioflavonoids as part of interferon-free hepatitis C therapy?

HCV affects more than 170 million people worldwide, including 3.2 million Americans. It accounts for more than 350,000 deaths globally each year [101,102]. Although some HCV-infected patients spont...
Principles of Reason, Degrees of Judgment, and Kant's Argument for the Existence of God

proved by speculative theology, yet that speculative theology is the only means by which the existence of God can definitively be proved. All knowledge, Kant argues, including that of God's exis tence, must be based on the forms of possible experience or deduced from premises known to be true: in the case of the existence of God, however, the former is impossible because God transcends experi ence, and the latter is impossible because the premises themselves, to be known to be true, would have to be grounded in possible experience, while, by the very nature of the question, possible ex perience has been excluded. Thus, the existence of God cannot be known in the usual sense, that is, by means of the theoretical employment of reason.1 Yet the philosopher, qua philosopher, cannot accept revelation or unexamined premises as fact. Thus, if he is to argue in favor of the existence of God, he must find some other approach. A striking example of such another approach is that of Pascal, who argues for the reasonableness, and hence acceptability by the philosopher and intellectual, of the belief in God's existence in terms of the necessity of a commitment and on the pragmatic grounds of the equality of the odds and the value of the gain to be obtained. William James, using a variation on the same method, bases his argumentation on the necessity of the option, the quality of the odds, and the crucial
Distributed Watchpoints: Debugging Large Modular Robot Systems

Distributed systems frequently exhibit properties of interest which span multiple entities. These properties cannot easily be recognized from any single entity, but can be readily detected by combining the knowledge of multiple entities. Testing for distributed properties is especially important in debugging or verifying software for modular robots. We have developed a technique we call distributed watchpoint triggers which can efficiently recognize distributed conditions. Our watchpoint description language can handle a variety of temporal, spatial and logical properties spanning multiple robots. In this paper we present the specification language, describe the distributed online mechanism for detecting distributed conditions in a running system and evaluate the performance of our implementation.
A Four-State Markov Frame Error Model for the Wireless Physical Layer

Wireless network analysis and simulations rely on simple yet accurate physical layer models. In this paper, a new four-state Markov model is proposed for the flat Rayleigh fading channel by approximating the good/bad frame run length distributions with a mixture of geometric distributions. The transition probabilities in the four-state model can be analytically established without having to run extensive physical layer simulations. This greatly simplifies the process of model establishment. Physical layer good/bad frame run length distributions are compared and it is shown that the four-state Markov model reasonably approximates the run length distributions. Ns2 simulations are performed and comparisons are made with the popular two-state Markov model and also the finite state Markov chain model.
An Experimental Study of Global and Local Search Algorithms in Empirical Performance Tuning

The increasing complexity, heterogeneity, and rapid evolution of modern computer architectures present obstacles for achieving high performance of scientific codes on different machines. Empirical performance tuning is a viable approach to obtain high-performing code variants based on their measured performance on the target machine. In previous work, we formulated the search for the best code variant as a numerical optimization problem. Two classes of algorithms are available to tackle this problem: global and local algorithms. We present an experimental study of some global and local search algorithms on a number of problems from the recently introduced SPAPT test suite. We show that local search algorithms are particularly attractive, where finding high-preforming code variants in a short computation time is crucial.
Economic Theory and Economic Thought. Essays in Honour of Ian Steedman

Economic Theory and Economic Thought. Essays in Honour of Ian Steedman contains contributions from a distinguished group of scholars. It is highly recommended reading for all economists, especially...
Improved Control of DFIG Wind Turbines for Operation with Unbalanced Network Voltages

Many wind turbine generators (WTGs) are installed in remote, rural areas, where the power grids are usually weak, characterized by unbalanced voltage conditions. If the voltage unbalance is not taken into account in the control system, it will cause poor power quality and poor operating performance of the WTG systems. This paper proposes a novel control scheme to improve the operating performance of a wind turbine equipped with a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) under unbalanced network voltage conditions. The rotor-side converter (RSC) and grid-side converter (GSC) of the DFIG are controlled in a positive (dq)+ reference frame as well as in a negative (dq)- reference frame. Control of the RSC and GSC in the (dq)+ reference frame is the same as the regular control under balanced network conditions. The supplementary control of the RSC in the (dq)- reference frame minimizes the electromagnetic torque pulsations of the DFIG caused by the unbalanced network voltage; the supplementary control of the GSC in the (dq)- reference frame contributes to balance the total output currents of the DFIG. The proposed control scheme is implemented in PSCAD/EMTDC on a 3.6 MW DFIG wind turbine connected to a power network with unbalanced voltage. Results show that it improves the operating performance of the DFIG wind turbine system.
The Effect of Atmospheric Noise on the Probability of Error for an NCFSK System

A noncoherent frequency-shift-keying (NCFSK) modulation system is considered. The binary element error probability is computed when the additive noise is atmospheric (using empirical curves) and the fading obeys a gamma distribution. The fading is assumed to be flat over the frequency band occupied and slow in comparison to the baud rate. Curves displaying the probability of an element error as a function of signal-to-noise ratio are given, and a direct comparison is made with the corresponding results for idealized Gaussian noise. It is concluded that, for certain atmospheric noise conditions and fading distributions, atmospheric noise is not as harmful as Gaussian noise. However, in other cases, the probability of an error occurring in a system corrupted by atmospheric noise may be many times that of the same system affected by Gaussian noise.
Ascorbic acid and carnitine biosynthesis.

It has been suggested that early features of scurvy (fatigue and weakness) may be attributed to carnitine deficiency. Ascorbate is a cofactor for two a-ketoglutarate-re- quiring dioxygenase reactions (�-N-trimethyllysine hydroxylase and -y-butyrobetaine hydroxylase) in the pathway of carnitine biosynthesis. Carnitine concentrations are variably low in some tissues ofscorbutic guinea pigs. Ascorbic acid deficiency in guinea pigs resulted in decreased activity of hepatic -y-butyrobetaine hydroxylase and renal but not hepatic �-N-trimethyllysine hy- droxylase when exogenous substrates were provided. It remains unclear whether vitamin C deficiency has a significant impact on the overall rate of carnitine synthesis from endogenous sub- strates. Nevertheless, results of studies of enzyme preparations and perfused liver in vitro and of scorbutic guinea pigs in vivo provide compelling evidence for participation of ascorbic acid in carnitine biosynthesis. Am J Clin Nutr 199 l;54: I1475-525.
Clinical Activity of Pleconaril in an Experimentally Induced Coxsackievirus A21 Respiratory Infection

A randomized, double-blind study assessed the efficacy and safety of pleconaril, a novel antiviral drug with broad-spectrum activity against picornaviruses, in the treatment of 33 adults with an experimentally induced viral respiratory infection. Subjects received either pleconaril 200 mg twice daily (initial dose of 400 mg) or placebo for 7 days. Fourteen hours after receiving the initial dose of either pleconaril or placebo, subjects were inoculated intranasally with 100 plaque-forming units of coxsackievirus A21. Results revealed statistically significant reductions in viral shedding in nasal secretions ( ), nasal mucus production P ! .001 ( ), and total respiratory illness symptom scores ( ) in pleconaril-treated as P= .004 P= .013 compared with placebo-treated subjects. The most common adverse events were nausea and abdominal pain. These data support the safety and efficacy of pleconaril in decreasing the signs and symptoms and viral shedding associated with a viral respiratory infection.