cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MiR-34a represses Numbl in murine neural progenitor cells and antagonizes neuronal differentiation.

MicroRNA (miRNA) function is required for normal animal development, in particular in differentiation pathways from stem cell and precursor populations. In neurogenesis, it is becoming increasingly appreciated that miRNAs act at many stages to ensure proper progression. In this study we examined the role of miR-34a in neural progenitor cells (NPC) derived from murine embryonic cortex. We found that over-expression of miR-34a in NPC significantly reduced the neuron yield upon in vitro induction of differentiation. MiR-34a has several predicted targets in the Notch pathway, which operates to balance progenitor self-renewal and differentiation during cortical neurogenesis. We tested several Notch pathway players for regulation by miR-34a in undifferentiated NPC, and found that mRNA and protein levels of Numbl, a negative regulator of Notch signaling, as well as two downstream pro-neural genes usually blocked by Notch signaling, NeuroD1 and Mash1, were diminished, while Notch1 and Cbf1 transcripts were enhanced by miR-34a over-expression. Using a luciferase reporter assay, we verified the Numbl 3′-UTR as a direct miR-34a target. Correspondingly, knock-down of endogenous miR-34a resulted in increased Numbl, NeuroD1 and Mash1, and reduced Notch1 transcript levels. Together these results implicate Numbl as a physiologically relevant target of miR-34a in NPC, allowing for enhanced Notch signaling and inhibition of neuronal differentiation. This work extends our understanding of miR-34a-mediated control of cell differentiation from cancer to mammalian nervous system development.
Coronary Artery Insufficiency Secondary to Congenital Pericardial Defect

Localized narrowing of the left anterior descending coronary artery was demonstrated by preoperative selective coronary arteriography in a 33-year-old man with pericardial defect. At operation, the left ventricle was herniating through a partial pericardial defect, behind the phrenic nerve, into the left pleural cavity. The occlusive lesion in the anterior descending artery was noted to be precisely beneath the anterior rim of the pericardial defect. Release of the fibrous ring and re-location of the left phrenic nerve was followed by a bilateral Vineberg procedure. Postoperative selective angiography again revealed the narrowed left coronary artery and demonstrated functioning Vineberg pedicles. Pressure on the anterior descending coronary artery is suggested as a likely cause for the partial occlusive lesion demonstrated at this site and the symptoms of coronary insufficiency in this patient
Therapeutic Interchange as a Cost-Containment Measure

Based on personal experience and published findings of other researchers, TI is an effective cost-containment measure. With the changing healthcare environment, more congressional and public involvement in the US, and introduction of very expensive biotechnology drugs, the emphasis of TI may shift from cost containment to cost effectiveness. More work is needed in this area.
Synchrotron radiation, an intense x-ray source for high pressure diffraction studies

Abstract The Wilson electron synchrotron at Cornell University has recently undergone modifications which enable it to produce a highly collimated X-ray beam of 1015 photons (s mrad. 10% bandwidth)−1 in the range from 1 to 40 keV (12.4 to 0.31 A wavelength). It is expected that a monochromatic beam produced from this source will have at least a hundred times the intensity of the X-rays from a rotating anode source. It is hoped that the use of a position-sensitive detector will improve the detection efficiency by another factor of a hundred over photographic film. If these improvements are realized, it should be possible to conduct real-time or nearly real-time diffraction experiments in the diamond anvil cell. The technique will be used to collect data for experiments in which slower data collecting would mean missing transient phenomena. The technique will also be useful for making studies during conditions that cause deterioration of the experimental apparatus such as graphitization of the diamonds or creep of the metal parts.
Medstract: creating large-scale information servers from biomedical texts

The automatic extraction of information from Medline articles and abstracts (commonly referred to now as the biobibliome) promises to play an increasingly critical role in aiding research while speeding up the discovery process. We have been developing robust natural language tools for the automated extraction of structured information from biomedical texts as part of a project we call MEDSTRACT. Here we will describe an architecture for developing databases for domain specific information servers for research and support in the biomedical community. These are currently comprised of the following: a Bio-Relation Server, and the Bio-Acronym server, Acromed, which will include also aliases. Each information server is derived automatically from an integration of diverse components which employ robust natural language processing of Medline text and IE techniques. The front-end consists of conventional search and navigation capabilities, as well as visualization tools that help to navigate the databases and explore the results of a search. It is hoped that this set of applications will allow for quick, structured access to relevant information on individual genes by biologists over the web.
Knowledge-based system approach to building envelope design

Abstract Building envelope design is a decision-making process requiring expertise for the selection of materials and constructional systems. The number of alternatives and performance attributes to be considered in design is so large that the designer cannot efficiently evaluate them without computerized assistance in information handling and decision making. Developments in artificial intelligence and knowledge-representation methodologies have shown that computer programs can be constructed for solving ill-structured design problems. Following this approach, a building envelope design system has been developed to assist the designer in selecting materials and constructional systems. A knowledge base containing information on performance requirements and constraints from building codes is interfaced with a database of material properties to solve the information handling problem. Feasible design alternatives are thus synthesized following a ‘plan—generate—test’ strategy with multiple levels of constraint checking. The designer has the option of modifying or updating the knowledge base, adding more information to the material properties databse or defining preferences or performance attributes during the evaluation process. The designer-specified preferences can be used in ranking the alternatives to identify an overall best design alternative. This paper presents the methodology and implementation details of a knowledge-based design assistant for the selection of materials and constructional systems for the building envelope. A review of the building envelope design process, design alternative generation and evaluation methodologies is also presented.
The Mode III Interface Crack in Piezo-Electro-Magneto-Elastic Dissimilar Bimaterials

The mode III interface crack problem is investigated for dissimilar piezo-electro-magneto-elastic bimaterial media, taking the electro-magnetic field inside the crack into account. Closed form solutions are derived for impermeable and permeable cracks. The conventional singularity of r -1/2 is found for the fields at the distance r ahead of the interface crack tip. Expressions for extended crack tip stress fields and crack opening displacements (ECODs) are derived explicitly, and so are some fracture parameters, such as extended stress intensity factors (ESIFs) and energy release rate (G) for dissimilar bimaterials. An approach called the "energy method, "finding the stationary point of the saddle surface of energy release rate with respect to the electro-magnetic field inside the crack, is proposed. By this method, the components of the induced electro-magnetic field inside the crack are determined, and the results are in exact agreement with those in the literature if the two constituents of the bimaterial media are identical. The effects from mechanical and electro-magnetic property mismatches, such as differences in the stiffness, electric permittivity and magnetic permeability, between the two constituents of the bimedia on the mode III interface crack propagation are illustrated by numerical simulations. The results show that the applied electric and magnetic loading usually retard the growth of the interface crack and the directions of the combined mechanical, electric, and magnetic loading have a significant influence on the mode III interface crack propagation.
Accommodation and resistance in religious fiction : Family structures and gender roles

The relationship between religion and secular culture has often been one filled with tension. For conservative Protestants, this relationship has been reflected in a tension between resisting secular culture, and accommodating certain aspects of faith to secular ideals. This paper offers a content analysis of Christian formulaic fiction written for teenage girls. The analysis compares gender roles and family structures within religious and secular novels, to explore how the forces of accommodation and resistance work within religious popular culture. The analysis reveals that in Christian formulaic fiction written for teenage girls there is some evidence of accommodation to more "progressive" gender roles. However, most depictions of family structures and gender roles tend to support traditional notions, and resist recent cultural developments. Actions of religious groups are often shaped by their relationship and interaction with other social structures, and with the dominant secular culture. Within Christianity, this relationship has created a dilemma for conservative Protestants. Many have a strong desire to resist modern secular culture and its many "sinful" aspects; however, many also recognize that they must adapt to certain cultural developments, and accommodate certain aspects of faith to secular ideals if they are to interact with other parts of society, and remain a relevant part of society (Hunter 1987; Witten 1993). Johnson (1963) first noted this tension in his church-sect dichotomy that categorized religious groups based on their orientation towards the social environment. Smith's (1998) subcultural identity theory argues that religious groups such as evangelicals will be stronger
Synthesis of ω-labelled fatty acids

A synthetic procedure for producing isotopically ω-labelled fatty acids is described. The isotopic label is introduced by reducing an ω-tosylate with either labelled sodium borohydride or labelled lithium dimethyl cuprate.
Microhabitat Specificity of Paulisentis missouriensis (Acanthocephala) in Creek Chub (Semotilus atromaculatus) in Southeastern Nebraska, U.S.A.

Microhabitat specificity of Paulisentis missouriensis (Acanthocephala) in the intestine of creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus) was studied. Data from 64 naturally infected fish harboring only P. missouriensis were utilized to determine if site specificity of worms varied by sex, size, and reproductive maturity, and to test the hypothesis that the first flexure of the intestine of creek chub is the preferred microhabitat, as reported in the literature. Location of worms within the intestine did not differ among size classes of either female or male worms. However, gravid female worms occupied intestinal segments around the first flexure of the intestine, whereas nongravid females were concentrated in the posterior part of the intestine around the second flexure. The distribution of males coincided with that of gravid females. These data suggest that P. missouriensis initially establishes in the posterior regions of the intestine of creek chub, after which they move anteriorly, mate, and come to occupy positions centered around the first flexure of the intestine.
The anti-myeloma activity of a novel purine scaffold HSP90 inhibitor PU-H71 is via inhibition of both HSP90A and HSP90B1.

Background Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) inhibitors have emerged as a promising class of anti-cancer drugs in both solid and hematologic malignancies. The HSP90 family includes the cytosolic HSP90 (HSP90AA1), the ER paralogue gp96 (HSP90B1) and the mitochondrial member TRAP1 (HSP90L). We evaluated the in vitro anti-tumor activity and mechanism of action of PU-H71, a novel purine scaffold HSP90 inhibitor in human multiple myeloma cell lines.
Buyer-seller relationships in the wood products industry

Abstract During the past decade, organizational partnerships have emerged as a significant form of relationship structure, spawning a concomitant increase in the volume of marketing literature devoted to better understanding these relationships. While research has identified a number of factors thought to enhance partnership success, empirical and anecdotal evidence suggests that the ingredients for successful relationships may vary, even within remarkably similar channel systems. This article explores the relationships between one distributor and two operationally similar suppliers. While both relationships are characterized by joint marketing programs and coordinated activities, the norms and outcomes are vastly different. The results indicate that the key to understanding effective working partnerships is not necessarily the degree of formal interaction, but the norms developed within the relationship. A full discussion of study findings and the implications for partnership management are presented.
Functional status and perceived quality of life in adults with and without chronic conditions.

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between self-reported functional status and quality of life in adults with and without chronic conditions. Data were obtained on functional status (Sickness Impact Profile, SIP), and perceived quality of life (Perceived Quality of Life Scale, PQoL) from 454 persons in nine groups with widely varying levels of functional status and disability. Multiple regression was used to analyze the association controlling for demographic characteristics (age, gender, educational level, income, marital status), self-rated health status, and depressive symptoms. PQoL was lowest for persons using wheelchairs and highest for older well adults. Scores decreased as SIP scores increased. Overall, being older, reporting better functional status, and having fewer depressive symptoms were significantly associated with higher quality of life (adjusted R 2 = 0.60). This pattern held for most subgroups, although the association was much lower for adults with AIDS and younger well adults where ceiling effects were observed in functional status. Functional status and perceived quality of life are highly associated but are distinct in many populations. Depressive symptoms and self-rated health are important mediators of the relationship to include in future studies. Amelioration of depressive symptoms through environmental modification and individual treatment are potential strategies for improving on this association in adults with chronic conditions.
Hospital survival of aortic dissection in children.

Abstract Background Thoracic aortic dissection (AD) is a rare occurrence in childhood and mostly associated with connective tissue disorders or congenital abnormalities. We examined the characteristics associated with AD and predictors of survival. Methods The Kids' Inpatient Database (1997–2009) was used to identify thoracic ADs occurring in patients Results One hundred sixty-eight cases of thoracic AD were identified during the study period. Overall survival was 83%. Average length of stay was 15.9 ± 16.9 d, with charges 181,867.92 ± $211,985.00. Thoracic dissection tended to affect adolescents aged 15–19 y (67%), males (76%), and Caucasians (56%) most frequently. Most patients were privately insured (64%) and treated at urban teaching centers (86%). Commonly associated diagnoses were hypertension (18%), Marfan syndrome (15%), and aortic valve disorders (8%). When repair was performed, open repair was more frequent (88%) than endovascular repair (6%). Hemorrhage was the most common complication (19%). Multiple determinants of survival were found. Girls (mortality odds ratio: 0.21 [0.05–0.91]) fared better than boys, P = 0.023. Patients with Medicaid (2.84 [1.21–6.69]) had higher mortality versus privately insured, P = 0.014. Income, race, and hospital characteristics, and type of repair were not significant predictors, even on sub-analyses of surgical and nonsurgical groups separately. Conclusions Dissection of the thoracic aorta is a rare but significant condition affecting the pediatric population. Most repairs are performed using open technique. Payer status and gender are predictors of survival in these cases.
Steric Stabilization of Nonaqueous Silicon Slips: I, Control of Particle Agglomeration and Packing

The behavior of silicon powder dispersed in two nonaqueous processing media (benzene and trichloroethylene) with various adsorbed polymeric stabilizers (poly(styrene), poly-(methyl methacrylate), and their copolymer) has been studied. Measured adsorption isotherms indicate that poly-(methyl methacrylate) is adsorbed onto silicon in significantly greater amounts than poly(styrene) from both benzene and trichloroethylene. The adsorption phenomena are explained on the basis of the polymer-medium interactions, the chemical structure of the polymers, and the surface chemistry of the silicon powder. In the case of the copolymer, the poly(methyl methacrylate) segments act as anchors to the silicon surface. The poly(styrene) segments project out into the medium and impart the necessary stabilizing action against particle agglomeration. Adsorption of poly(methyl methacrylate) and copolymer effectively controls particle agglomeration and enables the preparation of nonaqueous slips of silicon having stability similar to that which can be achieved in water. Control of particle agglomeration with this steric stabilization strategy results in compacts with improved particle packing as observed through sediment volume analysis.
Dipole statistics of discrete finite images: two visually motivated representation theorems

A discrete finite image I is a function assigning colors to a finite, rectangular array of discrete pixels. A dipole is a triple, ((dR, dC), alpha, beta), where dR and dC are vertical and horizontal, integer-valued displacements and alpha and beta are colors. For any such dipole, D(I)((dR, dC), alpha, beta) gives the number of pixel pairs ((r1, c1), (r2, c2)) of I such that I[r1, c1] = alpha, I[r2, c2] = beta and (r2, c2) - (r1, c1) = (dR, dC). The function D(I) is called the dipole histogram of I. The information directly encoded by the image I is purely locational, in the sense that I assigns colors to locations in space. By contrast, the information directly encoded by D(I) is purely relational, in the sense that D(I) registers only the frequencies with which pairs of intensities stand in various spatial relations. Previously we showed that any discrete, finite image I is uniquely determined by D(I) [Vision Res. 40, 485 (2000)]. The visual relevance of dipole histogram representations is questionable, however, for at least two reasons: (1) Even when an image viewed by the eye nominally contains only a small number of discrete color values, photon noise and the random nature of photon absorption in photoreceptors imply that the effective neural image will contain a far greater (and unknown) range of values, and (2) D(I) is generally of much greater cardinality than I. First we introduce "soft" dipole representations, which forgo the perfect registration of intensity implicit in the definition of D(I), and show that such soft representations uniquely determine the images to which they correspond; then we demonstrate that there exists a relatively small dipole representation of any image. Specifically, we prove that for any discrete finite image I with N > 1 pixels, there always exists a restriction Q of D(I) (with the domain of Q dependent on I) of cardinality at most N - 1 sufficient to uniquely determine I, provided that one also knows N; thus there always exists a purely relational representation of I whose order of complexity is no greater than that of I itself.
The structure and early evolution of recently arisen gene duplicates in the Caenorhabditis elegans genome.

The significance of gene duplication in provisioning raw materials for the evolution of genomic diversity is widely recognized, but the early evolutionary dynamics of duplicate genes remain obscure. To elucidate the structural characteristics of newly arisen gene duplicates at infancy and their subsequent evolutionary properties, we analyzed gene pairs with ≤10% divergence at synonymous sites within the genome of Caenorhabditis elegans. Structural heterogeneity between duplicate copies is present very early in their evolutionary history and is maintained over longer evolutionary timescales, suggesting that duplications across gene boundaries in conjunction with shuffling events have at least as much potential to contribute to long-term evolution as do fully redundant (complete) duplicates. The median duplication span of 1.4 kb falls short of the average gene length in C. elegans (2.5 kb), suggesting that partial gene duplications are frequent. Most gene duplicates reside close to the parent copy at inception, often as tandem inverted loci, and appear to disperse in the genome as they age, as a result of reduced survivorship of duplicates located in proximity to the ancestral copy. We propose that illegitimate recombination events leading to inverted duplications play a disproportionately large role in gene duplication within this genome in comparison with other mechanisms.
A Study of the Electrical and Mechanical Properties of Alkali Metal Intercalated Graphite Fibers

Individual graphite fibers (TP 4104B and GY-70) were intercalated with alkali metals using the two-zone vapor transport method commonly used to prepare alkali metal intercalated graphite. The progress of the reaction was followed in situ by measuring the electrical resistances of the fibers as the temperature difference (ΔT) between the fiber and the metal was decreased stepwise. These measurements showed that the ease and extent of intercalation are related to fiber graphitization. Without exposure to air, the temperature dependence of the resistances of the intercalated fibers were also measured from −196°C to 400°C. The measurements showed that the intercalated fibers have a metallic dependence on temperature. Tensile strength measurements on the intercalated fibers showed that intercalation of the heavy alkali metals is deleterious.
Integrating domain knowledge with statistical and data mining methods for high-density genomic SNP disease association analysis

Genome-wide association studies can help identify multi-gene contributions to disease. As the number of high-density genomic markers tested increases, however, so does the number of loci associated with disease by chance. Performing a brute-force test for the interaction of four or more high-density genomic loci is unfeasible given the current computational limitations. Heuristics must be employed to limit the number of statistical tests performed. In this paper we explore the use of biological domain knowledge to supplement statistical analysis and data mining methods to identify genes and pathways associated with disease. We describe Pathway/SNP, a software application designed to help evaluate the association between pathways and disease. Pathway/SNP integrates domain knowledge-SNP, gene and pathway annotation from multiple sources-with statistical and data mining algorithms into a tool that can be used to explore the etiology of complex diseases.
Topography of sand covered bedrock using two-frequency airborne interferometric SAR measurements

This paper presents the application of Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) to estimate the height of the sand layer on top of the bedrock in deserts. This is anticipated to greatly increase the efficiency of oil field search and can have several applications for environmental and archaeological studies. The extension of InSAR processing to estimate the covered bedrock height through an iterative algorithm is introduced. The sensitivity of the proposed algorithm to system errors is investigated and its application to a common type of sand dunes is also presented.
Model Reactors and Their Design Equations

The article contains sections titled: 1. Introduction 2. Batch Reactors 2.1. Homogeneous Systems 2.1.1. Isothermal Reactors 2.1.2. Nonisothermal Reactors 2.2. Nonhomogeneous Systems 2.2.1. Gas - Liquid Reactions 2.2.2. Solid - Solid Reactions 2.2.3. Solid - Gas Reactions 3. Continuous Stirred-Tank Reactors (CSTR) 3.1. Isothermal Homogeneous System 3.2. Isothermal Heterogeneous Reactors 3.3. Nonisothermal Continuous Stirred-Tank Reactors 3.4. Cascade of Tank Reactors 4. Packed-Bed Reactors 4.1. Mass and Energy Balances 4.1.1. The Single-Particle Model 4.1.2. The Two-Phase Model 4.1.3. The One-Phase Model 4.1.4. Boundary Conditions 4.2. Values of the Parameters 4.2.1. Average Bed Porosity 4.2.2. Effective Transport Coefficients 4.2.3. Wall Heat-Transfer Coefficient 4.3. Further Simplifications 4.4. Parametric Sensitivity 4.5. Flow Field Description 4.5.1. Boundary Conditions 4.5.2. Permeability and Inertia Coefficient 4.5.3. Thermal-Expansion Coefficient 4.5.4. Mass-Expansion Coefficient 4.6. Thermomechanical Effects in the Reaction System 4.7. Numerical Simulation 4.7.1. Discretization of the Physical Domain 4.7.2. Discretization of the Governing Equations 5. Optimization of Chemical Reactors 5.1. The Objective Function for Chemical Reactors 5.2. Elementary Optimization Problems 5.2.1. Optimization of a Batch System 5.2.2. Optimization of a Continuous System (CSTR) 5.2.3. Optimization of Complex Systems: Illustrative Example 5.3. Optimization of Reactors by the Search Method 5.4. Optimum Temperature Profile and Optimization of Multistage Reactors 5.5. Optimization of a Multibed Adiabatic Reactor with Heat Exchange Between Catalytic Stages
The Political Scorecard of Professional Sports Facility Referendums in the United States, 1984-2000

Nearly 70 teams in the four major professional sports in the United States built new stadiums and arenas in the past two decades. About a dozen additional facilities are under construction, and man...
Nutrition education intervention increases total ω-3 fatty acid intakes in heart patients living in the Midwest

Abstract The objective of this research was to assess the impact of a nutrition education intervention on intake of total ω -3 fatty acids (n-3 FA) in heart patients. The intervention design was a randomized trial comparing 2 interventions: decisional balance (DB) and no decisional balance (NDB). The outcome measures were total dietary n-3 FA intake and food sources. Intakes were measured using an n-3 FA food frequency questionnaire at baseline, at 1 month (midpoint), and at 2 months (end). Participants were a convenience sample of 36 adults (15 males, 21 females) recruited from a local heart clinic. Data were processed using the SPSS computer software (version 10.0, SPSS, Chicago, Ill). Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance with post hoc tests (least significant difference) were used to assess differences in total dietary n-3 FA intake over time and changes in intake from food groups. Total ω -3 FA intakes for both interventions increased from baseline to midpoint ( P P P P
Temporal and spatial variation in allocating annual traffic activity across an urban region and implications for air quality assessments.

Patterns of traffic activity, including changes in the volume and speed of vehicles, vary over time and across urban areas and can substantially affect vehicle emissions of air pollutants. Time-resolved activity at the street scale typically is derived using temporal allocation factors (TAFs) that allow the development of emissions inventories needed to predict concentrations of traffic-related air pollutants. This study examines the spatial and temporal variation of TAFs, and characterizes prediction errors resulting from their use. Methods are presented to estimate TAFs and their spatial and temporal variability and used to analyze total, commercial and non-commercial traffic in the Detroit, Michigan, U.S. metropolitan area. The variability of total volume estimates, quantified by the coefficient of variation (COV) representing the percentage departure from expected hourly volume, was 21%, 33%, 24% and 33% for weekdays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, respectively. Prediction errors mostly resulted from hour-to-hour variability on weekdays and Saturdays, and from day-to-day variability on Sundays and holidays. Spatial variability was limited across the study roads, most of which were large freeways. Commercial traffic had different temporal patterns and greater variability than non-commercial vehicle traffic, e.g., the weekday variability of hourly commercial volume was 28%. The results indicate that TAFs for a metropolitan region can provide reasonably accurate estimates of hourly vehicle volume on major roads. While vehicle volume is only one of many factors that govern on-road emission rates, air quality analyses would be strengthened by incorporating information regarding the uncertainty and variability of traffic activity.
A multiple grid algorithm for one-dimensional transient open channel flows

Numerical modeling of open channel flows with shocks using explicit finite difference schemes is constrained by the choice of time step, which is limited by the CFL stability criteria. To overcome this limitation, in this work we introduce the application of a multiple grid algorithm to the field of computational hydraulics. By coupling this algorithm to a second-order accurate MacCormack scheme, we demonstrate that the solution can be accelerated to the desired transient state. The present formulation has been tested to simulate shocks arising from sudden closure of a sluice gate and for flows accompanied with a hydraulic jump. The close agreement between the obtained results and the theoretical findings indicates the reliability of the proposed algorithm.
The Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test for Goodness of Fit

Abstract The test is based on the maximum difference between an empirical and a hypothetical cumulative distribution. Percentage points are tabled, and a lower bound to the power function is charted. Confidence limits for a cumulative distribution are described. Examples are given. Indications that the test is superior to the chi-square test are cited.
From Holy Hostess to Dragon Tamer: The Anomaly of Saint Martha

The official version of the life of Saint Martha depicts her as Christ's hostess and one of his first followers. Her popular appeal, however, stems less from her biblical role, than from her position in medieval legend. In the Middle Ages, Martha is reinvented as a Gallic saint whose most celebrated feat is taming a dragon. It is this legend that has often displaced Martha's original role, both in text and in iconography. Unlike most depictions of female saints, Martha's power derives from her soul, not from her body. The denial of corporeality as the source of holiness defies the traditional role of the mulier sancta. Martha, as depicted in the texts of the Middle Ages, is a holy person, not a holy vessel. In this article, I am positing a third ‘category’ of female saint: one not defined by her corporeality, that is, her virginity or her physical martyrdom, but by her character, which I claim is indicative of the influence of popular spirituality on the more formal teachings of the Christian church.
Differential success of oak and red maple regeneration in oak and pine stands on intermediate-quality sites in northern Lower Michigan

Red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) was the most abundant species in the overstory on intermediate-quality sites in north central Lower Michigan prior to the lumbering era of the late 1800s. Northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) stands that replaced portions of the presettlement pinery are maturing. However, these sites are not returning to the former species composition due to greater abundance of red maple (Acer rubrum L.) and white pine (Pinus strobus L.) and a lack of oak and red pine regeneration. Our primary objective was to compare the effects of pine and oak cover types on natural oak and red maple regeneration. We measured oak and red maple regeneration in 2001, 10 years after initial application of canopy cover and understory treatments in natural oak stands and red pine plantations on comparable sites. Oak shelterwoods harvested to 25% canopy cover contained significantly more oak seedlings (∼60 cm height) than all other treatments, a majority of which were located in understory treatment plots, where red maple regeneration was mechanically removed. In agreement with other research in oak-dominated stands, these results suggest that light shelterwoods with understory control may be the most viable means of recruiting oaks. Lack of oak regeneration that was progressing toward the canopy in the oak stands compared to the pine stands suggested that, even with understory control after shelterwood cutting, oak may not compete as well in the understory of oak as in pine stands. In contrast, red maple dominated the understory of oak stands, but exhibited poor development and was significantly less abundant in the pine stands. Oak regeneration was also less dense in the pine stands, but free to grow. Factors in the red pine plantations studied, such as increased litter depth, few seed sources, and decreased availability of soil moisture and nitrogen are likely to have reduced the germination and competitive ability of understory red maple stems, thereby benefiting the growth of oak seedlings having lesser shade tolerance. The differential success of oak and red maple regeneration observed in the red pine stands on intermediate-quality sites has led us to suggest that restoration of beneficial oak and pine interactions and a shift in focus from regenerating oak beneath oak to regenerating oak beneath pine may be warranted.
Modeling, Truth, and Philosophy

Knowledge requires truth, and truth, we suppose, involves unflawed representation. Science does not provide knowledge in this sense but rather provides models, representations that are limited in their accuracy, precision, or, most often, both. Truth as we usually think of it is an idealization, one that serves wonderfully in most ordinary applications, but one that can terribly mislead for certain issues in philosophy. This article sketches how this happens for five important issues, thereby showing how philosophical method must take into account the idealized nature of our familiar conception of truth.
Small signal nonquasistatic models for GaAs field effect transistors for implementation in SPICE. II. Metal semiconductor field effect transistors (MESFETs)

A nonquasistatic model for GaAs metal semiconductor field effect transistors (MESFETs) is developed. The active distributed transmission line analogy is used to obtain frequency dependent Y-parameter relationships. Implementing the Y-parameters using R, L and C elements, a SPICE-like small signal equivalent circuit is built. This model can be used for the parasitic MESFETs of modulation doped field effect transistors (MODFETs) as well as regular MESFET structures.
In their footsteps: a brief history of maternal-fetal surgery

The origins of maternal-fetal surgery are diverse. Several events were instrumental and worth noting, such as the development of medical ultrasonography as a diagnostic tool. The ability to visualize the fetus made it the object of medical attention, leading to specific diagnoses and eventual treatment. The psychological, cultural, and scientific changes that led to the emergence of the fetus as a patient have been carefully detailed. By the late 1970s the stage was set for the emergence of maternal-fetal surgery as a new and unique discipline. Globalization enabled researchers with highly focused interests to communicate and develop complex investigative relationships through the establishment of ultraspecialized societies. Four individuals have played key roles in charting the future course of this embryonic subspecialty.
The Manumission of Socrates: A Rereading of Plato's Phaedo

This article argues we can better interpret key aspects of Plato9s Phaedo , including Socrates9 cryptic final words, if we read the dialogue against the background of Greek manumission. I first discuss modes of manumission in ancient Greece, showing that the frequent participation of healing gods (Apollo, Asklepios, and Sarapis) reveals a conception of manumission as “healing.” I next examine Plato9s use of manumission and slavery as metaphors, arguing that Plato uses the language of slavery in two main ways: like real slavery, metaphorical slavery could be good, if it reflected a natural hierarchy, or bad, if it entailed an inversion thereof. Accordingly, metaphorical manumission from good and bad “slavery” are shown to be bad and good, respectively. Finally, I reread Plato9s Phaedo , showing that Socrates, a willing “slave” of the gods, seeks the “manumission”/healing of his soul. It is in exchange for his complete “manumission,” attainable only through the death of his body, that Socrates offers a cock to the healing/manumission god Asklepios.
Does Domestic Polarization Affect the Credibility of International Commitment

We study the effect of the partisan polarization of foreign policy on a state’s ability to make credible commitments in international bargaining. In our model, both states know that after an agreement is reached, a new government to enforce the agreement is elected within a promise-making state. The incentive for the newly elected government to comply with the agreement depends on the domestic (partisan) and international (reputational) costs of noncompliance, both of which vary across parties. The equilibrium analysis shows that an agreement is less likely as a partisan divide increases. When a partisan divide is substantial, our model shows that the possibility of reaching an agreement is larger under a hawkish negotiator than a dovish negotiator. Episodes from the negotiations between the U.S. and North Korea over North Korea’s nuclear weapons program provide support for our theory.
Laryngeal Schwannoma: A Case Presentation and Review of the Mayo Clinic Experience

Summary Objectives The aim of this study was to clarify the nature of laryngeal schwannomas through review of the experience of a single institution during a 104-year period. Study Design This is a retrospective case series. Methods The Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota clinical and surgical pathology database was reviewed for the years 1985–2011. Four cases of laryngeal schwannoma were identified. These cases were pooled with a previously published series of laryngeal schwannomas treated at our institution between 1907 and 1986. The characteristics of all 11 cases were studied, and relevant literature was reviewed. Results A total of 11 cases of schwannoma of the larynx were identified. The mean age at presentation was 48 years (range 12–73 years). The most common presenting symptoms were dysphonia and dysphagia. The most frequently involved primary site was the false vocal fold (six patients), followed by the aryepiglottic fold (three), epiglottis (two), subglottis (two), ventricle (one), true vocal fold (one) and postcricoid region (one). The mean maximal tumor diameter was 2.5 cm. In all but one case, surgical excision was curative with no recurrence during recorded follow up ranging from 1 to 17 years. Conclusions Laryngeal schwannomas, although rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of laryngeal tumors. They occur most frequently in the false vocal fold and present most commonly with dysphonia and/or dysphagia. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice.
Effective Leadership Is Not Enough: Critical Approaches to Closing the Racial Discipline Gap.

AbstractA review of student discipline and suspension data disaggregated by race highlights how school leader biases influence disciplinary decisions. Yet, the majority of principal preparation programs have failed to develop structures and norms that result in critical conversations pertaining to race and racial inequities. This article is written from a stance that school leaders must move away from traditional leadership approaches and toward a social justice leadership orientation that creates critical spaces and discourses, empowers communities, and enables the adoption of social justice practices in all aspects of the school. After reviewing literature on critical race theory and social justice leadership, three leadership action areas are recommended to support principals and assistant principals in closing the racial discipline gap.
Data privacy in non-volatile cache: Challenges, attack models and solutions

Spin-Transfer-Torque RAM (STTRAM) is considered to be a strong candidate for last level cache (LLC). Although promising STTRAM LLC brings new security challenges that were absent in conventional volatile memories such as Static RAM (SRAM). The root cause is persistent data and the fundamental dependency of the memory technology on ambient parameters such as magnetic field and temperature that can be exploited to compromise the data. We provide a qualitative analysis of the data privacy issues in the emerging nonvolatile cache. We also propose new attack models to compromise the sensitive data in LLC. The encryption technique used to secure data in main memory and hard disk may not be useful for LLC due to latency overhead. We propose two low-overhead techniques to ensure data privacy in LLC- (a) implementing semi nonvolatile memory (SNVM); and, (b) data erasure at power OFF. Erasing could be energy intensive and may require dedicated battery to work under power failure attacks. To address this concern we reuse the energy stored in power rail after power OFF to erase the bits using a canary circuit to track MTJ write time. The simulation results show 0.6% IPC loss and 1.2% energy overhead during normal operation due to added circuitry.
A NEW CRETACEOUS CHARADRIIFORM FAMILY

THE genus Telmatornis was described for two species, T. priscus and T. affinis, from the Late Cretaceous (Maestrichtian) of New Jersey (Marsh, 1870). In his original description Marsh concluded that Telmatornis was probably related to rails (Rallidae). Some years later Shufeldt (1915) described a third species, T. rex, which he also considered to be allied to the rails. Both Marsh and Shufeldt noted certain re-
Use of the Word “Cure” in the Oncology Literature:

Purpose:“Cure” is an important word in oncology but its use in the published literature has not been examined. I investigated all oncology articles using cure in the title field and published in 2012. The definition of cure was examined, specifically whether or not authors use the word to connote some surviving subset of patients who go on to experience outcomes similar to age-matched, normal controls—a definition favored by researchers and employed in survival function analyses.Methods:All articles published between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2012, with the word cure in the title field were retrieved from Thompson Reuters’ Web of Science. After exclusions, articles were read in full to examine what definitions of cure was used. Additionally, for each situation (type of cancer, stage/grade) where the word cure was used, a literature search was performed to ascertain whether there existed documented cases of cure.Results:Twenty-nine oncology articles used the word cure in their title in 2012. Nearly...
DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF A MINIATURE ROTARY WANKEL COMPRESSOR

Design and analysis of a meso-scale rotary Wankel compressor is presented here. The compressor is primarily designed for a hand-held power generation system, based on a modified Brayton cycle and capable of producing 20 W with a specific energy of 2400 to 3800 W-hr/kg for usage duration of 72 to 240 hours. The small size of the overall system makes the conventional design rules and concepts inappropriate, thus requiring new design concepts for the compressor and other components. In the current design, the major axis of the epitrochoid is 14 mm. The three-lobed rotor is driven by a drive shaft through an internal gear system such that each revolution of the rotor corresponds to 3 revolutions of the drive shaft and 6 compression “strokes”. There are two intake ports and two discharge ports. The valves within these ports operate to limit the pressure ratio to 2.5, the target of the design. Rotor thickness is 9.1 mm and at a rotational speed of 5000 rpm, the compressor can provide a flow rate of 0.138 g/s air, as needed by the power generation system. The pressure ratio of the compressor is a function of geometry (not rotor speed), and hence this design is well-suited for load following in a variable load application. Its drive shaft can be de-coupled from other system components of the power generation system. This mechanical isolation can lead to thermal isolation, which is essential for miniature power generation devices. Micro-stereo lithography and micro-EDM appear to be the best methods to fabricate the necessary components of the compressor. Micro-stereo lithography, in particular, can provide a seamlessly integrated compressor, thus reducing the integration and assembly cost. Micro-EDM is more suited for production of large batch sizes because of the relatively high initial cost. More sophisticated micro-fabrication methods such as LIGA, UV-LIGA and lithography SU-8 can also be used. However, since the device thickness is rather large compared to what is typically done with these methods, multiple layers need to be bonded in both of these approaches because of the large thickness of the proposed design.
Modification of Gomori Method for Alkaline and Acid Phosphatase Avoiding Artefact Staining of Nucleus.

Summary and Conclusion1. Staining sections before removal of the paraffin gives perfectly satisfactory, if not superior, results. Water and water-soluble material (dyes, substrate components, enzymes, etc.) readily penetrate the tissue structures exposed on the surface of the thin paraffin ribbon. The paraffin appears to act only as a filler which preserves the spatial relations of the various cytological elements during all staining and dehydration procedures. 2. Incubation of nondeparaffinized tissue sections in substrate gives a more accurate localization of phosphatase enzyme activity than the conventional method, and shows almost no activity demonstrable in the nuclei. It seems likely that the paraffin in the section prevents the lateral diffusion of the reaction products with their subsequent adsorption upon the nuclei. It is suggested this method be tried in other enzyme technics.
Contributions to the analysis of tissue growth

1) When black epithelium of the skin of the guinea pig is transplanted on wounds of unpigmented skin of the same animal (autoplastic transplantation) the transplanted tissue retains its vitality and finally invades the host epithelium. 2) Homoeoplastic transplants act differently. In the majority of cases they are cast off. If they take, the transplanted black epithelium does not invade the neighboring white epithelium, but instead becomes gradually lighter in color. After homoeoplastic transplantation there is some interference with the appearance of the typical phases of pigmentation which can be observed during the regeneration and after autoplastic transplantation of pigmented skin. The transplanted skin is evidently unable to regain its full power of pigment production on the new soil. 3) There is an infiltration of the transplanted epithelium with round cells which may lead to a partial separation and destruction of some of the transplanted cells.