cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Distinguishing Reverse Discrimination from Overcorrection: Statistical Methods for Clarifying this Neglected Distinction and Why It Matters

This paper makes a distinction between what is often called reverse discrimination and a similar but non-identical entity which should be called overcorrection. We argue that the term reverse discrimination should be used only to describe cases where well-qualified non-minority applicants are unjustifiably denied desirable positions in organizations run by and/or staffed by minority employees; similarly, we argue that the term overcorrection should be used for circumstances where well-qualified non-minority applicants are unjustifiably denied desirable positions in organizations run by and/or staffed by non-minority employees who are actively instituting policies to expand the hiring and promotion of minorities. By this view, reverse discrimination and overcorrection constitute two components in a complete set of four conditions: discrimination, correction (or affirmative action), overcorrection, and reverse discrimination. We draw examples from Ricci v. DeStefano, and a simulation based on recent disparate impact litigation to show how tests of statistical significance can distinguish between reverse discrimination and overcorrection. The paper closes with a discussion of why the distinction is important - not because it would alter the final outcome of disparate impact cases, but because framing litigation as reverse discrimination arguably encourages plaintiffs to decline fair out-of-court settlements and pursue appeals that lack merit.
Languages of place and discourses of power: constructing new senses of place.

The concept of “sense of place” typically is used to refer to an individual's ability to develop feelings of attachment to particular settings based on combinations of use, attentiveness, and emoti...
SU-E-T-765: Treatment Planning Comparison of SFUD Proton and 4Ï€ Radiotherapy for Prostate Cases

Purpose: Single-Field Uniform Dose (SFUD) proton scanning beams and non-coplanar 4π intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) represent the most advanced treatment methods based on heavy ion and X-rays, respectively. Here we compare their performance for prostate treatment. Methods: Five prostate patients were planned using 4π radiotherapy and SFUD to an initial dose of 54Gy to a planning target volume (PTV) that encompassed the prostate and seminal vesicles, then a boost prescription dose of 25.2Gy to the prostate for a total dose of 79.2 Gy. 4π plans were created by inversely selecting and optimizing 30 beams from 1162 candidate non-coplanar beams using a greedy column generation algorithm. The SFUD plans utilized two coplanar, parallel-opposing lateral scanning beams. The SFUD plan PTV was modified to account for range uncertainties while keeping an evaluation PTV identical to that of the X-ray plans for comparison. PTV doses, bladder and rectum dose volumes (V40, V45, V60, V70, V75.6, and V80), R50, and PTV homogeneity index (D95/D5) were evaluated. Results: Compared to SFUD, 4π resulted in 6.8% lower high dose spillage as indicated by R50. Bladder and rectum mean doses were 38.3% and 28.2% lower for SFUD, respectively. However, bladder and rectum volumes receiving >70Gy were 13.1% and 12% greater using proton SFUD. Due to the parallel-opposing beam arrangement, SFUD resulted in greater femoral head (87.8%) and penile bulb doses (43.7%). 4π PTV doses were slightly more homogeneous (HI 0.99 vs. 0.98) than the SFUD dose. Conclusion: Proton is physically advantageous to reduce the irradiated normal volume and mean doses to the rectum and bladder but it is also limited in the beam orientations and entrance dose, which resulted in greater doses to the femoral heads and penile bulb, and larger volumes of rectum and bladder exposed to high dose due to the required robust PTV definition. This project is supported by Varian Medical Systems.
Robust Control Techniques Enabling Duty Cycle Experiments Utilizing a 6-DOF Crewstation Motion Base, a Full Scale Combat Hybrid Electric Power System, and Long Distance Internet Communications

Abstract : The RemoteLink effort supports the U.S. Army's objective for developing and fielding next generation hybrid-electric combat vehicles. It is a distributed soldier-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop environment with a 6-DOF motion base for operator realism, a full-scale combat hybrid electric power system, and an operational context provided by OneSAF. The driver/gunner crewstations rest on one of two 6-DOF motion bases at the U.S. Army TARDEC Simulation Laboratory (TSL). The hybrid power system is located 2,450 miles away at the TARDEC Power and Energy System Integration Laboratory (P&E SIL). The primary technical challenge in the RemoteLink is to operate both laboratories together in real time, coupled over the Internet, to generate a realistic power system duty cycle. A topology has been chosen such that the laboratories have real hardware interacting with simulated components at both locations to guarantee local closed loop stability. This layout is robust to Internet communication failures and ensures the long distance network delay does not enter the local feedback loops. The TSL states and P&E SIL states will diverge due to (1) significant communications delays and (2) unavoidable differences between the TSL's power system simulation and the P&E SIL's real hardware-in-the-loop power system. Tightly coupled, bi-directional interactions exist among the various distributed simulations and software and hardware-in-the-loop components representing the driver, gunner, vehicle, and power system.
Somatostatin mRNA: regional variation in hybridization densities in individual neurons

Somatostatin mRNA is detected by in situ hybridization of 35S-labeled single-stranded cDNA probes to coronal sections of the rat brain that include the periventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. Features supporting hybridization specificity include its anatomic distribution, the results of studies using multiple cDNA probes, RNAase experiments, competition studies, and correlations with patterns of somatostatin peptide immunostaining in adjacent sections. The hybridization densities vary strikingly from region to region, with highest densities in the periventricular nucleus and more modest levels in areas such as the cerebral cortex and the striatum. On the basis of the results of in situ and immunohistochemical approaches, we suggest that this variation is due to regional differences in the density of hybridization per positive cell, as well as to regional variation in the densities of somatostatinergic perikarya.
Still Learning about Leading: A Leadership Critical Friends Group.

“Leadership programs can no longer just hand candidates a degree, a principal's license, wish them good luck, and expect them to be successful. We need to do something more.” - TILE Superintendent,...
Jeremy Waldron’s Partial Kant: Indigenous Proximity, Colonial Injustice, Cultural Particularism

Over the past two decades, liberal political theorist Jeremy Waldron has frequently cited Kant’s Metaphysics of Morals in order to claim that unavoidable proximity normatively demands that persons from different cultural backgrounds abide by and actively participate in a common legal framework. For Waldron, cosmopolitanism requires engaging with others instead of pressing for any degree of political separatism. He applies his interpretation of Kant to relations between Māori and Anglo New Zealanders. This essay takes a more comprehensive view of Kant’s writings on international and cosmopolitan right. It argues that Waldron misleadingly presents Kant as opposed to cultural particularism, and offers an alternative Kantian interpretation of Māori resistance to unitary sovereignty, one based on distant mutual respect between communities.
Tall shrub and tree expansion in Siberian tundra ecotones since the 1960s

Circumpolar expansion of tall shrubs and trees into Arctic tundra is widely thought to be occurring as a result of recent climate warming, but little quantitative evidence exists for northern Siberia, which encompasses the world's largest forest-tundra ecotonal belt. We quantified changes in tall shrub and tree canopy cover in 11, widely distributed Siberian ecotonal landscapes by comparing very high-resolution photography from the Cold War-era 'Gambit' and 'Corona' satellite surveillance systems (1965-1969) with modern imagery. We also analyzed within-landscape patterns of vegetation change to evaluate the susceptibility of different landscape components to tall shrub and tree increase. The total cover of tall shrubs and trees increased in nine of 11 ecotones. In northwest Siberia, alder (Alnus) shrubland cover increased 5.3-25.9% in five ecotones. In Taymyr and Yakutia, larch (Larix) cover increased 3.0-6.7% within three ecotones, but declined 16.8% at a fourth ecotone due to thaw of ice-rich permafrost. In Chukotka, the total cover of alder and dwarf pine (Pinus) increased 6.1% within one ecotone and was little changed at a second ecotone. Within most landscapes, shrub and tree increase was linked to specific geomorphic settings, especially those with active disturbance regimes such as permafrost patterned-ground, floodplains, and colluvial hillslopes. Mean summer temperatures increased at most ecotones since the mid-1960s, but rates of shrub and tree canopy cover expansion were not strongly correlated with temperature trends and were better correlated with mean annual precipitation. We conclude that shrub and tree cover is increasing in tundra ecotones across most of northern Siberia, but rates of increase vary widely regionally and at the landscape scale. Our results indicate that extensive changes can occur within decades in moist, shrub-dominated ecotones, as in northwest Siberia, while changes are likely to occur much more slowly in the highly continental, larch-dominated ecotones of central and eastern Siberia.
Optic radiation involvement in optic pathway gliomas in neurofibromatosis.

Abstract Purpose Optic pathway gliomas (pilocytic astrocytomas) in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) typically involve some combination of the optic nerves, chiasm, or optic tracts. Involvement of the optic radiations is rare. Design This paper describes seven patients with NF-1 with gliomas involving the pregeniculate optic pathway in addition to the optic radiations. Methods A retrospective database review was made of all patients with NF-1 and optic pathway gliomas seen by one of the authors (G.T.L.) at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia from July 1993 to October 2001. Patients with involvement of pregeniculate optic pathway and the optic radiations were identified. From November 2001 to February 2003, patients were sought prospectively. Cases were also identified from the practice of another author (M.C.B.) at Arkansas Children's Hospital. Results Four patients from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (three of 83 total NF-1/optic pathway gliomas from July 1993 to October 2001 and one prospectively) and three from Arkansas Children's Hospital were identified. Two had expanding mass lesions within the white matter of the temporal or parietal lobes, which were histopathologically demonstrated to be pilocytic astrocytomas. The other five had radiographic involvement of the optic radiations but did not undergo biopsy. In three of the cases the vision was 20/200 or worse in each eye. Conclusions Optic pathway gliomas in NF-1 may rarely involve the optic radiations. Optic radiation involvement may signal a more aggressive optic pathway glioma in patients with neurofibromatosis-1.
Creatine and cyclocreatine treatment of human colon adenocarcinoma xenografts: 31P and 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopic studies.

Creatine (Cr) and cyclocreatine (cyCr) have been shown to inhibit the growth of a variety of human and murine tumours. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anti-tumour effect of these molecules in relation to drug accumulation, energy metabolism, tumour water accumulation and toxicity. Nude mice carrying a human colon adenocarcinoma (LS174T) with a creatine kinase (CK) activity of 2.12 units mg−1 protein were fed Cr (2.5% or 5%) or cyCr (0.025%, 0.1% or 0.5%) for 2 weeks and compared with controls fed standard diet. Cr concentrations of 2.5% and 5% significantly inhibited tumour growth, as did 0.1% and 0.5% cyCr. In vivo 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) after 2 weeks of treatment showed an increase in [phosphocreatine (PCr)+phosphocyclocreatine (PcyCr)]/nucleoside triphosphate (NTP) with increasing concentrations of dietary Cr and cyCr, without changes in absolute NTP contents. The antiproliferative effect of the substrates of CK was not related to energy deficiency but was associated with acidosis. Intratumoral substrate concentrations (measured by 1H-MRS) of 4.8 μmol g−1 wet weight Cr (mice fed 2.5% Cr) and 6.2 μmol g−1 cyCr (mice fed 0.1% cyCr) induced a similar decrease in growth rate, indicating that both substrates were equally potent in tumour growth inhibition. The best correlant of growth inhibition was the total Cr or (cyCr+Cr) concentrations in the tissue. In vivo, these agents did not induce excessive water accumulation and had no systemic effects on the mice (weight loss, hypoglycaemia) that may have caused growth inhibition. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaign
Higher Education and Foster Grandparent Programs: Exploring Mutual Benefits

ABSTRACT The purpose of this article is to highlight ways in which programs within institutions of higher education and Foster Grandparent Programs can interact to their mutual benefit. Given federal and state initiatives to develop linkages between institutions of higher education and community service sites, mutual benefits exist at the program level for both institutions of higher education and Foster Grandparent Programs. At the individual level, mutual benefits exist for both students in academic programs and senior volunteers. We propose that universities and colleges, including community colleges, and various programs within these institutions of higher education can beneficially interface with Foster Grandparent Programs through intergenerational service-learning programming. As such, we suggest ideas for intergenerational service-learning projects across a wide array of disciplines. Personal communication with Foster Grandparent Program directors across the nation is used to provide information a...
Impact of instructed relevance on the visual ERP

Event-related potentials have been used to study the distinction between attention to novelty and effortful orienting to task-relevant items. However, effects due to stimulus frequency, response production, and instructed task-relevance have not been fully separated. The current study used a visual oddball design in which two stimuli were presented, one frequently (P=0.8) and one infrequently (P=0.2). Subjects (n=21) participated in 4 blocks, two in which the infrequent stimulus was the instructed target and two in which the frequent stimulus was the instructed target. This was crossed with two blocks in which subjects were instructed to respond to the targets with a keypress and two blocks in which subjects were instructed to press a key to the ignored non-targets and respond to the targets by withholding a keypress. The results showed N1 effects for instruction, suggesting enhancement due to an attentional set established prior to stimulus delivery, and for frequency, suggesting orienting to the infrequent stimuli. A prefrontal positivity (P2a) was enhanced to instructed targets, but instruction only entered as an interactive factor on the posterior N2 at the same latency, suggesting interaction between frontal areas of evaluation and posterior areas of perceptual representation in identification of task-relevant stimuli. The P300 was enhanced to the infrequent stimuli, but there was no main effect for target instruction, although instruction did impact a higher-order interaction.
Abelian self-interaction of a test loop

Abstract Using dimensional reduction, we derive the reparametrization-invariant electromagnetic self-interaction of a test string. The exact non-singular solution corresponding to a stationary circular loop is specified. The collapse is dynamically prevented provided n e n m ≠ 0 , where n e ( n m ) count total number of electric charges (magnetic fluxons). The selection rule n e + n m = 2 N ( N is an integer) suggests that a fundamentally-charged loop must carry current and hence acquire spin ∼ n e n m .
Orbits and global unique continuation for systems of vector fields

SupposeM is a smooth manifold andV is a locally integrable vector subbundle of the complexified tangent bundle ofM. This paper explores the global unique continuation property of distribution solutions ofV, i.e., the distributionsu onM such thatLu = 0 wheneverL is a section ofV, and the closely related problem of the structure of the Sussmann orbits ofHV.
Expression of Membrane Antigens on Human Alveolar Macrophages after Exposure to Nitrogen Dioxide

AbstractEvidence from both animal and human investigations suggests that exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2,), a common air pollutant, increases susceptibility to respiratory infections. In animals, alveolar macrophage (AM) antimicrobial functions are impaired following NO2 exposure. We sought to determine whether exposure to NO2 in humans causes an influx of less mature AM into the alveolar space and/or results in decreased expression of AM surface markers important in antimicrobial defense. Eight human volunteers underwent bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) immediately following 6-h exposures to 2.0 ppm NO2 or filtered air. AM expression of receptors for the Fc component of immunoglobulin (Ig), complement receptor 3 (CD11b), and monocyte marker CD14 were assessed using imniunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry. The use of internal fluorescence standards reduced analytical variability by 32% and allowed detection of relatively small changes in cell surface antigen expression. We observed an increase in AM...
Simulation of the Adsorption of Nucleotide Monophosphates on Carbon Nanotubes in Aqueous Solution

We use atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to calculate the binding energy of six different nucleotide monophosphates (NMPs) to a (6,0) single-wall carbon nanotube in aqueous solution. We examine two different aqueous environments, one with just two sodium counterions and a second consisting of approximately 134 mM sodium chloride solution. We find that the binding energies are generally favorable, of the order of a few kilocalories/mole. The binding energies of the different NMPs were very similar in salt solution, whereas we found a range of binding energies for NMPs in pure water. The binding energies are sensitive to the details of the association of the sodium ions with the phosphate groups and also to the average conformations of the nucleotides.
The asymptotic number of labeled graphs with given degree sequences

Abstract Asymptotics are obtained for the number of n × n symmetric non-negative integer matrices subject to the following constraints: (i) each row sum is specified and bounded, (ii) the entries are bounded, and (iii) a specified “sparse” set of entries must be zero. The result can be interpreted in terms of incidence matrices for labeled graphs.
Harmonium Models for Video Classification

Accurate and efficient video classification demands the fusion of multimodal information and the use of intermediate representations. Combining the two ideas into one framework, we propose a series of probabilistic models for video representation and classification using intermediate semantic representations derived from multimodal features of video. On the basis of a class of bipartite undirected graphical models named harmonium, we propose dual-wing harmonium (DWH) model that represents video shots as latent semantic topics derived by jointly modeling the transcript keywords and color-histogram features of the data. Our family-of-harmonium (FoH) and hierarchical harmonium (HH) model extends DWH by introducing variables representing category labels of data, which allows data representation and classification to be performed in the same model. Our models are among the few attempts of using undirected graphical models for representing and classifying video data. Experiments on a benchmark video collection show different semantic interpretations of video data under our models, as well as superior classification performance in comparison with several directed models. Copyright © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., A Wiley Company Statistical Analy Data Mining 1: 000-000, 2008
Phenol adsorption on activated carbons: Application to the regeneration of activated carbons polluted with phenol

Abstract Phenol adsorbs in two ways on activated carbons: by physisorption and chemisorption. During the course of time and by raising the temperature, chemisorption is increased and part of the physisorbed phenol becomes chemisorbed. This phenol is impossible to remove as such. Upon heating to elevated temperatures it decomposes, depositing carbon, resulting in a decrease in the adsorption capacity of activated carbons. By studying this, we have been able to find adsorption conditions which prevent phenol chemisorption and yield a method of 100% regeneration of phenol-polluted activated carbons.
Development of a molecular marker associated with Verticillium wilt resistance in diploid interspecific potato hybrids

Verticillium wilt (VW) is a widespread and serious potato (Solanum tuberosum) disease caused by the soilborne fungi Verticillium dahliae and V. albo-atrum. Breeding for VW resistance in potato is challenging due to ambiguous symptom expression, a lack of high throughput screening techniques, and variability in colonization by the fungus among and within plants. Genetic studies have identified major genes that confer resistance in diploid Solanum chacoense (V c ) and interspecific hybrids (V w and V t ). However, to date, these genes have not been used to develop molecular markers for the identification of resistant clones. Tomato Ve1 and Ve2 gene sequence information was used to amplify candidate Ve gene orthologs from both resistant and susceptible diploid potato hybrids. A CAPS marker was generated to track VW resistance in a backcross population segregating for resistance. The marker was also tested for its usefulness in other breeding lines. Our results indicate that this marker is effective for selection of the V w gene in segregating breeding populations.
Mean excitation energies and barkas-effect parameters for Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe extracted from proton and alpha particle stopping power measurements

Abstract The latest version of modified Bethe-Bloch stopping power theory has been applied to all reliable extant measurements of stopping powers of Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe for protons and alpha particles in order to ascertain the mean excitation energy and a single parameter in the Barkas-effect correction term for each target gas. Two approaches to inclusion of the Barkas-effect (low velocity projectile-z3) correction term have been extensively investigated. Recommended mean excitation energies for Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe are 130, 184, 328 and 505 eV, respectively.
Characterization of Biodiesel and Biodiesel Particulate Matter by TG, TG−MS, and FTIR

Biodiesel is a potential renewable and carbon-neutral alternative to fossil fuels, and it is environmentally and economically attractive. This paper studies the decomposition kinetics of biodiesel using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) in one-stage pyrolysis. Biodiesel can be decomposed at 119−237 °C. The kinetic parameters for biodiesel pyrolysis were obtained from the TGA experiments. The global rate equation for biodiesel pyrolysis can be expressed as dX/dt = 2.6 × 107 exp(−16.2/8.314 × 10−3T)(1 − X)0.52 (X denotes the reaction conversion). Characteristics of diesel and biodiesel and the associated diesel particulate matter (DPM) emitted from a nonroad diesel generator were also analyzed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic methods. The FTIR spectra of biodiesel showed a C═O stretching band of methyl ester at 1743 cm−1 and C−O bands at 1252, 1200, and 1175 cm−1. Furthermore, the FTIR spectra of DPM were similar to those of the fuels, an indication that the chemical structures of DPM are...
The Architects’ Small House Service Bureau and the American Institute of Architects

A group of Minnesota architects created the ASHSB in 1914 to provide a solution for theshortage of middle class housing in the U.S. By 1919, the bureau had offices throughout the U.S. and received the endorsement of both the American Institute of Architects and the Department of Commerce. During this time, the members of the Bureau produced hundreds of plan sets and monthly bulletins to assist homeowners with their housing choices. The monthly magazine The Small Home, in conjunction with the published plan books--Your Future Home and How to Plan, Finance, and BuildYour Home--dispensed valuable information to potential homebuyers across the nation. To date, one master’s thesis (Lisa Schrenk, University of Virginia 1990) and an article (Thomas Harvey, 1991) have been written about the ASHSB. Neither one discussed the relationship of this group with the AIA, a keyendorsement agency.This research involved extensive archival research at the AIA. Records from the early 20th century were analyzed to determine the relationship between the AIA and the ASHSB in the early 20th century. This relationship provides insight into the current lack of architectural involvement in single-family house design today. The single most prevalent building type in the U.S. is the single-family house, yet architects are little involved in the design of most of them. Architects have the ability and training to create sustainable, affordable, and well-design single-family houses and yet they do not. This paper seeks to provide one explanation through the interpretation of the historic relationship of the AIA to the ASHSB.
Atomic and ionic fluorescence in an inductively coupled plasma using hollow cathode lamps pulsed at high currents as excitation sources

Hollow cathode lamps pulsed at high currents were used as atomic and ionic fluorescence sources to excite atoms and ions in an inductively coupled plasma. Atomic fluorescence was measured for Cu, Ag, Zn, Al, Cr, and Mo, while ionic fluorescence was measured for Cu, Cr, Zn, and Sr. Limits of detection for atomic fluorescence were found to be better than those obtained by a commercial atomic fluorescence instrument operated under the same conditions, and calibration curves were linear over a range of approximately 104.
Evaluation of parents: do they vary as a function of parent loss, age at loss, or gender of the respondent?

Parental Death and Divorce have differential long-term effects on how young adults subsequently regard their parents. The present study was designed to further clarify these effects by examining young adults' evaluations of their parents to see if the evaluations varied as a function of type of parent loss (if any), the age at which the loss occurred or gender of the respondent
ODMR and fluorescence studies of pyrene solubilized in anionic and cationic micelles

Abstract The luminescence of pyrene solubilized in anionic sodium n-alkyl sulfate (NaC n S, n =10, 12) and cationic trimethyl-n-alkyl-ammonium bromide (C n TABr, n =10, 12, 14, 16) micelles was studied using zero field optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) at cryogenic temperatures and fluorescence quenching techniques at room temperature. The values of triplet state phosphorescence wavelengths and zero-field splitting parameters D in the micelles are consistent with a pyrene microenvironment which is intermediate in polarity and polarizability between an alkyl chain-like environment and an aqueous solvent. The triplet state properties vary reproducibly with surfactant chain length, indicating slight differences in the pyrene environment in the different micelles, but there are no monotonic trends. Pyrene phosphorescence and fluorescence lifetimes in the C n TABr micelles are shortened by the external heavy atom effect of the bromide counterions; the C 10 TABr micelle shows the shortest lifetimes, indicating enhanced counterion proximity to pyrene. Quenching of pyrene fluorescence by added acrylamide was measured for the C n TABr micelles by both steady state and fluorescence decay methods. The apparent dynamic quenching constant in the micelles is nearly three orders of magnitude smaller than its value in aqueous solution, and shows a small but monotonic decrease with increasing surfactant chain length.
Cell-Cell Signaling in Early Cortical Development

The remarkable process of neuronal migration has long been viewed as the key event of corticogenesis. Before neurons complete their final cell division and begin to migrate out of the proliferative zones, however, many important decisions concerning their ultimate fate have already been made. These critical decisions are, in part, under local environmental control. The signals by which proliferating cortical precursor cells interact with each other and with their environment are still largely unknown, but, as these factors are dis covered, they will alter our view of corticogenesis and most likely provide new insights into causes of cerebral malformations. This review is intended to describe the repertoire of cellular interactions detected thus far among proliferating cortical cells and to discuss possible roles of cell-cell signaling pathways. The Neurosci entist 1:268-276, 1995
Seeking the new and the critical in critical realism: déjà vu?

Abstract Critical realism (CR) is a research philosophy that has beeen proposed with the claim that it could be a way of “⋯ providing a consistent and coherent underpinning philosophy for information systems”. The purpose of this paper is to examine this claim critically in light of the advances made in hermeneutics and critical social theory as alternative research philosphies. CR is found lagging behind these philosophies in epistemology, ontology and action-oriented value formation. It is concluded that critical realism could nevertheless play a useful role as a catalyst in the contemporary methodological debate in the applied social sciences by broadening the frame of reference of positivists beyond the issues already recognized in the post-positivist literature.
Electrocardiographic Predictors of Incident Heart Failure in Men and Women Free From Manifest Cardiovascular Disease (from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study)

The risk of incident hospitalized heart failure (HF) was evaluated for 23 electrocardiographic (ECG) variables in men and women free from cardiovascular disease. The hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals were determined from Cox regression analysis for 13,428 participants 45 to 65 years old in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. New-onset HF during a 14-year follow-up period occurred in 695 men (11.9%) and 721 women (9.5%). Several ECG variables were significant predictors of incident HF when evaluated as single ECG variables. Predominant among them were spatial angles, reflecting deviations of the direction of the repolarization sequence from the normal reference direction. After controlling for collinearity among the ECG variables, the spatial angle between T peak and normal T reference vectors, Ө(T p |T ref ), was a significant independent predictor in men (HF risk increased 31%) and women (HF risk increased 46%). Other independent predictors in men included epicardial repolarization time (62% increased risk) and T wave peak to T wave end (T p T e ) interval, reflecting global dispersion of repolarization (27% increased risk). The independent predictors in women, in addition to Ө(T p |T ref ), were Ө(R|STT) the spatial angle between the mean QRS and STT vectors (54% increased risk) and QRS nondipolar voltage (46% increased risk). In conclusion, wide Ө(T p |T ref ), wide Ө(R|STT), and increased QRS nondipolar voltage in women and wide Ө(T p |T ref ), increased epicardial repolarization time, prolonged T p T e interval and T wave complexity in men were independent predictors of incident HF, and the presence of these abnormal findings could warrant additional diagnostic evaluation for possible preventive action for HF.
Ambiquitous enzymes: Variation in intracellular distribution as a regulatory mechanism

Several enzymes have been found to reversibly partition between kinetically distinct soluble andmembrane-boundforms, with the distribution between theseforms influenced by specific metabolites, usually substrates, products, or allosteric effectors of the enzyme. This may represent a regulatory mechanism by which changes in intracellular distribution result in alteration of kinetic parameters to suit changing metabolic needs.
Candidate Gene Analysis of Femoral Neck Trabecular and Cortical Volumetric Bone Mineral Density in Older Men

In contrast to conventional dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, quantitative computed tomography separately measures trabecular and cortical volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD). Little is known about the genetic variants associated with trabecular and cortical vBMD in humans, although both may be important for determining bone strength and osteoporotic risk. In the current analysis, we tested the hypothesis that there are genetic variants associated with trabecular and cortical vBMD at the femoral neck by genotyping 4608 tagging and potentially functional single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 383 bone metabolism candidate genes in 822 Caucasian men aged 65 years or older from the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study (MrOS). Promising SNP associations then were tested for replication in an additional 1155 men from the same study. We identified SNPs in five genes (IFNAR2, NFATC1, SMAD1, HOXA, and KLF10) that were robustly associated with cortical vBMD and SNPs in nine genes (APC, ATF2, BMP3, BMP7, FGF18, FLT1, TGFB3, THRB, and RUNX1) that were robustly associated with trabecular vBMD. There was no overlap between genes associated with cortical vBMD and trabecular vBMD. These findings identify novel genetic variants for cortical and trabecular vBMD and raise the possibility that some genetic loci may be unique for each bone compartment.
Carrier-Envelope Phase Stabilization of a 10 Hz, 20 TW Laser for High-Flux Attosecond Pulse Generation

We developed a method to stabilize the carrier-envelope phase of a 20 TW Ti:Sapphire laser operating at 10 Hz. Phase-dependent features were observed in the high-order harmonic spectrum generated using Generalized Double Optical Gating.
Analysis technology for land remote sensing

In this paper an overview is provided of the development to the present time of the ability to analyze vertical views of the earth's surface by machine. The paper begins with a brief review of the several phases of effort which have led to today's operational capabilities, starting with the research phase of the 1960's which defined the basic fundamentals, and continuing with the developmental phase of the 1970's in which large numbers of scientists and professionals became acquainted with the new technology and many of the needed application details were worked out. Three application examples are next discussed in some detail in order to illustrate the user environment. In the second half of the paper current and future analysis algorithms are discussed. As a result of data characteristics which may be exploited, this is divided into algorithms utilizing spectral, spatial, and temporal characteristics and the use of ancillary data. The most common means for utilizing multispectral observations in pattern classification algorithms, multispectral pixel classifiers, are discussed first. There follows a review of the use of quantitative texture estimation schemes, a scheme to partition the scene into statistically homogeneous objects and means for the direct use of spatial context. Multitemporal schemes using concatenated multispectral vectors and temporal partitioning or cascading are described. Ancillary data has traditionally been incorporated by interactive means, and this is discussed briefly, as is the use of relexation methods to utilize one or more ancillary parameters in quantitative form. The paper is concluded with a discussion of other trends in the field, such as those related to data base technology and new sensor systems.
Diagnosis and Management of Vulvar Ulcers

The diagnosis and management of the following non-infectious vulvar ulcers are reviewed: vulvar aphthae in adult and pediatric patients, aphthae associated with Behcet's disease, vulvar ulcers resulting from Crohn's disease, and vulvar ulcers associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection. There are many resources providing excellent reviews of infectious ulcers; therefore this topic will not be covered here.
Subclavian Artery Revascularization: A Decade of Experience with Extrathoracic Bypass Procedures

Abstract Extrathoracic revascularization has become the most popular form of surgical correction of symptomatic subclavian artery lesions. During a 10-year period ending in December 1991, 41 extrathoracic bypass procedures were performed on 37 patients for proximal subclavian artery stenosis or occlusion. This included 25 females and 12 males, with a mean age of 56 years. Surgery was performed for manifestations of upper extremity ischemia in 19 patients (51%), vertebrobasilar insufficiency in four patients (11%), and both upper extremity ischemia and vertebrobasilar insufficiency in 11 patients (30%). Three patients (8%) had angina pectoris caused by "coronary-subclavian steal" following internal mammary-coronary artery bypass. Severe proximal stenosis or complete occlusion of the subclavian artery was demonstrated angiographically in all cases. Procedures performed included: carotid-subclavian bypass ( n = 28), subclavian-carotid transposition ( n = 6), axilloaxillary bypass ( n = 4), and subclavian-subclavian bypass ( n = 3). Saphenous vein was used as the bypass conduit in 6 of the carotid-subclavian bypass procedures, and prosthetic grafts were used for the remainder. There were no perioperative strokes or deaths in this series, and the mean postoperative hospital stay was 4 days. Follow-up ranged from 2 to 96 months (mean, 35.6 months). The overall patency rate was 95% at 1 year, 86% at 3 years, and 73% at 5 years. Patency at 5 years was significantly higher for procedures utilizing the common carotid artery as the donor vessel as compared with those using the contralateral subclavian or axillary arteries (83% versus 46%, P
New Daily Persistent Headache in Children and Adolescents

New daily persistent headache (NDPH) is a form of chronic daily headache (CDH) that may have features of both migraine and tension-type headache. In contrast with other types of CDH, NDPH is characterized by patients recalling the specific date their unremitting daily headache began. In comparison, chronic tension-type headache and chronic migraine are preceded by a gradually increasing frequency of headache. After several months, all three of these CDH forms often have a similar phenotype, making early history a key to diagnosing NDPH. Evaluations to exclude secondary causes are necessary but usually negative. NDPH is difficult to treat and requires a multimodal approach. Questions regarding NDPH remain unanswered. Additional prospective studies are necessary to further understand, characterize, diagnose, and treat NDPH.
Effectiveness of Atimycin-A as a Toxicant for Control of Invasive Asian Swamp Eels

Abstract The Asian swamp eel Monopterus albus is native to southeast Asia but has established populations in several locations within the United States. These eels grow up to 1 m long and may prey on or compete with native fishes and amphibians. Additionally, these eels are obligate air-breathers, can survive long periods out of water, and will travel over land in search of new habitats when necessary. As early as 1990, Asian swamp eels were introduced to several ponds at a local nature center near Atlanta, Georgia, within the Chattahoochee River drainage basin; individuals have since migrated to an adjacent marsh of the Chattahoochee River. Because this population is relatively contained, several methods for control, containment, and possible eradication are being investigated. Juvenile and adult swamp eels primarily obtain oxygen through surface air, although very young eels absorb oxygen directly through their skin. Because they are obligate air-breathers, standard piscicides (e.g., rotenone and antimy...
Electrocardiographic Response to Exercise in Patients with Mitral Stenosis

On the assumption that a positive Master 2 step exercise test is good evidence for the existence of myocardial ischemia, the coronary circulation of 40 patients with rheumatic heart disease and isolated mitral stenosis has been tested by this means. The findings in patients of classes I to III are discussed regarding factors that might be responsible and the relationship of the findings to symptomatology in patients with mitral stenosis.
Strain Out a Gnat and Adorn a Camel

In the late Professor Camden Cobern's useful book entitled The New Archaeological Discoveries and their Bearing upon the New Testament a section is devoted to Tatian's Harmony of the Gospels, and on pages 205–207 a list of its remarkable readings is given, according to the Arabic text published by Ciasca. The list is misleading, for many of the supposed examples of variation from, the standard text are not such in reality. Hamlyn Hill's English translation, on which Cobern relied, is not always correct, and the Arabic translator himself was sometimes unfortunate in his rendering of an ambiguous Syriac word or phrase.
A Thermodynamic Approach to the Mechanism of Cell-Penetrating Peptides in Model Membranes

We report a first test of the hypothesis that the mechanism of antimicrobial, cytolytic, and amphipathic cell-penetrating peptides in model membranes is determined by the thermodynamics of insertion of the peptide into the lipid bilayer from the surface-associated state. Three peptides were designed with minimal mutations relative to the sequence of TP10W, the Y3W variant of transportan 10, which is a helical, amphipathic cell-penetrating peptide previously studied. Binding to 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine (POPC) membranes and release of dye from those vesicles were assessed by stopped-flow fluorescence, and the secondary structure of the peptides on the membrane was determined by circular dichroism. The Gibbs energy of binding determined experimentally was in excellent agreement with that calculated using the Wimley-White interfacial hydrophobicity scale, taking into account the helical content of the membrane-associated peptide. Release of dye from POPC vesicles remained graded, as predicted by the hypothesis. More significantly, as the Gibbs energy of insertion into the bilayer became more unfavorable, which was estimated using the Wimley-White octanol hydrophobicity scale, dye release became slower, in quantitative agreement with the prediction.
Direct bonding of GaAs films on silicon circuits by epitaxial liftoff

Abstract Epitaxial liftoff has emerged as a viable technique to integrate GaAs with silicon. The technique relies on the separation of a thin epi-GaAs film from its substrate followed by direct bonding of the thin film to a silicon substrate. The silicon substrate has to meet certain planarity and smoothness conditions in order to obtain high quality bonding. Unfortunately, processed silicon IC chips do not satisfy these conditions. In this paper, we report on the results of two different planarization techniques, plasma etch back and chemical-mechanical polishing, to integrate GaAs LEDs with silicon circuits using epitaxial liftoff. 4 by 8 arrays of GaAs LEDs have been integrated with silicon driver circuits using plasma etch back. We also have lifted off areas as large as 500 mm2 and bonded them on 5″ device wafers by chemical-mechanical polishing. This can be essential for mass production of optoelectronic devices based on epitaxial liftoff.
Comparing software system requirements negotiation patterns

In a period of two years, two rather independent experiments were conducted at the University of Southern California (USC). In 1995, 23 three-person teams negotiated the requirements for a hypothetical library system. Then, in 1996, 14 six-person teams negotiated the requirements for real-world digital library systems. A number of hypotheses were created to test how more realistic software projects differ from hypothetical ones. Other hypotheses address differences in uniformity and repeatability of negotiation processes and results. The results indicate that repeatability in 1996 was even harder to achieve then in 1995. Nevertheless, this paper presents some surprising commonalties between both years that indicate some areas of uniformity. As such we found that the more realistic projects required more time to resolve conflicts and to identify options (alternatives) than the hypothetical ones. Further, the 1996 projects created more artifacts although they exhibited less artifact interconnectivity, implying a more divide and conquer negotiation approach. In terms of commonalties, we found that people factors such as experience did have effects onto negotiation patterns (especially in 1996), that users and customers were most significant (in terms of artifact creation) during the goal identification whereas the developers were more significant in identifying issues (conflicts) and options. We also found that both years exhibited some strange although similar disproportional stakeholder participation.
Stable Isotopic Evaluation of the Relative Assimilation of Natural and Artificial Foods by Golden Shiners Notemigonus crysoleucas in Ponds

Stable carbon isotope ratios (δ13C) were used to estimate the relative contributions of natural and prepared feeds to the nutrition of golden shiners Notemigonus crysoleucas in ponds. Concurrent feeding trials were conducted in tanks (110 L) and ponds (0.04 ha) to determine the response of golden shiners to three isotopically distinct prepared diets both in the presence (pond) and absence (tank) of natural food. Seston was the primary indicator of the δ13C of natural foods available in the ponds, but δ13C's of free-swimming, unfed golden shiners provided an additional index. Fish receiving experimental diets were maintained in floating nets within the same ponds. After 6 wk, fish in tanks fed all three diets had acquired the diet label to some degree, while fish in ponds also tracked their respective feeds except for those fed diet 3. This diet contained a large amount of corn meal, which appeared to be poorly assimilated by golden shiners. The use of natural foods by golden shiners fed all three prepared feeds ranged from 40–83% and was inversely correlated with the relative assimilation of the prepared feeds.
The Adoration of "Hard Data": A Case Study of Data Fetishism in the Evaluation of Infant Day Care.

Using a recent journal issue devoted to the evaluation of infant day care as a point of departure, this article examines the manner in which the data-driven character of child development research limits the validity and penetration of the search for new knowledge and understanding, and imposes a skewed image of what is known about children and childhood by excluding the less objective observations and insights of the clinician/practitioner.