cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genotype specific peripheral lipid profile changes with hepatitis C therapy.

AIM To evaluate magnitude/direction of changes in peripheral lipid profiles in patients undergoing direct acting therapy for hepatitis C by genotype. METHODS Mono-infected patients with hepatitis C were treated with guideline-based DAAs at a university-based liver clinic. Patient characteristics and laboratory values were collected before and after the treatment period. Baseline demographics included age, ethnicity, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, treatment regimen, and fibrosis stage. Total cholesterol (TCHOL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides (TG), and liver function tests were measured prior to treatment and ETR. Changes in lipid and liver function were evaluated by subgroups with respect to genotype. Mean differences were calculated for each lipid profile and liver function component (direction/magnitude). The mean differences in lipid profiles were then compared between genotypes for differences in direction/magnitude. Lipid profile and liver function changes were evaluated with Levene's test and student's t test. Mean differences in lipid profiles were compared between genotypes using ANOVA, post hoc analysis via the Bonferroni correction or Dunnett T3. RESULTS Three hundred and seventy five patients enrolled with 321 (85.6%) achieving sustained-viral response at 12 wk. 72.3% were genotype 1 (GT1), 18.1% genotype 2 (GT2), 9.7% genotype 3 (GT3). Baseline demographics were similar. Significant change in lipid profiles were seen with GT1 and GT3 (ΔGT1, p and ΔGT3, p), with TCHOL increasing (+5.3, P = 0.005 and +16.1, P < 0.001), HDL increasing (+12.5, P < 0.001 and +7.9, P = 0.038), LDL increasing (+7.4, P = 0.058 and +12.5, P < 0.001), and TG decreasing (-5.9, P = 0.044 and -9.80 P = 0.067). Among genotypes (ΔGT1 v. ΔGT2 v. ΔGT3, ANOVA), significant mean differences were seen with TCHOL (+5.3 v. +0.1 v. +16.1, P = 0.017) and HDL (+12.3 v. +2 v. +7.9, P = 0.040). Post-hoc, GT3 was associated with a greater increase in TCHOL than GT1 and GT2 (P = 0.028 and P = 0.019). CONCLUSION Successful DAA therapy results in increases in TCHOL, LDL, and HDL and decrease in TG, particularly in GT1/GT3. Changes are most pronounced in GT3.
Kinetic Lability of Zn Bound to Metallothionein (Mt) in Ehrlich Cells

The functions of Zn-Mt in cells have not been well defined. One hypothesis views Mt as a passive store of Zn, which releases metal upon rate-limiting biodegradation of its protein structure. Chemical studies indicate that Zn-Mt is u1usually reactive in ligand substitution and metal exchange reactions1. Not only do small ligands compete sucessfully for Mt-bound Zn, but apo-carbonic anhydrase is also effectivel. This study explores whether the metal clusters of Zn-Mt interact directly with other ligands in cells, such as apo-Zn proteins, to carry out ligand exchange reactions.
Cargomobilities: Moving Materials in a Global Age

Cargomobilities; cargo cult. To what extent can a book be judged by its cover and title? The reason why this question is asked is that cargo and mobilities are combined in a single word. Does such a neologism add anything of relevance outside a faster way to spell the mobility(ies) of cargo? Concerning the subtitle, moving freight would have been a better choice than moving materials, particularly since materials is rarely used in such a context. Although the introductory chapter provides an explanation for the use of “materials,” this term remains a peculiar choice. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
A comprehensive next-generation sequencing assay for the diagnosis of epidermolysis bullosa.

Background Historically, diagnosis of epidermolysis bullosa has required skin biopsies for electron microscopy, direct immunofluorescence to determine which gene(s) to choose for genetic testing, or both. Methods To avoid these invasive tests, we developed a high-throughput next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based diagnostic assay called EBSEQ that allows simultaneous detection of mutations in 21 genes with known roles in epidermolysis bullosa pathogenicity. Mutations are confirmed with traditional Sanger sequencing. Results We present our EBSEQ assay and preliminary studies on the first 43 subjects tested. We identified 11 cases of epidermolysis bullosa simplex, five cases of junctional epidermolysis bullosa, 11 cases of dominant dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, 15 cases of recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, and one case that remains without diagnosis. We also found an additional 52 variants of uncertain clinical significance in 17 of the 21 epidermolysis bullosa-associated genes tested. Three of the variants of uncertain clinical significance were also found in three other patients, for a total of 49 unique variants of uncertain clinical significance. We found the clinical sensitivity of the assay to be 75% to 98% and the analytical sensitivity to be 99% in identifying base substitutions and small deletions and duplications. Turnaround time was 3 to 6 weeks. Conclusions EBSEQ is a sensitive, relatively rapid, minimally invasive, comprehensive genetic assay for the diagnosis of epidermolysis bullosa.
Models as signs: extending Kralemann and Lattman’s proposal on modeling models within Peirce’s theory of signs

In recent decades, philosophers of science have devoted considerable efforts to understand what models represent. One popular position is that models represent fictional situations. Another position states that, though models often involve fictional elements, they represent real objects or scenarios. Though these two positions may seem to be incompatible, I believe it is possible to reconcile them. Using a threefold distinction between different signs proposed by Peirce, I develop an argument based on a proposal recently made by Kralemann and Lattman (in Synthese 190:3397–3420, 2013) that shows that the two aforementioned positions can be reconciled by distinguishing different ways in which a model representation can be used. In particular, on the basis of Peirce’s distinction between icons, indices and symbols, I argue that models can sometimes function as icons, sometimes as indexes and sometimes as symbols, depending on the context in which they are considered and the use that they are developed for because they all have iconic, indexical and symbolic features. In addition, I show that conceiving models as signs enables us to develop an account of scientific representation that meets the main desiderata that Shech (in Synthese 192:3463–3485, 2015) presents.
Unifying Mechanistic Analysis of Factors Controlling Selectivity in Fructose Dehydration to 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural by Homogeneous Acid Catalysts in Aprotic Solvents

The need for liquid fuels from inexpensive and abundant biomass sources continues to increase in light of the growing environmental and strategic consequences of relying on depletable petroleum. Fructose, a monomeric sugar derived from biomass, can be dehydrated to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), an intermediate to furans that are high-energy-content compounds miscible with petroleum. To be economically competitive, production of HMF from fructose must achieve high selectivities and yields, but the design of catalysts that achieve high-yield HMF production is made difficult by the lack of understanding of the mechanistic aspects of fructose conversion to HMF. Various studies examining fructose conversion to HMF by homogeneous acids have proposed that different factors control selectivity, including the acid type, fructose tautomer distribution, and solvent type. A high-throughput system was utilized to develop detailed insights into mechanisms and factors controlling HMF selectivity from fructose dehydrati...
Limit Process Expansions and Approximate Equations

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of limit process expansions and approximate equations. Various asymptotics may be used on these equations corresponding to different ranges of the parameters and there maybe connections among the asymptotics. These asymptotics can often be connected with limit processes and in this way, conventional approximations used by engineers can be given a formal structure. Using the integral of constant total enthalpy and the isentropic flow condition, a single equation for the velocity potential Φ(x, y) is obtained. The physical approximations leading to the equation above are valid so long as no shock waves appear or only weak shocks appear so that the vorticity (rotation) introduced into the flow is negligible. It has been shown how different limits can be used to obtain expansions valid in different regions of physical or parameter space. This is a general procedure when there are several independent variables and parameters and can be applied with good effect to various other physical problems. Direct limits may fail, however, when modulated waves are an intrinsic part of the problem so that multivariable or WKB type expansions must be used.
Single Stationary Sinusoid Plus Noise

We begin the analysis by constructing the direct probability, P(D\H, I). We think of this as the likelihood of the parameters, because it is its dependence on the model parameters which concerns us here. The time series y(t) we are considering is postulated to contain a single stationary harmonic signal f(t) plus noise e(t). The basic model is always: we have recorded a discrete data set D = {d 1, ⋅⋅⋅, d N }; sampled from y(t) at discrete times {t 1, ⋅⋅⋅, t N }; with a model equation $$ {d_i} = y\left( {{t_i}} \right) = f\left( {{t_i}} \right) + {e_i},{\kern 1pt} \quad \left( {i \leqslant i \leqslant N} \right). $$ As already noted, different models correspond to different choices of the signal f(t). We repeat the analysis originally done by Jaynes [12] using a different, but equivalent, set of model functions. We repeat this analysis for three reasons: first, by using a different formulation of the problem we can see how to generalize to multiple frequencies and more complex models; second, to introduce a different prior probability for the amplitudes, which simplifies the calculation but has almost no effect on the final result; and third, to introduce and discuss the calculation techniques without the complex model functions confusing the issues.
Creating a Transformational Learning Experience: Immersing Students in an Intensive Interdisciplinary Learning Environment

The Simmons World Challenge is a unique, interdisciplinary program recently developed at Simmons College. It immerses students in an intensive winter-session course that challenges them to tackle a pressing social issue, such as poverty or hunger, and create actionable solutions to the problem. The program was conceived and designed to harness the strengths of pedagogical theories on transformational teaching and learning. This article describes the Simmons World Challenge and presents assessment findings from the program’s third iteration in 2013, as well as on the long-term impact of the program based on follow-up assessments with the first two cohorts of students. These assessment findings demonstrate the deep and positive impact of the program on students’ engagement with learning, personal growth, academic habits and attitudes, student leadership and initiative, and sense of community at Simmons College.
VHDL Semantics for Behavioral Test Generation

Abstract In this paper, we discuss how the VHDL semantics which represent the concepts of event-driven simulation and bus resolution function affect the test generation algorithm, and present methods of generating realistic tests without being affected by the VHDL semantics. A formal representation of the VHDL process statement is described and the concept of event-driven simulation and its impact on test generation are discussed using the formal representation. The new test generation method generates realistic tests by ignoring the sensitivity list of a process statement and identifying the type of the behavior described by the statements inside the process statement (two types of behavior - synchronous and asynchronous, are defined.). A systematic way of converting a VHDL model to one suitable for checking the validity of the generated tests is presented. A method of further compacting the generated tests is also presented. Finally, an approach to generating tests in the presence of different types of bus resolution functions is discussed.
The kinetics of transposable element autoregulation.

Kinetic modeling of the self-regulatory mechanisms of transposable elements (TEs) involving interactions of one or a few gene products makes predictions that are often at odds with observed results. In particular, explanations of TE autorepression at high copy number that invoke a decrease in number of active monomers through dimerization, amyloidization, and protein-mRNA binding to create an inactive state are not supported by analysis of the corresponding kinetic models. This is also true for similar mRNA–mRNA binding models. Self-repression in marineras well as other TEs can, however, be explained by a host-independent model in which inactive dimers compete with monomers for TE binding sites at the ends of the element. This model would also allow heterodimer poisoning to down-regulate transposition in the presence of divergent nonautonomous elements, since nondivergent monomers would be required at both TE ends for transposition.
Raising the Bar or Locking the Door? The Effects of Increasing GPA Admission Requirements on Teacher Preparation.

Recently, policymakers have called for increased grade point average (GPA) requirements and many state education agencies are implementing “highly selective criteria” for teacher preparation progra...
Sleep spindle characteristics in adolescents.

Abstract Objective Sleep changes substantially during adolescence; however, our understanding of age-related differences in specific electroencephalographic waveforms during this developmental period is limited. Method Sigma power, spindle characteristics and cognitive data were calculated for fast (∼13 Hz) central and slow (∼11 Hz) frontal sleep spindles for a large cross-sectional sample of adolescents (N = 134, aged 12–21 years, from the National Consortium on Alcohol and NeuroDevelopment in Adolescence (NCANDA) study). Results Older age (and advanced pubertal development) was associated with lower absolute sigma power and greater fast spindle density, with spindles having a shorter duration and smaller amplitude and occurring at a faster average frequency than at a younger age. Spindle characteristics were not directly associated with cognition. An indirect relationship (age * density) provided some evidence for an association between better episodic memory performance and greater spindle density only for younger adolescents. Conclusion Spindle characteristics in adolescents differed according to age, possibly reflecting underlying differences in thalamo-cortical connectivity, and may play a role in episodic memory early in adolescence. Significance Sleep spindles may serve as a marker of adolescent development, likely reflecting brain maturational status. Investigating specific spindle characteristics, in addition to sigma power, is necessary to fully characterize spindles during adolescence.
Easy A(daptation): Sex, Fidelity, and Constructing the Unknowing-Knowing PG-13 Teen Audience

The teen film Easy A (2010) is a meta-adaptation. It plays overtly with the classic novel The Scarlet Letter, situates itself within a network of classic teen films, and deconstructs its own PG-13 rating. Notions of audience and what that audience “knows” are equally crucial to the PG-13 rating (with respect to mature themes and language), and to adaptation (with respect to intertextual competence). Both involve a game of knowing and unknowing. Hawthorne’s novel is entirely about sex, conveyed entirely through irony and presupposition, and oblique signs (notably the scarlet letter “A” for adulterer). In Easy A, Olive’s class projects on Hawthorne’s novel and her web log similarly deconstructs sexual rumor in a reflexive, knowing way that simultaneously adapts the novel and deconstructs how adaptation works.
The Gothic Muse and Meta-Gothic Moment: Afterword to Russian Gothic Forum

Abstract The afterword offers an additional discussion related to the initial debate posed by the new developments in Russian Gothic as a special kind of literary genre. This article reviews, contextualizes and traces connections between the essays on Russian Gothic in this edition by Jeffrey Brooks, Kevin Platt, Mark Lipovetsky, and Dina Khapaeva.
Why Wynne Should Win

In Maryland State Comptroller of the Treasury v. Wynne, the Court could reshape core features of dormant Commerce Clause law. Maryland’s theory in the case is that it can lay an income tax on every penny of an individual resident’s income even if some of that income is earned entirely outside the state and therefore, in keeping with standard state practice, already taxed elsewhere. On its face, this approach exposes interstate income earners to overlapping income taxation. Maryland’s scheme thus violates a cardinal principle of dormant Commerce Clause law, “forbidding” state laws that expose interstate commerce “to the risk of a double tax burden to which intrastate commerce is not exposed.” Indeed, this principle applies with the greatest possible force in this case because Maryland does not merely expose taxpayers engaged in interstate commerce to the risk of a double tax burden or even “serious concerns of double taxation.” Maryland essentially guarantees double taxation by taxing its residents’ out-of-state income in all-out fashion while giving only partial credit for taxes paid elsewhere on that same income. Nor can Maryland defend its taxing system on the ground that, although unorthodox, it is “evenhanded.” It is not evenhanded because Maryland, while positing that residence alone should count with regard to taxing the income of Marylanders, simultaneously taxes non-Marylanders when they generate income in Maryland. When it comes to taxing interstate activity, Maryland thus seeks to have its cake and eat it too. In such circumstances, if any, the overriding safeguard against “multiple taxation” of interstate income must and does apply.
A Meta-Language Approach for Machine Learning

In the last decade, machine learning has increasingly been utilized for solving various types of problems in different domains, such as, manufacturing finance, and healthcare. However, designing and fine-tuning algorithms require extensive expertise in artificial intelligence. Although many software packages wrap the complexity of machine learning and simplify their use, programming skills are still needed for operating algorithms and interpreting their results. Additionally, as machine learning experts and non-technical users have different backgrounds and skills, they experience issues in exchanging information about requirements, features, and structure of input and output data.
Sliding Mode Speed Estimators for the Induction Motor - a Performance Comparison at Low Speed

The paper presents a couple of methods for estimating the field-orientation angle and speed of the induction motor (IM), discusses the errors that occur at low speed due to non-ideal integration and parameter variation and presents solutions to improve the estimation accuracy based on sliding mode control concepts. While the field orientation angle of the IM can be obtained without knowledge of the rotor parameters; the speed estimate is inherently affected by an inaccurate rotor time constant. In addition, at low speed, estimates are affected by non-ideal integration. The paper compares a few flux/speed estimators and proposes solutions to improve the accuracy. The mathematics presented is supported with simulations and experiments.
Association between liver fibrosis and cognition in a nationally representative sample of older adults.

Background and purpose Liver fibrosis, a common yet often subclinical manifestation of chronic liver disease, may have an unrecognized role in cognitive impairment. We evaluated the association between a validated liver fibrosis index and cognitive measures among older adults. Methods We examined the association between liver fibrosis and cognitive performance among participants aged 60 years and older in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Liver fibrosis was measured with the validated Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) liver fibrosis score. The outcomes were performance on four standardized cognitive tests of immediate and delayed verbal learning, verbal fluency, and attention/concentration. We used linear regression to evaluate the association between FIB-4 score and performance on cognitive tests while adjusting for potential confounders. In sensitivity analyses, we examined this association in participants without known liver disease. Results Among 3217 adult participants, the mean age was 69 years, and 54% were women. Standard liver chemistries were largely in the normal range. However, 5.0% [95% confidence interval (CI) 4.0-6.0] had liver fibrosis based on a validated cut-off. In adjusted linear regression models, higher liver fibrosis scores were associated with worse immediate recall (β -0.39; 95% CI -0.58, -0.21), language fluency (β -0.46; 95% CI -0.72, -0.21), and attention/concentration (β -1.34; 95% CI -2.25, -0.43), but not delayed recall (β -0.10; 95% CI -0.20, 0.01). Results were similar when limiting the study population to participants without known clinical liver disease. Conclusion Liver fibrosis, including subclinical liver fibrosis, may be an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment among older adults.
Role of mitochondria in mediating chondrocyte response to mechanical stimuli.

Abstract As the most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis (OA) has become a major cause of severe joint pain, physical disability, and quality of life impairment in the affected population. To date, precise pathogenesis of OA has not been fully clarified, which leads to significant obstacles in developing efficacious treatments such as failures in finding disease-modifying OA drugs (DMOADs) in the last decades. Given that diarthrodial joints primarily display the weight-bearing and movement-supporting function, it is not surprising that mechanical stress represents one of the major risk factors for OA. However, the inner connection between mechanical stress and OA onset/progression has yet to be explored. Mitochondrion, a widespread organelle involved in complex biological regulation processes such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis and cellular metabolism, is believed to have a controlling role in the survival and function implement of chondrocytes, the singular cell type within cartilage. Mitochondrial dysfunction has also been observed in osteoarthritic chondrocytes. In this review, we systemically summarize mitochondrial alterations in chondrocytes during OA progression and discuss our recent progress in understanding the potential role of mitochondria in mediating mechanical stress-associated osteoarthritic alterations of chondrocytes. In particular, we propose the potential signaling pathways that may regulate this process, which provide new views and therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of mechanical stress-associated OA.
Resonant Local Systems on Complements of Discriminantal Arrangements and Sl2Representations

We calculate the skew-symmetric cohomology of the complement of a discriminantal hyperplane arrangement with coefficients in local systems arising in the context of the representation theory of the Lie algebra $$\mathfrak{s}\mathfrak{l}_2$$ . For a discriminantal arrangement in ℂk, the skew-symmetric cohomology is nontrivial in dimension k−1 precisely when the 'master function' which defines the local system on the complement has nonisolated criticalpoints. In symmetric coordinates, the critical set is a union of lines. Generically, the dimension of this nontrivial skew-symmetric cohomology group is equal to the number of critical lines.
Current Perspectives on Spinal Cord Stimulation for the Treatment of Cancer Pain

Cancer and cancer treatment-related chronic pain affect a significant number of patients. The etiology of this pain is diverse and may include nociceptive and/or neuropathic characteristics. Treatment is often multifactorial and may require advanced interventional techniques, such as spinal cord stimulation (SCS). This narrative review provides a thorough overview of cancer-related pain mechanisms and the use of SCS for cancer-related pain. Additionally, a review of the precautions that should be considered when caring for this patient population is provided with recommendations for safe care when utilizing these techniques.
Tie Decay and Dissolution: Contentious Prescribing Practices in the Prescription Drug Epidemic

Although a substantial body of work has investigated drivers of tie formation, there is growing interest in understanding why relationships decay or dissolve altogether. The networks literature has...
LOW TEMPERATURE DEFORMATION BEHAVIOR OF HIGH-NITROGEN NICKEL-FREE AUSTENITIC STAINLESS STEELS

The low-temperature deformation behaviors of two high-nitrogen nickel-free austenitic stainless steels(HNSs) with different N content were investigated by impact test,tensile test,XRD and TEM.The results indicate that HNS shows apparent ductile-to-brittle transformation (DBT) and work-hardening at low temperature.In the range of the experimental steels' Mn content, the increase of Mn content improved the plasticity and the toughness at low temperature,and decreased the DBT temperature of HNS.Deformation-induced martensite transformation occurs in steel 18Cr-12Mn-0.55N during tensile deformation at low temperature,but the content of martensite is low and the decrease of temperature has no obvious effect on its formation.Deformation-induced martensite enhances the work-hardening ability but decreases the plasticity and toughness of HNS at low temperature.The decreases of work-hardening ability and stacking fault energy with temperature decreasing are the main reasons for brittle fracture of Fe-Cr-Mn HNS at low temperature.
Practice, Outcomes, and Complications of Emergent Endotracheal Intubation by Critical Care Practitioners During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background For patients with COVID-19 who undergo emergency endotracheal intubation, data are limited regarding the practice, outcomes, and complications of this procedure. Research Question For patients with COVID-19 requiring emergency endotracheal intubation, how do the procedural techniques, the incidence of first-pass success, and the complications associated with the procedure compare with intubations of critically ill patients before the COVID-19 pandemic? Study Design and Methods We conducted a retrospective study of adult patients with COVID-19 at Montefiore Medical Center who underwent first-time endotracheal intubation by critical care physicians between July 19, 2019, and May 1, 2020. The first COVID-19 patient was admitted to our institution on March 11, 2020; patients admitted before this date are designated the prepandemic cohort. Descriptive statistics were used to compare groups. A Fisher exact test was used to compare categorical variables. For continuous variables, a two-tailed Student t test was used for parametric variables or a Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used for nonparametric variables. Results One thousand two hundred sixty intubations met inclusion criteria (782 prepandemic cohort, 478 pandemic cohort). Patients during the pandemic were more likely to be intubated for hypoxemic respiratory failure (72.6% vs 28.1%; P Interpretation Video laryngoscopy and neuromuscular blockade were used increasingly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite a higher rate of first-pass success during the pandemic, the incidence of complications associated with the procedure was higher.
In-situ TEM observation of fast and stable reaction of lithium polysulfide infiltrated carbon composite and its application as a lithium sulfur battery electrode for improved cycle lifetime

Abstract Lithium sulfur batteries (LSB) are attracting attention as a next generation energy storage device because of their high energy density, low cost, and environmental friendliness surpassing that of lithium ion batteries (LIBs). An in-situ transmission electron microscopy experiment performed in this work revealed a fast electrochemical reaction and minimum volume changes during lithiation and delithiation for lithium polysulfide infiltrated vat black particles. Based on this observation, we developed a simple and cost-effective method for the lithium polysulfide battery to achieve high performance by employing a nanostructured vat black/carbon cloth electrode that exhibits high electrical conductivity, good mechanical properties, and a high surface area. These benefits enabled a high sulfur loading mass, captured the lithium polysulfide intermediate reaction products, and avoided structural changes. As a result, high specific discharge capacity of 1300 mAhg−1 at 0.2 C, an outstanding rate performance (846 mAhg−1 at 2 C) and an areal capacity of up to 3.352 mAhcm−2 with a sulfur loading mass of 3.8 mg were achieved. Increasing the sulfur loading mass to 7 mg (areal capacity of up to 4.24 mAhcm−2) still resulted in a desirable discharge capacity of 928 mAhg−1. This work provides a promising path towards practical lithium sulfur batteries.
Transnational and borderland studies in mathematics education

Preface by Richard S. Kitchen and Marta Civil 1. Ecological Approaches to Transnational Research on Mathematical Reasoning: A Focus on Latino/a Mathematics Learners in the Borderlands by Judit Moschkovich 2. Crossing the Border between Home and School: Dominican Parents' Perspectives on the Teaching and Learning of Mathematics by Mary Q. Foote 3. Impressions of Mexican Immigrant Families on their Early Experiences with School Mathematics in Arizona by Marta Civil & Jose Maria Menendez 4. Becoming a "Liberal" Math Learner: Expanding Secondary School Mathematics to Support Cultural Connections, Multiple Mathematical Identities and Engagement by Lisa M. Jilk 5. Engaging Underprivileged Mexican students in Reform-Oriented Mathematics Instruction by Jose Luis Cortina 6. Considering Mexican and U.S. Teachers' Views on the Teaching and Learning of Mathematics Through a Teaching for Diversity Lens by Richard S. Kitchen 7. Teachers' Task Management Practices in the Context of Routine and Non-Routine Mathematics Problems: A Descriptive Analysis by Guadalupe I. Lozano Teran 8. Teachers' Conceptions of Mathematics and Mathematics Teaching and Learning: The Case of Two Elementary Teachers in Northern Mexico by Jesus Acosta-Iriqui 9. Looking Forward: Establishing a Research Agenda for Transnational and Borderland Studies in Mathematics Education by Richard S. Kitchen & Marta Civil Epilogue by Olimpia Figueras
Software Requirement Patterns

Learn proven, real-world techniques for specifying software requirements with this practical reference. It details 30 requirement “patterns” offering realistic examples for situation-specific guidance for building effective software requirements. Each pattern explains what a requirement needs to convey, offers potential questions to ask, points out potential pitfalls, suggests extra requirements, and other advice. This book also provides guidance on how to write other kinds of information that belong in a requirements specification, such as assumptions, a glossary, and document history and references, and how to structure a requirements specification. A disturbing proportion of computer systems are judged to be inadequate; many are not even delivered; more are late or over budget. Studies consistently show one of the single biggest causes is poorly defined requirements: not properly defining what a system is for and what it's supposed to do. Even a modest contribution to improving requirements offers the prospect of saving businesses part of a large sum of wasted investment. This guide emphasizes this important requirement need-determining what a software system needs to do before spending time on development. Expertly written, this book details solutions that have worked in the past, with guidance for modifying patterns to fit individual needs-giving developers the valuable advice they need for building effective software requirements
The Application of Electronic Video Techniques to Infrared and Ultraviolet Examinations

Ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) radiation are used by most document examiners in the detection of alterations, erasures, substitutions, and secret writings; in the deciphering of charred or ancient documents; and in the viewing of obliterated text. The basic instrument used in conducting examinations of this sort is either the camera and photographic process or the electronic conversion tube. Most commercial equipment using these techniques has not been designed primarily for document examination but in most cases has been engineered for another purpose and then accommodated to document work. The purpose of the research reported in this paper was to use present-day technology to develop a system whereby the document examiner can conveniently take one, or, if desired, a hundred and one, questioned specimens and within a relatively short period of time observe the effects thereon of UV and IR radiation. To clarify the techniques used in this study, a few basic definitions and descriptions are being set forth.
Hypertension from the Standpoint of Behavioral Medicine

Hypertension is a major chronic debilitating and life-threatening disorder of contemporary life, involving many complex factors in etiology and treatment. The diseases associated with hypertension account for a large proportion of all deaths of middle-aged individuals. As it involves multiple psychosocial and behavioral processes in its etiology, treatment, and prevention, hypertension is a major topic of research and discussion in behavioral medicine.
Analyzing Selected Quantified Integer Programs

In this paper, we introduce a problem called Quantified Integer Programming, which generalizes the Quantified Satisfiability problem (QSAT). In a Quantified Integer Program (QIP), the program variables can assume arbitrary integral values, as opposed to the boolean values that are assumed by the variables of an instance of QSAT. QIPs naturally represent 2-person integer matrix games. The Quantified Integer Programming problem is PSPACE-hard in general, since the QSAT problem is PSPACE-complete. We focus on analyzing various special cases of the general problem, with a view to discovering subclasses that are tractable. Subclasses of the general QIP problem are obtained by restricting either the constraint matrix or the quantifier specification. We show that if the constraint matrix is totally unimodular, the problem of deciding a QIP can be solved in polynomial time.
“Cool PE” and Confronting the Negative Stereotypes of Physical Education

To change the public's negative perceptions, it may be necessary to change the nature of physical education programming. One way of doing so is by adopting “Cool PE,” which refers to physical education that “moves” students, empowers students with choice, and is meaningful to students outside of the gym.
Proceedings of the 46th Annual Simulation Symposium

Welcome to the Spring Simulation Multi-Conference 2013 (SpringSim'13) in San Diego, CA. As the General Chair of this year's SpringSim, it is an honor and privilege to be your host for these exciting four days of activities driven and organized by the various members of our society. Despite challenges in the worldwide economy and the overall decrease of funding for travel and conferences, the interest in Modeling and Simulation (M&S) and its applications is still high enough to ensure a challenging and interesting program. From the opening tutorial day where international experts are providing their knowledge to our community to the presentation of peer-reviewed papers, invited special topic presentations, and expert panel discussions the chairs of our symposia did their best to provide an outstanding choice. Without the work of these volunteers, SpringSim would not have been possible.
Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test for Image Comparison

We apply the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test to test whether two distributions of 256 gray intensities are the same. Thus, this test may be useful to compare unstructured images, such as microscopic images in medicine. Usually, histogram is used to show the distribution of gray level intensities. We argue that cumulative distribution function (gray distribution) may be more informative when comparing several gray images. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test is illustrated by hystology images from untreated and treated breast cancer tumors. The test is generalized to ensembles of gray images. Limitations of the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test are discussed.
Perfection and Equality: The Liberal Educator's Dilemma

Perfectionism posits the development of human potential as the ultimate good. Perfectionism enjoins you not just to reach some minimal threshold of competence, but to “be all you can be.” As scholars and teachers, we harbor perfectionist tendencies. Perfectionism is manifested in the pride we feel when one of our students goes on to make a contribution recognized by all in the field, and, conversely, in our disappointment when a student with great gifts chooses not to develop them. Our perfectionist inclinations reveal themselves in our teaching too. When we design our syllabi we are not satisfied to introduce students to artworks or theories that are merely adequate; we want our students to be exposed to paragons of beauty and power. We are delighted when students come to appreciate and admire the masters we, ourselves, cherish, and we become frustrated when our students don’t “get it,” don’t understand why we exalt the contributions to art, science, or philosophy that we do. Note that these perfectionist inclinations go well beyond any desire to promote individual autonomy.
Ultra-High Reynolds Number Flows Using Cryogenic Helium: An Overview

The purpose of this workshop has been to examine the possibility that liquid or gaseous helium could be of significant value in generating the highest possible Reynolds and Rayleigh number flows. This volume is the second devoted to this subject, and therefore in principle it is unnecessary to repeat details which have already been covered in the book “High Reynolds Number flows Using Liquid and Gaseous Helium” [1]. Nevertheless, in the interest of keeping this volume reasonably self-contained, a certain amount of repetition is probably worth while.
Computer-Aided Cognitive Training of the Aged: A Pilot Study

Research indicates that individuals above the age of 65 can improve their cognitive abilities and memories. Use of computers with elders has shown promise in maintaining cognitive function. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a computer intervention on selected cognitive abilities of 14 elders in a long-term care setting who used a computer program versus 15 who did not. Controlling for initial level of cognitive function, multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) showed significant improvement with the computer users compared to the nonusers on five cognitive outcomes. Future studies are needed to examine larger samples and explore gender differences.
β-Adrenergic Receptor-Coupled Adenylate Cyclase

β-Adrenergic receptor-coupled adenylate cyclase is regulated by both amplification and desensitization processes. Desensitization of adenylate cyclase is divided into two major categories. Homologous desensitization is initiated by phosphorylation of the receptors by a β-adrenergic receptor kinase. This reaction serves to functionally uncouple the receptors and trigger their sequestration away from the cell surface. These sequestered receptors can rapidly recycle to the cell surface or, with time, become down regulated, being destroyed within the cell. Dephosphorylation of the receptors is accomplished in the sequestered compartment of the cell, which may functionally regenerate the receptors and allow their return to the cell surface. In heterologous desensitization, receptor function is also regulated by phosphorylation, but in the absence of receptor sequestration or down regulation. In this case, phosphorylation serves only to functionally uncouple the receptors, that is, to impair their interactions with the guanine nucleotide regulatory protein Ns. Several protein kinases are capable of promoting this phosphorylation, including the cAMP-dependent kinase and protein kinase C. In addition to the receptor phosphorylation, heterologous desensitization is associated with modifications at the level of the nucleotide regulatory protein Ns and perhaps Ni Adenylate cyclase systems are also subject to amplification that involves a protein kinase C-mediated phosphorylation of the catalytic unit of the enzyme. Phosphorylation of the catalytic unit enhances its catalytic activity and results in amplified stimulation by the regulatory protein Ns. Other receptor/effector systems exhibit qualitatively similar regulatory phenomena, suggesting that covalent modification (phosphorylation) may represent a general mechanism for regulating receptor function.
Attenuation at 10.6 Mum in loaded and unloaded polycrystalline KRS-5 fibers.

Extruded polycrystalline KRS-5 fiber exhibits a large amount of residual strain. This strain, which results from the large forces applied in the extrusion process, is a major contribution to the total attenuation. To study the effect of strain on fiber loss, we have measured the total attenuation coefficient αT and the attenuation coefficient due to scattering, αS, as a function of stress applied along the fiber axis. The applied stress σ induces a change in the refractive index, which in turn leads to bulk scattering and excess fiber loss. We have found that αT ∼ σ2, which is in accord with an extension of a recent theory by Harrington and Sparks.
Suggested Type Societieś in Acculturation Studies1

its way of life is threatened, it sometimes reacts with a conscious, organized effort to preserve those aspects of its culture which it values most highly. Linton (1943:233) calls this kind of reaction a perpetuative-rational nativistic movement, a phrase which will be shortened throughout this paper to perpetuative movement. Important in the successful maintenance of such a reaction is a number of "boundary maintaining mechanisms" such as ritual initiations or a distinctive language which shield the highly valued aspects of culture from outside influences (Social Science Research Council Summer Seminar 1954: 975-76). But all societies have some boundary maintaining mechanisms. If their presence alone were sufficient to preserve a group's key values, there would be fewer disintegrating native cultures than there are. Rather, the critical factors in resisting acculturation may lie in a society's social organization and the way it organizes certain of its culture patterns. It is possible that the structural features capable of maintaining a perpetuative movement are distinctive and limited in number; and if a comparison of the societies which have developed and maintained perpetuative movements were to show that they are organized in a limited number of distinctive ways, we would have a typology of a small number of the societies undergoing acculturation. This paper will analyze a number of societies with successful perpetuative movements and will try to show that they are all organized in one of two different fashions typified by the shtetl (small town) Jews of eastern Europe and the Old Order Amish of Pennsylvania. First, the two type-societies will be discussed in some detail. Then other examples of societies which have successfully preserved selected aspects of their cultures will be analyzed and shown to conform to one of the two types. Finally, several societies which appeared capable of preserving their highly valued culture patterns and yet failed to do so, will be presented as evidence that we are dealing with limited possibilities and that these two types may exhaust the possible solutions to the problem of maintaining a perpetuative movement. The basic difference between the two types lies in the fact that the shtetl contains a group of specialists who are dedicated wholly to the maintenance and elaboration of the distinctive features of shtetl life and who are protected by the society from disturbing outside influences. The Amish have no such group of specialists, and the maintenance of their nativistic movement is equally the responsibility of all the adult members of the society. This lack of a group of specialists is correlated, in the Amish type of society, with strong means of social control which are readily used and the frequent expul55
Si-Ge surface-normal asymmetric Fabry-Perot electroabsorption modulator

The strong electroabsorption modulation possible using the quantum-confined Stark effect in Ge/SiGe quantum wells provides the working mechanism for efficient, CMOS-compatible photonic integrated modulators. We describe such a device employing a surface-normal asymmetric Fabry-Perot design.
Reply to Dimitrov et al.: VelociSuite technologies are a foundation for rapid therapeutic antibody development

We appreciate the interest of Dimitrov et al. (1) in our work and welcome the opportunity to respond. The authors conclude that our report provides “No evidence for a superior platform to develop therapeutic antibodies rapidly…” and focus their points on our lead antibodies and mouse model developed using VelocImmune and VelociGene technologies. However, as indicated in our Significance statement (2), a platform approach should not only be based on rapid lead antibody discovery (for which several rapid methods exist), but should encompass the entire development process from discovery and preclinical validation through clinical material production. To this end, our report addresses all three components: (i) rapid discovery of potent lead antibodies; (ii) rapid generation of a small animal model; and (iii) antibody isolation compatible with rapid production for clinical use. Our antibody development process links “direct isolation of antibodies from B cells to development of isogenic cell lines,” which “can immediately be used for production of clinical-grade antibody material.” Given that the industry standard for manufacturing cell line development is 6–9 mo, we demonstrated gram quantity production of purified material weeks after lead selection. Such rapid identification, in vivo testing, and scale-up capacity are critical for a timely response to urgent public health threats.
Theory of mind in children with autism spectrum disorder: do siblings matter?

Research indicates a positive relation between the sibling constellation and theory of mind (ToM) development in typically developing (TD) children. Less is known about this association in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The current study examined the association among the presence and number of siblings, birth order, and false belief (FB) understanding in children with ASD and a TD comparison group. Two FB tasks (change of contents and change of location) and the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test were administered to 57 children with ASD and 28 TD children during a home visit. One parent of each child reported on demographics and the sibling constellation. Separate hierarchical regressions controlled for age, receptive language ability, and scores on the Social Communication Questionnaire. In children with ASD, no association was observed between presence or number of siblings and ToM. However, the presence of older (but not younger) siblings was found to be positively associated with ToM. Children with ASD who had at least one older sibling performed similarly to the TD group, whereas children with ASD who had no older siblings performed significantly worse than the TD group. These findings indicate an advantage for FB performance in children with ASD who have an older sibling. They may bear on decisions to include older siblings or peers in intervention programs and may also contribute to a more complete understanding of the origins of individual differences in ToM ability in children with ASD. Autism Res 2013, ●●: ●●–●●. © 2013 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.